iPhone apps have been downloaded 800 million times, and there are now more than 25,000 apps in the iTunes store. Apple is detailing some of the new features in the next version of the iPhone OS in apress conference going on live right now. The new OS, iPhone 3.0, will support 1,000 APIs. Apple seems to be giving a lot of extra love to paid apps, which will gain the ability to sell additional levels, subscriptions, virtual goods, or extra content from right within the app.
The new APIs will also support peer-to peer applications via Bluetooth, which will be great for head-to-head games. Maps will be able to be embedded directly into the apps, and apps can now talk to accessories such as an FM transmitter or a blood pressure monitor. But Apple is not opening up background processing, which would allow more than one app to be running at once—a feature already common on Android and other phones. Apple says it takes up too much battery life.
Apple is also opening up push notification APIs for developers. This will allow apps to incorporate email, IM, and other messaging services. Meebo for instance, created a native iPhone app using the new API, which it demoed onstage. Apps will also finally be able to tap into the iTunes music library on the iPhone. (About time). And they will be able to handle streaming video as a feature.
And they save perhaps the most requested feature until near the end ('natch): Cut-and-paste. You double-tap a word to highlight it, drag the edges to highlight a block, shake to call up an "undo" button. Finally.. Why was that so hard?
Another much requested feature: landscape support (when you tilt the iPhone horizontally, the screen goes into landscape mode). Now all apps can have it, including e-mail. And email will support MMS. Again, this is all just basic stuff.
Taking a cue from Android, Apple is finally adding search to every app. So now two years later, you can search your emails and think that it is a gift.. But it is not just email. Apple is adding Spotlight to the iPhone: one place where you can search across all apps: your calendar, notes, iTunes library.
The IPhone 3.0 SDK is available to developers starting today. CrunchGear has a full rundown of all the announcements.
Some stats from the press conference:
There are now more than 25,000 iPhone apps in the iTunes Store.
iPhone apps have been downloaded 800 million times.
96 percent of all apps are approved
The developer SDK has been downloaded 800,000 times
50,000 companies have joined the program
13.7 million iPhones were sold in 2008
Crunch Network
3/5/09
Blackberry App World
With the launch of the main Web site for BlackBerry's new mobile application store, dubbed BlackBerry App World, going live on Wednesday, BlackBerry users are getting a glimpse into just how much applications are going to cost for their smartphones.
App World is BlackBerry-maker Research In Motion (RIM) Ltd.'s answer to Apple's widely popular iPhone AppStore and Google Android's Android Market. App World is a storefront where BlackBerry users can buy applications to run on their smartphones. It also acts as a portal where application developers can submit their applications.
BlackBerry said that applications will be available sometime this month, not citing a specific date. However, the FAQ section of the App World site sheds light on just how much BlackBerry users will have to plunk down for apps.
According to BlackBerry, the store will offer free applications. From there, applications jump to $2.99 and increase in $1 increments up to $19.99. The cost of applications increases in $10 increments from $19.99 to $99.99; $50 increments from $99.99 to $599.99; and $100 increments from $599.99 to $999.99, where the pricing model maxes out.
While applications are not yet available, the pricing model lacks the ever-important 99 cent and $1.99 price points, meaning applications bought through BlackBerry's App World will start at a higher cost than in competing application stores like Android Market and Apple's AppStore.
In the case of Android, which just started offering paid applications last month, the majority of applications are free, and paid applications hover between the 99 cent to $2.99 price point, with the occasional application hitting $10 or $20 and, in very rare instances, reaching above $100.
Same goes for Apple's AppStore. The iTunes-based store offers applications for free and for a fee, many of which start at 99 cents and don't stray too far above $10, except for some premium applications.
While BlackBerry said its pricing tiers are subject to change, the pricing model could hurt the fledgling application store, when competitors offer a lower starting point for applications.
So why is RIM ignoring a lower-cost price point and putting a higher premium on its applications?
That's anyone's guess. It could be that BlackBerry hopes to avoid the criticism received by the AppStore and Android Market that many of its lower-priced and free applications are relatively useless and disposable after a few uses. It could also be that RIM wants to ensure that the majority of applications that make it into App World are enterprise-focused, catering to a different market. Lastly, the higher starting price could be the result of developer pressure, concerned that if applications are priced at 99 cents, they will have to price their applications lower to get noticed.
Regardless of the reasoning, BlackBerry users are likely to be a little more cautious than iPhone users on which applications they ultimately spend their money on. And one thing's for sure: There will be some kind of outcry if a BlackBerry App World application launches for $2.99 and that same application is available for less than a buck in the AppStore and Android Market.
