How to set up MMS for iPhone 3G/3GS in Japan (SoftBank)

SoftBank gives you two addresses: 1 email address and the other a MMS email address. It can be confusing, so to clarify that a bit, here are the steps to set up the MMS.

1. Go to this link with your web browser or iPhone browser.
2. Your login ID is your phone number.
3. The password is in one of the first few messages sent from 940001 from SoftBank.
4. Once you're in there, you can configure the name of the MMS email addres.

How to turn the iPhone 3G into a speedy business phone

The iPhone 3G can watch movies and YouTube videos. So out of the box, it isn't exactly a "real business phone." After just restoring and getting my iPhone 3G to a clean state with the 3.0 software, I'm going to walk through the steps I did to get the iPhone 3G primed up for business.

Configurations in iTunes:

1. Connecting it to iTunes. It's asking for a name for the iPhone. I'm going to manually set the phone up, so I'm going to disable the automatically syncing of bookmarks and stuff.
   
   
2. Now I got the view with all the tabs.
   
   
3. Under Summary, I'm going to uncheck "Automatically sync when this iPhone is connected", because sometimes I just want to charge, and don't want it firing up iTunes.
   
   
4. Next tab: Info - Enable "Sync Address Book contacts"
   
   
5. Not going to sync my iCal calendars. Going to sync them via MobileMe later. Not going to sync bookmarks for now.
   
   
6. Notes - this one is a new feature. Going to enable it to "sync notes".
   
   
7. Mail accounts - Going to sync my Mail accounts.
   
   
8. MobileMe - Just an explanation about MobileMe. I plan to use my work computer to sync with this iPhone for most of the info. The only thing I'm planning to sync with my MobileMe is my calendar because managing two calendars is too much of a hassle. I prefer to have one central calendar so I can keep track of everything. I'm hoping this hybrid works well. We'll see.
   
   
9. Next tab: Ringtones - Yes, I'll need a ringtone. And the best ringtone for business, the 24 CTU ringtone of course = )
   
   
10. Not going to sync any music nor photos for now. Though, I have used iPhoto for managing images of business cards, and then you can sync it to the iPhone and have all you business cards with you.
    
    
11. No podcasts. And absolutely no videos - it's a business phone right?
    
    
12. And lastly for the Applications tab, no application for now. Since we barely put anything on this thing. The phone should be still pretty zippy. Ok. Let's sync!
    
    

Things to configure in the phone: First Stop - General Settings

1. Settings - let's get on a wi-fi network first.
   
   
2. Settings: Sounds - change the ringtone to 24 CTU ringtone. Ok, now I feel like Jack Bauer.
   
   
3. Settings: Sounds - I personally don't like the keyboard clicks, so I'm turning it off. Imagining you're in a quiet elevator, and typing a text message. Those sounds will stand out = ) Especially in Japan where the elevators are quiet... very quiet...
   
   
4. Settings: General: Auto-Lock - Default is 1 minute. Seems kind of short for me. Going to set it for 5 minutes.
   
   
5. Passcode Lock - This one is important for business use especially because of all the sensitive info and contacts on your phone. By putting a passcode lock, if you lose the phone, someone can't look into the phone and get info from it. I configure my phone to require a passcode lock after 4 hours. And turn on Erase Data, which means after 10 failed attempts, phone will wipe data automatically. Pair this up with MobileMe's remote wipe feature, and you'll have insurance for when you lose this phone. Hope it never happens, but at least, your info is not compromised.
   
   
6. Restrictions - A wonderful new feature in 3.0. Enable restrictions so you can remove (not display, technically speaking) certain apps from your phone. In particular, does a business phone really need YouTube, iTunes, and the App Store. (The App Store, maybe...) Well, for now, I'm going to disable those three. You should know I have another iPhone for personal use =) Anyways, this feature is handy if you're configuring phones for your children or your employees.
   
   
7. General: Home - In this area you can configure what happens when you double click. If the phone is not for business use, having it set to iPod is good. I use the camera so often, I think having it set to camera is great. Unfortunately, the unit I is an iPhone 3G, and not 3Gs, which means the camera isn't that great, and probably isn't that great for snapping memos and etc. So I'm not going with the camera, but rather, "Search". As a side note, if you are several pages of apps, a single click of the home button will bring you back to the home screen.
   
   
8. General: Home: Search Results - You can configure what search results that will show up. I'll be unchecking music, podcasts, video, audiobooks. Maybe this will speed up the search?
   
   
9. General: Date & Time - Going to set it to 24-hour time because everyone in Japan uses that convention. (I prefer AM and PM because I'm lazy to have to subtract 12 every time for the 24-hour time. I mean... the 24 hour time isn't very user friendly...)
   
   
10. General: Keyboard - If you need an international keyboard, here's the place to set it up. I'll be needing the Japanese input.
    
    
11. And lastly under General, there is the Internation section. Most likely you won't need to change anything, but if you live abroad, you can change how phone numbers and dates are formatted according to your region. And if you would like to display your phone in another language, which is really cool. It used to be that they have different versions of OSs, like Japanese, Chinese, and English version. With the iPhone, you can change it to any language you want.
    

