The iPod Nation

Apple and AT&T have just finished up their lawsuit with Klausner Technology over the alleged patent infringement. Apple and AT&T have agreed to pay Klausner Technology a settlement in exchange for being official licsenced the visual-voicemail technology. Klausner Technology originally took Apple to court in December seeking $360 million dollars in damages and royalties.

“The patent litigation with Apple has been settled. The patents have been licensed to Apple,” said Klausner Technology founder Judah Klausner. The financial details of the settlement were not released, but I imagine that Klausner Technology made a pretty penny off this one.

[Source: iLounge]

If there is one thing that Apple needs to pair with the browser on it’s iPhone, it is support for Flash files. Apple hasn’t really made an effort to include Flash, but Adobe (the owner of Flash) has made some steps to do so. Apparently all they need is a seal of approval from Apple.

At the meeting for Adobe’s fiscal second quarter conference, CEO Shantanu Narayen stated that they had a version of Flash running on running inside the iPhone Emulator on the SDK. Adobe had announced that they wished to include Flash with the Safari browser after the iPhone SDK was originally released, but recognized that integrating it would require “work with Apple beyond and above what is available through the SDK and the current license around it.”

I’m hoping that Apple will soon get it’s act together and revamp the mobile version of Safari. It would be nice to see Apple include Flash support, download support, and a way for plug-ins to be added with greater ease.

[Source: iLounge]

An AT&T spokesperson has came out to answer many of the dying questions of the consumer. The most important question was answered and the people are not to happy… Well I’m not anyhow. You MUST activate in store to leave with the 3G!! That means no 3G presents for love ones or having the luxury of activating later, or even activating on your “OWN plan”, if you know what I mean . Apple I think this will slow your sells a bit. But time will tell. Well here is how it went:

Chris asks: Can these devices be purchased and given as gifts?

No. You will need to walk out of the AT&T or Apple store with the device activated.

Greekjgg asks: What if I want to buy one for work which already uses AT&T for company account? I can’t activate in store, obviously, so will it be possible to to buy without a contract?

We don’t have details yet but iPhones for business use will likely be provisioned through your company’s IT department.

Tons of people ask: If I purchase an original iPhone from a friend will I be able to get the old data plan pricing? Or will I need to sign up at the new, more expensive rate?

Yes. You can get the old data plan price if someone gives you a device and you establish service for yourself.

Chris and SeditioN VII ask: What’s the no-commitment price?

We have not yet announced the unsubsidized price.

We follow up: So you WILL be able to buy it without the two year commitment?

We haven’t announced whether or not that will be offered.

Vic asks: Will long-time customers who are otherwise eligible for a free or reduced-price handset upgrades be able to lower the price when buying the iPhone 3G?

No one will pay less than $199 for the 8GB or $299 for the 16GB models. As you know, those are subsidized prices.

Matt asks: Say I just recently signed up with AT&T, standard contract. Now I want to get an iPhone 3G — will I have to pay more than $199 for the phone because it’s subsidized? For example, if I were to upgrade to a Blackberry now, I can’t get the advertised $99 price (because I am a new, existing subscriber); my price is $374.

It depends on whether or not you are eligible for an upgrade.

We ask: What is the penalty for not activating the phone in 30 days? How will that be enforced?

No answer as the interview ends..

[Source: Engadget ]

After the the endless rumors that surfaced over the last few months, the iPhone G3 is finally here. As I listened to a live feed of the WWDC conference I wrote down some details and revised them after Apple posted information on their website. Check it out:

• GPS
• 3G Cellular Network
• ActiveSync support
• Push Email Support
• AppStore
• Parental Controls
• Un-recessed headphone port
• Side-view calculator
• And much more…

These are all welcomed features and upgrades, but the biggest announcement of the day was the decreased in price. The iPhone 3G will be selling for $199 for the 8 gigabyte model. This almost makes me want to sell off my first generation iPhone to get a hold of this new one! I would, but I’ll have to wait since it isn’t being released until July 12.