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 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?

I am torn on the battle to get things to market vs. create good product.  As a product manager you are always working with engineering to make trade offs.  Can I get my product to market in time?  Can it make it at least in time for CTIA? No.. hmm, can we cut a couple of features?  No.. don’t worry.. no need to test that right now, we won’t demo that piece.  Seriously.. how many times have people either been a part of this.. or used a product that they can predict is a result of this exact way of life for us.

Market timing is essential in most any case.  My concern for companies is really around two areas.  One is what Google does.  Keep everything in BETA, set expectations low yet deliver a fairly competent product.  (or great in some cases).  I am not saying I agree with perpetual beta.. but after a while crutches even start to rub you the wrong way.  The other area where I have concern is around rushing product to market to a “release” that is not solid.  In many cases you can get away with it, in most you cant.

In a recent article about Smart Phones, Jim Balsillie was quoted saying that buggy phones are the “new reality“. (Another RIM Article Here) He not only admits that they got it a little wrong on their first touch screen, but most people get it wrong the first time around.  The issue with this in my view is two fold.  Mr. Balsillie was coming to market with his touch screen 1.5 years AFTER the killer touch screen came to market, and not only did it come late.. it had many issues with it.  Sure, Apple had some serious issues with the original version however they were competing with nobody in the market with this phone.  It stood alone.  RIM also had a problem with RIMs stellar reputation.  Sure it is good to have such a solid reputation with “enterprise class” devices, but it makes it impossible to hit the market with a flawed device without severely damaging the brand equity they had built up.

I came across this great chart showing RIMs market share in the corporate world of smartphones.  Sure.. the chart shows Apple passing Palm for market share, but look at the separation between RIM and Apple.  Significant yet starting on the closing trend.  Why give your strongest competitor another advantage by releasing a device that is NOT ready for prime time.  Sure.. I am coming down hard on RIM here but if I were in charge of the brand up there in Canada, I’d be worried about the next device.  Do you come to market 6 months earlier?  With Issues .. since your CEO already set the stage for you.. or do you refine it and release a knock down Apple iPhone enterprise killer to help keep your secure placement in the worlds of corporate IT gods.

HTC, RIM, Microsoft, Samsung.. face it.  Apple did the right thing.  They drove a product through proper design and testing, they have fantastic people and you are NOT going to replace the iPhone.  Find your niche and focus there.  Do not lose sight of your core business… bad reputations are hard to repair.

It seems like every time we turn around, another “app store” is popping up on the radar.

SPOILER ALERT: Nobody will have the success (for the end users)  that Apple App Store is having.

Lets see if I can run down the list of recent stores popping up online. First is Apple’s App store.  The one people USUALLY mean when they mention App Store.  Then lets run over to the Android platform.  Android Market is ready to play.  Blackberry?  Sure, RIM finally put their head in the game to get something out with Blackberry App World.  What about Microsoft?  Windows Mobile Marketplace is coming online.  Palm didn’t want to be left out with the cool Palm Pre device, so the App Catalog is soon to live.  Nokia has their Ovi store for their S40 and S60 devices. CellMania is jumping in with their Android Content Storefront which is a direct competitor to the Android Marketplace.  Hell, even hackers are getting in the game with their own stores.  Cydia used to be a free location to get apps on Jailbroken iPhones, now you can also buy applications through them.  So, let’s take a run down of each one.

Apple App Store

Apple really nailed it I think when they came out with the whole package they did.  Not only did they launch an app store, they launched a very stable and thriving ecosystem.  Sure, not everyone is making money but this is the big win for end consumers.  I will explain why.

First thing that they did correctly is the same thing they are doing on Mac computers.  They are maintaining control of the platform. This helps the stability and reliability of the Mac computers and it is the same for the mobile devices they are offering.  Secondly they are offering a proper SDK around developing high quality applications for the devices they offer.  This means that not only is the platform stable, you get a much more professional application with the controls they are exposing through the SDK.  Thirdly is the approval process.  Sure there are complaints about the efficiency of the process, and even the rules and guidelines.  I do have to say though that some sort of checkpoint it at least setting a bar for the entry into the store.

Last of all, but the KEY POINT: The current App Store from Apple is supporting (for the most part) a SINGLE platform.  The devices have a common screen size, keyboard, capabilities with the exception of phone, microphone, GPS.  Why is this key?  It makes it MUCH cheaper for developers to enter the market and get an app running on the platform.  They don’t have a plethora of devices to support.   This may change with an iPhone Pro device coming to market, or even an App Store that supports an Apple Netbook.. but hey, I can dream. 

