Over on Twitter, Brett Kelly (@inkedmn) mentioned that he’s tired of most of his music collection. This was a problem for me a while back, but I have two suggestions that can help. If you’re in need of a breath of fresh musical air, read on. Read the rest of this entry »
Popularity: unranked [?]
For some people, it might seem useless to keep hacking at devices that Apple is actively working to not allow hacking. But, here’s why iPhone/iPod Touch hacking matters.
When Apple releases an update, those participating in the hacking festivities have to decide whether or not to upgrade. With the iPhone 1.1.1 update, we got a slew of new features including home button double-click, the double space shortcut, additional SMS notification tones, and the iTunes Wifi Music Store to name a few. This makes it harder for hackers to lag in their upgrading.
So, now, it’s up to the hackers. They’ll get back to work on breaking into the iPhone and iPod Touch. That goes without saying. And as the dance continues, Apple will need to continue to push out new features and provide other compelling reasons for users to upgrade their device software.
So, the reason hacking matters is because it’s good for users. And not just for the intrepid users who are making use of the hacks. Hacking puts pressure on Apple to provide compelling reasons, i.e. new features, for users to upgrade, and that is good for all users.
Popularity: 51% [?]
First reports of iPhone VoIP application surface:
[I]t does look like a true, calls-over-WiFi VoIP client for the iPhone could be just around the corner.
In my opinion, this is precisely why Apple is so aggressively guarding the iPod Touch from hackers.
The quality of VoIP and the ubiquity of WiFi in many areas makes this a clear choice. It’s not just about the price difference between the iPhone and iPod Touch (which is likely only a minor consideration if you’re considering one or the other). I can’t imagine anyone who wouldn’t jettison an AT&T relationship (and its associated bill, of course) for a free or dirt cheap VoIP option.
This may relate to VoIP explicitly, but I see it more as a general rule of protecting their interests. In the wake of yesterday’s flurry of applause for Amazon’s new MP3 sales service, I can precisely see where Apple wouldn’t want a native version of Amazon’s Downloader for iPhone or iPod Touch as that would put at risk their most long-awaited feature for any iPod as well as the cash cow that is the home base iTunes Store.
In this respect, I see a certain degree of paranoia coming out of Apple. Maybe it’s a result of dealing with music and movie publishers. (I would also add mobile phone companies to that list.) Whatever the reason is, it’s unbecoming of Apple.
(Via The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW).)
Popularity: 59% [?]
© Copyright 2010 | jamiephelps.com | All Rights Reserved
