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Mac: The platform fit for a king
Filed under: Odds and ends

Saudi Arabian King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, or just King Abdullah for short, is among the expanding league of world leaders who choose to 'think different' and use Apple products.

In a photo provided to us by TUAW tipster Mohammed Al-Muhaidib, King Abdullah is seated on the right, in front of a 30-inch Cinema Display. His highness was monitoring the procession of the hajj in Mecca, the holy annual pilgrimage.

Michael Rose and I joked before last night's talkcast that former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, who sits on Apple's board of directors, sure is busy selling Macs to all these leaders at home and abroad, including Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, and U.S. Vice President-Elect Joe Biden.

Thanks, Mohammed!
TUAW Mac: The platform fit for a king originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 10 Nov 2008 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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NPD reports iPhone was top US handset in Q3
Filed under: iPhone
There's word this morning that the NPD Group's latest research shows a surprising finish for the iPhone in the 3rd-quarter sales competition among US cellphones bought by consumers; for the first time in three years, there's a new top model. The Motorola RAZR, long the most popular handset for adult consumers, has fallen before the touchable juggernaut from Cupertino, CA.

Yes, even while the overall consumer unit sales for cellphones declined 15% from the year-ago quarter (ouch!), the iPhone 3G kicked the RAZR out and took over as the #1 most popular handset sold in the US. LG also bypassed Motorola as the #1 overall vendor in consumer phone sales. Even though the RAZR is now offered as a free phone on new contracts with many carriers, those phones still count as sales for the purposes of the NPD analysis -- making the iPhone's ascendancy even more stunning.

"The displacement of the RAZR by the iPhone 3G represents a watershed shift in handset design from fashion to fashionable functionality," said Ross Rubin, director of industry analysis for NPD (and recent TUAW talkcast guest). Four of the five best-selling handsets in the third quarter were optimized for messaging and other advanced Internet features.

The top three phones (the iPhone, the RAZR, and the Blackberry Curve) address some different markets and diverse user needs -- but to have the iPhone on top, even counting in the pent-up demand for a 3G version, is pretty astonishing. Considering that Apple has ramped up from a v1 iPhone which gave up some key functionality in the interest of getting to market in a hurry, and even the 3G model lacks some popular items (copy/paste, tethering), getting to the top of the heap is an achievement worth celebrating.
TUAW NPD reports iPhone was top US handset in Q3 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 10 Nov 2008 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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TUAW Review: RadTech Sleevz and ScreenSavrz
Filed under: Portables, Reviews
If you're like me, then you always have your notebook with you. Personally, I don't like carrying those bulky looking bags, or sling packs; but I do want my notebook to be protected. I settled on using a sleeve case to help protect my ~~friend~~ MacBook Pro. In the past, I've used sleeves from MacCase and Tucano, but I jumped on the opportunity to review the RadTech Sleevz (which is now available in a MacBook Pro late 2008 flavor). In addition, I took a look at RadTech's ScreenSavrz, a piece of fabric that protects the screen from dirt and oil from the keyboard when the lid is closed.

Sleevz
At first look, the Sleevz sleeve doesn't seem that impressive, but upon further inspection, it is well built and durable. The sleeve is made out of RadTech's own "Optex Super80 fabric," which feels like a cross between suede and silk -- it has a really nice feel. When you place the notebook into the RadTech Sleevz, it form-fits to the computer. Because the fit is so snug, when you pull the computer out of the sleeve, it actually wipes the finger prints off.

I found that you can also use the sleeve as a screen cleaning cloth, and a way to clean the aluminum (or al-you-mini-um if you're Jonathan Ive) casing. Because the sleeve is washable, you don't have to worry about getting it dirty. According to the RadTech website, this sleeve is TSA-checkpoint friendly because of its design -- I did not, however, have the opportunity to test this out.

Overall, this sleeve is nicely designed, well-built, and extremely functional. However, this sleeve lacks much padding. While it would definitely protect your precious computer from any scratches or dings, it won't help if you drop it. The Sleevz are available in several colors from the RadTech website. They range between $24.95 and $29.95 U.S., and are available for a wide range of Apple notebooks, including the Axiotron Modbook.

ScreenSavrz
ScreenSavrz is a small piece of fabric (the same Optex Super80 fabric that the Sleevz are made of) that keeps dirt and oil from the keyboard/trackpad from messing up your screen. You simply place it over the keyboard/trackpad area, and close the lid. In addition, the fabric can be used to keep your screen and MacBook casing cleaned. If you are thinking about getting the Sleevz, then this is a must-have accessory to go along with it.

Just like the Sleevz, the ScreenSavrz comes in multiple colors, and fits multiple Apple notebook models. They are available from the RadTech website for around $16.95 (depending on the size you need).

Gallery: RadTech Sleevz and ScreenSavrz
TUAW TUAW Review: RadTech Sleevz and ScreenSavrz originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 10 Nov 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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New iPhone ad series features wide range of apps
Filed under: iPhone, App Store

Another week, another Apple ad on TV -- a new entry in the series of iPhone commercials that have dropped the "This is how you enter the App Store" opening. Eagle-eyed readers have also noted that some of the new ads include a subtle "Sequence shortened" caption that reminds us things may go a bit slower in real life than they do on TV.

In this ad, Shazam was given the special treatment. Shazam [iTunes link] is an iPhone application that can tell you what song is playing on the radio (or other sound source) -- just hold your iPhone up to the speaker, and let Shazam do the rest.

