Garageband Will Only Work on iPads And Other Questions Answered

The main question for me is whether the Garageband for iOS can work on the iPhone or iPod touch.  Well, the answer was a simple know.  And I got the answer from this FAQ-like post from PC World.

I recommend you check it out if you're interested in the iPad 2 or have questions regarding Apple's forthcoming iOS 4.3.  

More at PC World.

Mobile May Be The Way To Fix The DMV and Possibly Other Government Sevices (And Ineffiencies)

I am at the DMV now. And boy, is this going to be a long long wait. And there really is no reason for me to be here that was my own doing. However, that is a story for another time.

But sitting here and looking around, I wondered about government services and why people like myself dread coming here. It takes time between the day you make an appointment and the actually appointment date. And getting to a DMV is just horrible. I had two cars steal my parking spaces!

And yes, I did go to the AAA to see if my business with the DMV could be taken are of there but it was simply something that was beyond their scope of services.

So I wonder, can't more apparatuses like the AAA be be empowered to take the load off the DMV. Maybe the local supermarket can get into it. Perhaps, Walmart as well.

And sure why not? Slap on a fee for this convenience. I don't have an issue with that.

I can totally see a company that can contract with the state or federal government agencies to help provide services to the citizens and still manage to make a profit.

But that is only going to alleviate some of the congestions at the local offices. To really change things, technology needs to be brought into the equation.

And not just new technology but better and efficient use of technology is the key. Since this is a mobile blog, I really like to have many services that now require local visits to offices move into the digital realm.

I look forward to the day when something that needs to get done and I am able to say "nice, there's an app for that".

Today, I was able to help my boss check into his flight with the app provided airline. I mean, just how cool is that!?

Eye exams for the DMV? Why not. Mobile devices have cameras for video conferencing. The DMV with the help of optometrists can create an app for eye exams when license renewals. Other simple issues and tasks can also be relegated to video-to-video contact than requiring drivers to march in drove into the local DMV office like we do now.

And you know, if the DMV wants to charge a bit for this convenience, I think many people will be happy to make use of this service.

And this goes beyond one segment of government services. Healthcare and Medicare, immigration, and Social Security are just a few that quickly comes to mind. I reckon the public services will embrace this eventually but it will be private sectors that will lead the way.

Right now, this is just the pipe dreams of a frustrated citizen sitting in a waiting room at the DMV



-- Post From My iPad

Clue On Who's Getting The iPhone Next: T-Mobile Disses iPhone Carriers But Sprint Doesn't (Second Sprint Post Today)

I don't write a lot about Sprint because it kind of chugs a long but doesn't do much else exciting. And it's on WiMax so it like it is off to one side doing its own thing. So here is the 2nd Sprint post of the day.

And ironically, I am writing about what Sprint isn't doing. While T-Mobile is off dissing the networks that the iPhone runs on on TV and Web commercials, Sprint doesn't seem to say much of anything else about CDMA iPhone.

After all, Sprint's WiMax is faster than what Verizon and ATT's 3G networks. So it has just as much marketing weapon as T-Mobile.

So I wonder if this is indicative of who is getting the iPhone and who isn't? About fourteen months before Verizon go the iPhone 4, it did the same thing with some cute animations.

At this point, I am just not hopeful that my network will be getting the next iPhone. And if Sprint is supposed to get the CDMA iPhone next, it would not make sense to diss a phone that it might be getting next.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPod touch

Prediction: Sprint To Do Smart Thing and Move to LTE (First of Two Sprint Posts Today)

There has been talk that Sprint is nearing a deal with Clearwire on use of its WiMax network. All along, there was also talk that Sprint might try to find an LTE route. I think they are more than posturing. Sprint really has to go LTE eventually. That’s my prediction.

Heck, even Clearwire will do that as well because in the US, it just makes sense to do that.

First of all, if Sprint stays with WiMax, it will effectively be isolated, more so than T-Mobile for years to come. And though T-Mobile’s 3G network doesn’t worth with virtually anyone else’s in the US, it is still a GSM network, a vastly more popular network than CDMA and WiMax.

And from what execs at both Sprint and Clearwire has indicated in the past, transitioning from WiMax to LTE is financially feasible. As a matter of fact, Clear has “clearly” started work on that as far back as fall 2010. These things take time but I do see it happen.

So I suspect that more than just about financial terms, Clear and Sprint might have come to an understanding that they’ll work towards LTE in the next couple of years. Also, Sprint has provided clues in recent weeks about their LTE future.

