Nerdery

Twitter is Pivoting

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Just this past week, Tweetro a new Twitter client for Windows 8 ran up against Twitter's new 100k user token limit and basically got the firm arms-crossed, side-to-side head shake from Twitter when they asked for an exception.

This week they added Peter Cherwin ex-president of Newscorp, owners of Myspace to their board of directors. Dalton Caldwell sums up the new Twitter nicely-

Nonetheless, Peter Chernin’s announcement shows us the future of Twitter: a media company writing software that is optimized for mostly passive users interested in a media and entertainment filter.

I haven't noticed any real changes in how people are using Twitter, but I've got my fingers crossed.

Google Voice Search vs Siri

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From Gizmodo, via Daringfireball.net

Google Voice Search really shines when you’re searching for something that needs to be found on the web. Whereas Siri usually requires an extra click-through to instruct Siri to open Safari, the Google app hits the web with every query; and almost always with quick, accurate results.

I find this interesting, except for one very important thing. I rarely use Siri to do searches. In other words, I don't ask questions, I give commands. I use it (her) to send text messages, dictate quick notes, add calendar items, start timers and other such things. So for me, this second part of the paragraph rings very true and makes Google Voice Search pretty useless.

Of course, Google’s version has its limits; it doesn’t have access to the data stored on your iPhone, so you can’t tell it to send a text to someone or search your contacts.

Differences between iPad and iPhone

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I've been thinking about the differences between the iPhone and the iPad, and I think that with the iPhone 5 arriving and iOS 6 being rolled out this past week, there is now more differentiation between the various iOS devices than before.

I've been a big believer in both for a long time. I've had an iPhone since the first one came out on June 30th 2007. I was a little late to adopting the iPad as I felt that version 1 was a little underpowered.

Whenever someone asks whether they should get one of them, there a couple questions that I ask that hopefully help people figure it out.

  1. What do you currently do on your home computer?
  2. Do you have an E-reader?

The computer question is a big one and here's why- Both the iPhone and the iPad are really just computers. Smaller, more portable, perhaps less powerful, but computers nonetheless. The E-reader question narrows down one usage case.

Here is how I use mine.

Connectivity

iPhone is the always-in-my-pocket device. I have grandfathered unlimited data with AT&T so I don't ever need to worry about what I download, watch, listen-to or send with it. AT&T does have some limits that they've put in place after the fact, but for all practical purposes, I don't need to worry about it. I use the iPhone as an on-the-go device.

I chose the wi-fi only iPad when I upgraded to the New iPad. Primarily because of the way that I use the iPhone. Oh, there's also the fact that I'd only activated and used the 3G one time in the previous year on my iPad 2.

I've put that differentiation in place between my devices. Aside from this, it really comes down to screen size.

Reading

I prefer to use my iPad for reading. I still have Reeder, Instapaper, iBooks and Kindle installed on my iPhone, but primarily as a backup or second option in case I don't have my iPad with me or there is something I want to read when I don't have a wi-fi connection.

My wife has a Kindle that I bought for her last year. She really likes it, and a lot of people swear by the dedicated E-reader. I have yet to pick one up and try it out as I don't want to carry another device and the iPad Kindle app is great.

Email

I will occasionally look at email on my iPad, but most of the time it is easier to read and respond to it on my iPhone. There are a few reasons for this. I have always-on push enabled on my phone, so arrival of email is instantaneous. I find that unless I'm sitting down at a desk, I can type faster and less-awkwardly on my iPhone. In fact, with the exception of a couple times a week when I'm logged into Gmail from my Mac at home trying to really clean out my inbox, I think of email as "living" on my phone.

Writing

I write notes on my iPhone, but I like to sit down at an actual keyboard when I'm writing anything longer than 100-200 words. Right now, I'm using the Apple Bluetooth keyboard and Byword to write this on my iPad. The keyboard is identical in termsof spacing and feel to my Macbook Pro and my old Black Macbook before that. It's pretty nice from a protability standpoint and I also really like the fact that there's nothing to distract me.

Making Photos

Do I really need to even write this one? I capture photos with my iPhone. I DO NOT shoot with my iPad.

