Artist Uses iPhone App to Create New Yorker Cover

This is news some time ago but I've just seen the video of how Jorge Colombo used an app called Brushes on the iPhone to create last month's New Yorker cover.

It just shows how much mobile creativity and computing has come in the last couple of years.  There's a short video of how Jorge created the cover at Onxo Gadgets.  

What's amazing is that we're only scratching the surface of what the creative mobile society can do with their mobile devices.  I'm more than certain that we'll see more amazing things in the coming years.  

And this is only possible given the mobile revolution that Apple had ushered in since the original iPhone.  Imagine the kind of creative energy that'll be unleashed when Apple eventually lets loose a multi-touch tablet.

Why iPod Touch Will Not Connect To Some Bluetooth Headsets

I wrote earlier about my failed attempts to connect my Bluetooth headset to my iPod Touch.  I couldn't figure it out but now I know why.  Well, someone else figured it out.

To make the long story short, you need a BT headset that supports AD2P standard, a standard allowing for audio to be streamed.

So, if your BT headset or ones you're thinking about buying doesn't support AD2P, iPod Touch might or might not see the headset.  And even if it does, it won't work.

Also, if there is a mic on your BT headset, it won't work.  See I was thinking a BT headset would be my ticket to avoiding having to buy a new wired headset with a mac from Apple to use the Voice Memos app.  No go.  Apple didn't enable it.  At this point, I wouldn't be surprised if Apple enables BT mic for VIOP with a later update or simply left it out to force folks to buy the headsets.

Whatever the reason, well, we'll can only guess but we won't really know.  But I hope this answers your question why some iPod Touch owners can't get their BT headsets to work with the Touch.

Note:  I wonder if iPhone users can use their BT headset with Voice Memos.  Wanna guess?

Source:  CNet

iPhone Apps: 50K Today, 100K Soon. 1 Million Apps. What then?

Apple will likely stop counting how many apps there are for the iPhone and iPod Touch once the 100,000th app has been reached.  Because we may eventually see 250,000th.  500,000th.  Or even the millionth app.

A some point, the app business is going to be bigger than it is today, both in terms of the number of applications and the number of apps that will eventually be downloaded.  You think it's impressive Apple got its one billionth download in 9 months?  How about about the 2nd billionth in five to six months or the next billion after that in 3-4 months when China joins the iPhone craze?

By then, we might be 75-100 thousand apps in the iTunes app store while Android Market may well reach over 10K.  But how does Apple manage 100,000 apps in the app store as it currently exists?  And if Apple's competitors are willing to admit this, they are waiting to see what innovative means Apple will conjure up to do just that.

Already, developers have gone through difficulties learning the app business in trying to get the word out about their apps.  Some blog about it.  Some sites that are dedicated solely to apps write about them but more slip through the crack than not.  Eventually, folks learn to produce lite or free versions of their apps to get attentions of users since free apps generally dominate the top apps list.

The EA, Sega, and Ngmoco of the app world will get its share of attention but what of the crack team of 2 or 3 who pour their collective hearts into these apps?  It was easier when there were 500-1000 apps in the store but now, it's nearly impossible to get any kind of attention. 

By this time in the post, I'd offer bullett points of suggestions on what app developers can do or what Apple should do to reorganize the iPhone app store but unlike some matters I've got familiarity with, this is one area I only know has a problem but am unable to provide any analysis on where the app store will go from here.

There have been talks for months that Apple may come up with a premium tier for the app store that allow some developers to charge more for their apps.  That certainly is a way to highlight some apps.  They'll be highlighted as more expensive than others.  So I suspect Apple will no go in that direction since it does nothing to solve the underlying problems.

For users, the difficulties will be find the right app for their needs.  Perhaps, that is the direction that Apple will go.  Allow users to find the apps they need rather than giving app developers tools to make their apps stand out. 

When the fall iPod lineup is refreshed, I think it is a good time for Apple to unveil any kind of changes they may make that makes it easier to find the 100,000 or so apps on the market.

2nd Generation iPod Touch - No Mic Use With Bluetooth?

One of the most exciting features I was looking forward to with the iPhone 3.0 update is the Bluetooth access with iPod Touch.  In particular, I was looking forward to using my Motorola BT headset as a mic along with my trusty Touch.

With apps like Skype and Voice Memos featured prominently in the minds of Touch owners, I was excited at the prospects of Touch owners being able to use their existing headsets, negating the need to buy a sanctioned wired headset be would a welcoming addition.

