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Sat, 1 September 2012
Hi Rob,
I took this pic looking down at the stairwell at work, then reflected it in an app called Reflections, edited with snapseed and the text added with FX Photo Studio
someone said it looked like Voltron.
Regards,
Jessi D
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Episode 238 Transcript
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For those of you looking to trade in your iPhone 4S so that you can get the iPhone 2012 when it is released - there is one more new player in the buy back game - and that is Apple themselves. You can get up to $345 for an iPhone 4S - 64 GB model - that is pristine.
However that is not the best offering out there to buy back your iPhone - Amazon actually holds that spot offering as much as $500 to buy your iPhone 4S 64 GB unit. Of course that $500 is not cash but rather an Amazon gift card / credit.
There is a nice article on 9 to 5 mac titled iPhone Trade-in roundup. Where they go over 11 different places/ ways to sell your old iPhone 4S.
Remember if you have an iPhone 4S - you have had it less than a year - and you will most likely be paying full price for the iPhone 2012. Unless you cancel from your current provider and then pay the penalty or ETF as they call it. Then you could go to another carrier to get the subsidized price. How much your ETF is - will depend greatly on who your carrier is and when you purchased your iPhone 4S.
Me personally - I just can't get myself to sell my old Apple gear - much to the chagrin of my wife.
Of course the main reason people are selling off their old iPhone now is that a new iPhone is just around the corner - which means more and more new rumors coming out all the time. The Ones that now seem like they are done deals. LTE - which if this iPhone does not have I will be shocked. A Bigger Screen - likely an elongated 4 Inch screen. A new design - which you kind of need for the new screen. A new smaller dock connector. The Head phone jack moved to the bottom of the device. And a new faster processor with more RAM on board as well. Those are the items that most of the rumor sites seem to all agree on at this time.
Items that seem up in the Air and likely will not happen. A Better Camera - One I don't really see as far as Meg Pixels - But as far as improved sensors for taking better pictures in low light - that I do see happening.
A new Nano-Sim Card - which I guess is likely - but really not all that exciting - unless you are trying to take your current sim from your iPhone 4 or 4S and move it over.
Enhanced Bluetooth capabilities - is another rumor I see mentioned - but usually that is as far as they go - they don't really break down what is enhanced. To me this seems more to do with software improvements than say improving from Bluetooth 4.0 which the iPhone 4S already has.
And NFC.
With regards to the iPhone 2012 and NFC rumors - this past week first we saw some photos supposedly of the innards of the iPhone 2012 - and what is supposed to be the NFC chip. Well is it really a chip or just a component that they can not identify - that was not very clear - but heck lets call it the NFC chip for this moment. And the moment is gone.
And then rumors this past week said no - there will be no NFC in the iPhone 2012. This at least according to Anandtech based on the next iPhone having a metal back - which is not conducive with NFC - and then Jim Dalrymple giving his trademark Yep with regards to NFC being a no show in the iPhone 2012. And that is Yep as in Yes it will not be there - not Yes it will. So at this point the Rumor pendulum with regards to NFC is it will not be in the iPhone 2012. Of course this could change before Sept 12th.
On the last episode we talked about the iPad Mini likely not being introduced at the Sept event - but rather at an event in October. This based on speculation from John Gruber and Jim Dalrymble. And now Apple PR - umm - I mean All Things D - quote confirms unquote - that the iPad Mini will be announced not in September - but rather at another event in October.
Of course the confirmed part comes from unnamed sources. And no date in October was given. But I am guessing it will be October 19th with a launch of the device around 10 days after the US elections - Which would be Friday November 16th. Which also happens to be the date of the next Kansas City Start up weekend. So yeah - that would be a lousy time for me for them to release it on. So definitely the 16th of November to start shipping the iPad Mini.
FYI - Expect all those saying the iPad Mini will ship in October to later report that due to manufacturing issues or component shortages - the iPad Mini was delayed until November. Just sayin.
I also so love when sites use the word Confirmed when talking about an Apple rumor not only did All things D use that word with regards to the introduction date but so did Tech Soure with the following quote iPad Mini Name confirmed unquote as part of their post title. Who was it confirmed by - well not apple. But rather by the ever popular unnamed source. I think for Halloween this year I am going to dress up as an unnamed source. Well that or Big foot or the Lockness monster or someone from Americas got talent that has a college degree.
