Resolved For iOS! 'OK Google' Works in UK

One of the most useful features in the ever expanding tool set that is Google Now is the 'OK Google' Hotwords. Unfortunately many people are discovering that this handy feature is not active outside of the US. With Google releasing an update to their iOS app over the last couple of days this annoyance has spread to Googles iOS users too. However there does appear to be a handy fix.

When you go into the application settings you'll notice that it's impossible to activate Hotwords. Changing your language in the application won't make a difference. However, go to 

iOS Settings -> General -> International and update your language to plain 'English'. Once the phone has finished applying it head to the Google app and Hotwords should now be on by default.

I haven't found any issues with this so far but please be aware that I accept no responsibility for any damage or other inconvenience caused to your device or yourself through following this tip. I'm offering it simply to let you know how I got this working on my iPhone 5.

Team Former For iOS Available Now

I'm proud to announce that my first iOS app, Team Founder, is now live on the app store!

The app lets you quickly and easily split any group of people into teams for sports, games or even classroom activities. Just enter the names of everyone playing along with the number of people you want in each group and hit Create. The app then creates your teams and lets you share them with friends and followers through email, Messages, Twitter and FaceBook.

The app is free so please go ahead and download it from iTunes and give it a go. I have lots of plans to make this app bigger and even better in version 2.

iTunes Link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/team-former/id689018834?ls=1&mt=8

The app is built for all supported models of iPhone and iPod Touch running iOS 6.1.

WWDC 2013 Wish List

With WWDC due to start today I thought I'd compile a quick wish list for iOS, OS X and iCloud. 

1. Better sharing on iOS. I'm thinking in particular of the share cards in BB10 and Android. A central area that developers can hook into and allow you to share media from across your device.

2. Widgets. This is an awkward one. I want a more customisable experience but I don't want the Android widget model which I find gets messy. Maybe an expansion of the search screen and better use of notifications?

3. Cross service integration. This seems unlikely but being able to grant calendars and images access to people with Google logins would be a big winner for me.

4. Dropbox. The expansion of iCloud to include a Dropbox style service again. I miss having somewhere to store files that aren't in Pages, Numbers or Keynote.

5. On the Mac I'd love to see better syncing across multiple computers. For example an iPhoto library on my MacBook could be kept easily in sync with one on my desktop.

6. A new version of iWork.

Lets see what happens in a few hours but these would be some very useful additions to an already formidable arsenal of digital services and features. 

If RIM Is Up For Sale There Is Someone Who Might Be Interested

UVMF are the first firm to step forward and make a public offer to buy RIM after the RIM CEO, Thorsten Heins, indicated that no option had been taken off the table including the sale of the firm. It is extremely unlikely that such an offer from such a small firm would ever be accepted but I believe that this opens the flood gates. RIM is now very much on the market and I have to believe that a sale of the company is now much more likely than an Apple style turn around. But who to?

There are a number of names being bandied about at the moment including Microsoft and Samsung. Samsung are one of the largest smartphone manufacturers in the world with handsets at multiple price points running both Android and Windows Phone. Other than the patent portfolio, which will be much cheaper if RIM goes under, RIM has no assets that Samsung would want.

Microsoft would appear to be more likely. After the partnership with Nokia a deal with RIM would certainly be beneficial and would give Microsoft a foot back into the lucrative Enterprise market as well as giving Microsoft access to a portion of RIM's 13% of the smartphone market. From a technology point of view I would expect that much work has been done internally on the move move away from the traditional BlackBerry infrastructure and the incorporation of ActiveSync into BES. If this is in place then the union of the BES install base with Windows Phone would be hugely beneficial to Microsoft. I don't think it'll be Microsoft though. There is another company that makes more sense. HP.

RIMs renewed focus on the Enterprise puts them on the same strategic course as HP. While the Palm acquisition was a total disaster RIM is different. It has a well managed supply chain, a large and loyal fan base equating to 13% of the smartphone market, strong Enterprise presence and and equally strong international presence and overall the firm is profitable. The sale of Enterprise servers from HP with BES installed and tight integration with BlackBerry mobile devices would give HP control of a key Enterprise widget.

It's my expectation that while RIM could be turned around management is no longer interested in this option. Personally I'm a fan of BlackBerry and I am hoping the firm is able to refocus without losing its character but if not then HP seems the most likely owner of one of the worlds most addictive devices.