Bernskiold Media » Apple

iPhone 3.0, my thoughts

Erik Bernskiold — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 12:00:09 +0000

A couple of weeks ago now, Apple unveiled a preview of the iPhone 3.0 firmware and at the same time released the beta version to developers. As an iPhone developer, I was very excited to be able to download and install iPhone 3.0 on my phone to begin using it right away, as it features some updates and news that I’ve been longing for. I’m going to post here my thoughts on the iPhone 3.0 Beta firmware as of this first week of really using it.

The Speed and Responsiveness

Starting with the basics, this is probably what concerns a lot of folks that might be holding off on the beta installation. I must really say that this is more like an RC (Release Candidate) version. Very stable for being a beta and apart from the occasional small lags, there are no problems that you are pulling your hair from and want to revert back to 2.2.1. The lags are fully acceptable and are just smaller and that is what I’ve heard from other people as well. So far so good!

Interface Updates — Landscape Viewing

Most of the Apple applications have now gotten a nice interface update which is the availability of landscape viewing mode. Especially in mail, this is a huge time-saver, being able to type and use the landscape keyboard with the larger keys to type longer mails, faster. Another welcome update for me is the availability of a full swedish keyboard complete with our special characters right on the keyboard. The only peeve here is that when in the horizontal viewing-mode, these keys are very small. I guess that is something you need to get used to, especially after using the old keyboard for a while now and for me who are constantly switching between the English keyboard and the Swedish keyboard on the phone for writing.

Spotlight and Search

I’m in love with the new, second home-screen. Available to the left of your main home-screen, is a brand new spotlight screen. This allows you to search the contents of your entire phone, from mail messages to phone contacts to actual applications. The ability to search for an application name is especially useful when you’ve got many screens of apps and you quickly want to launch an app. Just type the beginning of its name and select it from the list to start it!

A great new thing is also the mail search. By default it searches through every message that has been downloaded to the phone, but with just a simple tap, you can extend this search to search on the server as well. This makes it even easier to find the right message you are looking for, everywhere, without worrying that it might not be on your phone anymore.

Voice Memos

I actually felt that this new app that comes with the firmware is worth a special mention only because it is so much better than any of the other voice recording applications that I’ve used before. It’s got a very sleek interface and it is simple to use and share voice notes either through email or MMS. What I am amazed by is the audio qualities of these memos. They really sound good and are even useful if you wish to record on the iPhone for podcast use!

MMS

I bet a lot of you were waiting for this point. Yes, the iPhone 3.0 supports multimedia messages and sending both photos and audio (voice memos that is) works just fine! I am however not as excited for this as a) it costs to send (where email is free) and b) I never really used it before the iPhone anyway… But for all of you interested in this, you’re going to be happy to know it works just fine and even looks nice!

These are the features that I’ve used the most and that I notice the most in the every day usage. Yes, I do like the ability to sync calendars that I subscribe to and yes, it is really nice to be able to finally sync notes from the notes application back to iTunes. It is however the surprisingly good speed and responsiveness I am most thrilled about (as it is a beta) and of course the landscape writing and viewing and the rest of the larger points that I listed.

Apple updates iPod Shuffle

Erik Bernskiold — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 05:30:12 +0000

Apple released a brand new and updated iPod Shuffle yesterday which was actually pretty surprising considering that they usually do releases on Tuesdays and not on Wednesdays. However, it is really a brand new iPod that isn’t really like any of the previous shuffles.

Controls moved to headphone cord

The main new thing with the new shuffle is that they have made it even smaller and they have done that by removing the play controls from the main device and instead put them onto the earbud cord, like the iPhone’s or most closely the iPod Touch’s. As an iPhone user, I really love my earbud controls and only wish that I could get volume control right on there as well, which would have been just super and it is for that reason I think this is actually a good thing, however having it as the only option seem just a bit foolish. They are locking you into their own pair of headphones if you don’t want to purchase and use a dongle. Perhaps having controls at both the device and the cord would have been the best.

VoiceOver

One of their newest features in the Shuffle, which I think will really make a big hit is the VoiceOver feature that not only speaks the name of the track you are listening to right now, but also has the ability to speak all of the playlists on the Shuffle (that’s right, because of this you can now have different playlists). You’ll because of this be able to organize your music, even on the Shuffle!

Bottom Line Specs

The new iPod Shuffle sells for $79 in the Apple Store and is currently at release available for shipping in 3-5 business days. It is available in the 4GB size and in the two colours, black and silver, both in a shell of Aluminium.

Taking a look at the Safari 4 Beta

Erik Bernskiold — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 19:06:55 +0000

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As a complement to the news post today about Safari 4 Beta, I wanted to get a video up walking through the new features and generally taking a look at the new beta. The more I use Safari, the more I like it. If you want to download it, to it from Apple’s website.

