Today, Steve Jobs revealed what he believes to be “the strongest iPod lineup we’ve ever hand.” The new iPod Nano’s design is unlike all the other Nanos we’ve seen before, plus the new iPod Touch and iPod Shuffle is loaded with all sorts of interesting features.

iPod Nano

Apple seems to be hell-bent on making buttons obsolete with the tiny touchscreen square design of the new iPod Nano 6G. It’s nearly half the size and weight of the previous Nano, I’d actually be a little scared about it accidentally slipping out of my purse or pocket without my knowledge. Then again, it also comes with a built-in clip, so maybe it won’t slip away as easily as I thought it might.

In any case, the Multi-Touch interface lets you navigate your music collection easily by swiping or tapping your finger on the display. Hold down a finger to return to the home screen, and use two fingers to rotate the screen if it’s clipped onto your jeans or bag upside-down. You can also customize your home screen by dragging icons from other screens. It’s also equipped with the Shake to Shuffle feature, allowing you to change songs with a little shake. Other features include a built-in FM radio, live pause, Genius Mixes, the ability to create and edit playlists, and up to 24 hours of music playback on one battery charge. Expect it next week for around $149 for the 8GB model and $179 for the 16GB model. Both will be available in silver, graphite, blue, green, orange and pink.

iPod Touch

The new iPod Touch is jam-packed with all sorts of new features – HD video recording, Apple’s Retina display, Facetime video calling, Apple’s A4 chip, Game center, and iOS 4.1. If you have the iPhone 4, you should already be familiar with the Retina display. But in case you aren’t, it has four times as many pixels as before at 960 x 640 pixels, which creates such sharp, realistic-looking images and easy-to-read text. With the new front-facing mic and camera, iPod Touch users can easily make FaceTime video calls over WiFi. There’s a rear-facing camera too, which is perfect for recording HD videos. The power-efficient A4 chip provides users with a fast processor, excellent graphics performance, and a long battery-life. And finally, the new iPod Touch is equipped with iOS 4.1, the latest version of the world’s most advanced mobile OS. All in all, the new iPod Touch is a major improvement over the previous model, and is definitely one that you should not miss. Like the iPod Nano, the iPod Touch will be available next week for $229 for the 8GB model, $299 for the 32GB model and $399 for the 64GB model.

iPod Shuffle

Last but not the least is the diminutive iPod Shuffle. There’s no major difference in terms of design and storage capacity (still 2GB), but it comes with the new VoiceOver feature that tells you the title of the song and artist of the track you’re listening to. You can also use the VoiceOver feature to hear the names of playlists and switch between them. And if your iPod Shuffle’s battery is about to die, a VoiceOver will tell you so too. The VoiceOver also speaks 25 languages so you can hear song titles, artists, and battery life warnings in your native tongue. Available next week for just $49.

Reserve your iPhone 4 either in black or white model

(via Abe Olandres)

We already saw leaked photos of a the 2010 Apple Macbook and now it looks like a white iPhone 4G is currently in the works. How do we know? A Taiwanese website called Apple Pro got their hands on a real iPhone 4G. Like many Asian Apple leaks, this one seems to have come from one of the factories where the iPhone is being manufactured. If this keeps up, Apple will need to work a little harder to keep their products secret until their official launch.

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Apple will be launching a new MacBook in 2010, and this isn’t just some rumor. Vietnamese website Tinhte somehow got their hands on a box containing the 13-inch MacBook 2010 and have pictures to show it. The new MacBook has no design changes, but features some hardware upgrades – it now has a 2.4Ghz Core 2 Duo CPU and NVIDIA GeForce 320M. According to MacRumors, the new MacBook will be shipped out next week.

You can see the photos and a video of the unboxing at Tinhte, but unless you speak Vietnamese you won’t be able to understand a word of it.

The 250,000-some people who pre-ordered their iPad don’t have much longer to wait – the iPad has finally been released! At this writing, I’m sure all the iPads being sold at the Apple Store are all gone. Armed with over 150,000, the iPad is Apple’s response to the increasing popularity of ebook readers and netbooks. In fact, one of the iPad’s biggest selling point is the built-in eBook app. Users can purchase and download thousands of books, most of which are being sold for under $10. There are tens of thousands of free eBooks available as well. For those who don’t have time to sit down with a good eBook, the leading publications in the United States also created iPad-optimized versions of their issues. Amazon’s Kindle Store can be accessed via the iPad as well.

As for the other apps, the iPad uses the same firmware found in the iPod Touch and iPhone, which means that all 150,000 apps available on the App Store will work for the iPad. A number of other apps have also been developed just for this tablet computer.

