Mobifun’s Weblog

The rumors that Vodafone may sell all or part of its stake in Verizon Wireless to Verizon Communications are doing the rounds again, apparently fueled by a put option to sell $10 billion worth of stock to Verizon which expires on August 9. As expected, some shareholders want Vodafone to exercise that right, which would leave Vodafone with a stake of around 38 percent in Verizon Wireless reports Investors Business Daily. It wouldn’t do much for Verizon because Vodafone would still hold a signficant share of the business, but as the mobile business grows it’s getting harder and harder for Verizon to afford to buy all of Vodafone’s stake. Verizon has raised $8 billion in debt for general corporate purposes, which may or may not have anything to do with increasing its stake.

Gilad in his yesterdays post said that When Vanessa Fox, lead developer at Google Webmaster Central, left Google last week to work at Zillow, I considered it a minor event and didn’t even report, but the report this morning at SEL of Two Top Google Engineers Leave Google really makes one ask whether we are watching a developing trend or just a coincidence?The two developers, Bret Taylor and Jim Norris, were largely responsible for the development of Google Maps as well as other Google products. Both have left Google to work at Benchmark Capital, a venture capital firm.

Tonight I am unveiling a new site tracking the startup ecosystem. It’s a directory and analytics tool I’ve personally wanted for a long time, and I know others will enjoy. Introducing Startup Search.

Startup Search tracks Web startups, their products, key employees, investment firms, and investment partners. Startup Search also tracks the success of each product since it was first introduced to the world, using publicly available metrics pulled into a single page. It’s a research tool, a discovery engine, and a fact-filled directory of our little Web startup world. I’ll walk through a few features.

Steve Jobs announced the iPhone development platform at last week’s Worldwide Developer Conference to sighs of disappointments. Mac developers were anxious to develop new applications for the the most anticipated consumer electronics device in years, only to be told they should code fancy websites instead. The 9-minute iPhone development demonstration during the WWDC keynote was a bit confusing for anyone new to Apple widget development. In this post I’ll break down a few Apple widget components, transport you to the iPhone development world, and explain a few restrictions and lock-downs common in the mobile phone industry.

Dashboard under the hood

Apple’s Dashboard application acts as a bridge between web technologies and your desktop. Basic widgets contain HTML, CSS, and JavaScript describing widget structure, styling, and interaction respectively. Multiple widgets utilizing this same base technology form a single process group on OS X 10.5 (Leopard) and minimize the total amount of system resources (CPU, memory, etc.) required by each new widget.

Dashboard widgets can access the local operating system’s look and feel through the Apple JavaScript classes inside your system’s WidgetResources directory. These specialized JavaScript resources expose a scrollbar, slider, buttons, animations, and widget flip controls specific to the operating system and Apple’s UI of the moment.

Apple Dashboard widgets may also tap into local resources such as your computer’s iSight camera, your MacBook’s current battery levels, songs in your iTunes libraries, or contacts in your Address Book. Any application may add a widget-plugin as a Cocoa bundle to allow widget access to application-specific data and functionality.

Today’s Dashboard widgets take advantage of web browsing technology, plugins, and local application resources exposed to the widget engine via specialized plugin interfaces. Dashboard is an part of your computer’s Dock application. Dashboard widgets exist behind a single Dashboard icon; they do not have individually callable Dock icons out of the box.

