App Review: UltimateFaves PRO

30/01/2010 — efan78

This is a post that I’ve been meaning to write for ever such a long time but never got round to.  As you may know (if you’ve ever read this blog before or seen my twitterstream) I love my Android phone – and it’s apps like UltimateFaves PRO that explain that love.

Now, I need to start off with a bit of a disclosure, Lior – the fantastically responsive dev behind UltimateFaves PRO, did forward me an email to join the affiliate programme for the app, I haven’t joined and don’t intend to for two reasons.  One: You know that this is a completely true record of how I feel about the app – I’m not making any money from this and have bought the product myself, and two: I haven’t done any work whatsoever on the application and so I truly feel that Lior deserves every penny, cent or whatever denomination you pay.

Android Market QR Code for UltimateFaves (free)

Now, unfortunately – because the Android Market isn’t worldwide just yet – UltimateFaves PRO can’t be obtained directly from the market – but you can at least download the free taster version ‘UltimateFaves’ and try it out.  If you want to support the app after that, or realise just how great it is and want to increase the number of carousels you can use, have a look at Lior’s UltimateFaves Blog and buy using PayPal.

Don’t forget, when you send it to your phone you’ll need to allow your phone to install non-market applications.  (Yes iPhone users – we’re not tied to just the one marketplace – that’s the idea of an Open OS! ;-P)  You can do this by going to: Settings > Applications > Tick the ‘Unknown sources’ box > Click on OK.

Now I’m sure you’re asking yourself “why would I want to download it?”  Well, it’s quite simple – UltimateFaves allows you to create scrolling carousels of your favourite apps that scroll around in a visually pleasing way.  You can also create shortcuts to those carousels on your home screen (a bit like folders) which means you’re never more than a click, swipe, click, away from your programmes.

Now, as I’ve rooted my phone and use apps to SD this really helps me – with over 125 apps in my phone it can get a bit unwieldy – but UltimateFaves means that I can keep all my Office-type applications on one carousel, system apps on another, games on a third and more!

But wait… UltimateFaves PRO doesn’t stop there – contacts, bookmarks, phone direct dials can all be added too.  The latest version even includes the facility to create a carousel of currently running apps and with a long click either shut them down or uninstall them without having to go to the market or manage applications in settings.  (Yes iPhone users – I know you don’t need this facility – that’s because you only ever have one app running! Bwahaha!)

Now, a little background, when it was released the app ran as a straightforward application but that wasn’t good enough for the market and they demanded widgets.  I didn’t know how it could be done but Lior figured out a way.  Of course, as we all know – widgets slow down your home screen.  But then the Android team released v1.6 – which allows the creation of shortcuts directly to parts of an app, so Lior stepped in and included this in a newer version.  As I said earlier – he’s really responsive and you can tell that he has a passion for the application that he’s developed.

I’m really interested to see where the app’s heading – to be honest, I felt that Lior could quite easily have sat on his laurels as it was, and yet he continues to make UltimateFaves PRO do things that I never knew I wanted but now I need!

And I’m sure you’ll feel the same.

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My Android top ten

15/11/2009 — efan78

Inspired by the release of the Droid and the expected influx of new Android users the guys over at Phandroid have just released 5 x top ten application lists for newcomers to the Android platform.  Now, I mentioned a few a while back but that was before I bothered to root my phone, and get soooo much more from it than I ever imagined!!!

So I thought I’d revisit the subject and have a look for my top ten applications – you know – the ones that I just HAVE to have loaded and running.  Although with the number of apps being released this is probably out of date before I even post it :-D

Android top tenMy first recommendation to anyone who’s new to Android is to get root access – it’s such a lifesaver and believe me, the difference between the way that Android works as provided and when rooted is amazing.  Firstly it’s quicker, the modders (developers who create front ends for rooted phones) spend most of their time tweaking the code to make it faster, you can also “over-clock” your phone too – this means that the phone works harder, of course it also means that your phone won’t last as long (think of it as making your phone run or jog everywhere instead of walking – it’ll get tired more quickly).  But considering the average phone life that won’t make too much of a difference.  You can also get hold of themes for your phone without downloading a Home Replacement app (like aHome, dxTop or Openhome).  Don’t get me wrong, I loved aHome when I was using it, but it did slow my phone down somewhat!