No news as to when the iPad will hit the Philippines just yet, but I bet it’ll be overpriced and just as desirable as an iPhone. I wonder if Philippine users can take advantage of the iPad-enabled eBooks.

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The name iPad is the first sign that the much-anticipated, over-hyped Apple tablet was probably a better device in speculation than in reality. For one thing – iPad? Really? Apple couldn’t have picked a more difficult name. Did they ever consider how confusing it would be for countries where an imperfect grasp of American English causes people to mispronounce the iPod as “iPad”? I’m not even going to go into all the sanitary napkin jokes everyone is making.

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Oh wait, I just did.

So what exactly is the iPad? Basically, it’s a 9.7-inch LED-backlet touchscreen display that’s about .5 inch thing for easy portability. What it does is basically the same thing the iPhone does minus the ability to call and text. You can use it to surf the Internet, send e-mails, view pictures, you get the idea. But because of the larger screen, the device can easily double as an eBook without too much eyestrain on your part; the rich, high-res LED screen displays everything in bright crisp color so you can read comfortably under low light ocnditions. I think Apple is trying to make the iPad the new Kindle; they just launched a new app called iBooks, where you can read and buy books from the built-in iBookstore.

Other important details of note is that the iPad has 10 hours of battery life and built-in Bluetooth that allows you to use an optional wireless keyboard and an optional camera. That’s right, it doesn’t come with a camera.

Personally, I’m not impressed, but then again I’m hardly ever impressed with Apple products. Sure, they’re pretty and well-designed, but most of the time they’re just over-hyped and over-worshipped. Besides, in a world where there is no shortage of cheap netbooks, eBook readers, and smartphones, is there really a need for a device like the iPad?

The iPad comes in 16, 32, or 64GB versions. Price starts at $499 in the US, but I bet it’ll cost twice that much here and people will be stupid enough to buy it. WiFi models will be shipping in late March, and 3G models will arrive in April. Find out more at the Apple website.

Stay tuned on January 27, because Apple is holding a “special event” to release their latest product. Although Apple was purposely vague about what exactly they will be unveiling, most speculate that the much-awaited Apple Tablet will be taking centerstage at the event. Whatever it is, you can expect it to hit stores at around March, though some say its release might be pushed back until June due to “technical issues” on durability and battery life. I’d take all these rumors with a grain of salt if I were you; Apple employees are apparently great at keeping their mouths shut, and legitimate intel from the inside is rare.

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Just like the thousands of iPhone users out there, you probably depend on your iPhone to stay connected and do business while on the go. The last thing you want is for it to come crashing down the ground. Worry about your iPhone no longer with the latest iPhone accessory from Ozaki – the iCoat Anti-Drop. Made of a special rubber that gives you a good grip and comfortable feel, the iCoat Anti drop makes sure you never drop your iPhone. The entire package comes with 4 different pieces – three rubber straps each especially designed for finger, wrist, and neck carrying, and 1 set of iCoat invisible with a slot where you can attach the straps. The included iCoat invisible is inclusive of a complete front-and-back casing that protects your iPhone against scratches and dust.

So make sure your iPhone stays in one piece. It only costs P1,500 to guarantee it! The Ozaki iCoat Anti-Drop is available through its exclusive Philippine distributer, MSI-ECS. For more product information and other inquiries, email marketing@msi-ecs.com.ph, call 688-3180 / 688-3181, or visit www.msi-ecs.com.ph.

I love the convenience of online shopping in my bedroom, but it bugs me that most Filipino online sellers don’t have Paypal accounts or accept credit cards. Instead, they require you to pay through bank deposits or Globe outlets for Gcash, which kind of cancels out the convenience factor. US shoppers are getting an interesting iPhone accessory that will allow them to accomplish their online transactions while they’re on the go. On CES 2010, manufacturer Mophie will be unveiling a credit card reader for the iPhone. Just clip on to your iPhone, shop, an swipe! I wonder if it’s any good at keeping your credit card information private and preventing credit card fraud, but I suppose we’ll find out in a few days.

CES 2010 will be taking place on January 7 – 10 at Las Vegas, Nevada. This year, there are going to be over 2,700 exhibitors and lots of exciting new gadgets, which I’m looking forward to featuring in this blog!

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But Globe did it again. The excessive gprs charges that happened last January is back again which I will elaborate more. Yugatech is also a victim of these excessive charges and probably a lot more victims based on the 110 comments in his entry (read 110 comments here).

