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- Home security on your iPhone
Filed under: Software, Cool tools, Internet Tools, iPhone
We all know how the iPhone can secure itself, but you can get it to secure your entire house as well.
A while back, I briefly toyed with the idea of going without a landline. It's an alluring prospect, and strikes me as satisfyingly post-modern. But one thing held me back: my home security system, which relied on a landline to connect it to central monitoring. So even though I went through a brief affair with Vonage until Verizon FiOS Triple Play pulled me back in, I had to keep a limited line connected to the house for our security system.
I tried to get rid of it. Oh, how I tried. But until recently, retrofitting the system to go cellular, or swap it out with a more modern system using (for example) a secure cellular connection, always cost more than it was worth. Then our home security monitoring contract price went way up and all of a sudden, the price difference between retrofitting and acquiring a new system went down. That made getting the new system worthwhile.
I went about trying to find a security system that would give me the flexibility I needed, as well as the knowledge that I wasn't compromising home security. I already ran a small security program in the house to run a video baby monitor, but for the whole house, I needed some kind of central monitoring. Enter Alarm.com.
A while back, I briefly toyed with the idea of going without a landline. It's an alluring prospect, and strikes me as satisfyingly post-modern. But one thing held me back: my home security system, which relied on a landline to connect it to central monitoring. So even though I went through a brief affair with Vonage until Verizon FiOS Triple Play pulled me back in, I had to keep a limited line connected to the house for our security system.
I tried to get rid of it. Oh, how I tried. But until recently, retrofitting the system to go cellular, or swap it out with a more modern system using (for example) a secure cellular connection, always cost more than it was worth. Then our home security monitoring contract price went way up and all of a sudden, the price difference between retrofitting and acquiring a new system went down. That made getting the new system worthwhile.
I went about trying to find a security system that would give me the flexibility I needed, as well as the knowledge that I wasn't compromising home security. I already ran a small security program in the house to run a video baby monitor, but for the whole house, I needed some kind of central monitoring. Enter Alarm.com.TUAWHome security on your iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 24 Jan 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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iPhone - Vonage - Apple - TUAW - Verizon FiOS
Переслать - Happy 26th Birthday, Mac!
Filed under: Odds and ends, Apple History
Despite all odds, the Mac has survived to its 26th birthday.
On January 24th, 1984, Steve Jobs pulled a 128K Mac out of its case in front of a crowd of reporters, turned it on, and let the computer introduce itself to the world. The rest, as they say, is history.
We've seen our favorite computer go from an awkward infancy, to almost dying in its teens, and now being a profitable prodigy in adulthood.
It has spawned a popular family of siblings, from the iPod series of media players to the iPhone. Somehow, it's fitting that we may see the birth of the newest member of the family later this week.
Watching the "Story of Macintosh" video in the past few weeks has introduced the young minds behind the first Mac to most of the current generation. For those of us who are a bit older, the video served as a reminder of the brash individuals who created a computer that still speaks to those who "Think Different."
Here's hoping that the Mac and all of its family may live a long and fruitful life.TUAWHappy 26th Birthday, Mac! originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 24 Jan 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - The MacView: An incredibly well-done concept tablet
Filed under: Odds and ends, Graphic Design
Here at TUAW, we've been treated to so many concept drawings and fake photoshopped tablets over the past several months that we've become somewhat jaded about them. However, Polish designer Patrycjucz Brzezinski's concept for an Apple tablet, named the MacView, is so well done that it deserves mention. The MacView was developed as a diploma project for Brzezinski, and if the work shown on various Web sites is any indication, he may go far in his career as a designer.
The concept of the MacView is different: rather than a single slab of aluminum and glass that looks like a large iPhone, Brzezinski has a "slider" design made out of carbon fiber materials. The MacView can be used as simply a tablet, or the slider section -- which is also a display -- can turn into a nook-like sub-display showing a Cover Flow view of files or songs, or into a full-sized virtual keyboard when pulled out a bit further.
Brzezinski's vision doesn't stop at the design of the device. He's also created an iMac-like dock for the MacView into which the device can be placed to turn it into a full desktop machine. He even designed packaging for the MacView.
The Pineapple Blog has many of the concept drawings with English translations, and you can see the full portfolio over at The Behance Network.
Thanks to Wojtek for the tip!TUAWThe MacView: An incredibly well-done concept tablet originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 24 Jan 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Found footage: Jailbreak BTstack support extended to 1st gen iPod touch
Filed under: iPod Family, Cool tools, Hacks, iPhone, Jailbreak/pwnage
The BTstack project that we've covered before on TUAW, offers a way for iPhone and iPod touch units to communicate with arbitrary external Bluetooth devices. To date, it's been used to connect keyboards, mice, and wiimotes with iPhone software.
This system has now been extended to the first generation iPod touch, bringing all six iPhoneOS models into the Bluetooth arena. Since the 1st gen touch does not provide its own built-in system, it requires an external module. This video uses the dongle described at this blog post to demonstrate the keyboard connection functionality.
