iPhone

You have to feel a little sorry for the Free Software Foundation, which launched the first overhaul of its General Public License (GPL) in 16 years on the same day that Apple's iPhone launch hogged the spotlight.

But the foundation, like everybody and his brother, couldn't resist looking for a piece of the iPhone action. It used the launch as an opportunity to preach the merits of its new license and raise the specter that Apple's iPhone will violate it.

"We know that Apple has built its operating system, OS X, and its Web browser, Safari, using GPL-covered work--it will be interesting to see to what extent the iPhone uses GPLed software," said Peter Brown, executive director of the foundation, in a statement on Thursday.

That sounded a little vague, so I asked the foundation for some follow-up. Joshua Gay said he doesn't know what software is in the iPhone, but said, "If it's true that Apple can upgrade the software on the phone, but users can't, then distributing GPL 3 software on the iPhone would be a violation of the license."

Even if the iPhone uses GPL software, it's not clear whether Apple will employ GPL 3 versions of it at some point. What is clear is the foundation's loathing for what the iPhone represents.

Free software--that which grants anyone the freedom to see, modify and redistribute its underlying source code--is "radically reshaping the industry and threatening the proprietary technology model represented by the iPhone," the foundation said. On Friday, "Steve Jobs and Apple release a product crippled with proprietary software and digital restrictions: crippled, because a device that isn't under the control of its owner works against the interests of its owner."

Specifically, the foundation decries what it calls "TiVo-ization"--the incorporation of GPL software into a device, such as a TiVo's personal video recorder, that stops working if its software is modified.

The GPL 3 attempts to block such behavior, though Linus Torvalds, leader of the Linux kernel project, objects to it vehemently as overreaching.

Source: CNET News.com - Business Tech

Read the rest of this entry ... (536 words left)

Today's the day you'll finally be able to plunk down way too much cash for a cell phone with an Apple logo on it. I'm doing what I can to resist the urge to call it iDay . . .

Read the rest of this entry ... (2423 words left)

I've been holding off doing a full swan dive into the iPhone swimming pool, but I don't think I can avoid taking the plunge any longer. When there's this much rumor, innuendo and raw, raucous hype about something this geeky, there's only one thing to do . . .

Read the rest of this entry ... (659 words left)

Give Steve Jobs

credit: He's managed to get the entire tech community--and much of the

rest of the world--talking about a pricey gadget that only a handful

have seen or touched.

Apple's

(nasdaq:

AAPL -



news

-



people

)

iPhone finally goes on sale June 29, and for many potential buyers, the

only issue is whether they'll be able to get their hands on one, as

it's certain to sell out immediately. But whether you are a music

lover, a business e-mail addict, a mobile power-user or just a normal

consumer, there are several good reasons to think twice about dropping

$500 for the first-generation iPhone.

Will that be enough to slow

iPhone sales after the initial rush? There are, after all, plenty of

other options for consumers who want a smart phone, which is

essentially a high-end phone with the ability to do other functions,

like e-mail. Previously just expensive toys for information technology

nerds and executives, smart phones are gaining mainstream appeal.

Research firm Yankee Group projects that smart phones will grow from

11% of this year's mobile-phone market to about 20% of phone sales in

2010.

In Pictures: Five Reasons To Think Twice About The iPhone

Jobs hopes to pick up 1% of the market by the end of 2008. But

consumers are finicky and have options. If Apple's iPhone doesn't stack

up, numerous competitors, like Samsung, LG Electronics, Nokia

(nyse:

NOK -



news

-



people

) and a host of phones running rival Microsoft's

(nasdaq:

MSFT -



news

-



people

)

Windows Mobile platform, will be happy to take their business.

(Elevation Partners, the private equity firm that has invested in

Forbes Media, has announced plans to buy a 25% stake in iPhone competitor Palm

(nasdaq:

PALM -



news

-



people

)).

The

iPhone's battery is one example of a feature that could flop. By all

indications--Apple is still being mum about almost all details

regarding the device--the iPhone's rechargeable battery is sealed

inside its case. That's what Apple does already with its iPod devices,

presumably to save space. The company says the battery will last up to

five hours of talking, watching video and browsing the Internet.

But

it's not clear how those claims will measure up in the real world. What

happens if you use the phone's wi-fi connection heavily? Or a Bluetooth

earpiece? Without a midday charging pit stop, iPhone owners may have to

consistently choose between using its Web and multimedia features or

saving battery power for phone calls.

Other smart phones have

similar battery drawbacks. Palm, for example, says the battery in its

newest Treo 755p will last for up to four hours and 12 minutes of talk

time. But when that's up, you can easily swap out the Treo battery for

a charged replacement. Many people carry a spare, especially while

traveling on business. With the iPhone, it seems you may be tethered to

a backup-battery accessory, which is far from ideal.

