Archive of thenextweb.com
Written on 10th June 2009
6 COMMENTS 
Martin Bryant, Co-founder, Social Media Café Manchester
Here’s a fun little app with grand ambitions. Twurn, designed by London-based social app developers Harmonypark, is a Twitter service that aims to “Solve the world’s conflicts one Twurn at a time”.
Next time you have to decide whose turn it is to do something, simply log in to Twurn (it uses Twitter OAuth), enter the task and the usernames of the people you want to choose between and then just “Let Twurn Decide”.
Twurn uses a True Random Number Generator to decide whose ‘Twurn’ it really is. I gave it a go to work out whose turn it was to make the coffees for TheNextWeb team. (more…)
Written on 4th June 2009
5 COMMENTS
Martin Bryant, Co-founder, Social Media Café Manchester
With iPhone apps being banned for ridiculous reasons on an almost weekly basis it’s easy to think that Apple doesn’t actually have any clear policy for App Store approvals. The ever-astute people at Joy of Tech have other ideas.
Written on 21st May 2009
31 COMMENTS
Zee, Editor in Chief at The Next Web, Principal at WeDoCreative.
If there’s one type of web application we continue to see various takes on, it’s the Project Management tool. Each company has their own idea of exactly what works, but often the individuals have their own opinions and it can often lead to project turbulence and occasionally failure.
I am personally a big fan of outliner based project management tools. Unfortunately, there aren’t many or any that include the functionality I’m looking for – think OmniOutliner with sharing functionality. Anyhow, that’s for a separate discussion – what we’d like to know is what your favorite project management app is? What’s been proven to work project after project, day in, day out? What are you major considerations? Is there anything, like me, you’re still waiting to see?
Written on 19th May 2009
4 COMMENTS
Zee, Editor in Chief at The Next Web, Principal at WeDoCreative.
WeatherFinder, discovered via a share on the always awesome HackerNews, makes checking on the weather slick and simple.
Despite the .info domain, you’ll be happy to know the site is designed elegantly and does its job (almost) perfectly.
So how does it work, simply visit the site, WeatherFinder will automatically detect your location and give you details of the current temperature, a 4 day forecast, comments from other users and an option to search for the weather in other locations. Frankly, as someone who just wants to know what the weathers like and not much more, I wouldn’t want any more details.
Now, why is it only almost perfect? Well firstly, I’m in London, WeatherFinder thought I was in Manchester – not really its fault, but it desperately needs a way to change the city to another default location (DONE! See comments). Other than that, there really isn’t all that much I’d like to see changed – aside from maybe an image or two to brighten up the UI a little. :)
Written on 7th May 2009
1 COMMENT
Zee, Editor in Chief at The Next Web, Principal at WeDoCreative.
Well it looks like we’re getting very close to the big day.
iPhone 0S 3.0 beta 5 was only released yesterday, yet Apple have just sent an email to developers stating that:
“Beginning today, all submissions to the App Store will be reviewed on the latest beta of iPhone OS 3.0. If your app submission is not compatible with iPhone OS 3.0, it will not be approved.”
No release date has been set, but considering Apple are already forcing developers to ensure their apps work on a beta release of the new OS – its a sure sign that a release date is just around the corner.
According to TUAW, Apple may also remove applications from the store if they don’t meet the OS 3.0 requirements. iPhone developers, get to work!
Written on 6th April 2009
0 COMMENTS
Peter Robinett, Web Programmer and Founder of Lunch 2.0.nl
As you know, the Next Web Conference is next week in Amsterdam and there are a lot of cool things going on. To complement the main days (April 16 & 17), there will be three smaller events on the first day: Mobile Dev Camp, Music & Bits and The Current Web. On April 15 Mobile Dev Camp is teaming up with Music & Bits to talk about the future of music and mobile in the heart of the city at Spaces (Herengracht 124-128). While each event will have its own track, we’re taking care to schedule things so you can combine the two events.
