Software developers round the globe are probably sitting on cloud nine right now.  How many of them?  Somewhere in the ballpark of 100,000 according to my sources, as Apple iPhone’s new SDK development kit has been officially downloaded over 100,000 times since its release last week.  Wow.

Following in the same basic idea Facebook of letting all of you develop your own applications, Apple hopes that a whole slew of new, exciting, handy and helpful little apps start making their way around the planet.  Knowing it’s popularity, I don’t see how it won’t happen.

So, we know it’s good for a few reasons, but the bad news is, and this is very bad for a lot of reasons, there is also quite a few things that are “crippling” this SDK.  According to the article I just read,

“Third-party applications can’t run in the background which means they can’t multitask. Apple written application can run in the background. ‘The Apple SDK, as many have come to find, has arguably crippled much of the functionality that set the iPhone apart when first released. Even simple features like the ability to run a program in the background have been crippled in the Apple SDK…’ “

Bottom line is, there are some tweaks that need-a-tweakin’ if this thing is going to appease the masses.  They made some pretty drastic changes after the initial launch, don’t be surprised if they do it again.

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Your company laptop may soon be a whole lot lighter.

Coming up this year, Intel is rolling out a new line of microprocessors called “ATOM” which are geared to a new kind of notebook computers. The systems (being called “netbooks” or “nettops”) will have just enough processing power to drive an operating system, basic applications, and a search engine.

It was the iPhone’s huge success that has opened the business market to these new solutiona. Originally, the biggest impact was expected in education sectors and emerging markets. Now Intel’s CEO Paul Otellini sees a good portion of the expected $10 billion market going to corporate customers from small businesses to large enterprise solutions as a “companion device”.

Somewhat akin to a big ‘ol PDA. Except without the cool touchscreen and ability to make calls.

Prices are anticipated to initially run between $250 and $300.

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A controversial new study done in England suggests that 1 in 3 Britons are “addicted to technology”.

Professor Nada Kakabadse of Northampton University in the U.K. published results stating that up to a third of of the individuals they researched feel deprived if they are separated from internet access or the devices that provide it.

“You would be surprised how many people keep their PDA or BlackBerry next to their beds,” she told the BBC.

“Technology has become much more interesting over the past 10 years with the internet and everything. It is much simpler and much more portable which makes it more accessible.”

The study drew from a pool of 360 people, which is not statistically a broad enough reach to satisfy many critics. Otehrs, like the folks at Gartner (a mega-research corporation) say that the study doesn’t dig deep enough into what the Internet represents - is it the technology? Or the conduit it provides to the world?

However, most experts agree that the growing need of individuals to be ‘plugged in’ has become a widespread psychological phenomena.

So the next time your significant other insists you’re addicted to your new iPhone, you can point out you’re in good company!

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This is just my opinion, but…

The biggest wow at MacWorld had to be the “Air” - that new, tragically slim laptop that Apple unveiled. It could be argued that it’s the only other product out there that gives as good as the MoGo in the low-profile department.

But Air’s critics have been mounting. Primarily that it doesn’t come with a CD/DVD Drive (external one costs $99).

It was a bigger issue that Slate’s Harry McCracken came up with that has been ringing around in my head for a couple of weeks.

Now I’m going to put it in front of you.

Why is the Air a step backward from the iPhone?

No, Seriously.

The reason the iPhone (And its non-Apple cousins) blew us all off our feet was because that little device gets it.

The Future is Less Stuff that Does More.

We, the People, do not want to keep marching to the future wearing a superhero utility belt holding our 2 dozen gadgets.

This is why the MoGo rocks - because it is not only cool AND functional, but it stores in the device it augments. One fewer thing to worry about.

The plain truth is that phones and laptops (and computers and televisions) are converging. The iPhone was the standard-bearer of that reality. Internet + MP3 + Phone. That was 3 devices plucked from the utility belt and tossed in the bin, replaced by a single wicked multi-tasker.

The next tick in the evolution should not only have been a thin big dog laptop, but one that does more.  For example, when MoGo rolled out the next gen of its product, it had more functionality.

The Air should have, too. It should be touchscreen, it should have cell-hookup capabilities, it should act like -in fact - an iPhone with a whole lot more memory and display and applications. After all, this is Apple. If they don’t get it, then who will?

So, what do YOU think?

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Fairly sure unless you’ve been living under a rock, you are well aware of the iPhone, the need for an update, and all the people that tried to manipulate theirs themselves and ended up with a big fat brick.  Ooops.

That said my friends, a REAL iPhone software update is finally here and by the sounds of things, it helps do some pretty nifty things.  According to the article I just read the new update allows users, “to find their location using the Maps application; text message multiple people in one message; create Web Clips for websites; customize their home screen; and watch movies rented from the iTunes Movie Rentals.” 

While the iPhone notoriously lacks GPS, something that I’m guessing will be remedied in the future renditions of the device, the new update lets users find their location “automatically” by triangulating their position based on WiFi access points, and cell phone towers…good Lord, wouldn’t adding GPS just be, well, easier?

