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ExtraBITS for 27-Jul-09

10 Years of AirPort — Apple introduced AirPort Wi-Fi networking just about 10 years ago at Macworld Expo New York, and you can once again see Phil Schiller jumping from a platform onto an inflatable pad while holding the original iBook. Steve Jobs notes in the keynote that Apple worked over 18 months with Lucent to develop the system, which explains why AirPort performed better than any other 802.11b systems for years to follow. (Posted 2009-07-24)

Apple Claims 91 Percent of Premium PC Market Revenue — BetaNews analyzes a startling NPD Group research report showing that, in June 2009, Apple earned 91 percent of the market revenue for computers priced over $1,000, up significantly from 66 percent in Q1 2008. This is largely because the average Windows-based PC price is $515, whereas the average Mac price is $1,400, but all the major PC makers also produce premium PCs too, and Apple is clearly eating them for lunch. (Posted 2009-07-24)

Amazon CEO Apologizes for Kindle Book Deletion — Jeff Bezos, founder and chief of Amazon.com, posted a short but succinct apology for removing books from Kindles; Amazon didn’t have the right to sell those books, but Bezos acknowledged that the removal was “stupid, thoughtless, and painfully out of line with our principles.” For background, see “Double Plus Ungoods: Amazon Unpublishes Orwell,” 2009-07-19. (Posted 2009-07-23)

AT&T Admits iPhone Exclusivity Will End — AT&T’s CEO admits at a conference that “a day in the future” the firm may not be the only U.S. carrier to offer the iPhone. He also tries to brush off network problems, and claims he’s an iPhone abuser when he travels to find problems “with Web surfing, app using, and emailing” – because none of his subscribers do those things, of course. (Posted 2009-07-23)

David Pogue Takes Cell Phone Carriers to Task — New York Times columnist David Pogue quickly dispenses with the question of why there isn’t an iPhone that works with Verizon Wireless. Then he pulls no punches as he lays out five questionable business practices on the part of U.S. cellular carriers. Forward this one to your elected representatives! (Posted 2009-07-23)

Clearwire Will Release Mac Drivers for WiMax Service — Clearwire says it will provide Mac OS X drivers for its so-called fourth-generation (4G) WiMax wireless network service on 17-Aug-09. So far, Clearwire’s multi-Mbps network is available only in Atlanta, Baltimore, Las Vegas, and Portland, OR. (Posted 2009-07-21)

Universal Integrates Blu-ray Disc and iPhone App — Macworld reports on Universal Studios Home Video’s forthcoming Blu-ray release of “Fast & Furious” that will enable users to control a special disc feature via an iPhone app, marking the first integration of Blu-ray and the iPhone. While the feature isn’t mind-blowing – controlling 360-degree views of cars and viewing their specs – Universal plans in the future to enable users to control playback, access film information, and even chat about the movie via Twitter and Facebook. (Posted 2009-07-21)

Barnes & Noble Offers Ebooks without Reader Hardware — Barnes & Noble has opened up the electronic book market a bit with 700,000 titles (500,000 from Google Books) that can be read with eReader software for Mac OS X, Windows, iPhone, and BlackBerry. Best-sellers are priced at $9.99. The firm’s books can be read on the forthcoming Plastic Logic eReader, but not via the Sony Reader or Amazon Kindle models or Kindle software. (Posted 2009-07-21)

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