Ten23 - Development of Connection

iPhone Test 2

This cop was on his cell phone

We're talking full hand-to-ear contact. I was this close to making a citizens arrest.

Posted on SpotJots near: COSTA MESA FWY/CA-55 N, TUSTIN CA 92780 US

iPhone Test

The Horizon

So, its been a while. But my absence can be explained best by what we will release next. It has taken some time, but we're pretty pleased with the results of our efforts. We think many of you will like it too. I'd like to share more, but that will have to wait. But not for long.

Clutch Concrete Receives MIP Award

It's been a while since my last post, we've been busy finalizing the SpotKast consumer alpha and deploying our vehicle tracking and mobile BI solutions. I'm hoping to write about CTIA, the NAVTEQ Challenge, etc, in the near future. For now, just wanted to quickly mention that Jonel Engineering has received an MIP 2007 award (Most Innovative Product) from World of Concrete for their mobile tools. Congrats! Jonel uses the SpotKast platform to mobilize their software, giving their customers cell phone-based vehicle tracking and BI functionality.

Making Your Blog Location-Aware

SpotKast now enables bloggers to geo-tag their posts simply by embedding a latitude/longitude tag. Let's use this blog as an example. Next week, we will be in Orlando for CTIA, which is being held at the Orange County Convention Center. If I want this post to appear to any SpotKast user as they walk by the Convention Center, all I need to do is place the following anywhere within the body of the post:

spotkast [ latlon = 28.4264 -81.4696 ]

The latlon is the latitude/longitude location of the OCCC building. Within 15 minutes, it will be viewable at that location. If you don't like the aesthetics of the spotkast tags, you can place them at the end of your post in small letters, or with no color. Pretty simple, eh?  Sure beats having to mess with the XML. Do you happen to be near the OCCC? Check out your SpotKast Local Web section....

SpotKast a NAVTEQ LBS Challenge Semifinalist

We are pleased to announce that SpotKast is a semifinalist in the NAVTEQ 2007 LBS Challenge! There are 16 semifinalists competing in 3 categories. A winner will be chosen from each category, then a grand prize winner will be selected. Naturally, we looked up our competition :) They consist of new startups as well as sizable companies already well established in the space, all with creative mobile solutions. Not surprisingly, we are hoping for a David v. Goliath result :) Our team will be heading out to CTIA in Orlando for the final round of judging...if you're going to be there too, be sure to stop by and say hello!

The BlackBerry 8800

The 8800 was officially launched from Cingular, and I have had some time to play with it. Here are some of my initial observations:

Size.
The device is slightly taller than the 8700c and slightly narrower. It is noticeably thinner. If you have always felt that talking on a BlackBerry was like holding a pancake against your head, that won't change with the 8800. But I think BlackBerry users who want a full size keyboard will love the form factor.

Looks.
There is no doubt that this is one of the best looking smart-phones on the market. It's thin, sports silver accents along the sides and has a clean design.

Navigation.
Like on the Pearl 8100, navigation is a breeze with the trackball. I was a fan of the track-wheel, but it's time has come and gone. The ball is more accessible because it is on the front of the device, providing a more connected feel with what is happening on the screen. As you know, West-East on the track-wheel was impossible, so any navigation that required such movement usually involved the awkward (simultaneous) pressing of the Alt key.

Keyboard.
I read a review in the WSJ where the author complained of the  new keyboard. I thought she went way overboard, so I grabbed the 8700 and did a side-by-side. While I still think her review was too critical (of the keys, her article overall was very positive), I do concur that it feels a little more cramped than on the 8700. The 8800 keys have a tactile feel to them which make it easy to differentiate, but there is no spacing in between, which might be a slight issue for our big-thumbed friends.

GPS.
I love that autonomous GPS is now included. Haven't had ample time to test this yet, will update soon.

