Recently Apple iPhone has generated massive buzz as their users are unsure whether or not to upgrade their iPhones to firmware version 1.1.1. If upgrade, they worried that their iPhones will not work with the older softwares or third-party applications. Enthusiasm over the iPhone has drove an application provider iPhoneSimFree become the first to roll out the iPhone 1.1.1 unlocker and users can now get their iPhones upgraded, working with the WiFi iTunes stores as well as SIM unlock their iPhones. Moreover, their solution enables their users to fix the bricked iPhones and bring their iPhones’ systems back to the older stable version, i.e. 1.0.2.

However, users need to register their IMEIs with iPhoneSimFree server through one of the resellers that are available throughout the regions, and the pricing I read on the web is $100 per license.

DRM (Digital Rights Management) is dead. With EMI announced that high quality, DRM-free audio format can be download for use across all devices and platforms. Moreover, Apple’s iTunes will become the first online music store to sell EMI’s new DRM-free products within the few weeks. The price tag is announced at $1.29/€1.29/£0.99 per song and Apple’s iTunes will make individual AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) format tracks available from EMI artists at twice the sound quality of existing downloads, i.e. at 256 kbps (kilobyte per second) in contrast to the standard MP3 downloads normally encoded in-between 96-128 kbps. For some people and sound experts, 256 kbps can be considered as the true “CD quality” when listen to.

What will be the impact for the music industry. Nobody could really tell it now but reports on the web is being spread about the possibilities of iTunes store in the issues of alleged antitrust violations. On the other hand, some predicted that iPod sales would drop thereafter an user could download and use the songs on any kind of devices, not solely restricted to the designated iPod. The way EMI and Apple revolutionized the songs being listen to would definitely disappoint some of the long-time iPod lovers. Or this may considered as a hint by Apple that sent a message to the public for the switch to iTunes software on the PC. Will this move attract more people in downloading iTunes softwares in the future?

But one thing for sure, DRM is dead as it is invented as a technology to “control” a digital file, i.e. restrict an user from copying, the number of times it is being accessed, how the digital file will become expire, and etc. By dropping DRM, it also mean Apple is “dropping” its success, proprietary DRM system for the iPod. A trend-right for the users and a shrewd move of EMI and Apple.

Apple’s newest product, Apple TV has now shipping to the consumer market yesterday. Apple TV, a small silver box that cost $299, with the 40G hard disk can be store up to 50 hours of flicks, 9,000 songs, 25,000 photos, and even can play podcasts on a TV, the first ever in the industry. There is some prerequisite to use the Apple TV. A consumer must at least own a TV and iTunes in hand. He/She can connect the TV to the Apple TV and open iTunes on his/her computer. The iTunes will then wireless connect the Apple TV in a few simple steps. All the movies/flicks can be downloaded from the iTunes but the prospective consumers must fulfill the technical specifications as listed by Apple in order to play a movie through the Apple TV.

Apple knew that by successfully market this product, it will marks the victory days for them and we will foresee many more products to launch in the market by Apple that focused on the use in living room. “It’s Apple’s first major foray into the living room,” said Shannon Cross, an analyst at Cross Research. “I expect many more products to come that expand Apple’s reach beyond this initial Apple TV.” Reported by Reuters. However, the market that Apple TV is now penetrating is large and fragmented. Microsoft, Sony, TiVo have their own target markets and it is unlikely that Apple TV will be the dominant player in the TV industry. While a lot of Apple fans had high hopes for this product, how Apple going to market it throughout the world, what is their actual market strategy, nobody can tell now. But Apple TV has sent a clear message to the iTunes fans that Apple is building something around the iTunes, or iPod in the future. What Apple asked for the return is the users’ loyalty. Loyalty is driving Apple’s business strategy now.