mobile things
opinion and news on mobile gadgets and development
Oct
10
Skype and 3 partnership
Posted by grouchal in Business, Gadgets, mobile software
News that Skype and the 3 network are working together is very interesting see:
Cheap handset ‘will bring free mobile internet calls to mass market’ | | Guardian Unlimited Business
It is hard to imagine how the device will work - but ‘free’ in this case means that you pay for the phone and an unlimited data tarrif.
I like the idea of a phone that is geared towards this - but why only one phone? What will be special about the phone - I would guess nothing physical - but maybe Skype puts special demands on memory and processing power. I would imagine that this is going to be software that can be used on lots of 3 phones - but on one it will come pre-installed.
Popularity: 78% [?]
Oct
3
Why mobile phone revision can be more effective than alternatives
Posted by grouchal in mobile software, research, review
Originally published at :
uhavepassed.com » Why mobile phone practice is more effective than alternatives
Mobile phones are a new media for educational resources, and one that is proving to be very effective for particular content and revision activities. The content must be suitable to mobile phone revision, but then mobile phones are more effective for a number of reasons:
* Easy access
* Private revision in public places
* Less distractions
* Alternative Media
* Micro revision sessions
1. Easy access
To start revising on a computer or other resource generally involves moving to where the computer is located, once moved to the correct location it takes time to start up and begin revision. This change of location creates a barrier that stops students from revising.
A mobile phone is never far, so starting revision is a couple of key presses to resume the software just where you left it.
This ease of access encourages students to revise multiple times a day, because they can revise in alternate locations, on the sofa, on the bus, in bed to name a few of the most popular!
2. Private revision in public places
Revising or studying in public is not something most students generally undertake - on a bus, whilst waiting for friends, etc. A major reason for this is that revision resources generally make it obvious what they are doing.
Tapping keys on mobile phone however in public is not unusual, and the privacy of the mobile phone means that you can send an SMS, play a game or be otherwise engaged without making it at all obvious.
3. Less distractions
Computers now provide many alternatives to doing revision, chatting on instant messenger, reading websites or interacting on the favourite social website.
Phones also have distractions (SMS messages and phone calls) but students tend to multi task these activities better when they are able to do mini revision sessions instead of interrupting large revision sessions.
4. Alternative medium
Revising on a mobile phone is not common and this novelty makes the task revision more appealing than sitting in front of a computer or reading a book etc.
The inclusion of games that re-enforce the concepts behind the driving theory test also helps students to engage in the content by providing alternate ways to revise the key concepts.
5. Micro revision sessions
The most prevalent method offered to prepare for the driving theory test involves sitting in-front of a computer and completing mock test after mock test. This approach is continued until they have answered all the questions and think they know all of the answers.
Doing these tests takes a lot of time and it can become an unappealing to sit in front of a computer and click through multiple choice tests. Once it becomes an unappealing task this often means students start “cramming” their revision into large sessions. During these large session students stop thinking about the concepts behind the questions and the process becomes one of matching questions to answers, not understanding the underlying concepts.
On the mobile phone the ease of access means it is easy to do mini sessions of revision - 2,5 or 10 questions in a spare minute or 5 minutes - which can result in much better analysis of the concepts behind the question.
Note: In order to make sure students are adequately prepared for the real test, uHavePassed provides computer based access to realistic timed mock tests as part of a normal subscription.
Find out more about using uHavePassed to practice for the driving theory test, or buy a subscription.
Popularity: 71% [?]
Sep
19
future of mobile SDKs
Posted by grouchal in Business, Development, google, mobile software, review
Joel writes a really interesting essay which is part history lesson and part predictor of the future of AJAX and SDKS.
I’d like to quickly explain my conclusions from the article and then discuss what this might mean for mobile phones.
Starting with the mistakes when Lotus Symphony was being built, removing all the innovation to fit the constraints of the most accessible computing platform of the time. The Lotus approach was compared with the Microsoft approach that meant the software was bloated but innovative. The argument is that the smart guys learnt you either spend 6 months trimming your software to give it better performance or you just waited six months and found out that Moore’s law helped you get better performance.
History lesson over he then looks at the state of AJAX technology and web apps - and compares Google’s fast and lightweight approach with gmail, docs and spreadsheet etc with other new technologies. The vision he creates is that someone will come up with a newSDK which solves not only cross browser compatibility problem, but starts on the real holy grail of web apps and starts to make web apps inter-operable in the same way cut and paste did for the desktop. I like the vision and see how it could work, but I am not sure that perhaps this idea of inter-op may not just be more a technical dream than a consumer ideal - especially with the security concerns etc.
The lessons to be learned and the conclusions he comes to make a lot of sense, I wish he had spent more time analysing the candidates for the NewSDK though.
I guess Joel is talking about two types of competitors for Google - those that are creating platforms (Microsoft, Adobe) and those that are competing on applications (Zoho, Salesforce, Microsoft). Google I think has a good chance of making their work become de facto standards as they tend to embrace open source but also open up their own ideas. I think that Google Gears is a great example of this - and Zoho are now working with them on the project and using the technology in their software.
