By Michael Santo
Editor-in-Chief, RealTechNews

The new Microsoft ads went live on Thursday. And at the start of each ad is Sean Siler, a Microsoft employee who, luckily for Microsoft bears some resemblance to John Hodgman, the PC in Apple’s ads. In the first and third ads, he says “I’m a PC, and I’ve been made into a stereotype. In the second ad he says, “I’m a PC, and I’m not alone.”

Thereafter, in each ad, follows a montage of people saying “I’m a PC,” and sometimes adding an additional comment. Bill Gates shows up in ad 1, as does Eva Longoria — and Tony Parker.

The idea of this campaign, despite the fact it might be confusing, though not as confusing as the Seinfeld ads, is that the people in the ads, by saying they are PCs, are showing the variety of users of Windows computers.

Quite a few Microsoft employees show up in the ads, and if they do their email address is shown on the screen as well. If you try emailing Sean Siler’s email, you’ll get an interesting auto-reply: More

By Michael Santo
Editor-in-Chief, RealTechNews

The iPhone 2.1 software update, which has been long awaited (long, because despite only being announced at Tuesday’s “Let’s Rock” event, long-suffering 3G users have been waiting for an improvement in 3G support since the iPhone 3G’s launch), has arrived.

Interestingly, once again it installed “Apple Mobile Device USB Drivers,” which had also been installed by iTunes 8.0 when I installed that yesterday (yes, on Vista). The download is 237.8 MB, and for once Apple is fairly open about the changes.

Not only does the software show release notes when downloading (above), they’ve even gone so far as to put up a web page with details.

Here are the details (emphasis mine):

The iPhone 2.1 software update contains many bug fixes and improvements. To get it, connect your iPhone to your computer using iTunes 8 and click Check for Update.

Update includes:

• Decrease in call set-up failures and dropped calls
• Significantly better battery life for most users
• Dramatically reduced time to backup to iTunes
• Improved email reliability, notably fetching email from POP and Exchange accounts
• Faster installation of 3rd party applications
• Fixed bugs causing hangs and crashes for users with lots of third party applications
• Improved performance in text messaging
• Faster loading and searching of contacts
• Improved accuracy of the 3G signal strength display
• Repeat alert up to two additional times for incoming text messages
• Option to wipe data after ten failed passcode attempts
• Genius playlist creation

The question is, does “improved accuracy of the 3G signal strength” display mean it’ll just show different bar results, but still perform poorly when compared to other 3G phones in the same area (within inches, in my informal testing)?

Still updating, will update this post when I’m done testing. More

By Alice Hill
RealTechNews

You can also watch the ad here now if you don’t feel like waiting for the television debut. The question remains…does not talking about Windows Vista or even Microsoft or any sort of project or philosophy help in the Mac vs. Apple battle? Is the battle even worth addressing?

Alice’s Take: It’s a much, much better ad that the first one. And it makes Bill G almost lovable, if such a thing could be possible. But with Bill and Jerry retired, what does it really say about what they left behind?

Mike’s Take: The ad is 4:30 long, about the length you might expect during the Super Bowl, but not normal prime time. But here, while there’s no sign of Windows yet, we get to see at least “the point” that Microsoft is trying to make, something hinted at in the first ad. More

By Michael Santo
Editor-in-Chief, RealTechNews

My focus on this event was a bit selfish: naturally with a name like “Let’s Rock,” the event was going to be music-focused, and thus iPod-ish. But I was hoping for a iPhone software update to fix my (and others’) 3G issues.

Anyway, typical of Jobs, he walked out with his trademark black turtleneck and jeans. But he made sure to remind us (with a slide) that:

“The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated.”

For all investors, that’s good to know; however, Apple stock still took a tumble after the event (down $5 at noon PDT).

A summary of the event highlights, in order of appearance:

HD TV shows: HD shows will be $2.99, and they can be watched on a computer or Apple TV.

NBC will be coming back to iTunes. Yes, somehow Steve and Jeff Zucker made up.

New iTunes 8, available today. New browsing options, better accessibility and something called Genius. Yep, looks like Digg founder Kevin Rose was on the money. But what is Genius?

Well, it’s what was reported: Genius is a new feature that lets you automatically make playlists from songs in your music library that “go great together - with just one click.” Hit the Genius button on a certain song, and iTunes creates a playlist of similar genre songs.

