iPhone Hysteria

[FG Lurker]

...which is why losing google maps, not getting google navigation, and telling flash to fuck off have not been wise decisions.

I agree regarding the first two 100%. I rarely miss flash though, and am happy that it's now a dieing technology mostly due to the Apple decision. We would've been stuck with that shit for years longer if Apple hadn't given it the boot. It never ran properly on Android devices, totally killed battery life, and now Adobe's abandoned trying to make it better. So, I don't mind the lack of flash.

[Coligny]

From this morning Think Geek newsletter:

"NCC-iOS6"


Captain's log:

We are
 where no man has gone before

--
blame Sulu's iPhone.

[matsuki]

...which is why losing google maps, not getting google navigation, and telling flash to fuck off have not been wise decisions.

I agree regarding the first two 100%. I rarely miss flash though, and am happy that it's now a dieing technology mostly due to the Apple decision. We would've been stuck with that shit for years longer if Apple hadn't given it the boot. It never ran properly on Android devices, totally killed battery life, and now Adobe's abandoned trying to make it better. So, I don't mind the lack of flash.

I agree with the sentiments and ridding the world of flash is all warm and fuzzy but just think it was too premature....and remember, TIJ, using outdated techmonologeee is state of the art.

[BigInJapan]

It looks like Street View will be coming to the Web version of Google Maps on the iPhone.

Before getting into the details, let me hasten to add that despite this advantage, Google has said it wants its maps on the iPhone and iPad, too, because they are a platform too big to ignore for the company’s services and ads. Google has pointed out that iPhone users can still get a limited version of Google Maps via the phone’s Web browser.

In fact, Google plans to announce on Thursday that it is adding its popular Street View feature, missing from Apple’s maps, to the Web version of Google Maps accessed from the iPhone and iPad. I tested this addition, which displays 360-degree photographic street views of selected locations, and interior photographic views of certain businesses, using sample links Google sent me.
[Walt Mossberg - All Things D]

[matsuki]

It looks like Street View will be coming to the Web version of Google Maps on the iPhone.

Before getting into the details, let me hasten to add that despite this advantage, Google has said it wants its maps on the iPhone and iPad, too, because they are a platform too big to ignore for the company’s services and ads. Google has pointed out that iPhone users can still get a limited version of Google Maps via the phone’s Web browser.

In fact, Google plans to announce on Thursday that it is adding its popular Street View feature, missing from Apple’s maps, to the Web version of Google Maps accessed from the iPhone and iPad. I tested this addition, which displays 360-degree photographic street views of selected locations, and interior photographic views of certain businesses, using sample links Google sent me.
[Walt Mossberg - All Things D]

Soooo ehhhhh Apple is intentionally blocking their customers from using Google maps/navi? I thought it was the other way around?

[BigInJapan]

Question for those of you that have used (or know people that have) a US iPhone in Japan recently.
A buddy of mine from the US will be coming to Japan for a couple of months, and he has an old iPhone 3G.
If it is unlocked, what is the deal with getting a compatible SIM card for use in Japan?
Softbank has this iPhone SIM card rental option, with pickup and return only at airports.
The Softbank rental SIM is ¥105/day, plus calls, but data fees are up to ¥1,500/day (capped, but after only 585KB).
He won't need the data option (over 3G) as he will be in an environment that has Wi-Fi.
I suppose if he setup the phone to not access mail etc. over 3G, he could avoid getting dinged ¥1,500/day, and only do mail/netsurfing etc. over Wi-Fi.
Anyway, if anyone has current info on SIM cards it would be appreciated (most of the info I can find is outdated).

[cstaylor]

iPhone 3G uses a standard SIM, but 4, 4s, and 5 use a mini-SIM, so make sure Softbank will give you the correct size.

[GomiGirl]

You can set up the phone to use 3G for voice only and turn it off for data. So if he sticks to 3G voice and free wifi then he should be OK. Check with the rental SB sim to see if you get access to their hotspots included otherwise, you are going to be limited to starbucks for free WiFi.

¥1,500 a day would add up if you are here for a few weeks or months. Good deal for short term though.

[yanpa]

edible-iphone-cover.jpg

Edible iPhone 5 Case Made From Rice Cracker Protects Your Life but not Your iPhone

On the eve of a large-scale natural disaster, preparedness is everything. Sure smartphones can keep us in contact with the rest of world when traditional communication networks are down, but Twitter won’t help you much when food supplies start running low.