Next stop: Settings for Mail, Contacts, Calendars + MobileMe

1. Like I wrote above, I'd like to set it up so I sync the phone with my business computer, but also sync only the calendar from my MobileMe. So let's get to it.
   
   
2. In Mail, Contacts, Calendar, under Accounts, I'm going press the Add Account..., and then choose MobileMe.
   
   
3. After you log in, you can decide if you want to sync Mail, Contacts, Calendars, and Bookmarks. I'm going to sync Mail and Calendars.
   
   
4. You will also have the option to turn on Find My iPhone. By turning this on, you will also have the ability to remote wipe your phone if it ever gets lost.
   
   
5. Back to the Mail, Contacts, Calendar settings area. Turning off "Load remote Images" might save you some bandwidth and some processing power.
   
   
6. Signature: Of course, since this is a business phone, I should put a signature on emails I sent. For mobile device signatures, I like to append this line - "Please forgive typos - sent via mobile phone."
   
   
7. Lastly, make sure the Default Calendar under the Calendars is correct. Most of the time, it's not for me by default.

And the rest of the settings

1. Nothing major in phone and Safari. Let's do take a look at Messages. By default, the show subject field is off. I prefer this on. Don't want people to be getting messages without a subject. Remember this has nothing to do with your email account. This is specific to the Message app (which used to be SMS).
   
   
2. iPod - Since I won't be using the iPod function much, I'm going to turn off the Shake to Shuffle, hoping that it will speed things up just so slightly because the iPhone has one less thing to worry about when I accidentally shake the phone.
   
   
3. Photos and Store settings - nothing there. Ok, moving along.

The best for last - The fun part, reconfiguring the app icons

1. There's not a whole lot of apps right now. I'm basically going to set up two pages - one with the apps that I use, and the other one, apps I don't use.
   
   
2. First off, reconfiguing the apps in the dock. By default, the four apps in the dock is Phone, Mail, Safari, and iPod. I generally prefer Settings to be on the dock because I go to it quite often for configuring wifi networks and turning on and off Bluetooth.
   
   
3. As for the left over 3 apps in the dock, after all, this is a communication device, right? So I'll put the main communication apps there - Phone, Messages, Mail.
   
   
4. The apps I don't think I'll be using are iPod, Voice Memos, Weather, Safari, Clock, and Stocks. So I'll be moving them to the second page.

Alright! We're all done. We took out the unnecessary stuff, and we now have transformed the iPhone into the ultimate mobile business machine!

Backing up and wiping my iPhone 3G clean

After the 3.0 update, seems like my iPhone 3G is a bit sluggish and crashing a lot more. Plus, for some reason, emails on getting sent out though receiving is fine. So, I have decided to manually back everything up and do a clean wipe of this iPhone. I'll be blogging my experience. So let's get rolling:

Going down my apps list to see what I need to backup:

1. Contacts - it's synced with MobileMe, so nothing here to do.
2. Photos - Let's make sure I get everything off the camera roll.
3. Stanza, Kindle, YouTube, Skype are all good.
4. Safari is good since bookmarks are synced via MobileMe.
5. Maps is good.
6. Messages - hmm... this is a tricky one. Ok, luckily, I have PhoneView from the MacHeist bundle I purchased a while ago. For those who want to learn more about PhoneView, here's the link. Great, also backed up my Notes. Doesn't seem like I can back up my MMS messages though. Well, at least I got the SMS messages.
7. Calendar is good since it's synced by MobileMe.
8. Things - Let's get the todos all synced up.
9. Voice Memos - nothing there, so I'm good.
10. Mail is good since all the accounts are IMAP.

Alright, seems like I'm good. Now, the fun part begins.

1. Sync my iPhone once and make sure it backs up if I did indeed forget something.
2. Ok, under Summary tab, going to click on the Restore button.
3. Waiting time... going to go to 7-11 to get me a Coke.
4. and we're done! And my iPhone is like new again!

In the next post, I'll be blogging on the steps of setting up my iPhone to be a business purpose phone. None of those YouTube videos and stuff. It's business time!

17 iPhone apps I actually use

Since I'm planning to wipe out, and restore my iPhone 3G, I decided to revisit the apps I have on it, and see which ones I actually use. Those apps will be back on my iPhone 3G after the restore.

So the keepers:

Utilities:

1. Stanza - great app for view e-books and documents. Works great with the desktop app where you can export documents and webpages into e-book format and get them on your iPhone. Desktop app and more info here.
   
   
2. Kindle - You can go on Amazon.com and buy Kindle e-books and have them sent directly to your iPhone or touch. And if you have multiple devices, they'll sync, which means if you left off at page 12 on your iPhone, when you open the book with your touch (on wifi), it will be on page 12 too. Obviously, at home you want to have the actual Kindle with its big screens.
   
   
3. Things - A wonderful todo manager. Works great with the desktop Mac version. However, recently, finding Hitlist to be my preferred todo manager. Waiting for iPhone version of Hitlist.
   