Operating System.
The OS is what you would expect; Pearl 8100 users will feel right at home. It's simple and easy to use, and the email works as it always does. RIM has done a great job keeping it simple and to the point for their user base; reminds me of the 37 Signals philosophy. While Windows Mobile is a more capable OS in terms of breadth of functionality, the learning curve is steeper.

Overall.
RIM has done a great job with this phone. It doesn't have a camera (which the rumored 8820 will not have either) and doesn't have WiFi (which the 8820 is supposed to have), but has enough cosmetic change and usability changes (microSD, trackball, etc) to warrant an upgrade. The GPS is a killer addition. The 8800 feels like a quality piece, and the included case is a nice touch. BlackBerries typically did not appeal to non-business users because, well, they were pretty ugly. But now, the public is more educated about smart-phones, and RIMs decision to make great looking devices will definitely be of help. While the 8800 is still intended for the business person, it no longer appears BBs are made only for the business person, and I have heard the rumblings of a younger generation eying it for their communication needs.

The 8100 Pearl.
I liked the look of the 8100 Pearl, but didn't realize how much I would like the device on the whole until we got one for testing. It quickly became my main phone. The lack of a full keyboard was what I was really worried about; but its predictive type worked surprisingly well. Since my emails are typically very short, it didn't really annoy me too much when things went awry...which it will, from time to time. So will the 8800 convince me to give up the incredibly convenient form factor of the 8100? We shall see. The 8100 wins on size, but its the GPS that could give the nod to RIMs latest...

Jim Gray Missing At Sea

Renowned computer scientist Jim Gray was reported missing at sea on January 28th, 2007. Though the Coast Guard has called off the search, you can help by going here. You'll be asked to look through satellite imagery in hopes of finding the location of his sailboat. Please do what you can.

"Gray's research over the past 30 years allowed databases to sort quantities of information once considered too vast to manage, leading to the creation of both online shopping and Web-based mapping programs."

Despite his busy schedule as a manager at Microsoft Research, Mr. Gray took some time out to field some of our questions and help us with our spatial database implementation.

We will be praying for Jim and his family.

The iPhone: New Technology, Same Ol' Story?

As I work, I occasionally Alt-Tab to sneak a peak at those sexy pictures adorning the window of my Firefox browser. So much so, it’s hard to concentrate, and I blame Steve Jobs and his cast of characters at Apple Computer. Like Jessica Alba, the iPhone is a little too good looking to be real, but I’ll allow myself to be swayed by the multitude of witnesses whose swooning testify to its existence (incidentally, I can remark about Alba’s looks because my wife is a fan of hers; I believe there is an unspoken rule about that).

It is a rare thing to hear so much about a device, and to still be thoroughly impressed despite all of the buzz. It doesn’t seem possible, but the picture of the iPhone actually looks better each time I look at it. Leave it to Apple to take technology and mold it into a piece of art that captivates everybody. Since their 1984 ad and the introduction of the Mac, they have undeniably been a leading force in the design and usability domains, building a cult following of extremely devoted Apple-ets. These devotees may not be easy to spot in public, but they tend to congregate at various web watering holes, including an Apple secret society site called Digg.

In all seriousness, it seems like a great phone, and should do much towards awakening an industry that is - in many ways - behind the times. But despite the fanfare, things are not all rosy for Jobs & Co. In fact, the intro of the iPhone leaves me with many questions, the primary one being: is history destined to repeat itself? Let me explain…

Past: Windows v. Macintosh

In 1984, Apple released the Macintosh, a computer system that received great acclaim for its easy to use operating system and hardware combination. At least in terms of the interface, Jobs & Co had set the standard. Microsoft's answer, Windows, always seemed to be a step behind...but Windows had to contend with something the folks at Apple didn’t: integration with a multitude of peripherals and components. Mac’s predominantly closed architecture meant Apple would bear the majority share of sales, but it also slowed growth of the platform.