Android Marketplace

Android Marketplace was getting a fair amount of hype prior to launch.  It came to market with a lack luster FREE model and only recently started supporting sales.  (through Google Checkout)  Now, I have a Google Checkout account, but how many people do?  Compared to an iTunes account?  OK, so I will just go sign up if I had to.  Minor complaint.

What about devices? Well, the current G1 with it’s Chin is the only device.  Not only is another HTC device coming to market,  are other manufacturers are poised to deliver an abundance of devices over the coming years.  This will result in the same fragmentation around handsets which has pained everything from PocketGear to On Deck downloads.  If my application is not optimized for a given handset, the UI sucks.. making the app less than exciting.  If I optimize for ALL handsets, I can’t make money.

Blackberry App World

Rim is actually setup to do fairly well in my view.  They are more like Apple than others in that they are controling the Ecosystem around the devices and SDKs for building on these devices.  There are a bunch of J2ME developers already out there and many ready and willing to support a bunch of RIM devices, which will most likely amount to fewer combinations of capabilities to support than the Android store.

Enterprise is another space where RIM will not only do well, but surpass Apple for content sales. (at least until OS 3.0 really gets rolling for Apple in Q409/Q1 2010.  (I just realized you can’t really write Q110 and have it look right).  RIM has Apple by a mile when it comes to Enterprise support.  Couple that with a companies willingness to mobilize their workforce with paid applications and you are going to have a ripe market.  Salesforce partners rejoice, you will have another channel to make money! Where I think Apple will bring some competition is the ability for devices to integrate with the iPhone such as medical devices.  This is not directly in line with RIM, but could sway some users.

Windows Mobile Marketplace

I am just not convinced I know enough about the Windows Mobile Marketplace strategy to make a fair assessment.  I do feel that with 7.0 of their software, they will win over some users.  Just not sure how well it will play into the sales in the store.  They will have a strong development community the could leverage, they just need to embrace it and let them loose to really get the store full of quality apps quickly.   I think a couple of good enterprise plays to draw users away from RIM would be key.  Office Mobile products could sell like hotcakes if supported correctly.  Imagine a bluetooth keyboard and a good mobile Office app?  I would use that on a plane instead of my laptop. 

Palm App Catalog

This is one of the more interesting ones coming to light in my view.  Considering the Palm Pre is HTML based applications that are far easier to code than an Objective C app, I could easily see the number of applications explode in this space.  There will be a ton of solid Web Developers who could write more widgets than you could shake a bag phone at but many of these guys (or gals) may struggle with Apple’s Objective C, Android and its Java based apps with a complex framework under it or even RIMs SDK which is Java still.

The issue here is now a combination of full applications or the widget type cards.  What is the model here?  Can you sell each?  Only applications and the cards are a result of the Pre’s rendering?  They could monitize these a couple different ways probably, but you can bet one thing.  There WILL be a bunch of applications quickly in the PRE store.  Also a lot of crap.

Cellmania Android Content Storefront

Cellmania is going head on with Google on the Storefront.  This is either Genius or Suicide, you make the call.  On one hand, Google has not shown the willingness to brand carrier anything when it comes to getting things on deck.  Carriers need to be worried about the likes of the big brands building up their brand loyalty vs. the carrier brand.  Now.. on the other hand, if Google is faced with carrier X launching and embedding Cellmania’s storefront, or giving a little control and rev-share back to the carrier, it may be worth it.

Cellmania is doing some cool things around other billing integrations, subscriptions and in-app purchases that Google is not doing, so this may be a big win for them.  Google is focused on the platform.  Not necessarily on the Storefront.  Cellmania is clearly winning the Android storefront battle for now.

Cydia

Cydia is the Jailbroken iPhone users best friend when it comes to finding unsanctioned applications.  In the early days it was Installer.app as the reigning storefront for access to un-approved software.  With the advent of some great updates on Cydia’s part and the iPhone progression, Cydia is clearly winning.

In a recent update, Cydia’s developer Jay Freeman released paid applications as part of his plan to make Cydia the store of choice for advanced (read: brave, creative, stupid, needy) users.  He apparently has already lined up a lawyer in case he needs one.    The nice thing about Cydia’s app store is the ability to get applications that do things Apple does not approve of.  (Or AT&T for that matter).  If you want to tether with your iPhone, record video, make a VOIP call over 3g… you must Jailbreak and go searching around Cydia.

Ovi Storefront

I have to say out of all the Storefront activity, I really just do not get the strategy around Ovi. Ovi Suite.   To me this is a big pile of proprietary services that are solving problems that don’t need solved or adding in custom code where COTS would work fine.

