iPhone and iPod users may experience a “small and quick” shock via their earbuds due to a buildup of static electricity, Apple warned Monday.

People listening to one of the devices in extremely dry air are most at risk of receiving a static electricity shock through the ear buds, according to a warning posted on Apple’s Web site. The post likened the condition to the discharge that occurs when a person drags his or her feet across a carpet then gets a shock by touching a door knob.

However, Apple asserted that this condition did not necessarily indicate that Apple’s equipment was malfunctioning.

“This condition is not limited to Apple hardware and static can potentially build up on almost any hardware and could be discharged using any brand of earbuds,” Apple said.

Apple’s warning didn’t mention what prompted the company to issue the warning, but a discussion thread on the company’s support site showed a few users had voiced concern about the condition.

“Maybe it’s just me but for a couple of weeks now my earphones are delivering little electric shocks into my ears,” wrote one reader. “I just wonder if anyone else is going through this issue.”

Apple made several suggestions in the warning on how to remedy the condition when indoors, including the use of a humidifier to raise the moisture level of the air, hand lotions to moisturize dry skin, or an anti-static spray. The site also recommends users wear clothes made of natural fibers instead of synthetic fibers. When users are outdoors, Apple suggests users keep their device in a bag or a case to keep it out of the wind and refrain from frequently removing it from pockets as the rubbing may cause static buildup.

Source: CNET News

You may not remember me; the last time we talked was nearly four years ago. I was impressed with your promises that I could soon watch my favorite movies and TV shows — so impressed I didn’t hesitate to put my iPod Photo on Craigslist and preorder a black, 60GB iPod Video from your Website. Since then, you have betrayed me.

I can forget the facts that you now have variable priced songs; don’t offer a solution for putting movies I have on DVD on iTunes; and that my iPod, like the two before it, mysteriously started acting quirky as soon as you released a new model.

apple iphoneI cannot forgive you for making one of your newest and frankly, coolest gadgets I have ever seen, essentially inaccessible to me.

I am a college student and money is usually tight. I admit I could probably raise funds to buy a new iPod, but the last thing I want is to pay $30 a month for it after that for data service.

That’s right, I don’t have an iPhone. My left pocket gets a little tight from inconveniently carrying two devices that so many have traded in for one.

I have spent the last two years despising you, but you have managed to catch my attention again.

I recently read you have been talking with Verizon Wireless about bringing a smaller and less expensive iPhone to its network. Less expensive is good, but what about those monthly data fees?

I think you are alienating many potential customers who are willing to pay a premium upfront for a nice phone but aren’t concerned about accessing the Web anywhere and everywhere. Honestly, it would be cool to check my e-mail while walking between classes, but I don’t use Twitter or Facebook and I don’t see constant connection as a necessity. Comcast is lucky I pay my $45 every month to have Internet access at home; don’t expect I’ll bend over and pay for access to the same Internet twice.

Fees aside, the potential of keeping Verizon as my wireless carrier is exciting. I’m not going to say that I’m a fan of my service, but switching sounds like a lot of work.

Also, nice work on adding MMS messaging to the 3.0 OS. Photo messages have daily use in my life and I was appalled when my iPhone-owning friend wasn’t able to get my messages. I might be getting your advertising wrong, but shouldn’t there be an app for that?

I’ve also read you might add video functionality, which would be pretty cool. Like many people my age, I love videos. I recently started looking into buying a Flip Mino so I can join the masses on YouTube. I might hold out to see what you have to offer later this year. After all, I can only fit so many things into my pockets.

I have to be honest, Apple. If rumors are true you might have recaptured my interest. I just have one favor to ask as a friend: Don’t forget me again. I can only take so much neglect before I take my MP3 player/phone purchases to where I buy my computers. After all, isn’t Microsoft working on some sort of media player/phone?

Yours Truly,

Paul Suarez

PS – I was just kidding about that Microsoft thing. I mean, seriously — they lost me at Pink.

Source: PCWorld

Apple’s App Store has been big hit to supplement the popularity of iPhone. Now, news that Apple is to privately preview iPhone OS 3.0 has raised many expectations already. Now, to complement the new iPhone OS 3.0, Apple is rumored to create a ‘premium’ section in its existing App Store.

With over 15,000 applications and above 500,000,000 downloads, the App Store is ‘the’ business for Apple to supplement its iPhone and iPod Touch devices. Of the several developers, it’s being rumored that the game development companies will be given preference for the ‘Premium’ section of the App Store.

The Premium section will comprise of the applications costing $20 (Rs. 1,020 approx.) and more will be showcased. This will help the game development and other app developing companies to offer their premium applications, which according to them are difficult to develop. Many game industry stalwarts believe that iPhone OS is the next (handheld) gaming platform.

This subsection will ease off the clutter amongst the paid apps. However, getting an app enlisted under premium section could be quite a fight. Earlier, Apple was stringent about App Store policies, but later iron gates opened for several developers looking to promote their apps.

Hopefully the new iPhone 3.0 OS will unlock the CPU speed of iPhone 3G from 412 MHz to at least as much as that of iPod Touch. Currently, the second generation iPod Touch’s CPU runs at the speed of 532MHz which is way much higher than the previous generation iPod Touch and even iPhone models.

The CPU boost will eventually give game developers enough room for developing better, graphics rich games. Also, Apple App Store is now competing with rival App stores like Android Market, BlackBerry App World and Nokia’s Ovi Application Store. Let’s wait to see what strategy Apple will devise to make more business out of its App Store.

Source: TechTree