Adam Safire's Blog

Following along the lines of my post Apple to offer VOIP?, Boy Genius Report says that based on what they have seen in iOS 4.1 that Facetime connections will be based on e-mail addresses. This is more evidence that Apple could be looking at using VOIP for connections moving forward.

-AS
AdamSafire

It’s actually pretty simple… Your Apple ID will be registered with your device/s, and that will allow other Apple devices to start a FaceTime call using your email address. Apple will also reportedly make use of push notifications to deliver these incoming FaceTime connection requests as we have been informed there is a push notification detector tied into the FaceTime frameworks in the new iPhone OS 4.1 beta. We’re not sure how Apple will handle an iPod touch trying to connect to a FaceTime session on an iPhone as it seems Apple would still require you to use the iPhone’s phone number, at least that’s how it seems currently. In all reality though, we’re pretty confident Apple will make a straight forward and unified way of talking to every eventual FaceTime-enabled Apple device or computer, and it might be an Apple ID, or possibly something else down the road.

Read the entire article here

The software update 4.0.1 has been released. According to apple this “improves the formula to determine how many bars of signal strength to display.” It is compatible with the iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, and the iPhone 3G.

-AS
AdamSafire

Apple continues to make moves to lessen its dependence upon google for services critical to its core applications on the iOS platform with it’s purchase of Poly9. – AS

from the Silicon Alley Insider

In the short term, and with Poly9 specifically, Apple is buying “its Google Earth,” analyst Greg Sterling writes today.

But more broadly, Apple is preparing for life after Google.

Apple has relied on Google for a number of iPhone services since the phone launched in 2007, including Google Search, Google Maps, YouTube, etc.

But through a series of deals, Apple is now preparing to take control of key services for the iPhone that it may no longer be able to trust Google with, now that Google is quickly becoming Apple’s archenemy.

Read the entire article here

What if Apple took the next logical step and provided voice-over-ip calling on its iOS platform?  They have already created the best video calling application with FaceTime. The way that FaceTime works is that it uses the AT&T‘s cell network to initiate the call then it switches to wifi network when the video conference is established. What is keeping AT&T from opening up this wifi video and voice network to other applications and other uses? The VOIP competition isn’t great for Apple to overcome Vonage doesn’t get that home service and cell service for a person should be one account. While I like Skype and the price is very reasonable, it still has that lost in the bottom of a bucket sound. Skype misses the Apple end user experience that we all pay for.  This could be the way to deal with all the bad carrier problems and just use AT&T and the rest for data? With the newly announced data limits by AT&T and other carriers following suit that may be the plan.

-AS
AdamSafire

Apple’s introduction of iOs 4 is very intriguing. The dropping of the iPhone moniker seems to indicate that Apple has recognized the importance of the operating system. This change like the change from Apple Computer to just Apple points to a shift in the direction of the company. Developers and consumers will benefit from the unified platform that has 100 million devices. This platform standardizes development. The iTunes store being standard means for distribution and revenue for developers. Long overdue multi-tasking in the the new OS is effective and easy to use. The addition of iAds offers new opportunities for both advertisers and developers.  The timing for the iPad inclusion in the iOS 4 is critical. The incredible iPad will seem less magical in comparison to the OS on the iPhone. The two will need to be brought into sync quickly. Could this indicate other devices in the planning that utilize iOS? Does the hobby of Apple TV fit in this platform? The next few months will be very interesting.

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Here’s what new in Apple iOS 4.0