Archive for October, 2007
October 17, 2007 at 10:14 pm · Filed under Software, Hardware
Apple’s iPhone strategy might be run by someone with a personality disorder. First, a massive price drop just a few months after hitting stores. Now, after offering a lame markup language as a ‘development platform’, and then bricking unlocked and otherwise modded iPhones (via a software update), today Apple announced that the iPhone will go open allowing third parties to create applications for the device. The iPod Touch is along for the ride, too.
Quoted from Apple’s Hot News section:
Third Party Applications on the iPhone
Let me just say it: We want native third party applications on the iPhone, and we plan to have an SDK in developers’ hands in February. We are excited about creating a vibrant third party developer community around the iPhone and enabling hundreds of new applications for our users. With our revolutionary multi-touch interface, powerful hardware and advanced software architecture, we believe we have created the best mobile platform ever for developers.
It will take until February to release an SDK because we’re trying to do two diametrically opposed things at once—provide an advanced and open platform to developers while at the same time protect iPhone users from viruses, malware, privacy attacks, etc. This is no easy task. Some claim that viruses and malware are not a problem on mobile phones—this is simply not true. There have been serious viruses on other mobile phones already, including some that silently spread from phone to phone over the cell network. As our phones become more powerful, these malicious programs will become more dangerous. And since the iPhone is the most advanced phone ever, it will be a highly visible target.
Some companies are already taking action. Nokia, for example, is not allowing any applications to be loaded onto some of their newest phones unless they have a digital signature that can be traced back to a known developer. While this makes such a phone less than “totally open,” we believe it is a step in the right direction. We are working on an advanced system which will offer developers broad access to natively program the iPhone’s amazing software platform while at the same time protecting users from malicious programs.
We think a few months of patience now will be rewarded by many years of great third party applications running on safe and reliable iPhones.
Steve
P.S.: The SDK will also allow developers to create applications for iPod touch. [Oct 17, 2007]
Now that we’ve overcome that hurdle, Apple: bring ActiveSync to the iPhone!
Tags:Hardware, iPhone, iPhone ActiveSync, iPhone Development, iPhone Open, iPhone SDK, iPod Touch, Software, Steve Jobs, UnlockShare This
October 16, 2007 at 11:02 pm · Filed under Software
As noted in my previous post regarding the release of OS X Leopard, Apple has set their pricing at $129 for a single-seat license and $199 for a 5-seat Family Pack.
If you want to save a few bucks Amazon has both at a discount:
Tags:Leopard, OS X, SoftwareShare This
October 16, 2007 at 12:09 pm · Filed under Software
This morning Apple confirmed the rumored October 26th shipping date for OS X Leopard (version 10.5). In the press release (Apple to Ship OS X Leopard on October 26th) Jobs mocked Microsoft’s Vista pricing noting “…everyone get the ‘Ultimate’ version…for just $129.”
Full Pricing Information:
- Mac OS X Leopard Single Seat License: $129
- Mac OS X Leopard 5 Seat Family Pack: $199
- Mac OS Up-to-date Program (For Mac’s purchased on or after October 1st): $9.99 (Shipping and Handling only)
What’s new in this release? Learn more about Leopard’s 300+ new features on the Apple’s OS X Leopard page.
Tags:Leopard, Microsoft, OS X, Software, Steve Jobs, Windows VistaShare This
October 15, 2007 at 9:16 am · Filed under Hardware
Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. Computer Choppers presents:
The 24k Gold Plated MacBook Pro
Ah, just in time for the holidays.
Tags:Gold Plated MacBook, Hardware, MacBook ProShare This
October 12, 2007 at 4:32 pm · Filed under Software, Hardware
ActiveSync for iPhone? No word yet. iPXSync? It sounds great. Is ANYONE out there participating in this beta? As tedious days of accessing my work email via Outlook Web Access via my iPhone’s Safari web browser took their toll, I went in search of other iPhone Exchange access solutions.
Surprisingly, I found one: The company is called Visto, and their web site’s landing page describes their product in broad strokes: Visto Mobile will allow users to send and receive emails, appointments and tasks, as well as view attachments, from their cellphone for Microsoft Outlook or IBM Lotus Notes users. Curiously, they aren’t mentioning ‘Exchange’ or the word ’server’, but instead stating that Visto Mobile provides “mobile access to Microsoft Outlook.”
The Visto web site has a pre-registration form on its homepage which indicates a Q3 2007 free trial. The mention of the iPhone is no where to be found except on a page buried on the site. The page has an iPhone specific free trial sign-up form.
The original mention of Visto is an Everything iPhone forum post. Again, its unclear if this is a true sync solution. Fingers crossed for the real deal: ActiveSync for iPhone.
Tags:Hardware, iPhone, iPhone ActiveSync, iPXSync, Microsoft, Microsoft Exchange, SaaS, Software, Visto, Visto MobileShare This
October 10, 2007 at 9:19 pm · Filed under Software
As noted by a reader on a previous post, last night (October 9th) Microsoft posted release notes and a link to download the Mac Office beta. I have to check in to see exactly what we can say (if anything) while testing the software.
Without divulging anything of consequence at all I can say: I am a beta participant. I have installed the beta. And, I am a happy at the current time.
Tags:Microsoft, Microsoft Exchange, Office for Mac, SoftwareShare This
October 8, 2007 at 9:22 pm · Filed under Software
I was checking the Mac BU (business unit) blog today hoping to find some communication about the Office 2008 for Mac Corporate Beta program. As the other Beta testers out there know, when responding to the invitation we were informed that the Beta program would start on October 8th (today).
But, nothing happened today. There was no change at the Microsoft Connect web site, nor any communication to those who confirmed their participation.
What I did find at the Mac BU web site is a post by Geoff Price announcing that a major milestone was met today-”ZBB.” For everyone who doesn’t speak internal acronym here’s what it means (quoted material below is from the blog post—emphasis is mine):
ZBB what? This stands for Zero Bug Bounce, or as alternately phrased, Zero Bug Backlog. At this point we have been logging, tracking and verifying all changes to the product in great detail for some time – collectively we refer to this list of logged issues as the “bug list”, though in reality it includes a variety of issues including bug/defect reports, tracking records for artwork or content, usability improvements, numerous suggestions (submitted by team members or beta testers, or representing customer or partner requests), and various other categories of issues. The ZBB milestone is defined as the date across which we will no longer carry logged product issues that are more than one week old. Hence, the “backlog” of issues has been cleared out, and all older pending decisions on what we are or are not going to change before we ship have been made. It also means that the developers have “caught up” or “outpaced” the incoming find rate of our test efforts.
The article also confirmed that, as far as things stand now, the product is on schedule and will be available starting on January 15th, 2008 (depending upon region).
Great! Now what about that Corporate Beta program?
UPDATE: 9 Oct 2007: The Microsoft Connect web site has made release notes and installation information available. Still no link to download the software yet.
Tags:Beta, Microsoft, Office for Mac, SoftwareShare This
October 1, 2007 at 10:18 pm · Filed under Predictions, Software
Alright, I’ve created a new category: Predictions. I mentioned deep down in a previous post some theoretical scenarios for Apple solving the debacle that is OS X in Exchange environments. The scenario I leaned toward, and the one I’ll crown with the ‘prediction‘ moniker is:
Apple will author a new application, released as an iWork ‘09 upgrade, which provides Exchange support for calendaring, contact management, and email.
Time will tell. To get the background on how I talked myself into it, read the original post I mentioned it in (Email on a Mac in a Microsoft World).
Tags:iWork, Microsoft Exchange, OS X, Predictions, SoftwareShare This
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