If you choose to root then I can state categorically that Cyanogenmod’s versions are fantastic, quick, easy to use and with so many great little touches it just makes the standard GUI look pathetic!

So, my top ten “must have” apps that I can’t leave off my phone…

1. Twidroid - Okay, I don’t know if you’re on twitter or not, but if you are then Twidroid is pretty much the app to beat.  All the other twitter apps are compared to this one, just check the market!  It’s not without its frustrations but the great thing is that they’re constantly releasing updates and listen to their customers.  If you’re not on twitter then I’d like to recommend that you join it, you can get updates from AndriodGuys.com (@androidguyscom), AndroidAndMe.com (@AndroidAndMe), ForceClose.com (@ForceClose) and others!

2. GReader Notifier – It’s an old app now and not without its problems (the email story function doesn’t seem to work and other little things like that) but it uses the standard Google Reader interface so you know exactly what you’re looking at – there are a lot of things that I’d like to have in it but it’s very functional and does all that I need!  (See – I can tell the difference between need and want – just like I NEED a Vega! ;-P)

3. Documents to Go – There are a few apps out there that cover Office-type things but I haven’t been able to find one that holds a candle to Docs2Go.  It covers everything that I need, full editing (yes, including formatting etc…) covering Word, Excel and PowerPoint up to 2007 and a simple way to forward it – I use it regularly when out jobhunting and the like to send on my CV (and I can alter it to match the job that I’m applying for!)

4. K-9 Mail – I have a G-Mail account (obviously!) and it’s ideal for me to use as my personal email address, but (for the aforementioned job-searching) I also set up a separate personal email address using my own domain, and couldn’t stand the built in email app.  Thankfully the open source community out there had the solution – K-9, it’s everything you need in an email system including (my favourite little function) – Signatures!  (Did you hear that Google – Signatures, give me signatures on my phone goddamit!)

5. AniWidget - I mentioned this over on ForceClose.com, it’s a multi-function widget with an Analog clock, digital clock, calendar, to do list, agenda, weather app, and the obligatory flashlight, mute, wi-fi and airplane mode toggle you get a lot of bang for your buck, and it all fits into a tiny 2×2 or 4×2 widget – leaving you loads of space for shortcuts and other widgets.

6. UltimateFaves – Yes, you could just add a bunch of folders to your desktop, but the thing that UltimateFaves have over simple folders is quite simple – look at it – it’s way cooler!  Whoosh!

7. 3Banana – It’s still my favourite notes app, yes I’ve downloaded (and bought) other note taking apps (like Note Everything) but I still come back to 3banana.  You can jot down a quick note, sync it to the web, share it with your friends via a URL or QR Code, they can add notes to it you can add URLs, embedded images/YouTube videos, hashtag labelling.  It really is everything I’ve found I’ve needed!

8. TuneWiki - This is a great application that allows you to listen to your music that you’ve loaded onto your phone, it scrobbles with your Last.fm account and also has last.fm and Shoutcast radio support.  But its unique selling point?  It makes your Android phone a mini karaoke machine thanks to the lyrics being shown on screen in time with the music!  Oh, and there’s even a little map showing what people nearby are listening to.

9. AddressBook – It’s currently in beta and a little buggy but I love this – it’s the first app that I’ve found that brings together all your contacts in one place, it links your address book contacts (phone/mobile/email) with twitter, Facebook, YouTube and more and aggregates them together in one place.  Want to drop someone a message?  Just open Addressbook and you can check their Facebook account to see what they’re up to.  Was that not updated recently? Send them a tweet!  If they’re not on twitter drop them a text to find out what they’re up to then send them an email with the details of that nightclub you want to meet at.  And all of these are stored in your call history!  It’s really got potential and I can’t wait to see where they’re going to take it next!