Editing Photos

I use both devices based on which is more convenient at the moment. Most every photo editing app I use is a universal app that works on both, and the interfaces are pretty much the same. Sometimes I'll gravitate towards the iPad app because of the larger display.

Truthfully though, I only really use the editing on these devices for images that are intended for Instagram posting. Otherwise I load it into Lightroom on my Mac. If there were an editing app with the power of Lightroom available for iOS devices, I'm sure I'd start using them for more.

Music

I have my full music collection on my iPad so connectivity isn't really an issue. I usually play music from my collection on the iPad in my office, or at home. In the car, the iPhone, as it's always with me. I don't have as much music on my phone though because of...Spotify.

I recently started using Spotify and have it on both devices. I use the phone in my office where I don't have wi-fi, and my iPad when I'm at home or in a location where I've got decent wi-fi.

Social

I use Tweetbot for Twitter on both devices. I probably use the iPhone more because of the push notifications and the smaller size of the content. The iPad app is great, but it still feels heavier to use so it is my second choice.

Facebook is probably 50/50. I use the iPad when I'm connected and the iPhone when I'm out and about. Because so much of what I do is posting higher reolution photos, I probably use the desktop browser more for Facebook than I do either of these.

Conclusion

I find that while both of these devices are really powerful, they fit different purposes. As the iPad continues to evolve over the next couple years, I predict that it will continue to replace my "real computer" for more and more tasks. It shines best for reading, writing and for anything that requires or benefits from undivided attention.

The iPhone is the exact opposite for me most of the time. It is best for at-a-glance tasks and on-the-go activities. Connectivity is one part of its strength, and though the iPad can be data connected (if you bought the LTE/3G version). It still doesn't feel quite as connected unless you stop and turn it on. I tried it with notifications turned on, but it felt inconvenient and nowhere near as good as the iPhone in your pocket.

I've heard others predict the demise of the desktop as we know it due to the iPad, but I don't think that's how it will happen. I think that we'll continue to see the iPad (and iPhone) become more powerful and capable until it really sits at a point of parity with Macs and PCs. The choice of which one to buy, will have more to do with specialized use cases, and less to do with power.

I like the way these products are developing and hope that they continue to get better and better at their respective roles. Can't wait!

The Magazine →

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Marco Arment, who is the creator of Instapaper, one of my favorite and most used apps and services just released a new "app" which is really a magazine available on iOS devices.

Marco had a couple of great posts almost a year ago on publishing, magazines and ads. That article is Double Dipping. I've been quietly wondering if anything would ever come of it.

This feels like his response.

Coincidentally, I finally signed up for the Esquire iPad app yesterday. The difference is drastic.

I really love the writing in Esquire, but I can't, for the life of me, figure out why they can't ship something better than this. It's not like they don't have a large enough team. The publisher is certainly large enough to pay a developer to build it, if they don't want to hire someone. 9 months in and they still don't have retina quality text...and it is completely ad-ridden despite the fact that the yearly subscription cost more than a print subscription.

Marco's The Magazine on the other hand is a pleasure to use. The interface is easy to use, the content is fantastic, and it is obvious that readability is the absolute number one priority. Of course, Marco is just the guy to make this happen.

Perhaps even more important than the stuff I just mentioned is the fact that he is doing this with no ads. It is completely subscription funded and writers are getting paid.

The Magazine supports writers in the most basic, conventional way that, in the modern web context, actually seems least conventional and riskiest: by paying them to write. Since I’m keeping production costs low, I’m able to pay writers reasonably today, and very competitively with high-end print magazines in the future if The Magazine gets enough subscribers.

It’s a risk, but I’m confident. Here goes.

Good Luck Marco. I'm hopeful and signed up! If you own an iOS device and like good writing, go check it out.

iPhone 5 Review

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What can I write that hasn’t been written on one of the myriad of tech sites. Heck, I even linked to one of them already. I’ll start with a quote that sums up how a lot of people are feeling so far.

I don't know how else to convey the niceness of this thing. This iPhone 5 review unit is the single nicest object in my possession. I own things that cost and remain worth more (e.g. my car). But I own nothing this nice.

