WWDC 2008: What To Expect From Apple?

The tech world is getting nervous as the WWDC 2008 approaches. Everybody is placing a bet on what to expect from Apple.

Steve jobs is going to open the first day (2008/06/09) with a keynote at 10am. Everything tends to be great when Steve decides to open a conference. Usually great launches and new products or, at least, big upgrades to existing ones.

So we, @ tugga tech, decided to place a bet...
Everybody else is doing it... Why don't we? :-)
More betting after the jump.

From our point of view here's a list of what to be expected @ WWDC 2008. Five (5) announcements:


1. 3G iPhone (99,9% sure)

Definitely the only sure bet. 3G is coming to the iPhone. Apple as agreements with almost every mobile network provider in the world now so they have to compete with Europe's 3.5G networks. Jobs wants to overcome the 10mi milestone until the end of the year and people are demanding faster connections in the iPhone. We believe bluetooth is going to be standard and connect to all devices. Also to expect the new 1.2.0 firmware with powerful new software toys. A decent camera with 5.0 MP and video are also a plus. The iPhone 2.0 is going to be slimmer and 32GB.


2. New Macbook aluminum case (50% sure)

Every-other computer from Apple is already aluminum so why not MBs? Also the new multi-touch trackpad is coming to the MB.


3. New Macbook Pro (70% sure)

iMacs have 3.06GHz processors why shouldn't MBPs? Also a new and larger multi-touch trackpad and blue-ray optical drives. Bigger and faster HDs are a plus. 3G connection? Maybe over bluetooth using the iPhone? (yeah right).


4. Macbook Air new speeds and capacity (30% sure)

The New Macbook Air launched last February is expensive and slow. A new 2.2GHz chip is going inside and also new larger and faster HDs. Anyway you can make it slimmer and lighter? Probably not.


5. All iPods going touch (30% sure)

Apple is so kinky about the new multi-touch pads so why not make all iPods touch aware? Maybe the Nano first and new design to iPod classic.


In the meannwhile you can download the WWDC countdown widget from here.
Lets wait for the 9th of june to see... Any comments?

Photo credit: Jonathan Snyder/Wired.com
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Interlog: The Worst Apple Authorized Service Centre Ever!!!

Many of you may ask: What about Apple Authorized Service Centres in a country where there's no official Apple Store? Portugal is one of those countries. But then there's Interlog. An official Apple Care Centre private company.
Today I decided to request a new battery for my MacBook Pro because the current one, fully charged, was giving me about an hour of power supply. I went to www.apple.com/pt/support/contact/ for more details and I found out that my battery was in the list of defected batteries and Apple would give a new one free of charge (warranty covered) replacing the defected one. This is the beginning of a crusade... More fighting after the jump!

I called the Apple support number. This is a portuguese support number but all the calls are redirected to Ireland (the Official Apple Support for Europe). A Brazilian guy answered my call in Cork, Ireland and everything was fine. The questions he asked pointed me to a new battery. I got a case number and he told me to go to the nearest Apple Centre representative to swap my battery. The case number should be sufficient to allow the exchange.

When I got to Interlog they asked me for the computer serial number and "voila!", there it was... The case number telling them to swap my battery. But then the problems began...

The lady at the reception told me I was supposed to leave my MBP for testing and it should be ready in 3 or 4 days. Humm??!? But you have an online Apple written information that says: "replace customer battery: allowed", I said! Yes but we have to test the entire computer for defects and verify that the information about the battery is true, she said.

True??!? But Apple Europe told you to replace the battery so why should you test the entire computer for defects if I have no complaints about the computer... Just the battery?!
Internal procedures, she said!

I want to speak to your manager, I demanded!

The manager (Marco Afonso) came and explained everything! We don't care about what Apple says. We have internal procedures! So you have to leave the entire computer and provide us with the login password. After logging into your user and take a peak at ALL YOUR PRIVATE DATA we'll return it with the new battery in 3 or 4 days. Yes, we don't have a battery stock so we have to order it!

Password??!? My password??!? No battery stock??!? But then you'll have access to all my private data...

No problem... You can format your HD and bring it over... We'll install the OS again for you...

At this point it was clear that I would never be able to replace my battery without formatting my HD, provide my personal password, wait 3 or 4 days... And apply for a mental institution vacancy!

So I called Apple Care in Ireland again! This time I was able to speak to a very nice portuguese guy, Miguel Pereira, that was astonished by this case. I don't need to say more... Miguel Pereira apologized in Apple's name and filled an internal complaint about Interlog. Miguel advised me to do the same sending a printed letter to Apple European Offices in Cork explaining everything. He also called another Apple Centre representative in Lisbon (Netcetera) that took only 10 minutes to process this case and told me that I should only leave my battery and wait 24 hours for the new one.

Conclusion: If you have a Mac, or another Apple device, never, but never, go to Interlog thinking you'll be treated as an Apple customer. You'll be treated as a dummy PC user, at the most, and will end-up with no computer for 4 days and no personal data... Forever!!!
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iPhone: It's Official... Vodafone Wins The Battle!

As predicted by tugga tech, Vodafone is the winner. Later this year Portugal will have the most awaited mobile phone ever selling (legally) at Vodafone stores: The iPhone!
That wasn't very hard to guess as Vodafone is the biggest mobile operator in the world. So I guess they have, at least, a bit of power to negotiate with Apple. Far behind are TMN and Optimus (they will have to manage with some unlocked iPhones). More legal fun after the jump.

Vodafone won the contract to sell the iPhone in ten countries: Portugal, Australia, India, Czech Republic, Egypt, Greece, New Zealand, South Africa, Turkey and Italy.
Let's remember our readers that Vodafone lost the battle for the iPhone in their home country, the UK, where O2 and Carphone Warehouse Group won the commercial contract with Apple.

As the iPhone is entering the EU we, at tugga tech, believe that the american way locked phone model is obsolete and Apple will have to rethink this commercial plan. At Germany you can already buy an iPhone for as low as 99€ ($153 cry americans... cry!).

One thing is for sure. From the almost 4 million sold iPhones only 2.7 million have been legally activated.

Tuff market hey Steve? Will it be 3G?
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