10. Camera ZOOM FX/Photo BURST – Hmm, does this count as cheating? Adding 2 apps in one place? Well, if it does, tough! ;-P Camera ZOOM FX is the way that the camera should have been set up, with effects, 3x Zoom and loads of fab little add ons it’s the perfect way to customise your photos as much as you’ve customised your phone, and Photo BURST? It’s the Gallery to show off your Camera ZOOM (what’s with all the capital letters!?!) creations.

10.1 (bugger it – I’ve already broken the top ten app rule anyway!) beebPlayer – It’s only really of any use to UK Android owners so it doesn’t count towards my top-ten – honest!  But if you want to watch the iPlayer on your phone then this is the bunny for you!

OK, so, if this ever gets read by someone who’s just got themselves an Android phone I just have to say.  ”Welcome to the fold, you have in your hand one of the most fantastic pieces of tech you could ever own, the possibilities are almost limitless and you have my permission to walk up to anyone you see with an iPhone and say ‘Baaa!’ then run away laughing like a loon!”

I hope this will be at least a little bit of use to someone, and if it isn’t then I’m sorry for wasting your time!

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Why am I so anti-Apple?

14/11/2009 — efan78

Apple LogoI know I seem to spend a lot of time getting annoyed with Apple, and in particular their marketing and I’m sure that some people will wonder why.  Even if you’re not wondering I’m going to tell you anyway!

I had an epiphany the other day.  There are two companies which, while they seem to be the darlings of the public, I absolutely hate.  And I’ve realised that they have a lot in common.  The companies are Apple and Virgin.

Both companies have some fantastic products and have been truly successful in their chosen fields.  Both companies have made truly innovative products and led the way in so many different ways, but my problem is that they are whiners.

Rather than use their industry leading workforces and ideas to compete with established brands (or continue to innovate in those areas where they are the leaders), the management team of both Apple and Virgin seem to prefer belittling their competition and “stamping their feet” when someone comes out with something better, or work harder at achieving their goals.  They also both have a very strong idea of what they want as a company and the public just has to accept that this is the way that it is.

Now, I’m no business analyst and what I don’t know about marketing could be written in very big writing across the sky, but this approach does seem to work with some people.  The question is, is it connecting with enough people?  Well, the fact that Apple still only own 12% of the market share and Virgin Atlantic only have 31 Airports listed on their website suggests to me that it isn’t.  While the fans of the respective companies fight their corner vociferously it seems to me that they simply make more noise, but this doesn’t equate to more customers.  So, what do these companies do?

virgin_atlantic_logoWell, Virgin decides to belittle it’s competition and suggest that it be better that they go bust and 40,000 Jobs be lost.  While Apple decides to offer what it’s competitors do too but pretend that it’s new and that only they have it (“There’s an app for that – ONLY on the iPhone” anyone?  All of the things that I mentioned in my “What’s so great about the iPhone?” post.)

I think what makes me annoyed is the fact that I know these companies could do so much and yet they just rest on their laurels.  Now I’ll admit I am most definitely a Google fan, but I think that a big part of this is because, even in this high-tech world where I can’t see a niche that isn’t already filled, they find them.  And they create simple, easy to use solutions.  Until GDocs we were happy to download MS Office or Open Office and either email documents to ourself or store them centrally, now the software’s online and you can edit a word processed document through your browser.  Want to keep a calendar/appointment diary, Outlook and Lotus Notes were the two main ways of doing this for businesses (or they’re the ones that I’ve had dealings with) but with GCal you were able to create an event quickly, simply – and because it was online and tied in with your GMail and Maps it just worked.  And now we have Google Wave.  I’ve had a play around with it and, although it’s not much use for me at the moment, I can see situations where it would be and am watching how it grows with interest!

Image taken from http://www.ryebrye.com/blog/

Image taken from http://www.ryebrye.com/blog/

And then there is my beloved Android.  I’ll be the first to admit – I’m a geek.  When the iPhone was released I lusted after it, I lusted so hard.  But I waited, something about it didn’t feel right.  And then came the backlash – so many things that were found to be wrong with the iPhone.  There were so many “design over function” decisions that Apple made and I knew that I’d made the right choice.  Then Google announced that it would lead the Open Handset Alliance in creating Android – an Open Source operating system.  This was what I had waited for.  Now I could have a phone that gave me all of the advantages of the iPhone (internet connectivity, smartphone capabilities, apps etc…) BUT it was open source.  This meant that anyone could amend the code and make the phone do what they wanted.  Now, I’m not in any way a programmer and there’s no way that I could do it, but I was sure that someone would, and to date I haven’t been disappointed!

