I hope you didn't hear it here first... Thanks for the tip Bill.
Telstra have finally arranged a deal with Apple to distribute the iPhone 3G on the NextG network. There was talk of pre-paid plans but so far I don't see any. I still just want to buy one outright so I own it. I don't like contracts...
Showing posts with label 3G. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 3G. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Thursday, June 12, 2008
iPhone and WWDC
The 9th of June marked the opening of the WWDC '08, Apple's World Wide Developers Conference where they've just announced the new and updated iPhone 3G. And that's about it. They talked about the iPhone. And not much else. No Apple TV, no new touch interfaces, no iMac overhaul, no games console, a little about the next version of OS X, but pretty much it was all about iPhone 3G and the stuff they're making to support it.
So lets go over it a little bit shall we?
iPhone 3G is to be released in Australia on July 11th. Don't actually expect to get one on that day as demand is expected to outstrip supply on a scale that rivals the Wii.
Telstra don't look to have it. They made some snide comments about how Apple should stick to making computers and keep out of the mobile phone market about a year ago. Apple may be feeding Telstra some humble-pie for their arrogance.
Optus and Vodafone do appear to have it - although neither have released pricing details yet. There has been mention of a pre-paid option suggesting you could buy the phone without a contract which appeals to me - I use a telstra pre-paid phone at the moment.
The thing is with Optus and Vodafone is that their 3G networks are pretty much exclusive to the capital cities. Outside of these areas they're coverage is minimal with a 900MHz 3G which is incompatible with the 3G iPhone, so when you're in these areas your iPhone will have to switch to the much slower 2.5G (EDGE) network. Telstra have rolled out an extensive 3G network that runs at 850MHz which the iPhone 3G can run on, but so far it doesn't look like you can get a iPhone through Telstra. That means that if I were to buy an iPhone 3G to use where I live in regional Queensland, my iPhone 3G won't actually connect to a 3G network... unless I jailbreak it to work on the Telstra network. But if it's pre-paid, it shouldn't be locked to a network provider should it? I've never been good with mobile phones...
Anyhoo.... iPhone 3G has Google Maps with built in GPS - cool. It's got Wi-Fi Internet browsing and it's capable of playing games. A 2 MP camera is on the back and it comes in 8GB and 16GB varieties. The 8GB looks pretty much like the old iPhone except a bit thinner and has a black back instead of the aluminium back. the 16GB gives you the choice of a black back or a white back. I'd still choose black.
They mentioned something about the next Mac OS at WWDC too which apparently will be called Snow Leopard. Meh.
Games are coming out for Mac. People are pushing for development. I'm going to try out this trial of CrossOver Games by Codeweavers which will apparently let me play Guild Wars on the mac without loading Windows on it at all. More on that when I try it out.
The Mick Thackray Experience has been moved to Blogger. Please create or update your bookmarks.
So lets go over it a little bit shall we?
iPhone 3G is to be released in Australia on July 11th. Don't actually expect to get one on that day as demand is expected to outstrip supply on a scale that rivals the Wii.
Telstra don't look to have it. They made some snide comments about how Apple should stick to making computers and keep out of the mobile phone market about a year ago. Apple may be feeding Telstra some humble-pie for their arrogance.
Optus and Vodafone do appear to have it - although neither have released pricing details yet. There has been mention of a pre-paid option suggesting you could buy the phone without a contract which appeals to me - I use a telstra pre-paid phone at the moment.
The thing is with Optus and Vodafone is that their 3G networks are pretty much exclusive to the capital cities. Outside of these areas they're coverage is minimal with a 900MHz 3G which is incompatible with the 3G iPhone, so when you're in these areas your iPhone will have to switch to the much slower 2.5G (EDGE) network. Telstra have rolled out an extensive 3G network that runs at 850MHz which the iPhone 3G can run on, but so far it doesn't look like you can get a iPhone through Telstra. That means that if I were to buy an iPhone 3G to use where I live in regional Queensland, my iPhone 3G won't actually connect to a 3G network... unless I jailbreak it to work on the Telstra network. But if it's pre-paid, it shouldn't be locked to a network provider should it? I've never been good with mobile phones...
Anyhoo.... iPhone 3G has Google Maps with built in GPS - cool. It's got Wi-Fi Internet browsing and it's capable of playing games. A 2 MP camera is on the back and it comes in 8GB and 16GB varieties. The 8GB looks pretty much like the old iPhone except a bit thinner and has a black back instead of the aluminium back. the 16GB gives you the choice of a black back or a white back. I'd still choose black.
