17 Mar 2009
Earlier today, Apple held a keynote address previewing the big updates coming in the software update 3.0 due out sometime (hopefully soon). Engadget always does a really good job at putting together live blogs during the events, often chocked full of dialogue, jokes, as well as the updates and pictures.
I’ve put together a simple list of all the new features coming in this really big update starting with …
Application Subscriptions
You will be able to purchase additional levels, music or updates without having to leave the game or current application. For example if you use the City Guide application, you’ll be able to purchase new maps or updates from the application itself, rather than having to go through the Applications program. And it’s all tied through the iTunes store.
Peer-to-Peer connectivity
It’ll be easier to find other people or iPhones and form connections. This is especially useful for multiplayer gaming, but will also work its way into other software once it’s developed.
Software/Hardware communication
Software developers can no write software that interacts with hardware. The iPhone can connect and work with devices like stereo speakers or a blood pressure reader.
Maps!
Currently when you launch a link to a map in an application, the application closes and the Maps app is launched. Users wanted the ability to access Maps from within another application. This is now possible which means no more switching back and forth.
And with this maps update there’s …
Turn by turn driving directions
Apple is letting developers use the core location for use within other applications. We should start to see some pretty neat GPS apps pop up soon. However, you’ll have to bring your own maps because licensing doesn’t allow the use of the titles.
Push
Rather than let applications like AIM or Yahoo IM run in the background and drain the battery, Apple has put together a third-party system that will handle the events, IMs, email and other notifications and ‘push’ them to the phone, rather than the phone having to check them all the time, which drains the battery. This new service looks promising.
Streaming audio/video
Also works with in-game voice.
Tons of new medical uses
Such as finger-pricking (diabetes glucose testing) paired with a glucose monitor, heart surgery apps, and more.
Games with in-game chat
Cool, I guess. Heh.
Ah and now for the big one!
Cut, copy, and paste
And the system looks pretty easy to use. Very exciting! And it’ll work for third-party apps.
Landscape keyboard
In Mail, SMS, and Notes. Yay!
MMS!
We will have the ability to send picture messages! Finally!
Voice Memos
Support for two additional calendar types
Stock updates
We’ll have news at the bottom of the screen and details in the application.
Spotlight search
Now we can search the device: Mail, Calendar, Apps, you name it.
Note Sync
You can sync your notes.
Auto-fill
For use with form fields, etc. Much like your internet browser.
Stereo Bluetooth
Anti-phising
And these are supposedly some of the hundreds of new updates. So there you have it. Exciting! View the Engadget blog on this with pics here: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/17/live-from-apples-iphone-os-3-0-preview-event/
10 Feb 2009
This is really a pointless post, but I was thinking about utilitarianism and how the iPhone is really a great example of this. It’s exceedingly useful and usable. I set my icons up to be as efficient as possible for me. For instance:
The items I use most I keep in the corners. Phone, Camera, iPod and Safari. Of course, anything on the bottom row is used more frequently than anything else.
Page two is usually where I keep my less used items such as games, iTunes and the App Store. The inessentials.
I’m curious how people have their iPhones configured. I think it’d be an interesting study to say the least.
09 Jan 2009
To many (and usually to me) Friday’s are relaxing. Signaling the end of the work week, the end of waking up early (haha), and the end of the work-related stress, Friday night’s should be fun and invigorating. Not tonight.
My Friday began a little strange too. I normally wake up at 7am, but this morning I woke up at 5:30am. My sleep this week hasn’t been the greatest anyways, but 5:30am!? But, I woke up not tired in the least. I did some reading then put on the Today Show to begin my morning routine.
The rest of the morning was fairly normal and work was relatively smooth. That was until I made a complete ass of myself. The company I work for is split into two offices: Athens, where I work, and Seattle, the main office. Here in Athens, it’s only myself and one other guy. In Seattle, there’s like 15 or so others. All cool people, by the way, and I’m sure glad for it. Anyways, somehow we got to talking (employees among employees via email) about drop shadows. I really dislike drop shadows and I said something to the effect of “drop shadows are teh ghey” (it’s spelled correctly) referring to “geek terminology” with no intentions of offending anyone. Turns out, one of my co-workers in the Seattle office is gay. Ack! I felt like the biggest shit, let me tell you. Of course I apologized, but there went the rest of my day at work.
Get home to two packages (finally). One is my new Crate & Barrel bed linens and the other is all the holiday gifts that I couldn’t take on the plane back from New York, including one Capresso burr coffee bean grinder, a cleaning brush, a spice ball, and a new video card. My day was looking better.
Until I noticed the video card had one DVI and one VGA port. Really? Really?! Who uses VGA anymore, anyways? And to think, I just recently purged all the old computer-related “just in case” stuff from my closet a few months ago, along with a handful of DVI to VGA converters. Well, one monitor just won’t do so I had to go out and find another adapter.
With a fresh pot of coffee already brewing, I decided it’d have to wait until I got back. I wouldn’t be long. Or so I thought.
I run to Best Buy. Nope. I shoot over to Wal-Mart. Nope. I think, “I need to find a Radio Shack, they’d have one.” But where!? “Oh yeah.” But first, I hadn’t eaten in over 7 hours so I made a quick Wendy’s run. Number 1, no cheese, swap the soda for a frosty. And in 5 minutes I’m on my way.
I typically don’t eat in my car lest I make a mess, especially with burgers. And you know that one fry that always slips between the seats only to be forgotten about for years to come…
Radio Shack did indeed have the part I was looking for. I speed home (coffee is waiting after all) and resume to set up my hardware.
Only to find out the part, for some reason, doesn’t work. Which makes no sense because it connects properly and I’ve done this before… but… no. No idea. And so here I am, sitting with only one functioning monitor. And I’m feeling pretty disabled, and not only because of the monitor.
I could go out tonight, but I’m not really in the “going out” mood. I was hoping to do some work, but how do I work with only one monitor? Nothing good on TV and my Netflix didn’t arrive today.
It’s nights like these when you go to bed early and wake up hoping for a better day.
08 Jan 2009
On the Today Show this morning I saw a segment about subliminal advertising that was talking about how product makers are studying the psychology – how the consumers feel – when using their products.
For example, a remote control. We don’t feel powerful or in control with a small light remote that feels cheap. We need a big, heavy remote that has some heft. So manufacturers fill the air within the device with more plastic giving it just the right amount of weight to make us yearn for that television.
Then there was this piece on bottle design, specifically weight-loss pills. They showed two bottles, both with equal volumes, but one was narrower in the middle (like an hourglass shape) that more people were drawn to.
It’s neat to think about the psychology behind the things we buy. Take for example Target versus Walmart. Both have the same products, but what makes Target’s brand more appealing than Walmart’s brand? It’s all about packaging. Walmart’s brand feels cheap and isn’t visually appealing, while Target’s has nice packaging design and feels higher quality.
And just yesterday I saw a piece on the growth of Walmart using data visualization. I love the way we are thinking now and by we I mean humanity. We’ve got GM desperately trying to change their thought from “bigger is better” to “more efficient” and we’ve got people spending money on making our lives better. It’s about time we started putting more effort, time and money into the user experience.
16 Dec 2008
Read the article from Gaurdian (Seriously.)
It’s about time! I’ve always hated IE and I think every other web developer would agree it’s the bane of our existence. Not only is it not standards compliant, but it has proprietary HTML and CSS rendering engines which only double the amount of work developers must do. Annoying.
But, as with everything else coming out of Redmond, Washington, it sucks. Look at the “recommendations” at the bottom of the article! So much hastle and 99% of your average computer users will have no clue what to do, or even what that means.
Just get Firefox. Really.