Apple to mobile industry:  Suck it.

Time for a video party.While she’s our favorite, Robyn isn’t the only sweet music export coming out of Sweden.  My interest in her has lead me to discover other great Swedish artists, and I though I’d pass them along.  Clockwise from top-left: Lykke Li, Adam Tensta, Lazee, and Sophia Somajo.

Thanks to one of my readers for turning me onto Lykke… her CD is great.

On June 9, Apple’s Evil Genius Steve Jobs will host the launch of the WWDC.  And unless you’ve avoided hearing about it on the tech blogs, you probably know the word is that he’ll be unveiling the new iPhone.

*cue the mass hysteria in the streets* 

Before I go any further, I wanna reiterate just how reluctant of an Apple consumer I am.  Quite happy over the years with my Windows machine, the latest Nokia / Sony Ericsson camera phone, I had no desires to buy into the hubbub around Apple… making me one of the few creative professionals doing so.

But I eventually gave in.  And I’ve been very happy.

But why would Mr. Camera Phone care about the new iPhone?  Well, because it might be the first non-camera phone that is so seductively feature-rich and fantastic, that it’ll make me split my phone and my camera into separate devices. 

What?!

Yeah.  The new iPhone just might be my…. divergence device?  Let me explain… let’s have a look at the rumors for this launch.

The Likely

3G
The new iPhone is definitely gonna be 3G.  Apple’s been prepping carriers with 3G speeds across the globe for rollout of the new iPhone - Rogers here in Canada, included.  Not only does this mean faster browsing on a undeniably great mobile browser… but hopefully Apple will be the bully that finally gets Rogers to offer unlimited browsing on a device people would actually use (Rogers is now finally offering unlimited browsing, but it’s limited to a damn browser-tracking technology, so you have to use their browser, on their handsets).  Here’s to hoping we don’t get stuck with the old one.

GPS
Other than the 3G, this is touted to to the most likely big new feature on the new iPhone.  While their implementation of Google Maps was great the first go-around, it lacks the true usefulness of knowing *right* where you are, and directing you to where you’re going.  And while lots of phones (my Nokia N82 included) have GPS, they’re not even close to the experience you’d get on a standalone Garmin unit. 

Third Party Apps
Now, this isn’t a feature of the new iPhone, but will roll out as a software update to all iPhones (current & new version) that allows the use of third party apps - not just the web tools you can currently use on the iPhone.  Since they announced the plan to unlock the iPhone to third party development, I’ve been extremely interesting the possibilities of the device.  With the coming of the new iPhone - including it’s 3G data speeds, actual GPS, and who knows what else - it’s gonna be an incredible multi-touch platform to build tools for.  My creativity has been consumed with possibilities as to software projects for it.  I’ve downloaded the iPhone SDK (complete with an iPhone simulator) and tinkered with it, and was really impressed.  Readying the SDK was truly why the iPhone was locked down this first year. 

The Not-So-Likely

Dual Cameras for iChat/Video Calling
Now, I think this would be a HUGE deal to show off the power 3G on a usable mobile computer, but it’s wishful thinking.  While video calling on 3G networks has been around for YEARS, I have yet to see anyone actually use it.  Here in North America (where it’s arguably newer) or anywhere else.  By making the experience much cooler than squinting at a tiny screen on your handset, Apple could really make some waves by making video calling consumer-friendly.  In the way they brought multi-touch into the spotlight, they could do the same with other existing technologies like this one.

Mobile TV
I can’t see Apple doing this.  If anything, Apple build to further Apple TV > iPhone integration, not distract from it.

High-end 3 or 5 MP Camera with Flash
I wish.  But no way.

—

Along with whatever features are included in the new iPhone, I’d expect Jobs to obviously speak to dev progress for the iPhone… what business features, games, and software improvements that will be made available.

So I’d consider this a warning… if the new iPhone lives up to my expectations, and it launches on Rogers, it would be hard to resist… fancy camera or not.

Guess I’d just have to get a fancy camera…

After receiving a few emails asking if I decided to *stay* in Paris, I thought maybe it was time to update the blog.  So let’s do the damn thing.

