Macgasm

Morgan Stanley analyst Kathryn Huberty issued a report this week on Apple’s performance.  “Even before the new MacBook Pros launched,” she writes, “Apple began to outperform the broader commercial PC segment “” with commercial Mac shipments up 25% [month over month] in May versus market growth of just 1%.”

Two reasons for Apple’s remarkable growth is cheaper Macbooks and a back-to-school promotion that offers students a free iPod touch with every Macbook purchase.  This was a good strategy because Apple was able to compete with the cheaper PCs and Netbooks being offered.

Everyone is wondering if the iPhone will be coming to Verizon.  On Monday evening, Verizon chief Ivan Seidenberg told PBS nightly-host Charlie Rose that it was up to Apple.  “œThe decision to put an iPhone on our network is Apple’s.” He states that in the long-run it is Apple to decide if they want to build a 4G iPhone for the Verizon networks.  A 4G phone would allow data to be transferred at a higher rate.  This would help with easier streaming of video and audio. Phone security would be much better on a 4G phone.

There have been ongoing rumors that a 4G iPhone would be coming in 2010, but Seidenberg didn’t comment if there have been any talks between Verizon and Apple.  Seidenberg stated that usually exclusive relationships only last one or two years, and then it opens up to the rest of the phone carriers.

Rose asked about a rumor that Verizon will be coming out with Motorola “œAndroid” phone.  Seidenberg said that he can’t disclose any information about this. From his reaction, I think there is something in the works.

Watch Highlights of Seidenberg Interview

Watch Full Episode of Seidenberg Interview

Four U.S. Senators from the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation have sent a letter to Michael J. Copps, acting chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, urging the FCC to examine the issue of exclusivity arrangements between handset carriers and manufacturers. On four things:

• The increasing prevalance of exclusivity arrangements between cell phone manufacturers and carriers
• How exclusivity agreements may be restricting consumer choice, particularly for consumers living in rural areas;
• How exclusivity agreements may place limitations on a consumer’s ability to take full advantage of handset technologies, such as the ability to send multimedia messages or the ability to “tether” a device to a computer for internet use;
• How exclusivity agreements may be inhibiting the ability of smaller, more regional carriers to compete;
• How exclusivity agreements may play a role in encouraging or discouraging innovation within the handset marketplace.

What does this mean for AT&T and Apple?  If this happens, then the iPhone will be accessible to anyone on any network. This is already something that might occur in 2010, but AT&T is fighting hard to stop that.  However, if this bill is carried out, then there will be nothing to do but to let Apple go.

What do you think about exclusivity arrangements? Do you think they should be banned?

As a mother who is obsessed with anything that Apple comes out with, I was excited to find out that Apple will be offering free three-hour courses to children between the ages of 8 and 12 at selected Apple stores nationwide.  In these workshops, kids will learn about movies, photos, music, and presentations.

This is an ingenious way to introduce children to the wonderful world of Apple.  They will be able to get an early start on creating all sorts of skills that will help them in the future.

The courses are first come, first serve basis, so hurry up and sign up your little geeks now before it’s too late.  Click here to sign up.

Here are more details on what will be taught:

Movie Workshop: Lights. Camera. Action.

Kids take the director’s chair in the Movie Workshop, where they learn how to make a movie in the time it takes to watch one. From importing and cropping video clips to adding cool special effects and transitions, kids go home as up-and-coming filmmakers with a DVD of the movie they’ve just made.

What to Bring: If you have an Apple notebook running Mac OS X, a digital camcorder, or existing footage, feel free to bring them, along with any required cables.

Music Workshop: Ready to rock?

Kids become instant rock stars in the Music Workshop. With GarageBand and a MIDI keyboard, they get to play bass, electric guitar, drums, and sing their own lyrics “” even learn how to play a real instrument. Kids will also explore iTunes and see how to sync an iPod. And they’ll burn their latest hit to a CD so they can share it with adoring fans at home.

What to bring: Have your kid bring a few favorite CDs or an iPod or MP3 player to work with. Sample CDs will also be available for demonstration purposes.

Photo Workshop: Point. Shoot. Share.

The iPhoto Workshop will show kids the basics of digital photography “” and then some. They’ll learn how to import photos from a digital camera and make them look even better. Organize photos by who’s in them and where they were taken. Create slideshows with music and cool photo effects. And even build their own photo web page using iWeb to show them off to the world.

