Sprint Nextel CEO Dan Hesse took a $3.25 million pay cut earlier this month, as penance for orchestrating the company’s pricey iPhone deal with Apple. Has outcry over the agreement — which will cost Sprint an estimated $15.5 billion over the next four years — soured him on it?

“We’re very happy with it,” Hesse said of Sprint’s deal with Apple, during the company’s annual shareholders meeting Tuesday. “Carrying the iPhone will be quite profitable.”

But not for a few years, at least.

By its own admission, Sprint won’t profit from the device until 2015. But according to Hesse, who was reelected to Sprint’s board during Tuesday’s proceedings, that initial heavy upfront investment in the iPhone is worthwhile because it will slow subscriber turnover and create a new segment of higher-value subscribers.

“We believe in the long term,” Hesse said. “And over time we will make more money on iPhone customers than we will on other customers.”

And there, it would seem, Hesse does have a point. Sprint sold 1.5 million iPhones in its first quarter, with about 44 percent of them going to new customers. And those sales helped spike Sprint’s average revenue per user 6.9 percent, the largest year-over-year increase ever charted in that metric in the U.S.

Sprint’s Hesse: We’ll Make Money on the iPhone … Eventually

With more than 25 000 free and pay applications listed on the Apple App Store, the kiosk for downloading programs for iPhone and iPod Touch is a success. Two U.S. companies, Greystripe and Admobis, have also managed to draw in and monetize via advertising in mobile applications for free download. some of the games with Advergaming (a mixture of advertising – advertising – and gaming – games -) are: Pro 21, Blackjack, Cookie Bonus Solitaire, Origami Rose, and Powerboat Racing. These games specialize in the monetization of iPhone games. Greystripe has recently claimed to have passed the 140 million games downloaded that incorporate mobile advertising managed internally.

As of today there have been 30 million Apple application downloads. 50% of these downloads are games on the iPhone. Interestingly, Greystripe has developed a specific version of flash to manage mobile advertising. This software has not been authorized by Apple to be integrated into its games available on the App Store.

For its part, Admobis, a self proclaimed mobile advertising network for iPhone, is larger with more than 1000 applications planning to launch soon. Admobis plans to introduce a new system of exchange between developers of commercials for Apple’s touch terminals. Developer volunteers may therefore incorporate a tag advertising in their application to invite app users to advertising partner sites. Admobis allows for an increase in visibility without investing in a major advertising campaign. Admob currently offers mobile advertising on nearly 7.2 million iPhone around the world.

The world is changing, Admobis and Greystripe provide businesses and developers a new and innovative way to generate revenue.

Apple – iPhone App Advertising Companies

Back in June of 2010, Apple came out with their 4th generation iPhone. Last year (December of 2011), BlackBerry released their BlackBerry Bold 9790. Now, let me tell you about two of the best smartphones that ever hit the market. In this article, we will talk about and compare the iPhone 4 and the BlackBerry Bold 9790. these handsets may be released one year apart (2010 and 2011) from each other, but they have been the best handsets that ever hit the market during their time. Please allow me to compare them for you. Read on!

I will start with their display screens. to start off the comparison note, let’s talk about Apple’s phone followed by BlackBerry’s handset. Apple packed its handset with 3.5″ LED-backlit IPS touch screen and it comes in with a screen resolution of 640 x 960 pixels (pixel density of 330 ppi). BlackBerry on the other hand packed its phone with 2.45″ TFT capacitive touch screen and it comes with a resolution of 480 x 360 pixels (pixel density of 245 ppi). when it comes to having a bigger screen and higher screen resolution, I can easily give a whole good point to Apple for packing its handset with a 3.5″ screen.

Another feature we should discuss and compare is their cameras. Apple packed its phone with 5MP shutter with 2592 x 1944 pixels. It can also record videos at 720 pixels at 30 frames per second. there is also a VGA front-facing camera on this with 480 pixels resolution and can shoot at 30 frames per second. BlackBerry on the other hand packed its handset with the same 5MP shutter with the same resolution (2592 x 1944 pixels). But it packs a VGA video recording capability only. there is also no front-facing shutter on this handset. Another good point and a half goes to Apple for packing a front-facing shutter and being able to record videos at 720 pixels.