Ovi offers a series of things as a platform that developers could leverage.  First off is what appears to be IP protected proprietary syncing software for contact information.  Seriously. Who doesn’t use Exchange Server for Enterprise (broad comment, I know).  Why not use SyncML?  I am a big fan of hating proprietary crap.

Ovi Mail?   nGage?  How about a proprietary photo sharing solution? No thanks.  As a developer I would want to write applications that are using Flickr, Open gaming platforms or POP/IMAP based email systems!  That is the market!

I clearly need to learn more about Ovi and Nokia’s goals here, but for now I am not getting it!

SUMMARY:

Fragmented devices are going to cause issues on two fronts. First is the ability for developers to make money on more than a single, broadly used platform.  Companies like Loopt are going to feel the pain because if they want mass penetration of their mobile play, they have to support a LOT of handsets and a LOT of storefronts.  Users are going to suffer due to developers focusing on a FEW handsets and not all. This means there may be 25,000 applications in your app store, but only 2800 work on YOUR phone.  That sucks.

Apple will dominate with the variety of quality applications available to their fan base.  They will struggle to compete with RIM on the Enterprise Mobile Application space for a bit, but I do believe the frameworks Apple is putting in place will allow for some amazing applications that are more hybrid iPhone/Device controls.

Palm will gain a strong following of Web Developers who are able to build a solid base of applications quickly.  Let’s just hope they are supporting things like HTML 5 standards.

Android will suffer the worst. First and foremost is the device fragmentation.  Couple that with Cellmania kicking their behind on the Storefront capabilities, it will be a confusing situation for many in the forseeable future.

Windows?  Sure, let see how they acutally make progress.  I am not convinced, but hopefull for them.  They have a solid chance to win back some enterprise customers if they execute properly.

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!

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.

OK, that may not be totally true, but sometimes it will be. As of today I am signed up with Qik.com for streaming live video from my iPhone. Why this fascinates me I don’t know. I guess it is the geek side of me wondering what all it took to get this platform going. I am impressed to say the least.

If you look at the top of the page you will see a link to the live stream. If the video on that page is moving, I am streaming live. If not.. you can still view old clips. the URL to remember is http://live.torgerson.tv if you want to get back there.

The thing I am hoping I find most useful is when we are on vacation, traveling, conferences, etc.. allowing people to see what I am up to. I can’t wait to try out a video that is not a test.

If you like music, and are still carrying around a separate MP3 player.. my guess is you are in denial on the progress for mobile phones and their music capabilities!  OK, or you just like a separation of church and state for music and business.

Device Options

For those looking to converge your devices and have a single device to get you through the day, you have a few options. I’ll briefly mention them and make my recommendations.

iPhone

The iPhone (in case you live in a cave) is Apple’s answer to this problem.  The company with the best selling portable music players has an amazing answer to taking your music on the go.  The iPod integration is fantastic.  It allows you easy access to your albums, artists, playlists and also has the ability to do podcasts, videos, tv and audio books.  It really does an amazing job.

To get music on the iPhone is easy, and accomplished a couple of ways.  The first is by connecting to your computer and syncing with iTunes.  Anything in iTunes can be synced over.  The other way is using the iTunes store right on the phone.  I gotta say, on WiFi looking for songs, finding them and adding to your library has never been as easy as this.  It even syncs the purchased songs back to your computer once you connect back home.  Amazing.

The downside?  iTunes DRM music. My wife and I each have different accounts.  I think it is “fair use” to purchase a song and also have my wife listen to it.  Short of burning a disc for her and letting her re-rip it for her iPhone, there is no other way. (And that way is not the legal way) . I would love to see Apple allow a couple things on the phone, neither of which they would ever allow.

First I’d like to see and Amazon DRM free store.  Getting non-drm’d music for my wife and I to use together would be a dream.  Unfortunately it would cut into iTunes sales and they would never let that occur.

Second I’d like to see Rhapsody on the phone.  I have a Rhapsody subscription for my Sonos system and I love it.  If I could sync my Rhapsody to go like I do with my Sansa player, but on my phone.. ahh yeah.  Again.. no chance in.. well, you know.

G1

The G1 is a good device with integrated music player.  (actually it is a download from what I understand to get the music player in place)  Anyway.. it does have an Amazon MP3 store on the phone. This is far better than the iTunes DRM music, but it does lack a little in usability.  It will be better over time I am sure.

A big downside to the G1 is the proprietary headphone jack.  Seriously, who thought this was a good idea?  The 3.5mm headphone jack is standard on everything from a tape walkman to a portable navigation device.  This is actually even worse than Apple’s first Faux Paux that was a recessed 3.5mm jack that most headphones would not fit in.  There are adapters in both cases, but seriously people, this is NOT a good product decision.  Proprietary is so 1999.

