Apple: Open Your iPhone

by Tim Bajarin - eSeminars

The term "platform" is often used in tech circles to represent everything—a new device, an OS, or even a software application environment. It's tossed around lightly, but it's an important concept—one used by our industry when developing and explaining technological roadmaps.
The granddaddy of platforms for the PC industry was the personal computer itself. To be more specific, it was the IBM PC and the clones that followed.

If you are an industry history buff, you know that when IBM decided to produce its personal computer back in 1981, the company created it, for the most part, from off-the-shelf components. And by going with Microsoft's MS DOS operating system, which included developers' tools for creating applications, IBM developed what was to become the most successful technology platform of the last 50 years.

Of course, IBM never dreamed that there would be a "clone" market, or it might have developed its PC within a more proprietary environment in order to gain royalties from licensed clones. Interestingly, around the end of the 1980s, IBM tried to create a proprietary PC called the PS/2, and it lobbied hard to get the industry to back it. But in one of the more courageous moves in our industry's history, some clone makers—including Rod Canion, then CEO of Compaq Computer—said no to IBM, and as a result, the IBM PC remained a broad open platform.

This broad open platform has done wonders for the PC industry, as it became a rich palette where third-party software developers could create and innovate. In the early days, these folks gave us WordStar, Lotus 1,2,3, and, eventually, Lotus Notes, Microsoft Office, and thousands of other useful applications that were based on those industry standards. Thanks to top-notch developers' tools that can be applied to these open platforms, developers continue to surprise us with new products and applications.

There have been other successful computing platforms as well. Microsoft's Windows OS is another environment in which developers can create applications that span dozens of user categories. And Linux has rapidly developed into another successful platform that is being used for all types of creative applications and purposes. The Web itself has become one of the most important development platforms of all time.

The platforms mentioned above have one common denominator: They are based on industry standards. These resulting products have helped spawn the sales of close to 300 million PCs every year. And if you take this example even further, the various cell phones on the market today, though not as open as the original PC, still center on mainstream industry standards. These standards attract third-party developers who create useful applications and have contributed to the industry's success—last year, more than 800 million cell phones were sold. —next: Fulfilling the iPhone's Potential >

Apple's iPhone is clearly an outstanding device, combining phone, music, video, and Web capabilities. Look more closely and you'll realize that it's really a miniature Mac in your pocket. It's a personal computer in its own right. By no means is it an open platform in the same way as the original IBM PC was. But it is based on many industry-standard technologies. If viewed as a platform, it has the potential of being a blockbuster hit for both Apple and the industry.

For the iPhone to reach its full potential, I believe Apple needs to open it up for native software support in the same way that the company allows third-party developers to create native applications for the Mac platform. Apple has resisted because, as it has told us repeatedly, it was concerned about maintaining a level of software consistency and security for the iPhone. Okay, I buy that, and I believe that was probably a wise decision.

To be fair, there is a way for third-party developers to support the iPhone via the Safari Web browser and the apps created within this Web environment. But I am talking about being able to create apps such as the YouTube or the Google Maps apps that are on the iPhone today and are an integral part of its experience.

Using open platforms based on industry standards is critical for any company that wants to sell millions of devices. I do not expect Apple to open the iPhone at the hardware and OS level, since it wants to prevent iPhone clones. But I do believe that it needs to open this area of native software applications.

Apple has hinted that opening the iPhone to third-party native apps is under consideration. After using the iPhone for a couple of weeks—and really enjoying the few native apps that are on it—I am convinced that moving in this direction will be critical for its future success. The iPhone has the potential to develop into one of the more interesting technology platforms of this century.

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Toshiba, Fujitsu, NEC talk chip tie-up

By MARI YAMAGUCHI





TOKYO - Toshiba Corp. said Wednesday it is considering an alliance with other Japanese semiconductor makers, including NEC and Fujitsu, to develop and produce next-generation, ultra-small consumer electronics chips. But Toshiba spokeswoman Kaori Hiraki denied a newspaper report that the company had already reached agreement with NEC Electronics Corp. and Fujitsu Ltd. on the joint production of new chips smaller than 32 nanometers — or 32 billionths of a meter.


Fujitsu and NEC Electronics also denied that an agreement had been reached.


The Nikkei business newspaper reported Wednesday that the three companies have reached an agreement to jointly develop large-scale integrated, or LSI, chips for use in flat-panel televisions and other digital electronic appliances.


"We are still studying various possibilities," Hiraki of Toshiba said. "We have not decided anything."