Dashboard experience ported to iPhone

What if Apple’s desktop widget were ported to a mobile device such as the iPhone? The iPhone runs OS X, and contains the essential components necessary for widget operation on a mobile device.

iPhone widgets would operate inside the mobile WebKit library. They would have access to device-specific UI elements such as stylized buttons, smooth transitions, and personalization options. Pieces of the underlying operating system and installed applications would be exposed via widget plugins. Widget files would be distributed as a bundle, downloaded to the iPhone over the air or via a tethered sync. Each widget could have access to limited system resources such as iPhone battery life, WiFi signal strength, the local Address Book, or the iPhone’s built-in camera.

iPhone developer features announced at WWDC

There were two types of iPhone announcements at WWDC last week: public statements made by Steve Jobs and Scott Forstall during the conference keynote and NDA-bound statements to developers during conference sessions. I’ll only cover the public statements in this post.

iPhone applications will “utilize the full Safari engine” and “look exactly like apps on the iPhone.” Interpretation: Applications created for the iPhone will be powered by WebKit technology and have access to Apple-specific JavaScript libraries to create the look-and-feel of the underlying Apple OS. This behavior is similar to the current Dashboard experience.

Write applications using Asynchronous JavaScript and XML (Ajax). Interpretation: The iPhone’s web browsing technology supports XMLHttpRequest as a data retrieval method. This statement could also mean Apple will support JavaScript programmability of a local sandboxed CoreData store delivered as XML but that’s more advanced and unlikely due to no current offline storage support on the desktop browser.

“Integrate with iPhone services.” You can make a phone call, send an e-mail, or lookup a location in the built-in Google Maps application from any web application. Interpretation: The iPhone’s Safari browser contains the same data detection features for phone numbers, e-mail addresses, and address data seen in Mail.app in Leopard. This detected data can be passed into its default handler as an automatically-generated hyperlink. This statement could also mean WebKit applications will have access to special plugins created for system-level services similar to the desktop API but that may be too hopeful.

“Instant distribution.” “Easy to update.” “Sandboxed on iPhone.” Interpretation: Widget bundles are not stored on the iPhone. All files are retrieved from the a remote server and treated as a web resource. Your files are cached and have the same access restrictions as a standard public Internet site.

Safari vs. widgets

iPhone widgets are small applications powered by WebKit launched from the iPhone application menu. Web applications created by third-party developers for the iPhone are three clicks away from the same home screen — Web, Bookmarks, bookmark name — but have similar functionality. Personalization data such as stock tickers or your local ZIP code is stored inside a browser cookie.

iPhone widgets store resource files such as images, HTML, CSS in the iPhone’s local storage and update the entire widget with the operating system. iPhone widgets pull data updates such as stock prices or the latest weather report from a remote server or could also access locally stored data such as a dictionary.

Safari-based applications request each resource from a remote server and poll for cache updates with each page load. If your weekly weather display contains a sun, cloud, and cloud with rain your application might poll a remote server for possible changes to each of the three images with every display of your weather page.

AT&T or Apple restriction?

Apple developers wanted at least iPhone widget-level application marketing and were visibly disappointed by Apple’s keynote announcement last week. It’s still unclear if AT&T or Apple is keeping third-party developers off the main app menu. I can only postulate based on existing developer programs from each company.

AT&T certifies applications to operate on phones in its network across multiple operating systems. Productivity applications receive an enterprise solution certification after successfully passing security, reliability, and network usage tests and paying fees starting at $1000 a test. Enterprise applications are usually available for free and side-loaded (updated via a tether) by corporate IT departments. Consumer applications are typically distributed through AT&T’s MEdia Net portal after similar testing and certification fees for a purchase fee split between AT&T and the developer. This process is the “orifice” Steve Jobs referenced in a 2004 Wall Street Journal interview.

Current video iPods feature games purchased from the iTunes Store. Apple currently distributes 14 games created in-house and through external companies such as Astraware who specialize in porting games to PDAs and cell phones. The current iPod games platform is not open to third party or “homebrew” creations. Anyone can create their own iQuiz, using a specially formatted text file (essentially a fancy Note).

New developers could enter the iPhone application menu through AT&T, Apple, or both.

Ten days until iPhone

The iPhone will be available at 6 p.m. on June 29, or a little over 10 days from the time I write this post. More developer documentation may emerge after the device’s official release. Hardware and software hackers will likely pull the device apart in search of custom modifications already present on Palm Treo devices or the Sony PSP.

