Thursday 6 October 2011

Mashable: Latest 29 News Updates - including “You Can Pre-Order an iPhone 4 From Sprint Now, iPhone 4S Coming October 7”

Mashable: Latest 29 News Updates - including “You Can Pre-Order an iPhone 4 From Sprint Now, iPhone 4S Coming October 7”


You Can Pre-Order an iPhone 4 From Sprint Now, iPhone 4S Coming October 7

Posted: 06 Oct 2011 01:36 AM PDT


If you’ve been waiting anxiously for Sprint to finally start selling an iPhone, it finally happened: you can pre-order an iPhone 4 from Sprint right now.

However, to pre-order one of those snazzy new iPhones 4S, you’ll have to wait until Friday, October 7.

The price for the iPhone 4 with 8 GB of storage is $99 with the usual two-year agreement, and if you need further enticement to choose Sprint as your iPhone dealer, you might want to look at those unlimited data plans the company is offering, starting at $69.99.

[Sprint]

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Memories Of Steve Jobs: Interviews & Inspiration

Posted: 05 Oct 2011 10:17 PM PDT


Here’s how a typical press interview with Steve Jobs used to go in the early 2000s. You wouldn’t be immediately ushered into his presence; you would be passed from PR person to PR person, corridor to corridor, waiting at each step, until you reached the inner sanctum.

You would often pass a fellow journalist on his way out, looking white as a sheet and shaking his head like he’d gone ten rounds with Mike Tyson. You would mentally prepare your questions about the latest Apple product, knowing that Steve would bat them away like flies and say what he wanted to say.

And then there you were, with the man himself: black turtleneck, jeans, white trainers, spiky salt-and-pepper stubble, and those no-nonsense eyes that could look straight into your soul. You’d sputter out a question while he sipped from a bottle of Odwalla. Perhaps he would deign to answer politely, or perhaps he would interrupt: “that’s a stupid question. That’s not what we should be talking about.”

If you could survive twenty minutes of this without cracking, his demeanor would soften. If you were lucky, then just for a moment the mask would slip, and Steve would break into a broad smile. It was a grin that acknowledged the silliness of this interview game — and that you both loved playing your roles in it.


Always Passionate


As a technology writer for Time magazine in the 1990s and 2000s, I went through this routine a dozen times. It’s easy to forget, but back then an Apple product launch was not a huge deal. The company was seen as struggling, a distant second to Microsoft, even years after Jobs had retaken the helm. I had to fight for a single page on the launch of the iPod in 2001, for instance, at a time when the headlines were all about war and terror.

But Jobs was always compelling. He was the news. His enormous passion for a product was unrivaled in any industry, before or since. As long as I could convey him on the page, Steve as he really was, Apple stories were an easy sell for my editors.


The Urgency of the Future


The more stories I did, the friendlier Steve got. He started calling me at home with story ideas and off-the-record information. He asked me to interview him on a video that would be broadcast at a Warner Music conference; this was when he was still trying to persuade the record labels to let him sell songs within iTunes.

I figured this meant we should start with a few softball questions about music in general, but Steve interrupted and got straight to the pitch: 99-cent MP3s would save the music industry. Of course, he was absolutely right, and of course, he got his way.

Here was a man who knew precisely what the future looked like, and had no patience for anyone or anything who got in the way. Not a second was to be wasted. The vision was too important. This is what he meant in that famous Stanford commencement speech: “your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.”


Making Airplanes In the Sun


But there was a whimsical side to him, too. Once Steve tried to pitch me a story on the architecture of Pixar’s headquarters. It wasn’t new; he was just eager to show it off, and hounded me until I agreed to take a tour with him. We must have sat down in every room in the building, Steve grinning like a proud parent the whole time. I patiently explained why it probably wasn’t going to be in the magazine (this was before modern Web journalism and its infinite capacity for stories).

It didn’t faze him one bit. In his mind, it was a worthy story, and that was all that mattered. For Steve Jobs, every day was like Christmas morning, and nothing could shake that feeling.

My most enduring memory of him speaks to that fact too. It was a Saturday afternoon in Palo Alto, and I was having lunch with a friend in an Italian restaurant. Suddenly, Steve came in and ordered takeout. He was wearing a T-shirt and cut-off jeans, just another happy suburban dad.

He took his food and left, and as he walked down that beautiful leafy street, he stretched out his arms like an airplane — like he was flying into the sunshine.

For all the times I’ve seen him at the height of his powers on stage, and for all the sweat-inducing interviews, that is how I will remember Steve Jobs — completely confident and carefree, being just who he wanted to be, flying straight into the future.

Image credit: Jonathan Mak

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15 Inspirational Steve Jobs Quotes

Posted: 05 Oct 2011 08:41 PM PDT


For many, the name Steve Jobs is synonymous with inspiration.

Throughout the years, he’s not only changed our lives with innovative products, but also with memorable words.

Among the ways people are commemorating Jobs’ passing is posting their favorite Jobs-isms. We took to Tumblr to track down what Jobs quotes have resonated most with the tech world. Check out the gallery below to be inspired.

Do you have a favorite Jobs quote? Share it in the comments below.





Jobs quote from 2005 Stanford commencement address. Posted by livinglauren.





Jobs quote from 2005 Stanford commencement address. Posted by heiids.





Jobs quote from 2005 Stanford commencement address. Posted by mondobarbie.





Quote from 2008 interview with Fortune. Posted by snapshotdiaries.





Jobs quote from 2005 Stanford commencement address. Posted by littleredheadgirl.





Jobs quote from 2005 Stanford commencement address. Posted by marleytothe.





Quote from 2003 New York Times article about the iPod. Posted by idiazsosa.





Origin of Jobs quote is uncertain. Writer and critic Phil Patton has said Jobs told him this when they met in 1981. Posted by nickslog.





Jobs quote from 2005 Stanford commencement address. Posted by blogsforjobs.





Jobs quote from 1993 Wall Street Journal interview. Posted by missambear.





Jobs quote from 1989 interview with Inc. magazine. Posted by mrborisduck.





Quote from 2008 60 Minutes interview. Posted by planetickets.





Quote from 1998 BusinessWeek interview. Posted by b-duarte.





Jobs quote from 1995 interview with the Smithsonian Institute. Posted by theaccidentalexecutive.





Jobs quote from 2005 Stanford commencement address. Posted by soupsoup.

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Steve Jobs: Goodbye to an Icon

Posted: 05 Oct 2011 07:16 PM PDT


It felt like I’d been slapped in the face. There it was: On Twitter. In my email. On a phone call. Steve Jobs, the tech industry’s one true icon, was gone — taken from us far too soon, at the age of 56.

Say what you will about the dynamic maverick who built and rebuilt Apple over the course of four decades, but Steve Jobs was a visionary. A maker of things. A doer who intimately understood the excitement of a new product. How the interchange of 1s and 0s could produce a sublime piece of software. Steve Jobs got all this. We admired him for it. Some loved him for it. None of us will forget him for it.


On Stage


I had the privilege of attending many Apple product launches where I witnessed the master in action. Jobs may have ruled the boardroom, product meetings and led Apple’s strategy behind the scenes, but first and foremost he ruled the stage. He was a magnetic figure. No, Steve’s voice didn't boom. Sometimes he sounded and looked like the nerd he was. Yet he knew when to pause, when to push, when to point to the right highlight — and when to stop, almost walk off stage, then produce that “one more thing” from his back pocket.

Jobs relished the stage, I think, because it was the place where he could share his delight in the new. I always believed Steve Jobs was truly in love with his own products. When he unveiled the iPad, Jobs was smiling from ear to ear. Granted, he had some really good stuff to show off. To this day, no other tablet has surpassed (or even come close) to the iPad — or its market share.

Steve Jobs taught an entire industry that product experience didn’t begin or end with the hardware or application. It started on stage, continued in the store, and was ultimately realized when an Apple customer opened the product packaging. Unboxing stories were invented because of Apple, and thus because of Jobs. Obviously, not every Apple idea sprung fully formed from his mind. But like any good leader, he surrounded himself with exceptional professionals who helped create the world we know know as the Apple ecosystem.


