Archive of thenextweb.com
Written on 26th June 2009
1 COMMENT 
Ralf Rottmann, Serial Mobile Entrepreneur, Apple Addict
Coming in tandem with every new version of the iPhone operating system is a new version of the Software Development Kit, the iPhone SDK.
Now, new SDK versions predominantly mean a lot of improvements for developers. The iPhone SDK 3.0 introduced over a thousand new application programming interfaces (API), which means over a thousand new or enhanced possibilities for people who strive to create the next killer app.
There is, however, a downside: Breaking changes and important features that did not make it into the SDK.
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Written on 20th June 2009
5 COMMENTS
Martin Bryant, Co-founder, Social Media Café Manchester
When the Wall Street Journal broke the news about Steve Jobs’ liver transplant this morning, it will have been a surprise for many Apple fans. We were told in January that Jobs was taking six months off to “Focus on (his) health” and deal with a hormonal imbalance that was causing him digestive problems. Although there were rumours that he was undergoing surgery many disregarded them as unhelpful gossip.
If the WSJ’s report is true, Jobs was a lot more ill than many had believed. Whether his condition is a result of the hormonal imbalance we were told about at the start of the year or some kind of relapse of the cancer he beat five years ago is currently unclear. It’s highly likely we won’t know the truth for a long while yet. Apple has fiercely guarded Jobs’ privacy on the subject of his health and there’s no reason for that to change now.
What we’re told is that Jobs is set to return to Apple within weeks, albeit part-time at first. So, what does this mean for Apple, its loyal fans and for Jobs himself?
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Written on 10th June 2009
1 COMMENT
Martin Bryant, Co-founder, Social Media Café Manchester
It’s been possible for over a year but until now it’s been the preserve of a few geeks, bloggers and journalists. Could 2009 be the year live video streaming from mobile phones goes mainstream?
It’s been announced that one of the most popular live streaming apps, Qik, is to be pre-loaded with all of Nokia’s S60 smartphones, starting with their new flagship N97.
Qik’s CEO Ramu Sunkara is understandably upbeat about the news. “To be pre-loaded on all their Symbian S60 devices speaks to the confidence that Nokia has in Qik for its consumers around the world. We are extremely pleased that this pre-load is starting with Nokia N97, a truly game changing device.” (more…)
Written on 9th June 2009
47 COMMENTS
Martin Bryant, Co-founder, Social Media Café Manchester
So, the new iPhone 3G S has been announced and Apple fans are keenly expecting to upgrade upon its release on the 19th of June. Keen, that is, until they find out the cost of upgrading.
In the UK, O2 is telling iPhone customers that they’ll need to buy out of their existing contract before signing up on a new deal for the 3G S. For customers who bought an iPhone 3G on release day last year with 7 months left on their 18 month contract, that’s at least £245 (if you’re on the cheapest monthly price) that you’ll have to pay before signing up for a new contract and maybe paying towards your new phone too.
Last year, there was none of this. Existing iPhone users could upgrade to the 3G version without having to buy out of their existing contract, simply signing up for a new one. It’s understandable that these people were assuming that they could simply do the same this time.
Now they’ve found out they can’t there’s a bubble of anger building. The hashtag #O2Fail is trending highly on Twitter this morning and a petition has been launched asking for “A reasonable way to upgrade to the iPhone 3GS”.
Unfortunately, these people are missing a pretty obvious fact. The original iPhone wasn’t subsidised; you had to pay full price for it. The 3G, on the other hand was subsidised heavily by O2 meaning that part of the money you pay to them monthly covers the price of the handset.
This is how it usually works in the UK. You can pick up a top-of-the-range Nokia for free because you pay for it monthly in your contract. If you want to upgrade early you have to buy your way out of the contract because you committed to it.
Whether it’s a fair system or not, that’s the way it works. Apple fans had it good last year, but O2 doesn’t owe them anything. There’s no way they could take the hit of writing off all the money they spent on iPhone 3G handsets last year just to satisfy their customers’ gearlust. The iPhone offers the best user experience of any phone on the market but that doesn’t make it immune from economic realities.
Tech humour site TechChuff has the right idea. Their alternative petition hits the nail on the head.
Written on 9th June 2009
0 COMMENTS
Boris Veldhuijzen van Zanten, Serial Internet Entrepreneur
Yeah I know all your Apple fanboys have found your way to this video of last nights Apple WWDC keynote 2 nanoseconds after it launched. But I just wouldn’t feel complete without including it here on our blog too. I needed closure on this. Enjoy:
More about the event:
The new iPhone 3G S, new Macbooks, Snow Leopard – all the WWDC news in one handy list
Looking for just the Essential Apple News from WWDC? Read it here.
Following Apple WWDC 2009 if you can’t be there
Written on 8th June 2009
8 COMMENTS
Martin Bryant, Co-founder, Social Media Café Manchester
So it’s all over – the WWDC keynote is complete. Apple over-delivered in some areas, under-delivered in others and even gave us a complete surprise or two.
Here’s everything you need to know in one handy list.
A completely refreshed, cheaper laptop lineup. Available immediately.
- There’s now just one Macbook costing $999 / £749. 2GB RAM, 160GB, 2.13GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 802.11n wi-fi
- 3 MacBook Pros: a new 13″ version starting from £899, a 15″ from £1299 and a 17″ for £1849 – all MacBook Pros now have SD Card slots and built-in, non-removable long-life batteries.
