Friday, August 29, 2008 -- 11:44 a.m. -- on my couch

The truth is out there (cue X-Files theme) but Steve Jobs leaves it to us to find it.

What does this have to do with 2.0.2? Well, as you might have heard, it's a pretty important update, according to Apple and AT&T. Apparently, the more people who use 2.0.2, the better your iphone is likely to get when it comes to 3G signal strength.

First, Roughly Drafted magazine spoke to someone with knowledge and then I took some time to follow up with my sources to make sure that what I was reading and hoping to explain to you was actually correct.

And, for the most part, it is. And it's actually really interesting.

I'll explain it as simply as I can. There's a certain algorithm that handles all the under-the-hood stuff -- signal strength, routing calls, towers, etc., etc. Stuff that we don't need to worry ourselves with.

In 2.0 and 2.0.1, the algorithm is faulty. 2.0.2 improves the algorithm. But because we live in an environment where not everyone updates their iPhone software at the exact same time, we live in a world where 2.0 and 2.0.1 and 2.0.2 are mixed. And that's where the problem is.

The 2.0 and 2.0.1 phones are communicating with the same towers as the 2.0.2 phones. But in the case of 2.0 and 2.0.1 phones, the algorithm is asking for too much power from the towers, causing a bad experience for 2.0.2 users.

Long story short, if you lived in a town with 1,000 people and 500 iPhones and every single one of those 500 iPhones was using 2.0.2 -- not a single 2.0.1 or 2.0 -- you'd have (in theory) flawless 3G coverage. But add 1 or 2 or 10 stray 2.0 and 2.0.1 iPhones -- which are faulty -- and the satisfaction rating falls. Change that whole example to major metro areas like Chicago and New York and it makes perfect sense.

In the past day or two, while other sites have been reporting this, I've been doing some serious research wit some engineering sources that I have ... and I've been asking people in suburban locations that are supposed to have strong 3G signals to talk to me about how their iPhone usage has been. And it was fascinating to me that folks in very small towns were telling me how great 3G was and how fast it was and how they couldn't understand how I was having the problems I was having.

Well, I get it now ... in those more isolated areas outside the city, there are less iPhones and therefore less chances that non 2.0.2 iPhones are communicating with the towers. That means a more flawless 3G experience. According to this really unscientific testing, if I sent a busload of 2.0.1 users to that town and told them to all turn on 3G at the same time, the people who said 2.0.2 was great for them should instantly have trouble.

Well, I'm not going to do that to anyone, so relax. But you see the point ... and now you see why the photo accompanying this post is so important ... this is AT&T letting everyone know that 2.0.2 is the way to go because the more people that upgrade their software, the better the experience is for everyone else out there.

So I have one question for Apple and AT&T. Why in the world didn't you just say so?

Communication is what AT&T does ... it's what Apple does ... so why, Apple, didn't you release a statement saying that there's a problem with the way 2.0 and 2.0.1 communicates with the towers and that's why 2.0.2 is a vital update? Why did you just say bug fixes?

Honestly, Steve ... bug fixes is like the old story of the boy who cried wolf. When I see bug fixes, I usually say ... oh, bug fixes. Ehhh. Update whenever. Probably nothing. It took a ridiculous amount of work from this blogger and countless other sites out there to confirm why 2.0.2 was so important.

Can you explain why in an age where customer service is so important why that's my job? I'm happy to help my readers any time of day, but isn't that what you are supposed to do?

And my guess, AT&T, is that you can't say anything because Apple won't let you ... so your answer (and it's a good one, under the circumstances) is to release a text message that basically lets people know that 2.0.2 would be a good thing to have. So no blame to AT&T there ... I understand that you can only do what Apple lets you do. I'd even go so far as to say that it must be frustrating for AT&T to know that the problems that exist on the iPhone are not theirs and they can't do much to fix it other than send cryptic text messages.

Steve ... I try to give you and Apple the benefit of the doubt at every possible juncture. I have to explain to callers why I'm negative when I shouldn't always be negative. But looking at this situation, I don't understand your logic. You made a mistake in 2.0 and 2.0.1. 2.0.2 fixes it. Admit the mistake, tell your customers what happened, tell everyone that upgrading to 2.0.2 is the most important thing they could possibly do in their lives and let's move on to bigger and better things!!!

Geez.