A Deep Loss


Jobs’ death comes less than 24 hours after Tim Cook took the stage for the first time as CEO and unveiled the iPhone 4s. It was an oddly subdued affair that felt like a change of direction for Apple. Cook is not Steve Jobs. He will do things his own way, and it was important for him to set a new tone. In hindsight, Tuesday felt like the beginning of the mourning process. I can't guess whether or not Cook and other top Apple execs knew what was coming — but if they did, yesterday’s mood makes sense.

Having followed his career and products for so long — I was using an Mac SE in 1985 (and owned an Apple IIe before that) — I feel as if I’ve lost a relative. I simply cannot believe that Steve Jobs will not appear one more time on an Apple stage. Yes, he got thinner and weaker with each passing year (he battled cancer for almost seven years), but his energy on stage was unstoppable. The last time I saw him, it felt as if he had sucked up all the energy from the room, swallowed it and then sent it back out for the iOS 5 introduction. It was inspirational.


The Master


I am no Apple fanboy. I eventually gave up for Mac for a Windows PC. This was during the early 1990s, when Apple went through its darkest hour. Jobs was pushed out of the company in 1985, and Apple lost its way. When Jobs returned in 1997, he seemed more mature. He accelerated Apple’s product development, setting up a decade-long run of innovation rarely seen in any industry. One iconic product followed another, all with Jobs’ fingerprints on them. He leaves behind a strong of accomplishments and a legacy of products that will be remembered for decades to come.

In the coming days and weeks much will be said of the life of Steve Jobs. Eventually, the talk will turn to what’s next for Apple, and how Steve’s absence will affect the company he built. But for now, I will remember Steve Jobs on stage pausing just a moment, smiling wryly at the crowd, saying “and one more thing.” One more thing that will never pass this way again.

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Google’s Homepage Pays Tribute to Steve Jobs

Posted: 05 Oct 2011 06:54 PM PDT


Google has put rivalries aside to pay tribute to late Apple founder Steve Jobs on its homepage. Under the company's trademark search box, a message simply reads: "Steve Jobs, 1955-2011," and links to Apple's homepage (which features its own tribute).

Apple announced that Jobs had passed away on Wednesday. Jobs resigned as CEO of Apple back in August, writing at the time that, "I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple's CEO, I would be the first to let you know," he wrote. "Unfortunately, that day has come."


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Disney CEO: “Jobs Was Such an Original”

Posted: 05 Oct 2011 06:46 PM PDT


Bob Iger, the president and CEO of Disney, released a statement expressing his thoughts and sadness on the passing of Steve Jobs.

In addition to his work at Apple, Steve Jobs was also a member of Disney’s board and its largest shareholder, thanks to the sale of Pixar to the Mouse house in January 2006.

In a statement, Iger said:

Steve Jobs was a great friend as well as a trusted advisor. His legacy will extend far beyond the products he created or the businesses he built. It will be the millions of people he inspired, the lives he changed, and the culture he defined. Steve was such an “original,” with a thoroughly creative, imaginative mind that defined an era. Despite all he accomplished, it feels like he was just getting started. With his passing the world has lost a rare original, Disney has lost a member of our family, and I have lost a great friend. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Laurene and his children during this difficult time.

Jobs sold Pixar, the animation studio he acquired in 1986, to Disney in 2006 for $7.4 billion.

Even before its purchase of Pixar, Disney and Apple enjoyed a close relationship. Disney was one of the first studios to support the iTunes video store and the two companies frequently marketed their products together throughout the 1990s.

Pixar films frequently carry homages to Apple, including the startup sound in WALL-E and the white iMac (complete with the Safari web browser) in Toy Story 3.

Jobs might not be primarily considered a Hollywood mogul, but the success of Pixar made him a force to be reckoned with.

Steven Spielberg one of the founders of Pixar rival DreamWorks Animation, released the following statement:

“Steve Jobs was the greatest inventor since Thomas Edison. He put the world at our fingertips.”


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President Obama on Steve Jobs: “The World Has Lost a Visionary”

Posted: 05 Oct 2011 06:38 PM PDT


President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama have reacted to the passing of Steve Jobs, stating that he was “among the greatest of American innovators.”

In a statement posted on the White House blog, Obama says that Jobs “made the information revolution not only accessible, but intuitive and fun.” He praises Jobs for his ingenuity and for changing “the way each of us sees the world.”

“The world has lost a visionary,” Obama said. “And there may be no greater tribute to Steve's success than the fact that much of the world learned of his passing on a device he invented.”

The statement is a moving tribute to man behind multiple computing revolutions. The full statement from the President is included below:

“Michelle and I are saddened to learn of the passing of Steve Jobs. Steve was among the greatest of American innovators – brave enough to think differently, bold enough to believe he could change the world, and talented enough to do it.

By building one of the planet's most successful companies from his garage, he exemplified the spirit of American ingenuity. By making computers personal and putting the internet in our pockets, he made the information revolution not only accessible, but intuitive and fun. And by turning his talents to storytelling, he has brought joy to millions of children and grownups alike. Steve was fond of saying that he lived every day like it was his last. Because he did, he transformed our lives, redefined entire industries, and achieved one of the rarest feats in human history: he changed the way each of us sees the world.

The world has lost a visionary. And there may be no greater tribute to Steve's success than the fact that much of the world learned of his passing on a device he invented. Michelle and I send our thoughts and prayers to Steve's wife Laurene, his family, and all those who loved him.”


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Google Founders: Steve Jobs Was an Inspiration

Posted: 05 Oct 2011 06:27 PM PDT


Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin have each posted their condolences over the passing of Steve Jobs.

Both Page and Brin posted their reactions to Google+, the company’s new social network. In his statement, Brin said that Jobs’s “passion for excellence is felt by anyone who has ever touched an Apple product.” He went on to note that he has had the honor to witness Jobs’s passion in person during “the few times we have met.”

Page, now Google’s CEO, said in his statement that Jobs’s “focus on the user experience above all else has always been an inspiration to me.”

Page and Brin famously wanted to hire Jobs as Google’s new CEO back in the company’s infancy after meeting the Apple founder. They eventually chose Eric Schmidt for that role.

Here is Sergey Brin’s statement:

“From the earliest days of Google, whenever Larry and I sought inspiration for vision and leadership, we needed to look no farther than Cupertino. Steve, your passion for excellence is felt by anyone who has ever touched an Apple product (including the macbook I am writing this on right now). And I have witnessed it in person the few times we have met.

On behalf of all of us at Google and more broadly in technology, you will be missed very much. My condolences to family, friends, and colleagues at Apple.”

Here is Larry Page’s statement:

“I am very, very sad to hear the news about Steve. He was a great man with incredible achievements and amazing brilliance. He always seemed to be able to say in very few words what you actually should have been thinking before you thought it. His focus on the user experience above all else has always been an inspiration to me. He was very kind to reach out to me as I became CEO of Google and spend time offering his advice and knowledge even though he was not at all well. My thoughts and Google’s are with his family and the whole Apple family.”


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Mark Zuckerberg Pays Tribute to Steve Jobs

Posted: 05 Oct 2011 06:25 PM PDT


Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg has posted a message paying tribute to late Apple founder Steve Jobs. Writing on his Facebook profile, Zuckerberg wrote, "Steve, thank you for being a mentor and a friend. Thanks for showing that what you build can change the world. I will miss you."

The post, which went up around 8:30 p.m. ET, has already been liked some 85,000 times by Zuckerberg's more than 6 million Facebook subscribers.

Although Apple and Facebook have had a contentious relationship, it's hard not to draw comparisons between Jobs and Zuckerberg, both of whom dropped out of college and founded their iconic companies in their early twenties.

Meanwhile, Facebook's f8 conferences have become a platform for Zuckerberg to take center stage and share his company's latest innovations, much in the way Jobs captured the eyeballs of tech watchers everywhere with his iconic keynotes.

Earlier this year, the two dined with President Obama and other tech luminaries, as you can see in the photo below that was released by The White House:


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Newspapers React to the Death of Steve Jobs [PICS]

Posted: 05 Oct 2011 06:07 PM PDT

As news of the death of Steve Jobs spread across the United States like wildfire, newspapers reacted, posting headlines and pictures of the fallen industry leader. Here’s a sample of headlines by some of the major newspapers in the United States.


