Google Phone - What's in it for me?

On December 12th, Google blogged about the 'Android dogfood' that its employees are getting for the holidays. A blog good enough to stir the pot. Incidentally, I was at Google's Mountain View campus on that day and attended their Christmas party later that evening. Though I have been to the campus before, this was the first time I actually got to see the interiors, meet some employees and have a feel of the actual company. The campus was lively and you could feel the aura getting to you. If a visit could generate such a feeling, how does it feel to work work for the company and take part in its innovations?

Anyways, coming back to the main point, it is time that a smart-phone came out from Google's stable. It is almost out. The fanatic pace of innovations from Google are really mind-boggling. Also, dogfooding gives Google access to vital information - feedback about features, shortcomings and positives. It is vital information that is hard to buy, even for Google. And it makes perfect sense to have this information before releasing a product. Tested waters you see! Then there is another possible masterstroke. The company may sell these unlocked phones online. It hardly appears to be a big deal. But, make no mistake, a big deal it is. Again, it is user-information. By purchasing the phones online (obviously through Google accounts), the company can get access to users' preferences and search habits which translate to dollars in advertising. Keyword-targeted advertisements can be better optimized and revenue can shoot up. Makes sense, doesn't it?

So, what can this mean to users and cellular providers? More obviously than not, it is good for the users. Competition coerces innovative products. And users flock to innovation. On the contrary, it can be devastating to cellular providers. I don't think it will be that bad, but it can hurt them significantly. It all depends on what the Gphone offers. I'd look for a phone that is fast, convenient and loaded. In short, a one-stop-shop. Also, an unlocked GSM phone lets you get rid of the existing 2-year contracts, which look ridiculous at times. An unlocked phone also lets you use pre-paid cards internationally. And more importantly, I'd like the phone to be way better than iPhone. If it is merely 'as good as', I may as well stay with my current phone. On the other hand, if the Gphone has an obtrusive feature like 'Watch a short TV commercial before you make this phone call', I am not going anywhere near! So, I am just waiting too see what Google has in store. I'm eager to see how their strategy unfolds.

Gphone, NexusOne, Passion or whatever! What's in a name?

Great app for travel enthusiasts!

Last week my boss shared an interesting app with me - Trip Case. If you are a travel enthusiast like me, you'd love it. In March 2009, I blogged about a similar app, Pocket Express, but Trip Case beats it downright. I've not come across a better travel app to date.

There are some inimitable features that make this app very useful. Push technology for flight status, dynamic flight information, alternate schedules and itinerary logs helps one to stay organized in travel. It also helps track car rental and hotel information, something which I haven't used at all. You can share your travel plans with friends or someone who'd be waiting at the airport to pick you up :). This will help when you have last minute delays as friends waiting at the airport will get push notifications about your flight status or can view the info online.

I tried it out last weekend and it was great. Once I entered my flight number and origin airport, all other fields such as arrival time, terminals, gates, weather etc were populated. It also displayed the carousel number for baggage claim. I loved this app and it is very useful for me. Strongly recommend.

Flashcards in iPhone!!!

I stumbled across a rather useful app for iPhone - gFlash+. It is very handy for someone preparing for SAT, GRE or GMAT to keep track of word lists/math formula. And it doesn't stop at that. The best part is, this app can be linked to your Google Docs (Spreadsheets with two columns) and you can use the material in this spreadsheet for your flash cards. Furthermore, you can populate columns C-F and use data in these fields as multiple choices. gFlash+ also has its own template to create flashcards, but I'd strongly prefer syncing stuff with Google Docs. There are already some flashcards in gFlash's library (known as catalog), though it is not that helpful. I think gFlash+ can be used in an optimal way if you upload personalized spreadsheets through Google Docs and in that way you can refer to them on the go.

There is a limitation on the size of the file that you can upload to your iPhone via Google Docs. gFlash's documentation has the cap at 400 cells (200 rows with two columns). I already uploaded a couple of 400 cell datasets to my iPhone and it works great.

You can get gFlash+ from iTunes or alternatively through Appshopper.

