It appears Apple is working on some device with a screen size that is larger than today’s iPhone, yet smaller than an iPad.  Many of us have also been waiting in anticipation for what could very well be the next big thing in television.  But what if these stories are all related?

I have personally found the screen size of today’s iPhone to be too small for browsing television guides, Netflix movie listings and my own personal iTunes media library.  I may what to

read reviews, check out cast lists, and even review a trailer or two on my device before suggesting it to the rest of the family.  The size of the screen is much better on the iPad — that is until you try and take control of your home theatre system with it. It is simply too heavy and awkward to continuously use as a television remote.

But what if this new “in-between device” was more than just a content-browsing device or media playback controller? What if it is the manifestation of the “television” Apple has reportedly been working on?  There is actually some sound reasoning that the latest rumors regarding Apple’s purchasing displays in a new range of sizes would be best suited for a new way to interact with the next generation of television:

• Internet television without the wires. Getting away from set-top boxes, Apple is looking to re-define the way that we interact with the television set. Screen-based touch gestures is a given, audible Siri voice commands is doable and camera-interpreted motions may also be on their way.  But having the data entry point closer to one person lounging in a darkened viewing room makes more sense than placing such a control embedded inside a television all the way across the room for everyone to gesture or shout at.
• Closed platform helps control the market. Something else that is unique to Apple’s current Apple TV platform is that is it not open to developers. This can initially be a good thing for content providers, as it does not allow just anyone to create a new channel or media outlet.  At first, existing content providers would be given an opportunity to create and deliver content in a similar fashion as “apps” on the Apple TV are done today.  And why not open the platform to developers?  There just may be a new pre-packaged development API in the works.  Eventually this could evolve into a similar content packaging framework akin to Apple’s iAd Producer, Newsstand feature, iBook Author or even the same method used for creating an iTunes LP or podcast today.
• Exclusive list of supporting television vendors — at first. AirPlay for video is just too good to keep exclusively to yet another set-top box.  And like all new product announcements with Apple, there is typically a short list of early adopters that come on board. Similar to the way that AirPrint and AirPlay (audio) has been catching on with printer and speaker manufactures, AirPlay (video) could be adopted by more and more television manufactures. This would mean that this new Apple TV with a screen would not need to be tethered to an open HDMI port — it would stream content directly to the television using AirPlay, just like iOS devices do today through the Apple TV.
• Create new products rather than fragment existing ones. Since the Apple TV platform would continue to be closed to developers, this would actually help prevent fragmentation of the existing iOS platform and allow Apple to develop a completely different form factor for just the AppleTV.  Existing iOS developers would not be required to port existing apps in the App Store over to a different screen format and possibly a different user experience.  It would make more sense to create a common content delivery API based on the uniqueness of this new platform.

Buying up large quantities of a particular size of screen does not necessarily mean that Apple is coming out with a new form factor for an existing product line. It could very well mean that we are about to see a new product altogether. And it is just as likely that this new form factor will be the new Apple TV as it is likely that Apple will come out with a mini iPad or a jumbo iPhone.  Perhaps this new in-between form factor is what Steve Jobs was referring to when he claimed that Apple had “cracked the code” when designing a new way to experience television.  Who needs a table full of IR remotes when everything you need is right there in your lap?

Image courtesy of Flickr user mac_ivan

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Engagement is also up significantly thanks to the iPhone version. In terms of usage, Flipboard went from around 650 million “flips” (page turns in the Flipboard app) per month to a pace of about 2 billion per month post-iPhone launch. The iPhone version requires users to flip more often to view the same amount of content, but that’s still a remarkable improvement.

Obviously, this is great news for Flipboard’s reach, but it has implications for the larger iPad app market, too. Specifically, branching out may be a good idea even for apps which traditionally depend on the larger screen of the iPad to deliver their content.

Flipboard isn’t the only app out there branching out from iPad roots to iPhone implementations. News app and competitor Zite also released an iPhone-formatted incarnation last week, and streaming video apps like those for networks CityTV and Global in Canada recently introduced updates to their apps that make them universal, or usable across any iOS devices.

It’s a move that makes sense for companies who want to increase the adoption rate of their software product. Apple has previously stated that there were as many as 100 million iPhone and iPod touch users worldwide; that’s more than double Apple’s total iPad sales to date, let alone the device’s active users. It makes sense that iPhone apps reach a broader potential audience as a result.

Flipboard’s success is not just the result of repackaging an iPad app for a smaller screen. Instead, the app’s designers re-imagined it in a way that totally makes sense for the iPhone. That’s no small feat for an app like Flipboard, that takes its cues from magazines and definitely benefits from more available screen real estate. If publishers like those offering apps through Apple’s Newsstand want to reap the benefits of also offering iPhone products, they have to likewise bring a tailored experience, instead of just a shoehorned app that leaves you missing the iPad. Sadly that’s exactly how I’d describe many current iPhone Newsstand titles.

