iPhone reaching Canada

Canada's only major GSM cell provider, Rogers, is hoping to introduce the iPhone at the right time, while promoting a campaign for touchscreen phones at the company.

Rogers' campaign will most likely start in late May or early June, before Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference in which it is widely expected that the company will introduce the 3G model of the iPhone.

Despite its reputation as having the highest-priced mobile data plans of any cellular provider in Canada, Rogers is also the most advanced. About two months ago, the carrier introduced an unlimited data bundle "that gives users both unfettered browsing on most of its devices as well as a set amount of MMS/SMS messages and voicemail." Rogers' also offers advanced 3G network features including "two-way video calling on supporting devices as well as 7.2-megabit HSDPA downloads on portions of its network. The 3G iPhone is understood to use a newer Infineon chipset that would support both normal HSDPA service as well as its faster variety on Rogers."

Beta iPhone Firmware to iTunes Control

Apple may be preparing to add iPhone (and iPod touch) functions to connect to and play media from nearby iTunes sources. Citing an "anonymous tipster," TUAW reports that code found in the latest firmware release points to a new iPhone application called iControl, which it says could be part of Apple's own plan to release new software applications based on forthcoming iPhone SDK. Based on strings found in the code of the latest private iPhone firmware beta, the application would allow users to connect to shared iTunes library running on a PC to playback songs or view videos. According to the report, the media navigator will allow users to view videos, play podcasts, listen to music and even support shuffle playback from the iTunes library. If true, iPhone and iPod touch users would not only be able to playback media from their device, but may also be able to actively control iTunes installed on a PC.

Users could potentially direct playback of iTunes to any of its sources, including local speakers or other wireless speakers (connected via AirPort Express).

iPhone in India

Good News !! for the gadet lovers. This September, Indian market will have the most sought-after gadget – the iPhone available. According to a leading financial daily, the iPhone is expected to be launched with telephone operator Vodafone in the first week of September.

Features - include quad-band world phone support, a 2-megapixel camera, Wi-Fi, stereo Bluetooth, a speakerphone, e-mail and a Safari Web browser. Memory caps out at 8MB and there's no 3G support or wireless downloads, but the iPhone will garner interest simply because it exists.

Price - report says that the California-based Apple would first launch its 8 GB version of the iPhone, a touch-screen device with WiFi capability, an e-mail client, online music store, TV feeds and map-based guides. The iPhone 8GB version is estimated to be sold for a price ranging from Rs 27,000 to Rs 28,000.

Memory - Althought it has 8 GB as if now, but report added that the 16GB version would probably be launched by mid-2009, depending on the sales and market response in India.

A spokesperson from Apple says the carrier deal for India is still being worked out with the UK-based Vodafone, which is also likely to be the carrier for the Australia’s iPhones.

Wii Gaming Console

Nintendo does not plan to cut prices of its popular Wii gaming console or DS handheld game system anytime soon, the company's president made this announcement last Friday. While prices for hardware is usually reduced over time, that could leave gamers who bought early feeling ripped off, After the company reported record annual profits.

The Wii retails for about $250, unchanged since its launch in November 2006. In contrast, Sony has slashed the price of its 20-gigabyte PlayStation 3 twice so far to boost demand.

Nintendo Co. expects to sell 28.0 million DS units this year through March 2009, down from 30.3 million last year. While sales in Japan have slowed, the DS maintains strong momentum in the United States and Europe, with considerable room for growth. The DS Lite sells for 16,800 yen in Japan and $129.99 in the U.S.

Nintendo's main focus is to keep gamers playing by continually offering new software, services and accessories. He hinted that there were new projects in the pipeline, but did not elaborate.

"Our biggest fear is for people who have bought the DS to shut it away in a closet," Iwata said. "We want people to use it in their everyday lives." Still, the falloff in DS sales is a main reason why the company tempered its growth expectations this year after a nearly 48 percent surge in net profit last fiscal year to $2.5 billion and a 73 percent gain in global revenue to $16.2 billion.
"The speed last year was beyond our expectations," Iwata said.

What a Hit !!

Like all Japanese exporters, Nintendo is wrestling with a stronger yen that threatens to erode the value of overseas sales, which accounted for 81 percent of total revenue last year.

Nintendo's main driver of growth this year, then, looks to be the Wii — a runaway hit that has outsold Sony Corp.'s PlayStation 3 and Microsoft Corp.'s Xbox 360 since its release in November 2006.

With easy-to-play games and motion-detecting controllers, the Wii has done well by attracting new and casual gamers, including women and senior citizens.

Despite Challenging Economy - consumers around the world have snapped up nearly 24.5 million of the consoles so far, and Nintendo says it expects to sell 25 million units this year, even with a gloomy outlook for the global economy.

New Arrivals - Nintendo will release several new games this spring, including a racing game called the Mario Kart Wii. The Wii Fit exercise game, which has sold well in Japan, will also make its debut soon in the U.S. and Europe.