iTunes Activation App
Specifically, one memo issued late last week noted that all company owned retail stores would soon see their desktop systems updated with an icon (below) "for the iTunes utility that will be used for unbricking iPhone 3G devices during the activation process." Employees were asked not to use the partial iTunes software until launch day, but were told that they "WILL need this icon for iPhone 3G launch on July 11th!"
The instructions support expectations that, at least in the case of sales at AT&T stores, each iPhone 3G will need to be unboxed and fully activated at the point of sale. In a second memo, the wireless carrier put out a call for additional part time staffers for launch weekend, which listed among the available positions a back office manager / inventory runner whose job would include bringing iPhone 3Gs from the inventory room to retail sales consultants and then helping to unbox them in order "to facilitate unbricking."
Call for Part Time Staffers
"Although we cannot predict the number of customers who will visit our stores the weekend of July 11 - 13, we want to be prepared for crowds," AT&T's vice president and general manager for the New England region told staffers in that memo. He asked that employees consider adopting at least one additional four- to seven-hour shift during the weekend, as additional staff are needed to fill a variety of positions, including Crowd Manager, Greeter, and Floor Coordinator.
Among the duties required of a Crowd Manager will be to "coordinate efforts with Line Manager to ensure customers are iReady," and set up stanchions to facilitate the queuing process. Greeters will be required to welcome customers to the store "within 10 feet or 10 seconds," as well as control the flow of those customers in and out of the store. Meanwhile, Floor Coordinators will be tasked with managing the occupancy level of the store and ensuring customers are sold iPhone 3Gs in the order in which they arrived.
Network Optimizations
Simultaneously, AT sized to handle additional T1 now and adding capacity as triggers dictate.
* Modify system parameters to maximize resource efficiencies.
Advertising
Finally, AT&T said that over the next few months, it plans to rev up a new series of regional advertising campaigns that will focus on network strength and exclusive devices like the iPhone 3G.
"Over the next few months you will notice a local advertising campaign that focuses on network strength," the carrier told employees. "You will hear it on the radio and see it online, on billboards, on bus wraps and other out-of-home media."
AppleInsider also recently covered an internal memo from Apple to its own retail staffers.
The move represents an about-face for the Seattle-based firm, which has long built its online music business around subscription-based services that offer subscribers temporary access to an unlimited number of copy-protected songs each month for a set fee.
Although Real had also previously offered a Rhapsody "To Go" service that sold tracks and albums outright, media files -- like those from its subscription services -- came wrapped in proprietary software that made them incompatible with Apple's industry leading iPod player.
Real said songs purchased from its new Rhapsody MP3 service can be played on virtually any MP3 player, including Apple's iPod and iPhone. Like iTunes customers, shoppers will be able to sample 30-second segments of each track before making their purchase, and all purchased tracks will immediately be funneled into either Rhapsody, RealPlayer or iTunes.
The service presently serves up more than 5 million songs from all four major music labels -- Universal Music Group, Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group, and EMI -- and an extensive number of independent labels. Most tracks are sold inline with Apple's pricing at $0.99 a song or $9.99 per album.
By contrast, Apple has thus far managed to secure only the music catalog of EMI in unrestricted AAC format for sale on iTunes. Threatened by overwhelming success of the iTunes service, the remaining labels have refused to come to terms with the iPod maker on sales of unrestricted tracks out of fear that such concessions would only increase the company's stronghold on the market.
In particular, labels have complained about Apple's unwillingness to allow flexible pricing on iTunes, as well as its unwavering approach to album sales, which mandates that customers be able to purchase individual songs from each and every album on the service rather than be forced into full album sales for particular works.
As part of its deal with the labels for Rhapsody MP3, Real has agreed to place throughout its store "a strong emphasis on the digital album with merchandising centers for 'new album releases,' 'old favorites,' and 'who's on tour.'" However, like similar deals between the labels and Amazon, Real is able to offer prices for its MP3 service that are on par with iTunes -- a move the labels hope will reduce Apple's influence on digital music sales.
Real, which commands just 1 percent of the online music download market, once attempted to boost adoption of its Rhapsody service by reverse engineering a hack called Harmony that allowed songs purchased from the service to be converted to Apple's proprietary FairPlay format for use on iPods.
Apple, which said in a statement that it was "stunned" by Real's adoption of hacker tactics to "break into the iPod," later issued a firmware update for its digital media players that dismantled the hack.
As part of its announcements Monday, Real said it will leverage the marketing power of Rhapsody's relationship with MTV Networks to launch a "Music Without Limits" ad campaign to support its new MP3 service that will include broadcast, online and print advertising. �
The company said it anticipates spending more than $50 million in the next year, including more than $15 million in the third quarter alone. As part of the campaign, it is giving away a free album to the first 100,000 people (US only) who sign up for the new MP3 store by July 4th.
Subscribers who sign up for a 24-month contract can purchase an 8GB iPhone 3G for about $377 ($2938 HKD) or a 16GB model for around $479 ($3738 HKD) when choosing a $24 ($188 HKD) per month service plan that includes 500 basic minutes, 500 heart-to-heart minutes, 25 multimedia content messages, 15 text content messages, 500 MB of data usage and unlimited Intra SMS messages.
A $34 per month plan subsidizes the 8GB iPhone to $233 ($1738 HKD) and the 16GB model to $326 ($2538 HKD) and includes 800 basic minutes, 900 heart-to-heart minutes, 40 multimedia content messages, 25 text content messages, 500 MB of data usage and unlimited Intra SMS messages.
