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TheAppleBlog
TheAppleBlog, published by and for the day-to-day Apple user, is a prominent source for news, reviews, walkthroughs, and real life application of all Apple products.
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Next iPhone Camera to Be 3.2 Megapixels

Taiwanese tech news site DigiTimes is reporting today that sources have informed them that California-based company OmniVision has won the contract to produce 3.2 megapixel sensors for use in Apple’s upcoming iPhone hardware refresh, expected this June. DigiTimes has been correct in the past, though they don’t shed any light on the nature of their source. In this case, however, what they’re reporting isn’t exactly beyond the realm of possibility, since it looks fairly certain Apple will be introducing a new iPhone come June, and it makes sense to improve the camera, a source of complaint from many users.

Also not very surprising is the news that the iPhone will support video recording without the need to jailbreak the phone. It makes sense for Apple to include as many upgrade incentives as they can, and a better camera with video capability is a nice, tangible upgrade to entice customers who wouldn’t notice or take advantage of less obvious improvements under the hood.

An additional claim in the report, which might be taken with a little more skepticism, says that OmniVision has also been tapped by Apple to provide 5-megapixel sensors for another upcoming device, the details of which are not revealed. While some might be hoping that this is some kind of Apple netbook or tablet device, I think it’s far more likely that if true, this would actually be an extended contract to provide sensors for the iPhone to follow the update we’ll see in June.

Which makes me angry. Yes, it’s a good thing that Apple’s finally getting around to upgrading the iPhone’s camera, but there was nothing really barring them from doing so last time. And they’re still lagging with a 3.2-megapixel model this time around, instead of leapfrogging ahead and staying on the cusp with a 5-megapixel model. They’re holding back to hedge their bets for future upgrades, regardless of what they may claim about keeping costs down. I might start skipping models if they continue the trend of being so needlessly withholding.

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Quickword App Submitted for Apple's Consideration, Can Edit Word Docs

A lot of apps have been promising to bring Microsoft document editing capabilities to the iPhone, like DocumentsToGo, which enjoyed prominence on the Palm OS, and continues to be a popular choice for BlackBerry users. But now it looks like Quickoffice might be the first app out the door, though it all hinges on Apple giving it the green light. They submitted their app for approval to Cupertino late this week, and if all goes well, it could be available for purchase in the App Store sometime early next week.

With Quickoffice, users can view and edit Microsoft Word and Excel files and share them over a wireless connection. Quickoffice is actually a collection of three individual apps, two of which are already available for the iPhone now. These are Quicksheet ($12.99, iTunes link), for editing Excel spreadsheets, and Quickoffice Files ($3.99, iTunes link), for viewing a variety of files, and transferring them to and from your device. The third application in the series is Quickword, which brings the crucial addition of Word document editing.

When (and if) it’s approved, it’ll also retail for $12.99 separately, or you can get the whole Quickoffice package together in one app for a price that’s yet to be revealed. I’d guess you might save a few bucks by getting the bundle, so look for it to be priced around $19.99.

News of the app’s submission comes closely on the heels of Microsoft Business Division President Stephen Elop dropping hints at the Web 2.0 conference earlier this week that document editing was indeed on its way to the iPhone. I’ve thought, until now, that the reason we hadn’t seen it yet was that Microsoft and Apple together were blocking it, but maybe Elop was referring to third-party apps like Quickoffice with his subtle suggestions. Then again, maybe they want to release their own branded solution and Quickoffice will be swiftly denied. We’ll find out next week.

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iPhone Security Key: VeriSign Identity Protection App Released

If you’ve ever suffered from fraud on the Internet, you’ll know how important it is to use decent passwords, keep them safe, and watch out for phishing activities. Unfortunately, a simple password isn’t always the best way to protect yourself online. Many banks are now starting to use two-factor authentication, a system requiring a dongle that generates a coded number before you’re able to access accounts online.

This concept has today been extended to mobile devices by VeriSign, with the launch of VeriSign Identity Protection (VIP) for the iPhone. This free application will act as a security dongle, generating a coded number that can be entered for additional security on various web sites.

This “two-factor authentication” process is a first for a device such as the iPhone. The first factor is something you know — a username and password. The second factor is something you have, namely the code provided via your iPhone. It greatly enhances security and means that, for a thief, simply knowing your password is not enough.

Setting up VIP

To get started setting up the VIP software up on your iPhone, begin by downloading it from the App Store. The app is free, and relatively straight forward to install and configure.

