About Time!

Finally!

After 4 years, AT&T has finally ended its exclusive reign of the iPhone in the US, and is now available on Verizon as well. I didn't think Apple would manufacture a second type of handset just to run on Verizon's CDMA network, but they did. I imagined that it would not be cost efficient to have 2 types of hardware co-existing on different networks, and that it would make more economical sense to have a single type of hardware on the market. Well, I guess I was wrong.

Apple will start offering the iPhone 4 on Verizon as of February 10, and I can't wait, for several reasons. First, I am very eager to see how well the iPhone will perform on a completely different type of network, and whether Verizon's network will out-perform AT&T. Although there is the issue of CDMA networks not being able to simultaneously support voice and data, this may not be an issue for most average users. Sure, I might not be able to chat with my friends while looking up directions, but I don't think that will be a major concern. Will this mean the end of those frequently dropped calls such as those on the AT&T network? Will the iPhone perform its most basic function more efficiently now, as it does in most other countries? Will data speeds now be much faster and consistent? Will the CDMA iPhone be less energy efficient and thereby have a shorter battery life?

I am also very eager to see what type of competition this will bring about across the 2 carriers. Already, Verizon is promising the option of using the iPhone as a mobile hotspot, something which is not available on AT&T. However, there is also talk of iOS 4.3 allowing this as a standard option, subject to carrier participation, which means that it might eventually be available on AT&T as well. When this happens, AT&T is going to have to find ways to make themselves attractive to existing and future iPhone subscribers. Will this bring about cheaper voice and data plans, or other perks? Will they somehow improve their network performance? We shall just have to wait and see. I can't wait!

The tiniest little note-taker

Since the release of iOS 4.0, iPhone and iPod touch users have been able to use their bluetooth keyboards with their iOS devices for text entry. I was very intrigued by this, as it was one step closer to using the iPhone as a mobile note-taking device, and perhaps eventually as a replacement for my Dell Mini 10V for taking notes in classes. One thing that was holding me back was the fact that there did not seem to be many apps which would let you read and edit Dropbox files, or at least free apps. A few weeks ago, I heard about Plaintext, which is a free app that lets you create and edit basic text files within your Dropbox folders. It does not work with .doc files, but I figured that it would suffice for basic note-taking. (There is an option to purchase an ad-free version, but I have yet to encounter any ads during use).

I put it to the test tonight by bringing my bluetooth keyboard to class, and using it with my iPhone and Plaintext. Here's a photo of the setup.

On the whole, the experience was pretty good. The keyboard works really well with iOS, even letting you control screen brightness and speaker volume with the keyboard. In addition, the “eject” key hides or brings up the on-screen keyboard as well.

I used this setup for a 3-hour class, and was able to take notes on it quickly and comfortably. The only caveat was that the small screen size meant I was not able to refer to notes I had taken without a fair amount of scrolling. The other thing was that it doesn't allow me to toggle between apps as easily as the 10V would, due in part to the processor speed, as well as the screen size. Is it a deal breaker? I guess that depends on how often you need to switch apps. In some ways, it discourages you from getting distracted with web-surfing and other apps while in class.

Of course, if I were to use the iPad with a bluetooth keyboard, along with apps such as Quickoffice or Documents to Go, that would be even better. Both these apps allow for read-write access to Dropbox documents, and support most office document formats. The larger screen would also allow me to view documents more easily. Until then, I will continue to use this setup for basic note-taking, alternating with my 10V for greater productivity.

Apple Event: Back to the Mac

Next week is going to be a very exciting week! Apple is going to tell everyone how well they're doing on Monday. And then this! Back to the Mac! Next Wednesday. Is that a lion peeping? So maybe Apple isn't jumping to Mac OS 11.0...

VLC for iPad

What a godsend! Now I don't have to run those full length AVI clips through Handbrake just to watch them on my iPad.

Think there's a bug of some sort though... I have to make sure that all the videos in the VLC library are loaded, that is to say that the thumbnails must be showing first, before I can tap on one and watch.

If I were impatient and went ahead with tapping on the first thumbnail that appears, the app will crash. I'm sure it'll be ironed out in the next version but even then, I'm already saving myself the time taken to encode the videos into a format iTunes can accept.

The advent of mobile apps

While recently looking for a map of Boston University, I found that they actually had an iPhone app, which contains a variety of resources for their students, including the latest news and press releases, videos, campus maps, event calendars, course catalogs and a phone directory. It turns out that several other universities all have similar apps which have similar categories such as the ones mentioned, as well as access to their library catalogs. One of the more unique ones was from the University of Virginia, which includes an augmented-reality guide to their campus, providing users with historical information on various buildings on campus, depending on where they point their iPhone's camera. Some others, such as the ones for Northwestern and University of Texas allow users to track the locations of campus shuttle buses using GPS. At Stanford University, one of the components of their app that they are working on allows for integration of social networking: users can use the app to locate other users who have chosen to share their current locations. Clearly, many of the larger universities are jumping on the mobile app bandwagon, and the numbers only seem to be increasing. In fact, Stanford University even offers mobile app programing courses to encourage their students to develop apps to be shared. One of the potential benefits would be distinctively unique apps which cater to the student experience from an insider perspective.

One question that immediately came to mind was whether these mobile apps serve a special purpose, or if they are just empty shells designed to pull information from websites. After all, all the content on these apps is available on their websites, and can be easily accessed on a desktop or notebook computer. Another category of such apps that comes to mind is those of news websites, such as CNN, New York Times, ABC, Engadget, and Appshopper. While these make content more easily accessible and are a great convenience for users, it seems to me that they ultimately filter content from a website into a mobile format. Do they really add any value to the user experience via the mobile app as compared to using the website on a computer? How do these compare with websites which detect the type of browser being used, and then format their content accordingly for the small screens? Are mobile apps the new bookmark?

