June 29, 2007
iPhone Guts Revealed
That right. The first iPhone we got in our hands - we took the mother apart. Read on for pictures and (coming in just a bit) video of the guts of the iPhone. Hint: it's tightly packed and uses an ARM processor with an Apple logo. Hint 2: This iPhone - it's dead Jim.
Read on to see the fruits of our "IPHONE SMASH" labors and check back a little late tonight for the full take-apart video - including tips for how to (and how NOT to) take apart an iPhone.
Update: Ready to cringe? Check out our disassembly video, below. And by "disassembly" we really do mean "destruction." But our pain is your gain - there's plenty of great details in the vid.
Don't forget - detailed photos of the iPhone's innards after the break.
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| Posted by Dieter Bohn on June 29, 2007 at 8:29 PM
Tags: featured, iPhone, processor, review, take apart, unboxing | 
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iPhone Launch: Mall of America
Mike's in line at the Mall of America - lucky number 13! Which means that a) at least one of the proprietors this website, which is dedicated to the iPhone, will actually have an actual iPhone in their hands, b) he has been there since 7am CST, and c) he has a good long wait ahead of him.
As Mike mentioned in his post below, news is taking a back seat to getting an iPhone today. However, you can keep an eye on this post right here for more pictures and updates of the Mall of America's Apple Store iPhone craziness throughout the day.
(Latest update: 4:45:00 CST)
| | Posted by Dieter Bohn on June 29, 2007 at 9:56 AM
Tags: featured, launch | (0)
Friday, June 29, 2007: Nothing
If only. It looks to be a busy day today; I'll be scrambling to the Mall of America shortly to start out the iPhone line, maybe shoot some video interviews for posting over the weekend or next week, and I'll be posting throughout the day if interesting things pop up. It's likely that I'll see the folks from Technology Evangelist as they'll be doing a little iPhone-waiting hootenanny of their own.
| | Posted by Mike Overbo on June 29, 2007 at 6:21 AM
Tags: iphone | (0)
Online Office Suite for iPhone
Zoho has optimized their online office suite "iZoho" for the iPhone. You do have to sign in and register to use it, but registration is free. | | Posted by Mike Overbo on June 29, 2007 at 5:59 AM (0)
June 28, 2007
Alaska and North Dakota: Misery Loves Company
We were aware that the iPhone wouldn't be available in Alaska. Well, it turns out that the iPhone won't be available in North Dakota, either: there are no Apple stores there; nor is there AT&T coverage. [Full Disclosure: though I no longer live there, I was born in Devil's Lake, North Dakota. 58301 4 eva!] | | Posted by Mike Overbo on June 28, 2007 at 7:39 PM (0)
boingboing.net iPhone roundup
BoingBoing.net has a huuuuuge iPhone roundup article with a metric ton of links. | | Posted by Mike Overbo on June 28, 2007 at 7:35 PM (0)
Free iPhones for Apple Veterans
If you've worked at Apple for more than a year, you may be eligible for a free iPhone. Jobs is expected to make than announcement tomorrow. Like the article says, it means that he's confident they'll have ample supply. | | Posted by Mike Overbo on June 28, 2007 at 7:33 PM (0)
iPhone Availability Checker
| | Posted by Mike Overbo on June 28, 2007 at 7:31 PM
Tags: iphone, stock | (0)
David Pogue Posts an iPhone FAQ
David Pogue has answered most of the questions that folks asked him after he published his excellent review. | | Posted by Mike Overbo on June 28, 2007 at 4:12 PM (0)
Nintendo Rumor All Over Again
There's another rumor that Nintendo will offer games for the iPhone. This rumor has been floating around for a month, and I'm still unconvinced that it's going to happen, because it would be seriously too awesome if it did. So here you go. | | Posted by Mike Overbo on June 28, 2007 at 12:24 PM (0)
iPhone Available on Prepaid!
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Apparently, if you fail the credit check in iTunes, it will present a new screen with the option of prepaid plans. I don't know if your credit takes a ding after the credit check fails. The Boy Genius Report scored a 65 page AT&T document, which is where they dug out the info.
| | Posted by Mike Overbo on June 28, 2007 at 12:09 PM
Tags: att, iphone, prepaid | (0)
iPhoney Update
| | Posted by Mike Overbo on June 28, 2007 at 12:07 PM
Tags: macintosh, omgnoappz | (0)
iPhones at the Apple Store
You can purchase a maximum of 2 iPhones per person at an Apple store, and the stores will be open until midnight. | | Posted by Mike Overbo on June 28, 2007 at 11:51 AM (0)
RSS Reader?
