May 12, 2011
iphone UI elements size (links)
Interesting about coordinate system of iphone 4:
http://www.idev101.com/code/User_Interface/sizes.html
http://www.idev101.com/code/User_Interface/sizes.html
April 10, 2011
iphone extarnal accessory [bad] experience
Yesterday we spent some 8 hrs with Daniil Safonov trying to connect microcontroller-based circuit, no luck at all.
If you want not just connect to audio in/out, but to send/receive bits, you just cannot do that without being reviewed by apple as an applicant of MFI program.
So you even wanna send or receive several bits over connector, you have no simple way to do that! The protocol of accessory identification is closed by Apple (with NDA and so on), fast hacks did not give us any luck.
From my point of view if you need catch some small data from external accessory, the most simple way is to use camera as input device (using some error-correction code), although there's no output device that useful. Funny thing: when applying for MFI, second step after entering your email, is entering name/address of your lawer.
Apple does its business from the trenches, and the war is against standalone developers-innovators. Does Apple just fear of loosing initiative?
Upd: same thoughts here in 1st comment.
Upd: Photo of our research process by Alexey Papulovskiy who joined us for discussing that accessory idea:
Update: my art. Feel free to download and use it anyway you like.
If you want not just connect to audio in/out, but to send/receive bits, you just cannot do that without being reviewed by apple as an applicant of MFI program.
So you even wanna send or receive several bits over connector, you have no simple way to do that! The protocol of accessory identification is closed by Apple (with NDA and so on), fast hacks did not give us any luck.
From my point of view if you need catch some small data from external accessory, the most simple way is to use camera as input device (using some error-correction code), although there's no output device that useful. Funny thing: when applying for MFI, second step after entering your email, is entering name/address of your lawer.
Apple does its business from the trenches, and the war is against standalone developers-innovators. Does Apple just fear of loosing initiative?
Upd: same thoughts here in 1st comment.
Upd: Photo of our research process by Alexey Papulovskiy who joined us for discussing that accessory idea:
Update: my art. Feel free to download and use it anyway you like.
March 16, 2011
some mobile smartphones impressions
This is not full coverage nor review, just some key impressions just for me.
Windows 7 phone (Lg E900):
- ugly ui, but surprisingly very useful :-) usability on high grade, seems designers were not allowed to give any recommendations :-))) This is the way, ppl!
- Very small number of apps: does not have any ssh/telnet terminal in marketplace
- search in marketplace gives artists, songs and albums instead of APPS! go to hell with all that paid bad music :-) i can make noise myself on guitar :)))
Android (HTC G1, HTC Desire Z):
- [android all] every app want access to everything (no way to manage permissions as it is for J2ME)
- very small (desire z) text
- it is not phone, nor SMART: messaging takes TIME to load! Every simple phone (from nokia 1100 up to sony ericsson k750) loads sms inbox very fast, to call one just start typing number. But in android you first FIND phone app... then wait it to load :-) suxx
- samsung galaxy tab: it HAS GPRS via SIM card, but does not have phone app and no way to install it without root-ing and firmware replace.
- Android officially is open-source, but very closed still (no access to ussd, no way to install native apps without rooting)
- by the way, every app with permission for messaging can read ALL incoming sms!
- NO GOOGLE EARTH FOR GOOGLE PHONE?! WTF!
iPhone:
- same as android trouble with finding 'phone' app, slow messaging load
- good screen for iphone 4 (ips matrix)
- closed proprietary platform: recently apple stopped posting security updates to iphone 3G. "Don't hold it..." ...anymore. Buy new one?!
Windows 7 phone (Lg E900):
- ugly ui, but surprisingly very useful :-) usability on high grade, seems designers were not allowed to give any recommendations :-))) This is the way, ppl!
- Very small number of apps: does not have any ssh/telnet terminal in marketplace
- search in marketplace gives artists, songs and albums instead of APPS! go to hell with all that paid bad music :-) i can make noise myself on guitar :)))
Android (HTC G1, HTC Desire Z):
- [android all] every app want access to everything (no way to manage permissions as it is for J2ME)
- very small (desire z) text
- it is not phone, nor SMART: messaging takes TIME to load! Every simple phone (from nokia 1100 up to sony ericsson k750) loads sms inbox very fast, to call one just start typing number. But in android you first FIND phone app... then wait it to load :-) suxx
- samsung galaxy tab: it HAS GPRS via SIM card, but does not have phone app and no way to install it without root-ing and firmware replace.
- Android officially is open-source, but very closed still (no access to ussd, no way to install native apps without rooting)
- by the way, every app with permission for messaging can read ALL incoming sms!
- NO GOOGLE EARTH FOR GOOGLE PHONE?! WTF!
iPhone:
- same as android trouble with finding 'phone' app, slow messaging load
- good screen for iphone 4 (ips matrix)
- closed proprietary platform: recently apple stopped posting security updates to iphone 3G. "Don't hold it..." ...anymore. Buy new one?!
Labels: android, iphone, mobile, phones, windows 7 phone
June 19, 2010
iphone updating hell - free apps lost
Yesterday i needed to update iphone (legal: not jailbroken, version 2 firmware to 3) for my friend. The whole task took more than 4 hours and was not fully successfull as iphone completely lost all free apps. Surely I backed up before updating. No success after several "All reset"->"Restore". What is interesting is that I can see all the apps icons and metadata in Backup data!.. No apps that are installed are incompatible with iphone os 3. Apple surely degrades.
So please note: if you have free apps and update to 3.1.3 ios from 2.* you have to find and install your free apps again. (hmm, after each update? or even after each restore from backup?).
Iphone is surely the odd waste of money.
So please note: if you have free apps and update to 3.1.3 ios from 2.* you have to find and install your free apps again. (hmm, after each update? or even after each restore from backup?).
Iphone is surely the odd waste of money.
July 27, 2009
[life] iphone -> iSkype-on
Yesterday I tried to call through wifi via skype using iphone client. Works great, talked for more than 15 minutes and quality is just like when using GSM! Also tried to install the Android skype client, but is said that I MUST enter my phone number and it will (WTF?!) be used when calling (all calls are paid, it said! callback?). Seems that Skype beta in Android is very strange thing: it cannot use 3G/Wifi connection for free skype2skype calls. Yes, just found quote from comments from here: http://share.skype.com/sites/skypegear/2009/01/video_skype_lite_on_android.html
and more:
This is it. iPhone is better :-)
Sad that receiving any phone calls, even from a skype caller, skype credit is used.and more:
No calls can be made, no free calls received even when in WI-FI spot. This application is not ready for prime time ... If I wanted to IM, I would use another application. Please make Skype like it is on computers. Free calls computer-to-computer (or phone-to-skype_contact) over wifi or carrier's data plan.
Else is is useless.This is it. iPhone is better :-)
