This Isn't About The New iPhone

It seems like everyone is excited about the new iPhone that was introduced by Apple on Monday (many people are actually calling it the Jesusphone) but I think everyone's missing the big picture.

What triggered those thoughts was yesterday's blog post from Mashable, discussing what was really revolutionary about the new iPhone:

And, The Really Big Thing About The New iPhone Is... GPS. Global Positioning System . Geo-anything. Location based services. (...) Why hasn’t all this happened before? Three words: ease of use. While you could have done all these things for the Symbian or Blackberry or Windows ME platforms (provided the device had GPS capabilities), it just took too many clicks and required too much fidgeting for any of it to get mass appeal.

I actually agree with that statement. The iPhone is well designed, it's very easy to use, it's now location-aware and the touchscreen navigation is amazing...

BUT...

• RIM (Blackberry) is working on a similar device


• Nokia is working on a similar device


• Samsung is working on a similar device


• HTC is probably working on a similar device


• Google might be working on a GooglePhone

I give kudos to Apple for innovating, creating a user-focused device and forcing change in a market that badly needed the kick in the pants but, the same way the social Web is not about Facebook, Friendfeed or Twitter, the mobile Web is not about Apple and the iPhone. It's about permanent change in the way we access the mobile Web and that's good. But, it's certainly not about the iPhone...

Update1: David Pogue from the New York Times reviews the Samsung Instinct.

New Firefox 3 Browser Offers More Features

Mozilla's latest version of its popular Firefox browser, Firefox 3 (Release Candidate), is available for testing purposes only. So, in the ongoing browser wars between Microsoft's Internet Explorer (version 8 beta available), Apple's Safari browser, the Opera browser, and Mozilla's Firefox, who is winning? The Netscape Navigator browser died a slow death and eventually dropped out of the race leaving the others to duke it out. So, who is winning? No surprise, based on Q1 2008 data from Net Applications, IE leads the pack with a 75.06% global usage market share followed by 17.35% for Firefox, Safari at 5.78%, and Opera at 0.67%.

With Firefox 3, what exactly is new? What can we look forward to in the next generation web browser. Well, their site lists a laundry list of goodies but here are the magic 3 improvements.

1. More Ease of Use

• Full page zoom: with FF3, you will be able to zoom in and out of entire pages, scaling the layout, text and images, or only the text size. And your settings will be saved whenever you return to the site.

• Save what you were doing: Firefox will prompt users to save tabs on exit. Love that!
  

• Text selection: multiple text selections, double-click drag selects in "word-by-word" mode, and triple-clicking selects a paragraph.

• Find toolbar: the Find toolbar now opens with the current selection.

2. More Personalization

• Tags: ability to tag your bookmarks to sort them by topic.

• Location bar & auto-complete: type in all or part of the title, tag or address of a page to see a list of matches from your history and bookmarks.

3. More Security

• One-click site info: click the site favicon in the location bar to see who owns the site and to check if your connection is protected from eavesdropping.

• Malware Protection: malware protection warns you if navigate to a site known to install viruses, spyware, trojans or other malware.

• New Web Forgery Protection page: the content of pages suspected as web forgeries is no longer shown.

• New SSL error pages: clearer and stricter error pages are used when Firefox encounters an invalid SSL certificate.

Will You Listen To Your Apple iPod If It Is Saying You Are Overweight?

A series of patents filed by Apple Computer today, and uncovered by Apple Insider, suggest that Apple is working on enhancements to the iPod to make is a "lifestyle" companion. Based on the patents Apple appears to be working on ways to have the iPod monitor the health and exercise of the user via new programming and new peripheral monitoring devices that may attach to the body or use motion detection to keep track of walking and other exercise routines.

Although lifestyle contraptions are nothing new, Apple appears to have some clever social networking ideas up it's virtual sleeve as well. For example one module will allow users to challenge others to competitions:

"A rewards system of the present invention also can permit a user to challenge one or more users to a competition. Based on data about the competitors' activities and user-defined allocation parameters, the rewards system can automatically distribute rewards to the user account(s) of victorious competitor(s)."

This social networking aspect of the new Apple system could be a milestone in using online social networking for health purposes, though it remains to be seen if building online health relationships will really lead most to health and happiness.

Auto Install = shame on Apple

Apple´s feeling the fury and heat for a somewhat tricky feature that led many users to inadvertently install the Safari browser during a recent Apple update. Although it possibly was an innocent mistake, it is more likely that Apple marketing pushed this approach knowing that making the install a defaulted feature would lead to an increase in installs, and assumed the benefits of this would outweigh the criticism.

