From the Google blog:
Earlier this year, we launched Google Sync which allows you to synchronize your Gmail Contacts and Google Calendar with your iPhone, Windows Mobile, and S60 devices. Today, we’re adding Gmail support to Google Sync for iPhone, iPod Touch and Windows Mobile devices.
There are Twitter clients galore for the iPhone and the first Twitterific client was one of the originals. Over the last few months, we’ve seen other clients that have bypassed Twitterific in functionality and UI. The Twitterific 2 release last night counters the competition with its own slick upgrade.
The timeline UI has improved and highlights some new features. See that sources button? Not only can you choose the public timeline, friends’ timeline, trends, and nearby tweets, but you can access multiple accounts. The client at long last supports multiple accounts. This is a must-have for those of us that tweet for both an organization and ourselves.
To reply to someone, you just highlight the tweet. The new tweet button becomes a reply button. Simple and easy. If you want more functionality, hit the now active star button and you get more options:
The inability to quickly filter for replies and direct messages was a major reason for my switching to Tweetie. This has been resolved with the filter button on the far left of the timeline default screen. Tap it, and you can filter on replies, direct messages, favorites, and so forth. I hope to see this functionality in the Twitterific desktop client soon.
I did notice that the slight lags in scrolling are still present and it’s one area in which Tweetie is still superior. Beyond that, it is a matter of taste between the two clients now that we again have feature parity. As a Mac user, I can appreciate having to make a choice based on my workflow, preference, and UI choices.
Among the many Apple announcements this morning came news of a new AirPort Extreme. The big change with the new model is dual-band support – the device has two antennas, providing both 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz bands. You can now segregate your faster 802.11n devices to the 5Ghz band, which will mean faster performance as the slower 802.11b/g devices will ride the 2.4Ghz frequencies.
An interesting feature is the ability to name the networks the same or to name than discretely. Apple 802.11n-enabled gear will switch between the networks intelligently based on performance in the former setup. You can force 802.11n gear to ride only the 5Ghz in the latter case.
The AEBS offers the ability to create a virtual guest network with a separate SSID as well. This guest network restricts access to only the Internet, preventing users from surfing your internal network. Pretty slick.
There is also an option to allow access to hard drives or Time Capsule drives over MobileMe. I’m not overly impressed with this service offering, but I won’t weigh judgement until I test it.
My network at home is currently split between a DLink 802.11g device and a Time Capsule offering 802.11n. The former requires a reboot daily which tells me it is dying. I plan on picking up the AEBS soon.
Side note – the AEBS is cheaper than the DLink and Linksys dual-band routers for sale at Best Buy.
From the Google Blog:
For iPhone and Windows Mobile devices, Google Sync allows you to get your Gmail contacts and Google Calendar events onto your phone. Sync uses push technology, which means that any changes you make to your calendar or contacts from the browser or phone will be reflected on your device within minutes…. Also, please keep in mind that Google Sync will replace all existing contacts and calendar information on your phone, so make sure to back up any important data before you get started.
No push email, so I am sticking with MobileMe.
I have used Palm- and Windows Mobile-based HTC phones in the past and have found them to be a decent option. The Google entry into the market with Android really interested me – a new OS not straddled with the legacy of Windows Mobile or Palm and on hardware not bound to one vendor as with the iPhone. Yesterday’s launch notes of the G1 have overall been pretty disappointing:
Those are my thoughts for now. Back to work.
I’ve upgraded my iPhone (EDGE) to v2 firmware and updated iTunes to 7.7 and then checked out the App Store. Thoughts so far on the firmware and the apps:
That is it so far – I am sure I will have more after this weekend.
I know there are sites like Don’t Forget the Milk and TaDa List. The problem with those is you are dependent on connectivity. 3G iPhone or not, there is no getting to your list if you are stuck with no signal in the metal box monstrosities of a supermarket. Syncing notes to your notes may be possible come 11 July, but putting shopping lists in Yojimbo seems like overkill.
One of two SplashData apps announced today is SplashShopper for the iPhone. I only wish I had this one on Sunday so I would have remembered to pick up bread crumbs.
The other app is one I have used on Palm OS and Windows Mobile and highly recommend. I don’t like carry my membership cards for every hotel, rental car, and frequent flyer membership program, nor can I remember every bank account number. That’s where SplashID comes into play. I store a lot of this data in Yojimbo but there is a certain elegance to SplashData. Untless there is two-way syncing with Yojimbo when the App Store launches, SplashData will be one of my first purchases.
Sick of hearing about Yojimbo? Want something that syncs across Mac, Windows, and Mobile? Check out Evernote. I won’t go into explaining it here since the site explains it all. If it interests you, though, let me know and I’ll send you a beta invite. While I do like Yojimbo, having access to my notes from any browser and my iPhone is quite enticing. If they can add encryption, a Services menu option, and a “Print to PDF in Evernote” a la Yojimbo, it will be a serious contender. Update: I just noticed that Evernote adds a menuling from which you can paste and screenshot into Evernote. Nice touch.
One of the very few annoyances I have about my über-reliant, safe and sporty car is the lack of AUX in for my iPods and iPhone. I am relegated to using FM transmitters which can be touch-and-go in the radio-saturated DC/NoVA/MD metro area. I used the Kensington Digital FM transmitter which mostly positive results. This weekend, though, I picked up the new Belkin TuneCast.
Unlike previous TuneCast products, this version is made for the iPhone. More iMarketing? Nope, the nomenclature actually does indicate a difference. Upon plugging my iPhone into the TuneCast, I did not have to deal with the “This device is not made for the iPhone. Would you like to turn off your phone, rendering the device useless, or deal with the annoying GSM buzz when you have a phone call or SMS incoming?” popup message. (Interestingly, that message does popup when I start the car if I plug in the phone before ignition.)
The big auto-scan button works pretty well. I had bad result in the parking garage at Tysons Corner – but that’s to be expected in a monstrous steel and concrete cavern. Out on the road, finding a good frequency has been relatively smooth. The sound quality is very good – an improvement over even the Kensington, which was much better than most transmitters.
If you have an iPhone and are stuck with FM transmission, I recommend the Belkin TuneCast.
With yesterday’s news about the iPhone SDK several companies have immediately stepped forward to announce they are working on iPhone apps. Six Apart has announced their plans for an app to go along with their already solid iPhone-centric tools.
I use WordPress and MobileAdmin works rather well. I still would like to see an iPhone/iPod Touch application for offline composition and the ability to embed images taken with the camera. Another alternative is an ability to reference a photo pushed to my .Mac gallery – or even a Gallery2 app.
On a side note, the presentation offered with the iWPhone template is very good on the iPhone. Recommended for all of my blogging friends.
I tried out the Macbook Air for nearly 2 hours today.
Would I buy one? No – it doesn’t have enough power or disk space.