It’s not often I feel misled by a product and the hoopla surrounding it. LogMeIn Ignition for iPad/iPhone (see below for their description) is misrepresented on their site. It’s simply not a secure solution and not worth 29.99 from the iTunes store. I’ll share my story and you can be the judge if my expectations are unfair or unreasonable. I spoke with a LogMeIn tech too looking for resolution.

This is my issue.

1. IPad app has remote “blank screen” and “lock keyboard” capability.
2. This “security feature” is not available on or doesn’t work with a Mac. THEY CLAIM IT DOES SORT OF
3. Nowhere in the marketing on iTunes or on the LogMeIn site does it state that using this app with your Mac may leave that Mac open to other users even after you have logged off (Exiting the iPad).
4. As the lock screen and the lock keypad is unavailable it is sort of pointless using the wake-up feature.
5. LogMeIn can not refund your money because it was purchased via iTunes – take it up with them they say.How convenient!

I set up LogMeIn on my Mac after signing up for a standard account. I then purchased it for my iPad from the iTunes store. $29.99. I connected back to my MacBookPro with no problems. It took only a moment to figure out how to move the mouse on my iPad. It’s slower of course than just being on my Mac but really quite usable. The time delay was minimal on my home wifi network – although I imagine this could be slower on some connections. I was soon looking at the settings. There’s clearly a remote “screen” and “keyboard” lock available. I flicked them to on. I thought my laptop screen and keyboard would blank and lock. They didn’t. I rebooted and reset both devices a couple of times. I couldn’t get it to work. I went to the support pages. I accessed this page. How do I blank the host screen’s display while in remote control?

And while this doesn’t seem to be specific it doesn’t mention MAC’s or OSX as being incompatible. I have no idea if they are or aren’t with DPMS. But there was nothing I could apparently download. I rated the page a 1. I then called customer support.

The support tech was pretty unclear at first. I was way ahead of him re notes on the page, familiarity with the iPad and the software. He apparently had it working on an Android and while busy with my support inquire apparently logged into a mac etc. He also contacted some of his colleagues. I reiterated my problem a couple of times. That logging into to my Mac via my iPad left it exposed. Their site info states:

Option settings for optimizing the experience of connecting to and controlling the remote computer, including locking the remote computer’s keyboard, blanking the screen of the remote PC and screen resolution.

I guess this is the bullshit legal thing. Since when is a Mac in this regard not a PC? I can only assume this claim is effectively fraudulent. Let’s be even more obvious. How many iPad users or iPhone users have a Mac? I bet it is a lot. So if you create a product for them you’d expect them to connect to a Mac. Why is there NO WHERE something that says… if you have a MAC this will not work as advertised? Well he confirmed that the controls are their and only work on Windows machines. It doesn’t say.. won’t work with Mac – it just doesn’t. I asked him how many iPad/iPhone users probably have a Mac. I’m  sure a good number. That’s why I’d expect this to work.

So I asked for a refund. I was told that they can’t give a refund and I’d have to apply through the iTunes store. I’m not sure how you get a refund via the iTunes store. Sort of thought it impossible. In other words you spend your money and weep if the product doesn’t work. I’d have been less incensed if the product was at a price point that was much lower. However, I was prepared to pay $30 bucks for a product that would give my iPad more flexibility. I got a tough luck buddy. He said he’d never had this complaint before.

For my part I’ve seen a number of reviews. It was my impression that LogMeIn was one of the top grossing apps for iPad on iTunes. Certainly many people were writing it up that it was easy etc. I should have stuck to a VNC solution. It would have been cheaper and probably provided the security that should be built in. So think twice before you buy this app.

If you don’t lock your Mac, then it works. If you log out of your account then it isn’t going to work either. And when you log in your screen and keyboard will be available. You can only wake from sleep if it is hard tethered to your router. While I don’t see this as a big issue the LogMeIn site lacks instructions for proper wakeup and sleep setting.