Now that Apple has started centering the iPhone commercials around the applications on the App Store -- including ads featuring Urbanspoon, Loopt and MLB At Bat -- it's easier to get a sense of the range of possibilities on the device. You can view the new commercial by visiting the iPhone ad gallery page.

Which application would you like to see appear in an iPhone commercial? What's your favorite iPhone application so far? Be sure to let us know in the comments!

Thanks to everyone for the tips!
TUAW New iPhone ad series features wide range of apps originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 09 Nov 2008 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Talkcast reminder: Open phones/Ask TUAW, 10 pm ET tonight
Filed under: TUAW Business, Podcasts

Last week on the talkcast we welcomed Geof Bowie, CEO of ThinkFixed, to talk about enterprise support for the Mac and how the platform has grown over the past few years. You can listen in via the Talkshoe page, or download the show in iTunes / via RSS.

Be so kind as to join us tonight 11/9 at 10 pm ET for an open phones show. Got questions about the Mac, the iPod or the iPhone? Technical challenges bedeviling you? Want to dissect the latest Apple financials? Call in and we'll give you the best answers we can.

You can join the conversation on TalkShoe by using the shiny browser-only client; you can also use the classic TalkShoe Pro Java client that we all know and love. For the web UI, just click the"TalkShoe Web" button on our profile page at 10 pm Sunday. You can also listen in on the Talkshoe page or call in on regular phone or VOIP lines: dial (724) 444-7444 and enter our talkcast ID, 45077 -- during the call, you can request to talk by keying in *-8. Talk with you then!

Recording support for the TUAW Talkcast provided by Ecamm Network's CallRecorder for Skype.
TUAW Talkcast reminder: Open phones/Ask TUAW, 10 pm ET tonight originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 09 Nov 2008 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Richard|Solo 1800: More of everything!
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Hardware, iPod Family, Peripherals, iPhone, iPod touch
We reported on the Richard|Solo Smart Backup Battery for iPhone a few months ago. Now Richard|Solo has released a much improved version of the Backup Battery that not only provides more power for your iPhone or iPod, but some excellent new features that trash the competition.

The Richard|Solo 1800 has 50% more capacity than the original versions, which had 1200 mAh of power. The new model has an 1800 mAh capacity, and is latched firmly onto the iPhone using a specially designed mechanism. There's an optional plastic support brace that reduces the lateral force on the battery connector; wonderful if you want to use the iPhone while charging it with the 1800.

Richard|Solo provides a dual-port USB car charger in addition to the AC wall charger, which still features a retractable cord for tangle-free storage in your computer bag or purse. The coolest new features are two built-in lights; a white LED flashlight and a red laser pointer.

The Richard|Solo 1800 retails for $69.95. If you own an iPhone or recent iPod, this is the backup battery to buy! It's well designed, feature packed, and reasonably priced. Now I need to get one for my wife!

What do you use for backup iPhone power? Leave a comment!
TUAW Richard|Solo 1800: More of everything! originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 09 Nov 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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SquareTrade Study: iPhones more reliable than BlackBerry, Treo
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Odds and ends, iPhone

Independent warranty provider SquareTrade has released a report showing that iPhones are more reliable than either BlackBerry or Palm Treo devices.

The report, titled "iPhone More Reliable than BlackBerry, One Year In", analyzes failure rates for more than 15,000 new cell phones covered by SquareTrade warranties. SquareTrade found that after one year of ownership, iPhone owners were half as likely as BlackBerry owners to have a phone failure, and one-third as likely as Treo owners. After 12 months, slightly over 16% of Treo owners had experienced a failure, while just less than 12% of BlackBerry owners had their smartphone die on them. Only 5.6% of iPhone owners had a critical failure.

SquareTrade's report also shows the types of failures most common for the various devices. The iPhone's Achille's Heel appears to be the touchscreen, while other devices saw problems with keyboards, software, and call quality.

When it comes to problems not caused by handset malfunctions, the iPhone is much more prone to accidental damage. 12% of iPhone owners reported failure due to dropping accidents, which SquareTrade attributes to the small size and slippery case of the iPhone.

Apple has made no comment on the report.
TUAW SquareTrade Study: iPhones more reliable than BlackBerry, Treo originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 08 Nov 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Obama team chose Apple on election night
Filed under: Odds and ends, Flickr Find

In what could be a sign of things to come, ~~an unnamed staffer~~ Biden's son Hunter (thanks commenters) was pictured on Election Night showing Vice President-Elect Joe Biden something on a MacBook Air. Biden also appears to be holding an iPhone 3G with a sticker on the back.

Biden was apparently observing something on screen, while President-Elect Barack Obama celebrated in the background with another staffer. The MacBook Air appeared to be connected to a USB 3G network adapter.

The Obama administration could become the most technologically-savvy presidency so far. The President-Elect's transition team has already put up change.gov, a website developed by Blue State Digital, the same firm that created Obama's campaign website. Obama's administration promises to be the first to include a Chief Technology Officer, and he supports net neutrality.

Obama has been photographed during his campaign using an iPhone. A Newsweek article in Feburary noted that Michelle Obama bought then-Senator Obama and their children each a MacBook, so they could stay in touch during the long campaign.

Yes, we can add the team to the growing list of world leaders using Apple products.

Thanks, Brian!

Editor's Note: Political discourse can sometimes get heated, and that's understandable, but there are some boundaries. Multiple comments to this post have made threatening statements against the President-Elect. Any comments of this nature will be deleted and identifying information will be provided to the US Secret Service.
TUAW Obama team chose Apple on election night originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 07 Nov 2008 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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