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The Difference a Device Makes: How the iPhone Saved Fon
Fon was once a company on the verge of bankruptcy with an unsustainable business model, but a new era of mobile computing ushered in by Apple’s iPhone and the devices that followed have completely turned its fortunes around. How? By jump-starting the demand for Wi-Fi everywhere.

The idea behind Fon is that using the company’s Fonera routers, customers can offer up a small portion of their home internet bandwidth for use with public Wi-Fi spots maintained by the company throughout the world. In exchange for buying a Fonera router and sharing a small fraction of your bandwidth, you get access to Fon’s more than three million worldwide Wi-Fi access points for free, and, once you link your PayPal account, you also make money based on the revenue Fon makes from users buying paid Wi-Fi access via your router’s public hotspot (which the company calls a Fon Spot).

Om mentioned in his piece on the hard truths of Wi-Fi that Fon never anticipated the unique opportunities that the company would glean from the introduction of the iPhone and the connected device revolution it was instrumental in popularizing, but Fon founder Martin Varsavsky went one further, arguing that Fon would not even exist today had it not been for the iPhone, the iPod touch, the iPad, and all the other devices these provided the mold for. “Fon almost went bankrupt until the iPhone came along,” he told me over email.

According to Varsavsky, before the arrival of the iPhone, interest in the Fon model of public Wi-Fi sharing wasn’t sustainable with laptops alone:

So our strategy was failing. We had spent all our funds building our systems and giving Foneras away (through you as well) and there was just not enough interest in Fon. So Fon let go of half of its people, my partners stopped investing. Things were BAD.

Varsavsky believed in the core concept behind Fon so deeply that he wound up funding the company with a personal loan in 2008, determined to stick it out until the company could find its way to profitability. And profitability did come, on the backs of the BT/Fon partnership in the U.K., but more importantly, because the pool of devices that most benefit from available mobile broadband experienced a massive boom. The introduction of iPhones and iPod touches, and later iPads and Android devices, meant that, in Varsavsky’s own words, “Fon became USEFUL.”

The company’s revenues grew from around $5 million in the previous year to about $40 million in 2010, and instead of losing $4 million a year as it did during the worst years, the company started seeing profits of around $4 million in 2010. Varsavsky was able to pay back his loan, and the company looks very strong in 2011, especially now that much of its business comes from selling its routers to mobile network operators in order to help those companies offload 3G traffic. Offloading mobile broadband demand now accounts for much more of Fon’s business than does the consumer side, and cable and fixed operators see Fon as a cheap way to reduce subscriber churn, increase their average revenue per unit and decrease customer acquisition costs, according to Varsavsky. The company’s next move is to gain a major foothold in the U.S. market, something it hopes to achieve thanks to a recent $14 million funding round led by investment fund Atomico.

The impact of the iPhone and devices that followed its example on the Wi-Fi and broadband ecosystem is often explained with charts, figures and graphs, but Fon provides a good look at how it actually affects companies on the ground. The iPhone may not be solely responsible for the sea change when it comes to mobile data usage, but it clearly lead the way and helped galvanize the realization that the future of computing is in the palm of your hand, and companies like Fon couldn’t exist without that realization.
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iTunes 101: Multiple Devices, One iTunes Account
Whether you’re using an old iPhone as a GPS, or one of your children is using an old device as a hand-me-down, you may want to manage multiple iOS devices from one and only one iTunes Account. This includes, but is not limited to, managing a mix of iPads, iPods, iPhones, Apple TVs, MacBooks, etc., all from the same iTunes Account. Here are some things to consider when setting up multiple Apple products with a single iTunes Account.

