Prior to the iPad announcement I predicted Apple would introduce a new version of the iPhone OS. This prediction was based upon the rumor the iPad would use the iPhone operating system.

Based upon the introduction and subsequent reviews by those who have actually seen an iPad, the device is indeed using the iPhone operating system. This was further validated when Apple introduced a new Software Development Kit (SDK) that included calls for using the iPad’s new features.

Where my prediction fell down was that I wrongfully assumed the iPad would require a new version of the iPhone OS. Instead Apple built the iPad to live within the constraints of version 3.1.2 of the iPhone operating system.

That is not to say we will not get an iPhone OS version 4, it just means that the iPad will drive a requirement to update the operating system. My suggestions and wish list items for a new version of the operating system will have to continue to be far off dreams.

Maybe with the iPad actually ships it will include iPhone OS 4.0 or perhaps we will see a new version introduced at the Apple World Wide Developer’s Conference. In the mean time I’ll stumble and struggle with the current operating system with its idiosyncrasies and long for the day when a new version will be released restoring balance to the technology universe.

With all the hype surrounding the Apple iPad it was almost impossible for any device to live up to the expectations everyone has built up with the various rumors and consumer wish lists.

Almost as quickly as the product was unveiled there were already mounds of press both positive and negative discussing the merits and drawbacks of the device. It was interesting to read these accounts especially considering the lack of hands-on experience these writers had with the iPad.

I have to admit I am more than mildly intrigued by this announcement and I can already see several applications for its unique form factor. Even with my tempered enthusiasm I recognize this is not a technology panacea that will be everything to everyone.

So far I have heard laments the device is too large while others complain it is not large enough. There are numerous complaints regarding what the device includes or does not include especially with regards to ports.

There were contingents complaining the iPad did not have a USB port, an SD card reader, a built-in keyboard, a hard drive, an HDMI connection, a camera, stereo speakers, multitasking, or Mac OS X. I even read one report blasting the iPad because it did not run Microsoft Windows Mobile.

Clearly Apple is learning once again, no matter what you introduce there are going to be detractors that will find fault with every design decision made. It is impossible to design or build the perfect device.

The diversity of the complaints of what the device includes or doesn’t include suggest Apple may be defining a new market segment. The iPad does not fit well in any current product category.

People who view the iPad as a computer attempt to compare it to the Apple MacBook or MacBook Air. They begin rattling off all of the features or functions found on a laptop that do not exist on the iPad.

Others look at this as a mobile communication devices ala an iPhone. They complain it lacks a camera, the form factor is too big, and the device includes too many unnecessary components.

Many of these arguments were similarly waged when the iPod came out. No one knew what it was supposed to be and therefore could not grasp the concept. It was not until the market began to evolve and users became familiar with where the iPod could fit within their lives did the device begin making strides in the market.

I predict a similar flow for the iPad. A few early adopters will take up the iPad and begin to establish where its capabilities fit in society’s information model. This coupled with applications that can take advantage of the iPad’s unique technology will hopefully help to define the market parameters and where the iPad makes sense.

Like many other technology users, I looked forward to the Apple new product introduction. Usually I don’t get too caught up in all of the hype that accompanies one of these announcements.

I’ve been to enough Apple events to know the company and in particular Steve Jobs has these things down to a science. They maintain secrecy over all details of the event and subtly let out slight details at a rate that ensures the general public is spun up to a frenzy.

This was definitely the case for this event. It was perhaps the worst kept secret in the computer history that Apple would be releasing a tablet device. Despite that knowledge Apple customers and potential customers were glued to their computer screens waiting to learn the details of this new device.

After taking the stage Jobs wasted no time before bringing out the new product for everyone to see. It had been rumored the device would be named the “iPad” and that was accurate. At first glimpse it looks like an iPod Touch with a thyroid problem.

It has the same touch screen technology that the iPod Touch and the iPhone use. From the screen displays it runs a version of the iPhone Operating System with extensions that will utilize the larger screen real estate.

Apple is positioning the iPad to be missing link between the iPhone and the MacBook. It will run over 140,000 applications from the App Store with no modification giving the device an instant library of software on day one.

iPhone apps can run in two different modes. The first will set the application up in a window sized the same as an iPhone or iPod Touch. With a click you can expand the size of the window to four-times nearly filling the iPad’s screen.

