Top Posts
John Gruber: More importantly, you don’t need to initiate a FaceTime call using a voice call. You can start the call using FaceTime directly, in which case the entire process takes place over IP networking. The advantage to starting with a voice call is that you’ll get a voice connection even if the recipient isn’t…
John Gruber:
More importantly, you don’t need to initiate a FaceTime call using a voice call. You can start the call using FaceTime directly, in which case the entire process takes place over IP networking. The advantage to starting with a voice call is that you’ll get a voice connection even if the recipient isn’t on Wi-Fi at the moment.
Read the whole piece, this is really interesting.
Check – see you guys there tomorrow.
Check – see you guys there tomorrow.
After a lot of waiting this morning I came back to my office and found a new iPhone 4 sitting on my desk. I have it all setup and expect more thoughts tomorrow. Also I will be waiting in the Bellevue, WA Apple Store line tomorrow starting around 5:30a to try and get one for…
After a lot of waiting this morning I came back to my office and found a new iPhone 4 sitting on my desk. I have it all setup and expect more thoughts tomorrow.
Also I will be waiting in the Bellevue, WA Apple Store line tomorrow starting around 5:30a to try and get one for my wife – be sure to stop by and say hi.
John Biggs: The Kindle App has made the Kindle “device” a obsolete for many early adopters. I can tell you that for me, if there was no Kindle app for the iPad I would not have given my Wife my Kindle. It is not the device for me, I just don’t want to lose the…
John Biggs:
The Kindle App has made the Kindle “device” a obsolete for many early adopters.
I can tell you that for me, if there was no Kindle app for the iPad I would not have given my Wife my Kindle. It is not the device for me, I just don’t want to lose the books I already purchased.
One of the biggest requirements I also have for iPhone apps is to make sure the app provides some way of Over-the-Air Syncing (OTA). For the past year I have been settled on using OmniFocus for task management because it synced using MobileMe OTA to my Mac. When I found out about SimpleNote that also…
One of the biggest requirements I also have for iPhone apps is to make sure the app provides some way of Over-the-Air Syncing (OTA). For the past year I have been settled on using OmniFocus for task management because it synced using MobileMe OTA to my Mac. When I found out about SimpleNote that also had OTA syncing I immediately switched from Evernote to it. ((Evernote does sync OTA, but I hate the look of the app both on the Mac and iPhone))
Recently I made the switch from OmniFocus to Things – the primary reason being that there has been no OmniFocus for the iPad. ((This is something I find to be unacceptable and has really pissed me off. They even missed their tentative ship deadline of this month.)) Things syncs between the Mac and iPhone/iPad clients using Wi-Fi only ((you have to be on the same Wi-Fi network to get this to work. You also can’t sync between iPhone and iPad without a Mac involved.)) which had been one of my major points of contention with the app.
I have been using Things now for about 3 weeks and could not be happier. There is maybe one time during the week when I miss OTA syncing – the rest of the time it is never an issue. Especially when I take into account the speed that Things syncs with my Mac, in just a few seconds it is synced – where most OTA syncs take 10-30 seconds each. ((based on my experience in using OmniFocus and Simplenote on Wi-Fi or 3G networks.))
This past weekend I began asking myself just how important OTA syncing is compared to Wi-Fi syncing. My conclusion: it depends. ((weak I know)) What it really depends on is what type of data you are syncing – how you are using that data. For things like task management apps the only reason to want it to sync OTA is so that you can sync if you forgot to before you leave your main computer. Other than the occasional forgetfullness there really is no difference between OTA and Wi-Fi syncing with task management apps.
This line of thinking lead me to the conclusion thatOTA syncing only becomes crucial on stuff that you rarely use – or that you don’t use on one device when you are using it on another. Think about how lame it would be if the Dropbox iPhone/iPad app only did Wi-Fi syncing – that would make it a useless program. ((No one wants to keep all that data on their mobile device if they don’t have to.)) Think about notes applications where you type a new note on your Mac and grab your phone to leave our office – rarely do you prefer to type in a note on your iPhone when you have a computer at hand. This is not the case I have with task management apps (perhaps I am in the minority) – I find that I use the device closest to me to enter a new task regardless of where I am.
Given that I spend a lot of time in task management apps on all three of my devices ((iPad, iPhone, Macbook Pro)) I rarely leave my main computer without an up to date copy of Things on my devices. It also helps that if I just leave Things open on each device they sync automatically, thus staying up to date with little involvement from me.