Let me give an example where these controls aren’t just based on security. I’m at a show. My Mac is being used as a “presenter” hooked to a large Display. The Mac is hidden away. The iPad can be used from anywhere at the show to key up new presentations, play music even to activate remote skype sessions. They keyboard in this instance remains locked.

That’s the type of functionality I thought I should get for $29.99. BTW it seems the latest update doesn’t provide multi-tasking for iPhone 4.

More descriptive stuff from LogMeIn:

One click on your iPhone or iPad lets you remotely access one
or more computers anywhere, anytime. So you never have to worry about
leaving anything behind. Directly control your desktop, all your apps
and all your files – like that important presentation for your boss or
that important photo album for your mom – with a simple touch.

Now one last thing… really makes one wonder. You can simply log in from Safari on the iPad without an APP. Although You cannot download the plug-in to Safari that might make it work eg to type a document you can certainly click around.

LogMeIn Ignition for iPhone and iPad is a fast and simple way to connect to your LogMeIn Pro² and
LogMeIn Free
computers.

One click and your
iPhone or iPad becomes an extension of your work or home computer

• Your login information and preferences
  are stored securely
• Access from anywhere -
  without having to remember passwords

Dear Mr Lucky

I walked into two Lucky stores over the weekend. I like Lucky Stores and I know them for their jeans. I’ve got 3 pairs of Lucky jeans in my closet today.  I think I bought shorts and a shirt there last year too. Yet today I am also no longer a customer and won’t recommend or take anyone to Lucky again.

I have a typical sort of shopping expedition/approach when going for jeans. You see the selection for me no matter where is always limited. Today I’m a 34″ 36″ and that means I have long legs. I could probably even wear a 37 on some occasions or if they weren’t preshrunk. As a kid growing up at one time I was a 32/36 and I’ve even been a 36/36. The problem is the 36inch inseam not the waist size. So on my typical shopping expedition I go into a store and ask them… What jeans do you have in 34/36. For the last few years Lucky always had a few pairs in stock – perhaps not in every color but I could at least try some on.

Over the weekend I got – “We don’t stock 36 long anymore. You can still order them online” from the Walnut Creek store and then again later same message at the San Francisco downtown store. So basically a piss off don’t waste your time here in our store spending any money because we don’t like the length of your legs. Look on line if you want. We have no interest. Now to be fair to Lucky I stopped in at Diesel (which years ago made the same change) and they too have nothing that is 36 long. Here’s my comments from that time.

Why do they think or believe a message delivered in this way would actually encourage me to go and shop online. It won’t. They lost a sale.

I sort of got it when I was growing up. I really was one of the taller kids on the block. Today 6’5″ remains tall but not exceptionally tall. I see it when I walk places. So I don’t believe I’m the only one chasing tall jeans. Nordstrom’s usually has at least one or two brands in my size. Again it will be limited. At least I know I can shop there.

So I offer a few suggestions for retailers that won’t stock and sell 36 long’s. There’s an opp. We’re the most loyal guys you will ever find. We hate asking for our size to be immediately disappointed. It’s like jumping into a Porsche Boxster and realizing you will never drive it. Stupid – but impossible.

Here’s a hint Lucky. If you only sell 5 pairs at 36 long a month in a store I suggest you ship them at the same time each month. Even if it is less then replenish your small number. Make sure the number is shipped again at the same date every month. If I miss out you can say… on the 15th of every month we get the extra longs in. Usually just a few. Come in then. You know what… I would probably put a reminder in my calendar.

In fact I’d say this for just about any store. I go into a Banana Republic. I know it isn’t worth looking for any sort of trousers. They won’t come in my size. They stop at 34. Levis. well I can probably buy them.

