I’m an Apple fan - no use denying it. As such, I’m used to great experiences when using their products. So it sort of rubs me the wrong way when Apple actually seems to take steps to make my life unpleasant - and those of others like me. Like, say, in the case of using the new App Store to manage applications on the iPhone. Here’s an example of three things that are wrong with the experience of buying and managing apps on the device:

1) If I download an application to try it out, delete it, and then want to install it again - because that just might be the way I am with decisions -, why do I need a message telling me that I’ve already downloaded that application once, and asking if I want to download it again. Yes Apple, I do want to download it again, I just clicked the damn “INSTALL” button.

2) I have no idea why, but if I download an application on my iPhone, iTunes keeps complaining it can’t sync it with my Macbook Pro because it is not “authorized” to “play the item” (seriously.) on my computer. It’s not a song, so I won’t be playing anything, Apple. And do I really need to “Authorize Computer” for free apps? Come on.

3) Why is there no way for me to use iTunes to download a bunch of applications and then just drag Applications in and out of a device, just like I do with tracks and playlists? I know we’ve been there before, but this sync-everything experience is really boring and convoluted. Installing and uninstalling applications on OSX is usually a drag and drop experience, why smack us in the face with this absurdity?

I hate posts that only complain, so I’ll make amends right now. It’s not all bad about the App Store and the iPhones’ application management experience. I for one am quite happy about what Apple is doing with the iPhone and its promotion as a platform. But if you guys over at Cupertino could fix these things, now that would be great.

Note: using the iPhone App Store? How’s your experience been thus far? And if you’re inclined to share, what applications have you been using, free or otherwise?

Sometimes the pieces just fall into place. Two years ago I was writing about needing a better connected device. Then the iPhone launched, and people (some people, not everyone) wanted a tablet. It makes sense. A bigger, lean device that people who live and breathe on the web can use to be connected. No need for GSM, it’s just not a phone. It’s a platform.

Anyway, fast forward from two years ago to present day. Mike and the rest of the guys at Techcrunch (which I left now ages ago, but miss dearly) are tackling this very problem (see the post at TechcrunchIT, too) - talk about bending the rules of what you expect from a blog.

If you think about it, it makes total sense. Our computing power is in the cloud, so is our information. What we need now, is a better way to connect to the services we use and the data they store. This project might just be one of the answers to this problem. Part of the beauty? The plan to work on it and opensource the software and design. Want to get involved? Get in touch with the TC people - we know we will.

Read more at: Techcrunch, TechcrunchIT.

Today was a weird / exciting day for virtual worlds. This morning, a virtual-world startup called Vivaty launched a room-building product that lets you chat with your friends on AIM or Facebook. Mid-day, IBM and Second life announced a partnership that allows people to roam between the two “worlds”. Now Google enters the picture with Lively. In my humble opinion, this is huge.

Now I’m not a fan, or user, of virtual worlds. I did try Second Life for a few minutes but quickly gave up because the engine is bad, and quite honestly I’m not a big fan of spending hours living the life of a fictional character. There’s people partying on there all day, I’m sure, but if I want to do some of that, I’ll definitely do it with no keyboards attached.

On Lively

But Lively is interesting. One, it is from Google, which has enough online properties to really explore this market. Think about Blogger and Orkut. Now think about the possibilities of allowing people to have rooms where they can engage with their friends in a totally new (and apparently exciting) way. It is quite obvious this is big for them. Maybe it won’t mean a thing for early adopters and tech pundits, but the average young blogger will be all over this.

Moreover, this is a whole new vertical to explore in new, creative, advertising ways. Everyone knows Google loves that - it’s their business. Just imagine all the plans for in-game advertising being tested with the thousands of rooms about to be created by people with blogs about music, fashion, cinema. It’s potentially a big, big market.

I guess we’ll see how this turns out. Me, I’m impressed that Google stepped out of the box and delivered a product that people weren’t expecting. This may not be a good thing for some people, but I actually think it is a refreshing initiative. If you’re looking to read more about Lively, check out the coverage on Techcrunch and Techmeme.

Update: I totally forgot to mention one tiny detail that I’m not that happy about. Windows only? Come on now, Google. I do expect more of you guys.

One of the tough challenges of running a blog (or rather, something I keep stumbling on) is how to talk about different subjects without bewildering part of the audience. There’s been countless occasions where I wanted to post something that would be either too technical amidst the other content, or just plain weird. So here’s the solution to that problem:

Webreakstuff Labs! is our blog for development, experimental and… well, everything else, really. If you’re a fan of them bits and bytes, you should go ahead and subscribe, because there’s going to be a lot of that on there - and (yay!) from all our team and not just me. There’s already a few posts on there, and there’s quite a few others lined up.

Hit the labs!