Let’s now talk about processors and memory capacity. Apple decided to ship its handset with 1GHz Cortex – A8 processor chip. you can also choose from their 8, 16, or 32GB worth of memory storage handsets with 512MB RAM. BlackBerry on the other hand came up with 8GB worth of memory storage phones and backed it up with 768MB RAM. if the 8GB memory capacity is quite small for you, then you can easily add more memory via the phone’s microSD card slot. yes, you can basically add as much as 32GB more worth of memory. when it comes to owning more memory storage or memory capacity, I give BlackBerry a whole good point for packing its handset with a memory card slot for more storage option.

From the main features mentioned above, Apple received two and a half good points and BlackBerry received only one. the answer is clear as to who wins in this comparison note. But whether you are an iPhone 4 fan or BlackBerry Bold 9790 fan, you always have the upper hand in choosing what is best for you.

This is my brief comparison note on the iPhone 4 and BlackBerry Bold 9790.

A Comparison Between The iPhone 4 And The BlackBerry Bold 9790

The iPhone 5 has been a very rumored device for the past two years and, and even after its non existence, and the rather disappointing announcement of the 4S, everyone is wondering, what will happen to the iPhone 5?

Recently, Apple has filed ownership for the internet domain name “iPhone5.com” and what makes this interesting is that the website is already a forum for the device. from the looks of it, there are only two equally possible options. Either the phone exists, and this is Apple trying to claim the domain name in order to set up a redirect for the announcement and launch, or this is a just Apple acquiring domain names related to their brand.

I feel like, and certainly hope, that is the first. since the closing of Apple’s forums, Apple has always promoted fan sites, so it seems unlikely they would want to close one down. then again, they could always request the site to transfer to another domain.

I also feel like the next iPhone could go the way of the iPad in the terms of the naming of the device, but in a world of numbered and uniquely identifiable, I don’t see them changing their working advertising method for the very successful phone.

The identification number for the filing is D2012-0951 if you want to follow the news further.

iPhone5.com Filed For Ownership by Apple

Apple is looking to increase the iPhone’s screen size from 3.5 inches to at least 4 inches, according to a Wall Street Journal report, a move that’s presumably being made because of stiff Android competition.

This is not the first suggestion Apple will put a bigger screen on the iPhone this year. In fact, such speculation has been rumored for some time, yet Apple has consistently kept the iPhone display at 3.5 inches for every iteration of the device since its launch in 2007.

As the Apple hype machine is put in motion with just a few weeks until the company’s Worldwide Developers Conference in June, talk about what the new iPhone will bring is intensifying. Since Apple didn’t do any radical changes to the iPhone design last year, a revamped look is expected to come this year.

The Wall Street Journal report does not give any specifics on how big the screen of the new iPhone would be, saying it would measure “at least 4 inches diagonally,” which indeed would be bigger than the current 3.5-inch display. But if it’s any indication, an earlier report from Reuters put forward the more precise diagonal measurement of 4.6 inches.

Perhaps what fuels the interest in a larger-screen iPhone is that in the past couple of years Android manufactures have been pushing the size of their phone displays close to 5 inches, in a bid to differentiate themselves. With a bigger-is-better mentality, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus has a 4.65-inch screen, all the way up to 4.8 inches on the Galaxy S III or 4.7 inches on the HTC One X.

As my colleague Jared Newman explains, many snub the idea of a bigger iPhone display because easy one-handed operation is a big part of the iPhone’s design, and that’s just not possible with a display of around 4.6 inches. In defense of a larger-screen devices, Android manufacturers have found that that allows them to create thinner designs on phones. by making the screen bigger, Apple also would be able to deliver a more radical redesign of the iPhone. The question is, will Apple manage to maintain the highest pixel density phone display on the market if it decides to go big?

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iPhone screen size may increase to at least 4 inches

Apple has filed a complaint with the World Intellectual Property Association against the owners of the domain name “iphone5.com”, but devotees of the site to which that name links are not giving up without a fight.

“Call Corporate Of Apple and tell them to stop there persuit!! Blow up there phones, Spam there emails, call there Administration! do something to get our point across,” writes one of the fanboi forum’s members, which numbered 364 as of Monday morning.