As an example, Jobs used Bob Dylan’s “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right.” The Genius button pulled similar artists such as Paul Simon and Joan Baez into a playlist.

It’s unclear if political like-mindedness plays a role in this grouping.

iPod Classic: the thick model is discontinued, and the 80 GB model gets a bump to 120 GB for the same $249.

iPod nano: Yep, Rose was on the money again, as the nano redesign matches what we were expecting. Not only is it sleek and slim, it adds the accelerometer of the iPhone and iPod Touch, enabling “Shake to Shuffle.” And, for those who might want an excuse to carry this into their classroom, Apple has added a voice recording function.

Jobs calls the new nanos are “nano-chromatic.” They encompass nine colors, including a (RED) version.

Battery life improves: 24 hours of music and 4 hours of video. Pricing: $149 for 8 GB, $199 for 16 GB. Available now.

iPod Touch: There had to be an iPod Touch revamp, what with the now-subsidized price of the iPhone, and there was one.

Thinner, the same display, but with integrated volume controls — and a built-in speaker for “casual listening.” Pricing is now $229 for the 8 GB, $299 for 16 GB and $399 for 32 GB. Cheaper than the old pricing, but not as cheap as some thought.

With the release of the new iPod Touch, also comes a new software version: 2.1. iPod Touch owners who paid to update to 2.0 get the update free; otherwise it’s $9.99

What no iPhone update?! Nah, don’t worry, there’s an iPhone software update as well, also to 2.1, but that’s not available until Friday. And according to Jobs, it addresses a number of issues and contains “lots of fixes”: dropped calls, battery life, backing up to iTunes and app crashes.

You can bet I will jump on this ASAP on Friday and post about it, as I have been one of those with huge 3G issues.

Whew, that was the extent of the Apple event. Isn’t that enough? No, for once there was no “one more thing.”

For me, the iPhone 3G software update was expected, and primary. Is it going to fix things? Who knows? The 3G issue has been worldwide, so it’s going to take some amount of time to get feedback and that’s not going to go live until Friday.

By Michael Santo
Editor-in-Chief, RealTechNews

Many are getting a bit weary of waiting for an iPhone 3G fix, which was previously promised in a supposed Steve Jobs email for sometime in September. A second lawsuit has been filed, joining the first which was filed last month by Jessica Alena Smith.

Just as in the previous suit, the plaintiff, William J. Gillis Jr., is asking for class action status for his lawsuit, according to freelance journalist Justin McLachlan.

Previously an “unnamed AT&T source” had disclosed that the issue with the iPhone 3G centered around power requirements for the iPhone 3G being too high, saturating towers.

The lawsuit goes on to say (basically) that because of the high volume of iPhone sales, the AT&T network has become overtaxed. In other words, the darn this is too popular for its own good.

Gillis wants Apple and AT&T to not just pay restitution to members of the class action (if granted), but also punitive damages.

Now, before people go on about this guy trying to get a big payday, remember that in class action lawsuits, there’s nearly nothing paid out to members. Usually just enough to make people (relatively) happy.

However, he’s building his case mostly around Internet reports, according to AppleInsider. And as I keep harping on:

• It’s happening worldwide, even on mature 3G networks
• The device isn’t dropping into EDGE; it’s staying in 3G even with nearly no signal
• Other 3G devices in the same area (within inches) have no issues while the iPhone is nearly unusable (and no, I don’t mean “bars,” I mean being able to make calls, browse, get email
• Even when forced into EDGE, the iPhone will sometimes fail calls while other devices are working fine - in 3G

So, while I appreciate anything that will give Apple a kick in the pants, I’m still waiting for the promised September fix. Please!

By Michael Santo
Editor-in-Chief, RealTechNews

You’ll remember NetShare, the iPhone tethering app that showed up on the App Store a couple of times before vanishing, seemingly forever. The advantage of a tethering app for users is that they could use their iPhone as a modem for their laptop or PC, in a pinch.

The disadvantage for the carrier is all the additional bandwidth required, quite naturally.

A seemingly Steve Jobs-ish email (meaning terse and noncommittal) in response to a user’s question seems to point to a possible tethering agreement between AT&T and Apple.