RSS Reader? Word / Excel Reader? Who knows? At any rate, Reader is only available on the iPhone. [via] | | Posted by Mike Overbo on June 28, 2007 at 11:49 AM (0)
Custom Ringtones?
Engadget has a post on custom ringtones for the iPhone. Someone delved into a movie screenshot and noticed 8 tabs, figured Ringtones was one of them, and there's speculation on the 8th tab (as of this moment, there's no custom ringtones for the iPhone, though that functionality is just a software update away). I'd lay odds that it's 'Applications' or 'Programs', and it will be active once they release an SDK. | | Posted by Mike Overbo on June 28, 2007 at 11:29 AM (0)
iPhone Campout Guide
This iPhone campout guide only covers New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and a few other Californian cities. But hey, if that's where you're thinking of camping out, it may be of use to you. | | Posted by Mike Overbo on June 28, 2007 at 10:45 AM (0)
June 27, 2007
AT&T Publishes iPhone FAQ
AT&T has posted iPhone FAQ to answer questions you may have regarding iPhone. iPhone apparently doesn't take definite or indefinite articles, at least not in AT&T FAQ. | | Posted by Mike Overbo on June 27, 2007 at 7:26 PM (0)
iPhone-sized Wallpapers
The Icon Factory has resized their free wallpapers to be compatible with the iPhone. | | Posted by Mike Overbo on June 27, 2007 at 7:22 PM (0)
Non-AT&T Carrier Talking Points
The carriers will put up some spin to stem the flow of subscribers to AT&T, and it looks like some of their talking points have been released. | | Posted by Mike Overbo on June 27, 2007 at 7:20 PM (0)
Gizmodo Agreement Matrix
Gizmodo put together a chart of some of the main talking points of the iPhone and selected quotes and phrases that identified how the reviewers agreed and disagreed with each other. It's worth the read if you'd rather skip the reviews. | | Posted by Mike Overbo on June 27, 2007 at 7:16 PM (0)
Sprint Nextel Now Sprint; NASCAR Lawsuit Now Kind of Weird
Sprint's problem is apparently branding; their current plan is to hemorrhage customers and dump the Nextel brand. It makes me wonder who's going to buy Alltel. | | Posted by Mike Overbo on June 27, 2007 at 6:41 PM (0)
This Article has iPhone in the Title
The article at Time isn't really about the iPhone; it's more about AT&T and the lackluster shape of our wireless carriers. They miss that the EDGE network isn't supposed to be fast; the iPhone isn't 3G, but there's still a very a valid point buried behind it. AT&T is rated either last or 2nd to last in most of the large markets; Apple tends to be rated first in satisfaction amongst its peers. It will be interesting to see how those ratings evolve. | | Posted by Mike Overbo on June 27, 2007 at 4:21 PM (0)
Apple Updates iPhone Specs Page
We now have a much more complete specs page. Also notable is everything listed that comes in the box -- the dock and dock connector come as part of the bundle. | | Posted by Mike Overbo on June 27, 2007 at 1:45 PM (0)
Apple Posts Another Video
| | Posted by Mike Overbo on June 27, 2007 at 1:40 PM
Tags: iphone, keyboard, video | (0)
John Pac Review Roundup
John Pac has posted a roundup of iPhone reviews up at allthingsd.com. They more or less say the same thing: most of what anyone thought was hype, was really just truth. | | Posted by Mike Overbo on June 27, 2007 at 1:01 PM (0)
New York Post: Wait
Glenn Fleischmann of the NY Post advises you to wait for the 2nd version. | | Posted by Mike Overbo on June 27, 2007 at 11:26 AM (0)
AT&T Find-A-Store
You can select "Apple iPhone" in the drop-down list to find an AT&T store that will be getting shipments of the iPhone. | | Posted by Mike Overbo on June 27, 2007 at 10:55 AM (0)
Negative Points
Engadget has a few bullet points up that summarize the positive and negative aspects of the iPhone; it's worth a read. A lot of the points could be addressed with future software updates; I'm curious what happened to A2DP (stereo bluetooth); that's one of the functions I am really excited about. | | Posted by Mike Overbo on June 27, 2007 at 10:52 AM (0)
Mossberg's iPhone Review
It's pretty much more of the same, if you've read Stephen Levy's and David Pogue's reviews -- his major complaint is again the AT&T network; his 2nd major complaint is web apps. They think it's a fun smartphone. Keyboard: "virtual keyboard on the screen, turned out in our tests to be a nonissue, despite our deep initial skepticism" | | Posted by Mike Overbo on June 27, 2007 at 8:57 AM (0)
June 26, 2007
First Reviews Are In
It looks like David Pogue (of the NY Times) and Steven Levy (of Newsweek) have finished their respective reviews. The gist of it is this: all the hype? They say it's more or less well-deserved.
