DevLife

Recently I upgraded to iOS4.0.2 when prompted by iTunes. 4.0.1 was finally settling down and battery life seemed better after my previous rant (turns out it was a misconfigured connection that would die gracefully) so I figured that upgrading would be okay.

But I am stuck in the same rut, battery life is impacted again. I still think it has to do with the inability to turn off the location subsystems. Since the iPod runs on wifi, location can only be roughly determined by IP address which is not all that accurate. Why should I not be able to turn that off? The buttons for location settings are blues out ( the same as the MS greyed out) and are disabled. Is anyone listening, Apple?

In other news, Apple released the iPods, and the new touch looks fantastic. It’s finally got cameras, front (meh) and rear. While FaceTime might be nice to play with, it’s the rear facing 5 megapixel camera that has me interested. Should make that device far more fun to play with. I will have to think about that one for Christmas or birthday.

I am looking at getting an iPhone in the near future but it looks like both Rogers and Bell are sold out at the moment. Canada’s lame ass wireless providers are sucking again. I have a blackberry currently, but the iPhones are so much nicer and have so many more features.

Also been thinking about an iPad. Could be fun to play with. And I would like to get one to check the development options. Of course I would need to get a Mac to go with that since you can’t dev on anything else easily. Yea, I could write the app in c++, but I want to play with Xcode.

All that gear is an expensive proposition. So we’ll see.

Posted in: gear by Bastien / Tags: apple, iOS, ipod

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So, I downloaded the iOS4 and installed on my iPod touch. It’s the 2nd gen device and the OS is just a disaster. Battery life is abysmal, many apps just don’t work ( not that it’s Apple’s fault ) but those devs have not had the time or inclination to fix the apps.

But what irks me most are a few things about the new OS and iTunes.

1. Battery life just sucks. I used to be able to go a few days with my regular usage patterns provided I was not watching a video on it. My guess that the device is trying too hard to communicate all the time.

2. There is no way to restore back to version 3.1.3 which was the last version I had on there.

3. Should the new OS not be compatible with the current device, then why offer the upgrade? Apple know just what I have so why not just set iTunes to block it if not applicable?

4. Fix iTunes. Why should it let me add copies of music already in the device? It’s just bloody silly.

Anyway enough ranting?

Posted in: gear by Bastien / Tags: apple, ios4, ipod, upgrade

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A few weeks ago I inheirited a older HP/Compaq laptop. It suffered from extreme slowness and the current owner couldn’t get it to run any of his apps. I found this strange since it was a dual core machine running XP Pro.

Upon learning that it was originally sourced from Best Buy, it made it extremely likely that it was lacking RAM. The specs on the HP site called for 1 GB of RAM, but as usual for Best Buy, it only had 512 Mb in it.

A neighbor had an HP laptop which had a screen that was busted, so i pirated the ram, 2gb worth and placed it into the old machine. We had to take the machine apart since one of the ram chips was hidden under the keyboard. Nice design, HP!

Then I acquired a universal power supply since the original could not be located. Talk about a bad move, the screwy amperage delivered to the machine caused the CPU to cycle to 100%, rendering the machine useless. It had all sorts of trouble installing the new OS. Yep, I put windows 7 on it. Meh! Is about all I have to say that, just not enough there to be really impressed.

Anyway, google and trial and error lead me to working out the power supply issue. I sourced a new power supply through kijiji, with the help of a buddy at work. The new supply works like a charm and the machine is running great now.

That entire process took about 3 weeks to sort out. What fun!

Posted in: gear, on the job by Bastien / Tags: hp, laptops, power supply

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So Apple has announced the new iPad. I thought I’d add my comments and views to the general fray.

I think it’s gonna be an interesting device. One that is very geared to the general public that doesn’t get or want to be bothered with all the normal hassles of computing life. The system updates, virus warnings and the installation of apps. The iPhone metaphor is one that translates so well to a larger device with the extra screen real estate. This is the device for people who are in the main consumers of content. Email, video, Twitter are all mainly consumption apps where the user is mainly limited to text inputs. The ipad will be perfect for those users.

