Here’s the top line features for the new iOS 4 for the iPhone and iPod Touch.

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There’s a lot of buzz in the Mac world about how the Intel-powered Macs can run Windows (often better than PCs can run windows).  All the new Mac users love to just jump in.  I’ve jumped in too, and I have to say the built-in Boot Camp option is not my favorite way to go.  I’ve become a HUGE fan of Virtual Box by Sun Microsystems for its simplicity, open source standards, ease of use and installation, and price (FREE!).

What virtualization products don’t really understand is that most applications have crossed over to Macs.  Most of the time I need a Windows box, I need it for a short period of time and I’m not really ‘moved into’ it.  It’s for one-off tasks that require the occasional PC app that hasn’t crossed over.

Like most people, once I’ve moved over to a Mac, I’m out of my PC. I don’t need a PC most of the time, and I am less inclined to buy and support an additional app for the occasional need of a PC.  This is what makes Virtual Box so great:

• It’s Free and open source
• The Virtual Hard Drive is open source
• You can do just about everything you need with a virtual machine
• You can run unlimited virtual machines as long as you have enough system resources
• It’s a small app, loads fast, boots fast
• It has drivers for great integration with Linux, and Windows

Here’s a download on a few other multi-boot options and why they may not be for you:

• Why I don’t like Boot Camp:
  • Partitioning: Apple thought those of us who moved over from the PC world would hate it if we couldn’t cling on to our own bad habits. So Boot Camp partitions your hard drive so that you can boot directly into your XP image and act as if you never bought a Mac in the first place.  While this may be necessary for a few of you out there, for most of us, we really don’t need a Windows machine to such an extent that we have to sacrifice a portion of the hard drive for the occasional need of a PC.  Should you no longer need the XP partition, it’s a pain to get rid of it.
  • Limited Use: Boot Camp is limited to a few variations of Windows products.  On the Apple Support Site, the following is explained to us:  “Important: Boot Camp is designed to support only Microsoft Windows Home Edition and Professional with SP2 or later, and Microsoft Vista. The required Macintosh-specific drivers provided by Apple are only intended for these releases.”
  • Windows 7 support has yet to happen: Here is an update for Windows 7 support. Oh and by the way, once the release is out, you still can’t use your Windows 7 if you bought your Mac before 2007.
  • Booting is confusing and a pain for a novice.
• Why I don’t like VMWare Fusion:
  • It costs $80-100.
  • If you’re going to spend money, this is your best option.
  • Future upgrades after 12 months cost more.
• How about Parallel Workstation?
  • Cost is about $80
  • Not all upgrades are free
  • If you really care about running a dual platform day in and day out, this may be a good option.

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• Is AT&T Ready for Your iPhone 3G S? No, here’s why:
• Design/Development Utilities for the iPhone
• Update: More on the Apple Ecosystem

First Global Scrapbook and Travel Magazine Now Available at iTunes App Store

DENVER, Colo. –  Sept. 24, 2009 – Oh Wow Studios, LLC, a licensed Apple software developer, introduces its premier applications for iPod Touch and IPhone. The applications, Travelholic Confessions and Secret Places, are the first mobile travel magazine and only global scrapbook dedicated to Apple products. Completely based on user-generated content from novices and professionals alike, these applications are changing what people expect from traditional iTunes apps.
“Before purchasing applications, potential users always want to know what it does,” said Oh Wow Studios Co-Founder, Razvan Carcoana. “At Oh Wow Studios, we’re challenging that standard by creating apps where the users decide the content, submitting their favorite stories, advice and photos from around the world; and are able to stay true to the market at the same time. We don’t dictate to people what they want. The users dictate what they want.”
Providing real travel scoops from real travelers, Travelholic Confessions is a space for users to share their travel experiences with millions of global readers. Less canned than traditional travel magazines, this app combines advice, humor, photos, helpful links and a signature “confession” or honest truth about exciting destinations in new monthly stories created for users by users.
Can’t afford a vacation in this economy? Secret Places can take you to far away locales whether you’re standing in line at the supermarket or sitting in your cubicle. Submitted by real travelers directly from their iPhone and without the hassle of creating an account, Secret Places provides a platform for shutterbugs to show off their photography skills in a myriad of categories.
“iPods changed the way we deliver music to our ears, the Amazon Kindle changed the way we deliver books to our libraries, and we are the first developers to recognize the impact the Apple platform has on getting out travel experiences,” said Carcoana. “With Travelholic Confessions and Secret Places we’re transforming the travel content market to provide real and insightful information to the masses.”
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About Oh Wow Studios, LLC
Founded in 2008, Oh Wow Studios is a licensed Apple software developer committed to creating unique applications for the iPod Touch and iPhone communities. All Oh Wow Studios apps are currently available at the iTunes app store.

