Moore’s iPod/iPhone News Reader - Thursday, September 20, 2007
Apple To Nearly Double iPhone Production: Report
iPhone US Market Share Already Exceeding Other Established Vendors
Steve Jobs Picks a Fight With iPhone Unlockers
There's More To This Month's Pending iPhone Software Update
More iPhone lessons
Expect strong iPhone sales in UK and Europe
Steve Jobs gets a grilling at UK iPhone launch
iPhone review: this Apple is the pick of the crop
Apple's Fight Against iPhone Unlocks May Result In Expensive Bricks
Semiconductor Suppliers' Role in iPhone, Apple TV
The iPhone Arrives, But Is O2 Being Taken For A Ride?
Apple To Nearly Double iPhone Production: Report
Reuters's Lewis Krauskopf reports:
Apple Inc has prepared plans to nearly double its iPhone production in the fourth quarter, financial news Web site TheStreet.com reported, citing people familiar with the company.
For the full report visit here:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070919/tc_nm/apple_iphone_dc
iPhone US Market Share Already Exceeding Other Established Vendors
Blackfriars' Marketing says:
If you live in the US and think you understand the mobile phone market and its operating systems, you should study this chart. It demonstrates just how much the mobile phone market varies by geography. The other amazing thing? Apple's market share in North America is not only visible, but exceeds that of Microsoft in other non-US geographies....
You can check it out at:
http://www.blackfriarsinc.com/blog/2007/09/iphone-us-market-share-already
Steve Jobs Picks a Fight With iPhone Unlockers
Apple 2.0's Philip Elmer-DeWitt says:
Until yesterday, Apple had kept mum about attempts by various third-party programmers to free the iPhone from the binds that tie it to a particular carrier - AT&T in the U.S. and now O2 in the U.K. and T-Mobile in Germany. As recently as last week Apple responded to questions about the release of iUnlock with a terse "no comment."
But when asked a direct question at the "Mum is no longer the word" press conference in London yesterday, Steve Jobs couldn't remain silent -- especially in front of Matthew Key, CEO of O2 UK, which by all accounts has paid a pretty penny to be the iPhone's sole provider in Britain. Jobs responded to the question "Is unlocking a concern?" as follows:
"It's a constant cat and mouse game -- we have the same thing with the iPod with music." Steve looks at Matthew, "Are we the cat or mouse? We have to stay one step ahead of them." (quote from Engadget's live blog)
For the full report visit here:
http://blogs.business2.com/apple/2007/09/steve-jobs-pick.html
There's More To This Month's Pending iPhone Software Update
Ars Technica's David Chartier reports:
Steve Jobs told us the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store is coming to the iPhone with a software update before the end of this month, but that apparently isn't all in store for Apple's phone. Between screenshots revealed on the $100 iPhone credit page and photos of the iPhones at this week's UK announcement, we're learning a lot more about what is coming down the pipe in this first major iPhone software upgrade since the device's release.
For the full report visit here:
http://arstechnica.com/journals/apple.ars/2007/09/19/theres-more-to-this-months-pending-iphone-software-update
More iPhone lessons
Blackfriars' Marketing says:
I've received a lot of terrific comments and emails about my posting yesterday about Lessons from my son's iPhone. I'm dashing off to a meeting today, but here are some of the highlights:
1. Why the iPhone feels so much more responsive. Anders Brownworth nailed the answer to this one better than I could have....
2. ATT Family Plans. I received a one email saying that this has been a sore point with many in their move to the iPhone.....
3. iPhones in Canada. One reader asked when we'll see iPhones north of the Canadian border.....
4. Why don't I have an iPhone? I have two answers to this question. ....
For the full commentary visit here:
http://www.blackfriarsinc.com/blog/2007/09/more-iphone-lessons
Expect strong iPhone sales in UK and Europe
ITWire's Alex Zaharov-Reutt says:
A lot of articles about the iPhone's launch in UK say that the current '2G' iPhone won't do well in a market where 3G cell phones and networks are common – but as any iPhone user knows, it's not the bandwidth, but what you do with it – with a 3G model coming next year anyway.
Given that Steve Jobs has confirmed that a 3G model of the iPhone would come in the future, some were surprised when the iPhone's official introduction into the UK through O2 (and unofficially France through Orange and Germany through T-Mobile too before year's end) was exactly the same EDGE capable iPhone with Wi-Fi at 8GB launched in the US less than 3 months before.....
With the UK iPhone priced at Ł269 (or US $537), not much of the US price cut has made it to British shores, although Steve Jobs attributes this to the UK's tax structure and a high cost of trade, and while the people of the UK don't like it, they are used to this often being the case, with, I think, 'The Register' often calling it 'Rip-off Britain'.
Anyway, that is a whole different story, which also involves seeing what the price ends up being in Euros – something we'll all find out soon enough.
