YouTube App Will Come Preloaded on Apple iPhone

YouTube App Will Come Preloaded on Apple iPhone
The iPhone's resume now includes YouTube. Apple announced that its upcoming, much-publicized mobile device will be compatible with videos published to the popular Web site, thanks to an Apple-designed application.

The iPhone will be "the first mobile device" with the capability to display videos encoded with the H.264 standard, according to Apple. YouTube has begun converting its videos to the H.264 format, which is said to provide DVD quality in small file sizes.

Over 10,000 videos from YouTube's inventory will be ready by the time the iPhone launches on June 29. The YouTube application will ship with the iPhone, and can be downloaded now for use on Apple TV.

Wi-Fi or EDGE

The videos will wirelessly stream to the iPhone over either Wi-Fi or EDGE networks. "It will be interesting to see how well the buffering works on EDGE," noted Avi Greengart, an analyst with Current Analysis, because EDGE is slower than other networking options.

This customized capability for YouTube "fits in nicely with Apple's focus on the iPhone as an entertainment device," Greengart said. He also pointed out that it is part of the trend "to mobilize the Web experience," although many Web sites use formats that are not yet supported by mobile browsers.

The video capability of the iPhone might be a key selling point. Greengart said he included himself in the category of people who might purchase the new iPhone simply as a widescreen version of the video iPod. "The picture quality is awesome," he said, calling attention to the display's "wonderful" pixel density.

The June 29 release has been hyped by some enthusiasts as Apple's biggest product launch since the Mac itself, so it's hard to see how the new tie-in with YouTube could make the iPhone any cooler than it is already expected to be.

The IDC Report

But industry watchers are wondering whether the coolness factor and publicity tsunami will actually result in buyers. A report released Tuesday by industry research firm IDC said that "the price of the device itself and the cost of switching carriers may dampen the demand" for the iPhone.

Using a sample of 456 online mobile phone shoppers, the survey found that 60 percent were interested in the new device but only 10 percent plan to buy one "anytime soon." If it were priced under $299, those interested in buying it now would increase to 18 percent.

In the report, IDC analyst Chris Hazelton noted that the iPhone's capabilities and the supporting network are also a set of "potential barriers to widespread adoption." In that light, Apple's decision to create an iPhone app for YouTube videos is obviously an attempt to add to its capabilities.

The IDC report also noted that "Apple loyalists" alone can make the launch a success, but it is unclear whether that will translate into long-term success. Greengart offered a similar take, saying the iPhone will "definitely" be a hit at launch, but that it's too early to predict beyond that.

Greengart also sees baby-boomer, mainstream consumers as a key iPhone target beyond the Apple loyalists, including new converts who own an iPod, and beyond the group that buys "whatever's hot," He noted that mainstream consumers might not be the YouTube crowd, but "they are looking for a simple phone experience that doesn't make them feel stupid."

news.yahoo.com

YouTube App Will Come Preloaded on Apple iPhone

YouTube App Will Come Preloaded on Apple iPhone
The iPhone's resume now includes YouTube. Apple announced that its upcoming, much-publicized mobile device will be compatible with videos published to the popular Web site, thanks to an Apple-designed application.

The iPhone will be "the first mobile device" with the capability to display videos encoded with the H.264 standard, according to Apple. YouTube has begun converting its videos to the H.264 format, which is said to provide DVD quality in small file sizes.

Over 10,000 videos from YouTube's inventory will be ready by the time the iPhone launches on June 29. The YouTube application will ship with the iPhone, and can be downloaded now for use on Apple TV.

Wi-Fi or EDGE

The videos will wirelessly stream to the iPhone over either Wi-Fi or EDGE networks. "It will be interesting to see how well the buffering works on EDGE," noted Avi Greengart, an analyst with Current Analysis, because EDGE is slower than other networking options.

This customized capability for YouTube "fits in nicely with Apple's focus on the iPhone as an entertainment device," Greengart said. He also pointed out that it is part of the trend "to mobilize the Web experience," although many Web sites use formats that are not yet supported by mobile browsers.

The video capability of the iPhone might be a key selling point. Greengart said he included himself in the category of people who might purchase the new iPhone simply as a widescreen version of the video iPod. "The picture quality is awesome," he said, calling attention to the display's "wonderful" pixel density.

The June 29 release has been hyped by some enthusiasts as Apple's biggest product launch since the Mac itself, so it's hard to see how the new tie-in with YouTube could make the iPhone any cooler than it is already expected to be.

The IDC Report

But industry watchers are wondering whether the coolness factor and publicity tsunami will actually result in buyers. A report released Tuesday by industry research firm IDC said that "the price of the device itself and the cost of switching carriers may dampen the demand" for the iPhone.

Using a sample of 456 online mobile phone shoppers, the survey found that 60 percent were interested in the new device but only 10 percent plan to buy one "anytime soon." If it were priced under $299, those interested in buying it now would increase to 18 percent.

In the report, IDC analyst Chris Hazelton noted that the iPhone's capabilities and the supporting network are also a set of "potential barriers to widespread adoption." In that light, Apple's decision to create an iPhone app for YouTube videos is obviously an attempt to add to its capabilities.

The IDC report also noted that "Apple loyalists" alone can make the launch a success, but it is unclear whether that will translate into long-term success. Greengart offered a similar take, saying the iPhone will "definitely" be a hit at launch, but that it's too early to predict beyond that.

