The Consumerization of IT
There's no doubt, BYOD is a disruptive trend and...
Bring Your Own Device eGuide
As more and more CIOs are beginning to see...
The Consumerization of IT
There's no doubt, BYOD is a disruptive trend and...
An Interactive Guide: Bring Your Own Device
As more and more enterprises begin to see...
Bring Your Own Device eGuide
As more and more CIOs are beginning to see...
An Interactive Guide: Bring Your Own Device
As more and more enterprises begin to see...
The Consumerization of IT
There's no doubt, BYOD is a disruptive trend and...
Bring Your Own Device eGuide
As more and more CIOs are beginning to see...
The Consumerization of IT
There's no doubt, BYOD is a disruptive trend and...
Bring Your Own Device eGuide
As more and more CIOs are beginning to see...
For the past week, the major news stories about Apple's iOS platform has been the release of iOS 6 and Apple's controversial decision to bundle its own Maps app with iOS rather than the Google-based app that was included in previous releases. Under the cover of those announcements, Apple also pushed out an update to the software that runs its Apple TV set-top boxes. That update transforms the Apple TV -- which is an iOS device -- into a serious business and education tool.
Apple's AirPlay allows Macs and and iOS devices like the iPhone and iPad to wirelessly stream content to devices like AirPlay-enabled speakers, Macs on a local network, and Apple TV. iTunes and a number of iOS apps include AirPlay as an option for both audio and video. The most recent Macs and iOS devices, however, can go further and mirror the entire display of a Mac, iPhone, or iPad.
AirPlay and AirPlay mirroring has a lot of consumer uses, like iOS gameplay and the ability to watch any web video regardless of format (if you're using a Mountain Lion Mac). But they also have significant business implications.
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CITE Goes Live! Register for the CITE Conference & Expo, June 2-4, in San Francisco.
The wireless nature of AirPlay and the extremely small footprint of the Apple TV device -- about the same size as an iPhone -- make the Apple TV an excellent presentation tool. Since the Apple TV can connect to any television, display, or projector that supports HDMI, it can be used in a wide range of locations and contexts. A compact $60 adapter allows the Apple TV to connect to any device with a VGA port, making the Apple TV an option in virtually any office, conference room, or classroom.
The small footprint and easy setup mean that the Apple TV is an incredibly mobile solution as well. When used with an iPhone (or iPod touch), the entire presentation setup can easily fit in a jacket pocket -- that's a far cry from carting a traditional laptop bag loaded with cables and a portable projector. If used with a portable Mac like the MacBook Air, the Apple TV can function as a presentation device even if there is no Wi-Fi network available. The Mac can create an ad-hoc network to which the Apple TV can connect to stream content.
Last week's update offers some enterprise features, which may very well help one the most consumer-oriented of Apple's products become common in business and education.
The open-source Arduino platform has helped tinkers make robots and controllers. At the Maker Faire last weekend, Arduino leader Massimo Banzi unveiled a new effort to help connect Arduino devices to the Internet.
Microsoft said its updated Kinect will be available for use with Windows some time next year.
Social channels give companies unprecedented access to customers, and they can help you build better products that meet their needs. But sometimes it's your job to innovate and come up with products your customers never imagined needing.
A mobile app is as much a marketing tool as it is a product or link to a service. It needs to be just as flawless and well-designed as any other piece of marketing -- website, brochures, signs, stationary, and so on.
