Periodic Ramblings

Recently I have replaced my Android HTC Aria with an iPhone 4s.  For me, this was actually a homecoming, as I had the iPhone 3G prior to going the Android way.  There are a number of reasons that I returned to the iPhone.  Some programs that I needed for work were only available on the iPhone, the interface is less fragmented and I am a self diagnosed fanboy.

One of the things that I had learned to enjoy on the Andorid was that I could instantly listen to music I purchased on Amazon instead of waiting until I imported it into iTunes.  This was missed as I had a while back started buying most of my music via Amazon as opposed to Apple.   I needed to find a solution that was effective and hassle free.  Enter iTunes Match and Logmein.

I have a computer in my home office that I have installed Logmein on for remote access.  I am able to get to this computer from anywhere.  So, when I buy music, I make sure that I download it initially on the home computer, which imports into iTunes and then matches in iTunes cloud, which I can then access on my new iPhone.

While this is not as elegant of a solution as I would like, it does allow me to purchase music through Amazon and still have it relatively easily on my iPhone without syncing to a computer.

Ever sit there in your car on the way to work and wonder what the road ahead may bring?  Overhead highway signs will usually give you a time, but not necessarily what is ahead.  What if fellow drivers could tell you what is going on?

Well, that is exactly what Waze offers to do.  It is a social mobile application that provides turn-by-turn navigation based off of live conditions on the road.  When you enter in your destination, it uses data from other Waze users to provide you the quickest and most hassle-free route.

Right now the mobile application is available for a few type of phones, such as the iPhone (what I have) and the Android.  You leave the iPhone application on while you drive and it provides turn-by-turn directions based on experiences of other users while at the same time providing feedback on your own driving experience of speed and if you want you can communicate speed traps/accidents/construction that will be recorded and provided to other users.

Waze is relatively new and in most metro areas, like mine of Milwaukee, there is not a lot of data.  However, as more and more of us use the application on our way to and from work and other places, it will start to learn more about traffic patterns and that coupled with real-time data offer what all of us want in our commute.  A personalized commute free of hassles.

Today Apple announced the iPad, and while all the speculation and hype expected it, I sensed that I was not alone in my disappointment in the iPad and other non-announcements.  I guess I was hoping for a new iPhone OS version and an iPad closer to the computer line of products, not the iPhone line of products.

The iPad from what can be seen from Apple’s website and others, is a larger version of the iPhone.  The interface is almost a direct duplication of the iPhone interface, with the only difference being its larger.

So what are the Pros:

• Runs existing iPhone Applications.
• Larger screen makes web browsing more usable.
• Possibility for real-world business applications is a reality.  (The keynote showed a version of iWork for the iPad which looks awesome.)
• iBooks application allows for ebook reading on the iPad.
• 3G capability.

Here are what I think are the Cons:

• Uses the iPhone OS.  I would have rather seen it use OS X so that existing applications could be utilized.  I think the real killer usage of the iPad in my mind is not an expanded version of the iPhone but a replacement for the notebook.  I would have easily plunked down $500-$800 for the ability to replace a notebook with this.
• Does not correct any of the limitations that I have mentioned early on this blog, so no multitasking, no data sharing, limited usefulness in my mind.
• Lack of camera.  While I would not have used it for taking pictures, this could have made a killer Skype solution.
• Closed technology.  Apple needs to stop trying to force people into a closed solution.

So, what is my verdict?  I think the iPad will appeal to a smaller group of people than an OS X version would have.  These people will mostly be those who want a ebook reader that can play games and is larger than the iPhone or iPod Touch.  Myself?  I will wait and see what comes next from Apple.  Like the original iPhone, which I waited until the 3G version to get, I think I will wait until the next version of the iPad comes out.

Google released an updated online version of its Google Voice application today.  It is HTML5 compliant and in my mind a wonderful update, especially on the iPhone.  Ever since getting my Google Voice number, I have been waiting for a native application on my iPhone like I have on my Blackberry Curve.  And while this is not a native application, it comes close in the way it works through the browser.

A couple of items to note.  First, it does not ring your iPhone to make a call, it calls you from a Google number which then connects to the number you have requested to call.  Second, there is no integration with the iPhone Contacts application, not unexpected, but forces you to make sure that your Google contacts and iPhone contacts are synced if you expect to call from the application to all of your contacts.   Third, in order to get notified that you have a voicemail within Google Voice, you need to setup SMS messaging, not a big deal, but if you are worried about text messaging costs you may want to watch that.

