mobility
2008-08-26
iPhone Therefore iConnect
When the iPhone 3G launched, I wasn't terribly excited about the new phone. Faster? Yes. Built in GPS? Yes. Whoopee. What good was more speed and more accurate tracking without a reason to put it to use?
The more important aspect of Apple's release of the 3G iPhone was the 2.0 version of the software, which has now been updated twice. (Bug fixes are nice... and yes, there are evidently a few more kinks to be worked out.) The new rev of the software allowed for 3rd party apps to be written and then sold or given away for free via the iTunes store. So when the early adopter storm calmed down and you could get the software update and add apps to your iPhone, I was tickled pink to peruse the available apps and utilities. And games.
Yes, the fun stuff was plentiful from the get go. Etch-a-Sketch? Cute. Othello and other tried and true games? Check. Motion sickness inducing games that take advantage of the accelerometer and touch screen. They are in spades.
What were missing, however, were useful geek utilities. Oh, what's a geek to do when they can't ssh into their server and rename files while avoiding eye contact with people out in public?
Well, they may not have been there at the outset, but they're streaming in at full speed now. SSH. VNC. Telnet. FTP. Ping. Ah, now geeks everywhere can rest easy knowing that if they're within reach of a phone call, they're within range of their servers and fixing whatever problem arises. Out dancing? At dinner? Playing with the kids at the park? No problem! Pull out your iPhone and let your loved ones know you'll get right back to them, just as soon as you've restored services to your web site.
Somebody will figure out the associated quality of life issues that go along with being able to work 24/7, right? This kind of always on, always plugged in kind of connectivity does raise boundary issues that we've been dealing with for a long time now. It will exacerbate them, of course, but if you're running your own enterprise and have a flexible schedule, it's up to you to balance those issues for yourself and for your staff.
And yes, there are iPhone apps to help you out here as well. Project Management. Time keeping. Outlining. Enterprise level contact management. The pieces of the mobile office puzzle are falling into place. The nicest part of this evolution of the iPhone as a mobile platform is not that you'll be able to work on things whenever and wherever you want or need to, but that you will be able to get your work done however you need to, whenever and wherever you are.
The more important aspect of Apple's release of the 3G iPhone was the 2.0 version of the software, which has now been updated twice. (Bug fixes are nice... and yes, there are evidently a few more kinks to be worked out.) The new rev of the software allowed for 3rd party apps to be written and then sold or given away for free via the iTunes store. So when the early adopter storm calmed down and you could get the software update and add apps to your iPhone, I was tickled pink to peruse the available apps and utilities. And games.
Yes, the fun stuff was plentiful from the get go. Etch-a-Sketch? Cute. Othello and other tried and true games? Check. Motion sickness inducing games that take advantage of the accelerometer and touch screen. They are in spades.
What were missing, however, were useful geek utilities. Oh, what's a geek to do when they can't ssh into their server and rename files while avoiding eye contact with people out in public?
Well, they may not have been there at the outset, but they're streaming in at full speed now. SSH. VNC. Telnet. FTP. Ping. Ah, now geeks everywhere can rest easy knowing that if they're within reach of a phone call, they're within range of their servers and fixing whatever problem arises. Out dancing? At dinner? Playing with the kids at the park? No problem! Pull out your iPhone and let your loved ones know you'll get right back to them, just as soon as you've restored services to your web site.
Somebody will figure out the associated quality of life issues that go along with being able to work 24/7, right? This kind of always on, always plugged in kind of connectivity does raise boundary issues that we've been dealing with for a long time now. It will exacerbate them, of course, but if you're running your own enterprise and have a flexible schedule, it's up to you to balance those issues for yourself and for your staff.
And yes, there are iPhone apps to help you out here as well. Project Management. Time keeping. Outlining. Enterprise level contact management. The pieces of the mobile office puzzle are falling into place. The nicest part of this evolution of the iPhone as a mobile platform is not that you'll be able to work on things whenever and wherever you want or need to, but that you will be able to get your work done however you need to, whenever and wherever you are.
