iPhone – steroids for Social Media?

Last week Apple announced the impending update of the iPhone operating system. Watching the Apple video outlining the changes I found myself picking my jaw up a few times. The iPhone may be the thing that makes Social Media a mainstream phenomenon.

13.7 million phones sold last year. 800 million downloads from the App Store in 8 months, and now the new Operating System.

The key elements of the new OS that I can see enhancing Social Media type applications are;
Peer to Peer connectivity - not just great for gaming but there’s a potential mountain of apps for all sorts of data sharing.
MMS – overdue, but with the addition of being able to send audio files this gets a little more interesting.
Custom applications for accessories – where do you start with this? As discussed in the video imagine your home blood pressure reader being able to update your medical files then make an appointment for you if you’re running a little high! Providing an interface between the web and currently disconnected devices should see the phone put to an amazing array of new uses.
Maps – allowing developers to place the maps within the app. Should take geocaching to a new level.
Push notification – auto-updates of kety data just quietly ‘happening. Again on the video the ESPN example was terrific, game score pops up, you click VIEW and the video starts. This would be great combined with location awareness.

Apple claims there are 1000 new API’s – toolkits for developers to add functionality to their apps, a lot of which could have a very Social Media feel to them.

Apple has again changed the game – this thing you think is a phone is a whole lot of other things.
Making these powerful tools available in a personal portable device suggests to me that Social Media will be untethered from the desktop and become far more a part of peoples everyday lives

Understanding by doing.

We got two shiny new iPhones on Friday. I knew I would be quickly enamoured of the new device however the suprise has been the ardour my wife has shown towards hers. After being rather indifferent to the whole iPhone experience, now that she owns one and is using it, she is a convert.

I’ve had similar epiphanies in regards to social media by diving in and experiencing it, at first I was a curious onlooker, however after making new connections and engaging with others and their content a point came where I saw the light.

Recently I was talking with a new client, theoretically he understood what he could do, but it wasn’t until we mapped out and started working on concrete examples that it really clicked for him.

It’s kind of like driving (or bike riding or snow-boarding etc), there is only so much you can learn from reading and watching – at some stage you need to get out into the traffic and bump the kerb to learn. Once you pass the initial awkward stage it becomes incredibly enjoyable, then it becomes second nature, and then you wonder how on earth you got around before.