Therein lies the rub. It seems that these apps are indicative of the significant change in the manner which people consume their internet content. Where this was once primarily done through their computers, more and more people are now accessing information on their mobile devices. This allows more users to receive information from these sources which may not have been as convenient before. The idea is for these content providers to connect with as many users as possible, which means they have to go where the demand lies. I remain unsure as to whether these apps provide a sufficiently unique experience to differentiate them from the website, but perhaps the main fact is that that these apps allow the content to be formatted for greater ease of use on these devices' smaller screens, and thereby enhances the user experience.

Look who's here!

Yes it took me this long...

Took the plunge and got the iPhone 4. Impatience came at a price because I couldn't bear to wait 3 weeks just to get one from the Apple Store online.

The only reason I didn't jump on the bandwagon right at the outset is because iPhone 4 didn't represent a big enough leap from the 3GS for me. The 3GS was by any measure a very speedy machine, although there were some stutters here and there ever since I installed iOS4. More importantly, I was quite sure I wouldn't need a better screen. Until I got hold of a demo unit up close over the weekend. Those few moments sealed the deal and I decided to get one.

I had all the features of the iPhone 4 at the back of my head. But when I first turned on the phone, the Retina Display still managed to take my breath away. It's like bracing oneself at the crest of a roller coaster ride, anticipating the impending free fall, yet no amount of preparation would stem the subsequent adrenaline rush. The Retina Display is that good.

One other pleasant surprise was the responsiveness. iPhone 4 definitely enjoys the benefits of the A4 processor under its hood. Typing on it, multitasking with it, taking photos, surfing the web, you name it - it's all a breeze.

And how can I even neglect the topic of the dreaded "Antennagate". And who else better to talk about it that yours truly who happens to be left-handed and also suffers from very sweaty palms. Well, the sad part is that the signal bars do drop when my sweaty palm rests on "X" (where X marks the spot). As a test, I dried my palm with a napkin and true enough the signal bars remained almost constant. I must say that it is a matter of time before I get used to wrapping only my fingers around the frame of the iPhone. It's not that inconvenient although it requires one to be conscious of that act. (Of course, I'm in time for the Free Case program)

Definitely, I'll put the phone through its paces and update with more posts.

The Things Dropbox Can Do...

Ever since I started using Dropbox about a year ago, it has continued to prove highly useful in various ways, from work to play and other areas as well. The best part is that the basic service is free, which allows you to store up to 2GB of files. This is more than sufficient for my usage, which is primarily text documents, or as of late, address book and game databases, which are also primarily text-based.

When I first started using Dropbox, it was because I had seen many users on the MyDellMini forums rave about it. Since I had just started using a Dell Mini 10V to supplement my desktop at the time, this made perfect sense. It allowed me to keep selected files synchronized across both machines without the need for constant file transfers or emailed files.

In addition, I had just started taking part-time classes, so this was especially helpful for keeping my assignments and class-related documents synchronized. I would use the Mini 10V for taking notes during classes, and when I got home and turned on my desktop, the files were already there and ready to be used. At other times, I would complete assignments on my desktop, and when I got to class, I could review them on my Mini 10V. The web interface is also very easy to use, and can be particularly useful for accessing your Dropbox files on a friend's or school computer. I also used this option when I was traveling by saving my certain documents in the Dropbox folder, then accessing it from the hotel's business center for printing as needed.

A few weeks ago, some friends came to visit me, and I took them around town to show them the sights in town. After compiling a list of places to go, along with some interesting facts about each location, I chose not to print out the list. Instead, I saved it to my Dropbox folder, and then used the iPhone Dropbox app to view the file. There is even an option to save certain files within the app for offline use, so you don't need to have a constant data connection.

Another option allows you to create shared folders between users. This can be very convenient for people who need to collaborate on shared files, or with whom you would like to share certain files. In that sense, it can function as a online photo storage system, although there are many other services that provide similar functionality, such as Picasa or Mediafire.

When I recently installed Plants vs. Zombies on my desktop machine, I wondered if there was a way I could keep my saved game synchronized across both machines, since I figured I would occasionally be away from my desktop and want to play it on my Mini 10V as well. The idea of having to start a new game from scratch and have 2 versions of my saved game didn't appeal to me, so I looked around online. Sure enough, there were others who were in the same situation, and used Dropbox to solve this problem. By moving the saved game to the Dropbox folder, and then creating a symbolic link of that folder and placing it in the file's original location, the application was then able to save the game data to the Dropbox folder. All it then took was to do the same thing on the second machine, and both machines were able to use the same game data.

It turns out that others were also using this functionality for their contacts and calendars, maintaining a single copy of their database in the Dropbox folder. I've since added my address book to Dropbox, which allows me to have my contacts synced across both machines. I no longer have to make changes to both address books, since they are now effectively saving all the data to one location. This allows for consistency of information, and is also useful when I travel for extended periods and either need more information than I would normally carry on my Mini 10V, or allow me to make multiple changes or additions with no need to worry about updating my desktop upon my return.

The great thing about this system is that if anything should happen to either of my computers, the data is saved in the cloud so I can always access it from another machine. Of course, there is the possibility that the Dropbox service may be unavailable or the files may be lost, although since I have the folder synchronized on both my machines, and backed up on Time Machine, I think I should be fairly safe for now.

How do you use Dropbox?