Next. It’s a pain but you have your own stores. You have computers. It’s not hard to do a made to measure. Here sir try on this pair.. or find a 34/34 you like and then we will order it now for you. Home delivery or would you like to come and pick them up. Yes I know the issue is store training. But this doesn’t require much training. It’s dollars the store lost and it is the peripheral dollars too. You go into a Lucky or a Diesel for the jeans and then consider the other stuff.

Now finally I am persistent. I also went online. I took a look at a number of pages. But in over five minutes I couldn’t figure out how to find anything that may be 36 long. The best I found was regular and 34.5. That’s not good enough. Your sites also a fail for a guy like me. Why is it… I can’t search for my size up front. No point in sending me to sale items etc. Just give me my size and thus options. Well I finally found that route. There are two options there. But not what I wanted. Just two in the whole assortment.

I’m sorry that we couldn’t do business. It will probably cost your company at least a $1000 over the next five years. That’s been the length of my loyalty. I know… just a drop in the bucket.

Regards,

Stuart Henshall

This was the speech given by Cory Booker at my son’s graduation a few months ago. It was inspirational and he tells quite a story.

Daily update on del.icio.us links with my notes. I also just tweet links @stuarthenshall

• iPhone4 photo comparisons vs competitors are really useless | Simply isn’t the real world – you end up with one phone. iPhone4 over saturates color – The iPhone4 camera is way better than the 3G and provides a performance I last saw and used consistently on a Nokia N95. However, all these comparisons are really rather pointless. The camera isn't a primary reason to buy the mobile anymore. That the new iPhone4 camera is competitive is — it had to be. Yet no one buys an iPhone for it camera, it is bought for the whole package. How does the camera perform? It tends to oversaturate the colors. It creates some fantastic Kodachrome Blue skies – but they just aren't real. However, the clarity is obivious, and the ability to do simple things like focus and change exposure with a finger touch are just fantastic. That simple touch action puts it well ahead of the majority of camera's I've ever seen.

Daily update on del.icio.us links with my notes. I also just tweet links @stuarthenshall

• India’s Mobile Providers: Competing for Calls at the Bottom of the Pyramid – India Knowledge@Wharton –

Why do apps fail? Mostly due to poor marketing. Here’s an absolutely fantastic app that I’m sure almost no-one has heard of. It’s also destined to be like a voice recorder or alarm clock – just part of the apps that come from the manufacturer with the handset.

iMoto is a bluetooth based intercom system that works between two iPhones. The name iMoto as it suggests targets bikers eg rider and passenger or two bikers that are riding together in reasonable proximity. If you and your passenger have an iPhone or your riding partner has one… this deal $1.99 currently reduced to $.99 cents is the bargain of motorcycling.

Check out this link if you want a longer flashier video – How much budget was that!

Just add iMoto to two iPhones. I tried it on both 3G and iPhone4. It worked just fine. Of course you have to remember to turn the bluetooth on. You have to set a shared passcode and then the program takes over and it will run in the background too.

In practice how does it work? Well that is dependent on the headset and the helmet. I used standard iPhone headsets with a passenger and we could still hear each other at 80mph. Although it is better at slower speeds.

So what are the issues and constraints.

• It’s a little hard to control the volume when the iPhone is in your pocket and you are riding. Start with the volume high and talk softly.
• I imagine those that already have their helmets wired may get a better experience. Finding the right place for the mic so wind gusts and stuff aren’t heard (create some crackle) is something I still have to experiment more with.
• I suspect it will have little impact on battery life. After all most phones will do 6 or 7 hours.
• Because it uses the audio channel you can’t listen to the iPod at the same time or talk over it.
• It’s limited to one to one rather than one to many.
• It automatically reconnects if for some reason the connection does happen to drop.
• There’s not many controls here so if you already have a sophisticated system on board your bike this isn’t going to help.
• How far away before the connection drops? Quite a way… I think it would be possible to use when riding with a partner.

So is the the perfect intercom. Nope. Yet those systems for bikes can cost hundreds and hundreds of dollars. I’m going to have to try using a bluetooth headset at the same time with it. (presume I can). Issue is how that fits in my ear and in the helmet for comfort. Simply if you bike and have iPhones then I’d get one and try it out.

