Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Something up with Apple?

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  • Russell Brown,

    There's more interesting stuff on the iPhone and what might happen next year. From my Listener column:

    An American website, Apple Insider, recently noted a crop of trademark applications for the word “iPhone”. Applications have been made on behalf of Apple Computer in Australia, Canada, Britain, Singapore, the European Union and – just last month – New Zealand.

    And, bearing in mind that Google CEO Eric Schmidt recently joined Apple's board in what was seen as a signal the two companies pan to co-operate:

    Computerworld reporter Juha Saarinen discovered two new internet domain names that point the way. The domains xtragoogle.co.nz and googlextra.co.nz have been registered by Wellington Harbour Properties Ltd, a shell company operated by AJ Park, the intellectual property law firm that Telecom uses for its domain name registrations.

    A Telecom spokesperson told Saarinen that any future plans were “commercially sensitive” but conceded that the company’s relationship with Microsoft had come to “a natural point of review”.

    An alliance with Google could mean any number of things for Telecom and its Xtra subsidiary, but the registration of the names isn’t conclusive proof that the two are getting together – the barriers to registration are low enough that it is often done on a purely speculative basis. Nonetheless, quite a few people will be watching that space.

    YouTube for mobiles was announced this week ...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg,

    well Apple need to do something..in Asia (a mere 3 billion odd people) Sony Erriccson's Walkman phones, if visual evidence is anything to go on, seem to be doing the business, and taking it from both Apple (who outside Japan have always been a smaller player than they are in the US market) and Creative.

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg,

    This is rather interesting too....

    On Tuesday, Universal Music Group's Doug Morris told the Reuters Media Summit "it would be a nice idea" to seek an concession from Apple like it did from Microsoft and its Zune. "We have a negotiation coming up not too far. I don't see why we wouldn't do that... but maybe not in the same way."

    Not exactly fighting words from Mr. Morris. Compare that statement to his tongue lashing at YouTube and MySpace In September: "We believe these new businesses are copyright infringers and owe us tens of millions of dollars."

    more at link..

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • Tomorrowpeople,

    On another note, wil the iTunes NZ store offer us the chance to D/L local TV content?

    EML or Ourageous Fortune on the bus anyone?

    The Craps tables at the B… • Since Nov 2006 • 188 posts Report Reply

  • Compie,

    or Toni Marsh with the weather while on the bus...

    Dunedin/Vancouver • Since Nov 2006 • 114 posts Report Reply

  • Tomorrowpeople,

    lol.

    What is it with Toni Marsh?

    I don't get it.

    The Craps tables at the B… • Since Nov 2006 • 188 posts Report Reply

  • Simon,

    she's the apple in our eye and she brings us sunshine

    actually I don't get it either

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 2 posts Report Reply

  • Compie,

    ok way off task here,

    but that voice and...

    but compared with the blokes and TVone's line up Marsh is the woman for the weather anytime (in the absence of that climate change denying Augie that is). She actually does a good fist of it most of the time (and I'm a weather freak).

    Interweaving threads, wouldn't it be great to get some old Kiwi shows off on Utube and on ipods. i could giggle at Spot On on the bus.

    Dunedin/Vancouver • Since Nov 2006 • 114 posts Report Reply

  • Jeremy Matthews,

    The Herald is saying Wednesday or Thursday. They've got an interview with a big wig from Apple that they don't know the name of.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10413471

    Christchurch, New Zealand… • Since Nov 2006 • 29 posts Report Reply

  • Compie,

    and from the best mac rumour site.

    http://www.macrumors.com

    New Zealand iTunes Store Coming Wednesday?

    same herald article basically.

    But you know, as great as this is, I'm just still going to spend time in Real Groovy in Dunners (they need to do better with the music dvd section though).

    Dunedin/Vancouver • Since Nov 2006 • 114 posts Report Reply

  • Jeremy Matthews,

    Well they've paid for another year of domain registration now.

    I really need to get out more I think.

    Christchurch, New Zealand… • Since Nov 2006 • 29 posts Report Reply

  • Lance Hodges,

    In "iPhone" news, Mr Kevin Rose dropped some info about the iPhone on a podcast. Rumors on the iPhone specs have been pretty broad so It's hard to know exactly what it will be packing apart from the obvious iTunes integration.

