Backseat: Verizon iPhone feature list secondary to release date

Verizon junkies who’ve been waiting for the Verizon iPhone dating back to 2007 are about as interested in specific features as the guy who’s gone a week without water is interested in which flavor of beverage ultimately gets handed to him. In each case, the details of the desired arrival take a significant backseat to the timing of said arrival.” Give me water, or orange juice, or vodka,” says the man dying of thirst, “whatever you’ve got the most handy.” Similarly, the Verizon customer who is still waiting for any taste of the iPhone as the calendar turns over to 2011 isn’t typically interested in whether or not it comes with 4G networking, for instance. That would be nice, but really, none of the four iPhones to market have had 4G, and said Verizon customers would have gladly scooped up any of them if they’d been offered through their carrier of choice.

So what are Verizon customers looking for when it comes to the iPhone? A release date, of course. “We don’t care about specs, we won’t be picky about whether it’s black or white,” say desperate Verizon customers. “We don’t even care if it’s just a retread of the iPhone model that’s already been on the market since mid 2010. We’ll take what you’ve got.”

Of course that all changes once the Verizon iPhone actually has a release date. Once the primary needs are attended to, the secondary needs invariably come rushing back. And once Verizon’s customer base begins converting themselves into iPhone users next year, they’ll be able to then join existing iPhone users in being totally spoiled about what they have and in demanding Apple deliver ever more with the next iPhone model. Just as surely as the guy whose thirst has been cured suddenly remembers what his favorite beverage is shortly thereafter.

Ed Kowalczyk of LIVE releases solo album Alive today

Ed Kowalczyk, former lead singer of the multi million-selling band LIVE, has released his solo album Alive today in iTunes and elsewhere. Upon first listen, the sound of Kowalczyk’s new album appears to be more closely analogous to 1991′s Mental Jewelry than anything else in LIVE’s back catalog. While the release of the solo album won’t do anything to help the future prospects for LIVE, which suffered from a nasty public split last year, fans of the band will likely be glad to hear new Kowalczyk material one way or the other. The iTunes link for Alive is right here.

“Verizon iPhone release date” more popular than “Verizon Droid”

“Verizon iPhone” is the most frequent search term involving the word Verizon, according to Google News. Searches for the non-existent product outnumber searches for “Verizon” on its own, as well as searches for “Verizon wireless.” So what about Verizon’s hyped iPhone competitor, the Droid? It turns out “Verizon Droid” is eighth on the list, with the branding so muddled that slightly more people are searching for news on “Verizon Android” (in reference to the device’s operating system instead of its brand name) than “Verizon Droid.” How about the newly touted “Verizon Incredible”? Nope, that’s down in the fifth spot – one spot below “Verizon iPhone release date.” That’s right, there are more people searching for the very specific phrase “Verizon iPhone release date” than there are searching for information on any of Verizon’s existing phones. While this is shattering news for Verizon – which has clearly backed the wrong horse in that the entire Android platform is still being spanked by the iPhone platform in marketshare by a tune of more than three to one – it’s not necessarily great news for Apple either, as it demonstrates just how many Verizon customers want an iPhone but are still waiting patiently until the iPhone finally comes to Verizon before they buy one, as opposed to switching over to AT&T as Apple currently wishes they would do.

iOS 4: iPad userbase still in the dark over release date

As iOS 4 gears up for release this week for users of Apple’s smaller mobile touchscreen devices, iPad users are still in the dark as to when the new version of the mobile operating system will see the light of day for their device. Apple CEO Steve Jobs has stated that iOS 4 will be available for iPad users later this year, but details are still scant in terms of an exact release date (presumably the iPad version of iOS4 still being worked on) or what iPad users can specifically expect from it beyond the laundry list of iOS 4 features that Apple has already presented for the iPad’s smaller cousins. With even the lowly iPod touch gaining iOS 4 before the iPad sees it, this week serves as a reminder that Apple has an increasing number of irons in the fire when it comes to not only development of new hardware products, but also software development as well.