Making

matters worse, rechargeable batteries have a limited lifespan and can

be charged only a finite number of times. This number varies, but Apple says

a properly maintained iPod battery--whatever that really means--can

retain 80% of its original capacity after 400 full charging cycles.

Eventually, it will hold a charge so short that it must be replaced,

which could at best mean a trip to an Apple or AT&T

(nyse:

T -



news

-



people

) store, or at worst, an annoying, mail-in battery replacement service.

The

iPhone's stripped-down data features could also provide incentive to

wait for a better offer. Apple's boilerplate is that the iPhone is a

"revolutionary" device for browsing the Internet on the go. To an

extent, it has a point: Apple's Safari is arguably the most powerful

mobile Web browser. And the iPhone's large display will surely make

surfing the Web more enjoyable and functional than on a tiny Motorola

(nyse:

MOT -



news

-



people

) Razr screen.

But

for whatever reason, Apple decided not to allow the iPhone to work on

AT&T's fastest, "third-generation" (or 3G) wireless network, opting

instead for its slower "EDGE" network. The difference is apparent even

on a small-screen device browsing scaled-down, mobile-edition Web

sites. When you're surfing full-size Web pages, as Apple touts on the

iPhone, the slow speeds could be a deal breaker.

During Apple's

first-quarter earnings conference call, finance chief Peter Oppenheimer

said the company is "very much sold" on the slower network because it

is more widespread in the U.S. This is a valid point, sort of. AT&T

says it has 3G coverage available in 165 major U.S. metro areas, with

dozens more on the way, and EDGE coverage in 13,000 cities and towns.

But a 3G device can seamlessly hop between the faster and slower

networks. And many of the iPhone's competitors, like the 7-month-old

Samsung BlackJack, do just that. So why did Apple skimp?

One

reason may be the iPhone's built-in wi-fi capability, meaning it can

connect to local hot spots and avoid AT&T's data network

altogether. This is much faster than using the cellular Web, but

imperfect. Wi-fi access is not as universal as you think, and often

it's not free. Spending $10 to use a faster Internet at Starbucks

doesn't sound practical on top of a $40-per-month, all-you-can-eat EDGE

data plan. You may already have a wi-fi hot spot in your home or

office--but chances are, you have a computer there, too, with a screen

larger than 3.5 inches.

Then again, wi-fi may be a cool feature

if Apple opens the iPhone up to developers to write interesting

software like network or peer-to-peer games, on-the-go photo sharing

software or any other mobile-friendly apps. Jobs is particularly fond

of the iPhone's Google Maps software, which he says "blows away" any

previous version, and the iPod music software, which he says is "the

best iPod we've ever made." But it's not clear if Apple will let other

people write software for the iPhone, at least right away, and that

could be a reason to stay away.

For example, if you're looking

to check your corporate e-mail with any ease, you may have to wait.

It's not clear if the iPhone's e-mail software will initially--or

imminently--support "push" e-mail from Microsoft Exchange e-mail

servers or Research in Motion

(nasdaq:

RIMM -



news

-



people

) BlackBerry servers. Apple has a deal with Yahoo!

(nasdaq:

YHOO -



news

-



people

)

to support real-time "push" e-mail delivery. But CrackBerry addicts

should be iPhone-hesitant, at least until we get more information about

compatibility. (RIM did not immediately return a request for comment.)

Jobs said recently that Apple is "working to find a way to allow developers to build applications" but that security is a sticking point.

Rabid

e-mailers or texters may also be skeptical about the iPhone's

keyboard-free design. Jobs dislikes the tiny QWERTY thumb keyboards on

many of today's smart phones, with good reason: Typing is slower and

less accurate than on a normal, full-sized keyboard.

But it's

not apparent that typing on a touchscreen will necessarily be any

better. Many BlackBerry users, once familiar with the keyboard, can

type without looking. Can you thumb out a text message on an iPhone

screen without undivided attention? Will it work in the rain? Or if

you're wearing a bandage? Will it scratch, as the iPod screens have

been infamous for?

Lastly, one of the most anticipated, unknown

iPhone features is its real price tag. We already know that it will

cost $500 to $600, depending on storage capacity. But AT&T's

contract requirements could easily quadruple that price. To qualify for

the lowest pricing on many smart phones, carriers require that you

subscribe to an all-you-can-eat data plan for around $40 per month, in

addition to a $40-or-more-per-month calling plan.

So much for

getting the cheapest calling plan and just using the wi-fi feature for

the Internet. Add text messaging and taxes, and you're looking at a

bill near $90 per month. Over the two-year contract period, that's more

than $2,000.