When launching for the first time, you’re asked for your mobile phone number. This is used to send a text message to you, linking a particular phone number with your iPhone. After the setup process is complete, you’re able to flick through the introductory documentation, watch a tutorial video of how the service works, or dive straight into setting up the VIP service on participating web sites.

The documentation is particularly good, clearly setting out the process you need to follow to register your iPhone as a VIP Credential on various member sites. Also available is a handy FAQ, which covered the majority of questions I had about the service.

Various VIP iPhone Screenshots

There are no settings or configuration options in the app, other than the ability to hide or display your device ID. Everything is kept as simple to use as possible.

Web Sites Supported

At present, the VIP service is supported by just over 40 web sites. The most notable partners are PayPal, eBay, AOL, and various banking organizations. A short list can be found at VeriSign’s Where to Use page.

Each web site you’d like to use the authentication for requires an individual set-up process, generally involving logging into your account and entering a few additional details.

PayPal Walkthrough

The first service I set the software up for was PayPal. After logging in, the page to activate VIP can be found via My Profile > Security Key. After selecting to activate a VeriSign device, you are asked to enter the unique iPhone ID, and two security codes generated by the app (the code changes every 30 seconds).

Immediately after doing this, the service is activated.

Confirmation of Device Set-up

During your next login you’ll be asked for a username and password as normal, followed by the random code from your iPhone. If you decide in the future that you’d like to deactivate the feature, it’s simple to do so from the same PayPal page.

Conclusion

Hopefully, services such as this will go a long way towards increasing consumer confidence with shopping and banking online. VeriSign certainly feels this is the case:

A recent survey found that 86 percent of consumers prefer sites that enable proactive security measures such as two-factor authentication. Meanwhile, 68 percent said they would like better systems in place to protect their identities.

As more web sites and online services move to support this security standard, I imagine its popularity will grow. The idea of using your iPhone as an additional layer of authentication for web site access is convenient and appealing. At present, no UK banking institutions use VeriSign as a partner so — for now — I’m stuck with a few different authentication devices.

I can’t fault the implementation of this service; setting everything up is very simple and straightforward. The only complaint I have is the lack of publicity it seems to have received. Until reading about the iPhone application, I hadn’t been aware that a two-factor authentication system was available for PayPal, eBay, or any of the other supported sites. This is a great way to improve security, and letting more people know about the facility would seem like a logical move. With all the publicity surrounding the dangers of phishing, I’m surprised that this service hasn’t been offered greater acclaim as a solution.

If you’re interested in finding out more, I recommend watching the introductory video on eBay, which provides a decent overview of how the service works. To get started straight away, head over to the App Store and download the VIP software.

I’m interested to know your thoughts. How security conscious are you? Is this solution one that you’ll try out immediately, or are you happy with the tried and tested username and password combination?

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3D Video Coming to iPod/iPhone as Soon as Next Year

I’m not really caught up in the recent wave of 3D theatrical releases, since it doesn’t seem to me like they’ve improved the technology at all from what I saw when I watched Michael Jackson’s weird sci-fi dance movie “Captain EO” at Disney World about 15 years ago. Even so, the news that I might be able to watch 3D video on my iPod or iPhone definitely caught my attention. My first thought was that Apple might be introducing 3D-capable displays, but the truth is much cooler and more Philip K. Dick cyber-futuristic than that.

Two third-party partners are in fact behind the ambitious plan to bring your Apple (and other media player) devices into the third dimension. One is SENSIO, a company based out of Montreal (I’m bursting with national pride here, guys; you’d better not disappoint), specializing in 3D video. The other is Myvu, which is in the business of providing you access to a TV-independent, big-screen experience thanks to futuristic visors and goggles sort of reminiscent of Nintendo’s VirtualBoy.

Myvu already makes these babies specifically for iPod and iPhone owners, which can’t help but make you look really cool when you’re wearing them on the bus and reacting to things that only you can see. Together, Myvu and SENSIO showed off at the year’s CTIA how really crazy you’ll look when wearing techie goggles and dodging things that appear to be flying at your face. They hope to have the technology ready for consumer markets sometime in the next year. Considering the $300 price tag on the regular old 2D model, I have a feeling the no-doubt more expensive 3D version might be a bit of a niche product.

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Apple, Don't Cave to Anti-Gun Zealots Over iPhone Apps

It seems that some new iPhone games in the App Store have the British anti-gun lobby’s knickers in a knot.