It’s not the right device for people who create content. It’s not meant to edit images, create docs ( though with iwork it’s possible ) and build applications. Those folks will still need a laptop or desktop machine for that.

Posted in: gear by Bastien / Tags: apple ipad software usability

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Well, foolishly, I bought another pair of Skechers today. Granted they were on clearance at Winners ( thanks TJX folks, see ya next year ) and a total steal at $23.

The big difference is that these are leather without the runner-like cushioned foam/fabric insole that so love to trap the odors from my stinky feet. The newer style insole, hopefully done to address those similarly afflicted by the lethal stench, should not hold odors but I guess I will need to test that theory.

Of course, they are a Christmas present, thoughtfully ‘chosen’ by the dog, so I will have to wait a few more days to excitedly tear into the box and try them on, again.

Damn, that dog makes good choices in gifts.

Happy holidays to all!

Posted in: gear by Bastien / Tags: shoes sketchers

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We were kicking around some ideas for future development at the office today and discussing where the future was going in terms of mobile devices.

We got to talking about the iPhone and the Apple AppStore and the advantages and disadvantages of that ecosystem from a business development point of view. The concensus is, as most have all ready guessed, that mobile smart phones are where things are going. So we need to tackle that market with apps that support our business needs.

The issue for us as developers, was the seemingly capricious nature of AppStore approvers and how apps are getting into the store for download by users. We know that we need the AppStore, a centralized location acting as a repository is the only real way to currently provision apps for users.

What we see moving forward is that Apple will eventually have to lose the walled garden approach to managing the app store. It’s a growth model that will end up interfering as the maturity of the device comes about.

Since the app store is a source of significant revenue for Apple, it will have to find another way to recoup some of that revenue. We had an idea. What if Apple turned from the current approach to a model of ‘trusted application’ provider? The benefits are interesting; they gain prominence as the supplier of trusted apps. This is a feature for which they could take a slightly larger percentage of the sale of any particular app. This plan also relieves Apple of the need to approve the hundreds of apps it recieves weekly ( ok, that’s an educated guess but it’s likely close ) and it can focus it’s efforts more towards analyzing applications for safety of the device or data on it.

As the devices gain popularity, yes I know it’s very popular right now, it will gain it’s share of attempts to hack the device and it’s very likely that some of those attacks will come in the form of malicious code masquarading as a benign app, a game or some ‘hot babes’ app. If Apple focuses it’s talent and efforts to ensuring that apps are safe, the app store will remain the destination of choice for most users.

Allowing other app stores to distribute apps for the devices will also foster good relations with many parties. Apple will shed it’s monopolistic aura, users will gain more choice and the bad apps will quickly lose favor as the market has a much greater say and more forums to voice their opinions. Users will also benefit from higher quality apps as those with issues are shed and new apps are touted.

The downside to this is that users will be exposed to more apps that may harm the device or steal data from users as Apple will not have to screen every app. But word of those apps will spread quickly, via social networking sites and word of mouth and users can take action to delete the offending app or complain to the app store that sold the at have it removed. In that respect, it’s no different than any other software installed by a user on their home computer, be it a Mac or a PC.

This, of course leads to thoughts of having to install anti-virus on the phone. But given the sheer computing power of smart phones, this is inevitable. It will need to happen, no matter how good Apple or Google or MS gets at securing the sandbox wher the OS runs.

Would you buy a ‘trusted’ app from Apple? I know I would.

Posted in: gear by Bastien / Tags: appstore apple iphone apps trust

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Apple has made significant strides in the last year in the quest to support business adoption of the iPhone. Active sync, remote wipe are great steps but the lack of central management is needed to help drive this.