Stepping up to a $42 per month plan reduces the cost of the 8GB iPhone to $128 ($938 HKD) and the 16GB model to $223 ($1738 HKD) and bundles 1500 basic minutes, 1200 heart-to-heart minutes, 50 multimedia content messages, 35 text content messages, 500 MB of data usage and unlimited Intra SMS messages.
Subscribers who opt for 3's top-tier plan at $64 per month get an 8GB iPhone for free, or a 16GB for less than $20 ($138 HKD). The plan includes 2200 basic minutes, 1500 heart-to-heart minutes, 150 multimedia content messages, 50 text content messages, unlimited data usage and unlimited Intra SMS messages.
Readers can compare these plans to those recently announced by Rogers of Canada, TeliaSonera of Sweden, and Netcom of Norway.
iPhone 3G service plans offered by "3" in Hong Kong.
Specifically, the survey of 3,600 RBC Technology Adoption Panel members conducted shortly after Apple's annual developers conference this month indicated that 56 percent of those consumers who plan on buying a smartphone in the next 90 days have their heart set on the sleek new iPhone 3G.
That's a jump from just 35 percent of consumers who said they anticipated buying one of the new touch-screen handsets back in March when the firm conducted a similar survey before Apple had announced pricing and features. Another 25 percent indicated that they may buy an iPhone 3G "sometime in the future" -- a more than twofold increase in interest from the March study.
There's more good news for Apple. The same study showed that purchase interest in the Apple handset is two times greater than that of other brands surveyed. Consumers holding out for a BlackBerry device in the next 90 days made up 23 percent of responds, while Palm garnered interest from just 3 percent. HTC, Nokia, and Samsung each had the interest of 2 percent of respondents to the study, and Motorola just 1 percent.
Consumers routinely cited the iPhone 3G's lower price (67 percent) and faster 3G internet access (63 percent) among the top reasons they plan to choose the Apple handset. 47 percent indicated GPS was a strong selling feature as well, while 35 percent included enterprise email in the list of selling points, and 20 percent check-marked third party applications.
Overall, RBC analyst Mike Abramsky said the surge in interest is the biggest jump ahead of any consumer phone recorded by his firm's internal panel since 2003.
"Overall intentions by the panel to purchase smartphones jumped to 10.5 percent, indicating a significant expansion of the smartphone market," he wrote. "[The] iPhone's TAM (Total Addressable Market) handset share [is] expected to rise from 0.3 percent in 2007 to 1.7 percent in 2009.
The analyst, who reiterated his Outperform rating on Apple shares, said he continues to expect that the company will ship 14 million iPhones in 2008 and 24 million in 2009.
Apple releases Mac OS X 10.5.4 update, security fixes
Published: 06:40 PM EST
Apple on Monday evening released Mac OS X 10.5.4, the latest significant revision to Leopard and a key part of its online strategy. Also, Security Update 2008-004 and Safari 3.1.2 for Tiger address security issues for earlier Mac OS X versions.
Apple on Monday evening released Mac OS X 10.5.4, the latest significant revision to Leopard and a key part of its online strategy. Also, Security Update 2008-004 and Safari 3.1.2 for Tiger address security issues for earlier Mac OS X versions.
| |
In addition to laying the groundwork for the future replacement for .Mac, the update is also key to fixing a number of major bugs identified since the release of Mac OS X 10.5.3, including an Adobe CS3 corruption bug with remote file saves and a chronic shutdown flaw.
Also mended with the fix are reliability with AirPort when on 5GHz 802.11a and 802.11n networks, iCal stability, access to secure websites with Safari, and a number of fixes for Expos� and Spaces.
Support for additional cameras' RAW photo formats has also been expanded, the company says.
Apple recommends the update for all Leopard users to improve the stability of their systems, and rolls in previous security updates released between Mac OS X 10.5.3 and the new update.
Additionally, the company has released Security Update 2008-004 for Mac OS X Tiger client (Intel, PowerPC) and Tiger Server (Intel, PowerPC) that bring security fixes built into Mac OS X 10.5.4 to the earlier operating systems, including protection against vulnerabilities in significant components such as CoreTypes, the Dock, SMB File Server, Ruby and Webkit.
A third update, Safari 3.1.2 for Mac OS X Tiger, fixes a specific flaw in WebKit (addressed for Leopard in 10.5.4) that would allow malicious JavaScript to either crash Safari or else allow running hostile code through the browser.
The full list of fixes in Mac OS X 10.5.4 follows below:
General
* Includes recent Apple security updates.
* Resolves an issue with saving and reopening Adobe Creative Suite 3 les on a remote server.
* Includes additional RAW image support for several cameras.
* Addresses an issue that may result in a partially installed X11 application.
* Improves L2TP VPN client reliability.
AirPort
* Addresses AirPort reliability issues with 5GHz networks.
* Addresses AirPort issues that may result in slower performance in Logic Studio or MainStage.
iCal
* Improves overall iCal reliability for meeting requests, cancellation notices, delegation, and syncing with iPhone.
* Resolves an issue that prevents deleting an iCal event without notifying the creator.
* Addresses an issue in which events in all calendars affect availability. A checkbox now enables information-only calendars to be transparent from free/busy lookups.
* Resolves a UI issue preventing delegated calendars from showing up as a separate window.
* Addresses an issue with copying and pasting attendees from one event to another.
* Resolves an issue in which iCal may not delete events after a specied time interval, even when set to do so in iCal preferences.