Currently, the Terms and Conditions for AT&T’s plans seems to include language that specifically forbids tethering (under the Prohibited and Permissible Uses section):

“Furthermore, plans (unless specifically designated for tethering usage) cannot be used for any applications that tether the device (through use of, including without limitation, connection kits, other phone/PDA-to-computer accessories, Bluetooth or any other wireless technology) to Personal Computers (including without limitation, laptops), or other equipment for any purpose.”

There is that little clause about “unless specifically designated for tethering usage,” though. Is Apple trying to get such a plan set up for its iPhone?

According to Gizmodo, here’s the exchange between the two:

User:

AT&T offers data plans for BlackBerry that include tethering for an additional $30 per month (a total of $60 per month for the BlackBerry+tethering plan).

It seems ludicrous that the same thing is not offered with the iPhone. I understand the desire to prevent tethering with the current data plan, but I am willing to pay more money to allow tethering! With such an advanced device, why can I not do so?

“Steve”:

We agree, and are discussing it with ATT.

Steve

Sent from my iPhone

As we know, occasionally an email to Jobs is responded to in the above fashion: terse, and probably from a rep and not Jobs directly. However: “sent from my iPhone” tends to make it a little less credible to me, as that implies it was actually sent from his personal device. Not really likely.

I’d rather see the 3G issues fixed once and for all before a tethering plan is complete. Who wants to tether in EDGE?

Still, why not have such a plan? What about you readers? Would you pay extra for a tethering plan for your iPhone?

By Michael Santo
Editor-in-Chief, RealTechNews

You’ll recall I wrote that a Swedish newspaper took an iPhone to a lab for tests on its antenna. However, noting that the iPhone used in the tests had been performing well, the paper asked for some volunteers with misbehaving iPhones, so they could repeat the test.

Peter Planstedt and Stephanie Semic gave their iPhones to the paper to test. The repeat tests showed the same results; none of the three tested phones had problems related to their antennas.

According to the paper:

Charlie (Orlenius) tests Peter’s iPhone a little extra and checks the TIS value also at frequencies on the outer edges, to see if the 3G connectivity problem shows up there. But the results are good there as well. The phones of Peter and Stephanie have no problems with the 3G communication in the test chamber. They send and receive signals in a fully normal manner. They do not disconnect earlier than the other we have tested when the signal becomes weaker.

- There is nothing unusual or strange with the performance of the antennas. If these mobiles do not keep the connection with the network like they should, the reason is not the antennas or how they are mounted, says Charlie.

Of course, it doesn’t rule out issues in other areas of the iPhone. Users around the world are still complaining, and not about speed, as Wired’s test focused on, but about dropped calls, missed calls, and no service at all when other phones work fine.

Here’s another real-life example: I was in a hospital today getting some tests. Along with my iPhone 3G I had a Motorola Q9h and a Nokia. All the phones dropped into EDGE in the building.

However, when I tried to make a call with the iPhone, it failed twice. I also received a call that was dropped. Meanwhile, my Q9h and Nokia were working fine, even getting emails while the iPhone couldn’t even browse.

So it seems the issues are not limited to 3G, but network sensitivity to either 3G or EDGE. All based on empirical evidence mind you, though not in a lab. Hopefully, there will be some solution from Apple soon. I love the phone, but am growing weary of all the issues. Seeing a problem in EDGE mode as well: makes me lose hope for a fix.

By Michael Santo
Editor-in-Chief, RealTechNews

For you CEOs and Enterprise users: hold on before saying the iPhone is perfect for business. A major security hole has been found in the iPhone, and though most will say “so what,” corporations who want Enterprise devices would say “whoa!”

A forum post detailed the ease with which you can get past the password lock. Assuming the phone is locked:

• Slide to unlock
• Tap emergency call
• Double tap the home button

You are now in your Favorites. But that’s not all, since you now also have access to your Address Book, the dial keypad, and your voice mail (unless you password protect that, which many do not).

Now, some will say, big deal, they can see your Contacts. Well, for an supposedly Enterprise-ready device, this would be a big deal. Corporations generally don’t want the contacts on their phones available for anyone to see (Paris Hilton sure doesn’t, if you remember that famous incident) and for most, this would be a deal-breaker. More