The iPad is 9.56 inches high and 7.47 inches wide with a depth of 0.5 inches. It weighs approximately 1.5 pounds making it extremely light weight and portable for taking with you wherever you go. The 9.7 inch (diagonal) LED screen has a resolution of 1024 by 768 pixels at
132 pixels per inch.

The form factor was slightly different than I expected. I thought it would have a screen ratio of 16:9 rather than 4:3. While the additional width might be good for some applications, it results in black bars on two of the sides when watching video.

The iPad comes in several configurations to allow the customer to decide which one will meet their needs without overbuying the technology. There are two standard types. One is strictly Wi-Fi enabled allowing network connectivity to any Wi-Fi Hotspot in 802.11a/b/g/n flavors.

The other includes 3G networking in addition to Wi-Fi allowing the user to connect the device to a cellular network if Wi-Fi is unavailable. Apple announced that the 3G model comes unlocked meaning it can be used on any 3G network that utilize specific frequencies. AT&T immediately announced the iPad could be used on their network.

Besides the networking type, customers can also choose the device’s capacity. The iPad will be available in 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB of memory. Like the iPhone the iPad includes an accelerometer to sense when the device is rotated or tilted.

The iPad uses a graphical keyboard like the iPhone and can also utilize Bluetooth keyboards such as the Apple Wireless Keyboard. The iPad includes full support for Bluetooth 2.1 which should mean you could use wireless earphones.

The processor in the device is an Apple designed chip called the A4 which is running at 1GHz. The chip was designed to provide good performance while maintaining lower power consumption.

Power conservation was an important design criterion for the iPad allowing it to have up to 10 hours of use or 30 days of stand-by power, impressive considering the device’s minimal footprint.

The iPad is capable of playing music similar to an iPod Touch. It is also able to display High Definition video reproduction in 720p at 30 frames per second.

The device is initially being targeted to the traveler who wants to use multimedia while on the road. Its screen size would be perfect for watching a movie on an airplane or in a hotel room.

Besides audio and video, the device is also great as an electronic book reader. It was immediately clear that Apple was positioning this to compete head-to-head with Amazon and its Kindle product.

Besides the iPad, Apple also announced it would add books to iTunes allowing customers to purchase electronic books and have them downloaded directly to the iPad. Besides text and pictures, the electronic books can also include video and other media.

The demos of the electronic book media reminded me a lot of the newspapers in the Harry Potter movies where pictures move around the page. With networking capabilities there is no reason content could not be updated in real time as news unfolds.

Besides the iPad, Apple also introduced a version of their word processor Pages, presentation software Keynote, and spreadsheet Numbers for the iPad. This brings productivity apps to the mobile space. Perhaps the best news was that each of these applications will be priced at $9.99.

The whole pricing structure for the iPad was very aggressive. A 16GB iPad with Wi-Fi will sell for $499 putting it squarely in the Kindle’s market. Prices for the 32GB and 64GB models were set at $599 and $699 respectively. If you want 3G, it is $130 more. This means the most feature laden iPad will sell for $829; $170 less than the rumored price point.

The Wi-Fi versions of the iPad will begin shipping in late March 2010 while the 3G versions will ship in late April. Overall the iPad looks like an intriguing device that has a lot of potential allowing Apple to position themselves in another mobile market.

When Apple Computer booked the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts for a media event, the media and customers went into overdrive concocting rumors of what new products or software will be unveiled.

The most popular rumor is the release of the highly anticipated Apple Tablet which has been expected for over a year. As is always the case, Apple closely manages the information that is “leaked” prior to an announcement.

Steve Jobs and the crew at Apple have perfected the art of product releases to build the hype to a frenzied level making sure all media outlets will cover their event. You would think that the public would become accustomed to these events but Apple never seems to disappoint regardless of whether the introduction lives up to the rumors or not.

The January 27 event has been billed as being “mobile” specific. This could mean anything from an update to the successful MacBook laptops to an iPhone upgrade to the new tablet. Personally I am expecting this to be the tablet which some have suggested will be named the ‘iPad”.

Rather than regurgitating the various rumors surrounding this new product, I thought perhaps it would interesting to talk through some of the challenges Apple may have in this space.

