GetItNext Blog

Battle of the Browsers!

Being new to the mac platform I was only able to choose between a handful of internet browsers available for OS X. Whether it was Opera, Firefox, Safari, or Camino I was going to need a browser that could serve my typical web browsing needs. When it came down to it I eventually grew attached to OS X's included and default browser that comes as part of the iLife suite of applications bundled with the macbook laptop. Since I've begun using it I must say that I have never been let down and I feel that it has all the necessary functions to serve my browsing needs. In time though I did realize that Safari was not compatible with everything on the net. When I came to this unfortunate realization I had to find another browser that could function as my "back up" browser when Safari couldn't function properly for such sites as typepad for writing blogs... If that flew over your head than I should let you know that I am using the alternate browser right now which is the very popular Firefox. Being curious about the Firefox side of things I did give it a try as my default browser but that only lasted a few days before I was missing my Safari. Now after being able to experience both browsers for some time now I have some things I like and on the other hand some things I don't. For Safari I have to say that I thoroughly enjoy the very simple interface along with the very elegant GUI which gives it a more mature and "upper class" look. Just to show you a comparison in terms of elegance I have taken a screen-shot of both browsers on the very popular and familiar website facebook.

Now as you can see, Safari uses a very cool looking blue shadow around the boxes to show which you have clicked on and it turns the typical square login button into a very pleasing brushed metal oval button. Along with this Safari does seem to soften the look of some texts on websites to make them look more modern and less "old school." Speaking of old school, if you've never seen the DVD I highly recommend checking it out.

Anyways, now as we look at the Firefox side of things it does have that typical browser look with the ugly yellow highlighting and the standard looking buttons. One other little GUI feature that I do like in Safari is the nice looking animation for moving texts or bookmarks. In the end this is only a matter of looks but for me and my minimal browsing needs, little things like this do go noticed. Now in terms of usability I once again do seem to prefer Safari as it does seem to be noticeably faster than Firefox, especially in terms of start-up. On the other hand Firefox does impress me with some things that I wish Safari had. One of these is its find feature that pops up at the bottom to avoid cluttering your screen. There is also the very nice double-click tab feature that allows you to just double-click the tab bar in any open spot to open a new tab. With Safari though you need to right-click to open a new tab or use one of the keyboard shortcuts. Firefox also does have the great advantage of having the Google toolbar available for download which I personally do miss a lot from my old browser. I really do wish that Google would get on top of things and finally make a toolbar for Safari!

In the end both are great browsers but for the time being I will stick with Safari for my browsing needs...I'm already getting withdrawal symptoms!

Ps. Keep an eye out for a continuation of this battle of the browsers, I will be posting a follow-up in the future.

Victor

Searching eBay made easier!  getitnext.com

Want to get more juice out of your laptop battery? Here's how:

If you have owned a laptop in your lifetime, surely you have been subject to all of the benefits and flaws of having a mobile office. Sure it's great to carry your files with you where ever you go; to go into other offices and simply plug into their local area network and to have a form of entertainment during those long cross-continental flights. But what if after only 12 months, your brand new laptop that cost you $2500+ no longer works without being plugged in? Well... unfortunately, it's not as unusual as you may think.

Research shows that the lifespan of an average laptop battery is cut in half after only 12-18 months of use. While newer models Dell, Sony and Fujitsu promise to offer a longer lasting battery, the reality is that any laptop using Microsoft Windows Vista  can expect to run out of juice much sooner than promised by these manufactures.

Making it through a long flight or most or your regular day without "plugging in" is a goal most mobile professionals and enthusiasts wish to accomplish. Despite the added resource drainage of operating under Vista, there are a number of ways that will help extend the life of your laptop battery.

If it's too late for you - and your laptop is already showing signs of premature aging, you're left searching for laptop battery deals that will fit your computer. Just remember, next time you consider buying a laptop, make sure you research your laptop in advance.

Eric
getitnext.com
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iPhone HACK allows users to bypass AT&T activation

Just in time for Independence day (as reported on msnbc) a well-known hacker claims to have overcome restrictions on Apple Inc.’s iPhone, allowing highly technical users to bypass AT&T Inc.’s network to use the phone’s Internet and music features.

In a post dated July 3 on his blog, Jon Johansen, 23, a prolific hacker of consumer electronics gadgets since he was a teenager in Norway, said “I’ve found a way to activate a brand new unactivated iPhone” without signing up for AT&T service.

“The iPhone does not have phone capability, but the iPod and Wi-Fi work. Stay tuned!” he wrote on his long-running blog, which is combatively named “So Sue Me.” The post was entitled ”iPhone Independence Day.”

The site contained technical details for other hackers, as well as links to software necessary to complete the process.

One potential use would be for an iPhone user living or traveling outside the United States to access the iPhone’s music player and Internet service over Wi-Fi connections without using the phone.

AT&T spokesman Mark Siegel said it was necessary to activate the iPhone on AT&T’s network to ensure optimum performance. Using the phone without AT&T’s two-year service contract was unauthorized under the phone carrier’s exclusive network service contract with Apple, Siegel added.