Are there other intercoms? There might be. I’ve searched before on the iTunes store. I found some they generally had lousy reviews or only worked on the 3GS etc. I never purchased them. This one had zero reviews and I thought I’d just try it out.

Now back to marketing. No stories in the iTunes store. It would seem no listings in the major biker forums. Yes there’s been the flashy videos, and it would seem the PR has sent it off to all the Review sites. Yet I can’t help thinking that this app has been poorly marketed. There’s plenty of bikers out there in the blogosphere and even more on forums. This type of thing gets lots of discussion there. I’m sure the dudes that created this (presume from Italy) have nice Ducatti’s parked somewhere. iMoto also limits other opportunities by naming it like it has. Or quickly do it under a few brands. Eg this would work for many sports… cycling, rock climbing, skiing, and more. For an instructor on a Ski slope it could be tremendously useful. For kids with a couple of iPod touches this is the always on walkie talkie. For parents traveling in airports this is a perfect way to keep in touch while shopping dutyfree etc.

They’ve done the actual engineering well and it is a simple app (relatively from a user POV). However they’ve missed their Target. Unless they are going to offer a Harley app, and a Triumph app and a BMW app etc. There’s many ways to take this to market, however their current price doesn’t make marketing it very attractive. This is worth every cent of all 99 or 1.99. Fact is 4.99 or even 9.99. If you know how much bikers spend on bike farkles then this is small cheese.

There’s no website for iMoto (founders site is seemingly under construction). Perhaps the “intercom” is really just something that Apple or Android should build into every handset. In fact this seems like a universal sort of new app, like a clock, or the voice recorder. Yep that’s it. No real market for this app. The Platform will just suck it up.

Other Reviews:
The iPhone App Review (difference I’ve used it on a bike!)
Fresh Apps

UPDATE: We went to the Apple store and the iPhone4 pictured was exchanged for a new one. The customer service was excellent and we were out of the store in ten minutes. The genius inspected the phone and noted a small knock on the very edge and that it had a single hairline crack across the screen. We were under no illusions that replacement was guaranteed and relieved to find out that in this case they would replace it. We went to best buy after and bought a case. It’s hard to find them stocked anywhere.

I just left the house taking my Motorbike for a service a few miles away. My daughter was following in the other car. When I arrived I parked my bike and as I was taking off the protective gear my daughter jumped out the car with huge tears in her eyes crying… Oh my god… my iPhone screen just cracked and more wailing. I couldn’t believe it.. but there it was a thin line crack all the way across the front face.

Now I know there are no real stories here. She got into the car her screen was fine. There’s nothing more precious at the moment than her iPhone4 and she’d been up for an hour at home. So using it. While I was checking in my bike for the service I know the text messages of the broken screen were already flying. So as I jumped back into the passenger seat for the ride home I asked her what happened.

She said she got into the car… put the iPhone4 in the normal spot. She puts it in the Armrest cupholder. Picture. Sometimes while driving it slides back – second picture although I assume it ended up upside down… which she said it had (slipped back) on this occassion. There’s nothing sharp in there… there’s no “drop” effect and as she was following me there was no racing driving going on.

I looked carefully at the screen. There’s just the hairline crack. Was it stressed as part of the manufacturing process? Did it fail to get the gorilla glass coating. What’s the deal?

Kerstin wants it fixed. She paid for it. Approx $259 with tax. It’s a lot of money for a college bound student. She doesn’t have a case yet although she’s been looking online. I’m not sure in this instance a case would have helped. That though is the only difference vs the iPhone 3G she has carried for years.

So I’ve told her to make an appointment with the Apple Store in Walnut creek using the the new Apple Store app. I presume that is the best place to get started. I’m intrigued to know how it goes. I realize that stuff breaks. I also know there was no funny business in this case, there was no weird story. The reaction on discovery was too emotional and the crack too obvious to have been missed earlier in the day and she’d been up for an hour or more. So it got used and I’d have heard earlier if it was cracked.