Macworld UK’s Nick Spence says reports in British newspapers claim the series of iPhone and iPod touch apps developed by the French firm Damabia, such as Boom!BOOM! Shotgun Pro, Boom!BOOM! Shotgun Free, Bang!BANG!, Bang!BANG! OG Edition and Tak!TAK!, are glamorizing “gun culture,” particularly among young people, and have caused “outrage among anti-gun campaigners.”

Claudia Webbe, chair of an independent advisory group for the Metropolitan Police’s Operation Trident gun-crime force, is quoted commenting, “I am stunned this game should ever have been allowed to have been made. We have spent years trying to get imitation guns out of shops and this sort of product undermines that effort.”

The always-strident anti-gun lobby is demanding that Apple pull the Damabia apps, which are either free or sell for 99 cents and are rated 9+ in the App Store for “Infrequent/Mild Mature/Suggestive Themes” and “Infrequent/Mild Realistic Violence.”

I say get a grip, and I profoundly hope Apple will resist this political-correctness bullying.

I’m old enough to have spent my formative years in an era before the bane of political correctness had exerted its clammy grip on our culture, and in which youngsters playing “cops and robbers” with “imitation guns,” was not only not frowned upon, but considered a normal and commendable rite of childhood.

I’ve been around guns, imitation and real, literally all my life — a part of “gun culture” if you will, and it’s not something I have any inclination to apologize for. As a young child living in rural Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, Canada, just about every family in the communities I lived in owned (and still do today) a gun — usually several. One wall of my bedroom was a floor-to-ceiling pegboard mounted with firearms replicas (I would bridle if anyone called them “toys”). I wouldn’t have anything that wasn’t a passable likeness of a real weapon.

I was given my first real rifle when I was 12, a bolt-action Winchester .22 that belonged to my father when he was a boy, and in turn to my older half-brother who passed it along to me. Virtually all my male peers during my early teenage years had their own .22s. We had a lot of fun with those guns and 40-odd years later, to the best of my knowledge, not one of us ever became a homicidal maniac or killed, hurt, or even threatened anyone with a gun. Guns don’t make people evil.

I consider gun culture a positive element in society, and know for a fact from experience that high levels of firearms ownership (probably 75 percent, in the virtually crime-free community where I currently reside) do not increase crime and social violence. The opposite obtains, and is scientifically verifiable. A major study by John Lott at the University of Chicago found that for each 1 percent reduction in gun ownership, there is a 3 percent increase in violent crime. Lott observes, “When crimes are committed with guns, there is a somewhat natural inclination toward eliminating all guns. While understandable, this reaction actually endangers people’s lives.”

I’m not insensitive to agonizingly relentless incidents of senseless, insane violence that keep occurring all over the world these days, many of them involving guns. However, in one of the most shocking and disturbing recent ones, in a Boston suburb this week, the weapon used was a kitchen knife, the only guns involved being in the hands of police, one of whom used his to dispatch a deranged predator and save a life. So, should we go hysterical about demonizing and banning kitchen knives?

Damabia’s latest App Store offering Boom!BOOM! Shotgun Pro Edition for iPhone and touch, includes the eponymous shotgun, as well as a .40 cal semi-automatic handgun, a 9mm semi-automatic handgun, a submini automatic handgun and a fully automatic assault rifle. Damibia says Boom!BOOM! Shotgun Pro Edition “lets you experience this childhood game of cops and robbers in a whole new way… with stunning visuals, ear-popping sound.”

Hmmm. Damibia’s ad copy seems almost purposefully inflammatory, which is especially interesting being as they’re based in France of all places, and not the supposedly gun-besotted U.S. I would suggest they tone it down a bit, but I still support their right to develop and distribute these programs. Censorship scares me a lot more than guns do.

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Yahoo for iPhone Released: Worthwhile Alternative to Google?

With all the attention in the arena of iPhone applications being fixed squarely on Skype for the past few days, it almost escaped my view that Yahoo has finally released their free Yahoo Mobile app, which we reported on in February. The app’s release coincides with a revamp of their entire Yahoo Mobile web portal, and is designed to provide a uniform experience across products. The iPhone version has some unique hardware-based features, however, but how does it stack up to Google for iPhone?

Initially the two actually appear to have very little in common. Yahoo is more of a fully featured portal than Google’s search-focused application. To begin with, when the app launches, you get a screen with a search bar at the top, but also a list of feature stories from Yahoo.com, including summaries, and pictures, when available. There’s also a list of popular search topics, which depressingly included “ShamWow” when I was writing this up. Depending on what your goal is, this might be more or less useful than Google’s straightforward search bar/search history home page.

