by Jason Wilk on June 8, 2009

My Thoughts: The 3G [s] is a disappointing addition to the iPhone family. This feels like when Audi & BMW change the lights on the back of their cars to make it seem like new, when the real “New” product is just around the corner. Nonetheless, here is the lo down on the new iPhone launched today at WWDC.
Speed
- The “S” stands for “SPEED!” And according to Apple, it is faster launching applications or rendering Web pages.
- The iPhone 3GS has a new processor built-in. Apple says it is up to two times faster than the previous generation: Launching messages is 2.1 faster, load the NY Times in Safari: 2.9 times faster. It also consumes less, which has an impact on the improved battery life.
Camera
- They increased the resolution to 3 megapixels, which—judging from the shots they showed-seems much better quality under all conditions.
- 3 Megapixels sensor.
- New camera, with auto focus, auto exposure, and auto white balance.
- Tap to focus, changing white balance in the process.
- Special macro and low light modes.
- The camera also supports photo and video geotagging.
- Any application can access all the camera functions now
- It supports video, 30 frames per second VGA with auto focus, auto white balance, and auto exposure.
- You can trim the video shot just using your finger, then share it via MMS (in July), email, MobileMe and YouTube.
Graphics
- The new iPhone 3GS includes new 3D graphics support in hardware. This means faster and more complicated 3D games.
- Same 3.5-inch widescreen multitouch display, but this time it has a fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating.
Design:
- Same size as the old iPhone 3G: 4.5 x 2.4 x 0.48 inches.
- The weight increases slightly. One ounce to 4.8 ounces (135 grams vs 133 grams).
- Greener materials: Arsenic-free glass, BDF-free, Mercury-free LCD.
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faster
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same width, no front camera
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3 megapixel camera with video
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taken with iPhone 3G [S]
Special Features:
- It has a magnetometer, which works with a Compass application, third parties, and it is integrated into the new Google maps app, showing your orientation with a small semitransparent cone.
- Voice control. You can now talk with your iPhone. Instruct it to play similar songs to the one you are playing, or call people.
- Nike + support built in.
Battery life
- According to Apple, you will get up to 12 hours of talk time on 2G and 5 on 3G, with a up to 300 hour standby time.
- On 3G, it will deliver 5 hours of internet use.
- On Wi-Fi, Internet goes up to 9 hours (huge improvement here)
- Video playback is 10 hours vs 30 hours for audio.
Release Details:
- $199 for 16GB version, $299 is 32GB version.
- Colors: White and Black (glossy, no matte)
- The iPhone 3GS is available June 19th.
- iPhone 3G Regular Drops to $99 (As of today)
Is this enough to make you want to upgrade?
Thanks to Gizmodo. Congrats on an excellent LiveBlog this morning.
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by Jason Wilk on February 1, 2009
by Jason Wilk on January 19, 2009

- Google earnings expected to be grim when they are released Thursday. According to the WSJ, U.S. search advertising spend fell 8% in the fourth quarter of 2008 from the same period in 2007, according to a new study from search advertising firm Efficient Frontier, whose search industry spending index was flat for most of 2008. The study — which covers an undisclosed portion of the $750 million in annual spending the company manages globally — marks the first quarter of negative annual growth for its index in the several years Efficient Frontier has been gathering such data, says James Beriker, president and CEO of the firm”.
- Sampling a search advertising firm may not predict the whole industry pie that includes Google, Yahoo and MSN, but if search marketers are seeing revenues drop, it should be a good sample of what is to come.
- Here are a few things that might throw off the numbers for Google.
- First, if market share had anything to do with it, Google’s has actually grown to 72% over last year’s 65%. That a direct result of more online search adoption, and could help to offset falling revenues. I said the same thing with Amazon, where the reason why they had such a big holiday season was a simple math problem.
- Second, Google has been pulling out all the stops this quarter to find new avenues to drive revenue. In September, Google began allowing beer and wine companies to advertise, and as of recently hard alcohol companies. In addition, they have begun monetizing Google Maps, casual games, mobile search, and more for the first time ever.
- Third, Google has always said that in a bad economy, many retailers and other advertisers flock to Google because it’s one of the few places to keep a close eye on your pennies. Between Google Analytics and conversion tracking, it’s unlike any other form of advertising. Holiday advertising spend showed this.
- Fourth, Android, Google’s mobile operating system is expected to pick up quickly this year and is expected to out sell the iPhone’s OS by 2010.
- To me, it’s not this 4th quarter that is worrisome. Between Google adding new ways to monetize different products, adding significant market share and branding themselves as ‘the place to go to advertise in a bad economy’, they will be fine. However, I think Q1 will see tougher times for the search giant. Q1 will see a Google that has squeezed out revenue from any potential products, no holiday season and a slowly growing online search adoption through the first 2 quarters. Here are a few more stats from the study:
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- “Advertisers who spend less than $50,000 on search ads cut their spending by 23% year-over-year, while advertisers that spend more than $200,000 on search per month cut spending by 9% during that time. Purchases by advertisers who spend between $50,000 and $200,000 were relatively flat.”
- “Finance and automotive advertising continued to deteriorate. Search-ad spending among financial advertisers fell 20% compared to the fourth quarter of 2007. Search spending from automotive advertisers declined 15% during that period.”
by Jason Wilk on January 13, 2009