   
4. Skype - Only use it from time to time. A nifty app to have. Plus it's free!
   
   
5. Shazam - Actually found myself using this app more than I thought. Usually I hear a song at a restaurant or super market, and I'll use this app to tell me what song it is. Most of the time, it works. Sweet.
   
   
6. Keynote Remote - I usually prefer using the Front Row remote that came with my Macs. Having to pair it up and stuff, it's a hassle. I'll keep it on a bit more, and perhaps will actually try it in a real life scenario someday.
   
   
7. Amazon.com - Use this one to check out book prices when I'm outside especially at bookstores. Very handy.
   
   
8. Starbucks - Music for the holidys - Not exactly an utility, but if for some reason, you need to be in an holiday mood, this app streams holiday music that has been played at StarBucks for the past few years. Also a must have if you're a Starbucks fan.

Games:

1. Flight Control - Heard this one on MacBreak Weekly. Great game when you're waiting in line or just have a few minutes to kill.
   
   
2. Scrabble - Don't play it too much, but just have it because it's a classic.
   
   
3. Solitaire City - Because my girlfriend loves this game.
   
   
4. iSlots - And like Solitaire City, girlfriend loves this thing.

Instruments

1. Finger Piano - One of those apps to show off.
   
   
2. Ocarina - Just a neat app to have, though I'll be honest, I don't really use it much. I guess, it's also one of those apps to show off your iPhone =)

Japanese apps:

1. Y! - Rosen - Let's you find train routes in Japan.
   
   
2. Terebi - With Softbank's TV & Battery device, you can watch TV as well as record TV to your iPhone. Personally, I don't use it much. But it's nice to know that I can!
   
   
3. Furufuru Pocky - A silly app... Not sure how to describe it so I'll quote from this blog here - "This is kind of a game you want to do when you want to pick one person out of several people. It's very simple, whoever pick the pink pocky is the winner. eg: who is in charge of cooking dinner tonight..."

And the apps that will leave my iPhone 3G

1. Flashlight - thought I'd be using this, but haven't really found myself using it.
   
   
2. TV Listings - Japanese TV listings... don't think I need it.
   
   
3. Sora Annai - Weather app for Japan. It's useful, but don't find myself using it.
   
   
4. Keizai Shimbun - a really cool app that lets you read the most recent Japanese newspaper Keizai Shimbun. A great show off app, but I never found myself reading the newspaper. Don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing...
   
   
5. Currency - Used to use this app quite a while, but slowly died down. Basically it'll give you update to day currency exchange rates. Perhaps if you're into making money via foreign exchange, this is an app to have with you.
   
   
6. USA Today - Find myself not getting news from my iPhone. I guess I just prefer reading news in computer browsers.
   
   
7. Air Sharing - It's a nifty app, but I just find myself emailing files to myself. Too lazy to load up Air Sharing on my iPhone to drop files into it. For MobileMe users including me, an iDisk app is finally coming!
   
   
8. Cooking Mama Lite - Just wanted to try the game out.
   
   
9. 24 Special Ops Free - Just wanted to try the game out because I love 24!
   
   
10. MySpace - Didn't find myself doing this SNS thing on the go.
    
    
11. FaceBook - Same as above
    
    
12. Google
    
    
13. SearchMe
    
    
14. AroundMe
    
    
15. Remote - When I had my AirPort Express with AirTunes hooked up in my living room, this is a super app. Now I gave my AirPort Express away, I'm not using it anymore. If you got a setup where you're streaming contents to a living room, this is a great app to complement it!
    
    
16. Hair Style Lite - Just wanted to try it out.
    
    
17. AIM - Chatting app. Problem is no one I know is on AIM, they're all on MSN! Eagerly waiting for Meebo iPhone app.
    
    
18. What's On? - TV listing app.
    
    
19. Hot Pepper - App to find restaurants in Japan.
    
    
20. Y! Chizu - Japanese map app. Just found myself using Maps most of the time.
    
    
21. Y! Douga - Yahoo's video streaming app in Japan. I tend to stick to my own video library for video contents.

And not that I have a choice of removing any of the native Apple apps, here are the ones I use:

• Contacts
• Photos
• Safari
• Maps
• Messages
• Calendar
• Notes
• Phone
• Mail
• Camera
• Setting - Not sure if you could call this an app.
• Calculator
• App Store
• iPod
• iTunes

Here are the ones I rarely use:

• YouTube
• Voice Memos - I start using this one when there's a streamlined voice-to-text feature. I'm must not used to this listening to my only voice memo thing.
• Weather
• Clock
• Stocks

How to wipe out and restore an iPod touch 2G?

I've been doing some spring cleaning of my home office, and have decided to sell my iPod touch 2G. Taking this thing out of the case, I still marvel at how thin this device is. Really a beauty. Anyways, I'm going to wipe out everything and restore the iPod touch 2G, and I thought I share the process.

1. Ok. I connected the touch to the computer, and have iTunes opened.
   
   
2. Ok, Apple is offering me the software update for 3.0. Not interested because I'm going to sell this shiny gadget, so pressed "Remind Me Later".
   