Businesses manage that expense for executives'

BlackBerrys, but will consumers happily pay that much? AT&T says

existing customers will get the same deal as new customers switching

from Verizon Wireless or Sprint Nextel

(nyse:

S -



news

-



people

)--but

subscribers will have to extend their contract for two more years. Will

AT&T offer a version for prepaid service subscribers? Many

consumers can justify buying a $500 smart phone/iPod hybrid. But

AT&T's service terms could break the deal.

Tags: Apple Inc. | iPhone | mobility

In case you missed all the media hoopla and long lines outside your local Apple or AT&T Store, the iPhone is now shipping. It looks like everybody who waited in line got one, and there were a few left over after that. Initial reports are mainly positive, with some common negatives.

The positives:

• Touchscreen interface is everything it promised to be
• Activation is quick and easy (for most users) via iTunes; you choose your AT&T plan directly from the iTunes interface
• Voice quality appears to be good
• The web browser is terrific -- with one qualification (in a minute...)
• The screen is also great for viewing movies.
• The auto-swivel feature works quite well, reorienting the screen when you turn the unit in your hand.
• The 2 megapixel camera is pretty good for a phone
• It's a great iPod music player, except for the storage limitations

The negatives:

• Web browsing and email via AT&T's EDGE network is slower than slow -- several minutes to retrieve a message or load a web page. Intolerable, especially for device that has souch a great web browsing interface.
• The touchscreen keyboard is difficult to type on at best, impossible at worst. This is not a phone for heavy instant messagers or emailers.
• No connection to corporate email servers means you can't use it for work email, as you can a Blackberry. Which is why most corporate IT departments are saying "no" to the iPhone.
• The lack of MMS messaging means that you can't send the photos you take via text messages. (You can send via email, however, but not to another user's cell phone via text.)
• Lack of stereo Bluetooth means you can't use Bluetooth headphones -- although you can use Bluetooth mobile headsets, like the Jabra.
• You only get 4GB or 8GB of storage (actually 3GB and 7GB, after you account for operating system software), which isn't enough to store a lot videos or big music libraries.
• There's no voice activated dialing, which is baffling in a phone of this overall caliber.
• In spite of previous reports (wishes?) to the contrary, you buy the iPhone, you're locked into a 2-year AT&T service plan.
• AT&T sucks, of course.
• It costs freakin' $600!

My advice? Unless you absolutely, positively have to have the latest and greatest, don't buy a first-generation iPhone. Wait for the second-generation model, probably in January, which should fix most of the negative issues. (There will be lots of negative press in the days and weeks to come; people will have buyer's remorse.)

There is a very nice posting on the iPhone at RoughlyDrafted, taking a thoughtful look at all the coverage, and pointing out double standards in many of the negative commentators who are putting down the iPhone for not being "enterprise ready".

Back in January, I wrote a summary of thoughts on the iPhone from the perspective of typical product development practices. That post got a lot of traffic, it seemed to be very popular in Germany, where there is a great tradition of quality product design (I can't think of a German designed product that isn't well engineered).

Overall, with the additional advance information that has been released so far I don't think I was too far off the mark. I did expect that support for Adobe Flash and Java would be included, but they both appear to be missing. This is going to be the biggest pain, as there are a lot of web sites that use Flash or Java applets. Given time I expect these issues will be addressed.

I talked about Minimum Marketable Features (MMF) which are described in a book called Software by Numbers, written by my good friend Mark Denne. Its a philosophy of development that optimizes product features by releases over time. Many of the iPhone's shortcomings are explained by an initial focus on the needs of people who have never used a "smartphone" before, (rather than a focus on the business market) and a close integration with other Apple products that support an "insanely great" combination of product features.

For integration with non-Apple products, there is a two pronged strategy. One is to provide basic file viewers for Microsoft Word and Excel documents that are common email attachments. The other approach is to leverage Google's web based application suite within the Safari browser, which now includes Word, Excel and Powerpoint, Gmail etc, and also integrate with the Google maps application on the iPhone itself.

For the question of whether the iPhone can be used in corporate environments, there are two issues - virtual private network (VPN) access to get at internal web sites, and email integration with Microsoft Exchange. There have been some hints that the standard MacOSX VPN functionality is included, and Apple states that syncing is supported with Outlook/Entourage contacts and calendars. For actual Exchange email access, the Exchange server would have to support IMAP or POP (most aren't setup this way) or the Outlook Web Access client could be used in the Safari browser on the iPhone.

Safari is key. It is not only the way to manipulate documents and corporate email, its also the designated "API" for new iPhone applications to be developed. Apple stated that Safari will have access to many of the internal functions of the iPhone, so that the primary programming language for developers becomes Javascript. For all the people with existing mobile applications this is a pain, as they want to have J2ME to get them ported quickly. However, the iPhone is a huge leap forward in user interfaces, and to provide the consistent look and feel that magnifies the ease of use, Apple are enforcing Safari as the only framework for extending the iPhone. This makes perfect sense as a product strategy. It has upset many developers, but the laser-like focus on ease of use greatly increases the iPhone's perceived value and total addressable market. More users will be willing to pay more, increasing Apple's sales. Later on, perhaps Apple will focus more on the "traditional" smartphone market, but for now they are simply going to redefine what that market is.

