Everybody’s got an axe to grind about what kind of applications they’d like to see on the iPhone. Me? Despite all the great web-based alternatives, I’m holding out for IM and an RSS newsreader.
Phill Ryu of My Dream App and Mac Heist has his own list of five applications he’d like to see Apple port over. Of course, being Phill Ryu, he couldn’t be content to just write about them, so he enlisted Josh Pyles of Pixelmatrix Design to help him mock up concept art for the apps.
First up was an eBook reader with definite Delicious Library overtones (pictured), followed by an online version of the iTunes Store (with an option to save items to download when you’re on a Wi-Fi connection); a Skitch-like Sketch program (something I hadn’t considered, but would definitely have fun with); an auto-switching VoIP client; and a version of iMovie (probably not ‘08) with the option to upload to YouTube.
Interesting ideas all, though I’m not sure that Apple would take their time to deliver most of them. Just another reason why opening the platform to third-party developers would be a smashing idea. Which of Phill’s apps would you go for? What else might you suggest?
Dan, I'm sure you've seen the iPhone version of Newsgator Online? What are your thoughts on it, or what do you think would make it better (other than expanding folders)? I really have grown to like it.
I wrote a bit about it already. I tried to set it up with NetNewsWire syncing, but that seemed to act a little wonky. As web-based RSS readers go, I'd say that NewsGator is fine. It doesn't blow me away, and certainly a native client would probably provide a way better experience, but mainly I've just eschewed reading my feeds on the iPhone for the moment, in favor of browsing a handful of sites.
Every time people talk about what could be with the iPhone, I'm left dumbfounded. iMovie? I'm sorry, but that is not going to be the killer app for the iPhone. I'm sure Phill wants us to believe he really thought these ideas through because he had someone make a mockup, but you couldn't Skitch that picture with your pinky. The eBook reader is a good idea though. And Apple TV and iPhone are crying out for direct access to the iTunes store (I'm waiting, not hoping, for it).
An iPhone version of Timbuktu or Remote Desktop is an obvious winner! Control your mac at home from your iPhone - essentially running your desktop programs on the iPhone.
What do you think of the enophi.com RSS reader for the iPhone? It's my favorite web based app on the iPhone:
http://enophi.com
I'd like to have a simple database.
Also CONTACTS on the home screen.
Also a dimple on the corner to attach a lanyard to.
Also my checking and savings account checkbooks.
Here's something simple for the iPhone whose current crippled UI drives me crazy: two-way sync on text memos, like (for instance) shopping lists.
If you didn't own one, you might not know that while the current v1.0 iPhone interface allows you to write brief text memos, but to get them on to your desktop computer, you have to email them to yourself...it doesn't "sync" in iTunes like other things. (Klunky).
Worse, there's no way of getting a memo from your desktop to the iPhone. You'd expect (like the PDA feature, Palm Memopad) that you'd be able to type in a short message in a iTunes "memo" tab and have it synced to the iPhone. But noooooo.
I can understand the point of filling the iPhone with "funware" (Youtube?) rather than anything that has an "enterprise" MS Office look to it and might interface with Word. However, the memo function crippleware goes too far. Yeah, forget writing a memo or letter on the iPhone...but a shopping list?
It shouldn't be too hard to make iTunes do this (just add a tab or panel on the iPhone sync screens). Can you do that Apple, pretty please? Only then will the iPhone really do what my Tungsten 3 in the drawer used to do quite well.
I don't have one yet but I think it would be nice to have my address book and calendar sync over wifi, even if this required .mac it would be better than having to plug it in all the time to sync.
Mass texting messaging
Being able to add your own ringtones
Being able to copy images from the internet and store them on your phone
Being able to send and recieve SMS messages