Archive for November, 2008

Apple Announces Iphone Software Update 2.2

Apple release today a software update for the iphone available immediately on itunes.  Some may say this is a preemptive strike against the highly anticipated Blackberry Storm due out today.  None the less, the upgrade caught many by surprise as it appeared at midnight today.

The updates/improvements include:

• Decrease in call setup failures and dropped calls
• Enhancements to Map
  • Google Street View
  • Public transit and walking directions
  • Display address of dropped pins
  • Share location via email
• Enhancements to Mail
  • Resolved isolated issues with scheduled fetching of email
  • Improved formatting of wide HTML email
• Podcasts are now available for download in iTunes application (over Wi-Fi AND Cellular network)
• Improved stability and performance of Safari
• Improved sound quality of Visual Voicemail messages
• Pressing Home button from any Home screen displays the first Home screen
• Preference to turn on/off auto-correction in Keyboard Settings

Features

Google Street View

Street view takes you on a virtual walking tour: Navigate street-level photographs of places your’ve located in Maps.

Public Transit and Walking Directions

Get walking directions, find public transit schedules, check fares, and estimate your travel time.

Share Location

Tap the Share Location button to send an email that includes a Google Maps URL.

Podcasts

Get access to millions of free podcasts on the itunes tore via wi-fi or cell

Safari Improvements

A new search-friendly user interface, better performance, and more stability

So, not a whole lot, but nice update.  Apple does appear, in my opinion, to be trying to take a little of Storms thunder away…  Btw… have not heard of giant hordes of people lining up to get the storm… let me know if you hear differently!

We are currently at the New Tee Vee Live conference in San Francisco. Watch live!

NextGen will be one of the sponsors at the next Capital Cabal DC Networking Event on November 11th at 5:30pm at Gua Rapo’s Arlington VA.

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Since 2005 The Capital Cabal has produced a monthly networking event where D.C. area “new media” professionals gather to meet, share war stories, swap schemes, hire talented professionals, schmooze, invest, find investments, kick-off a job search or just relax with other digerati. We average over 100 Internet and business savvy attendees from government agencies, political organizations, web-based businesses, advertising agencies, PR firms, not-for-profit organizations, associations and the private sector.

We look forward to meeting you and discussing your new and social media needs!

 

I really think Lee Lefever at Commoncraft has done an amazing job at creating useful videos explaining products.  As he says, our product is explanation!  Here is another great video from commoncraft on RSS. RSS in Plain English.

Flickr, a leading photo sharing and social media site, has announced they now have had 3 billion photos uploaded to its service.  It has shown a 50% growth rate from nearly a year ago announcing its 2 billionth photo uploaded.

Although impressive, Flickr is still lagging behind the #1 photo sharing site: Facebook.  Facebook announced last month its 10 billionth member photo.

Flickr, acquired by Yahoo in 2005 for 35 million, has proven itself one of the finest acquisitions made in the Web 2.0 era.  Youtube was acquired by google for 1.6 billion and Facebook received a 15 billion valuation from Microsoft when it purchased a $240 million dollar stake in the company.