Let me give you a background of my Globe billing problems but before that here is a background about me:

1. I don’t rely on globe 3g as my internet connection. I am subscribed to 3 major ISPS: Globe Broadband (2mbps), PLDT Mydsl (1 mbps), Smart Bro and another mobile internet connection from Smart 3g. That makes me connected to 4 sources and a Globe Tattoo dongle. (Read my review of the internet providers)

2. Globe subscriber since April 1999 using the same phone number.

3. I own a macbook, HP mini and desktop other than an iPhone and another 3g enabled phone for my smart phone number

4. As a blogger and new media publisher, I don’t have time to play with my iPhone except check emails and the occasional orders of my online business when I am out of the house.

5. Usually I am at my home 3 times a week. Usage of iphone is when I don’t bring my laptop.

6. I know how to use my iPhone so it does not trigger my email program and to edit my APN when I don’t need a 3g connection.

7. This is not an attack to my friends who work at Globe. You are wonderful and doing a great job. You have tried to help me resolve my charges but the system flaw is beyond your control. I can’t keep asking you to help me out. What about the others who are having billing problems and think that 50% being waived is a good compromise. NOT.

8. I appreciate the 2 awards given to me by Globe in 2007 and 2009 but it does not mean I can’t complain. I am a customer and I have rights.

My Globe 3g nightmare billing problems

1. I got my iPhone 3g during the first week of September 2008 and my gprs usage were all below 1,000 pesos.

2. My March and April 2009 bill amounted to 14,064.35 pesos of which 9,439.76 came from gprs charges.

3. I contested the amount of 9439.76 pesos and paid for the rest of the bill.

4. I requested extraction of usage and was sent the January 11- February 10, 2009 extraction for the said billing period. See the extraction below and my notes.

I removed my cellphone number in this excel file
Globe GPRS Usage from my iPhone

You will note on January 11, I connected at 13:00 and was charged 870 minutes (14.5 hours) costing 258.68 pesos. My next connection is 1 1/2 hours later at 14:27.07 with a usage of 45 minutes which cost 13.38

This is just one example . How could I possibly be using 14.5 hours internet in a span of 1 hour and 27 minutes?

The same goes on for the improbable usage of gprs at the times allocated.

5. Globe offered to rebate 50% but that would mean paying 4,500 pesos. I refused the offer and suggested that I pay only 1,000 pesos based on my highest usage for the past 6 months. Globe agreed.

6. My GPRS bill seemed normal during the next few months

April 2009- 201.51
May 2009- 512.99
June 2009- 1012.42
July 2009- 615.48
August 2009- 605.92
September 2009-777.42
October 2009- 3,786.87 – upgraded to iphone plan 2199
November 2009-3,250.63 – only 648.16 charged
December 2009- 3,808.10 – currently contesting

7. By September 2009, I upgraded to the iPhone Plan 2199 plus DUO plan since I noticed that my total bill including text and calls amounted to 2,500 pesos a month.

This is when the Globe 3G Billing nightmare recurred. I thought I could save more with the upgrade but goodness gracious, take a look, I ended up being billed 4 times my average use.

8. Let’s just analyze my unpaid gprs charges of 3,808.10 pesos for the current billing period.

What does that mean?

It means I used my iPhone 3Gs for at least 7 to 8 hours a day, on the average. I find it impossible. Why?

8.1. Battery life for iPhone 3Gs lasts for 4 to 5 hours.

8.2. Even if I used a charger to make battery life last longer, it is just damn stupid. I’d rather use my laptop. I am 52 years old and even if I am young at heart, my eyesight cannot take prolonged use of a small electronic gadget.

8.3. I happen to have a life. I don’t stay glued to my iphone for 8 hours. DUH!

9. My story is not done yet. I told Globe that it is impossible for me to have those 3g charges and if I can have extraction of usage. I was told that it is not possible to give me an extraction, Exact words use- ” for the internet usage in your latest bill is not a regular service being offered” and instead, the customer service rep (CSR) sent me an email that totally insults my intelligence.

Good day. Thank you for bringing this to our attention.
It might help to know that when you see the icon which appears on the upper left corner of your Iphone, this indicates that there is an internet activity. In addition, you also get charged when accessing applications such as stocks, weather, Safari, Maps and the like. Also, please know that the IPhone automatically shifts from WiFi connection to another stronger network/signal which is available in the area. Moreover if your email accounts are integrated, this is also a possible cause for browsing charges. We suggest that you remove your email accounts to avoid incurring high charges.

