4.3.3 is available for download, now Apple can’t track you…(for as long!)

On Wednesday, Apple released their unscheduled new software update to sort the problem that annoyed many iPhone and iPad 3G users. The problem that causes this outrage was that two British computer programmers found a folder on the iPhone that was recording your location with transmitter triangulation data and by recording the Wi-Fi Hot Spots that the handset also connected to.

Apple insists that this storage facility was designed to improve the speed and the efficiency of the apps on the phone that required a GPS location such as Sat Nav or even Google maps.  There was also many comments made that the data was then put onto iTunes during a sync, but that was not proved and Apple did deny that this did happen.

Apple has released the new iPhone software (ver. 4.3.3) that is available from iTunes. This new software version will reduce the size of the storage folder, so only very recent locations will be saved and the software will also delete all locations data when the location services are turned off. Their previous data storage folder had been recording locations for almost a whole year.

Is The iPad2 Significantly Better Than The Original?

Apple is very good at making improvements and updates to their systems and software, and from a consumers point of view we seem to be regularly surprised each time. This is just what the consumer wants but is this improvement the same with the production if its hardware?

Recently the iPad2 has been released. It’s had more kit and was physically altered in comparison to the first edition. The iPad 2 was thinner by 33% (not that it makes much difference), lighter, it had faster processors and was easier to hold. It had a front and rear facing camera with a tyro axis sensor.

Reports show that the iPad 2 is used more than the iPad. The iPad was used between 2-5 hours a week but the iPad 2 is close to 15 hours.

The original iPad was criticised for being too heavy, too big and not fast enough. Despite showing a great sales performance when it was launched, is the original iPad old news? Has the iPad 2 rectified all the issues that the original had?

Apple has created a better tablet computer that is generally better, the browser is better with text and image rich websites loading and displaying faster, negotiating through and between apps is better and it is a smoother and the iPad 2 is used more in and out of the home. So, it may be significantly better than then the iPad but could netbooks and laptops be under threat here?

When the original iPad went on sale it was priced from £429, the iPad 2 is priced from £399. Could that mean that it is better and cheaper? Many industry experts state that this is an upgrade that can’t be ignored.

Would you upgrade yours?

BlackBerry RIM to Invest in the Tablet Market

Makers of BlackBerry mobile phones, Research in Motion (RIM), has advised that they are expecting lower profits than first forecast due to the additional cost of marketing their new PlayBook device which is to be launched on the 19th April.

This news comes as RIM reports a 33% increase in revenue for its year end results. This sees revenue increased from £9.31bn last year to £12.35bn this year up to 26^th February.

RIM has forecast revenue of £3.2 – £3.47bn in the first quarter of 2012. This forecast is indicative of the market shifting towards lower priced products and extra investment in research, development and marketing for tablet and platform initiatives.

Of the reported revenue, 81% was generated from handset sales with 16% coming from services and 3% for software.  RIM also reported sales of 14.9m BlackBerry smartphones in Q4 last year.

Various firms are trying to compete with the Apple iPad in the tablet market.  RIM hope the release of their BlackBerry PlayBook will be a huge success as it has greater profit margins than handsets.

RIM’s launch plans suffered a setback in February after Chief Marketing Office, Keith Pardy left the company for personal reasons.

Apple Media Event to Unveil the iPad2 Today

The much awaited unveiling of the Apple iPad2 is reportedly to take place today.  However, the rumour mill has been doing overtime regarding what else Apple are planning to announce at the media event.

According to a couple of Mac forums, whilst the iPad2 will be the main announcement, there will also be the introduction of Apple’s cloud-based MobileMe.  The MobileMe service is believed to let users upload media files to the Apple servers which can be accessed from various devices.

A leak from an anonymous member of Apple staff said the MobileMe service will store films, TV shows and music that have been purchased from the iTunes store.

Reports suggest that Apple have been revamping MobileMe to introduce some cloud-based services that will be free.

The same Apple source also advised that people shouldn’t get too excited about the iPad2 as it’s more of small speed ramp than a complete upheaval.  I major revamp of the iPad is expected later this year.

The apple source said: “For the iPad 2 don’t get your hopes up too high. That’s all I’m going to say. They’ve had a number of problems along the way, and the third-generation iPad is the one to make a song and a dance about.”

There have been murmurings for some time that Apple are planning to release the iPad3 about September time when they typically refresh iPods.

Big Brands are Beginning to Shun the Apple iPad

Digital marketers and media agencies are refusing to risk heavy investment for advertising on the iPad because publishing prices are too high and there aren’t sufficient download figures available.

Media agencies with high-end magazine clients are now shunning commercial opportunities on the iPad due to inaccurate download figures, inadequate reporting and high production costs.