While we all love to talk about cool hardware and get excited at seeing the device in person, it is important to keep in perspective that the success of new computing devices are less tied to hardware specifications. For a device such as the Apple Tablet to gain traction in the market it will require incredible software and one killer application.

When Apple Computer introduced the Apple I and later the Apple ][, it was largely described as a “hobbyist device”. To make it work required some software engineering to create a program each time the computer was powered up. It was relegated to a market segment of people who dabbled in electronics; definitely not a mainstream product.

All of this changed with the introduction of VisiCalc. VisiCalc was an electronic spreadsheet that allowed the user to complete mathematical tasks quickly and easily. When people saw what VisiCalc could do, the sales figures for Apple ][ computers literally took off. Suddenly people who before would never have looked at a personal computer were buying these devices and inventing ways to use spreadsheets in their daily lives.

In 1984 Apple introduced the Macintosh computer. It took some of the best design ideas from the Apple Lisa and built them into a compact computer. By itself the Macintosh was a novel experiment in alternative input/output. While the Lisa had a similar interface it did not penetrate the market as Apple had envisioned.

Apple made a decision to include two applications with the Macintosh, MacWrite and MacPaint. These two applications showcased the features of the new hardware and enabled users to envision their lives being better as a result of using the product.

Customers flocked to Apple stores after the Macintosh announcement and laid out $2,995 for a computer with 128K of RAM, a 9 inch Black & White monitor, a 400K disk drive, and a dot matrix printer. The shortage of Macintosh computers resulted in waiting lists that at times reached on for several weeks or months before delivery.

For nearly a year after its introduction the Macintosh had just MacWrite and MacPaint software available yet people continued to buy the hardware just to use these two applications.

When Apple introduced the iPod, it also included iTunes as a way for user to interact with their new handheld device. With iTunes users could not only load the iPod with music but would facilitate adding content changing the paradigm of how we buy music.

Now Apple appears to be set to introduce a tablet. The question becomes, what will be the killer application that will drive people to purchase the device. It has been rumored that the tablet will be able to act as an electronic book reader, a multimedia device capable of displaying video and photos, and provide surfing capabilities. Will that be enough to garner the interest of users beyond the current loyal Apple customer base?

Each of the markets (book reader, multimedia, and browser) is adequately covered by existing products both within Apple and elsewhere. Personally I think it will take a completely different piece of software to push the tablet to cult status that previous Apple products seem to have achieved.

It is hard to envision what that software may be especially since very few have been fortunate enough to see the device before its release. The announcement needs to not only provide a glimpse of the new hardware, it must also capture the imagination of software developers to inspire them to develop something that will capture the public driving not only software sales but also hardware.

Like many, I will be glued to my computer during the presentation to see what the device can do and hopefully be inspired to develop something that can push the limits of the device and enable the users to places they could not imagine before the product was announced.

I’ve been a Nikon fan for several years. The cameras are always first rate and they have some of the best lenses in the business. But it is more than just hardware that keeps me coming back to this manufacturer.

Nikon has continuously been developing their software and web presence to add value to their product line. This coupled with their Nikon Schools educational arm provides a wealth of information on just on cameras but on camera techniques.

Today I received an email introducing another educational opportunity available. Nikon has developed an iPhone App called Nikon Learn & Explore. This free app provides access to articles and information from the Nikon educational archives.

The interface to the app is well laid out. You can select information by image with a matrix of photos displayed. Selecting a photo thumbnail displays a larger version of the picture as you would expect.

From there you can click on Info to get information about the photo including photographer name. You can also select View Article, which will show the article from Nikon World magazine that featured the photo. Where applicable there are also videos about the photo or the article.

Next to the Image tag on the main screen is a learn icon that provides Insights & Techniques including imaging editing, shooting techniques, and fundamentals of photography. These lessons are well done and very helpful.

The Nikon World magazine is a valuable tool and the app provides digital access to the information separated by issue.

The app is like having a desk reference and photography teacher right at your fingertips. It is a great app with a good interface and invaluable information. For anyone interested in taking pictures whether you use a Nikon camera or not you will find valuable information contained within it.

Do you ever have one of those days where your brain just seems to cramp up and you could swear your skull had a Charlie horse? Yeah today is one of those days for me. Normally I am pretty coherent and try not to do things that are too stupid.