   
   
   
3. Alright, so on the Summary tab, there's a Restore button. Let's press that. It's going to ask you if you really want to restore. Yes!
   
   
   
   
4. Ok, it's... Extracting software... Prepare iPod for restore... Verify iPod software... wait wait wait...
   
   
5. Looks like it's going to take a few minutes, go get some coffee.
   
   
6. Alright, looks like we're done. And its showing me that software update screen. Apparently they really want you to get this update. Pressed "Remind Me Later" to skip it.
7. From there, you have the chance to Set up as a new iPod or Restore from your previous backup.
   
   
   
   
   
8. I'm not planning to do either, so I am going to just unplug the touch now.

Now I just got to find my box, instructions, and the stuff it came with. Hope you found this useful. Thanks for reading!

Offbeat: ice cream bar sandwich? - best of both worlds!

It's not really related to gadgets, but we all love ice cream bars and ice cream sandwiches right? In Japan, now you can get the best of both worlds! It's by the ice cream brand Lady Borden.

What do you call these things? Ice barwiches?

4 months later: My Mac Mini G4 Media Center

So 4 months after I converted my Mac Mini G4 into a media center that primarily record TV shows, stream music and shows I recorded. So did it work out well?

Recording and streaming TV shows: NO GO

I found myself to rely on my HDR (hard disk recorder) connected to my TV to record and watch TVs. Seems like I still retain the habit of watching TV. So in the end, didn't really find myself recording and streaming TV to my other computers.

Maybe if I had an Apple TV, the setup would work better.

Streaming music

Streaming music actually worked quite well with the AirPort Express. Add a iPod touch or iPhone as a remote, it works like wonder.

The biggest problem: not able to sync with my primary iTunes library

Because the Mini wasn't powerful enough to serve as a primary iTunes library, I ended up with a primary iTunes library on my iMac and another one on the Mini. And having two libraries to manage has some serious usability issues.

First: Syncing the TV shows you recorded is troublesome. I have to copy and import the files from my Mini to iMac's library.

Second: New music is always added to my primary iTunes library, which makes my Mini library out of sync. I'd have to update the library from time to time. And I can't listen to the new music I just bought or added right away from my Mini.

So the lesson here: one library is better than two libraries.

What's next: From media center to a wireless access point / file server

I'm now planning to bring this Mini to my office now. I'll hook it up with an ethernet cable and share the connection wirelessly. It'll also serve as a file server where I'll primarily use it with Apple's Backup application to backup files.

Video Game T-Shirts in Japan

This summer in Japan, Uniqlo, a Japanese apparel maker has teamed up with several video game companies to make t-shirts that gamers would die for. 

Although it's in Japanese, you could click around and see the t-shirts at their website.  If you're in Japan this summer, and you're a gamer, be sure to check them out!

Here are my favorites:

Ace Attorney

Mega Man

Street Fighter 2

For existing 3G owners - summary of the major new features

Since a friend asked me what's new in the 3.0 update, I thought I also put up a post for that. So here they are:

The major ones:

1. Cut, copy, & paste - You can do it to text and images.
   
   
2. Landscape keyboard - rotating the iPhone horizontally in Mail, Messages, Notes, and Safari will turn the app sideways resulting in a bigger keyboard
   
   
3. Spotlight Search - you can search across contacts, emails, calendars, notes, music, and a bunch of other stuff.
   
   
4. Stereo Bluetooth - this one is a big one for me. You can listen to your music without any wires!
   
   
5. MMS support - much needed especially in Japan. Coming later for AT&T folks.

New apps and new features in Apps

1. Voice memos - record audio
   
   
2. Stock app - gives your more info in landscape view
   
   
3. iTunes - buy mvoies, TV shows, and audiobooks. Also get stuff from iTunes U (educational contents from universities).
   
   
4. YouTube - now you can log in, and save and sync your bookmarks

Other nice to know features:

1. Sync Notes - Yes, finally you don't have to email and manage your notes on your iPhone. Long long overdue!
   
   
2. Shake to shuffle to another song in your library
   
   
3. Parental Controls - Although this is very nice for parents, and if you're use the device for yourself, you can use this to turn off some apps. For example, if you don't ever use YouTube, you can disable it.
   
   
4. Internet Tethering - While it's a welcome feature, but seems like carriers are going to charge for it, so that blows. So far Japan doesn't have support for it. This would definitely be nice for business people though. Oh yeah, great for MacBook Air users. All they need to bring is an iPhone to get net access.

For MobileMe users:

1. Find My iPhone and Remote Wipe - I never really misplace my iPhone in my house, but if you do, you can use Find My iPhone to make your phone beep. Other than that, there are two tremendous insurance features for the iPhone. If you lose your iPhone, you can remotely wipe the info - very important if you've got business info on that phone.
   
