iDon’t vs iCan: Verizon’s Droid vs Apple’s iPhone

Related Post How Verizon’s iDon’t commercial should have been

For those of you hoping for a Verizon iPhone next year, it looks like AT&T was able to extend their exclusivity contract for at least another year. Today Verizon continued their negative ad campaign against AT&T and the iPhone.

YouTube link via The iPhone Blog

I find it interesting that all the iPhone ads show what the iPhone iCan, while Verizon is all about the iDon’t. Verizon has taken the negative approach which to me is a sign of desperation and/or frustration over not getting a piece of the pie. Yes, Apple has also dabbled in a negative approach with Microsoft in the the Mac vs PC ads where Apple jokes about the shortcomings of Windows, but at least they try to keep those ads fun (even if some are kind of dumb) and don’t seem like dark, over dramatic political smear campaigns. Verizon’s first negative ad was a play off Apple’s, there’s an app for that commercials, but was mainly attacking AT&T’s service. Now the gloves have really come off with Verizon going directly after the iPhone. Verizon is hyping up their new self branded Android phone called Droid, produced by Motorola (via Daring Fireball). If this new Verizon phone had anything special about it, they wouldn’t be talking about what the iPhone can’t do, but what makes the Droid special. I’m taking a wait and see approach on this one, but my gut is telling me this won’t even be as good as the Pre.

Now, let me step out of fanboy mode…

The only iDon’ts that make sense to me are background apps and customization. If this Droid can “background app” like the Pre than this is a valid point. The lack of background apps on the iPhone doesn’t really bug me, but it’d be nice to have it for specific apps (radio apps anyone?). Also, keep in mind the iPhone does do limited background apps for the built in apps like iPod. On the customization front, they do have another strong point (for those not willing to jailbreak). This is also the theme of the MyTouch Android phone ads in which they are really playing up the “make it your phone”. For me the limits of making the iPhone, myPhone, don’t outweigh the benefits. I’m sure there is plenty of you out there that would disagree and that’s why I give Verizon another point for this one.

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Apple vs ?, Humor, iPhone

In App purchases now available for free apps

Apple is now allowing developers to sell free apps with the ability for “in app” purchases, which was previously not allowed. This opens the door for some interesting uses, such as ebook readers. Other uses could be to replace the lite version of apps with a free version and have users pay for extra levels, tools, etc. with in app purchases.

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iPhone, iPhone apps, iTunes

App Review: PushGmail … know when you’ve got gmail

Push notification for Gmail is something that a lot of people wanted ever since the launch of the iPhone and the answer to that came a few weeks ago with Gmail introducing Google Sync. This new product from Google allows you to connect to your Gmail inbox, contacts, calendar and get push notification for new messages, appointments, etc. Everything everyone wanted.

So, what does this have to do with PushGmail(iTunes link) you ask? Well, Google Sync uses the Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync Protocol, which is essentially like connecting your iPhone to an Exchange Server. And as we all know, the iPhone only allows 1 ActiveSync connection, so what do we do if we are already connecting to an Exchange Server and we want push for Gmail? That’s where this app comes in.

In essence the app does what the name suggests, it notifies you when you get an email in your Gmail inbox. The setup is fairly simple, just type in your account and password and that’s it, you are all done. You’ll get a pop up alert when a new message comes in. The only other option you get is how to view the message when you press the “View” button in the pop up. You can either view it in the app, which basically is the mobile version of Gmail, or you can set it to open the Mail application. However, there’s one flaw with the second option, whenever you click on view instead of opening the actual message it will open the app to the edit new email screen, which is very weird since what you want is to read the new email and not write a new one.

Anyways it does what it’s supposed to… Just close the pop up alert and then open the Mail app directly… and for $0.99 it’s not that bad…

Follow me on Twitter @chiyinng

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iPhone, iPhone apps, Reviews

Updated: AT&T allows VOIP on 3G network, looks who’s trying to improve their image

AT&T gave us one less reason to hate them today:

AT&T today announced it has taken the steps necessary so that Apple can enable VoIP applications on iPhone to run on AT&T’s wireless network. Previously, VoIP applications on iPhone were enabled for Wi-Fi connectivity.

So we should soon (if Apple plays ball) have VoIP 3G apps on the iPhone, plus we now have working MMS and improving network quality in the 850MHz range. Oh yeah, and hopefully by the end of the year we will 7.2Mbps in select cities!

With this latest news and the fact that I’m in one of those “select cities” I’m starting to think positively of AT&T again.  How about you? Do you still have those negative feels towards AT&T?

UPDATE Looks like Apple is already moving to support this. The Loop is reporting:

“We are very happy that AT&T is now supporting VoIP applications,” Apple spokesperson, Natalie Kerris, Told The Loop. “We will be amending our developer agreements to get VoIP apps on the App Store and in customers’ hands as soon as possible.”

(via @TUAW)

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at&t, iPhone

Microsoft’s Bing didn’t work out? Changing to energy drink?

Probably not, but I thought it was funny.

(via @stevedawson)

Follow me on Twitter @justin_horn

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Apple vs ?, Humor, Microsoft