During their Q3, 2009 conference call today, Apple chief operating officer Tim Cook revealed that Apple forecast “traditional” iPod sales would begin to decline (sales of iPod shuffle, iPod nano, and iPod classic), which is why they developed the iPod touch and iPhone.

Apple maintained an over 70% US share of the MP3 market, and sold 10.2 million iPods, including iPod touch and the aforementioned traditional iPods. Though they once again didn’t break down the sales mix, traditional iPods were down year over year, while iPod touch sales continue to grow, up 130%. Add to that 5.2 million iPhone sales last quarter, and it looks like Apple’s new focus on their new mobile platform is well founded.

As Apple has always maintained, if someone is going to cannibalize their market, it’s going to be Apple themselves.

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Apple: We Knew Traditional iPod Sales Would Decline, That’s Why We Developed iPhone

Now in Stock: Wilson Electronics iBooster for iPhone

The Wilson plug-and-play iBooster kit helps users reduce dropped calls, increase data rates in weak signal areas and originate calls from those dreaded "dead spots". The iBooster and its external vehicular antenna increases any iPhone's output power to the cell site while improving its ability to hear signals it normally cannot, keeping the user more reliably connected.

Designed for simple set up, the Booster can be easily moved from vehicle to vehicle. Built into the iBooster cradle is Wilson bi-directional SmartTechnology signal amplifier and battery charger. The phone specific slip in' cradle for the Phone features a pass thru connector for external accessory access while the iPhone is in the cradle. The cradle is ideal or hands free operation in conjunction with a user's headset or Bluetooth device. Also has a removable insert, so you can use the iBooster with a case on your iPhone 3GS, iPhone 3G, or iPhone (most hard and skin cases will work).

Wilson Electronics iBooster for iPhone is now available from the TiPb iPhone Store…

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Now in Stock: Wilson Electronics iBooster for iPhone

As part of the just-completed Q3 2009 conference call, Apple chief operating officer Tim Cook revealed that the iPhone OS, the software behind both the iPhone and iPod touch, now enjoys an install base of over 45 million.

Combined with previous announcements of 65,000 apps, 100,000 registered developers, and 1.5 billion downloads, and it looks like Apple has quite the mobile platform on their hands. Scratch that, they have quite the platform in consumer hands.

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

iPhone and iPod touch: Now with 45 Million Unit Install Base

Apple announced their Q3, 2009 financial results today. - Press release is live: The Company posted revenue of $8.34 billion, with 5.2 Million iPhone sales in the quarter. (That makes an install base of 45 million plus iPhone OS devices, including iPod touch). Boom.

"We're making our most innovative products ever and our customers are responding," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "We're thrilled to have sold over 5.2 million iPhones during the quarter and users have downloaded more than 1.5 billion applications from our App Store in its first year."

Apple also hosted an accompanying conference call, highlights after the break!

(Updates posted in reverse chronological order from latest or oldest)