Unexpected Wednesday Newsies

Erik Bernskiold — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 05:30:55 +0000

This week my blog schedule has been a little changed, first with the postponed he said – she said post and now with something cool on track for tomorrow. So for that reason I’m postponing the posting of the general article or showcase for Wednesdays to tomorrow for this week! Stay tuned! ;)

An app store tracking and rating website called Apptism is beginning to report that over 20,000 apps are now online in the Apple App Store. Only three months after hitting the big 10,000 applications—which in and of itself didn’t take more than six months—the store has doubled that amount!
The InstantShift website has a great article listing 30 Great WordPress Comments Page Hacks. The hacks that you can do to your comments page include specific comment styling, giving the comments new features and many more cool things! Check it out!
If you are a blogger and also using Lightroom you might want to check out a cool new plugin by plugin-veteran Timothy Armes. His newest plugin called LR2/Blog is designed to post images to blogs that are using the MetaWebLogs standard. Among the systems using this standard is WordPress which should make this plugin perfect for anyone that is using WordPress for photoblogging (as an example).
Nikon has released a new lens this week. It’s an AF-S 35mm ƒ/1.8 G lens made for the DX format. It sports a focus motor in the lens and is clearly meant for anyone that has been having their eyes on a fixed 50 1.8 but this one made for the DX cameras, giving an equivalent focal length of around 50mm, this while as said providing internal focusing for the latest bodies.

Steve Jobs takes time off as CEO for Apple

Erik Bernskiold — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 05:51:04 +0000

Steve jobs is today announcing that he will take medical leave until the summer to recover from his recent medical issues. He says it’s to allow Apple to focus on delivering exciting new products instead of on him and his health. His replacement during the time will be COO, Tim Cook. The letter reads:

Apple CEO Steve Jobs today sent the following email to all Apple employees:

Team,

I am sure all of you saw my letter last week sharing something very personal with the Apple community. Unfortunately, the curiosity over my personal health continues to be a distraction not only for me and my family, but everyone else at Apple as well. In addition, during the past week I have learned that my health-related issues are more complex than I originally thought.

In order to take myself out of the limelight and focus on my health, and to allow everyone at Apple to focus on delivering extraordinary products, I have decided to take a medical leave of absence until the end of June.

I have asked Tim Cook to be responsible for Apple’s day to day operations, and I know he and the rest of the executive management team will do a great job. As CEO, I plan to remain involved in major strategic decisions while I am out. Our board of directors fully supports this plan.

I look forward to seeing all of you this summer.

Steve

Keynote iPhone App

Erik Bernskiold — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 17:19:21 +0000

Along with the new version of Keynote ‘09 in the new iWork ‘09, Apple released a very cool iPhone application that allows you to use the iPhone as a little remote for going through your slides. Just slide through the slides visible either in landscape or portrait mode on the iPhone. You can also enable or disable the presenters notes to see on the iPhone.If you are in landscape mode with the phone (just rotate as usual) you’ll be able to see current and next slide as well as optionally, notes.

My use of this will probably mostly be the remote functionality which I think is really good. To be able to see the slides on the phone while moving through them is actually really good. I do think the screen is just a bit slow to be able to use as a good presenters display. I’ll probably use my laptop screen for that still, or learn it by heart. It’s just a bit to small to read. But as a quick rescue, it looks to be awesome.

I’m only just trying this out and really am hoping to be able to post a better review of this app and the new Keynote version itself later on. It just depends on how many presentations will be scheduled for doing, something I don’t yet know.

Buy Keynote iPhone App on the App Store

MacWorld Expo Keynote News

Erik Bernskiold — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 11:12:16 +0000

Yesterday was the keynote expo from MacWorld expo which brought some pretty cool things. A lot of people were waiting for more heavy things as upgraded MacMini, new Apple Cinema Displays etc. but didn’t get it. My own take on what’s being released is that it is some really cool stuff. It’s only because of all rumours that much of it gets shoved away. Consider a lot of the features in iLife. They are actually really cool in and of itself. It’s just that all the rumours and craze that sites drag up that they are considered less. Not that I use much of iLife myself…

#1 – iLife ‘09

First release was iLife ‘09, new versions of all products in the suite. The most remarkable though in iPhoto, iMovie and Garageband. iPhoto has gotten quite a few new sorting settings, sorting by faces and places. Both really cool and should work really good. In iMovie we have a lot more advanced editing capabilities again and in Garageband the main new feature is instrument lessons.

You can check out more of iLife ‘09 over on the Apple website. It will be available in late January for $79.

#2 – iWork ‘09

Second release was iWork ‘09. New features in all of the apps in the suite. First off in Keynote, there are some cool new transitions, both between objects and text. Honestly, really cool stuff in Keynote that I know I will love. In Pages the news are fullscreen mode, integration with MathType for example and a lot more. In Numbers they’re working on making it a lot more professional. Better formulas, column sorting and better chart are just few of new things there as well. In all three of the applications, you can find new templates as well.

