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- TAB Welcomes: Geoffrey L. Goetz
Geoffrey L. Goetz
An overwhelming feeling of “Jamais Vu” is how I would best describe the experience of re-entering both the mobile as well as the development scenes since the advent of Apple’s iPhone SDK. Ground breaking new technology, ever-expanding features and capabilities in each new SDK. Innovative and hip company in Silicon Valley calling all the shots. And like a moth to a flame I just have to be there no matter what. Writing about it, speaking about it, teaching, mentoring, and building solutions with it.
That was me in a nutshell back in 1997 when Java took off and Borland was the hip company in Silicon Valley (actually Scott’s Valley, on the other side of the mountain, but close enough) that I could not help but fall in love with. Everything then feels like everything now, and is best described in Geoffrey Moore’s Crossing the Chasm.
I may have cut my teeth on a Commodore in grade school, but Apple has been the dominate computing platform throughout my education. Upon entering the corporate world, it was all Mainframe, Unix, Microsoft and even OS/2. Then with Java and the JBuilder IDE from Borland, I slowly started to re-enter the Apple platform professionally. I now live in a completely Mac household, work day in and day out solely on Macs, developing applications for the iPhone and other mobile platforms.
At home, I fancy myself an amateur photographer with a decent array of prosumer Canon products. I take on average 25K photos annually and spend a good amount of time organizing, printing and getting creative with the image library I have managed to create. The subjects in the majority of the photos I take are my two children, who are also growing up Mac. My now six-year-old received her first iMac at the age of three, and my two-year old is perfectly at home watching his favorite YouTube videos of trains and race cars on either the iPhone or iPad.
So what has changed? Why are things different now compared to then? I wish I knew exactly, it just feels very different somehow. Hopefully blogging about it will help me figure it out.
Переслать - iPhone 4G Rumor Mill Heats Up With Photos, Corroboration
Recently, photos of what many thought was the next iPhone surfaced, only to then be discredited as actually being pictures of a Japanese knock-off device. It’s beginning to look like whoever was trying to discredit that photo was actually just trying to cover up the truth, according to mounting evidence.
That evidence takes multiple forms, the first being photographic proof an Engadget editor spotted in a much earlier, and much more reliable image. The picture in question was the one that surfaced just prior to the unveiling of the iPad, which seemed to show that device in a protective or pre-production case. It ended up being an accurate representation of what the iPad would look like, leading many to believe the photo came from inside Apple’s hardware testing labs.The photo not only shows the pre-release iPad, the editor noted, but also a device which looks exactly like the supposed prototype iPhone 4G that was supposedly just a Japanese knock-off. Without context, the device in the image could be anything, but in light of the new photos, it seems a pretty strong indicator that at least some of Apple’s iPhone 4G designs resemble the new, boxier style found in the latest pictures.
Engadget has also received word from a source (who remains nameless, as per usual), that it is indeed the next iteration of the iPhone, and that the device will boast a number of improvements, from a higher resolution screen and camera with flash, to a front-facing camera and a shift to the new MicroSIM card standard Apple is using with the 3G version of the iPad.
On top of that, Chinese site WeiPhone recently posted a new series of images that purport to be the insides of the newest iPhone incarnation. The images definitely agree with what is known about the next iPhone, and even included the flat side bezel we’ve seen in the photos leaked last week.
Perhaps the most interesting thing about the new prototype Engadget’s found is the reported glass backing for the device. John Gruber of Daring Fireball thinks this is in fact true, since he’s not only heard it from multiple sources, but he’s also dug up a patent application for high-durability ceramic enclosures that would avoid the pitfalls of having an all-glass device, while allowing for unprecedented radio signal transparency. That would go a long way to resolving some of the signal issues many iPhone owners complain about.
If these rumors are true, the iPhone is shaping up to be much more than an incremental improvement on the previous version. In fact, I’m getting much more excited about the iPhone 4G than I am about the iPad, which, thanks to delays internationally and at home, I may never get my hands on anyway.
Переслать - iPadDevCamp: The Future of iPad Apps
It’s Saturday morning at the eBay/PayPal headquarters, and developers are busy preparing for the second day of iPad development at the first official iPadDevCamp (brought to us by the same people who previously organized three iPhoneDevCamp events). The coffee is brewed and the bagels are served. Teams were formed last night but there’s still a few people walking around comparing skill sets and looking for a team to join. Of course there are iPads everywhere being held up by business card holders and other random homemade contraptions.
