AI, Mobile, and Eveything Around the Cloud

I know there are those who think tomorrow's Apple event will be a game changer in mobile tech and transform how we consume media, specifically, video. While I hope for that to happen, I am no in that camp. As a matter of fact, I think tomorrow's event will be routine. Well, for Apple, it's routine. For other companies, it might be extraordinary. But that's a post for another time. For now, we can expect Apple to push consumer technology further by bring some iPhone 4 features over the iPod Touch. That much we are certain. Anything else would just be icing on the cake. Anyway, tomorrow's event will be streamed live over the Internet. I think that alone should make this a memorable Apple media event.

There was very little Apple related rumors that tell us about what we'll see 10am on September 1st. Frankly I am quite surprised. Sure, there was a lot of talk and rehashing of what we already knew as far as rumors go from last week. Rather, confirmations of rumors. So while I had hoped to get through Monday on what I thought would be waves after waves of blogs trying to outdo one another, there was nothing. But there are two developments worth noting. First, Roku dropped the prices of their players by up to $30. This is significant because it's high time that Apple do something about their Apple TV hobby, which even as hobbies go, it isn't one worth keeping. Second, Nintendo, who thinks it has something with 3DS but no until 2011, dropped the prices of its DS lineup. I have always maintained that the iPod touch isn't a true portable gaming device but a mobile computing device that happens to play games well, it appears that Nintendo and Sony now believes the iOS devic...

Gameloft has graced the iOS community, the gaming part of it, with "Ultimate Spider-Man Total Mayhem" due September 1st. Want to bet that we might see this game featured as part of Steve Jobs and Apple's music event also on September 1st? Here's a short trailer and a could of seconds of gameplay at the end. More about the same at the official hompage . Anyway, I don't talk about games enough but I think I will now. After all, mobile gaming is a big part of the iOS success as a platform.

The event that Apple announced today to be help on September 1st is going to all about the iPod Touches and, likely, any new features that the iPad is going to gain from iOS 4. Yeah, I know, just about everyone has forgotten about iOS 4. But that's a post for another day. For now, we're going to see the next generation iPod Touch get some iPhone 4 goodies. Anything else?

Some app piracy rates for iOS apps are as high as 50% if not higher in some instances (try 95%). So, I'm making a general plea on behalf of all the hard-working, innovative, and imaginative developers. Pay for fraking $2 app! It isn't like we're being asked to pay for $25 or $40 that DS and PSP owners are paying even for the lamest games. Nor are these $50-$60 console or PC games. They're mostly $1 or $2 apps in the App Store. Seriously, when the number of illegal downloads are reporting scores in OpenFeint double those of legitimate buyers, something is majorly wrong. Plus, Apple needs to protect the legions of developers more. Instead of paying out $1 billion to developers, Apple can easily be paying $1.5 billion or more if it makes it harder for pirates to use apps. Furthermore, using pirated apps is only possible through jail-broken iOS devices. And while I supported jail-breaking 100%, using pirated apps does open up users to malicious attacks. More...

Some quick thoughts about mobile gaming in the age of app stores, casual gaming, and diminished support for portable gaming consoles, is it time to give thought to how Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo will go on. I see a merger of platforms, birth of new ones, and a salad of old tech mixed with the new. Which is better? More at Onxo .

There are a lot of folks in public services, conservatives, liberals, and NGOs, that use Macs in a variety of ways to help the public, the poor, and the voiceless. Just recently, the iPad was used to aid in providing health information and coordination. Remote access is a common use to help away teams access data on computers back at offices or headquarters. Also, mobile Internet access gives users important information on demand. Databases can also be stored on the generous onboard memory if needed. Of course, the iPad has an advantage over the iPhone or iPod Touch in that it has a bigger screen. Nevertheless, thousands if not tens of thousands of users had started using iOS devices long before the iPad went in sale four months ago. Moreover, Macs also play an integral part in film/movie making and editing. About wars, the poor, and global warming. Macs are also used in simulations. I believe iOS will be sophisticated enough that, even if iDevices do not have the proces...

I've already got an iPad but this new iPad commercial would have convinced me to get one had I not already have one. And a couple of those apps on it, I want!