This is all inconsequential to most people, but moving forward I would suspect that most app developers use the cloud in some form to make OTA syncing the default – as it should be. For now though don’t be shy to use a program that only offers Wi-Fi syncing, there are a lot of great ones out there – you don’t want to miss out. ((Things for example))
Dan Frommer: Is this Apple’s way of messing with Verizon Wireless’s, Motorola’s, and Google’s new Droid launch event, scheduled for Wednesday in New York? It is uncharacteristic move on Apple’s part to let people get the iPhone’s a day early. I am not saying this is the reason why they are doing it, but I…
Dan Frommer:
Is this Apple’s way of messing with Verizon Wireless’s, Motorola’s, and Google’s new Droid launch event, scheduled for Wednesday in New York?
It is uncharacteristic move on Apple’s part to let people get the iPhone’s a day early. I am not saying this is the reason why they are doing it, but I can hope.
Apple is batting .500 today on privacy issues.
Apple is batting .500 today on privacy issues.
Stan Schroeder: Unfortunately, this doesn’t mean that users will actually be able to install it right away. Flash 10.1 will be immediately available for phones using Android 2.2 (or Froyo), but that version of Android hasn’t been deployed to devices yet. It’s almost like saying here is the keys to the car you will buy…
Stan Schroeder:
Unfortunately, this doesn’t mean that users will actually be able to install it right away. Flash 10.1 will be immediately available for phones using Android 2.2 (or Froyo), but that version of Android hasn’t been deployed to devices yet.
It’s almost like saying here is the keys to the car you will buy in five months.
Marco Arment said this morning: Every month without a Verizon iPhone costs Apple dearly in marketshare and mindshare. The longer they wait, the lower their chances to reclaim the difference. I’m guessing a CDMA Verizon iPhone will be available within 6 months. While I don’t 100% disagree with the thought that Apple will release a…
Marco Arment said this morning:
Every month without a Verizon iPhone costs Apple dearly in marketshare and mindshare. The longer they wait, the lower their chances to reclaim the difference.
I’m guessing a CDMA Verizon iPhone will be available within 6 months.
While I don’t 100% disagree with the thought that Apple will release a Verizon iPhone (6-months seems too soon to me though) – I 100% disagree with Arment’s notion that Apple needs Verizon in order to maintain market and mind share. All Apple needs to increase their market/mind share in the U.S. is to not be AT&T exclusive.
I would think that as soon as Apple legally can we will see the iPhone on T-Mobile. The network is relatively the same as AT&T’s and iPhones have been working on T-Mobile for quite some time now. ((Source)) Just getting the iPhone on T-Mobile is going to win over a ton more people – those that just hate AT&T.
It would be at this point when Apple will be in hard negotiations I would guess with both Sprint and Verizon. Apple most likely wants the iPhone on all major U.S. carriers – I think Verizon is putting up a little bit of a stink, wanting control of the product. This is where Sprint comes in, should Verizon not be willing to capitulate to Apple at this point I would look for Apple to take the iPhone to Sprint. Sprint and T-Mobile need the iPhone more than Apple needs them.
T-Mobile has not had a ‘must have’ phone since the Google G-1, and Sprint has the HTC EVO, but it is getting hammered in the reviews. ((Mainly for poor battery life, the rest of the phone seems to be great by most peoples accounts.)) All this means is that it would be easy for Apple to get either carrier to do their bidding, or at least easier than it is to get Verizon to do so. ((Based off the success of the DROID line of phones.))
Either way, I think T-Mobile is the next carrier not Verizon.
I also received this note from Apple on the order for my Wife’s iPhone: Dear Customer, We were unable to complete the authorization process for your iPhone order. As a result, we had to cancel your iPhone order. To complete the purchase of your iPhone, please visit an Apple Retail Store or an AT&T company-owned…
I also received this note from Apple on the order for my Wife’s iPhone:
Dear Customer,
We were unable to complete the authorization process for your iPhone order. As
a result, we had to cancel your iPhone order. To complete the purchase of your
iPhone, please visit an Apple Retail Store or an AT&T company-owned retail
store.
This was not good news – it explains why Apple cancelled her iPhone order. I ordered this on my Alaska Airlines Bank of America card, which as of right now has an available credit limit of $12,500 – which is still apparently not enough for them to allow me to buy an iPhone 4. Now this is clearly a screw up on Bank of America, but instead of it being no big deal I get to wake up at 5a and go stand in a pre-order line – assuming I get my iPhone on the 23rd.
(For those curious I paid for my iPhone with my business card – a perk for sure as it always is approved.)
Last night – I along with other pre-orderers – received the following email from Apple: Dear Apple Store Customer, You recently received a Shipment Notification email from Apple advising you that your iPhone has shipped. This email is to confirm that your delivery will occur on June 23rd. Although Apple and FedEx tracking information may…
Last night – I along with other pre-orderers – received the following email from Apple:
Dear Apple Store Customer,
You recently received a Shipment Notification email from Apple advising you that your iPhone has shipped.