I understand the compromises between efficient feature low and bloated feature rich applications - and I think that Googe have got gMail spot on I have no idea what I needed Outlook for all those years. The docs package is different though - I have tried both Google Docs and Zoho and I think that the simple interface for Google means that I miss a lot of things from word - however I love Google’s simple approach to collaboration. Zoho is feature rich but is also harder to use as it is harder to work out where the limits are - but if my key need is to quickly put together a nice looking document - I use Word, if my need is to collaborate on a doc then I use Google Docs as it doesn’t confuse other users so much.
So if we say that Google have usability worked out and their approach is working well and keeping users (the Spreadsheet I think is fantastic) I guess we are left with inter-operability. Is inter-operability important to users? and how can security issues be handled?
The platform at the moment is Facebook for interop - you can access a lot of applications and share data using their API and this is clearly going to advance - but the goal that Joel mentions of being able to cut a picture from flickr into gmail is not going to be enable by facebook. This sort of goal is going to need a change is the browsers and who is looking at making platforms and the browser work differently - Micrtosoft, Adobe and Google Gears. Which of these approaches is Open, lightweight and not bloated? Google Gears.
So to learn the lessons that Joel has pointed out and use them in making my prediction for the future of Web apps the newSDK he talks about to me won’t be a single javascript library. I think Prototype and jQuery and Scriptalicious will all continue to develop in the ways and compliment each other. I think that Microsoft will have a big problem using previous techniques to bundle Silverlight into the OS which will take away their normal tactical advantage. Abode will need to make sure that AIR has lightweight access in addition to using full flash functionality and gets installed as part of Flash installs. Google gears will need to have proper infrastructure set-up perhaps even a more open name and path forward “Web Gears”?. One of these three will be the choice of developers and with a complimentary back end Facebook, OpenId or some other system will allow the Web 3.0 apps to be about collaboration and interoperability.
So what does this mean for mobile?
Well lessons learnt from Joel’s history lesson and lessons to be learnt from future predictions mean that I think that Apple’s approach to phone apps is going to become predominant. The browser will be king - but browser choice will have to come into play if innovation is going to move us forward. Mobile has to have off-line more than desktop, mobile apps must have access to device capabilities to truly create innovative apps. I think that the rumoured gPhone will contain something similar to Google Gears and will allow developers to use the back-end infrastructure of Google to enable their apps to interoperate - I hope this can all be made much more open though. I think Apple with adopt Google Gears into Safari and other manufacturers will be able to use it too. As the number of iPhone and facebook applications rise - so too will compatible browsers on other phones - either Opera or manufacturer ones. So the iPhone API will become quite a standard - and if it is widely enough used and complimentary enough the Google Gears one - I hope both of them are already looking for W3C approval.
So my predictions for Web 3.0 and Mobile 3.0 see them converging - Google Gears (or some other candidate) along with facebook (or next years equivalent or openId) will be key to both platforms and the iPhone API (or a cross platform javascript library) will be key to mobile interactions and Prototype (or another dominant javascript library) will become a key API for the Desktop.
Popularity: 100% [?]
Sep
18
Driving Theory Test Service Launches - uHavePassed.com
Posted by grouchal in Business, Development, Gadgets, Technology, mobile software
Luzia Research have today taken their driving theory test service out of beta and into production.
The service allows you to take practice tests for the UK Driving Theory Test using the official question bank from the Driving Standards Agency.
We have had great challenges developing the synchronisation software that sits under this service as we have found limits in the amount of data different phones will allow to be uploaded and also had issues with different hosting companies and their support for Transfer-Encoding:Chunked.
We are there now and would like to invite people to try the software out for free on their phone before purchasing a subscription.
Even though we are out of our beta testing - all feedback is well received as we would like to make the service as friendly and easy to use as possible.
Popularity: 93% [?]
Jul
12
Nokia getting ready for the iPhone
Posted by grouchal in Business, iPhone, mobile software
The internet tablets form Nokia N770 and N800 have been hard to understand since they came out.
The idea of an internet tablet was an interesting one in the first place - Nokia chose not to make the tablet a phone like device but rather a pure wifi device. I think I am right that Skype now runs on it - and other IP based communciations software - but this device was never intended to be sold by operators.
There are some screens shots over at Engadget that show how Nokia has had to respond to user feedback about having a better way to use the internet and type in addresses. In my mind there is no question that Apple will have to introduce a keyboard into the iPhone - but if you take the two devices side by side is the N800 really the competition that Apple should be worried about.
If Nokia go from the basis that they do not have iTunes access from their device - and therefore tackling music and video is going to be difficult then they will have to move in a couple of directions. A they could create nTunes - but this may well leave them with problems with Operators own systems - perhaps Apple will show a way ahead here - and Nokia can try to become a media company also. They can search for a partner who has a great content system. They can lobby the European Commission about iTunes and anti-trust and look to get access to iTunes at least in the EU. The most worrying idea might be to ignore music and video on the phones.