And of course, because it was led by Google that meant that my GMail, GCal maps and everything else all just fitted in, in my hand, without a problem – even my contacts could all be synced online – making it simple to keep on top of contacts and not being scared of losing my phone.  (Well, not for that reason anyway!)

Yes all the Apple fans talk about the fact that they can jailbreak their phones.  But this is frowned upon, and if Apple get their way – illegal.  Now I suppose you could talk about the cease and desist order Google served on Cyanogenmod but that was simply Google protecting their own closed source apps which have been closely tied to Android.  The whole point is that you can do whatever you like with Android – and that’s why I love it!

Maybe I’m on my own, then again, let’s see what the internet thinks:

What Does The Internet think about Apple?What Does The Internet think about Google

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If Google disappeared tomorrow

20/09/2009 — efan78

google_logo

I’ve just been reading David Petherick’s post “Imagine there’s no Google” and it’s scared me a little.  When the Internet was new we didn’t really think about the fact that all of our information was dotted around lots of different places, we remembered all of our different logins and passwords because we had to.  We searched using Yahoo!, but it was a search so we didn’t need to keep it and our web portals (like My Yahoo or MSN) were fine for keeping our links and our personal emails.

But our web use has changed, most of us access the Internet and many have at least one web connected device in our house.  It’s not just the geeks anymore, the growth of social media such as Facebook and Twitter has helped this, along with the way that email has been embraced by so many people.  Of course the problems with Royal Mail have helped email’s cause, get your message directly to someone quickly, efficiently and know whether or not it has arrived within seconds?  Of course!

I have been one of those people who has embraced the growth of the Internet and I love the connectivity it gives me.  With my Laptop in the Lounge, my desktop in the bedroom, and of course the games console that’s attached to the TV I can access the web from anywhere in my home.  Add to that my G1 and I’ve got the world’s knowledge in my hand all the time.  And what do I use to keep on top of it?  Google of course!

google products from minterest.comYou see, the thing for me is that Google know exactly what it is that I need, and they tie it all together in one easy to use package.  I’m currently typing this on Google’s Chrome browser, it’s clean, fast and simple – just what I’ve come to expect from Google products.  At the same time I have my Google sidebar running (it’s part of theGoogle Desktop programme) which can check my GMail, Google Calendar, Google Reader and link me to my Google Docs.  When I load up Chrome I get to see my iGoogle page with all the widgets that I find useful.

And this is before we’ve got into Picasa, Orkut, Blogger, Maps, Earth and Adsense.  Yes, I am fully aware that Google are using me to improve their product, and I know that their product isn’t a search engine or any of the other delivery systems that they use.  Their product is advertisement space.

They use my clicks and my history to target ads to me, when I recently sent an email to my partner about a B&B when we go to visit my cousin in Lancashire there beside my email was targeted ads for Hotels in Preston.  If I hadn’t already done the search then I would have just been able to click on that link.

People think this is creepy, they think that there is someone at Google watching everything that they do online.  That’s just not possible, you’d need one person to watch everyone who was online to be able to do that, and even Google can’t afford that many staff!  And if someone at Google was able to separate my sad and boring life from the rest of the vast data stream that’s flowing through their servers every second of every day then they’re welcome to it, there’s nothing exciting there at all, I promise!

I know that Google’s products aren’t always the best option on the market (they are, after all, provided free) but they have one huge thing going for them, they integrate well with each other and I know what I’m getting, something clean, fast and simple.  Designed to make my online life easy.

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Doughnut – multi-touch finally gets released!