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Jobs Family Statement: “Steve Died Peacefully”

Posted: 05 Oct 2011 06:03 PM PDT


In a statement, Steve Jobs’s family revealed that the visionary leader of Apple died peacefully.

The family also announced that a website will be erected “for those who wish to offer tributes and memories.”

Steve Jobs has been battling pancreatic cancer since 2004. He took his third and final leave of absence in January 2011 and resigned as CEO in August.

The complete statement from his family is included below:

“Steve died peacefully today surrounded by his family.

In his public life, Steve was known as a visionary; in his private life, he cherished his family. We are thankful to the many people who have shared their wishes and prayers during the last year of Steve’s illness; a website will be provided for those who wish to offer tributes and memories.

We are grateful for the support and kindness of those who share our feelings for Steve. We know many of you will mourn with us, and we ask that you respect our privacy during our time of grief.”


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Steve Jobs Remembered: 10 of His Most Magical Moments [VIDEO]

Posted: 05 Oct 2011 06:02 PM PDT


Steve Jobs demos Apple Macintosh, 1984


Steve Jobs introduces the Macintosh to the world. Computing would never be the same.


1984 Apple's Macintosh Commercial


Ridley Scott's famous "1984" commercial for the original Macintosh continues to find imitators, even today. In 2011, Motorola attempted to spoof the classic ad in a promotional spot for its Xoom tablet.


Steve Jobs and Microsoft at Macworld Boston 1997


When Bill Gates appeared on-screen at Macworld Boston in 1997, the audience reacted with boos and hisses. Still, the decision to partner with Microsoft and have Microsoft commit to producing software for the Macintosh was one of the most shrewd -- and likely one of the most intelligent -- decisions that Jobs made upon his return to Apple.

Although many incorrectly believe that Microsoft "bought" Apple in 1997, the reality is, without Microsoft's investment and commitment to developing Macintosh software, the company may have had a more difficult time getting its next line of products to the market.


The First iMac Introduction


The iMac helped set the standard for the modern Apple even as we know it today. Designed by Jonathan Ive, the iMac was sleek, modern and affordable. This was not the Macintosh of the early to mid 1990s, it was something new.

With the iMac, Apple became cool. We can vividly remember looking at the egg-shaped all-in-one design with the hockey puck mouse and famous lack of a floppy drive and being transfixed. The iMac marked the beginning of Apple 2.0.


The First iPod Keynote (2001)


Nearly 10 years ago, Apple debuted the iPod. Famously ridiculed and dismissed by Slashdot, it would be several years before the device would become iconic, and in the process, change Apple fundamentally as a company.

The premise behind the iPod was simple: 1,000 songs in your pocket. Its the execution that set the device apart from everyone else.

In 2003, Apple flipped the switch again, with the launch of the iTunes Music Store. In a post-Napster industry, most were skeptical that iTunes could drive music sales. Eight years later, iTunes is the number one music retailer by a large margin.

Ten years on, the iPod is getting long in the tooth, but it still remains the leader in its product category.


Steve Jobs presents the iTunes Phone


After the iPod started to achieve massive success in 2003 and 2004, the rumors of an iPod phone started to swirl.

The first attempt to bring a product like that to the market was in the form of Motorola's Rokr. The Rokr tried to capitalize on the success of the Razr, while also adding compatibility with iTunes.

Still, the device was a dud. You can see Steve Jobs's frustration with the device in this demonstration. The Rokr was an example that only Apple could build an Apple product.


Steve Jobs Stanford Commencement Speech 2005


Steve Jobs's commencement speech at Stanford University in 2006 is one of our favorite Jobs moments. It's riveting, inspirational and every bit as good as any Apple product keynote.


Introducing the new iPhone PART 1


All hail the Jesus Phone. The iPhone changed the mobile industry. Full stop. The mobile world and ecosystem that we know today would not exist in the same way that it does now without the iPhone.

The iPhone also changed Apple as a company and helped further cement Jobs's place in history.


Steve Jobs and Bill Gates Together: Part 1


Steve Jobs and Bill Gates are two of the most powerful and influential men of our times. Seeing them together at D5, just ahead of the iPhone's U.S. launch, was amazing.


Apple iPad: Steve Jobs Keynote Jan. 27 2010 Part 1


In January 2010, Apple changed the game again with the iPad. Like the iPod and iPhone, the critics dismissed it and predicted its failure. Its success has outpaced nearly every other technology product launch in history and is having a seismic impact on education, publishing, media consumption and computing in general.

The PC era might not be over, but I'm willing to bet that the computer I use every day in 10 years will have a lot more in common with the iPad than the MacBook Pro.

On many occasions during a career at Apple that spanned more than 30 years, Steve Jobs took center stage to introduce the world to revolutionary products, discuss the state of the company that has become the world's most valuable, and at times, simply to inspire.

With Apple announcing on Wednesday that its iconic founder had passed away, we wanted to take a look back at some of those moments, from the introduction of the first Macintosh, to the launch of iPod, iPhone and iPad, to his unforgettable commencement speech at Stanford.

What moments will you remember most from Jobs’s life and career? Let us know in the comments.


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RIP Steve Jobs: Share Your Condolences [OPEN THREAD]

Posted: 05 Oct 2011 05:59 PM PDT


The social web has breathed a collective sigh of mourning.

Steve Jobs, longtime leader of Apple, passed away Wednesday after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Site commenters, Facebook, Twitter and Google+ users alike are sharing their condolences for one of the most renowned tech innovators of our time. Apple.com transformed its website into a tribute for its iconic visionary, while some Google employees had a moment of silence and former Microsoft CEO Bill Gates issued a heartfelt statement.

The outpouring of emotion is no surprise. The products Jobs envisioned and created throughout his 35-year career helped shape the way we think about and interact with technology on a daily basis. He changed lives across the globe.

We'd like to open this comment thread for you to share your condolences. How have the innovations of one of history’s most iconic company leaders affected you? Please show your support for the Jobs family and Apple community.


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Steve Jobs: 1955 – 2011

Posted: 05 Oct 2011 05:57 PM PDT


Steven Paul Jobs, the co-founder and chairman of Apple, died Wednesday at the age of 56.

Born in San Francisco in 1955, Jobs grew up near Cupertino, Calif. After attending Reed College in Portland for one semester (and auditing classes for free for several more), Jobs took a job at Atari, designing circuit boards. In 1976, Jobs co-founded Apple with Steve Wozniak.

The two young men started out with a few thousand dollars in cash and a vision of changing the world. Over the course of the past 35 years, the company and Jobs have gone on to change the world, the personal computing industry, the music and film industries and the mobile industry as we know.

Apple released its first mass-market product, the Apple II in 1976. The Apple II helped ignite what would become known as “the personal computer revolution” and thrust the charismatic Jobs into the spotlight. By the time IBM released its first PC in 1981 and Commodore released the Commodore 64 in 1982, Apple was already hard at work on the product that would cement Apple’s place in computing history, the Macintosh.

Brazenly introduced to the world in 1984 via a Super Bowl ad directed by Ridley Scott, the Macintosh helped set the standard for personal computing paradigms for the next decade.


Pixar, NeXT and Beyond


Jobs was forced out of Apple in 1985 over disagreements concerning vision, style and attitude. At the time, Jobs was written off by many in the business and industry press as a flash in the pan. It was Wozniak, not Jobs, they said, that was the real innovator at Apple.

In the decade that followed, Jobs was out of the limelight. Bill Gates became the face of the industry and the tech story of the 1990s was the rise of Microsoft. It was Microsoft, not Apple, that would topple IBM.

After leaving Apple in 1985, Jobs and some of his Apple founded NeXT with a cadre of Apple alumni. NeXT was well-financed and its software and hardware were top notch. Still, the products failed to make an impact on the industry.

Jobs’s real success in the first half of the 1990s wasn’t in the computer industry, but in the film industry. Pixar, a small animation studio Jobs acquired in 1986, went from obscurity to industry game-changer after the release of 1995′s Toy Story. It was Pixar, not Apple — and not NeXT — that made Jobs a very rich man.

