13 posts tagged “dipmus2008”

MySpace are actively persuing mobile users by creating very mobile friendly applications for checking and updating your MySpace profiles etc... http://www.symbian-freak.com/news/009/02/myspace_launches_new_mobile_website_for_s60_devices.htm

Check out this amazing 'band' - all using iPhone/iPod touch music applications to form a band! They have some great videos and audio samples on their website - awesome!

iBand

iPhone Drumming demo:

iBand performance:

SLOrk

Currently highlighted on Apples website is SLOrk - the Stanford Laptop Orchestra! http://www.apple.com/pro/profiles/slork/ http://slork.stanford.edu/

I've put together a 10min overview of the Diploma of Contemporary Music iPod/iPhone Trial for 2008 - makes for fun viewing!

The MLearning trials at Unitec this year have mostly been going really well, particularly the Bachelor of Product Design trials. Here's a few resources overviewing these trials:

MLearning Slideshow:

MLearning Overview Workshop Notes:
http://ctliwiki.unitec.ac.nz/index.php/MlearningWorkshops

The GPS built-in to the N95 and iPhone allows you to locate your position on Google Maps, plot directions, and geotag photos (embed longitude and latitude data into photos taken with the smartphone's camera, allowing location on Google Maps etc...). Other more creative applications are also possible - such as locating restaurants etc... Online photo-sharing services, such as Flickr, support the use of geotagged data and provide direct links too Maps for locating the exact position where the photo was taken. This can be very useful. This data is usually embedded as EXIF data in a jpeg photo. Quote from Flickr:

What is EXIF data? Almost all new digital cameras save JPEG (jpg) files with EXIF (Exchangeable Image File) data. Camera settings and scene information are recorded by the camera into the image file. Examples of stored information are shutter speed, date and time, focal length, exposure compensation, metering pattern and if a flash was used.

When a geotagged photo is uploaded to Flickr, a 'map' link option is presented, and clicking the "more details" link for an uploaded photo will reveal the EXIF data. e.g.

On the iPhone, an example GPS enabled geotagging application is "Mobile Photos" - an iPhone Flickr client that supports 'location' details for photos uploaded from the iPhone:

iPhone GPS screenshots:

Make sure the "Location Services" option is enabled in the iPhone's settings - as this turns on the GPS!

Nokia N95 GPS Geotagging:

On the N95, use the "GPS Data" application to first get a GPS satellite lock - this can take 10-15minutes the first time - and must be done with a clear view of the sky - either outside or on a windowsill!

Start the "GPS Data" application, then select "Navigation", "options", "Show Satellite Status". When satelite data is obtained, several dark coloured bars will be seen:

Now use either the "Location Tagger" or "Shozu" applications to add geotag info to your photos before uploading to Flickr.

Location Tagger:

Turning on Geotag option in Shozu Settings:

N95 GPS & Google Maps screenshot

N95 Geotagged Photo

The v2.0 software ($9US) for the ipod touch adds several new features - including third party applications that can be either synched from iTunes or downloaded directly to the iPod. My favourite apps so far include: Mobile Flickr uploader, Shozu, and the ability to take snapshots of the iPod screen (hold down 'home' button & press 'off' button to capture screenshot to 'saved pictures' folder on iPod) - great for creating examples & tutorials, and a way of creating images on the iPod touch without a camera ;-) .

The above Apps (Top line are web apps, rest are from itunes App store) are all free except Mobile Flickr (a bargain at $5). The V2 software update adds ann 'Apps' store icon to the iPod main screen - apps can be purchased & downloaded directly over WiFi to the iPod Touch. To purchase (or download freebies) and synch to iPod via iTunes you need to update iTunes to V7.7 - this adds an 'applications' menu to iTunes.

Screenshots of several iPod Apps below:

 
NetNewsWire (free) - RSS reader that synchs with http://www.newsgator.com account online, as well as desktop and Java mobile readers (NetNewsWire on Mac, FeedDemon on PC, Newsgator Go on Java capable phone).

AIM Instant Messanger App (Free). AIM or .Mac only.

VR Viewing App (Free). Also allows you to link to and share your own VR content.