Account Authorization Limits

You may have noticed that iTunes is limited to authorizing only five computers with each iTunes account. This means that you can only authorize five separate Mac or PC computers or user accounts to playback protected iTunes content or use Home Sharing using a single iTunes Account. For example, if you have created five different user accounts on the same computer, and have authorized iTunes for each user account on that one computer with the same iTunes Account, then you have reached your maximum number of authorizations. This is also true if you have used that one iTunes Account on the same user account on five different computers. Basically, each iTunes Account can authorize up to a maximum of five instances of iTunes. You can deauthorize computers or accounts at any time following the instructions found at Apple’s support website. Luckily, though, once you have iTunes configured with a single iTunes Account, there does not appear to be a limit to the number of iPods, iPhones, and iPads one can sync to a single iTunes library.

Losing Some Apps, Gaining Others After Syncing

If you’re only using one iTunes account across multiple devices, you may notice some strange behavior when you sync your iOS devices: apps seem to disappear and appear at random with each sync. It is likely that each iOS device serves a different purpose, or is even being used by a different person. This leads to each user adding and removing apps that suit their needs and the purpose of the device. What is happening is that apps that were purchased on one device are being lost, while apps purchased on a different devices are being added. This situation is easily remedied by transferring purchases before each sync, and disabling the automatic synchronizing of new apps on each iOS device. The “Automatically Sync New Apps” option in the apps tab of your iOS device info screen in iTunes applies to any app in your iTunes library that has been added to your iTunes library since your last sync. If you are managing several iOS devices from one account, it is a good idea to disable this feature.

Controlling Purchases With One Account

With this configuration each iOS device is capable of making independent purchases. In fact, there are three layers of where the iTunes Account is configured. The first is the iTunes installation you use to sync your device. The second is the iTunes Account configured on the device itself. This is configured in the on-device Settings app under Store (for iTunes Store). In fact, there are several techniques you could use in the way you configure parental controls on each device that can prevent or enable each device from making purchases. These purchasing techniques apply to the iTunes Music, Book and App Store. Changing which iTunes Account is used on the device to be something other than the iTunes Account you sync with may cause problems when the sync operation transfers purchases from the device to the iTunes installation on your Mac or PC as well as the Digital Rights Management (DRM) on the device itself. So plan on using the same iTunes Account on both your computer and your device to avoid those problems.

Syncing Media Files from One iTunes Library

There are two paths you can take with your iOS device. Either manually manage your iTunes Library when syncing, or set up user specific Playlists and sync only those playlists. This feature has been in place for iPods since before the iPhone was ever announced. You may even want to consider creating a separate playlist folder for each iOS device you sync to.

Accessing Media with iTunes Home Sharing

Another layer of iTunes media management has to do with remote playback of your iTunes library, which is accessible on multiple devices via Home Sharing. With the iOS 4.3 update, now all of your iOS devices can access your iTunes Library remotely on the same Wi-Fi network. What is interesting here is that the iTunes Account you set up for Home Sharing does not have to be the same iTunes Account you sync your device to. This is configured in the Settings App under iPod in the Home Sharing section. Unfortunately your iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad cannot add multiple Home Sharing accounts like you can do with the Apple TV. This does get a little confusing if you also use the Remote App from Apple that is capable of configuring multiple iTunes Accounts to access and control other iOS devices like the Apple TV. To access libraries on any device using Home Sharing, you’ll need to leave iTunes open and running somewhere on your local Wi-Fi network.

Conclusion

Managing up to five computers with one iTunes Account and a seemingly unlimited number of iOS devices including the Apple TV is definitely possible. Apple has done a great job by exposing some settings like automatic syncing in iTunes as well as on-device restrictions to help take control of both apps and media on each device individually while still using the same account. Apple is still in the process of refining what you can and can’t do with your iTunes account, so stay tuned for more updates as the company rolls out new software updates.
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Report: BlackBerry Messenger Heading to iPhone April 26
UPDATED. RIM has apparently told BGR that the original basis for this story is a hoax. We’ve yet to hear back from RIM ourselves, but we’ll update once we do. The site still maintains that BBM on iPhone is a possibility in the future.

UPDATE 2: RIM has confirmed with us directly that Balsillie didn’t speak at an event, nor was an event held. The company made no comment regarding BBM on the iPhone or any other platform.