This is not good news for Apple given that the iPad was only released 6 months ago and the release of the iPad2 is imminent.

Because Apple keeps a tight grip on content, publishers are restricted in what they can provide advertisers with.  This has resulted in investment being stifled and compounded brand confusion.  Due to the lack of reporting from Apple, publishers have had to create their own reporting systems for the device.

One major brand currently using the iPad for advertising is Toyota.  Brand communications manager at Toyota, Lisa Fielden, said:

“Media costs for iPad campaigns are about twice the production costs. If we had this across the rest of our marketing, we wouldn’t see any return.”

“We need to get to a wider audience and to access different target markets, such as young women, or buy a specific audience. I don’t want to just buy a broadcast audience,” she added.

It looks like we will have to wait for the iPad2 to be revealed later today to see if Apple has also made any inroads into addressing this problem.

The Daily Rumoured to be going Android

The Daily, News Corp’s digital offering in the news world is rumoured to be planning implementing an Android App in the next quarter.

Earlier this month, The Daily launched their tablet offering in co-operation with Apple.

Purely because of the collaboration between Apple and News Corp, many labelled The Daily an iPad only title.  However, it’s believed that the deal between the two companies will expire in quarter two, leaving the door wide open for The Daily to give an Android offering.

The Daily subscription is 61p per week and customers can view text, audio and graphic subject matter.

News Corp were the first news company to charge users for content using the Apple digital billing service.  The service also allows data on subscribers to be collected using in-app analytics.

As mentioned, this is purely a rumour at the moment as News Corp has yet to confirm or deny its validity.

The BBC iPlayer App is Released…….Controversially!

As we have previously discussed, the channels that people use for entertainment purposes during their leisure time is changing. For example, online shopping is on the increase, a strategy board game is being replaced for an online video game, and even watching TV through a hand held device to name just a few. So, you would imagine that an app that would video stream your favourite TV series onto your device to enhance the user experience would be beneficial to many people. Well, if you don’t have iPad or an Android OS 2.2 mobile phone, then the App will not benefit you at all…. and this is what has generated some angry responses.

The BBC iPlayer, 4oD and ITV player are all video streaming hosts that supply TV programmes over the internet, to your PC or laptop. These video streaming hosts have been receiving more and more demand. Users like to keep up to date with an ongoing TV series or view a sports event that they missed watching on normal TV.  It’s almost a perfect solution for the individual that has more going on in their lives and watches TV when they can, not when preferred programmes are broadcasted.

Daniel Danker is the new general manager of BBC programmes on demand, and he joined the BBC in September. He replaced Erik Huggers, who stated that the app was going to be a big part of the plans to make BBC online more accessible on mobile devices. The BBC News app has been very successful since its launch last year, so the BBC Online Team can release some good services.

However, the app has been challenged by many because of a very basic floor. It will not be available for the iPhone and only works on mobiles using an Android OS 2.2 and many users are disappointed. Despite the comment made by BBC online stating that they want to make the facility more accessible on mobile devices, it’s not supported on an iPhone and just to rub salt in the wounds it will work on an iPad. In addition, the internet connection to run the service would have to be a Wi-Fi connection not a 3G connection. This would limit the ‘mobile’ aspect when making the service more accessible to the mobile device.  So, the app has been criticised as being a ‘letdown’, ‘anti climax’, and ‘a bit pointless’.

The Wi-Fi connection is required, according to Nick from the BBC, because using Flash 10.1 video streaming to mobiles delivers significant infrastructure efficiencies for the BBC, doing it this way means that the BBC would not have to upgrade any systems or install any new kit. Nick continued to say that the service that is being delivered is a very high quality service, a service that is available via PC, Wii, iPad, and PS3.

In summary, The BBC News App is on the iPhone and the iPad, but the BBC iPlayer app is only on the iPad – I think that the BBC might have missed trick here by not including the iPhone even if it is only supported by a Wi-Fi connection.

iPad 2 coming soon?

The iPad that we currently know was on sale in April of 2010 and there are indications that Apple (as they do) have made a better one.  The source of this information has come from the Economy Daily News, is a Chinese report that includes what the new Apple iPad will have. However, Apple themselves have not released any information about this development to could the Chinese report be inaccurate?

When the first generation iPad was released is was the same Daily News source that reported it. So, on track record, the iPad 2 (if that is what it will be called) could be real.

What will the new iPad have? Alot of the new features to the new iPad are mostly what the iPhone 4 currently has. In a way the iPhone 4 is like a test platform. Features include a video/camera (possibly a 5MP but not sure if it will be a facing camera or a back mounted), a USB port for better connectivity, a three axis gyroscope and the same Retina Display technology this is also on the iPhone 4 for a better gaming/user experience.

