iPhone 3.0 | Loving Landscape

With the new iPhone 3.0 software release I simply can't stay away from TDL.  I wanted to share my thoughts about one of the new features to grace the iPhone with the new software release.  I still have the original iPhone (gasp) so I'm going to focus on one of the enhancements for all iPhones with this release.  Really the title of this post totally stole my thunder . . . yes you guessed it - landscape mode.  If you're following me on twitter (@adamgford) you know that I've mentioned that I like landscape mode, but let me tell you why.

Because it makes everything better!!  Email - better in landscape.  Apps - better in landscape.  Stocks - higher gains in landscape.  Well, the last point isn't really true, but I highly encourage you to try out your favorite Apple apps in landscape because most now support it.  You should also update your 3rd party apps because they've likely been updated to support a landscape mode, especially if there's text involved.  I know the MMS, camera enhancements, cut, copy and paste (more to come on this one) have stolen the show, but lets not forget about landscape . . . if we don't show it love who will.

Send Faxes For FREE!

Head on over to myfax.com/free and you can send up to two faxes a day (up to 10 pages per fax) - no credit card required!  The service supports many file formats including Word, PDF and 175 other file formats.  Try it out and let us know what you think.  This is a great solution for the occasional need to send a fax.

Ford's Focused - Episode 4 - Social Networking

This is Ford's Focused - Episode 4.  I take a look at Social Networking . . . is it really networking, or social for that matter.  Take a look and subscribe through iTunes.

Free iPhone apps - your days are numbered

Here's a screen shot of my iPhone, page 3 of 4.  This screen has 15 apps on it.  No, my math isn't fuzzy . . . one of those icons is a shortcut to thedigitallifestyle.tv of course.

There have been many posts out there that talk about the mass downloading of Apps and then the lack of usage there after.  I took a look at my iPhone to see if I fell into this bucket and here's what I found.

As previously mentioned I have 15 Apps on this screen.  Of those 15 Apps I actively use 4 (from top to bottom):  Facebook, PhoneFlix, BK Run Lite [this is a good app for bathroom time (too much?) and Twitterrific.

Every other app on this screen I've used at one point but can't say I'm part of their active user base.  Why then can I not bring myself to get rid of these apps??  After all, I 'never' use them.  They're taking up space on my iPhone and cause me to flip through screens to get to the apps I really use (perhaps this is a personal problem . . . it's never occured to me to move apps to the front I use and apps to be back I don't . . . add it to the to-do list.).

Now here's the question we should all be asking . . . WHY DOES THIS MATTER.  For paid applications it doesn't, they're getting their revenue up front when you buy the app.  As long as people keep buying the app they're in good shape.  As long as the iPhone user base keeps buying iPhones, they're in good shape.

Where this does matter is for free app makers.  Most free apps these days have advertising on them to generate revenue.  They of course want you to download their free app so they can show impressive dowload numbers to would be advertisers, but they also need to show clickthrough and impressions so these advertisers continue to lineup and dish out for prime placement.  If apps aren't being used after their initial download (I'll let you do a simple search to see all the posts reporting this) then the ads aren't being seen and advertisers are pissing their money away.

What then is the solution?  Are we going to eventually have an app store of primarily pay applications?  I think eventually, yes.  The store is saturated with apps all doing the same thing.  I think users will begin to dictate which apps are best and run the others out of the store.  Do we really need 6 apps (likely an understatement) that all give me remote access to my NetFlix?  No.  I suggest you all start using the apps you feel strongly about . . . if you don't they might not be there any more.

Let us know your favorite apps in the comments section.

I'd like some wi-fi with my chai chai

Just over a year ago (and I'm talking JUST) Starbucks and AT&T announced their partnership to bring ATT WiFi to all Starbucks locations.  This roll out was going to take some time so now that a year has past I decided it would be time to put their partnership to the test at my local Starbucks.

I'd like to be able to say that no Starbucks employees were hurt during the creation of this post, but unfortunately a very nice young lady spilled my green tea (I typically get coffee but I'm feeling under the weather so I thought green tea was more appropriate) on her hand . . . OUCH.  She's now fine, but it wasn't pretty.

I digress . . . the first test of any Wi-Fi offering is signal strength.  If you can't get a signal nothing else matters.  We can check this off the list . . . full signal.

Next - Connectivity, or how easy it is to connect to the internet after acquiring a signal.  Upon opening your favorite web browser (mine is FireFox.  I'm rocking the new(ish) Beta 3.1 . . . it's a beta) you're immediately taken to the ATT splash page where you can create your account OR if you're really prepared you can log into your existing Starbucks account.  The process was seamless.

Two recommendations here:  1.  Get a Starbucks card even if you don't go to Starbucks regularly.  A once a month visit will keep your account in good standing and gives you two free hours of Wi-Fi a day.  2.  Setup your account prior to getting to Starbucks.  You'll then simply enter your username and password and then you're off.  My user name and password is...

Come on, you didn't really expect me to give it up did you?

Once connected I've found speed tests to be excellent.  My favorite website, thedigitallifestyle.tv loaded without pause, even the mogulus video player where we bring you TDL Live.  Now I must confess . . . I was the only person with a laptop open during this test.  I'm going to imagine performance might be impacted with more users on the network.  Luckily my Starbucks location only has about a dozen seats.

In summary I'd give the ATT Wi-Fi experience an A+.  It's far superior to the former T-Mobile hot spot partnership.

Have you been using ATT at Starbucks?  Let us know what you think in the comments now that a year has passed.