For example, late last year Apple filed a complaint against a porn purveyor that was using a number of iPhone-related domain names to shunt iPhone-info-seeking users to its wares, housed at the rather less subtly named “freenaughty4mobile.com”.

Apple won that round, as it has also won a variety of other complaints against other such domain names, including appleipods.com, ipods.com, appleosxlion.com, and others. Many others.

And such complaints will undoubtedly continue. As Fusible also notes, “Apple doesn’t own iPhone6.com, iPhone7.com, iPhone8.com, iPhone9.com, iPhone10.com – you get the idea.”

Yes, we do get the idea. unless Apple drops its iPhone-plus-number naming scheme for its smartphone, as it recently did for “The new iPad”, we are going to see a steady stream of such complaints well into the future.

And this complaint? we must agree with one iPhone5.com forum poster, who wrote to the site’s owners: “I have been through a WIPO case with a large company and I can tell you for sure, you don’t have a chance.” ®

Fanbois froth as Apple claims ‘iPhone5.com’ rights • The Register

Apple's photo sync through iCloud using Photo Stream

(Credit:Apple)

iCloud and video are two words that have not gone together since the service launched last year. But a video synchronization feature rumored to arrive on iCloud next month could change all that.

According to a report in The Wall Street Journal earlier today (subscription required), Apple is at work on a feature that lets users sync up videos they’ve taken with their iOS devices through iCloud. What’s unclear is whether that’s simply an addition to the existing Photo Stream feature, or something separate.

As it stands, Apple’s Photo Stream feature, which was introduced alongside iOS 5 last June, only syncs photos. If you want to see a video you’ve taken from youriPhone on youriPad, or vice versa, you’ve got to either sync it to that device with a computer using iTunes, or upload it to a Web sharing service like YouTube or Vimeo. the Journal’s report suggests videos would now be ferried over too.

This brings up a question about storage though. Videos are big, especially if you’ve captured them on either of Apple’s most recent iOS devices, the third-generation iPad andiPhone 4S. Both of these shoot in 1080p, and the files that are saved are bigger than ever. If Apple treats videos the same as photos, will that mean you get to keep videos as part of your Photo Stream, with no size limits? That would be generous given how Apple treats other types of files on the service.

Apple’s iCloud gives users 5GB for free, though only some files eat into that amount. things like digital content (be it apps, books, videos, or music) purchased from one of Apple’s stores and the Photo Stream don’t count against the limit. However, e-mail, stored documents, settings, app data, and iOS device backups (which can include the camera roll’s photos and videos) are all counted. when this gets short, users can add on 10GB, 20GB, or 50GB of iCloud storage, for $20, $40, or $100 per year respectively.

But the way users store their media with the service could be changing, according to the Journal. in the same report the outlet says Apple execs have been considering “expanding the number of photos and albums users can store via iCloud to make the service resemble its iPhoto downloadable software,” but that cost (presumably in its server infrastructure) has been a consideration. in other words, a move like that would likely increase how much Apple needs to spend on its server infrastructure and upkeep.

One thing that’s unclear is how many people are paying for add-on storage through Apple already. during its fiscal second-quarter conference call last month, Apple was asked by Goldman Sachs whether there had been “a big uptick in iTunes Match and paid storage additions,” since those features were introduced (iTunes Match is Apple’s other paid add-on service that scans and matches a user’s music library with tracks in the iTunes catalog to make them available on other iOS devices). Apple’s chief financial officer, Peter Oppenheimer, responded by saying that question was missing the point (emphasis mine):

We’ve now got over 125 million users that have come on to the service since then and they’re building up documents and music and other things that they want to store. And so I think storage growth will come more over time. our real desire here was not about selling more storage. We think Match is a great product, and we recommend that everybody use it. But it’s a ‘pay for a service.’ We just really want to increase the customer delight from the entire ecosystem and platform of our iOS devices and the Mac, and that’s why we’ve done iCloud.

That’s a pretty strong indication that Apple won’t charge extra if it were to add videos to the Photo Stream feature. the real question is what happens if iOS users actually get to store more of their media on iCloud as opposed to relying on computers and hard drives, or on iCloud’s backup feature, which only stores snapshots of a device.