Continuing the trend of acting as a more broadly focused news and information application, Y! News is the next available menu item in the app’s navigation bar. There’s a featured story, and then a number of others broken down by category. It’s a fairly nice feature, and it uses your phone’s location to determine what kind of regional and national content should be shown. The content is well formatted for easy reading using the built-in article viewer, too.

The “My Interests” page is also pretty handy. You can add various types of feeds here, including weather, stock alerts, RSS feeds, and more. Basically, it allows you to build your own iGoogle-type all-in-one home page. It could actually replace a standalone RSS reader.

“Connect” offers a full-service social media aggregator, with integration for popular web mail services (Gmail and Windows Live Hotmail included, and Yahoo Mail of course), and Yahoo Calendar. All of the major social media networks are supported, including Facebook and Twitter. Once you’ve added your accounts, you can view updates from all your networks in the “Social Pulse” stream. In all cases, social network contact images can be used for your own Yahoo address book contacts.

There’s more, like direct in-app access to Yahoo Messenger, but you can check that stuff out on your own. Suffice it to say, Yahoo is trying something different with their mobile app, rather than competing directly with Google. If you’re looking for an all-in-one solution that doesn’t necessarily go in-depth in any one particular area, this might be a good solution. In theory, it clears four or five apps off your home screen, and I’m always a fan of decreasing app clutter.

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App Review: RelationTips — A Relationship Counsellor In Your Pocket

App Quick Stats

RelationTips

$3.99
iTunes Link

Music, Internet, Google Maps, telephone calls, taking photos, and now fixing your broken relationship… is there anything the iPhone can’t do?

For most of us, the iPhone makes life better — it’s like a gorgeous bio-mechanical addition to our bodies: augmenting almost everything. And, in an odd sort of way, I suppose it seems natural that this super-device — this digital deity — should turn its attention to our relationships, in an effort to make life better. To make our relationships just work.

Available for iPhone and iPod touch, RelationTips aims to proffer advice and helpful suggestions for your close relationships.

Honeymoon Period

The app begins with a quick configuration process. There are eight empty picture frames, in which you can access advice for eight different relationships, with accompanying photo, from a pre-defined selection: husband and wife, girlfriend and boyfriend, son and daughter. Having eight relationship slots will come in handy for users with several children. Or a mistress.

Intuitive to configure and with a beautifully designed interface, RelationTips feels like a luxury item from the App Store. Attention has been lavished on the smallest details, with welcome embellishments such as being able to change the type of frame on photos of your loved-ones.

The advice proffered is split in to three different categories. The Dates category provides suggestions for things to do, such as train journeys, picnics or a day at the movies. If you’re in need of inspiration for something to say, the Words category focuses on communication. Finally, if you feel like actions speak louder than words, the Actions category contains pearls of wisdom like, “Surprise your husband by cleaning out his car and gassing it up.”

With Dates focused on injecting fun and/or romance in to the things you do with your partner or child. The Words and Actions category offer up suggestions that are intended to display or communicate how important this person is to you, or how much you love them. The language is occasionally a little stuffy, but most of the time (aside from the amusing example above) it’s arguably good advice.

However, there are a couple of problems with the library of advice. The first being that the suggestions, regardless of who they are aimed at, are much the same — even to the point where your husband is swapped for your wife — it’s just not personalized enough. The other problem is that there isn’t that much advice to go off: it’s not long at all before the helpful suggestions start looping and the ideas run dry.

We’ve Got Issues

The advice offered up by RelationTips isn’t always useful, though. Playing the role of iPhone-toting wife, the first piece of advice proffered to me was the following: Is there a chore that really needs to be done but seems to always get pushed down the line in priority? Tell your husband you’ll wear his favorite lingerie and help him complete it. He’ll make the time.”

It’s true, if my partner put on her lingerie and helped me to complete a given task, like clearing the blocked gutters, this would indeed be a welcome encouragement (I suppose someone has to hold the ladder).

However, this shining nugget of advice is merely a lump of steaming fool’s gold. It would be a shame if my partner felt that in order to encourage me to do something helpful for both of us, she had to objectify herself in this way. If the relationship is at this point, maybe there are deeper issues worth discussing. I dig a bit of naughty fun, but in this instance the advice just seems like the wrong way to be tackling the situation (and impractical too — holding a ladder in your lingerie can get uncomfortably cold).