Since my last post, I’ve off to Minneapolis for work, Paris for Vacation, back home to Montana to visit my family, and off to Montreal for a quick night to see Robyn (who was friggin’ awesome).

Oh yeah… and my Blood Elf Warlock is a 44 now.

I’ve been gathering tunes for the new mix, and after finding nothing I really loved, have had a bit of luck.  Hopefully I’ll get another one together by June, before the Pride season hits.

The snow is gone, and Spring lasted about 4 days.  It’s Summer now.

There we go.  Now I can the more interesting stuff without feeling guilty.

For starters, have some Robyn videos… a few of my fav live videos of her, and a music video of her song Be Mine (a hot mix of it is played at the end of Resuscitation. 

My new favorite force in pop music - Robyn - is coming to North America, on a bit of a tour.  I only say “a bit”, because she’s much bigger overseas that she is here.  I’m a HUGE fan… Christ, I put FOUR mixes of her songs in my last house mix.  But I’m confident, that if you’ve heard her album, you’ll see how she’s showing up the freshness that the Madonna/Britneys/Janets just don’t seem to be givin’ up as easy as they used to.

And while her concert in Montreal late at night on Sunday, May 4th - isn’t so ideal, I’m gonna find me a way to make it work - even if I wake up early and drive back before work on Monday.  So if you see me there, say howdy.

If you’re a fan, check out her myspace page at www.myspace.com/robynmyspace and see is she’s hitting up your city.

Her style is the bomb diddy bomb di dangy dang diggy diggy.

Mark and I are taking a much needed vacation… and after considering getaways ranging from Florida to Sydney, we’ve landed on a week in Paris.  We’re renting a trendy little apartment for a week, and plan on seeing the city, relaxing, and raising a roof or two.

Mark’s been to Paris a handful of times, but this will be my first trip there.  I’ve only been to Europe once before, when we went to London and Dublin with some buddies.

Thanks to Rosetta Stone, I can say “the girl jumps” in French.  Not exactly useful - but I look forward to actually finding a jumping girl, so I can proudly point it out to others.  Good thing Mark is fully bilingual, so I’ve got a more useful French language resource at my hip. 

Just a quick video to show my buddies back West what they’re missing.

Every time I see this guy at my gym, I can’t help but smile and think of this song :)

You know the type.

Katy Perry is a fun new pop singer - she has one track I love so much, I’d be shocked if I don’t work a version into the next mix.  Which I should be starting soon.

Reunited and it feels so good! 

After a long break from WoW - and never really getting to the end-game content I’ve heard is where the game *begins*… I’m back at it.  That’s Bravehound (geez, what a surprise) above… my blood elf warlock on the Proudmoore server.  And of course, I’ve hooked up with the big gay guild on there… at my level (26 at the time of this post), that’s the Tainted Love guild.

So what happened to Tabula Rasa?  Well… I stopped playing once work got so demanding that I swore off all “fun” on a computer for a good while.  My elbows were aching and I needed as much time away as possible.  But now that things have normalized - as much as they ever will, anyway - I’m back, and ready to play WoW.  TR was fun, but WoW just has a heart that makes the time spent in the game, so damn fun. 

Maybe it’s the community, the art in the game, and the fact that it’s *still* growing like crazy.

Or maybe it’s the fun music videos (like the ones below) that people make using World of Warcraft.  :) 

There’s too much fun to be had in and around this game still!

I rarely posts singles songs that I wanna share with others - maybe I’ll do it more often - but here’s one worth mentioning.

Yes, I like the pop music acts like Britney Spears for the same reasons I like diet coke.  But I’m certainly up for more substantial tunes on the radio - Robyn is a perfect example of a creative talent that deserves every ounce of recognition she gets.

I stumbled across Santogold a couple weeks ago on Arjan’s blog (a required read for music fans).  She’s great.  She sounds a bit like Tegan and Sarah - a duo worth knowing if you don’t already… their album So Jealous is awesome.

If you dig her, you find this track and other on iTunes.