The Sci-Phone?
July 31, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment
We have to credit the Editorial Staff at SeedMagazine.com for that clever name. They’ve offered the 10 best science applications for the iPhone. It’s not surprising that the scientific community was quick to see the great possibilities in iPhone apps, understanding how “…novel ways of accessing, sharing, and organizing information have a history of changing how science is done. An important effect of the gizmo-humping tendency toward technolust is a redefinition of the way society interacts with science.” The iPhone is one of those new technologies which is moving science forward. “Science on the go” is more than a possibility now; SeedMagazine lists 10 applications “for working scientists, casual science enthusiasts, and all of us in between, in no particular order.”
1). Molecules By: Sunset Lake Software “Enter the four-digit Protein Data Base code for any molecule, and Molecules renders its three-dimensional structure as a rotating, zoomable model. Slick! Manipulating the molecule structure with multitouch feels especially intuitive, and the graphic panning is smooth. A flip menu provides a list of your stored proteins with additional information, such as the molecule’s discoverers, sequence, source, and where the protein was originally published.”
2). Starmap By: Frédéric Descamps “Starmap provides a fully portable way of locating things—stars, planets, constellations, meteor showers, deep-field objects—in the night sky. You can calibrate your location (either with city, longitude/laditude coordinates, or by using iPhone’s triangulation) and toggle through north-, east-, south-, and west-view sky charts. It allows for customized ambient and star- brightness levels to correct for time of night and light pollution. A flip-dock on the bottom of the screen houses all the catalog lists of the sky objects, and a navigation arrow guides you to your point of interest.”
3). Genetic Decoder By: University of Nottingham “This web-based app spits out amino-acid information (name, type, structure, codons, and other data) for any RNA codon entered into its nifty tap-touch toggle field. Great for students.”
4). Jott By: Jott Networks “Jott is a clever little application that converts any speech (spoken into your handset) into text. It stores these transcribed notes in folders and allows the user to edit and reorganize them; there’s even a feature to email them to oneself. Although not a science application per se, the tool holds massive potential for scientists, as well as wonderers of the world in general. Very often, flashes of inspiration or formulations of critical questions occur when we least expect them: while taking the long way home; in the wee hours when our minds occupy that magical space between dreams and waking life; in the bathroom. It’s not always convenient to put pen to paper when the rush of creativity flows in rapid, unpredictable bursts. Pick up your phone; talk it out. The notes will be there for you to crystallize for the Nobel committee later.”
5). MIM By: MIMvista “ As the manufacturer says, MIM for your iPhone provides “multiplanar reconstruction of datasets from modalities including CT, PET, MRI, and SPECT, as well as multimodality image fusion.” In brief: Explore 3-D models of the human body. The fusion volume merges several layers of imaging to spectacular effect; the interface here is impressive. Spinning, flipping, and tweaking through the sample datasets is an engaging experience. From a practical perspective, this application offers physicians and patients a portable way to access and navigate real-case medical scans. This is just the type of envelope-pushing approach we love.”
6). A Brief History of Genetics By: University of Nottingham “Simple and clearly organized, this web-based app provides a timeline of major discoveries in the field, from the 1850s to recent breakthroughs. A pull-down menu at the top breaks up the chart by decade, making for easy reference and navigation. Clicking on an item in the timeline pulls up more detailed information about the respective benchmark. A helpful tool for impressing at cocktail parties. Certain cocktail parties anyway.”
7). Atom in a Box By: Dauger Research “ Atom in a Box uses a complex set of equations to display atomic orbitals in real time. Interaction makes use of the iPhone’s multitouch interface and accelerometer. The beautiful and fascinating result shows the orbital as a cloud that, according to the designer, “is determined by the orbital’s probability density for the electron.” Here, the electron is represented mathematically, modeled by something called “eigenstates,” in a behavior that is far stranger than the way the Moon orbits the Earth. Understanding the way orbitals behave in a hydrogen atom is an integral component of quantum mechanics and particle behavior in general.”
8). MathU RPN Calculator By: Creative Creek “For IEEE double-precision accuracy, replace the native iPhone calculator with this JavaScript-driven calc application from MathU, which was inspired by midcentury Hewlett-Packard design. Once downloaded, the interface runs free of a data connection. Supports over 80 functions and has 20 storage registers that are remembered between runs.”