Summing Up

The idea behind RelationTips, to provide gentle relationship guidance, is very sweet. However, if your relationship is in such a condition that you really are turning to an iPhone for this kind of support, there may be deeper issues at play. This app won’t fix what is already broken and, conversely, it’s more than likely not needed if your relationship is working. There are some things that an iPhone probably shouldn’t do and one of those things is dishing out automated morsels of relationship advice.

That said, I can see this app providing support for individuals as part of a larger effort to improve a relationship. For those that may have trouble communicating, need ideas for romantic treats or inspiration for meaningful displays of affection, RelationTips may not fix your relationship, but it could provide a point in the right direction.

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App Review: AudioBoo — Twitter for People Who Want Their Voice Heard

App Quick Stats

AudioBoo

FREE
iTunes Link

Do you tweet? Then maybe you should Boo! It’s like a multimedia Twitter, designed especially for iPhone users.

Over in the UK back in 2008, Channel 4 (Britain’s edgy TV channel) launched a unique funding program entitled 4IP. Cut to 2009 and, having just announced a dedicated iPhone 3.0 fund, the suits over at 4IP seem particularly keen on Apple’s device as a platform for pushing interactive wares. In fact, 4IP has announced a fund for developers, with almost $150,000 up for grabs at a maximum of approximately $40,000 per app.

Made possible by 4IP and developed by BestBefore, AudioBoo is among the first of Channel 4’s original iPhone commissions to hit the App Store. As developers ready their funding proposals, AudioBoo is set to be a showcase of the kind of app 4IP will be looking for — making use of various media formats, community-focused, and integrating with the most popular social platforms.

Designed to work alongside Twitter and iTunes, AudioBoo is an audio blogging platform created especially for iPhone.

Anatomy of a Boo

On paper, AudioBoo’s feature set reads excellently — it’s a tour de force of current buzzwords and trends. Using the iPhone you can record an audio message, the message pops up on your Twitter stream and there’s even an automatic, iTunes-compatible RSS feed for your followers to subscribe to.

The sign-up process is simple, taking place either on the iPhone (via a Safari link within the app) or on the desktop version of the web site. Plus, once signed in, it only takes a couple of clicks to link your Twitter account and activate Facebook Connect. The site even grabs your Gravatar, saving the hassle of uploading a profile picture.

It’s worth noting, however, that there’s not much to do on the desktop version of the site. AudioBoo really has been designed for iPhone; the app is where are all the key features are and, as such, there’s no way to record a Boo via the site.

Making the Perfect Boo

Once logged in on the iPhone, the app displays the main Boo stream, similar to Twitter’s public stream. Unlike Twitter, though, there’s no way of following other users; this seemed somewhat odd to me initially, until I realized that — with Twitter and Facebook Connect integration — it’s not needed: AudioBoo pushes messages to the big social platforms where all the action happens.

The focus throughout the app is on simplicity and ease of use. This is reflected in the audio-recording interface — there’s no friction with the technology and so creating a Boo is so quick it retains a real sense of fun throughout.

Although the App Store page states that recordings can be up to three minutes long, there’s actually a maximum length of five minutes. It’s the perfect amount of time to do a blog-style update, sing a little tune or make an impassioned rant.

EmbeddaBoo

Each Boo can be posted alongside a photo, either from your photo album or taken with the iPhoto camera. You can also add tags and, if you’re not the secretive type, even include GPS data. After that it takes a few seconds to publish a Boo — even over slower Edge connections — resulting in a page like this.

If you clicked the link to my test Boo, you’ll have heard that the audio quality from the iPhone mic itself is surprisingly good. And, because I’m a Twitter user, I’ve linked up AudioBoo to auto-tweet for me too. The site even generates code so that you can embed specific Boos on your blog or web page of choice.

There’s one feature, though, that seems to be a real stroke of genius on the part of BestBefore: Alongside an RSS feed, your Boo page also has an iTunes button — clicking this button automagically subscribes users to a podcast feed within iTunes of your Boo updates.

Summing Up

Despite having launched in the App Store, AudioBoo is still clearly in its infancy. The site design is incredibly dull, profile pages lack any sort of personalization options and the iPhone app can be a little crash-happy, too.

While there’s still a long way to go with the main site, the core technology works and, after configuring your account, you’ll find yourself primarily using the iPhone app and never having to visit the main AudioBoo site again — everything is automated for you.

The technology, and all the other added extras, more than make up for any complaints. It’s genuinely exciting to be armed with this fun little tool that enables you to record an audio message (with accompanying photo) and instantly publish to Twitter, Facebook and iTunes.