That’s where the “Survival Senbei iPhone 5 Case” comes in. This special case is made entirely from Japanese brown rice and salt, baked into a crispy golden-brown senbei rice cracker that fits snugly around your iPhone 5.

An iPhone that you can eat in times of crisis: this must be the future that Steve Jobs envisioned for the device! You just might want to avoid walking around with it your pocket…

...more...

Order here

[BigInJapan]

This is for owners of the iPhone 4S and 5 only - has anyone made their AU or Softbank 4S or 5 SIM-free?
I'm contemplating the iPhone 5 (on AU), and am trying to verify the options for unlocking it so that it can be used with SIM cards overseas (primarily in the Great White North).
As an aside, are the AU iPhone 4S and/or 5 even compatible with carriers (GSM/CDMA) in North America?
This article (Japanese) on RocketNews24 talks about a an item carried by Keitai Paradise that supposedly makes your AU/Softbank iPhone 4S/5 SIM-free. The above site does not review it, just posts a short article about it.
This is the actual page on Keitai Paradise with the SIM-free items.

[Coligny]

Don't the iphone 5 have that super micro wargarblll sim incompatible with anything from this planet ?

[wagyl]

As an aside, are the AU iPhone 4S and/or 5 even compatible with carriers (GSM/CDMA) in North America?

My reading of this terrific source combined with the details here (enter model names yourself) suggests the answer is "Yes, but don't expect LTE."

By the way, this kind of research you should be able to do yourself

[Coligny]

Quick discovery today, the AU iphone 4s have a basillion time shittier wifi reception than the softbank one, I'm gonna check inside for physical problems once i get home...

[BigInJapan]

NTT Docomo loses record 40,800 subscribers in Nov, as iPhone gains

(Reuters) - Japan's dominant mobile carrier NTT Docomo Inc said it lost 40,800 subscribers on a net basis in November, as users switched to Softbank Corp and KDDI Corp to grab an Apple Inc iPhone 5 supplied in Japan by the two smaller carriers.

NTT Docomo said it was the first drop in the number of users in over five years, and its biggest user decline on record.

The number of Softbank's subscribers grew by 301,900, with the upstart carrier winning the most users on a net basis for the 11th straight month. The number of KDDI's users grew by 228,800.

[Mock Cockpit]

Not to mention Docomo's crappy implementation of LTE at least where I live. Paying for champagne and getting beer service gets old quick.

[matsuki]

Not to mention Docomo's crappy implementation of LTE at least where I live. Paying for champagne and getting beer service gets old quick.

I get LTE everywhere and with the LTE plan I'm on, it's cheaper than what I was paying for 3G service.

BUT....isn't the only reason Docomo is not carrying the iPhone that Apple refuses to let Docomo load their phones up with crap apps from the start?

[wagyl]

BUT....isn't the only reason Docomo is not carrying the iPhone that Apple refuses to let Docomo load their phones up with crap apps from the start?

My understanding is that there are also issues with the fact that Apple want to efforts taken to encourage their phones to get a fixed share of the smartphone market sold by the carrier, and want a larger share of carrier fees than other device manufacturers.

[matsuki]

BUT....isn't the only reason Docomo is not carrying the iPhone that Apple refuses to let Docomo load their phones up with crap apps from the start?

My understanding is that there are also issues with the fact that Apple want to efforts taken to encourage their phones to get a fixed share of the smartphone market sold by the carrier, and want a larger share of carrier fees than other device manufacturers.

LOL, well, it seems to be working well for Suckbank and AU...I just find it hilarious how much market share they're losing out on just because docomo won't bend to Apple's demands. (that being said, I'm happy with my waterproof LTE ANDROID handset on docomo)

[BigInJapan]

(that being said, I'm happy with my waterproof LTE ANDROID handset on docomo)

Slightly (alright, totally) OT, but which Android do you have? I'm on AU, gonna upgrade to LTE, and I'm thinking about getting either the Experia VL, or the AQUOS SHL21 (AQUOS is the first smartphone in Japan to have bonafide optical IS, AFAIK). Both have NFC (which Apple didn't implement - yet), and they are water/dust-proof, etc.

