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iPhone 3.0: More hits than misses
A gaggle of tech journalists, analysts, and developers crowded into an auditorium at Apple's headquarters on Tuesday to hear the details of iPhone 3.0. As Scott Forstall, Apple's head of iPhone software development, promised, the update is a major one with a host of sorely needed features for application developers and consumers.
In all, Apple promises 100 new features with iPhone 3.0, including multimedia messaging and a landscape keyboard. Although Apple did not reveal all 100 additions on Tuesday--which leads me to wonder just what they'll count as a new feature (perhaps cut, copy, and paste will count as three)--the highlights were worth the trip to Cupertino, Calif.
Yes, a few hoped-for features are still missing, but iPhone 3.0 is more about what we got than what we didn't. Apple will release the update this summer. It will be free for iPhone 3G and iPhone Classic users, but iPod Touch users will pay $9.95.
What we got
Multimedia messaging
At long last, we have it. We figured that it was coming so it was at the top of our iPhone 3.0 Wish List. Yet I feel a little weird getting so excited about such a basic feature that almost every other cell phone has.
Also, it's very disappointing that iPhone Classic owners will not get MMS, even if they upgrade. Apparently, the original iPhone lacks the necessary radio to make MMS work. That, of course, leads me to the very pertinent question: why?
Landscape keyboard
Another feature that's long overdue. In addition to the Safari browser, it now can be used in any application, including e-mail. Hallelujah.
Cut, copy, and paste
( Read more )
In all, Apple promises 100 new features with iPhone 3.0, including multimedia messaging and a landscape keyboard. Although Apple did not reveal all 100 additions on Tuesday--which leads me to wonder just what they'll count as a new feature (perhaps cut, copy, and paste will count as three)--the highlights were worth the trip to Cupertino, Calif.Yes, a few hoped-for features are still missing, but iPhone 3.0 is more about what we got than what we didn't. Apple will release the update this summer. It will be free for iPhone 3G and iPhone Classic users, but iPod Touch users will pay $9.95.
What we got
Multimedia messaging
At long last, we have it. We figured that it was coming so it was at the top of our iPhone 3.0 Wish List. Yet I feel a little weird getting so excited about such a basic feature that almost every other cell phone has.
Also, it's very disappointing that iPhone Classic owners will not get MMS, even if they upgrade. Apparently, the original iPhone lacks the necessary radio to make MMS work. That, of course, leads me to the very pertinent question: why?
Landscape keyboard
Another feature that's long overdue. In addition to the Safari browser, it now can be used in any application, including e-mail. Hallelujah.
Cut, copy, and paste
( Read more )
Five Reasons Apple Should Open The iPhone
You know, BusinessWeek asked me about Apple potentially open sourcing the iPhone over a year ago. Since then: nothing out of Apple, despite mounting pressure from projects like Android that are vying for Apple’s throne. With Christmas only days away, I’ve only got one thing I want to ask Santa Jobs for, and it ain’t a Red Rider BB Gun.
All I want from Apple is a more open platform. Sure, the odds are slim as long as they remain dominant. That’s why I’m not asking them to completely open source the iPhone. I’m just asking them to crack the door and let the breeze in.
It’s Good for Devvies, Non-devvies, and Apps Alike
Open source is becoming the default way to develop software in many industries. Why? Because a properly-managed, open environment leads to targeted, robust features and helps developers share code in a healthy coop-tition that helps everybody in the iPhone ecosystem.
Developers love working faster, cheaper, and more effectively. More importantly, many folks that aren’t traditional developers are starting to develop apps for platforms like the iPhone. He who satiates that audience wins the war.
( Read more )
All I want from Apple is a more open platform. Sure, the odds are slim as long as they remain dominant. That’s why I’m not asking them to completely open source the iPhone. I’m just asking them to crack the door and let the breeze in.
It’s Good for Devvies, Non-devvies, and Apps Alike
Open source is becoming the default way to develop software in many industries. Why? Because a properly-managed, open environment leads to targeted, robust features and helps developers share code in a healthy coop-tition that helps everybody in the iPhone ecosystem.
Developers love working faster, cheaper, and more effectively. More importantly, many folks that aren’t traditional developers are starting to develop apps for platforms like the iPhone. He who satiates that audience wins the war.
( Read more )
Finally, iPhone 3.0 to get MMS and copy&paste?
Apple have announced a special event on March 17th, where the company will launch the iPhone OS 3.0 Software. As usual, it has triggered a lot of speculation about what might be coming in the new release.
Mac Rumors cited Boy Genius Report that claims to have heard two most-awaited features: MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) and tethering:
MMS would finally offer iPhone users the ability to send photos by way of SMS, and tethering would allow you to share your iPhone’s internet connection with your laptop computer. An alleged Steve Jobs email even confirmed that Apple had been working on a thethering solution, so it certainly seems feasible. BoyGeniusReport’s record, however, has been spotty, so we can’t be entirely confident of the report.