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Setup

Setting up both devices requires no modifications to your router, and the should simply hop onto an existing network. VueZone uses a base station connected to your wired network and a series of battery-powered camera satellites that autoconfigure themselves. Add the base station, turn on the cameras and visit a website to check the video feed. The whole thing takes about five minutes.

iZon is a bit more complex. Setup is 100-percent iOS-based. The iZon camera is USB-powered and must be near a power outlet. On first install, it creates an ad-hoc wireless network you must connect to with your iOS device. You need to install the free iOS app to configure and view video. Once connected via its own ad-hoc network, you tell the iZon how to hop on your main wireless network, and you should be good to go.

Unfortunately, I ran into numerous glitches. The product support says the device works best with a WPA2 network, and indeed, it was unreliable on WPA. The app also was a bit unstable, and when it wouldn’t accept my password, there was no way to reset it. The setup process took about 30 minutes start to finish, though that includes resetting the network once I changed the password. The second time around, it only took me about 15 minutes.

Viewing and recording

The VueZone allows for remote viewing via their website, while the iZon allows viewing only via the iOS app and only for five minutes at a time. Both devices allow for recording upon the detection of motion, but with VueZone saving those recordings requires a $49.95 per year Premium account. iZon will directly upload private videos to YouTube. Personally, I liked the ability to view video via a website, but the additional yearly cost and initial and ongoing financial outlay for the VueZone may not be worth it depending on your needs.

Comparing the video between the two, the iZon displayed much higher quality in normal conditions. The VueZone didn’t have an infrared function, but it did have a low-light mode that worked well at night. iZon’s light settings weren’t modifiable. One key difference between the iZon and VueZone is the iZon can capture audio as well as video, while VueZone cannot. Both support activation upon motion, as mentioned, but since the iZon supports audio, it can also start recording if it hears loud noises. The motion detection in the VueZone was all or nothing: Either it detected motion in the area, or it didn’t. The iZon allowed for distinct zones and levels of audio and visual sensitivity (thought it didn’t always register movement or noise in testing even when there was some present).

Configuring the iZon via the iPhone app was really a pain. The settings didn’t always take, and the app constantly crashed. Changes to the device must be made while you are on the same wireless network as the iZon while the VueZone allows configuration from anywhere. Support for the iZon was excellent, however, and as an iOS based product, updates to increase reliability are likely.

Verdict

Which is better? If you’d like to view an area where you don’t have an electrical outlet, then VueZone is clearly the way to go. Neither camera is suited for outdoor usage, though the VueZone will go in more places since it doesn’t have to be tethered to power, although this does mean you have to take batteries into account. If that isn’t a problem, the iZon’s lower entry price and lack of ongoing cost might be the way to go, despite its more difficult configuration. The fact it doesn’t require a yearly subscription to auto-record motion is a big plus. I also liked iZone’s ability to customize the sensitivity of the audio and video recording zones.

A bonus (and for some killer) feature of the iZon app is that it will give you push notifications if there is an audio or video event the camera notices. I knew precisely and almost instantly if someone triggered the camera. The VueZone would simply record a motion event but wouldn’t notify you. When used for security and piece of mind while away, the iZon was definitely superior. I was a little disappointed in the reliability of the iZon, but support indicated patches were on the way that should fix some of the problems I faced.

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McKinsey came up with this data during a recent survey of 15,000 consumers in 15 countries, undertaken to create a profile of what the firm calls the “iConsumer.” Bertil Chappuis, principal for McKinsey & Company’s Silicon Valley office, presented his findings on Tuesday morning at Forbes’ Techonomy conference  in Tuscon, Ariz.

Apple has sold about 40 million iPads since 2010. Of the iPad owners McKinsey surveyed, it found that 62 percent never take their iPad outside their house. In other words, it’s being used as just another home computer, like a replacement laptop for tasks such as watching video or browsing the web. While the iPad is “finding its way into places in the home we didn’t have computing in the past,” the living room is where people use their iPad: 70 percent of usage takes place there.

Said Chappuis:

“The PC tried to get into the living room for 20 years. Well, it’s here.”

The side effect of iPad owners finding their iPad good enough for certain computing tasks at home is a delay in plans to buy a new PC. You can see that in the slowly declining PC sales over the last few quarters: By the end of this year, IDC expects worldwide PC shipments will have grown a measly 2.8 percent compared to 2010.