Greengart also sees baby-boomer, mainstream consumers as a key iPhone target beyond the Apple loyalists, including new converts who own an iPod, and beyond the group that buys "whatever's hot," He noted that mainstream consumers might not be the YouTube crowd, but "they are looking for a simple phone experience that doesn't make them feel stupid."

news.yahoo.com

Verizon to offer mobile payments with Obopay

Verizon to offer mobile payments with Obopay
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Verizon Wireless, the No. 2 U.S. mobile service, said on Wednesday it will let customers use their cell phones to send each other money using a service from privately held Obopay Inc.

The service will be available in the coming weeks, said Verizon Wireless, a venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ - news) and Vodafone Group Plc (VOD.L).

U.S. wireless providers have been putting everything from Web surfing to music players into their cell phones in a bid to make consumers use their phones for more than just talking.

The Obopay service, which will eventually let customers conduct transactions by waving their phone at a retail checkout or an automated bank cash machine, comes with an Obopay prepaid Mastercard, which lets users spend the money on their mobile account.

New phones and retail and cash machines with short-range wireless connections would need to be more widely available before the service lets users just use their phone.

Paypal, the unit of eBay Inc (Nasdaq:EBAY - news) better known for computer desktop-bound Web transactions, already introduced mobile transaction services in April 2006.

Obopay said its service could eventually be incorporated with online retailers and mobile providers billing systems to give consumers more payment options.

Verizon Wireless has yet to reveal pricing for the service.

Obopay already has agreements with smaller service providers such as Helio, a venture of SK Telecom (017670.KS) and EarthLink Inc (Nasdaq:ELNK - news), and privately held Amp'd Mobile, which recently filed for bankruptcy protection.

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T - news), Verizon Wireless' bigger rival in terms of subscriber numbers, said earlier this year it was offering its customers mobile banking services, letting customers manage their bank accounts and pay bills electronically using phones.

source : news.yahoo.com

AT&T Debuts 3G Videophone Service

AT&T Debuts 3G Videophone Service
Transmitting live video on her cell phone, the real estate agent entices the prospective but distant buyer with a quick, walking tour of a house that just hit the market. This kind of interaction could become commonplace if the first-ever service in the U.S. to allow live video during a voice call, AT&T Video Share, becomes popular.

Announced Tuesday, the service enables a one-way, live video stream, seen by both callers as they talk in a two-way voice conversation. The stream can be initiated by either caller, and can be switched for transmission from the other caller during the conversation.

Immediate Access Limited

The phone giant said that its research indicated consumers are interested in using the service for sharing experiences, for showing friends or business contacts something happening elsewhere, for getting opinions or decisions, or for simply showing one caller's expressions.

Video Share works on AT&T's 3G wireless network, and is now available only in Atlanta, Dallas, and San Antonio. Expansion to the rest of the network, which covers more than 160 markets in the U.S., will begin in late July. AT&T said this was its first service delivered on its Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem-based, new-generation network platform.

Currently, eligible handsets include the Samsung A717, the Samsung Sync, and the LG CU500v.

The company has big plans for the service. "Imagine watching television," said AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson in a statement, "when a notice pops on the screen that a daughter or granddaughter would like to initiate a Video Share call, then immediately switching the television screen to accept the video and audio." There are also plans to extend the service to PCs.

Long-Awaited Videophone?

Video Share could be the first step in the videophone we've been hearing about for decades, said IDC analyst Chris Hazelton. "Often," he said, "you're on the phone talking to someone because you see something interesting." Video Share could support those moments.

The drawback, he pointed out, is that your conversational partner has to have the right kind of phone, have the Video Share service, and be within AT&T's 3G network coverage. But this limited population is helpful to the service right now, Hazelton noted, because the current networks aren't yet able "to support large numbers" of video phone calls.

He said he wasn't aware of any such services in the rest of the world, but that "you'll see competitors" at some not-too-distant point.

AT&T is offering two service packages, either $4.99 monthly for 25 minutes or $9.99 for 60 minutes. For those who want to pay only for what they use, on-the-fly minutes can be bought at 35 cents each.

source : news.yahoo.com

Ignore SMS about your handphone's tax status

KUALA LUMPUR: Ignore any SMS allegedly from the Customs Department enquiring about the tax status of your handphone.

The request from the Customs Sirim Integrated Electronic Common System (SPEKS) would ask whether tax had been paid for the handphone.

The department's Senior Assistant Director II, Iskandar Jaafar, said SPEKS had yet to be launched and that no company had been appointed to provide the service.

"Although we had announced that the system would be launched on April 1, its implementation was deferred on technical grounds," he said in a statement.

"The consumers were charged when they responded to the queries via SMS but did not get a reply," he said.

He added that the victims should lodge police reports.

Iskandar said SPEKS was being introduced to restrict the influx of illegal handphones.

He said that when enforced consumers could check the veracity of their handphones using the SMS with SPEKS.

Users will get the "tax paid" reply if their handphones are genuine. – Bernama

source: star-techcentral.com

Much music on your mobile

Much music on your mobile

'Tis the season for new album releases, and you can tell the rest of the world how much you love the velvet sounds of Michael Buble or the nu-metal power of Linkin Park by getting some of their tunes on your mobile.

In conjunction with the release of jazz-pop vocalist Buble's Call Me Irresponsible and Linkin Park's Minutes to Midnight, Warner Music is making available truetones by the two artistes at TheStar Mobile portal. If you already have a GPRS/WAP/3Genabled phone (and if you don't, it's time to get one, right?) point your handphone towards m.thestarmobile.com or your desktop browser to thestarmobile.com for all sorts of musical goodness.

There are also loads of other entertainment goodies, such as games, wallpapers and screensavers, and of course, news and info.

And you know, expect more such goodies from whole load of other artistes over the next few weeks.

TheStar Mobile – finally, a reason for getting that canggih handphone ;)