Apple very clearly wants to distance itself from using iCloud as a virtual hard drive, as we can see with the closure of MobileMe’s iDisk next month. User-made video hasn’t been too far removed from that product.

Looking back, Apple has kept close tabs on how much space user videos take up in its cloud. with MobileMe, and .Mac before it, Apple kept track of not just how much storage a video took up, but also how much bandwidth got slurped up when you shared it with someone else. MobileMe closes up its doors next month, and perhaps that megabyte-counting behavior will go with it.

Apple may ‘think different’ on iCloud’s video sync feature

While an iPhone 5 with a larger 4-inch screen is a distinct possibility, iMore is reporting that it is in no way a sure thing given that Apple still hasn’t finalized the design for its next-gen iPhone. So while Apple is likely evaluating the merits of various form factors, reports of an iPhone with a larger screen and 16:9 aspect ratio appear to be premature.

Despite some rumors to the contrary, according to our sources Apple still hasn’t finalized the design of the next generation iPhone 5 (or whatever Apple ends up calling iPhone 5,1). no giant screen. no 16:9 aspect ratio. no metal back

Once again we’re hearing that if the screen size does change, it won’t be by a lot (no larger than 4-inches). We’ve heard nothing to indicate a planned change in the aspect ratio either way (and such a change still doesn’t make much sense to us).

“But what about all of the previous and seemingly credible reports which pointed to an iPhone model with a bigger screen?”, you may be wondering.

Well, if we look back at the teardrop iPhone designs that were leaked out last Summer, and which turned out to be nothing more than prototypes that never shipped to market, we’re reminded that Apple typically tests a number of different hardware designs before coming to a final decision. Indeed, even the original iPhone went through various prototype iterations – including an iPhone model with a scroll wheel – before the original form factor was ultimately chosen.

That said, iMore notes that “sometimes there are more audacious and more conservative prototypes, with the final choice coming down to component costs and device tests.”

Remember that it was just last week when I relayed a report from the typically accurate iLounge claiming that the next-gen iPhone will feature a 4-inch screen with a longer and thinner form factor (artist rendition below).

As for rumors that seem to be universally agreed upon, the iPhone 5 will reportedly feature a smaller dock connector, a design change which will free up some valuable, albeit small, real estate within the iPhone. iPhone components are already packed in as tight as can be, but with the next-gen iPhone likely to support 4G LTE, any space Apple can free up to put in an ever so slightly larger battery is worth the effort.

As for the software that will power Apple’s iPhone 5 (assuming that’s the naming scheme Apple sticks with), iOS 6 will officially be unveiled at WWDC 2012, scheduled to run from June 11 through June 15 in San Francisco.

And if you want tickets to that shindig, you’re plum out of luck. You might remember that tickets to this year’s WWDC sold out in just 2 hours, well before folks on the West Coast were even likely out of bed. but don’t expect an iPhone announcement at this year’s WWDC. Now that Apple’s iPhone release schedule has been pushed back to the Fall, Apple will likely hold a special media event in September, rumor has it, where it will unveil the successor to the iPhone 4S.

iPhone 5 with 4-inch screen may not be a sure thing

I repeatedly ask you questions in headlines, because I ask myself. this one is top of my mind following today’s Samsung Galaxy S III announcement. my eyes bugger at the differences in size, features and most importantly benefits — the majority of those coming from Samsung skinning Android 4 into seeming oblivion. It’s hard to discern a way that Galaxy S3 isn’t superior to iPhone 4S. if iOS 5 looked antiquated before, and it surely did, Samsung’s TouchWiz-modified Ice Cream Sandwich makes it suddenly ancient.

But the question is bigger than hardware or software. Samsung isn’t the world’s No. 1 handset maker overall and in smartphones by lark. Apple is known for focusing on delivering benefits that matter, sometimes at the expense of hardware capabilities, and truly aspirational marketing. Galaxy S III evokes these qualities, with something more: real benefits without sacrificing hardware capabilities while using software to enrich the human experience. Then there’s the aspirational marketing, as seen in the embedded video. Samsung does something Apple-like, only better.

