Apple
Apple’s iPad / iPhone HTML5 Bet: HTML5 Drawing App Proves Capabilities
Recently I’ve been posting on HTML5 versus Flash. Many people who are not familiar with HTML5 may not know exactly the amount of power that has been provided with the new spec. HTML 4 was nice, and a big upgrade, but I believe HTML 5 will be an even larger upgrade over HTML4.
The reason we are talking about HTML5, is Apple seems to be placing their bets on it. Apple continues to refuse to have Flash running on their controlled devices (iPhone, iPad, etc) and seems to be pushing for HTML5 to take over.
We are slowly having to rethink the capabilities of the “HTML” platform that we have grown to know over the past 15 years. › Continue reading
Apple, Adobe, Flash, iPhone, iPad and Open Source
I just saw an interesting blog “Back and Forth” between a few sites:
- Robert Scoble at Scobleizer
- John Gruber at Daring Fireball
- Dave Winer at scripting.com
The conversation revolves around the future of Flash and open standards. › Continue reading
iPad, iPhone, Apple — and Flash. A Sad Story.
Anyone who regularly reads this blog (sorry) can see how optimistic I am that the iPhone will eventually support flash. Today I read news that entirely dashes those hopes.
I just hopped over to MacRumors.com (I love that site) and saw this, Steve Jobs at Apple Town Hall Meeting on Google, Adobe, Next iPhone, 2010 Macs and More.
In the article MacRumors reports:
Apple does not support Flash because it is so buggy, he says. Whenever a Mac crashes more often than not its because of Flash. No one will be using Flash, he says. The world is moving to HTML5.
That is, what I consider to be, the final nail in the coffin. Steve Jobs has shown his hand with regards to Flash.
A few weeks ago, news hit the internet of a clever developer who had implemented his own HTML/Javascript version of Flash — and it worked on the iPhone. You can see this at the demos of Gordon – An open source Flash runtime written in pure JavaScript with SVG.
What does all this mean? Flash won’t be allowed on Apple’s most cherished devices.
If Steve Jobs is experiencing headaches because of Flash and there is an alternative, why wouldn’t he pursue it? HTML flash handle Flash like effects in an open format, a format in which Apple can control and mitigate the reach of Adobe into its own products.
It has been over a year since Adobe was able to demo Flash running on the iPhone. Why hasn’t it made it on the iPhone? Well Steve Jobs and Apple both believe the future is in the canvases of HTML 5. Video can be properly (and easily) embedded, sound included, animation effects that surpass today’s AJAX packages, and many other facets that make HTML 5 a candidate to replace Flash.
This doesn’t make me happy. I’ve come to love Flash as it has evolved.
Apple will use all forces it can to stop Adobe from growing their Flash install base. While Apple has control over a large platform, the iPhone/iPad, they will force developers to adapt to the new technologies such as HTML 5.
Apple has zero intention on ever letting Flash hit the iPhone, iPad, or even any computer if they could do that. I don’t foresee them stopping Flash from their full fledged computers, that would be suicide.
Say goodbye to the romantic notion of Flash on your Apple device.
On the Apple iPad: Problems I See
For the first time in years I think Apple has missed the target. There are so many problems that I see, right now, with the iPad. › Continue reading
Apple Announces the iPad
It’s finally here. No more rumors / guessing. Apple has finally announced the iPad.
This afternoon Steve Jobs announced the upcoming launch of the iPad at the Yerba Buena Center in San Francisco. › Continue reading
Apple: iTunes won’t transfer HD tv show to my iPhone 3GS
First of all, I’m on tech support with Apple and couldn’t say better things about their tech support staff. They are intelligent, helpful, polite — and very easy to understand and work with.
Just today, before going to the gym (you can tell I haven’t done this in a while) — I went to sync season 3 of Heroes (very good show) to my iPhone to entertain me while on the treadmill. It doesn’t work. › Continue reading
Google Nexus One: New video, and ramblings
Right up front, I’m getting one. Rumors say that it will be $99 for current “Google” users. I’m hoping that means at least one of the dozens of Google services that I’m currently signed up for. While I am getting one, I won’t be replacing my current iPhone 3GS with it, just testing it out. Only if I really love it will I consider leaving AT&T and my beloved iPhone. › Continue reading
iPhone OS 3.0: Update on “Copy and Paste”, on Tuesday 3/17/2009
According to Macrumors.com, Kevin Rose (of Digg fame) revealed details about “Copy and Paste” functionality during a taping of Diggnation at SXSW.
Watch the video of Kevin’s description of the functionality. You just double click the word, it highlights, then you use the magnified view to drag quotes before and after the word to select your target. You can then cut or copy it.
Additionally, the Apple event announcing details on iPhone OS 3.0 is actually on Tuesday, not Monday like I had reported last week.
iPhone OS 3.0 – Apple to preview on March 17th, 2009
Apple will be previewing the new iPhone OS 3.0 on Monday March 17th, 2009 @ 1pm EST (10am PST) at the Cupertino Apple Town Hall.