If you take the fact that the internet access on the iPhone really requires wifi to work in anything like a reasonable way then the N800 is a competitor for easy browsing of the web away from the computer. How can they make more of this? is it by allowing zooming of web pages and other ideas? I think not! I think that if Nokia can get some partnerships with Yahoo / Flickr and Facebook they could create some interesting apps. Integrate a camera that kicks the iPhone- make it autosync with these websites etc. Look to implement google gears or firefox 3.0 offline capabilities - really open things up.
Eventually they will have to add in phone capabilities - but maybe in a smaller version - I think if Nokia play the game correctly they can compete with Apple - not in the music market - leave that to SonyEricsson - but in all of the rest of the functions - but they have got to start looking for partnerships with some popular websites and to try and flex some muscle with the operators - even to spin off a company to do this.
The iPhone will continue to change the world - but by making life easier for manufacturers and operators - not necessarily a great way for Apple to make money -but at their prices they hardly need volumes!
Popularity: 59% [?]
Jun
28
Find the nearest loo - from your phone
Posted by grouchal in mobile software, review
I think this is a great idea - just aslong as you know about it - when I have been travelling this would be a great tool to have on my phone - questions is would I remember it at the time? Or just ask someone?
There is a quick review on TechCrunch: When You’ve Got To Go, Go To Mizpee.com
I am not sure about the comments that say the Web 2.0 “has just jumped the shark” - it is neat ideas like these that allow the innovation to happen - it may be this that inspires it’s creators or someone else to come up with a better service - so don’t dismiss it immediately as useless.
Popularity: 65% [?]
Jun
28
Google allows access to images on the move with Picassa Mobile
Posted by grouchal in mobile software
Google have added to their library of mobile applications with mobile Picassa, this is a nice addition as it means rather than sending a MMS message a link to an album could be sent by SMS, which would be cheaper for the sender and receiver.
I am suprised though that the SMS side of things isn’t incorporated here - why don’t Google have SMS notifications and ability to send a link to a set of phone numbers?I hope this comes soon as using these facilities in mail and calendar is highly useful.
Popularity: 50% [?]
Jun
26
Haptic Clock?
Posted by grouchal in Gadgets, mobile software, review
Nice idea at cwwang.com for an application that is a “Haptic Clock“.
The plan is I guess that when you are stood talking to someone and you want to glance the time, but not upset them you reach into your pocket and press a key and then feel the time. I like it - also for meetings without clocks in the room.
The porlbem as I see it is that it won’t work in my pockets, I can’t leave it running as it will get stopped by random key presses - and if I lock the phone (my N70) the application won’t be in the foreground.
If there was someway to make it into a screen saver - this is a great idea otherwise I think it is just an idea.
Popularity: 80% [?]
Jun
20
eBuddy - mobile IM across networks
Posted by grouchal in mobile software
eBuddy have now released a mobile client. It is only in beta at the moment but looks to be another one of those apps that operators won’t want you to have on your phone. On most data plans it is cheaper to send an IM message than a SMS. .
It will be interesting to see how services like these survive - in my mind it would make more sense for an operator to embrace these kind of services - and either aquire eBuddy or create their own version and have it pre-installed on devices.
If I had a flat rate plan I’d be using it!
Popularity: 41% [?]
Jun
20
Quick review Opera Dimensions - iPhone news
Posted by grouchal in Gadgets, iPhone, mobile software
OK I’ve used the Opera mobile Dimensions beta for a day now and it is certainly a very different way of viewing the web via phone. I still found the screen too small - but I did like the fact I could see the whole page and the mouse pointer worked well.
It is certainly worth checking out for anyone who does browse the web with a phone - and I think I will use it once I’m on a flat rate plan.
The navigation is great and the feel of the application is great and it shows how well companies are now understanding usability on the phone - there are certainly a few tricks in there that I will try to emulate in my software.
One thing I would change is that the default view of the page is the entire page - but it makes a guess as to which part of the page you should start on. The guesswork seems to be good so far and I would have preferred if it had just zoomed me into that area and then I could zoom out if it was wrong. This will be different for different users - so this behaviour should be given as an option.
All in all - it was a great piece of software and it is a pity it has such competition in 9 days to distract from the great software they have made. I think that when they take this out of beta I would suggest 3 months after the iPhone they should make the real launch of Dimension a well publicised affair.
iPhone Hype
Helping the iPhone hype today I came across two articles on the negative side of the phone.
True cost of the iPhone at CenterNetworks predicts that the true annual cost of the iPhone is about $2000 which seems incredibly high to me, even cutting it in half seems incredibly high to me. I am not sure how good the maths here are - but they seem reasonable to me - it certainly isn’t going to go mainstream on this basis.
Why You May Not Want An iPhone at Forbes - examines all the barriers that are likely to stop consumers from making the iPhone mainstream and points out how voracious the competition are in this market compared to the MP3 player market.
Popularity: 65% [?]