This email is to confirm that your delivery will occur on June 23rd. Although Apple and FedEx tracking information may currently indicate a later date, you can check the FedEx website the morning of the June 23rd to track your package to your doorstep.
In the event that you will not be available to accept delivery on June 23rd, it may be more convenient to use our pre-sign delivery option by visiting our Order Status website at http://www.apple.com/orderstatus.
Sincerely,
The Apple Store Team
When Apple initially sent me tracking info it said it would show up on the 23rd, however this not being my first time with Apple launches I knew that to be false and that it would be here on the 24th. It now says it will be here on the 24th – but Apple is telling everyone we get it a day early. If true I am really happy, however if this is not true then I am confused as to why this email went out.
From Apple’s privacy policy: To provide location-based services on Apple products, Apple and our partners and licensees may collect, use, and share precise location data, including the real-time geographic location of your Apple computer or device. This location data is collected anonymously in a form that does not personally identify you and is used by…
From Apple’s privacy policy:
To provide location-based services on Apple products, Apple and our partners and licensees may collect, use, and share precise location data, including the real-time geographic location of your Apple computer or device. This location data is collected anonymously in a form that does not personally identify you and is used by Apple and our partners and licensees to provide and improve location-based products and services. For example, we may share geographic location with application providers when you opt in to their location services.
This is not good, in fact Apple needs to clarify this section – 4 sentences is not enough to make me feel comfortable about what Apple is doing with my location data.
It occurred to me today when I read about how California is considering new license plates (digital ones) that when the car is stopped they would display ads – what occurred to me is that governments can be a lot like newspaper companies. Bear with me for a moment. In publishing we have the infamous…
It occurred to me today when I read about how California is considering new license plates (digital ones) that when the car is stopped they would display ads – what occurred to me is that governments can be a lot like newspaper companies. Bear with me for a moment.
In publishing we have the infamous ‘paywalls’ where content providers put all the good juicy content behind a login page that requires you to buy a subscription. Often times owning a subscription though does not mean that you get content free from ads – the subscription price alone is not enough to pay for the production of the content.
So let’s go back to governments and this digital advertising on license plate idea. You have to pay to license and register your car (tabs, plates, taxes, etc.) and then once you do that you get a plate that will then show ads. Hmm sounds familiar.
This brings more than just paywall problems to rise – what about taste, endorsements, or moderation? If CA does this, then would they allow strip clubs, or porn to be advertised on the license plates – surely they would not. That in itself represents the government limiting free speech, does it not? What if the government had been running ads for Bernie Madoff, would they be sued by citizens who expected them to fully vet each advertiser.
This is all just concept at this point, and I am sure there are some very smart people in the tech heavy California that will point out these obvious problems. Still – it makes you think – should the government be allowed to sell advertising on license plates? I would think not.
Priya Ganapati: Amazon has cut the price of its Kindle e-book reader to $190 from $260 earlier. Amazon’s move comes in response to Barnes & Noble’s price cut on the Nook earlier Monday. This was bound to happen, kudos to Amazon for reacting so quickly – the profit is in the books not the device.…
Priya Ganapati:
Amazon has cut the price of its Kindle e-book reader to $190 from $260 earlier. Amazon’s move comes in response to Barnes & Noble’s price cut on the Nook earlier Monday.
This was bound to happen, kudos to Amazon for reacting so quickly – the profit is in the books not the device. Unlike the Nook however I suspect the Kindle to be around for a while yet. Look for the death of the Sony eReader soon though.
Jenna Wortham: Mr. Kushler, who is chief technology officer of Swype, estimates that the software can improve even the nimblest text-messager’s pace by 20 to 30 percent.
Jenna Wortham:
Mr. Kushler, who is chief technology officer of Swype, estimates that the software can improve even the nimblest text-messager’s pace by 20 to 30 percent.
Servers are a bit slow – well worth it though.
Servers are a bit slow – well worth it though.
That’s the difference between Apple making the decision and AT&T making the decision – or if you prefer Wi-Fi only versus Cell Network access.
That’s the difference between Apple making the decision and AT&T making the decision – or if you prefer Wi-Fi only versus Cell Network access.
Robin Hindery: The device would mimic a standard license plate when the vehicle is in motion but would switch to digital ads or other messages when it is stopped for more than four seconds, whether in traffic or at a red light. The license plate number would remain visible at all times in some section…
Robin Hindery:
The device would mimic a standard license plate when the vehicle is in motion but would switch to digital ads or other messages when it is stopped for more than four seconds, whether in traffic or at a red light. The license plate number would remain visible at all times in some section of the screen.
In emergencies, the plates could be used to broadcast Amber Alerts or traffic information.
First showing ads when you make a person pay for taxes on the vehicle is egregious. Second, allowing for broadcast of Amber Alerts is pretty cool.