   
2. Search mail messages on MobileMe servers - very very powerful and useful if you keep your email on MobileMe servers. Only thing is it seems like you can only search within a folder on the server. So if you are very organized and keep a lot of folders, the usability of this one might drop. As for me, most of my messages get dumped in an archives folder. As a result, if I know who sent the message and the general time frame when it was sent, I could pinpoint that message outside with my iPhone.
   
   
3. View subscribed calendars - via a very very non-Apple-like troublesome process - here's the Apple support article

Lastly

Is it me, or my iPhone 3G is slow? Maybe it's trying to tell me to get a 3GS... Well, thanks for reading!

How to create a successful social game?

Recently, I just got involved with a project on creating a social game - a game for social network sites like FaceBook and MySpace. The first important question that comes to my mind is - how to create a successful social game?

There were some articles I read and some observations another team member made. I've summarized them in a check list. The idea is - our game must satisfy all the following items.

To start off...

This list is from a panel discussion with HitForge, First Round Capital, Accel Partners, and Hummer Winblad. It could be seen here on Omnisio.

1. Is it simple?
2. Is it social?
3. Is it viral?
4. Is it universal?
5. Does it gather user data?

Is the game scalable to mobile platforms?

And will the mobile experience deliver the same amount of value and fun as the SNS counterpart? (In other words, the mobile experience cannot be just a gimmick.) I derived this item from an article from TechCrunch regarding PlayFish.

Does it have a business model? Does it have a way to make money?

Here are a list of the popular models I came across.

1. Freemium model - (source: TechCrunch - Free to use. Pay to play)
2. Selling the mobile version of the app (i.e. iPhone app)
3. Advertising
4. sale of contents (i.e. virtual goods, more stages)

And a list of items from another colleague

1. Does the game have interaction with other friends?
   This means it cannot be a standalone game. Examples involve teaming up with friends and trading items.
   
   
2. Does the game let you level up?
   
   
3. Does the game have the element of collecting items?
   
   
4. Is the game play micro-gaming-like?

This is important as users today don't have long attention spans. This is especially true on the net as there is just just too much things for the users to do: watch a YouTube video, Twitter, chat, web surfing, using other apps. The key is letting the game be played in a short time interval across multiple sessions. In other words, short sessions and not long sessions like home console games.

That's all for now. Thanks for reading, and what other critical factors are there to making a successful social game?

Reason #2 for buying the 3GS: Compass

If you're an iPhone user that use Google Maps heavily and you aren't very good with maps, then you'll have another reason to buy the 3GS.  

According to Apple's website, Google Maps in 3GS will rotate "maps to always match the direction you’re facing."  This would make my navigation in the snaking streets of Tokyo much much easier.  

Like my friend Jimmy points out, you can always just buy another compass for much less... So if this is the only reason, that might be a nice alternative =)

What would a tablet running iPhone OS look like?

Seems like it's fake, but it does look very very cool.  Come on Apple, where's the tablet!

Reason #1 for buying the 3GS: Video!

Alright, if you have used other cellphones to record video and you're not that into video, this may not be a reason.  

But, if you're a Mac and an iPhone user (or have another phone that doesn't do video), the iPhone 3GS might just be a game changer for you.  Be prepared because video recording is just about to be commoditized.  

It used to be that video recording is more for special occasions.  You have to bring a special video camcorder or recorder to record video.  Go home, and dub that all to your computer so you can edit the stuff.  With the 3GS, a lot of the hassle is now all gone.  To be exact:

1. Don't have to carry another item to shoot video.  And don't even have to carry any film or memory cards.  (although the trade off is the length of time you can shoot)
   
   
2. No more dubbing or transferring the contents you took.  Everything will be synced back to iTunes.
   
   
3. Streamlined workflow for editing.  And if you like iMovie, you can see all the videos you took through the media library.  Just drag and drop into your project.   So putting together a movie of the clips you took would be super simple!
   

So there it is, one reason to get the 3GS, if you are a Mac user and have a phone that doesn't do video that is.

The need for an Apple Tablet / Media Pad based on iPhone OS

A few months ago my girlfriend's mom bought a new iMac.  She has never used a computer in her life before, so my girlfriend and I had to teach everything - starting from how to use a mouse.  Perhaps the most difficult part was explaining the concept of multiple windows.  On top of that, modern OS and programs are often very complicated.  I re-configured and simplified a lot of tool bars in programs like Mail.  

Though the OS and interfaces we use on computers have evolved for computer users, I don't think it does a very good job of catering to the elderly and others that don't truly need all the functions and power.  

The iPhone OS, on the contrary, would do a very good job.  The concept of windows is not there; instead, one app at a time.  And only the most critical features are truly revealed to the user.  Now if we can just make a device based on this OS that's bigger.  

That would be perfect from someone like my girlfriend's mom.  She doesn't need a mouse and she doesn't need a keyboard.  

So what would be on this tablet / media pad device:

• multi-touch screen with a home button
  
• built in speakers
  
• no keyboard - virtual keyboard will just slide up when you are in an area that requires text entry, just like the iPhone
  
• wi-fi 
  
• built-in-camera on the front and mic for video chatting
  
• memory card slots to import photos from cameras
  

And to satisfy power users

• Bluetooth and ability to connect with external Bluetooth keyboard
  
• display output for presentations
  

That's all I can think of for now.  I'll add more when I think of them.

