APPLE'S iTUNES RIP-OFF

It might have underwhelmed the devotees, but sales of Apple’s iPhone 4S topped four million in just three days following last month’s launch, and it’s still the must-have smartphone this winter. Of course, those sleek looks don’t come cheap. Or do they? Some are reassuringly expensive, the touchscreen and display unit cost £23, but others are less confidence-inspiring. Next time you’re cursing the battery life, remember it’s only worth £3.68.

Out of contract, the iPhone 4S will cost you £499, but we can reveal that the nuts, bolts and high-end circuitry inside cost far less - £112.89 to be exact. Expert analysts from technology firm iSuppli have prised open the pristine casing and totted up the cost of each component. iPhone users have insisted that a new software which improves battery life is not working. Apple said its iOS 5.0.1 software would get rid of a bug which causes the mobile phone to lose battery life faster but customer's took to the company's website to vent their frustrations.

The software was also meant to add things like multitasking gestures for the original iPad and better voice recognition for Australian user. But it was the battery problem people are most keen to get fixed. (Source: Mail on Sunday, Nov/11)

Apple has been awarded a US patent on an embedded SIM capable of switching between mobile network operators under command from Cupertino, assuming the operators comply.

The patent places an embedded SIM within the secure element which one would expect to see managing electronic payments, which is why it was spotted by NFC World. Its editor, Sarah Clark, realised the significance of the patent and how it validates last year's rumours that Apple was planning a cross-network SIM-less handset.

We discussed that idea almost exactly a year ago, coincidentally on the very date the patent was filed. We pointed out that in Europe the legally mandated GSM standard requires a removable SIM, and that Apple would have to get the standard changed before would be allowed to sell such a device. That change is now in process, but we didn't expect Apple to patent the idea too.

The patent describes an embedded module pre-loaded with valid credentials for all the appropriate network operators. The user would then select a network operator through iTunes and those credentials would be presented to the air network.

GSM network security is based on a secret which is shared between the SIM and the network's Authentication Centre. That secret is never transmitted, and as each SIM has a different secret, the fact that a few researchers have managed to read the keys of a few SIMs (using electronic microscopes and/or analysis of power-consumption) doesn’t invalidate the whole system. But putting the secrets into the phone instead means pre-programming them during manufacture, and sharing them with the manufacturer.

The patent suggests that the requirement for a removable SIM "makes the devices bulky and adds cost", and that having to slot a SIM into a phone reduces the options for "when the user is not able to easily obtain a SIM card". But in reality, this is about ownership of the customer and control of the relationship.

The SIM in a mobile phone is owned and managed by the network operator, and many people, particularly younger people, identify more with their SIM (which stays with them) than their handsets (which are transitory). That's very annoying to Apple, which sees network operators as an irritating speed bump between them and their customers.

Apple will need to play nicely for a while though. It still needs to get the embedded SIM though the GSMA, and into the GSM standard, before it will be legal to deploy in Europe (all cellular networks in Europe are required to conform to the GSM standard).

Apple will also need to get the network operators to hand over the secrets for embedding into iPhones. Our first thought is that this could never happen, network operators would never hand over the keys to their most-valuable possession (the customer), but operators have proved surprisingly spineless before and at least there's a patent in place so Apple will be the only company allowed to relieve them of the last thing of value they own. (Source: The Register, Nov/11)

A Louisiana man is suing Apple claiming that the iPod is "inherently defective" because it can pump up the volume to ear-damaging levels and that Apple hasn't done enough to warn him of the risks. John Patterson, is seeking unspecified compensatory damages presumably for hearing loss he may have suffered, though the lawsuit, filed with the San Jose District Court, doesn't say as much, according to the Associated Press' report on the matter.

The lawsuit maintains that iPods can generate sound in excess of 115dB, enough to harm hearing if ears are exposed to it for long periods of time. Patterson claims he bought an iPod a year ago and a look at the user guide reveals the following:

".... Warning Permanent hearing loss may occur if earbuds or headphones are used at high volume. You can adapt over time to a higher volume of sound, which may sound normal but can be damaging to your hearing. Set your iPod Shuffle to a safe level before that happens. If you experience ringing in your ears, reduce the volume or discontinue use of your iPod Shuffle ...."

Of course, it doesn't define what a "safe level" is, but given the huge number of warnings put out by the medical profession as to the dangers of listening to personal music devices since the launch of Sony's Walkman in the late 1970s, you'd have thought people would have got the message by now. And having read Apple's user guide, Patterson surely would have long ago been aware of the risk and, quite reasonably, returned his iPod to the store from which he bought it. Or maybe not... (Source: reghardware, Feb/06)

Apple's iTunes music download service has been accused by the Consumers' Association of overcharging UK users. The group accused the service of charging UK-based customers nearly 20% more than those with addresses and payment details in France or Germany. The group has written to the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) asking it to investigate iTunes for possible breaches of EU competition rules. Apple said its prices should be compared with other UK music downloads. The Consumers' Association said that while iTunes charges UK based customers 79p to download one track, customers in France or Germany only have to pay 99 euro cents, the equivalent of 67p.

