Siri is another Apple game changer!

Some have said that the iPhone 4s in not a major upgrade over the iPhone 4. Some were expecting a form-factor change and maybe a larger screen. I say Apple did the right thing. They took an exceptional device and made it fantastic. The so-called under the hood improvements are substantial and the fact that the form factor didn't change is a bonus for those of us who are comfortable with the current design. The new iPhone 4s is really an all-new phone but with the added benefit of keeping a beloved figure.

 

techTVshow - iPhone 3Gs with video GAME CHANGER

twitvid.com and the iPhone 3Gs

The iPhone 3Gs and programs like twitVid are going to change everything in media. This is the first opportunity for anyone with a cell phone (this demo is on the iPhone) to upload videos of acceptable quality in near real-time. The video below took me two minutes over 3g to upload and was available to watch instantly via my twitter account.

IPhone as a video production tool

ZGrip iPhone from Steve Weiss, Zacuto USA on Vimeo.

Why the iPhone 3G S is a big upgrade!

iPhone 3G S major upgrade - Enter the ARM Cortex A8

This past weekend Palm introduced its highly anticipated Pre. While I’m still working on my review of the Pre, I can say that it’s the closest thing to an iPhone since Apple first unveiled the product two summers ago. In many ways the Pre is lacking in areas that the iPhone has honestly perfected, but in others the Pre easily surpasses Apple’s best.

One such area is raw performance. While both the iPhone and iPhone 3G use the same old CPU/GPU, the Pre uses TI’s OMAP 3430 processor. The 3430, like the SoC Apple uses, has both a CPU and GPU on the same package. Instead of the ARM11 and the PowerVR MBX-Lite however, the OMAP 3430 uses an ARM Cortex A8 core and a PowerVR SGX GPU. Both are significant improvements over what was in the original iPhone.

Thankfully, Apple fans don’t have to be outclassed for long - the newly announced iPhone 3GS uses a comparable CPU/GPU pair.

Although unannounced, the iPhone 3GS uses (again) a Samsung SoC but this time instead of the ARM11 + MBX-Lite combo it’s got a Cortex A8 and PowerVR SGX; just like the Pre.

Full article....

TomTom for the iPhone

Video Recording, Editing and Sharing on the iPhone??

Here's some more exciting news from MacRumors.com:

Considering all the leaked evidence of video recording and editing in the iPhone 3.0 beta, it's not really a stretch to predict that the next iPhone will offer long-requested video features. Still, Businessweek's Peter Burrows confirms that to be the case based on a source familiar with Apple's plans for the next iPhone.

In fact, Burrows suggests that video recording won't simply be an afterthought but a major feature of the new iPhone.

Evidently, shooting video is as easy as it is with a Flip, the ingenious device made by Pure Digital (recently purchased by Cisco). Then there's an iMovie app that lets you quickly save the sections you want, right there on the phone itself. There may also be support for MMS, so the clips can be shared wirelessly with friends. And because of the iPhone's relatively large screen, your friends don’t have to schlep to your PC or their Facebook page to see that video of your kids or your safari. Just hand them your iPhone.

Burrows even suggests it could be as successful as Apple's late, yet dominating, entry into the MP3 market with the iPod. An easy to use video recording, editing and sharing iPhone could be a breakthrough usage for the device -- allowing people on a large scale to quickly record and share videos without bothering to connect to their computer.

For what it's worth, MacRumors has similarly heard that the next iPhone will support Video recording and YouTube sharing which has been supported by evidence found in the iPhone 3.0 beta.

http://www.macrumors.com/

But the big question is will the iPhone record in HD....

iPhone 3g Homescreen Apps

iPhone 3g Going Strong!

I'm often asked what makes the iPhone so special? Why pay more for a phone AND switch to AT&T in the process? Why use an Apple computer with your iPhone? Why, why, why??

Let me try to answer. There are three primary reasons for the iPhone's success:

1) It's beautiful and things look beautiful on it: (e. g. photos, movies, e-mail, Internet, applications)

2) It works well. The user interface is simple, intuitive and fast.

3) It's so popular that developers from all over the world are coming up with applications that do almost everything your desktop computer will do and sometimes even more.