My wife of course would argue that point and could probably come up with a list of the idiotic things I have done that would stretch for miles. Despite all of her irrefutable evidence, I still claim that I am not quite as dumb as I look. After today though I might need to rethink that theory.

I was working on my Mac today cleaning the 1,148 photos that I shot during my son’s soccer tournament this weekend. Somewhere in the midst of all the editing I was doing, my fingers got lazy and I hit a series of keystrokes.

At the time I was not aware of the exact keystrokes I hit and it went somewhat unnoticed for a while. Soon though I started noticing strange and unusual behavior from the Macintosh. Now given my life and my personality, strange and unusual is normal. This time though it was weird even for me.

My keyboard has been rock solid and working flawlessly ever since I bought it. Somehow today it developed a mind of its own. The numeric keypad, which had been working, was now not doing anything.

I quickly went into troubleshooting mode and began assessing the problem. I knew it had to be a hardware problem and I changed ports for the keyboard, which made no difference. I suspected maybe I had a corrupt file somewhere and began going through each file trying to figure out what could be wrong.

I rebooted the system thinking that would resolve the problem but the numeric keypad still failed to work properly. I sat in front of the screen muttering under my breath at the disruption I had and scratching my head as I tried to troubleshoot the problem.

After what seemed like an eternity of getting nowhere I somehow happened upon the Control Panel module for accessibility. There staring at me was the answer. Through a set of keystrokes I had inadvertently enabled Mouse Keys, which will turn your numeric keypad into a control pad for the mouse.

Pressing the Option Key five times enables Mouse Keys. I honestly have no recollection of doing that but somehow I did. So after a couple hours of troubleshooting and a large piece of humble pie my keyboard was back working the way it should and I learned a valuable lesson. Never assume you know the answer to a computer problem and always look for the simple solutions first.

I think perhaps everyone at one time or another has had a case of buyer’s remorse. For me this usually happens after I have made an impulse purchase without thinking through all the ramifications of what the purchase means. Sometimes though the remorse occurs because of something outside of my control.

Shortly after purchasing my MacBook Pro last spring I was looking for a new mouse pad for the wireless Mighty Mouse that I bought. While the MacBook Pro is a portable with a track pad, I also have a large screen monitor and wireless keyboard and mouse that I use when I am at my desk at home.

I really didn’t want a neoprene mouse pad that reminded me of the old trap door on a pair of scuba diving long johns. I was looking for something sleek and modern that would make the perfect accessory to my new Macintosh.

After picking up a few magazines I came across an ad for the ultimate mouse pad. It was called MacPadd from Quality Management Systems (QMS) Inc. in Ontario Canada. Their product was touted as the “better mouse padd”.

It is a piece of machined aluminum similar to the MacBook Pro’s case. From the photos on the web site it looked like just the thing I was looking for. The problem was the size. According to the site it was nine inches by six inches.

With a 24-inch monitor and my primary applications are graphic and photography software, it was just too small. After going back and forth with the company via email I learned they were about to release the MacPadd Pro, which was nine inches square. That was still on the small side of what I wanted but it looked so cool I just had to get one.

I paid via PayPal from my checking account, something I rarely do but made an exception this once. The order was placed on April 5, 2009. I eagerly waited for my mouse pad to arrive hoping it would live up to the hype on their web site.

I received an email from the company shortly after ordering saying my order had been accepted. At that point though all communications ceased from QMS. After a couple of weeks I had still not received the mouse pad that I had ordered. I sent an email to enquire the status of the shipment but received no response.

A month passed and still no mouse pad so I sent another email asking for status. That email too went unanswered. Each month on the anniversary of my order date I would send an email asking for status and none of these were ever answered.

I began to think that I had been duped and that this company did not exist. How could I have been so stupid? I attempted to file a complaint with PayPal to try and get my money back. Because I paid with my checking account, PayPal would not help leaving me without recourse.

After six months I had written off this purchase figuring I would never see the product or my money again. Shortly thereafter I began seeing activity on the MacPadd Twitter account. They were advertising their product with regularity.

I attempted to contact them via Twitter but my messages there went unanswered. I tried email again but it too did not receive a reply. I also found a Facebook account for MacPadd, which like the Twitter account had come to life and was actively adding messages.

I tried to get a response via Facebook but on the two occasions where I brought up my unfulfilled order the messages were deleted. I was now positive that this company was not legitimate. Rather than sit idly by I decided to do something about it.