This is a great step in the right direction, but the real problem here is the fact that the iPhone remains a closed environment.  Apple needs to stop pretending to know what users want, or more savvy users like myself may choose a Google branded phone next time.

Supposedly at the January 27 Apple event, they will be announcing a new version of the iPhone OS.  I have seen a number of articles on the web about what should be part of the next version.  While I have been happy with my iPhone 3G and the latest version of the OS,  there are potential areas for improvement.

1.  Background Processes

I know what the thought was for not allowing this, but I have to say, it is irritating to be listening to XM Radio or Pandora, get a text message or email notification and have to stop listening in order to check.  These types of applications to me are obvious choices for allowing background processing.  Maybe Apple can have another option on the submission form where an application can apply for background processing exception and Apple can still have the final say.

2. Weather

Come on Apple, just sign an agreement with the Weather Channel or Accuweather and get rid of the horrendous weather application that no one  uses.

3. 10MB Download Limit

Let me decide if I want to wait an extended time to download a file greater than 10MB.  There are times I will be at work and want to listen to a podcast that gets posted in the morning, but guess what it is over 10MB, so either I find a Starbucks and use their WIFI or I wait.

4. Shared Data Space

There has to be a way to share data space for documents and other files on the iPhone.  I would like to be able to download a file in email and use Mariner Calc to view the spreadsheet, or allow me to download new music from Amazon and use it in the iPod application.

5. Flash

While not high on my list, it would be nice to use Flash applications on the iPhone.   Apple and Adobe need to kiss and make up.

I realize that a lot of limitations within the iPhone OS are to keep the user experience at a certain level, but there are a number of users like myself that will accept that things may not necessarily be the “Apple” preferred experience.  Let me decide how to use the phone, otherwise my next phone may just be an Android.

I have a couple of EPUB books that I am doing reviews on for this site.  The problem was, I am not always at my computer, but still want to have access to the book. After searching the Internet, I found out that I already had part of the equation on my iPhone and just needed to load a desktop app on my laptop.

I had loaded Stanza about a year ago to read free ebooks from Project Gutenberg.  What I did not realize was the flexibility that this program offered.  It can allow you to read all sorts of documents on the iPhone.  And while I realized that you could use the app to download paid and free books, I did not realize that they had a desktop app that would allow you to transfer your own documents to Stanza on the iPhone.  I am sure there are a number of you about to point out that this has been there for a while, but I had never taken the time to go to their website, mostly because I never had a need until today.

So, over at their website, I downloaded the app onto my Windows 7 laptop.  The installation was straightforward, mostly just a number of clicks on Next.  The app and Apple Bonjour load, which must be for sharing purposes.

Once the app was loaded, I started it up, clicked on the File menu and opened one of my EPUB books.  The book came up on the desktop.  I then went to the Tools menu and clicked on Enable Sharing.  That was all I needed to do on the desktop side.

Over on the iPhone, I opened the Stanza app, tapped on Get Books and then chose Shared on the top of the screen.  Under the Computers Sharing Books, my computer showed up.  I tapped on my computer name and then on the book I wanted to download.  The book opened and downloaded to my iPhone.

The controls in Stanza are straightforward when viewing a book.  Tap on the left to go back, the right to go forward and the middle for other controls to use for viewing the book.

This is going to save me a lot of time, as I have a number of ebooks that I would like to place on my iPhone but did not realize I already had a tool for doing so.

I know I am a few days late on this, but between going back to work after two weeks off and this never-ending cold I seem to have, things have been busy.

Google announced on January 5th their new Android based phone the NexusOne.  So this phone is being sold directly by Google, however, instead of being tied to only one service provider, you can purchase the phone unlocked.  The website has a number of demos that you can see how the phone works and the applications that are included.

I think Google has the potential to change the face of the cellphone market.  Not because they necessarily have an “iPhone Killer”, but rather because they are setting different bar with unlocked phone and a phone that is less “locked” like the iPhone.  While the iPhone still sets the bar for ease of use and design, the Android is pushing the envelope by saying “let’s give people something they can modify and change”.

The next couple of years will be interesting in the cellphone market and what it is going on between Google, Apple and to a lesser extent Palm and Microsoft.

I have seen quite a few articles about the best iPhone applications of 2009, so I figured I would do a post on the applications that I can not live without.  This does not necessarily mean that these are the best applications out there or that everyone will find them useful, it just means these are the applications I use all the time.

Echofon – I have tried a number of Twitter applications, but have constantly preferred the Lite version of Echofon.  The only drawback that it has for me is one account, but since I only have two Twitter accounts (determan and periodicramblin), I just use the web interface for one and Echofon for the other.

