Monday October 01, 2007

- iPhone: Information Review [updated] - Lionel - 10:23:11

Hereafter is a summary of many iPhone-related news:
- As previously reported, relationships between Apple and Orange are now colder than ice, Steve Jobs seems to be personally annoyed by the way Orange Executive Didier Lombard commented or announced the iPhone in France. Apple might even consider introducing the iPhone as a SIM-free device in France, but losing the subscription return will most likely make it the last plan. Other rumors collected during the Apple Expo indicate that Apple might have reinitiated discussion with other French carriers. Let's hope that despite personal conflicts both companies will find the right way to collaborate.
- Some members from Hackint0sh forum have successfully flashed their iPhones back from firmware 1.1.1. to 1.0.2, making it possible to be then unlocked. However, all features introduced with the last firmware will not be available. Hackers will have to work harder to bypass protections released by Apple in the last firmware.
- networkworld.com reports that the British VoIP provider Truphone demonstrated at the DEMOfall07 how to use the iPhone’s built-in WiFi capability to make calls over Truphone’s VoIP network. Truphone representatives clearly stated it was native iPhone application, installed through third-party application installers, and does not require cracking the iPhone’s SIM card. In other words their application, not to go on sale for the moment, was developed according to Apple policies regarding third-party iPhone applications. For sure Truphone aimed to associate its name to the iPhone in order to benefit from the buzz created in Europe around Apple mobile phone to be introduced in about a month in UK and Germany, and slightly later in France. However, VoIP might be a true alternative for iPhone users (regular and SIM-unlocked versions) (Thanks Dana for the info)

- Gateway Releases its iMac-like Model - Lionel - 10:21:48

Source : TGdaily

Gateway unveiled a PC model designed to compete with the iMac.



As with Apple, it is an all-in-one model, and components are integrated below and behind the LCD panel. It is also built around mobile computing components (GPU, CPU, etc) except its HD.
It will only be available with a 19" LCD, and will be more expensive than the iMac 20" while featuring only a Core 2 Duo 1.5GHz. Who said that Mac were more expensive than PC?


[translation by Linathael]

- AACS LA Updates Content Protection Technologies - Lionel - 10:21:07

Source : CDR Info

The content protection developed by the AACS LA for high definition DVD (HD-DVD and Blu Ray) have been the most robust one while being rapidly hacked, and one could find more than 100 keys published on the Internet, offering customers an easy way to bypass the AACS protections. So the AACS LA had to fire back and speed up the implementation of the hardware revocation technology as well as add a watermark system.
Of course, AACS claims that with those new technologies, it should be possible to stop the piracy of HD DVD and Blu-Ray contents. However, new movie discs will require players to be frequently updated, and if the procedure can be carried for some HD players through the internet, other players will require physical update via a firmware-containing disc. It remains unclear if customers will follow hardware makers and perform such frequent updates. One the other hand it might be the only way to play full high definition contents of recently released blue laser DVDs, and at the end customers will be the victim of the war between pirates and movie industry majors.

[translation by Linathael]

- Apple Expo 2008: First Conclusions - Lionel - 10:15:50

The heaviest week for our team in France ended with the Apple Expo. As usual, we have collected comments from visitors and exhibitors:
- Apple Expo organization seems satisfied and figures should be rapidly available.
- Exhibitors and resellers of customer electronics are also satisfied, and predict much better results than last year.
- Professional exhibitors are globally happy, and many of them took advantage of the Apple Expo to release new products
Criticisms from visitors were more "variable": too many cars for iPod peripherals for some, or Apple Expo was either too customers-oriented or too professional-oriented; but most of them were disappointed of not being able to test the iPhone (available from our booth), or of the only 2 iPod Touch units available on the Apple booth.
Overall, Apple Expo 2007 was better than last year, and let's hope 2008 will be similar. For sure Apple invests less and less time and money in such events, as return on investment is considered lower than opening and supporting a physical Apple Store.

[translation by Linathael]