Fujitsu also acknowledged it is in negotiations with various companies, including Toshiba and NEC Electronics, "as part of a global trend involving the 32-nanometer chips."
"What to do with the next generation chip is actually a major interest across the industry," Fujitsu spokesman Hiroshi Tsuda said. He denied any accord had been reached.


NEC Electronics likewise said it is considering steps on the advanced chips and denied the reported agreement.


Japanese chip makers remain at the forefront in the development of ultra-fine chip technology, but they have been losing out to foreign rivals such as Intel Corp. and Samsung Electronics Co.
An alliance would help the companies save huge development and production costs and stay competitive globally.


Toshiba has formed a separate similar joint project with IBM Corp. and Sony Corp., while it has already partners with NEC Electronics to develop 45-nanometer processing technology.
The Nikkei said the three companies are expected to form a team of engineers later this year to develop the new chip, aiming to begin mass production in about two years.

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Growing Strawberries

Home-grown, vine-ripened strawberries are among the garden's supreme treats- sweet, succulent, and bursting with flavor. Serve them in shortcakes, blended into smoothies, on ice cream, in cheesecakes or crepes, topped with yogurt or whipped cream, or simply savor them "as is" fresh from the garden. Grocery store strawberries, which are harvested early and ripened off the vine, can't begin to compare in sweetness and flavor.





Strawberries are also easy to grow in the home garden. The plants form foot-wide mounds of lush dark green foliage that can serve as an attractive ground cover. They require no staking or training, as do the larger berries, and only basic care. Once planted they will spread and continue to produce for four or five years before they need to be replaced.

Strawberry plants also grow well in pots, patio planters, even in hanging planters. While there are many varieties of strawberries, there are basically only two types: June-bearing (Allstar) and Everbearing (Ozark and Quinalt). The June-bearing strawberries bloom in the spring and produce a plentiful crop that ripens during June. The Everbearing strawberries produce both a spring and a fall crop, and continue producing some berries throughout the summer, more when temperatures aren't too hot. For the home gardener, the best strategy is to plant both types and harvest ripe berries over a long season.

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H4 Pocket-Size Digital Audio Recorder

Portable Recording Powerhouse
If the this diminutive H4 audio recorder had it's own infomercial it would be one of those 30 minute jobs listing features out the yin-yang. But because you're a good friend we're ditching the marketing mumbo-jumbo and cutting straight to the chase. Basically the H4 is a portable field recorder that does everything you would expect, plus a bunch of other things you didn't. Of course you can record straight from the two built in studio-quality electret condenser microphones direct to .wav or .mp3 format with bitrates up to 320kbps. Perfect for recording those live shows. But you can also jack-in some external-mics or an electric guitar or two and do your own impromptu digital 4-track recording... then monitor the whole mess with the built-in headphone jack. You can even connect the H4 to your computer with USB and record directly to your hard drive.







Mobile Field Recording

• Fits in the palm of your hand
  
• Ideal for infinite variety of mobile recording applications
  
• Records 24-bit/96 kHz digital audio as well as MP3 format with bitrates up to 320kbps
  
• Two studio quality X/Y pattern condenser microphones for true stereo recording
  
• Two combination XLR-1/4-inch input jacks with phantom power
  
• Onboard studio effects compression, limiting and mic modeling
  
• 1/8-inch headphone jack provided for monitoring
  
• 128MB Secure Digital (SD) card included.
  
• Using a 2GB SD memory card provides 380 minutes of recording with CD Quality sound
  
• Up to 34 hours recording in MP3 stereo mode
  
• USB mass-storage interface
  
• Four hours of continuous recording operation from 2 AA batteries
  
• Back-lit, 128x64 pixel LCD provides the visual interface
  
• AC adapter, windshield cover, USB Cable and tripod adapter included

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Computer Microscope

This computer microscope allows you to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary for hours of fun and learning. View specimens collected around the house, backyard, your desk, or the fridge. Look at the micro-printing on a dollar bill or examine the traces on your motherboard. This microscope provides you an easy way to zoom in on a wide variety of objects to satisfy your curiosity of the world around you. Ever wondered what lint looks like or the mold growing on your week-old bagels? Now you can find out.






Simple plug and play operation with included software that allows you to magnify objects and view them on your PC up to 200X and take snapshots and time-lapse movies. You can also manipulate images with drawing and painting tools. The QX5 microscope is detachable from the stand to allow you to get closer to large objects.

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