27/07/2009 — efan78
Thanks to the guys over at Androinica for mentioning this, but some of the elements of Doughnut (the next Android build) have been released.
It’s going to include a number of QOL features and improvements including:
GesturesMultitouchSpeech synthesizerCDMA supportUniversal searchWPA enterpriseVPN supportAutomatic backupsIncreased performanceBuilt-in toggle widgetsGestures
Gestures
Multitouch
Speech synthesizer
CDMA support
Universal search
WPA enterprise
VPN support
Automatic backups
Increased performance
Built-in toggle widgets
Anyone who’s been keeping up with the long-standing iPhone/Android battle will know that Android was originally planned to have multi-touch functionality, but there was a suggestion that Apple may have blocked Android from integrating it by threatening it with one of it’s own patent applications.
The releationship between Apple and Google was, for a while, very close.  Helped in part by Google CEO Eric Schmidt being on Apple’s Board of Directors.  However after Google announced that it was going to release Chrome OS questions were asked about his position and whether it would still be tenable.  So, after Apple decided that it wouldn’t let Google Maps release a native app of its new release for the iPhone, the Google OS announcement and now multi-touch, does this mean that the Android community can now look forward to not having to pussyfoot around Apple?
I truly and sincerely hope so!

Thanks to the guys over at Androinica for mentioning this, but some of the elements of Doughnut (the next Android build) have been released.

It’s going to include a number of QOL features and improvements including:

  • Gestures
  • Multitouch
  • Speech synthesizer
  • CDMA support
  • Universal search
  • WPA enterprise
  • VPN support
  • Automatic backups
  • Increased performance
  • Built-in toggle widgets

Anyone who’s been keeping up with the long-standing iPhone/Android battle will know that Android was originally planned to have multi-touch functionality, but there was a suggestion that Apple may have blocked Android from integrating it by threatening it with one of it’s own patent applications.

The releationship between Apple and Google was, for a while, very close.  Helped in part by Google CEO Eric Schmidt being on Apple’s Board of Directors.  However after Google announced that it was going to release Chrome OS questions were asked about his position and whether it would still be tenable.  So, after Apple decided that it wouldn’t let Google Maps release a native app of its new release for the iPhone, the Google OS announcement and now multi-touch, does this mean that the Android community can now look forward to not having to pussyfoot around Apple?

I truly and sincerely hope so!

Note to Americans: I’m sorry, but I just can’t bring myself to use your spelling of doughnut, sorry!

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Google Maps update for Android

22/07/2009 — efan78

Google AndroidIt looks like Google have finally started to create some distance between their products and the Open Handset Alliance’s OS Android.  When Android was first announced Google mentioned that they would take the lead, but that the system would be open source and so anyone could work on it.  At the moment it seems that the Google Android team are still leading the development and, although that’s a great thing with the resources at their disposal, it does kind of keep everyone else in that nice warm “we can sit back and relax – Google will do it all” frame of mind.

Until today the updates for the packaged apps within Android have been pushed through with OS updates like 1.1 and Cupcake.  But today the Google team released the newest version of Google Maps, and it’s a doozy!

The new update includes voice search, which is surprisingly accurate (actually, so is the standard Google voice search if I’m honest), driving and walking directions (there’s also a bus on there but it doesn’t work for the Newcastle area yet so I don’t know how good that is), Latitude integration, business details and reviews (including one-click adding to your contacts) and a new less cluttered interface using the long press for selecting street view etc…

Image taken from http://www.gadgetvenue.comI haven’t been able to test it extensively (I’ve only had it a couple of hours!) but I think it’s a fantastic leap forward in the way that Maps integrate with the other functions of the phone.  It’s obviously something that has been worked on by a team who are passionate about the services that Google offer and who want to make sure that the services available to Google’s mobile customers are as useful as possible.

In short, it’s a fantastic update that showcases just why the smartphone is the way forward.  Since I got my G1 I’ve regularly described my phone as a mobile computer in my pocket, and an excellent map application is the ideal way to show people just why that’s a good thing.

But for me the most important thing about this update is the use of the Android Market to forward the update to the community.  After the recent announcement that Google are designing their own Linux based Chrome OS does this mean that they are distancing themselves from Android somewhat so that they can be in a clearer position next year?  Or did the Maps team just want to get the update out as soon as possible?  Maybe Google have decided that they don’t want to carry the whole weight of the Android development alone.