So we will be paying a visit to the Apple store. I’m hoping they will be accommodating. Unlike those that like shooting bullets and blending iPhones we sort of think they should be babied, cared for and treated as the expensive device they are.

I’m sure her iPhone3G like mine was dropped many times. They seemed robust. I expected this one to be even stronger. Now I’m not sure.

Will keep you posted. All pictures taken in the car on the move going home with my iPhone4.

I have new iPhone4’s in the house and thus another 2 years with AT&T. This makes me queasy at the best of times. AT&T by default is my “there is no other choice” supplier. Now I find they are charge me for Data that we shouldn’t be incurring on the plan.

In my case I’m familiar with how the telecom industry works and find some of the billing practices distasteful and bordering on dishonest.  Corporate best practices and “service” are not always the same thing. It is about choices that AT&T makes and ultimately how they want to manage me.

So when I get an AT&T customer service rep on the phone to explain the data usage charges I try to find some humor and am happy to share some pointed feedback. I did not feel better about AT&T at the end of this experience.

AT&T resolution was credit me with the the charges for data KB’s sent. I had to mess around with rep Brian from the midwest for 30 to 40 minutes to get it. It was more a principle call than worth the time. I got a credit in the end for $15.10. I’m sure Brian wrote down on my info sheet a comment of $15.10 customer agreed to as resolution.His scripted conversation elements were repeated many times.

Details are painful. These are a few facts about my plan. I’ve had a plan with AT&T since 2008 when my first iPhone arrived. It’s now a family plan 700 minutes, unlimited nights and weekends, the usual rollover minutes, unlimited SMS and MMS/Photos ($30 per month service for family) and then 3X$30 for the three iPhone data plans. I’ve considered upgrading the fourth phone to a data plan and perhaps iPhone. Currently the fourth phone is $9.99 per month for the line. It has no dataplan and shares the unlimited SMS and MMS with the rest of us.

So here’s a small example of the charges I’ve been getting on that fourth line. Three entries in May is a good example. Total $4.39. Not much in itself. Question is… how did it get there? What’s it for? How do I insure I don’t get charged again? Note they are all data out.

Looking at my June bill I see another one off charge on the 14 of June for $.38. Nothing really – almost rounding on a bill that exceeds $220 each month. So I’d sort of missed that I was being charged for data on a phone that ostensibly doesn’t have a data plan.

Let’s give AT&T credit. They could not explain to me what these charges are. They could not explain how this account incurs them. Yet like many things you learn stuff by probing. Turns out that this fourth line isn’t blocked on Internet. I never wanted Internet available on it. The line is not in my hands. Yet AT&T in their wisdom when we added the full family account with the unlimited SMS and MMS opened a little window in my fourth phone. You see you can’t have zero internet and still receive or send an MMS. So they say… the phone is internet enabled and thus you can get charges for GPRS. Wait I say. I don’t want data on that phone. He says would you like to block the internet access. This means you also won’t get pictures and your son can’t send them either.

Given the charges you can see that GPRS internet connections are not continuous or even used often.  If my son knows he can use data them I’m surprised. However I think it is broken on his phone. He cannot receive data. So why is AT&T charging for requests if they cannot deliver the info back???  At first Brian at AT&T tried to sell me a $10 unlimited package. Of course he didn’t know it was a Nokia N97 on the end of the line. He looked it up after a while. Ah he said SmartPhone. A handset that is not supported. That track and line of talk is another way they want to push the problem back to me.

So I asked for use cases. What use cases would only result in “data out”. Doesn’t look like they have ever served up any information to me. I’ve never had a charge for data in on this phone or account. I was assured that if the invoicing system says data out then it must be right. I asked him what for? How do I initiate this? In the almost 40 minutes on the phone I never got an answer. I was told I could monitor the actuals and then ask my son. Right now my son won’t remember what he was doing 15 days ago and it isn’t even timed as an event.

