iPhone 3.0 More Than Just a Firmware Boost?
Like many ‘iPhoners’ I am anticipating the new 3.0 firmware and all its esteemed new functionalities. Apple have already announced over 100 new features, including the long awaited copy and paste (about time if you ask me), MMS messaging as well as apples solution to background apps, push notifications. Also, developers will now be able to take advantage of the native iPhone apps and use areas of those apps in their own. This allows apps to have such utilities as the mail function incorporated in their app.
With this, Apple has allocated developers the opportunity to make turn-by-turn direction apps. However, Apple says the owners will have to BYOMs – Bring Your Own Maps, as they have not got licensing to the maps provided by Google.
There is no doubt about it, iPhone 3.0 is going to be awesome. But will it only be a software bump? I suspect that with 3.0 will come a hardware spec upgrade. I personally think the new iPhone will be re-shaped and re-named. I’m assuming cosmetic effects such as a uni-body case, with maybe a higher megapixel camera as well as a front facing camera. As far as the name goes, I can imagine something like the ‘iPhone Pro’ or ‘iPhone 3rd Gen’.
There are some people who speculate it will have a slide out QWERTY keyboard, but both me and Andy think this is unlikely as we believe Apple have spent years perfecting their multi-touch screen and also, there are no implications for a QWERTY in the beta versions for 3.0.
If you have any predictions for the upcoming iPhone firmware/hardware feel free to leave a comment below.
Thanks for reading!
- Alex
MacBook Review
Yes, for Christmas i was lucky enough to receive a MacBook. So i’d thought i would let all the Another Blog readers know about how it is to live with.
First off, yes, i do love all Apple products. But I’m in know way a “FanBoy” or whatever you oh so cool internets people would like to call me. And i don’t hate Microsoft, just dislike them. I seem to not get on with Windows, but i put up with it because there’s no denying that Windows XP at least, is a vary capable OS. However, After having bad experience with a Dell PC, i decided to get a cheap old Powermac G4 off eBay. And immediately fell in love with Apple’s OSX. It just works!
So here i am, typing on this, my first new Mac. And all i can say is wow. First off, on the subject of typing, the keyboard is the best keyboard I’ve ever used, and the fact its on a laptop is just even better! As for the mouse, again like most Apple products it just works as you want it too. And once u get used to using it and realise what different finger combinations and movements do, it really becomes perfect. Overall aesthetically its business as usual, looks great, performs well. And of course the latest incarnation of Apple’s OSX, Leopard, is fantastic.
Downsides? Well i guess carrying around a £1k laptop is not the best security choice, but i cant really complain about price, if you like Apple stuff you’ve got to pay the premium. And so far, thats the only downside’s. Except for the fact Windows Live Messenger for Mac isn’t great but it does the job really. And the iSight camera is pretty much useless unless you know people with iChat. Which i don’t.
But anyway, what do you lot really think of Apple products? Do you prefer them to Microsoft? Or have you got an opinion completely different to mine? Why not comment below with your own opinions!
Jason.
Boag World Review
I have been listening for the best part of this year to BoagWorld and thought that the website owners / bloggers / web dudes out their would benefit from their ineffable wisdom as well.
What do they do?
They produce a podcast dedicated to the web design / development industry. They generally have a news section, feature (in depth look at a subject or someone speaking about their experiences in the industry and so on) and then a user feed back section.
Their arch rivals Rissington
I only know of one other decent (or half decent) web design podcast out their and that is The Rissington Podcast. There is a fierce rivalry between the podcasts so if you better decide which side your bread is buttered and baton down the hatches for the war. No seriously they love each other really but the Rissington Podcast I am sad to say cannot compare as it is done so irregularly.
Anyway I just thought you lot would benefit from these (well boag world and a laugh at Rissington). They have certainly helped me keep up to date with the industry.
- Andrew
TV Catchup
Now some may say that we as the younger generation spend to much time watching television and surfing the internet. Well today I found a site that mixes these two passions together in a phenomenon called On-line TV streaming. You may be thinking that on-line television would be expensive and slow but no. TV Catchup is totally free! All you have to do is register and you can stream all the major UK channels.
Anyway, I thought you lot would be interested. It certainly had impressed me but I would still love to hear your evaluations of the site.
Thanks
- Andrew
The Microsoft fan boy is wavering
For many years I have been a Microsoft fan boy in love with the PC and the Xbox both original and 360. This is starting to wane and my mind is refocusing. Granted I am not going to be ditching my 360 any time soon as a fervently believe that it is the best console on the market but I am really thinking about purchasing a Mac Book Pro to replace my archaic Packard Bell laptop. Now there are plenty of post wars between Mac Fan boys and Windows lovers and I don’t want this to turn into one so I am going to state some facts and then ask for your opinions (submitted to andrew@anotherblog.co.uk).