BT-1: Bluetooth webcam for the Mac

Just saw this over at Ecamm's network.  This would be useful when you're video chatting, and you have to show something to the other person.  Instead of bringing the thing or paper to the camera, you can take the camera over to the thing you want to show.  Nice.  

This could work nice with Delicious Library, where you can take the camera and scan your books and stuff. 

It charges via a mini USB.  This brings up the only thing I don't like about Bluetooth accessories, the necessity to charge everyone of them.  I have enough things I need to charge - ie., phone, cameras.  And more Bluetooth accessories means more stuff I have to plug to charge.  Luckily this camera uses a mini USB so you don't need to use a plug or another USB port (assuming you have another device that uses mini USB to charge).  

Link:

BT-1

5 features iPhone 3G owners WON'T get with 3.0

No autofocus with your camera.  

Ok, I can understand this one.  The camera is not good enough.

No video recording.

Umm... I could see how this could rely and need a faster processor.  I'd just like to say... but, jailbroken phones could record video.

No voice control.

I guess this could require a more powerful phone consider this thing needs to run in the background most of the time.  

No digital compass.

Can't help this one.  It's new hardware.

No Nike+ iPod.  

According to what I can learn from Apple's site, new iPhone 3G S will come with a Nike + iPod app.  Doesn't seem like iPhone 3Gs will get this app with the 3.0 upgrade.  Doesn't seem like it's hardware dependent.  If not, at least, they should make this available on the App Store.  

Nevertheless, I think the iPhone like the iPod touch is too big to run with.

If you have need the above features, you might want to consider buying the 3G S.  As for me, that digital compass is tempting me...

Source: Apple

iPhone 3G S vs iPhone 3G: To upgrade or not

If you have patiently waited and resisted from getting an iPhone, your patience has been awarded.  As you know, the iPhone 3G S was released today, and it has almost everything a standard phone should have - copy and paste, video recording, MMS, and voice dialing.  It even has a digital compass to beef up your map and navigation experience.  If you have considered getting an iPhone, the latest version is definitely the one to get.  

BUT, what about the existing iPhone 3G owners?  Should we upgrade?

Other than the increased size and improved process so you can hold more stuff and have a smooth experience, here are the primary differences between the 3G S and 3G.

A better camera: 

An improvement from 2 megapixels to 3 megapixels.  It also now has the ability to autofocus.  So here are somethings to ask yourself:

• Do you take a lot of pictures?  If you take a lot of pictures with the existing iPhone, this is one reason to get the new iPhone.  
  
• Do you take a lot of pictures UP CLOSE?  A better cameras mean you can also snap business cards and magazine articles.  (We'll have to wait until someone tries and see how good it is)  Seems like it might enhance business and productivity workflows.  Another reason to get it.
  

Built-in video camera with editing:

Frankly, feel this is a nice to have to me.  However, I never really tried recording video with a portable device.  This could be kind of cool.  You can capture all these short moments, and easily edit them together on the computer with iMovie.

Hmm... I'd say this is not a big reason to get the new iPhone unless you already have the habit of recording short videos with your existing phones.

Voice Control

The Apple implementation of the Voice Control is definitely nice.  If you drive or find yourself in a lot of situations where you can't take out your phone and tap on it, this could be a big reason.

Since I use the train, this is not a big reason for me.

Compass

If you used Google Maps and you're fine with it, the compass is not a big reason for you.  For me, I still got lost with GPS and Maps.  The compass will probably make Maps much usable for me.  Another reason for the new iPhone.  (I don't like where this is going...)

Nike+ iPod

If you run with your phone, here's another reason.  I think the iPhone is too big for running.  I'd still prefer a Shuffle or Nano.

And my verdict...

So with in the 5 features above, 2 features are reasons for me to get the new iPhone.  In other words I would buy the new iPhone 3G S so I could:

• take prettier pictures
  
• take snap shots of business cards and magazine articles
  
• not get lost as often

Hmm... not very sure if I can justify this purchase.  Really like the compass though.   I shall have to wait to see.

If the above aren't reasons for you, then I'd recommend waiting as well.  Within a week, your iPhone 3G will come packed with new features again!  

Let me here what you think and thanks for reading!

Source: Apple

What new features will existing iPhone 3G owners get?

New features

• cut copy and paste
• horizontal keyboards in Apple's apps (i.e. Mail)
• MMS (coming soon in summer from AT&T)
• search across your iPhone
• Internet tethering (for certain carriers only)
• push notifications

Apps related

• Notes syncing with computer
• Voice memo app

Music 

• stereo Bluetooth
• shake to shuffle

iTunes

• buy and rent movies, buy TV shows, music videos, and audiobooks from the phone

MobileMe features

• MobileMe: iDisk app - access your iDisk files (finally!!!)
• MobileMe: Find your iPhone - You can find the location of your iPhone on Me.com. You can have it play a sound so you can locate it. If you lost your iPhone and someone has it, you can send a message to the iPhone to tell them to return it.
• MobileMe: Remote wipe - wipe the iPhone clean remotely. Hope I'll never have to use it, but it's nice to know that it's there.