Meanwhile, the open nature of the PC inevitably led to cloning, the competition led to lower prices, affordability yielded greater distribution and this “ubiquity” led to a generous software selection. And while Apple could guarantee a superb interface and quality of service (in large part because of the tight control on supported peripherals and components), they quickly found out that they were destined to be the favored computers of a small minority. Microsoft, on the other hand, enjoyed widespread adoption particularly because of their ability to support many different hardware configurations. Macs couldn’t compete with the hardware and software flexibility of Windows-enabled machines, nor could they compete with the price, and Microsoft would go on to dominate the new frontier of desktop computing.

Present and Future: Windows Mobile v. iPhone

In 2007, Apple released the iPhone, a mobile phone that received great acclaim for its easy to use operating system and hardware combination. At least in terms of the interface, Jobs & Co may have just set a new standard. Microsoft's own Windows Mobile seems to have found some stiff competition in the new mobile OS X device...but WinMo does have to contend with something the folks at Apple don't: integration with a multitude of mobile phones, such as the Motorola Q, Samsung BlackJack and 8125. The iPhone’s closed architecture (which doesn’t allow for 3rd party software) and its confinement to Apple’s only device means they will bear the majority share of sales, but it will also slow the growth of the platform.

Meanwhile, phones running Windows Mobile are popping up left and right, enabling software vendors to produce titles that can work on multiple devices. This openness, while great for both Joe User and the businessmen, finds an especially hearty reception with companies looking for software that fully utilizes their data plans. And while Apple can guarantee a great interface and quality of service (because they tightly control the hardware their OS runs on, as well as the software that can be installed and used), they will quickly found out that they are destined to be the favored mobile phones of a small minority. Microsoft, on the other hand, will enjoy widespread adoption particularly because of their ability to support many different devices. iPhones will not be able to compete with the hardware and software flexibility that WinMo devices provides, nor will they be able to compete on price, and Microsoft will go on to dominate the new frontier of mobile computing.

Pearls of Wisdom…or Hot Air

And so I now offer these pearls of wisdom, which are worth every penny you had to spend to read them...

Pick an audience

Everyone is having a heck of a time classifying this device. Is it for high end consumers? Is it a smartphone for business? Is it both? The biggest problem is that it’s a bit schizophrenic…it seems to be appropriately suited for business, except the restriction on 3rd party software, glass touch screen and incompatibility with Exchange, et al virtually eliminates it from this category. On the other hand, Joe User will have to take out a second mortgage and pledge the next 1,051,200 minutes of his life just to take one home. No doubt it’ll scream out the door at its debut….but for how long? Will it appeal to more than the Apple fans and "gadget geeks"? In his presentation, Job’s displayed the keypads of several leading smartphones, contrasting them with the sleek iPhone touch screen. But you know what? Many people prefer the tactile feel of keys and I, for one, am putting the coins in the piggy bank for the upcoming 8800 from RIM.

Open it up to third parties

At a CTIA panel discussion this last September, moderator Walter Mossberg was met by cheers of audience approval when he quoted Steve Jobs, who had called the big carriers (TMo, Cingy, Sprint and Verizon) “the four orifices”. The tendency for the carriers to put up a “walled garden” (closed system) has frustrated many, and apparently Jobs was one such individual. But, one might notice a slight sense of hypocrisy here; wasn’t Mac somewhat closed, and doesn’t the iPhone also surround itself in bricks? Jobs was recently quoted as saying that a device like the iPhone shouldn’t be an open system – coincidently enough, when responding to Jobs’ quote, the COO of Verizon said much the same thing. Apple should allow for 3rd party applications to be developed for the iPhone – then it would be a true platform. With greater choice and control, it is the customer who ultimately wins.

License out the OS

Apple has a greater emphasis on hardware than does Microsoft, but this is no reason not to promote their OS on devices they don’t distribute. The mobile arena is, without a doubt, the next battleground. Why should Apple be content to sit back and forfeit much of the ground to their competitors? Many probably cried foul at my comparison between Apple and MS, claiming that Apple is not just selling software but also their own hardware. And they should keep doing it, but license out that OS! With some changes to their model, they just might be able to turn their cult into a coup.