OK.. I have not really gone out of my way to recommend many pieces of software for the iPhone.. but I can gladly say that Navigon is one of those.

First off.. why GPS on my Phone?  Especially when I have it built in to my vehicle.. my wife’s vehicle..and a stand alone GPS unit for my Motorhome?

While I love the GPS application in my truck, it makes things extra handy.. the Navigon software is just so much better than my Pioneer deck . Sorry.. it just is.  I do use my truck Navigation when in my truck.. but so many times I have found myself in need of navigation and I am not in my vehicle.  So many times I have been on a vacation or a business trip that GPS comes in handy.  Normally (if I forget to bring mine).. GPS rental is $10 a day for a rental car.  That quickly lets this thing pay for itself in a matter of a couple trips.

I do have to say the POI search flow on Navigon leaves a bit to be desired.. but it does work.  As I read before.. someone suggested to spend some time with it.  Other than that, routes seem great, arrival times are almost always dead on.. and the guidance is amazingly accurate for a phone.  Check that.. just fantastic.. who cares if it is a phone.  It just works.

I had the AT&T navigator prior to this.. and at $10 a month, it was really a good service.  The problem I had was access when you don’t have signal.  That was bothersome for me.  I find Navigon and it’s 1.4GB download solves this.  :)

Anyway.. I’d just say get this app.  It is fantastic.  worth the money when you are in a pinch.  (but you will want to have it already to go since it won’t download OTA like the AT&T one will)

So i have gone back and forth on jailbreaking the iPhone from the first version until now.. today is my first time jailbreaking the iPhone 3GS.

First, Why did I do it? AT&T and Apple are irritating the hell out of me with the network limitations on two things. Streaming video from programs like Qik (see above at the LIVE STREAM link) and this week was the Google Voice blockade, that pushed me over.

How did I do it? There were a couple of options out there. Purplera1n was the first one on the market, yet I was unsure of how safe this version was. I decided to wait for the iPhone Dev team to bring out Redsn0w. It worked like a champ. For those who have jailbroken before, this is an even better process. I didn’t have to restore! All of my apps, etc were intact! Nice work to the team!

Anyway..back to having fun with Jailbroken apps, streaming video and possible tethering!

OK, so after some dinking around with the new iPhone, I am going to take a stab at advancing my photography skills by doing a series of iPhone only shots.  My rules are I can only take and edit the pics on the iPhone, nothing else can touch the photo.  I was insipred by a couple others doing this already.. (will dig up those links).. but it really is an interesting challenge.  The iPhone 3GS camera sure makes it easier.

As I get the list gathered of all the various software I am finding useful, I will update this post.  As it stands right now I have about 12 different programs I am trying to the tune of around $25 maybe.  Not bad at all considering the quality of stuff I think is coming out of them.  It’s a phone for god sakes!

For now, here is a sample slideshow of the photos.

OK, I know everyone and their brother is doing an iPhone post today about the new device. I thought I would at least document my thoughts to see how things go over time. So work with me here.

I had not planned on getting the new device until sometime in July. AT&T was nice enough to offer upgrades for anyone who bought the 3G in July-September of last year. For that, I figured hey.. I will just go for it. I didn’t want to wait in line, but it was seriously only a 5 minute wait. Nice.

SPEED
As for new features. Number one on my list is speed. I know they sell it as the “s” model for speed, but they ain’t jokin’. This thing blows away my old model running any version of the 2.x software as well as the 3.0 software on the original 3G. The processor they put in this coupled with the newly found additional RAM helps this thing scream along. In the past I used to run a tool called Memmaker. It would allow me to free up some RAM if it was getting low. Every time I check now I seem to have over 60MB of RAM ready to go. That is three times the free space of before.

Compass
I have to say this is a bit disappointing to me.  It seems to always need calibration.  Only once going down the road was I pointing the right direction.  I can’t seem to figure out how to re-calibrate it if it is wrong.   This one sort of kills me.. and will probably hose you on some GPS turn by turn directions in the future.  Anyone have tips here?

Video/Camera
Bar/none my most anticipated feature.  I love photography and have always hated the camera on the iPhone.  This is a MUCH better deal.  I have not yet done side by side comparisons, but the focus is great and the video seems to be quite nice.  Couple that with on-phone editing of clips and we have a winner here.

That is pretty much it for now.  I will try to add more later, but suffice to say, I am a happy camper overall.

