Apple iPhone Loses to Blackberry in Q1 2009

Now, this was quite unexpected. Especially when Maxis in Malaysia recently launched the iPhone. According to the research company; The NPD Group, they reported BlackBerry mobile devices gained 50 percent of the US smartphone market.

On the other hand, is it really a surprise because I’ve told Apple iPhone enthusiasts in Malaysia the Apple iPhone isn’t really a smartphone. It’s more of a lifestyle mobile phone. Lifestyle being a mobile device to make people oogle and awe at your Apple iPhone when you whip it out.

In terms of being a smartphone for entrepreneurs or businessmen, the Apple iPhone is definitely lacking in key areas. Otherwise, heavily relies on the iPhone applications in the iTunes store.

One such example is ability to forward SMS messages. Another good example is the ability to edit or view common digital office files by default. Like, Microsoft Word, Adobe PDF and etc.

If you’re not using the Apple iPhone, what smartphone are you using now?

Fancy Font Replacement Support For The iPhone

There’s now another method besides sIFR (scalable Inman Flash Replacement) or even @font-face for fancy text replacement. It usees Javascript and is called; Cufon.

Easy to explain technicality is you’ll have to convert the font library you want into a font Javascript library – hope that makes sense. Then, get the Cufon library running and define the headings you want to replace.

And yes, Cufon now only promotes usage of text replacement for headings. While some may argue it’s not flexible enough, it’s enough for me. Sitepoint has done a good job comparing between the pros and cons of existing text replacement methods.

Do you use an image text replacement technique for your projects now?

Maxis Malaysia Officially Launches Apple iPhone 3G

Ladies and gentlemen, it is CONFIRMED! It started off in Twitter about a private launch supposedly happening in KLCC – March 20 – 22. But my friends on Twitter have helped confirmed this. All it took was this landing page; Maxis iPhone.

All great news and yippy-kai-yay aside, I personally think their Apple iPhone packages could be much better. The Apple iPhone price range is from as low as RM1080 (8GB – RM0 24 per month contract) to as high as RM2960 (16GB – RM2960 6 month contract).

The one thing I truly didn’t like; no unlimited data usage! Maximum is 3GB. And, this term attached to it I don’t understand:

Data included in i-Value Plans applies to GPRS usage only and excludes SMS, mobile content downloads and other subscription based services. Data bundle is for local usage only. While roaming overseas, the prevailing data roaming charges will apply.

Would that mean Maxis is asking Malaysia Apple iPhone users to pay additional RM99 per month for the unlimited data usage?! When we already might need to pay RM1470 for the 16GB and RM375 per month for the 12-month i-Value 4 plan.

In my mind, I’d say this is exploitation and dumb. But for the benefit of Malaysia Apple iPhone users, and myself which I’ve been interested at getting the Maxis 3G plan, it’s plain stupid.

If Maxis reads this, please bundle the unlimited data usage starting from the 12-month i-Value 1 plan.

Or, price the Apple iPhone lower in the Value Plus Plans. I’d recommend RM2000 for 8GB and RM 2500 for the 16GB Apple iPhone. This’ll not only assure Malaysia Apple iPhone market share, but you’ll also be winning over unofficial Apple iPhone reseller customers.

Don’t you Malaysia Apple iPhone users and fans agree?

Apple iPhone Mophie Battery Pack in Malaysia

Ever since the Apple iPhone firmware update from 1.1.4 I noticed the Apple iPhone battery drains rather quick. This later was apparently improved in the release of firmware 2.1 and 2.2. And true enough, I’ve found the battery lasting longer.

But, if you’re an Apple iPhone owner in Malaysia with higher expectations of its battery life, maybe you should check out the Mophie Juice Pack. It’s an extended battery pack for the Apple iPhone. Here are some photos I took at my resellers office.

My reseller also complied to demonstrate how easy it is to use the Mophie juice pack by slotting in his Apple iPhone 3G. This was the recorded video demonstration of the Mophie “Juice Pack” battery pack for the Apple iPhone.

This video demonstration was recorded on my Apple iPhone using the Cycorder video recorder application. A real dandy tool for video recording with the Apple iPhone with firmware 2.0+, and it’s free!

Malaysian 9 Year Old iPhone Application Developer

I’m beginning to feel there’s no such thing as too early to start anything right now. Plus, what surprised me is how our local Malaysia newspapers never picked this up. It’s already been plastered over at BBC News. What? Is it because he’s a Malaysian kid residing in Singapore?

The boy; Lim Ding Wen, innocent kid only wanted to create the iPhone application called; Doodle Kids, for his two younger sisters. Talk about pure passion.

Read the whole story of his accomplishments of being fluent in six (6) programming languages at the BBC website. Image credits: BBC