Apple

Opera – and alternative browser for the iPhone

Posted by Andy on April 12, 2010
Apple, iPhone, Tech Tips / Comments Off on Opera – and alternative browser for the iPhone

Apple approved Opera Mini, an alternative browser for the iPhone.  Cool!

It’s not really a browser in the truest sense of the word, since it doesn’t actually render web pages.  The pages are rendered on Opera’s servers, then the results are transmitted to the iPhone via OBML.  This should make browsing very fast, so it should be a nice improvement over Safari.

I’ll download it shortly and report, but I’m optimistic!

Couple of articles on the subject:

PC Mag

CNET

reMail aquired by Google – app removed form the App Store

Posted by Andy on February 19, 2010
Apple, Gmail, iPhone / Comments Off on reMail aquired by Google – app removed form the App Store

BOOOO!!

reMail is/was a great email search app for the iPhone, and now that Google has purchased the company.  I have to believe this is strategic for Google and they will use the technology exclusively on Android phones, but from a consumer’s point of view, this sucks.  I hate it when anyone is proprietary about useful technology!

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iPad – my .02

Posted by Andy on January 27, 2010
Apple, Cool Tech, iPhone, Toys / Comments Off on iPad – my .02

Apple’s big reveal of the iPad today had the tech world on the edge their seats, ready for the “next big thing” from Mr. Jobs and the Cupertino crew.  Does the iPad live up to the hype?

Here are the basic specs:

9.5 inch x 7.5 inch multi touch capacitive display

.5 inches thick

1.5 lbs

1024 x 768 pixels at 132 ppi

1 Ghz Apple A4 processor

Available with 16, 32 or 64 GB flash drives

10 hour battery

WiFi by default, 3G models available too

Price starts at $499 for the base WiFi model, runs up to $829 for the 3G 64 MB model

I have not had one in my hands, but the device looks impressive on the surface.  It runs the iPhone OS, so all of the iPhone apps you know and love are there, plus some tweaks and additions, notably the addition of iBooks.  Sort of iTunes for books.  I like the idea of books on demand (I’m a big fan of the Kindle app for iPhone) so the addition of e-Books on the iPhone platform is welcome.  Several apps look like they have been upgraded – mail has many more options, contacts, calendar, maps all have much needed upgrades that make use of the additional real estate on the iPad.

The iPad also builds on the iTunes store in the video arena.  Movies and TV shows will look great on the device, as will You Tube and streaming web content.  There are a couple of downsides – it looks like the display is only 720p, and for Apple only knows why, they STILL won’t display flash.  That said, given the display size video will likely look great.

Is it a game changer?  I’ve been thinking about that since the demo ended and honestly I just don’t think that it is.  I do think that in its category it will be the clear leader, and its competitors will be scrambling to follow.  That is the key though – in its category.  The iPhone was a game changer because it dominated its category (cell phones) with must have added features.  Web browsing, music, video, maps and of course, the app store.  It was revolutionary because it brought all of these things together on a device that everyone already used every day, their cell phone.  I don’t see the same demand for what is essentially a really big iPhone.  Sure there are people for whom this device will be the end all be all, I can’t live without it, greatest thing since sliced bread.  Commuters, techies, travelers will benefit from this device.  Most people though just don’t need it, and there was nothing in the demo today that makes me think people are going to look at the iPad and say – OMG I NEED THAT. 

Is it cool?  Yes.  Is it great technology?  Absolutely.  Is it great design?  Sure, but really just more of the same iPhone design.  Is it going to be as big as the iPhone?  No way.  Will it “change publishing as we know it”?  I really don’t think so.  It’s hard for me to believe that a device as costly as this is will be ubiquitous, or even really popular in the average household.  People like to read papers and books, share them with friends, leave them on trains.  Yes, the content you can get from an eReader is way beyond what a magazine or newspaper can deliver, but I don’t see people paying $500 for the privilege.  Especially when you throw netbooks into the mix.

Think about the average household and what people’s computing needs are.  Email, web browsing, games, some word processing (homework, letters), spreadsheets, pictures.  I can do all of this from a netbook for $299, almost half what the iPad will cost.  Also, the netbook will likely be windows based, so will use MS Word and Excel, not iWorks (eeeww), so I can edit documents for school or work without an issue.  If iPad can run Office for Mac, that would be great, but there is no indication that this is possible.

