In all of Apple’s success with their iDevices (iPad/iPod/Phone for the uninitiated), I feel that perhaps, one of their biggest flaws is often overlooked, which is in my oh most humble opinion, the fact that to enjoy an iDevice’s full functionality, you need tether it to a desktop OS running device (aka a computer). In fact in order to better manage your device and its contents you do need to use iTunes and what’s more, you can’t really use most of the devices without activating it through itunes.

This is especially so in the context of a future dominated by these devices as they are poised to take over from laptops as being the most successful Personal Computing device.

Now, imagine a virtualised OS X that you can access via the web or at least a virtualised iTtunes… an online repository where all your media is handled on powerful servers with data back up and recovery. This may still be some way off – maybe 3 to 5 years into the future but who knows?

And the reason why i reckon this is necessary? Well, we’re now supposed to be living in the post pc age – in the tablet era. However an iPad and an iPhone still have an umbilical chord tied with a pc – you can’t really use the iPad without a computer running iTunes.

If apple offered an online virtualised home folder, the first screen when i switch on a new idevice would be a page asking whether i want to connect to a computer or to the virtual host service. This would let me activate any iDevice I have, anywhere I have an internet connection. For example, I intend travelling to buy my iPad 2, but I’ll have to wait till i fly back home to get it started… ah well

As a side effect.. or “halo effect”, it will also bring more non mac users to an online mac experience – an online iTunes / mac system which can be a building block in apple’s attempts at establishing some sort of social network. Basically offering a cloud mac experience that could compete with google apps and maybe even take on Facebook.

It finally happened, Malta has finally caught up with the rest of the third world and had its very own iPhone launch day. I was told people were queuing up to pick up their ordered iPhones from various Vodafone outlets. I even got a little email from the local apple agents…

Will I be getting one? Not unless it’s a present from some rich admirer (donations towards the iphone fund will be accepted).My ipod touch and cheapo phone are enough for now and I’ve spent too much on toys of late.

The pricing isn’t awful but could be better. The most interesting price for the local consumer is the prepaid contract free package which is actually just the iPhone. The 8gb model comes in at €515 whilst the 16gb model weighs in at a hefty €599 – thats €15 and €30 more expensive than in Italy. 

Full pricing for the iPhone from Vodafone Malta can be found here – I will try and compile comparison charts with other countries in the coming days. 

A pre-registration page has appeared on the malta vodafone site. I don’t want the iPhone so bad as to pre register. I want to know what the price plans are and if it will be available prepaid. Ah well. I’m off to try and fix my stylesheet.

Vodafone Malta is promoting the launch of some Blaclberry or another when we are all expecting an official iPhone launch… It was meant to already happen. Who knows maybe GO have put spokes in the wheel since they have the rights to the name locally I believe.

At least I didn’t have to endure Voda’s “summer is now” banner which was up till a day or so ago.

The above video clip is from Apple CEO’s Steve Jobs’ Worldwide Developer Conference keynote address. Basically every year Apple organises a developers’ conference where the Apple developers congregate and clap the latest announcements from Cupertino. Often, it’s been used to announce new consumer products. Case in point – this year’s unveiling of the new iPhone 3G. Not only (as mentioned in a previous post) has Apple listed Malta as one of the 70 countries it will be available in, but at the end of the presentation announcing the countries, Steve Jobs remarks that the next time someone is Malta they can get themselves an iPhone! His tone was jovial but it might be construed as condescending to our proud nation rock. Oh well we’re on apple’s site And steve Jobs mentioned us any publicity is good publicity isn’t it? I’m just glad I waited out the first gen iPhone. Now we wait with baited breath for the pricing announcements.

Thanks to my PHB for pointing this out.