iPhone Savior

China Unicom Offers Amnesty to Gray Market iPhone Users

When China Unicom starts selling Apple's iconic iPhone for the first time beginning October 30, one of it’s subsidiaries – Shanghai Unicom will offer gray market iPhone users amnesty for jailbroken iPhones. Gray market iPhone users will be offered the ability to sign a contract with the mobile carrier enabling all the services available to “legal” China Unicom customers. 

China Unicom announced fairly steep pricing earlier in the month ranging from $730 for the 8GB Wi-Fi less iPhone 3G up to to $1,000 plus for an unsubsidized 32GB iPhone 3GS model. Reports indicate that China mobile was unhappy with the initial iPhone demand since pre-orders were opened up to customers on October 1st.

It's estimated that there are already some 1.5 million gray market Chi-Phones being used in China. With prices on those iPhones ranging from $430 for an 8GB 3G iPhone and $732 for the latest iPhone 3GS, many mobile users in China can save close to $300 by going rogue with no ties to a contract.

With the sexy lure of unrestricted software updates, hassle free iTunes sync, and open access to Apple's official App Store, the company hopes to attract a few hundred thousand 3G customers through their clever amnesty offer. The amnesty program is expected to eventually be extended to all China Unicom customers at a later date.

If you can't beat 'em, join em. Or simply form a special task force and hunt them down armed with guns riding Segways.

This iPhone Cheese-Case Looks So Delicious

STYLE GUIDE: The same designers that created the wildly popular Bacon and Egg Case have now imagined this trendy iPhone Cheese-Case. A fantastical, mouth watering pairing of Mac and cheese. The entire case is seamless and felted in one piece that looks like real Swiss cheese.

Each case is created with minor differences and odd sized holes that add authenticity to the design. Expect to pay $35 for your trendy wedge of cheesy goodness plus a small shipping fee. If you're looking for a stylish iPhone case that sets you apart as a true original, just say cheese. (Allow 20 days for delivery)

[Antjes via Etsy]

Steve Jobs Costume More Popular Than Oprah

The junior achievers of America have spoken! Being Steve Jobs is more popular than being Oprah Winfrey. Even though finding a plus size dress, wearing a dark permed wig and painted on eyebrows may actually be cheaper, the lure of becoming Steve Jobs will be the costume of choice again for many this Halloween.

Junior Achievement recently surveyed 1,000 U.S. tweens and teens ages 12-17 and prompted them to choose from a list of well-known entrepreneurs they most admired. Steve Jobs was selected over Tony Hawk, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, Kimora Lee Simmons, Oprah Winfrey and Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg.

Jobs received 35 percent of the votes, Oprah Winfrey 25 percent and skateboard guru Tony Hawk received a whopping 16 percent. Becoming Steve Jobs remains one of the hottest costume ideas, because Apple's favorite CEO has enormous cool factor and he can be worn anytime of year.

We've provided direct links to all of the essentials necessary for building an authentic Steve Jobs outfit. Purchase your mock-turtleneck $15.95, grey 992 New Balance sneakers $99.99, a pair of Levi's 501 Jeans $59.50 and then throw in some round spectacles. Blammo! You're Steve Jobs kid!

For some added flair try wearing fangs and white face paint to create Twilight vampire Steve or add on some bloody open wounds and transform into night of the living Jobs zombie. No matter which Steve Jobs you choose, you're guaranteed to be far better off than ever becoming Oprah.

Apple Celebrates Windows 7 Release With New "Broken Promises" Ad

In the comedy business it's all about the timing. In the PC versus Mac business it's all about a perfectly timed skull punch heard around the world on network TV. Apple has managed to drop a deuce on the Microsofties opening day launch celebration of Windows 7.

There's really no unfair advantage by Apple here since Steve Ballmer has been publicly begging for a good five finger slap for weeks now. So here's your fists of fury Unclce Fester. Whoo hoo! Now let the anti-launch party begin! If you haven't already guessed... I'm A Mac.

Watch the other two ads in this vicious trilogy, "Teeter Tottering" and "PC News".

(after break)

Stick-Fu Brings Stick Figure Kung Fu to iPhone

If you're a fan of Kung Fu fighting and death by stick men, you'll be giddy for Stick-Fu. I spied this bloody martial arts game lingering in the App Store under the Staff Favorites section and found myself instantly hooked after skull punching my way through two levels of certain ninja death. Partly because I'm a total sucker for stick figure apps.

Stick-Fu ($.99) is a fast paced, single player iPhone game that tests your white boy Kung Fu skills against deadly assassins lurking in hand drawn cemeteries and seedy city streets. I was impressed by the game's 'keep it simple' approach to the graphics without skimping on vivid colors, a sense of humor or the ability to violently pummel your enemies into a puddle of blood.

The fact that the Clickgamer developers created a free Lite version of Stick-Fu makes this one a must have just to experience taking down the dark menacing boss that materializes near the end of each level. Expect battling in 5 unique fighting zones, character leveling and launching five super combo moves as a few of the game's highlights. But you'll have to pay for the really good stuff.