In late 1996, Jobs approached Apple to discuss his former company acquiring NeXT. Apple needed an operating system, NeXT had one, NeXTSTEP.

Within a few months of rejoining Apple, Jobs took over as interim CEO. It was at this point that the modern Jobs legacy began to take shape.

From 1997 until August 2011, Jobs was Apple’s CEO, presiding over what can only be described as the greatest second and third acts in business history. Under his tutelage as CEO, Apple not only returned from the brink of bankruptcy to profitability, but products like the iMac, iPod, iPhone and iPad have single-handedly changed the consumer electronics and personal computing landscape.

In August 2004, Jobs revealed that he had undergone surgery to remove a cancerous tumor from his pancreas. Jobs took a one month leave of absence to recover from surgery and returned to work in September 2004.

For the next seven years, Jobs would dodge rumors about his health. In June 2008, Jobs’s gaunt appearance at WWDC raised questions about his health. In January 2009, Jobs took a six-month leave of absence from Apple, to address “a hormone deficiency.” It was later revealed that Jobs had a liver transplant in April 2009. He returned to work in June 2009.

Jobs would continue to serve as Apple’s CEO until January 2011, when he took a medical leave of absence “to focus on his health.”

Jobs is survived by his wife Laurene and his family.


Steve Jobs demos Apple Macintosh, 1984


Steve Jobs introduces the Macintosh to the world. Computing would never be the same.


1984 Apple's Macintosh Commercial


Ridley Scott's famous "1984" commercial for the original Macintosh continues to find imitators, even today. In 2011, Motorola attempted to spoof the classic ad in a promotional spot for its Xoom tablet.


Steve Jobs and Microsoft at Macworld Boston 1997


When Bill Gates appeared on-screen at Macworld Boston in 1997, the audience reacted with boos and hisses. Still, the decision to partner with Microsoft and have Microsoft commit to producing software for the Macintosh was one of the most shrewd -- and likely one of the most intelligent -- decisions that Jobs made upon his return to Apple.

Although many incorrectly believe that Microsoft "bought" Apple in 1997, the reality is, without Microsoft's investment and commitment to developing Macintosh software, the company may have had a more difficult time getting its next line of products to the market.


The First iMac Introduction


The iMac helped set the standard for the modern Apple even as we know it today. Designed by Jonathan Ive, the iMac was sleek, modern and affordable. This was not the Macintosh of the early to mid 1990s, it was something new.

With the iMac, Apple became cool. We can vividly remember looking at the egg-shaped all-in-one design with the hockey puck mouse and famous lack of a floppy drive and being transfixed. The iMac marked the beginning of Apple 2.0.


The First iPod Keynote (2001)


Nearly 10 years ago, Apple debuted the iPod. Famously ridiculed and dismissed by Slashdot, it would be several years before the device would become iconic, and in the process, change Apple fundamentally as a company.

The premise behind the iPod was simple: 1,000 songs in your pocket. Its the execution that set the device apart from everyone else.

In 2003, Apple flipped the switch again, with the launch of the iTunes Music Store. In a post-Napster industry, most were skeptical that iTunes could drive music sales. Eight years later, iTunes is the number one music retailer by a large margin.

Ten years on, the iPod is getting long in the tooth, but it still remains the leader in its product category.


Steve Jobs presents the iTunes Phone


After the iPod started to achieve massive success in 2003 and 2004, the rumors of an iPod phone started to swirl.

The first attempt to bring a product like that to the market was in the form of Motorola's Rokr. The Rokr tried to capitalize on the success of the Razr, while also adding compatibility with iTunes.

Still, the device was a dud. You can see Steve Jobs's frustration with the device in this demonstration. The Rokr was an example that only Apple could build an Apple product.


Steve Jobs Stanford Commencement Speech 2005


Steve Jobs's commencement speech at Stanford University in 2006 is one of our favorite Jobs moments. It's riveting, inspirational and every bit as good as any Apple product keynote.


Introducing the new iPhone PART 1


All hail the Jesus Phone. The iPhone changed the mobile industry. Full stop. The mobile world and ecosystem that we know today would not exist in the same way that it does now without the iPhone.

The iPhone also changed Apple as a company and helped further cement Jobs's place in history.


Steve Jobs and Bill Gates Together: Part 1


Steve Jobs and Bill Gates are two of the most powerful and influential men of our times. Seeing them together at D5, just ahead of the iPhone's U.S. launch, was amazing.


Apple iPad: Steve Jobs Keynote Jan. 27 2010 Part 1


In January 2010, Apple changed the game again with the iPad. Like the iPod and iPhone, the critics dismissed it and predicted its failure. Its success has outpaced nearly every other technology product launch in history and is having a seismic impact on education, publishing, media consumption and computing in general.

The PC era might not be over, but I'm willing to bet that the computer I use every day in 10 years will have a lot more in common with the iPad than the MacBook Pro.


More Coverage of Steve Jobs’s Death


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Bill Gates: “I Will Miss Steve Immensely”

Posted: 05 Oct 2011 05:46 PM PDT


Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft and longtime rival of Steve Jobs, has issued a statement expressing his sadness at the passing of Steve Jobs.

In it, Gates describes their relationship as one of “colleagues, competitors and friends over the course of more than half our lives.”

Gates’s full statement is included below:

“I'm truly saddened to learn of Steve Jobs' death. Melinda and I extend our sincere condolences to his family and friends, and to everyone Steve has touched through his work.

Steve and I first met nearly 30 years ago, and have been colleagues, competitors and friends over the course of more than half our lives.

The world rarely sees someone who has had the profound impact Steve has had, the effects of which will be felt for many generations to come.

For those of us lucky enough to get to work with him, it's been an insanely great honor. I will miss Steve immensely.”

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Steve Jobs, 1955-2011: The Web Remembers

Posted: 05 Oct 2011 05:32 PM PDT

Steve Jobs has passed away, at the age of 56. Web users have turned to their social networks to share the news, the memories and inspiration from the former Apple founder and former CEO.

Apple.com has published its own memorial as well. And Facebook users have already created multiple Pages in memory of Jobs, including Thank You Steve Jobs and several R.I.P. Steve Jobs Pages.

It took mere minutes for #RIPSteveJobs to become a trending topic on Twitter.

We’ve pulled together some of the remembrances below. How are you remembering the Apple icon?


Twitter Reactions






Mark Zuckerberg's Facebook Status





Twitter Reactions





Twitter Reactions





Twitter Reactions





Facebook Reactions





@BarackObama Remembers Steve Jobs





Twitter Reactions





Twitter Reactions





Twitter Reactions





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Apple’s Board of Directors on Steve Jobs

Posted: 05 Oct 2011 05:17 PM PDT


After a six year struggle, Steve Jobs was taken by his longtime battle with cancer.

Apple’s Board of Directors said the following in a statement:

“We are deeply saddened to announce that Steve Jobs passed away today.

Steve's brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives. The world is immeasurably better because of Steve.

His greatest love was for his wife, Laurene, and his family. Our hearts go out to them and to all who were touched by his extraordinary gifts.”

Steve Jobs began his struggle with pancreatic cancer in 2004, when he informed Apple employees that he had undergone surgery for an islet-cell neuroendocrine tumor.

Jobs’s condition began to worsen in 2008 though, eventually leading to his second leave of absence. It was revealed that Jobs underwent a liver transplant that year.

In 2011, Steve Jobs took his third leave of absence so that he could focus on his health. It would prove to be his final one. Jobs never returned as full-time CEO, and in August he resigned as CEO of Apple.


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Apple Pays Tribute to Steve Jobs

Posted: 05 Oct 2011 04:57 PM PDT


Steve Jobs, the visionary co-founder and longtime leader of Apple, has passed away at the age of 56.

To honor his memory, Apple.com now displays a full-page tribute to the man that helped reinvent computing, entertainment and mobile. Apple has also posted a short letter. It reads as follows:

“Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being. Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple.”

Apple is also asking for those who would like to share their thoughts or condolences to email remembersteve@apple.com.