Although the 1st generation touch is an increasingly deprecated system, it's nice to know that it hasn't been left out of the Bluetooth picture. Old touch units make excellent hobbyist systems. When jailbroken, access to a full suite of Unix tools offers a budget-priced platform with great prototyping potential. With this new Bluetooth stack support, the 1st gen touch has just become an even more exciting system for projects like remote monitoring.TUAWFound footage: Jailbreak BTstack support extended to 1st gen iPod touch originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 24 Jan 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Dear Apple: What we want to see in iPhone 4.0, part 3
Filed under: iPhone
This is the third in a series of letters from you, the TUAW reader, to Apple detailing what you want to see in the next iPhone. In the first letter, you told Apple what you want to from the next OS. In the second, you told them what you'd love in the next hardware. This final letter is all about Apple's built-in apps and how you think they can be improved.
Even with rumors swirling that iPhone OS 4.0 will be previewed on Wednesday (along with some tablet thingy), chances are the OS won't be finalized until early summer, so there's still plenty of time for Apple to take your suggestions.In past letters I broke down what readers requested by percentages. Because of the sheer number of requests for app improvements, in this letter I just compiled feature requests by app. So, without further ado, here is your letter to Apple:
Dear Apple,
Who know what you have up your sleeves for Wednesday. Is it "only" a tablet, or will you be showing us a peak at the next iPhone OS? If so, here is some of what we hope to see:
CALCULATOR: Yeah, what more can we really need, right? We've got one suggestion for you: some think graphing options ala Grapher app for Mac OS X would be nice.
CALENDAR: Out of all the Apple-branded iPhone apps, this one (along with Mail) is one that can use the most work. Our wants:
o. Landscape calendar.
o. Week view.
o. Selectable calendar display. Right now, you can either view one calendar, or all the calendars. If we have 4 calendars synced, we would like the ability to display contents from either one, two, three or all of the calendars.
o. Tasks support!
o. A way to set the "normal" day hours like in iCal...those hours when we're usually asleep or "off duty" can then be dimmed.
o. The ability to dial phone numbers or add attendees from inside Calendar.
o. Birthday calendar sync.
o. "Go to specific date" button. Pressing backward/forward to view past/future events is somewhat tedious.
o. In Month view, double-tapping on a day will allow us to edit/add events on that day. Likewise, a double tap on empty space in the Day view will add an event in that specific time. The Event Name and Location entry field will then automatically open.
o. Alarm/badge reminders option for events. In fact, we'd like better notification options on the home screen overall.
CAMERA: Most of us think the software here is pretty solid, but we would like to see a few things:
o. A "self-portrait" mode that turns the whole screen into a button for easier shutter access.
o. Timer mode.
o. Image controls: White balance, scene modes, etc.
o. Digital zoom.
o. A movable shutter button. In its current, fixed position it's awkward for people with bigger hands. What would be awesome is if the user could drag the button around and position it where it works best for him or her (kind of like how you can drag toolbar icons around in apps).
CLOCK:
o. Give us the ability to play a song or entire playlist as the alarm tone.
o. As you'll see in other app suggestions, we love dynamic icons (like iCal's, where it displays the day and date). Show the actual time on the clock icon.
o. And please, let us set the length of the snooze alarm.
COMPASS: Some of us feel this app is kind of pointless. Many think it should be integrated into the Maps app (see below). Other believe it could become a very powerful travel tool. Image you are wandering around a foreign city. You've designated a certain corner of a street as "the meeting place." Your group splits up, but because you've hit a "remember location" button in the Compass app, you can easily navigate your way back. This is especially useful for smaller cities... if many streets aren't sign-posted it makes Maps much more difficult to use.
An improved Compass app would also help us find where we've parked our car in that mall parking garage (there the Maps app can't help at all). This can be done offline (without using Google Maps) only with the compass and the GPS, or online (using Google maps, compass and the GPS).
CONTACTS:
o. Coverflow landscape view. We could swipe through our beautiful friends and tap their pictures to call.
o. Social network integration to grab latest contact details & pics from networks such as Facebook, Flickr, Myspace, and LinkedIn.
o. Ability to create groups on the iPhone.
o. Thumbnail pictures next to the names in the contacts menu.
iPod: We covered our wishes to be able to turn off landscape mode system-wide in the first letter, but we'll repeat it here (because it's annoying to have landscape mode pop on and off while we're jogging). Here's what else we think can make the iPod app better:
o. Sort songs in a playlist by name, artists, album, and date added.
o. Ability to erase single songs.
o. Using the Remote app is a much more pleasant experience than using the iPod app. Why? Because of the playlist icons. Please duplicate that here.
o. Does shuffle ever seem not quite random enough to you? It does to us.
o. Voice control improvement. "play/pause", "back", and "next."
o. The ability to edit playlists.