App World is BlackBerry-maker Research In Motion (RIM) Ltd.'s answer to Apple's widely popular iPhone AppStore and Google Android's Android Market. App World is a storefront where BlackBerry users can buy applications to run on their smartphones. It also acts as a portal where application developers can submit their applications.
BlackBerry said that applications will be available sometime this month, not citing a specific date. However, the FAQ section of the App World site sheds light on just how much BlackBerry users will have to plunk down for apps.
According to BlackBerry, the store will offer free applications. From there, applications jump to $2.99 and increase in $1 increments up to $19.99. The cost of applications increases in $10 increments from $19.99 to $99.99; $50 increments from $99.99 to $599.99; and $100 increments from $599.99 to $999.99, where the pricing model maxes out.
While applications are not yet available, the pricing model lacks the ever-important 99 cent and $1.99 price points, meaning applications bought through BlackBerry's App World will start at a higher cost than in competing application stores like Android Market and Apple's AppStore.
In the case of Android, which just started offering paid applications last month, the majority of applications are free, and paid applications hover between the 99 cent to $2.99 price point, with the occasional application hitting $10 or $20 and, in very rare instances, reaching above $100.
Same goes for Apple's AppStore. The iTunes-based store offers applications for free and for a fee, many of which start at 99 cents and don't stray too far above $10, except for some premium applications.
While BlackBerry said its pricing tiers are subject to change, the pricing model could hurt the fledgling application store, when competitors offer a lower starting point for applications.
So why is RIM ignoring a lower-cost price point and putting a higher premium on its applications?
That's anyone's guess. It could be that BlackBerry hopes to avoid the criticism received by the AppStore and Android Market that many of its lower-priced and free applications are relatively useless and disposable after a few uses. It could also be that RIM wants to ensure that the majority of applications that make it into App World are enterprise-focused, catering to a different market. Lastly, the higher starting price could be the result of developer pressure, concerned that if applications are priced at 99 cents, they will have to price their applications lower to get noticed.
Regardless of the reasoning, BlackBerry users are likely to be a little more cautious than iPhone users on which applications they ultimately spend their money on. And one thing's for sure: There will be some kind of outcry if a BlackBerry App World application launches for $2.99 and that same application is available for less than a buck in the AppStore and Android Market.
2/25/09
9 types of facebook friends LOL
The Facebook ghost: Logs on to Facebook once, probably just to stalk an ex-girlfriend, forgets his password and then never checks in again. All that remains of the 12 minutes he spent on the social networking site is the blue silhouette that Facebook assigns to people who have no profile photo (and 123 unanswered friend requests).
Annoyance factor: 35
Extreme Makeover, Facebook edition: She was the ugly duckling from high school who is now working as a personal trainer. He's the guy who got shoved in the locker in elementary school, and recently shaved his unibrow and went to a few Tony Robbins seminars. Now they're going through the yearbook, friending everyone from A to Z, just to show how much you blew it.
Annoyance factor: 15
The Facebook snob: Treats Facebook like the cool kids' table in junior high. Only allows close confidants and/or good-looking people in the circle and refuses to friend everyone else. If this person wanted to be honest, he or she would have a picture of Lindsay Lohan from "Mean Girls" as a profile photo.
Annoyance factor: 92
The TMI: Most people on Facebook update their profile every few days or weeks. This Facebooker feels the need to tell the world every tiny detail of his seemingly pointless life: John Doe is tired of working ... John Doe is going to the grocery store to get some kiwis ... John Doe just cleaned the bathroom. On to the kitchen!
Annoyance factor: 100
The Friend addict: This is the Facebook equivalent of one of those crazy ladies who gets declared a public nuisance because she has too many cats in her home. Even though this Facebooker only knows 47 people, he/she managed to accumulate 786 friends - mostly by going through other people's profiles and friending perfect strangers.
Annoyance factor: 28
The "Hey, remember me?": If it takes more than two sentences to explain who you are in your friend request, you probably shouldn't bother. But this person wants to reconnect anyway, even though the sum total of your experiences together was 48 seconds you spent chatting at a party in 1993.
Annoyance factor: 63
The Facebook superfan: The ultimate follower, this friend clogs your newsfeed with multiple daily updates about his bandwagon jumping: John Doe became a fan of Lil' Wayne! ... John Doe became a fan of Watchmen! ... John Doe became a fan of Captain C.B. "Sully" Sullenberger!
Annoyance factor: 82
The glory days: Facebook isn't a social networking site for this person. It's another chance to erect a shrine in honor of a former sorority, high school football team or a high score set on a Space Invaders machine in 1984. (Time slips away and leaves you with nothing mister, but boring stories of ...)
