Wintel 7 machines freeze out iPhone

From The Register -

Per user complaints posted on Apple's discussion board, computers based on the Intel P55 chipset and running Windows 7 have problems recognizing the iPhone, with sync attempts getting an error message - "error 0xE8000065" - an iPhone-connection failure notification. The problem also occurs when using a PC's motherboard-based USB port or a powered USB hub, while attempts to use a PCI-based USB card, which bypasses the P55's on-board USB controller, sometimes end with the BSOD (blue screen of death).

Some users have had success with fixes including deleting the iPodDevices.xml file from C:\Users username\AppData\Local\Apple Computer\iTunes, by disabling Bonjour, or by digging into the BIOS to turn on C-state capability.

Netbook Battery Hacked Into iPhone USB Charger

From Oh Gizmo -

Prusadjs decided mod the battery from his MSI Wind and install a USB port directly onto it so that he can plug and charge his iPhone. While the port is obviously no good for data, he can still use the battery with his netbook. Unfortunately he does have to remove the battery to charge his phone, which can be a bit of an inconvenience.

Details here.

iPhone's biggest competition might be the ASUS Eee PC

Just came across a rather dated but still timely article on how the iPhone and Asus Eee PC impact each other's market by Seth Weintraub on the Computerworld blog. Weintraub talks of the iPhone being a success not only because it is a computer in the form of a phone, it has a very user-friendly but powerful OS with a browser comparable in usability with desktop browsers. Hence, it is also grabbing Internet market share like no other phone in history.

He then cites French telecom SFR bundling the EeePC with a 3G USB dongle package for €199 down and €29/month, which is a very attractive deal. (In addition to SFR, Philippine mobile telecom Smart and a Japanese telco have also offered bundles.) Significantly, SFR is France's second leading mobile carrier and it lost the battle to sell the iPhone to France Telecom's Orange. SFR is partially owned by Vodafone which is also part owner of Verizon in the US. If the Eee PC deal is successful, Vodafone should fine it easy to replicate elsewhere.

Now that Apple has launched its 3G iPhone via exclusive deals with telcos in several countries, perhaps we can expect more such bundles to be offered.

Source article here.

How iPhone Sales May Affect the Asus Eee

Back in March 2007, DRAMeXchange reported that contract prices for 4-, 8-, 16-, and 32-Gb single-level cell NAND Flash chips increased by 4 – 7%, the second such jump for the year. The hike was attributed to a projected lack of supply as most of those vendors readjusted their respective fab capacity after NAND Flash prices plummeted last year.

The problem now was that MP3, cell phone, and SSD manufacturers have been aggressively placing large orders to NAND Flash suppliers in order to stock up on inventory. All of the non-hard-disk based MP3 players and mobile phones including the Apple Shuffle, and nano, and the iPhone use flash memory. In fact, demand had increased much earlier than normal for this year, resulting in an expected continued price increase through the second half as the iPhone and and other competing products hit the market.

Now a new report from the firm confirmed that the trend shows no signs of reversing. In an update, DRAMeXchange said that devices like the iPhone and iPod are on target to consume no less than 25% of the total Q3 NAND flash capacity. And because a huge portion of the chip capacity is being allocated to Apple, many downstream vendors are being left flash-less.

Compounding the shortage are the production snags in the migration to more advanced NAND Flash manufacturing processes that has led to a lower-than-expected output. As with all new technology, the new production process has yet to be streamlined, and current capacity is not meeting the original production plans.

It may take two-to-three quarters before the production kinks are worked out and higher levels of chip production is achieved. Thus DRAMeXchange is predicting that a fairly substantial flash chip shortage will occur sometime during Q3 this year with prices continuing to rise.

As the Asus Eee uses NAND Flash for its storage, production may be affected by the shortage, putting in jeopardy the scheduled August launch.