I went to the Better Business Bureau web site and opened up a complaint against QMS Inc. Within a couple of days of that I received an email from the owner of QMS. He stated that my order had somehow been misplaced and all of my emails had gone to his Junk folder.

While that seemed a little far-fetched I was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. He apologized for the problem with the order and assured me that the mouse pad would be shipped that week.

Just a few hours after that email I received a message via Facebook with a two word profanity. I was taken aback from this as I thought things were finally progressing and the transaction was finally coming to an end.

It seems I was a passenger on a ship caught in the perfect storm. At this same time, the company was involved in a disagreement with a member of Tom’s Hardware over an order. This disagreement went from perhaps a simple misunderstanding to a firestorm of activity around the Internet with both sides claiming the other was at fault.

The messages between Tom’s Hardware and QMS Inc. deteriorated rather quickly and because Tom’s Hardware made the argument public it became ugly. Personal attacks were attributed to both sides and flame wars erupted on several web sites and blogs.

I just happened to file my BBB complaint at the same time and as became caught in the crossfire. It was a nightmare that I really had no intention of getting involved with. I was just looking to get my long lost mouse pad and live my life.

After several emails back and forth with QMS Inc and also with the Tom’s Hardware representatives, I believe I have eliminated me being part of their public fight. I did receive a very nice apology from both QMS Inc and also from the owner’s son.

They have given me assurances that my MacPadd Pro has now shipped, seven months after the initial order. I am now in a waiting game as the mouse pad makes its way from Canada to Arizona.

For six months I was frustrated at the lack of communication from QMS Inc. and felt as though it was a fly-by-night operation. Rather than publicly ridicule the company and create a personal vendetta I posted warnings that my order had been unfulfilled.

As a result of staying calm and levelheaded and not making this a personal Jihad. I was hopefully able to resolve the problem and will finally see the mouse pad. I remain hopeful that this transaction will end soon and I will finally have the product.

This whole experience has been less than optimum. Hopefully through this QMS will learn from the issues and find a better way to allow customers to contact them without having to go through the BBB. Customers too need to realize that like many other companies this is probably a one-man operation and they cannot expect instantaneous communication like it was a major corporation.

Cottage industries such as QMS have been a part of the Macintosh community since its inception and are vital to provide products and services that Apple does not. I would hate to see that spirit destroyed over a single mouse pad.

When I finally do get the MacPadd, I will post a review of the product itself without all of the drama and back-story that I have just laid out. I felt this saga was important but I did not want to make it the focus of the product review, that would not be fair.

Tomorrow Apple has scheduled an event titled “Let’s Rock” for the Yerba Buena Center for the Performing Arts in San Francisco. The timing of the event has everyone assuming the event will be Apple’s introduction of a new set of iPod devices going into the holiday season.

It would seem logical that we should expect a new set of iPods. The “Back to School” event will end today meaning that the stock levels of iPods are probably at one of the lowest levels of the year.

Apple insider sites and other rumor mongers are throwing out several theories of what could be announced at tomorrow’s event. They run the gambit of yet another iteration of the iPod Nano with an even larger display to a new iPod Touch with photo capabilities and larger capacities.

Some are reporting a new device that would compete with the netbook offerings. Sort of a super sized iPod touch tablet. It is probably doubtful that this device will make its entry now. It is more realistic that we would see such a device in the February timeframe or just in time for the Consumer Electronics Show.

With Apple no longer a part of the Macworld conference I would expect them to make a bigger splash at CES and what better way to do that than with a brand new form factor tablet computer.

The impending Apple event means I will spend the night taking inventory of all the Apple devices I currently have and begin forming my justification that I will use shortly after tomorrow’s event to explain to my wife why I simply cannot live without the newest Apple gadget regardless of what it is.

I’m hoping for a larger capacity iPod Touch perhaps 64 GB which would double the size of the 32 GB device I currently have. Better battery life would also be a welcomed addition as my son is constantly draining his iPod touch through constant playing of the games and music. His barely lasts a day before needing recharging. Even a modest increase in battery would be greeted with excitement in our household.

The rumors or including a camera with the next version of iPod Touch don’t really interest me. I already have an iPhone in addition to the various point and shoot cameras at my disposal. Until either the iPhone or iPod Touch has an optical zoom they are of limited use to me as a camera.

