At this time of writing, closed captioned movies in iTunes grew its list to 94.

The most recent being “The Spiderwick Chronicles”, “Enchanted” and “Dan In Real Life”.

I am really hoping that the studio will release a captioned feature “There Will Be Blood” as it is one of my favorite movie of all time.

Anybody rent any captioned movies from the iTune Store and if so, what did you think of the captions?

“I heard (no pun intended) that AIM for the iPhone is really horrible, is that true?”

That’s the question I’ve been getting a lot lately.

My answer: Yes and no.

When AIM first came out (version 1.0), I couldn’t believe that AOL, a billion-dollar giant, would allow such application to be released. It sucks in every areas: Interface usability, no background processing (defeats the purpose of having IM in the first place), configurations, and more. I spent a considerable amount of time trying to find how to log out of my account. When my friend was trying it out and I asked, “Can you find the logout button?” He said, “Oh, let me check.” I replied, “Good luck.” Turns out he shared the same struggle.

There was no logout button! As soon as you leave the AIM app (by hitting the physical home button on the iPhone), you are logged out. That is the worst interface usability I’ve ever seen in this Information Age! Additionally, you can configure your AIM (by changing screen names, or how your account is logged out) by going into Settings and select AIM.

To put AIM in iPhone’s Settings is definitely a new way. Turns out Facebook and Sketches are doing the same. We typically would have expected configurations to happen within its own app. This is something we need to get used to but I am not sure if I agree about such design approach.

I had my friend send me messages when I left the AIM app and experimentally, I went back in the app to see if I would have gotten any message. All I got was blank; however, I could detect that someone tried to send me something.

Let’s fast forward. AIM 1.1 came out.

They addressed two important things: 1) A work-around to the lack of background processing; and 2) adding a sign out button. Those were no brainer and I’m trying to be forgiving but those should have been part of the first release. Come to think about it, Steve Jobs demo’d the AIM app at his SDK Roadmap Keynote and they had a significant head start to improve a lot of things since that event. Evidently, they did not but let’s move on and appreciate the 1.1 update.

Let’s look at number one, AIM has cleverly found a work-around to the lack of background processing by storing your received messages on their server and the next time you log into the AIM app, those messages will be pushed to your iPhone.

Now for number two, the sign out button. Self-explanatory.

There’s one more thing that AIM needs to take advantage of is using iPhone’s notification services. Every time I get a message, I’d like to be buzzed with a number of messages waiting. Facebook is already taking advantage of that for new emails. I hope AIM will introduce that in their next upgrade (AIM 1.3 since the current version is 1.2).

To sum up, would I recommend you to get it?

Despite my major disappointments with its initial release, I would say YES and after all it is free. It gets the job done.

Until to today, I was envious of BlackBerry users who were able to enable their device as PAM (Phone as Modem) allowing their computers to share the same network as the BlackBerry. Very beneficial especially when traveling.

My envious days are over for Nullriver, Inc. just released an application called NetShare for iPhone which precisely does the same thing. It is available in the App Store; however, it has to be accessed directly by clicking on the following link:

http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=286541579&mt=8

UPDATE: Unfortunately, Apple stripped the software away from the App Store for the obvious reason: AT&T does not like this. I will keep you posted on when this application surfaces in the App Store again (if it ever will).

I’m speculating that this software is rather difficult to find in the App Store because I know the big guys at AT&T won’t like this. Without further ado, if you’re traveling and need this type of network sharing to your computer from your iPhone, NetShare is yours for $9.99.

For those who wants to have the source on the recent word-of-mouth announcement that AT&T is offering TAP for iPhone 3G, they just released the written announcement today.

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) announced today that the Text Accessibility Plan (TAP) for iPhone 3G will give customers with disabilities unlimited text messaging, Web browsing and easy access to e-mail for $50 per month. Customers with disabilities wishing to use enterprise email can sign up for a $65 per month plan that features unlimited messaging, data, and support for enterprise email with Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync. Pay-per-use voice is included in both the consumer and enterprise TAP at $.40 per minute. More…

Here’s a trick with Spaces that I accidently discovered few minutes ago and had to share this with you as this is definitely one of the hidden secrets of Leopard.

If you have Spaces enabled, you probably already know that, after pressing the function key F8 (Space Expose), you can move a window from one space to another (no, that’s not a known trick).

Now, for the trick, here is an alternative way to move a window to another space. If you are on the first space (top-left), click and drag on the window’s title bar and move the mouse to the rightmost part of your desktop and hold for a second, it will take you and the window into second space (top-right). If you want to go to the third space (bottom-right), do the same by moving the window and mouse to the bottommost part.

Have fun trying this trick out.

I never thought I’d feel like a kid on Christmas day when I was able to download the new iPhone 2.0 software. I would call that infatuation because after spending few days with the update, I have found myself to be more disappointed than excited.

For clarification’s sake, I am not referring to the new iPhone 3G. I am going to talk about the iPhone 2.0 software that is supposed to change the mobile industry — it still will but it have a lot of work to do.

Let’s take a look at my iPhone Wish List posted on October 17, 2007:

1. Third-party Development
The long wait is over; however, there are mixed reactions about it because third-party applications are crashing and the veteran developers are eyeing at Apple for this. I have come across several applications that has crashed or froze on me. Apple has opened up the iPhone for third-party development and we are in the “early adopter” stage and this type of pitfall is expected. Apple will fix this very soon.

On the other hand, I have downloaded many amazing applications and games. Touch-screen and accelerometer makes it a perfect device to move around fast and to be productive. So far the best touch-based device on the market. Be sure to check out Monkey Ball (game), Sketches (draw with your fingers) and Remote (remote controller for your Apple TV and iTunes).