MAIL: Like Calendar, we feel Mail can use a lot of improvement. So here goes:
o. Unified inbox! We aren't the first to mention this, and quite frankly we'll be shocked if this isn't in the next version.
o. Junk mail filtering.
o. Rules! It's annoying to see fifty messages in your iPhone inbox when, if we were at our Macs, we would see forty-five of those already separated into their rule folders.
o. Multiple signatures, because we have some prettyannoyingwitty quotes we want to share with some people.
o. Ability to create a to-do from a message.
o. Ability to flag a message.
o. Let us bounce a message back.
o. UI tweak: When composing an email the cancel button should change to say "close" once the user has entered information. Right now, you have to remember that hitting "cancel" is going to prompt you to save. Simple change for a poor UI word choice.
o. There needs to be a way to switch from inbox to inbox without going back up the chain. The standard iPhone UI black buttons representing different inboxes at the bottom of the screen could do this.
MAPS:
o. Integration with our Google Map profiles, My Maps, etc...
o. Turn-by-turn GPS!
o. Add a mini compass in the corner of the app (thus perhaps eliminating the need for the current Compass app?).
o. Save maps directly to the iPhone so when we're out of cell and Wi-Fi range, we can still use the map we saved.
o. Landscape mode.
o. The ability to save routes.
o. The ability to export routes to email.
o. Street view with augmented reality option.
MESSAGES:
o. Group Texting. Sure it's nice to type out a name and add them, but when we want to text a group of people, we don't want to have to pick them one at a time.... we want to either be able to select a WHOLE contact "group", or select them as we scroll through.
o. Give us different vibration settings for different types of messages. For example, two pulses means new text; one new email; a long beat means voicemail. Something like this would be helpful for when the phone is in our pocket during a meeting or while driving.
o. Quick reply texts! (see video above)
o. The ability to save sound clips we receive.
o. New colors for the SMS boxes during chat.
o. Delivery reports.
o. Add character count to SMS edit box.
NOTES:
o. Let us choose the font and font size!
o. MobileMe sync! It's a pain to have to plug in via USB for them to sync.
o. Sorting options (date, tags, alphabetically).
o. Check boxes so we can use it for grocery lists, etc.
o. Voice recording in directly in notes.
PHONE: Yeah, some of us actually use our iPhones to make calls. We'd like:
o. The ability to forward voicemail.
o. The ability to delete one call entry at a time in our recent call log. This potentially could save you from issues with the significant other.
o. Ability to display contact pics added via Address Book in full screen, during an incoming call.
PHOTOS:
o. Ability to arrange photos into albums. Add passcode lock to albums that have sensitive photos.
o. Faces & places view.
o. Create email-able post cards.
o. Sorting options (date, faces, tags, places, albums).
o. Basic editing (cropping, etc).
SAFARI:
o. In Safari, when several pages are open, when you switch to one of the pages it reloads automatically rather than showing the cached version. This is slow and consumes more battery. Please give us a choice of turning this off.
o. It would be great to have the ability to view MobileMe webmail via Safari for those times when a fellow Machead wants to check his email on our iPhone.
o. Top Sites! It would free up home screen space if we could have easy visual access to our favorite sites directly in Safari.
o. Private browsing.
o. Search directly in a web page.
STOCKS:
o. Again, a dynamic icon would be cool. It could change according to a user-selectable market or particular stock. Green badge up, red badge down.
VOICE MEMOS:
o. Let a single click of the headphone's handsfree button be "pause recording" and a double click be "start recording." Also, there is currently no way to resume a recording if the screen is locked.
WEATHER: One of the only iPhone apps that's not been updated since iPhone OS 1.0! Here's what to do:
o. More than any other, this app needs a dynamic icon.
o. Turn the app to landscape mode to see an hourly breakdown of the weather.
o. Add a current location screen to the app, utilizing GPS, so no matter where we are instead of rolling down the window and sticking our hand out, we can reach into our pockets to see if it's raining.
YOUTUBE:
o. Ability to play our YouTube playlists.
o. Allow commenting on videos from inside the app.
o. Enable search for peoples' channels.
So there you have it, Apple: three long letters about what we would love to see in the next iPhone and its OS. We know you're listening, and even though we know you would never admit to being influenced by this feedback, the people have spoken and we think you'll agree some of the ideas are pretty darn good. Whether you take them or leave them is up to you. Just know that despite our myriad suggestions, one thing is still certain on our end: we love our iPhones and we can't wait to see what the next version brings!
Sincerely,
The loyal readers and iPhone owners of TUAW.
TUAW Readers: Thank you so much for your contributions. In total, I received over 3200 emails from you. I included as many of your suggestions as time, space, and feasibility allowed. If you guys want to see any of the lesser-suggested ideas that didn't make it into the letters, let me know in the comments and perhaps I'll compile them in a follow-up article!
Maps and Notes mockup by reader Michael W.TUAWDear Apple: What we want to see in iPhone 4.0, part 3 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 24 Jan 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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