OK, so over the past couple days there have been many rumors about Verizon and what they may bring to market to compete with AT&T and the iPhone.  Stay with me here as this post is going to be a little bit all over the map with the info I am reading.. just trying to catch up!

CNN Money has a post about Verizon and the possible iPhone Lite as well as a small touch pad device.  With that said, there are a few rumors around this happening, not just this one.  I cant find the original source but the posts seem to come from the New York Times, USA Today, and Businessweek according to the article.

There have been rumors swirling for about a month on some 10 inch touch screen devices that Apple is purchasing, this could line up with a device they are shopping around, or it could be something new they are bringing to market on their own. I actually believe that going to the carriers looking for a deal is a good solution, and here is why.  People have been snatching up netbooks for a while now.  These are great little “always connected” devices for accessing data so long as you are near Wi-Fi or happen to have a netbook with a 3G card built in.  If Apple wanted to bring a netbook to market they would have to be concerned about how it will cannibalize sales on the $999 Macbook.  Many people (my wife included) have  a Macbook that is primarily used for accessing Email, Facebook, Recipies, booking trips, online banking, etc.. NOTE:  Very little application access.

If you are trying to differentiate yourself against OTHER netbooks in the market, you surely can not do it on price right now.  Hell, even the OLPC laptops are selling for $199 still.  If you try to come in at the $200-$400 range, the only differentiators you have is the brand.  Don’t get me wrong, an Apple netbook at $400 would sell like hotcakes I think, I just don’t see Apple doing that.  You need to find something more.. something exciting and different to give people yet not cut off future sales of the Macbook line.

Apple has to be looking at the success they have had with the phone.  Partnering with a carrier to provide the infrastructure while they provide a portable computing platform and closed ecosystem for selling applications, what could be better!  This is working on AT&T so far.

OK, so I am Apple, I know I want to protect my Macbook sales.. and I want to bring a small netbook type device to market.  The logical thing I could do is try to repeat success I have had with the iPhone.. bring a small touch screen connected netbook to market that has constant connection.  The flaw here is if I am an iPhone user, I am on AT&T in the US.. so would I want to subscribe to Verizon for the access?

If this is the plan for Verizon, to get an Apple netbook deal, does it hurt Verizon as a “dumb pipe” play even if this is not a phone? Sprint sold access with Kindle.. that apparently worked for them.  I seriously just don’t see Verizon getting the deal for a connected device from Apple.  It would fragment their loyal customer base and cause TWO contracts for access.  Verizon is already starting to subsidize netbooks for users by allowing a $50 price so long as you sign up for data access on the device.  AT&T is testing it’s own netbook subsidy as well.  As a side note, why would carrier do this? The hope for the carrier is to increase awareness of mobile data usage, get people hooked on access to content 24/7 and then close the deal on multiple channels of data for each subscriber.  From there you want to collect usage data and leverage that to extend your relationship with you subscriber base.   We are already seeing places in the world where mobile penetration rates are greater than 100%, it won’t be long and AT&T/Verizon would love to see data penetration rates there as well.

OK, rambling.. back to the main topic.  More rumors.. We already know the rumors about Apple and Verizon. Today we have more coming out about Microsoft and Verizon trying to launch a device code named “pink”.  Apparently it is a windows mobile based device that Microsoft is working on with a modified OS to be more touch screen friendly.  First things first.. Apple nailed the usability because the iPhone was designed from the ground up to be touch screen, not a hack on top of an already outdated OS.  Second, iPhones are popular because they are also great media devices.  Microsoft either has to concede that Zune is failing and just let people use Media Player in the Windows Mobile OS, or they have to pull out all the stops and take a run with the Zune phone.  I vote for the former.  Serisously, there is nothing wrong with playing to your strengths Microsoft.  Let Zune die and realize that for your mobile play, Windows based OS with Office suite and Media Player is REALLY a good solution.  Just do it right.  Don’t hack it.

Where does this really leave us then?  Well, besides having more fodder to chat about tomorrow.. I think Verizon needs to close a deal with Apple for an LTE based iPhone as well as a heavily subsidized netbook if they have a chance to start playing in the “Apple spotlight”.  (if they care)  However, I think Apple would be better served by working with AT&T to offer a bundled plan that is a subsidized netbook, and if you sign up for a tethering plan on AT&T iPhones (something we know the 3.0 OS will support) it would give AT&T an opportunity to milk just a little more money from their already willing spenders on the Apple money train.   If I pay $30 a month for internet on my iPhone, would I pay $50-60 for my iPhone/Netbook combo?  Maybe. It could be bumped to $75-$100 for unlimited pricing and try to pull people from their ISP and use this as primary access.  Think of the data that could be gathered on their user base.. cross sell opportunities, etc.