| | Posted by Mike Overbo on June 26, 2007 at 11:56 PM
Tags: iphone, news, pogue | (0)
iDay: Apple Stores Close at 2, Open Again at 6
According to a blurb posted on Apple's Retail site, Apple stores will close at 2 PM local time and reopen at 6 PM local time. Here's the relevant blurb:
Apple retail stores will be closed on June 29 from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. to get ready for the premiere of iPhone. We’ll open the doors again at 6:00 p.m., when you can be one of the first to see, try, and buy the iPhone. Be sure to arrive early — iPhone is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
| | Posted by Mike Overbo on June 26, 2007 at 6:16 PM
Tags: apple, iphone, news | (0)
iPhone Europe: Vodaphone?
It's all pure conjecture of course; the article says nothing concrete, but it's the best news I've heard of a European iPhone launch recently. Still no word on Rogers and the Canadian iPhone front besides a petition for Rogers to lower their data rates; I have yet to hear anything about the iPhone in Mexico either. | | Posted by Mike Overbo on June 26, 2007 at 5:22 PM (0)
Apple Marketing is also Training
It fascinates me that Apple's marketing and commercial videos for the iPhone so far has also been all training. They show the iPhone being used for the main tasks that people will use, and that's it. The interface is good enough that it sells itself and doubles as a training video, which is brilliant.
They really want you to be able to use the device without you ever getting the Glazed Eye or the Thousand Yard Stare.
Microsoft iPhone Roundup
I haven't heard a peep out of Microsoft for quite some time; not really since Mossberg's D5. Nonetheless, Microsoft is in the news today.
| | Posted by Mike Overbo on June 26, 2007 at 4:31 PM
Tags: editorial, exchange, gruber, iphone, marketshare, Microsoft, video | (0)
Waiting Lines in NYC
They've begun. Gizmodo has a picture of it; FSJ talks of paying people to wait in line. Here's a video interview with the first two, and there's another guy waiting in line for an African charity in the SOHO branch. | | Posted by Mike Overbo on June 26, 2007 at 3:45 PM (0)
Sprint Figures to Lose 6%
of their smartphone customers. They don't post figures for overall customers, which would be interesting -- there's been some talk of halo effect for all smartphones, it would be great to be able to do some preliminary marketshare math here. | | Posted by Mike Overbo on June 26, 2007 at 3:38 PM (0)
Potentially Limiting Supply
Apple has apparently increased their order for touch screens. | | Posted by Mike Overbo on June 26, 2007 at 3:36 PM (0)
Activation and Sync Details Emerging
Bit by bit, information is coming out on how the syncing will work, and what it means to have to activate the iPhone before you can use it.
First, AT&T's return policy has changed: you now only have 14 days to try it out (it used to be 30 days). There's now also a 10% restocking fee for a return. Don't worry, though; the contract breakage fee ($175) is still the same if you miss that 2 week deadline. We knew the phone was going to be locked, though it's a surprise that it may be locked to one SIM card.
Second, you'll have to activate an AT&T plan before you can even use the iPod functionality of it. Crazy! Without a worth-$3000 2 year plan, that purchase is just a $499 or $599 pretty little brick. Hopefully it will reduce the reasons to steal them. It's going to be a hot little thing in my pocket, that's for sure.