Highlights of Apple WWDC 2009 Keynote

iPhone 3GS

• faster (2 times, to be exact)
• 3 megapixel camera, with auto focus
• built-in digital compass - an application would be maps which would reorient itself according to your direction.  Useful if you're bad with maps like me.
• video recording and editing
• voice control - use voice to call and control your music (say an artist name to play their music)
• Nike+ iPod app (looks like the app that's on the latest iPod touches)

For iPhone and iPod touch owners - 3.0 features

• old iPhone 3G is now $99 in US in 8GB model
• cut copy and paste
• horizontal keyboards in Apple's apps (i.e. Mail)
• MMS
• search across your iPhone
• Internet tethering
• voice memos
• stereo Bluetooth
• buy and rent movies, buy TV shows, music videos, and audiobooks from the phone
• shake to shuffle
• Notes syncing with the computer
• MobileMe: iDisk app - access your iDisk files (finally!!!)
• MobileMe: Find your iPhone - You can find the location of your iPhone on Me.com.  You can have it play a sound so you can locate it.  If you lost your iPhone and someone has it, you can send a message to the iPhone to tell them to return it.
• MobileMe: Remote wipe - wipe the iPhone clean remotely.  Hope I'll never have to use it, but it's nice to know that it's there.

MacBook Pro Line

• 13 inch - The existing aluminum 13 inch MacBooks are now in the MacBook Pro Line.  Built-in battery.  More vivid display.  Up to 8GB of memory.  Backlit keyboard and 800 FireWire.  Starts at $1199
  
• 15 inch upgraded - More vivid display, built-in battery like it's 17 inch brother and SD card slot are the most noticeable features.  
  
• 17 inch upgraded - better specs
  

MacBook Line

The white MacBook is back in the spotlight in the MacBook line at $999.  With the MacBook Pro 13 inch at $1199, seems like MacBook Pro is a better buy.  Personally, the price difference is too little.  For $200 bucks more, seems like you get a lot of stuff over the $999 MacBook.   Wouldn't it be great if they price this at $799? Or even $899 would be nice.

Snow Leopard (Next OS for Mac)

• Takes up 6GB lesser than Leopard  
  
• New Expose features (in particular, integration with the Dock) - As an avid user of Expose, looking forward to this one.
  
• support for Microsoft Exchange
  
• $29 dollar upgrade for Leopard users!!! $29!!! That's incredible!
  
• Available September

Other

• Safari 4 is released today
  

Video of Apple WWDC 2009 Keynote Address

Watch the iPhone 3GS, new MacBook Pros, and Snow Loepard at Apple's website here.  Enjoy!  

2009 WWDC predictions - new iPhone, cheaper iPhone, no camera iPod touch, no tablet

With the WWDC happening within the next 24 hours, I decided to give a shot at predicting the announcments.  Also be sure to check out the last minute rumor updates from Gizmodo.  Besides an in depth look and a official release date for Snow Leopard, here are my iPhone, tablet, iPod touch predictions.

New iPhone

Features:

• faster processors, and more storage - in particular, a 32GB model
  
  
• a slightly improved camera - In additional to a better camera,  I'm hoping they'll tag a front video chat cameras.  Not only can you make video calls, you'd be able to video chat on via other applications.  
  
  
• magnetometer - this would make Google Maps even better!
  
  
• buy and download iTunes TV and movies straight from iPod
  
  
• new Apple app for MobileMe so you can FINALLY access files on your iDisk
  
  
• record and edit videos

A cheaper iPhone

• Roughly about the same size.  Screen size is the same because if it was different, apps would have to be changed.
  
  
• No camera and no GPS.  Imagine an iPod touch + phone.  
  

No tablet

Think it's going to be saved for a future event when Steve Jobs is back.

iPod touch 

• No new iPod touch model with cameras - Don't think the current price will have a camera.  Adding a camera will increase the price substantially.  
  
  
• Peripherals enabling iPod touch to become a camera - Since the iPhone 3.0 software allows for add ons through the dock connector, I'm boldly predicting there will be an camera accessory for the touch.  You simply hook the accessory to the iPod touch, and it will instantly turn your touch into an camera as well. 
  

That's all for my predictions.  We'll find out soon enough.  

Google Wave makes email so yesterday

Google Wave is one of those things that can't really be described and explained in words.  You have to see it for yourself.  

This thing is amazing.  The ability to have all your communications all in one place.  That's neat.  So imagine blog comments, emails, chat messages all in one place, and can be managed coherently.  

And you have Google Voice unifying your phones.  Imagine what Google Wave and Voice can together... It sounds cool, but also sounds scary when Google has all the data...

For those that don't know what Google Voice is, you can find out here.  Their home page describes it as "Google Voice is a service that gives you one number for all your phones, voicemail that is easy as email, and many enhanced calling features like call blocking and screening, voicemail transcripts, call conferencing, international calls, and more."

