All the small things

The release of the iPhone SDK has been some weeks ago and I actually had time to think about the whole hype thing. Of course, one of my big disappointments was that Java is most likely not going to make it on the iPhone. I actually understand the concerns regarding the UI, but actually I could live quite happily with a headless version. Ok, I have to admit, this wouldn’t be a standard conform JVM, but when I look at current environments, I really have to ask myself, why such a version doesn’t already exist? I mean a headless JVM version, only designed to work on servers for instance. Maybe just as a profile, nothing distinct, but optimized for 24/7 server scenarios. I convinced that in such an environment OSGi could play an important role even on iPhones. Just forget for a moment that the current license of the SDK doesn’t allow background processes as well as “other languages” than Objectiv C and focus on the opportunities. OSGi offers a great componentization approach, which the new “Universal OSGi” RFP is trying to port to other platforms. Especially the expressiveness of the meta data provided by a bundle is very interesting for other languages as well. Of course, the question is to what extend is this possible, does it make sense to define a subset of functionalities, which everyone can met or does this make the whole idea worthless? Questions, at least for me, not easy to answer yet, but I am very interested in the outcome of the work of the expert group.

Now, despite the existence of Java or even OSGi on an iPhone, what are these new, cool and so desired applications, we can’t wait to see on our hand held devices? I gave it some thought and here is the list of “killer apps” I would love to see on the iPhone sooner or later.

• Google Maps with GPS: No need to explain that much, this is THE application I am waiting for on the iPhone. No more expensive navigation software extensions for different countries will be needed anymore. You always have it at hand! (Ideally with offline capabilities to enable the use even withouth internet access.)
• Instant Messaging: Something like fring is due for a long time. You never need to be offline, no need for expensive “Text Messages”, just write your Messages, without length limitations and even with pictures and other gimics. Not to forget features like Voice over IP via Skype for instance.
• Environment controller: Let’s call it the ubiquitous remote. You can not only control all your HIFI and TV equipment with it (ok, we need blue tooth here, but maybe in 3-5 years…), but also open your garage door, the car, dim the light in the room (the one where you are, based on location information) or your favorite computer game with the gyroscope in the iPhone. Why having tens of different applications, if one can do everything for you?
• Black box: Ok, this can be a good and a bad thing, I have to admit, but looking at it from a purely exploratory possitiv perspective, an iPhone can be used as a sort of a black box in case of accidents. Later, officials can be enabled to reconstruct the precise movements of the iPhone. A little bit like a flight recorder in airplanes. One can record where, with which speed, which movements the fon was moved.
• Emergency tool: Not only a phone, which calls 911, 110 or what ever the emergency number of the country you are in is, but also a live safer for others – with applications helping people to apply first aid step by step, with pictures and animated videos to show how it is done properly. An application capable of automatically submitting emergency data to the doctor nearby in an ad-hoc network as soon as the doctor authorizes himself.
• Interactive Games: Games are nothing new – no big deal about it. Something, which is new, are the kind of games introduced by the Nintendo WII. Equipment like a gyroscope or a position tracking system are new and animate people to actually play together. The iPhone can push this even further. With a mobile device, you can play anywhere with everyone, thus making playing a social experience. Just imagine a game you can play on your way to work, with someone in your train. Based on an adhoc-network, you probably don’t even now the one, but still can play against that individual. Even better are big sport events. Here thousands of people can be enabled to play against each other in some sort of a parallel game. A very interesting field, I have to admit. So many things are involved or have to thought about here: how to handle ad-hoc networks, how to negotiate the right score between two parties and avoid cheating, how to handle online/ offline behavior, how to secure the communication and manage trust in spontaneous networks,… Maybe I have to elaborate on this one in a later post, this topic just fascinates me, although I actually don’t play games.
• My Personal Buddy: An application, I am imagining for years now. An “intelligent” agent helping me to organize my life, by proposing appointments according to my daily behavior, my favorites and so on. I think Peter Kriens once wrote something more detailed about some of the functionalities I would expect.

As you probably noticed, I am convinced of the success of the new iPhone and I already have some ideas, what might come in the future. However, the iPhone is surely not the answer to all questions and still has several drawbacks, but it is certainly a move in the right direction. Let’s seen what’s coming up next.

Stay tuned,
Mirko

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