MobileViews Blog

First, a thank you and apology to my old friend Jason Dunn for my bungling the audio recording during our podcast last week.

This week Jon and I are taking a break from our Windows CE 25th anniversary reminiscing to look back at a truly world changing product anniversary

The Apple iPod was
1. first announced on October 23, 2001. Became available on Nov. 10, 2001
2. Jon bought an iPhone 13 Pro because of a great trade-in deal with Verizon. Camera does seem markedly better, which is saying something because the iPhone 12 Pro Max camera was no slouch!
3. Google Docs universal @ menu

Available via Google Music Podcasts and Apple iTunes.

Jon Westfall was unavailable for this podcast. Fortunately, our mutual friend Jason Dunn was available as a guest co-host to reminisce about Windows CE/Mobile/Phone as it nears its 25th launch anniversary (November 1996).

Unfortunately, something weird happened during the recording process, however. The Audio HiJack audio-flow template that I’ve used to record hundreds of previous podcasts only recorded what Jason said. The good news is that I mostly asked questions and provided a few discussion prompts. Moreover, Jason is an excellent extemporaneous speaker. So, you can guess what I said. I removed the blank audio spaces (silences) during the segments I spoke.

Way back in Nov. 2010, Jason and I discussed the then new Windows Phone 7 which made a clean break from Microsoft’s older mobile devices and didn’t maintain app compatibility with Windows Mobile 6. Today, we’re looking back even further to Windows CE 1.0 as well as doing a catch-up conversation since his last visit to the podcast in October 2016!

Available via Google Music Podcasts and Apple iTunes.

Jon Westfall and I are joined by frequent guest panelist Frank McPherson to reflect on Microsoft Windows CE’s 25th anniversary and Microsoft mobile journey over the decades.

We also discussed:

1. My $48 Bluetooth earbuds have two features my Air Pods Pro do not: (1) Over the ear “hooks” so they don’t fall out when walking and (2) a digital display on the charging case that shows the battery charge level for each earbud. It seems like a decent product so far. However, despite having “noise cancellation” in the product name, it does not have such a feature.
2. New this week: Apple pushes out AirPods firmware, enables “Conversation Boost” – “Apple says Conversation Boost is designed to help people with mild hearing challenges stay more connected in conversations. The feature uses the AirPods Pro’s beam-forming microphones to boost the volume of a person talking in front of you, making it easier to listen to a face-to-face conversation, and there is also an option to reduce ambient noise.” – How much longer until commercial BT headphones replace $$$ hearing aids? — Firware Version 4A400
3. Also, MacRumors has a massive iOS 15 tips/tricks document – some things I forgot about – drag and drop support greatly improved, square calendar widget (Month view!), iOS password manager now supports 2 factor codes, AR walking mode directions (would be great for cities), background sounds (e.g., rain, other ambient sounds to help improve concentration).

   And something I didn’t realize you could do – when sending a photo in messages, you can search by month/year. Really helps when you know you had a picture you took last March that you want to send someone now.

Available via Google Music Podcasts and Apple iTunes.

In this podcast Jon Westfall and I discuss:

1. Windows CE 25th anniversary year: November 16, 1996
2. Measure your walking steadiness with your iPhone
   iOS 15 walking asymmetry using iPhone 8 or newer – can help with fall prevention
3. Setup iPad mini 6 using an iPad mini 5 did not work
   Using an iPhone 12 Pro did
   Restored from iPad mini 5 backup
   Microsoft Teams did not sync data. Uninstalled, installed fresh, signed in – worked
   inherited Bluetooth pairing limited to Apple devices
   Not non-Apple devices, e.g., Anker keyboard
   Fingerprint ID on power button works well
   Wish I could use it from right side in landscape mode
   Smart Folio is nice AND expensive. I wonder how durable it is?
   Can’t see battery level in portrait mode lock screen – block by Touch ID label Can see battery level in landscape lock screen orientation
   iOS 15 “focus” features
4. iPad mini 6 exhibits ‘jelly scrolling’ display refresh issue
5. Use Scenarios for 2 iPads: Explain Everything (Collaborative White Board) + Notes on the lectern at work. What are other times when you 2 devices is better than 1 even with multitasking?

Available via Google Music Podcasts and Apple iTunes.

Jon Westfall and I talk about the announcements that Apple made on September 14, 2021 that actually interested us.

1. iOS/iPadOS 15 available Sept. 20
2. What Apple didn’t announce on Sept. 14
   No iPhone 13 under display or on power button touch ID
   No Apple Watch Series 7 additional health metrics
   No new AirPod
3. New iPhone 13 camera features
   Telephoto up from 2.5 to 3x
   Macro (2cm)
   Night mode for ultrawide
   Cinematic mode
4. iPad mini 6
   Touch ID on top/power button
   No Face ID
   USB-C port
   Center Stage feature from iPad Pro available for front-facing camera
   NO Smart Connector
   Apple Pencil 2
5. iPad 9th gen
   Smart Connector
   Only Apple Pencil 1 support
   Center Stage
6. Rumor of new iPad Pro and Airpods 3 in November: What would you need to upgrade iPad Pros

Available via Google Music Podcasts and Apple iTunes.

Jon Westfall and I are joined by frequent guest panelist Don Sorcinelli for this podcast. We discuss:

1. iPhone 13 (rumors)
   Smaller notch
   120MHz ProMotion Display
   Camera improvements (???)
   A15 processor
   5G
   MAYBE – under display Touch ID

   Apple WatchOS 7 (known)
   Family Setup – config Watch for people without an iPhone (e.g., children)
   More customizable watch faces
   Single app can provide more than one complication
   Share faces
   Siri language translation

   iPad mini & iPad 7
   Very little reliable rumors IMO

   AirPods 3

2. Study of Microsoft employees shows how remote work puts productivity and innovation at risk

   “A new study finds that Microsoft’s company wide shift to remote work has hurt communication and collaboration among different business groups inside the company, threatening employee productivity and long-term innovation.”

3. Jon’s Rant / Confusion: What do you do with health data? Yes, some actionable advice is easy to tell, but I’m still a bit confused by my Bello belly fat analyzer – it literally hasn’t told me a single thing I couldn’t have already noticed in much lower-tech fashion: a mirror.

Available via Google Music Podcasts and Apple iTunes.