Top 5 Things To Improve the iPod Touch

After having the iPod Touch for almost two months I thought it would be worth posting some thoughts on some improvements that I'm hoping that Apple will make in version 2 of the device. Some of the fixes below are relatively small while others call for major hardware/software updates. Here goes:

1. Wireless synchronization. The one feature that Zune 2 (and Zune 1 via the software update - a very smart move on the part of Microsoft given that it costs them nothing to do and improves the odds of a shaky device) is the ability to wirelessly synchronize your music library. I must admit that remembering a USB to iPod cable has been a major inconvenience over the past few years. It's high time that Apple stepped up and enabled wireless sync - we have a WIFI iTunes music store how about something useful for all users.
2. Ability to enable landscape keyboard across all applications. I must admit that having the ability to use the software driven keyboard in landscape mode in all applications would significantly improve usability of the device. While Safari and Mail enable you to use the keyboard in landscape mode others such as Notes do not allow this functionality. The landscape keyboard improves the typing experience significantly by allowing more screen real estate for the keys.
3. Improved battery life. I can say that the battery life is adequate on the device as it stands and varies based on your usage (e.g., video, WIFI, photos) from charge to charge. However I will say that for long flights (3 hours +) as a regular music player I find that you can usually make it but there is not a lot of room for error. It would be nice to see improved battery life in the next version.
4. License Adobe's Flash Lite player for Safari. The Safari browser is by far the best mobile web browser that I've used in a small form factor device. The one thing that is missing that would significantly improve the usability of the device on the web is the ability to play Flash content on various websites. Given the ubiquity of Flash as a standard for digital video, websites and media on the web the lack of this plug-in is a major drawback in using the device as a full fledged laptop replacement on the road. I realize that Apple is likely reticent to increase the cost of the bill of materials by licensing the Flash Lite player (the mobile version of the Flash player) from Adobe. However, the inability to play Flash based media on the
   
5. A mobile version of Quicktime. Whether Apple will breakdown and grant my wish in #4 it makes no sense as to why they wouldn't seek to enable their own media player to work on the device as a plug-in to Safari. Come on Apple I realize that you were in a rush to release both the iPhone and the Touch but its high time you ported Quicktime to this platform. My hope is that Apple doesn't pull a Sony in terms of being arrogant and neglecting a device with huge potential to become a true mobile device.
   

6. Exterior buttons for volume control. If you're commuting or on the go and don't want to pull the Touch out of your pocket it would be great to have exterior volume controls and a pause function. At the moment its a hassle to have to take the device out and look at the screen for such a simple task. (Full credit for this idea to Fink-Nottle in this ehMac.ca post for pointing out this shortcoming

   http://www.ehmac.ca/anything-mac/58406-ipod-touch-great-i-think.html )

7. Add an external speaker. This addition didn't jump out at me initially until I tried sharing some videos with others and must admit the lack of an external speaker is a drawback.
   

Overall I still think the Touch is a great device and would expect that Apple will sell-out this holiday season. My thought is that the five wishes above do not over-reach the design goals of either the iPhone or iPod Touch. I haven't pushed for anything extreme here that are off plan such as an improved gaming experience that would see either device move beyond their design target of being a mobile communication and multi-media device. Let me know what you think - more importantly let's pull together and get Apple to improve the device!

Fun with iMovie 08

I've been somewhat delinquent in my postings over the past week as things have been fairly busy at work and I've been working on finishing reading and writing reviews of several new books. However after spending some time tonight working with iMovie 08 I wanted to post some quick thoughts on the tool and the future of digital media. For those that don't own a Mac, iMovie 08 is part of the iLife 08 suite of consumer digital applications sold by Apple for use on the Macintosh. iMovie is an application that enables you to import, edit and publish your own digital movies recorded from either a camcorder or digital camera. Historically, I've never been a big user of digital video editing applications but iMovie has changed that given it's simplicity and ease of use.

I've never been a big home movie fan or camcorder fiend but here is what has changed my mind with iMovie:

Ease of Use
- the interface is simple to use and powerful in its ability to enable even a novice user like myself to quickly edit and build an impressive looking movie
- the ability to incorporate music from your iTunes library means that you can really dress up your clips with your favorite music

Publishing
- integration with Apple's .Mac web hosting service that enables one-click publishing to the web and easy maintenance of clips in the event that you update them in the future
- integration with YouTube provides you with the ability
- built-in ability to export your movies to iTunes and have them preformatted for your various iPods (e.g., Touch, Nano, iPhone, Classic) makes it very simple for the new user and allows you to skip the need to use third party apps such as iSquint

My take is that the editing functions are a major step forward for the average consumer. However, the big reason that iMovie is a major step forward is the seamless publishing and integration with various playback devices (e.g., iPods, external websites) making this a very powerful tool. I'm now at risk of getting hooked on developing and publishing lots of Movies to the web!

Follow-up: In spending more time working with iMovie08 I wanted to provide a link to a great resource the Unlocking iMovie '08 blog offers a variety of great tips and useful tricks for getting the most out of iMovie.

"The Blind Side" by Michael Lewis - Book Review

After watching an interview with author Michael Lewis in the @Google interview series on YouTube I decided to get a hold of a copy Mr. Lewis' latest book "The Blind Side". I've read a number of Michael Lewis' previous books Liars Poker, The New New Thing, and Moneyball and find his work to be engaging and fun to read. The Blind Side did not disappoint and follows in the footsteps of Moneyball in terms of focusing on professional sports moving from baseball previously to football this time.

While I have no real interest in football the back story on Michael Oher the main character in this book seemed to be worth getting a copy of the book. I will say that Mr. Lewis does not disappoint laying out what is a truly remarkable story of how a neglected teenager from the worst part of Memphis has his life transformed through a series of unlikely events. We follow Michael Oher through a trial period at one of the top private Christian high school's in Memphis. An unlikely story emerges as someone that the system had effectively given up on is given a second chance. The book details how Michael Oher gains not only a second chance but a real family and home for the first time in his life. Also the bizarre high pressure world of recruiting for college and NFL football is laid out in intricate detail as we see Michael courted by every major college in the U.S.

Bottom line - whether you have any interest in football or not "The Blind Side" offers a compelling read with a positive story about how a life can be completely transformed through a series of circumstances.