Web Worker Daily

With the recent launch of Intel’s Atom processor and the explosive proliferation of Apple’s iPhone 3G, there’s been an uptick in breathless discussion around the potential for Mobile Internet Devices and Netbooks as a class of personal computer that will gradually displace laptops as most users’ principle computing and communication tool - what might eventually be the swiss-army knife of the web worker.

The arrival of Apple and Intel’s foundation technologies are just one part of the infrastructure needed to support such a step change; as Apple’s own botched launch of Mobile Me has illustrated, appropriate and highly reliable services aren’t a trivial step.

The recently launched Oosah is another service that aims to provide services ‘in the cloud’ for the emerging class of mobile internet devices. Optimised specifically for the iPhone at http://m.oosah.com, the service pitches itself as ‘1TB in the palm of your hand’ with its range of media storage features for photos, music and video. Read the rest of this entry »

I’m downloading apps like crazy onto my iPod Touch, trying to find the perfect combination of tools to make it more than just a great entertainment device. I was especially inspired by Judi Sohn’s post about her iPhone, one month later.

I’m still on the fence about purchasing it only because it isn’t like an iPhone with its near-ubiquitous connection to the Internet and online work tools. When I’m not around wifi, it is not as useful to me from a work standpoint. So in addition to looking for work-related applications, I’ve been scoping out any application that can also support offline work.

Here’s my growing list of iPod Touch/iPhone apps that are giving me added productivity when I’m not around my MacBook.

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With the tremendous number of ways to get your files online - from Dropbox to FolderShare to Box.net to SugarSync - there’s one big issue for consumers: how do you choose? Over at our parent blog GigaOM, Om Malik things Sugar Sync has a new edge in this market due to their announcement of an iPhone interface. But is that enough to tilt the balance in their favor?

Part of the issues is that the market is so fragmented: there are backup solutions, replacements for email attachments, synchronization solutions, and more. Trying to pick one “best” provider from the confusing variety out there is tough, at best. If you’ve had to choose a way to get your own files online - who did you choose? And why?

As you’re all aware by now, some of the staff at WWD have gone the iPhone 3G route - and are still happy about it. But we don’t have any sort of official “iPhone only” policy, and we’re a diverse bunch. Speaking for myself, I’ve taken a long, hard look at iPhone ownership, and decided against it. Here’s why.

1. 3G Coverage - I’m in that big middle part of the country where, apparently, all the technologically backwards people live. None of the major carriers have anything like comprehensive 3G coverage out here. With the iPhone, that means I’d be paying 3G prices for a device that didn’t get 3G speeds - not much of a bargain.

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We’ve talked about Site Specific Browsers like Bubbles in the past and while I have found them to be useful in some instances, it’s only with the proliferation of web applications with iPhone optimized interfaces that I have really started using them.

I have found that setting up multiple SSB windows ,each containing the iPhone view of a web application, allows me to create a dashboard of sorts on my spare monitor. At a glance, I can view my stable of important apps in nice compact, consistent windows.

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Friday’s iPhone launch caused quite the buzz as thousands braved long lines and multi-hour waits only to walk away with unactivated phones, or no phone at all. Similarly, upgrades to the new software left many 1st Gen users without phone service as well.

Sure there were jokes, but there was also much anger and many questions. How could Apple have botched this so badly? If this was any other company, would the reactions have been different?

By the end of the day, it seemed that things were settling down and reviews of new apps were replacing the angered tweets, at least in my Twitter stream. Ed: Saturday saw smoother activation, but still long lines. Took this blog editor 3 hours in line to snag one at a New Jersey Apple Store.

But let’s open it up to you. Did you get your new iPhone this weekend? Was it worth it?

Our own Om Malik shared his unboxing experience. Tell us about yours.

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about how you could optimize a Windows Mobile 6 Professional smartphone for web workers.

This week I move onto the iPhone, which, according to research firm Canalys, accounted for 28% of the US smartphone market as of Q4 2007.

Right now, the iPhone is mostly a consumer-oriented cellphone, but that’s set to change in June when the iPhone 2.0 firmware is released. This will likely add business-friendly features like support for Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync, Cisco IPsec VPN and remote IT configuration and security capabilities. More importantly, it’s going to give iPhone users the ability to download third-party application through the new Apple-run App Store.

In the run up to the new firmware, there are two ways to add new software to your iPhone: by adding web-based applications that are accessed through the iPhone’s Safari browser; and by “jail-breaking” or unlocking the iPhone to enable installation of third-party software.

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Those of us who rely on hosted (the current buzz word is “in the cloud“) data and software solutions, connectivity is a must.  When we’re a way from a wi-fi hotspot or otherwise unable to get online, these hosted services have little to no value.

Now take this line of thinking one step further to the mobile platform.  The mobile computing revolution is just starting to take off and for it to be valuable, mobile access to data is a must-have.  This is why it’s welcome news for web workers that Google Gears is now available for some mobile handsets.

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