Simply put, AudioBoo is great fun and totally free. For Twitter users, Facebook members, potential podcasters, and regular folk who have something they’ve just got to voice, it’s well worth a download.

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Apple Releases iPhone 3.0 Beta 2 for Developers

Apple released the second version of the iPhone 3.0 OS and SDK Beta today, bringing developers a number of feature improvements and stability fixes.

It’s good news for people like me who are using the beta on their primary phones — against their own good judgment and the advice of Apple and everyone else. The official build number is 7a259g, and this release marks only two weeks since the announcement and initial release of the iPhone 3.0 software.

I had a suspicion that this build’s release timing might have something to do with the recent discovery that if you’re using the brand-new Skype app with the 3.0 firmware installed, you can apparently make calls over your 3G connection instead of just on Wi-Fi. But, lo and behold, 3G voice calls still work with Skype using the new beta. In fact, a lot of the buggy issues I complained about earlier seem to have been resolved with the latest update, including the mic failure when used by third-party apps.

So far, most of the changes I’ve noticed have been improvements to overall performance, less freezing, and generally fewer bugs. Spotlight loads up a lot quicker, and returns results faster, too. Battery life seems to be better, or at least it hasn’t drained completely while streaming Internet radio over 3G. Using the first beta, I could literally watch it die none too slowly when doing this. The real test will be seeing how long the phone can go without a power cycle, since gradual OS slowdown and eventual failure was my biggest problem before. There’s also a weird “Store” menu in the iPhone’s Settings whose purpose isn’t yet clear.

If you were hesitant about using a pre-release build on your primary device, 7a259g may be reason enough to take the plunge. I’ll let you know if any major issues crop up with extended use.

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Sony Pictures Details Lineup for iPhone Games

Movie-based titles have not enjoyed a favorable reputation in gaming on the whole. There have been exceptions, of course, like Goldeneye for the Nintendo 64, and the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle games for the Nintendo and Super Nintendo. The Watchmen MMO for the iPhone and iPod Touch? Definitely not among the greats. Iron Man: Aerial Assault was sort of OK, and Shooter wasn’t terrible, but the pattern of lackluster adaptations seems to have extended to Apple’s mobile platforms.

Well, Sony Pictures is going to have a whole bunch of new kicks at the can this year, so there’s still a chance we could see an escape from mediocrity in the near future. Fan favorite “Ghostbusters,” for instance, will get the iPhone treatment this June. Expect to see its release coincide with WWDC and the unveiling of the next-generation iPhone.

There’s also a James Bond game titled Top Agent set for an August release, so we can all begin hoping for another Goldeneye now, as gamers have done with every new Bond title announced since its release. No other details are currently available, except that it will feature some kind of multiplayer component.

Also in the line-up are games based on upcoming movies “Angels & Demons,” “Zombieland!,” and “2012.” And in case you thought they were just about film adaptations, look for a revival of the classic arcade game Q*bert, and a game based on the popular 80s kid’s show “Voltron,” which features robots that combine to form a much larger, more awesome robot (in case you had a deprived childhood).

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Android Pulls Tethering App? Goodness! You Mean "Open" Isn't Open?

The hoopla around Google’s Android mobile OS, and the resulting apps in the Android Market, is pretty strong. It’s laid on thick and fast. You know the drill; it’s “open” so it’ll be free from all the constraints imposed by The Man, etc.

Oops, maybe not. I’m not sure why people believed the steaming pile of hyperbole coming out of the “open” pundits, but it was just a matter of time before reality stepped in. Google has pulled tethering apps from the market.

There was no way this kind of filtering was not going to happen, and I said so here and here. In fact, in the latter article I even used tethering as a specific example:

Another example: Tethering is not allowed on the G1, but what if someone like, say, Nullriver posts a tethering app on the Android market place? Hey, it's "open", right? Who's to stop them? Naturally, T-Mobile will go to Google to get the app pulled…

Despite what some may claim, “open” does not mean it’s open season on copyright violations or any other activities prohibited by TOS, contracts, license agreements, etc. We may want it to mean those things, but that doesn’t make it so. With all the advantages of a central app store comes the responsibility to police it. One can certainly argue that such policing is not done evenhandedly, or favors the larger partners involved, but this too is par for the course and beside the point anyway. The point is that “open” does not mean anything like free reign, and never did.

