Quickie: iPhone OS 4.0 and more iPad rumours

Posted on 8th April 2010

Well I have no doubts that everybody in the world has heard about iPhone OS 4.0 by now. And all I have to say is that the rumors were right! (some of them)

Multi-tasking is confirmed for the platform which leaves me with mixed emotions because I want multi-tasking but I am writing a white paper which describes the iPad as “task oriented” and now that might be moot.

More iPad rumors are surfacing about Apple wanting to bring different scale models of the device to the market in the near future. Rumors say that 5 and 7 inch devices are in the works already.

On a personal note: My apologies for letting the blog dry up. I am finishing up my degree and lets just say schools a little hectic right now.

Note: I try to update the interesting news on in the sidebar daily so everybody can at least see what I would likely be writing about if I were able to.

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WP7: Not likely a competitor… Yet.

Posted on 18th March 2010

There has been plenty of speculation about the new Windows Phone 7. I’ve reserved judgement for as long as possible to see what would actually happen with the device upon its release. But I’ve been asked to give my first impressions of the phone so I bring you this.

WP7 is entering a firestorm. Which could be a competitive advantage or a really really stupid move (note the emphasis on stupid). My biggest qualm with the WP7 is that it doesn’t have feature exclusive to its platform which will give consumers a reason to buy it. The biggest following this phone will get will be from existing Microsoft ‘junkies’ who love all things Microsoft and swear by them.

There are a number of features which have become pretty much a standard among the other major smartphone platforms which are missing in the WP7 platform. WP7 will not support expandable memory, or multitasking, along with copy and pasting.

The WP7 major selling points are it’s user interface and its ability to plug into Xbox Live. Two features which don’t really chime a need to get this phone (even for a hardcore Xbox gamer.)

Microsofts version of the app store, Marketplace, has a number of apps on the way but nowhere near the 150,000 apps boasted by the iTunes app store or the 30,000 apps available for the Android phone.

But like I said “time will tell.” Microsoft is an enduring tenacious company and people said the same things about them when they decided to enter the gaming market. But look at them now; they own the gaming market. I have absolute faith that the WP7 will not be a complete blow-out like the Palm. So, for now, let’s just sit comfortably in our seats and pay close attention to the feeds from our iPhones and Android phones.

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iPatent

Posted on 18th March 2010

There has been a wealth of patents being filed lately by Apple. Many journalist are speculating that these patents give insight into the technology that we can expect to see in upcoming iPhones; I think they might have a different purpose.

As we continue to watch the mobile platform war rage on it’s becoming increasingly obvious that Google and it’s constituents are worthy competitors. Apple recently filed a lawsuit agains HTC for infringement on nearly 20 different patent owned by Apple. But what Apple might have thought would be a easy victory by pure intimidation is about to turn into a full-fledged legal battle.

There has been a number of existing patents which surround the iPhone platform in the past to never see the light of day. So in my eyes I think this excessive patenting by Apple is to try and lock down all the good ideas before opposing companies can get to them.

I have to admit, however, that some of the rumoured features would be super cool. Notably the ones mentioned is my post regarding the RFID chips being built into the phones.

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iPhone 3G: “All your bases and moneyz belongz to me l0l0l”

Posted on 17th March 2010

Anybody and everybody who lives in our current era of complex commerce has grown used to the elaborate task of managing their money among many different accounts and payment methods. With more iPhone rumours circling the internet regarding a certain patent recently submitted by Apple. People can take a breath, or more of a sigh (of relief), that companies like Apple are working towards making things easier for all of us.

Geek.com‘s description of the patent that hass been filed describes the use of RFID chips in Apples next generation of iPhone devices. What’s so exciting about this is the ability to carry one device which manages every mobile aspect of your life from payment to accessing protected places or things.

Gizmodo published an article talking about what appears to be a rather unwieldily accelerometer based combination lock. But what’s more important is how the article goes on to describe potential uses of security apps relying on the internal RFID.

More on the topic of money and iPhones is the news of an upcoming PayPal app which allows bumping money from iPhone to iPhone. Lifehacker published an article describing the app which (apart from its money bumping ability) enables advanced money/account management functions making those awkward college dinners with friends and stacks of IOU’s far easier to manage.

Things are looking interesting for iPhone fans in the near future. The next rumoured launch for an iPhone might be this summer. We should all remain securely planted in our seats until we see these rumours actualized in the release of the next iPhone.

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Smartphone wars: Rumours rumours rumours

Posted on 11th March 2010

As the Smartphone wars rage on it is becoming increasingly difficult for Smartphone device owners to feel secure in their decision regarding which team they’ve chosen; be it team iPhone, or team Android, or some other less significant faction.

With rumours resurfacing about the iPhone becoming a multi-tasking platform I’m left wondering if that means an upcoming hardware upgrade for users who wish to take advantage of this [rumoured] upcoming functionality. Obviously the added stress to the hardware that is a product of multitasking will mean a number of less awesome side-effects. For instance, slower overall phone performance, less memory for existing apps to work with, which might mean updates and with the rumours of updates coming at a cost in the future this could mean big spending for iPhone owners in the near future, and most notably — reduced battery performance.

I trust Apple will do their best to contravene these side-effects but I suspect there to be a new iPhone coming out this summer if this update is more than just rumours.

On the development side the ability to multitask opens a lot of doors for developers. Every time I hear this rumour I nearly jump out of my seat with excitement but after seeing no truth to these rumours up to now… well lets just say the excitement is wearing off.

Regardless of my preaching about my excitement for the iPhone I know for fact that Android is a very good platform. I would love to have access to an Android phone to learn how to develop for it but I suppose I’ll stick with developing for my team for now. Both companies take very good care of their customers and I trust this battle will continue to rage for a long time now.

Note: I suspect if Apple brings multitasking to the iPhone that it will appear on the iPad also. In fact, if you pay close attention to the commercial it looks like the mail app is running over-top of another application. In another scene it appears as if two apps are running side by side.

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