- The Macbook Air is cheaper now, costing £1149 for the SATA drive version and the SSD version is down to £1349
OSX Snow Leopard is available from September with an upgrade price of a mere $29.
- -Despite claiming it would have “No New Features” last year, Apple has decided under-the-hood tweaks aren’t enough and are rolling out some sexy new ideas in the new OS.
- Support for Exchange servers in Mail, Calendar and Address Book
- Exposé built into the dock (making switching between apps easier).
- The OS now takes up much less space, freeing up 6GB once you install.
A new version of Quicktime caled Quicktime X.
- It’s got a much improved interface.
- Videos can be edited with a new visual timeline and uploaded via email or to MobileMe or Youtube straight from the app.
Safari 4 is out of Beta.
- It’s reportedly much faster than even Chrome
- You can download it now here.
iPhone 3.0 software
- They covered the already known improvements again (MMS, cut and paste, push notifications etc) but added….
- A brilliant Find My iPhone service for MobileMe subscribers. It’ll show your iPhone on a map, you can make it put out a sound (even in Silent mode) to help find it, you can send a message to display on its screen (e.g., “Give it back, thief!”) and even wipe the phone completely if you think it’s lost for good.
- MMS won’t be available on AT&T straight away. Americans will have to wait til late Summer for that. Everyone else should be fine from release.
- 3.0 software will be available from June 17th – free on the iPhone, $9.99 for the iPod Touch.
Turn-by-Navigation is coming
- Including Tom Tom, with dashmounted kit to charge your iPhone and use the iPod app while you drive and take directions.
The new iPhone is called the iPhone 3G S
- S stands for ‘Speed’. It has 7.2mbps HSDPA data
- It looks the same as the iPhone 3G, available in Black and White versions.
- It has a 3MP camera with 30 FPS video recording and editing capabilities. Upload by Email or to Youtube or MobileMe from the device.
- Voice commands are available, from “Call John Smith” to “Play a song by Fiery Furnaces”.
- It’s got a digital compass built in.
- It’s available for $199 (16GB version) and $299 (32GB version) from 19th June.
The original iPhone 3G is down to $99
- The 8GB version only, mind.
Written on 7th June 2009
19 COMMENTS
Zee, Editor in Chief at The Next Web, Principal at WeDoCreative.
With WWDC tomorrow, Apple rumours are all the rage, from these images however – this rumour seems a little more believable.
The shots come via FoneArena via reputable Italian site SpazioCullulaire who supposedly retrieved them from a Canada store inventory.
The images show:
- The new iphones are called iPhone Video and iPhone Video iChat
- There are all in all, 12 variants of the phone
- 16 GB – 64 GB memory to be available
- Its going to be available in various colors – White , Black, Orange , Green with Flower, Yellow , Red.
- The 64GB version appears to cost $179 with an extra $20 for a case (which might explain the fluffy bunnies).
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Written on 6th June 2009
34 COMMENTS
Zee, Editor in Chief at The Next Web, Principal at WeDoCreative.
Yes, I would go as far to say this is THE best iPhone mock up I have ever seen. In fact, I have yet to see a more realistic and elegant device mock up in my time on this planet, let alone iPhone mock up, and frankly, if Apple were to release anything remotely along the lines of the below …I’d snap one up fast, Usain Bolt fast.
In fact, part of me wants to believe this is what we’re likely to see revealed next week. No no, I’m being silly aren’t I…
via 9to5Mac and iPhoneTicker
Written on 4th June 2009
5 COMMENTS
Martin Bryant, Co-founder, Social Media Café Manchester
With iPhone apps being banned for ridiculous reasons on an almost weekly basis it’s easy to think that Apple doesn’t actually have any clear policy for App Store approvals. The ever-astute people at Joy of Tech have other ideas.
Written on 2nd June 2009
3 COMMENTS
Zee, Editor in Chief at The Next Web, Principal at WeDoCreative.
Thirty two years ago, Apple was a very different company and Steve Jobs was a very different entrepreneur. Young, inexperienced and with a big ego to boot (ok, maybe some things never change).
Thanks to the Computer History Museum and Apple, we are given an insight into those early days at Apple via two very unique documents; Apple’s first business plan and Apple’s first IPO plan.
The 30-page Preliminary Macintosh Business Plan, released internally within Apple Computer in 1982, describes the market position the Apple Macintosh could fill and the plans they envisaged for themselves.
The original Business Plan and the Preliminary Confidential Offering Memorandum were donated to the Museum’s collection by Apple’s First Employee Dan Kottke and by original Apple Investor and Former Chairman Mike Markkula, respectively.
Apple’s early strategy was to encourage businesses to move up market to the expensive Lisa and Apple III computers, costing between $3,000 and $5,000.
About 63 people were working on the Mac project in December 1981, and according to the plan Apple considered education to be its primary market:
“As Word Processors are replacing typewriters in the real world, students need to learn word processing, not just typing. MAC will help the student of the 80’s learn the tools of the 80’s.” (more…)
The Next Web Blog is closely associated with The Next Web Conference which is held annually in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. At this event speakers from all over the world come together to talk about, and show off, the future of the Web. (More info 