Whatever the reason, I think this latest update is probably much more important than people realise and I for one will be watching the developments carefully!

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Android Apps, My Recommendations

19/07/2009 — efan78
Image taken from http://www.ryebrye.com/blog/

Image taken from http://www.ryebrye.com/blog/

OK, I’m not an expert.  I’m just a guy who’s been using the T-Mobile G1 (the Google Phone) for 6 months, and it’s great!

There are so many people out there extolling the virtues of the iPhone – especially the new 3GS (I had my opinions on the subject way back before it even came out!), but I think it’s time that someone stepped forward and explained that the iPhone doesn’t have the sole monopoly on Applications.

Actually, that reminds me, I haven’t heard from the ASA regarding the final results of my complaint against Apple about the use of “There’s an app for that… Only on the iPhone” adverts.  I wonder how long it usually takes for a follow-up?

Anyway, this isn’t meant to be another iPhone thread because, well, quite simply – I want to give my suggestions for the Android Apps that have improved my Android life so let’s start with:

Twidroid – probably the best twitter client on the Android market at the moment, it brings most of the functionality of the website (except for viewing your followers/following list). It also has built in URL shortening and the facility to post images to twitpic or it’s own in-house site Phodroid, and it does it all smoothly!

3Banana – A versatile notes App that syncs directly with the 3banana.com website, allowing you to check and update your notes from anywhere with an internet connection, and if you don’t have a connection then just add the note and it’ll sync as soon as you do!  The ability to add images, links, HTML and embedded items (like YouTube etc…) as well as the automatic telephone number recognition and easy tagging using hashtags make this a fantastically useful tool.  There’s also a comments section and the facility to share your 3Banana notes with anyone through a direct URL or QR Code.  But don’t be worried, your notes are private unless you choose to share them.  I use it primarily to jot down blog ideas, keep shopping lists and generally just dump my thoughts there to be sorted at a later date.

DocumentsToGo – This is the best Word and Excel App that I’ve found on the Android Market, and the only one to support all of the most popular Microsoft Office formats up to Office 2007. The integration is fantastic and it’s so easy to share documents via GMail that you really need this if you’re ever going to need to write full docs or spreadsheets.  You can also access password protected files too.

AniWidget – This is a fantastic desktop widget that comes in two flavours; a 2×2 and a 4×2 size and includes an analogue clock, digital clock, notepad, to do list, calendar and agenda syncing, rss feed reader and a weather widget. Along with the obligatory flashlight, mute function, wireless and airplane mode toggle this is a versatile and desperately needed widget for everyone!

TuneWiki – OK, forget the built in media player, not only can TuneWiki do everything it can, it’ll also automagically connect to its website and search for the Lyrics for you, and put them up on your screen karaoke-stylee. Tie in the YouTube functionality, last.fm support and Shoutcast radio functions and you’ll never need another music app. The free version does have ads, but it’s a small price to pay for the full app once you’ve tested it, I can almost guarantee that you’ll love it! Oh, and did I mention, if ever you’re stuck for ideas (and with all of that how could you be!?!) they’ve also got a built-in maps feature (that can also be viewed on the website) which shows what people nearby are listening to!

bbc-iplayerbeebPlayer – An unofficial but fantastic iPlayer app, you can watch your favourite BBC programmes through your Android Phone anywhere. There are a few bugs every so often (the BBC don’t officially support T-Mobile for example so if you’re on the T-Mob G1 then 3G may cause problems) although I’ve never really had a problem with Wi-Fi access.

aHome – This is where Android really comes into it’s own, the open source nature of the platform means that anyone can rewrite the code for central parts of the OS, such as the desktop. When I got my G1 there wasn’t much that you needed desktop space for so three screens was plenty. But there were a few desktop replacement apps on the Market, aHome, dxTop, Sweeter Home and Open Home, all of which provided widgets before cupcake and also released more screens. I’ve tried each of them but every time I moved I found myself coming back to the easy to use and well written aHome, so I bought it!