David Pogue: Writing the Book on iPhone
It's funny; the Phone isn't out but David Pogue, New York Times tech reviewer extraordinaire, is already working on a book for it. I'm kind of thinking that it'll be a thin book; I don't think the iPhone is going to be too complicated. | | Posted by Mike Overbo on June 26, 2007 at 3:11 PM (0)
EngadgetMobile: Fake iPhone Retrospective
This trip down memory lane is a tear-jerker -- chock full of iPhone clones and would-have-been iPhones. | | Posted by Mike Overbo on June 26, 2007 at 3:07 PM (0)
AT&T Store Video Posted
AT&T's store display video has been posted to YouTube.
[via]
| | Posted by Mike Overbo on June 26, 2007 at 3:04 PM
Tags: att, hype, video | (0)
Another Halo Effect: Motorola
Another competing exec makes a vote for the iPhone: Brian Stech. I'm curious to see if he's right -- will many people look at the smartphone landscape, pass on the iPhone, and say "Yup, I'm getting a Q?" | | Posted by Mike Overbo on June 26, 2007 at 1:21 PM (0)
Another Day, Another Great Daring Fireball Post
This one mocks the New York Times and Verizon. | | Posted by Mike Overbo on June 26, 2007 at 12:54 PM
Tags: gruber | (0)
Carrier and Handset Stocks
There's a good analytical stock article at Barrons where they discuss smartphone and carrier stocks. Biggest on everyone's mind is the iPhone launch and how much AT&T stands to gain from it. | | Posted by Mike Overbo on June 26, 2007 at 11:02 AM (0)
iPhone Activation Video and Plans
Apple has posted a new training video to the site. The trainer is the same as the previous video, and he instructs in the activation of a previously purchased iPhone -- you can apparently purchase the iPhone and activate it (as well as select your plans) via iTunes, which hopefully means that the lines will move quickly on Friday.
Apple has also posted information on the rate plans. It looks like they are indeed the new version of the old AT&T Unity plans (see here), as they all include unlimited internet and 200 text messages.
| | Posted by Mike Overbo on June 26, 2007 at 10:37 AM
Tags: activation, att, iphone, plan, video | (0)
June 25, 2007
iPhone Has Entered The Country
A shipment departed from Hong Kong, arrived safely, and is apparently in customs now. In other news, anything with a camera or net connection is forbidden from Apple Store stockroom premises as of yesterday. | | Posted by Mike Overbo on June 25, 2007 at 1:48 PM (0)
Hype Hoedown? Hype Hootenanny?
It's seriously a smorgasbord of hype out there. I read more daily than I can shake a stick at. If hype was gold I'd be a leprechaun.
| | Posted by Mike Overbo on June 25, 2007 at 1:24 PM
Tags: haha, hype, iphone | (0)
Engadget Shakes Down Tester for Opinions
Engadget got one of the 200 iPhone testers to spill some beans about features of the iPhone, and the tester told Engadget what they thought of it. The important snippets are mostly about the keyboard and text input:
- overall: "disappointing." The tester had troubles with two-thumb input after trying "a number of days;" the iPhone video up at Apple says "a week and you'll be fine." I have no idea who's right here.
- "It won't replace a BlackBerry. It's not good for text input. It's just not a business product."
- text correction needs a bigger dictionary for proper names [they don't mention if it finds dictionary proper nouns from the address book, which is important]
- keypresses require strong force and "needs some getting used to"
- Apple Bluetooth Headset will be $100+
- page loads are slow on EDGE network
- the screen smudges when you put your fingers on it
Speaking personally, I'm ridiculously excited and nervous about a software keyboard. Less for unused buttons and more for the display is a win in my book, but you still need to be able to *use* it. If it's about as fast as T9, I'll be fine. If I want to write a magnum opus, I'll use a keyboard. That is to say, a hardware one, not a software one; I have a secret hope that Bluetooth keyboards will someday be available (or that they'll work out of the box).