Note: When I first started writing this post, I embedded the commercial from Samsung’s YouTube; since, the video was made private. Fortunately, other people grabbed the video and uploaded to their YouTubes.

The Hardware

Colleague Tim Conneally serves up Galaxy S III basics in today’s news report. I want to drill down a wee further looking at them in context of iPhone 4S — and Galaxy Nexus, too. I include the other Android phone, as it’s the only pure Ice Cream Sandwich model available, Google now sells it direct and in context of GN I asked last year: “Are iOS 5 and iPhone 4S already outdated?” Today’s question goes further.

Let’s start with the hardware, which also sets the bar for iPhone 5.

Galaxy S III: 4.8-inch Super AMOLED display (306 ppi) with 1280 x 720 resolution; 1.4GHz quad-core processor; 1GB RAM; 16GB or 32GB storage (64GB in future), expandable with microSD card; HSPA＋ 21Mbps (850/900/1900/2100), 4G LTE, GSM/EDGE (850/900/1800/1900); 8-megapixel rear-facing and 1.9MP front-facing cameras; LED flash; zero shutter-lag; 1080p video recording; accelerometer; ambient-light sensor; gyroscope; GPS; proximity sensor; digital compass; NFC, Bluetooth 3.0; WiFi N; 2100 mAh battery; carrier locked; Android 4.0 and TouchWiz “nature” UI. Measurements: 136.6 x 70.6 x 8.6 mm, 133 grams.

iPhone 4S: 3.5-inch multitouch display (326 ppi) with 960 x 640 resolution (800:1 contrast ratio); 1GHz dual-core processor; 512MB RAM; 16GB, 32GB or 64GB storage; UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz), GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz); 8MP rear-facing and VGA front-facing cameras; LED flash; image stabilization; 1080p video recording; accelerometer; ambient-light sensor; gyroscope; GPS; proximity sensor; digital compass; Bluetooth 4.0; WiFi N; 1432 mAh battery; carrier locked; iOS 5. Measurements: 115.2 x 58.6 x 9.3 mm, 140 grams.

Galaxy Nexus: 4.65-inch Super AMOLED display (315 ppi) with 1280 x 720 resolution (100,000:1 contrast ratio); 1.2GHz dual-core processor; 1GB RAM; 16GB or 32GB storage; HSPA+ 21Mbps/HSUPA (4G LTE from Sprint or Verizon), 5.76Mbps (850/900/1900/1700/2100), EDGE/GPRS (850/900/1800/1900); 5MP rear-facing and 1.3MP front-facing cameras; LED flash; zero shutter-lag; 1080p video recording; accelerometer; ambient-light sensor; barometer; gyroscope; GPS; proximity sensor; digital compass; NFC; Bluetooth 4.0; WiFi N; 1750 mAh (HSPA+), 1850 mAh (LTE); carrier unlocked; Android 4.0. Measurements: 135.5 x 67.94 x 8.94 mm, 135 grams.

From a straight hardware perspective, Galaxy S3 outclasses iPhone 4S in most ways. faster processor, LTE, front camera HD recording, memory expansion and more. Difference are much less compared to Galaxy Nexus or newer Androids, however.

Galaxy Nexus and iPhone 4S are available now. Galaxy S III launches on May 29 in Europe and over the summer in other geographies. Americans waited a long time for Galaxy S II. Samsung best not repeat later launch here and in China. Apple offers iPhone 4S through 230 carriers in 100 countries. Samsung promises 296 carriers in 145 countries. Distribution is everything — well that, perception and marketing. much depends on how quickly S3 launched globally compared to Apple releasing iPhone 5 — or whatever it’s called. New iPhone wouldn’t surprise now, given third-generation iPad naming.

Almost Human

Apple and Samsung are engaged in a bitter patent dispute, with the iPhone maker alleging, among other things, copying. Not that Apple is a stranger to this. from a mid-1990s cofounder Steve Jobs interview: “Picasso had a saying, he said: ‘Good artists copy, great artists steal’. We have, you know, always, ah, been shameless about stealing great ideas”. I preface this next section such, because of what Samsung has done remarkable here to out-Apple, well, Apple.