Unfortunately, I'm here to save you some googling and tell you that doesn't appear to be a feature for the iPod Touch Bluetooth.  I've gone through a few forums and no good news.

Most people were unable to connect their iPod Touches and their BT headsets.  A couple of users pointed out that the iPod Touch will only pair with stereo BT headsets.  

I'm continuing to see if there is a workaround through my knowledgeable friends or the forums.  For now, we march on and hope that this feature will come in a future update.  Ready for iPhone 3.1, anyone?

MacObserver Has It Right - iPhone Exclusivity for ATT Days Are Over

Dear Senators, particularly John Kerry, I hope that you continue to press the FCC on the wireless "gatekeepers" not just on exclusive deals on phones but also on their messaging and net neutrality issues.  But as for the iPhone deal that ATT has exclusive access to, don't worry about that.  It's over.  

And MacObserver made a great point in their post in this matter.

While most executives at Apple are working on iPhone numbers - how much they'll sell today and how much to order for the days ahead, Steve Jobs is fuming over how many billions of dollars are left on the table because of ATT.  

Where to begin?  

• Customer dissatisfaction.  
• A 3G network that was not ready for the iPhone 3G, then or today.  
• Claims to support net neutrality but handicaps Slingplayer and Skype while MLB, OrbLive, and a few other apps get a pass (More at Onxo).  
• An iphone upgrade policy that punishes, rather than rewards (I'm a bit iffy on this one but I'm just so mad at the wireless providers now, I'm just going to throw it in there).
• LTE network that will be about a year behind Verizon's own LTE network.

So, if Apple had indeed been sitting down with ATT about extending the exclusivity, ATT can forget it.  What ATT should be doing is planning for the day when the iPhone becomes available on Verizon or T-Mobile (but like most execs today, it's about short-term growth and bonuses - not saying that's a good thing or bad, it's just a fact of life).

Source:  MacObserver

Note:  I maintain that while we're not likely to see a CDMA version of the iPhone at all, it is possible for us to see an iPhone on T-Mobile in 2010.  Why not?  It give Apple a stronger position when it comes to negotiating with Verizon and ATT. 

Looking For an iPhone? Try Best Buy

A couple of weeks ago when I went to my local Best Buy to check out this upstart mobile device that was labelled a challenger to our dear iPhone, I was told that Best Buy may be getting their own allocation of iPhones.

In fact, I stumbled onto a site yesterday that supposedly had a screen shot of their iPhone distribution.  I don't know if that was real or not but I have not reason to believe it is what it appears to be at this point.

So far, ATT seems to be running out of stock while Apple has things stacked their way.  I suppose that's a smart move.  Get folks to go to the Apple store to get the iPhone and at the same time check out all the cool Macbooks and iPods while they're there.

For the most part, hanging out at the Apple store is pretty cool.  I certainly do see a potential for some stores to offer a coffee bar for folks to hang out.  What do you think?  In fact, Apple had considered doing this in the 90s, which as we know did not pan out but we did get the Apple Stores.

So, if you're getting a new iPhone, congratulations.  You're gonna love it.  Right now, I'm still going through all the 3.0 features.  I particularly liked the ability to share information across apps.  That's the most powerful aspect that I can see in the new update, more than MMS or tethering (not that those two features even exist at this point).

3.0 Installation Success And Loving It!

It's not like many of the features like cut/paste are new to us but finally having it available on our favorite platform is truly truly "about f2#$% time"!

I was finally about to download 3.0 around midnight last night.  Came home earlier but connections were refused a number of time so I decided to go workout.  After dinner and messing around the house a bit, I finally decided to give it a try.

First thing I tested out was the cut-and-paste feature.  Flawless.  Then I wanted to test out the push notification feature but I didn't really know which apps offer it.  There was no IM apps that I like except I had Yahoo's app.  It didn't seem to work.  I was not able to tell if the app simply didn't support the feature or push didn't work.

And the push notification is the one to watch this weekend and in the coming weeks.  It was built as the sensible substitute to allowing apps to run in the background since that would decimate the battery life on the iPhone.  It'll be interesting to see if Apple's network can handle the countless number of pushes are are sure to come.  IMs.  Scores.  Gaming updates.  News updates.  Oh, Twitters too.  Wow.  

I'll be back later when I've gotten more time with 3.0 on my iPod Touch and provide an impression of each feature as I get a handle on it and use it for a bit.

Right now, I certainly recommend getting iPhone 3.0 for the iPod Touch, even for 1st gen Touches.  There are just too many features there that you don't want to pass up.