I’m 3 weeks in with the iPhone 5. I waited to write this up after some significant use because that’s really the only way to know it beyond what’s on the spec sheet. Speaking of the spec sheet, here’s a list of what’s new-

Software Updates

Brand New Maps app
Siri is expanded with sports, Restaurant and Movie info and is now able to open apps.
Facebook Integration system-wide
Passbook
Phone updates-updated options when you need to decline a call.
Mail now has pull-down to refresh
Safari now has synced tabs with your desktop or laptop Mac
Camera now has a Panorama feature
New iTunes and Appstore designs that are way easier to use.

Hardware Updates

Thinner, Lighter design
Unibody Construction with Aluminum back.
LTE wireless data
Improved Camera
Headphone jack moved to the bottom
Larger Screen
Improved color saturation
New A6 processor with claimed 2X speed

OK. That’s out of the way. So, What’s it like to actually use it?

Feel

My first impression as a long-time iPhone user-

This device feels amazing in my hand.

I really can’t overstate this point. Like all Apple products, the iPhone 5 is an object that looks great in photos and sounds great in descriptions, but really takes on a personality when you hold it in your hand. The consensus among my friends and internet connections was that the iPhone 4 design felt like the culmination of iPhone design. As if, this is what they were aiming for from the iPhone’s start back in 2007.

This one feels even more complete. For the first day or two, the 5 almost felt too light. Almost like there was no way that it could be real. When you carry the same phone in your pocket every day for over two years, it has a certain status and becomes your natural reference point.

The iPhone 4 and 4S feel SO heavy compared to the 5. That’s not to say that there is anything wrong with the previous design. After all, the previous models has a piece of glass as the back panel and the entire sides, top and bottom is a piece of stainless steel. Glass and stainless are quite a bit heavier than the aluminum that takes their place on the 5.

The 5 is also thinner. A good reference for size - the 5 is a thick as just the stainless steel ring/sides of the 4/ 4S. When I first saw it, I couldn’t help thinking that it looked like they had just pushed the display inside the frame. When holding it, the effect is dramatic. The 5 is 12% smaller, but it’s 20% lighter. Not proportianate. You can feel it.

Design

I chose the black/slate model. This thing looks amazing and has a certain Stealth vibe. The buttons, screws, and even the pieces surrounding the headphone jack and lightning plug all have a matching matte black color. The transitions between glass and aluminum are pretty awesome. Fit and finish are exceptional. The Facetime camera is now centered above the speaker which makes more sense to me. Symmetry is good.

I wish it came with a black Lightning cable.

I do have one issue that many people have experienced over the past few weeks. The anodization on the back is pretty thin and it can get scratched easily. I’m usually pretty careful with my phone, and I’ve got a couple silver spots on the angled edges.

If I had known this before hand, I don’t know that I would have chosen the white model (which isn’t anodized and therefore, not susceptible to this type of scratching) as I really don’t like the white bezel next to the display. I’m thinking that the obvious solution would be for Apple to make a model with black Glass and a silver aluminum body. I’d have chosen that one if it were offered.

Camera

The camera on the iPhone 4 was great. The 4S was better, and the 5 is even better. It is an iterative update, but I can verify that it seems to have better exposure metering in normal light, and some drastic improvements in low light situations. Apple calls it Low light Boost Mode, but what’s really happening is a boost in ISO. If you know anything about photography, this makes perfect sense. For those that don’t, just know this- It takes better pictures in low-light. This has been one of the most common criticisms of the previous iPhone camera that I’ve seen in the past. Good move Apple.

The larger screen allows for a larger shutter button and more space for the still/video slider. This larger target is nice. Video playback just uses the whole screen now instead of letterboxing. Still photos are still the standard 3x4 size.

Panorama is something that you needed an app for in the past. Now it’s a built in feature and the implementation is better than anything I’ve seen on the app store. Instead of lining up each successive shot, you just start the camera and move it across the subject. It stitches the photos together quickly and results are pretty good.

LTE

[This section already appeared in part a couple weeks ago in another post.]