Annoyance factor: 45
The exhibitionist: If you believe this person's photo albums, her life consists of nothing except lying out at the beach, roller skating in a bikini and doing Jell-O shots at a bar with her boobs hanging out of her dress. The male equivalent will mostly include pictures of himself rock climbing.
Annoyance factor: 0
Annoyance factor: 35
Extreme Makeover, Facebook edition: She was the ugly duckling from high school who is now working as a personal trainer. He's the guy who got shoved in the locker in elementary school, and recently shaved his unibrow and went to a few Tony Robbins seminars. Now they're going through the yearbook, friending everyone from A to Z, just to show how much you blew it.
Annoyance factor: 15
The Facebook snob: Treats Facebook like the cool kids' table in junior high. Only allows close confidants and/or good-looking people in the circle and refuses to friend everyone else. If this person wanted to be honest, he or she would have a picture of Lindsay Lohan from "Mean Girls" as a profile photo.
Annoyance factor: 92
The TMI: Most people on Facebook update their profile every few days or weeks. This Facebooker feels the need to tell the world every tiny detail of his seemingly pointless life: John Doe is tired of working ... John Doe is going to the grocery store to get some kiwis ... John Doe just cleaned the bathroom. On to the kitchen!
Annoyance factor: 100
The Friend addict: This is the Facebook equivalent of one of those crazy ladies who gets declared a public nuisance because she has too many cats in her home. Even though this Facebooker only knows 47 people, he/she managed to accumulate 786 friends - mostly by going through other people's profiles and friending perfect strangers.
Annoyance factor: 28
The "Hey, remember me?": If it takes more than two sentences to explain who you are in your friend request, you probably shouldn't bother. But this person wants to reconnect anyway, even though the sum total of your experiences together was 48 seconds you spent chatting at a party in 1993.
Annoyance factor: 63
The Facebook superfan: The ultimate follower, this friend clogs your newsfeed with multiple daily updates about his bandwagon jumping: John Doe became a fan of Lil' Wayne! ... John Doe became a fan of Watchmen! ... John Doe became a fan of Captain C.B. "Sully" Sullenberger!
Annoyance factor: 82
The glory days: Facebook isn't a social networking site for this person. It's another chance to erect a shrine in honor of a former sorority, high school football team or a high score set on a Space Invaders machine in 1984. (Time slips away and leaves you with nothing mister, but boring stories of ...)
Annoyance factor: 45
The exhibitionist: If you believe this person's photo albums, her life consists of nothing except lying out at the beach, roller skating in a bikini and doing Jell-O shots at a bar with her boobs hanging out of her dress. The male equivalent will mostly include pictures of himself rock climbing.
Annoyance factor: 0
2/23/09
The perfect bailout!
Lets say by now there is 400mil Americans. Of those, maybe 100mil drivers?
Instead of the government giving the car companies (lets just say) $10bil to operate, why don’t they take $5bil and BUY cars for every single driving American?!
The American car companies will flourish because they just did $5bil in sales, and the American people will flourish because they just got a car handed to them. They can either save the money they would have spent on the car, and/or sell the car used for whatever they can get for it .. and make a profit on it!
The entire economy would bounce around but te immediate threats of the auto industry collapsing, and the American people going broke, will be delayed at least until the market takes its natural path and corrects itself.
And as an added bonus, the government saves money because they didn’t have to dish out many more billions just to float these idiot companies!
Instead of the government giving the car companies (lets just say) $10bil to operate, why don’t they take $5bil and BUY cars for every single driving American?!
The American car companies will flourish because they just did $5bil in sales, and the American people will flourish because they just got a car handed to them. They can either save the money they would have spent on the car, and/or sell the car used for whatever they can get for it .. and make a profit on it!
The entire economy would bounce around but te immediate threats of the auto industry collapsing, and the American people going broke, will be delayed at least until the market takes its natural path and corrects itself.
And as an added bonus, the government saves money because they didn’t have to dish out many more billions just to float these idiot companies!
Addition to The Constitution
ahaha found this quoted on another website, someone made this post and i cracked up ...
"We the people, in order to support a more 'prosperous' union, do hereby "guarantee" all bad debts in the land as collectible through the future taxation of the people's income, agreeing that no single individual or business is hereby EVER to be held responsible for their actions, but that the full weight of the Federal government shall, form this point forward, guarantee ALL debts payable through the people".
Is this part of the US constitution?
"We the people, in order to support a more 'prosperous' union, do hereby "guarantee" all bad debts in the land as collectible through the future taxation of the people's income, agreeing that no single individual or business is hereby EVER to be held responsible for their actions, but that the full weight of the Federal government shall, form this point forward, guarantee ALL debts payable through the people".
Is this part of the US constitution?