Stick-Fu could benefit from being able to save and pause games along with the ability to pick up objects that can be turned into make-shift weapons. I'm certain if developers choose to take direction from their avid users, this app could easily become a cult classic after a handful of updates.

One more thing... I'd love to see some flying guts and brains added to the bloody gore.

Earnings Reveal AT&T Doomed Without iPhone

The unraveling of AT&T's third-quarter earnings today shows that of the 4.3 million new "integrated" (3G, QWERTY keyboard) devices activated by the company last quarter, 3.2 million were iPhones. That amounts to a gargantuan 74%. The company admitted that the activations represented the most ever in its history with 40% of those iPhone users being new customers to AT&T. Up 33 percent from spring.

In just a few summer months, as the popularity of Apple's iPhone skyrocketed so did AT&T's dependency on the device to significantly grow their business. Earnings per share dropped only one cent from year to year at 54 cents per share. The company now boasts 81.6 million wireless subscribers.

It appears that iPhone addiction may be more of a reality for AT&T than it is for its users. Where would the company be without an exclusive iPhone deal in place? One phone to rule them all.

[via Gizmodo]

Classic Mac Reimagined As Retail Window Display

Rather than being stacked in the back room of some dusty office like a forgotten old soul, this Macintosh Classic, retired by Apple on September 14, 1992, has been reinstated to serve up store hours inside the display window of a trendy retail shop in San Remo, Italy.

There's really no heavy lifting required here, Grandpa Mac is required to perform the same task from the time the store opens until it closes. Just like the receipt checkers you encounter when exiting Costco. The Mac Classic was introduced on October 15, 1990. It was the first Apple Macintosh to sell for less than $1,000 U.S.

It's heartwarming to see that not all Classic Macs are forced to retire living in squalor. This idea has inspired me to reimagine my original Bondi Blue iMac becoming more useful than just a boxed-up loft filler. Maybe I should consider adoption.

[Photo by Yotsuba]    (click photo on right for close-up)

Jim Cramer Pimps Apple Stock, Macs and iPhone

 

On Tuesday, October 20th Jim Cramer pimped Apple stock on his CNBC Mad Money program, raising his price target to $300 from a previous $264. On Wednesday, Apple (AAPL) rocketed up another $6.16 closing at an all time high of $204.92 after peaking at well over $208 early in the trading day.

Dressed like a huge apple and practically choking on a Macintosh while on air, Cramer helped catapult the stock another +3.10-percent after an almost $10 dollar jump the previous day when the company reported record earnings. He even continued to pimp Apple's stock on "Live! With Regis and Kelly" early Wednesday morning.

"I think we are in the early innings of Apple's dominance of not one but two appliances, the PC and the smartphone tsunami." Cramer blurted out on his show.

Here's the entire ridonkulous Apple segment from Mad Money. Enjoy!

iPhone Fanatic Strikes Back At Verizon Droid Ad

Here's a clever little Droid spoof aimed at delivering a meaningful beat down on the grand buffoonery released by Verizon (Motorola) last weekend in the form of a TV ad pimping their Andriod 2.0 phone. The use of R2D2 is a brilliant five finger slap using Lucasfilm magic. The iPhone Empire Strikes Back!

The video entitled "iDon't Care", may be the start of a YouTube meme pitting fanatical iPhone users against the small gathering of undead Driod zombies. But that's just my wishful thinking talking. Well done!

[Thanks to droiddont for the tip]

Say Hello To Faster iMacs With Widscreen Displays

 

Less than 24 hours after Apple reported record fourth quarter earnings, the company stealthily unveiled an exciting array of product refreshes including their wildly popular iMac line just in time for the holiday shopping frenzy. 

The re-imagined LED-backlit, widescreen display turns your desktop into a destination with a long overdue 16:9 aspect ratio, perfect for viewing custom videos and movies like Star Trek which is now available for pre-order via iTunes. The 21.5-inch features a 1920-by-1080 display with 17 percent more pixels than the previous 20-inch iMac. While the 27-inch offers a 2560-by-1440 display with an impressive 78 percent more pixels than the 21.5-inch iMac.

Apple is calling their new iMacs the fastest yet, boasting speeds two times faster than current Intel models with a 3.06GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor available in the 21.5-inch and 27-inch models, and 2.66GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 processor or 2.8GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 processor offered exclusively with the 27-inch iMac. 

These new iMacs come standard with a wireless keyboard and new wireless Magic Mouse, which Apple claims to be the world’s first Multi-Touch mouse. I would expect this little critter to be far more magic than it ever was mighty.

The 3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo iMac is now shipping at Apple online and Apple retail stores. Intel Core i5 and i7 quad-core iMacs are available for ordering and will begin shipping sometime in November. Pricing starts at $1,199 up to $1,999 for the ultimate version.

With revved up graphic cards, faster speeds and vastly improved edge-to-edge widescreen displays, I would expect the new line of ultimate iMacs to be the best selling all-in-one device for desktop Mac fanatics. This is definitely not your Grampa's Bondi Blue iMac.

No sir... this bad boy has come a long way. 

[Full Technical Specs]