Early this month, BGR reported that RIM was considering opening up its Blackberry Messenger service to other platforms, including iOS and Android. Today, a report claims that RIM co-CEO Jim Balsillie revealed that BBM would indeed be coming to iPhone on April 26, along with “other services.”

The report comes from an attendee at a RIM social media conference held in Toronto on Tuesday, at which Balsillie spoke. Balsillie said that a BBM app would be available through the App Store beginning April 26, and though he mentioned “other services,” no specifics were mentioned. He apparently went on to note that the BBM app would also be updated in the summer to “take advantage of a new ‘notification system’.” A revamped notification system is something many have been looking forward to as a possible part of iOS 5.

There are a couple of things to consider regarding this report. First, would BlackBerry really reveal this at a conference aimed at students? Balsillie is known to be a bit of a maverick, even within the company, so I actually don’t doubt the possibility that he could have genuinely let this news slip. I also heard from a RIM conference (also in Toronto) attendee that the Playbook would lack native email support at launch long before that detail became official, so RIM is not averse to letting the cat out of the bag at these types of events.

Many also suggest that RIM has nothing to gain by opening up BBM to other platforms. On the contrary, RIM has nothing to lose by offering it in other app stores. Now that future Android app support is confirmed for the Playbook, RIM definitely gains by making BBM available to that platform, but even opening up to iPhone makes sense, since all it accomplishes by keeping its own network closed is chasing potential revenue toward competitors like Kik. Users will likely be willing to pay for BBM access, and the service alone isn’t enough to turn the heads of BlackBerry users who seriously want to switch platforms.

What do you think? Will we see BBM go cross-platform April 26? And if it does, are you buying?
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Hack Brings Wireless Video Mirroring to iPad 2
The iPad 2′s new HD mirroring ability is one of the device’s real killer features, in my opinion, but one user found it can be made even more useful by removing the requirement of a tethered cable connection. A MacRumors forum-user figured out a way to mirror the iPad’s screen wirelessly to an HDTV.

The mod definitely requires some technical know-how and a bit of elbow grease, but it doesn’t require the iPad to be jailbroken or cracked open. The forum-user, who uses the handle EGOvoruhk, created the wireless mirroring setup at a client’s request, using Apple’s Digital AV Adapter, a USB battery and an HP Wireless TV Connect device, all packed into a case that just about double’s the iPad 2′s weight. It may sound complicated, but it’s actually simple enough that I can see third-party accessory makers or Apple trying to recreate a production version of the same thing.

Judging by the demo (which you can check out for yourself in the video below), there’s no noticeable lag between input on the iPad and screen response on the external monitor, and video seems to play back very smoothly. In short, it looks like the ultimate way to use your iPad as both remote control and home entertainment center, not only for movies, but also for gaming, presentations and apps, too. It’s perfect for iPad cord cutting, especially since it actually allows you to literally ditch the cord.

All told, EGOvoruhk spent about $275 on the whole build, which isn’t very much considering the components were purchased at Fry’s, a major electronics retail chain in the U.S. That’s good news for consumers, since a dedicated product from a third-party producer or Apple itself should cost less. Honestly, though, I’d be willing to pay quite a bit to get that kind of functionality out of my iPad 2. Maybe we’ll get lucky and Apple will just introduce it as an update to AirPlay’s abilities, making it free.

Anyone brave enough to try this as a DIY build?
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100 Million iPhones Later: What's Next?

After selling 90 million iPhones from 2007 through 2010, an important base-ten milestone has almost certainly passed, the sale of the 100 millionth iPhone. Expect a self-congratulatory press release next month, but now is the time to think about the next 100 million iPhones.

According to NPD (via Fortune), the iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, and the iPhone 3G held the first, second, and 10th positions among mobile phones in the U.S. in 2010. Most of the rest were Android devices. According to Gartner, Android as a platform took second place worldwide among smartphones in 2010, and will almost certainly pass Symbian for first in 2011. Apple and iOS will have to settle for third in 2011, passing RIM’s BlackBerry OS. While the trend toward Android market share dominance will not be reversed, the real concern is whether Apple intends to continue to compete aggressively on hardware anyway. The signals are mixed.