* Addresses an issue in which To Dos cannot be marked private.
Safari
* Addresses a potential performance issue when loading secure web pages.
* Resolves issues that may be encountered when accessing secure web pages with client certificates that reside on a smart card.
Spaces and Expos�
* Addresses an issue in which switching from a space with a Finder window keeps the Finder as the active application instead of the application residing in the destination space.
* Fixes an issue in which dragging an application from the list of application assignments in Spaces System Preferences does not assign the application to the desired space.
* Resolves an Expos� issue that may result in only a subset of windows being shown.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Third-party tool allows Mac Pro overclocking
The German edition of ZDNet has posted a utility dubbed ZDNet Clock Tool that allows owners of the Intel-based Mac workstations to push the clock speeds of their Xeon processors significantly higher -- with leaps from 2.8GHz to 3.24GHz for more recent systems.
Proven to work by those in the Mac community, the approach also increases the speed of the system bus and the memory as a result, though Apple's choice of hardware ironically suits it better to the process than many gaming-oriented parts for Windows computers: as the Mac Pro must use RAM with error correction, it prevents an excessive overclock from ruining data on the hard drive by making sure that only valid data leaves system memory.
The clock difference is enough to provide a tangible "free" upgrade in performance to the systems, though this isn't always measurable. In synthetic tests such as Geekbench, the software can incorrectly report similar performance even though timing the results proves that they're above what would happen at Apple's officially rated clock speeds.
However, unlike most overclocks, the technique requires a certain degree of trickery and carries an extra amount of risk. The current version of the tool works by loading a kernel extension into Mac OS X on boot that forces the clock speeds upwards immediately after the system starts. Without it, the Mac Pro would immediately revert back to its stock speeds the moment the system is rebooted, according to ZDNet. The initial beta app can also sometimes be overridden when the Mac comes out of sleep mode.
Like most overclocking, the technique is also limited by the nature of the hardware. At present, the German experimenters are unable to push past the 3.24GHz barrier without an inherently unreliable system. The faster processor speeds eventually overwhelm the memory and prevent it from correcting every error, triggering a kernel panic in Mac OS X that forces a reboot. High-performance third-party memory that operates above spec is described as the only real solution to this problem.
System time also falls out of sync without the expected clock rates and can't be corrected even by calibrating the computer online, the testers say. Instead, a reboot is necessary to at least temporarily provide accurate timekeeping.
While very much a beta version and potentially dangerous -- the possibility exists that the system won't start up correctly -- the utility is the first known that modifies core system performance on Intel-based Macs. Until recently, most overclocking utilities for Macs have dwelt on ramping up clock speeds on video cards to eke out more 3D performance for games.
Proven to work by those in the Mac community, the approach also increases the speed of the system bus and the memory as a result, though Apple's choice of hardware ironically suits it better to the process than many gaming-oriented parts for Windows computers: as the Mac Pro must use RAM with error correction, it prevents an excessive overclock from ruining data on the hard drive by making sure that only valid data leaves system memory.
The clock difference is enough to provide a tangible "free" upgrade in performance to the systems, though this isn't always measurable. In synthetic tests such as Geekbench, the software can incorrectly report similar performance even though timing the results proves that they're above what would happen at Apple's officially rated clock speeds.
However, unlike most overclocks, the technique requires a certain degree of trickery and carries an extra amount of risk. The current version of the tool works by loading a kernel extension into Mac OS X on boot that forces the clock speeds upwards immediately after the system starts. Without it, the Mac Pro would immediately revert back to its stock speeds the moment the system is rebooted, according to ZDNet. The initial beta app can also sometimes be overridden when the Mac comes out of sleep mode.
Like most overclocking, the technique is also limited by the nature of the hardware. At present, the German experimenters are unable to push past the 3.24GHz barrier without an inherently unreliable system. The faster processor speeds eventually overwhelm the memory and prevent it from correcting every error, triggering a kernel panic in Mac OS X that forces a reboot. High-performance third-party memory that operates above spec is described as the only real solution to this problem.
System time also falls out of sync without the expected clock rates and can't be corrected even by calibrating the computer online, the testers say. Instead, a reboot is necessary to at least temporarily provide accurate timekeeping.
While very much a beta version and potentially dangerous -- the possibility exists that the system won't start up correctly -- the utility is the first known that modifies core system performance on Intel-based Macs. Until recently, most overclocking utilities for Macs have dwelt on ramping up clock speeds on video cards to eke out more 3D performance for games.
Friday, June 27, 2008
Apple memo coaches employees on iPhone 3G launch questions
Apple Inc. is distributing to its retail and sales personnel an internal iPhone 3G Frequently Asked Questions document which implies that first-day sales and activation procedures are still being ironed out. It does, however, provide some information on bulk iPhone 3G sales for businesses.
The 3-page document outlines recommended responses to 17 common questions customers may ask of retail staffers in the weeks and days leading up to the handset's official launch on Friday, July 11th, while urging those employees not to "speculate beyond the information that is public today."
"You may not place iPhone 3G on hold for anyone. No exceptions. Do not create a waitlist," Apple corporate told store managers in the document. "It is critical that all stores follow the same process to ensure every customer has an equal and fair opportunity to purchase a phone."
Since iPhone 3G will be sold on a first come, first served basis, employees are also being told to call any customer who has reserved an iPhone Personal Shopping session on or after July 11th and inform them that Personal Shopping sessions won't apply to the iPhone 3G.
"We hope to offer Personal Shopping for iPhone 3G shortly," Apple said.
