Apple iPhone application development: can't do right by some

andy-merrett.jpgAndy Merrett writes…

Thanks to the amount of hype and spin surrounding the iPhone, it seems that, when it comes to third party applications, Apple can’t do right by some people.

Apple were criticised right from the start when it looked as if they wouldn’t offer any kind of third-party application support for the iPhone.

Now that their initial solution has been unveiled – Web 2.0 and AJAX – they’re being slated again. Pick a derogatory word about Apple’s solution and it’s probably been used against them.

It seems few people stop to consider that this is Apple’s first-generation iPhone. As with the first Apple TV, the first iPod, the first Mac, the first iMac, or the first MacBook Pro, it will have first-generation functionality.

Everyone knows that future generations of the iPhone will feature more functionality. Take a look at the evolution of the iPod, now imagine what an iPhone could look like in five years’ time.

To add or not to add, that is the question – the politics of friendships on Facebook

katsmile.jpg Katherine Hannaford writes…

Love it or loathe it, Facebook is the new MySpace…oh, and the new Twitter, the new Flickr and pretty much every other work-shirker time-waster known to man, thanks to opening themselves up to third-party developers.

But how much is too much? Is there such a thing as being too involved in the social-networking service? And just how many friends is acceptable – is there a stigma attached to Facebook in the same manner as with MySpace, where those with fewer than 10 friends are deemed social pariahs?

Just how much is too much?

BT offering rewards for its loyal broadband customers. How about a lower subscription and higher bandwidth allowance instead?

andy-merrett.jpgAndy Merrett writes…

British Telecom has announced that, as a “thank you” to its loyal broadband customers, it will be offering them £500 worth of vouchers to spend on leisure breaks or online stores.

That’s all very nice for PR, but to be honest, I’m not a huge fan of these types of promotions. It won’t have cost BT anywhere near £500 per customer to give away these vouchers (which, by the way, I’ve not had a sniff of yet), there are usually some hefty terms and conditions on how they can be used (in other words, please spend more money), and really… all I want is a decent broadband service.

Manufacturers and users of technology products have to be responsible for their energy consumption

andy-merrett.jpgAndy Merrett writes…

So, the latest news is that many of our decrepit coal and nuclear power stations are coming to the end of their working lives, and something drastic needs to happen to ensure that Britain can generate enough power for our 21st century lives.

Whatever your view on nuclear power, fossil fuels, and greener alternatives, there’s no denying that we’re a power hungry nation.

We’re also lazy (but trying, of course.)