Read the rest here:
Ewan MacLeod: SXSW – where everybody knows your Twitter name (via FriendFeed)

Read the rest here:
Ewan MacLeod: SXSW – where everybody knows your Twitter name (via FriendFeed)

Read more:
Ewan MacLeod: “TFL destroys hopes of a mobile phone/Underground relationship http://tinyurl.com/cvr5t2.” (via FriendFeed)

That’s a lot. In fact, that’s obscene.

Michael Cote of the Cote Collaborative has told CNN that Apple had seen “unprecedented demand” for the iconic doo-hickey.

Wall Street had previously expected a similar number for the first three months of availability.

Cote’s prediction is still way above many other’s but, with 1 million iPhone 3G handsets sold in its first weekend, he might be right.

Chuck in the extra countries and we might have stupid and un-imaginable figures on our hand – akin to those normally only seen in geological timescales.

Well done boys.

It seems that Jobs and Wozniak have found the four men, including him from Breakfast At Tiffanies. The Dutch website that claimed to offer sim-free unlocked iPhone 3Gs has suddenly disappeared without sending out any handsets.

The owners of the service are possibly dead in a ditch somewhere.

Alternatively, Robert van Zanten, who started iphonehelpdesk.nl just before the new version of the iPhone was released, may have merely scarpered. I’ll let you decide between logic and conspiracy theories.

The website promised sim-free handsets, avoiding a 24 month tie in to a T-Mobile contract.

But, the phone lines have been shut down and the website is no longer on the… er… web. According to Tech Radar, consumers are €700,000 (£500,000) out of pocket.

The few iPhones that did get sent out were the old type with AT&T sim cards from the US – helpful.

Whilst I prefer the idea of Jobs and Woz as mercenary killers, trying desperately to keep the iPhone to one operator by all means necessary, the concept is looking doubtful.

The main theory currently doing the rounds is that van Zanten failed to get his grubby little hands on Italy handsets, but panicked when he found this impossible.

I’ve loved watching Phelps’ gold rush, Cooke’s cycling gold was equally amazing to witness and, being a rowing nut, I’ve not moved from the TV whilst these events are on. But, some of the interactive services suck royally.

Aside from screaming at the internet and TV when a mistake meant the lightweight women’s double race, scheduled to be shown, was replaced on both with sailing – made all the worse by a friend competing in it – I’ve been most disappointed by the Beeb’s text service to alert you to the top events.

So far I’ve had the sum total of zero texts to alert me that Cooke could be on for a gold in the road race cycling. Zero texts to alert me that men’s 4-, the flagship boat, is about to race. And zero texts to suggest that a swimming gold was being contested.

I’ve registered twice and am getting particularly fed up. How hard could it be to get this service sorted.

I’m also slightly annoyed that AOL has ajusted the medal table to put the US above China (it’s counting medals, not gold medals as all other charts do). i’m now actually routing for China over the US in everything except the three remaining events in which Phelps is swimming. But that’s beside the point.

Returning from the world of sci fi. You charge the corporate building, breach its sole security guard, set a virus using your iPhone and then flee only to discover you’ve raided Apple’s corporate HQ and he has a button to stop your virus.

And he does too.

According to Electric Pig:

If you’re poking away at your iPhone and your app suddenly stops running don’t complain to Apple, chances are it was Steve Jobs’ own doing after he confirmed Apple has the power to turn off iPhone apps at the touch of a button.

The kill switch is apparently for our benefit and is there to protect us from malicious programmes. Speaking to the WSJ, Jobs said: “we would be irresponsible not to have a lever like that to pull.”

It’s probably good that Apple have thought this through but it does give you a sense of the willies that one man can wield so much power – could he simply turn off all MS apps?

Now, Google has always gone for secrecy so I’m assuming Larry Page and Sergey Brin are probably quite miffed right now.

It’s hardly the clearest video and doesn’t give much information away, but it does at least give a glimpse of the current Android SDK.

The industry is teaming with leaked images for iPhones. Naturally the Nokia iPhone, uh, sorry, Tube, was placed into the amazing Dark Knight batman movie. And now Motorola has leaked images of its iPhone. Honestly, you’d think this cloak and dagger stuff was easy.

The web is now teaming with countless images of the Motorola Atila, pictured above.