What to bring: If you have an Apple notebook running Mac OS X, a digital camera, or favorite photos, feel free to bring them, along with any required cables.

Presentation Workshop: Take the stage.

Kids are the stars in the Presentation Workshop. First, they’ll create a super-slick slideshow with movies, music, photos, and charts and graphs. Then, they’ll learn how to present it all to a captivated audience. By the time this workshop is over, they’ll go home with a multi-media presentation in hand and lots of tips to wow family, friends, and everyone at school.

What to bring: If you have an Apple notebook running Mac OS X, favorite photos, videos, or music, feel free to bring them along, with any required cables.

[photo via Sun in Photos]

Attention all Apple lovers with a little bit of drawing ability: Apple is holding a contest for their newest store in Chicago, IL. The new location sits on a strangely-shaped land, so they need to create a new and innovative store: a three-sided Apple Store.

What is the prize? The architect gets a $100 Apple gift card. Only $100! I am designing an Apple store, and all I am getting is $100? The most you can get with that money is an iPod shuffle. They really need to rethink the prize. In a way, the person also gets bragging rights and can put on his/her resume that "I designed an Apple store!"

All submitted graphics will be considered to be under the Creative Commons license, allowing publication on the IFO Web site with attribution (indicate how you want to be credited). E-mail two to four views of the final design (any graphic format, high-res, any size) so viewers can see the full impact of your work. Send the e-mail to gary@ifoAppleStore.com

Source: ifoAppleStore

Photo by:Tony Shi, NY-N

Catastrophic MagSafe Failure, originally uploaded by bbum.

Apple has been sued due to their MagSafe Adapter.  In the claim, it states that their 85-watt and 60-watt adapters have been horribly designed and can be a potential fire hazard.

The complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court in San Jose and alleges that both the 85-watt and 60-watt adapters have been negligently designed and manufactured. According to the suit, the cable from the power supply to the MagSafe connector “dangerously frays, sparks, and prematurely fails to work.”

– CIO.com

As someone who had her 60-watt MagSafe Adapter begin to burn with no warning, I’m actually surprised that it took so long for this lawsuit to appear.  It cost $79 to replace when I thought it was something that I shouldn’t have to pay. The court papers state that Apple is aware of this issue and hasn’t done anything to correct it.  The plaintiffs want Apple to provide safe adapters or refund the price of the laptops.

I am happy to hear that no one is asking for a ridiculous amount in this case.  Their terms seem fair, and they are able to help others, like me, who have dealt with this similar issue.  Additionally, they are also helping Apple because there are others who would sue for $200 billion and would cause more of an uproar than these users are doing.

This is a wake-up call to Apple to fix this issue before it escalates, so we’ll see how they proceed.

There have been talks for months about Google possibly acquiring Twitter. You have seen it in blogs, social media sites, and even in magazines. At this point, you are probably sick of hearing about these rumors and want something to finally happen. However, quietly lurking in the dark is another contender who might also be interested in Twitter. Apple. It’s currently a rumor, but what if it turns out to be true?

“œAccording to a well-connected Silicon Valley source who spoke with Gawker, and who may have been recruited by Apple for a senior position, Apple and Twitter’s management are engaged in serious negotiations. In fact they may be close to sealing a deal for as much as $700 million, with the intention of announcing the purchase at Apple’s World Wide Developers Conference in June.“

—- Fast Company

Twitter interfaces with smartphones with ease and is currently on the rise with celebrities starting to use the service. The iPhone, Apple’s smartphone, has several Twitter apps that are very popular with Twitter users.  Additionally, the rumors indicate that Apple might want to bundle it up with their MobileMe cloud service. In the Fast Company article, they say that another reason for Apple’s increased interest in Twitter is Twitter’s new live search function. Some experts are saying that it will soon rival Google’s search.

However, will Google not fight to acquire Twitter? The interesting part in all this is that the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is currently investigating the ties between Apple and Google. You have to wonder if there is something in the works under the surface between the two companies with this shift from Google to Apple working to buy Twitter.

All we can do is see what happens at the Apple’s World Wide Developers Conference in June, and we will know if this rumor is actually true.