That said, if you are an iPhone user, use your iTunes to get things updated…I’m quite sure you’ll be happy.

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2008 and already we’re worrying about scary Trojans that will infect and destroy all our precious electronics.  I’m tellin’ ya, the moment something rad gets invented, someone finds a way to mess it up, ruin it, and scare the pants off you thinking you’re going to fall victim to it!  What’s this world coming to?!

Ok, enough dramatic overreaction, now down to business.  What I say is true and there is floating around out there, a fake iPhone upgrade that just might get into your beloved touchscreen goodness and infect the whole thing.  According to the article I just read, “This Trojan claims to be a tool used to prepare the device for an upgrade to firmware version 1.1.3…When a user installs the Trojan, other application components are altered. If the Trojan is uninstalled, the affected applications may also be removed.”

In a word, Yikes.  Beware of this for all you mobile warriors out there that are just trying to get your iPhone to its most modern state.  Beware indeed.  So before you go installing anything wild on your phone, consult with Apple first.  Be smart.

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Goodness Gracious my French friends. Might I Just take a brief moment to ask, WHAT are you doing? Granted it’s only 1 out of every 5 of you, but still, what are you thinking dropping a cool $1,000 on an unlocked iPhone?!

That’s right, according to new reports, 20% of all French iPhone iFanatics (don’t steal that Apple, I just made it up) are paying around $1000 for the unlocked version of the popular touch-screen mobile phone. Now, I understand that many Europeans are a bit more, well, savvy when it comes to spending More money to get More product, and this is a good example of this. However, and yes I’m starting the sentence with that, what Doesn’t make sense to me, is they Could buy an iPhone on EBay, crack it, and save 2/3 of what they spent. Why, my dear friends, wouldn’t they at least Try to save some bucks Euros.

I do concur with the article that tipped me off on this; if iPhone 2.0 comes out unlocked in these United States, I do declare it will be arguably the largest mobile phone seller Ever. Ever. We’ll see I suppose but for now, the discerning mobile warriors of FranceLand are spending more to get it unlocked. Would you? Would I? Good question.

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Hold onto your hats my friends and fellow In-Networkers. Verizon Wireless is officially going to open up their network to any and all CDMA-based phones. Any.

According to the article over at CrunchGear, “you can bring any CDMA-based phone to Verizon, provided it passes the “very reasonable” certification tests involving “basic network interactivity and a simple security screen.” Wow. The ability to shop ‘outside the box’ as it were, can really provide some extremely exciting opportunities for an already dominating vendor.

What mobile warrior phones will you be bringing over to Verizon when the Network is unlocked? I am curious when/if phones like the iPhone will make their way over after some hackery and debauchery. I’m curious to see what kind of sweet phones I can update to; although, right now for my mobile warrior needs, the LG Voyager just so happens to be rocking my socks off.

Sound off, what are you pumped for? Hit me…

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Tis’ the season to be pairing, fa la la la la, la la la la.  Or something.  Actually it’s not even Halloween yet, so why am I Christmas caroling?  Because it IS the season to be pairing up, companies do it, products do it, heck, everyone is joining hands and partnering up, why shouldn’t AT&T and Napster follow suit?

That’s right, AT&T just announced that Napster’s entire 5 million song catalog will be available to to all AT&T Mobile customers.  Yep, you heard right, 5 million songs, at your fingertips.  Currently, AT&T is partnered through eMusic and this will just further extend the offerings.  According to the article I just read, “This will allow AT&T to compete with Verizon Wireless and Sprint Nextel in the music download arena. AT&T currently allows Napster subscribers to transfer music form their personal computer to their cell phone via a cable or storage card. Both companies hope to improve sales of music by allowing data to be directly downloaded to mobile phones over a WiFi network.”

Apparently songs are going to range from $1.99 each to $7.49 for 5 a month.  With Apple selling songs for $.99, it’ll be curious to see if AT&T has to eventually lower the prices for Napster’s goods.   Oh, note to self, and blunder here:  This Napster service does not work with the iPhone, despite the fact that AT&T is the exclusive carrier of the iPhone.  Blunder.

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Following on Tyler’s post, Steve Jobs gave himself a nice case of whiplash yesterday and announced that Apple will allow third-party development on the iPhone starting in February, 2008.

A letter has been posted on the official Apple Web site: “We are excited about creating a vibrant third-party developer community around the iPhone and enabling hundreds of new applications for our users.”

According to Yahoo’s Gadget Freak, Ben Patterson;

“It’s pretty sad that Apple took so long to decide that open development on the iPhone would be a good thing—but now that the belated announcement has arrived, I think it’s great news. The Palm, Windows Mobile, and Symbian platforms are literally swimming in great third-party apps that have added untold value to their respective handsets, and I can’t wait to see what the iPhone development community has in store.”

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