Archive for February, 2008
February 28, 2008
Notable headlines:
Larry Dignan: EU slaps Microsoft with $1.35 billion fine
Mary Jo Foley: European Commission vs. Microsoft: Who is being unreasonable?
Dennis Howlett: Steelie Neelie slaps Microsoft with record fine
John Carroll: Microsoft vs. the EC, round 236
Jotspot is back (as Google Sites); It’s still a wiki
Techmeme
Dennis Howlett: Google Sites - spoiled by usability issues
George Ou: Microsoft’s free […]
February 28, 2008
iPhone software/firmware 1.1.4 apparently fixes some nasty bugs introduced with the 1.1.3 update, as follows:
SMS ordering problems Several readers reported that, after installing the iPhone software/firmware 1.1.3 update, SMS (text) messages are displayed out of order. That is, a conversation intended to appear thusly:
User1: Hi
User2: How are you?
User1: Fine.
instead appears thusly:
User1: Hi
User1: Fine.
User2: How are you?
Apple has acknowledged this issue in a Knowledge Base article. The problem appears to be resolved under iPhone software/firmware 1.1.4.
Bluetooth blues iPhone software/firmware update 1.1.3 introduced some serious issues with third-party Bluetooth devices. These problems included incompatibility with GPS units from Garmin (StreetPilot C550, Nuvi 360, 760, etc.), some integrated car Bluetooth systems and more.
These problems are, based on some reader reports, resolved under software/firmware 1.1.4.
Problems sending mail Several users reported an issue where mail sent from the iPhone simply disappears into the void, never reaching its recipient, nor appearing in the “Sent Items” folder, and also never generating an error message indicating that anything has gone wrong.
This problem may be fixed in iPhone software/firmware 1.1.4. One iPhone Atlas reader writes:
“After installing the update, my phone rebooted, activated, and seemed normal. I started digging through the settings (I’d just gotten to the main settings menu) when I heard the “mail sent” sound. I looked through the Sent box of each of my accounts but saw no recent entries I didn’t recognize. The last time I sent e-mail from my iPhone was weeks and weeks ago (I usually just read). God knows who just got what.”
via http://www.iphoneatlas.com/2008/02/26/iphone-114-fixes-bluetooth-sms-ordering-bugs/
February 28, 2008
According to a tip we recently received, some new files in the 1.1.4 iPhone firmware may hint at the next locations for the i Phone to be released. New files pointing to possible carrier choices for Austria and Ireland may mean that the iPhone could be released in those countries by the end of the year.
In 1.1.4, located in /System/Library/Carrier Bundles/ are two new files: TMobile_at.bundle and O2_ie.bundle. In 1.1.3, the location contained:
ATT_US.bundle
O2_UK.bundle
Orange_France.bundle
TIM_Italy.bundle
TMobile_Germany.bundle
Based on this, it would be reasonable to expect a launch of the iPhone in Austria on the T-Mobile network and Ireland on the O2 network before the year’s end.
via http://www.iphonealley.com/news/files-found-in-1-1-4-firmware-hint-at-iphone-for-australia-ireland
February 28, 2008
If you’re waiting for a jailbreak tool for the iPhone 1.1.4 firmware (and you aren’t eager to hang around for the promised update to Ziphone), iNdependence 1.4 beta 5 might be for you. The latest version of the tool is built to work with the new iPhone firmware without difficulty.
iNdependence is billed as the “easy-to-use interface for jailbreak, activation, SSH installation, and ringtone/wallpaper/application installation on your iPhone.” With the new beta, the SIM unlocking (gunlock) capability is rolled in. Full changelog is here.
As always, you jailbreak or unlock your device at your own risk.
via http://www.tuaw.com/2008/02/27/independence-utility-updated-to-work-with-1-1-4-firmware/
February 28, 2008
Google acquired Jotspot in 2006 and then let it disappear. But the company didn’t totally give up on the hosted wiki application and has rebranded it Google Sites.
As Dan Farber notes, Google Sites is another cog in that Google Apps suite. Rafe Needleman finds it curious that Google Sites doesn’t mention the word wiki anywhere.
That […]
February 27, 2008
The Semantic Web, which is a fancy way of saying data can be defined, shared and reused everywhere, is becoming less academic and more real for technology folks–and their ROI driven bosses.