How many people have both iPods and cellphones in their pockets? This fall, how many students will turn up at college with an iPhone in their pocket?

My work machines are a MacBook Pro and a Blackberry. I'm building the homebrew myPhone design (more on that later), but I think I'm getting tempted by the user interface, I want an iPhone....

By Andrew Hines

Many Web sites offer a resource library for visitors?an area filled with articles covering relevant topics to the industry with which the site is connected. The articles may cover how to do something, or they may define an aspect of the industry, but they do not usually directly sell the company's products or services.

Benefits of a Resource Library

While it's true that a resource library, on the surface, exists to benefit site visitors, it doesn't end there; it also provides benefits that can have a direct impact on any business.

First, they spread goodwill among a business's prospect base?and its non-prospect base. Visitors see the site as offering free information about important subject matter, and that makes it a more attractive site to return to in the future, when a purchase will be made or a service established.

Second, with a solid resource library, the site puts itself in a great position to organically attract important inbound links. Outside sites will notice the offerings of important and unbiased information and link to individual articles or to the resource library as a whole?boosting traffic and rankings overall.

Third, if the articles in the section are optimized properly, they will also boost rankings for popular and competitive keyphrases, driving additional targeted traffic to the site. The traffic may enter the site at the articles, but visitors are then likely to click for further information about the site itself.

A Common Objection

The most common objection a search engine optimization company hears when recommending that a site add a resource library is "I want to sell my product, not educate." However, that is shortsighted.

It is important to reach buyers at all stages of the sales cycle. For example, if someone is just starting to investigate a product or service, a site with an appropriate informational article will reach him or her at this critical early stage. The prospect will then likely remember the experience when he or she is ready to buy and will return to the site.

In addition, a site with a resource library can help a salesperson save valuable time. With quality articles freely available on the site, the salesperson will no longer need to take the time to explain the basics to a prospect?the site will have already taken care of that. Instead, the salesperson can focus on speaking to the people who are ready to make a purchase.

Examples of Successful Resource Libraries

Several sites serve as great examples of this approach. Let's look at three of them?Bed Bath & Beyond; Lowe's; and Step Two Designs (an Australian consulting firm).

Bed Bath & Beyond opens its resource library with a friendly "Need help shopping?" and follows it up by telling visitors that they can "browse through the sections below for helpful shopping hints on a variety of topics." There is no mention of specific sales at any point on this page.

Taking a deeper look, one will find that the targeted phrase "window treatments" brings up Bed Bath & Beyond's guide on the subject on the first page of Google. This phrase has the impressive monthly search estimate (using data from WordTracker) of 55,304. Note that this page, which is an unbiased article offering tips on choosing different types of window treatments?and not a retail sales page?is what achieves the rankings.

Home-improvement chain Lowe's actually has several resource libraries on its site, from buying guides to an extensive how-to library. Its buying guide page notes, "Work Smarter: We'll help you find the right equipment and tools you need for all of your projects." And the company's article on choosing floor tiles appears on the first page of Google for the targeted phrase "tile floor," which has a monthly search estimate of 2,046. Again, it's an informational page, and not a product page, that gets the great rankings.

Both of the above examples are great, but you don't need to be selling a product online?or even in the retail business at all?to use a resource library to your benefit. Step Two Designs is a consulting firm that offers a resource library of whitepapers on its site. Its "How to Evaluate a Content Management System" article, for example, establishes its usefulness right at the top, stating that "No vendors or products are mentioned in this article: this is not a survey of current commercial solutions. Instead, it provides tools to assist you to conduct a review of suitable products."

This article appears on the first page of Google for the targeted phrase "content management systems," which has a monthly search estimate of 2,356. While this may be a lower number than the Bed Bath & Beyond example, a consulting firm's average sale will likely be greater than that of a single purchase from a retail outlet, and so these visitors are potentially more valuable. Even in this type of business, a resource library will quickly prove its value.

Conclusion

Resource libraries clearly offer something of value for everyone involved. Prospects appreciate their existence, search engines reward sites that have them, and salespeople are relieved of the burden of explaining basic concepts to early prospects.

You can create your articles in-house or, if you're not sure where to start, hire a search engine optimization company to help you with everything from idea generation to writing. In either case, with just a little bit of effort, your site can realize the benefits of establishing this type of section.

_______

Scott Buresh is managing partner of Medium Blue Search Engine Marketing (www.mediumblue.com).