After yearly releases of new iPhones, it’s now rumored that a hardware-free WWDC means no iPhone 5 until fall at the earliest. One argument for such a delay is an LTE iPhone 5, but every month, if not week, there are new Android smartphones to choose from, compared to just the iPhone 4 and the previous year’s iPhone 3GS from Apple. Can anyone imagine there being just one model of iPod? How about one iPod in one color? Nearly a year after the release of the iPhone 4, Apple is still promising (but has yet to deliver) a white iPhone 4.

Another issue related to dearth of iPhone choice, namely carrier exclusivity, still exits, continuing to negatively impact iPhone’s sales. In the U.S., the iPhone is available on Verizon and AT&T, representing approximately two-thirds of mobile subscriptions. That’s the equivalent of not selling the iPhone in all of the southeastern U.S. It’s even worse in a country like China, a major focus of Apple’s future growth. The iPhone is currently available only through China Unicom, which accounts for about 20 percent of wireless subscribers. The iPhone needs a larger presence worldwide now, and a larger-screened iPhone wouldn’t hurt, either.

Looking at the list of top-selling smartphones in the U.S., two of them also have 4-inch displays: the Droid X and the EVO 4G. According to NPD Group, consumer demand for smartphones with large displays grew to 24 percent of the market by the end of 2010, while growth in demand for smartphones with displays the size of the iPhone was flat. While rumors of the iPhone 5 having a larger screen have been inconsistent, the demand for such a device is clearly there .

Another market where there is demand is at the low-end of pricing, and the $100 Android phone (no contract required) is already here. However, the low-end market is at least recognized by Apple for its importance. From Forbes, at a meeting with analysts, COO Tim Cook asserted the company was “not ceding any market,” and that Apple didn’t want its products to be “just for the rich.” That sounds reassuring, but until Apple launches a prepaid iPhone for $200 or $300, it’s just talk.

Apple has had great success with the iPhone, but the current limited design choice, limited carrier options, and limited pricing could take away from that success. More models, more carriers, more price points: That’s the way forward for the second 100 million (and more) iPhones.
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Rocketr Brings Social Notebooks to the iPhone
Groups are “in” when it comes to apps, and a new iPhone app aims to use groups to differentiate its note-taking capabilities. Rocketr (free) is a simple, no-frills, cloud-synced, note-taking web application which just got an official iPhone client. Its most appealing feature, though, is the ability to share notes with a community of editors, and to share notebooks with an even wider audience, too.

In stark contrast to Evernote, which offers a catch-all for a wide variety of inputs, Rocketr sticks to the basics: white on black text. But that’s not to say it’s simple. It has quite a few nifty tricks up its sleeve, not the least of which is automatic syncing with Rocketr’s website, where you can retrieve your notes at any time from any browser-enabled, internet-capable device.

But Rocketr goes beyond other note-taking apps — and even MobileMe’s note-syncing services — by introducing a social element. First, you can add an unlimited number of editors to your notebooks who will also be able to add to and change the content of notes they’re added to. Second, you can make an unlimited number of public notebooks that will be viewable by other Rocketr users, who can comment on (web version only for now), follow and star your notes for later reference. Rocketr provides three free private notebooks, and presumably, the plan is to later add the ability to have more for a price. The Rocketr web app is currently only available as a beta, but you can sign up for an account through the iPhone app without an invite code.

Rocketr also lets you add notes by emailing go@rocketr.com with the email address associated with your account (you can add as many as you like), or by tweeting with the hashtag #rkt (once you connect your Twitter account to your Rocketr account). It’s a simple, yet effective, way of making sure you’ll be able to easily find tweeted thoughts again later on once the moment’s passed, or to quickly file info in a RT for later use.