Here’s another measure I use for the iPad.  If I am going on a trip for a week, can I get through the trip with only the iPad?  For me, the answer is probably not.  I’m going to need a device I can edit word/excel on.  I can view the docs on the iPad, and iWorks allows me to save MS Office documents, but will specific formating in Excel and Word save too?  I don’t know the answer here, and it’s important.  If I can safely edit anything that Office throws at the iPad in iWorks, then I’m all set.  If, as in the past, the formating gets messed up, that means I have to take either a netbook or a laptop with me which means I’m not likely to take the iPad with me – too many devices.  Which in turn means that I probably wouldn’t buy it if I can’t use it on trips.  Oh I wish there were open standards for documents.  Oh wait, there is.

So, what do I make of all this?  I love that the iPad exists.  It means that people are thinking about how we look at our online universe.  It didn’t WOW me, but something will.  Maybe it will be an app for the iPad, or some yet to be released feature, but it’s not there yet.  C’mon Steve, make me NEED THS!

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AT&T sets date for MMS over iPhone

Posted by Andy on September 04, 2009
Apple, iPhone, Toys / Comments Off on AT&T sets date for MMS over iPhone

Finally, but do I really care?

AT&T announced yesterday that MMS will be available for US iPhone customers on September 25th.  On that day, a software update will be released that will enable the feature.

What is MMS anyway you ask?  MMS stands for Multimedia Message Service, and is an upgrade to SMS (Short Message Service).  Both are ways to send messages between compatible cell phones.  In short, SMS is text messaging, MMS is the ability to send text, video, pictures, audio clips etc between cell phones.

I’m old enough to have largely missed the text message boom, so I’m not all that excited about this.  That said, the fact that AT&T couldn’t get their act together to coordinate this with the release of the 3GS months ago is borderline criminal.  There are a couple of lawsuits against AT&T regarding the false advertising that went along with the release of the 3GS that I’m sure will go nowhere, but make a good point.  If you are the exclusive vendor for arguably the most popular cell phone in history, you owe it to your handcuffed customers to have your network in order before the phone is released, especially since the phone was heavily advertised as being able to handle MMS.

Good news for MMS users, but an embarrassment for AT&T.

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iPhone 3.0 installed

Posted by Andy on June 19, 2009
Apple, iPhone / Comments Off on iPhone 3.0 installed

I’ve been using the iPhone 3.0 software for a couple of days now and other than a minor installation glitch (my fault) the upgrade was painless.  Everything seems to work as advertised, and so far, I like what I see.

  • WiFi improvements – One of the things that really bugged me about the 2.0 OS was the way the iPhone reacted to WiFi spots.  If, for example, I go to my local Starbucks, the phone will attempt to connect to the local router.  The phone will connect and get an IP address, but since I haven’t logged in to the hotspot, the phone gets no Internet service, effectively making any Internet reliant service useless.  The only way to “fix” this is to either turn off WiFi, or open Safari and enter login credentials for the hotspot I’m connected too.

    The 3.0 OS fixes this annoyance.  The OS will recognize when you have come across a hot spot that requires credentials and give you the login screen after is connects to the router.  These credentials will be stored on the device so that you can connect automatically when you return to the hot spot.  I have yet to extensively test this, but it seems to be working well.

  • Search – Search text entry bars are everywhere, and I couldn’t be happier.  Searching email gives you options to search From, To, Subject and All.  Not only are you able to search mail on the device, but there is an option to “continue search on server”.  This can be a little slow if you have a lot of stored mail, but I’m very pleased that the option is there.
  • Landscape – Do I need to say anything here?  It’s there, it works.  Ironically, I’m pretty adept at typing in portrait mode, so I’m not sure how much I’ll use it for typing, but being able to view mail in landscape is great.
  • Cut and Paste – WORKS.

Most of my major issues with the OS have been resolved now.  I’m not saying I have no complaints, but things are way better!

iPhone Tips – 10 things you may not know

Posted by Andy on June 11, 2009
Apple, iPhone, Tech Tips / 6 Comments

Here are 10 things you may not know how to do on the iPhone.

  1. Web Clips:You can create a short cut to a web page as an icon on your iPhone.  To do this, tap the “+”  when on a web page, then tap “Add to Home Screen.”  This will create an icon on your iPhone that you an treat (move or delete) as any other application.  Web Clips are not bookmarks per se, so they are NOT synced by MobileMe or iTunes.
  2. Scroll to Top of Page:

    In any application you can scroll to the top of the page by tapping on the status bar at the top of the iPhone screen.