CNET's Tom Krazit inexplicable suggests that this is the users fault, saying in his post Look, people, it's 2008: You're responsible for what you install on your PC.

Sorry Tom, but this is not a reasonable way to move ahead with installations. Users should always express concern and should punish companies when they provide misleading installation information.

In the case of viruses or adware, the punishment should be severe and include legal remedies for those who have to take the time to remove nuisance or malicious applications.

Alltop.com "online magazine rack" launches

The launch of Alltop.com has been announced by startup guru and former Apple PR mastermind Guy Kawasaki. Alltop is a new website that aggregates media from many online sources.

Today on Kawasaki's blog he wrote:

A good metaphor is that Alltop is an "online magazine rack" that displays the news from the top publications and blogs. Our goal is to satisfy the information needs of the 99% of Internet users who will never use an RSS feed reader or create a custom page.

Alltop carves up their information space in a somewhat unique way, starting with the following categories: work, living, people, interests, culture geekery, good (!), and news

These categories in turn each have several subcategories such as "autos", "egos", and "small business".

Within the subcategories you find dozens of blogs and online news sources arranged in what seems like a very haphazard way. Posts from these sources are listed below them and popups allow you to scan the stories. I'm not at all clear yet about what determines who appears where and why.

After my first few tests of Alltop I'm really not enjoying what I see as cumbersome navigation with popup boxes and an ocean of text content which seems to me harder to scan than it need be. However I sure like the idea of a fast way to scan the most prominent blogs and media for the latest stories. For technology news I certainly prefer TechMeme, which offers stories as well as comments about those stories.

Web 2.0 Conference Raffle Prize Winners

Many thanks to Expo companies Mzinga and BayArea Internet for providing raffle prizes at the Web 2.0 Conference & Expo last Tuesday. The winners of the prizes were as follows:


Kindle Winner, Dan Olsen, with Mzinga Team; iPhone Winner with BayArea Internet Rep

Google's $10M Android Competition Opens

Want to develop applications for Google's new Android mobile phone platform and make a cool $275K?! Google has put $10M into a competition to do just that. The idea is to develop a lot of original cool apps that are highly functional as well as usable. The apps need to access core Android functionality like location-based services, accelerometer and always-on networking.

The smartphone market is heating up and Google is looking to the development community to create the killer app that's going to make people switch to Android. Apple also recently announced that it will be releasing an iPhone/iPod Touch SDK in late Feb.

Google Apps Experience Improved On iPhone

Google has made a number of improvements to their Google Apps on the iPhone. Just a month after the launch of its initial version, the Google Apps for iPhone diehards have gotten even slicker. The web applications including Search, Gmail, Calendar, and Reader are now sporting an even more streamlined interface intended to make the applications faster, easier to activate, and improve their overall usability via the iPhone touch-screen interface.

The new features include the ability to customize default tabs for easier navigation, speedier Gmail where new emails automatically appear eliminating the need to do a manual refresh, at-a-glance monthly view of Calendar appointments, and access to and synchronization of iGoogle gadgets on the iPhone. The redesign is intended to provide iPhone users with a desktop-like web application experience optimized for the iPhone.

Google plans to expand this experience to international versions of the iPhone and to other platforms that offer similar usability and browser capabilities. To get the new Google experience on the iPhone, navigate to www.google.com on the iPhone Safari browser.

Steve Jobs' Macworld 2008 Keynote

Microsoft High Fashion PCs

The next gen of Microsoft PCs is shaping up to be fashionable. Yes, you heard right! Microsoft is staying au current recognizing that laptops are now more than just a useful device but more so a trendy fashion accessory. The company is coming out with high-fashion PCs and held a fashion PC show at CES to showcase some of their designs.

And, they are not the only ones. Sony, ASUS, Lenovo and Gateway are also in on the action and are coming out with more "pretty" computers. OEMs are taking a page from fashion designers and are blinging out laptop cases with anything from cow fur, aluminum, leather and carbon fiber. Apple hardware has long been very sleek and cool, thereby, attracting a lot of younger users and maybe even bucking this trend; whereas, Microsoft's has been more enterprise and less focussed on aesthetic design. This is a step in the right direction for Microsoft in capturing a younger consumer market and moving the needle a little in terms of their brand perception.

Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac

In what can only be an acknowledgement of the growing popularity of Macs and a lucrative market opportunity, Microsoft is finally coming out with an updated version of Office for Mac in mid-Jan. The previous version was Office 2004 for Mac. PC Mag has done a full review complete with screenshots. If you are a Mac user, it is reportedly faster, has a bunch of improvements, and depending on which edition you want runs from $149-499.

First Ever Apple Tablet Mac Debuts

The first ever Apple approved tablet Mac has been released. The Modbook, which is designed with mobile users, artists, students and professionals in mind, uses a pen-sensitive LCD slate-style display for on-screen writing and drawing.

The Modbook True Pen & Handwriting Recognition allows users to draw, paint, scribble and write directly onto the screen. The state-of-the-art pen input has 512 pressure levels. The tablet comes pre-installed with Mac OS X Leopard and is powered by a 2.0 or 2.2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor. It has a 13.3-inch screen and built-in iSight webcam and a CD/DVD combo drive. The Modbook also has built-in 802.11 a/b/g/n capabilities for WiFi access, a built-in CD/DVD or DVD burner, and an optional GPS system.

The Modbook is a modified standard MacBook converted into a tablet computer with its screen and keyboard separated and replaced with a tablet screen. The device can be had in a standard satin or optional mirror finish and has a MSRP starting at $2,290.

Apple Taking a Bite Out of Market Share

In December 2007, it appears that Apple experienced a gain in market share for all lines of the Mac and iPhone. According to a report by Net Applications, the company's market share rose 7.5% for the Mac operating system (OS) and 33% for the iPhone from November to December experiencing the biggest increase in the last two days of December. "This represents a phenomenal increase of 18% from November for the Mac and 89% for the iPhone. In addition, the iPhone has been taking off in France and the other countries it has been launched in, including an amazing .27% share of web browsing in the United States." The Mac OS market share grew from 6.38% in February, 2007 to 7.31% in December, 2007. In all, Net Applications' stats indicate that the top three spots for the OS share market for 2007 went to Windows at 92.91%, Mac at 6.40%, and Linux at 0.46%.

Why Apple Is An "A" Player

I was at an Apple store yesterday - this one was newly refurbished - and was struck by how kool and high tech it is. The store is kinda easy on the eye, open, and new-age design much like Apple products (iPhone, Mac, iPod, etc.). Hit the closest available Mac to surf online - the graphical picture quality is next to none. And, if you have some, get your kids started early by dropping them off at the kiddie Mac play area complete with miniature sized everything. There are built-in plasmas on the wall telling you who is the next customer being served and offering up tips on how to use your Apple products along with definitions of terms like Wi-Fi and bandwidth, etc. There are store clerks everywhere. I made the mistake of pausing a few times and was instantly approached each time by a clerk offering their assistance. No need to checkout your purchases at the cashier, clerks on the floor come out-fitted with electronic POS devices. Got a Mac because it looks cool but have no idea how to use it, a friend of mine mentioned he was getting his friend a one- to two-hour lesson for Christmas with an in-store Apple "genius". Ok, I wouldn't consider myself a die-hard Apple fan - I have a Mac collecting dust - but I do like Apple products and their product and UI designs and experience (on- and offline) are good. Not perfect but good. Where else can you get this?!

The Apple Online Store is equally cutting-edge. The UI is clean, clear, streamlined, and seemingly simple. It is Web 2.0-esque with the use of gradients and radial-edged corners. It is wide-screen, utilizes a lot of white, displays a lot of content which is well organized and clearly labeled. The scale of images is not overly large or small. The online store site is clearly identified at the top left with a store-specific search (separate from the general site search), contact tel, and online chat.

The company has had a stellar year and with their recent release of Mac OS X Leopard, they sold 2 million copies in the first weekend. Fresh on the rumor circuit is that Apple has sold nearly 5 million iPhones since its debut in June, half of their '07 and '08 goal. Apple is also currently embroiled in a controversial case against Harvard student, Nicholas M. Ciarelli's web site, Think Secret, which reports on leaked insider info about Apple's product plans. They have reportedly come to an undisclosed settlement which, in essence, means the site will be shut down. Nonetheless, they keep pushing the edge on product and UI designs and I look forward to what's to come from them in the new year.