I want to thank today's sponsor which is Audible. If you go to audible podcast dot com slash today in iPhone - you can get a free audio book of your choosing.
Audible is the internets leading provider of audio books - with over 100,000 titles to choose from. If you like listening to audio Audible has a ton of great content to choose from covering every genre you can think of.
In the past I have talked about Cloud Atlas and Hunger Games - as two books that either are out as a movie or are about to be. Two other novels that recently were picked up to be made into a movie - 50 Shades of Grey - which I imagine will not be PG13 - and Gone Girl - which Is a really interesting story about a wife that suddenly goes missing and is told from two perspectives one from the Wifes and one from the husbands. This is a best selling Thriller and one soon to be made into a movie starring Reese Witherspoon - but you can get the story now - all 19hours and 11 minutes of it as your free audio book download when you go to audible podcast dot com / today in iPhone - thats audible podcast dot com / today in iPhone for your free audio book download - offer good to just those in the US and Canada. Thanks Audible for sponsoring the show.
On the last episode we had a question about doing group emails. Thanks to Cheryl for the recommending app with the very brief title of Groups SMS, Mail and Manage Contacts App. We also got the following email on this .
Hey Rob,
MailShot works really well to create group lists. Also as a side note iGone is a great app to access and change your out of office from the iPhone. It took a little tweaking with the dev to get my enterprise settings right for work but he was really great and very helpful.
Thanks for the show,
Ian from WV
We also had questions about a bluetooth headset under $100.
Here is an email on this.
Hi Rob, I heard the call for a bluetooth headset under $100, here's my pick and review:
The Nokia BH-505 For the most part this is a discontinued product but it's readily available on ebay and other outlets on the web.
It's a "neckband" style headset that goes around the back of your neck (not over your head). On the left ear there is a dedicated pause/play button and toggle switch for forward & reverse (on the iPhone this just skips to the next track or previous track), and the built-in mic. On the right ear is the dedicated answer call button and toggle switch for volume control.
Of all the bluetooth headsets I've tried and tossed this is the one I keep going back to, they are good. It's lightweight and comfortable once you've used them a few days. The weakest part is at the bend the goes over your ears. I've found that after many months of daily use it will start to crack and will eventually break. To it's credit it, the headset still works after the plastic has broken. It just doesn't fit as tightly with a diy a repair. Phone calls are generally clear on both ends . You can get a full days use from a full charge. Genuine units come with 6 sets of ear cushions ( s / m / l) in a regular rounded shape and a flat shape for those that don't want the ear pieces going inside the ear canal. And a power cord for charging.
An overall a good lightweight bt headset that won't kill your wallet. Just handle with a little care and they'll last quite awhile.
Hope this helps
Regards,
Robert B
Another email on this
Hi Rob,
The best stereo bluetooth headset under $100 is the Plantronics Backbeat 903+ The sound is really great for the price. I love the sound and the controls. The mic is in the earbud and of course it could be better. Under $100.00, this is the unit to buy.
Regards,
Kevin
And here is another review of the backbeat 903+
Hi Rob,
I like the Plantronics backbeat 903+.
For music and phone it's good. For some podcasts in noisy sorroundings it's not loud enough. Some podcasts not loud enough anyway. The mics are on each side, it's ok for phone but weak on some VoIP applications like echolink.
Retail $100 but $70 at Frys and cheaper online. 7 hours music. 2 hour recharge.
Many features.
Regards,
Mike R
And another email on bluetooth heads sets.
Hi Rob,
I have a couple of suggestions for under $40:
1.) Tenqa Remxd $40
These are "DJ" style headphones. Both myself & my partner have these and have been very pleased with them.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B006LADLLS
2.) Kinivo BTH220 $30
I haven't had any personal experience with these but they have great Amazon reviews:
Regards,
Matt G
And one last email on this
Hi Rob, I recommend the LG HBS-700 for around $50 on amazon. It has a mic as requested and it is incredibly comfortable to wear thanks to its unique design, I use it all the time for doing things around the house and listening to podcast and don't feel like I am wearing anything. It is also good when I have to use one earbud and keep an ear out for the kids waking up. I know it looks weird but I think anyone looking for a Bluetooth stereo headset should try it. Oh and it's great for the office, I can hide it underneath my collar.