Mobile Flickr ($5). Although other apps link to Flickr for free (e.g. Shozu), Mobile Flickr provides access to almost all of your Flickr account options from the iPod Touch. So I thought the small investment worthwhile!

SHOZU (Free) on iPod Touch. A great app for uploading pics and comments to a host of popular blog and media sites, and downloading a selection of Podcasts.A couple of issues with Shozu though:
 
1. Unfortunately Shozu appears to only synch with one mobile device - so each mobile device requires it's own Shozu account or Shozu gets 'confused' and posts go missing!
 
2. Shozu only posts to your blog host by uploading a picture - no text only blog posts from Shozu. However, this is nicely covered by a Web App from Sixapart - BLOGIT. I've made a web app shortcut to Blogit on my iPod Touch and linked my Blogger, Wordpress, and VOX blogs to Blogit. What I'd really like to see is an iPod/iPhone app version of my favourite Mac Blog editor "MarsEdit"!

The Apps really find wings with the iPhone - using the camera for capture & 3G connectivity - but they also significantly enhance the iPod Touch as well.

Vodafone NZ now have a news bulletin on their site re the release of the iPhone 3G on 11 July - not much info & no pricing yet - however the NZ Herald qoted the 8GB iPhone 3G to be $365NZ this morning - that's less than a third of the parallel import price of the original iPhone!

"Australia, Italy, New Zealand and Portugal will be the first Vodafone markets to offer customers iPhone 3G for purchase on July 11. iPhone 3G will be available via Vodafone on both prepay and contract price plans which will include great value data bundles."

3G iPhone announced today!
• Available NZ 11 July – Vodafone
• 8GB $200US ($300 NZ), 16GB $300US ~ $500NZ !
• App store coming – some free blogging apps announced (Typepad)
• Will there be a voice/data contract required as part of purchase???

New Features:
* UMTS/HSDPA
* GPS
* iPhone2 software
* MobileMe synchronization (an updated dotMac)
* iPhone/iPod applications & app store coming soon

Still Missing:
* Video recording
* only 2MP camera resolution still, & no flash lighting
* No secondary camera for video conferencing
* No handwriting recognition
* No Java
* No Flash

The iPhone has the best mobile web experience available, but the holes in its feature set still hamper it. It's biggest benefit is the intuitive User Interface - this is the major downfall of Symbian S60 & UIQ mobile OSes.

The steps involved in creating a PodCast Show using VOX and the iTunes Store are:

1. Record your Podcast show episode and convert to either mp3 or mp4 (aac, m4a).
2. Upload your audio file (Podcast episode) to your Vox blog - either as a post attachment or upload directly into your Vox 'Audio' folder in your Vox Library.
   
3. Create a 'Collection' in Vox and name it - e.g. 'My Podcast Show'.
4. Add your Podcast Episode to your Podcast 'Collection' in Vox - note providing a description and tag words will make it easier for listeners to search for your Podcast show and categorize it!
5. Find your Vox Podcast Collection RSS feed and copy it.
1. It will be in the form: http://thomcochrane.vox.com/podcast-show/atom.xml
2. i.e. http://yourvoxname.vox.com/yourvoxcollectionname/atom.xml
   
6. Open iTunes, choose 'Advanced', 'Subscribe to Podcast' and paste your Podcast RSS feed - iTunes will then download and play your Podcast show episodes!
7. Share your iTunes Podcast Playlist (and your RSS feed) with the rest of the class!
8. To get your Podcast show on iTunes:
1. Submit your Shows RSS feed to iTunes
   
2. Launch iTunes.
3. In the left navigation column, under iTunes Store, click on the Podcasts link to go to the Podcasts page.
4. In the left column of the Podcasts page, in the Learn More box at the bottom, click on the Submit a Podcast link.
5. Follow the instructions on the Submit a Podcast page.
1. Note that you will need a valid iTunes account, and you will need to be logged into iTunes.
6. You will receive a confirmation email from Apple.

PODCAST FAQ (Apple Computer)

View slideshow of screenshots.

Here's the 'medium' quality version (previous version was reduced for MMS) of the video entirely captured, edited & processed on the N95 - quite impressive for a phone! (NOTE: - Vox recompresses video uploads to Flash video - so quality won't be as good as the original mp4 version)