Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Squawk Box August 13

by alec on August 13, 2008

Chrysler is intending to sell a mobile EVDO router for the car. Their idea is that you can turn your car into a mobile hotspot. Our group panned it to start, but then as we discussed it more, it seemed like there might be uses – tracking traffic, navigation and many more possibles.  Of course, team Chrysler is saying “get it because your kids want to surf the web in the back seat”.

As part of the discussion JoikuSpot was mentioned.  JoikuSpot is a fabulous utility from Finland that lets you turn any compatible Nokia handset into a mobile wifi hotspot via the 3G connection. Many of us on the call had tried it and recommended it.

TheFunded.com is getting sued by EDF Ventures.  Is this TheFunded’s watershed moment?  Well, it’s not the first time they’ve been challenged and probably won’t be the last.  We were treated to a short discussion of press sourcing rules and libel laws by Andy Abramson as well.

And finally, we talked about the debate going on in the web right now about whether tech companies need PR anymore.  We’ve got a number of bloggers and tech founders who are regulars on the show, as well as Andy Abramson joining in.  It was a good discussion, including a segment touching on the GIPS announcment that went so spectacularly wrong last week.

On this morning’s free conference call by Calliflower: Hudson Barton, Arshad Merali, Andy Abramson, Jim Courtney, Jeanette Fisher, Adam Somer, Jeb Brilliant, Bill Volk, James Body, and Sheryl Breuker.

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That iPhone guy must be a deceiving bastard.

by alec on August 13, 2008

Image representing iPhone as depicted in Crunc...Image via CrunchBase, source unknown

You know those ads on TV?  Mac guy vs PC guy, and PC guy is always moaning about the reliability of Vista.  Call me a moron, but I kind of figured that the Macintosh reputation for reliability would extend to the iPhone too.

Not so, as I’m discovering. If there’s an iPhone guy waiting in the wings he’s nothing like his Mac guy counterpart.

iPhone 1.x was rock solid.  I never had a problem with it.  iPhone 3G with the 2.0 software — well, let’s just say that, in my opinion, MobileMe wasn’t the only thing that Jobs and Co rushed out the door. And the update that they also rushed out the door, version 2.01 of the software, hasn’t fixed the problem either.

Applications crash. I’m not talking about 3rd party applications.  I’m talking about Safari, and the iPhone Exchange mail client — they are the worst culprits.  After a short period of time, on many web sites, Safari just closes, leaving you at the deck.  And just try to do email when the client keeps crashing.

VPN support is busted. On my iPhone 1.0 it worked great on WiFi.  When 2.0 came out, it worked on WiFi, but not on 3G.  After following directions on the Apple support site and Howard forums, I now have it working on 3G, but not on WiFi.  Hello?

And where is cut and paste? C’mon guys.  You can’t even send an email address, a phone number or a URL via email.

I’ve uninstalled the Exchange client, and I’m about to press the “Restore to Original Settings” button in iTunes.  I’m hoping that will restore the stability of this device.

It’s hard to believe that Apple had the nerve to slam Microsoft for so many months in advertising, and then put this out.

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