Above all, this app is for free!!

One year of 'iPhone'ing

I've been using iPhone since Aug 29, 2008 last week marked its first anniversary. Overall, I am extremely satisfied with this device. There is nothing inchoate with it and that is what pleases me the most. I can get almost every task in my day-to-day life done using it. It is my favorite gadget to date and one that troubled me the least. My day begins with iPhone and ends with it :). I start my day by checking my emails and the phone alerts me about any tasks/events scheduled for that day. I also check that day's weather to be prepared for 100F+ temperatures that are normally dished out in Phoenix. And of course, I cannot help mentioning iPhone apps.

Many apps come and go and I have tried a handful of them. But some have been in my phone ever since I bought it. And these apps have been the most useful ones. I use them for day-to-day tasks. Apart from Apple's apps - Youtube, Weather, Maps, Calendar, Stocks and the flagship iPod, third-party apps that I frequently use are Dictionary, TapMeDo, Units, Word Warp, AroundMe, Mobicast, Bloomberg, BikePRO, The Weather Channel, Discovery, Midomi, Cheap Gas, and Google Earth. The list is endless and I haven't added any games to this list.

Some of these apps are very handy. Some of them worth describing are -
AroundMe: Helps you search for supermarkets, stores, gas stations, malls, parks what not that are nearby you. It searches these based on your current location and that makes this app all the more worthy.
Units: Another very useful app that helps you convert units between different systems and believe me, that really helps.
Mobicast: If you are a cricket crazy guy and want to track cricket scores on the go, then this is for you. Mobicast is from Cricinfo.
BikePRO: If you are keen on bicycling then this is a must app. This free version lets you track the distance you rode by day and time taken, max speed etc.
Bloomberg: Lets you track your portfolio.

I am yet to try some interesting apps like Evernote, Toodledo etc, but honestly, I am happy with the ones I got. They keep me busy for now. I have always been unequivocal in my appreciation of Apple products and am sure to stick with iPhone 'X'G when I renew my contract next year :)

Happy iPhoning!

iPhone 3.0 SMTP Issue. (Fix Included)

I ran into a rather annoying problem yesterday. I was in San Jose, CA and wanted to forward an email when I encountered this issue. The mail that I just forwarded resided in my Outbox forever and I got this error:

"The user name or password for SMTP: @SMTP.gmail.com is incorrect."

Funny part is my incoming mail continued to work perfect and obviously, the user name and password were correct. We thought it was temporary issue. But the error persisted and my annoyance grew in sync with my curiosity. I tried several combinations - composed an email, forwarded an email, deleted my secondary emails (GMail) on iPhone. Nothing worked and my Outbox kept growing. The only significant change to my GMail settings is that I changed my password last week. I updated the password in Calendar (Google Sync) and GMail on iPhone and was able to recieve emails flawlessly. But I did not send/forward any emails after I changed my password.

After playing with most of the settings I tried the 'default' option. Delete the existing account and create a new one. That did not fix the problem either. With some googling, and by digging into the settings I was able to figure out the issue. Not sure if this issue happened in iPhone 2.0. But, here is the fix for 3.0.

Once you change GMail password, we need to update the password in Settings-> Mail. But there is a hidden SMTP field that needs to be updated too. Else sending mails will not work.

Go to Settings -> Mail, Contacts, Calendars -> Accounts (Choose the GMail account that has this error).

Under 'Outgoing Mail Server' tap SMTP.

Under SMTP, you get to see Primary Server and Other SMTP Servers.

Tap on 'smtp.gmail.com' under Primary Server.

You will see your old password in the settings here (the password will be encoded though). Update this field with your new password and you are all set.

Again, there could be many reasons why this error happened and could depend on the way you configured your GMail account on iPhone or could be a 3.0 specific issue. But this solution fixes the SMTP issue.

Pocket Express

I came across an app and if you are a travel freak like I am, you will find it useful. It is not a finished product yet, but it isn't a half-baked cake either. At best, I will describe it as an app intending to be a one-stop-shop for Travel.

