The Tech Bench

Google Maps is now available as a standalone app for the iPhone and iPad.

This new version of the app brings vector based maps which allow for faster loading, better scaling and more offline caching. Also included are voice guided turn-by-turn navigation, public transit directions and Street View.

If you were waiting to upgrade to iOS 6 because you didn’t want to rely on Apple’s Maps, upgrade away.

[ Google Maps App ]

Apple has reported that they’ve sold over 1 million new Apple TVs since the launch in late September.

With the $99 price point and small form factor, the new Apple TV looks to become another success for Apple. The arrival of more Airplay equipped peripherals should help spur interest in the technology and further increase demand for the Airplay compatible Apple TV.

With the arrival of the new Mac App Store and the continued success of the App Store for iOS devices, bringing apps to the Apple TV looks like the next logical step.

So when will the Apple TV App Store arrive?

There are no solid rumors on when (or even if) the new Apple TV will officially support 3rd party Apps, but our guess is around Q3 of 2011. The Mac App Store rollout, new iPads and new iPhones will probably keep everyone at Apple pretty busy. September seems to be the usual month for music and media announcements in time for the holiday shopping season.

Apple’s new Mac App Store is scheduled to go live on January 6th.

This new application will allow Snow Leopard users to browse, download and update Mac apps just like you would apps for the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad.

You can purchase apps using your iTunes credentials and they’ll download and install straight onto your Mac.

The arrival of the Mac App Store should bring even more applications and developers to the Mac platform. Check software update on January 6th for the download.

[ Mac App Store ]

Apple is now offering volume discounts on iOS apps for the education market.

As more education institutions embrace the iPad, and iPod Touch the new volume program will make it easier (and cheaper) to deploy apps to end users.

Administrators buy blocks of vouchers that can then be redeemed with codes for app purchases. The new program also allows app developers to provide volume discounts on their apps.

Only Program Facilitators who are Authorized Apple Purchasers for education institutions can currently participate in the program.

It’s good to see Apple engaging the education market to find creative solutions for managing and deploying iOS apps. These apps have the potential to make a huge impact on students and educators.

[ AppleInsider ] [ Volume Purchase Plan FAQ ]

iGorilla is an app “dedicated to supporting the plight of Africa’s endangered mountain gorilla.”

This $4 app allows you to follow the lives of gorilla families in the Virunga National Park and stay up to date with videos and written reports.

This app is a great example of how organizations can use the App Store to build awareness and help those that provide donations (via the purchase) to feel more connected to the cause.

[ iGorilla ]

As Apple has become increasingly popular, so has the backlash against some of Apple’s restrictive practices. While this argument is getting new exposure in the ongoing Google (Android versus iPhone) spat, this has been going on since Apple’s inception.

It used to be (and still is in many ways) that Microsoft was the one that labeled Apple as a closed, restrictive platform. Although not an early proponent of open-source (read cheaper) software, Microsoft was quick to claim freedom of hardware and software choice as it’s main selling point.

So if Apple is a closed, restrictive platform why is it that Apple has become so popular?

It’s the user experience.

Apple wants the user experience to be the best that it can be. Secure, clean, focused, easy to use, and reliable. Quality over quantity. One really good chef’s knife, not a swiss army knife filled with a bunch of sub-par tools.

Great restaurants usually specialize in a specific cuisine, if you want ultimate freedom of choice, you’ll have to settle for Home Town Buffet.

Apple’s iPhone requires that developers meet not only technical requirements (secure, stable apps) but also moral (no porn) and non-compete (no FireFox) guidelines. What they give in return is arguably the best overall smartphone experience.

Google pretty much allows any handset maker to use Android as they will in their phones. The segmentation of user interfaces, non-upgradable software versions and non-centralized app store has hurt the overall customer experience. What customer’s get in return is more freedom of hardware configuration, multiple carriers and less restrictive app selection.

Apple is working on a more robust rating system (to allow for more adult apps) and is starting to allow more potentially completive apps (browsers, VOIPs and mail clients) into the app store. Google is trying to rein in Android by putting out phones like the Nexus One that deliver a more focused, Apple-like experience to Android.

While both Apple and Google may come a little closer together in terms of openness and experience, their philosophical differences (and current successes) will probably keep them on different ends of the spectrum.

What I find funny is that it looks like Microsoft may be the one running up the middle. Microsoft has finally begun to recognize Apple’s success with the iPhone and App Store. Windows 7 mobile looks to be more focused and selective while still partnering with different hardware vendors.

I for one can’t wait to see what cool new phones and technology come out of this tug of war.

If we can download a movie from iTunes, why can’t we download Snow Leopard?

In the past, the two main obstacles for downloading full versions of an OS were piracy concerns and bandwidth requirements.

As Apple has successfully demonstrated with HD movie rentals, these are both already overcome. HD movie rentals are 3+ GB downloads and the Apple DRM is pretty hard to crack. At 6.74 GB, Snow Leopard would be a big download, but still very doable for users with high-speed internet.

Pros for Legal OS Downloads

Easy to buy. Instant gratification. Don’t need a working DVD drive (MacBook Air and problematic SuperDrives.) Save on packaging and shipping costs.

Cons for Legal OS Downloads

Hard to do a clean install (could be overcome with net enabled EFI or the option to backup to a disk.) Apple’s bandwidth cost for serving up the downloads (made up for in packaging and shipping costs?) Box retailers won’t get a cut of the profit (this could also be a pro:)

While there is still value in the actual disks to some users, adding a download option would make upgrading the OS faster, easier and greener.

As the App Store continues to take off and bandwidth continues to get faster, I’d say there’s a good chance that we’ll see 10.7 offered as a legal download.

Version 3.1 of the iPod Touch software is now available.

This version adds iTunes 9 functionality including Genius Mixes and App Store recommendations.

The update is a free upgrade if you have 3.0 installed on your iPod Touch or $4.95 to upgrade for an older version.

To see what version your iPod Touch is running, you can go to Settings>General>About

[ Download the update ] [ Learn more about 3.1 for the iPod Touch ]

Apple’s closed ecosystem and tight controls over their products has always been both their greatest asset and biggest liability.

With Google apps (Latitude and Voice) getting rejected from the app store because they duplicate features on the phone, the press and users seem to be lining up against Apple. Keeping a baby shaking app out of the App store is fine but removing Google apps because they could compete with Apple is going too far.

Apple is in a great position with the iPhone. They are building the critical mass needed to become the “Google” of smartphones, but they’re not there yet. By allowing competing apps from Google and even other web browsers like Opera, to come to the iPhone, they’re keeping the development on the Apple platform. These are good apps, by big companies, that provide features users want.

If Apple alienates these devs, they’ll leave, and it will only benefit the other mobile platforms. I say bring them into the fold and encourage these companies to bring their apps to the iPhone.

Some iPhone users may prefer Opera to Safari, but they at least they won’t switch to a Blackberry.

Salesforce is a successful CRM suite used by some of the biggest names in business.

They’ve been a pioneer in cloud computing and have embraced mobile by developing apps for the iPhone, Blackberry and Windows Mobile.

The free Salesforce Mobile app from the Apple App Store was one of the first enterprise business iPhone apps and has been getting better and better with each upgrade.

If you use Salesforce at your Job, and you’re lucky enough to have an IT dept. that supports the iPhone, this app is a must get.

While it lacks some of the functionality of the full website, the interface is fast and easy to use.

Here’s my only gripe:

Attn: Salesforce, “You make software. Loose the Ghost Buster anti-software logo already!”