And the momentum is building in that direction.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPod touch

Tablet Suggestion For Android Users: Wait For iPad 2 and G-Slate To See If They'll Drive Xoom Prices Down

I almost pulled the trigger yesterday on a Xoom.  At $800, it's a lot of money but I do save and save and figure it's okay to indulge myself.  I do have an iPad but I was planning on giving that to my nephew.  (Point at myself:  Greatest uncle in the world…)

 

Having said that, the reason I decide it was more prudent to wait is because Apple is going to let loose the iPad 2 (or whatever they're going to call it) tomorrow.  At least that's the idea  And more than that, I'm curious about their prices and how they'll try to complete with Xoom and other Android devices. 

 

Perhaps, what big or little changes will impact the competitive field and get Motorola to drop the price on the Xoom.  Just look at the Samsung Tab.  That thing has been going down like a rock.  I reckon if the iPad 2 does well, the same could also happen to Xoom.

 

Also, T-Mobile's G-Slate with its 3D capability is said to cost less than the Xoom.  Well, if that is the case, I might stay with my T-Mobile services.  Plus, it's got 3D.

 

Bottomline is this.  Competition is great regardless of what the OS platform we support.  Competition from iPad aside, competition among Android makers is just as potent.  I totally see a $100 Xoom price drop if the G-Slate is really $100 cheaper that many rumors on the Internet suggests. 

 

So, I'll wait a week or two and see how I can maximize purchasing power of my measly savings.

Wired Goes to Foxconn To See For Itself The Work Conditions

This isn't just about the iPhone.  This is about the workers who make our Android devices, laptops, and other mobile devices.

Wired goes there to see for himself the conditions the workers face and what the issues are about.

More at Wired.

Today's Interesting Links in Mobile And Impacts

(Green) – Joule Unlimited claims to be able to make 4X the diesel and ethanol fuel as others and plan is on track to have a demo plant working this year. Though doubts about collection exists. But imagine having a plant hear power plants that take in the carbon dioxide, water, and sun to make more fuel. Good luck guys! (Huffington)

(Android) I was gonna pull the trigger on the Xoom this week but I think I can wait until Apple unveils their plans for the iPad 2 in less than two days and what T-Mobile might offer me in terms of cost and data plan for the G-Slate. I’ve got the current iPad to hold me over until then.

(Green) – New power source that allows cruise ships to plug in while at port to avoid burning fuel. Hmm…not a bad idea. Of course, I’ve always wondered what fuel is burnt to get these power. BTW, I’m still on track to look into solar panels for this year. (KPCC)

(Green) – In addition to Solar City, I’ve contacted Sungevity for a quote on my solar ambitions. I got a post card from this last week and thought I check them out. Maybe it’s a sign. (Sungevity)

(Tablet, iPad) JP of the Morgans expect tablet market to hit $35 billion in 2012. I guess this is why Apple vows to own a big chunk of that. We already know netbooks is getting their collective butts handed to them by Apple but looks like the investment bank outfit thinks notebooks are next. (Cult of Mac)

(iPhone) Looks like Apple has found a way to address the prepaid market with the iPhone. Honestly, I don’t know how their $600 iPhones are going to be able to do this. I imagine Apple mean to make money back through mobile payments, apps (hence, the 30% subscription free from publishers), and accessories. (MacNN)

(Thought on iPad) – Probably 95% wishful thinking here but I wonder how low Apple can go with the iPad pricing? A couple of things Apple can do: lower price to $400 or $450 on the original WiFi iPad and/or eliminate the 3G premium over the WiFI-only version.

(Libya) Gas was insane at the pumps this weekend. Glad I gassed up last week. Good to hear US military positioning around the North African nation. That’s right, my fellow Americans. Libya is in Africa. See here.

(Thoughts on PC Verus Tablet) It’s possible that the tablet market will become bigger than the PC market. Many have said this. Where does this leave Microsoft and Intel? Is Google going to be the biggest beneficiary or will Apple find a way to stay on top? And if people move to tablets over notebooks, will that means Apple end up with a bigger part of the shrinking PC market? Estimated tablet revenue to reach $100 billion in a few years for Apple alone.

(Green) Is distributed power going to rid us of power plants? Well, we still need them to manage things but the parallel between utilities and the newspaper industry created in this post is very interesting. (Renewable Energy)

(Mobile Tech) I just had this though when comparing the thinness (or thickness) of various mobile devices. Could future devices have their electronics embedded into the casing itself? Glass, liquid metal, carbon, to reduce weight and increase strength?

(Apps) For those of us who have yet to take advantage of the lucrative app market, NYT reports we’ll see the market explode to $38 billion in 5 years. (NYT)

(Space) Virgin Galactic to ferry scientists into space. BTW, when are the flights supposed to start?! Oh yes…2012. More than a year from now. It’ll cost about $200K per seat. Gotta get working on those apps (see one link above).

(Government, Economy, Recession) Here’s an NPR breakdown on the state fights over money, cuts, and unions. Reads almost like ESPN for politics. (NPR)