They mentioned something about the next Mac OS at WWDC too which apparently will be called Snow Leopard. Meh.
Games are coming out for Mac. People are pushing for development. I'm going to try out this trial of CrossOver Games by Codeweavers which will apparently let me play Guild Wars on the mac without loading Windows on it at all. More on that when I try it out.
The Mick Thackray Experience has been moved to Blogger. Please create or update your bookmarks.
Friday, November 02, 2007
iPhone coming Down Under
A couple of weeks ago I was at the local Harvey Norman store shopping for a protective case for my wife's iPod. Talking with one of the sales staff, I was told that there is talk of a Harvey Norman exclusive for at least the first couple of months of the Australian release of the iPhone. I asked if they would be locked like they are in the U.S. and she was not aware that they were locked in the U.S.
Oh dear...
According to Market Watch, Telstra are in negotiations with Apple, but to get the phone Down Under it needs to be compatible with the Next G network which is just a 3G (Third Generation) network operating at a lower frequency (850MHz instead of 2100MHz) so it will travel a greater geographic distance... so we are told.
So when iPhone version 2 is released in Australia, its looking like every big company in Australia wants a piece. I can see an iPhone that is only sold in Apple stores or at Harvey Norman and sim-locked to Telstra.
That's a hefty price to pay...
Oh dear...
According to Market Watch, Telstra are in negotiations with Apple, but to get the phone Down Under it needs to be compatible with the Next G network which is just a 3G (Third Generation) network operating at a lower frequency (850MHz instead of 2100MHz) so it will travel a greater geographic distance... so we are told.
So when iPhone version 2 is released in Australia, its looking like every big company in Australia wants a piece. I can see an iPhone that is only sold in Apple stores or at Harvey Norman and sim-locked to Telstra.
That's a hefty price to pay...
Thursday, October 12, 2006
And in other news...
Broadband. Everyone wants it. It is nearing the end of the year 2006. When I was a kid, 2006 was the future. We are supposed to have hovercars by now. But here we are and there are still people in Australia that can't get broadband.
My brother was called by a marketing guy from Telstra BigPond and offered a broadband package. He told the guy that broadband wasn't available in his area but the telemarketer assured him that his exchange had just been upgraded and he could indeed get broadband. He was signed up.
His exchange was not upgraded. He was billed for a months access. Oh, sure, he was able to ring up and get the charges removed from his bill, but there is no word on when the exchange will be upgraded and until then he is stuck to dial-up. 33.6k dial-up at that! This is so slow it renders useless many services that I take for granted. GoogleTalk simply will not log in with such narrow bandwidth.
Who's fault is it?
Check out this story from ZDNet Australia who blame Telstra for these broadband black spots.
Weren't we guaranteed service to remote and regional areas when Telstra was sold? Shouldn't John Howard be held at least partly responsible?
Telstra turned on their G3 network recently for mobile broadband. Even there rural and regional areas are pushed to a back seat and, well, ignored.
"You'll get it when we get around to it! Us big city folk are busy, okay? Hush now!"
Then we have the T3 Float. Why does it feel like Australia is selling it's greatest asset? Will my brother ever be able to enjoy brodband or does everyone have to move into town to access these basic services?
Life was meant to be a constant struggle. If you are ever happy, be patient, it will pass.
My brother was called by a marketing guy from Telstra BigPond and offered a broadband package. He told the guy that broadband wasn't available in his area but the telemarketer assured him that his exchange had just been upgraded and he could indeed get broadband. He was signed up.
His exchange was not upgraded. He was billed for a months access. Oh, sure, he was able to ring up and get the charges removed from his bill, but there is no word on when the exchange will be upgraded and until then he is stuck to dial-up. 33.6k dial-up at that! This is so slow it renders useless many services that I take for granted. GoogleTalk simply will not log in with such narrow bandwidth.
Who's fault is it?
Check out this story from ZDNet Australia who blame Telstra for these broadband black spots.
Weren't we guaranteed service to remote and regional areas when Telstra was sold? Shouldn't John Howard be held at least partly responsible?
Telstra turned on their G3 network recently for mobile broadband. Even there rural and regional areas are pushed to a back seat and, well, ignored.
"You'll get it when we get around to it! Us big city folk are busy, okay? Hush now!"
Then we have the T3 Float. Why does it feel like Australia is selling it's greatest asset? Will my brother ever be able to enjoy brodband or does everyone have to move into town to access these basic services?
Life was meant to be a constant struggle. If you are ever happy, be patient, it will pass.
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