UnderThePurpleSky Blog

Android, Nokia and iOS Update

Category Archives: Handphone

GoodReader for iPad and iPhone

The application is available for iPad costs € 0.79. An iPhone version is also available at the same price. The interface is also very clearly divided into two columns: files and folders on the left, the right tools. Each document is previewed unless it is protected by password. We can also protect access to downright GoodReader password, if one is forced to lend his machine and we want to avoid the prying glances.

The column of tools is organized into tools that also provide access to a search engine, a section of manipulation (“Manage Files”), downloading from the web (“Web Download”) and the connection to the servers. The icons below make it possible for them to go when looking for pictures in the photo library of the machine, manage and WiFi settings (plus the padlock to lock the application as I mentioned above).

Manage File allows you to select one or more files and mark (one star: “Star”), move or make a copy in another folder, create a compressed archive and decompress ZIP archive retrieved from a server or as an attachment to an e-mail, create folders, etc..

It is also possible to create a PDF with multiple files of different origins (Portfolio) and open it in an application of choice (eg open a document in MS Word “Document to Go” or “Pages”) to go beyond a simple glance.

Download the Web section is quite nice. Integrating a web browser, you can surf the web from the application to go to find items (images, whole pages, etc..). Tip: from Safari, add the letter “g” before the protocol (ghttp: / /) and reload the page. Safari closes and opens in GoodReader!

With it, you connect to the services file hosting fee (me.com) or free (Google Docs, DropBox, etc..) And download the documents you have left on the canvas, “in the cloud” as they say. So if you’re used to working online with Google doc or storing certain documents or DropBox me.com and you travel or fly we train with no internet connection, you can very easily fetching documents iPad and have them with you even if you do not connect on the net. If you have access to FTP servers, you can also login to retrieve files.

GoodReader can view files in several formats. Via the “Open in …”. His reading lamp is also ergonomic and allows full screen playback as “like a free” (you click to move to the next screen). It is also possible to pass the document on another editing application if you have one installed in your iPad.

What I regret:

  • A portfolio for real iPad GoodReader does not allow to upload their files to the servers where you have them, even if you could access it. It is however possible to send files by e-mail. This is the main criticism I have for this application, hoping that this gap will be filled one day.
  • Very complete, it would certainly gain to be Frenchified for non-English speaking, whatever the features are very clear.

Nonetheless I remain convinced that this application is a must if you want to have with you certain documents without having an internet connection. His manipulation possibilities are truly powerful and quickly become indispensable.

News on the Apple AppStore

Today, full of new things on the AppStore. Doing a short tour among them. First, the Remote app from Apple that can drive his Apple TV or iTunes from the iPhone and iPod Touch has finally been updated! This is an update that was eagerly awaited by owners of such iPad.It is now compatible with the iPhone’s display Retina 4 with the display surface of the iPad, and of course with the new version of Apple TV.

Here are the changes as indicated on the AppStore:

  • Designed for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad
  • Optimized for Retina screens and big screen of the iPad
  • Support for shared libraries in iTunes and on the new Apple TV
  • Bug fixes and compatibility with iTunes 10 and new Apple TV

The games continue to be updated to support the Gamecenter Apple and Apple continues to promote them.Thus, after proposing a selection dedicated to these games. is now a special area that is displayed on the form of the game in the AppStore this when accessed via iTunes from a desktop machine. He is the icon Gamecenter placed in the top right of the page. Unfortunately, it seems not to have yet equivalent on the AppStore iPhone and iPod Touch. And soon, as announced last week by Gameloft, we were treated today to the output of RealFootball 2011 (a FIFA / PES like).

All About: BlackBerry Playbook Review

RIM first start by saying how surprised with the playbook. One of the biggest surprises were his strong technical capabilities, from a dual core ARM processor at 1GHz, up to outputs and HDMI inputs and micro-micro-USB, including passing two chambers (similar to the iPhone 4) for video-conferencing, photos and video. And all in a smaller size than the iPad (although you have to see if that size feels better in practice than the current IPAD). And besides all that, the device is simply sexy, at first sight with all the elegance of the best produced by Apple.

To make matters worse, RIM took a risky decision that I applaud: completely left behind their traditional BlackBerry Operating System (now in version 6), and adopted instead of BlackBerry 6 to a new operating system it acquired in April this year called QNX, and changed its name to Tablet OS BlackBerry. “

In other words, RIM obviously realized he was no longer BB6 updated with the times, and did what any company in position to do: Start from scratch, but with the advantage that it had to develop the new operating system from zero, but he got it as an acquisition, similar to how Google got what he eventually called the Android OS, allowing rapid adaptation to market.

