The Professor’s Notes

(iPhone Experience, Pt 2)

I had to chuckle.  Really.  Remember way back when, when I wrote that the iPhone was a bit over-priced, in my opinion?  It was funny at the time, really, considering that Scott Bourne, over at The Apple Phone Show was talking about how great a deal it was, to get an 8gb phone for $599.  He even bought, I heard recently, 11 phones at that price.

The iPhone has gone through one price reduction, and even lower prices with the introduction of the new “iPhone 3G” model.  So do we applaud the new affordability of the iPhone?  Well, some do. Others, however, choose to attack AT&T for making the iPhone “more expensive.”  And not just any “others.”  Scott Bourne himself!

I have been slowly catching up on listening to podcasts, and happened to listen to the Mac Break Weekly number 96, titled “iReady.” In that episode the MBW gang rants against AT&T, led by Scott Bourne, because the data plan has gone from $20/month to $30/month.  Of course, AT&T argues that they are doing this because the data plan now supports 3G, but for some reason, many view this as a sort of “breach of trust.” What’s worse, Leo LaPorte leads the pack in ridiculing AT&T for actually trying to reach people with a video, helping them prepare for purchasing an iPhone.  Seems like a nice, good-faith effort on AT&T’s part, but apparently their hatred of AT&T gets in the way, yet again. (Funny, given my previous past post: AT&T trying to get customers ready to buy iPhones, and then Apple slow-rolls the delivery of units to AT&T stores…)

It turns out that over at “The Apple Phone Show” in their podcast #61 the APS gang ranted again about the evil AT&T.  It turns out their hatred of AT&T is because AT&T is treating the iPhone as a cell phone.  Seriously.  Here’s the quote:  “The worst news is that it’s almost as if the iPhone is some sort of cellular telephone.” Gasp! [Read more →]

As you no doubt have read, I have bought an iPhone.  This makes for the third iPhone in the family, and the first of the 3G variety.  I have replaced my Cingular 8525, which was a nice Windows Mobile phone.  I bought my phone at the AT&T store near me the day it was released, and even twittered while in line.

Order Fulfillment

Apparently, though, I was one of the lucky few.  According to one source close to AT&T, Apple fills the purchase orders for the Apple Stores first, and then fills the ones for the AT&T stores.  On top of that, they will be satisfying the AT&T direct-fulfillment orders first, before sending any to the AT&T stores for general (walk-in) sales.

This is an interesting situation, because it is a conflict with selling one product through two different distribution channels.  Apple has two retail distribution channels–the AT&T channel, and the Apple channel (and admittedly, but have online and storefront channels.)  Apple will sell phones through both, but I suspect they sell to AT&T at a “wholesale” price, and they sell through their stores at the higher retail price.  (Yes, I realize there is the AT&T subsidy involved.)  It is understandable that a manufacturer would prefer to sell their product at a higher rate of return through their own channels.

Of course, this approach isn’t without problems.  The fact that the Apple Stores have iPhones in stock, and the AT&T stores do not, leaves customers (especially the Apple-fan types) being hyper-critical of AT&T while applauding how good Apple is at satisfying demand.  Really?  Not that hard, when you control the stock.

You see, according to my source, Apple provided up to 10 times as many iPhones to their stores as they did to the AT&T stores.  And, as mentioned above, they are still sending iPhones to Apple Stores for store-front sales, while they are forcing AT&T customers into a 21 day wait for their “direct fulfillment” orders.

So who is to blame?  Wrong question, really. I hate the “blame game.”

But–I do believe we must acknowledge that the end result is because of Apple’s decisions, and NOT AT&Ts’.

(see next post for part 2)

I have added a page to the site  that provides the lowest gasoline prices here in the Mechanicsburg, PA area.  (see left-hand sidebar)  I would encourage you to do three things:

1. Visit here regularly if you are from around Mechanicsburg to check the lowest prices
2. Visit the gasbuddy.com site and search for lowest prices in your area
3. Join their site and provide updates to the prices for the stations you pass every day
4. If you have a blog, add a listing for your local area

The way I see it, McCain has a strategy that when taken as a whole will hopefully remove “energy” from our worry list. (see my entries here, and here) But… that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be doing things to help each other out in the meantime.  By updating the gasbuddy.com site as we see changing gas prices, we help our neighbors save a little, and hopefully reward those stations that have the lower prices, encouraging more downward pressure on prices (Of course, economics being what it is, the increased volume at those lower-priced stations may be seen as an increase in demand that should result in an increase in prices at the micro level.  Who knows…)

So, what are your thoughts on how we can help our neighbors lessen the impact of higher gasoline prices? (and might I suggest that telling them to drive less, or buy a new car, isn’t very helpful…)

Enough about the iPhone.  Back to politics.

What a story.  The LA Times has reported that Obama’s political positions are moving more centrist, looking more and more like John McCain every day.

The picture on the LA Times is even designed to evoke a sense of “sameness.” (see below)

I understand that politicians often have to be politicians (you know, change their positions with the wind to stroke their egos through elections).

My question is simply this:

Can McCain now claim that he has held the centrist position the whole time, and that Obama is pandering?

