Apple’s Keynote address centered around the new operating system iOS5 for the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch. On the iOS5 operating system, everything announced is in someway incorporated into how I use my iPhone today. However, these methods are clunky, a miss-match of apps, external appliances such as hard-drives and some apps linked to one another via sync to complete the set of tasks that I wish the iPhone to carry out. Other apps are so innovative that they have brought new dimensions to the way that I use the iPhone.

I use WhatsApp and PingChat to connect to my friends. The apps allow me to: chat one-on-one, group chats, send messages, files and images in much the same way that a Blackberry does. But unlike Blackberry whose BB ping only allows you to send messages to other BB users, these apps allow me to send it across different operating systems to Android, iPhone and Blackberry users and in the case of WhatsApp, also to Symbian users. I can see that iMessage will replace those apps for me on a daily basis to those users who have an iOS5 device but that WhatsApp and PingChat will still be useful for messaging friends who do not have an Apple device.

I use Drop-Box to upload files that I wish to share and I use it to upload a file that I wish to have access to later. For this purpose, I also have a Mobileme account, which allows me to use iDisk to facilitate this method and Gallery, which stores images. IDisk allows me to synchronize files automatically between my MacBook Pro and MacBook Air, something Drop-Box does not do. I also use Mobileme to automatically synchronize my Calendar, Contacts and Notes. This is a service that I will continue to use when it is reincarnated into iCloud, but I do not foresee a need for Drop-Box once this initiative is carried out.

Instapaper is my preferred app for reading web pages in off-line mode but with Apples Read Later, this will become void.

I have purchased two sets of dictionaries because as a student, I needed something that crosses over more than the range that a mini-dictionary would and a dedicated dictionary devoted to my subject, Linguistics. Apple’s new in-built dictionary will be suitable for the vast majority of people. What impacts will that make on dictionary developers for the iPhone?

Notifications may see apps like ‘Don’t forget the milk’, shopping lists, additional notepads etc. becoming obsolete, particularly in light of the fact that notifications will have reminders and Apple’s office apps, Pages, Keynotes and Numbers are all now available for the iPhone.

Photographic apps are the ‘apps of the moment’ with users able to take a photo and manipulate it to their heart’s content into whatever format they wish, adjusting colours, framework and lighting to name a few. The extensive camera apps cover the range from that of a basic user who just wants to crop and frame to a professional photographer who wants to make dedicated specific changes that a basic user would not comprehend. However, this could see apps such as Camera+ and Instagram customers happily dumping those apps to go for the default editing suite that will be presented in iOS5.

Email increased search facilities and flagging of messages are such that the majority of people have been attracted to Gmail for those services. However, to have these incorporated into IOS5 will negate such an option for some and for others provide an increased incentive to use the email facility to greater use.

Overall, the synchronizing of apps, purchases and music up to the iCloud, across and down to other devices is a win, win, win, situation for Apple. Incorporation and the back-up of devices is what the people want. ‘Cutting the apron strings’ to a computer has made Apple devices even more of a gadget incentive where once one member of the Apple family is added, the urge is there to complete the family network, being that is exactly what each member will become – a network of mini devices and computers that can network and talk to each other to provide a universal and amalgamated community.

Twitter appears to have become one of the luckiest of developers with the announcement that it will be inbuilt into iOS5 to incorporate into any apps that require it. Will we see more social apps such as Facebook being added to iOS in the future?

But, what I hear you ask happens to the developers of those apps now incorporated into the umbrella of iOS5? Will there be a flurry of new court cases citing Apple? Perhaps cases of Apple infringing on developers applications, then using what it has learnt from their customer database, those apps that are best sellers and that users find essential.

Is it a case of?

“Come Into My Parlor – Said the Spider to the Fly!”

Apple has set out to do what customers want and that is the incorporation of these apps and functions built-in into a single operating system. The developers will feel as if they have been caught in a spider trap, one who has watched their every movement and progress and the tangled web weaved for them and one that they thought they could escape from, one in which they had the upper hand – only to find they did not. To find their innovative wings ripped from under them and their faculties drained dry along with their customer user base. Will developers be so forthcoming with new ideas and inspirations – only to find out that in the next round of iOS, they too have become the fly in the trap?

Apple will go one step further and that is with music streaming. Who then will go through what other developers are suffering today? Last FM, Spotify?

Of course, Windows, Android and Blackberry stores still exist for developers to turn their talents to. But what if Microsoft, Google and RIM also decides to harvest the treats and desserts that developers have brought them?

Come Into My Parlor Said The Spider To The Fly

“Will you walk into my parlor?” said the spider to the fly;

“‘Tis the prettiest little parlor that ever you may spy.

The way into my parlor is up a winding stair,

And I have many curious things to show when you are there.”

“Oh no, no,” said the little fly; “to ask me is in vain,

For who goes up your winding stair can ne’er come down again.”

“I’m sure you must be weary, dear, with soaring up so high.

Well you rest upon my little bed?” said the spider to the fly.

“There are pretty curtains drawn around; the sheets are fine and thin,

And if you like to rest a while, I’ll snugly tuck you in!”

“Oh no, no,” said the little fly, “for I’ve often heard it said,

They never, never wake again who sleep upon your bed!”

Said the cunning spider to the fly: “Dear friend, what can I do

To prove the warm affection I’ve always felt for you?

I have within my pantry good store of all that’s nice;

I’m sure you’re very welcome – will you please to take a slice?”

“Oh no, no,” said the little fly; “kind sir, that cannot be:

I’ve heard what’s in your pantry, and I do not wish to see!”

“Sweet creature!” said the spider, “you’re witty and you’re wise;

How handsome are your gauzy wings; how brilliant are your eyes!

I have a little looking-glass upon my parlor shelf;

If you’d step in one moment, dear, you shall behold yourself.”

“I thank you, gentle sir,” she said, “for what you’re pleased to say,

And, bidding you good morning now, I’ll call another day.”

The spider turned him round about, and went into his den,

For well he knew the silly fly would soon come back again:

So he wove a subtle web in a little corner sly,

And set his table ready to dine upon the fly;

Then came out to his door again and merrily did sing:

“Come hither, hither, pretty fly, with pearl and silver wing;

Your robes are green and purple; there’s a crest upon your head;

Your eyes are like diamond bright, but mine are dull as lead!”

Alas, alas! how very soon this silly little fly,

Hearing his wily, flattering words, came slowly flitting by;

With buzzing wings she hung aloft, then near and nearer grew,

Thinking only of her brilliant eyes and green and purple hue,

Thinking only of her crested head. Poor, foolish thing! at last

Up jumped the cunning spider, and fiercely held her fast;

He dragged her up his winding stair, into the dismal den -

Within his little parlor – but she ne’er came out again!

And now, dear little children, who may this story read,

To idle, silly flattering words I pray you ne’er give heed;

Unto an evil counselor close heart and ear and eye,

And take a lesson from this tale of the spider and the fly.

A Poem by Mary Howitt  (1799-1888)

Tags: apple, apple/ios, iPad/iPad2, iPhone, iPod

This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 7th, 2011 at 09:30 and is filed under Apple, Apple / iOS, News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.