Hopefully this long post clarifies the data we already know about applications and widgets on the iPhone. The device and its software was certainly under a tight release schedule and it’s reasonable to assume new features are on their way in new versions of operating system hardware and software expected over the next six months. There is a developer story on the iPhone, but Apple has not communicated this story very well to their developer base over the past 6 months. They’re battling the same closed carrier system as any other mobile application provider, so expect slow change assisted by market leverage.

The newly launched site Map Runner sports itself as a runner’s ultimate web based companion. It consists mainly of running routes, mapped out by runners themselves. Members can post their own running tracks and they have the option to complete a personal profile with photos etc. Of course, this way, runners can collaborate, fashioning their own routes, or just simply meet up with runners like themselves. read more »

iloho.com - Access the Best in Travel

Iloho is a travel network with a specific focus on trip planning and airfare. The site, which has just launched, features travel reviews and news, discussion groups, airline route reviews and resources for trip planning. The homepage host the month’s most popular articles which include such titles as “A to Z Guid to Travel Secrets You Need to Know,” and “Adventure in Tibet”. Users are encouraged to share tips and stories about destinations and planning. read more »

SmartPageRank.com - Stats Toolbar for Firefox Users

Want to know the stats on various sites you’re browsing, but don’t want to use Internet Explorer to do it? SmartPageRank allows you to check out site stats from Firefox with their own toolbar and a whole bunch of data. Scrolling over the various categories you can find out the Alexa ranking, PageRank, the Dig PR, the availability of the domain name, Whois information, backlinks, and the value of the site. read more »

iminlikewithyou.com - A Place to Fall in Like

i’minlikewithyou (IILWY) is the fun way to flirt online through creating games and bidding points. You start off with a certain number of points that you can increase by being active on the site. With these points you can bid on other users’ games. Games run generally from one to three days, at which time bidding is closed and the game creator picks a winner out of the top five bidders. The site gets to be addictive and you want to check out who the latest members are and what new games are starting. read more »

DesktopNexus.com - Reinvent Your Desktop

Desktop Nexus makes finding the wallpaper that you want at the correct resolution for your screen easy as pie. Browse through the various categories without having to deal with pop-ups or payments or irritating ads. You can even get a feed updating you on the latest uploaded wallpapers available. What’s really cool about this site is the fact that they will recommend to you which wallpaper dimensions you should try using first and they give you various options so as to fit your screen. read more »

For years, in stories about the “Great Firewall” of China reporters sometimes point out that many in China don’t mind the blocks that much. However, that may be changing. In many of the stories we’ve seen defending the Great Firewall, the rationale is that it really does “protect” Chinese citizens from seeing harmful material. However, with the recent blocking of Flickr it appears that some Chinese citizens are finally speaking out against the blocks, claiming that it’s ridiculous to censor the internet so much. Of course, the article only points to a few anecdotal stories, rather than providing any hard data (and out of the billions of people in China, it’s no surprise that you can find some who are pissed off). It does include one interesting story of a guy who’s actually suing his ISP for the blocks, claiming that it’s hurt him financially, since he was trying to sell some software through a site that is blocked in China.

Few un anounced changes are to be made in vista.

 Microsoft has agreed to make changes to Vista in response to a complaint by Google alleging that Vista’s inbuilt search functionality competed unfairly with Google Desktop Search.

According to a NY Times report, Google’s complaint was made confidentially in line with rules established as part of a previous settlement over anti-competitive behaviour by Microsoft. The settlement between state prosecutors, the Justice Department and Microsoft will avert the prospect of litigation over the matter.

According to Paul Preece creator of Desktop Tower Defense, has been played 15 million times since launching in March.

The negotiations between News Corp and Yahoo that would see MySpace owned by Yahoo in exchange for 25% of Yahoo itself have bought out some interesting assessments of MySpace. Most commentary has been negative, Michael Arrington describes MySpace as a fading star and others have suggested that MySpace is struggling, that it has lost the battle based on the fact that Facebook gains far more attention amongst early adopters.

