So, the new iPhone model, called S, was released yesterday. Engadget put together a quite nice comparison between the two so you don’t have to read tons of stuff to check what’s really new and cool – like the video recording, better camera, doubled processing power and internet access, voice control and, of course, higher prices. Here it is:
You may also see it in action before deciding to upgrade or get a new one:
At least, not for free. In another confusing and beyond explanation attitude, the clever people who review whether an app is ok to be in the App Store rejected Eucalyptus, an ebook reader that makes it easier to search for books in the Project Gutenberg.
If you’re not familiar with the project, know only that they aim to offer old books that have no longer copyright to download, for free. Right now, they’ve made available over 28,000 books.
Then, using all its wit and wisdom, Apple rejects the app because, I kid you not, the reviewer found Kama Sutra for download and said the app was not suitable for the App Store because it contains obscene material. Have in mind that through iPhone’s Kindle you may buy the very same book.
They may reason what they want, I can only think of one word: absurd!
Apple insists on having no criteria to evaluate and approve apps for the App Store. The latest victim was Drivetrain, which allows you to remotely control your pc, add torrent files and automatically start downloading them.
The company says “this category of applications is often used for the purpose of infringing third party rights.” On the other hand, Maza Digital, app’s developer, says it’s not a BitTorrent client, but a remote control to Transmission, the real client for Mac.
The funny (or sad) part is that there’s already a similar app (Trackr) for download on the App Store. To developers, like us, this causes a feeling of discomfort, since we haven’t got the slightest idea about Apple’s criterias to approve or reject an app.
Android has a similar app, as we posted here exactly 2 months ago. Is it really surprising that the iPhone lost the leadership to BlackBerry Curve and that Android shall be in over 8 million mobile devices sold this year?
Alright, the demonstration of the new iPhone OS, which should arrive in 3 or 4 months, has lots of cool features. And old ones. Some of them:
MMS – you can now send and receive multimedia messages.
Push – apps can now notify you when there’s some new event, message, etc. It’s totally different from background running, ‘cos you’ll need backend, but it’s a start.
Turn maps – nice. Too bad we can’t use Google Maps, due to copyrights. Well, you can always draw your own…
P2P – devices now can see each other through Bluetooth. Besides the obvious phone/notebook sync, the big thing we can expect is gaming with others with no need to use 3G.
Cut, copy and paste – ok, it was users’ #1 complaint. But calling it a new feature is pushing it too far. It would be better call it “we’ve fixed the screw up”.
Misc. – search engine similar to the Mac OS X one, short audio memo recording, 1,000 new APIs for developers, landscape keypad, stereo bluetooth, in-app additional content purchase (for new features or game levels) and some other stuff.
Now seriously, die-hard fans are in heaven, but wonderland is still far away. Of course these changes will enhance the iPhone experience, including us developers, but this update is more of an Apple response to clients request than really innovation. And being worried about the competition (mainly Palm Pre and Android), as well written in this article. Or do you think it’s normal the company announcing in advance so many “new features” way before the official release?
Hey, all items above are just IMHO, doesn’t mean the other guys here at Maya agree, ok? (pretty sure they don’t =o). The thing is, with all of its innovative history, we expected more from Apple, didn’t you?
One of these days I saw other blogs complaining about the lack of attention that Apple has with the Brazilian site. And, coincidence or not, I entered the site today and this is what I found:
C’mon guys, mÁis (more - got from spanish más, huh?), faça download (d)a atualização (download th update), aCtualização (hola Steve, que pasa?), FALA sua oferta no eBay (speak your offer?).
Holy translation, Badman. Offering my services for translation and revision…
If the financial world crisis keeps knocking, what better strategy than to bet on cheaper products that we can afford, right? Even tough Apple declared to have no immediate interest to launch a netbook, maybe it’s time to reconsider.
HP just marketed Mini 2140 for 499 dollars, 10” screen, 2.5lb, almost-full-size keyboard and Intel Atom processor.
Freescale Semiconductor announced that it will launch a processor to compete with the leader Atom, which price will be under 200 dollars and that can power a netbook for over 8h without recharging. And of course there’s AMD, that shall soon enter the market as well.
LG, in a partnership with Vivo carrier, made available x100, a netbook that already comes with a 3G modem. Now the only question is if Asus will keep its promise and market this year a model for 200 dollars.
After G1’s offensive (learn more here), it looks like Apple is getting ready for a serious counter-strike to place the iPhone once and for all at the top of the smartphones war.
Act I: voice search on Google. Say the word and I’ll give you results! It might be available on Ap Store today. Kindda weird that it Google itself to sort of fix and boost one of iPhones disadvantages, the onscreen keyboard.
Act II: hiring a chief-engineer for iPhone in China. It shouldn’t take long before the device arrives at the world’s biggest market – China Mobile alone, the country’s leading carrier, has over 400 million clients. How about it?
Act III: next year Web Office will be available for Mac and iPhone, compatible with IE, Firefox and Safari. A beta version is already running here. Watch out Google Docs, Documents to Go and Lotus Notes.
You’re in for a new battle…
It’s no surprise (or it shouldn’t be, at least) that Apple has been chosen the leading company in innovative marketing, in a research among 350 executives of Brazilian advertisers. Apple was spontaneously mentioned by 21,4% of the interviewees, way ahead the competition - Google (5,7%), Coca-Cola (4,8%), Nike (4,6%), Havaianas (3,1%), Oi (3,1%) e Natura (2,9%)
The research conducted by Grupo Consultores also showed that Natura is the most admired company, having 16% of the mentions, again much more than the other companies - Unilever (6,6%), Nestlé (6%), Itaú (5,1%), Banco Real (4,8%), Apple (3,7%), Coca-Cola (3,1%), Vale (3,1%) e Google (2,9%)
Source: m&m
Whether it was just to make the competition nervous or we’ll really have surprises in a near future, the fact remains that Apple’s top cat admitted that the company may launch a netbook, in case the market gives a sign of improvement.
During Apple’s quarterly earnings call, (6.9 million iPhones sold, 2.6 million Macs, and 11 million iPods – not bad, huh Steve?), Jobs said that this netbook market will be initially supplied by iPhone, but, and there’s always a but when talking about emerging markets, the company has some interesting ideas should the netbook market evolves.
Any bets?
Got here.
If you always got mixed up whenever preparing an ad hoc distribution of your app, your problems are over! Here’s a step by step of what has to be done – assuming you’ve already prepared a development version and have the app running on your iPhone: Read more...
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