Thankfully we have no idea how these charges are generated. According to AT&T my phone might even be making the requests. Yet it doesn’t explain the infrequent usage. It would be daily or hourly if the phone was set up to make requests. These are a few one off charges on a couple of different days. So what’s the solution?

As the rep noted. He doesn’t seem to use much data. I answer – well he doesn’t think he has a data plan and knows that GPRS if used in other countries (after his Italian experience) is expensive. I ask about data plan options. Seems we are now in iPhone territory. I’m wishing I’d got an unlimited plan for him before June 7th. They won’t allow me a fourth rollover to unlimited.

So, I get a refund for the data charges that can’t be understood. I get plenty of you are a great customer in great standing… and the CEO wants to make sure you are very happy types of comments. I tell him otherwise. He suggest that a quick phone call will correct it  if it crops up again.

This is no way to run a business or create a relationship. As the customer buying services it is set up in a way I have no control over costs. I bought family SMS/MMS because there is no option. We are now a text based society. It’s insurance. Same thing. Renewing the iPhones I kept the unlimited plans even though non of us has yet exceeded 2GB in a month. I suspect data is about to become even more expensive – just when it should be getting cheaper.

I should not have to call because charges start creeping in. Now I expect I may have to call again next month to get a credit on some 50 cents or a few dollars. Thanks Brian I now know to look out for the charges and then call to get a credit. This is not a low cost or efficient solution for AT&T. Then perhaps I misunderstand how many dollars they reap in this way.

Periodically, I end up ranting about Comcast particularly since moving last year. My connections have been up and down. I don’t get the Xfinity Performance 12mbs+ or anywhere near it. And today 12 months after moving I got my “REVISED” bill.

Last month my bill with Comcast totaled $83.62. That’s for the internet and a Digital Starter Package for TV. This month my bill came in total 114.64! No change in service. Just that the 12 month deal they gave me a year ago expired. NOTE. They did not highlight this. I did not get a letter of explanation. Luckily I’m not on ebills or electronic payments. I’ve used Comcast since 1999 for TV and Internet. They wrote me a new contract when I moved.

So I called up Comcast. Got a really nice guy to talk to after a few clicks for once. He handles “downgrades”. I simply wanted my “old” price plan back. Don’t know about you I just don’t think money grows on trees. So first he talked about a lower level tv plan – less features and channels that would drop my price of TV from 61.99 exc taxes to 29.99. He read out a list of channels. Frankly I wouldn’t miss much had I gone ahead with this option. Fact is I would be paying the same as now for less TV. Might have annoyed my family.

Then he gave me another option. He said I could sustain my Digital starter package and keep my Internet for the total of 86.99 before Taxes. This is the option I finally agreed to. Thus he cut the price on both programs. And there is apparently no contract extension with it.

So my bill monthly goes from 83.62 to 90.86 which is better than 114.64. So in almost deflationary times Comcast stiffs me for an 8.7% price increase. Or I could cut my service levels and get a bill more like the previous one. Apparently this is how they treat their “valuable” customers with whom they want to maintain a relationship.

So how does Comcast manage to keep me as a customer. Simple. If I drop the TV the my internet jumps from 42.95 to 57.95. In both cases there’s an additional Modem lease of $5. Yes AT&T has a promo out there… much cheaper and slower.

Which means DirectTV’s offer of 29.99 with all sorts of freebies isn’t good enough to get me through the door. Because it will cost me the same or more, or mean I have to choose another internet provider (AT&T not an option/.

What’s the bigger lesson here? If you are on a contract and it expires and the price goes up. Call Comcast. Don’t bother looking on their website, don’t bother looking at your account there and hoping it will tell you how to save money. The info isn’t there. Instead your dollars are being spent on expensive calls with customer service reps who even tell you that I won’t find the prices he quoted me on the site. They are offers for him only to share.

