Apple Releases iPhone Update 2.0.2 (Try Hosted Groupware for iPhone)

Apple Releases iPhone Update 2.0.2
Apple has released iPhone update 2.0.2 this afternoon. In typical Apple fashion, the update is set to deliver some “bug fixes,” while lacking any further specifics. The update is 248.7MB in size and is only available via iTunes. Some analysts have been speculating that Apple is (or has been) working on a software update to address [...]

Apple has released iPhone update 2.0.2 this afternoon. In typical Apple fashion, the update is set to deliver some “bug fixes,” while lacking any further specifics.

The update is 248.7MB in size and is only available via iTunes.

Some analysts have been speculating that Apple is (or has been) working on a software update to address poor reception issues with the iPhone 3G.

No new settings, or exciting new finds have been discovered in this update (yet). And we can only hope this is a step in the right direction with 3G connectivity problems.

[via Apple Insider]

Russia to expect iPhone 3G Sooner than Later?
A recent Bloomberg report notes that the iPhone 3G may make an appearance in Russia sooner than previously expected. We have previously reported about an official notice that the device will indeed make its way to Russia, yet further details had remained unclear. Now, we have learned that OAO VimpelCom and OAO MegaFon, Russia’s [...]

A recent Bloomberg report notes that the iPhone 3G may make an appearance in Russia sooner than previously expected.

We have previously reported about an official notice that the device will indeed make its way to Russia, yet further details had remained unclear. Now, we have learned that OAO VimpelCom and OAO MegaFon, Russia’s second and third largest mobile operators respectively, may sign deals with Apple to begin selling the handset later this week.

Part of the agreement remains that Apple is insistent that each carrier interested in offering the device, must purchase between 1 and 1.5 million units, as reported by Russian newspaper Vedemosti.
While Russia has been known as a hotbed for black market iPhones, the country does make up a sizable potential user base, which will definitely be in Apple’s best interest to tap.

Check out our new dynamic iPhone world map to explore the device’s global impact.

Additionally, if your Russian is up to par, feel free to provide any further insight in the comments below.

[via Bloomberg]

Apple SDK Terms Block Turn-by-Turn Navigation on iPhone 3G
MSNBC reports some rather interesting news about Apple’s iPhone SDK terms and the potential inclusion of Turn-by-Turn Navigation on the iPhone 3G. Previously, MacBlogz has reported that GPS features were possibly seeded with iPhone Firmware 2.1. Additionally, a crafty find regarding some expanded Core Location items, which could in theory allow for turn by turn GPS [...]

MSNBC reports some rather interesting news about Apple’s iPhone SDK terms and the potential inclusion of Turn-by-Turn Navigation on the iPhone 3G.

Previously, MacBlogz has reported that GPS features were possibly seeded with iPhone Firmware 2.1. Additionally, a crafty find regarding some expanded Core Location items, which could in theory allow for turn by turn GPS navigation were discovered, but still, we haven’t seen anything remotely close to turn-by-turn GPS Navigation like our Garmin touting friends experience.

“Sal Dhanani, co-founder of TeleNav, a GPS software maker, said as soon as Apple announced its “Software Developer Kit,” the company obtained it and started working on a GPS program,” MSNBC explains. “Just like every other developer, we signed up for the program and downloaded the SDK, even though there were some specific clauses in the developer agreement that said you can’t write GPS navigation applications,” he said.

TomTom explains: “We have made our navigation system run on the iPhone; it looks good and works very well,” said Dutch-based company TomTom, in a statement to msnbc.com. “We will have to look more closely to Apple’s strategy before we can say more about what kind of opportunities this will bring us.”

“When I spoke to Apple, they didn’t say such applications would be prohibited,” said Avi Greengart, Current Analysis’ research director for mobile devices. “What is clear is that there aren’t any available yet.”

MSNBC continues to explain that “Dhanani said TeleNav has proceeded ahead with its GPS program, TeleNav Navigator, for the iPhone, and found that it works quite well on the device “which is more than capable of providing an application like this,” he said. “The GPS worked really well.”

“But the if and when is a different matter. It’s “hard to say, because Apple does have to update their agreement for navigation to happen,” he said. “We figured it’s a big category, navigation, and Apple will change their stance, because there’s going to be a lot of consumer demand for it.”

While Apple may be developing their own solution, Apple’s vice president of Hardware Product Marketing Greg Joswiak described voice-based, turn-by-turn navigation apps as “complicated.”

Apple did not respond to a question regarding their own navigation app.

Read - iPhone Atlas
Read - MSNBC

Apple Campus Fire; $2Mill in Damage, Started by Construction Work
Last week a 3-alarm fire broke out at the Apple Campus in Cupertino, California. Initially, the building thought to have caught fire was Apple’s Reseach & Development Center, however Apple execs have officially confirmed that the building was not an R&D Center. Responding to reports of a potential fire on the roof of the building at [...]

Last week a 3-alarm fire broke out at the Apple Campus in Cupertino, California. Initially, the building thought to have caught fire was Apple’s Reseach & Development Center, however Apple execs have officially confirmed that the building was not an R&D Center.