Instead, I'm writing a book explaining it. Let me write the book later. For now, you've got thousands and thousands and thousands of people writing on Web sites like mine and forums like yours about how their iPhones don't work the way they are supposed to and you let them just sit there while this 2.0.2 information is out there. I'm sorry, but I just don't see the logic behind that no matter how hard I look at this.

So tell me, Steve et al ... iTunes 7.7.1. Well, I basically told the world not to upgrade to it. What did it do differently than 7.7 besides crash a lot of folks' iPhones? Oh yeah, bug fixes. So I'm guessing 7.7.1 has some hidden gem in it that makes me coffee in the morming? Or cooks me dinner? I guess if that's the case that I'm going to have to do some investigating, because obviously you aren't going to tell me about it.

Anyhow, it's another negative point that I'm forced to make. With the iPhone complaints at the level that they are, we deserve more than this, Steve Jobs.

OK. that said ... let's recap.

* 2.0 and 2.0.1 have problems.

* Steve Jobs needs to do a much, much better job at communicating.

Did I miss anything? Please let me know in the comments.

Thanks for calling. And remember .. it's Labor Day weekend here in the U.S. ... so I may be off doing stuff on Sunday when I'd normally be working. I'm around in case breaking news happens and I'll answer comments when I can.

Thursday, August 28, 2008 -- 8:01 p.m. -- at my desk

**UPDATE: I just noticed that if you go to Weather Underground's regular iPhone site at i.wund.com, you can still access all the tropical weather information along with oodles of U.S. severe weather information. This most recent update to this site is just really nicely done.**

Currently, even the weather apps that I use every day don't cover tropical weather. I'm sure they will at some point, but until they do, I need an alternative for my fix.

And considering there are people in places like New Orleans who are looking for more than a fix -- they are relying on it for their livelihoods -- now there's a great way to keep track.

The already great Weather Underground site is optimized for the iPhone at i.wund.com and now tropical weather is optimized at i.wund.com/tropical. You'll find tropical discussions, maps, tracking -- everything that you'd normally associate with tropical weather in one really convenient place.

I think what Weather Underground is doing is great, especially now. And I think the people creating and updating any weather app can learn from Weather Underground and remember that tropical weather coverage is a pretty important piece of the puzzle.

Let me know what you think of Weather Underground's work ... I'm a big fan.

Thanks for calling.

Thursday, August 28, 2008 -- 11:48 a.m. -- on my couch

Oh, Bloomberg. You have such a nice iPhone app and then you go and do the ultimate journalistic gaffe -- you posted, however briefly, an obituary for a person that's still alive.

And Steve Jobs' obit, no less.

The guy has been peppered with questions for months about his health. His battle with cancer was publicized in a sometimes heartless way, where every time Steve looked like he lost a few pounds, people were assuming and printing that he was sick.

I chose not to cover that whole saga. I think it's ridiculous to speculate about something like that.

So this thing with Bloomberg ... definitely an accident. All major media outlets keep obit files ready for short updates. That way, if someone does die suddenly, there isn't a giant gap between the event and the first obituaries. So the practice is widely known; whether or not you agree with it is another story. Bloomberg retracted the event with a very generic bulletin -- saying that a story about Apple should have never been published. Journalism 101 ... never repeat the mistake when writing a correction.

But it got me to thinking... what if this news event was real? If I happened to be looking at a Bloomberg terminal and saw this flash across, I would have reacted as though it's real. I would have had no reason to believe otherwise. I'd research it of course and confirm and re-confirm and then make sure, but what would I have said?

In every single industry, you've always got to be thinking about training your successor. You have to instill the things you do into the people you work with to keep your dreams alive should something happen to you or circumstances change where you can no longer fulfill your obligations. It's a terrible thought to keep information to yourself and leave people in a lurch.

In the case of Apple, while Steve is the face and the man we look to for everything, he's hardly the only person that makes Apple Apple. The company wouldn't be the same without him, but the company would go on.

I've read over and over that Eddy Cue, the guy who was given the reigns of Mobile Me after the whole debacle, is very much like Steve in his work ethic. MobileMe has been working better ... I will say that. I'm pleased with the free extensions and the attention to detail. Could there be more? Sure! But if I didn't know that Eddy Cue was behind it, I'd think Steve was. It shows that there's a level of transparency there where the company operates with different drivers.