WOW.. After re-reading that.. it really is a lot of info with my standard free-flow writing.  As promised, I don’t go back and re-write things.. I do a quick error correction pass and leave it as a stream on concious.  What are your thoughts after reading this?  Should Verizon try for Apple?  Should Apple secure a deal with AT&T to leverage more data rate and try to negotiate a portion of the data subscriber piece?

Here is a quick post just to share an overview video I came across for the iPhone 3.0 software

Well, after many many months.. hell, almost 1.5 years for that matter, Skype for the iPhone has landed.  I have to say that at first crack, I am both impressed and a little bummed.

First things first.  There is NO VIDEO from incoming calls. I could see where it would not do video out, sure.. but heck, it would have been nice to do speaker phone and see a person you are chatting with.  Imagine all the road warriors with family, time away from loved ones, etc.  It could have been great.

Second frustration I have is stability.  This thing crashes more than teenager trying to text while driving!  I seriously can’t figure out how this made it through the app store “rigor”!  Some of the stuff they fail I can’t imagine why, but passing this as unstable as it is?  Seriously lame!  And for eBay, to allow this quality to get out, not good for your brand.  Now.. with that said, I DO have a jailbroken iPhone.  There is a hack on the Jailbreak version that tricks 3G into thinking it is the Wi-Fi connection.  This also caused me a couple of issues with applications that require Wi-Fi to fail.  Skype failed to connect the first few times, but after a restart it finally loaded.  So… as I am typing this, I am also restoring my iPhone back to the factory settings to see how this goes.  Maybe it gets better! 

Now.. on to the good.  The look and feel of the application is top notch. (when it stays running).  I have used Fring before for VOIP calls on the phone and was never impressed.  It was novelty at best.  With Skype, as expected, when the calls go through they are amazingly good.  I couldn’t tell I was on a VOIP call.  Nicely done. Now, if only it would work over 3G!    Of course, we know why that won’t happen.

All said and done, I am happy with the application and will be thrilled when stability improvements come.  My guess is there will be an app store update within a couple weeks for this.

With that said, I am both excited to see what iPhone OS 3.0 will bring with Skype yet also a bit scared at the lack of stability the new OS may cause.  I still believe that the OS 1.0 was the most stable, 2.0 has never really leveled out yet for me but I crave the new features like a drug!   Glutten for punishment.  I will be waiting with money in hand in June like the fan-boy I am!

Tonight in all of my useless time spent on the interwebz, I came across something quite amazing in my book.  Free courseware through iTunes from various colleges.  This is an amazing concept in my view.

Apple allows anyone with a learning program to join, so long as they follow certain rules.  There are options for both internal and external courseware. This would allow for restrictions on courseware that colleges may want to restrict to only paying students or alumni as well as free courseware that some colleges have decided to release for free.  Learn more about iTunes U here.

The thing that is fascinating to me revolves around the colleges that are actually participating.  (NOTE:  These links will open iTunes) You can get courseware from Stanford, MIT, Harvard, Carnegie Mellon, Oxford University and quite a few more.  I spent about 15-20 minutes glossing over various courseware clicking the download link as if I was in a shopping spree on a crappy gameshow from the late 90’s.  In a matter of a short time, I had roughly 350 hours of courses with a mix of audio and video at my download queue.  I guess I know what my bus rides to work will be like for the next year and a half.

This to me is where technology is really advancing the greater good for all.  For those who choose to participate that is.  On demand courses from major colleges at your disposal is a major win for those looking to learn more.  I for one am always up for self-improvement.. sort of like those GTD junkies who spend too much time looking for ways to Get Things Done.  Oh wait.. that is me too.