• And we’re done!
• App Store pricing. Race to the bottom with $0.99 apps? Can Apple help sort out quality vs. quantity? Tim Cook: has ideas on categorizing Apps differently. Today does it based on type. As App Store grows, makes sense to have lower prices but that’s up to developers.
• iPhone sales, anything on new activations vs. upgrades? Tim Cook: Can’t share, confidential to carriers.
• iPhone in China? Tim Cook: Nothing to add today but continues to be priority project. Hopes to be there within a year.
• Supply constraints to effect international rollout? When will it balance? Tim Cook: Won’t balance in short term but won’t give prediction. Too hard to judge demand without supply. Vast majority will be selling 3GS by end of quarter, may move date by a week or more.
• iPod touch user base, how many upgraded? Tim Cook: a good number, won’t be specific. Priced aggressively. Want to get platform out there, good for ecosystem, developers. Try to get people to upgrade.
• Competitors tinkering with pre-paid model. Apple interested? Tim Cook: Apple doing that as well in markets that are predominantly pre-pay. Apple has lots to learn. Still a beginner. Can make improvements. Model works well in post-paid, but pre-paid could be interesting. Have multiple things going on. Hope to improve going forward.
• Asking about iPhone activations. US represents 40% of activations. Shouldn’t international side pick up, grow faster? Tim Cook: don’t release sales by geography. Smartphones in general sell better in post-pay environment. Not unique to Apple, reality of market.
• Follow up on netbook. Think an emerging market for a truly mobile device, larger screen, do more than with iPhone? Tim Cook: Never discount anything, won’t answer about new products. Customers want full featured notebooks. Apple delivers those, delivers value. Customers very happy. Current netbooks are very slow, software is old, don’t have robust computing experience, lack horsepower, small screens, cramped keyboards. People not happy. Apple will only play where they can deliver products that are innovative, proud of.
• Will Apple invest in NOC to take pressure off carrier? Cook: No plans to do so. When they entered business, they came to conclusion they could deliver world class handset, deliver something revolutionary. Other people have better skills at networks. Apple working with them as partners.
• AP asks if growth of Apps constrained by network capacity of carrier partners? Tim Cook: better question for them. Without singling out [AT&T] Cook sees them investing in making better networks, happy with rising ARPU, lower churn. Changes customer acquisition. Thinks they will continue to make investments to deliver faster networks.
• Has outgrown market 18/19 quarters. Cook thinks that means they have right approach.
• Asking about netbooks. Tim Cook: Apple’s goal is not to build most computers but to build the best. Will play at whatever price point they can build the best. Don’t see a way to build a great product at $399/$499. Thinks customers, many customers, become disenchanted after they buy them. Continue to focus on building best and giving tremendous value.
• Additional distribution and pricing model needed to sustain growth? Tim Cook: Just took major change with intro of $99 product. Reason to do that was view of elasticity. Working hard to continue expanding distribution in countries they’re in, (where it makes sense) and adding new countries. Still large markets left uncovered. [China?]
• RBC Capital asking about competitive App Stores and software. How to out innovate in user experience and leadership? Tim Cook: Won’t talk about future plans. Summarize last 30 days: shipped iPhone 3.0, App Store now available in 77 countries. Install base more than 45 million (iPhone + iPod touch). Quotes App Store stats. 65,000 apps compares RIM/Nokia, Android. Substantial lead in Apps and innovation. Years ahead of other people.
• Asking why iPod channel was reduced. Tim Cook: to support new Shuffle and easter holiday, they increased. When that was done, they decreased, and also demand was lower and iPhone cannibalized. Shuffle, nano, and classic demand also lowering (”classic MP3 player market”). Still in target range, however.
• Apple benefitting from higher iPhone revenue. [No doubt!]
• Asking if $99 iPhone 3G actually served as traffic driver for iPhone 3GS. Was that it’s role, or is it really part of iPhone story. Tim Cook: Focused on total iPhone story. Too early to tell ultimate mix due to only shipping in 18/80 countries and supply constraints. Also upgrades happen early, upgraders likely to pick newer version.
• Talking about $999 MacBook vs. cheaper MacBook Pro pricing mix. Tim Cook: competitive info.
• Asking why Snow Leopard was priced so low. Tim Cook: Even better Leopard, redefines 90% of projects. Something about not even Windows building in (Exchange support?). Priced aggressively so all users can upgrade. Hoping they do. Expect to ship later this quarter.
• Talking about MacBook pricing elasticity. When they can do it at lower prices, they will but won’t put Apple brand on products that don’t innovate.
• Asking about 5.2 million iPhone sales in Q3 and supplies still constrained. How’s inventory. Tim Cook: Flat sequentially. What that means is selling more units at the end, don’t have a channel loaded. Haven’t seen anything like it. About 1.83 million inventory, including in transit, invoice, demo — counted conservatively.
• Talking about reduced margins due to back to school promotions, lower MacBook prices, etc.
• Questions on guidance and margins…
• Follow up question on progress in enterprise accounts? Tim Cook: Growing interest with release of iPhone 3GS and iPhone 3.0 due in part to new hardware encryption and security policies. Doing best in corporate and government who allow individual purchases. 20% of Fortune 100 customers bought 10,000 iPhone, some have bought 25,000. In over 300 higher education institutions.
• David Baily asks how $99 iPhone is doing. Change in mix since launch? Tim Cook: Acceleration of total unit sales, can’t tell exact mix since it’s competitive data. iPhone 3GS supply is still constrained, so demand very robust.
• Nothing to announce about U-Verse, 3G in laptops. Happy with AT&T relationship.
• Tim Cook answering Gene Munster on how carrier relationships will evolve: most of the carriers they’re doing business with are thrilled with lower churn and higher ARPU. Customers demanding iPhone. Looking to expand.
• Closing canned remarks. Can has Q&A soon?
• $500M prepayment to Toshiba for NAND flash memory
• 31.1 BILLION in cash on hand(!)
• More financial stuff…
• 1.5 billion in revenue for Apple Stores.
• iTunes experience getting better. 8 billion songs purchased.
• Didn’t recognize iPhone revenue until iPhone 3.0 became available on June 17.
• 1.69 billion from iPhone, accessories, carriers, etc.
• App Store stats: 65,000 apps. 3.0 will create even more innovative apps.
• Continuing to roll out 3GS to 80 countries this summer.
• iPhone 5.2 million sold in June quarter! 1 Million iPhone 3GS in 3 day launch. Cannot make enough to meet demand. Working to address this.
• 70% of US market. iPod top selling MP3 player. Gaining share in almost every country tracked.
• iPod touch grew 30% year over year.
• 50% of iPod buyers are still new buyers, even in established markets
• Traditional MP3 players declined, as internally forecast. Reason why they developed iPod touch and iPhone. They’re cannibalizing themselves. Business will still last for years.
• 10.2 million iPods. Down from last quarter. Reduced channel inventory and sell-through declines.
• 13% increase in laptop sales. Customers favorable on new portables.
• 2.6 million Macs. Sales increased 100K units over prior year.
• Lots of financial info we shan’t bore you with. Read press link below…
• Record June revenue. Highest non-Holiday revenue in history.
• Call’s about to start. Will update as news is announced.