“Any other use of the device is not authorized and we can’t guarantee the device will perform as intended to. We’ll monitor situations like this and if necessary we will take appropriate action,” he said. “Our terms and conditions are very clear.”

He did not elaborate on potential action AT&T might take.

Apple spokeswoman Natalie Kerris declined to comment on Johansen’s claims.

Apple has yet to reveal network operator deals in markets outside the United States. But the iPhone is a quad-band GSM phone and will work in many parts of Europe and Asia with international roaming deals arranged by AT&T, Kerris said.

Neither Apple nor AT&T have disclosed sales figures since the iPhone went on sale in the United States on June 29, but some analysts have estimated sales of up to 700,000 units for the costly coveted phone’s first weekend on the market.

Johansen became known as “DVD Jon” earlier this decade for helping to reverse engineer the code used to protect DVD movies against piracy, saying he did so in order to play them on his Linux computer.

The computer activist has engaged in a cat-and-mouse game with Apple to bypass copyright controls on various Apple products, including QuickTime, iTunes and Apple TV.

To find your own iPhone deals check our the link.

Matt
getitnext.com

iPhone inventory secrecy built up the hype and is hurting auction resale

Where’s the profit, that’s what eBay and Craigslist sellers looking to cash in on the iPhone craze are asking. 40 hours have passed since the iPhone went on sale on Friday evening and profits are tightening. It appears most resellers on eBay and other auction sites are having a tough time unloading the phones for a profit.

According to an AP article, only 745 of 8,000 iPhone offerings on Ebay have actually been sold. The early sellers lucky enough to find a buyer landed $950+ on average, the 4GB iPhone retails at $499 for and the 8GB model goes for $599. For the early seller that is a tidy profit, however sellers with iPhones listed since Friday evening are having a much tougher time finding buyers.

What happened to the market and all the hype you ask? Well for one thing, Apple kept the public in the dark about the exact amount of inventory. Apple also released new details each day last week, building and driving the hype to frenzy. Speculation on how many iPhones would be available at launch was rampant days leading up to the launch. Most people assumed the phones would sell out and that drove many individuals to buy phones to cash in on the surging demand. However, Apple had plenty of phones and with iPhone’s in stock at most Apple retail outlets demand has dwindled on auction sites. AT&T stores, the phone's exclusive operator, have sold out on the 8GB models, but still have 4GB ones in stock which they expect to sell out shortly.

Currently most eBay auctions are closing around the retail price, leaving the seller to pay for the eBay commission and the sales tax on the unit. A $600 closing price carries about $25 in listing and closing fees.  Sales taxes vary by state and can range from 0 to 8.65 per cent. So unless inventory dries up, sellers are going to be hard pressed to earn a profit.

For you bargain hunters click on the link for iPhone deals on ebay.

Still on the fence, Click here to read my review on the iPhone.

Below is a screen shot displaying the varying prices of iPhones found on eBay via getitnext.com

Matt

Searching eBay made easier!  getitnext

iPhone deals can be found on eBay

I took another quick peek this morning to see what iPhones are selling for on eBay. Low and behold several have sold for under the retail price. I found several 8 gig units selling for $550 vs the $600 retail value. I also found that some sellers may have made a lot of money. Early in the day on Friday, during the madness, some buyers bid and won auctions that ended in the $1000 - $1500 range. There is also one listing that has the auction ending early via buy it now and the closing price is $12,500.00 with free same day delivery included. The person that bid has 1 feedback in their account so I highly doubt that seller is going to collect.  Which may be the case with a lot of the closed auctions, buyers may realize that they can drive down to the mall and pay retail instead of hundreds over market. Will all those sellers collect?

AT&T is reporting that they are almost sold out of iPhones at their retail stores, no word yet from Apple. It will be interesting to see if supply dwindles whether eBay sellers will see a spike or will they be hard pressed to move the units and in the end be forced to return them.

There are bargains to be had on the units, so if you’re in the market and want to try and find some click here: iPhone deals & accessories. Don’t forget to use the add, remove and category features to help find exactly what you’re looking for.

Matt

Searching eBay for iPhones made easier. getitnext.com

TomTom Navigation Systems are a big hit!

Despite all the hype that has been created over the iPhone there is another gadget on the market that seen a significant increase in popularity over the past few months. TomTom is a leading maker of navigation systems for automobiles, motorcycles, personal digital assistants, and mobile phones. Established in 2003, its true popularity started getting eyeballs earlier this year after the company launched TomTom One XL. Among the new features is a pre-installed database of safety camera locations which warns you when there is a fixed safety camera on your route. The device also features a 4.3” wide screen – which is among the sharpest I’ve seen out there, ahead of Garmin Nuvi 250 and the Delphi NAV200.

Despite its recent success, will TomTom be able to see continued growth in upcoming years or will new cars with navigations systems built-in simply force TomTom to extinction?