[matsuki]

(that being said, I'm happy with my waterproof LTE ANDROID handset on docomo)

Slightly (alright, totally) OT, but which Android do you have? I'm on AU, gonna upgrade to LTE, and I'm thinking about getting either the Experia VL, or the AQUOS SHL21 (AQUOS is the first smartphone in Japan to have bonafide optical IS, AFAIK). Both have NFC (which Apple didn't implement - yet), and they are water/dust-proof, etc.

http://www.sharp.co.jp/products/sh02e/index.html

SHARP ZETA SH-2E - it actually kills the Galaxy SIII (original version) and is on par with the new Galaxy SIII Alpha as far as hardware goes but it boasts being waterproof, a larger battery, a larger IGZO Screen, and a very nice 16.3M Camera with optical IS.

[BigInJapan]

(that being said, I'm happy with my waterproof LTE ANDROID handset on docomo)

Slightly (alright, totally) OT, but which Android do you have?

http://www.sharp.co.jp/products/sh02e/index.html

Gotcha. It looks like the Docomo Zeta has pushed the Galaxy S3 out of the top spot in the rankings too.
AU has the HTC J, but I don't need something that big, so I'll probably go with the AU AQUOS SHL21 as it's a bit smaller, but still manages to squeeze in a 4.7" screen.
Just curious, but how effective is the optical IS on the Zeta? I'm finding just about zilch in terms of sample photos/video taken with the AU AQUOS SHL21.

[matsuki]

(that being said, I'm happy with my waterproof LTE ANDROID handset on docomo)

Slightly (alright, totally) OT, but which Android do you have?

http://www.sharp.co.jp/products/sh02e/index.html

Gotcha. It looks like the Docomo Zeta has pushed the Galaxy S3 out of the top spot in the rankings too.

It's good but it's also the やっぱり日本製が一番 types that are all over it

AU has the HTC J, but I don't need something that big, so I'll probably go with the AU AQUOS SHL21 as it's a bit smaller, but still manages to squeeze in a 4.7" screen.
Just curious, but how effective is the optical IS on the Zeta? I'm finding just about zilch in terms of sample photos/video taken with the AU AQUOS SHL21.[/quote]

Pics are pretty damn nice but aftermarket camera apps aren't so friendly with it. (too red/dark)

[BigInJapan]

Google Maps returns to iOS as an app after Apple's removal
After months-long absence due to Apple's embarrassing removal of the feature from its mobile platform, Google's maps returns as a stand-alone app.

googlemapsios[1].jpg

The official Google Maps app returned to Apple's App store this evening. As expected, the new free app includes turn-by-turn navigation, just like its Android counterpart, as well as public transit directions, integrated Street View, and a 3D-like Google Earth view.
Early reviews of the new app appear to be positive. [Article on CNET]
iTunes page

[Coligny]

Need halp... I need an interwab in the whip.

Currently I saw this Wifiwalker 3G+Wimax . It got a cradle with an ethernet port which is double plus good in my book.

www.au.kddi.com/seihin/ichiran/data/data08w/
40/15 on Wimax or 3.1/1.8 on 3g

Or this WifiWalker LTE 4G

http://www.kddi.com/business/data/hwd11/

Who don't have the craddul option but goes 75D/25U

I'm nearly sure my hood got wimax...

But for LTE, I don't have the start of a clue...

What are youze using (Yanpa ?)

[yanpa]

I haz an e-mobile dongle which I should probably get round to updating sometime... No idea what TLA it use...

[Mike Oxlong]

I bought an Apple product through the Apple Japan Store three or four years ago. As far as that goes, things have been fine. But, out of the blue a few months ago, I started getting spam email from them trying to sell me shit, every couple of days. Bloody annoying!

[legion]

I bought an Apple product through the Apple Japan Store three or four years ago. As far as that goes, things have been fine. But, out of the blue a few months ago, I started getting spam email from them trying to sell me shit, every couple of days. Bloody annoying!

sales are starting to slide, the product cycle is too short and it is turning off their customers

[Coligny]

sales are starting to slide, the product cycle is too short and it is turning off their customers

Also... the Iphone version change... the features... not so much...

[legion]

sales are starting to slide, the product cycle is too short and it is turning off their customers

Also... the Iphone version change... the features... not so much...

Apple have been repackaging the same shit for years

Your iPod is only as cool as the tunes you have on it

[Coligny]

I think i've used my ipod touch for everything except music...

yet to find a good car clinometer app though...