- According to BoomTown and several sources familiar with Yahoo (YHOO), Carol Bartz (Now Confirmed) is hot on the radar to replace Co-founder Jerry Yang. Bartz is a longtime and high-profile Silicon Valley executive who presided over huge success at design technology giant, Autodesk (ADSK), until stepping down in April of 2006 to sit as a chairman. During her time there, net revenues increased from $285 million to more than $534 million.
- Other notches on her Resume include 10 years as vice president at Sun Microsystems(JAVA). She has also held product line and sales management positions at other high-tech companies; she is also an expert in computer science.
- Here’s how the dots connect. Bartz currently sits on the boards of Intel (INTC), Cisco Systems (CSCO), NetApp (NTAP), and the Foundation for the National Medals of Science and Technology. Jerry Yang is also on the board of Cisco, and Yahoo President Sue Decker is on Intel’s.
- Yahoo Chairman Roy Bostock promised investors a new leader would be in place soon and that they are on finally decisions to go with an internal or external for the head position. Who’s in the running? John Chapple, former Nextel CEO, Maggie Wilderotter, a former Microsoft exec, Jonathan Miller, former AOL CEO.
- One of my 7 predications of 2009 was that a new Yahoo CEO would get an offer back from Microsoft closer to the original $33 deal. I wouldn’t mind seeing Bartz in charge of this goal: she is a seasoned CEO of successfully running public companies, understands computer technology from the ground up, and has dealt with mergers and acquisitions before.
- In any event, the new Yahoo CEO will have a big task at large, restoring company morale after Jerry.
by Jason Wilk on January 1, 2009

- The App store has been a great success thus far. Although I have gone through my share of downloading and quickly deleting apps that I don’t use more than a few times, there have been 15 that are consistently open on a daily basis, some hourly.
- Facebook. By far the app I use the most. I constantly update my status, check for notifications and chat throughout the day. Although buggy sometimes, it is my biggest time killer coming out of the app store.
- MyAnalytics. Since Google has yet to come out with an iPhone app for Google Analytics, this app is the best substitute. Nothing like having a record traffic day and keeping track of it on the go. It takes a little bit of getting used to, since some durations throghout the day it will show you a combination of your current and previous days traffic. I find it to be dead on if I check it from 2pm throughout the day.
- Shazam. If you don’t have this app yet, I’m surprised. Open up the app, put it next to the song you are listening to and it will tell you who the artist is, where to buy it, what the lyrics are and then stores the info. Hipsters beware, it has trouble picking up on Jason Bentley tracks.
- BigOven. Sometimes I just need to cook. This is a really nice app that contains thousands of recipes. It has been downloaded welll over 1 million times.
- Trace. Best game of they year for me. Travel to one of the 5 worlds in the game with your little red character. Trace your own lines around the obstacles and set your own path to success. Must be downloaded to get the full effect. Truly addicting.
- WritingPad. Similar to note pad but utilizes the latest typing technology, Swype. You don’t need to lift a finger or tap to write a word. Drag your finger through the letters of the word you want to spell and it will recognize it. Great for taking quick notes or impressing your non-tech friends. This is the future of the mobile keyboard.
- Pandora. The great app produced by the Music Genome phenomenon. Type in an artist or song you want to listen to and it will create a radio station based on similar styles and sounds. Awesome for your car, iPod Dock or walking around.
- PapiJump. Just about as addicting as Trace. Using the accelerometor, bounce the pink ball to each blue step until you can’t go any further. Just don’t try plaing it in the car. My high score is 46,000.
- Wurdle. Shake the iPhone and a fresh screen of letters will appear. Try and drag yor finger through possible words and rack up points. Think you did well? Once your time runs out, you will see all the words you missed and feel like an idiot every time.
- Wordpress. Make a lot of typos like me when you write? Well, make sure you have the Wordpress app so you can correct your grammar on the go. Gives you instant access to your dashboard, where you can add, edit or delete a post.
- iGolf. I take a sense of pride in this game since I think I may hold the world record. Play a few holes or hit the driving range with this Wii like golf game. Try and avoid playing it in public, people may think you’re nuts.
- iHunt. Need to take out a little aggression? Just open up this app to go kill some deer or pheasants. Use the accelerometer to aim you shotgun or rifle and shoot away. Such a fun game with great sound effects.
- Fandango. Movie times/reviews, on the go and fast.
- CollegeFB. Great app from the nice guys at PlusMo. Keep track of all the college football games on the go. Gives you an updated play by play for each game you click on.
- UrbanSpoon. The best app for finding a restaurant near where you’re standing. Choose from a variety of genres, pricing options and areas.