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Steve Jobs Has Died

Posted: 05 Oct 2011 04:43 PM PDT


Steve Jobs, co-founder, chairman of the board, former CEO of Apple and industry icon for decades, has died.

Apple released this statement:

We are deeply saddened to announce that Steve Jobs passed away today.

Steve's brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives. The world is immeasurably better because of Steve.

His greatest love was for his wife, Laurene, and his family. Our hearts go out to them and to all who were touched by his extraordinary gifts.

The front page of Apple.com displayed a picture of the late Steve Jobs, and the second page contained a tribute to the industry leader:


Steve Jobs
1955-2011
Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being. Those of us who’ve been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve lost a dear friend and inspiring mentor. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple.

If you would like to share your thoughts, memories, and condolences, please email rememberingsteve@apple.com.

In August, when Steve Jobs stepped down from his position as CEO of Apple, he wrote the following in his resignation letter:

“I believe Apple's brightest and most innovative days are ahead of it. And I look forward to watching and contributing to its success in a new role.

“I have made some of the best friends of my life at Apple, and I thank you all for the many years of being able to work alongside you.”

Apple CEO Tim Cook released the following statement:

“Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being. Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple.

We are planning a celebration of Steve's extraordinary life for Apple employees that will take place soon. If you would like to share your thoughts, memories and condolences in the interim, you can simply email rememberingsteve@apple.com.

No words can adequately express our sadness at Steve's death or our gratitude for the opportunity to work with him. We will honor his memory by dedicating ourselves to continuing the work he loved so much.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Laurene and his children during this difficult time."

Bill Gates, former CEO of Microsoft, was quoted by The New York Times as saying that he was "truly saddened to learn of Steve Jobs's death." He added: "The world rarely sees someone who has had the profound impact Steve has had, the effects of which will be felt for many generations to come. For those of us lucky enough to get to work with him, it's been an insanely great honor. I will miss Steve immensely."

Steven P. Jobs is survived by his wife Laurene, their three children, and one child from a previous relationship.


Steve Jobs demos Apple Macintosh, 1984


Steve Jobs introduces the Macintosh to the world. Computing would never be the same.


1984 Apple's Macintosh Commercial


Ridley Scott's famous "1984" commercial for the original Macintosh continues to find imitators, even today. In 2011, Motorola attempted to spoof the classic ad in a promotional spot for its Xoom tablet.


Steve Jobs and Microsoft at Macworld Boston 1997


When Bill Gates appeared on-screen at Macworld Boston in 1997, the audience reacted with boos and hisses. Still, the decision to partner with Microsoft and have Microsoft commit to producing software for the Macintosh was one of the most shrewd -- and likely one of the most intelligent -- decisions that Jobs made upon his return to Apple.

Although many incorrectly believe that Microsoft "bought" Apple in 1997, the reality is, without Microsoft's investment and commitment to developing Macintosh software, the company may have had a more difficult time getting its next line of products to the market.


The First iMac Introduction


The iMac helped set the standard for the modern Apple even as we know it today. Designed by Jonathan Ive, the iMac was sleek, modern and affordable. This was not the Macintosh of the early to mid 1990s, it was something new.

With the iMac, Apple became cool. We can vividly remember looking at the egg-shaped all-in-one design with the hockey puck mouse and famous lack of a floppy drive and being transfixed. The iMac marked the beginning of Apple 2.0.


The First iPod Keynote (2001)


Nearly 10 years ago, Apple debuted the iPod. Famously ridiculed and dismissed by Slashdot, it would be several years before the device would become iconic, and in the process, change Apple fundamentally as a company.

The premise behind the iPod was simple: 1,000 songs in your pocket. Its the execution that set the device apart from everyone else.

In 2003, Apple flipped the switch again, with the launch of the iTunes Music Store. In a post-Napster industry, most were skeptical that iTunes could drive music sales. Eight years later, iTunes is the number one music retailer by a large margin.

Ten years on, the iPod is getting long in the tooth, but it still remains the leader in its product category.


Steve Jobs presents the iTunes Phone


After the iPod started to achieve massive success in 2003 and 2004, the rumors of an iPod phone started to swirl.

The first attempt to bring a product like that to the market was in the form of Motorola's Rokr. The Rokr tried to capitalize on the success of the Razr, while also adding compatibility with iTunes.

Still, the device was a dud. You can see Steve Jobs's frustration with the device in this demonstration. The Rokr was an example that only Apple could build an Apple product.


Steve Jobs Stanford Commencement Speech 2005


Steve Jobs's commencement speech at Stanford University in 2006 is one of our favorite Jobs moments. It's riveting, inspirational and every bit as good as any Apple product keynote.


Introducing the new iPhone PART 1


All hail the Jesus Phone. The iPhone changed the mobile industry. Full stop. The mobile world and ecosystem that we know today would not exist in the same way that it does now without the iPhone.

The iPhone also changed Apple as a company and helped further cement Jobs's place in history.


Steve Jobs and Bill Gates Together: Part 1


Steve Jobs and Bill Gates are two of the most powerful and influential men of our times. Seeing them together at D5, just ahead of the iPhone's U.S. launch, was amazing.


Apple iPad: Steve Jobs Keynote Jan. 27 2010 Part 1


In January 2010, Apple changed the game again with the iPad. Like the iPod and iPhone, the critics dismissed it and predicted its failure. Its success has outpaced nearly every other technology product launch in history and is having a seismic impact on education, publishing, media consumption and computing in general.

The PC era might not be over, but I'm willing to bet that the computer I use every day in 10 years will have a lot more in common with the iPad than the MacBook Pro.


More Coverage of Steve Jobs’s Death


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Yes, Sprint Will Offer Unlimited Data for iPhone 4S

Posted: 05 Oct 2011 03:49 PM PDT


Ask and ye shall receive. No sooner did we post our story on the top 10 burning questions that remain about the iPhone 4S than the first one gets answered. Sprint has confirmed it will be offering all-you-can-eat data packages on the iPhone 4S after all, according to AllThingsD.

“We will be offering the benefit of our unlimited plans that start at just $69.99,” a Sprint spokeswoman told D‘s Ina Fried. And what do you get for your 70 smackers? 450 minutes of talk time, and all the data services you can consume. So get ready to fire up those YouTube videos, Netflix movies and that FarmVille app on your lunch break. (If you want unlimited calling as well, the package will cost you $99 a month.)

Naturally, this ups the ante for AT&T and Verizon — both of which used to offer unlimited data plans, but changed their minds once they saw just how much data iPhone users tend to consume. The Verizon iPhone launched in February with a $30-a-month unlimited data plan, but preorders had hardly begun when a policy change started throttling heavy iPhone users’ bandwidth.

Sprint was rumored to be offering the next iPhone with unlimited data last month, but this is the first time the company has confirmed it. Given that the company is making a huge bet on the iPhone, and that its rivals will still be selling the iPhone 4 as well (and AT&T will also offer the free 3GS with a two-year contract), this news is a much-needed leg-up on the competition.

Pre-orders for the iPhone 4S start this Friday at one minute after Midnight, Pacific Daylight Time. Will this make you switch to Sprint? Let us know in the comments.

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Will Apple Cards Reshape the Greeting Card Industry?

Posted: 05 Oct 2011 02:36 PM PDT


Were you surprised by Apple’s announcement of the new Cards app for iPhone? You shouldn’t be — it’s a multi-billion dollar industry that has so far weathered the recession better than most.

According to the U.S. Greeting Card Association, Americans send 7 billion greeting cards every year, with the average household buying 30 cards. Retail sales of greeting cards within the States are estimated to be in excess of $7.5 billion.

The figures are no less impressive when you leave U.S. shores. The UK’s Greeting Card Association reports £1.386 billion was spent on “single” (as opposed to multipack) cards alone in the last year. The UK card industry has also seen annual growth — a value increase of 3% and a volume increase of 2.7% — in the face of tough retail conditions.

The potential for Apple to app-ify the card personalizing, buying and sending process seems huge. Especially when you consider that around 80% of cards are currently bought by women.

But what about the developers already offering successful ecard solutions? How will the new Cards app cut into their business?

