Lines are already forming outside Apple retail stores as we approach the 3G iPhone’s release. What other news might be coming to us as an aside as iPhone frenzy reaches a zenith?

Edited to archive.

Re: AAPL News Updates

[quote author=“DawnTreader”]Lines are already forming outside Apple retail stores as we approach the 3G iPhone’s release. What other news might be coming to us as an aside as iPhone frenzy reaches a zenith?

Take the “lines already forming” stories with a grain of salt. There’s only one line—outside Apple’s NYC flagship store—and it is not what it seems.

I got up at dawn this morning to see who made it through the rainy night.  There were only five people there—four men and a woman—and it quickly became clear that they were there for the publicity, not the iPhones.

http://apple20.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2008/07/05/who-would-wait-a-week-in-line-for-an-iphone-3g/

With no hint of a product shortage and an established product in the market, I’m not expecting long lines to build until late Thursday/very early Friday. Summer brings with it vacations and plenty of free time for the curious and the sensation seekers. I’m surprised there are even a few willing to claim to be in a line for the product today. 

At what cost one’s proverbial 15 minutes of fame? 

Re: AAPL News Updates

[quote author=“philiped”] ... it quickly became clear that they were there for the publicity, not the iPhones.

I find it clever. This may inspire others to stand in line at other locations to generate publicity for their “cause”.

Let’s just call it symbiotic marketing. Apple sure gets their fair share of it.

You know, if Apple isn’t paying them, they should be.

Just found this on the IV site… GREAT STUFF !!!

They are marketing wizards aren’t they.

d

Turns out that Android’s licensing has the exact same restrictions on satnav as iPhone’s App store. So it’s not the GPS service that is demanding extra license fees for turn by turn navigation, it’s Google Maps. It must be the map supplier to Google that has restricted the use of Google maps, since Android GPS implementation is entirely up to the handset licensees.

And who does Google license the maps from? TeleAtlas . And TeleAtlas belongs to TomTom. Looks like TomTom’s problem with deploying on iPhone 3G was down to - TomTom! No wonder TomTom’s gone quiet over it!

Segway CTO Leaves for Apple as Product Design VP

So thats what MobileMe is all about!

[quote author=“sleepygeek”]Turns out that Android’s licensing has the exact same restrictions on satnav as iPhone’s App store. So it’s not the GPS service that is demanding extra license fees for turn by turn navigation, it’s Google Maps. It must be the map supplier to Google that has restricted the use of Google maps, since Android GPS implementation is entirely up to the handset licensees.

And who does Google license the maps from? TeleAtlas . And TeleAtlas belongs to TomTom. Looks like TomTom’s problem with deploying on iPhone 3G was down to - TomTom! No wonder TomTom’s gone quiet over it!

We have a thread going asking Why are we here? . The post of SG is a perfect answer to this question. The amount of time saved trying to keep up with the huge information flow is dramaticaly reduced by the combined knowledge of AFB. The real - unbeateble - power of AFB lies with the comunity. Not with a single member. And no other blog of whomever can ever gather this knowledge.

And the post above this one from renegate is the other reason: we all need a fine smile in these rough days.

With oil down almost 2% this morning things look to possibly at least “start” in the right direction for a bounce.

[quote author=“sleepygeek”]And who does Google license the maps from? TeleAtlas . And TeleAtlas belongs to TomTom. Looks like TomTom’s problem with deploying on iPhone 3G was down to - TomTom! No wonder TomTom’s gone quiet over it!

TomTom may have really shot themselves in the foot here by allowing Google to lock them out of the very market they thought they were protecting by means of the license.

THIS is what a meeting with Steve Jobs is like in product development. Imagine what it is like on a product Steve cares about.

I can see it now.. the iSegway - and you’ll only be able to use it on roads Apple approves of, paying a toll via your iTunes account to access them

App Store likely to launch by Friday, possibly earlier, maybe even tomorrow?

The store will almost certainly launch by Friday when the 3G iPhone is released, but some app developers say the App Store will likely launch a few days before that. Most developers will only get a few hours notice prior to the go live time, and Apple is keeping a tight reign on PR, as usual. The store could be launched as early as Tuesday.

[quote author=“Tommo_UK”][quote author=“artman1033”][quote author=“sleepygeek”] Segway CTO Leaves for Apple as Product Design VP

THIS is what a meeting with Steve Jobs is like in product development. Imagine what it is like on a product Steve cares about.

I can see it now.. the iSegway - and you’ll only be able to use it on roads Apple approves of, paying a toll via your iTunes account to access them

Built in Iphone with GPS navigation.  Be the first on your block.  As a side note I saw a a piece on TV about a organization donating segways to injured military so they can get around better.  It was one of the best ideas on the use of the segway technology.

David Pogue does FAQ on the 3G iPhone

  David Pogue answers questions - a Baker?s Dozen of Them - on the 3G iPhone:

One Exapmple:

Q: What improvements have been made to the AT&T network coverage since a year ago, when it got such terrible Consumer Reports rankings?

A: There is a lot of good news on this front. First of all, the iPhone works on AT&T?s ultra-fast 3G wireless network, which can deliver typical download speeds of up to 1.4 mbps. No carrier offers faster data speeds. We still have plenty of room left to increase data speeds even further on our 3G network. We could see maximum speeds next year as high as 20 mbps, for example. We don?t have to rush to the next generation of wireless technology. Some of our competitors have to move quickly to 4G because their 3G technology doesn?t allow them to increase speeds further.