| | Posted by Mike Overbo on June 25, 2007 at 12:24 PM
Tags: editorial, keyboard | (0)
Some ZDNet Employee Playing Hard To Get
I found a weird anti-pro-iPhone article at ZDNet. He's going to get one, he might stand in line, but he's not really going to commit to one until they add six features that he wants. You know, if you're willing to STAND IN LINE for an iPhone, you're frickin committed, already. I'll chalk it up to him wanting to write a pro-iPhone article but his editors want him to write some negative stuff to, you know, stand out or something. Highlights of his want list include more time with grandpa and a unicorn. | | Posted by Mike Overbo on June 25, 2007 at 11:43 AM (0)
Apple Demonstration Video
Apple has posted a new demonstration video of a bunch of iPhone features. It's very good; it's as much a training video as much as it is an informational video. My wife has a smartphone (one of my old ones), but doesn't really know how to use it, as there's no decent way to jump in. At any rate, I strongly recommend watching it if you're considering purchasing an iPhone. update: there's a decent writeup of it here. | | Posted by Mike Overbo on June 25, 2007 at 11:06 AM (0)
Enderle: Still Not a Genius
But he's in the news anyway. I feel bad for him, his name crops up only when he's saying something stupid. Case in point, being SCO's media poster child. | | Posted by Mike Overbo on June 25, 2007 at 10:36 AM (0)
IBM Expects iPhone to be Hacker Magnet
The IBM research team is pretty sure that the iPhone will be targeted by hackers and malware. However, they think it will be a very secure device. Choice quotes:
"It's going to be challenging for the bad guys to exploit them like they do other [smart phones][via]
....
A lot of these attacks are going to be very hard to launch against the iPhone."
| | Posted by Mike Overbo on June 25, 2007 at 10:32 AM
Tags: iphone, security | (0)
No iPhone in Alaska
The iPhone is not available in Alaska. I knew that Cingular had a limit to how long you could roam before they cancelled your plan but I didn't know how long it was: 4 months. | | Posted by Mike Overbo on June 25, 2007 at 9:57 AM (0)
iTunes Moves to #3
iTunes is the 3rd largest retailer of music at 9.8%. | | Posted by Mike Overbo on June 25, 2007 at 9:55 AM (0)
June 22, 2007
iPhone Guided Tour
This 20 minute video at Apple.com is nice, actually a little soothing. Goes through all the main functions of the iPhone. I'll probably watch it every day for the next eight long days (well, 7 and a half now). | | Posted by Dieter Bohn on June 22, 2007 at 12:48 PM (0)
Rumor: Belkin has Dock Connector Exclusivity
UPDATED 06/25/2007 10:00a: there's now proof that Apple has at least been thinking about it.
Someone just passed on a rumor to me -- Belkin may have exclusivity on the Dock charging port on the iPhone. My secondhand source indicated that there's a chip in the iPhone dock, and the iPhone will charge only if a corresponding chip is present on the charger.
The big question with this rumor is exactly how exclusive it is (oh yeah, and exactly how true it is) -- I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that Apple's charger would charge just fine too. Anyway, if this rumor is true (I should mention again that this is just a rumor), odds are decent that it's to get people to actually license the dock connector, instead of, well you know, stealing it. One of those DMCA-to-the-rescue-by-lawsuit type things.
At any rate, if it is true, it's crazy and unprecedented. What about other huge iPod accessory manufacturers, for example Griffin?
| | Posted by Mike Overbo on June 22, 2007 at 12:16 PM
Tags: dock, featured, rumor | (0)
iPhone Clock Frozen at 9:42
Don't ask me why I'm linking to a site that can't even get the capitalization right. I don't have a good answer for you. | | Posted by Mike Overbo on June 22, 2007 at 10:04 AM (0)
John Pac Owns A Treo
John Paczkowski, blogger on AllThingsD.com with tech giant Mossberg and others, owns a Palm OS Treo. But he wants an iPhone (video). | | Posted by Mike Overbo on June 22, 2007 at 9:58 AM (0)
Another iPhone Directory Site
Seriously, should we start one too? Are three enough? Still, this one has some nice features. | | Posted by Mike Overbo on June 22, 2007 at 9:53 AM (0)
AT&T Contract Breakage Fee: Still $175
The iPhone is heavily rumored to be unsubsidized at all by AT&T. But, if you cancel service on your iPhone contract after a certain period (a month?), you'll still have to pay AT&T a $175 contract breakage fee, they claim
"There are certain fixed costs we incur in serving every customer who establishes service with us."*Sigh*. I guess you can say that this agreement lets Apple be Apple and lets AT&T be AT&T.
I'm still hoping that the iPhone will still be available on prepaid plans. I don't intend to use it, but you know, for the kids.