Responding to reports of a potential fire on the roof of the building at 20605 Valley Green Drive, more than 60 firefighters from the Santa Clara and San Jose and Los Altos Fire Departments battled copious amounts of billowing smoke.

The blaze, which started around 10pm, was finally contained around 12:30am. It burned portions of the roof and the second floor, but thankfully no injuries were reported. The only information we’ve had until now was Santa Clara deputy chief Hal Rooney’s statements about how the fire may have began under an air conditioning unit located on the second floor.

MacBlogz has learned (via PCadvisor.co.uk) that the estimated cost of the damage was near $2 million dollars, according to the Santa Clara County Fire Department.

Additionally, Fire Captain Daron Pisciotta reports that construction work being done on the building may have been responsible for the start of the flames. Specifically, workers welding on the roof of the building.

Turkcell to Carry iPhone 3G in Turkey
As the iPhone 3G will continue its international rollout, Apple has added Turkish cell provider, Turkcell to the long list of carriers. Despite having already come to an agreement with Vodafone to distribute the device in Turkey, Apple has reached an understanding with the country’s largest mobile provider Turkcell, servicing over 35 million people, about half [...]

As the iPhone 3G will continue its international rollout, Apple has added Turkish cell provider, Turkcell to the long list of carriers.

Despite having already come to an agreement with Vodafone to distribute the device in Turkey, Apple has reached an understanding with the country’s largest mobile provider Turkcell, servicing over 35 million people, about half of the country’s total population. Turkcell will offer both pre and post paid service plans and has committed to bringing the device to both kinds of subscribers.

“We’re very excited to be working with Apple to bring the iPhone 3G to Turkey,” said, Lale Saral Develioglu, Turkcell’s chief marketing officer. “iPhone 3G represents the ultimate in mobile device technologies, and we can’t wait to offer this innovative product to millions of mobile customers
later this year.”

While Turkey will not be involved in this week’s roll out, we imagine that they will be seeing the device shortly. With such a sizable amount of subscribers, Turkcell, will offer the iPhone 3G to a large amount of potential users and provide a strong ‘foothold’ in the Middle East.

Don’t forget to check out our new dynamic iPhone 3G worldmap.

[via Macworld]

iPhone 2.1 Beta 4 Seeded by Apple; Push Notification Service Pulled
Developers have been seeded iPhone Firmware 2.1 Beta 4 by Apple. The content of the update is described by Apple as “bug fixes.” It is being reported that Apple has removed the push notification service in this current release. Apple says it is being pulled “for further development.” Push notification was announced at Apple’s Worldwide Developer’s [...]

Developers have been seeded iPhone Firmware 2.1 Beta 4 by Apple. The content of the update is described by Apple as “bug fixes.”

It is being reported that Apple has removed the push notification service in this current release. Apple says it is being pulled “for further development.” Push notification was announced at Apple’s Worldwide Developer’s Conference to the delight of many development groups. Applications such as Facebook, AIM (or any chat/messaging client that we’ll see) will surely utilize background process support in upcoming versions or updates.

Only developers who had been accepted into the iPhone Dev Program prior to July 11th (roughly 4,000 people), will have access to the seeds.

A September delivery for the functionality has been promised by Apple.

[via MacRumors]

Former Apple Employee Blogs About Apple Internals (Again)
Former Apple Emlpoyee, Chuq von Rospach has blogged about Apple’s internals before. Having worked on Apple’s email lists for many years, Rospach understand certain aspects of the company, and lucky for us, he blogs about them too. Blogging in response to the on-going 3G Network issues people are having with the iPhone 3G, Rospach had lunch [...]

Former Apple Emlpoyee, Chuq von Rospach has blogged about Apple’s internals before. Having worked on Apple’s email lists for many years, Rospach understand certain aspects of the company, and lucky for us, he blogs about them too.

Blogging in response to the on-going 3G Network issues people are having with the iPhone 3G, Rospach had lunch with someone inside (or who has been inside) Apple: What I was told was that 90% of the disconnects are initiated inside the phone, which would exonerate AT&T. Most of the disconnects are being generated by crashes in the driver code for the 3G chip, which comes from the chip vendor, not something Apple written and outside of Apple’s direct control. Complicating this — even though Apple is handing over “here is the bug, here is the fix, update the driver”, the turnaround from the vendor on driver updates is on the order of 2-3 months. Said, um, lack of urgency not exactly making people inside the projects happy.

The best aspect of this rumor (if true) is that the hardware is fine; once they can get the drivers fixed (or replaced), the units should be fine. Thinking “recall” is unecessary and overkill, the real question seems to be how quickly Apple can beat the fixes out of the vendor.

Rospach goes on to explain that “these rumors found him,” — “he wasn’t looking.”

Neither Apple nor AT&T have made a public statement about any of these issues yet. Infineon has also made no comment in regard to accusations that an immature 3G chipset of theirs, is the culprit causing poor reception issues. One way or another, the wave of bad reception has garnered a fair amount of attention in the last week or so. Apple certainly knows of these issue (they’re probably experiencing them in Cupertino), and they are clearly working to solve the problems. Only time will tell if a software update fix will cure us of the One Bar Blues that we’ve been singing since July 9th.

Read - Rospach’s Blog
Read - iPhoneBlog