Today at a Google press event in Paris, Chad Hurley and Steve Chen are announcing the launch of nine new domains in Brazil, France, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Ireland, and the UK.

In response to many requests, each new site is fully translated and localized for each country including content (Featured Videos, Director Videos, Promotions), as well as the interfaces, search, user support, and such community features as video ratings, sharing, and content flagging. And these new localized versions are built using Google search technology, so you can quickly find more of what you want to see. Perhaps best of all, you can continue to use youtube.com, or move to one of these localized sites — and switch seamlessly between the two. Happy creating, viewing and sharing!

Google has increased its accqusition number with yet another web based application Zenter –a company that is building online presentation. The rumors of this accquisition were since february.This is yet-another-exit for YCombinator, the madrassa of the Web 2.0 crowd.  In Microsoft world those are known as PowerPoints.

In their earlier post google posted We’re pleased to announce that we’ve acquired the assets of Zenter, a company that provides software for creating online slide presentations.

You’ve heard us talk a lot about using the web to improve group collaboration and information sharing. These days, when you create a document — whether it’s a text document, a spreadsheet, or a presentation — you usually want to share it, collect feedback, or communicate about it in some way. We on the Google Docs & Spreadsheets team focus on making this experience easier and more powerful for you. In particular, we’re working to add presentation-sharing capabilities to Google Docs & Spreadsheets, and we’re excited about the addition of Zenter’s technology and team to that effort.

When Apple fans across the country flock to their neighborhood Apple Store to pick up their shiny new iPhone next Friday, they’ll also have the opportunity to buy a Jawbone Bluetooth headset to go along with it. That’s right; the Aliph Jawbone Bluetooth headset will be sold alongside the iPhone at all Apple Stores (plus Apple’s online store) starting June 29, 2007. Designed by Yves Behar and decked out with military-grade noise-canceling technology, the Jawbone is certainly no slouch in the design and performance department, but we can’t help but wonder whatever happened to Apple’s own Bluetooth headset that Steve Jobs showed at MacWorld earlier this year. Will that be available in stores as well? Or will it be bundled with the phone? Considering the Jawbone sells for around $119.99, it might be wise for Apple to offer its own headset at a lower and more affordable price. That said, the Jawbone is a quality device (it’s one of CNET’s highest rated Bluetooth headsets), so if you have the cash to spare and the wherewithal to wait in line for the iPhone, it’ll be there waiting for your Bluetooth-hungry hands.

By Newsblog

Youpark is offering great discounts on purchase of two prodcuts BackupManager & Mapview

Backupmanager

Professional backup,easy to use,fully customizable with significantly extended backup options to suit your needs.The best choice for your data. Available in 6 languages.

Sunnysoft MapView : Version 1.1

Map that works for you! Creative solution for GPS navigation letting you create own maps using available free maps and customize them according to your needs.

Microsoft will soon stop shipping the OEM version of Office 2003. As of June 30, 2007 Microsoft will no longer be shipping OEM Office 2003 to any distributors. Any current inventory the distributors have on hand can still be sold, but future OEM Office purchases will be Office 2007.

Nearly 1 in 10 cell phone users in the U.S. has “a strong interest” in buying an Apple iPhone, according to a study released Friday by M:Metrics.

Poll results show about 9 percent of the 11,064 mobile phone users surveyed were inclined to purchase the highly touted iPhone, set for release June 29. That translates to about 19 million people when projected out, based on the U.S. Census, according to M:Metrics, a research company that tracks mobile phone use.

That’s “an impressive figure, when you consider that the installed base of most high-end devices rarely approaches 1 million and respondents were informed of the price point as well as of the AT&T exclusive,” M:Metrics senior analyst Mark Donovan said in a statement.

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