Interesting times we're living in alright...

What?! Mario was Popeye? Princess Peach was Olive?

That's right, according to the book - "Philosophy of Nintendo", Nintendo was going to release an arcade game based on Popeye in the 1980s before their home console was out.  

However, they ran into copyright problems, and could not use Popeye.  Instead they asked Miyamoto-san to design something.  And Mario was created to replace Popeye and Princess Peach to substitute the damsel in distress, Olive.  Instead of Pluto, Donkey Kong was created.  

And by the way, Mario was named after an employee in the US offices because they looked similar.  

And that would be the Nintendo trivia of they day =)

Thanks for reading!

Source: Philosophy of Nintendo - page 98-99

GTD Tip: Use Evernote to search text within images

Search technology has really come a long way.  If you have one of the latest Macs, you can instantly "Spotlight" (search) a keyword, and it would go through emails, files, and your calendar to find stuff at ridiculous speeds when compared to old operating systems.  

But there's still one thing missing.  It can't search inside images.  So if you take snap shots of your documents and business cards, they won't come up in your search results unless you name them properly.  I'm eagerly awaiting the day where text recognition technology in images comes to the consumers.  

Until then, I suggest everyone to take a look at Evernote.  This software is available on the web, desktop, and phone to let you takes notes, snap shots, and even serve as storage for files.  The best benefit of Evernote to me is the text recognition technology.  So you take snapshots or scan images of, let's say, business cards, it will become searchable.  

The downside is that these images must be synced and processed by Evernote's servers.  I am not comfortable with having a lot of business and sensitive documents out there in the clouds so I'm currently not using it.  But I am sure many will find it useful and handy.  

Forget that Wii controller, you ARE the controller with Project Natal from Microsoft

The big thing for me from E3 is the Project Natal from Microsoft.  YouTube video below.  

They sure love to share their concepts, something Nintendo would never to.  Simply because someone might copy you.  Anyways, it's an awesome concept, and hope it's gonna happen someday.  It would change gaming, computing, and just interfaces.  This would be our first step towards Minority Report.  

It would be so cool to be able to turn on TV by moving your hands.  Flick to change channels.  You could pinch to zoom in or out.  Possibilities so endless!

Well back to reality.  The real more concrete news I like from E3 is the announcement of New Super Mario Brothers for Wii.  Basically imagine the original side scrolling Super Mario with the ability to play with up to 4 people simultaneously together.  Most games these days are competitive in nature.  What happened to all those co-op games where you work together to pass the game.  Like Contra, Gradius...  So I'm looking forward to this one =)

Thanks for reading!

How Nintendo and Apple are similar?

Other than building innovative products, what do Nintendo and Apple have in common?

They both went through tough times. Apple didn't perform well while Steve Jobs was away. Nintendo went down losing it to Sony's PlayStation during the era of Nintendo 64 and GameCube.

They connect the dots. In many cases, both companies do not use the most advanced technology, but rather a set of proven technology. Apple's iPod is a great example. From Nintendo, both Wii and DS are examples.

They both had popular white products. From Apple, white iPod and white MacBooks. From Nintendo, white DS and white Wii.

They both had "cube" products that didn't sell very well.

They both had portable products that sold like hot cakes - iPod and GameBoy.

And just to throw this in, apparently, Iwata-san, CEO of Nintendo, uses Apple and delivers his keynotes with Apple's Keynote presentation software. And Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, owns both the GameCube and the Wii.

Source: Philosophy of Nintendo - page 162-163

The prototype of the DS was actually a pocket PC

In the summer of 2003, Mario creator Miyamoto-san showed what would become the DS today to Iwata-san, CEO of Nintendo.  

The prototype was a pocket PC.  In order to simulate the dual screen nature, Miyamoto intentionally put a strip of black tape to divide the screen into two halves.  And he wrote a simple program where blocks would fall from the upper screen to the bottom screen.  In the bottom screen there was Mario, and if you tapped Mario with the stylus, it would make him jump.  

Pretty interesting bit of trivia.

Source: Philosophy of Nintendo - pg. 49

Nintendo - how it's different from other innovative companies?

Just finished reading "The Philosophy of Nintendo" (a Japanese business book on Nintendo).  And here is one interesting thing I found out.  It's the "I knew it all along, but never realized it" kind of thing.

Nintendo has always been viewed as an innovative company in the gaming industry, and more so with the success of Wii and DS.  It's often compared to Apple and some may say this company has the magic of Silicon Valley startups like Google.  

The interesting thing is Nintendo is an innovative company, but with strong roots back into history.  Similar to visionary companies like P&G.  In fact, Nintendo's headquarters is located in Kyoto, the old capital of Japan, where things do not change like Tokyo.  

In Built to Last, a famous business book about visionary companies, there was this theme of "preserve the core and stimulate progress".  And that comes to mind with Nintendo.  

Nintendo proves the innovation can happen anywhere, and it doesn't have to be Silicon Valley.  

Source: Philosophy of Nintendo (pg.  13)