iPhone Savior

Irish Isles Will Get A Lucky Taste of Apple

Apple is reportedly wrapping up final details for a new Apple Store location in the Victoria Square complex of Belfast (N. Ireland), making the store the first on the island. A lucky turn for locals who typically see Dublin gain all the golden opportunities. Victoria Square includes 98 shops at the city centre, residential and office space, restaurants, bars and entertainment venues. Source: IFO Apple Store

One resident was particularly excited when overhearing talk of Apple's Genius Bar. "I've always considered myself a smart drinker with the way I mix suds and whiskey," said Brian McTiernan a worker from Cork. "I'm no genius, but it can't hurt to learn a thing or two from Apple on how to become a brilliant drinker at their new pub. Not sure why they would teach that kind of genius drinking, but I'm game for anything."

Something tells me that McTiernan will be sorely disappointed when Apple opens the doors of their Northern Ireland location sometime after Spring of 2008, ordering up a round of hard whiskey and getting handed a portable hard drive instead. Look for a 24kt gold iPhone to be sitting at the end of the rainbow for Ireland in 2008.

Jobs Art by abx500    See Victoria Square Map (link)

AT&T Squeaks Out News on 3G iPhone for 2008

AT&T Chief Executive Officer Randall Stephenson whipped up a small media Tsunami on Thursday when he casually squeaked out news that a 3G iPhone will emerge in 2008 according to a report by Bloomberg. Doh! The announcement would mark one of the rare times when El Jobso was beaten to the punch on disclosing upcoming Apple news. By midday Stephenson's comments had saturated most major media news sites and he most likely saturated himself from pure elation.

"You'll have it next year,'' Stephenson said in response to a question about when the 3G iPhone would debut. He said he didn't know how much the phone would cost, saying that Apple Chief Executive Officer Steve Jobs "will dictate what the price of the phone is,'' he said. Source: Bloomberg

A 3G network is the third generation of mobile phone standards and technology. One of the main benefits of a 3G over 2G is the faster data speeds that do not require close proximity to connect like Wi-Fi. One major drawback highlighted by Steve Jobs during the U.K. iPhone launch is that the 3G chips are "power hogs". Jobs said they expect to see better battery consumption later next year.

The addition of the 3G chipset will prove to be just one of the many improvements Apple will be making to it's next generation iPhone predicted to be released in late 2008. The line starts here.

Read Steve Jobs' Reaction (link)     Read More (link)

Zune 3 Designers Hold Secret Meetings

"We know little about the Zune 3 except that meetings have already begun involving the design team. The big question at hand is whether Zune will compete with the iPhone and iPod Touch devices." Source: Zune Scene

Lacking proper warmth, adequate sleep and home cooked meals, Zune zombies gather to advance ideas for Zune 3 (or ZPhone) in a remote Arctic location. The goal is to maintain an isolated cloak of secrecy that will make the ZPhone design as difficult to get a hold of as the new 80GB Zune or a copy of Vista that doesn't turn your CPU into an expensive email machine. 

That strategy has been successful until now. Here are secret mock-up photos of the ZPhone touch device, but there are still no 80GB Zune players to to be found. That's not a real secret. Neither is the anemic 22 hour Zune 80GB battery life according to CrunchGear who claims "Zune Battery Life Sucks". For totally fabricated good news about Zune visit Zune Scene.

Zune Limited Edition 2008 (link)   Zune Social (link)   Special Zune Originals (here)

Steve Jobs is Seeing (RED), White and Bono

Special Report by Ian Fawling

 
In case you haven't been paying close attention, Bono just announced a Special Edition Beatles "White iPhone" and U2 "(RED) iPhone" over at "The Secret Diary of Steve Jobs". It's true! The infamous Fake Steve Jobs has given birth to a series of ramblings from none other than the fake Paul Hewson (Bono) himself. Now he's stuck in a moment and he can't get out of it, launching seven Bono posts to be exact. How's that for an Irish nipple twister?

"Steve and Sir Paul McCartney are going to introduce the White iPhone. It comes pre-loaded with every Beatles album ever. Including Ringo's solo stuff, in case you're into that kind of thing. It's got 16 gigabytes and costs $600," said the fake Bono, being channeled by FSJ.

Zunes Are Done! All Hope Abandoned

NEW YORK - CNN is reporting that hordes of shoppers at the Toys 'R' Us flagship store in Manhattan were going loony over Microsoft's Zune on Friday morning. It appears that one "Zune doom and gloomer" from within the crowd created a panic for shoppers quite early on.