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Apple Q3 2009 Conference Call - 5.2 Million iPhones Sold

TiPb just got word from Azuki Systems, the folks behind Sports Illustrated’s SI Swimsuit 2009 [$2.99 - iTunes link] that it’s hit the App Store a tad before schedule.

it's the first mobile application in the lifestyle category to deliver video of SI's Swimsuit models, hundreds of SI Swimsuit photos as well as scores, schedules and team information.

The app is rated 17+ since swimsuits and body paint may not be appropriate for every age in every geography, so proceed with all due advanced notice. Additional screenshots, after the break…

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Quick App: Sports Illustrated SI Swimsuit 2009 for iPhone (Possibly NSFW)

SplashID [$4.99 - iTunes link] is an app for the iPhone and iPod touch that provides a great  place to store your data securely with a password. Just how secure is it? Super secure. 256bit Blowfish secure.

I have used SplashID for years on the Palm OS. I was so excited to see that SplashData brought SplashID to the iPhone last year as I was easily able to port my old files over to the iPhone using their desktop companion app.

So what does SplashID do for you? A lot, let’s take a look after the break!

First, you can choose what type of password you would like to use; a simple 4 digit pin or  a longer password; it’s your choice. Of course, there is nothing more irritating as you go back and forth between SplashID and another app for you to keep entering your password into SplashID. There is a feature that allows you to suspend the locking feature for a period from 1 minute to 30 minutes.

You can organize your data in SplashID into several categories from software serial numbers to airline frequent flyer miles to your families social security numbers for quick reference. When you are dealing with sensitive data, you can also choose to mask certain fields to hide the data from the roaming eyes of casual observers.

Not only do you have the ability to customize your categories, but you can choose a theme and view for your data as well. You can pick row colors and choose between a list or panel view. I am personally partial to the panel view as it groups your items by category type instead of a list. Depending on the volume of entries you have, the list get get a little unyieldy. In an effort to help manage those that store a lot of information in SplashID, there is a very convenient “Most Viewed” button to access the info you view most frequently. If you have a hard time viewing the information in portrait mode, you can rotate to landscape too!