10 Reasons Microsoft Fired CIO

Microsoft hired Stuart L. Scott in 2003 and touted him as one of the top CIOs. Today, he was fired. As CIO, he was required to test new technologies, products, and services to ensure the company stayed competitive and on the cutting edge. But here are reasons he was fired:

1. Installing Linux on his laptop.
2. Switching to a Mac.
3. Using Google search engine.
4. Listening to his iPod instead of Zune.
5. Using his iPhone without Windows Mobile.
6. Checking his Gmail instead of Hotmail.
7. Installing Firefox and removing IE.
8. Listening to Steve Jobs' podcasts.
9. Discovering SQL Server is really MySQL.
10. Laughing at Facebook's valuation.

The GPhone Is Here Already

There has been so much talk about the Google GPhone (NASDAQ: GOOG), that I feel like I have one. Google has also assembled many of the requirements for a next generation internet mobile company such as mobile search, mobile maps, web based voice mail, voice enable directory service, mobile advertising and many other offerings that I am probably not aware of. So a device is not that much of a stretch. Google could give a struggling device manufacturer a significant boost in distribution. Google could offer free calls anywhere in the world subsidized by ads of course, and running off its massive internet backbone. I already use GrandCentral and it is an amazing tool. For more on GrandCentral please Google it. Also, does Apple know something we don't? Is the gphone launch imminent or are the cutting the price of the 8G iPhone simply because it is not moving? In the meantime I am Gruuving with my iPhone and GServices.

How to beat Google

Forbes has an interesting article on how companies can beat Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) when it comes to recruiting talent.

By Brian Caulfield

Let's just call the Googleplex what it really is: the ultimate recruiting tool. Employees are shuttled to Google's Mountain View, Calif., headquarters for free. Once they arrive, they're treated to massages and free gourmet meals. Plus, they're surrounded by thousands of young, type-A employees from the best schools.

Oh, and then there's the ultimate status symbol: Google's soaring stock price.

Google (nasdaq: GOOG - news - people ) has been grabbing talent at a ferocious pace. It's on track to double its head count to 20,000 from 10,000 at the end of last year. It employs swarms of contract recruiters to scour top engineering schools for fresh-faced newbies and raid competitors for hoary veterans. Read the glowing press clips and you'd think that Google has an insurmountable edge in the war for tech talent. The stakes can't be much higher: Even if it never capitalizes on the ideas all those brilliant new hires generate, Google locks them away from would-be competitors.

But if you talk to people who have worked inside Google's recruiting operation--or people who have competed against it--they'll tell you that the Silicon Valley's ultimate hiring machine can be beat. The trick: use Google's consensus-driven decision-making process--and exacting standards--against it. "Hiring over there is a protracted battle, to say the least," says one recruiter.

To understand how to beat Google, you first need to know its history. Early on, the company faced a dilemma. While the company's co-founders, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, are Stanford-educated computer scientists--in other words, they are quite bright--as the smartest companies get bigger, they tend to get dumber. Call it reversion to the mean.

So, Google created a process designed to keep Google chock full of brainiacs. The result: an exacting, consensus-driven process. New hires are vetted extensively to ensure that they are not only smart enough, but that they'd fit in with Google's culture.

That makes speed Google's biggest vulnerability, recruiters say. While a Google hire might have to endure round after round of interviews, a savvy company can pluck off a candidate at the manager level and below by hitting him with an offer--and giving him or her just a few days to respond.

Tough standards are Google's other vulnerability. The company targets graduates of top schools who have top grades: that all but rules out, say, Microsoft Founder Bill Gates or Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs, neither of whom have a college degree.

Moreover, candidates on the cusp will get less lucrative offers from Google than candidates from elite schools with the top grades that Google targets. That makes a brilliant student from an out-of-the-way school a soft target.

Another weakness: A single objection will almost always sink a candidate's chances of ever getting hired at Google, those familiar with the company say. That gives a competitor a shot at grabbing a socially awkward but otherwise brilliant young engineer.

The most daunting problem for Google, however, is a math problem. While Google Chief Executive Eric Schmidt asserts that Google's growth is accelerating as it grows larger, that pace may slow down: Google disappointed Wall Street after admitting it "overspent" on new hires during its latest quarter.

Moreover, recruiters are already pointing to Microsoft and Cisco (nasdaq: CSCO - news - people ) when talking about the future of Google. The two mega-cap tech companies cranked out millionaires in their earlier days, but their share prices have been sedate for years now. Google may only hire geniuses, but it doesn't take a genius to figure out that Google is just too big to make its newest employees as rich as their peers.