This Mobile Dev Camp will be a BarCamp-style unconference, which means that you the attendees create the schedule. Want to host a discussion, run a workshop, demo your product or even just sit in the corner and code – you’re welcome to do it all! As with all Mobile Dev Camps the main goal is to bring together developers and, ultimately, create new mobile applications. To give you some added encouragement, Forum Nokia is sponsoring the Hackathon and giving away some Nokia 5800 XpressMusic devices for the best Web Runtime widgets. Vodafone and The Next Web are also essential sponsors.
Next Web Conference ticket holders get priority signup to the event, though we will open once the signups to everybody soon. We only have a limited amount of space, so watch your inbox in the next few days for the signup and be sure to sign up quickly!
For more information please check out the Mobile Dev Camp site.
Written on 5th April 2009
2 COMMENTS
Zee, Editor in Chief at The Next Web, Principal at WeDoCreative.
I’m a task management addict. I have spent far too much time in the past testing various systems and methods to help me supposedly ‘get things done’.
Most recently, I have switched (almost weekly) between Todoist.com, Things (mac app) and Omnifocus (mac app) until, that is, I decided to give Toodledo one more try.
See, I tried Toodledo out years ago (yep, it’s been around for a while), and I must admit I don’t quite remember why I left. This time however, after trying out virtually every task management app out there (both online and offline) I believe Toodledo is where my tasks belong.
Functionality
We all have our own methodologies and systems, each with our own ways to ensure we get as much done as possible. Toodledo, despite it’s almost Disney-like name,is powerful and flexible enough to accommodate for all and allows you to make your todo list as simple or as sophisticated as you like.
No matter how you organise your list, whether you prefer tasks and sub-tasks, goals and folders, projects and contexts – it’s almost irrelevant, the app can (easily) be adapted to however you like to work. Toodledo also features repeat tasks, notes, keyboard shorcuts, priority, time estimates and time tracking.
Sharing and collaboration is another often forgotten feature of the app. It provides more than enough functionality to allow you to share your to-do lists with whomever and have complete control over who has permission to read or modify each list.
The app is also snappy (as in fast) as any todo list app should be. You shouldn’t feel you have to ‘load’ anything, it should just always be there…This, along with Toodledo’s keyboard shortcuts makes the app a breeze to use.
Search and Ordering
One of the most impressive features of Toodledo is it’s search functionality, equalling if not bettering Remember the Milk’s. With an array of options and saved searches, you’ll probably find yourself using your saved searches section of the tool more than anywhere else. One of the more frustrating aspects of many other task management apps I’ve tried is ‘ordering’, most simply don’t provide enough ways to order my todo list – Toodledo does. Without going into too much detail, you can essentially order by date, priority, importance (a combo of date & importance), flagged/not flagged, goal, context and many many more…
Access
Toodledo provides more ways to access your todo list than any other tool I have come across. With a local iPhone app, Google Calendar integration, iGoogle gadget, Firefox extension, Twitter Support (which brings a flood of options), a very cool printing booklet and various desktop tools – there really isn’t any getting away from everything you need to do.
The iPhone app I should add, is awesome.
I could go on…
I honestly could. The plethora of customization and functionality options Toodledo provides is outstanding and to my surprise (after asking in the Friendfeed Apps Room) – it isn’t up there with the most popular of task management applications.
Criticism
If there’s one criticism, it’s the UI. Although it does well to include all the various details and ordering ordering options, visually, the app needs a revamp.
Fortunately however, there’s a wonderful userscript that enhances the entire interface (see right). Otherwise, I can’t give this app enough credit. Impressive.
Written on 1st April 2009
3 COMMENTS
Zee, Editor in Chief at The Next Web, Principal at WeDoCreative.
Yes, more Google/Gmail news I’m afraid…
I woke up to a wonderful little surprise this morning, Google Apps have has begun rollout of themes for GMail users. For once, I’ve not much to say apart from “it’s about time!”