The original iPhone stood apart from all other phones, not just smart ones, for its humanness. Touch, and its intimacy, and the way the handset responded to your proximity gave it a human quality. Suddenly the phone wasn’t an inanimate object but more living thing. Apple extended humanness with each new model. Siri is best representation in iPhone 4S. Samsung seeks to bring this quality to Galaxy S III, and it’s centerpiece to the product marketing. These human characteristic also derive from Ice Cream Sandwich and Galaxy Nexus.

(Well, hell, when I got to this point writing, Siamak Masnavi submitted: “5 things you should know about Samsung Galaxy S III“. He draws out much of what I planned to here, but in different way. his story, as background for you, actually helps me to focus more on what these things mean in context of increased humanness.)

Other than Siri, Apple did little to add humanness to iPhone 4S. Still, Siri provides personality and responsiveness for those people who use it. Samsung promises much more, by extending different sensors’ functionality around stunning software enhancements. Galaxy S III responds to your movements, seemingly anticipating your needs.

Responding to You

During today’s launch event, Samsung Mobile tweeted what succinctly describes the product design and marketing approach. Galaxy S III “is effortlessly smart and intuitively simple, and is a phone that sees you, listens to you and understands what you want”. I’ll highlight just a few examples, many from the commercial embedded up top.

Smartphone proximity sensors turn off the keyboard when the device approaches the face, a capability that set apart iPhone in June 2007. It’s standard feature everywhere now. Galaxy S III adds new responsiveness. for example, the front camera detects whether the user is looking at the phone and keeps the screen lit. How many times has your display gone dark while reading a website or ebook. The phone also can automatically turn on, if recognizing your face.

These is two related capabilities would make tech headlines everywhere, if introduced by Steve Jobs. they also add the kind of human responsiveness that once set iPhone apart from every other handset.

Something else: The feature, called “Smart Stay”, is real innovation, not Samsung copying Apple. It’s also stark example of Samsung out-Appling Apple by focusing on features that offer real benefits — that are magical and truly useful rather than making a checklist of hardware components priority. Software development is an Apple hallmark, a differentiator coupled to hardware design. Samsung can do, too.

Another example: You’re in the middle of texting someone and decide to call instead. Lifting the phone to your face places a call to the recipient. or perhaps you take a photo of someone, Galaxy S III enhances your social life using facial recognition capabilities to identify friends and link to their social networking account. Right, Facebook and Twitter.

There’s much more, but I’ll end with S Voice, which is as close to a Siri competitor as you’ll find right now — and it understands 8 languages! You can wake the phone by voice command (“Hello, Galaxy” is changeable default). sure Apple could, ahem, copy Samsung add something similar to iOS. But it’s little touches to detail like this one that once defined Apple design.

Demos are one thing, real world usage is another. But from the perspective presented today, Samsung makes the S3 more human, more responsive to you, all while adding practical benefits useful to you and the people important to you. What’s iPhone done for anyone since App Store opened in July 2008?

Photo Credits: Samsung

Is iPhone 4S obsolete?

Will he make a fortune from this movie?

(Credit:Ina Fried/CNET)

When it was first rumored that Ashton Kutcher would be playing the younger Steve Jobs in a movie, some were moved to joy and others to wailing.

But if you really want to know what’s going on in Hollywood, who are you going to call? Setbusters, that’s who. these are the intrepid men and women who can point a camera in the tightest of spots and sell the results to TMZ.

Sure enough, TMZ has real images from near the set of a movie which is now said to be called “Jobs: be Inspired.”

To some, that might sound like a political rallying call for the coming election. one can imagine, too, that there might still be several iterations of a title to a movie that is to cover the Apple co-founder’s early years.

Sadly “Diff’rent Strokes” has already been taken.

I cannot help but look at these pictures and see, well, Ashton Kutcher. yes, there’s the black turtleneck and bright blue baggy jeans. I struggle to see Steve Jobs.

But there’s more to playing Jobs than the garb. There’s the slightly nasal voice, for example. But, most important are surely the eyes. Can Kutcher convince us to forget not merely that this isn’t Steve Jobs but also that this is Ashton Kutcher?

If he does, you just know there’s an Oscar waiting, don’t you?

Ashton Kutcher as Steve Jobs looks like Ashton Kutcher