There are some who may argue this limits innovation, and while I see the point, I’m not sure I can agree. Certainly it doesn’t apply to tethering, which is hardly new. There is no innovation going on there from a software or hardware standpoint. The innovation needed from tethering must come from the carriers in how they handle this extremely useful feature (and that’s the subject of another article).

It’s hard to make a case for honoring contractual obligations or EULAs, or not violating existing copyrights, as being blocks to innovation. I see them more as blocks to questionable legal activity.

Meanwhile, the “open” community will probably condemn Google’s action, then deny it, then rationalize it, and then defend it. Finally, they’ll get right back to touting how “open” is the panacea; the cure for all that ails us, and everything Apple’s App Store is not. As before, they’ll be wrong, but I’m sure some will still believe it.

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Skype Now Available in App Store, Unless You Live in Canada

Really? Come on, really? It was almost like waking up on Christmas morning and hurrying down the stairs, only to find that there are no presents under the tree. I’m referring, of course, to the release of the official, free Skype application (iTunes link) for iPhone that took place first thing this morning in every country where the App Store exists, except for the one I happen to be living in right now. Canadian iPhone owners are out of luck, because Skype is not coming to their phones.

In a way, I shouldn’t be surprised. Most U.S.-based streaming media content, from the likes of Hulu and Pandora (and soon Last.fm, too, unless you’re willing to fork over a subscription) doesn’t make its way north of the border. Foolishly, I believed that a simple app like Skype, which just provides a convenient package for a service we already have access to via the web and other iPhone applications, would go through without a hitch.

The official reason the app isn’t available to Canadians is that a patent-license issue is preventing Skype from making it available, according to a company spokesperson. Other outlets suspect more sinister motives, pointing the finger at Rogers Wireless, who, along with their subsidiary Fido, are the only iPhone carriers in Canada. Digital Home, thinks that Rogers may have blocked the app to try to protect their wireless talk revenue. Remember, this is the land of the three-year contract we’re talking about here, so a little strong-arming isn’t exactly out of character.

Whatever the reason, you can always go the backdoor route and just download and sync Skype using an American iTunes account, which is not a difficult thing to get regardless of your country of origin. That’s exactly what I did, and so now my iPhone is fully Skype-capable in Canada. Currently, I’m having issues with getting speakerphone to work, and the mic seems to be cutting out, but I’m fairly sure that’s an iPhone OS 3.0 bug, not a problem with the program or the connection. Anyways, go download your copy now if you’re living anywhere except for Canada, or if you’re smart enough to navigate that minor blockade, and let us know how it’s working for you.

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Eight More MySQL Apps for OS X

A few weeks ago I took a detailed look at two MySQL database tools Querious and SequelPro, comparing their feature set. These are by no means the only two options for accessing MySQL with a shiny UI — so here is a quick look at eight more MySQL front ends that are available for OS X.

Mac-Only

SQLGrinder
SQLGrinder is all about running queries for any database natively on OS X. As expected from a query runner, it supports syntax highlighting and query history (although there are no keyboard shortcuts to go back in your history) which is only persistent while the app is running, however you can create saved favorite queries. Copying records from a query gives you CSV text in the clipboard, and importing and exporting is also done via delimited text.

While it lets you browse a database and view the table structure and indexes, there is no UI to modify the tables. SQLGrinder does support AppleScript and Growl, giving a tidy OS X experience. SQLGrinder supports MySQL, Oracle, SQLServer 2005, Sybase, FrontBase, OpenBase and PostgreSQL. It costs $59 and a trial is available (can be run 20 times). For a query runner that can talk to anything, it does its job well.

YourSQL
YourSQL is a free open-source MySQL client for OS X that allows full database creation, modification, browsing and query running with an intuitive (albeit, a bit cramped) UI. It also allows importing data from CSV or Tab or SQL and exporting to CSV, Excel or SQL, while copying records to the clipboard gives tab delimited text. The query runner is strong, with syntax highlighting and full query history that can not only be navigated with keyboard shortcuts, but persists from one application session to another. This is quite a capable basic tool, with a great price tag of nothing.

PGnJ
PGnJ, like SQLGrinder, just runs queries. PGnJ supports syntax highlighting and query history (although the history is only for the current session, it is not persistent when the app is closed) with full keyboard shortcuts throughout, so everything can be done quickly from the keyboard. Table definitions are easily viewable, to aid with building your queries. An SQL Library (with variable support) is present, although this feature is buggy. Common templates (such as create table, alter column, etc) can be selected if you can’t remember the appropriate syntax. Only one database can be viewed at a time, and you have to know the database name — you can’t browse a list of all databases on a server. Copying query results is also limited to the current cell or record — you can export query results to a file however, in SQL, XML, CSV/Tab & HTML formats.

