Pricing struggles between Apple and Vodafone behind troubled iPhone launch

According to an article in today's Businessday, the chaotic launch customers experienced with Apple's new iPhone was due to a pricing disagreement between Vodafone, the carrier for New Zealand, and Apple - the company which makes the iPhone.

According to Stuff.co.nz:

Apple advised Vodafone to change pricing for the iPhone 4 shortly before it was due to hit shop shelves, but an angry Vodafone threatened to can the launch entirely, according to a source.

It is understood Vodafone's head office in Britain then intervened, demanding its local subsidiary proceed.

A Vodafone spokesperson says that Vodafone will neither confirm nor deny stories of such a disagreement. [Business Day]

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Leaked ad for Apple's new iPhone 4 'Bumper'

Ordinary people would think that the over-hyped 'Antennagate' saga surrounding Apple's new iPhone 4 would be a disaster for the California company. But those people would be wrong, as it happened to have spawned the most technologically advanced product the company has yet produced. [Slate]

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Steve Jobs and iPhone 4 get the Taiwanese animation treatment

No controversy involving the technology world would be completely covered by the media without receiving the full-blown Taiwanese news animation treatment - as the iPhone 4 antenna saga has in the video embedded above. 

Not only does the video show Steve Jobs' plight to have his product free from controversy, but chronicles the crowning of Jobs as the new dark lord of tech - including a very special Jobs v. Gates ultra-lightsaber battle. [Via NMANews]

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New iPhone shatters Apple sales record

Apple, the technology company responsible for the iPhone 4, has reportedly shattered its last sales record in a massive rush to get the device into the hands of consumers following its release earlier this month.

The company has sold 1.7 million units, in one of the most successful launches of a product yet for the company, which recently became the worlds largest technology based corporation in the world - surpassing Microsoft, the longtime record holder in tech market capitalization. [Image and data via Reuters]

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iPhone 4: Will it blend?

In the video we've all been waiting for, YouTube's favorite blender wielding viral video personality shows us how Apple's latest gadget withstands the mighty force of a Blendtech blender. [Via Blendtech]

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Alas, the long awaited David Pogue NY Times review on the next generation iPhone

There are always a number of reviews on a newly released device on YouTube and all across the internet. But yet, there's something remarkably interesting about the ones produced by David Pogue. [Via NYT]

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As new iPhone 4 gets shipped, unboxing and review videos appear on YouTube

With the new iPhone 4 being released and shipped within the US at the moment, there are a bunch of videos detailing the new device, as with every other Apple product, appearing on YouTube. Here is just one of them which we believe is superior to all others. 

Reviews for Apple's new phone have been primarily positive. See more like the one embedded above by clicking here. 

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New iPhone OS is cool...but not revolutionary

If you have an iPhone or an iPod Touch and you've plugged your device into your computer today, you may have noticed that iTunes has a few surprises for you. The first is that Apple's new iOS 4 (formerly iPhone OS) is now available for all 2G and 3G iPods and 3GS and 3G iPhones. 

Sure, the new updates are pretty cool. You'll enjoy being able to set your own background (unless you're on an iPod Touch 2G, where wallpapers are not available), and also being able to effectively organize your numerous apps into cleverly named folders. 

However, the download time is tedious, taking almost an hour for users with slower internet connections. The real question will be whether or not it is worth it to spend an hour or more without your beloved iDevice. 

Ready to download? Wired Magazine has suggested the following:

1. Upgrade your iTunes version to 9.2.

2. We recommend you back up your data before running the install, so plug in your iOS device via USB and hit Sync.

3.  When you’re done syncing, click Check for Update.

4. Download iOS 4, then follow the on-screen instructions to install. And you’re done!

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Apple, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and your jailbroken iPhone

Congress is yet to rule whether or not unlocking (or 'jailbreaking') an Apple mobile device, such as an iPhone or iPod Touch should be exempted from the Millennium Copyright Act, which is said to protect Apple from such threats to their online store and media retail business model. 

However, unlocking and hacking iPhones and other Apple devices has become increasingly popular, as the company refuses to loosen its grip on the market and devices that it produces. 

One must admit that it is in Apple's own financial interest, as is explained in the video embedded above, to keep its devices within its control, and only have software that it approves of. Not only is it financially sensible for the company, but it also keeps control on the quality of the applications and general software that runs on the device. 