“Folks who have tablets are significantly delaying their purchases of PCs,” said Chappuis. “They’re not doing away with it — [the PC] has a role to play for a long time — but that delay of a purchase is having a very direct impact on unit volumes in the PC ecosystem.”

To watch the full presentation, see the clip below:

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The report from the Dispatch describes slow or severed connections that students at the University of Missouri-Columbia experienced when coming back to classes this September. At that U.S. school, the number of wireless devices active on the network at any one time maxed out at 900 last year. Already in 2011, it’s hit 8,000 devices actively using the school’s connection at once.

The iPad is the biggest change in terms of the mobile connected-device landscape in recent years. Apple’s tablet still owns the market for that category of device, and it’s an optimal device for consuming streaming video, since it features a much larger display than smartphones, but is much simpler to turn on and hold than a cumbersome notebook computer. The iPad alone was already equal to Android’s share of online mobile video consumption back in May, and Apple’s other devices occupy a huge slice of the pie, too.

While Apple’s iPad may have multiplied the problem, iPhones and other smartphones have already significantly affected demand for Wi-Fi on college campuses. Students now expect strong on-campus Wi-Fi as one of the perks associated with going to school–it factors into their feeling of satisfaction over what they pay in tuition. Washington University’s Andrew Orstadt, who is the associated vice chancellor for information services and technology, says the demand for high capacity should be met within reason, no matter what students end up using the bandwidth for. He told the Dispatch that since students live on campus, schools should “make sure they are doing what they want to do” with their recreation time, too.

The challenge now is for schools to be able to meet the growing demand for reliable Wi-Fi with a growing population of connected devices with increasing technical specs. Next-gen devices will be able to stream higher-quality video to and from the web, and do more than one task at a time without as much of a cost on battery life or processor power. Students two years from now could likely be streaming one full HD video to their tablets while downloading another two equally high-bandwidth files in the background.

Apple’s devices may only be fuel for the fire that is demand for college Wi-Fi Internet access, but the iPad’s success and the rise in connected-device usage seen by the University of Missouri-Columbia in the wake of its introduction is a good sign that as far as fuel goes, it’s the rocket-powering kind.

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Color will add some useful features that make it more than just another Facebook photo browser. It lets you Like and comment on photos, just like you can on the web, but it also introduces the ability to create and share group photo albums with multiple people, which is more than Facebook currently offers through its own service.

It also lets you view your Feed and the new Timeline history of activity as pure photo streams. And there’s the “visit” feature, which lets you request access to live-streaming video from either friends, or anyone who has their permission settings arranged such that you can see their content.

You can request visits whenever you want; someone doesn’t have to be online. If they aren’t, they’ll receive a push notification from Color on their iPhone (or Android device). Live streams initiated through the app can be viewed either through the app itself, or on the Facebook website. It sounds a little bit like the new approach Google is taking with its ability to broadcast through Hangouts. It’s not exactly video chat, and it’s more interactive than straightforward video posting. It doesn’t currently allow video recording or audio, but that could come in future versions.

Color’s problem was that it was too ephemeral and too small. It couldn’t muster a large enough group, even at major events, to be relevant to any users. Facebook’s network means it shouldn’t have a problem when it comes to users. But its differentiating factors still depend on being in the moment; without the real-time elements of visiting and live streaming, it seems like little more than a Facebook photo browser.

The new version of Color will remain in private beta for a while longer, and then move into a larger, invite-based testing phase. The broadcast angle is interesting, and could make Color a very useful Facebook feature. We’ll see if Color can thrive using the network of another, where it failed trying to curate its own.

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I was especially interested to learn that though Wozniak had confidence in Apple’s ability to rise out of the depths in 1996 when Jobs returned to the company through the purchase of NeXT, he admitted that he was initially skeptical of how Jobs would accomplish that. He then goes on to state that Jobs’ success in doing so was due in large part to his ability “to keep secrets where you need to keep secrets” and “to make sure you’re not overbuilding a bunch of junk you can’t sell.”

It’s also interesting to see the role that Wayne played, which was explained by both in what are obviously fairly diplomatic terms. It was pretty harsh when Chang reminds Wayne that he’s “not a wealthy man” after selling his stake in Apple at a very early stage, which comes at around 6:50 mark in the interview. Take a look at the full interview below and let us know what you think.

Video courtesy of Boomberg Televison.

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The aluminum case itself features a tripod mount and hooks for a pro camera strap, so you can wear it around your neck and take night shots like a true pro. Just think of how jealous your Instagram followers will be when you snap some quality wildlife pics with your $3,000 telephoto lens. You might doubt the ability of the iPhone 4′s 5-megapixel camera to deliver the goods, even with your expensive SLR lens collection attached, but the Photojojo demo pics are actually pretty impressive.

