It is about the mobile space — sometimes that directly involves Linux based platforms such as Android or Palm Pre (and others). And often we discuss market shaping items — and Apple often shows up because of their market influence.

Also, I often write on things that I am working on… so if I am doing some iPhone or BlackBerry development, I write about those topics as I come across something of interest.

If there is something in particular you would like to see, please feel free to let me know! No promises that I can add value to a topic of interest to you, but I do appreciate constructive feedback.

Frank

It seems that Apple is trying to catch up the \”social networking\” trend that may have became the main reason for people to use mobile devices these days.

My own little opinion is: It seems that for majority of (general) customers, \”cloud computing\” seems to be either under the carpet (think about EC2) or something like Gmail/MobileMe services.

I think it might be a good guess that Apple will try to keep its MobileMe services to live on by offering exclusive iGroup services to MobileMe users. For some point, it may be a good thing for users to have better control about \”how social\” that the social networking service they use should be. And that may gain Apple another win in the industry.

Now here is something we can compare with in the Linux world — UbuntuOne. Following almost the same concept of .Mac/MobileMe, Canonical might eventually also have to figure out a similar way to provide more functionality to attract users.

Maybe we don\’t need another social network system. Yet maybe, just maybe, it turns out to be essential to any general customer-oriented cloud services to have some sort of integration with social networking. (think about Buzz in Gmail)

So, would you like to comment on whether we\’ll see something similar to \”iGroup\” for UbuntuOne? Or should you simply encourage them to copy the idea?

The initial connection may take place via a Personal Area Technology (PAN) such as Bluetooth

Every time I see a reference to PAM these days I remember the first time I read about it, I think back in 1996. IBM had a prototype wearable Personal Area Network transmitter that could send / receive data through the skin. Specifically the subcutaneous layer if I remember right and could communicate with up to 3 other devices at the same time. Very handy for exchanging business cards with a handshake at meetings or events.