And it's water resistant which makes it good for working out.
Regards,
Javier from Miramar, FL
http://www.amazon.com/LG-Tone-Wireless-Bluetooth-Packaging/dp/B0052YFYFK/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3lklcKd0JY&sns=em
Hi Rob,
I just finished listening to your most resent podcast and was wondering if you heard anything in the rumor mill about this feature on iPhone 2012 with Verizon. As you know, the iPhone on Verizon cannot do simultaneous voice and data over its 3G network (CDMA). So have you heard whether or not this will be possible on the LTE network with Verizon? This is the MAIN selling point for me on AT&T. So if Verizon were to offer this feature I will get rid of my AT&T iPhone and a hot minute (once all phones on Family Plan were off contract)!
TIA
Grace & Peace, Brian
Hi Brian - thanks for the question - which I thought was straight forward - Yes LTE can support voice and data at the same time - I thought it was straight forward - but the more I searched the more convoluted the answer became - some claiming all 4G LTE phones on Verizon support voice and data at the same time - others saying this feature is not available until 2013. And verizon on their site - nothing about this.
I know there are a few Verizon employees that listen - so I am sending this out to them - Can LTE phones on Verizon support simultaneous Voice and data. Because I could not find anything official about it on your site.
Here is a title of an article I just came across it is quote Apple's iPad will finally see competition this fall" unquote. Ok quick trivia question was that Article from A August 2010 or B August 2011 or C August 2012 or D - All of the Above.
If you picked D All of the Above - you would be a wiser man or women than those that wrote the articles in question. Yup seems that is an article we likely will also see in August 2013.
It just seems like yesterday we were wishing Bob Mansfield a happy retirement. And now He's Back. Ok - technically he never left - but apparently Bob realized spending more time with the family was not as appealing as first thought and he cancelled his retirement. However Dan riccio who was moved into Bob's job - well he seems to not want to give up his new job and Mr Mansfield will just report to Tim cook and quote will work on future products unquote. Well Bob We wish you a happy un-retirement.
Hi Rob,
A few shows back I remember someone asking about a PDF app that you could also insert pages into. There is an App called PDF Pen that I just read a great review of it by James Ford Kelly for Wired, and one of the features was creating PDFs right from the app, as well as all standard markup and editing options available for PDFs in general, and I thought that it might work to save that person from switching to a dreaded Windows tablet.
Regards,
- Jessi D
Hey Rob,
the 5.1 update months ago that had the 4G logo in the status bar even though there is no 4G of any kind in my area. Nor did my iPhone4S did not magically turn into 4G - but the logo is saying it is. So when Real 4G comes out & is active will they call it 5G since all the carriers lie one evolution ahead when they have mostly enhanced 3G or hspa+ & such. How will I know if I'm on 3G or 4G ish connection in the next 2 years I wonder?
Regards,
Michael S
Hi Michael - Yeah my iPhone is one that constantly shows it as a 4G connection as well - and you bring up a good point - will they now also have an LTE logo? or a 4G+ logo - I don't think they will do 5G however - but if they don't do something other than 4G for LTE - how will you know when you are connect to what - other than the fact the internet does not suck that is.
Thanks to Rose Clark via Google+ for this next one. Which is a kickstarter project with a goal of 90k and pledges of 126k and has until Oct 3rd at 4:56 PM ET for you to pledge - As they are over their goal they will be taking your money if you pledge for it. How much money - well they will start with $155 bucks of yours and go up from there. So what is said device - well it is the CruxSkunk one word. c r u x skunk - And it is another iPad case with keyboard. whannt whannt whaaa. Ok - well not just any case and keyboard - it has a 360 hinge so you can open it up and fold it out of the way. It offers a full size qwerty key board and is very thin - so yes it makes your iPad look like a mac book air kinda sorta. Anyway if you are looking for a keyboard case combo for your iPad - check out the cruxSkunk at kickstarter.
Hi Rob
I though you should take a look at this cool project. A friend of mine at work that knows the developer told me about it and I am sold. Regards, Hector
And this is with regards to the Foundation Dock. Two words - It has 10k pledged towards a goal of 37k and funding goes on until Oct 2nd at 4:36 PM ET.
So looking like it has a good chance of hitting its goal.
This is one of those kick starter projects with a few too many pricing options - 17 to be specific.