The iPhone app lets you quickly add new notes without ever having to leave the note-taking view, thanks to a simple add button that quickly files what you’re working on and brings up a fresh composition screen. I can see using the app at conferences as a great way of quickly switching gears during a Q&A, for example.

But Rocketr’s real potential is in its social aspects. The ability to follow and be followed by collaborators as well as others who share your interests opens a whole new world when it comes to the ability to gather and share informal feedback. That could be very handy, for instance, when working with an editor pool to coordinate event coverage. Or when preparing a meal plan and shopping list for an extended family dinner.

Rocketr was developed using a lean startup approach, and it isn’t yet a perfect app (commenting has yet to be introduced, as I mentioned, and you can only create new notebooks using the web interface), but it’s more effective than many other shipping apps that aren’t free, and developers promise lots of updates to come. Evernote might intimidate some with its wealth of features, but Rocketr keeps things light and breezy, almost like the difference between a detailed, time-stamped project log and a pocket-sized moleskin. If you’re looking for a smart, capable note-taking app that never seems like a chore to use and plays nicely with others, give Rocketr a try.
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The 3DS, the iPad, and the Future of Gaming
Nintendo launched its 3DS mobile gaming console in the U.S. on Sunday. While the device didn’t result in the kinds of mass stock outages and lines that the iPad 2 generated, by most accounts, it did pretty well. Nintendo claimed record pre-orders for the device and forecasted shipments of 4 million units through March 31. Recent analyst predictions estimate the 3DS will easily exceed week one sales of the company’s DS from 2004. But despite all that success, the company will never be able to take back the foothold Apple has gained in the gaming market.

The reason? As game developer Olly Farshi so aptly put it when we were discussing the 3DS’ merits, iOS is a platform, and the 3DS is a toy. Toys are something we’re more likely to get bored with, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have their place. It may seem like a dismissive way to characterize a technically impressive new device that successfully brings a 3-D experience to the palm of your hand, but it’s exactly how prospective customers will think about the two when weighing a purchase decision.

That doesn’t mean Nintendo will lose out in every case. Some users are genuinely looking for a toy, not a platform. A parent, for example, might not want her children to have access (even restricted access) to a robust app ecosystem limited only by the decisions of the developers who program for it (and the policies guiding Apple’s app review process). That parent may also be reluctant to hand over an expensive and still quite fragile piece of electronic equipment to a child, which is what the iPhone and iPad are, despite offering competitive price points for their respective markets. Even the iPod touch, while more affordable than the 3DS depending on your storage option, can’t really be described as a “toy” with regard to its construction or design.

Nintendo promises apps, Netflix support and other additional features for the 3DS that could make it more like a platform in the future, but that doesn’t mean it’ll really become one. Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime made that clear when he recently went on record saying his company isn’t interested in working with amateur developers. It’s these devs that made iOS the market-changing platform that it has become, and inspired a legion of copycats.

Does that mean Nintendo isn’t “getting it?” Maybe, but even if it was, it wouldn’t change the fact that iOS has profoundly altered the gaming market, and Nintendo will benefit most from respecting those changes instead of trying to struggle against them. The introduction of 3D to a handheld console was a good start, as it clearly positions the 3DS in the realm of “fun.” No one’s going to want to run project reporting or invoicing apps on a screen that lets figures leap out at them.

The iPad 2 brings a lot of exciting new potential as an Apple gaming machine, thanks to its ability to output to a connected display in full 1080p HD. One title at least is already working to make this happen. But the iPad (and other iOS devices) are everything to everyone. They represent an evolution of the computing model that may replace a gaming device (among other things) for some users, but not for all, just like home computers never occluded the console gaming market. Nintendo may ultimately have to accept that Apple is better at reaching non-traditional gamers than it could ever be, but that doesn’t mean it’s curtains for the gaming company.

