Apr 02
Well, Skype for iPhone is here, at long last. This could be a big deal. For those who don’t know, skype allows users to chat via voice or text (or video if using a computer and not an iPhone). The big development is that now iPhone users can connect to other iPhone users using Skype instead of normal mobile phone voice-to-voice connections. So, this means that as an iPhone user in the US I could talk to another iPhone user in the UK and not pay international mobile phone rates. Great!
Skype for iPhone is less of a big deal for domestic-to-domestic users in the US because AT&T already allows those calls to take place without depleting minutes (since all US iPhones are running on AT&T’s network – unless you’ve been breaking the rules!).
I tried it out and was able to have an iPhone to PC conversation with a relative, no problem. The connection was clear and it sounded just as if I had made a phone call using the normal dialing method. So, there is some potential here. Try it out. It’s free, after all.
This post by Tony Pittman – tony@getthenext.com
Mar 17
Today, there is a lot of buzz around Apple’s pending announcement of it’s upcoming iPhone Version 3.0 software. Some of the rumored new features are long overdue – cut-and-paste for example. My 3-year-old Blackberry already has cut-and-paste, but only Apple could figure out a way to get positive buzz for finally adding a long overdue feature!
But, other rumors hint at other features that should further distance the iPhone from it’s competition. For details, you can follow the live action on TUAW at 1PM EASTERN. Also, check back here post-announce for more on what’s coming for the iPhone.
This post by Tony Pittman - tony@getthenext.com
Mar 05
The Kindle 2 is here. And, now another great ingredient gets added to the Kindle recipe – Kindle for iPhone. If you already have Kindle and an iPhone, this free application is a must. If you have either a Kindle or an iPhone, but not both, you may want to now complete the pairing.
Kindle for iPhone allows you to buy readable content from the Amazon Kindle store right from your phone. If you have a Kindle, the app allows you to synch your content across both devices. Amazon calls it Whispersynch. And, even better, both devices keep track of pages you have read in your books. So, if you are standing in line somewhere and have a few minutes to get some reading done on your phone, the next time you fire up your Kindle, it will know what page you left off on. The reading experience spans both devices very well. I’ve actually tried it. It works!
Amazon made a great move allowing the Kindle experience to make it onto the iPhone. The Kindle is CLEARLY the better device for reading books. But, adding the iPhone capability to the pie will allow avid readers to enjoy their content even more. So, in the end, this should give the Kindle even more momentum. Reading is fundamental…again!
This post by Tony Pittman – tony@getthenext.com