So, yes the Android Market has a spirit level, a tip calculator, a taxi application and all the other gumpf that Apple thought they needed to promote on those stupid ads, but there are lots of other apps out there that will genuinely improve your use of your phone.  And with the way the Android Dev team have been throwing out updates and the way the OHA have been announcing new hardware the only way is up for Android!

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Since when did Twitter become Facebook?

01/06/2009 — efan78

twitter LogoIt took me a while, but in January this year I found twitter.  And it was a breath of fresh air after Facebook.  It was clean, simple and devoted solely to communicating with people.  No more would I be asked to join someone’s PirateNinjaMafia War or go hunting for Easter Eggs/Christmas decorations/Flowering plants.  Neither would I be asked to pop something in a colleague’s secret lady garden or enter a friends special spyring – before the US busts it :) (OK, I made those last two up just for double entendre’s sake – but you’ve all seen Facebook, you know what it’s like!)

But something has started on twitter.  Sure, I’ve been playing the hashtag games.  They’re fun, social and anyone can join in, but there’s a new game, Spymaster, that needs you to sign up before joining in, and it seems from the tweets that a lot of my friends have joined in.

Don’t get me wrong – I really want my friends to enjoy their time on whatever social network they choose.  My only issue is with the fact that these games impose themselves on my tweetstream, just as the others did on my Facebook posts.  Does this mean that we’ll all soon be taking quizzes and tweeting the results?  Oh no, I forgot, we have the daily Twittascope instead!

Who knows, maybe Google Wave is my answer – but I’m going to have to wait a while for that.  I only hope they actually make an Android app for it rather than waiting for someone to cobble something together like the gDocs app.  Yes it works, but it’s Fugly and just not what you want to see on behalf of Google.

I may be disillusioned at the moment but I’m going to watch this trend for twitter games carefully.  I won’t make a decision just yet though.

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What’s so great about the iPhone?

20/05/2009 — efan78

gizmodo-dt_handknit_iphoneSo, a source close to Apple has announced the next-gen iPhone specs along with the launch date.  If you’re interested the release date should be 17 July 2009.

Those people who know me will know that I have quite an aversion to Apple in general that has developed over the years.  Mostly since they decided that they wanted to be Microsoft.  The iPod, iMac, iTunes, iPhone obsession with its limiting DRM, closed markets and almost facist adherence to its own self imposed rules along with the the cult of celebrity that Steve Jobs enjoys amongst the Apple fanbois just seems to be a little “Gates-esque”.

Sorry, I know I’m going to get shot down in flames by people (and maybe lose a few twitter followers),  but I think that the way computers (and in particular smartphones) are moving, that Apple may be losing the cutting edge that they once enjoyed. 

So, before you run away or gather up your pitchforks and flaming torches I’ll just ask you to hear me out.  Even Apple iPhone Apps.com had a few misgivings (I’ve linked to a verbatim copy on lakto.org as it was Chris Latko who introduced me to the story though his twitter feed and the original site seems to be less than stable!)

In 2006 a mobile phone was just a mobile phone, you made calls, sent text messages and maybe sent an MMS or two (until you got your bill through!) Then in January 2007 Saint Steve stepped forward and announced that Apple were going to enter the mobile market.  By June 2007 the iPhone was ready for release.  And I’ll admit, it was fantastic.  I even wanted one for a while.

But then I watched my friends who had iPods struggle with the DRM laden crud that iTunes gave them while I (with my Sony Walkman) didn’t really have any major problems, I could use Sonicstage – Sony’s native app for the walkman or I could use any other mp3/wmv file and Sony would convert it to Atrac and pop it on the player.  In my life I have downloaded ONE track from iTunes, Kylie’s version of “Over the Rainbow” from the Showgirl tour.  I could only play the friggin thing through iTunes!  That was why I decided against the iPhone, I chose to wait and see what else would come out on the market.

