[jimtravis]

Updates to the iPhone are nice, should have been there when introduced. The iPhone is still feature deficient (for my needs) compared to other popular smartphones. If it works for you, great.

Safari is an excellent mobile browser overall; however, it is not the perfect browser some of the hype stipulates. If you are viewing an older single column webpage with Safari, the double tap zoom doesn't always work, and you are forced to use the pinching zoom to increase the text to a size that won't strain your eyes. When you use the pinching zoom, the sentences are not word wrapped again, and you are forced to horizontally scroll in order to read each line. The single column pages display fine with proper word wrapping at all text sizes with PIE, and just about every other mobile browser I have used. The choices are either eye strain (particularly for older users), or horizontal scrolling for each line when viewing some single column pages with Safari. If the web developer adds a Viewport metatag, the number of words per line displayed by Safari can be reduced, but many single column pages will not have that metatag added.

Safari does do a nice job double tap zooming with multiple column pages, but some other browsers do as well. Now, before the flames start, I am not saying PIE is better than Safari. I am saying Safari can have zooming problems with some single column webpages in addition to not supporting Flash, etc. Bottom line is the best mobile browser is dependent on the page you are trying to view.

As an owner of the Apple TV, I welcome the updates, and thank Apple for distributing the update for the original model. Direct podcast downloads have been a feature I desired since the first day I used the Apple TV.

[jimtravis]

Updates to the iPhone are nice, should have been there when introduced. The iPhone is still feature deficient (for my needs) compared to other popular smartphones. If it works for you, great.

Safari is an excellent mobile browser overall; however, it is not the perfect browser some of the hype stipulates. If you are viewing an older single column webpage with Safari, the double tap zoom doesn't always work, and you are forced to use the pinching zoom to increase the text to a size that won't strain your eyes. When you use the pinching zoom, the sentences are not word wrapped again, and you are forced to horizontally scroll in order to read each line. The single column pages display fine with proper word wrapping at all text sizes with PIE, and just about every other mobile browser I have used. The choices are either eye strain (particularly for older users), or horizontal scrolling for each line when viewing some single column pages with Safari. If the web developer adds a Viewport metatag, the number of words per line displayed by Safari can be reduced, but many single column pages will not have that metatag added.

Safari does do a nice job double tap zooming with multiple column pages, but some other browsers do as well. Now, before the flames start, I am not saying PIE is better than Safari. I am saying Safari can have zooming problems with some single column webpages in addition to not supporting Flash, etc. Bottom line is the best mobile browser is dependent on the page you are trying to view.

As an owner of the Apple TV, I welcome the updates, and thank Apple for distributing the update for the original model. Direct podcast downloads have been a feature I desired since the first day I used the Apple TV.

[isilver]

I am a very simple person. I don't own an Ipod Touch. If I don't want this list of $20.00 worth of improvements with the Ipod Touch do I get a $20.00 discount to go to the old version. The answer would probably be "No".

The fee's only purpose is to hurt early adopters. In the end if I decide to purchase an Ipod Touch now then will I be screwed with any future updates when it starts to include better features.

What about future, future updates. If I don't get this update and then Apple comes out with another update. Will I have to pay double to get that update or would that one update be only $20.00 for it too.

Apple is making things complicated when they don't have to be. That's why there decision to charge for these minor upgrades is a slap in the face to anyone who uses there devices.

[aristoBrat]

Originally Posted by isilver

Apple is making things complicated when they don't have to be. That's why there decision to charge for these minor upgrades is a slap in the face to anyone who uses there devices.

Since you're not a Touch owner, maybe you're not aware of Apple's upgrade history with the Touch.

Free:
version 1.1.1 iPod Touch firmware update
version 1.1.2 iPod Touch firmware update
version 1.1.3 iPod Touch firmware update

Not Free:
adding 5 new applications to the Touch


Accounting rules behind iPod touch update charge
http://www.macworld.com/article/1319...ipodtouch.html

[stsanford]

AS a new Mac switcher, and as an IT person, I feel I can make some informed comments here:

1. Arrogance.. No, I don't think it's arrogance, maybe from uncle Steve, but the company understands service and high quality. My MacBook Air has had a couple of issues, but they basically kissed my a** to get them resolved. This made me happy. As an IT Consultant, I understand the model of better service for more money, it's what I offer my clients, so it's a very "good fit" in my head.

2. MacBook Air is an amazing machine. I absolutely love it. I carry it with me more often than my last 2 laptops combined.

3. I run Parallels and even on what some seem to feel is an anemic MBA, it runs my main applications as well as it does native software. It's a good solution to Outlool / Entourage...

4. iPhone. As a WM user from back when they were called Windows CE, then as an early PocketPC Phone Edition adopter all the way up to my current Trel 750, I can say that the form factor of the iPhone is intriguing, however with no 3-rd party support, it hasn't won me over. Add to this the fact that my WM6 device won't do OOO changes or read HTML mail until I upgrade my Ex2003 to Ex2007. This is total BS and very typical Microsoft. Their "solution" is always to sell as many license to as many of their products as possible. (At work though, I do like this to a certain degree. Microsoft products basically pay my mortgage!)

5. Entourage is a total piece of cr*p. I cannot believe how absolutely ugly, slow, lame and generally useless. It's making me think of getting an iPhone, moving my e-mail off Exchange and onto a mail server, using IMAP and having my iPhone set to check every 2 minutes. Who needs Direct Push?

Anyway, [/RANT] and [/COMMENTS] My opinion comes free... just about what it's worth.