Good news for AT&T users...

CNET announced that the Apple iPhone is now available to users without a two year contract. Not a great deal, since the phone is still $599-$699 without a two-year contract. However, the part I am excited about is that some users are being offered the discount price even if they are not eligible for an upgrade. That's me! I am still a little weary though, because as Apple predictions go, they are usually on target. The next one is that a new iPhone may come out this summer. Either way I don't like that the iPhone has no keyboard other than a touch screen, but I'm curious to see what a new iPhone would look like.

Porn on the iPhone?!

http://blogs.computerworld.com/apple_app_store_cydia_porn
When I searched Apple News today, the headline for this story made me think it would be a story about App Stores on other kinds of phones other than the iPhone. No luck! This is a story about the against-the-rules applications that work on the iPhone that the blogger thinks should be legal. Apparently, he also believes that Apple's policy to only offer PG-13 and less offensive things is wrong. There is a big market in porn, so offer it on the iPhone he suggests! What in the world! For the iPhone to remain competitive, he suggests, Apple will need to stoop to offering porn in the App Store. I doubt that. I do not currently have an iPhone, but if I were in the market for a new phone, the App Store currently offered may just sway my decision. Imagine if there were an "Adult" section on the App Store, like he suggests. The first comment he has on the blog is from someone whose kids like the games they can play on the iPhone. Consider then the damage if the unknowing child clicks "Adult" instead of their favorite game. Do we really want porn that accessible? Is it really so important we have to have handheld access to it at any moment? I think Apple may have higher standards than that; at least I hope so!

Possible Ad

When I originally watched this video, I thought it was a good ad for an upcoming Blackberry. Instead, its the ad that could have been of the impact of the Blackberry Storm on the iPhone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7e9vpxFWcI

Apple Board of Directors

Bill CampbellChairman and former CEOIntuit Corp.
Millard DrexlerChairman and CEOJ. Crew
Albert Gore Jr.Former Vice President of the United States
Steve JobsCEO, Apple
Andrea JungChairman and CEO, Avon Products
Arthur D. Levinson, Ph. D.Chairman and CEOGenentech
Dr. Eric SchmidtCEO Google
Jerry YorkChairman, President and CEOHarwinton Capital

I copied this information directly from the Apple website. Each member has a recognizable company that they work for or have worked for, and only one of the members is an inside person to Apple, which is good for a Board of Directors. My only concern with this is with such a high profile Board, how do they have time to make decisions for Apple?? Also, the CEO of Google...wouldn't he have a conflict of interest with the new G1 and the iPhone? Either way, Apple is an extremely successful company..so whatever they are doing at the moment seems to be working!