Developers have flown in from Argentina, China, Germany, Sweden, England and Canada. The goal is to meet new people on Friday night and by Sunday, have an awesome app. A hackathon. The best apps receive various prizes, from iPads to keyboards to cases.
In addition to being heads down for several days, focused on this exciting new platform, there are talks about marketing your apps, integrating PayPal, placing advertisements, Objective-C lessons and other presentations from well-known players in Silicon Valley.
Developers and Their Apps
I sat down with Dan Grover, the creator of ShoveBox, to discuss his latest project: Etude. It’s a sheet music app that looks beautiful on the iPad (although it’s only available for the iPhone right now). Imagine propping up your iPad on your piano and playing along with famous compositions. Below is an example piece of music.
I also discussed Audiotorium with Michael Emmons, a former Symbian developer who recently left that platform for iPhone OS. Audiotorium is both a recording and note-taking app that is perfect for college students and working professionals. Instead of carrying around a laptop that’s arguably overkill for lectures and meetings, you use an iPad to make sure you capture everything.
Music Creation
Now this is cool. Rana Sobhany uses two iPads as a DJ setup. Her blog about the experience and its progress is called Destroy the Silence.
The Results
Here’s a list of many of the apps presented Sunday afternoon after a rough two nights. Somehow these magicians were able to produce functioning apps that appear to be ready for App Store submission. However, many are still in the development phase on Github, or are now open source for anyone to download and try.
Relay — This app will be truly amazing when completed. The demo received a huge applause. Users can drag web sites, text, and music to and from the iPad and computer. Music seamlessly stops playing on one device and continues on the other. Web sites you’re currently reading instantly load on the other device. This app won the “Most Useful” award.
PAD — Personal Armour Defense — A mobile security system. Users set up wireless sensors (smoke, motion, etc.) in a hotel room, campsite,- or home to ensure protection. The system can be armed or disarmed using RFID. PAD received the “Most Alarming” award.
iPad Slot Machine — Another huge applause generator. One person throws an iPhone as the slot machine’s lever, and three iPads show the spinning objects. iPad Slot Machine received the “Coolest App” award and is pictured below.
iuiPad — Extending the iUI web development framework to support the iPad. This won the “Best Web App” award.
Shopkeep — Mine your email to find online purchases and track packages.
Melena21 — Finally an app looking towards helping people with special needs. Children can touch large images to indicate what they need or want. This app won the “Accessibility App” award.
Airhawk — Air Hockey on the iPad. This app won the “Most Monetizable” award because of its in-app purchases and use of ads.
iPad Boombox — A full screen MP3 player that looks and behaves like an old-school boombox. This won the “Retro” award.
Tank or Die — Use iPhones to control tanks on an iPad. This won the “Best Game” award.
iConessionStand — Users can order food and drinks at a sporting event right from their seats. This won the “Best Use of PayPal API” award.
Переслать - iPad 3G Available On May 7
Apple has announced that the 3G model of the iPad will be made available on May 7.News of the launch comes following an update to the Apple online store, which finally details the U.S. availability of the 3G capable device. Of course, the listed release date applies only to the U.S. and does not involve the unfortunate delayed international launch.
For those interested in the 3G model of Apple’s tablet, it starts at $629 for a 16GB device, with the top-of-the-line 64GB model coming in at $829. However those who do choose to plump for the 3G device, just like our very own Patrick Hunt, will have to sign up for an AT&T data plan. AT&T is currently offering 3G iPad owners two contract-free options — $14.99 a month for 250MB, and an unlimited plan for $30 per month.
When the iPad does eventually launch internationally this coming May it is hoped that both the Wi-Fi and 3G capable models will be available from day one, and many European carriers have already announced intentions to carry Apple’s device.
Interestingly Apple’s website lists the shipping date as “by May 7th,” hinting that for those who have already ordered there device could be sent out a few days before.
So if you live outside the U.S. the wait for the iPad continues. But for those within the U.S., the wait for the 3G is now only a few weeks away, unless you’re Steve Wozniak that is.
Related GigaOM Pro Research: Forecast: Tablet App Sales To Hit $8B by 2015
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