Ok - to be fair this one product is really three products - There is the foundation dock itself and there is a Flex Cable with 30 pin dock connector or the new iPhone 2012 connector and there is an aluminum USB car charger. If you want to get all three it will cost you $114 or just $99 for the dock and one flex cable or just 30 for one flex cable or just $15 for the USB car charger.
Still not sure what it is yet - well they call it the best charging, syncing, bending, holding, music listening, face timing, video watching, self portrait taking device for the iPhone - And ummm Yeah.
Ok so by flex cable they really mean bend it into a specific shape with some force and it will stay in that shape and that lets you adjust the iPhone to stay where you want it and face how you want it.
The foundation dock is an aluminum CNC machined base with a built in speaker, a microphone, audio line out, one usb port at the top and 4 additional powered USB ports in the back and a mini usb port. The flex cable plugs into the USB port on the top or you can disconnect from the Base and plug it into the Car Charger or any other USB port.
It is an interesting project and one you can learn more about by searching for Foundation Dock - two words on kickstarter dot com.
Thanks to Richard for the heads up on this next Kickstarter project that had a lofty goal of $250,000 and I say had because they already have over $525k in pledges. Not bad for something that only has pledge levels now starting at $174. This one will be live until september 22nd at 5:06 AM ET.
What is this project it is called Smartthings - one word. And Smartthings is a device to help connect things in your house to the internet. So you can monitor, control and automate the things in your house. And do so anywhere you want via the iOS App. So say you want to have it where you turn off your lights or turn them on when you are away from the home. You can do that. Say your wife constantly keeps forgetting to turn off her curling iron - well in the past a solution would be to hang the curling iron by the front door to remind her she almost burned down the house again by leaving her curling iron turned on and right next to the rubbing alcohol - or you could just turn it off said curling iron from your App. You can also have sensors to see if your doors have been open or is open. you can have a sensor on your dog to see if it has left the house or yard. The video even shows it sensing when you get out of bed and turning on the coffee pot for you - Hey Wait I think I saw that in a Wallace and Grommit Cartoon. So I guess you can say if you like Wallace and Grommit and want to live in a house like they have SmartThings will get you one step closer.
For the $174 while it lasts you get a smart things hub and 3 things this year - yup they are planning on a December delivery.
This is an interesting one and I recommend watching the video to learn more - over at kickstarter dot com - search for smartthings - One word.
Do you have a favorite old printer and wish you could print to it from your iOS device with Air Print like you can with the ePrint printers. Well now you can for just $100 - with the Lantronix XPrintserver Home Edition. XPrintServer being one word. I have a link in the show notes for a review done over on Wired which goes in to the good and slightly not so good i.e. setting it up can be a pain for some printers - but the good news is once it is set up you should be golden. And better news it seems to set up easily for most printers - which I usually find means it sets up well for most printers other than the one I have.
But in any case rather than spend a few hundred on a new printer and a few hundred more on ink for the new printer - you can use your current printer and ink with your iOS device for just $100. Look for the link in the show notes for Episode 238 over at today in iOS dot com.
Ok in addition to all the leaks / rumors about the iPhone 2012 and iPad mini - every so often we get a leak per the iPod touch - this current one comes via GizChina - who shows a picture of a case for the next gen iPod touch - which is a longer body than the current one - suggesting that whatever screen size the new iPhone gets the iPod touch will be getting as well - which you know kinda makes sense. The strange thing was the two holes on the back - as if it is going to have two different cameras for taking pictures and video in 3d. Which would be a huge one more thing - especially for the iPod touch.
Hi Rob,
Switchy is a new JB app I found today - it gives you an extra row for the 'opened apps' . When scrolling to the left it also has a kill-all-apps button ( though I think kill backgrounder is better for this tweak). There's also a slider for brightness and the settings app is available. Regards, Tash
Hi Rob,
I use Instacast for my podcast listening and it supports the 30 second jump back. This feature works with the "previous track" button on the lock screen with this app however. I'm not jailbroken at the moment, so i can't test, but I suspect that activator assigned to "previous track" on the power button would achieve what your listener was searching for. Regards, Jared
Santa Cruz, CA
Hi Rob,
Why Can't Siri Call 911?