Of course, Jonathan Ive is a genius. I mean, if that guy ever went to work for another company, well, that would be the one time I'd fear for Apple's lead in the market. Part of making a device functional is the software, but a giant part is the look and user experience. I'd love Jonathan Ive to design anything that I own.

And, Al Gore and Google CEO Eric Schmidt also reside on Apple's board. Gore would make sure no iPhones contribute to global warming -- he'd better start by making the back of the iPhone 3G a little less warm -- and Schmidt, well, he's working on Android, but he's obviously got some pretty good ideas.

What I'm basically saying is this ... Steve Jobs' death would be a giant loss for the world. I look up to him as a businessman and a creator. But if it happened, Apple and the products that we know and love would go on.

We look at the time when Steve wasn't with Apple and how poorly it did until he came back. Sure. But that was a different time. Apple didn't have that iconic status that it has today. Today, an Apple without Steve wouldn't be the same Apple, but it would still bear fruit.

What do you think? First, did you see the obit and freak out? Do you think Apple would be OK post-Steve?

Let me and everyone know in the comments. As we like to say in this business, this story is a real talker.

Thanks for calling.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008 -- 11:37 p.m. -- at my desk

I have a lot of choices when it comes to the App Store. Today, I noticed an app that teaches me how to tie a tie. Not bad, considering I only know one knot and could stand to know another.

There's even one that helps me brew the perfect cup of tea by telling me how long to let my tea steep.

What more could I or anyone else want?

I'd start off with Plum Record (link opens in iTunes) -- which turns your iPhone into a digital audio recorder that can tag sound files with photos and text. For $5, you can record just about anything and use a corresponding free server program to send your recordings to your computer.

Plum Record comes from Plum Amazing, which also offers Plum Caddy for golfers. I happen to like plums -- especially the ones that are really red inside. They are the sweetest. Anyhow, Plum Record is really nice. I've been using it for a while now. In the previous version, the first thing that I noticed was that the audio recorded too low. Well, clearly the developer listens to users because not only is the audio louder, other bugs were fixed and language localizations were added.

Here's the list of features, according to the company. Very impressive, I'd say.

* Record, pause, continue, rewind easily using familiar controls and a beautiful interface.
* Record secs, minutes or hours at a time. See elapsed time and time remaining.
* Very familiar interface for controlling recording.
* Files named automatically, rename sound files easily.
* Library to keep sounds in and arrange by dragging into folders.
* Create hot tagged (colored) folders for sounds.
* Folders and sounds can be selected and deleted or rearranged by dragging.
* Tag sounds quickly with multiple photos or instances of text.
* Easy to use and view even outdoors.
* Plum Record Server to transfer even big files to your Mac and soon Win and Linux.
* Works with larger interface in rotated mode.
* Choose the sampling rate for high or lower res (and size) files.
* Change the skin/interface for recording.
* Change files recorded on the iPhone to other formats like WAV, MP3, MP4, AAC, 3GP, AC3, AIFC, AIFF, AMR, Next/Sun, Sound Designer II, 3GPP2, etc.

And this is something that the company mentions that I'll take a step further: The icon is a cool parrot, not a microphone.

I appreciate the fact that the developer is creative enough to realize that you don't have to use the same icon that every other application is using. I loved the whole parrot thing. I think it shows imagination. Small detail, but as someone who works in a creative industry, that stuff doesn't go unnoticed.

That said, there are a lot of things you could buy in the App Store for $4.99. So far, I haven't found a more full-featured audio recorder than Plum Record.

If you've tried this app, I'd love to know your thoughts.

Thanks for calling.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008 -- 3:35 p.m. -- at my desk

After finding out about this today, I'm thinking we might see a 2.0.2 update pretty fast. Almost seems as though we'd have to.

Way back in January, in 1.1.3, Apple patched a security flaw in the iPhone to stop people with prying eyes from bypassing the password protection built into the iPhone. Well, the flaw is back .. unpatched in 2.0 ... just like it was never patched in the first place.

So did Apple just forget to put the patch back in? Who knows. They haven't commented yet, but obviously if you password protect your phone, this is not a good thing.

Would you believe that I don't? Never have. Not sure if it's because I have this fear that the time I go to enter the code that my phone will lock me out. Just a fear of the software not being mature. I would consider doing it, though, once this is patched.