In addition, in typical Apple fashion each version of the iPhone (version 3 is due in June) gets better. Lastly, even though the iPhone will work with a Windows computer syncing with a powerful Mac really lets this mini computer shine and live up to its full potential.

As a special bonus I'm going to list some of the iPhone apps I use on a daily basis. This is just screen one of my applications and I have five screens of apps!

1) GMail - This takes me directly to my GMail inbox and works great with even a slow Internet connection (some areas are still 2g speeds)

2) Google - This takes me to all the Google web-based apps: Gmail, Calendar, Docs, Talk, Tasks, Reader, Goog-411, News.

3) Colorsplash - This allows me to edit photos and make portions color while leaving the rest black and white. This is a great way to make a person stand out from the background. (sample)

4) Camera - For taking photos and hopefully in the next iPhone videos.

5) Photogene - For cropping and color tuning photos.


6) Darkslide - For viewing flickr photos and uploading photos to flickr or twitter.

7) Evernote - For remembering anything: text, audio, photos. Also syncs with my Mac.

8) Weather - Check the weather for various locations.

9) Notes - Another note application.

10) Tweetie - Allows the management of multiple twitter accounts.

11) Flashlight - Light when and where you need it.

12) Photos - Access photos you sync from your computer or those you take with the iPhone.

13) 12seconds - Post 12 second recordings to your 12seconds.tv account. (uses three photos and audio you record to put together something that almost looks like a video)

14) Clock - Time in multiple time zones, alarms, stopwatch, countdown timer.

15) TWiT.am - Listen to twit programming.

16) Stocks - Follow the stock market.

New iPhone on the way?

Touted as “100% confirmed” by the diligent tech watchers at Boy Genius, the iconic Apple
iPhone is supposedly heading for yet another generational re-imagining that will further improve the popular smartphone’s overall performance.

While not directly revealing its sources, the eagle-eyed technology outfit reports that “someone pretty high up in AT&T’s food chain” has revealed that a third iteration of the iPhone will be officially unveiled this coming June.

Click Here for complete article!

Want even more details? Click Here!

And, what about 4g mobile data? Click Here for some possible options!

LIVE video stream from an iPhone???

Don't believe them - no issues!

If you've been reading all the negative iPhone 3g reviews don't believe them. I've been playing with my new iPhone 3g for only 24 hours but I can tell you there is nothing like it. Including the first generation iPhone. The look, the feel, the audio and the software options are much improved. Maybe the cell phone reception is a little off of par but all the other features more than make up for any shortcomings. I'll be adding to this report after I've had the phone for a while but don't pass go just go out and buy one NOW!

Video update (8/1/08):

Update 5/05/2009; I'm still using my iPhone and it just keeps getting better. The apps that keep coming out allow the phone to do amazing things while still running like a MAC - ROCK SOLID! Also, the AT&T Network is much improved with 3g coverage most everywhere I go. I'm iPhone all the way and I can't wait to get a new one in June!

iPhone Shortage

I'm not surprised that the local AT&T store told me there is a two to four week wait expected for new iPhone purchases. My close inspection of a demo phone confirmed my opinion that this phone will sell well and is likely to change the way we all use our phones and the way other manufacturers and carriers look at their product offerings. Quite frankly the iPhone is clearly the leader of the pack and is worth the money for those who really want to get the most out of their cell phone subscription dollars. I've long believed it is a wise practice to have the best tools available for the task at hand and right now the iPhone 3g is the best power cell phone out there. I'm so convinced I'm now on the waiting list!

Pictured at right is one of the must-have apps for the iPhone: ShoZu

Can The New iPhone Revolutionize Radio?

(from CBS) The new Apple 3G iPhone has received a lot of attention, but the more important story isn't the new hardware, but Apple's application store and the many programs that run on the new phone.

Thanks to a few of those programs there's an even larger story - the iPhone may fundamentally change the way people listen to the radio when they're in their cars or otherwise on the go.

Two free applications for the iPhone and iPod Touch, and another program that costs only $4.99, make it possible to listen to live radio on the iPhone from anywhere, including a moving car.