KT Tunstall returns with Tiger Suit new album (well not quite yet)

KT Tunstall will release her third album Tiger Suit on September 28th, which she recorded in the same Berlin studio as U2′s Achtung Baby twenty years earlier. Tunstall’s new album follows her first two releases, Eye To The Telescope which first put her ont the map and the chart topping Drastic Fantastic. Her new album is produced by Jim Abbiss and is said to be along the lines of “Nature Techno” (we don’t know what that means either, but we’re looking forward to hearing it). While KT Tunstall fans will have to wait a few months for Tiger Suit’s release, she is performing a pair of intimate solo shows in the mean time, on July 13th at the Hiro Ballroom in New York City and onJuly 15th at Hotel Cafe in Los Angeles.

KT Tunstall has a special place in Beatweek history, as she was the first female artist to appear on our cover, gracing the cover of Beatweek Magazine issue #4 all the way back in early 2008.

Microsoft to ship five million imaginary Project Natal units in 2010?

New rule: if you’re still referring to your new project as “project” then you don’t get to release sales predictions for it. Microsoft has said that it expects sales of at least five million units for its Project Natal by the end of 2010, an odd claim for a product which lacks a public launch date or even a name. Natal has been demoed in controlled environments at conferences and on television shows as being a form of Nintendo Wii but without the Wiimote, instead allowing users to simply simulate swinging an imaginary tennis racket with their bare hands, for instance, while playing a tennis video game. While the demos have looked impressive, Microsoft is known for its vaporware including products like “Surface” which don’t exist outside of a certain Vegas casino even years after successful public demos. The claim from Microsoft that a Natal fueled Xbox will sell millions of units this year, as relayed by After Dawn, could be a confirmation that the company truly believes it can get Natal to market in 2010 or it could be a mere attempt at hyping a product that’s still a long way away from being launched at the intended expense of competing products that are actually on the market, another tactic the company is famous for.

Apple iPhone 4G goes on sale this week (if you’re lucky)

Apple will ship its new iPhone this week after announcing it Monday morning – in the best case scenario possible, at least. While expectations are that Steve Jobs will introduce the device in the morning, the actual arrival date for the iPhone 4G (or whatever commercial name Apple ends up giving the next iPhone) could be anywhere from immediate to impending, depending on a number of factors. A number of tidbits have suggested that the ship date will be sooner rather than later, including the discontinuation of iPhone 3G inventory from AT&T Stores and Wal-Mart’s slashing of the $199 iPhone 3GS to a mere $97, both of which suggest Apple has been looking to quickly ramp down inventory ahead of a new model, Meanwhile, AT&T employees were reportedly forbidden from taking June vacations, suggesting that the public will in fact see the iPhone 4G this month. However, none of this is a sure thing in terms of when the new iPhone will hit the street. With Apple having spent the past two years stuck on essentially the same 3G/3GS model, the company is presumably eager to get the iPhone 4G out the door as swiftly as possible, but the launch date of a new device typically comes down to how quickly the company has been able to ramp up sufficient inventory, which in turn is dependent on component availability.

If iPhone 4G units had already secretly been shipped to Apple Stores for a surprise Monday afternoon launch, we’d likely have heard about it by now. More likely is the scenario in which Apple sets up one of its Friday or Saturday in-store launch days, complete with lines around the block and Steve Wozniak camping out in front of one of the stores. In that case, the best case scenario would be a June 11th retail launch for the iPhone 4G, but in reality that launch could happen any time this summer. Here’s why the iPhone 4G rollout could be Steve Jobs’ biggest moment in years.

Ed Kowalczyk of Live to release solo album “Alive” in early July

Ed Kowalczyk, longtime lead singer for the band LIVE, will release his debut solo album in early July via his own website. The album, entitled Alive, is available for pre-order on CD now and includes the lead single Grace. No official word yet on whether the album will also be available digitally via iTunes or whether the CD will also be available via retailers. Kowalczyk has tour dates scheduled in the U.S. and Europe throughout the summer with what he promises will be a “full rock band.” The brief snippets we’ve heard from Ed’s solo album suggest that Alive will continue down the musical path that he had been on during his years with LIVE. More details on Ed’s new album and tour are at edkowalczyk.com.

Kowalczyk split with his LIVE bandmates acrimoniously last year; they’ve gone on to form The Gracious Few with members of Candlebox.

