Dave Zatz, Author at Zatz Not Funny!

Verizon Consolidates Mobile FiOS Apps

Looks like Verizon has finally taken my advice and has begun consolidating their disparate FiOS-related apps into a unified control panel. Instead of say launching an individual mobile program to change channels on our Verizon DVR and then launching another to manage recordings, those formerly distinct functions are now logically accessed and controlled via the … Read more

A Google TV 2.0 Sneak Peak

After reading my Google TV 2.0 lament, our friend Scott Greczkowski of Satellite Guys wanted us to share action shots of the upcoming lean back experience.

The original Google TV initiative, comprised of Sony and Logitech hardware, wasn’t exactly well received in the marketplace. In fact, disastrous sales led Logitech to knock $200 off their set-top box… about the same time they sacked the CEO. So to improve upon the experience, Google is modernizing the interface and bringing the familiar Android Market of Honeycomb to the table – with both Google and Logitech indicating release is mere weeks away. And I expect we’ll see both software updates made available for existing devices plus a variety of new hardware vessels. Which one hopes is more in line with Roku and Apple TV pricing this time around.

As we were previously exposed to many elements of the new Honeycomb 3.1 UI last last spring, I wanted to highlight Scott’s Google TV 2.0 app store experience. And my first “Android Market” observation is the thought that perhaps Google should have gone with “Android TV” given the underpinnings of Google TV and their success in the smartphone arena. That ship has sailed, so I’m left wondering why the Android Market is branded as such when Google TV Market would work just as well. Beyond labels, the app store mimics the mobile experience. Browse, download, and rate apps with users being alerted as to the data the app can access. Thanks to reader Khalid, we can even currently browse the small but growing selection of Google TV 2.0 apps via desktop web browser ahead of launch. Based on the screengrabs and marketplace browsing, I suspect some early favorites might be Pandora, Twitter, and the WSJ.

Apple TV 4.4 Jailbreak Now Available

Just a few short days after Apple TV was upgraded to 4.4 (and then 4.4.1), the user friendly Seas0nPass jailbreak utility has now likewise been updated to free you from the stock confines of Apple’s diminutive media streamer. Sort of.

Unfortunately, this initial 4.4 Apple TV jailbreak requires the aTV be tethered to a computer at boot. An annoyance, yes. But not a deal breaker. Which brings us to the fairly critical plugins which fail to work under the update… including XBMC.

Considering a majority of jailbreakers do so to harness the more extensive local media playback capabilities of XBMC, this limitation could be a non-starter for many. So it’s probably good news that for the time being it’s possible to abstain from upgrading your hacked 4.3 Apple TV. By the time Apple removes 4.3 code signing and forces an upgrade, one hopes these early jailbreak issues will have been resolved.

Itemized plugin status follows:

Google TV 2.0 Still Missing In Action

With the introduction of Google’s Ice Cream Sandwich Android software less than 12 hours away, I can’t help but wonder whatever happened to the prior Honeycomb edition destined for Google TV. Back in May, we were promised a summer Google TV 2.0 reboot. And the struggling platform could certainly use a lift. The new app-centric approach … Read more

A Failure of Microsoft Marketing

With initial iPhone 4 weekend sales pegged at potentially 4 million units, I’m reflecting on Microsoft’s failure to generate much excitement (or sales) from their competing Windows Phone 7 platform. And, as the freshest mobile experience on the market, the reception surely has been a failure.

Microsoft’s first, primary, and ongoing error is in the branding department. At launch, their arguably late Windows Mobile replacement operating system was titled “Windows Phone 7 Series” … which is saddled with a whole lot of baggage. Like Microsoft’s derivative “I’m a PC” commercials, Windows Phone sounds like a wannabe iPhone. Except I wouldn’t say Windows has the most positive connotation. For many, Windows is a relic and something we’re forced to use at work. With a large number of folks still stuck on XP, this isn’t the message Microsoft should be projecting. Quintuply so given Windows Phone actual innovative, vibrant, and fast Metro UI.