Having the ability to take video similar to the iPhone 3Gs could be interesting but again I’m not sure how useful that may be with limited optics. It will again come down to battery efficiency as to whether I would consider such a device.

Tonight will be one where I’ll dream of the future and hope that Apple and the returning Steve Jobs will have “one more thing” up their sleeve to make this an event to remember and rocket Apple products back to the top of my Christmas list.

Our middle daughter Tiffany begins college this coming January. She has just finished High School graduation and is now trying to earn money to afford to go to school this coming winter. Recently she was accepted into Brigham Young University – Idaho which is the campus in Rexburg Idaho as opposed to Provo Utah. There are pros and cons to going to BYU-Idaho. On the con side BYU-Idaho does not have the collegiate sports programs that the BYU-Utah campus has. This means that she will not be able to compete in NCAA track like she hoped. On the pro side the campus is slightly smaller than BYU-Utah and therefore has a closer student body. She will also be able to share an apartment with her sister Mallorie who will be a Senior during Tiffany’s Freshman year. This of course could be a pro and a con in itself depending on how much sister stuff they can deal with. When the kids graduate from high school my gift to each of them has been a laptop computer. It is nearly impossible for a kid to survive in college without their own computer and many colleges are now requiring a laptop for several classes.

When Ashley and Mallorie graduated the choice of a laptop was relatively simple. I went out and bought the fastest and lightest Windows laptop I could find. My reasoning for this was that this computer would be packed around in a backpack for 4 years (if I am lucky, with Mallorie it actually will be 5 years). Technology changes at such a rapid pace that what was a fast and light computer when they entered college becomes a behemoth dog-slow computer by the time graduation day arrives. That is just the price you pay in the realm of technology advancement.
With Tiffany I have a completely different issue. After having lived through the Windows XP to Windows Vista fiasco that has been occurring in the marketplace my conviction to the Windows platform is shaky at best especially from a laptop perspective. I am seriously questioning whether Windows Vista is appropriate for Tiffany’s needs and whether it will remain viable through the life of her college career. The more I consider this the more I am leaning towards a Macintosh laptop as the preferred computer for her.
Moving to a Macintosh is not without its own dilemmas. For example, I would need to not only support the Windows applications that are installed on the family computers but I would also be on the hook to support the Macintosh apps as well. This could become a problem since I myself do not have a Macintosh (yet). I would be flying a little blind. It is not that I have not had experience with a Mac before so it would not be completely inappropriate but it could be a challenge. Another concern I have is that the MacBook and the MacBook Pro are relatively old technology. They have both had a recent refresh but that was basically just an upgrade to more current processors. The architecture of the machines themselves are still aging. There are rumors that there may be new models released in the fall but it is questionable whether this refresh will line up with the timing of getting Tiffany’s computer. Apple is also compounding the problem with the introduction of the Back to School Special.
Basically Apple is offering a free iPod Touch or iPod Nano when you purchase a new Mac for college. They are further enticing you to buy by having the school offer $200 off from the retail price. BYU-Idaho has recently come out with a new computer policy where they will be requiring all incoming freshman to have a laptop and preferably a Macintosh. They have further stipulated that all laptops should have a minimum of 3 years warranty period to assist students in keeping their computers in working order. Since Apple like other vendors have standardized on a warranty period shorter than that; it will necessitate the purchase of an extended warranty. An extended warranty can be expensive and care will need to be taken in order to make sure that everything is covered.
Tiffany and Mallorie both think this is perfect. Not only does Tiffany get a shiny new laptop but they also have an iPod. It doesn’t seem to matter that they already have an iPod Nano each, they both want the iPod Touch. I can already see where this is going. Mallorie has been telling me for months that her computer is old and slow and she would really love to get a new one. And if she can get a MacBook with a free iPod that would be perfect and she could help Tiffany. That sounds great on paper but I can already tell you that it would be me who would be expected to troubleshoot problems on both computers so basically Mallorie just wants the new technology and the free iPod Touch. The sad part is that she’ll probably get it. Sometimes I just can’t say no but don’t tell her that. The one question remaining in my mind is would I be better to jump on this deal or would it be better to wait until after September 15 to see if there is a new MacBook announced that would be more future proof. It’s a tough decision and I have no idea which way I’ll go.