According to Tech Radar, the phone name, which comes after Alexander codename shows “Moto is all about conquerors at the moment.” It does at least suggest a Napoleon complex.

It does look a touch like the stunning and iconic Apple design, especially as Moto has shunned the qwerty keyboard. With a 2.8 inch QVGA screen, it is a tiny bit small, however. But maybe the company isn’t trying to compensate or just prefers smaller objects in its trousers?

There’s no release date as yet, but I’m assuming it won’t take long. If it does the boat may have been missed and Moto may stay struggling until the 4G revolution hits in a few years time.

According to iClarify, someone has accidentally bought the $999.99 “I Am Rich” iPhone app. Unsurprisingly, he is desperately seeking help to get out paying it – from Apple no less.

According to its creator, Armin Heinrich, it also features a “secret mantra” that “may help you to stay rich, healthy and successful.” In reality it’s an app of pointlessness with a dose of justified hatred attached.

This review of the app was posted by the customer desperately trying to get his money back.

As Tech Radar put it:

“Lee5279 claims that he “clicked ‘buy’, thinking it was a joke, to see what would happen.” Surprisingly enough, for an online store, this initiated the transaction, leaving the man $1,000 poorer – but all the richer for the widget. Next time he’s in the market for a useless app, we’d suggest plumping for something similar to the recently-pulled Phonesaber instead: it’s somewhat cheaper and infinitely more fun.”

It’s only two weeks to go until I disappear off to France for a few days. As the closing weekend of the Olympics hit I’ll be staring at the TV screen in a villa near Nantes, often shouting and pleading with the British athletes to win. I’ll probably also get dumped for ignoring my fiancee.

Having been dumped I’ll probably also find myself in a French bar practicing my exceptionally poor language skills and wishing I had an iPhone to help me chat up the ladies.

I possibly should have mentioned that the iPhone now has a new phrasebook app. According to its creator writing Google’s mobile blog:

A few months ago I was planning a vacation to Austria and Italy. I knew a few words and phrases in German and Italian, but that was about it. So I looked around for some portable language dictionaries. I thought Google Translate was great, but the web page didn’t work that well on the iPhone. So I teamed up with David Singleton, a fellow engineer in our London office, to build an iPhone interface for Google Translate.

If you’re one of the few people I truly envy, that both own an iPhone and have flown to Beijing for the Olympics then you’ll be pleased to know the app supports Chinese. This will help you get by until you realise that everyone else you know hates you.

It also seems it works off line too, cacheing all past translations so they’re available to browse and thereby reducing the amount of data downloaded each time.

But, if you’re already out of your own country, or don’t get free data on your package, do check the cost of roaming data.

Them: “Apple’s are so much better than PC’s.”

Me: “Why?”

Them: “They’re so much better for the high end stuff. PC’s are for work, Mac’s are for home – have you not seen the adverts.”

Me: “What do you use it for?”

Them: “MS Office mostly.”

I don’t mind Macs. I use them a lot but they’re no better than PCs unless you’re a designer or a producer. Most people are neither. They have fewer viruses because they are a minority OS. And even the iPhone gets patches.

So, on with the point as to why Apple and PCs are very similar.

Having just taken on a new role I’m having to get another mobile phone and mobile number.

It’s not such a big problem and, because I’m on Orange, I’ll just grab a BlackBerry for work but it has left me frustrated at Samsung and all of the mobile operators I’ve called this morning. The Samsung D880 is not available for love nor money. Well, it is for £190 but it’s my work phone so they’re not willing to pay anything. And I’m a cheapskate.

Actually, I’m not frustrated at Samsung, but i am at all of the other manufacturers. Why, why, why can they not make a phone with two sim cards? I’d be on Orange for both. I wouldn’t be losing them any business. It should still be part of the contract that I’d have to pay £X per month so what’s the problem with having two sim cards in one phone? Surely it saves Orange money by not needing give a second phone away with each contract.

It is one of my major requirements and the UK market simply aren’t delivering yet. Apple, Samsung, Nokia, Motorola, Sony, LG and any other’s I’ve missed out. Could you please get your butts in gear and realise that people are carrying two phones around with them.

It is frustrating. It ruins a good pair of trousers. It is not environmentally sound. And it gets to more than just me.