9). WeatherBug By: AWS Convergence Technologies “With the ability to pinpoint reference location to very specific places (the school across the street, in our case) for a slew of real-time data (temperature, graphical live wind direction and velocity, rolling high and low temperature benchmarks, heat index, and humidity), as well as area forecasts with slide-outs to more detailed information, WeatherBug is a step above other technical weather services available. Radar imagery incorporates Google Maps, and the local weather cams are a nice bonus. The program’s native integration is smooth and intuitive.”
10). NASA Image of the Day By: Toughturtle “An awe-inspiring snapshot from outer -space, every day. A web app, NASA Image of the Day beams distant pictures to your phone, with links to the administration’s RSS feeds and podcasts. A great way to inspire on-the-go daydreaming of far-off places filled with darkmatter, hidden galaxies, black holes, and dead stars.”
Annual PC Mag Reader Survey Puts Apple At the Top
July 31, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment
In a recent reader survey of electronic products conducted by PC Magazine, Apple was given the highest ratings in each category in which it was included: laptops, desktops, routers, cell phones, media players and tech support. In each category, Apple was given “Reader Choice” status, performing “significantly better than average”. In this year’s survey, the iPhone was named the “ultimate smartphone”; it beat every other competing smartphone, including the BlackBerry Curve and Pearl.
All areas of desktop reliability and tech support were dominated by Apple. “No Windows vendor can touch the favorable scores Apple received across the board,” noted the venerable publication.” The iMac, it appears, was unbeatable. No surprise, the tech support was far and away better than any other company’s.
Also not much of a surprise, the iPod continues to hold the top spot for media players. And, in what appears to be a yearly upward trend, Apple’s laptop models have once again improved their overall scores. However, the biggest improvement was in repairs, which are now at 8.8 — an amazing score.
Finally, Apple topped the category in routers. The Airport base stations were, once again, voted to be the most reliable, and were the highest recommended.
It is obvious that Apple is hard to beat, both in its equipment quality and in the area of technical support and repairs.
Another Look at Apple TV
July 30, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment
Jonny Evans of MacWorld UK asks “Is the Apple TV an essential purchase now that you can buy and rent films?” His observation is that Apple’s media streaming device becomes more and more appealing to UK users, especially now, “with the introduction of TV and film downloads accessible through iTunes.”
As most readers already know, the Apple TV allows you to play content from the iTunes library through an HD TV. “It has its own hard drive and can sync content from one nominated computer while being capable of streaming media from collections held on up to four more. Additional features include YouTube access and the capacity to browse image libraries on .Mac/MobileMe and Flickr. The Apple TV also lets you buy music, subscribe to podcasts, and buy and rent films and TV shows from iTunes using the Apple Remote, the device and your TV – no computer is required.”
Purchasing and renting films is quite simple. It can be accomplished either through iTunes on your Mac or PC, but in order to get the widescreen format, it is necessary to buy content through the Apple TV. However, Evans suggests that it should be possible to purchase a film on your Mac and transfer it to the Apple TV. Still, he acknowledges, “picture quality is superb, especially when you opt for the HD versions (well, it’s not full-quality HD but 720p, so it’s neo-HD, at least).”
It is easy to find films. Using the remote, you simply navigate available content on-screen. Once you rent a film, you have thirty days to begin watching it. Once you begin watching the film, you have 48 hours to finish. Evans complains about the prices which the film studios have insisted upon, in their eagerness to protect DVD sales. It is true that rentals start for much less in the U.S. For the Apple TV to really take off in the UK, the prices of the films need to drop.
Evans also suggests improvement to the protection of Apple TV content. Apple TV has a USB port, but can’t be connected to an external hard drive to extend storage and back up. He offers a solution, “Perhaps Apple could introduce Apple TV support within Time Capsule, so the multimedia system could make automated backups.”
So, Mr. Evans, is the Apple TV essential? Not yet, he says, but getting closer and closer with each software update. And for now, it is a great product which is beautiful, sleek and liberating. Which isn’t so bad. Min specs for the Apple TV: Mac/PC, iTunes 7.6 or later, wireless network (video streaming requires 802.11g or n), or 10/100BASE-T Ethernet network, widescreen TV capable of 1080p/1080i 60/50Hz, 720p 60/50Hz, 576p 50Hz (PAL format), or 480p 60Hz resolutions.