In addition to MySQL, PGnJ can also connect to PostgreSQL, Oracle and SQLite databases and costs $49 (a 15 day trial can be downloaded). This application has a lot of potential to be a killer query runner, but has some rather rough edges that need ironing out before it is worthwhile.

SQLEditor
Unlike the other tools here, SQLEditor does not let you administer your database, or run queries — it is a design and ER modeling tool, supporting MySQL, PostgreSQL and Oracle. This lets you design your database with an excellent UI, and then export the resulting SQL to file, or directly into a database. You can also import directly from SQL or from a database — allowing easy diagramming of an existing database. SQLEditor is $79 with a 30-day trial.

Cross Platform

MySQL Query Browser and MySQL Administrator
MySQL Query Browser and Administrator are available freely from MySQL itself. Together they allow full browsing, modifications, query running and database maintenance. While the tools are cross-platform, the UI is relatively OS X friendly and doesn’t seem out of place (I’ve found this unusual for cross-platform apps).

Supporting syntax highlighting and code completion, the query runner has a query history (unfortunately there are no keyboard shortcuts) and works well. There is not a way to copy records to the clipboard, however the query results can be exported to CSV, HTML, XML, Excel XML or a property list file. Along side these tools is MySQLWorkbench, which is currently feature complete, but still in first beta. This compliments the administration tools with a DB design and ER modeling tool.

NaviCat
NaviCat is a powerhouse of a cross platform database administration application. There are three varieties, one for MySQL, PostgreSQL, and Oracle, with the MySQL version costing between $79 and $119 depending what feature set you want. A fully featured 30-day trial can be downloaded.

NaviCat has a horrible, Windows-like UI, but is incredibly featured, allowing pretty much everything from table modifications to stored procedures, views, event triggers, backups, user maintenance and scheduling maintenance tasks. The query runner has syntax highlighting with full code completion, and a UI based query builder. Copying query records to the clipboard results in Tab delimited text, while you can Import and Export in almost any format, including SQL, XML, CSV, DBF, XLS and even import from ODBC. Despite its price and horrid UI, it is one of the most powerful and functionally complete MySQL tool available for OS X.

RazorSQL
RazorSQL is a java-based cross platform browser and query runner that boasts support of 29 databases, including MySQL. A 30 day trial is available, with the full version costing $59.95.

Like NaviCat, RazorSQL is fully featured allowing browsing and modifying table, stored procedures, views, triggers and users. Query running supports syntax highlighting and basic query history (no keyboard navigation). There is no code completion that I could find, although it has a UI-based query builder. The UI has the typical cross-platform windows look and feel. Clipboard copying gives Tab delimited text, however you can export in CSV, Tab, XML, HTML, XLS or text and import in CSV, Tab, XLS, fixed width text or SQL. If you need a cross platform fully featured tool to access almost any database, this does the job fine.

Aqua Data Studio
Aqua Data Studio is a java-based cross platform database IDE supporting 11 databases, including MySQL. It requires Java 1.6 and a 64bit Intel Mac. A 14 day trial is available, with the full license costing $399 per user. This price could be possibly justified however, as compared to all the other apps listed here, this is much more than a database administrator. Aqua Data Studio also lets you do full database comparisons, version control (supporting SVN and CVS) and a full ER modeling tool.

If you need a complete package for an enterprise-level supporting role, this could be your one-stop solution. Otherwise it’s complete overkill for basic MySQL administration.

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Search It: Google From Wherever You Are

Sometimes it’s the little things that make your day go more smoothly. One such thing is the cool and elegant freeware utility, Search It.

With Search It installed, when you press a hot key a simple search field pops up (sort of the way the Quicksilver dialog works).

To look something up on the web, instead of moving your mouse pointer to the Dock, finding your browser's icon, clicking on your browser's icon, then mousing to the browser's search field in order to type your search keywords, with Search It you just press a hot key and type in your search topic wherever you happen to be at the time. Different hot keys will search different sites.

Search It’s developer, Jaroslaw Szpilewski, thinks that multistep procedure is a waste of time, and given the literally dozens of times I repeat it in the run of a day, I have to agree. Szpilewski is one of the many hobbyist programmers in the Mac orbit who have created useful tools to streamline their daily work and generously decided to share them with the Mac-using community.

Search It is completely free and requires OS X 10.5.4 or later.

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