This business practice approach is “dirty business”. It is not designed to build a relationship. My Comcast rep today can love me to death with the thank you’s for your business. The site and the reps are designed to sell you into bigger packages which will jump in price after some period. I bet a huge percentage of people never call. That roll over is just pure profit.

Effectively a small threat to leave and I get a lower cost. I would have been happier with a 3.4% price increase with some letter to me in the first place. That’s called transparent and personal. Unfortunately, this is the broader business model. Low starter contracts and prices. Then hit us with increases.

I suspect that anyone who calls Comcast with a “downgrade” or I’m leaving call who’s come off contract can get a price reduction quickly.

Daily update on del.icio.us links with my notes. I also just tweet links @stuarthenshall

• iPhone 4 – Part 1: The Order | I checked Twitter and quickly preordered yesterday using the new Apple Store app. – This post my John Patrick pointed me to Matt Buchanan posts and the "cloud". Both have good discussion although from a users perspective this is more "technical" and what should motivate them is a better "store" / "life" experience. The big push for Apple over the next year is the iTunes store. I think watch out Amazon. <br />
  <br />
  On ordering I need no convincing – it was AT&T that let the process down. The lesson was the Apple Store app which knew my number, and current phone details, enabled a simplifed check and quick response. Unfortunately I have to go to the store to pick them up. <br />
  <br />
  Separately, one cannot help having reflections on commiting to another two years with AT&T. They are hopeless in so many ways. However I can't buy an unlocked phone in the US currently that will work on a network of choice. So will likely unlock using the backdoor methods. Note I don't like the subsidy model and believe more transparent pricing would be more effective. <br />
  <br />
  Finally how many could they have sold?
• Why Aren’t I the Center of the Apple Universe? | yes and reinvent the online store – Great article highlighting some of the shortcomings of Apple's current strategy. A sort of come on Steve "where's the cloud?"

Daily update on del.icio.us links with my notes. I also just tweet links @stuarthenshall

• India Will Have 150M 3G Connections by 2014 | Fragmentation and pricing are a concern. Interesting ARPU projections – I found this the most intersting data point "Wireless Intelligence’s data makes clear that carriers expect 3G data revenue per user (ARPU) of $11 vs. $5 a month for voice services. In order to pay for spectrum and 3G rollouts, the carriers are going to have to execute some fiscal miracles.:" Add to that a projection of only 150m in four years and India isn't going to be an inter connected paradise anytime soon. How do you think it will evolve?

Daily update on del.icio.us links with my notes. I also just tweet links @stuarthenshall

• IT’s Three Key Organizational Transformations – Andrew McAfee –
• Conviction and confusion in Microsoft’s cloud strategy | language in article is too complex – Found the various descriptions way beyond what the average organization will understand. the cloud is the big challenge for Microsoft today.
• The lessons from Bill Gates’ shaky grasp on the future – 15 years on | Future Savvy: Quality in Foresight –
• Thinking about conversation boundaries by Adina Levin –
• Why Your Next Printer Will Have an Email Address | when everything is easily addressable – Finally I will be able to email my home printer. of course anyone may be able to do it. Yet this article is a good reminder how addressability will finally address the fax
• chart comparison – How iPhone 4 Stacks Up Against the Rest | – There is too much chart thinking when comparing mobile handsets. what matters is the experience. many other factors are bandied around too like open vs closed. when you buy that next phone what surprises and delights you?
• Location 2012: Death Of The Information Silos | this scenario doesn’t hold up to scrutiny good thought project – it's important to provide alternate scenarios and views. Many will reject this view. I think the time frame is off. how do you see location playing out?