It has 9 mini-apps furled into the main app; News, Sports, Weather, Finance, Entertainment, Movies, Travel, Horoscopes and Assist. Of these, Entertainment, Horoscope and Assist are rudimentary. I don't use it for finance; there is Bloomberg. 

It is a good app for travel - native services for iPhone aren't ready yet and one gets directed to its web app, which I would say is pretty good. It has flight status, flight schedules, currency convertors under one tab. I haven't come across any app in the appstore that is this travel friendly. And the good part is, this app comes for free. In the end, this is a good app for travel, not perfect by any means but is useful. And has some bonus functionalities in the same window. Worth giving a try!

Top 10 free iPhone Apps - My list

Following are 10 iPhone Apps that I am really impressed with ----

Bloomberg: One of finest apps I have ever come across, this app gives you comprehensive financial information. Gives one the ability to track stock prices instantly, maintain his own portfolio and obtain finance news. The interface is also very lively.

Google Maps: This is the app with max utility to me. In addition to maps, iPhone's embedded GPS makes this app indispensible. I have almost never had any problems with iPhone trying to pick up my current location. 

AroundMe: With this app, you can find electronics stores, retailers, gas stations, banks, grocery stores and what not, that are within your vicinity. I find this app very handy, especially when I have to shop unwittingly. By the way, it is not uncommon to find yourself shop unwittingly if you are married. In midst of shopping for some groceries, you may be required to find another store or mall which has a better version of this product in question and that is when AroundMe comes to your rescue. Personally, this app was of immense help to me during Thanksgiving weekend when I had to arbitarily choose some stores in a mall.

Word Wrap: This app is poor man's Scrabble. Remember the good old 'Text Twist'. This is a condensed version of scrabble which is a good way to pass time when you are stuck in traffic or when you have to take an extended break in the rest room :). I am mostly hooked to this game in my free time.

Midomi (or Shazam): How useful is an application which gets you the song when you hum 10 seconds of the tune? Immense, I would say. Thanks to Midomi, I was able to get hold of masterpieces like 'Ehsan tere' and 'Naam gum jayega' - two songs whose lyrics I had lost over time. It is great for hindi songs; I haven't had any problems trying to retreive hindi songs, no matter how old the album was. 

Google Earth: More than its utility, this app can be worth downloading for the sheer amazement and views it generates. Of course, the speed and display doesn't match with the PC version but nevertheless, it is useful and beautiful.

The Weather Channel: Inspite of having a default 'Weather' app in iPhone which displays weather stats for a week, it misses the level of detail that 'The Weather Channel' has. The weather news bulletins are very useful and it is great to know accurate weather forecasts.

Jott: I love this 'voice to text' app in the sense, I can just read my 'To Do' list to the iPhone. It records my voice and though it takes some time to output it in text format, I will have my notes ready when I need them. It takes around a minute to convert some 3-4 sentences. It is particularly handy when I am driving and need to note down something I feel is important. I haven't yet tried posting to my blog through 'Jott'.

GraphCalc: For someone like me, who is Math freak, GraphCalc is really cool. You get to plot some complex equations. And the best part is, you can take a screen shot of the graph and email the graph to yourself. 

Vocabulistic: A cool application that explains words with examples and usage. I normally use this application in conjunction with Spell Check (which is $0.99). A good pair of vocabulary apps, which can be of great help when you are kicking yourself to remember a word.

Kudos to all app developers.

iPhone 3G - What's hot and what's not !

It's been over two months that I have been using Apple's iPhone and wanted to share my experiences and my version of the phone's pros and cons.

