Tapose: This Is The Kinds Of Innovation The iPad Has Spawned

This is the kind of innovation that the iPad has spawned...you'll be hearing a lot about this app by tomorrow.



What's interesting is who helped fund this app.  Oh, the irony...

Source: Tapose, a lot more at 9to5Mac.

Harry Potter Books: Will Tim Cook Or J.R. Rowling Blink First?

As you know by now, Harry Potter books are now available via Pottermore and they can be purchased on an assortment of ebook stores except for the iBookstore.  The going guess is that Apple wants 30% of the cut but Hogwarts Publishing is saying no to Apple.

The question I have on this is who will cave first?  Or not at all?

Is it important that you get Harry Potter books in your iBooks app or are you going to be happy with reading them through Kindle or the Nook app?

Well, there is a way to get these books on your iPad or iPhone.  These books are in unprotected ePub format so you can still get them via other platforms and then upload them directly to iBooks.  Most folks are suggesting that you do it through iTunes but I wonder if you can do it simply by emailing them to yourself.

My guess is that a deal will be struck eventually.  I'm sure the folks working for Pottermore are just as much fans of Apple as Apple fans are of Harry Potter.  What I'm hoping is that once a deal is struck, the iOS books will be created with a richer format unlike the textbooks that Apple is pushing.

Imagine these books created with iBooks Author - special edition books that has rich media of video, music, and games that also offer much social media elements  Words and images would come alive right before your eyes.

You know, just like them books at Hogwarts.

Apple's Tim Cook In China: Expect More Of These Visits By Execs

Tim Cook was spotted in China via a Weibo account (TechNode via Appleinsider).  Weibo is China's version of Twitter.  As I said before, China's growing mobile use will have influence on mobile development and directions app developers take in the future.  And the influence won't just be isolated to Apple.  Others like Google and Microsoft will be impacted as well.


While the linked posts focused on the iPhone, you have to know that there is more to it than that.  Apple recently added to its Mac OS a few social and video sharing features native to China, like Weibo



In the past, there were talks that a major hangup between Apple and China Mobile was largely due to CM's request to add apps and revenue sharing for apps which Steve Jobs has explicitly ruled out.  So, the direction of iOS development could be influenced further as Apple has staked its future in the Middle Kingdom.


How about other mobile players like Google and Microsoft.  Microsoft realized its large following could be key to getting back into the mobile game while forked versions of Android are pretty popular right now.  Google and Beijing has had a chilly relationship but Google has maintained a sizable research and development outpost in China.


For Apple, it finds its iOS following somewhat behind.  With the potential addition of China Mobile as a carrier in a year or so from now, Tim Cook and his team could be in a for a real challenge trying to meet demand with the next iPhone.

Friday Movie: Walking Dead Game Trailer And Game Play

Walking Dead is one of the best drama on television right now.  Yes, yes.  Despite it's subject matter, it's a drama just like The X-Files was too even though it touched on the paranormal and extraterrestrial conspiracies.

And I'm very excited by the prospect of living in this world where I'm trying to not only stay alive but to also make sense of a zombie apocalypse.

And so, this is this Friday's movie clips.

The Trailer

The Game Play

More on the games at  NG4, Toucharcade.

The Next Industry Apple Should Disrupt Is the Auto Market

I know that the buzz around the Internet is Apple’s own HDTV set.  Honestly, this has been around the corner for a couple of years now, it’s getting old.  The Apple-branded TV isn’t even out and I’m ready to move to what should come next from Cupertino.  And it should be auto industry.

As in iOS-powered vehicles.  I’m not particularly big on the iCar.  Not now.  But someday.  For now, I just like to see what Apple can do with iOS embedded in the dashboards.

Imagine the revenue growth that Apple can get out of this.  While I doubt GM, Ford, Toyota would be willing to share 30% of proceeds with Apple, perhaps the likes of Lexus, BMW, or Mercedes might be willing to deal.  Already, Siri is already coming to the Benz (Mashable).

And in the past, I’ve already said that Siri is a platform, an artificial intelligence with voice input/output, that can catapult Apple into the next realm of mobile computing.

See, there’s a reason why Microsoft is working with Ford and not one of the European luxury brands.  And I doubt Google or Samsung could make Android fit either.  So, it’ll only be Apple.  You don’t think that Mercedes or BMW is trying to be the exclusive Siri provider for their customers?

Just think what the iPhone did for AT&T and you know that automakers will be clamoring to be the first  iOS powered car.

I can totally see Jony Ives and a few hand-picked Apple designers in conjunction with BMW or Mercedes’ German engineers and setting up a secret skunk project in an abandoned warehouse to make a totally revolutionary UI for drivers.  Maybe it’ll be powered by Siri or something more with HUD interface. Or it could be something totally revolutionary.

Regardless, the auto industry is likely to get some attention from Tim Cook and Co. really soon if this has not already happening.  The only question is who will get to work with Apple and just how much Apple will change the auto industry.

Power of Brand Promise In Today’s Mobile and Social Centric Market

I was at a branding forum last night.  Just branding in general.  The talk was hosted by a branding expert, Sasha Strauss of Innovation Protocol, in Pasadena, California.  It was a very informative night and what I took away from it was what he said at the very beginning.  He mentioned “brand promise”.  And because in an era where mobile tech dominates the consumer market, Apple and Google were top mentions as we as social media forums like Facebook and Twitter.

Brand.  Mobile. Social.

It’s about access, connection, and instant gratification.  I’ll have more to say about this because I think we’re living a revolution that spans a whole generation.  If there is a podcast of the event, I’ll provide a link.

Apple Has To Improve FaceTime And More Its Communication Features More Social

FaceTime use in my family has been limited.  Clearly, Skype has won this battle.  However, the video chat or conferencing war will continue to go on.  With the 2012 iPad introduced and went on sale just this past weekend, Apple could have made FaceTime a more central element of mobile communication.  While that clearly did not happen, Apple can still move forward on this.

Here’s why I think that’ll happen.  Apple first introduced iChat on OS X years ago and while over time, it gained video chatting, it languished as Skype and others take over in terms of features and popularity.  And with all things Apple, apps can sit in developmental limbo as far as users are concerned.  Apple will give no clue if something is being worked on or allowed a slow painful death.

We finally got FaceTime on the iPad and iPhone last year and the Mac got it with Lion.  As a user, you can’t help but feel the app is a bit spartan and Apple is trying to figure out where to go from there.

Then this year, we got Messages with iOS 5 and Apple killed off iChat on the Mac in favor of OS X’s own Message app.

But as a user, you have to ask why Apple has two separate apps for communicate, by one text and another by video, when it clearly makes sense that Apple should have kept iChat and merge FaceTime and Message into it.  After all, Message still retains IM capability.

At the same time, Facetime is still an one-to-one enagement.  I would have liked to see it gain multi-user abilities.  For instance, I would have to be able to chat with my nephews and my mom all at the same time.  And clearly, there is a very good feature to have for enterprise.

Another feature I like FaceTime to have is maybe just the ability to chat via voice.  Call it VoiceTime.  Skype can do all three of the most common communications for mobile:  instant messages, voice, and video.

So, Apple has some work to do in this regard. FaceTime needs more features.  And Apple needs to make its communications tools more like Skype in terms of features and integration. Furthermore, Apple should make FaceTime and Message more open for social media integration.  And by social, I mean allow apps access to voice chat or messaging.

Imagine if you’re editing a doc or blowing away aliens, you can initate or answer calls or messages without having to leave whatever you’re doing.