Is the 3DS an iPhone or iPad competitor? No, and Nintendo is generally doing a good job of not treating it as such (although promises of apps tend to confuse things). Categories are merely shifting, and there’s bound to be some jockeying for position, but in the end, both platforms and toys will be able to comfortably coexist.
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Will Apple Grow WWDC in the Wake of Sell-Outs?
Whenever an event sells out in record time like the 2011 Worldwide Developer’s Conference just did, one always wonders why event organizers didn’t see this coming and expand as necessary. But when looking to expand an event such as WWDC, there are a number of factors that Apple has to consider before taking that step.

Location: Moscone West in San Francisco

San Francisco’s Moscone Center can certainly accommodate more than the traditional 5,000 attendees normally allotted at WWDC. Apple could decide to make use of the full convention center and take over both the North and South venues as well. But location is not the issue. In fact, if it were, relocating to a location like Las Vegas could potentially accommodate all of Apple’s registered developers (were each to buy a ticket) without issue.

So if keeping things small and confining the conference to just 5,000 attendees is what Apple has determined is key to puling off a successful conference, then perhaps simulcasting to multiple locations or repeating the event in various regions of the world is a better way to deal with increased demand. This makes perfect sense in the entertainment business, where entertainers are looking to maximize time spent in front of fans. But WWDC is not about entertainment, and as much as Apple would like to spend more time with developers, it’s not nearly as easy to do remotely.

Speakers: Apple Engineers

That leaves just one scarce resource as the true reason Apple can’t afford to expand the WWDC to accommodate more developers. The presentations and materials that are showcased at WWDC are of the highest quality (speaking from personal experience). Each presentation is lead by an Apple Engineer. During WWDC 2010, one of the presenters had a live demonstration that started going badly, and the presenter started to choke. Within minutes a second presenter stepped up and took over an alternate demonstration and the topic proceeded on schedule without anyone walking away feeling like they’d missed out on something. In other words, Apple puts the same time and energy in its conference at it does it products, and that becomes much harder to do once you start playing with size.

Conclusion: WWDC 2012 Will Sell Out in Minutes

So long that Apple insists that the speakers at WWDC are all Apple Engineers and other product-related associates, then WWDC will continue to sell out in record time. Pulling off an annual conference of this quality, using the very staff you also depend on for your core business is a very expensive undertaking. The location will likely never change because of its proximity to the very resources (Apple employees) that make the conference a great success. It will also likely never be repeated in different locales, given Apple’s relentless release schedules for its products (taking time out for conferences threatens this schedule). The only opportunity would be to possibly simulcast the event around the world, and such event ever occurring at this scale in multiple locations worldwide would also be difficult and costly to pursue — likely more so than the ultimate reward would merit. So be prepared to be close to an internet connection in 2012, because WWDC ticket sales are likely to break records yet again next year, because Apple isn’t likely to make big changes even in the face of strong demand.

Image courtesy of Flickr user adamjackson1984.
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Vimeo App for iPhone Includes Editing Tools
Video-sharing site Vimeo has finally introduced an official iOS application. The app provides access to Vimeo’s library of online video, but it emphasizes the ability to record, edit and upload your own videos to the service first and foremost. That’s a wise move for a service that has to differentiate itself from clear market leader YouTube, which comes pre-installed on every shipping iOS device.

When you first launch the app, it asks you to sign up for or log in to your Vimeo account, then immediately takes you to the “My Stuff” screen. But the first tab in the app’s bottom navigation bar is “My Videos,” and it allows you to either shoot a new video directly within the app or add an existing one from your iPhone’s library. If you’ve already have uploaded videos to Vimeo, they’ll appear on this screen, too. The second tab along the bottom navigation bar is a Recordings section, which allows you to create video projects using multiple clips, either taken from your library or recorded directly from within the app.

From the Recordings tab, you can combine video clips and use a simple video editor built into the Vimeo app that lets you add simple titles and text to the clip, create transitions and add a soundtrack. It’s a pretty bare-bones editor, but it’s also one that works remarkably well considering it’s not even the primary purpose of the app. It feels like you could do a pretty great job of shooting, editing and publishing simple, impressive short videos, all without ever leaving Vimeo.