If a customer says, "I just bought a first generation iPhone. Will I be able to upgrade to an iPhone 3G at a discounted price or exchange it for an iPhone 3G?," Apple store reps are being told to say that they "don�t have any information regarding upgrades."
If a customer asks why they should buy an iPod touch if they can get more bang for their buck by buying an iPhone 3G (which includes all the functionality of an iPod touch), employees are instructed to respond by saying the "iPhone 3G is offered at such a terrific price because, like most cell phones, it requires a 2-year carrier contract."
Customers may then ask, "Are you going to change the iPod touch pricing now that you lowered the cost of iPhone?" To this, employees should respond by saying, "Not that I am aware of."
Meanwhile, Apple is keeping its employees -- like the rest of the world -- in the dark about first-day activation procedures. Should a customer ask whether it's true that iPhone 3G activation will have to take place in the store, then inquire about buying one without in-store activation, retail staffers should say: "I don�t have any details at this time about activation."
The document does, however, reveal some useful information regarding bulk iPhone 3G purchases. For instance, one individual can buy several iPhone 3G units for their business and have them set up in an Apple retail store if their business uses a consumer rate plan.
"If your business uses a corporate plan, sometimes called a CRU or IRU plan, you will need to go to an AT&T store to purchase the iPhone 3G for your employees," Apple says. Similarly, small business owners looking to purchases the new phone at volume discounts should "contact an AT&T representative," as the wireless carrier "offers corporate billing and data plans."
The internal FAQ document also refers several other questions to AT&T representatives, such as those related to using iPhone 3G in Canada and other countries. "iPhone 3G is a world phone," Apple said. "Check with AT&T about international roaming fees and data plans."
Customers asking about one-time fees associated with moving from a first-generation iPhone to an iPhone 3G should be told that they "will need to sign a new two-year contract at the point of purchase, but "may want to check with AT&T regarding any fees."
Finally, Apple informs staffers that "Detailed rate plans have not yet been announced. When they are announced, Apple Store Specialists will be ready to review and help [customers] pick out the best plan for [their] needs."
People familiar with Cupertino-based company's plans say the iPhone maker will hold worldwide retail meetings on July 6th to begin conveying official launch procedures to its staff.
Apple insider "hiimamac" helped contribute to this report.
The 3-page document outlines recommended responses to 17 common questions customers may ask of retail staffers in the weeks and days leading up to the handset's official launch on Friday, July 11th, while urging those employees not to "speculate beyond the information that is public today."
"You may not place iPhone 3G on hold for anyone. No exceptions. Do not create a waitlist," Apple corporate told store managers in the document. "It is critical that all stores follow the same process to ensure every customer has an equal and fair opportunity to purchase a phone."
Since iPhone 3G will be sold on a first come, first served basis, employees are also being told to call any customer who has reserved an iPhone Personal Shopping session on or after July 11th and inform them that Personal Shopping sessions won't apply to the iPhone 3G.
"We hope to offer Personal Shopping for iPhone 3G shortly," Apple said.
If a customer says, "I just bought a first generation iPhone. Will I be able to upgrade to an iPhone 3G at a discounted price or exchange it for an iPhone 3G?," Apple store reps are being told to say that they "don�t have any information regarding upgrades."
If a customer asks why they should buy an iPod touch if they can get more bang for their buck by buying an iPhone 3G (which includes all the functionality of an iPod touch), employees are instructed to respond by saying the "iPhone 3G is offered at such a terrific price because, like most cell phones, it requires a 2-year carrier contract."
Customers may then ask, "Are you going to change the iPod touch pricing now that you lowered the cost of iPhone?" To this, employees should respond by saying, "Not that I am aware of."
Meanwhile, Apple is keeping its employees -- like the rest of the world -- in the dark about first-day activation procedures. Should a customer ask whether it's true that iPhone 3G activation will have to take place in the store, then inquire about buying one without in-store activation, retail staffers should say: "I don�t have any details at this time about activation."
The document does, however, reveal some useful information regarding bulk iPhone 3G purchases. For instance, one individual can buy several iPhone 3G units for their business and have them set up in an Apple retail store if their business uses a consumer rate plan.
"If your business uses a corporate plan, sometimes called a CRU or IRU plan, you will need to go to an AT&T store to purchase the iPhone 3G for your employees," Apple says. Similarly, small business owners looking to purchases the new phone at volume discounts should "contact an AT&T representative," as the wireless carrier "offers corporate billing and data plans."
The internal FAQ document also refers several other questions to AT&T representatives, such as those related to using iPhone 3G in Canada and other countries. "iPhone 3G is a world phone," Apple said. "Check with AT&T about international roaming fees and data plans."
Customers asking about one-time fees associated with moving from a first-generation iPhone to an iPhone 3G should be told that they "will need to sign a new two-year contract at the point of purchase, but "may want to check with AT&T regarding any fees."
Finally, Apple informs staffers that "Detailed rate plans have not yet been announced. When they are announced, Apple Store Specialists will be ready to review and help [customers] pick out the best plan for [their] needs."
People familiar with Cupertino-based company's plans say the iPhone maker will hold worldwide retail meetings on July 6th to begin conveying official launch procedures to its staff.
Apple insider "hiimamac" helped contribute to this report.
O2 Pay & Go iPhones start at 299 euro, make data optional
"The new 3G 8GB iPhone for Pay they can alternately choose a text package that adds 300 SMS messages within the UK, an evenings and weekends package that adds 50 minutes regardless of area, an unlimited O2-to-O2 SMS package, or 100 minutes of international calling from the UK.