Please, please, please, please make more than just the D880. And, most importantly, get these to the UK market.

Thank you.

(PS: You can buy a D880 at Expansys for 219 pounds and there are 13 in stock this morning.)

So, I’m beginning to really look forward to a holiday too. Its booked for a couple of weeks time and I’ve not even contemplated anything I’ll need. I guess the mad rush around the stores on a Friday evening will have to happen. Sigh.

So, to at least get one thing right, I’ve been contemplating a holiday phone.

Having been stung for £200 for taking my normal mobile to Morocco – Two voicemails kept trying (and failing) to get through. It tried to call me up to three times an hour. Each one ended up counting as a connection (cost 25p) as it went to the Morocco server before going back to my voicemail and ultimately it was rather expensive.

Strangely, I’m no longer with Phone’s 4 U, the company that said – “Sorry, that’s the way it is.”

So, anyway, holiday mobile phones:

If you want a decent camera in the phone then there’s only one option. The Samsung G800. It has an optical zoom so it can actually take decent pictures.

An mp3 phone. There’s the iPhone, obviously. All of the Sony Walkman phones. And, well, just about any other. Many of them contain Wolfson audio chips so will sound as good as the iPod.

If you’re an exercise bunny, maybe the Samsung miCoach too.

But all of these are expensive. And, in reality, you want something cheap.

The Orange site lists three phones for under a tenner. Alcatel OT-E227, Nokia 1208 and Sagem my220x. They’re not exactly sexy. They are very much ‘Fisher Price does phones’. But, you’re not going to care if you lose them.

If you insert a local PAYG sim so you’re not paying international roaming rates when calling the local restaurant to book a table and you’re laughing.

There will be a nano version in time for Crimbo.  I’m not so sure but according to the defender of traditional values:

“The product will be launched in the UK at up to £150 for pay-as-you-go customers by O2, the mobile phone group owned by Spain’s Telefonica”

The paper also quotes an unnamed industry source (aka fat bloke down pub) as saying: “‘This will be a big one.”

Lastly, there is the possibility that calls will be made using the same technology on your home phone from 1960. Apparently one expert (fat bloke down pub again) suggested the phone would have a touch wheel on the back and display on the front – how futuristic.

Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes.

I’m not normally a Microsoft fan, hence I love the open source FreeRunner, but I am getting excited about the Zune Phone.  I guess I just like competition for the market leader – so bring it on (oh dear… that sounded rather American).

Having denied it for, well, what seems like a life time it looks like the Zune Phone is well on its way.  So far on its way that Nokia has become involved.

According to Zune Scene, an ‘insider’ has let slip that Nokia is getting involved with the Zune team to produce the hardware.

“The interesting thing about the Nokia Zune partnership is that Nokia does not support Windows Mobile. It appears Microsoft may be developing a two front war against the iPhone, namely Windows based smart phones and more abundant “non-smart” phones.”

Gizmodo has also knocked together a picture here.

It’s not because of the battery life. And it’s not that I don’t think the iPhone isn’t impressive (albeit there are several things missing). It’s because I’m on Orange and so will make every little dig I can up to the point where I can actually get my hands on one.

This time I was going to laugh at battery life. Unfortunately someone has already got there first and come up with a solar case for the iPhone. Sure, it doesn’t have the iconic styling of the iPhone’s Jonathan Ive design, but it does have a fantastic appeal to the hippy in us all and even comes complete with ‘holier than though v2.0′.

You’ve got to love it.

With a 10 hour recharge, it’s not the quickest way to fill your battery but what’s a wait when you can feel all warm and pious inside. According to EcoGeek:

“The case uses a solar panel to soak up sun, holds generated energy in a 1500 mAh battery, and then charges up your phone when you insert it.”

EcoGeek also suggests you leave it on the dashboard to charge whilst you’re at work. I guess they don’t have car theft in the US.

And now the last two have joined up. Business Week, the Guardian and Silicon have all covered the launch of the Ikea phone. And, as you might expect from the furniture megalith it’s cheap. In fact, it’s undercutting the competition by about 25per cent.

A flat pack phone?

Well, no. I have been assured that it will not be a build yourself. Similarly, there will be no parts missing. And you’ll still get calls for 9p per minute and 6p per text.