Google released a sync tool yesterday to allow you to sync your contacts and calendar to the iPhone. (and other devices)  To do this they implemented SyncML and Exchange server on the backend. If I had to guess, they really wrote their own wrapper on top of the Microsoft Exchange protocol, it isn’t in Google’s nature to  actually use COTS software. (Commercial Off the Shelf)

Before I dig more into this, here is the link to setup your iPhone using Sync. Don’t dive into it yet, read on…

So.  The first thing I wanted to do was sync the contacts from my Mac to Google.  Up to this point they have always been separate. Google used to do this goofy thing where everyone you emailed was being placed into your contacts.  To be clear, this was NOT a good choice. Their focus was on auto-complete and not user control of data.  (and long-term management)

STEP 1:  Enable for your domain
In order to activate the syncing, you need to turn it on for your domain.  If you are the administrator, you can go to the control panel and manage it from this link.  https://www.google.com/a/cpanel/YOURDOMAIN.COM/MobileSettings

STEP 2: Backup Your Online Contacts
Google Sync uses your “My Contacts” folder in the contacts section. The first thing I did was to create a new group called BACKUP.  I then moved everyone in My Contacts to that group and then removed them from My Contacts.  I now had a backup if I needed it and a clean place to sync to.

STEP 3: Turn on Syncing from iTunes
This step was pretty straight forward, rather than teach you.. just follow these instructions for Mac users and PC Users.  It was not painful. Once this is complete, move on.

STEP 4: Choose which calendars to Sync
If you have multiple calendars, you need to choose which calendars to sync.  You can do this by going to your Safari browser on your iPhone and checking the calendars you want to use.  The problem is Google tells you to visit http://m.google.com/sync to activate this.  If you are a Google Apps user you will know that you really have TWO accounts.

The first account is YOU@YOURDOMAIN.com.  This is also an alias to an actual “google account” that has to be a real GMail account.  So.. Go to m.google.com, click on “Google Apps User? tap to configure for your domain”.  If you have already activated your sync on the domain and you are logged in, you should see the calendars option show up.  If it does not, Sync once by trying to add an event on your phones Calendar and it should force a sync.  Then you should see the calendars.

KNOWN LIMITATIONS
Google does have some Known Limitations.  Check out their help section and read up just to be sure you know what you are getting into. The biggest limitation is that you setup the Exchange Account on your iPhone to make this happen.  Apple, in all of it’s genius, allows you to sync with ONE exchange account. If you have a corporate account then you have a choice to make.  Which one do you want syncing.

The other big limitation in my view is that they are using Exchange to sync Calendar and Contacts.. but not mail?  Seriously? OK, I get the whole tagging thing in GMail, but at some point the rest of the world does not map against this correctly for clients. In the short term lets use the IMAP “fake folder” view with tags.  I think it works fine that way.  Then push my email to me… thank you very much!

RESULTS
OK, that was a lot of rambling to get to my quick results.  This is after 1 day.. so I will update as I learn more.

First and foremost is the fact I DID seem to lose phone numbers and data.  I can not figure out where yet, but I definitely had numbers on my phone not recognizing contacts.  In theory, since they were sync’d from my mac to GMail and then OTA to my phone, they all should have made it.  No luck.

Second is the sync does not appear to be as fast as Exchange or Mobile Me Push.  It almost has to be forced at times.  So keep that in mind.  I will dig around a little more and see what I can find, but for now hopefully that helps someone out there.

The Optoma Pico Projector is my newest toy, and I gotta say it has the cool factor going on. Pocket sized projectors have been in the making for a while. I distinctly remember a conversation about 5 years ago with a colleague of mine. My recommendation was to put a projector in the lid of a laptop, this way you always had both handy! My co-worker, being far smarter than I, said he did not see that happening. Standard bulb sizes and the limitations around it were a problem.

In steps Pico Projectors. In these pocket sized projectors they typically use a DLP (Digital Light Processing) projector which is far different from a standard bulb projector. They come in a couple of formats.

First uses a laser to draw the image.  Microvision produces an image this way.  The benefit (as I understand) is that you never have to focus them and they are quite durable. The one from Microvision also uses a single mirror vs. multiple mirrors.

The second option uses LEDs and multiple mirrors to display.  While this (in theory) is inferior to the Microvision version, it came to market first.   It wins!  I got it for Christmas.

As for a review, first off, keep this in mind.  They are typically designed for PERSONAL media sharing.  Not corporate presentations.  The lumen count ranges between 7-11 on pico projectors vs. over 1000 on standard projectors.  Second, the input is NOT designed for a computer, it takes a NTSC or PAL video input.  This means the quality (compared to a monitor) is inferior.  I did buy the adapter to hook to my Macbook Pro as a test.. and I was underwhelmed.

Now, hook that bad boy to my iPhone (or an iPod) and I was able to get great results.  They say you can go up to 60 inches for the Optoma projector, but honestly I was able to get about 10 feet or more outside at night.  Can you say private drive in theater?

I will post more as I play with the device, but so far I am QUITE thrilled!