This week we were happy to announce that the Linux 2.6 kernel has been ported the Apple’s iPhone. So far the development team has managed to get a serial driver, frame buffer driver, serial over USB driver and Interrupts and MMU Clock. Eventually we will be seeing support for sound, accelerometer, baseband support, touchscreen, write support for the NAND and wireless networking.
It looks like Taiwan will be the next to get the iPhone 3G. The release date over there is set for December 13th. Chunghwa Telecom is the lucky provider to get the very popular handset and plans to sell 50,000 units by March of 2009. RusianiPhone.ru made claims this week that the new iPhone firmware 2.2.1 includes push notifications and notes sync. This rumor was quickly debunked however, simply just wishful thinking gone a little too far.
A new Silicon Touch iPhone case is in the works to bring the iPhone to visually impaired users. While it is only a concept right now, this shows great promise. One of the most interesting facts about this case is that users get the full functionality of multi-touch and gestures. People keep stirring up rumors of a 32GB iPhone 3G in high hopes, but it just never seems to be true. The latest rumor is that Apple will announce this version at Macworld. None of these rumors have any credibility behind them.
Apple did announce the top ten applications of 2008 by categories. Some were easy to figure out while others we have not even heard of. For all of you who have had trouble getting connected to AT&T’s free Wi-Fi hot spots there is now an application that will get you connected fast without many steps. Devicescape’s Easy Wi-Fi for AT&T takes care of all of the steps whether it be entering a username and password or clicking the “I accept” button to start browsing.
The new iPhone firmware 2.2 is reportedly locking legitimately unlocked iPhones that were imported from other countries. We are told that any update other than the one from the country of origin will indeed lock the handset and waste the extra money you spent on it. We are finally seeing an Amazon.com application for iPhone. The thing about this application is a new feature that allows you to snap a picture of an item you would like to purchase. If that item is later identified you will be notified with an email.
It appears that Walmart will be getting the iPhone 3G on December 28th. The difference is they will be selling a 4GB version rather than 8 or 16GB versions for only $99. There will be no difference with this model other than the obvious storage space. Now the iPhone picks up even the low-end price range. There is now an upgraded version of Tap Tap revolution called Tap Tap Dance that uses the new OpenGL-based platform, switching up the layout of the tracks themselves. The ability to embed video into the background adds a whole new level of craziness to the game play.
Flickr has added the ability to view videos on their m.flickr.com website with the iPhone. They eventually plan to expand this service to many more phones as time goes on. Flickr is currently the only company to currently provide a service such as this. Apple has instated a promo code application distribution program for various reasons such as getting apps to reviewers.
A PhD student in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Florida has created a very interesting way of delivering treats to his dog without even getting up. This contraption took only 90 minutes to make. All the materials are commonly found around the house, including a CD spindle case, scraps of cardboard, a servomotor and some random junk. It appears that jus about anyone who would like to can create a similar machine.
CHUNGHWA CRIPPLES iPhone
I live in Taiwan and I have waited ofr a long time to get an iphone. In soite of this release I will still wait in want. There are several reasons for this. Most simple boil down to price gouging. The rate packages, though not high by American standards, are incredibally high here in Taiwan. The basic plan garnering you 90 minutes of talk time, 200 text messages and unlimited internet is NT$1049 (US$31.33). With out the internet the customer would normally pay NT289 (US$8.31). Thus the unlimited internet costs NT$760 (US$22.70). There are four service planes ranging from the above upto NT$2549 (US$76.13). That plans gives you unlimited internet, 200 text messages and roughly 740 minutes of talk time. (I have never seen a plan that gives the user anything for free. Furthermore, the minutes you have to use is simply a your subscription fee divided by the cost per minute of usage.)
On to the cost of the phone. At the basic level the 8gb phone is NT$11900 (US$355.42) and the 16gb phone is NT$15200 (US$453.98). At the highest rate the phones are $0 and NT$2990 (US$89.30). The first price is not so good but if the buyer opots for the more expensive plan he or she is rewarded with a good price on the phone. For the average Taiwanese that rate plan is above and beyond reasonable. Those in the big cities with higher incomes, middle management, or, surprisingly, teachers -they get paid well here- could swing it because it is the iphone, a new Nokia would not have a shot. I, as a foriegn teacher who for that fact gets paid more than the Taiwanese around me would drop; my current contract to switch companies to have the iphone. But, it is at this point that Chunghwa telecom cripples the iphone. They require every subscriber to prepay a set amount, for their service, that is dependent on the level of service you subscribed for. This is not unheard of in Taiwan but it is generally less than half of what you pay, after discount, for the phone. The rates that Chunghwa has set on the iPhone are ridiculous. At the NT$1049 (US$31.33) rate plan the buyer must pre-pay NT$11000 (US$328.68). This is in addition to the NT$11900 (US$355.42) or NT$15200 (US$453.98) paid for the 8gb or 16gb phones themselves, respectively. Therefore to walk out of their store with an 8gb iPhone the consumer must pay NT$22900 (US$684.20) or NT$26200 (US$782.66) for the 16gb version. At the highest rate plan the company requires NT$24000 (US$717.06) ad that to the phone and those who want the 16gb phone are paying NT$26990 (US$806.39). WOW! All that in one day!. Sure, its an iPhone, and there is no phone bill to pay for about 9 months. For most of the Taiwanese I know that all plus some of their salary for one month! I do not live in the big city, where everything is more expensive, rent for a house similar to mine is double or triple what I pay which it still cheaper than the first day of owning an iphone. The 16gb phone is more expensive on day one than rent in Taipei for a decent sized apartment! That is saying something.