As with previous prototypes, this solution runs up against the fact that you can’t replicate an internal mirror system with the iPhone’s built-in camera. However, it should be better than just your iPhone 4 acting on its own, especially when you’re trying to use digital zoom to capture a far-away subject. You could probably also shoot some pretty cool HD video with this lens adapter.

As of this writing, the check-out process is down but a fix is in the works, according to a Photojojo.com service rep. Maybe it couldn’t keep up with overwhelming demand for the iPhone 4 SLR mount. Anyone thinking about a purchase? I have a bag full of seldom used Canon-mount lenses that suggest it might be worth considering.

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Apple has apparently decided that the poor reception of Final Cut Pro X by many professional video editors isn’t going away on its own, and has released a special FAQ page to address commonly voiced concerns about its editing software. Arguably, it’s a step Apple should have taken before the FCP X release, not once opinion is starting to galvanize against it.

As digital media consultant and Final Cut expert Larry Jordan notes, Apple botched this launch. It did so by not recognizing that change, especially major change to a platform essential to how people make a living, often isn’t welcomed with open arms. That doesn’t mean Apple should just stick with what’s comfortable and give FCP customers a slightly tweaked version of what they already had. But it does mean it should have done a better job of anticipating sore spots for pros making the move to FCP X, and provided transition aids to make those changes less jarring — like the FAQ that arrived Wednesday, for instance.

The FAQ also reveals where Apple missed the mark with FCP X, and where it still needs to address concerns. It addresses some complaints, like the ability to support multi-cam editing, XML export, and audio track exporting, by promising the features will arrive in future updates. If these are big enough pain points to address now, however, it likely means they would have been relatively easy to anticipate and prepare for prior to release.

The FAQ describes other issues as things third-party add-ons should — and will — handle. It’s true that third-party developers need some time to cope with a new release, but again, it seems like Apple missed a trick by not making better use of its closed beta program to head these complaints off by working more closely with third-party devs.

The biggest issue many editing pros will probably have with this FAQ is that Apple doesn’t plan to offer project importing from FCP 7 to FCP X. It’s the first question Apple addresses, and it’s a complaint I’ve seen often. Apple says “there is no way to ‘translate’ or bring in old projects without changing or losing data,” due to FCP X’s completely redesigned project architecture and trackless editing. This may be one of the biggest problems for editors going forward, even after other issues are addressed with updates and third-party plugins.

I still think the strength of the reaction to FCP X has a lot to do with the shock of encountering a dramatically different program than people are used to, but there’s no doubt that Apple overestimated the willingness of users to jump on board a new way of doing things. If Apple had already identified problems like multi-cam support during the limited beta, it should have delayed the FCP X release until fixes were ready. And if it didn’t, it needs to rethink how it approached pre-release testing and who was included, since it seems like it might have been an excessively approving crowd.

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That’s why I was happy to see new iOS app Video Time Machine ($0.99) take a different approach to mobile content discovery. As its name suggests, Video Time Machine allows a user to take a trip back in time, to check out audio and video clips organized by year, going all the way back to 1860, with the first sound ever recorded. It’s an app-based client for the content on YTTM.TV, an archive of videos from the past that surfaces content based on the year and content type (commercials, sports, etc.) chosen by the user.

Video Time Machine basically just pulls content from the website, and puts it in a very touch-friendly wrapper, but that’s all it took to make watching movies on my iPhone (and iPad) feel like a novel experience. Part of that is because the content I’m checking out is very rarely something I’d come across on Twitter, Facebook, or through any recommendation engines that plug into my regular daily consumption habits. I don’t want to “discover” things I already like, you see; I want to check out things I’d never come across on my own.

In a world where finding content consists mainly of services or people saying “you like this and this, so you should also like this” or “your friend likes this and you like your friend, so you should also like this,” trying out an app where the locus for what content gets surfaced exists outside of the individual doing the searching feels like a revolution. It reintroduced one key element that few recommendation engines can claim to achieve: the ability to surprise oneself. Good surprises might require a bit of input from the user along general lines, but as highly personal recommendations narrow the scope of what they’ll offer you, they also exclude a much larger cross-section of content. Striking a balance using input from the user, and criteria that are pre-selected through other means would make for more serendipitous finds.

I don’t think the appeal of Video Time Machine only works because of the type of content it offers, either. I’d love to see an app discovery tool that uses some other similar contextual criteria to group titles together, too. App releases organized by date would be cool, or by most frequently updated, or even by more irreverent coincidental similarities, like all apps that use a bird in their icon. It might not be as good at pigeonholing the average customer, but it would offer an alternative approach for users, who, like me, are tired of having their social graph mined for the purposes of being fed the same old content over and over again.

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