The Original iPad sold 3 million units in its first 80 days of release. Will this second generation beat the first against volume sales or is the iPad 1 still proficient? The estimated release date for the iPad 2 is in the early months of 2011, and I would think that it will be very similar to a large iPhone 4 with a USB port, minus making calls and texts. On that basis, would you buy one?

Apple iOs 4.2 for iPhone and iPad released

Once again the people at Apple have released another software update for both the iPhone and iPad. The idea for this Operating System (called OS 4.2) is that the system is even more innovative that the iOs 4.2 that stood proudly in its place previously. The new realise will hold more facilities, more intelligence and greater capabilities, all of which is engineered on a mobile devise for one goal, to be the best!

So what’s new in this update? Well, the software is more multi – purpose and therefore Apple have included the Multitasking functions to the phone. Examples would include situations when an app is running (perhaps a VOiP call) when you need information from the internet. iOs4 allows the VOiP call to continue while allowing access to Safari to retrieve information. This transition is improved and very slick.

As a part of the software update you can install programmes that will allow you to create your own app. According to online adverts there are 100,000 apps, there is an app for just about anything. The apps that can be created will be linked into the game centre.

Another welcome addition is the “Find My iPhone” (or iPad or iPod touch..) app which is FREE to use without a MobileMe subscription. This enables you locate your missing device on a map and have it display a message or play a sound. Users can even remotely lock or wipe data from a lost device to protect privacy. We’ve tested this already here at Storm, and its VERY impressive.

The iOS 4.2 update is available download to iPad, iPhone and iPod touch by syncing the device with iTunes 10.1.

iOS 4.2 is compatible with iPad, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, second and third generation iPod touch (late 2009 models with 32GB or 64GB) and new iPod touch. Some features may not be available on all products – eg, Multitasking requires iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, third generation iPod touch (late 2009 models with 32GB or 64GB) or later.

Brace Yourself for Paid-for Newspaper Content

The Independent has moved into the paid content market, introducing an iPad version of its daily online publish, i.  This came in the same week that The Times disclosed the figures produced by its 200,000 subscribers since it started charging for online content.

The Independent has chosen to progress its digest version through a paid for app, rather than build on I online according to Zach Leonard, Evening Standard and Independent MD for digital.

“It would seem logical that we look at a subscription model [for the Independent app], if it’s delivering sufficient value,” said Leonard. “I do see a place for paid-for premium content. The critical difference is if you’re adding something really valuable. One great benefit is its portability and that I can read it when I want. The FT, Times and Wall Street Journal are doing it very well.”

At 20p, the iPad i app will cost the same as the printed edition. 

 “It was a critical strategic decision to have a common price across all platforms,” said Leonard. “But this was a bit of a challenge with Apple because it doesn’t have the 20p pricing band in the app store. So we’re bundling content into logical clusters so you can have a week’s worth. Quality journalism distributed through an app designed for iPad is absolutely worth 20p at least.”

The Times currently has 105,000 digital-only customers, along with a further 100,000 joint print/digital customers.  Of the 105,000 digital-only customers, 50,000 are monthly subscribers that include subscriptions to the iPad app, website and Kindle edition.  The remaining customers are pay-as-you-go customers.

Prior to this the firm had only been able to track online customers by their IP address.  However, the paywall has made it possible to track individuals using home and work PC’s, mobile phones and tablet devices.

Chris Duncan, News International director of group marketing services, said:  “It gives us a much more rounded view of subscribers,” he said. “We do things like link from email alerts. It lets us create much more powerful segmentation of who’s valuable.

“We’ve moved from worrying about acquiring new traffic to looking at indicators of churn,” Duncan added. “We’re thinking about how to use content as a profiling method, and that will be an opportunity to create something unique. We’re not there yet but we’re building towards this.”

As an alternative to online offerings, The Independent is keen to look at business opportunities involving apps.  Leonard said:  “One of the key issues is how you present advertising in a paid-for app,” he said. “Some companies have carried over bad habits from their websites and you don’t get a very pleasant experience in the app. Advertisers look for innovation and how they can own the space and present their message.”

Greg Hadfield (former Telegraph head of digital), Cogapp director of strategic projects indicated that even though The Times subscription numbers are unclear, there is benefits to knowing user behaviour.

Hadfield advised:  “It knows more about its users than any other newspaper website, and that’s a big step forward,” he said. “The key is in the lessons it’s learning by engaging users on multiple platforms. It now has metrics on which to base investments.”

The media utilization across devices is something that has drawn the interest of media agencies.