The iPhone Now Doubles As A Remote Control
Peel Technologies has just unveiled a small hardware accessory that turns the smart phone into a universal remote control. While it is not as convenient as an app, iPhone lovers will be happy to use their smart phones for almost everything imaginable. Most people know what it feels like to lose the remote control and be forced to manually operate their televisions and home entertainment systems. Although most of us should probably get off of the couch a little more anyways, the convenience that a remote control brings has made it almost unthinkable to be able to live without one. Although the new piece of hardware probably won’t be out in time for Christmas, most people wouldn’t be able to get one anyways. The company plans to sell the iPhone remote control adapter exclusively on their website, but there won’t be a retail price. The plan is to actually auction of a small amount of units. Maybe Peel Technologies just wants to see how much they can get for a single unit, but the unorthodox plan has left many with raised eyebrows.
The new iPhone remote control hardware comes from the same person that is responsible for creating the Bluetooth Jawbone headset, so it is almost certain that this technology is being built to last. While most people won’t be happy when they learn that they can’t simply buy it, it can be used with the iPod, iPad and iPhone running the iOS operating system. The idea for an iPhone that will double as a remote is great, but the company’s business plan leaves a lot to be desired.
No Sims Card For The iPhone 5
Apple has been getting everyone ready for the release of the iPhone 5 by dropping tid-bits of information every now and then. The latest news doesn’t come directly from spokespersons from Apple, but someone that is reportedly very close to their operations department has let European cell phone carriers know that the rumors about Apple integrating sims cards into the iPhone 5 simple aren’t true. Much like their contract with AT&T, there are only a few select European cellular services that can support iPhones. If the iPhone 5 were to feature sims cards, customers may be able to change carriers on a whim, at least in Europe. While the thought of losing customers to another carrier frightened European cellular providers, the mere idea of Apple opening their own cellular provider services was even more horrific. Before the rumors could be substantiated, European iPhone carriers stated that they would outright refuse to do the same level of business with Apple. Not that Apple wouldn’t have any problem finding new European carriers, the event would have made it much more difficult for customers to have reliable service, and many of them would have ended up paying the full $600 ticket price for the iPhone 5.
For other cell phone manufacturers, sims cards are still big business. Since some customers would rather have a cell phone that they can carry, kick and leave around, being able to switch to new cell phone carriers at will is still very important for them. Apple could always change their minds at the last mind, but since Steve Wozniak, co-found of Apple, has recently raised concerns over the growing popularity of the Android brand, they probably won’t press their luck.