Those spending more get additional time, culminating in a �30 minimum that either gives unlimited calls from a specific location and between O2 users, unlimited UK messages, 300 evening and weekend minutes, and 200 international minutes. Most of the plans are only available through O2's online store.
Those prices include unlimited browsing and Wi-Fi for the first six months after customers activate the phone, but are discontinued after the initial period. Customers will afterwards need to spend an extra �10 per month beyond their prepaid voice to maintain the unlimited data access.
At the end of the six months, O2 says it will notify customers at the end of the six month period by text, which will allow them to easily unsubscribe if they choose to do so. Data roaming is allowed but costs as much as �3 per megabyte in European Union nations and �6 elsewhere.
O2 doesn't say whether the Pay As You Go options will be available outside of its official outlets but may depend more heavily on these than on contract signups for its sales: a company official has warned that Apple retail stores may be forced to offer prepaid iPhones without the infrastructure in place to process contract subscribers.
Those spending more get additional time, culminating in a �30 minimum that either gives unlimited calls from a specific location and between O2 users, unlimited UK messages, 300 evening and weekend minutes, and 200 international minutes. Most of the plans are only available through O2's online store.
Those prices include unlimited browsing and Wi-Fi for the first six months after customers activate the phone, but are discontinued after the initial period. Customers will afterwards need to spend an extra �10 per month beyond their prepaid voice to maintain the unlimited data access.
At the end of the six months, O2 says it will notify customers at the end of the six month period by text, which will allow them to easily unsubscribe if they choose to do so. Data roaming is allowed but costs as much as �3 per megabyte in European Union nations and �6 elsewhere.
O2 doesn't say whether the Pay As You Go options will be available outside of its official outlets but may depend more heavily on these than on contract signups for its sales: a company official has warned that Apple retail stores may be forced to offer prepaid iPhones without the infrastructure in place to process contract subscribers.
Adobe ships Acrobat 9, updates CS3 suite
As previewed late in May, the new suite is an evolutionary upgrade that makes standard features that were previously left to outside plugins and reworks existing features.
Adobe's biggest offerings are its format and collaboration tools. Version 9 now adds native support for Flash animations embedded into PDF files, a redesigned interface for packaging multiple PDFs now dubbed PDF Portfolios, and a beta online collaboration service at acrobat.com that lets workgroups view and edit PDFs online at the same time.
The refresh also lets owners of differing versions make scanned-in documents searchable, the ability to track when people complete and submit forms, and create geospatial-aware PDF-based maps.
The full Acrobat 9 software is available immediately in a Standard edition for $299 with a $99 upgrade price; a Pro edition at $449 adds the ability to validate PDF files to certain standards, convert files from AutoCAD and other formats to PDF, and embed either Flash or H.264 video clips. It can be purchased as an upgrade for $159.
A definitive Acrobat 9 Pro Extended version at $699 ($229 upgrade) bundles Adobe Presenter, which lets users edit PowerPoint presentations and translate them to PDF, allows more 3D and video conversion formats, and adds the map creation feature.
The unveiling of Acrobat 9 also brings the launch of Creative Suite 3.3, an upgraded version of the audiovisual editing package that now includes Acrobat 9 by default. Photoshop and other programs in the suite are unchanged from their respective versions released last year.
Adobe's biggest offerings are its format and collaboration tools. Version 9 now adds native support for Flash animations embedded into PDF files, a redesigned interface for packaging multiple PDFs now dubbed PDF Portfolios, and a beta online collaboration service at acrobat.com that lets workgroups view and edit PDFs online at the same time.
The refresh also lets owners of differing versions make scanned-in documents searchable, the ability to track when people complete and submit forms, and create geospatial-aware PDF-based maps.
The full Acrobat 9 software is available immediately in a Standard edition for $299 with a $99 upgrade price; a Pro edition at $449 adds the ability to validate PDF files to certain standards, convert files from AutoCAD and other formats to PDF, and embed either Flash or H.264 video clips. It can be purchased as an upgrade for $159.
A definitive Acrobat 9 Pro Extended version at $699 ($229 upgrade) bundles Adobe Presenter, which lets users edit PowerPoint presentations and translate them to PDF, allows more 3D and video conversion formats, and adds the map creation feature.
The unveiling of Acrobat 9 also brings the launch of Creative Suite 3.3, an upgraded version of the audiovisual editing package that now includes Acrobat 9 by default. Photoshop and other programs in the suite are unchanged from their respective versions released last year.
Orange says iPhone 3G to sell for 149 euros on July 17th
France Telecom's Orange said Thursday it will launch Apple's much anticipated iPhone 3G in France on July 17th with prices starting at 149 euro ($233) for the 8GB model.
Handset prices and plans
The exclusive French carrier of the touch-screen handset said the 16GB model will fetch 199 euro. Both subsidized prices require that customers also purchase a subscription to one of its existing "Orange for iPhone" plans (below), or its Origami Star (from 3 hours), First or Jet plans.
With other plans (except time-cutoff and pay-as-you-go), the 8Gb iPhone will sell from 199 euro and the 16Gb model from 249 euro, Orange said. For instance, customers can get the 8GB model for 199 euro with a one-hour Origami Star plan that costs 32 euro and offers up to 500MB of monthly internet access.