I’ve had my TomTom One for over a year now and quite frankly, I can’t imagine going back to having a paper map in my glove department. While mine still works great, this new device has me thinking of upgrading very soon. The fact that it's portable - allowing me to take it into any car - is still a big selling feature for me, along with the improved screen and other new features.

iPhone for Canadians coming soon

As everyone knows today at 6pm Apple’s New iPhone hits the USA.  Since I work for a company based in Canada I figured it would be nice if I posted a non-us centric blog for my Canadian buds.  It always seems that Canada gets things last: music, trends, retirement ceremonies, fashion, electronics, warm weather...

Well the iPhone continues this pattern, however there is hope.  Its a good news bads news sort of thing.  The rumor is that the iPhone will be available in Canada mid 2008 however Apple will be going with Rogers, the largest Canadian GSM wireless carrier.   Prices and official launch date have not been announced as negotiations with Rogers are ongoing.  Most people I talk to are not huge fans of Rogers, so its a bit like the US and Apple going with AT&T wireless. 

What is it: the revolutionary iPhone has been in production for five years and features a 3.5inch touch wide screen display, core animation based on OSX, a rich HTML email client, ipod, gps, etc etc. Initial price points in the US are $499USD for a 4GB and $599 for an 8GB model.

If you live south of the border and want an iPhone or want to see how crazy the bidding is on ebay check out the latest ebay auctions.  Don't forget to use our add and remove keyword technology to help you sift through the accessories.

Matt
Searching eBay made easier!  getitnext

iPhone mania, people being paid to create mayhem to disrupt lines

With lines growing steadily and Apple releasing more and more buzz building information each day things are getting really crazy.  Earlier this week we all heard how people on Craig’s list are getting paid in the range of $250 to $1000 to stand in line for an iPhone.

Now there is a company selling mayhem services.  Here's how it works:  Stuck in a long line for an iPone, and want to get people to leave?

There is a company called "Over Here, Jerks!".  For $50 bucks they will go to Apple or AT&T stores and release a wild animal, let loose a bad smell, or do something else disgusting, shocking, or scary.  The plan:  Everybody in line runs away, except for the company's client, who'll be first up to purchase the much sought after iPhone.

As noted in the Washington Post: "You might even have time to grab a few lawn chairs, sleeping bags, and sandwiches amid the mayhem!" according to the group's Craigslist ad.  Matt Gimmer's company will create distractions, and other mayhem with the goal to get people to leave the iPhone line.

“According to a Craigslist.com ad, Grimmer says his company, Over Here, Jerks Inc., includes a dozen stuntmen, a few chinchillas, bearded-dragon lizards and a goat. A desperate would-be iPhone owner can pay $50 for three antics -- possibly the release of noxious fumes, piercing sounds or wild animals near the line -- whatever it takes to get customers to abandon their quest for the coveted phone,” according to the story.

$50 seems like a bargain compared to the sitter fees.  Tomorrow is going to be a wild day.  More to come.

Check out how many iPhone listings there are already on eBay.

Matt
Searching eBay made easier!  getitnext

iPhone reviews are very positive

The first reviews from mainstream media are trickling in here is a sampling from one of the first reviews:

The Wall Street Journal's Walter Mossberg and Katherine Boehret have an outstanding write up after using the iPhone for 2 weeks.  Click here to read the full article.

Below are some of the important notes:
- "Our verdict is that, despite some flaws and feature omissions, the iPhone is, on balance, a beautiful and breakthrough handheld computer."
- "Its software, especially, sets a new bar for the smart-phone industry, and its clever finger-touch interface, which dispenses with a stylus and most buttons, works well, though it sometimes adds steps to common functions."
- "It has the largest and highest-resolution screen of any smart phone we've seen, and the most internal memory by far. Yet it is one of the thinnest smart phones available and offers impressive battery life, better than its key competitors claim."
- "The iPhone's most controversial feature, the omission of a physical keyboard in favor of a virtual keyboard on the screen, turned out in our tests to be a nonissue, despite our deep initial skepticism."
- "Hardware: The iPhone is simply beautiful. It is thinner than the skinny Samsung BlackJack, yet almost its entire surface is covered by a huge, vivid 3.5-inch display."
- "Expectations for the iPhone have been so high that it can't possibly meet them all. It isn't for the average person who just wants a cheap, small phone for calling and texting. But, despite its network limitations, the iPhone is a whole new experience and a pleasure to use."

For more blogs on the iPhone click here.

To purchase an iPhone or accessories click here.

Make sure to check back on Friday night when I will provide you with my own review of the iPhone.

Matt
getitnext

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The big Apple. iPhone buzz is building

For all you gotta have it people, the line already started.  100 hours before the first iPhone is sold to the public, people are already camping out.  Click on this to check out one of the first on line http://digg.com/apple/Interview_With_the_First_Two_iPhone_Campers_in_NY.

The buzz is not only building on the streets and sidewalks outside stores but also on the net.  There are over 70,700,000 (thats MILLION) results on google when you type in iPhone.  Over on technorati there are over 292,000 blogs about it already.  A quick search on getitnext brings back 1822 iPhone listings for products related to the iPhone.  Luckily its not the holiday season or this would be crazier than the last year's Sony PS3 craze.

Matt
getitnext