Apple's strength has always been aesthetics and quality and the iPhone is a testimony to this. These two features together with Apple's brand make this a coveted product. What really prompted me to purchase the iPhone apart from the abovementioned qualities are it's functionalities as (in my order of preference)

- Efficient personal organizer
- Internet communicator
- iTunes & App Store friendly device
- iPod player
- Cool phone

I don't intend to describe these functionalities or features (Apple has a comprehensive support site for that), but it is to mention some tangible features that are otherwise unavailable. I use iPhone mostly as a personal organizer. I rate it very highly as a personal organizer. I have my Calendar synced up with my Outlook. I made it a point not to have office mail on my phone but am always logged in my GMail. The Clock and 'Notes' features are very handy. The Notes feature is similar to Google's notebook that allows me to save random thoughts and reminders. Stocks and Weather apps on the home screen are very useful. I track my portfolio constantly using the Stocks App and have nearly a dozen cities tagged to the Weather Apps. I have a habbit of adding all cities that I visited or plan to visit to this Weather App. It is weird but nostalgic too.

iPhone as an Internet communicator is a decent pass. Safari is adequate in the sense it opens most of the commonly used sites with minimal fuss. I haven't tried any highly secure logins, but browsing, booking flights, catching cricket or tennis updates can be done in a trice. One needs to get used to the 'proxy' keypad. Youtube is a very abridged of its original self. Videos or not sortable, which sucks, but it is again a decent feature.

A third important asset that lets Apple dominate its competitors is iTunes. While iTunes has a proven track record, App Store which is bundled in iTunes barges Apple's success. The fact that App Store enables developers sell their apps to iPhone users is a win-win situation for developers and users. And in the heap, Apple takes 30% of the revenue generated by App sales. 70% proceeds to the developer. This turns out to be a great strategy by Apple which Microsoft and even Google to some extent are trying to mimic. Also, because the App Store fosters apps from independent developers and organizations alike, the ensuing competition to develop user-friendly and productive apps gets intense much to the liking of consumers like me. I have around 20 apps in my iPhone ranging from Google Earth to AroundMe, TWC, Jott, Who and a whole lot of games like iGolf, Chess, Sudoku, iBowl etc.

That iPhone has an embedded iPod is a huge gain in itself. And an iPod that can connect to the internet directly to download podcasts and songs is all the more beneficial. I am always hooked on various podcasts, Knowledge@Wharton is my personal favorite. Audio & video quality and transmission are extraordinary. I don't listen to songs much but that doesn't hamper me from having close to 100 songs on my device. Who cares when you have 8GB of space?

iPhone as a phone - I would rate it as standard. Nothing revolutionary but has everything that is necessary. I like the details included in Contacts information and the ability to have personalized ringtones and photographs to be displayed for callers but that is not exactly new. Call reception and other technical stuff are good.

As with any revoultionary device, iPhone also has its share of cons. Some are really striking. Some are subtle, but very frustrating. 'Copy and paste' is a hackneyed shortcoming of the phone but it stands out because of its impact. While iPhone offers email friendly apps where one can send docs or notes instantly through email, it is frustrating not to have copy and paste options. Another commonly stated drawback is the camera and its inability to record videos. For a device which outstandingly organizes audio and video files and has an amazing iPod embedded, the lack of ability to record videos or frame high resolution pics is dissapointing to many. I don't expect my iPhone to be a substitute to a camera or worse still, a camcorder. So, I have no qualms regarding this or rather lack of this feature.

Sometimes you feel it would be great if you have the ability to personalize ringtones and obviously without any fee. I am impressed with Apple's cognizance regarding web security et al. But, I don't think it needs to delve too deep and prohibit users from using ringtones outside of App Store. There were ways to trick iTunes and get other ringtones to iPhone, but the latest release of iTunes prevents this. It is just not enough to change file extensions to .m4r and drop it into iTunes library. Sooner or later, someone will find a way to trick the present version too but it would be great on Apple's part to leave the choice to users to personalize their ringtones. A prudent way would be have a pre-fixed number of personalized ringtones - atleast 3 or 4. Anyway, this isn't major either and I wouldn't worry about it much. There are some trivial drawbacks like lack of bluetooth stereo, lack of mms capability, no removable battery etc which, to me, aren't the break-the-deal type.

Overall, iPhone is a slick and trendy communication device with excellent iPod and is also a very efficient PDA. I have no issues with it and would highly recommend it. It has style and substance in equal proportions.