iphone

Olivetree Bible and the iPhone

I’ve used the OliveTree software for many years (and platforms). The iPhone version started off VERY rough but now they have a great product for this platform. I love the pop-up references when reading Grudem’s Systematic theology!

What I’ve got installed?

  • Several Bibles including NASB (thinking of buying Strongs version)
  • Grudem’s Systematic Theology (Great!)
  • Matthew Henry Commentary
  • Some Lewis and Piper books

If you have an iPhone and want to study the Christian scriptures look no further.

http://www.olivetree.com/

What’s Wrong with the iPhone?

Apple is what is wrong with the iPhone. Apple tightly controls several aspects of the phone. The software development interfaces don’t allow you to access some of the core data on the phone. This means you won’t find a great replacement calendar in the App Store. In addition, Apple also does not allow programs to run in the background while the phone is off. This means that 3rd party programs can’t trigger your phone to awake if a new IM message appears or you reach a specific GPS coordinate. Forget about taking “Remember the Milk” to a whole new level by alerting the user when they drive by that convenience store on the way home!

If Apple had done a better job at some of the core programs this might not have been as big of an issue. The calendar program is attractive but is very lacking. I’ve listed a few items below:

  • Calendar Entries cannot be emailed. This was a real let down for me.
  • Calendar has almost no settings that can be changed. I’d love a default 15 minute alarm. Wouldn’t you?
  • No task list integration
  • No iCal support for external calendars, this should be simple
  • No OTA calendar synchronization

If there was an open API in this area, and you could convince Apple to put the program on it’s “App Store” there would be an answer overnight.

The second big issue is programs running in the background. Apple might have some good reasons for this but certainly there is a way to provide a hook or some rules to “protect” the platform. Even Windoze Mobile programs could do this (ouch). Let’s say I download a great streaming music program and want to browse the web or read an ebook. Not on the iPhone. Only the Apple iPod program can play music in the background and they don’t support streaming audio!

Apple please don’t forget that the “open market” principles work best on your platform and App Store too!

Is the new iPhone Perfect?

3g iphoneAT&T launched the iPhone last year. Despite some severe limitations (slower network, no easy way to install apps) the platform took off like a rocket. Now with the ability to install apps (from a managed distribution channel) and fast network support it would seem the iPhone has become the killer smartphone device.

I finally took the plunge and got a 8GB iPhone. I had the AT&T Tilt, but became furious with the user interface. Nothing could realistically be done without a stylus. Yes, I tried the cubes, slide2, CMContacts – they were just ok. The IE browser was terrible and the windows mobile version of webkit (the cool factor behind the iPhone Safari browser) was buggy and not usable yet (and the screen is too small) AT&T is really great on the price (with appropriate plan of course) – $200! I’m selling my Tilt on eBay for more than that.

So, is the iPhone perfect? Let’s say practically perfect.

Pros for me

1) Unlike my other smartphones it handles wifi and cell data connections seamlessly without bothering me.
2) No stylus. Both the screen responsiveness and the UI make a perfect touch environment.
3) Huge screen. Yes, when you turn sideways you can view normal web pages and actually read them. Finally!
4) Finally a mobile application repository that notifies me of updates.
5) A great phone. It is easy to dial, the visual voicemail is nice, and I get as good of call quality as any other phone I’ve had (If you read the news YMMV on this one). I had it for a day before I even tried the phone feature.
6) Sync. I have an iMac. It just worked.

Cons for me

1) Programs stop. I’d like to listen to aol music and browse the web. When you switch programs the streaming audio stops. Maybe that’s a “program” thing but I don’t think so.
2) I can’t configure the email program to change the reply-to address.
3) On-screen keyboard still growing on me.
4) I’d like to be able to store files on it and use them (PDF, etc)

Will Android come and change the game? I’m sure it will make it more interesting. For people that want “it just works” I think the iPhone has a lot to offer. I’m very happy with it and feel like I carry around a mac mini-mini in my pocket!