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Two set-top boxes have been launched to try to marry the Internet and the TV. Both adapters, from Sony and Roku, worked well in tests, but each has limitations. Read more »
Walt Mossberg answers readers' questions about how to get a new Windows computer with the XP operating system, small portable radios, and the functions of MailBug. Read more »
The Eye-Fi Explore Card, a wireless memory card with a geotagging feature that geographically prelabels photos, was unreliable in one scenario, but we found it to be a great way to automatically organize and label photos. Read more »
In July, Walt spoke at the Aspen Ideas Festival about the rise of the iPhone and similar devices and what it means for the future of the PC. Below are two videos of Walt’s presentation. The video on top is the complete session; the YouTube video below it is a shorter version.
Also, see Walt’s reviews of the device–both the iPhone 3G and the original version, when he first wrote about its meaning and impact; and Boomtown’s post yesterday about the explosive growth of the App Store.
I’ve spent part of the weekend downloading and trying out dozens of the more than 800 new third-party iPhone applications that launched with the debut of Apple’s (AAPL) “App store.” The store is part of the new iPhone 2.0 operating system, which not only comes with the new iPhone 3G, but is also a free upgrade on older iPhones and a $10 upgrade on the iPod Touch.
These first applications range from serious programs for doctors and pilots to silly parlor tricks that take advantage of the iPhone’s motion sensors. One, called PhoneSaber, merely displays an image of a Star Wars-like light saber and makes varying light saber noises as you wave the phone in the air.
Here are ten apps I think you might enjoy checking out, in no particular order. These aren’t meant as full reviews, just pointers to interesting items. There may be ten others, or 200 others, you think worthier of attention. Feel free to add comments with your own suggestions.
AIM. Finally, a native iPhone program for accessing one of the world’s most widely used instant-messaging networks. It lacks some of the more rarified features of the PC or Mac versions, but does the basic text-chat thing quite well. One downside: because Apple isn’t allowing third-party programs to run constantly in the background, you can’t receive new messages in AIM while doing other things. This will supposedly be remedied by new Apple server technology due later this year.
Below is the third and final clip from Walt’s appearance on Yahoo’s Tech Ticker with Aaron Task. In it, they discuss today’s launch of the iPhone 3G, and what it means for the competition. Watch parts one and two of the segment from earlier posts, and read Walt’s review of the device here.
Yesterday, Walt spoke with Yahoo Tech Ticker’s Aaron Task about the 3G iPhone and its Friday launch. Since it’s more of a “handheld computer,” as Walt describes it (click here for Walt’s full review), its success is naturally linked to today’s launch of the App Store and the embrace of the software development community. Here’s their conversation:
The first reviews of the 3G iPhone went live yesterday, and the blogosphere has been abuzz ever since (here’s Walt’s full review). Yesterday, Walt spoke with Aaron Task of Yahoo’s Tech Ticker about the 3G iPhone, its pros and cons and “Apple sensitivity.” Here’s their conversation:
Walt Mossberg writes two columns, and edits a third, for The Wall Street Journal. He also publishes periodic interviews for the Journal, and occasional blog posts on this site. With Kara Swisher, he co-produces and co-hosts D: All Things Digital, a major high-tech and media conference.
Here is a statement of my ethics and coverage policies. It is more than most of you want to know, but, in the age of suspicion of the media, I am laying it all out.
