That’s it, the iPhone 4 antenna controversy is finally laid to rest, right? Right? Well, it’s laid to rest for this week anyway. Still, we can’t be bothered with that malarkey when the world is so full of art! There’s the art of iPad novels, the art of FaceTime, and the dubious art of junk computer software. Take a stroll through this gallery of remainders for July 16, 2010.
Japanese author skirts publishers with iPad novel (Wall Street Journal)
Books are great and everything, but what if they had pictures, sounds, music, and videos? Then they’d be movies, you say? Whatever. That’s not going to stop Ryu Murakami, who plans to distribute his work, Utau Kujira (A Singing Whale), via Apple’s iBookstore for $17 a pop. Finally! Books that don’t require so much darn reading.
Geek artist making $50 caricatures over FaceTime (Wired)
Now here’s a novel use for FaceTime. Iconfactory artist David Lanham is charging $50 to draw your portrait via the iPhone 4 video-chat feature. That’s right: independent street caricature artists, another industry Apple’s technological innovation has put out of business.
‘Junkware’ comes standard on Verizon, T-Mobile smart phones (Los Angeles Times)
Remember back when PC makers used to load up their Windows machines with all sorts of junky random programs and trial applications? Well, grab a Motorola Droid X from Verizon or Samsung Vibrant from T-Mobile and you can relive those wonder years: both Android phones come pre-loaded with un-removable apps, some of which require you provide personal information before using. Geez, it’s always one step forward, two steps back with you guys, isn’t it?
Update: Nexus One changes in availability (Google)
Google says that it’s received its last shipment of the Nexus One smartphone; after these sell out, the phone will no longer be available from Google. Don’t cry, little Suzie, it’s just gone to the wonderful smartphone farm, where it will frolic in the grass with the Microsoft Kin.