Lee DeWyze to release debut album October 26th, pre-orderable now

iTunes has made Idol winner Lee DeWyze’s debut album available for pre-order, with an expected release date of October 26th, 2010, according to the online music service. While not technically his debut album, as DeWyze released two previous independent records before Idol, his first post-American Idol album will be widely regarded as his “debut” nonetheless. iTunes is pre-selling Lee’s album for $11.99, listing it simple as “Debut Album” – and while no information has been given about any of its contents for the obvious reason that it hasn’t been made yet, the album is already at #27 on the iTunes pop albums chart, where it’s competing with albums that are available today. Lee DeWyze’s debut album pre-order page in iTunes is right here.

Avenged Sevenfold to release new album “Nightmare” on July 27th

Avenged Sevenfold will release their fifth studio album entitled Nightmare on July 27th. The first single, which shares its title with the album, is set to hit radio today and will debut in iTunes and other digital stores tomorrow. The album was produced by Mike Elizondo, known for his work with Eminem and Dr. Dre.

Avenged Sevenfold will hit the road in August in support of Nightmare, on a co-headlining tour with Disturbed.

Maroon 5 reveals third album Hands All Over, tour dates

Maroon 5, the quintet who’ve racked a score of hit singles from their first two albums, have announced the title and release date for their third record. Hands All Over will hit streets on September 21st and is being produced by veteran rock producer Mutt Lange, perhaps best known for his work with Def Leppard and AC/DC. That’s a long time for fans to wait, but in the mean time the new album’s first single (not yet identified by name) will hit radio on June 28th and Maroon 5 will hit the road on July 30th, with tickets going on sale this week.

According to Maroon 5 lead singer Adam Levine, “We didn’t even talk to anyone else” when it came to choosing Lange as their producer for Hands All Over (which we’ll go ahead and assume has no connection to the early classic Soundgarden song of the same name). Song titles for Hands All Over include the title track, the country tinged Out of Goodbyes which features vocals from Lady Antebellum. the funky Misery, Stutter, Give A Little More, and Don’t Know Much About That.

Maroon 5′s tour mates will at various times include Owl City, Guster, Kris Allen, VV Brown and Ry Cuming. Full list of dates at maroon5.com.

Previous hits from Maroon 5 include Makes Me Wonder, This Love, and Harder To Breathe.

AT&T hints at new iPhone in June

Apple has released a new iPhone around June of every year since 2007, but that pattern doesn’t guarantee we’ll see iPhone history repeat itself; even with Steve Jobs’ rollout of the upcoming iPhone 4.0 operating system, no mention was made of the new iPhone hardware model which will presumably debut around the same time. However, Apple’s iPhone partner A&T, which has a history of not being able to keep secrets, has told its employees that they’ll not be allowed to take vacation time in the month of June.

Whether Apple has informed AT&T that a new iPhone rollout will be coming that month, or whether AT&T is merely using Apple’s history as a predictor in the same way that the rest of us do.

Lifehouse coming to Beatweek

Lifehouse new release finally set

After threatening to launch last month and again next month, the newest release from Lifehouse is now officially set to finally see the light of day on March 2nd. Smoke & Mirrors will be the fifth studio album from the trio (now a quartet with the addition of guitarist Ben Carey) and features current single “Halfway Gone” which was co-written by Kevin Rudolf of “Let It Rock” fame. The album will once again be produced by longtime collaborator Jude Cole.

The band’s performance of a song entitled “Halfway Gone” last Friday night, on what was apparently one of the final Tonight Show episodes to be hosted by Conan O’Brien who already has one foot out the door, was an irony that didn’t escape the band according to their Facebook page.

Lifehouse was the cover story interview for iProng Magazine’s fifth issue back in early 2008.

“Halfway Gone” is currently available in iTunes. At this time, Smoke & Mirrors is not yet available for iTunes pre-order.

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Filed Under: Industry News
Tagged: Bryce Soderberg, Halfway Gone, Jason Wade, Jude Cole, Kevin Rudolf, Lifehouse, new album, release date, Rick Woolstenhulme, Smoke and Mirrors