Submission + - iPhone Shortage Caused by 3rd World Demand
DECS writes: The iPhone shortage in Apple's retail stores isn't a sign of the 3G model coming early. Grey market demand in emerging markets is fouling up Apple's ability to manage retail inventory in its stores. Analysts in a New York Times story were shown up by an anonymous source arguing that the massive iPhone transactions performed in the US by organized rings for resale in emerging markets are the real reason Apple's US stores are running out of iPhones. Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal profiles Thai markets selling iPhones hand over fist for nearly $800. Does the iPhone Shortage Herald an Impending 3G Release? Probably Not.
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Submission + - iPhone 2.0 SDK: Video Games to Rival DS, PSP (roughlydrafted.com)
DECS writes: When the iPhone was unveiled a year ago, it was obvious that it would outclass the status quo in mobile phones, particularly in the US where mobile operators have been holding back innovation. Far less obvious was the potential for the new phone to rival dedicated handheld gaming consoles. Here's how well the iPhone stacks up against the Nintendo DS and Sony PSP in both hardware and as a business model: iPhone 2.0 SDK: Video Games to Rival Nintendo DS
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Submission + - iPhone 2.0 SDK: How Signing Certificates Work (roughlydrafted.com)
iphoner writes: "Criticism of Apple's iPhone SDK has involved its 30% cut of retail sales, its $99 certificates, and its mandatory code signing, but as the article iPhone 2.0 SDK: How Signing Certificates Work points out, Apple's terms compare very favorably with video game console SDKs and other mobile development platforms, from RIM's BlackBerry to Palm to Windows Mobile and Nokia's Symbian. Other sites charge developers 50% or more, do little to promote their software, and charge higher fees for signing certificates. But what does the push toward certificate signing actually do for users and developers? In addition to erecting a new barrier to malware and privacy attacks, Apple's iTunes promises to create a real market for mobile developers in the same way Apple turned around the music industry. Will Apple's plans solve the problems plaguing the desktop, or stifle creative mobile development?"
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Submission + - The Secret Death of Microsoft's Xbox 360 (roughlydrafted.com) 6
OMG writes: Throughout 2007, the media consistently reported leading sales of Microsoft's Xbox 360, dismal figures for Sony's struggling PlayStation 3, and celebrated the long shot Nintendo Wii as a possible contender in game consoles. This portrayal of the video game market in 2007 was grossly misleading, and NPD has the figures to demonstrate why. Microsoft's efforts to stuff the channel and strip the Xbox 360 of features to hit low price targets worked in the short term, but have since backfired, killing its HD-DVD format, leaving Xbox Live downloads an unattractive niche service with insignificant market share, preventing the Xbox from exercising any leverage to push the Zune, and allowing Microsoft's new console sales to plummet by over 33% year over year in 2007. On top of that, 7.7 million units — more than a year's supply — have gone unaccounted for, either put out of commission in as warranty lemons or sitting in warehouses. Despite all this, hardly anyone is saying a word about it, except for: Video Game Consoles 2007: Wii, PS3 and the Death of Microsoft's Xbox 360
Bookmark Video Game Consoles 2007: Wii, PS3 and the Death of Microsoftâ(TM)s Xbox (roughlydrafted.com)
Submission + - Who Was the Biggest Loser at Macworld? (roughlydrafted.com)
DECS writes: RDM shakes down the results to determine Who Was the Biggest Loser at Macworld?, taking a look at Apple's attempt to do to the ultralight laptop industry what it did last year to smartphones; Apple TV's threat to Vudu, NetFlix, Blockbuster, and Microsoft's fledgling Xbox Live video on demand service; Time Capsule's preemptive strike at Windows Home Server; the dustup between Violet Blue and Steve Jobs; and the lonely guy still selling Stuffit.
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Submission + - Will Apple Rescue Intel's Silverthorne? (appleinsider.com)
UMEE writes: AppleInsider looks deep behind the rumors of an expanded partnership between Apple and Intel involving Silverthorne, the second generation, low power x86 processor designed to power Microsoft's UMPC. However, sales of the tablet devices have historically been bogged down by design, price, performance, and usability issues, and UMPCs have seen little marketing. Apple's use of the processor could turn things around by leveraging the company's strengths in marketing, retail, and design, but it's certainly not alone in targeting the ultra mobile space. Low priced alternatives including the Asus Eee PC and OLPC XO-1, both of which run Linux and use processors from Intel rivals TI and AMD, have already stolen the limelight among ultra mobile devices. Is the future ultra mobile? Will tablet computing fail yet again? Will Apple Rescue Intel's Silverthorne?
Bookmark Will Apple Rescue Intel's Silverthorne? (appleinsider.com)
Submission + - Why Did Apple Kill the Newton MessagePad? (roughlydrafted.com)
SoupySales writes: Did Steve Jobs kill the Newton MessagePad back in 1998 out of blind hatred of John Sculley, the Apple's 80s CEO who dreamed it up? RDM says no, and looks at reasons why the Newton didn't work out then and how today's iPhone platform is morphing toward the MessagePad's old territory a decade later.
Newton Rising: Is the Next iPhone Device a G3 MessagePad?
Submission + - The Real Bill Gates Behind Daniel Lyons' FSJ (roughlydrafted.com)
shillhunter writes: Forbes' Dan Lyons, author of the Fake Steve Jobs blog, decided it would be entertaining to parody the unplugging of ThinkSecret by pretending his own blog was under threat from Apple. Except that in order to do that, he had to stop pretending to be FSJ and start pretending that the real Steve Jobs was threatening him. That's where he left the world of parody and reentered the familiar territory of lucrative scandal. Even before starting FSJ, Lyons jumped to follow Microsoft's marketing message with SCO against Linux, and continues to follow closely in his "People Ready," corporate-savvy, yet comical blog. His readers just haven't realized it yet.
Daniel Lyons Cries Wolf: The Real Bill Gates Behind the Fake Steve Jobs