Meanwhile, "Orange for iPhone" plans (below) start at 49 euro per month for a plan that includes 2 hours of normal talk time, 2 hours of late evening and weekend minutes, and 50 SMS text messages. The most expensive plan is priced at 149 euro and includes 12 hours of normal talk time, 12 hours of nights and weekends, and 1000 SMS messages. All "Orange for iPhone" plans include Visual Voicemail and up to 500MB of monthly data usage.
Orange will also offer the 8Gb 3G iPhone from 199 euro and the 16Gb version from 249 euro with a 24-month contract under its loyalty upgrade program.
Preferential upgrade offer
As part of the carrier's "Change your mobile" promotion, Orange customers who purchased an iPhone before 12 June 2008 and are using it with an Orange plan (except time-cutoff, Initial and Mobicarte) will be able to buy the 3G iPhone for 99 euro through a 100 euro refund valid until 31 October 2008. The offer requires a 24-month contract.
iPhone 3G for business
The 3G iPhone will also launch for Orange Business Services clients on July 17th. Business clients will also be eligible for the "Change your mobile" offer.
Orange said its 3G network currently covers over 66 percent of the French population.
Handset prices and plans
The exclusive French carrier of the touch-screen handset said the 16GB model will fetch 199 euro. Both subsidized prices require that customers also purchase a subscription to one of its existing "Orange for iPhone" plans (below), or its Origami Star (from 3 hours), First or Jet plans.
With other plans (except time-cutoff and pay-as-you-go), the 8Gb iPhone will sell from 199 euro and the 16Gb model from 249 euro, Orange said. For instance, customers can get the 8GB model for 199 euro with a one-hour Origami Star plan that costs 32 euro and offers up to 500MB of monthly internet access.
Meanwhile, "Orange for iPhone" plans (below) start at 49 euro per month for a plan that includes 2 hours of normal talk time, 2 hours of late evening and weekend minutes, and 50 SMS text messages. The most expensive plan is priced at 149 euro and includes 12 hours of normal talk time, 12 hours of nights and weekends, and 1000 SMS messages. All "Orange for iPhone" plans include Visual Voicemail and up to 500MB of monthly data usage.
Orange will also offer the 8Gb 3G iPhone from 199 euro and the 16Gb version from 249 euro with a 24-month contract under its loyalty upgrade program.
Preferential upgrade offer
As part of the carrier's "Change your mobile" promotion, Orange customers who purchased an iPhone before 12 June 2008 and are using it with an Orange plan (except time-cutoff, Initial and Mobicarte) will be able to buy the 3G iPhone for 99 euro through a 100 euro refund valid until 31 October 2008. The offer requires a 24-month contract.
iPhone 3G for business
The 3G iPhone will also launch for Orange Business Services clients on July 17th. Business clients will also be eligible for the "Change your mobile" offer.
Orange said its 3G network currently covers over 66 percent of the French population.
Apple ups 2008 iPhone 3G build orders to 15 million - report
Checks within Apple's supply chain reveal the iPhone maker to have hiked its iPhone 3G build orders through the end of the year to more than 15 million, according to one Wall Street analyst.
In a report issued to clients Thursday, FBR Capital Markets analyst Craig Berger said the Cupertino-based company revised both third and fourth calendar quarter iPhone build numbers "significantly higher" to more than 15 million units, in addition to placing orders for 2 million more 2G iPhones.
"With about seven million incremental units being built in [the third quarter] versus [the second quarter], this data clearly has positive implications for iPhone chip suppliers," he said. '[Second quarter] build volumes fell by 25 percent versus prior checks in mid-May (now up only 80 percent quarter-over-quater) as Apple pushes production out a bit into [the third quarter].
The analyst said Broadcom and Marvell stand to be amongst the largest beneficiaries of the increased iPhone build forecast, as they're both believed to be supplying key components for the new iPhone 3G.
Berger said a similar round of checks turned up evidence of an approximate 15 percent positive revision to forward looking iPod build orders, which now suggests sequential growth of 35 percent for the company's digital media player business.
"Greater Classic and Nano builds are partially offset by fewer Touch builds," he told clients. "[Second quarter] build volumes remain largely unchanged, growing 35 percent quarter-over-quarter."
Following the upward trend in the handheld department, Mac orders have also reportedly shot up. Compared to the analyst's previous checks, orders by Apple to its Taiwanese manufacturing facilities suggest anywhere from a 10 to 20 percent increase in Mac system builds.
"These checks also suggest Apple continues to knock the cover off the ball, that its product cycle momentum is ramping, and that any consumer spending malaise in the U.S. or Europe has yet to impact Apple-related product demand," he said.
In a report issued to clients Thursday, FBR Capital Markets analyst Craig Berger said the Cupertino-based company revised both third and fourth calendar quarter iPhone build numbers "significantly higher" to more than 15 million units, in addition to placing orders for 2 million more 2G iPhones.
"With about seven million incremental units being built in [the third quarter] versus [the second quarter], this data clearly has positive implications for iPhone chip suppliers," he said. '[Second quarter] build volumes fell by 25 percent versus prior checks in mid-May (now up only 80 percent quarter-over-quater) as Apple pushes production out a bit into [the third quarter].
The analyst said Broadcom and Marvell stand to be amongst the largest beneficiaries of the increased iPhone build forecast, as they're both believed to be supplying key components for the new iPhone 3G.
Berger said a similar round of checks turned up evidence of an approximate 15 percent positive revision to forward looking iPod build orders, which now suggests sequential growth of 35 percent for the company's digital media player business.