We’ve asked a handful of top developers, traditional greeting card companies with digital off-shoots, and industry bodies for their reaction to the Apple Cards app news.


Greeting Card Association, USA




From Greeting Card Association vice president Steve Doyal, senior vice president, public affairs and communications at Hallmark Cards, Inc.:

"Apple's announcement is a strong endorsement of the enduring value of a printed greeting card delivered through the mail.

"Many of our Greeting Card Association members have online services and capabilities similar to the product now being offered by Apple.

"The GCA welcomes the affirmation of the emotional impact a printed card delivers."


American Greetings Interactive




From Sally Schriner, president, American Greetings Interactive:

"We are very encouraged that Apple sees the benefits of card sending and believe their arrival to the market will bring even more awareness to our category.

"With more than 100 years of experience in greeting cards, and 15 years in digital greetings, we're excited to be in an industry that is continuing to expand."


Shutterfly




From Jeff Housenbold, president & CEO, Shutterfly:

"Shutterfly pioneered the photo sharing industry in 1999 and competes with large companies in the areas of photo books, calendars, and greeting cards.

"Shutterfly currently offers more than 6,000 card designs, and we see Apple's launch of Cards for iOS as further validation of the market opportunity.

"Thanks to our strategy, we are best positioned to transform these multi-billion dollar markets from offline and generic to online personalized products with dynamic content.

"As a result of our singular focus, the high quality derived from our vertically integrated manufacturing capabilities, best of breed depth and breadth of design, and fantastic customer experience across multiple platforms, we have been recognized by customers and investors as the market leader."


Postino




From Marco Bellinaso, CTO, AnguriaLab LLC:

"We at AnguriaLab [maker of Postino] are actually taking the news very positively: Apple is validating the idea of a mobile app to send physical cards, saying it is a great thing for end users, and surely good business for them.

"Now that the idea will [come to the] mass market, there will be a lot more users considering it, and many will probably start looking around to see if there are cheaper or just different alternatives.

"A Postino postcard costs $1.99 for worldwide delivery, verus Apple's $4.99 price tag -- quite a big difference, especially if you want to send many postcards to friends and family.

"We don't want to fight just with a lower price though. There are other feature that differentiate us with competitors, and we're constantly adding others.

"In the end, it's pretty good news to us and we're looking forward to see how people will react to it."


Red Stamp




From Erin Newkirk, CEO and Co-founder of Red Stamp:

"We are invigorated by Apple's news. Apple has just announced to the world what Red Stamp has known for a year -- there is a huge opportunity in mobile correspondence. We're huge fans of Apple and look forward to seeing what Apple creates.

"Likewise, we are very confident in our product and the technology behind our product. With 400+ designs that you can text, email, tweet, post to Facebook, and/or paper mail via USPS, Red Stamp is focused on more than just formal card occasions. We strive to help people make their relationships stronger in every way, every day."


Postagram




From Matt Brezina, co-founder & CEO, Sincerely Inc:

"Apple is in the hardware and operating system business. We are in the gifting business. Sincerely's goal as a company is to make it easy for our users to send simple, thoughtful gifts from their mobile phone.

"With Postagram we've developed a world-class service that was featured by Apple in adverts across the WSJ, Newsweek, Time, and other major outlets.

"We will continue to offer amazing experiences for our users and [the] announcement only reaffirms our focus."


Postcard on the Run




From Josh Brooks, CEO, Postcard on the Run:

"The photo app space continues to be white hot for innovation and development, bridging the physical world and digital worlds and bringing memories to life like they never have before.

"Yesterday's news from Apple is a huge validation for developers in the photo app space to continue to push forward in launching tools that make this experience more personal and memorable. One such tool we created exclusively for Postcard on the Run, called Postal Gopher, allows users to easily retrieve physical mailing addresses for any of their contacts.

"While all of the specifics on Apple Card are still somewhat unknown, it appears Postal Gopher (available through Postal Gopher's open API) may be a missing link for Apple in creating a flawless greeting card experience."

"Android and Apple products have opened a whole new world in allowing users to create and share memories in a physical way. Personal touches, along with fun and intuitive features will surely help push sharing those precious moments in time in a new and tangible way."


Greeting Card Association, UK




From Sharon Little, chief executive, Greeting Card Association, UK:

"I think the more channels for sending cards the better, as long as the recipient is receiving a real card. Moonpig, Funky Pigeon and other web-based card publishers are already available via an iPhone.

"However Apple's 'Cards' app does seem quite an expensive option at $2.99, 21 images isn't a huge variety, and I would be interested to see the quality of the board and printing.

"There has been quite a bit of conjecture over the impact of online retail on the greeting card market, especially from outside the industry. But we haven't seen any worrying impact on card sales. We estimate that, at most, online sales now represent 3% of the market, which compared to the books and CD market is tiny!

"The latest GCA Market Report 2011 suggests that far from sounding the death knell of the greeting card industry, social networking and texting have created new opportunities and more interaction. More communication between people means a greater network of people that care about each other and it is widely believed that this has had a positive effect on card sales."


Touchnote




From Oded Ran, CEO, Touchnote:

"Apple has validated what Touchnote has known for some time -- there's a market for physical photo sharing from mobile. We have no doubt other OEMs will likely follow suit soon.

"Touchnote launched globally on the major Sony Ericsson handsets this year. Our Android app was featured by Google globally, resulting in over 300,000 downloads.

"Our phone has been ringing off the hook this morning, a lot of very interesting propositions with current as well as potential partners coming our way... We'll share more information as soon as we can."


Simply Postcards




Finally, we end this gallery with a refreshing comment which made us smile from Merrie Casteel, COO, SimplyPostcards.com:

"Yes, it was a huge disappointment to hear. But, Simply Postcards are still a lot cheaper at 99 cents including shipping.

"Nobody wants to be forced to compete with Apple, and of course it will hurt business… but no hard feelings, tell 'em if things don't work out with their current printer, give me a call. No, seriously… please give me a call!"

Do you think there’s space in the market for Apple? Are you looking forward to the Cards app? Will you ditch an existing app for Cards? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

More About: apple, apple cards, Business, features, iphone apps


New iPhone Questions: 10 Things We Still Don’t Know

Posted: 05 Oct 2011 02:06 PM PDT


Apple’s “Let’s Talk iPhone” event answered some of our burning questions — such as what the next iPhone will look like (answer: same as the old one) and when we can get our hands on one (Oct. 14). But to quote the final season of Lost: Every answer only leads to more questions. Here, in no particular order, are 10 queries Apple (and the phone companies) have yet to answer. Let us know in the comments what other questions you have.

Will the iPhone come with unlimited data plans on Sprint? One thing Sprint has been pushing in its ads for months is its unlimited data pricing — a distinct advantage over Verizon and AT&T, both of which now charge by the megabyte. But iPhone users are notorious data hogs; does Sprint really have the bandwidth to cope? We should know more on Friday, when the company has scheduled an event in New York to discuss iPhone 4S pricing.

Will you be able to transfer your iPhone 4S from Sprint to Verizon, and vice-versa? In theory, the iPhone 4S is a “world phone” that can work anywhere, on any GSM network (like AT&T) or CDMA network (like Verizon and Sprint). We know Apple sells unlocked iPhones already. But just to keep things complicated, Sprint and Verizon use different radio frequencies within their CDMA systems. So will the world phone be able to cope with both brands, so you can switch seamlessly from one to the other? If so, the competition might help keep prices down.

SEE ALSO: Apple's iPhone Event: Three Big Reasons It Still Mattered

Has the iPhone 4S fixed the “death grip” antenna issues of its predecessor? You may remember “Antennagate” — the revelation that if you grip your iPhone 4 in a certain way, it cuts the signal to the internal antenna. Apple put a lid on the issue by offering free iPhone cases to users that helped prevent the death grip, but the underlying issue never went away. Now we know the iPhone 4S has two antennae inside it, and can “intelligently switch” between them, according to Apple. Does that solve the problem? The company won’t say, so we’ll have to wait to get our hands on a 4S to find out.

