why i’m an apple geek, part 381

So Apple’s announcement yesterday of the $200 iPhone price drop didn’t anger me as it seems to have done for many others. When I bought it, I knew the price would drop before the holidays so I wasn’t taken aback and good on them if they can afford to drop the price that much, it’ll get more out the door. I still love my iPhone and consider it worth the money I spent. Then I read this open letter from Steve Jobs promising a $100 credit for all iPhone owners.

This offer is why I continue to stick by Apple in spite of very unfriendly actions like charging to use the new ringtone feature in iTunes. Even that, I’d imagine was the best deal they could wrangle from the record companies, one that took several weeks to hammer out which is why it wasn’t available when the phone launched. Personally I don’t plan to use that feature (though it is wonderfully implemented). Instead I tried out a program last night called iToner. All it does is handle the install (having Quicktime Pro I can easily chop down any files to ringtone length), but it did so fast and easy. Haven’t decided yet if it’s worth the cost (I don’t see myself using it too often), but Ambrosia is one of those companies that, like Apple, I’m happy to support.

just a small word of thanks

iPhone activated, I slipped into my car, jacked the iPhone into the FM transmitter, and nothing. Well, I did hear music, but not coming out of my car speakers. My one major issue with the phone.

Then today I read that the update that hit this week held more than just patches and bug fixes. It added support for more iPod accessories. So, getting in the car to go see the Bourne Ultimatum (which was excellent), I plug the cable in again. The prompt asking if I want to switch on airplane mode to prevent interference pops up as before, making by heart sink down as before. I tap open the iPod software, tap play and boom, there’s Bruce Springsteen singing from my car speakers.

This incompatibility was probably the only issue I had with the iPhone that I thought couldn’t be fixed with a software update and then it turns out to be the first one resolved. Thank you, Apple.
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