A personal, private, mobile WiFi hotspot
Now this is impressive. The MiFi.
MiFi represents the industry’s first Intelligent Mobile Hotspot, a new category of mobile broadband that lets users put their world of content, services and connectivity in their pocket. Featuring an internal battery providing over forty hours standby and up to four hours of active use on a single charge, the MiFi product line enables users to access high-speed Internet from anywhere there is a cellular connection, including moving vehicles where multiple passengers may need Internet access.
This is a very clever bit of kit, although, simple in terms of use, could be really, really useful for many people. Just imagine, no more faffing about with dongle’s, you just have the MiFi on in your laptop bag picking up the 3G network (if only we had good coverage in the UK), and all your other devices are connected to it via WiFi – Air connected,, iPod Touch connected and iPhone connected. Very swish indeed.
I hope it comes to the UK! The NYT has a good article and video on it here, and thanks to Richard to letting me know about this!
Blogging has been a rare activity this week and will probably be the same for the next few weeks. It is sheer madness at the moment, but some wonderful projects and people! 
iPhone 3G Unboxing
iPhone 3G Unboxing, originally uploaded by JonnyMoss.
Well, here it is, the iPhone 3G in all its glory. O2 systems down yet again, and so had to fill out details for my free upgrade and then go back to the store an hour later! Total chaos 
Around 25 people were queuing at the O2 store in Princess Quay Hull, and only 15 people got phones, and not many were 16Gb either. Some very unhappy customers.
So, good experience? Errr …. nope. I so wish I could have gone to an Apple store. O2 have seriously underestimated the demand and have, in the process, caused quite a bit of damage to the iPhone brand.
The iPhone 3G is arriving in stores
Check out the 3G iPhone arriving in an AT&T store in the USA. Note that the white iPhones are in a white box. So, white or black? 8Gb or 16Gb? I think it will be an 8Gb for me (I don’t need the extra space to be honest) so I have to have a black one. What if Apple enable video though? Hmmmm…. I would need the extra space then. Decisions!
O2 struggling to keep site live with iPhone 3G demand
This is about all you will get if you are trying to upgrade to the new 3G iPhone this morning. After a text from O2, I logged on and have been treated to a maintenance sign, an unresponsive site and errors.
I have a feeling their servers (or possibly server) are a tad overwhelmed!
Carphone Warehouse vs Apple. An easy choice, but will we be allowed?
Dan Lawson over at the Wee Apple has an interesting post about how Apple are going to sell the iPhone in the UK. He writes that,
AppleInsider and Macworld UK both pick up on reports that Apple may be forced to sell the new iPhone 3G in-store on a pay-as-you-go only basis, due to the retail chain’s stores and staff not currently being able to process in-store activations for a credit contract associated with Pay Monthly schemes.
Now this is would be tragic if this was allowed to happen. One of the joys of buying the iPhone, apart from the 8 hour queuing, was the fact that I could walk in buy it, and leave. Now contract hassle, no busy shop, no retail person not knowing anything about the product they were selling.
This would change dramatically if people have to go through Carphone Warehouse or 02 to buy their shiny new 3G iPhones. The reality is this. We, the Apple fan base, want a great purchasing experience, and this happens when you go to the Apple shrine (store) and interact with a genius / sales person. They know how much you like the brand. They are generally very knowledgable too. They enjoy working there, and this shows. A lot.
I really hope that Apple and 02 sort this out and do so before July 11th. Dan, in his blog post, states that they are, and I’ve seen some other news reports today also saying that they are doing this. They must do this for the sake of a decent retail experience. However, there is one thing we (the Apple fanbase) are overlooking. Steve Jobs wants everyone to buy and love the 3G iPhone. ‘Everyone’ may not want a fantastic retail experience. In fact, they probably couldn’t care less.
iPhone 3G free for new 02 subscribers?
Breaking news from Techcrunch Uk here >>> click.
I just got it confirmed from an O2 source (hat tip to Will Harris at ChannelFlip – you know why), that the UK 3G iPhone will be free on an 18 month contract to new O2 customers, but £100 for existing customers. Although announced today by Steve Jobs at the WWDC (see TechCrunch’s live coverage), the iPhone will ship to customers in the UK on July 11.
Now I am liking the sound of that! New phone ahoy for me and the boss! 