That’s the big takeaway from Paul Miller’s interview with Sir Tim Berners-Lee. Paul is new to the ZDNet network and has started a blog […]
February 27, 2008
The European Commission has hit Microsoft with an 899 million euro fine for charging unreasonable prices for access “to interface documentations for work group servers” prior to Oct. 22, 2007 and failure to adhere to a March 2004 antitrust ruling. That fine equates to $1.35 billion or so–a big chunk of change even for Microsoft.
Clearly, […]
February 27, 2008
Facebook has previewed a new profile page that cleans up a good amount of clutter on the page by creating tabs for users to put their wall items, personal information and photos.
These improvements are a no brainer. Facebook’s profile pages–with apps, news feeds, personal info and photos all together–are beginning to look like a 4 […]
February 27, 2008
A new draft bill in the U.S. would, among other things, “[…] offer to consumers the opportunity to purchase subsidy-free wireless customer equipment.” This means that AT&T would have to offer an unlocked iPhone to customers in the U.S.
Sponsored by Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), a congressman who serves as chairman of a House telecommunications and Internet panel, the bill
(PDF) would direct the FCC to make some new rules for wireless carriers, including making carriers explain rate plans to customers in full detail and in a “clear, plain, and conspicuous manner,” explaining everything from early termination fees to state and local taxes to the customer.
Carriers would also be forced to make more detailed and accurate maps depicting their Carriers would also be forced to make more detailed and accurate maps depicting their network coverage areas, and allow customers to cancel contracts for any reason without penalties for the first 30 days.
If the bill passes, it could mean good news for those who want an unlocked iPhone in the U.S. However, it could mean bad news for Apple, being that many of the features, as well as cuts from monthly contract fees, rely on the iPhone being locked to AT&T.
via http://www.iphonealley.com/news/bill-to-unlock-all-cellphones-in-the-u-s?s=71b483809da844dd4ffe24a1c3bcdeb3&
February 27, 2008
Apple has released the 1.1.4 Firmware update for iPhone and iPod Touch. No details yet on what new features (if any) have been included.The direct links are iPhone and iPod.
Apple released the 1.1.3 firmware at Macworld San Francisco and added a number of new features including Google Maps Location, Webclips, and Multiple-Contact SMS.
Early reports indicate that there are no obvious new features, but it does “break” unofficial apps (jailbreak). Apple was to announce the iPhone Software Development Kit (SDK) this month, so the release may add official support for 3rd party applications written with the SDK. The 1.1.4 firmware update is presently available through iTunes for your iPhone and iPod Touch.
Notes:
- No Flash support
- iToner 1.0.6 still works
- ZiPhone may work, but the developer warns not to upgrade as it hasn’t been tested.
- Text message ordering fixed, according to one report
- Camera works better for some
- Safari Tabs now preserve content (don’t go to “white” screens)
- Fixes Bluetooth connectivity
via http://www.macrumors.com/2008/02/26/apple-releases-firmware-1-1-4-for-iphone-and-ipod-touch/
February 27, 2008
Notable headlines:
Mary Jo Foley: Microsoft courts open-source vendors to support Win Server 2008. Jason Perlow: Server 2008: The Windows Workstation we always wanted
Outage hits Windows Live Hotmail, Messenger users
Microsoft: Windows Live outage affected those not signed with Live ID
Microsoft’s Mundie: Lots of Yahoo, Microsoft redundancies
Microsoft: The desktop PC isn’t dead
Paul Miller: Sir Tim Berners-Lee: […]
February 26, 2008
Sun said Tuesday that it has completed the purchase of MySQL for $1 billion and CEO Jonathan Schwartz indicated the company plans to keep shopping for open source acquisitions.
“Open source is really in the DNA of Sun,” said Schwartz on a conference call to trumpet MySQL as a transforming acquisition. Schwartz also added that Sun […]
February 26, 2008
The handwringing over Google’s 0.3 percent decline in web search paid clicks in January from a year ago is palpable. Apparently folks are just coming around to the idea that Google may not be completely immune to a slowing economy.
Google shares got whacked on Monday and again Tuesday on worries about comScore’s Web search paid […]
February 26, 2008
Apple on Tuesday updated its MacBook Pro notebook lineup with the biggest additions being the latest Intel Core 2 Duo chips, more memory and the multi-touch trackpad that’s found in the MacBook Air. Apple also updated its MacBook lineup.
Apple rolled out a 2.4 GHz, 15-inch MacBook Pro starting at $1,999. By the specs:
15.4-inch widescreen LED-backlit […]