The association claimed that the iTunes service is set up in a way that prevents UK consumers from taking advantage of cheaper downloads. UK consumers need to have a registered address and payment mechanism in France or Germany to access cheaper downloads, or face paying the higher price. Consumers' Association spokesman Phil Evans said iTunes policy could be seen as anti-competitive and against EU rules. Under European law UK consumers are supposed to enjoy the same benefits of the single market as other citizens of EU member states.

"There appears to be considerable evidence that the iTunes set up is prejudiced against the UK public and distorts the very basis of the single market," he said. "If the OFT agrees it will be another example of the rip-off culture that the British public are often victims of." But Apple defended their UK pricing policy. "The underlying economic model in each country has an impact on how we price our track downloads," an Apple spokeswoman said. "That's not unusual, look at the price of CDs in the US versus the UK. We believe the real comparison to be made is with the price of other track downloads in the UK."

Apple has changed its logo to reflect the fact that the primary purpose of its products is to access the exciting world of internet porn; or ‘iPorn’ as the company now call it. In a move which analysts have called the ‘encapsulation of everything about living stylishly in the internet age’, the company is aiming to liberate the world wide web from its occasionally seedy image and make it’s customers feel cool and cutting edge for endlessly browsing through amateur pornography sites.

Steve Jobs unveiled the new logo at an adult industry trade fair in California and said, "Our iPod video player and iPhone are allowing unprecedented numbers of people to see all sorts of things that would have been banned only ten years ago. This is about freedom of expression and liberty; our products have made it possible to watch iPorn at home, at work, even while you’re bouncing around on a bus."

In a move that has been welcomed by pornographers Apple is also launching a new adult entertainment store on the internet. Mr Jobs explained, "We believe we can finally bring pornography the respectability it deserves. We’ll be selling three-minute downloads of high class adult entertainment for a dollar a go to US customers, or two dollars in Europe as they’re so much further away."

To compliment the site Apple has also produced a new computer which runs the ‘QuickyTime’ media player with enhanced fleshtone graphic capabilities and a sound card tuned perfectly to enhance the sound of human grunts and squeals. The ‘oMac’, sold under the strapline ‘think dirty’, promises to ‘entertain you on your lap or on the desk’. Later in the year the ultra-thin ‘oMac Air’ will also become available, although only ‘under the counter’, and will come stylishly wrapped in its own brown paper bag. (Source: News Biscuit, Feb/08)

Apple today launched the long-awaited Naff-Pod, the brand new MP3 player specifically designed to only play only crappy music. A new section has been especially created on the iTunes store and sales of Phil Collins, McFly and Avril Lavigne have soared. For many people, the Naff-Pod’s patented ‘Bad-Taste’ technology makes it one of this year’s must have items. It has a unique outer design in the shape of a flower with a smiley face and headphones in the shape of pink, cartoon bunny rabbit ears.

However, there have been some reports of early teething problems with the new technology from music fans attempting to put Whitney Housten on their NaffPod. Apple have said that Whitney isn’t that naff so can’t be played on the new music player. Other angry customers have stormed into the Apple store demanding to know why Busted can’t be played on the NaffPod. One man even went as far as saying, "Apple have lost track of who makes crap music now. They used to be at the very fore-front of the technology race but now they’ve lost their way. Why can’t they admit that Whitney and Busted are just rubbish?"

Competition is soon expected in this part of the market as Tesco’s Own Brand MP3 player will be launched next year as well as the ‘Lidl Naff-TV Player-Pro’. This state of the art clip player is pre-set to only store such shows as Hollyoaks, Dancing With The Stars, Big Brother and America’s Next Top Model. Except you won’t be able to see them because it will be broken. (Source: News Biscuit, Nov/07)

Apple today announced it’s latest music player. The Bigpod is approximately the same size and weight of a domestic washing machine and is available in 32K and 64K models. Apple’s press release states, “Using the lowest sample rates, users can store up to one song on the 64K model. We’ve designed the battery to go flat just after power on, and priced the unit at more than twice that of much better models." Apple admit that the sound quality is “dreadful”, and the size and weight make it “pretty impractical to use”. Industry watchers think the model is likely to appeal to a niche market only but the launch is based on the belief that that there are some consumers who will buy the lastest model of anything, no matter how rubbish it is. (Source: News Biscuit, Oct/06)