Unlike those pre-TV days when families sat around a big radio console in the living room, a lot of people now listen to radio mainly when they're on the move. Internet radio has been around for more than a decade, car radios were introduced in the 1930's and portable transistor radios became available in the 1950s.

Until now, live radio pretty much meant listening to a broadcast station with transmitters relatively nearby. But with the iPhone you can listen to stations from around the world, including some that broadcast only on the Internet and don't even have transmitters.

Over time, this could be as disruptive to the radio broadcast industry as the Web has been to print. That's not to say that major broadcast organizations (including CBS, which owns CBSNews.com and for which I serve as technology consultant) can't survive in the age of mobile Internet radio, but it does mean they will face competition from new players, including startups operating from peoples' spare rooms.

Click Here for a demo of Pandora's FREE Internet Radio service.

...Full CBS Story...

iPhone 3g Holding Pattern

Friday AT&T and Apple stores will start selling the new iPhone 3g at 8am. I'm not going to be in line and it's not just because I'm not a morning person it's because there's just too much movement in this sector and I'm planning on waiting for some of the dust to settle.

For example AT&T is still working to expand their 3g coverage area and as of now Frederick County, for example, is still not included in this faster mobile data coverage area. Also phones powered by Google's new Andriod operating system are due out later this year and they may be worth looking at. The bottom line is I love the direction the iPhone is taking the so-called smart phone market but I want to wait at least a few more months before upgrading my Treo 755P.

iPhone 3g

The most impressive improvement in the new iPhone3G is the higher speed data capabilities. According to Apple battery life is no longer a problem with this upgrade. Almost as impressive is built in GPS which allows for location based applications. This opens up exciting possibilities like finding nearby businesses and turn-by-turn navigation. Also finding nearby contacts. Really cool is location stamps for photos taken with the iPhone which you can instantly send to a Blog.

All this power and the iPhone3G is still a pretty face! The new iPhone is scheduled to go on sale July 11th.

Go to Apple.com and be sure to watch the keynote address for lots more!

Update 6/13/08: Over the last several days there seems to be a building resentment towards Apple and AT&T regarding the $10 increase for the 3g data service. I, for one, say GET OVER IT! I'm pleased that AT&T is spending a lot of cash to upgrade their data service and I'm willing to do my part to help pay for it. I would pay even more for faster service. I would love to be able to get rid of my cable modem once and for all. So I say FULL SPEED ahead AT&T. Now, just allow my iPhone3g to operate as a WiFi Hotspot out of the box so I can share the 3g data connection with nearby computers and I'm happy (there are ways to hack this already)! 

Sprint goes after the iPhone

Sprint's Instinct iPhone killer? I don't think so but if you're staying with Sprint than it may be the next best thing to a real 2gen iPhone!

Sprint confirmed this afternoon that the Samsung Instinct, Sprint's answer to the Apple iPhone, will start showing up on store shelves on June 20.

The phone, expected to cost between $200 and $300, initially is expected to be available in limited markets. It also will be available first to Sprint customers who sign up for one of the company's "Simply Everything" plans.

For full story see: http://sprintconnection.kansascity.com/?q=node/546

HSUPA Coverage - High-Speed Data for new iPhone

I've already talked about the new iPhone that's due sometime after June 9th and here's an article that talks about AT&Ts rollout of their high-speed data network that the new iPhone will be taking advantage of. This is more exciting news for the AreaGuides.com Network as they are planning the launch of their iPhone friendly sites this summer.

"The second half of June 2008 will mark a new era for AT&T. Will the Apple 3G iPhone show up on AT&T with HSUPA support around the 18th of June?"
See full story:
http://www.infosyncworld.com/news/n/9387.html

Google Apps on iPhone

Now, there are a few more reasons to embrace Google and the google apps. Today I read that Apple may sell as many as 45 million iPhones by the end of 2009 (maybe 20 million in the US) and then I received this e-mail from the Google beta team I'm working with:

New iPhone interface for Google Apps

It just got easier to access Google Apps on an iPhone. Bookmark
http://www.google.com/m/a/frederick.com from your iPhone's browser, and you'll have streamlined access to Gmail, Google Calendar and Google Docs on the go. For more information on mobile access, visit
http://www.google.com/a/help/intl/en/users/mobile.html.