Has the iPhone 4S changed anything about its glass front and back? Anecdotally, we hear this a lot from iPhone 4 owners: The glass on the front and back of the phone is really easy to smash, crack or nick (and destroy its resale value in the process). Ostensibly, the 4S has changed nothing about its predecessor’s casing — but we know that Apple is full of obsessive designers and engineers who love to tweak anything that causes a problem. Even moving the glass in by a millimeter, so it isn’t quite flush with the edge of the phone, might help resolve this issue.


iPhone 4S




The iPhone 4S looks and feels exactly like the iPhone 4.


iPhone 4S Video




The iPhone 4S comes with an 8MP camera, an improved lens, 1080p HD video and a slew of upgrades that allow for faster video taking and crisper images.


iPhone 4S Camera




New features such as cropping are now available through the iPhone 4S Camera.


Siri




The most important new feature of the iPhone 4S is Siri, a voice-controlled "Intelligent Assistant" that can complete tasks based on natural language. Ask it what the weather is like today and it will respond with details.


iCloud




Apple launched iCloud at its event, allowing users to sync their photos, music, emails and more across iOS devices.


iCloud Across Devices




iCloud also works between iOS devices and Mac OS X Lion.


iCloud Photos




Photos taken on the phone are automatically uploaded to iCloud. Then they are available on your other Apple devices.


iOS 5




iOS 5 is the new version of Apple's mobile OS. It includes revamped notifications, a new Messages feature and deep integration with Twitter.


Messages




iOS 5 includes a new Messages feature for sending messages to other iOS devices for free, no texting required.


Notifications




iOS 5 includes revamped notifications. No more annoying push notifications!


Newsstand




Apple launched Newsstand, an app for downloading magazines, newspapers and other subscription-based content automatically.

Is Siri really limited to the iPhone 4S? For all Apple’s excitement about Siri, which comes integrated into the new iPhone 4S and will supposedly only work with that model, it hasn’t escaped our attention that Siri used to work with other iPhone models. Apple bought the company last year, but Siri had a standalone app that you could download for free in the App Store — until yesterday, that is. So is Apple artificially hobbling it? Is there some inherent hardware limitation in Siri’s iOS 5 integration? Does it take a device as powerful as the 4S to handle it? And if that’s the case, surely the iPad 2 would qualify as well?

How well will Siri work in practice? Sure, it performed well in a scripted demo on stage Tuesday. Yes, it may be one of the most advanced voice recognition systems out there. And we’re sure Apple wouldn’t have integrated it into the new phone without doing a heck of a lot of testing. But the trouble with voice recognition technology has always been the thousands of quirks inherent in human speech. Just how many commands does Siri understand? Will it work in crowded rooms? And can it handle accents? (I certainly hope so.) Even if it works well 95% of the time, Siri’s mistakes would be frequent enough to make it the butt of jokes — just like handwriting recognition on the Apple Newton.

SEE ALSO: iPhone 4S: 4 Reasons to Upgrade

Was there a missing “one more thing”? A number of journalists at the iPhone announcement felt that Cook appeared to be leading up to something at the end. Indeed, it’s very unusual for Apple presentations to end on such a flat note. Was something lined up and then removed at the last minute?

Will we ever get Facebook integration in iOS 5? One candidate for that missing moment: a joint announcement with Facebook, which our sources suggested would happen. (But we also knew Apple and Facebook have a contentious on-again, off-again relationship). We’re still waiting for the official Facebook iPad app, and it seems odd to have left the world’s largest social network out of iOS 5 when Twitter is so prominently integrated. Will that change?

Will we ever get 4G iPhones — or are the batteries too bulky? Thanks to the Android devices that have dipped their toes into the 4G market, we know that next-generation phone service has great potential — and is also a massive battery hog. That doesn’t sit well with Apple, which hates to hand its users any reduction in talk time. So how soon can its design team make it work?

Seriously, what about the iPhone 5? We’ve saved the biggest head-scratcher for last. Does the much-fabled iPhone 5 exist? Is Apple holding it back for the right moment? When will that moment be — next year, presumably? This is one question we don’t expect the world’s most secretive company to answer any time soon.


What Apple Announced Oct. 4:



Tim Cook takes the stage





Tim Cook takes the stage





Live bloggers at the Apple event





iPod sales





iPod sales





iPhone sales





iPad's impact on education





iPad stats





Scott Forstall talks iOS





Scott Forstall talks app downloads





Scott Forstall introduces Apple Cards





Scott Forstall introduces Apple Cards





Scott Forstall talks iOS 5





Eddy Cue talks camera updates





Eddy Cue talks location sharing





Eddy Cue talks iTunes





Eddy Cue on app updates





Philip Schiller introduces new gen iPods





iPod nano as a watch





iPod nano customizable watch face





iPod touch, nano, shuffle





iPhone 4S





A5 chip





iPhone 4S plays Infinity Blade





iPhone 4S plays Infinity Blade





iPhone 4S plays Infinity Blade





iPhone 4 & 4S data speed comparison





iPhone 4S data speed market comparison





iPhone 4's impact on photography





iPhone 4S camera megapixel sensor





iPhone 4S camera backside illumination





iPhone 4S camera lens





iPhone 4S camera shooting time





iPhone 4S camera shooting time





iPhone 4S photo sample





iOS Weather app





iOS Weather app





Siri assistant for iPhone





Siri assistant for iPhone





Philip Schiller reviews





iPhone 4S Specs





iPhone 4S Pricing




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The Washington Post Wants Your Instagram Photos to Illustrate Health of U.S. Economy

Posted: 05 Oct 2011 01:47 PM PDT


The Washington Post has launched an Instagram project inviting readers to submit photos that illustrate what the economy looks like in their neighborhoods.

The project, titled “2012 Unfiltered,” aims to cut through political rhetoric about the state of the U.S. economy through visual evidence. Photos tagged with #econdebate in Instagram captions will be added to a blog on washingtonpost.com.

It’s an interesting use of consumer technology and crowdsourcing. However, we wonder if the people best positioned to participate in this project are in possession of iPhones.

In the coming weeks, The Washington Post plans to use Q&A site Quora to crowdsource questions about the 2012 campaigns for reporters to answer.

Photo by Michael S. Williamson for The Washington Post

More About: instagram, Politics, washington post

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Twitter’s Jack Dorsey: “What Can We Do Better?”

Posted: 05 Oct 2011 01:34 PM PDT


If you have ever wanted to tell Twitter how you feel about its 200 million-member social network, now is the time to do it. Twitter’s Executive Chairman Jack Dorsey tweeted questions Wednesday to attract feedback on the five-year-old service.

A lot has changed since Twitter launched in 2006. To put things into perspective — within the past two months alone — Twitter has:

Earlier this year, Twitter introduced a new version of its homepage with a sleeker design and revamped pitch to potential users; expanded its Local Trends feature to 70 more cities and countries; and updated its search tool to make it easier to find new people to follow.

SEE ALSO: Explore Twitter’s Evolution | A Visual History of Twitter [INFOGRAPHIC]

Dorsey’s all ears (or shall we say, Twears?) now. What praise, gripes or suggestions do you have for Twitter’s inventor?

If you tweet him, leave us a link to your tweet in the comments. We’ll put your best responses in the collection already assembled below.

More About: Advertising, Business, Marketing, Social Media, social networking, Twitter

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Social Network Ad Revenues to Hit $10 Billion in 2013 [STUDY]

Posted: 05 Oct 2011 01:21 PM PDT


Global social network ad revenues will hit $5.5 billion this year and then top $10 billion by 2013, according to eMarketer.

The bulk of those revenues are going toward Facebook with Twitter in second place. LinkedIn, meanwhile, will snag 3% of global social network ad revenues, with $140.8 million. The researcher notes that although LinkedIn’s ad revenues have tripled in two years, its growth is slowing. Clark Fredricksen, a rep for eMarketer, says that LinkedIn ought not be too concerned. “LinkedIn’s made it pretty clear that the horse they’re riding is their recruiting business,” says Fredricksen. “But they make a handy chunk from advertising for sure.”