Verizon VCast Phones

Verizon partnered up with Rhapsody to take the VCast music to the phones.  I think this is a great setup if you are looking for a basic device that also doubles for music, unfortunately most of the devices lack more of the traditional “smart phone” funcitonality.

AT&T Phones

AT&T has paired up with Napster for it’s “to go” service.  I don’t have a whole lot of details on this yet but it appears they are launching quite a few devices in this space.  I honestly don’t know how many people will buy into this though, if you are on AT&T already, why not just get the iPhone?

Blackberry

RIM has done a good job moving from the business only devices to now marketing a mobile lifestyle device around the new lines.  I’d say starting with the 8100 Pearl, the 8300, 8800 and now the Storm, they have a great suite of phones that are good for the business user as well as your personal device.

The media players are awkward on these devices, they do work though.  I never really got into using my phone as a music player when I had Blackberry devices, it just was not as smooth.  I think the Storm makes that better.

Sony Walkman Phones

Sony was the company that launched the portable music craze.  Remember old skool cassette walkmans?  Oh, and do you remember that 3 months when CD Walkmans were popular?  They are a little behind the times, but cranking out more music phones all the time.  The Sony Walkman Phones are quite useful it appears as a phone and music player.  Most have external storage which is great.  I personally have not spent much time with these, but they are a logical device to consider.

Recommendation

I’d say if you are into music, and really into music on the go, the iPhone is the best option.  I don’t know that many people who don’t already have iPods.  This is a natural extension, and you get a great phone with it.  (not to mention tons of application options)

The other devices really do pale in comparison for true music on the go.  The G1 is probably your 2nd best bet.  I really think the G1 is the 2nd best phone out there currently.  The Storm is a close 3rd, but Amazon store on the go is amazing.

If you have any other thoughts, let me know.. this is just my view, and only for the sake of thinking it through to ensure I know where I really stand.  For the record, I have an iPhone.

OK.. I am pretty sure I am going to break this into a multi-part post just due to the size it could get… so stay tuned.

The reason I wanted to post about SmartPhone development is the recent hype around the G1 and how people think Google might unseat apple for their slot in the SmartPhone market. I disagree.. and I know others do also.

First off, lets look at the development platforms.  Android had chosen to go open source.  Open source COULD  mean many developers building and adding to a new platform, or it could mean many developers forking code and releasing new versions of the OS tweaked per handset vendor.  How does that sound developer community?  What if HTC and Samsung both had tweaked versions of their OS and did not regression test against a known set of test cases and functionality?  You know that will mean broken applications.. or code that says “if OEM !=HTC…”  and the spaghetti begins.

If you look at the approach Apple and others have taken, it very much lines up with their thoughts around controlling hardware and software.  The Financial Alchemist points out the many issues Microsoft has with not controlling hardware, and what benefits it has for other vendors.  If you control the hardware, drivers, software and everything in between… and then focus that on a limited set of products, you are bound to be more successful than a company trying to maintain backwards compatibility over 10+ years of stuff.

The iPhone / Touch App Store is such a success because the developers who want to write applications just need to know how to use the SDK and write objective C.  Apple created an amazing set of tools to develop against their device.  Yes.. I said device. It is a single OS with a consistent set of features/capabilities and a common screen size.  The only current variance comes in the phone vs. iPod models around Camera, GPS and Network.  Very easy to program around.

NOTE: Apple’s iPhone useated the Motorola Razr for the #1 spot it has held for years.

Take a look at the future of Android.  HTC and other manufacturers are going to take a crack at releasing many Android devices.  I don’t disagree that this is a good approach, but it is going to cause some fragmentation.  Do you think that Motorolas 350 people focused on Android are going to be thinking the exact same specs per device, and comparing that with HTC to ensure they line up as well?

The answer is NO. They will look at releasing the Slider model with tactical keyboard like the G1 from T-Mobile, they will release a feature phone that is smaller and less capable, they will release multiple touch screens with varying screen sizes.. some with GPS, some with .. well, hell, it is an extensible framework.. how about a barcode scanner and printer? 

To be successful selling applications you need market penetration.  Period.  You can’t sell that many mobile applications for $250 and be successful.  You have to sell a lot at a low price point, one that is tollerable for the features and benefit your users will get.  Apple iPhone developers do not worry about these things.  They just go.. build cool stuff and release.

Android WILL be successful in many ways, but not around helping developers and carriers succeed.  If Google gets a piece of every app sold then they are doing fine, however the individual developers will struggle to have the success some of the iPhone devlopers have seen.

Later we will talk about RIM and Windows Mobile, and then the music side of things.