2/21/09
2/20/09
When I take a photo ... yes I am nuts
Ok so i often show my photos off to people, and they are like "whoah you are you of your effing mind .." or "jesus dude how do you do all this" or some other similar reaction. A lot of people ask how i keep it all in order.
So to share my secrets, and reveal my severe case of OCD ... here it is! My entire process!!
Firstly, for every photo you see that i took, i probably took about 20 or more! For Valentines day i posted 39 amazing photos i have ... those were cherry picked from a total of 130 pics i took! The rest got trashed for whatever reason.
Ok so lets use those pics as an example. So i have these 39 pics ...
1st thing i do is upload into a new Picasa album. If you dont know what Google Picasa is, go google it because its amazing. The reason i use Picasa for photo storage/sharing is because it does not reduce the size of your images! It allows you to retain the original high resolution. This makes it not only a source for sharing photos, but it becomes an excellent online backup of your entire collection!
2nd, i usually share the photo. This is when a lot of you will either see an email from me, or a post on myspace or facebook, or one of my blogs. You might get just one photo i really think is great, or a link to the entire Picasa album.
Now comes the OCD ...
My entire photo collection is stored on my laptop. I keep a folder called "Photos" and within this folder is a zillion sub-folders titled after the occasion. For the above pics, i named the folder "Isabellas first valentines day 2.14.09".
This "Photos" folder containing all of my photos, is backed up to an 500gb external hard drive on my home server.
Then the entire folder is uploaded to my web server as a data backup.
Then i have one 8gb flash drive i use to store all of my daughters photos, and 1 flash drive i use for all other photos. I keep them separated because my daughters pics take up too much room to share with the rest of my photos.
THEN once every 3 months i burn ALL photos to CD so i can store a backup. I burn multiple copies, and give them to a few different people. In the end, i have a copy of the CD's, my mother has a copy of the CD's, and my brother in law has a copy of the CD's. I do this because if god forbid anything happens to me, i know my daughter will always have her fathers amazing photo collection and enjoy them forever.
So there you have it! In the end i have 5 redundant backups of all data, and 3 different people have a copy of all of my data.
It sounds like a lot of work, and i guess it is a bit nutty .. but honestly it takes about 1 hour per week once a system is down. I do all of this because I feel so attached to my photos and it scares me to death that i will lose my data, or that my family wont have them to enjoy 50 years from now.
There you have it. If you have a method or system, let me know! I would definitely not mind adding another layer to the safety of my collection LOL
So to share my secrets, and reveal my severe case of OCD ... here it is! My entire process!!
Firstly, for every photo you see that i took, i probably took about 20 or more! For Valentines day i posted 39 amazing photos i have ... those were cherry picked from a total of 130 pics i took! The rest got trashed for whatever reason.
Ok so lets use those pics as an example. So i have these 39 pics ...
1st thing i do is upload into a new Picasa album. If you dont know what Google Picasa is, go google it because its amazing. The reason i use Picasa for photo storage/sharing is because it does not reduce the size of your images! It allows you to retain the original high resolution. This makes it not only a source for sharing photos, but it becomes an excellent online backup of your entire collection!
2nd, i usually share the photo. This is when a lot of you will either see an email from me, or a post on myspace or facebook, or one of my blogs. You might get just one photo i really think is great, or a link to the entire Picasa album.
Now comes the OCD ...
My entire photo collection is stored on my laptop. I keep a folder called "Photos" and within this folder is a zillion sub-folders titled after the occasion. For the above pics, i named the folder "Isabellas first valentines day 2.14.09".
This "Photos" folder containing all of my photos, is backed up to an 500gb external hard drive on my home server.
Then the entire folder is uploaded to my web server as a data backup.
Then i have one 8gb flash drive i use to store all of my daughters photos, and 1 flash drive i use for all other photos. I keep them separated because my daughters pics take up too much room to share with the rest of my photos.
THEN once every 3 months i burn ALL photos to CD so i can store a backup. I burn multiple copies, and give them to a few different people. In the end, i have a copy of the CD's, my mother has a copy of the CD's, and my brother in law has a copy of the CD's. I do this because if god forbid anything happens to me, i know my daughter will always have her fathers amazing photo collection and enjoy them forever.
So there you have it! In the end i have 5 redundant backups of all data, and 3 different people have a copy of all of my data.
It sounds like a lot of work, and i guess it is a bit nutty .. but honestly it takes about 1 hour per week once a system is down. I do all of this because I feel so attached to my photos and it scares me to death that i will lose my data, or that my family wont have them to enjoy 50 years from now.
There you have it. If you have a method or system, let me know! I would definitely not mind adding another layer to the safety of my collection LOL
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