alexander thomas neil | photoblog

Well its been a little over 24hrs since it’s announcement, giving me 24hrs to get my thoughts together on what I think of the overall products. My initial impression as with any new gadget is - I have to have that. Then the more I though about it I thought, meh – I don’t really need it, I’ll just wait for the new iPhone. Much of the internet is flooded with talks of how Apple delivered and underwhelming product with people screaming left and right ‘no flash support’, ‘no camera’, ‘ugly bezel’, saying that netbooks can do a better job than iPad.  This nonsense has been going on since its announcement.  Now I may agree on many aspects people are arguing but there is so much potential in this device.  First of all I want to start off and say that this thing is not even out yet!  Apple has 60 59 days to make changes in both the hardware and software level.  The device had yet to been submitted for  FCC approval in order to avoid leaks common on many products.  A complaint I’ve seen about iPad is the price.  When looking at the Amazon Kindle DX, a device that features a 9.7″ (same size as iPad) eInk display, it retails for $489.  A whole Hamilton cheaper than iPad.  Clearly when someone is asked which they would prefer, I could guarantee iPad would win almost every time.   iPhone OS will soon be due for an upgrade, which iPad runs.  With the competition heating up from Android, we have yet to see what Apple has up their sleeves to maintain their leader position.  There is no doubt there will be plenty of new features that will make people fall in love over again with their iDevice (iPhone, iPod touch, iPad).  I’d like to think the iPad will be just like the first iPhone, introduced in January with a later release.  iPhone OS 1.0 sucked.  Everything found on it has long been around on other smartphones.  I’ll go even further to say that a Windows Mobile devices or Blackberry could do far much more than iPhone could, there were no additional applications. What was the solution? The jailbreak community.  The jailbreak community is single handily responsible for what the iPhone is today.  At the time of iPhone’s release, it was the only way to add additional applications.  iPhone OS 2.0 brought many new features, the key one being the App Store – a game changer.  The success of the App Store has everyone racing, trying to catch up with Apple much as they did when the iPod was introduced.  Now with the new iPhone SDK out with the support of iPad we will soon see potential in this device within the next 59 days.  Here is when we will see iPad specific device, showing off it’s true potential.  Probably the biggest complaint I’ve seen is “…menamenamena-it-has-a-1ghz-processor-but-not-multitasking?”.  Obviously Apple knows this, it will come, if not leave it to the jailbreak community.  I’m sure the key feature we will see in iPhone OS 4.0 is the ability to multitask.  I currently run a jailbreak app called ‘Backgrounder’  on my 3G S to run ‘Slacker Radio’ or any application for that matter, in the background.  If Apple does not enable it, which they will, the jailbreak community will.  It’s only a matter of time until we see new features and applications that will make everyone want iPad just as they did with iPod and iPhone.

So my final impression on iPad is – Yes, I will buy it as soon as it is release.  My next questions is whether or not to get the WiFi only model or WiFi + 3G.  I’m leaning towards WiFi + 3G because I just want to whip it out and jump online with out having to fumble with WiFi.  Although, I would be happy with the WiFi only model since you can pretty much get WiFi at most places now and I can turn my iPhone into a router with MyFi, another jailbreak app.

Apple announced iTunes 9 at today’s “It’s only rock and roll, but we like it.” keynote event, revealing new features such as iTunes LP, Home Sharing, a redesigned iTunes store, and improve syncing to name a few.  iPhone 3.1 was also released alongside with iTunes 9.  Key features include “Genius” for apps, wireless ringtone downloads, and the ability to organize your apps within iTunes.  Some of the minor improvement I appreciate are VoiceControl via Bluetooth and the ability to remotely lock iPhone via MobileMe.

As for iPods, Apple has bumped the 120gb Classic back to 160gb while leaving the price at the previous $249.  iPod Touch 8gb version drops to $199 (down from $229) while maintaing the previous hardware.  Major improvements to the $299 32gb and $399 64gb versions, including OpenGL|ES 2.0., bringing it close to iPhone 3G S performance level.

Not much change to the iPod shuffle except now comes in 5 different colors and 1 Apple Store exclusive polished aluminum.  Now comes in 2gb at $59 and 4gb will remain at $79, although the polished aluminum version will run you a cool $99 to have an exclusive.

Now for the main attraction, iPod Nano 5G with a video camera, speaker, and microphone. Key features:

-VGA quality (640 x 480) H.264, with up to 30fps and AAC audio. Also 15 real-time special effects including Sepia, Black and White, X-Ray, Film Grain, Thermal, Security Cam, Cyborg, Bulge, Kaleido and Motion Blur

-built-in FM tuner with Live Pause and iTunes Tagging

-a pedometer (enhanceNike+ integration)

-VoiceOver and support for voice memos

-larger 2.2-inch display (up from 2.0-inches) with a 376 x 240 resolution.

Will run 8GB for $149and 16GB for $179 available now!

The Dev-Team Blog posted:

Ultrasn0w for iPhone 3G is ready!

1. Ensure you have upgraded to iPhone OS 3.0
2. Jailbreak your iPhone 3G using redsn0w or PwnageTool (this will also install Cydia/Icy)
3. Run Cydia or Icy
4. Please add the repo repo666.ultrasn0w.com to Cydia or Icy. That last “o” is actually the number zero “0”! If you use the letter “o” you’ll get an error.
5. Search for ‘ultrasn0w’ in cydia or icy and install ultrasn0w
6. Reboot your iPhone 3G

T-Mobile USA users should disable 3G before using ultrasn0w

DOWNLOAD(mac only): PwnageTool_3.0.dmg

1. GOLDEN RULE: If you are using a 3G iPhone with yellowsn0w and rely on yellowsn0w to obtain cellular service, then you should NOT use PwnageTool right now. UltraSn0w is not included with this release and therefore your baseband will be locked and unable to use an operator other than the official one it was bought for. UltraSn0w will be release via APT (cydia and icy) soon. If you have an original iPhone (1st generation) then 3.0 unlock works with this PwnageTool release.
2. Yellowsn0w in its current form will NOT work with the baseband version that is present in the 3.0 update, you will need Ultrasn0w, which will be released sometime soon, Ultrasn0w will work with all iPhone 3G models (but not 3GS), even ones that were previously unlockable, Ultrasn0w (when available) will be released via APT (this means you can get it via Cydia or Icy).
3. Please read all parts of this post before downloading and using these tools.
4. Read items 1, 2 and 3 again and again.
5. At the bottom of this post are the bittorrent files for the 3.0 capable version of PwnageTool.
6. This app is suitable for the recent 3.0 release.
7. PwnageTool will NOT work for the iPhone 3GS.
8. PwnageTool WILL work for Original iPhone (1st Generation), Original iPod touch (1st Generation) and the iPhone 3G.

DATED TO RELEASE FRIDAY!