  3. Domain Suffix:

    When typing a URL in safari, you can use the .COM key to choose other domain suffixes.  Tap and hold the .COM key to bring up a list of the other choices (.net, .edu, .org, .com).  Slide your finger over the one you want to select.

  4. Alternate Characters:

    If you need to type non standard letters (letters with non-english annotations like a tilde) you can tap and hold the letter to bring up a list of available alternatives.

  5. Screenshot:

    You can take a screenshot by holding the home key then the sleep button on the top of the phone.  The image will be stored in your camera roll.

  6. Save an Image from Safari:

    You can save just about any image from a web page to your camera roll.  Just tap and hold on the image to bring up a menu that will give you the option to save it.

  7. Double tap to zoom:

    This is really helpful.  In Safari, or in an email, double tap the text you want to zoom in on and the iPhone will resize the text to fill the screen.  Double tap again to go back to the original size.

  8. iPod Playback Controls:

    You can bring up the iPod controls when you are in any application or when the phone is locked by double clicking the  Home Home button icon button.

  9. Setting a Sleep timer:

    You can set the iPhone to stop playing music or videos after a period of time by using the sleep timer function.  From the clock application, choose the timer function.  Set the number of hours/minutes you want, then tap “When Timer Ends” choose “Sleep iPod”.  Finally, tap Start to start the timer.  When the timer ends, the iPhone will stop playing, close open apps and lock.

  10. Soft Reset:

    To reset yout iPhone if it freezes, click the home button and the sleep button at the same time and hold them both down until you see the Apple logo.

iPhone 3.0 release date – June 17, iPhone 3Gs details released

Posted by Andy on June 09, 2009
Apple, iPhone, Toys / 5 Comments

Apple announced at WWDC 2009 that the iPhone 3.0 software will be available to current iPhone users on June 17th.  At the same event Apple announced that the iPhone 3GS will be available for purchase June 19th, 2009 in 16GB and 32 GB models for $199 and $299 respectively.  They also reduced the price of the 8GB 3G to $99.

While none of this is unexpected, it’s nice to have a real release date.  Apple announced more final features of the 3.0 software, here are some highlights (full description here).

  • Copy and Paste text – When you double tap text, you will get a dialog box to cut/copy.  Double tap again to get a paste bubble.  Works with Photos too.
  • Spotlight for search – Now you will be able to search across all the information on your device.  What took them so long to add this?  This really should have been a day one feature.
  • Landscape Keyboard – Will work in mail, notes, safari, SMS
  • MMS – Big swing and a miss here – AT&T isn’t ready for the release, so this feature will not be ready until late summer.
  • Improved Calendar – Support for CalDAV is added.  This is BIG.  CalDAV is what Google and Yahoo use, so this is a big win for Gmail users.  In addition to CalDAV, you can now create meetings – another why wasn’t this done before.
  • Internet Tethering – Another HUGE swing and a miss by AT&T.  This will not be available in the US.  Please AT&T, get your network in order.  Your clients, who pay you a lot of money, demand this.
  • Sync Notes – You can now sync notes from your phone back to your PC via iTunes.  Another about time, Apple.  I’d like to see an OTA sync for this to Exchange though, that would be useful.  Syncing via iTunes is ok, but not all that helpful.
  • Automatic Wi-Fi login – This will (may) really help.  Now when I go to Starbucks I won’t have to login to their hotspot every time.  In theory.  I’m skeptical about this one, but I’m hopeful.

There are other features that seem fun like Shake to Shuffle,  improved iTunes store, voice memos etc.  Overall it seems like a LOT of new software, I hope it all works as advertised.

iPhone 3GS features

See more here.  There are a bunch of new features that look cool, but I’m not sure I’ll shell out $199 (or $299) for them.  The main improvements are:

  • Speed – Apple claims that “everything you do on iPhone 3G S is up to 2x faster and more responsive than iPhone 3G”.  Call me Skippy Skeptical, but I’ll believe it when I see it, thank you.  If true, this is compelling.
  • Video – You can shoot VGA in portrait or landscape mode, edit start and end points, then share it via email, post to MobileMe or YouTube.  Of course, you can also save the video to your PC when you sync.  I like the idea here – I use my iPhone camera way more than I thought I would, so I imagine that the video feature would be just as useful.  That said, in a corporate environment, cameras are problematic on enterprise devices.
  • Improved Camera – 3 MegaPixels, Auto-focus and a tap to focus feature.  Very neat improvements.
  • Digital compass – I like this a lot, but it doesn’t look like they’ve improved the turn by turn directions at all.  I’d like it to function more like a “real” GPS in that if you deviate from your route it will auto correct to get you back on the right path.