You can check out more of iWork ‘09 over on Apple’s website. It is available right now for $79. You can also download a free 30-day trial.

#3 – MacBook Pro 17"

The third news was the upgraded 17" MacBook Pro. The most notable news here is a much better battery with up to 8 hours of battery time. Bad news about the battery is that you can’t replace it. You also have the option to get it with a matte screen for another $50.

You can read a lot more about this upgraded MacBook Pro over at Apple’s website. It’ll be available in late January for $2799.

One More Thing – iTunes

Yes, as usual they had one more thing for us as well. The news about iTunes now is that they are introducing three different price tiers at the demand of music companies. They are also making the entire iTunes library available DRM free. If you have an iPhone you can also visit and download music over 3G on the Music Store!

To be honest, Phil Schiller did a great job with the keynote although benefical to Apple would probably have been more new hardware. In any case, they have some great news now! I have a feeling that it’s good for Apple to be able to focus on product releases when they feel they can pull them out instead of on a fixed base in their keynotes. Perhaps they are working on something big!

Steve Jobs is fine. Talks about his health in public letter.

Erik Bernskiold — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:59:26 +0000

Steve Jobs and the Apple Board of Directors has today each issued a public statement to the Apple community about the recent rumors on Jobs health. They can be read below by clicking the continue reading link.

Letter from Steve Jobs to Apple Community

Dear Apple Community,

For the first time in a decade, I’m getting to spend the holiday season with my family, rather than intensely preparing for a Macworld keynote.

Unfortunately, my decision to have Phil deliver the Macworld keynote set off another flurry of rumors about my health, with some even publishing stories of me on my deathbed.

I’ve decided to share something very personal with the Apple community so that we can all relax and enjoy the show tomorrow.

As many of you know, I have been losing weight throughout 2008. The reason has been a mystery to me and my doctors. A few weeks ago, I decided that getting to the root cause of this and reversing it needed to become my #1 priority.

Fortunately, after further testing, my doctors think they have found the cause—a hormone imbalance that has been “robbing” me of the proteins my body needs to be healthy. Sophisticated blood tests have confirmed this diagnosis.

The remedy for this nutritional problem is relatively simple and straightforward, and I’ve already begun treatment. But, just like I didn’t lose this much weight and body mass in a week or a month, my doctors expect it will take me until late this Spring to regain it. I will continue as Apple’s CEO during my recovery.

I have given more than my all to Apple for the past 11 years now. I will be the first one to step up and tell our Board of Directors if I can no longer continue to fulfill my duties as Apple’s CEO. I hope the Apple community will support me in my recovery and know that I will always put what is best for Apple first.

So now I’ve said more than I wanted to say, and all that I am going to say, about this.

Steve

Letter from Apple Board of Directors

It is widely recognized both inside and outside of Apple that Steve Jobs is one of the most talented and effective CEOs in the world.

As we have said before, if there ever comes a day when Steve wants to retire or for other reasons cannot continue to fulfill his duties as Apple’s CEO, you will know it.

Apple is very lucky to have Steve as its leader and CEO, and he deserves our complete and unwavering support during his recuperation. He most certainly has that from Apple and its Board.

Simple fix for annoying iPhone problem!

Erik Bernskiold — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 17:49:32 +0000

As much as I love my iPhone (and I truly do), I have had one annoying problem for the past weeks and searched for a solution for as long. One day my headphone mic button just stopped working (and the mic as well). I could listen to music just fine but not use it as a headset, which is a real bummer, especially now that it is cold outside.

Nevertheless, I was browsing and searching for solutions today as well and I found one ingenious solution! It turns out that the headphone jack is a good place for fluff to gather, especially if you have your phone in your jeans (as I always have). The solution was to gently poke around with a paper clip and try to get the fluff out. Lo and behold as I did it and quite a bit of fluff came out! I can at least say that I’m glad to have it all back in working order. I also wanted to share this with y’all as I’m sure it gathers over time and more people will have this issue and with such a simple solution, I don’t think it should be as hard to find!

I’m hoping your christmas was really great and that you are looking forward to new years! I know I am (fireworks are awesome to photograph).

Thursday News

Erik Bernskiold — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:12:20 +0000

First off today I want to get the attention of everyone who is thinking about mailing in a Canon rebate check! Canon USA has some important news about sending them in as the company they and many others hire to do the processing of the rebate, mail-in checks apparently has gone bankrupt.
I get a lot of questions on where to start when building your own WordPress theme so today I’m turning everyone who are asking that and linking you to a great guide made by Nick La over at Web Designer Wall where he goes through from the ground up how a WordPress theme works and how to get started on the coding.
Apple in the days released an update to fix the trackpad in the MacBook that many have had major problems with. You can download the new fix from Software Update.
On the lines of Apple and their latest laptops, tech guru, Terry White has posted his review of the new MacBook Pro. Go and read it right here.

Check back here tomorrow for some more goodies and until then, have a great day!