This has been repoted by quite a few various sources including Engadget, Macrumors, etc.
As far as “What” will be presented, it is known that this will be a developer version of the operating system only. It will show off an updated SDK (for developing for the iPhone OS 3.0).
Rumors are running rampant on the net with regards to what the new OS major revision will contain.
Widely held to be true, are rumors of:
- MMS (Multimedia text messaging)
- Tethering via Bluetooth and USB (we’ve been talking about tethering on the iPhone for a while now, this isn’t a big surprise — after all it already worked almost a year ago)
More “out there” options, that have no confirmation, but seem likely are:
- New Home screen app (SpringBoard) – we all now have too many apps to efficiently manage with the 16 icons (+4 static) per screen
- Push notification to apps
- Background processes
- Copy & Paste
- Flash support
- Magnetometer support (digital compasses, as in the Android G1)
- Syncing of notes
- Better bluetooth support (headphones, car kits, etc)
- Horizontal Keyboard
- Video Conferencing (ok, we’re stretching it now)
In my opinion, we’re likely to see MMS, as well as tethering. Don’t get too excited, I’m sure tethering will come with a clause from ATT (most likely a monthly fee just like the blackberry).
Otherwise if we get just 1 or 2 of the wishlist items, I think we should be happy. We’ve been looking for Copy / Paste, Flash, Push notification, and background processes for a while. I know push notification is working for “MobileMe”, but I mean the type of push notification Apple was touting last summer (here’s a hint, its the same as the original Exchange push notification that Apple NEEDED to have in order to somewhat compete with blackberry).
Let’s hope there is good news on Monday for us all.
How To: Throw an iTunes DJ Party
With Apple’s iTunes 8.1 release, we now have iTunes DJ. It used to be Party Shuffle (for the past few years) but now we have a few new toys.
The biggest of which is the ability to allow guests to your party to vote for songs. Guests can see the song details, upcoming songs, request songs in your library, and vote on which songs they want to hear next.
So how do we do it?
Setup iTunes for DJ
You’ll need a computer running iTunes. Open up iTunes (making sure to have updated to the newest release, 8.1 is the first release to support all the functionality mentioned here). Click on iTunes DJ.
You are now in the iTunes DJ screen. In the lower part of the playlist window are the iTunes DJ options (seen below)
Here are the various components:
Source – This is where iTunes DJ will get the songs it shuffles automatically. Remember this when throwing a party, so people don’t have to see your Backstreet Boys collection. I have it set to my entire music collection (uh oh!)
Refresh – It refreshes your playlist. Real boring.
Settings – click here to setup iTunes DJ properly, here’s the window you will see (seen below)
A bit more fun, I have filled in some values.
The most important thing on this screen is the “Allow guests to request songs with Remote for iPhone or iPod touch”, as it lets us do everything in the rest of this article.
Your welcome message will show up in your guests Remote application (seen below, ignore my note about looking in a playlist, you can’t do that only browse by artist, album, song, genre, music videos, composers or a general search)
Going back to the settings in iTunes… you will want to click “Enable Voting” to let guests vote for the next song.
If you don’t set a password, anyone on your Wifi can see your iTunes DJ list, and make requests. Then again, hopefully you don’t have an open wifi point. If you do, I recommend a password.
Easy setup right?
Now the fun stuff: Remote.
As I discovered, if you are already registered with your iTunes on Remote, you will not see the welcome message. That is only for guests. If you want to see it work, remove your iTunes from remote. Tada!
Here are some screens you will see in iTunes:
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When your guests first load your “iTunes DJ” guest, they will see the current song. The album artwork will be there (a nice touch, I like having all album artwork in there, easy with “Get Album Artwork”). Your guests are presented with 3 options here. They can Request a Song (big button on bottom) to be added to your playlist, go back to the current playlist, or view Genius recommendations. |
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If your guests click on the “i” in the top right corner, they will see the Genius recommendations, clicking on “+” will add it to the iTunes DJ playlist. It will be added with “1″ vote. If other guests like the song and want it sooner, tell them to “vote” for the song (coming up in the next screengrab). Again this screen doesn’t look so good if you have a messy library, or missing artwork. Guests can tap “Back” to go back to “Now Playing”. |
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Here is how your users see your playlist. In light grey up top, we see “This Town” was just played. Normally the single most recent is visible but guests can scroll up to see more (based on the setting in iTunes). Currently playing is highlighted in black. Next songs are below. If a guest clicks on a “heart” next to a song they are voting for that song to be played next. The song with the most votes comes next. Guests can still request a song, exit out to setting, or view the “Now Playing” song. |
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If, at any point, a guest clicks on “Request a Song” — they are brought to a basic music navigation screen. There is no playlists option, or some other options. Users can search by most other parameters though. Keep in mind, that this is your entire “Source” that you defined earlier. If you want to limit choices to “Country”, or maybe “80s” music, then make an appropriate Playlist/Smart Playlist, and mark it as the source in the iTunes DJ “Source”. Interestingly “Music Videos” is listed here. Maybe just for the music, maybe for a future AppleTV update. |
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