I got a chance to play with the Blackberry Torch today. Not a bad device. Okay, I'm sure the e-mail part is as good as before but that's about all there is to say about it. The new Blackberry OS is a welcoming upgrade but still hard to navigate. So the reviews have been more kind than they really are even though on the whole, reviews haven't been great. I think people didn't forget how long it took to get here and how far still it has to go. Having said that, wouldn't it be something if Apple came out with an iPhone K, K for "keyboard" that has a similar form. Know this, this would blow the lid off the market. Millions upon millions of users will immediately quite Blackberry and switch over to the new iOS device. Okay, okay, I know. Steve Jobs isn't too keen on this and we will never see an iPhone with physical keyboards. This is all about the vast investments in multi-touch that has actually worked out very well for Apple. Nevertheless,...

A couple of independent reports out says that the PC market isn't benefiting from the back-to-school rush. On the other hand, Apple's products are still selling well and the recent refresh of its Mac line should continue to spur the hto streak of double digit growth. What's amazing is that there are indication the iPad is hurting netbook sales and even hurting some low-end laptops. So, what does Apple need to do to make the iPad even more appealing and further cannibalize PC sales?

What might be more rare to find than an iPhone or iPad? How about an Apple store. There's only about 300 of them worldwide with most of them residing in the States. So when one opens up in your neighborhood, it's a cause for celebration. At the newly opened Covent Gardon store in England, folks are still waiting in line. No. Not waiting in line for an iPhone or iPad. They're still waiting in line to GET IN! Personally, I'm blessed to have FIVE Apple stores in area that I go to, depending on which of town I'm in. More at Electric Pig

I've read the first two books of the Salander-Blomvist trilogy and I'm taking a short break from the third, the the final in the series for a while. One of the cool thing about the book the choice of mobile devices in the book. Palm devices and Apple Powerbooks used by the main character. And as Hollywood work to remake the series from the original novels, separately from the Swedish movies, I can only hope that the writer and director retain some sort of authenticity by using Apple's latest and greatest mobile gears - the iPhone and the Macbook Pro. And yeah, I would like to see them slip in the iPad. It only make sense to do that. As for the Millennium office, I want to see iMacs on every desktop of the reporters. Is it going to happen? It would be a missed opportunity for Apple not to "contribute" in some way to the movies. For now, as we wait for word on any future work and what shape the movie will take, here's a funny and well-written take on...

Twitter is great for sending short messages and I’ve gotten pretty good lately at sending out limited text but still get the point across. But once in a while, you’re on to something and you just can’t get in out in just 140 characters. So, I’ve done what I think is a creative way of doing it. Just sent out a bunch of tweets and identify them with part numbers. Here, the subject is Apple’s forthcoming Game Center and Apple’s alleged interesting in purchasing a Chinese gaming company called Handseeing. Instead of writing the whole thing again in prose, I’ll just do the easy thing and reprint the tweets here. So on to the subject matter at hand. #mobile #gaming #apple attempting to buy chinese gaming firm but #Handseeing VP went public, likely trying to drive up price. (part 1) #mobile #gaming #apple first, you don’t try to shake down Steve Jobs like this in public, surprise if deal goes through now. (part 2) #mobile #gaming #apple trying to buy chinese firm really shows its c...

BBC is looking to replace some laptops and even desktops for their staff. Okay, I’m big on the whole tablet concept but the amazingness of this is quite shocking. Merely months on the market and its potential yet to be fully realized, the iPad has gone from what analysts thought to be a fad to fade quickly once fanboys get it in their hand has continue to grow. With more than 3 million sold in just three months, this is even before Apple has made it available in most of the countries. Not only is the iPad invading traditional Windows territory, the iPad and iPhone is likely bring a long a lot of Macs as well. Essentially, Apple’s ecosystem of providing seamless and enjoyable user experience along with easily accessible content and apps has paved a way for others into Appledom. Why is BBC doing this? Portability. Ease of Use. And the 3G + WiFi provides instant access to data and communication. Bigger screen than mobile phones. All of this at an affordable price. Persona...

ATT has made truckloads of money off iPhone users, loyal Apple fans, who love the products that Apple makes but we've suffered greatly at the hands of an inept wireless providers. Heck, even Steve Jobs has thought more than once to ditch the exclusivity deal with Ma Bell. And this should be the last draw: iPad users in the US pay more for data than most other users in the world. How much more?