Any particular favorites?
Oh, do remember you can create your own custom theme (well kind of).
Written on 27th March 2009
7 COMMENTS
Zee, Editor in Chief at The Next Web, Principal at WeDoCreative.
Sure, the app is tongue in cheek and I personally have absolutely zero issue with it, but it is pretty puzzling how Apple will ban apps that have contain vulgar language or have political influence, yet allow an application that – albeit as a joke – detects homosexuals.
According to it’s developers, AppCartel:
“ManDar uses the iPhone’s plethora of secret sensors and microwhats to determine “whos who” in the eyes of ManDar. Not meant to be offensive, ManDar aims to bring good fun and laughs to any after-evening punchline.”
Appstore Link £.59
Written on 17th March 2009
22 COMMENTS
Zee, Editor in Chief at The Next Web, Principal at WeDoCreative.
With 30 million individual iPhone’s sold, 25000 applications available for download and with over 50,000 developers – Apple have created an incredible platform in record time.
Apple’s latest round of updates have seen an immense number of notable improvements and features.
Let’s go through the new features, grab a coffee…this may take a while.
Cut, Copy and Paste
You can also copy and paste web content as well as regular text you might be typing. If you didn’t mean to paste something, shake your phone in order to Undo (or Redo) your paste.
MMS
You can send and receive Photos right over the network. Contacts (VCard). Audio files. Or your location. No word about video yet though.
Mail Search
You can now search inside all of the major default iPhone applications, including Mail. In Mail you can also search email not downloaded, i.e. still on your server!
Email Multiple Photos
You can now send multiple photos by tapping the action button, selecting a bunch of photos, copying, and then pasting it into Mail.
Landscape
You can now you can use landscape mode in “all key applications” including Mail.
App Subscriptions
Applications will now be able to charge on a subscription basis.
Text Message Forwarding and Deleting
You can forward and delete messages–individual messages or multiple messages.
Spotlight for iPhone!
Instead of having to slide between screens you can now simply flick your finger left from your home screen and start typing whatever application you’re looking for. Superb. It essentially becomes your new home screen.
Calendar Updates
CalDAV has been added, particularly useful for shared calendars.
Notes Sync
You can now sync your notes between the iPhone and Desktop
Voice memo application.
Allows you to record audio.
Stereo Bluetooth A2DP support
High quality audio can now be streamed from your iphone to another device via Bluetooth.
Peer to Peer Connectivity
Two iPhones or Touch’s and any other supported device will be able to connect directly —peer-to-peer—via Wi-Fi, without needing any Wi-Fi network. They can discover each other initially using Bluetooth, and then start a Wi-Fi connection automatically. You can send files via both devices.
Accessories SDK
You can now communicate directly with other accessories. So you’ll be able to control your TV’s volume for example.
Maps API in Apps
Notice how in some applications your directed over to Google Maps whenever the application needs to show you a map? Well no more, maps can be integrated into applications.
Turn by Turn
iPhone app developers can now create applications that perform turn by turn functionality as you have become familiar with on its google maps application.
Push Notifications
So no background apps but Apple have introduced “push notifications” which will mean you can still receive notifications from applications even if they aren’t actually running – particularly useful for instant messaging clients.
Voice Communication within Applications
So say your playing a shoot em’ up on the iPhone. With this update you’ll be able to talk against your competitor from within the app. Just like you would do with a headset on your desktop.
Update apps from within apps
So games can “sell” you new levels for example.
…When and How Much??
iPhone OS 3.0 will be a free upgrade to all iPhone users, including the first generation iPhones. iPod touch users will be able to buy it for $9.95. The beta version is available to developers now but the final release won’t be until the summer.
With great thanks to Gizmodo for their awesome live coverage of the event!
The Next Web Blog is closely associated with The Next Web Conference which is held annually in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. At this event speakers from all over the world come together to talk about, and show off, the future of the Web. (More info 