All in all I’m excited about the 3.0 software and intrigued by the new hardware, I’m just not willing to shell out $199 for it yet.  Now if my current device happens to fall in a puddle…

Cool iPhone app

Posted by Andy on April 06, 2009
Apple, iPhone / Comments Off on Cool iPhone app

My current favorite is FlightControl by Firemint.  It severley addicting.  The gist that you are a flight controller and you have to land planes and helicopters byt dragging a flight path from the plane to a runway.  Sounds easy, right?  It is, for the first few planes.  Then more planes come, and planes of differing speeds.  Pretty soon, CRASH, a mid air collision.  The graphics are simple but clear, and the interface is nice.  I’m sure I’ll be burning through my battery on this instead of working on the train ;)

iPhone 3.0 will have landscape mode, Skype for iPhone

Posted by Andy on April 01, 2009
Apple, iPhone / Comments Off on iPhone 3.0 will have landscape mode, Skype for iPhone

I took a deeper look at the 3.0 release and there will be landscape mode for email and SMS messages.  Check out the preview here.  It’s about time that Apple put this out, but the proof will be in the pudding.

On a related iPhone note, I installed the Skype app for iPhone today.  I am really excited by this, and so far so good.  I don’t have good cell reception at my home, so having the ability to make calls while at home via a low cost service like Skype will be great.  Unfortunately, Apple is restricting Skype traffic to Wi-Fi only to protect AT&T’s revenue stream for calls.  Chat will work over 3G, but calls will not.  I understand this, but it is really anti-consumer.  Apple has said that they do this for all VoIP apps for iPhone, so it’s not like Skype is being singled out, but this feels very heavy handed and to me comes close to a monopoly power (AT&T is the only US carrier for iPhone at the moment) marginalizing a direct competitor.  The app will be very useful, but would be so much more useful if it worked over the 3G network.

Unfortunately, this is another example of Apple almost getting it right.

Romanticizing Technology

Posted by Andy on March 27, 2009
Apple, Cool Tech, iPhone, Windows / Comments Off on Romanticizing Technology

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about why we love and hold on to technology gadgets when they are not necessarily all that great.  I can think of several things I’ve bought or used at work that were “the next big thing” or just new and cool that turned out to be more trouble than they were worth.  Did I stop using them?  Sometimes, but more often than not, I’d keep plugging along, being frustrated and annoyed by something that didn’t quite do what I wanted it to.  Why?

I guess I, like a lot of tech guys, love technology.  When something new comes along, you want to believe the hype and be the first one in the pool.

Take the iPhone 3G for example.  I wanted to get an iPhone for a long time, but didn’t before active sync was available – I needed to be able to use the device for work in order to justify the expense.  When I got it, it was clear in the first couple of hours that the phone was no match for my Blackberry for email, and the phone was noticeably worse.  Since I was evaluating the device for use at my firm, I put together a list of probably a dozen or more issues any one of which was enough to prevent me from recommending we adopt the device as a blackberry replacement.  I told lots of people NOT to get the phone as a business device, and to this day I don’t think it is an enterprise class device and that Blackberry is much better at corporate service.  But I kept the phone.  And I love it.  Why, why why?

Because it almost does what it needs to.  Because it almost gets it right.  And because I’m hopeful that over time the issues with the device will be worked out.   That has already happened for many of the early issues (dropped calls are not the issues that they once were, battery life is better) and I’m hopeful that more software improvements are coming.   We will see with 3.0 what happens, but I’m hopeful.

Office 2007, IE7, IE 8, Vista, Windows 7.  All are things I beta tested or installed as soon as the release candidates were out.  Some were huge disappointments (Vista, IE 8 ) and others were really neat, but a big pain in the rear (Office 2007).  I still kept using Office 2007 even though I had to have a separate machine to run things that just didn’t work with ’07.  Why?  Again, the promise of improvement and the cool features that did work outweighed the problems.  As a tech guy I can overlook/tolerate stuff that others can’t because I can find a way around the problem.

It’s like the girl who dates the bad guy even though she knows it will end badly.  Or the guy who dates the really hot girl who treats him like crap.  You hope for the best and ignore the immediate problem because you think it will eventually get better.

Hope lives!