The Computer In Your Pocket
Tuesday, January 29, 2008 Filed in: Things
Dick Tracy had a radio phone in his watch. These
days, cell phones are much more like a computer in
the pocket than a phone.
Until recently, cell phones were phones that did a few other things like play special music as a ringtone, store contact information and phone numbers. That was about it.
So called smart phones added features; cameras, music players, Internet connectivity, even some basic computer applications to allow for some work on documents. Such phones were expensive and complicated, fine for the geekier technogadget folks, but not for the rest of us.
Apple's iPhone represents a watershed event in both cell phones and computers. The iPhone, and it's bother, the iPod touch, represent a computer in your pocket.
How so?
Apple's highly touted and fast selling Macintosh computer uses Mac OS X as the operating system. All smart phones have an operating system, too, though none is advanced as OS X, which also powers both the iPod touch and iPhone.
Coupled with the slick and simple multitouch interface, the iPhone sets a new standard for cell phones becoming the first near-computer in your pocket. Computers, whether notebooks or desktops, come with multiple functions and many features.
Nearly every Mac or Windows PC is capable of managing email, browsing the Internet, playing movies and music, and handling hundreds of additional chores and tasks through sophisticated software. So it is with the iPhone and the iPod touch.
Apple plans to launch a software development kit for third party software publishers to create applications specific to Apple's new mobile OS X. That will create a rapid wave of additional software for the portable devices, which will result in the first true 'computer in your pocket.'
Computing mobility will never be the same. With some exceptions, mostly having to do with usable screen size and finger real estate, the computer in your pocket will be capable of doing many of the tasks of the computer on your lap, in your backpack, at work, and at home.
The computer in your pocket is already available. It will grow in popularity and capability.
Now, if I could just figure out a way to get my computer to work on my wrist.
Until recently, cell phones were phones that did a few other things like play special music as a ringtone, store contact information and phone numbers. That was about it.
So called smart phones added features; cameras, music players, Internet connectivity, even some basic computer applications to allow for some work on documents. Such phones were expensive and complicated, fine for the geekier technogadget folks, but not for the rest of us.
Apple's iPhone represents a watershed event in both cell phones and computers. The iPhone, and it's bother, the iPod touch, represent a computer in your pocket.
How so?
Apple's highly touted and fast selling Macintosh computer uses Mac OS X as the operating system. All smart phones have an operating system, too, though none is advanced as OS X, which also powers both the iPod touch and iPhone.
Coupled with the slick and simple multitouch interface, the iPhone sets a new standard for cell phones becoming the first near-computer in your pocket. Computers, whether notebooks or desktops, come with multiple functions and many features.
Nearly every Mac or Windows PC is capable of managing email, browsing the Internet, playing movies and music, and handling hundreds of additional chores and tasks through sophisticated software. So it is with the iPhone and the iPod touch.
Apple plans to launch a software development kit for third party software publishers to create applications specific to Apple's new mobile OS X. That will create a rapid wave of additional software for the portable devices, which will result in the first true 'computer in your pocket.'
Computing mobility will never be the same. With some exceptions, mostly having to do with usable screen size and finger real estate, the computer in your pocket will be capable of doing many of the tasks of the computer on your lap, in your backpack, at work, and at home.
The computer in your pocket is already available. It will grow in popularity and capability.
Now, if I could just figure out a way to get my computer to work on my wrist.