Anyway lets just get some background information. Well I am a web designer and developer using the Adobe creative sweet currently including Dreamweaver, Ilustraor and of course Photoshop. Now I am going to state some pro’s and con’s of both and then I would like you (the reader) to send me your opinions (they will be featured in the follow up post to this in a few weeks time).
Windows based PC’s (Vista)
Pros:
- Null, Zilch, Zero
- Did I mention I hate Vista (can see the hate mail weaving its way already)
- Ow, ok it looks kinda nice (ish)
Cons:
- Unstable
- Insecure
- Asks you three times if you want to do anything
- Needs its hand held whilst peeing
- Need I go on?
Windows based PC’s (XP)
Pros:
- Stable
- Secure (as it can be)
- User friendly
Cons:
- Out of date
- Unsupported (officially)
Mac
Pros:
- Beautifully designed
- Well thought out interface
- Very good work flow with adobe applications
- Many, many unique applications on the platform for web development
Cons:
- Hmmm some things are not compatible with mac…
- Other than that… nothing
Anyway I have said my piece. What do you think?
Thanks Andrew
Xbox 360 Dashboard update!
Yes thats right! Microsoft is changing the way your Xbox 360 looks this Autumn.
The upcoming Fall Update is said to be released next month. It includes the new avatar system which is basically a slightly more Grown up version of Nintendo’s Mii character customization. Players will be able to create a cartoon version of them self for their Gamertag. So expect a bit of fun from making your guy look like some sort of wierd police photo fit. These Avatars will also be incorporated into your friends list, or should i say they wont? Because instead of a simple list of Gamertags, you will simply see your friends standing around. Like some sort of social gathering, for social mis-fits. Anyway again this is quite a nice feature and should be fun to play about with.
Besides this the Dashboard has a fresh knew look, borrowing ideas from Microsoft’s operating system, Vista. Everything is much more clear cut and colourful. In my opinion it looks great and will surely make Sony quake in their metephorical boots.
It appears that Microsoft are once again trying to have a slice of Nintendo’s “Everyone can play” sort of use ability. Because the knew interface, on the face of it, appears to be easier to get to grips with. However whether the new Dashboard will run smoothly on the 360, only time will tell. I have no doubt the newer systems can handle it. However some people like me, still have 360’s from back in December 2005. That’s right there are some still alive! It seems just as Microsoft have gotten the system stable, they’ve come up with this ambitious project. But having been there for the 360’s shaky beginnings, i really hope this works.
Jason.
The 4th Gen Ipod Nano
It seems only yesterday that they released the 3rd generation iPod but here it is on my desk in front of me as I write. The forth generation iPod Nano. Well what are my first impressions? Well they seem to be extremely positive. The design alone is enough to make you upgrade from what ever other MP3 player you currently own. This just blows them away. The sleek tapered edges and the excellent coloring (of my black one anyway) just work. Also the return to the original shape and size is also a good move although the new nano measures up maybe 1-2 millimeters longer than the 2nd generation nano.
New features of the 4 Gen iPod Nano
Well the main two points are the genius playlist and the accelerometer. Well the first has yet to convince me but it is still in its early days so I will give it a chance. I just don’t think that at the moment its choices are that perfect but well we will see wont we. Now for possibly the coolest new feature of the 4th gen Nano possesses is the accelerometer. This is a really cool adition making it a joy to search through your album covers and the new game maze a hit!
Is it really worth it?
With all the problems we are seeing in the global financial sector can you justify a new Ipod. The short answer is YES! The long is what are you waiting for!
I hope this has persuaded you to think about buying the ipod… honestly its worth it!
Thanks
- Andrew
Xbox 360 - Lips
Lips. It’s like SingStar but with added percussion. You use the wireless microphones to sing along to the words onscreen, and fill in drums, cymbal crashes and tambourine shakes with a wave of the motion sensitive mic.
There are 40 songs to choose from, as well as the ability to plug your mp3 player into the console to warble over tracks stored on that. It uses original artist videos, and dampens the vocal track so you can lay your own singing over the top.
Details about pricing and some of the specific features were sketchy, but it’s slated for a Christmas release.
On first impressions, it looked a lot like SingStar, albeit with a little bit of Rock Band thrown in. Should be quite fun!
Thanks for reading!
- Alex