So FaceTime will be Apple’s answer to Skype Video, the Jetson’s or StarTrek communicators. Apple just released the fourth generation iPhone details. Few surprises from my perspective. I liked the way elements are positioned with a technical argument underpinning them. Eg the pixels on the camera or the screen construction. Yes I want one, and I see it as evolutionary. Still if you want a challenge write the iPhone 5.0 specs for next year from an Arts and Science perspective.

I wrote some weeks back Skype and iPhone 4.0 – Watch everyone now scramble….Telecoms and Social Networks where I suggested the sheer size the of the iPhone user base had the opportunity to set a new communications revolution in place. I wrote it from a Skype perspective and generally pointed at the opportunities for competitors. Also obvious was Apple’s interest in supporting the gaming networks with voice. Which I’ve not yet seen much written about.

I’m also sure many Skype fans were disappointed today that Apple to chose to launch their own Video Calling app which will work iPhone 4 to iPhone 4. (not clear what else it may work with). I don’t even know the specs for it. Yet the photo’s and apple video make it look very easy to use. The operators will like it as it doesn’t intend to take on SMS or challenge with chat. Plus Apple has limited it to WiFi only for now.

I saw an early tweet that suggested that Apple had missed the boat by not using Skype as the lead for Video. This tweet also referred to the the fax suggesting that iPhone 4 to iPhone 4 would have the same early adoption problem. I actually disagree. Facetime is potentially brilliant. Here’s some reasons why.

1. No immediate threat to AT&T re SMS or by launching a “video chat” client. Potential pathway that shows them how to leverage video calling. Apple also gets
2. No threat to chat clients that go across device types. No favorites. This is really a demo of the API for all the games, dating sites etc. (Haha!)
3. No registration to participate! Don’t need an account just an iPhone 4
4. Every iPhone 4 comes with it preloaded. Skype will never reach the same number.
5. All those families that upgrade (four in my household) the first mobile video experience on every iPhone will be Apple’s. Thus all others will have to match it just to get run in the background.
6. It’s personal – family plans are the best first use case. Even on Skype Video we only do it with a few. Video with anyone or everyone is a ways off.
7. No need to download an App to participate. Note I saw last week there were 5 million downloads of Skype for iPhone (with the 2.0 upgrade) – iPhone4.0 will sell more than this in short order.
8. Apple by not working as partners with Skype can pursue their own video related agreements re 3G based on their own dataset. That’s important to their own carrier agreements.
9. In three months Apple will have the largest Mobile Video Calling” network in the world.
10. Easy for developers to use this. Means that Twitter Apps, Facebook, Games etc can all use this video setup just like AR programs use the camera currently.

So where does this leave Skype? They still have a huge opportunity. However, they are a little like Kindle now. Kindle remains better for those that use it. The problem is the iPhone/iPad is introducing a whole new generation to digital books and Kindle like Skype now is not the default for the service.

Thus Apples forces the “cross-device” guys to work on quality, and come up with things that work Android to Apple, Nokia to Apple, PC to Apple etc. In the meantime they define the experience which then gets adopted across 1000′s of apps.

Daily update on del.icio.us links with my notes. I also just tweet links @stuarthenshall

• Skype lied: iSkype 3G breaks "Skype-to-Skype calls will be free" promise | Skype Journal –

Daily update on del.icio.us links with my notes. I also just tweet links @stuarthenshall

• The State of the Modern Smartphone User Interface | Consider how does it affect your users? – I remain deeply interested in gestures and user interfaces not to design my own rather more from how they help frame our world emotionally or behaviorally. What most of these diagnoses lack is thinking about how they affect my relationships – particularly the extended ones. Whether with the New York Times or my bank. Online services today — to be successful have to work flawlessly from my pocket. I may not need all the same features as a big screen interaction – however, I'm pretty sure I'd feel better about my bank, my phone company, my utility co etc when they take on the context of being services in my pocket. Too many companies are missing opportunities and yet these opportunities are also influenced by the choice of handset.
• via iPlot: Friend Your Foes – Adobe’s Conversational Apple Ad – great creative response via adobe