Mac Rumors also mentioned:
…a better app-managing SpringBoard (with categories?), a solution to “push” notifications (background tasks?), and, yes… even copy and paste…
Will 3.0 OS be available for the iPhone 3G? I hope so.
Mac Rumors cited Boy Genius Report that claims to have heard two most-awaited features: MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) and tethering:
MMS would finally offer iPhone users the ability to send photos by way of SMS, and tethering would allow you to share your iPhone’s internet connection with your laptop computer. An alleged Steve Jobs email even confirmed that Apple had been working on a thethering solution, so it certainly seems feasible. BoyGeniusReport’s record, however, has been spotty, so we can’t be entirely confident of the report.
Mac Rumors also mentioned:
…a better app-managing SpringBoard (with categories?), a solution to “push” notifications (background tasks?), and, yes… even copy and paste…
Will 3.0 OS be available for the iPhone 3G? I hope so.
Swedes bring MMS to the iPhone
Swedish company Mobispine has launched iSendMMS, an application that lets iPhone users send MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) messages, it said on Friday on the company blog.
The application is available via AppStore and costs 49 Swedish kronor (US$5.70). Users will also have to pay the operator MMS tariff for each sent message.
Currently, the application only works in Sweden for users with a SIM card from TeliaSonera, the operator that sells the iPhone. But Mobispine is looking to make it available in other countries, according to Joakim Hilj, corporate vice president of sales at Mobispine.
The company has been in discussions with other operators since November, when the application was ready. Since then it has been working on the long process of getting the application approved by Apple, Hilj said. Receiving Apple's approval will open the door for a launch in other countries, according to Hilj, who isn't ready to say when that will happen.
ISendMMS only supports the sending of MMS messages, but the plan is to also add support for receiving messages, according to Hilj. For that to be possible the Mobispine platform has to be connected with the operator's existing MMS equipment, and it would also makes sense to use the Apple notification API (application programming interface) when released, he said in the company blog.
Mobispine isn't a newcomer in the messaging market. It currently sells software to operators that let users send SMS (Short Message Service) and MMS messages from a PC. Mobispine says it has 25 operators using the platform, including O2 and Vodafone.
The application is available via AppStore and costs 49 Swedish kronor (US$5.70). Users will also have to pay the operator MMS tariff for each sent message.
Currently, the application only works in Sweden for users with a SIM card from TeliaSonera, the operator that sells the iPhone. But Mobispine is looking to make it available in other countries, according to Joakim Hilj, corporate vice president of sales at Mobispine.
The company has been in discussions with other operators since November, when the application was ready. Since then it has been working on the long process of getting the application approved by Apple, Hilj said. Receiving Apple's approval will open the door for a launch in other countries, according to Hilj, who isn't ready to say when that will happen.
ISendMMS only supports the sending of MMS messages, but the plan is to also add support for receiving messages, according to Hilj. For that to be possible the Mobispine platform has to be connected with the operator's existing MMS equipment, and it would also makes sense to use the Apple notification API (application programming interface) when released, he said in the company blog.
Mobispine isn't a newcomer in the messaging market. It currently sells software to operators that let users send SMS (Short Message Service) and MMS messages from a PC. Mobispine says it has 25 operators using the platform, including O2 and Vodafone.
Open source Mono framework brings C# to iPhone and Wii
Mono, an open source implementation of .NET runtime, is bringing Microsoft's development technologies to some unexpected places, including the iPhone, Android, and the Wii.
According to Novell's lead Mono developer, Miguel de Icaza, several applications in Apple's App Store are powered by Mono. This might come as a bit of a surprise to those familiar with Apple's highly restrictive application inclusion policies, because the company strictly prohibits developers from using interpreted languages and third-party runtime environments—a constraint that largely rules out technologies like .NET and Java.
Static compilation is the special sauce that makes it possible for Mono to run on the iPhone. Mono allows developers to use ahead-of-time (AOT) compilation, which converts .NET's common intermediate language (CIL) directly to native code at compile time. This means that the application doesn't have to use just-in-time (JIT) compilation to generate the native code at runtime.
( Read more )
According to Novell's lead Mono developer, Miguel de Icaza, several applications in Apple's App Store are powered by Mono. This might come as a bit of a surprise to those familiar with Apple's highly restrictive application inclusion policies, because the company strictly prohibits developers from using interpreted languages and third-party runtime environments—a constraint that largely rules out technologies like .NET and Java.
Static compilation is the special sauce that makes it possible for Mono to run on the iPhone. Mono allows developers to use ahead-of-time (AOT) compilation, which converts .NET's common intermediate language (CIL) directly to native code at compile time. This means that the application doesn't have to use just-in-time (JIT) compilation to generate the native code at runtime.
( Read more )