Now it’s time for the last stage, admin versus user privileges. Admins need to be able to image and control the devices for rapid set up and distribution in large scale corporate environments. They need to be able to install the apps from a central pool of approved apps for the business users and maintain and alter that list.

Essentially, we need the iPhone version of the Blackberry Enterprise Server. Let’s have it, Apple or at least let someone write it for you.

Posted in: gear, on the job by Bastien / Tags: iphone apple business

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Apple and Google have been at odds lately over the google voice app that is available on other devices already, nely the blackberry and android phones.

Google’s app, which ties voice, SMS and email to a single number is an interesting evolution. It’s possible with this app to route the single google number to any number of other numbers, making a great tool for start ups, where the one GV number could be routed to the office during the day and a cell later. This would enable simpler off hours support for a start up with very little investment and true portability when travelling to meet potential or existing clients.

If the app is as slick as everyone is convinced it will be, the marriage of the hardware with the still unique apple interface and facinating device to a very cool app.

Apple has concerns that people will loose the connection to the Apple brand and that the app will overshadow the uniqueness of the iPhone. It may be a legitimate concern, given the ubiquitous nature of Google in the iPhone via it’s Youtube, maps and the other google search apps. But, much like the computers Apple also sells the apps are a part of the whole user experience. Apps make devices better, more capable, more entertaining and increase our ability to get things done.

I find it hard to believe that Apple will suffer if they allow the GV app onto the device. While they may offer simliar functionality to the core apps that Apple has on the device, like SMS or the phone dialer, they really are complimentary apps I’m that neither imvades on the space of the other despite sharing common spaces like contacts.

The synergies of the apps and of the companies can’t be denied. Apart they each offer great tools and both have strong and determined visions of what the future can be. Excellent hardware combined with cool software will always have a loyal and willing fan base.

One more thing, it’s time to bring GV to Canada. Move aside CRTC, you are impeding progress.

Posted in: gear by Bastien / Tags: apple google google voice

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Apple had a big day yesterday, announcing stellar results with the iPhone and iPod lines and releasing a bunch of new iPods and a goodly number of price adjustments. As a bonus, Steve Jobs was on hand to make the announcements.

Apple also announced a new version of the iPhone / iPod touch OS and a new version of iTunes.

The changes are all good ones with better support from iTunes and the Genius application when handling apps for the iPhone / iPod touch devices to the LP feature with the additional content like video and images.

iPods got a bunch of changes to the line-up with price drops, more memory for the iPod touch and video and larger screens for the nanos. They all got voice control where the user can shuffle by speaking the words into the new microphone enabled headsets.

The worm, for me, is the lack of [video] camera for the touch range of devices. I would have loved a mic in the device to be able to use then device as voip phone, but I can live with the wired headset with mic that is offered.

In truth, I would have also like to see an expansion of the Bluetooth support to include the handsfree and devices profiles to allow the use of the laser virtual keyboard or the ubiquitous bluetooth headset that I use with my blackberry.

All in all, the changes are positive, though it does seem that iTunes is getting a bit chunky around the middle. I am drooling over the 64gb iPod touch. I have the 16gb version and love the idea of a faster processor an way more memory, though I wonder what the higher processor speed will do to the battery life. The touchs are, as Steve Jobs said, the first truly portable small computer.

We’ll see what the future holds for the devices. Apple will no doubt continue to surprise us with it’s innovative products.

Posted in: gear by Bastien / Tags: apple ipod

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Is Roger’s wireless losing it’s Edge? It’s just slow and it drives me crazy using the mobile Internet via the opera mini browser. Sorry RIM, but the default browser on my Curve is a piece of junk.

When will Roger’s move forward with LTE? They better start thinking about moving forward because Bell is rolling out HPSA support for it’s network to be able to support the iPhone. When that happens I will have choice in providers for the iPhone, and if the Bell network is gonna be faster, then it’s not a tough choice to work out who I need to go with.

Posted in: gear by Bastien / Tags: 2g wireless lte highspeed cell web smartphones

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