Today marks day one of the Apple World Wide Developer’s Conference (WWDC) in San Francisco. It was a year ago at this conference that Apple CEO Steve Jobs introduced the world to the iPhone. Since that time the iPhone has achieved near cult status as *the* smart phone to have. Anyone who fancies themselves as hip had to have an iPhone on their belt or in their purse. It wasn’t just that it was cool to be seen with one, it was that it changed the way people looked at cell phones and how they were used. The interesting part about the iPhone was that it really wasn’t that revolutionary. Most of the features contained within it were already available on other devices. What Apple did was to package these various features together and surround them with an elegant user interface. They then enclosed it in a sexy looking package and the world flocked to their doorstep. In the days leading up to the release of the iPhone there were people camped out at the local AT&T stores waiting for a chance to buy a cell phone. When was the last time people got that enthusiastic about their cell phone? Clearly Apple had hit upon something. Despite all of the hype surrounding the iPhone, the product wasn’t perfect. There were missing features that users clamored for. Now 12 months later the hype around the iPhone has returned. Everyone anticipated that during his keynote address today Steve Jobs would unveil the next generation of iPhone.

I haven’t been to a WWDC for several years. I’ve been an Apple Developer since the early 1980′s (boy that doesn’t seem that long ago but I just realized that is over 20 years). I was there when the Apple ][ reigned supreme and was one of the first certified developers for the Macintosh when it arrived in 1984. Through the years my development grew as Apple grew. Somewhere along the line my needs changed and I left Apple and the Macintosh behind and moved to the PC. It’s funny, now I find myself more frustrated with the direction that the Windows world is going and am gravitating back to my roots and looking at Apple. I guess that I’m experiencing the technology circle of life.
I had for the most part ignored the iPhone and its status symbol existence. I needed something usable and wasn’t interested in a device that locked out development and expansion. My problem was that whenever I looked at a device I subconsciously always compared it against the iPhone which was becoming the gold standard for capabilities of a portable device. Still I could not get over the fact that I could not add my own applications unless I “jail broke” the phone. That’s not a great model. No developer wants to create software that requires the user to hack their phone just to get to your application. That model changed in March of this year when Apple presented their iPhone roadmap. This included the creation of an iTunes like store for applications for the iPhone. Suddenly the major barrier in my mind was lifted. Still, the existing iPhone still relied upon EDGE technology which was bandwidth limited. What I really wanted was a device that would run on the newer 3G network being built out worldwide. I also wanted something that had real GPS not the pseudo-GPS that Apple had built out to cover up their decision not to include a GPS chip in the original device. Finally, I wanted a phone that would allow me to use not only a Bluetooth headset for making phone calls but also allowed me to utilize the new wireless Bluetooth headphones now becoming available.
When Steve Jobs took the stage for WWDC, I was at computer watching intently to the blogosphere which was covering the keynote. As expected; Apple unveiled the next generation of iPhone. Each feature that was described checked off one of the barriers that I had to being an iPhone owner. The new device included 3G support making it very marketable not only in the United States but worldwide. The iPhone is to be made available in 70 countries which should be more than adequate to meet Jobs goal of selling 10 million iPhones by year end. The device also will include true GPS which was a very good sign. The price of the iPhone was substantially reduced with the 8GB version to sell for $199 and the 16GB version to sell for $299. I was somewhat surprised to see an 8GB version still available. I half expected that it would be discontinued and replaced by the 16GB and a new 32GB version announced. With the price points being lowered that seemed impossible. The one aspect I did not hear was Bluetooth headphone support. This is really disappointing. The most frustrating thing is that this is not a technical problem that has to be solved. The existing iPhone has this capability but it has not been implemented. With the last firmware update Apple sort of turned it on. It is now possible to get music from the iPhone over Bluetooth when you are on hold or voice mail. So the iPhone can do it, they just have chosen not to. This may not seem like a big deal and normally I would agree but I have a special need. I am looking at a Bluetooth headset for my motorcycle helmet and it would be great if I could not only answer my phone but also be able to listen to the music stored on the iPhone. I guess my quest will have to continue on that capability.
Overall the new iPhone looks much better than its predecessor and has most of the features I was looking at. It will be available on July 11 online and at the local AT&T store. As much as I hate to admit it, I am seriously considering picking one up. I just don’t know if I am willing to stand in line for one.