The growth of social network advertising, meanwhile, is clearly coming at the expense of other forms of advertising. This year, 8.8% of U.S. ad dollars and 6.9% of global ad spending is going toward social networking sites. By 2013, those figures will jump to 11.7% and 9.4%, respectively, according to eMarketer.

Those numbers are a slight revision of eMarketer’s January estimate of $5.9 billion in U.S. revenues in 2011. Fredricksen says the reason for the change is “better information” about Facebook’s ad business. That said, Fredricksen says the adjustment is very small and eMarketer still expects growth around 104% for Facebook’s ad business this year.

Image courtesy of Flickr, Davichi

More About: Advertising, emarketer, Facebook, linkedin, Social Media, Twitter


Siri-ously Funny: Twitter Wits Comment On New iPhone 4S Voice Assistant

Posted: 05 Oct 2011 01:06 PM PDT

While the collective web tends to hold its breath around Apple announcements, it is heartening to note how many don’t take it too seriously, maintaining a healthy, humorous approach to the news.

Amused by funny tweets we’ve seen about Siri, Apple’s new “voice assistant” feature in the iPhone 4S, we thought we’d share them with you.

SEE ALSO: Apple Unveils Siri, the iPhone 4S Voice Assistant

Take a look through the gallery below for our top tweets on this topic. Please share in the comments any Siri-related witticisms you’ve seen — or even better, those you’ve penned yourself!


@uRbAnIP





@uRbAnIP takes the diplomatic approach to the news.


@ironicsans




Comparisons to HAL have made us a little uneasy.


@slycrel




Meanwhile @slycrel plans to ensure Siri is "Three Laws" safe.


@gattaca




Neither can we!


@MrBigFists




@MrBigFists puns it up for all the Android fans.


@JoeGuyAllard




A "Skynet" joke from @JoeGuyAllard made us all laugh. Maybe a little too loudly.


@forrestkoba




@forrestkoba voices the question we all want answered.


@tkenny




While @tkenny asks a classic...


@iBlayne




...and @iBlayne answers.


@darrengeraghty




Referring to the reports suggesting the iPhone 5 would boast a redesigned case, we seriously wonder if anyone actually is asking themselves this question today.


@niwat0ri




@niwat0ri chimes in with a serious philosophical puzzler.


@jw




And @jw makes us feel a little uncomfortable all over again. Artificial intelligence is a good thing, right? We mean, what could possibly go wrong...

More About: apple, features, gallery, iphone, iPhone 4S, siri, Twitter


Will Microsoft Make Another Run at Acquiring Yahoo?

Posted: 05 Oct 2011 12:50 PM PDT


Microsoft is reportedly considering launching a renewed bid to acquire Yahoo, more than three years after its previous attempt.

To complete this potential acquisition, Microsoft may seek a partner for the deal, according to Reuters. The internal management team is divided on whether to make another run for the struggling online media company.

In January 2008, Microsoft offered more than $44 billion to acquire Yahoo in an unsolicited bid. Yahoo management eventually blocked the deal, leading to a sharp decline in its stock price and the ouster of then-CEO Jerry Yang. Eventually Microsoft and Yahoo agreed to a search partnership.

Microsoft, if it chooses to move forward with the deal, would get Yahoo at a major discount. Yahoo’s stock price has taken a beating since Microsoft rescinded its acquisition offer. Yahoo’s shares dropped from a high of more than $29 in early 2008 to less than $15 when Carol Bartz was fired as CEO.

Shares of Yahoo are up by more than 9% on the news of a potential Microsoft acquisition.

Most of Yahoo’s value is tied to its Asian assets, most notably China-based Alibaba Group. Yahoo’s 40% stake of the company is estimated to be worth more than $13 billion. Alibaba is reportedly interested in acquiring Yahoo, though U.S. laws governing foreign acquisitions could hamper the deal. News Corp, which recently sold MySpace, is also interested.

Alibaba will be a key player or partner in any acquisition. It has the right to buy back its shares from Yahoo if control of the company ever changes hands.

More About: acquisition, microsoft, Yahoo

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Hulu Could Get New Episodes of Arrested Development

Posted: 05 Oct 2011 12:30 PM PDT

arrested development images

Fans of the Bluth family, get excited: The new, limited-run series of Arrested Development is definitely going to end up somewhere.

Hulu has joined the rumored bidding war against Netflix and Showtime to get the rights to broadcast the show’s new episodes, according to a new report from Vulture.

The new Arrested Development episodes were announced at The New Yorker Festival. The show will work as a preamble to the upcoming Arrested Development movie, explained Mitch Hurwitz, the show’s creator. Each episode will focus on one character, setting up the context for their storyline in the movie.

Hulu seems like a logical home for the new episodes. Vulture cited sources saying Arrested Development was unlikely to return to Fox — which cancelled the show in 2006 — or its sister networks. Hulu, on the other hand, has racked up a ton of impressions and views on its own catalog of old Arrested Development clips and episodes.

Arrested Development may have been canceled for low-performance but it has created an impressive online afterlife and a cult following. Winning the show would be a huge boon for any network. It could especially help Netflix, a rumored competitor, to reverse its massive loss of subscribers due to Netflix’s price hike.

The new episodes will be shot part-and-parcel with the new film, lowering overall costs like paying for the increasingly all-star cast. 20th Century Fox will co-produce the new episodes. The eventual bidding winner will likely share the rest of the cost.

Right now the informal bidding war is a lot of “he said, she said,” but Hulu’s potential interest certainly bodes well for seeing some Arrested Development sooner rather than later.

Would Hulu be a good home for Arrested Development‘s new episodes? Does it matter where the episodes end up? Let us know in the comments below.

More About: hulu, television, TV

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Could This 10,000-Square-Foot QR Code Be the Largest Ever? [VIDEO]

Posted: 05 Oct 2011 11:57 AM PDT

A Jersey Shore racetrack has been covered in 80 gallons of black and white paint in one company’s quest to create the largest QR code of all time.

The monstrous code spans 10,000 square feet on the Wall Stadium Speedway — which means it’s only visible in all its glory from above. Best of all, the QR code is fully functional. It can been scanned from two miles above the surface.

The QR code is a promotional stunt for Skanz, a QR code social networking service. The company called in professional skydivers to parachute above the enormous QR code and scan it from the skies. The less aerially inclined can scan it in the video above, shared exclusively with Mashable, and be entered to win tickets to Jay-Z and Kanye West’s “Watch The Throne” tour.

“We wanted a viral way to build consumer awareness and demonstrate the value and usefulness of QR codes,” Skanz CMO Tammy Lewis says.

The code itself is indisputably large, but it remains to be seen if it is, in fact, the largest QR code ever created. Also dueling for the same title is a QR code being painted atop a Charlotte, N.C., building.

With two different groups competing to create the largest QR code and one company hawking a rooftop QR code painting services, perhaps these marketing envoys are here to stay after all.

More About: QR Codes, Skanz

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Comcast, Verizon & HBO Coming to Xbox Live

Posted: 05 Oct 2011 11:41 AM PDT


Microsoft has signed on an impressive roster of 40 TV and entertainment partners to Xbox Live, as the service evolves from a gaming hub into a full-range multimedia center.

In the U.S., Bravo, Comcast, HBO Go, Verizon FiOS, Epix and SyFy will be joining existing partners Netflix, Hulu Plus and AT&T in offering content to Xbox Live subscribers. BBC, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Lovefilm will come to Xbox Live in the UK; Antena 3, RTVE and Telefonica in Spain; Televisa in Mexico; DF in Germany; and MediaSet in Italy.

The amount of content these new partners are offering varies, however. Verizon is extending its full range of live TV channels and on-demand videos to Xbox Live, and Comcast is only making its VOD library available. HBO is bringing its HBO Go streaming service to the console, which will make all episodes from its original series library available, as well as a number of movies from Warner Bros., Universal Studios and Fox Searchlight.

SEE ALSO: Who Ruled the Social TV Airwaves in September? [STATS]

A full list of new and existing partners is available in the press release.

Microsoft is also integrating Bing-powered voice search, which will allow users to search for content using voice commands.

More About: bravo, comcast, HBO GO, microsoft, Syfy, verizon, verizon fios, XBox live

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