Jessi D
And Jessi sent a screen shot of siri saying it can not call 911 - and I have to say I have not heard of this before. I would say we would need to ask Apple - but maybe it is some FCC rule that an automated assistant can not call 911 or maybe apple did that on purpose so that people don't accidentally call 911. I am not sure. If anyone know for sure - please let us know.
An interesting article from Bloomberg - in that Apple tried to throw a whole bunch of money at Taiwan Semiconductor to lock up production - this is something Apple has done in the past with great success. Except this time Taiwan Semiconductor - said thanks but no thanks. The said the same to Qualcomm who also was trying to lock up inventory.
It seems we are starting to see news coming in from the component side that is indicating that future growth of the Smartphone world may be limited by capacity issues at component vendors. Again in the past Apple has done a great job of locking up capacity just for them - that was probably more than anything the biggest piece Tim Cook brought to the table at Apple - the incredible supply chain management - that allowed apple to dominate in the Mp3 market.
So the question is will Apple be able to find someone else who they can lock up capacity from to ensure no major shortages this fall. My feeling is there will be both record sales this fall but there will also be more demand than there will be supply of apple products. Expect the iPad mini to be harder to get than Tickle Me Elmo back in its day.
Recently I said I thought T-Mobile was going to get the iPhone - Recently in this case being last show. Well now comes a leaked screen shot from T-Mobile for employee training which shows starting on Sept 21st here is how you sell against the iPhone. So the question obviously is why would you need to sell against that which you are getting unless you are not getting it.
It is possible that only select number of people at T-mobile know if they are getting the iPhone - and this item was written by someone not in the know - just assuming it is business as usually on Sept 21st and they are not getting the iPhone.
Well - I still think it was strange timing about their new network upgrade announcement.
We shall see.
Here is some feedback on my Rant about the Apple v Samsung verdict.
Hi Rob,I could not disagree with you more. Apple is not a villain. If you follow your logic why have patients at all? Since when does stealing make you a good guy. Especially when you do it as Samsung did. This is the right thing both in the short and long term. There is no way at the present time for Apple not to use Samsung. Apple does need the money, what company does not need a billion dollars. And it will be much more with licensing. If you think not, talk to the stock holders. Doesn't Apple need to have clear title to there hard earned technology rights? You can't just keep developing at a pace that is faster than what another company can copy. It takes time to develop. As for 3 years, how often have I heard that. And believe you me, others like Microsoft already know they need to find a way to be first. Wonder how long it would have taken Samsung to copy the iPhone 5 when it comes out or a change in the ios. The people you are hearing from now didn't not like Apple to begin with. And if you didn't like this court case. Wait until the bigger ones with Google, the prince of stealing and coping. I am proud that Apple stood up and spent the money to win this case. Not because it was Apple, but because it was right.
Regards,
Richard
And my reply - Hi Richard,
I did not say Apple "IS" a villain - just that Apple will be looked at as one by many.
I stand by my comments. I do not like the legal case (or really any legal case) - and I think Apple being the biggest customer of Samsung, was in a position to put pressure on them in another way.
Legal protection from a competitor is not a good long term protection.
The best protection is in out innovating - Apple did that on the iPod side - with no use of Legal lawsuits and was able to dominate there.
I do agree that Samsung slavishly copied the iPhone - like I said in the rant that was pretty clear.
Per Apple not needing the $1 Billion - that is 100% true - they don't need the money - they just gave away a lot more than that in the form of a dividend. Apple 100% does not need the $1 Billion dollars. They already have over $100 Billion in Cash (or equivalents) as it is. Not saying they don't "want" the $1 Billion - but they definitely don't "need" it.
Thanks to Mark H for this next one. Which is one of those articles that I save to the end and tell you to go check out - which is what I am doing here - it is an article titled - Your Smartphone's So Smart It Takes 14 Gadgets to Match It - which goes over all the different single use gadgets you would need if you did not have that iPhone in your pocket. From the obvious - Phone, Camera, MP3 player to the not so obvious - calculator, alarm clock and dictionary. It is a fun little article to remind you why your iPhone in comparison is a very good spend of your money as all the devices together cost over $1,200 - but more importantly it is a big saver on your back for the road warrior - just one device and one charger. Sure wish I had an iPhone back in my travel 75% of the time for work days.
Category: vip_Artwork
-- posted at: 12:30am EDT
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