Today, in my opinion, was a good day as far as Apple announcements go.
First off, we found out that iOS 4.1 will be released next week. Then we found out that 4.2 will be coming in November and it has even cooler features. And Apple also told us that it's averaging 230,000 activations a day (not including upgrades!)
Then, if you are a music fan, we got iTunes 10 complete with a new social network built around music to newly redesigned iPods from the almost too tiny iPod shuffle to the slightly bigger and nothing more than a touchscreen nano to an even thinner touch.
And if that wasn't enough, Apple TV is now much smaller, much better and much cheaper.
But this is an iPhone blog, so back to iOS 4.1 and 4.2.
Check out some of what we can expect in 4.1:
These specific Apple special events can either be amazing or disappointing for iPhone fans. And on the surface, a music-themed event doesn't sound great for our contingent.
But there's one piece of the puzzle that could work in our favor and while it's a longshot, it's still something to keep an eye on.
Two words to listen for. The cloud.
I wanted to say up front that working for the Chicago Tribune doesn't make me the slightest bit biased when it comes to reviewing the app.
I'm always 100 percent brutally honest in my assessment of apps. While I never intentionally want to hurt anyone's feelings, I never hold back when it comes to my thoughts because at the end of the day, it's the customer that will suffer if the app sucks.
This app does not suck. This app is the opposite of suck. It's really great. In fact, I'd want to use the Chicago Tribune app as a model in terms of functionality and looks. It's fast, beautiful to look at and well worth $1.99.
So what's so great about the Tribune app? Read on for all the details and check out the gallery of screenshots.
Gallery sneak peek (14 images):
View the gallery...
Let's talk about sex.
According to its findings, male iPhone users have had on average 10 sexual partners by the time they turn 30.
BlackBerry users? 8.1.
And if you are using an Android phone, well, you either need a wingperson or a new phone. Just 6 partners by age 30.
Women iPhone users? You are making out (and obviously much more) really well - averaging 12.3 sexual partners by 30, 8.8 for BlackBerry and 6.1 for Android.
Yeah, baby.
What do you think? Don't be shy. Is your sex life better thanks to Steve Jobs? Let me know on Twitter or in the comments.
Thanks for calling.
This morning, AT&T announced that its 3rd Wi-Fi hotzone in the U.S., a large area of free Wi-Fi, will be located in Wrigleyville.
This comes on the heels of previous announcements in New York and Charlotte.
According to AT&T, the Wrigleyville Wi-Fi hotline will complement the mobile broadband experience for AT&T customers who use Wi-Fi enabled devices while in the neighborhood.
The new Wi-Fi hotzone provides coverage along the streets and in the outdoor areas of Wrigleyville on the south, east and west sides of Wrigley Field.
And the best part? It's up and running right now.
AT&T is pushing Wi-Fi, stressing its tremendous growth recently on mobile phones. In the second quarter 2010, AT&T handled 68.1 million Wi-Fi connections on its network, compared to just 15 million in the same quarter last year. Customers have made 121.2 million connections in the first half of 2010, already far surpassing the 85.5 million connections made in all of 2009.
And as iPhone users know, a little less pressure on AT&T's 3G network is never a bad thing.
Have you had a chance to connect to the new hotline? Will you change your browsing habits because of it? Let me know on Twitter at @iptib or in the comments.
Thanks for calling.
I was sitting on the couch over the weekend texting a friend and listening to the audio of a baseball game when it occurred to me.
I'm happy with the iPhone 4 and that was worth a post.
So much happened over the past month with the antenna issue that I forgot how great the iPhone experience is.
For the past few weeks, I've had the privilege of testing out the best Bluetooth earpiece I've used to date - the
Jawbone ICON.
The fine folks at Aliph sent me a unit to review. That's the Hero you see pictured. Aliph says the Icon features a jewelry-like design, and there are several different styles and colors - 6 to be exact. While any model would be a fine choice, I thought the Hero best accessorized the iPhone 4's sleek curves.
When I received the unit, I really wanted to take a little time to put it through the paces of downtown Chicago. I'm glad I did.
Apple released a statement earlier today saying that there will be no white iPhone 4 models available until later this year.
"White models of Apple's new iPhone 4 have continued to be more challenging to manufacture than we originally expected, and as a result they will not be available until later this year. The availability of the more popular iPhone 4 black models is not affected."
I know that not everyone agrees with me, but I still think the delay has something to do with the antenna issue.
Either way, I must say - I really like the black iPhone better in this case. But if you really want to wait, it's going to be a while.
Thanks for calling.
Oh it's on. It's so on.
As promised, Apple kicked off it's iPhone Bumper giveaway and how's this for iPhone-esque: You need an app to get it.
Click here to download it.
Here are the details direct from Apple:
If you purchase an iPhone 4 before September 30, 2010, you are eligible to receive an iPhone 4 Bumper or a select third-party case from Apple at no charge.
Follow these steps to apply for a Bumper or case.
1. Download the iPhone 4 Case Program app from the App Store.
2. Launch the app on your iPhone 4 and sign in using your iTunes Store account or Apple ID.
3. Select your Bumper or case.
For iPhone 4 purchases made before July 23, 2010, you must apply no later than August 22, 2010; otherwise, you must apply within 30 days of your iPhone 4 purchase. To qualify for this program, you must purchase your iPhone 4 by September 30, 2010.
If you already purchased a case, read on to see how to get credited.
Interesting day in the iPhone world. Today you got a lesson in smartphone engineering, an explanation and a free bumper from Steve Jobs.
Taking the stage in Cupertino, Steve tried to keep the event as light as humanly possible, poking fun at itself with a fun song about the iPhone 4 antenna and then getting serious and explaining how smartphone antennas work.
What Steve did not do was take the blame and declare a problem with the iPhone 4. But what he did say was that he cares about customers and wants to make them happy. I believe that. And I believe he wants nothing more than to create awesome products, which the iPhone 4 is, even though it has a flaw.