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Last month you enjoyed a cruise through the east end of Grand Cayman with Nina Zapala, the Norwegian Fjords with Madhusudan, and took a quick look at the Blarney Stone with Liz.

Fans also loved the Yodelfest in Switzerland, the bones at Kutna Hora, the cutest town in Germany, authentic Flamenco in Seville, and tips on how not to get lost in Greece.

In September we have a great lineup for you as well! The Whiskey Trail, Italy, Switzerland and more is in store for you on Travelholic Confessions.

Don’t have the app?

Have a travel confession to share with us?  Email it to:  editor@travelholicconfessions.com

Related Posts:

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I’m excited, as I’m sure you are, about the iPhone 3G S.  I have just spent hundreds on the 3G, and now, less than a year later, I’m trumped with an even better one… at a lower price, faster, and better.  Ahh, the punishment of early adopters.  Please sir, can I have some more?

Anyway, according to a USA Today article (as well as a ton of other sources, just google it), AT&T’s network isn’t even ready for the 3G, not to mention the 3G S. As a side note,  an unnamed source at AT&T had told me 6 months ago that AT&T is about 2 years behind in mobile capacity compared to where they should be with the iPhone boom they have been experiencing.

According to the article, the average mobile device eats a respectable 70-80 megabytes of data in one month.  Not too bad.  The iPhone uses far more data becuase of the OS and how it constantly needs to be ‘figuring things out’ ( and also due to the sales volume, 3rd party apps, and its sheer usefulness), it eats about 700 megabytes.  That’s 10x more than the average device.  Let’s throw a few million of these devices out there every few months, and pretty soon all urban centers with 3G will have a data transfer rate closer to glacial speed.

So, let’s play pretend.  And let’s pretend you are an executive at AT&T, and you have a problem.  You’re getting downward price pressure from consumers on the device.  But the device is still selling like hotcakes.  It has literally saved you form bankrupcy (again), but it’s a data hog and your network can’t really handle it unless you upgrade your gear.  What would you do?

Well according to the USA Today article, you put off upgrading your gear for another couple of years.  So while those of us who bought into the 3G ‘speed’ promise are not getting what we thought… those of you who are buying into the 3G S speed promise aren’t either.  You see, the S uses HSPA.  Think of it as the new 3G network.  And AT&T basically stated they won’t finish upgrading to it until 2011.  So while you’re itching for that new burst of speed from America’s largest network… you won’t get it until the 3G S is old news. Bummer.

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• Preparations for OS 3.0
• NEW iOS4 Features and Upgrade Released
• Oh Wow Studios Takes Travel up a Notch with Introduction of User Generated, Content-Driven Applications

I spotted this great post a few days ago. If you’re looking for a great list of apps to help you organize, design, code, develop and brainstorm, this is a great summary of them.

http://mac.appstorm.net/roundups/iphone-roundups/50-iphone-apps-for-web-designers-developers/

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A while ago I marveled at the cleanliness of the integration of Apple’s whole line.  I recently read this posting about which seems to succinctly package the issues dealing with the downside to the upside of app development.  While I don’t subscribe to the doom and gloom the posting depicts. It is interesting to note.

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This is a great little video.  It’s wonderfully produced and it’s gotten quite a following. They’re working on a v2. You can see it here www.mycomputerisalive.com

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This is such a great ad, I can’t help but see the eventual end to PCs in the consumer market if Microsoft doesn’t step it up.  I had to share this:

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A lot of our clients ask about what we’re doing to prepare for OS 3.0.  Apple now requires that all apps on the app store and apps being submitted for approval be OS 3.0 compliant.  This is beneficial so that the transition to the new OS is smooth and efficient.

We are now treating all applications we develop as 3.0 applications and testing them as such.  Though it does not necessarily impact your development timeline with us, it will ensure a smooth approval process through Apple.  Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have further questions about how OS 3.0 will impact you.

Related Posts:

• Travelholic Update – August 2009
• Is AT&T Ready for Your iPhone 3G S? No, here’s why:
• Design/Development Utilities for the iPhone
• NEW iOS4 Features and Upgrade Released
• Oh Wow Studios Takes Travel up a Notch with Introduction of User Generated, Content-Driven Applications