It’s not bad, but I still don’t think I’ll be willing to face the queues, family arguments and rather untempting Swedish food at the end – albeit that could just be my local Ikea in Bristol.

I’m not sure what’s impressed me more, that an Apple application doesn’t simply work or that the company has kept users updated.  Apple has demanded that one of its staff blog on the subject.  The opening post, from David G, states:

“Steve Jobs has asked me to write a posting every other day or so to let everyone know what’s happening with MobileMe, and I’m working directly with the MobileMe group to ensure that we keep you really up to date.”

The blog also states:

“In the 14 days since we launched, it’s been a rocky road and we know the pain some people have been suffering. Be assured people here are working 24-7 to improve matters, and we’re going to favor getting you new info hot off the presses even if we have to post corrections or further updates later.”

So, what’s coming?  To date, more than 70 bugs have been fixed and restoring service, albeit without full email, is the “first priority.”  We’ll see.

I don’t have an iPhone and I’m not Japanese so I’m a touch envious of one new service for… er, Japanese iPhones. This week saw the launch of an online video rental portal made just for the iPhone.

The service comes from Posren, a Japanese equivalent of Blockbuster, and offers a range of options the very few people that both own the device and live on the island nation.

Is it just me or does this exclusivity make you feel like you’re 18 and trying to get into the most fashionable night club in town but the bouncer is not letting you in because you’re not wearing the correct shoes.

Oh dear, I think a bad memory has just been unlocked there. According to MSN’s tech site:

After logging onto the secure site, they can browse movies by category, check out rental charts, find information on new releases and create wish lists.

It is currently in beta mode so you can browse and set wish lists etc but, unfortunately, you cannot yet rent the damn things. Ah, surely that makes it a video browsal site then.

Gone are the days when people are struggling to think of applications for it. In fact, if there’s not a CSR bluetooth chip in your phone then it will probably be rather reminiscent of a brick in size, weight and look.

But this may be no more.

Lets face it, it wasn’t the best of jobs. Kimi Räikkönen seemed a tad dull. Michael Schumacher made you want to smack something. Steffi Graff was the best of the bunch but even then you often found yourself planning shopping lists as you were talking to them.

In fact, the only perk is that you got VIP treatment at the British Grand Prix.

So, what do you do for a nice change? You suggest they make a phone instead.

Tag Heuer, the watch company with adverts of sports stars looking unhappy whilst wearing one, has had its first phone unveiled through the FCC.

It should be said that I do like Tags. They’re very beautiful, but also very out of my price range. So it should come as no surprise that the phone lives up to this. It is stunning, sleek, silver and £3000.

Yes, I did just say £3000. Just to make that clear, three thousand.

So, what do you get for this?

Ummm, a sapphire coating that makes it scratch-proof. A media player. A 2mp camera. Did I mention a sapphire coating?

The Meridiist is clearly for the fashion conscious and, no doubt, it will soon be seen in the hands of F1 drivers. But only those that win – of course.

Have I lost you there?

The reason for this contemplation is an EU funded project called WISECOM. Portable mobile masts have been created and can be set up in a matter of minutes to help find people trapped under buildings after an earthquake and locate those swept away in a mud slide. Well, their phones anyway.

The gist of the rant, which I still believe, was I only want a phone that can make calls and texts. Yes, it has to be small. And No, I won’t get one that plays silly ring tones. Since I’m a cheapskate Wi-Fi instead of needing to pay for the interweb would be nice.

I have a camera. I have an mp3 player (2 in fact). I don’t check my email when on the move – they can always wait.

So, it has struck me as rather odd to now want an iPhone. The reason being (and I know how badly this comes across) is that it’s now available in (Red).

Rumours are apparently out in force that Apple is preparing a Product (Red) version of the iPhone in time for Thanks Giving.

The source is unconfirmed and could be complete rubbish but it wouldn’t exactly be a big step for the company, it already makes a (Red) nano and shuffle. Here’s hoping.

“If it’s a viral marketing stunt (which seems more likely than it being the work of people who think Mobile Phones Are Evil, because this is done with some panache) then it has to be said – it’s got the brand name as embedded in my mind as that advert where the fish flies over the airport.”

But leaving aside the how and why, it apparently should not be repeated by teenagers: