The Federal Aviation Administration is believed to be re-examining the rules which prohibit the use of electronic devices during takeoff and landing.

According to the New York Times, the FAA plans to conduct tests to see  whether there's any danger of new devices affecting the operation of the plane.

However, the mandated test procedures are so thorough that there's real doubt as to whether devices could be approved before they're completely out of date.

via tgdaily.com

The blurb I got in e-mail that linked to this story misspelled the word "fortunately" in the following sentence... "Unfortunately, it looks like cellphones will still be off the list." See how they accidentally put the letters "Un-" in front of the correct spelling?

If there's just *one* convenience I absolutely do not need at any point in the future, it's the person behind me able to shout into their cellphone during takeoff and landing. {Shudder}

Does *your* presidential candidate have his own iPhone 4/4s case?

They're American-made...

Yahtzee.

All I know is that I'm loving mine after ten days, and I remain impressed with the fact that C Spire was able to get the iPhone as a regional carrier. For all the success that Google is having getting its Android OS into the marketplace (and it's having tons) it's clear that the expanded availability of the iPhone was critical to its own growth. Having used both, there are some nice features on each, but there's something the it-just-works nature of the iPhone (including for calls, since I'm not on AT&T) that makes it very appealing this go around. I'm actually answering my phone!

It couldn't let this pass without remarking on it -- it's amazing that it was only the beginning of this year that the announcement was made that Verizon would also carry the iPhone -- and it was suddenly offered by *two* different carriers, after years of just plain-ol' AT&T.

Less than a year? That feels like forever ago.

Since that date (Jan 11, 2011), the iPad 2 has been announced, the iPhone 4s is out and available with three major carriers and C Spire in Mississippi, Steve Jobs has died, Siri lives on... a crazy year. Apple disappointed investors with only $28 billion in revenue in fiscal Q4 and remains, I think, the world's largest company by market-cap.

Weird year.

Samsung (005930.KS) only entered the smartphone market in earnest last year, but its sales have skyrocketed thanks to a sleek production system that rapidly brings new products to market. Apple (AAPL.O) introduced its first iPhone in 2007.

"In the handset division, Samsung has no real rival models to challenge its products except for the iPhone 4S. Apple and Samsung will continue to dominate the market in the fourth quarter," said Kim Hyun-joong, a fund manager at Midas Asset Management, which owns Samsung shares.

I'm always fascinated to face yet another example that I'm utterly average. The competition has come down to a Samsung Galaxy S or an iPhone 4s for me now, particularly since CSpire claims the iPhone 4s is coming.

Why would I *not* get an iPhone? Me? Such an Apple dude?

The only reasons I'm coming up with are (a.) price and (b.) screen size.

I'm probably getting the iPhone, although I don't yet know the dates, data plans, etc. for rollout. But if I can keep my cheap smartphone plan and get an iPhone for $200 at the most (maybe even less with a phone trade-in credit?) then I'm there.

But the Galaxy S remains tempting... it does seem to be a well designed phone, good screen size, maybe more comfortable for typing...

We'll see.

Worth Ave. Touts iPhone Insurance

TWICE Staff -- TWICE, 2011-10-18 10:06:00 EDT

Stillwater, Okla. - Worth Avenue Group is encouraging new iPhone 4S users to consider insuring their devices rather than purchasing an extended-warranty plan.

The full-service CE insurance provider, based here, claimed some iPhone warranties can leave consumers unprotected and potentially responsible for hundreds of dollars in replacement costs should something happen to their devices.

 "Most iPhone owners are unaware of just how much it will cost them each time they have some sort of accident," said Aaron Cooper, marketing director of the 40-year-old firm. "Unfortunately, a warranty only protects you the first time. If it happens again, you either purchase a new warranty and pay the deductible or spend the money buying a new phone."

Approximately 37 percent of iPhones are damaged annually, the company said, with many owners experiencing at least two or more incidents related to human error. Cracked screens, theft and water damage are among the iPhone's top claims categories.

Unlike an extended warranty, insurance can be purchased at any time and there is no limit on the number of claims that can be filed in one year. Coverage for the iPhone 4S through Worth Avenue is $89 per year with a $50 deductible, compared, for example, with AT&T's extended warranty program through Asurion that sells for $84 a year with a $199 deductible.

Worth Avenue Group also provides accidental damage and theft coverage for iPads, laptop and desktop computers, TVs, digital cameras, PDAs and other CE devices. Licensed in all 50 states, the company is underwritten by A-rated Hanover Insurance and has serviced thousands of customers and more than 2,000 schools nationwide. For more information, visit www.worthavegroup.com.

 

Might be looking into this when Ms. D. finally gets her iPhone 4s.

Mac vs. PC comparisons now go even deeper between iOS and Android... at it seems that the same benefits to closed-loop OS-and-hardware system apply. According to the story, Apple iOS is "targeted so little that it's not even in McAfee report." Yowza.

Citing two people with knowledge of the matter, the global news agency said its heard that Apple's Asian supplies have begun building "a lower-priced version of its hot-selling iPhone 4 with a smaller 8 gigabyte flash drive" that's "expected to launch within weeks."

Not only do I hope this is true, but I hope (on a wing and a prayer) that this could possibly mean Apple is ready to open up to regional carriers like Cellular South, which offers great coverage down here in MS, no roaming charges in the U.S. and happens to have a nice, cheap data plan for it's Android phones*.

It seems to me that regional carriers and specialty carriers (Credo, Virgin, Boost) are an area dominated by Blackberry and Android and certainly one place where Apple could win huge converts -- often young folks -- if they have the CDMA chipset ready and they're willing to flood the market with lower-end versions of their already widely successful (if slightly dated) previous model.

(* Full disclosure: CS has advertised with the JFP in the past and I'd love them to do so again the future, but I'm not specifically sucking up here. They're also my current mobile carrier and I'm ready to trade up my Hero and/or throw it out the window of a moving vehicle.)

Update: Business Insider has this chart showing what a mere *report* of the iPhone 5 for Sprint is doing to their stock; just think what reports of iPhones for regional carriers would do for their bottom lines (and for Apple in the War Against Robots):

VERY interesting. I think we know why we've got that Android dominance in Missisissippi -- CellularSouth has great signal strength and cheap smartphone plans, while AT&T sux. Bad. Like zero signal in my house.

Verizon coming on board could change things (or if CellSouth got the iPhone it'd be game over), but that'll take a while.

Meanwhile, how about that Blackberry domination in Oregon... what's that about?

I think I'll buy an iPhone 3GS just so I can also have this bad-boy clipped to my waist. Yes, it's funkaliciously bulky, but it recharges the iPhone while in the holster? What?! That is too awesome. It's even got a glowing light! Great for... riding a bike at night while wearing it...?