You’re familiar with the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB), right? They’re the lot who help moms and dads ensure that their kiddies only get their grubby mitts on age-appropriate content. Recently, the ESRB’s reach extended into the mobile space, but it turns out that Apple and Google aren’t down with the ESRB’s handy dandy ratings system. Despite being invited to the party, the two tech behemoths with matching app purchasing portals are quite content with their existing controls, thank you very much. Of course, the fact that the ESRB relies on developers to complete a detailed questionnaire instead of reviewing every app itself (not unlike existing Android Market and App Store protocols) might have something to do with Cupertino and Mountain View’s reluctance to jump on the bandwagon. Looks like parents wanting to keep their kid’s devices free from inappropriate content will have to remain vigilant without the ESRB’s help.
Still tempted by the fruit of another? If you’re looking Microsoft’s way, but aren’t quite ready to toss your adoration for iOS or Android aside, the coders in Redmond are giving you an alternative to quitting cold turkey. By visiting http://aka.ms/wpdemo on one’s iOS or Android browser, you’ll be immediately tunneled into an emulation of Windows Phone 7.
The latest update to iOS 5 is drawing near, folks, as the beta of version 5.1 was just released on Apple’s developer site. You can grab the build if you’re in possession of an iPhone 3GS or later, either iPad or the third and fourth generations of the iPod Touch. We’re hoping to see some fixes to the battery life issues on the iPhone 4S, as the company has acknowledged the concern and promised a fix in the near future. Stay tuned as we learn more about the new refresh.
It appears that Samsung and Apple’s never-ending game of patent Risk is beginning to draw concern from government regulators. The European Union’s Competition Commission is investigating the companies’ various disputes out of a growing worry that the war could be stifling competition in the mobile market. The agency’s commissioner, Joaquin Almunia, has request information about the patents in question from both companies, though he has yet to receive a reply. Almunia was careful to point out that this is hardly the only example of a potential abuse of intellectual property rights to distort the market, but with more than 20 cases in 10 countries it’s certainly one of the largest and most high profile. If the commission chooses to pursue legal action both Samsung and Apple could be fined up to 10 percent of their annual revenue. Maybe under threat of such hefty fines, the two competitors will put aside their differences and actually compete… you know, in the marketplace instead of in the court room.
Of all the enhancements to discover in Apple’s iOS 5 upgrade, it seems that an unforeseen monster may have snuck its way into the release. We’re now reading through a handful of user complaints about losing WiFi after taking the plunge, with most replies mentioning intermittent connectivity and / or a significant loss in signal strength. The issue remains unconfirmed by Apple, but it appears to span across a number of devices, including the iPhone 4S, 4 and 3GS, along with the iPad (and possibly, the iPod Touch). By troubleshooting, one user was able to resolve the problem by reverting to iOS 4.3, then cause it to manifest — once again — by upgrading to iOS 5. The recent iOS 5.0.1 update certainly hasn’t fixed the matter, either. Could these reports be an unfortunate series of unrelated events, or is there something larger at play?
Apple has just announced some changes to its board of directors, including the appointment of a new non-executive chairman: Arthur D. Levinson. Currently Chairman of Genentech Inc., Levinson has been a co-director of Apple’s board since 2005, having first joined the board in 2000. He’ll be welcoming new board member Robert A. Iger, who you may know as the President and CEO of The Walt Disney Company. In a statement, Apple CEO Tim Cook said that Levinson “has made enormous contributions to Apple since he joined the board in 2000,” and that his “insight and leadership are incredibly valuable to Apple, our employees and our shareholders.”
On Iger, Cook said: “Bob and I have gotten to know one another very well over the past few years and on behalf of the entire board, we think he is going to make an extraordinary addition to our already very strong board,” further noting that “his strategic vision for Disney is based on three fundamentals: generating the best creative content possible, fostering innovation and utilizing the latest technology, and expanding into new markets around the world which makes him a great fit for Apple.”
A Samsung executive revealed to Korean Newspaper The Chosun Ilbo today that it will drop its plans to pursue Apple for patent violations in Korea, instead focusing efforts on cases overseas. The anonymous exec cited performance in his company’s home country, saying “we concluded that we should engage in legal battles with Apple only in the global market, but not in order to gain more market share in Korea.” The move seems logical given the company’s existing share, and will allow Samsung to maintain a positive image at home, where it dominates in categories ranging from televisions to refrigerators. So Apple may be in the clear in Sammyland, but the battle will likely continue beyond Korean shores for some time to come.
You can’t expect to see one for “one to two weeks,” but those hellbent on holding out for an unlocked iPhone 4S here in the US can finally snag one without jetting off to Australia (among other places). Nearly five months to the day after Apple started selling the iPhone 4 in unlocked fashion in the States, the iPhone 4S is joining the club, with a 16GB model going for $649, a 32GB model for $749 and a 64GB variant for $849. Just so you’re aware, the unlocked phone enables you to use any micro-SIM from any GSM carrier worldwide, but it won’t play nice with CDMA carriers “such as Verizon Wireless or Sprint.” And yes, both the black and white versions are up for order. Hit the source link to part ways with your chosen amount of cash.
The first rule of being Siri is do not talk about being Siri — but Jon Briggs, the voice of the iPhone helper’s British version, has, fittingly, has bucked that trend. Apple’s preference for mystery surrounding the matter hasn’t silenced the one-time tech journalist turned voice over actor who discovered that he was the voice of the 4S’s assistant upon hearing his “flat and even” readings played back on a commercial for the handset. Briggs told The Telegraph that he recorded the basis for the British Siri five or six years ago, speaking some 5,000 sentences over the course of three weeks for “a decent sum.”
As far as assistants go, Siri can be rather demanding. In fact, she apparently requires that your iPhone 4S’s proximity sensor be on whenever the handset’s screen is activated. That’s the conclusion iFixit arrived at, upon discovering that, unlike previous generations which flip on the sensor upon firing up a phone call or Skype conversation, the 4S kicks on the infrared detectors whenever the screen turns on. The change would allow Siri to detect just how close your face is as you speak to her without the handset pressed up against your face.
You’re familiar with the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB), right? They’re the lot who help moms and dads ensure that their kiddies only get their grubby mitts on age-appropriate content. Recently, the ESRB’s reach extended into the mobile space, but it turns out that Apple and Google aren’t down with the ESRB’s handy dandy ratings system. Despite being invited to the party, the two tech behemoths with matching app purchasing portals are quite content with their existing controls, thank you very much. Of course, the fact that the ESRB relies on developers to complete a detailed questionnaire instead of reviewing every app itself (not unlike existing Android Market and App Store protocols) might have something to do with Cupertino and Mountain View’s reluctance to jump on the bandwagon. Looks like parents wanting to keep their kid’s devices free from inappropriate content will have to remain vigilant without the ESRB’s help.
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