    Kevin Rose: "It is coming in January to all providers with 2 batteries, 2 sizes 4GB & 8GB, slide out keyboard, touchscreen and a "cool" OS??

    I want one NOW!

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 17 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    and a "cool" OS??

    Actually, that definitely sounds like the sexiest part. Any guesses on what that OS might be?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Tomorrowpeople,

    The phone thing - yeah, it's no doubt coming and might be a Nokia/Moto/Sony killer... however, as far as that being announced over iTunes NZ, my moneys off.

    If the OS was a portable version of OSX then that would be interesting in itself....

    The Craps tables at the B… • Since Nov 2006 • 188 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    If the OS was a portable version of OSX then that would be interesting in itself....

    Hey, maybe it's time for the Newton OS revival!

    Other possibilities: a tooled-up verion of the iPod OS, or an adaptation of an existing Java platform.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Lyndon Hood,

    Any guesses on what that OS might be?

    Rockbox!

    But, y'know, with a cellphone thingy.

    As to what OS it will be released with, I've no idea.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1115 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg,

    The phone thing - yeah, it's no doubt coming and might be a Nokia/Moto/Sony killer..

    only if they can get a retail structure in place globally to compete with those people, and the iPod infrastructure / network doesn't count. Those companies have a street retail presence everywhere in the world that dwarfs Apple's...the iPod may have a presence out there but in sheer volume the cellphone market so very much bigger. Those companies have a head start that is almost insurmountable.

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • David Slack,

    maybe it's time for the Newton OS revival!

    Now that brings back memories:

    Doonesbury #1

    Doonesbury #2

    Doonesbury #3

    Doonesbury #4

    And more recently on the Microsoft side of the ledger, this

    Devonport • Since Nov 2006 • 599 posts Report Reply

  • Tomorrowpeople,

    only if they can get a retail structure in place globally to compete with those people, and the iPod infrastructure / network doesn't count. Those companies have a street retail presence everywhere in the world that dwarfs Apple's...the iPod may have a presence out there but in sheer volume the cellphone market so very much bigger. Those companies have a head start that is almost insurmountable.


    yeah, OK well maybe re-phrase that with adding "...in certain markets/niches".


    However, I'm sure Apple don't want to kill off their iPod sales with their own phone so....

    The Craps tables at the B… • Since Nov 2006 • 188 posts Report Reply

  • Tomorrowpeople,

    One further important question.
    Which network would the Apple phone run on?

    VF or Telecom?

    Or both...

    The Craps tables at the B… • Since Nov 2006 • 188 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Those companies have a head start that is almost insurmountable.

    But less so, perhaps, in the US, where the big global mobile brands aren't so utterly dominant, and where there's room for Sidekicks and Blackberrys.

    As I recall, the rumours have been saying there will be two iPhones - a basic model that plays music, and a full-featured handheld computer product.

    BTW ...

    Q: Who's the fourth-biggest music retailer in the country, and climbing?

    A: Vodafone.

    Telecom is a long way back ...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • matthewbuchanan,

    Which network would the Apple phone run on?

    That would depend on whether it's a GSM or CDMA phone I guess?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 163 posts Report Reply

  • Jeremy Matthews,

    Almost definitely Vodafone. CDMA support just isn't out there quite the same. Unless of course they did both.

    Oh for a frankenstein phone on both networks. Samsung have one out I believe, but it's not here yet.

    Christchurch, New Zealand… • Since Nov 2006 • 29 posts Report Reply

  • Lance Hodges,

    Any guesses on what that OS might be?

    My guess is a lite version of Leopard.

    Macworld is the most obvious place to launch....

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 17 posts Report Reply

  • matthewbuchanan,

    Some details have been "confirmed" by Digg founder Kevin Rose, as noted by Engadget:

    Extremely small form factor
    Two battery design -- one for music, one for phone functions
    Single charger
    Flash memory: 4GB for US$249, 8GB for US$449
    Slide-out keyboard
    Possible touchscreen
    Likely launch with single GSM carrier (CDMA and other GSM to follow)

    Macworld definitely seems like the likely launch date.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 163 posts Report Reply

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