"Greater Classic and Nano builds are partially offset by fewer Touch builds," he told clients. "[Second quarter] build volumes remain largely unchanged, growing 35 percent quarter-over-quarter."
Following the upward trend in the handheld department, Mac orders have also reportedly shot up. Compared to the analyst's previous checks, orders by Apple to its Taiwanese manufacturing facilities suggest anywhere from a 10 to 20 percent increase in Mac system builds.
"These checks also suggest Apple continues to knock the cover off the ball, that its product cycle momentum is ramping, and that any consumer spending malaise in the U.S. or Europe has yet to impact Apple-related product demand," he said.
Apple proposes translucency to solve "window overlap" problem
Window-based information systems like the Mac OS X Finder face a common problem called "window overlap." Apple in a new patent filing suggests solving this problem through the use of gradual and manipulative window transparency.
In the 16-page filing made this March, the Mac maker explains that when operating system windows overlap one another, they tend to hide valuable information such as other windows or icons.
"What results is that the particular information the user wants to obtain may be hidden behind several layers of windows and may be difficult to access; when an icon is hidden by another window it is temporarily not accessible," the company says. "This has been referred to in the industry as the 'window overlap' problem. There are several instances where window overlap problems routinely arise in the usage of conventional user interfaces."
For the purpose of the particular filing, Apple chose to focus on floating windows that provide feedback information to a user regarding a particular operation, which are often "a useful, yet sometimes annoying phenomenon." As such, it proposes to overcome this problem by providing such floating windows with varying visual and manipulative qualities.
"For example, a floating window that has not been updated with new information within a predetermined time period will become translucent so that the underlying window or windows are then visible to the user," the company said. "Other actions or omissions may also serve as a trigger for graduated translucency of windows [...] Moreover, as the floating window becomes translucent, the user can click-through to the underlying window(s) to interact with its contents. When information on the floating window is updated, it can return to being opaque until the predetermined time period has elapsed again without new information being presented."
More specifically, Apple explained that a floating window could become translucent via a series of steps. For example, the floating window may initially be displayed as completely opaque and then, after the predetermined time period expires, have its opacity reduced in steps of, for example, twenty-five percent.
The floating window could also have a lower limit of translucency as well. Each of those parameters could be set by the application which generates the floating window or be set by the system or the user.
"By applying graduated visual translucency, as well as manipulative translucency, a user is able to receive the benefits of an information-bearing floating window without having to move the floating window to reach underlying content," Apple added. "Moreover, the change in visual translucency provides a focus mechanism to the user who will readily associate a return to opacity with new information being presented on the floating window."
Separately, Apple also continues to strive for a patent on a version of its Mighty Mouse that would shed the traditional scroll ball for a completely optical scroll sensor build into the device's housing.
In the 16-page filing made this March, the Mac maker explains that when operating system windows overlap one another, they tend to hide valuable information such as other windows or icons.
"What results is that the particular information the user wants to obtain may be hidden behind several layers of windows and may be difficult to access; when an icon is hidden by another window it is temporarily not accessible," the company says. "This has been referred to in the industry as the 'window overlap' problem. There are several instances where window overlap problems routinely arise in the usage of conventional user interfaces."
For the purpose of the particular filing, Apple chose to focus on floating windows that provide feedback information to a user regarding a particular operation, which are often "a useful, yet sometimes annoying phenomenon." As such, it proposes to overcome this problem by providing such floating windows with varying visual and manipulative qualities.
"For example, a floating window that has not been updated with new information within a predetermined time period will become translucent so that the underlying window or windows are then visible to the user," the company said. "Other actions or omissions may also serve as a trigger for graduated translucency of windows [...] Moreover, as the floating window becomes translucent, the user can click-through to the underlying window(s) to interact with its contents. When information on the floating window is updated, it can return to being opaque until the predetermined time period has elapsed again without new information being presented."
More specifically, Apple explained that a floating window could become translucent via a series of steps. For example, the floating window may initially be displayed as completely opaque and then, after the predetermined time period expires, have its opacity reduced in steps of, for example, twenty-five percent.
The floating window could also have a lower limit of translucency as well. Each of those parameters could be set by the application which generates the floating window or be set by the system or the user.
"By applying graduated visual translucency, as well as manipulative translucency, a user is able to receive the benefits of an information-bearing floating window without having to move the floating window to reach underlying content," Apple added. "Moreover, the change in visual translucency provides a focus mechanism to the user who will readily associate a return to opacity with new information being presented on the floating window."
Separately, Apple also continues to strive for a patent on a version of its Mighty Mouse that would shed the traditional scroll ball for a completely optical scroll sensor build into the device's housing.
Details emerge of iPhone 3G international launch
Steve Jobs announced at WWDC that the new iPhone 3G would launch simultaneously in 22 countries on July 11 and expand to at least 70 countries by the end of 2008. What wasn't revealed was the unit and service pricing details for mobile carriers outside of AT&T in the US. Jobs also didn't brag up the hardball plan deals he forced upon carriers or his efforts to recreate a spectacular launch event internationally.
AppleInsider has learned that, somewhat unsurprisingly, the iPhone 3G will be more expensive in parts of Europe relative to the US when compared in US dollars. While the new model was publicly announced with a dramatic $199 price tag along with a two year service plan from AT&T here in the US, sources familiar with the details of Apple's European mobile carrier partners have indicated that the new iPhone will be priced at 199 Euros in parts of Europe, like Spain.