"It was only half an hour into Black Friday, and a customer at the Toys 'R' Us flagship store in Manhattan's Times Square was already yelling, 'The Zunes are done!' For the Zune customers further back in line, the gates should have read, "All hope abandon, ye who enter here." Source: CNN

Charlie Sheen Goofs Up iPhone Cameo

Charlie Sheen, star of "Two And A Half Men" was caught looking like half an idiot next to Jenny McCarthy in this weeks episode entitled "Shoes, Hats, Pickle Jar Lids" seen here holding his iPhone upside down. Hot blonde, sweet ride and big doofus. Welcome to L.A. Not one crew member came to Charlie's rescue before the shot, allowing Sheen to look like a complete tool.

Next time CBS should use Verizon's LG Voyager as the cell phone prop, that way no one will care if it's upside down or not. In fact, if it's not iPhone no one will care if Voyager is there at all. It's simply art imitating life.  Source: Engadget 

iPhone Cameo on Bionic Woman (link)     Voyager 3 Word Review (link)

iPhone Unlocked in Germany, No Hacking Required

It seems as though Vodaphone has devised a new strategy to unlock the iPhone in Germany with no hacking required. Who knew it was that simple? Vodafone Deutschland who did not win exclusive rights to the iPhone, asked the court to review T-Mobile's exclusive marketing rights to the iPhone in Germany, which it believes are in breach of local laws. It appears that the Germans are taking French lessons on iPhone unlocking, except they added whining to the mix.

Effective immediately, T-Mobile said it will begin offering the unlocked iPhone, which can function on other wireless networks, for 999 euros ($1,470). It will also continue to sell a version tied to its own network with a two year service contract for 399 euros ($590). Deutsche Telekom's T-Mobile unit said Wednesday it will offer Apple Inc's iPhone without a two-year contract and temporarily comply with the court order. Source: Marketwatch

T-Mobile said customers can now have the so-called SIM lock on their phone removed -- including those who have already purchased the iPhone. This decision sets a dangerous precedent as iPhone is set to launch in France on November 29 and a rumored 3G version to launch in Spain sometime in May of 2008. Local laws in Europe may be the one hack Apple is unable to foil. Doh! (more)

Ruth Moschner photo by Sven Plaggemeier

Say Hello to Swindle, New e-Pad Book Reader

   Special Report by Fay Stoker

           "It's a Swindle, the ultimate e-pad book reader has arrived."

SEATTLE, WA - Digital arts innovator YeahBro has announced the release of 'Swindle' a revolutionary new e-pad book reader neatly priced at $397. The company firmly believes that their Swindle e-pad is the future of reading and re-writing digital books. I found the design to be sleek though strangely familiar, evoking a sense of youthful wonder. The bright red front panel offers one-touch options that access digital music, internet, e-book overwriting and an over priced digital bookstore. A USB connectible micro keypad is included to expand Swindles capabilities. The two easy scroll wheels can be used for creating doodle art when you're not reading or trolling the web.

Digital Daily Serves Roasted 'Kindle' for Dinner

John Paczkowski in his Digital Daily video post roasted Amazons new Kindle e-book in a review that took no prisoners when Paczkowski suggested that Kindle would be known as the 'Zune of e-book readers'. "Apparently to Amazon, economies of digital distribution don't translate into lower prices for the consumer but to greater revenues for the company." Source: Digital Daily

Paczkowski signed off basting Kindle in tart lemon juice and red pepper. "Apple could easily develop an e-book reader for the iPhone or the multi-touch tablet it's allegedly building, launch it in concert with an iTunes book store or perhaps a partnership with Google book search and 'bada bing' turn the Kindle into the 'Zune of e-book readers'." Source: Digital Daily

Paczkowski's opinion had some fast company from (FSJ) at The Secret Diary of Steve Jobs. " Check out the video where Paczkowski complains that Kindle is overpriced and that Amazon is greedy. We couldn't have done better ourselves." Source: (FSJ)

Kindle has been served. Bon appetit!

Read (FSJ) Kindle Review (here)    Amazon Kindle vs Sony Reader (here)

Tinfoil Hat May Be Worst iPhone Accessory

Special Report by Ian Fawling


James Normal and his group of crusaders, "Tinfoil Users Retaining Data" are taking no chances of having their precious brain space hacked. According to Normal, he founded T.U.R.D. three years ago in preparation for such a time as this with claims surfacing that Apple could be mining personal data from it's popular iPhone. Wearing a tinfoil hat has been used for decades as the last line of defense against government mind control signals. For Normal and his group wearing tinfoil is a cult-like way of life that pales in comparison to the cult of iPhone. 

According to 9to5 Mac, Apple is tracking iPhone users data including IMEI numbers through the iPhone. It's possible that the information could be used by Apple to build user profiles that includes data on travel, financial and banking preferences, work details…even personal browsing information (porn surfing iPhoners be warned). These claims come as no surprise to James Normal.