2. iChat for Instant Messaging
Yes, I am aware that AIM is released for the iPhone 2.0 and I am still waiting for Apple or Beejive to come out with their own Instant Messaging app. When Apple announced “background processing”, I misunderstood them as it was meant for notification service only. With that said, you cannot receive AIM messages in the background while you are reading email or browsing the web. I miss how I was able to do that with my old sidekick and I EXPECT Apple to be able to do that in their upcoming software updates.

I use AIM just like a hearing people use their voice phone.

And there’s no “logout” button nor ease of switching between AIM accounts from the AIM app itself although you can configure that in iPhone’s Settings - bad interface design.

3. Auto-type
I want to be able to type abbreviated words that would automatically expand (ie: “ttyml” expanded to “talk to you more later”). I have so many abbreviated words I used with my sidekick and I was able to type full fancy sentence (yes, I gotta stay and look smart) in record time. Hopefully the mastermind of TextExpander has something up their sleeves for the iPhone.

4. Search
Come on, search functionality should have been part of the first release last year. Alright, the Address Book now comes with a new search functionality (I’m giving Apple half point for it) but I’m expecting a system-wide search (ie: Email, Web, and whatnots).

5. Cut, Copy and Paste
Again, a cut-copy-paste should be part of the first release as well. I’m shocked that it is not even part of the recent software update. Of course the executives at Apple are coming up with “due to complicated issues” excuses. I ain’t buying into those excuses. They perfectly know that they need to introduce those base functions very soon or we’ll have New York Times’ David Pogue start talking about it — or better yet he’ll sing “My iPhone Does Not Have Copyyyy andddd Pasteeeee”.

Additionally, MobileMe has been off to a bad start and I haven’t been able to get push email to work despite going though various step-by-step instructions. I believe it’s buggy at this point and this is another reason why I’m currently disappointed.

Now let’s look at the iPhone 3G. I gotta make a disclaimer first: I do not have a iPhone 3G nor played with it. I’ve been talking to friends who have it and reading reviews on the web and I need to make few comments about the new device.

First of all, I want to emphasis that the visible differences between the old iPhone and iPhone 3G are only two things (besides the cost):

1. 3G (fast network in limited areas)
2. GPS

Reviews on the 3G network are very positive and not for the GPS. The GPS is helpful at times but something you wouldn’t want to replace your existing GPS device (ie: TomTom, Garmin or Magellan).

Battery life isn’t receiving good reviews as well.

AppleInsider posted clarifications on the iPhone 3G’s battery life, copy-and-paste, GPS and more.

Despite my disappointing review, I am still claiming that the iPhone is an awesome device. I love it when I get people to drop their jaws when I show them few tricks. Touch-screen is the way to go.

I would just recommend you to keep your old iPhone or your Blackberry Curve for a bit longer until Apple comes out with visible improvements in their software updates.

Good News!

I just got off the phone with AT&T’s National Center for Customers with Disabilities (NCCD) and confirmed that they just approved TAP for iPhone 3G as of this morning.

The TAP rate for iPhone 3G is $50.00 a month; a $10 increase compared to the original rate for first-generation iPhone.

Just to give you an idea of what AT&T’s regular plans for the iPhone 3G (those who do not qualify for TAP), they start at approximately $70.00 and up to $130.00 a month for individual use.

As expected, speed (3G) equals more money.

If you’re a current first-generation iPhone customer, you can go ahead and purchase a iPhone 3G. The rep at the store will de-activate your current plan and re-activate your account to the normal rate. Once that is done, you can call NCCD to apply TAP to your new plan.

For those who will get their iPhone 3G for the first time, you can fill out an application for TAP or call NCCD to discuss how you can qualify.

AT&T’s NNCD Phone Number: 866-241-6568

Thank you AT&T for making this happen, especially having this plan approved on the same day of the iPhone 3G launch rather than waiting for months.

Checkmate.

This is what Apple is saying to the rest of the phone industry. I know a lot will disagree with me but I can see how Apple has officially secured it’s position in the phone industry forever and that they are going to change a lot of researches and human behavior studies for a mobile phone.

Who is willing to stand in a line for a phone, let alone trying to make a spot in the Guinness World of Records?

Only Apple can make that happen. They do not get people to wait for just an iPhone but as well as their Operating System. Oh that’s right, did we see people line up for Vista? It’s the spirit of success that we are willing to do such crazy things (at least there’s no violence in that).

While there’s a lot of hype going on around the iPhone 3G, I must make a mention of 2.0, iTunes and MobileMe because they are contributing to the phone industry shake up.

iPhone 2.0 (software-based; available tomorrow July 11th): Available for first generation iPhone, iPod touch and iPhone 3G. This particular software upgrade finally allows third-party applications to be installed.

iTunes 7.7 (which has been available in Software Update as of this wee morning): It now includes the Application Store where you can download apps (most apps are free) to your device (only with the 2.0 update which will be available tomorrow).

MobileMe (formerly known as .Mac): What people really don’t realize about MobileMe is the fact that it enables over-the-air sync for your device. Remembering my Sidekick, my favorite thing about it was its over-the-air sync capabilities. Additionally to MobileMe’s capabilities, it will provide for push technology (finally) but not limited to email but push calendar and push contact!

Yes, x@mac.com will be changed to x@me.com; however, we get to keep the @mac.com but I am not sure as to how long — better safe than sorry to get the habit of using @me.com.

Now… the iPhone 3G?

Faster.

GPS (yea yea, other mobile phones have it too but nothing beats how Apple simply put in a pulsating blue dot to track your position simply puts it ahead of others, smile).

Enterprise-friendly (I’m eyeing at you anti-Mac policy establishers — it has tremendous Exchange support for email, calendar and contacts).

Intuitive.

Oh, one more thing… Productive!