Thanks to the weak US dollar, at current exchange rates that works out to a little more than $310 in US currency. That pricing premium is nothing new, as Apple's Mac and iPod products in Europe are commonly priced the same in Euros as identical models of Apple's American products are in US dollars, making them a bit more than 50% more expensive outside the US.
Apple is not unique in this type of international pricing. Other American consumer electronics products have a similar price premium in Europe despite the strength of the Euro to the US dollar. And across the board, European prices for everything from food to clothing are similarly about the same in Euros as they are in dollars in the US, in part because EU countries add tax into the advertised price, while states that charge sales tax in the US add it on top.
The end result is that travel to Europe is very expensive for Americans and conversely, Europeans can bargain hunt in the US with a highly favorable exchange rate. That reality has caused a significant number of Europeans to buy their iPhones while visiting New York or San Francisco, causing inventory shortages in the US while Apple's European iPhone retail partners saw a more tepid demand.
The Man with the Plan
Apple is apparently taking international exchange rate pricing pressures into consideration in the iPhone 3G rollout, requiring that domestic iPhone purchases be activated with AT&T in the store at the time of sale. This will make it unattractively expensive for Europeans to buy iPhones in the US for export.
Now that Apple has "signed, sealed and delivered" iPhone distribution contracts with mobile providers in nearly every major market, the company doesn't have to leave the door open to grey market unlock scalpers, who have helped sell a significant percentage of iPhones to international users. The article "Does the iPhone Shortage Herald an Impending 3G Release? Probably Not" profiled Apple's inventory challenges and the unlocked iPhones being sold for more than $730 in Bangkok.
While pundits fretted over "missing iPhones" supposedly lost to a crisis of overseas unlocking, Apple executives expressed the idea on several occasions that unlocked phone sales were not a problem for the company and only indicated strong demand for the iPhone overseas. Now that Apple has official distribution deals internationally, it has no need to allow grey market sales.
Flat Rate or No Date
iPhone sales quickly grew to become the second largest selling phone platform in the US, but also rose to the top web browsing client in America. Web server tracking logs also indicate extremely broad distribution of the iPhone worldwide, a factor that no doubt helped Apple sell foreign providers on signing up to offer the iPhone.
Sources close to Telefonica, Apple's Spanish iPhone partner, indicate that Jobs leveraged that worldwide iPhone demand to push mobile providers to offer a flat data rate, something that many international telcos were loath to do. They would prefer to sell data by the kilobit, which not only adds up to bigger bills but is also easier to load balance on the network.
Since Apple doesn't make a per-kilobit commission, it would rather have its customers on a flat rate than encourages data use and shows off the differentiation of the iPhone as a mobile web browser and email device. While individual plans in every launch country have not yet been officially released, sources indicate Apple had demanded all international carriers offer a flat rate for unlimited data, although those plans are often more expensive than AT&T's iPhone deal in the US, perhaps as high as 90 Euros per month.
The Big Launch, Part Two
After orchestrating a media circus at last year's iPhone launch that involved long lines of giddy customers, dramatic retail store closings that involved an interior makeover, and Disneyland-style retail employee theatrics to welcome buyers, Apple appears to be aiming to top its own record for the most spectacular launch of a consumer electronics product.
In Spain, Telefonica's office building in the shopping mecca of Madrid's Gran Via is getting quietly rebuilt in a first floor makeover planned around the July 11 launch of the iPhone 3G. Windows displays have been gutted in the prime retail space, and its animated video screen signage is not yet functional (below). Apple is withholding any comment on launch events, apparently in an effort to prevent the story from getting old before the launch itself occurs.
With that launch now just two weeks away, Telefonica and Apple's other international partners are scrambling to set up a flawlessly executed media extravaganza set to explode just prior to the iPhone 3G going on sale.
You Want WiFi With That?
Telefonica is also rolling out WiFi hotspots that offer iPhone users a custom web page to log in using their mobile number (below). This echos the deal between AT&T and Starbucks to offer iPhone users free WiFi access in the US, a deal that was prematurely advertised, then backtracked upon in a bungled rollout that appears to have been originally intended for embargo until the iPhone 3G launch.
When attempting to connect to Telefonica's WiFi public hotspots in train stations and other locations, existing iPhone users in Spain are presented with the option of logging in with their phone number to access their account. However, there are no current iPhone service plans being offered by Telefonica or its Movistar mobile brand in Spain.
The web page text reads:
"Beinvenido a la pagina de Registro inicial de su iPhone movistar en el servicio Zona WiFi de Telefonica. Por favor, indroduzca su numero de telefono. Di los datos con correctos, empezara a navegar immediatamente y no se la requeriran en futuros accesos. Si no tiene contractado el servicio iPhone Movistar y quiere accedar al serviceo Zona WiFi de Telefonica, pulse aqui."
In English: "Welcome to the initial registration page for Telefonica Movistar WiFi. Please enter your phone number. If the information is correct, you will be able to browse immediately and not require future access. If you do not have a Movistar iPhone service contract and want to access Telefonica Movistar WiFi, click here."
The combination of a flat rate mobile data plan and free access to public WiFi hotspots run by Apple's partners will help position the iPhone as more than a basic smartphone, targeting its value as wireless mobile Internet platform. The mounting details of Apple's international launch of the iPhone 3G also calls to mind Bill Gates' 2003 email (unearthed by Todd Bishop of the Seattle PI and recently cited by the Daring Fireball) referencing the planning Apple invested in setting up the original iTunes Store. "Steve Jobs�s ability to focus in on a few things that count, get people who get user interface right and market things as revolutionary are amazing things," Gates wrote.