So, Apple led the way, but are they now?  The easiest way is to look at the latest incarnation of the iPhone (or what we think we know about it) and see if it truly is innovative any more…

  • 32GB and 16GB storage (Even the MOTORIZER V8 had this back in 2007)
  • $199 and $299 price points to be maintained
  • 3.2-megapixel camera (Just like the HTC Magic and .2 Megapixels more than the G1)
  • Video-recording and editing capabilities (Even the T-Mobile G1 has this now Apple, and we’ve had it for months!)
  • Ability to send a picture & video via MMS (I hate to carp on about Android, but this has been in place since its inception)
  • Discontinuation of the metal band surrounding the edge of the device (OK Apple, I’ll let you have your removing a metal band!)
  • OLED screen (Damn, can anyone think of a phone with an OLED Screen?  Did I mention any Android Phones yet?  Maybe the 5 MegapixelSamsung I7500 this time?)
  • 1.5 times the battery life of the current models (Improved battery life, really, THAT’s your USP?  Over in Android circles we just look at the ways that we can improve the battery life we’ve got!)
  • Double the RAM and processing power (Now you’re starting to make some sense!  Surely after nearly 2 years we would expect at least this?)
  • Built-in FM transmitter (How 21st Century! I can’t think of any other mobile phone manufacturers who could have thought of that…)
  • Apple logo on back will glow (Aha!  There’s the USP!  A glowing Apple symbol to eat up your battery but give you that fanboi glowing feeling!)
  • Rubber-tread backing  (Even Samsung had this idea!)
  • Sleeker design  (What exactly does this mean? Really, anyone???)
  • Built-in compass  (Surely “There’s an app for that?”  Or is that just on the Android Market?)
  • The camera, GPS, compass and Google map combined will identify photo and inform about photo locations (OK, this one’s not appeared just yet on Android, but as we have the same technology and THOUSANDS of programmers working on the platform – Yes that’s the beauty of open source! – I’m sure it’s more a case of when not if…)
  • Turn-by-turn directions (I’m not sure exactly what they mean by that, surely that’s the point of having a decent Map programme, compass and hardware/firmware to match it.)

iwhatSo, if this is what Apple are planning to annnounce then I’m afraid I really can’t see it setting the industry alight.  Maybe the rumours are true, maybe Steve Jobs’ health is truly stifling Apple’s creativity.  I hope not as I really want them to be innovative and new so that I can start trying to think up more diverse arguements!

So, come on Apple, show me what’s great about the iPhone again!

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#FixReplies

13/05/2009 — efan78

twitter LogoSo, this morning – like the rest of the twitterverse – I logged on and saw the announcement that there had been a “Small Settings Update” and that this affected @replies.

There seemed to be a bit of confusion as to HOW this affected us all, although we knew it would.  It didn’t take long though for the hashtag to arrive, and it was #FixReplies.  This was different to any of the myriad ‘bring back the old Facebook‘  petitions, unlike Facebook, twitter changed a fundamental part of the social networking side.  It would be like taking away the “People you may know” feature from Facebook.

Eventually, twitter realised that there was a problem and thanked the community for the feedback, and it seemed that the only thing that was getting through as being worrying was that people use the unshared @reply to find other new tweeps to follow.  Of course that was a concern, but I had a thought…

One of the big conversations about twitter around the net at the moment is whether it will replace Google.  To do this twitter HAS to allow information to flow freely around the twitterverse, and this new “feature” doesn’t allow it.

As an example, I follow @BullyingUK, an excellent support resource (and yes that was a shameless plug!).  Now imagine @BullyingVictim sends a message to @BullyingUK asking for a telephone number he could call for help.  

Using the old system, @BullyingUK could hit the reply button and say “@BullyingVictim Call your local helpline on 12345678.”  And anyone following @BullyingUK could see it.  Under the new system you would need to follow both @BullyingUK and @BullyingVictim to get the update.  

Now imagine you’re a worried, shy person who needs that number but daren’t ask and you don’t know @BullyingVictim.  You won’t see either tweet.  The new system doesn’t work.

As I was heading home from work earlier however I saw a link to a final post from @Biz that said it wasn’t a new feature, but something that the system couldn’t do any more.  But it’s a key part of what makes twitter work, and the team need to remember this.

They’ve said the way around it is to type your @reply instead of using the reply button.  Isn’t that great – especially after reports that show 60% of twitter users don’t get it and quit within a month – twitter decides to make the site even less user friendly!

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