Software bug? Maybe. Zune owners, yes there are some, are reporting that after midnight EST their 30GB Zunes would have errors that would freeze, lock, or hang leaving them with an unusable device. This may be affecting hundreds or even thousands of units. According to some Zune owners, it appears to be affecting units that have the most recent firmware updates.

Technically-inclined and brave Zune owners may be able to fix the problem by cracking open the case, and disconnecting the battery. Then reconnecting it. This of course risks invalidating the warranties and could risk damage the Zune. Microsoft seems to be aware of the problem, but has not announced a solution yet.

Continue reading Zune 30GB Units Go Crazy All at Once – UPDATED…

While I think the iPhone 3G is one of the best smartphones ever, I do think it has plenty of room for improvements. I use my iPhone so much I find I reach for it more and more and find myself not needing my laptop as often.

The MacWorld Phil-note is next week and I am hopeful we will see some updates coming to iPhone. With 2009 only a week away I thought I would discuss my iPhone wish list.

Many improvements can be added to the iPhone by Apple with a software update alone. Many of the over 13,600 apps in the App Store have filled in these gaps in the iPhone’s features and there is nothing wrong with that. With what has become a powerful developer community for the iPhone and iPod touch this is an important option.

Continue reading Updates to iPhone I Want to See in 2009…

iPhone goes on sale at 2,500 Wal-Mart stores stores across the U.S. today. The 8GB iPhone sells for $197, and the 16GB model (black or white) at $297.

Amazon is offering a great deal on Transcend 64GB JetFlash V20 USB 2.0 Flash Drive at $78.39 with free shipping.

Different cultures each localized their own versions of Chinese food around the world. See Jennifer 8. Lee and learn about some mysteries of American Chinese food.

The iPhone has to be the fastest growing mobile platform of all time when it comes to developers and apps. The iPhone has surpassed RIM Blackberry in the amount of apps available in the first week of the App Store having its virtual doors open. Soon the iPhone is expected to surpass Windows Mobile apps available. This is amazing since Apple has accomplished this in months, not years.

The App Store has 13,356 iPhone apps available at the time on this post. Sure there are some duplicates and some useless stuff, but even these allow for come choice and some fun. There are of course many very useful apps also. See my Top iPhone Apps page for some of my favorites.

Even with all the many thousands apps available right now, I think the best is yet to come. Here is my list of iPhone apps I hope to see in 2009.

Continue reading iPhone Apps I Would Like To See in 2009…

Apple has bought 8.2 million shares in the Imagination Technologies Group (IMG), giving them an ownership stake of 3.6 percent of the company. IMG produces the PowerVR series of chips, used to accelerate graphics in mobile devices.

Apple bought chip designer PA Semi months ago, best known for processors based on the PowerPC architecture. Apple CEO Steve Jobs declared that the purchase was intended to aid its iPod and iPhone development. With today’s IMG investment this suggests Apple intends to bring as much control of chip design for handhelds in-house.

Maybe sending this sort of message is a bit over the top.

Happy holiday season from ReelSmart.com!

Apple has announced today that Macworld Conference & Expo 2009 will be the company’s last. The company also said Steve Jobs will not deliver his traditional keynote at the event this year.

In his place, Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide product marketing, will deliver the keynote on Tuesday, January 6, 2009 at the Moscone West in San Francisco. That, said Apple, will be the company’s last keynote at the annual trade show.

It is of course the end of an era, that is most likely more about the state of the economy than the state of Steve Jobs health.

Apple has pulled out other trade shows including NAB, Macworld New York, Macworld Tokyo and Apple Expo in Paris.

Belkin, Seagate and Adobe have also pulled out of Macworld Expo 2009. Adobe will be on-site with some seminars, but the booth will not be there.

Continue reading Macworld: Schiller-note Last Macworld for Apple…

Apple has just released Mac OS X 10.5.6 which is recommended for all users running Mac OS X Leopard and includes general operating system fixes that enhance the stability, compatibility and security of your Mac.

Continue reading Apple releases Mac OS X 10.5.6…

One of the most anticipated apps for the iPhone is SlingPlayer. Here is a beta running on the iPhone. Perhaps it could be demoed at MacWorld next month. No word yet when it will appear in the App Store or if it will run on WiFi only or be allowed to run on 3G network.

Microsoft Live Labs is the first group inside the Redmond company to release an iPhone app in Apple’s App Store. The app is called Seadragon Mobile is a free demonstration program meant to test the viability of the high-tech Seadragon photo-display technology on mobile platforms. Microsoft welcome to the fairer more innovative platform. Alex Daley, group product manager for Microsoft Live Labs, says Seadragon Mobile just wouldn’t be possible without the iPhone and its graphics capabilities.

You can now purchase an iPhone 3G from the AT&T web site, have it delivered to you, and activate it in the comfort of your own home. This home delivery service is now being offered to both existing customers adding a line and new customers.

Apple has some cool new online ads for the iPod touch. The placement on the Yahoo Games site is awesome. TBWA/Media Arts Lab, created an iPhone ad for Yahoo Games, where the iPod touch gameplay begins to move all the elements on the page. Take a look.

Apple with its one model smartphone has now outsold all of Windows Mobile and its related devices. So much for Steve Ballmer’s predictions. According to new Gartner data. The launch of iPhone 3G in the summer was enough to push Apple to 12.9 percent market share and was enough to unseat Windows Mobile both within the US and internationally.

Seems the iPhone also has helped drop Nokia smartphone sales for the first time and has got RIM trying hard to copy the Apple model. RIM stock was downgraded yesterday. Read more at electronista.

TheStreet.com’s Jim Cramer thinks the estimates cuts for Research in Motion signal the end of its leadership position. I guess with the terrible rollout of the Blackberry Storm this was bound to happen. Jim Cramer’s take on RIMM downgrade (see video).