For those who’ve never heard of QNX, this is an operating system well known in the industry of Embedded Systems, and is well known due to being very efficient and have an architecture similar to UNIX / Linux, supporting the way modern technologies SMP (Symmetric Multi-Processing), OpenGL (3D graphics in video games and other applications) as well as support for Java and now also for Adobe Flash 10.1 (the version that takes advantage of the GPU to accelerate video performance) .

What RIM has unquestionably been done in these months is to adapt the visual environment to fit the factor QNX as the iPad tablet, and also adapting an entire development environment that has been cooking for a while to allow business applications within the playbook.

And speaking of business applications, I think RIM made a very wise decision to market the playbook, not as a competitor of the iPad, but as a “Professional Tablet” for the corporate market. This is a decision that should not be underestimated and that is to be applauded loudly. With that decision RIM achieved several objectives: First, cut for himself the first slice of the pie business in the corporate market for tablets, where Apple has not even concentrate their efforts.

Second, now is no longer marginalized not only Apple, but Google and Microsoft in that market, can be credited to be first in the segment.

And third, leaving the door open and then be well positioned in the business, you start with both fists to fight for the household consumer market, which has made it extremely clear that will make the announcement at the event yesterday so very explicit that the playbook is an excellent platform for video games. “

For the moment, RIM will concentrate its efforts in the corporate sector by offering things like natural integration between BlackBerry devices and Playbooks (both access the contact and calendar directly by Bluetooth), access to corporate networks and the promise of all a new generation of business applications based on its new BlackBerry Enterprise Application Platform Middleware (BEAM), which was also unveiled yesterday, and already has the support of the giants IBM, Oracle and SAP.

The idea of BEAM is to enable mobile business applications to create the factor tablet that are much easier and more comfortable to use than a cell phone screen smart features such as login and allow universal application, data driven to push style Playbook, strong levels security, synchronization with identity systems, calendar & emails, etc.

BEAM also offer services similar to those of Apple iOS as alerts, notifications, geo-location, access to cameras and other technologies of today. Since the beginning RIM has announced that IBM is trying to BEAM with IBM WebSphere, Oracle Fusion Oracle and SAP with Sybase Mobile Platform.

In other words, RIM has pulled out all their weapons and pointed directly to the business sector as a laser beam, and has done so with a single multi-functional device instead of several, which happens to complement your BlackBerry phone that is used in the company.

And speaking of BlackBerry phones, another excellent strategic move for RIM is that the playbook will not offer a separate data plan, as does Apple’s iPad, but the playbook will be sold as an extension to your plan and established cell BlackBerry, so you share the same plan at no additional cost, a move that will undoubtedly hurt in the heart of Apple (which still remains the current leader in the consumer market, is still much to learn from the business sector).

Another thing I should mention when I say that RIM points to the enterprise market with a single device, is the fact that this is also a blow to Google and its Android OS, which to date continues to be an operating system adapted to tablets ( announced models are simple hacks made by the same manufacturers).

Google Android not yet confirmed if OS 3.0 will have native support for tablets, and certainly just be left behind as the “second” in the corporate sector due to Playbook (at least some surprise that Google announced the end of the year, which could change their income).

And Microsoft Not to mention, it has a lot of confusion about whether to concentrate on Windows 7 or Windows Phone 7 to market tablets (I recommend that you follow the path of Windows Phone 7).

Nokia on its part or figure in the field of play, and we still wait to see what HP will offer its new acquisition of Web Palm OS, who in my opinion (and as I recommended in this analysis) had to do something similar to what RIM is doing today.

So far, so good, but as always, go down now a little reality to set foot on earth …

Even with all these strategic moves RIM (which I applaud, do not think anyone could have done better), the reality is that Apple has eaten the entire market for tablets, at a level that even the business sector Apple is taking what I had never even marketed in the sector.

The iPad sales forecasts, since it was first and captured the imagination of the media, and especially, users, are everywhere, but by the end of next year’s possible that Apple has moved about 30 million iPads, and that just because the company has no means of making more for the demand that is at the moment and it is estimated will be in 2011.

In other words, the market is rewarding Apple for being first with the market