Then there’s the “Series” problem. As Microsoft doesn’t actually create it’s own hardware, a device running this software would have been known by the cumbersome and redundant “Windows Phone 7 Series phone.” While the redundancy hasn’t been entirely eliminated, Microsoft did at least streamline relatively quickly by dropping the “Series” monicker. But it’s all still too pedestrian and not reflective of their software experience. Would anyone have bought a Windows Gaming Console? Boo-ring! But Microsoft “Xbox” on the other hand exudes mystery and sex appeal. And happens to sell quite well. I’m left wondering why they weren’t as aggressive when rebooting the mobile experience. I’d say it’s a lack of vision. Yet, Metro’s execution indicates otherwise. So perhaps this is the result of branding by committee and they decided on something safe.

Siri, Then & Now

As most probably know by now, Siri is Apple’s iPhone 4S digital assistant featuring uncanny voice recognition and conversational interaction. Here’s how Apple describes it/him/her:

Siri on iPhone 4S lets you use your voice to send messages, schedule meetings, place phone calls, and more. Ask Siri to do things just by talking the way you talk. Siri understands what you say, knows what you mean, and even talks back. Siri is so easy to use and does so much, you’ll keep finding more and more ways to use it.

But Siri wasn’t always Apple’s crown jewel and, as an independent company, released an iOS app in early 2010. We briefly touched on it then when Robert Scoble declared Siri the future of the web. Given prior Borg-like Apple acquisitions, I wasn’t particularly floored when the folks from Cupertino acquired Siri just a few short months after launch. But given it’s deep iPhone 4S integration and tent pole marketing, in retrospect, Scoble’s enthusiasm was warranted and I was wrong.

But enough of the historical play by play. When Siri was originally released, I did what any ~~12 year old boy~~ geek blogger would have and asked it a series of ridiculous questions back in February, 2010. Being curious how Siri has matured in the intervening months, I recruited fellow blogger Andru Edwards of Gear Live to replicate a few of my inquiries on his iPhone 4S…

The iPhone 4S Conundrum

Like many bloggers and fanboys, I had anticipated an iPhone 5 announcement — going so far as to itemize the trade in value of my current iPhone 4, despite a hefty $260 early termination fee after only 8 months with Verizon. But then the iPhone 4S was introduced.

Yeah, I’m one of those guys who was somewhat underwhelmed by the announcement. And I fully acknowledge my expectations of a new look were mostly unreasonable for a variety of reasons. First, there’s the time required to design, build, test, and iterate new hardware to Apple’s exacting, although sometiems imperfect, standards. Once that’s wrapped, it’d then take a decent interval to ramp up manufacturing to produce the millions of iPhone 4S handsets necessary to launch with. Not to mention Apple probably wouldn’t want to unduly alienate the large third party accessory iPhone ecosystem. Basically, we shouldn’t assume an updated form on an annual basis.

As to why I’d want a new look, that’s simple. My iPhone 4 has a glass back and requires a bumper to protect it when I set it down and to prevent me from launching it’s slippery form into the ground. I find it just as handsome today as I did pre-launch, yet I’d rather carry my phone caseless… as I did with the original aluminum-backed iPhone. The 3G and 3GS were also too slippery for my tastes, but at least I didn’t have to worry about shattering two sides. Generally speaking, I also am quickly bored with my gadgetry and always ready to flip into something new.

The Fall Apple TV Update

As you may have heard, Apple pushed out something like six dozen software updates today. And, fortunately, the second generation Apple TV ($100) was shown some love. Version 4.4, seemingly sharing iOS 5.0 DNA, includes a small but notable number of software and content enhancements. Most promising, for those who own an iPad 2 or iPhone 4s, is “AirPlay Mirroring” — essentially anything playing on your compatible iPad or iPhone is beamed to your television via Apple TV. So while some content providers have selectively blocked HDMI output, it’s my understanding that they’ll have no say in the matter as far as wireless AirPlay Mirroring is concerned. (*Apps can opt-out.) Of course, it remains to be seen how well these devices can pass decent quality video. But it could become an extremely significant feature.

In addition to its previously existing (and competent) photo capabilities, Apple TV now syncs up with one’s iCloud Photo Stream. As this is also a brand new Apple service, it probably deserves a quick overview. New photos shot with iOS devices or imported onto your computer are automagically replicated onto your other linked devices. Unfortunately, Apple won’t host and push an infinite amount of data and they currently limit access to your last 30 days of snapshots with a 1000 pic limit. On Apple TV, those photos are available for viewing – to browse or enjoy as a screensaver or slideshow. And they do show up in the stream nearly instantaneously, with zero intervention required.