Oh Steve, when will you learn? Your tight fisted control over iPhone’s software platform continues to effuse dissent among users. Now even your very own partners are lining up outside your door with torches and pitchforks. This time you’ve managed to piss off the folks at Sun Microsystems for excluding Java support in iPhone.
Java, for those of you who don’t know, is an application development environment that runs compatibly (in theory) across any platform. It’s creator, Sun, once boasted the platform’s promise of “Write once, run anywhere” applications that can be made to run on any runtime environment capable of supporting Java Virtual Machines. Though it never quite took off on the desktop, Java has come into its own in recent years on Mobile devices. Cell phones in particular.
The really insulting part is that Java runs on even the lowest common denominator phones on the market today. Even the Motorola RAZR can run Java apps. So it’s somewhat embarrassing, and damaging, that iPhone can’t.
Maybe I should refer Sun to my new “Feature Wish List” page? No, I don’t want to get myself in hot water. Ha! Get it, hot water? Coffee…water…hot? Ah forget it.
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My day revolves around web-based RSS readers. Google Reader, Bloglines Beta, NewsGator…you name it, I’ve tried it. Unfortunately those services aren’t conveniently rendered on iPhone’s 3.5″ display, and require lots of pinching, jiggering, and side-scrolling to view content. Adding to that frustration, Safari tends to choke on AJAX code which these online readers employ heavily - crashing the browser and dumping you back to the home screen.
Enter Newsgator Online for mobile users; a service designed for small screens with low overhead.
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Are you out of shape? Are you so flabby that even the tightest pants can’t control your bouncing badonkadonk butt? Haven’t seen your genitals in years? Well put down that jelly donut and grab your iPhone, because a few minutes of daily workout and a site called Gyminee can help whip you into shape in no time.
Check this out. Point your iPhone to gyminee.com/iphone, sign up for a free account. And from there you can download how-to videos and view them right on your iPhone. Watch as instructors show you various proper exercise routines. Once you get off on the demos, you can track your workout right from Safari. Pretty cool.
Openings are limited however, as the program is only available to beta testers. So sign up today. I haven’t tried this service out myself because at 5.9′ and 145lbs, weight loss isn’t exactly on my ToDo list. Friends tell me if I get any thinner I can be used as a coat hanger. Har.
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Transmedia corp. announced that Microsoft Word documents now editable with their Glide service on the iPhone. The same service is compatible with Mac, Windows, and Linux desktops, and a bevy of handhelds. The PR bit claims that spreadsheet editing is coming in September but make no mention of Excel compatibility, and they have a presentation app but no mention of PowerPoint compatibility. Free and paid versions of their service are available.
From their PR bit:
“Glide provides the convenience and security of access to all of your most important documents and other digital files on your iPhone,” said TransMedia Chairman and CEO, Donald Leka. “So now you can work in Glide on your iPhone in one hand while you enjoy a cup of Starbucks coffee in the other hand.”
ApolloIM was the first native app to provide AOL Instant Messaging. Although it’s a little rough around the edges, it’s a solid first attempt at an IM client. It’s currently in version 0.1.2 and developing quickly. Read on to see what works, what doesn’t, and what we might expect from future versions.
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Look at me, making with the stupid Beach Boys references. Couldn’t you just slap me over the head with an iPhone (not your own of course)? Back to topic…
Netvibes, the bastard poster child of Web 2.0, is offering an iPhone optimized frontend to its mobile service for busy users on the go. Just point your browser to m.netvibes.com, which I conveniently prelinked for your clicking pleasure, login to your account and immerse yourself in the good vibrations of Netvibes.
User tip #53: For best results, create a new tab in your Netvibes profile, from your desktop, called “Mobile” and make it a simple one column page with only the bare necessities of info and widgets. Then use that page as your Mobile Netvibes experience on iPhone. You’re welcome.
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Got a TypePad account? Using MovableType? How about an iPhone? If you answer yes to all three, SixApart has just made your mobile blogging experience a whole lot easier. While the iPhone is pants at rendering any standard webpage, having a web frontend optimized for iPhone’s native resolution is like licking cake batter off a spoon - yummy.
SixApart has announced full iPhone support for all TypePad bloggers. No downloading any scripts or hacking involved; it’s there waiting for you. Now when you login to your admin account you’ll be greeted with a pretty but minimalist interface that gets you where you want to go in the blink of an, or tap of the finger anyway.
But TypePad users aren’t the only bloggers getting some iPhone love. Just so you MT users out there won’t feel left out, SixApart has offering a free plugin for customers using their MovableType publishing system as well. The plugin is available as free download here and here.
So, um…hey, WordPress? Are you guys busy right now? Cause I was thinking, if you’re not doing anything important, you might want to offer a similar solution. Just a thought.
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Apple has promised to neither hinder nor help the third party native application market that’s currently flourishing on iPhones and will likely flourish on iPods Touch. Of note, they note that their position could change upon re-evaluation.
Here is our guide for using AppTapp Installer.app. Yesterday, we covered how to install it (Mac / Windows); today, we’ll cover how to use it.
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figure 1: for Windows PCs
Ever since the iPhone was announced, people have been clamoring to write native applications for it. Sadly, Apple has not yet released the tools necessary to develop those apps. However, if you’ve been following the iPhone news you realize that the iPhone has been “hacked.” What does this mean to you, the nonhacker? Well it means that thanks to the mighty efforts of many dedicated people, you can install applications directly onto your iPhone. The best part, it’s easy. Read on for our full How-To on how to hack your iPhone so you can install applications.
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