For the full commentary visit here:
http://www.itwire.com/content/view/14529/1103/
Steve Jobs gets a grilling at UK iPhone launch
Crave TV reports:
Last week we got a cryptic invitation to an event at the Apple Store on Regent Street. Not wanting to miss an opportunity to possibly see the UK iPhone, we galloped over there to get a glimpse at whatever Apple had hidden in the store. Fortunately, it was the iPhone, and better yet, Steve Jobs himself turned up to show it off. The British press were perhaps a little less respectful than their US counterparts and posed Jobs some rather tough questions.
For the full report visit here:
http://crave.cnet.co.uk/mobiles/0,39029453,49292859,00.htm
iPhone review: this Apple is the pick of the crop
The Telegraph's Claudine Beaumont reports:
A collective sigh of relief has greeted the news that British customers will be able to get their hands on the iPhone from Nov 9.
Apple kept gadget fans and technology experts on tenterhooks about when the device would reach European shores. Speculation has been rife about whether the delay indicated that Apple was making improvements to the iPhone.
It turns out they were not: the iPhone that hits British shops in November is exactly the same handset that was launched in America in June. That means no 3G support, no extra memory and only a two megapixel camera.....
....how does the device perform? In a word: beautifully. There really is nothing else on the market that can match the iPhone for the simplicity of its interface and sheer elegance, not even other touch-screen devices such as the LG Praa and HTC Touch.....
Apple, it seems, just can't lose.
For the full review visit here:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/09/19/nphone219.xml
Apple's Fight Against iPhone Unlocks May Result In Expensive Bricks
Ars Technica's Jacqui Cheng reports:
Apple will actively work against any SIM unlocks of the iPhone, says Apple CEO Steve Jobs. Jobs made the comments during a Q&A session that took place after yesterday's press event in London announcing availability details of the iPhone in the UK. When asked by a journalist whether unlocking was a concern for the company, Jobs said, "It's a constant cat and mouse game," according to ComputerWorld's account of the discussion. "We try to stay ahead. People will try to break in, and it's our job to stop them breaking in."....
Apple's stance on stopping hackers is different depending on the hack. When it came to hacking the Apple TV and introducing the first set of native iPhone applications—something that cannot be done the "legit" way because of Apple's lack of a formal SDK for developers—Apple took a neutral stance. Apple's Greg Joswiak said last week that Apple wouldn't stop anyone from writing the apps or actively work against them, but the company would also not make an effort not to break the hacks when releasing its own software updates. After all, the hacks are not officially supported.
But when it comes to SIM unlocking the iPhone, the game changes drastically.....
For the full commentary visit here:
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070919-apples-fight-against-iphone-unlocks-may-result-in-expensive-bricks.html
Semiconductor Suppliers' Role in iPhone, Apple TV
[Press Release]
Recent teardown research from IDC's semiconductor analysts provides insight into the value chain for cutting-edge consumer products, such as the Apple iPhone, the Apple TV, and the Slingbox AV.
"Teardown research analyzes product bill of material (BOM) costs and, more importantly, allows us to witness technology adoption and integration trends firsthand," said IdaRose Sylvester, senior analyst for IDC semiconductor program. "It also allows us to evaluate the competitive supplier situation from one product generation to the next."
Key Findings of the iPhone Teardown
IDC's teardown analysis of the iPhone reveals that many of its revolutionary features, including PDA functionality, strong multimedia playback, and WiFi, are made possible by the semiconductor content found in the device. "As a result, IDC sees new opportunities for semiconductor companies to sell into the converged mobile device market, now that Apple has pushed these features to the consumer," added Sylvester. "However, the competition is already lining up."
Key Findings of the Apple TV and Slingbox AV Teardowns
A similar teardown analysis compares two next-generation video products, the Apple TV and the Slingbox AV, and reveals that while both products are designed to make digital media more accessible, they approach video ubiquity from two different perspectives. The Apple TV is focused on getting PC-based content to the TV via a local area network (LAN) connection. The Slingbox AV is focused on getting TV and broadcast content to the PC via an Internet connection.
"Although both products are evolving the category of media extender and are subject to substantial growth, there are several issues potentially inhibiting the market, including cost, consumer acceptance, and digital rights management (DRM),'' noted Sylvester. "Semiconductor vendors have a role to play in providing the right features for the right price, but face a degree of uncertainty about market growth rate and ultimate size."
IDC's new technology assessment studies The iPhone: Revolutionary or Evolutionary Design? A Teardown Analysis Answers the Question and Apple TV Versus Slingbox AV: Decoding the Difference in Next-Gen Video Delivery with a Teardown examine the electronic bill-of-materials and competitive supplier situation of the Apple iPhone, as well as the Apple TV and Sling Media's Slingbox AV, respectively.
To purchase these documents, call IDC's Sales hotline at 508-988-7988 or email .
For more information, visit:
http://www.idc.com
The iPhone Arrives, But Is O2 Being Taken For A Ride?
The Register's Bill Ray reports:
Yesterday Apple announced that O2 would have the exclusive rights to their iPhone in the UK, with punters paying Ł279 for the phone and signing up to an 18-month contract.
But how much is O2 paying for its five-year exclusive, and can it really make any money out of it?
For the full commentary visit here:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/09/19/uk_iphone_at_last/
Charles W. Moore