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Facebook CEO hates your iPhone

According to his own personal Facebook profile, Mark Zuckerberg, the billionaire founder of the social networking site, recently bought an iPhone. But, however, he doesn't seem all that pleased with it so far, citing its lack of utility as the main problem. 

In a post to his Facebook wall (which can be seen publicly), Zuckerberg joked about his having an iPhone, saying "I got four chargers so I can use it wherever I go and a landline so that I can actually make calls". 

It also appears Zuckerberg may be keen to switch to iPhone's rival mobile player, Google's Android software. 

So, he got an iPhone this week and is expecting to upgrade to iPhone 4. 'Guess it's really difficult being a billionaire. 

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Steve Jobs WiFi failure explained

During the launch of the iPhone 4, the next generation smartphone from Apple, Steve Jobs, the company's benevolent overlord had some troubles with the event's WiFi network. He did manage to salvage some of the blow the technical troubles made to his presentation, with a joke.

Tech blog Boing Boing published this explaination from Rob Beschizza, a contributor to the blog:

Apple apparently did offer a public Wi-Fi network at the WWDC launch, according to media and attendees I've polled. And those who tried it said that network did work initially. But with so much media in the audience, and the history of conference/event Wi-Fi networks having glitches at peak times--with many people liveblogging and uploading photos from the event--those who had MiFis chose to use those instead.

Wi-Fi can cope with a lot of so-called interference, but the protocol wasn't designed to handle hundreds of overlapping networks in a small space. (Interference is really the limits of a radio to distinguish signals out of noise, not a physical property of radio waves.)

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iPhone's pixel density exceeds that of the human retina

Steve Jobs, the CEO of Apple, today launched iPhone 4 at the company's WWDC (Worldwide Developer Conference). One of the more remarkable features that was launched included what the company calls its 'Retina Display' - which, as it turns out, exceeds the human eye in terms of pixel density. 

The human retina can differentiate between 300 pixels per inch. However, Apple's new iPhone exceeds that with 326 pixels per inch. 

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Apple's iPhone mobile video conferencing will 'change the way we communicate'

Apple, which unveiled the next generation iPhone today has included a feature called FaceTime in the new OS, coupled by a front facing camera and video conferencing software that can automatically switch between the phone's two built-in video enabled cameras.

Above is a video that was posted on the company's website. We apologize for the quality (or lack thereof) of the clip.

Personally, I must say that I am most excited about the new device, and will certainly look at getting one.

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When modern technology is getting just that little too modern...

(Click the image for a larger view).

Modern technology getting you down? Sick of handling emails and juggling visual voicemail? Tired of that nagging technology all day long? Well, we have got a solution for you!

Try the all new retro handset for mobile phones. "The new chic way of using your mobile phone at the home or at the office."

A New Zealand designed item that retails for around NZ$139.00, the device is said to make answering incoming calls easy thanks to the one-touch button.

See the actual page here.

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Amid excitement, Apple unveils iPhone 4 - "Stop me if you've seen this before"

The wishes of many have come true today as Steve Jobs, the much adored CEO of Apple, unveiled the newest version of the company's beloved iPhone range - iPhone 4 - which the company is saying will without any doubt change things 'all over again'.

Hardware on the iPhone 4, as expected after the infamous Gizmodo leak, is identical to those seen in the misplaced prototype. The device runs Apple's new iPhone OS 4, which was released to a small group of developers recently after a preview at the company's headquarters (this can be found on the company's website at www.apple.com).

In addition to the new hardware, the device also packs in a couple of new features, including a product called Facetime - which is a phone to phone video conferencing application which is set to take advantage of the built-in camera on the front of the device.

All the technology, the company says, is situated between two glossy pieces of aluminosilicate glass, with a steel band wrapped around it.

As well as the black version, users can buy a white version as they could before, however this time with both sides in the white shade, as the operating system now allows this to be aesthetically pleasing with regard to the lack of contrast between the home screen and the surrounding glass.

All of this is powered by Apple's famously touted A4 chip, which the company has promoted and - as expected - no Flash is included in the device.

Altogether, the device delivers all the expectations of those who were waiting for it. The hardware is a pleasing development in a device that was beginning to lose its overall visual appeal - and become mundane. The next generation iPhone is a winner.

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