Just when all seemed fine with Apple’s iOS 6.0.2 firmware update and the No Service bug seemed fixed , tonight for several hours I lost all reception.
Frustrating, as I really had thought the latest iOS update had fixed it. So sure, I even cancelled my Apple Genius appointment. Looks like I will need to reschedule one.
Hot of the press of my last post, Electronic Arts has started it’s war on blitzing the AppStore with its reductions. The most expensive items are now $0.99 while several are now free. Be careful, since free might really be freemium.
As examples the following are on sale, Dead Space, Battlefield 2, Sim City Deluxe, and many more.
It’s at that time of year where Google, Apple and developers are getting ready to offer free and reduced media, from apps, films, music and more.
Firstly, make sure you have the 12 Days of Xmas app from Apple installed. Every day from the 26th December something free is given away. Last year was a mix of songs, music videos, films, apps and TV shows. If you install the app now as I did, I have already have received a free music video.
Second. The Apple AppStore closes shortly, and it is then that a number of developers reduce their apps. Why. Well just think of all those people opening Apple gear over Xmas. Reducing and promoting the reduction, in turn pushes your apps higher up the table, and in turn creates more sales. In fact, getting it right over Xmas means a massive spike in sales for developers. For us consumers, we get a ton of apps for a small amount of money.
So if you have android watch out as Google is offering something similar to Apple’s 12 days of Xmas. In fact it has also given away a free music video, ironically of the same artist Rod Stewart. If Google do anything like they did last year, they offered a sale on apps at crazy low prices. In fact, when I got my new Samsung Note last year, I was able to purchase all the apps I wanted for under £5. I bought over 15. Link to Google promotion Xmas Google Offer
In addition, the developers on the android platform offer similar reductions. The difference here is making sure you check out the variety of difference sources the apps are available from as android apps can be bought from many difference places. Make sure you have the Amazon AppStore app installed. Between Google, Amazon and the developers own websites they is sure to be huge discounts on offer.
So whatever you do, do sneak a peek at the deals whilst eating your Xmas pudding.
I have installed the latest iOS update on my iPhone 5. It’s early days but this seems to have been more than just the wifi bug fix. The No Service bug has been fixed too. I kept a signal even after 10 mins. In fact the signal strength has held miles better even in rural spots.
I did have a genius appointment tomorrow but it looks very likely this will be cancelled.
The bonus too is the bug fixes allow for crazy battery life. So far so good. I’m keeping fingers crossed.
Update – the iPad Mini seems to be holding wifi signal and not disconnecting when screen is off.
So another day and another session in court for Apple and Samsung. What was interesting this time was the fact that the judge denied Samsung a mistrial and Apple a ban on Samsung products.
This seems like the Judge having had enough of the constant legal wrangling between these two companies. But the piece I find interesting is the judge denied a sales ban on Samsung phones due to the fact Apple hadn’t and won’t get impacted by Samsung phones. If that is the case what merit does the billion dollar settlement figure against Samsung hold true? In the UK, the courts threw out most of Apple’s claims. They weren’t interested. HTC settled with Apple. It would be interesting to understand the monetary values apportioned to that agreement and then compare it to the billion dollars Samsung is meant to pay to Apple. I doubt for one minute there is any similarities.
There is no question Samsung copied Apple to try and compete, but they had no choice. That is what consumers wanted. But their copying didn’t impact Apple sales. The US patent system sure doesn’t make sense. A smaller settlement should be paid but not a billion dollars. But then are the features found on iPhones unique and patentable? The same question could be asked for Samsung. And should essential mobile technologies that we as consumers need, be allowed to be patented. And if they are, a separate ruling body should set out the agreed amount other companies that use this technology should pay. Simple solution.
What both these companies now need to do is innovate and not litigate.
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Apple is in talks with Foursquare for a data sharing deal to bolster its Maps application. If this does happen I wonder if this is what Apple needs. A social Map app. Do you think so?
Copilot Live had a big update. It’s gone universal. Yelp is now available and traffic incident details on your route, rotation lock and a new privacy menu. The universal part is interesting timing. Google Maps influence perhaps?
My fav word game Letterpress just got updated too. On iOS 6 you can share replays. You can tweet or email or just hoard links to your games. The dictionary is improved as is iPad rotation.
Google Maps for iOS racked up 10m downloads in 48 hours. That clearly sends a big message. Google Maps was needed and missed.
YouTube Capture is a new app from Google. This new app allows you to easily film and share video. Touch up videos with colour correction, stabilisation, trimming and music tracks. Upload to YouTube , Google +, FaceBook and twitter at the same time. At the moment only available for the iPhone and iPod Touch.
Another year has passed, and the competition is expanding rapidly. There are 5 key operators that exist – Apple, Google, Amazon, RIM and Microsoft.
My predictions for each for 2013 are as follows –
Apple – more of the same. The iPhone 5 becomes the 5S just with better internals and a software feature exclusive to that model. Possible colour options too. iOS 7 will add dynamically changing icons and improve the operating system is minor ways. The iPad Mini will get thicker and heavier but have a retina or near retina screen. The new iPad will be better somehow, probably with better internals like a spec bump on the camera, processor and maybe memory up to 128gb. The remainder of the Apple products will start to feature more iOS like software integration.
Google – expect to see mind blowing specification devices – phones and tablets. Huge screened phones will be abundant. Android will in 2013 close the gap between its Eco system and Apple. But will it be as easy to use? Or will android turn in to a computer operating system and be too clever. Market share will increase again. It wouldn’t surprise me if Samsung release a handset to excel in performance and art form over Apple.
Microsoft – more and more handset will appear and it’s market share will start to grow rapidly at the expense of Apple and Google. This company has the ability to become a major player again. It has plenty of money in the bank at the moment, and has a decent suite of office / work applications that everyone is familiar with.
RIM – Blackberry 10 get launched end of January 2013. I’m certain it will be a big fanfare event. However, by the end of the year, they will have been bought by either Microsoft or Samsung. Maybe Amazon even.
Amazon – and now on to the dangerous competitor, armed and ready to obliterate its competition. New tablets and ereaders plus it’s first smartphone. In 2013 it will strengthen its position and offering. But I say watch out everyone. 2014 is the year Amazon explodes with great new products along with a ready made ecosystem. Plus they already have the cloud sorted and understand about logistics.
Interesting times ahead. What do you think?
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