Our default charging rate is volume – based (KB). But since you have registered to the alternative option our records show you were charged under the TIME-based scheme amounting to PHP 2747.47 in your latest bill. Please note that we have not found any charging problems nor system errors during the concerned period; be assured then that your account has been charged for usage that was traced to have originated from your sim card. We also wish to advise extraction of the logs for the internet usage in your latest bill is not a regular service being offered. We do however suggest the following additional tips to further avoid browsing charges:

1. Charging begins as soon as you open the Safari, YouTube, Stocks, Weather or other web-based applications. Remember that replaying a video means another charged transaction.
2. Clicking on the menu button ends your Internet connection to Safari, YouTube, Stocks, Weather, Instant Messenger or other web-based applications.
3. When iPhone is not in use , make sure to lock the iPhone by short pressing the sleep/wake button (keypad locking) so as to avoid unwanted keypad presses that may trigger browsing and call charges.
4. When setting up e-mail, best to set this to Manual vs. Push. If you set it on Push, it will constantly connect to the Internet causing unnecessary charging and even drain your battery’s life. Settings > Fetch New Data > Push (On/Off) & Fetch (Manually). For iPhone OS 3.1: Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars > Fetch New Data > Push (off) & Fetch (Manually)
5. Email accounts (if there’s any) should be set to OFF when not in use. Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars > Accounts (set all existing accounts to OFF).
6. Weather, Stocks, App Store and iTunes are location dependent applications. These applications also connect to the internet for updates. To turn it off: Settings > General > Location Services > OFF
7. Apps behave differently from one another, some require connection to the internet for it to work, some may need to connect to the server from time-to-time for upgrades or updates. In both cases, when you use Globe’s network, you will be charged based on your internet subscription with Globe. To turn off notification: Settings > Notifications > OFF
8. While browsing, iPhone automatically shifts to the stronger connection. If you are currently on free WiFi and the connection fluctuates, iPhone automatically shifts to GPRS, EDGE or HSDPA connection and charges start to apply.
9. When not using your iPhone’s data services, you may edit the APN (by removing a letter or misspelling) at Settings > General >Network > Cellular Data Network. When you want to access the Internet again, remember to have the correct APN inputted (for Globe Postpaid: internet.globe.com.ph | for Globe Prepaid: http.globe.com.ph)
10. Any software update and change in SIM card will restore your iPhone settings (Mail, Contacts, Calendar and Network) to default and as a result, certain applications and system updates may run again and incur charges.

You may also visit : http://site.globe.com.ph/web/guest/iphone3g/updates_and_tips?sid=51miicj8b4lc81247118103386 for more information/updates regarding the iPhone.

We hope the information shared herein helps you manage your iPhone usage. Do email us should you have further clarifications.

I have to remove my email account? Why would I do that? What’s the use of an iPhone plan if I can’t check my email. Their suggestions don’t make sense.

10. I felt that the CSR blamed my iPhone and me, the user for the high billing. Imagine, the nerve. Of course, I contested the charge and since I stupidly didn’t check my October 2009 bill, I am requesting for a refund.

11. Even if they waive the fees again, the problem may recurr again. I need assurances that it won’t happen again.

So I can whine and bitch in my blog but what use will that do?

What steps will I take?

I have 3 courses of action.

1. Exercise my consumer rights and file a complaint at the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).

I will only pay for actual usage but without the extraction excel file, that is impossible. Based on Republic Act No. 7925 ARTICLE VII. Sec. 20. Rights of End-Users. – The user telecommunications service shall have the following basic rights:

c) Regular, timely and accurate billing, courteous and efficient service a quality business offices and company personnel; and

There is a complaint form that you can download at the NTC site but it seems down right now.

2. Collate all other iPhone users who have similar billing problems. Please fill up the form below. Rest assured I will not use your information without your written permission.

3. Oh. I will not post my next step because I will just do it.

Enough is enough on flawed billing. It is my right to have accurate billing. I haven’t even talked about the crappy service, have I? (that’s another blog post).

It is time that Globe fix their problems and stop blaming the iPhone user or the iPhone. Apple should know about this too.

Care to share your iPhone 3g billing nightmares?

Globe 3g Iphone users with billing problems, be counted because even if charges are waived, they can reappear again just like mine.

Please fill up the form if you have billing issues with Globe

and here are related posts on Globe 3g billing horror stories

Globe Philippines Blames iPhone for Billing Problem

I’m ready to quit my iPhone by Yugatech

Is Globe having problems tracking iphone data usage properly?
Billing concern with globe and iPhone-Philmug forum

Globe Insane Internet Charges- Philmug Internet forum

Hindi ako maktulog by Chuvaness

Enlighten me by Chuvaness where her bill is 30 k

Does Globe charge for the use of wifi in the Philippines?

IPHONE3G + GLOBE users watch out!

Update on iPhone/Globe billing issues