Though it isn’t the most talked-about feature, in real-world use, the addition of LTE for data is a game changer. Although LTE has been available on other phones in other markets for a few months, the network was just turned on the Thursday before the new phone launched here in Portland. I am able to get download and upload speeds while I’m downtown near my office that are superior to the best connection I’ve ever had on my Comcast Broadband connection at home over wifi. Dude. There literally isn’t a wifi connection that I will likely come across that is faster than my data connection.

One side effect- My battery is draining a bit faster than I’m used to because I’m doing things that just weren’t possible before. Better get another Lightning cable.

Hardware Speed

Though it would be easy to assume that data is the main difference, I’m noticing that the hardware is also significantly more capable. Apps are faster to open, camera opens faster, and web rendering is lighting fast. This morning before leaving the house, it crossed my mind that I didn’t have a lot of music as I hadn’t ever plugged into my Mac. I pulled up the iTunes store, and selected around 100 tracks to download from my purchased list. I figured that whatever didn’t get loaded over wifi would trickle in throughout the day over data. I was wrong. All of those songs were loaded and ready to go within 7 minutes. Keep in mind that this is the same wifi router and know that I expected it to take 30 minutes or so because of the limitations of the hardware.

I really love the speed. I don’t even consider whether my iPhone will actually open the video, or site because of its size or bandwidth requirements. Done.

Antenna

Every iPhone I’ve had has had decent reception here in Portland. Occasionally, I’ve dropped calls in the elevators in my building, or a call won’t go through the first time and I’ve had troubles when visiting family in more remote locations, but these are pretty common problems from what I’ve seen. With the iPhone 5 I’m noticing less problems with connecting calls or with dropped calls. No Antennagate this time around either. Seems to work pretty well in the elevators too.

Larger Display

Perhaps the biggest change is the new 4 inch screen. I’ve heard quite a few people say that the screen is longer and narrower. Not true. The new screen is just a tad longer than the previous models, but the width is the same. It can be a tad deceiving as the longer screen makes it feel kind of skinny, but once you turn it on the size difference is obvious. There is just enough room for another row of app icons.

Many apps have already updated their designs to take advantage of the extra screen real estate, but there are still quite a few that haven’t. It makes a pretty big difference in apps that display information in a scrolling list style like Facebook, Tweetbot, Mail, and just about any reading app.

Some apps have added new information to the display. The new built-in weather app is a good example. They added a daily forecast right into the main view which makes the app a lot better in my opinion.

As I was writing this, I looked through about 20 apps on my phone and only found 5 that were updated. That will change over the coming months, but in the meantime, black bars on each end of the screen is something to get used to.

Richer Display

I didn’t really expect to be as impressed with the new phone’s screen as I am. I knew that Apple was claiming better saturation, but that’s not the only thing that’s new. Apple is using a new process for sandwiching all the touch sensitive components in there and it makes a big difference. From what I’ve gathered, the touch sensitive layer is bonded right to the glass this time. What that means is that the actual pixels feel like they are right on the glass.

The iPhone 4 felt like a huge step forward in this same way, but things always get better. The surface presence of the pixels on the iPhone 5 makes the iPhone 4 and 4S feel like you are looking through a huge slab of glass.

The color difference feels best summed up by saying that the blacks feel twice as deep as on the 4S. On previous models, black always had a bit of a backlit presence, but not so much on the 5. This does wonders for the saturation and contrast of anything you look at on your iPhone.

Both of these new improvements seem to make the biggest difference to me when reading text. We are one step closer to the resolution of glossy magazine print.

Summary

Basically, the iPhone 5 is a major step forward all the way around.

Design, Connectivity, User Interface, Size

If you are a fan of the iPhone in any of its previous iterations, this new version will please you. If you have been holding out waiting for LTE, a bigger screen or the end of a contract, I can safely say that now is a good time to jump in.

As I’ve already stated, I DO buy a new iPhone each time they update. Yes, it's true-  I'm a gadget nerd. I don’t recommend that everyone upgrade unless there is a new feature that is compelling to you but at this point, there isn’t much that isn’t  significantly better on the new model.

I love the way that Apple continues to move the iPhone forward in ways that just make so much sense.

So…if you upgrade, great. If not, there will likely be another great update in a year or so.