Basically, in order to sidestep the password feature, you tap EMERGENCY CALL on the password screen and then double-tap your home button. Just like that -- you end up in the iPhone's favorites list with complete access. If there's a link to e-mail or anything else in the contacts, you can get to the Internet and e-mail that way. Not good, obviously. All of my contacts have e-mails associated, and many have Web site addresses.

Here's the direct information on passcode lock from Apple as per 1.1.3:

The Passcode Lock feature is designed to prevent applications from being launched unless the correct passcode is entered. An implementation issue in the handling of emergency calls allows users with physical access to an iPhone to launch an application without the passcode. This update addresses the issue through an improved check on the state of the Passcode Lock.

According to several Mac sites with forums, there's at least a workaround for now: You go SETTINGS--GENERAL--HOME BUTTON -- and when you do, the flaw can't get to the favorites. The passcode option just pops up again.

So while that's somewhat reassuring, it's not ideal.

Here's hoping that Apple fixes what ails the iPhone (again) and this time leaves it fixed!!

Sound off in the comments, please.

Thanks for calling.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008 -- 10:51 a.m. -- on my couch

OK, here's something I know I would use every single minute of every single day -- ok, maybe not every minute, but very often.

With all the apps being added to the iTunes store every day -- 114 pages as of this write-up -- iTunes 8 needs a tabbed browser like in Safari.

I actually find myself hitting Apple+T in a vain attempt to open additional tabs so I can go back to my favorite apps or decide between several apps.

Many times, I come across one and then I jot down the name and end up finding another that I want to compare. But by that time, all I can do is type the name that I wrote down into the search field to bring it back up or hit the back page button 2 or 15 times.

And it's not just because of the app store ... I think that ever since the iTunes store in general became so big that it would be a great idea to offer this functionality. And besides, iTunes has looked the same for a long, long while now. Change is good.

Here's what else iTunes needs, while I'm thinking about it:

1. A direct link to my bank so I can pay bills and other things while I'm browsing for apps. I'm spending so much that I should probably just be able to handle all my finances in just one spot.

2. A Starbucks button: There's a way to buy Starbucks-related music in iTunes, but no way to get coffee. If I'm using the Wi-Fi at Starbucks, why can't I have a button that lets me order so I don't have to be distracted? Of course, that whole wireless ordering system is coming some day, but in the meantime, this would be nice.

3. App previews: I mentioned this before ... I seriously need a simple 15-30 second video that shows me the app in action. That would help me decide on what to download. While I'm always downloading and looking at stuff for blogging purposes, this would help me both professionally and personally.

What else do you think iTunes needs. If 8.0 is really coming out soon, it's time to start thinking about big things. The whole number upgrades usually mean significant changes. If I had more time right now I'd go back to the release notes and see what changed in each of the other big upgrades.

Guess what I'm saying is that I really want more than just different colored notes in the icon.

Thanks for calling.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008 -- 1:28 a.m. -- on my couch

Well, Apple, I told you that you should have put Flash on the damn iPhone. Now look what's happened.

Thanks so much to caller Kim in the U.K. for the great heads up on this ... The U.K.'s Advertising Standards Authority ruled than an Apple ad (called an advert across the pond) cannot air again in its current form because the ad can't deliver what it promises.

What is it that it can't deliver? Apparently, the complete Internet. The specific claim that caused the problem was "all the parts of the Internet are on the iPhone."

Nope. The advertising watchdog says all the parts of the Internet are NOT on the iPhone, specifically Flash and Java. Because the Internet that we all use off the iPhone contains Flash and Java and the iPhone can't show pages rendered with either, the claim just doesn't hold up.

Apple disagreed, arguing that its claim referred to availability of webpages, rather than their specific appearance.

The ASA said the advert "gave a misleading impression of the internet capabilities of the iPhone," according to the BBC and consequently "it must therefore not be aired again in its current form."

"Because the iPhone doesn't support Flash or Java, you couldn't really see the internet in its full glory," said Olivia Campbell, a spokesperson for the ASA.

"They made a very general claim that you can see the internet in its entirety, and actually that's not quite true - so we've upheld."

Apple had no comment to the BBC.

Hmmmm. I think Steve should go downstairs, get some warm milk and call Adobe ... time to get some Flash action.