Perhaps it is time for me to explain some things.  Those of you that have read me regularly know that I have been of two minds concerning the iPhone.  I thought it was overpriced, but definitely a cool device.  Then the price came down.  First my son bought one (with a subsidy from Dad, but still, he paid half) and then my wife got one.  I had some envy in fact, as we would be driving down the highway with the two of them iPhoning away while I drive.

So, I decided to get an iPhone.  And, I decided to be one of those that “lived the experience” and went to the store early on Friday morning to stand in line.  It was interesting, although I must say most people are not very talkative at 0715 hr.  My son went with me, in part to experience the event, and in part to skip swim practice, but hey, it’s all good.  Oh, and I think he wanted to laugh at Dad being a “fan boy.”

As you can see, when we arrived there were already a number of folks (29 to be exact) in line ahead of me.  They were almost all 20 something males, but not exclusively.  There were a few 1st Generation iPhone owners there buying the upgrade, and interestingly, they had already installed the 2,0 firmware upgrade a few hours before.  I guess they wanted 3G and GPS.

My son had already upgraded his, as well, so he was standing there playing with a few apps on the phone.

We did take a recorder with us and I hope to have a podcast of our experience uploaded in a few days–assuming you would want to hear that.

Leave a note and let me know if you would want to hear the “Podcast from the line.”

Here is the screenshot taken (using that new, cool iPhone feature.)  As you can see the charging feature of my accessory is not supported.  In this case, the accessory is an Altec-Lansing InMotion portable player.

You can get a quick look at my other apps downloaded, including my son’s favorite, PhoneSabre.

I would like to take a second and point out just how “Cool” Jott is.  On the iPhone (top left app) it turns your voice into typed text for notes or a todo list.  But it is “so much more.”  Once you create a free account on their site, you can call their phone number, and when you leave your short voice messages it converts them to text, and emails and text messages your note to whatever number/person you have put on the system.  It sends text only in the txt message but the email actually includes your voice recording.

Way Cool

Okay, I did it. I bought a 3G iPhone.  And I like it.  I really do.  But it would be nice it if would also charge using the existing iPod/iPhone accessories.  I have several, including a car charger that works with all my previous versions of iPod/iPhones, but find that when I connect the 3G phone to them I am presented with a message that the new phone will not charge with that accessory.  (The players will still play music, however.)

It seems odd to me.  The connector still fits.  Old USB cables still work with the computer for data and power.  The older accessories can still play the music.  It’s just this darned power problem.

I will have more reviews later, especially of my favorite free apps, including Apple’s “Remote.”  Until then, I anxiously await ideas for chargers.

Haroon Siddique, at the UK Guardian, has updated the news story with the “doctored” photo, and the original, which he writes “shows three rockets launching with a fourth apparently failing to fire.”

Blending my two most recent themes, I was reminded today of a Star Trek:TOS episode “Court Martial” where the digital records on the Enterprise were modified to “Frame” Capt Kirk.  (Summary at Wikipedia) It was quite an interesting thought, back in the early 1960’s.  Think about it.  Digital video records?  Really?  And you can MODIFY them?  The Wikipedia summary points out the problem with relying on computer-based evidence:

Spock enters, ready to present new evidence on behalf of his Captain: the suspected tampering of the computer system. Without any real evidence to back up the claim, Spock insists that aside from himself and the Captain, only Mr. Finney had the knowledge and clearance to alter the computer logs and he believes Finney is still aboard the Enterprise. Kirk’s lawyer asks the trial to reconvene aboard the Enterprise to see proof of the defense’s new theory. The prosecution objects to the new request, stating the computer files are proof enough of Kirk’s guilt. The court overrules when Cogley states that a man’s guilt can not be proven by a machine, since machines can make mistakes. The court seems to agree.

Jump ahead 40 years, and we find from the New York Times that apparently the image of the four missiles being launched by Iran was photoshop’d.  The most benign argument is that they launched fewer than four missiles.  The image from the NYT shows where the “clone” tool was apparently used.

One could easily use this as another example of the news media failing to conduct due-diligence before running a photograph.  I would argue that, in this case, the process worked.  They ran a photo from a news agency, and when they discovered what appears to be intentional deception, reported it.

I would only hope that the biggest lesson learned here is to question images delivered by a state-controlled news agency.

Well, not all of Star Trek, as any good fan will tell you.  The new movie is “just around the corner.”  But a small part of Star Trek heaven will be.  “Star Trek: The Experience” will be closing September 1st, according to Wil Wheaton (whom you, dear reader, may recall was “Wesley Crusher” on ST:TNG).

I haven’t been to Vegas in years, and when I was there, it was only for a lay-over at the airport.  Now after reading Wil’s description of Star Trek: The Experience at the Hilton, I find myself wishing I had one more chance to go.  (I can’t help but wonder if the thought to visit crossed my brother’s mind during his recent whirlwind tour of Vegas.)  Of course his description of the experience is amazing, and comes from the perspective of one who has been “there” and longed for “there” to perhaps have been real.  But what is most touching is when he writes

I have an epiphany.

Until this moment, all I have been able to remember is the pain that came with Star Trek. I’d forgotten the joy.

I suspect that every fan has a story of how Star Trek touched them.  Only no story in quite so special a way.

Oh, and if you want to follow Wil Wheaton, he is on Twitter as wilw.