Bites from the Apple: The Economy Bites at Apple

Another week of Apple-y goodness awaits, so let's get it started...

• I'm heading off to my first Macworld Expo in early January, where I'll be brining you updates from the keynote (on the 6th) and views of new goodies on the floor. However, as goes the economy so goes the party--the list of exhibitors is shrinking, with big guns like Adobe, Belkin, Google, and Seagate downsizing or pulling their presence altogether (via AppleInsider). To get ready for the Expo, Chris Seibold  at Apple Matters reviews what's been unleashed at the keynote over the last five years and gives odds on what may be coming for 2009 (certainty for Snow Leopard demo, high probability of Mac mini revamp).

   

• The Boy Genius Report broke the story this week that Walmart might be offering a 4 GB iPhone 3G for $99 (with two-year commitment to AT&T). While some have opined that this take a major bite out of the iPhone's coolness factor, Matt Rosoff at CNet's Digital Noise argues that Apple should indeed sell a $99 iPhone. And yes, 4 GB is not a whole lot of memory, but I'm still rocking my original 4 GB OG iPhone, and I get by. I don't stuff it with a ton of music, but rather focus on podcasts, apps, and data (i.e., PDFs brought over from my desktop using the AirSharing app). This iAscetic lifestyle isn't for everone, but it's livable--especially for such a good entry price in these days of economic uncertainty.

   

• If you have an iPhone, you can get free access to Wi-Fi at AT&T hotspots, but the ease-of-use can get bogged down a verification dance using SMS messaging. But Devicescape's Easy Wi-Fi for AT&T iPhone/iPod touch app does indeed make it easy with just one press of a button. It's free through the end of today at the App Store, after which the cost goes up to $1.99 (via Ars Technica).

   

• Be sure to check out the MacRumors/MacUpdate software bundle, which gathers together 10 very useful applications such as Drive Genius, Default Folder, and Virus Barrier for just $49.99 (about a tenth of the cost if purchased separately).

   

• I'm frankly drooling over the possibility of add this one-of-a-kind iTable to our Dwellishly modern house, created by Mirko Ginepro (hat tip to Cult of Mac). For the ReadyMade set, iLounge offers up their own iPhone table made of corrugated cardboard.

   

• On some recent flights, I noticed several fellow fliers uncomfortably holding their iPhones or other PMPs for hours to enjoy some video entertainment (since that's been excised from the airlines' offerings). Random Good Stuff provides an innovative DIY airplane holder for your iPhone using a readily available air sick bag (via Engadget).

   

• Apple's in-ear headphones (which we alluded to earlier this week) are finally making it into the wilds after a couple months' delay, and they receive a warm welcome from Gizmodo, Engadget, and CNet's Crave.

   

• Looking to rent I Am Legend to prepare yourself for the next Will Smith blockbuster opening next week? Macworld found that it's been disappeared from the iTunes Store selection, as have other titles that came out about a year ago like Atonement, Charlie Wilson’s War, and Eastern Promises. (And it's not just happening with Apple--those films are also unavailable on Amazon's Video On Demand store). The cause of the disappearance can probably be traced to the fact that these movies are either currently showing or are about to debut on cable movie outlets like HBO. Sadly, this is a very frustrating user experience and a reminder that neither the Apple TV or Amazon are going to be full replacements for DVDs or cable TV.

   

• To celebrate the 10,000th app to make it into the mix at Apple App Store, Taptaptap.com created a photo mosaic using app icons (see it in full at Flickr; and for more on the challenge of creating iPhone app icons, check out this post at TUAW):

  

   

• And finally... Obama's still one of us (an Apple user, that is). Earlier this week, Neal Santos of the Philadelphia City Paper spied President-elect Barack Obama at his gym and working out while allegedly using a non-Apple digital audio player--a Microsoft Zune--which elicited quite the gadgetosphere kerfuffle. Trying to tamp down what was becoming Obama's first ____-gate controversy (before even being sworn into office), an Obama spokesman responded to the Zune rumor: "Not true, the President-elect uses an iPod." Whew...

--Agen G.N. Schmitz

Comments

[Bill on December 08, 2008 at 06:58 AM]

Did you have bring up Obama (and politics)?

[Ferd on December 08, 2008 at 07:20 AM]

I agree with Bill on the Obama note.

Next, I take issue with the Walmart blurb. The iPhone loses its' coolness when it is sold at Walmart? That is unbounded pompousness. I guess the key to iPhone is that it can only be afforded by folks with an extra $299 in disposable income and can buy from a "non-discount" location. That way you can tell who is a hipster and who is not. It just won't do to have toothless rednecks from Walmart with a precious iPhone. Maybe they can brand the iPhones sold at Walmart with a Walmart logo so you can tell who is a "real" iPhone owner and who is not. I guess you better let Apple know they are impinging on your coolness, maybe they will make a different business decision.

And before you say I'm not an Apple person, I've been using Apple gear longer than many of you have been alive. If I have to be a pompous prat to be an Apple person, I'll just admire the technology and won't be an Apple person.

[Neo on December 08, 2008 at 08:13 AM]

CNBC reported this morning that Apple will be selling iPhones at WalMart, but it won't be for as little as $99.

[OSweet on December 08, 2008 at 08:53 AM]

Ferd: Ouch. Everybody KNOWS that, but you're not supposed to SAY it.

Btw, WalMart already sells the full line of ipods, including the Touch. I bought my last Shuffle at Walmart, and ... nobody who sees it can tell.

[Nir on December 14, 2008 at 10:32 PM]

Best GPS Accessories on the Net.

[Nike Air Force One on April 23, 2009 at 10:04 AM]

Execellent topic