It’s a ship. That ships. Ships. Not sure what else you need

Apple will soon offer wireless service, expert believes

Apple’s next huge move isn’t into the television or banking industries according to one expert. Instead, Apple will take on carriers like AT&T and Verizon Wireless by becoming a direct mobile service provider.

Veteran wireless industry strategist Whitey Bluestein, who has managed strategic deals for the likes of AT&T, Intel, T-Mobile, Verizon, Microsoft, Nokia and Best Buy, says Apple will soon begin to offer wireless service directly to iPhone and iPad users.

Apple has the distribution channels, digital content portfolio and customer base to make the move, Bluestein says, and it also has more than 250 million credit cards on file for iTunes users who could be billed directly for wireless service.

“The battleground is set, but Apple will be the first mover,” Bluestein said while speaking at the Informa MVNO Industry Summit in Barcelona. “Google will have to scramble because it lacks retail distribution, experience with subscriber services and the iTunes ecosystem of content. iTunes and the iTunes Store provide Apple with one-click buying and customer care. Google can acquire most of these capabilities, as it has before, but it is not a core competency of the company.”

Bluestein also notes that Apple has patent-pending network architecture, with patents filed in 2006, that will empower its move into the mobile service provider industry. Apple’s biggest barrier thus far has been the large subsidies carriers pay to keep end-user iPhone pricing affordable, however Apple’s huge cash reserves could be used to remove that road block completely.

(Source: foxnews.com)

Is Darth Vader’s armor proof that he’s secretly Jewish?

Here’s a strange little tidbit that makes that midi-chlorian twaddle from The Phantom Menace all the more hilarious. In The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, three lines of lettering appear on the front chest plate of Darth Vader’s armor. The text isn’t completely readable in the films, but fans who have seen the armor in person have determined that the text looks Hebrew.

But what does this semi-illegible text say? And more importantly, is Anakin Skywalker one of the chosen people? Is Bantha milk kosher? This is clearly the most important questions you’ll confront all day.

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There are several conflicting interpretations of Vader’s chest text floating around the internet. According to one widely cited translator, his armor reads, “His deeds will not be forgiven until he merits.” This vague message seems thematically appropriate, given the character’s eventual redemption inReturn of the Jedi.

The image at left (via The Force.net) is taken from Vader’s chest plate circa the Battle of Endor scenes in Return of the Jedi. Different text however appears on different iterations of his armor — you can read an intensely thorough analysis of his thoracic wording here.

It’s absurdly unlikely that George Lucas will ever sound off on this issue. Let’s just accept that there’s a possibility Anakin Skywalker is the Space Messiah, who could’ve been born in 1763. I have yet to work out the kinks in my own personal theory that C-3PO being rebuilt after Bespin is a Lazarus metaphor. After all, that leaves Chewie in a strange symbolic position.

[The Force via Reddit via Super Punch]

(Source: i09.com)