Vimeo may have taken its time with releasing this app (Ryan Lawler had the scoop on its planned existence way back in September of last year), but I think the company definitely went the right way by choosing to offer more than just basic access to its web-based content. The app does that, of course — enabling browsing and access to your saved content and account management tools — but it also provides much more. It’s a clear attempt on Vimeo’s behalf to appeal to content creators, and it should provide the site with a slight edge in attracting mobile uploaders.

Of course, as a result of its impressive video creation and editing tools, it also has a limited reach. The Vimeo app is only compatible with the iPhone 3GS and 4, iPod touch (4th gen) and the iPad 2. That leaves a lot of iOS devices out of the loop. It’s a calculated risk on Vimeo’s behalf, since the company clearly prioritizes reaching creators above a casual browsing audience. Given how solid the capture and edit side of the app is, I think it’s a smart move, and one that represents a better long-term investment than just rushing to market with a watered-down, but more generally compatible, product.
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Vimeo iPhone App 7

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WWDC 2011 Sells Out in Less Than One Day
Tickets for Apple’s 2011 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) are already sold out, according to Apple’s website detailing the event. Apple just updated the site, replacing the link to buy tickets (which cost $1500) with a “Sold Out” graphic. Tickets were on sale for only about 11 to 12 hours. By comparison, WWDC 2010 took eight days to sell out entirely.

This is the fourth consecutive year that Apple’s developer-focused event has sold out, and the fastest sell-out on record. Clearly, the introduction and widespread adoption of iOS has had a significantly positive effect on interest in the conference, which offers training sessions, face time with Apple engineers, and previews of software features to come. If anyone needed further proof that iOS continues to be popular among developers, you couldn’t ask for a clearer sign than this.

Apple also typically unveils a new iPhone at WWDC, but there’s some question as to whether it will continue that tradition this year. Apple will definitely be showing off its next-generation version of Mac OS X, version 10.7 (also known as Lion), so that may account for some of the additional anticipation around the event. Did you get your tickets while they were available, and if not, are you disappointed they went so quickly?
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Create Simple Diagrams With Shapes for Mac
I occasionally need to draw diagrams or flow charts in my web-development business, and something like Omnigraffle or Visio for Windows, good as they are, can really be more than I need. Even the web-based drawing tools in Google Apps or Project Draw may be too much.

So I was intrigued by Shapes, a simple diagramming app for Snow Leopard. Shapes has been created by prolific developer Todd Ditchendorf, who is perhaps best-known for Fluid, the system that lets users turn websites into desktop apps.

Shapes’ interface is pretty simple. Just drag a desired shape from the palette on the left and drop it onto the page; it can be resized and moved to suit. Colors, fonts, borders and other attributes can be controlled by changing variables in the inspection panel on the right. Shapes can be turned on and off from the outline panel, lined up vertically or horizontally, grouped, and made to move to the foreground or background.

The software includes a reasonable, if fairly small, collection of shapes. It also includes the ability to insert image files and text into the drawing, and a line tool. For those used to other drawing programs, though, the line tool may be a disappointment, as there is no way of attaching lines to other shapes. The developer says this function is in the works.

Files are saved in the proprietary .shapes format, but can be exported as images (.jpg, .gif, .png, .tiff) and as PDFs. Shapes is available for $4.99 in the Mac App Store and from the developer’s website. A trial version is also available from the website.

Shapes doesn’t yet offer all the features of a full-blown diagramming program, but its simple interface and ease of use may be appropriate for some people’s more modest needs.
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Fresh Apple

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

GigaOMApple (11 сообщений)

Account Authorization Limits

Losing Some Apps, Gaining Others After Syncing

Controlling Purchases With One Account

Syncing Media Files from One iTunes Library

Accessing Media with iTunes Home Sharing

Conclusion

Location: Moscone West in San Francisco

Speakers: Apple Engineers

Conclusion: WWDC 2012 Will Sell Out in Minutes

Vimeo iPhone App 7

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