Quietly, Apple’s iTunes UK Begins Offering 99p Film Offer
Apple has begun a weekly discount on film rentals in the UK, with the offer of a weekly title for only 99-pence. Jonny Evans of MacWorld UK writes, This week’s 99p film is a classic action thriller starring Robert DeNiro, ‘Ronin’. The $20 million picture tells the story of a gang of thieves hired to intercept a briefcase from another gang. The hirelings never get told who they are robbing.
Other developments include the television content of DC Comics, which has just been made available through iTunes UK. Original 1940’s Superman clips from the great Max Fleischer as well as offerings like the more recent, and very popular made-for-TV show, Batman Beyond. The complete animated series of both Batman and Superman are available as well.
Another exciting development, Evans writes, is that the comics industry now looking towards the iPhone and iTunes service as a venue. Spiderman creator, Stan Lee, has reached an agreement and will publish his latest comic book series, Time Jumper online and on digital devices — iPods, mobile phones, and also in the traditional comic book format.
Despite All the Problem’s MobileMe Is a Great Service
July 29, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment
MacNewsWorld’s Chris Maxcer reviewed the MobileMe Service, and claims that, despite the rocky transition from the previous .Mac service, it is well-structured and a pleasure to use.
Maxcer, by his own admission, hasn’t experienced many of the problems others have suffered with this transition. Those who have (this writer included) may feel a little less charitable about the failures of this transition. That being said, we all should acknowledge that gApple is one of the few companies who will take responsibility and try to make amends while trying to fix the problems.
MobileMe is Apple’s newest incarnation of its online storage, email, calendar, contacts and photo-sharing service, which launched 11 July, which was also the launch day for the iPhone 3G and the App Store. As has been widely reported, the service quickly broke down for many users, who found themselves without email service for days and days.
When it appeared, last week, that the problems had been worked through, it became apparent that there was still a glitch — since some users still had trouble with their email.
“Apple acknowledged the issue on its MobileMe support site, noting, “1 percent of MobileMe members cannot access MobileMe Mail. Service will be restored ASAP. We apologize for this service interruption and are working hard to resolve the problem.” Apparently, one of Apple’s MobileMe servers failed, taking down some customers’ e-mail access at the same time.”
It appears that part of the problem was the large number of customers who were signing up for MobileMe as they purchased their iPhones. Because as we all know now, the demand for the iPhone 3G outstripped even the most optimistic expectations.
Okay, so they were some of the problems. Why is Maxcer writing about this? Because he wants to acknowledge the problems and dispense with them, moving on to what he finds “cool about MobileMe”.
He writes, “First of all, the new MobileMe interface and structure totally rocks. It’s cleaner and more intuitive than .Mac’s versions, and the Web implementation of the applications is snappy and responsive — nearly on par with using a dedicated client. What’s even better is that the applications are placed together in the same browser window, making it easy to switch between Mail, Contacts and Calendar. It’s not exactly integrated into a single application, but it’s closer than tracking down three different applications on your Mac OS X desktop (Mail, Address Book, iCal).”
It’s possible to make a quick reply without opening an email message y just typing it into a text box and hitting the Send button.
“Heading back to the land of “push,” the synchronization is improved over .Mac’s implementations — again, more intuitive than before. Plus, MobileMe makes it easier to sync calendar and contacts, giving you better access to your data from any Web browser. Best yet, it gives you the ability to keep your iPhone synced without having to connect it to a Mac or PC (though for songs, videos and podcasts, you still have to directly connect).”
It is also much easier to make photo albums online that you can share with friends and family. “Now it’s built-in, and once you populate an album with photos, you get an easily disseminated direct URL (uniform resource locater). And visitors, at your discretion, can add their own photos to your albums. Personally, I’d like to see the albums support slide shows on par with what iWeb ‘08 produces — perhaps in a future iteration.”
iDisk has a folder structure which is better-looking, and in which you can open folders and upload files more easily; there is also an improved design to the Web browser interface.
Maxcer acknowledges that, yes, there has been negative press surround the MobileMe launch, and yes, he hasn’t been one of those customers burned by the migration, but encourages all of us to look at the positives which are already available in the service. There are many; and the problems will be addressed. Ultimately, it is a great service which is ambitious and which delivers well on many of its promises. And since it is Apple, we have to believe that they will deliver on all of the promises shortly. Maxcer also points out that there is still more to be hopeful about: “What’s even more important, I believe, is how Apple has structured MobileMe — like the tantalizing empty spots left open on the original iPhone, Apple has left plenty of room to add cool new features to MobileMe.”
