On June 11th Apple gave their annual WWDC keynote address. While they released the video of the keynote on their website that same day, they didn't make an HD version immediately available. On the 15th they posted a high qualify HD version on YouTube of the entire event. If you haven't watched yet, then here's your opportunity. Be warned, as I said last week it's a long one, clocking in at nearly 2 hours. If you are expecting to see a new iPhone, this isn't the keynote for you. Check back in September or October.
WWDC 2012 Keynote Announcements
My friend over at the MoxieMoShow.com has a quick run down of all the major announcements from Apple's WWDC 2012 keynote address. The basics are this though: Snow Lion in July for $19.99, iOS 6 in Fall for Free, MacBook Air updates, MacBook Pro updates, NEW Retina MacBook Pro for $2199 and Siri comes to the iPad. If you want to see the Keynote then pop over to Apple's Event website for the Apple WWDC 2012 Keynote Address. Be warned, it's nearly 2 hours long; but enjoyable if you are an Apple aficionado. If not, the MoxieMo video below is perfect!
I'll post some of my thoughts later in the week.
My Most Used iPhone Apps
I love using my iPhone. When my wife got me the original for Christmas back in 2007, it literally changed how i used a mobile phone. I had used smartphones for years as well as PDAs, but while impressed with the technology their ease of use was always problematic. Then Apple introduced apps and changed my life, especially my digital life. Apps opened a new world of mobile computing I had only dreamed of as a child and an adult.
Today I don't leave the house for so much as a gallon of milk without my iPhone and often my iPad. The apps on them have become stitched into the fabric of my life more so than any computer I've ever used. That simple fact is due primarily to apps. Below are those Apps I use most often on my iPhone. They are not in order and they aren't the most powerful apps I have either. They are simply the ten apps I'm most likely to use each day.
- Safari
- Wikipanion
- PocketCasts
- ProCamera
- Messages
- Path
- Snapseed
- Zite
If I listed an 11th it would be Audible.
Of course I use the phone, but I really don't think of it as an App.
My Online Tools - Websites Are Easy
If you are curious as to how I keep up my online presence, then check out this page on my site: My Blogging Tools. I quickly explain my methodology and then list out all of my hardware, websites and software that I use to update not only this site but all of my social networking accounts.
It's really easy to create your own website. You can use tools like WordPress or SquareSpace that are totally web based; or you can use tools like Rapidweaver for the Mac that allow you to edit your website locally on your Mac and then upload to your personal domain. You don't even have to have a personal domain. You can use tools like WordPress.com or Blogger.com and have a totally free and very personal web presence that's easy to maintain.
You don't need powerful hardware. You can use your personal computer (Mac or PC). You can use your smartphone (Android or iOS). My preference is for Apple products, but you don't have to go down that road. Getting started is very easy and really quick. All you need is a little imagination and a bit of desire. In less than 30 minutes you too could have your very own website!
If you have any questions, please drop me a line. I would be happy to give you some pointers.
If you have an iPhone, time to do an update...
If you have an iPhone, time to do an update. Google+ just got a "little" better. It's still not universal (read that "not iPad ready"), it doesn't support landscape keyboard, and you still can't start a hangout. That being said you can +1 a photo, updates to Messenger and of course "bug fixes." I didn't say it was a major update. You can get it here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/google/id447119634?mt=8.
Zite Releases iPad Update - Codename "Sybil"
Thoughts On iCloud
Tonight I got into a rather heated debate with several of my buddies on a podcast we recorded (TechFan). The debate centered on iCloud and it's functionality, or more to the point lack of functionality or working functionality. Mark Greentree, Dennis Freitas, Jeffrey Bradbury basically took the point of view that Apple just didn't deliver on the promise of iCloud. My contention was that iCloud is a work in progress and what it does, it does well. What it doesn't do, it will probably do in the next 6 to 12 months.
TechFan Podcast - Great Time By All
I was one of the guests this week. Man it was fun. A great couple of debates. On one of them I found myself the odd man out defending the great Apple mothership. Alas, I think I lost the debate. But the voting may have been skewed. Be sure to subscribe to the guys listed below. They are each very knowledgable and provide some excellent content on Google Plus.
Dennis Freitas originally shared this post:
Just Recorded a new episode of the TechFan Podcast with +Mark Greentree +Jeffrey Bradbury and +Kelly Spore Spent 1st 30 minutes discussing Google+ Move on to a Great Debate on iOS 5 and iCloud! Gets pretty heated should be a good listen. Will be posting show in a couple days!
iTunes - Podcasts - TechFan by MyMac.com
Download past episodes or subscribe to future episodes for free from TechFan by MyMac.com on the iTunes Store.