And be careful with the next ad ... don't go promising fast 3G or decent battery life or non-buggy software. Because if you do, you know the ASA is going to take those down too.

What do you think? Overboard? Overblown? Funny? Sad?

Personally, I think it's telling that an advertising standards agency in the UK realizes that the iPhone's claims tend to be a little misleading.

Thanks for calling.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008 -- 3:33 p.m. -- at my desk

Great news, international travelers. Now there are more plans in more places ... more ways for you to make sure you don't end up with a jaw-dropping iPhone bill.

Starting Wednesday, AT&T will offer two new plans -- one offers 100 MB and the other 200 MB a month and both can potentially save customers hundreds of dollars compared to pay-per-use international data roaming charges.

For discounted international data usage in 67 countries, the 100 MB iPhone plan is available for an additional $119.99 a month, while the 200 MB plan costs an additional $199.99 a month. These new plans are in addition to existing 20 MB and 50 MB plans. And another part that's great is that there are no long-term commitments required, so customers can add or remove these plans to their existing packages on an as-needed basis.

The discounted data roaming package rate applies in: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Barbados, The Bahamas, Belgium, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, France, French Guiana, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guatemala, Haiti, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Martinique, Mexico, Monaco, Montserrat, The Netherlands, Netherland Antilles, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Singapore, Slovak Republic, South Korea, Spain, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Martin, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos, United Kingdom and Vatican City.

Rates outside the 67 discounted countries are $.010/KB except in Algeria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bolivia, Bosnia/Herzegovina, Brunei, Faroe Islands, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Macau, Macedonia (former Yugoslavia), Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Venezuela, where the rate is $0.0195/KB.

With access to full HTML e-mail, visual voice mail, enhanced Web browsing and other feature-rich applications that can use a significant amount of data, iPhone users may need more than they think while traveling abroad. Just 2 MB of data use at pay-per-use data rates of $0.0195 per kilobyte would cost almost $40, making these new plans very valuable for customers traveling outside the U.S.

iPhone customers can also save money by following some simple tips, including keeping data roaming in the preset off position, using Wi-Fi when possible, turning off automatic checks for e-mail and setting the usage tracker to zero at the beginning of a trip to monitor use.

For more information about international coverage and rates, visit www.att.com/wirelessinternational or call 866.MOBILITY (662-4548).

I'm curious to know how many of you have taken advantage of the smaller plans in the past and what you think of the new offerings. Let me know in the comments, please.

Thanks for calling.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008 -- 9 a.m. -- on my couch

Wow. I'm blown away by Newsstand ... a new RSS reader app that appeared last night in the App Store.

It's gorgeous. It's a feature-rich RSS app that looks good ... it offers feeds in a cover-flow style so it's not only easy to read, it's fun. You actually read as though your newspapers and magazines are on a shelf. You have to see it and use to appreciate it.

Adding feeds is easy and there's even a bunch of popular ones already in the program to help you get started. Darn it, not iPTIB, but maybe the author would be willing to put us in there for the next revision.

And you can view the article at the Web site without leaving the application. Like a mini-browser built in. NetNewsWire has something similar, but I've had problems with it crashing.

I truly believe I have found my new RSS app. If something better comes along, well, then I'll worry about it then. But for now, this is hands down the best RSS app in the store. There's no contest.

It costs $4.99. It's worth more. If you love RSS on your iPhone, you should check this out. Here's a direct link that opens right in iTunes

Let me know what you think.

Thanks for calling.

Monday, August 25, 2008 -- 11:39 p.m. -- at my desk

3.5 million iPhones sold in Russia over the next 2 years.

OK, makes sense, right? We already know how hot the iPhone has been on the black market over there, so why not a lofty goal like that?

Ummm, maybe because the average sale price for an iPhone in Russia is expected to be $24,000 roubles? That's $990 in American dollars.

And that, callers, is a LOT of money.

Now keep in mind, these numbers aren't Apple's estimates. They are simply market sources who spoke with Reuters. But will that many people spend that much money on an iPhone? Apparently, according to these market sources ... the must-have status symbol that's making its march around the world isn't going to skip over Russia.

Here's a link to the complete article. Very interesting reading.

What do you think? Any Russian callers out there who can shed some light on spending that much for an iPhone. Apparently, the market sources aren't even concerned about the black market. Fascinating.

Thanks for calling.