Evernote – As I have written before, I love Evernote.  I have all sorts of notes pertaining to all aspects of my life in here.  The iPhone app lets me take pictures with camera or just take a note whenever I want and adds geographic specific location to the note.

Reqall – Instead of just being a simple interface for the web based reminder system, the iPhone application adds additional features, such as allowing me to speak my reminder/task and having it transcribed.

Facebook – Nothing much to say here.

Linkedin – Same as Facebook.

1Password (Lite Version) – I use the Lite version of this program to store my userids and passwords for work/web/personal needs.  I have no need to sync to a desktop application, so the web based application is all I need.

The Weather Channel (Lite Version) – I am a weather geek, and this is probably one of the best weather applications in the store.

Google – I like the one-stop application for all Google services on the iPhone.

ESPN ScoreCenter – I am a sports nut, and this application provides me a single place to get all the scores for my favorite teams and sports.

So, those are the applications that I use every day.  There are others that I find nice to have, but these are the ones that I would miss.  I have my phone organized to have these all on the second screen right after the home screen for easy access.

Over the past few years, I have tried to find a tool  that allows me to become more organized in my professional and personal life.  I currently have a full-time job, do some computer support on the side and have a wife and two kids (ages 2 and 6).  I tend to have a briefcase with two computers and countless notebooks, pieces of mail and other odds and ends in regards to this.

I find that I will make a note about something one place and forget where it is, or print something out and then forget about it and find it months down the line when I no longer needed.  While I was able to utilize Google Contacts/Mail/Calendar for the scheduling aspect along with Reqall and Remember the Milk for Tasks, what I was missing was a tool to organize the notes.

This is where Evernote comes to the rescue.  I had tried One Note and Google Notebook, but One Note was cumbersome and lacked a web component and Google Notebook was too simple and ultimately canceled by Google.  Evernote on the other hand provided me the tool that I had been looking for.

I wanted the following features to be present in my notes tool:

1. Ability to store multiple types of data (images, PDFs, documents, text).

2. Needed it to be encrypted.

3. Multiple tags/categories.

4. Search capability.

5. Easily accessible from any computer/browser and from either my iPhone or Blackberry.

Evernote provided all this and more.  I currently have multiple notebooks setup for work, freelancing, miscellaneous and personal.  These notebooks are used for blog ideas, code snippets, bookmarks, personal information, work projects and anything else that I have found that I want to keep track of.  I use Evernote from a browser, from my phone and have both the Windows/OS X client and even have the Windows client running under Wine on my Linux netbook.

I no longer worry about where that piece of information is, as I have started to train myself to put it into Evernote if I want to remember it.  This is where I think Evernote shines.  There are a number of different ways to get information into Evernote.  I can snap a photo on my iPhone, web clip in IE or Firefox, or copy/paste utilizing the web app or client app.

I originally was using the free account, but upgraded almost immediately, to show my appreciation to the developers for such a fine piece of software.  The application is powerful enough, but remains simplistic in its approach, which sometimes is not the case with applications on the web.  It understands that the majority of people who will be using the application just want an easy way to enter information and categorize it.

So, what is wrong with the application?  Well, I am not sure I would classify the following as wrong, but rather annoyances to me.  Some of these may just be the way it is today, and I am sure Evernote is working on some of them also.

1. What is with the advertising on a Premium account?  This is one item that bothers me about applications across the web.  If I sign-up for your premium account, remove the advertisements.

2. Mass export ability into a format that is application agnostic.  Not that I am thinking of leaving, but just in case Evernote gets bought out by some evil congolmerate, I want my data. 

3. Native Linux version.  I know there are not many of us, but running it under Wine is frustrating at times.

4. On the iPhone app, is there a way to show only the notebooks and not a listing of notebooks and items.  Maybe I am just missing this feature.

All in all though,  kudos to the developers of Evernote and keep up with the good work.  I encourage everyone who wants to organize

Mariner Software announced today that they have released a version of their popular Mariner Calc program for the iPhone.  Finally there is true spreadsheet program for the iPhone that allows the editing of spreadsheets on the go.

This is one item on the iPhone, that I have sorely been waiting for.  I had Documents To Go on my Palm and when originally saw the announcement that Mariner was working on version for the iPhone, I kept waiting for the formal release.

Having purchased it, I will be trying it out and write more over the next couple of weeks.  This is a piece of software that will take the iPhone to the next level for the business man/woman.