If you need to share any information, you can quick do so my using the email feature. With the tap of a button on screen, you can send information via email. One way I use this feature is to email my SSID information and password to friends that are visiting my house so they can get on the network (no I don’t have the new Airport Extreme with guest access :-(). You can also send the information as a secure file to another SplashID account!

I could really go on and on about SplashID since I have been using it for years. The added value of the companion desktop app ($19.99) is of additional benefit as your data is always safe, backed-up and accessible from your Mac/PC and your iPhone.

If you need something more than a simple password manager and need a tool to manage all of your sensitive information, look no further than SplashID for iPhone!

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Quick App: SpashID for iPhone - Save that Important Data Securely

Crunchgear is reporting that Till Schadde of Equinux has been noticing some weirdness with his AIM app and push notifications. Namely, Schadde has been seeing his AIM messages go to random recipients. He discovered this by being notified that a message he had sent to his iPhone version of AIM was redirected to a random stranger. That stranger then contacted Schaddle to let him know and to supply him with a screen shot of his message.

In the past, TiPb has speculated that there are indeed some issues with hacktivated iPhones. And for those of you who are unfamiliar with “hackivation”, it’s simply a process that tricks an iPhone into believing it has authorized itself with Apple via iTunes and is ready to be used, but is actually activated by other, non-Apple software.

These hacktivated iPhones are not being assigned a unique push ID by Apple the way iTunes activiated iPhones with legit SIMs are. One of our readers, Greg, summed it up best in the comments from our last push notification issue post:

The difference is hacktivation, not jailbreaking. There's a fair bit of crypto involved in the activation process and the "fixes" so far involve taking certs from other phones. This will only work for so long; eventually people are going to have to be on official carriers and paying official plan rates for Push and YouTube and who knows what they'll cert off in 3.1 or 4.0?

The Dev Team seem to be working on a fix but it does not appear it will come anytime soon as they’ve avoided even posting a fix on their blog. Instead, they quietly posted a link on their Twitter page to a very beta fix.

All of this is yet another part of the cat and mouse game, but it’s important to try and understand what’s going on: normal iPhone users should have nothing to worry about at this time.

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

AIM Push Problems - Hacktivated iPhones to Blame?

Microsoft has not only hired former Apple Store VP of real-estate, George Blankenship to help launch their own Microsoft Store initiative, but according to Apple Insider, their key competitive strategy has been leaked:

Although the stores may sit near Apple’s in the future, they’re poised to largely be showcases meant to advertise the Windows, Xbox and Zune brands and less to actually sell products. As such, Microsoft will be paying for expensive leases but won’t necessarily recoup its investment through actual sales.

Okay then…

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Microsoft Store to Compete With Apple Store — By Not Selling Anything

According to a tech note, which recently appeared then disappeared from Apple’s website (but can be seen at TUAW), our wait for the iDisk iPhone app may soon be over.

Surely you remember a little iDisk app that Apple promised to all of it’s MobileMe customers back around WWDC 2009? The biggest feature, at least to us here at TiPb, being file sharing. Need to email a large file that is stored on your iDisk but you are away from your computer? No problem, just send it to whomever you’d like via iDisk for iPhone. Not too shabby.

Granted the above linked note does not mention anything in the way of functionality or release date, it is a sign that this app should appear in the very near future. Or we all can at least hope that is the case.

How many of you MobileMe customers out there have been craving to get your hands on this one?

[Via TUAW]

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

iDisk App for iPhone Release Imminent?

Rumors of the third generation iPod touch getting a camera — even video camera — is nothing new, however Wired.com now claims they may be getting a built-in microphone as well:

A well-connected source tells us those rumors are on the money, and that Apple's factories in China are already manufacturing iPod Touch models with integrated cameras and microphones. An Apple spokesman declined to comment when reached by phone.

With the addition of video to Camera, and the Voice Memo app, combined with a built-in mic making VoIP even easier, we’ll come out and say it — ultimate non-phone handset is nigh.

Apple typically unveils new iPod touch models once a year at their special music event, alongside other iPods and related announcements — which last time, at Let’s Rock included the iPhone 2.1 firmware and iTunes 8.

[via MacRumors]

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Third Generation iPod touch to get Camera… and Microphone?