MWGblog

Ever since the advent of the iPhone, I’ve always tried to have an iPhone optimized theme for my sites. For the last 2 plus years I’ve been using the iWPhone plugin for WordPress. It did the job with a simple straight forward approach. However recently, I switched to WPtouch. This plugin is a power house. It also provides a feature I’ve always wanted for my mobile themes – Google AdSense integration. More on that in a minute. (Click on images below to see close-ups.)

To start it lets you set up a simple theme and then, when you are ready, you can really dig in an customize all types of features. As you can see, the home page displays a simple chronological listing of your most recent posts (I chose calendar display – it also has thumbnail view), allows for a number of menu functions and a feature to read the first few lines of the post before committing to the next screen.

The post screen displays the whole post and allows for both the submission and display of comments.

This is also where you’ll see the Google AdSense, it dislpays between the title bar and the post content. The Adsense is optimized for mobile content and has a rollover display that pages through the advertiser title, link address and copy elements. If you are curious to take the theme for a spin and see it in action, I’ve set it up on MWGblog.com, PodcastAcademy.com and ReelReviewsRadio.com.

Another nice feature is the theme works for iPhone, iPod Touch, Android smartphones, Palm Pre and BlackBerry Storm.

As for podcasting, it worked just fine playing audio tracks straight from the sites. Perhaps in a future version some intelligence can be built in to display a small “play” symbol next to the file link. I’d also like to see the ability to add AdSense to the main page perhaps after every 2 or 3 post titles.

I’ve just scratched the surface here. Make sure to check out WPtouch’s great gallery of Features and the whole host of Admin options.

I found this proof of concept video for iPhone copy & paste functionality via Phil Windley’s Technometria. Pretty cool video mock-up, including the iPhone video guy. No it is not yet available, but it is a cool concept.

I’ve been using our GigaVox logo as the wallpaper on my iPhone. Since I built it, I thought I’d go ahead and put it up here for the few folks who saw and asked about it. Click on the iPhone image to the left to see a full size view.

Here is how to install it:
Download the graphic here.
Set up an album in iPhoto titled Wallpaper.
Set iTunes to sync the album.
Go into the iPhone settings menu under wallpaper and select.

Here are more detailed instructions if needed. Enjoy.

Today I quickly experimented with Chris Penn’s new application that renders an iPhone friendly podcast page for your website. It was easy to set up and worked as promised. On Reel Reviews I use a special RSS feed that contains just the podcast entries. I loaded it into the kit and “voila” – ready to go on the iPhone. Just click on a link and it plays the podcast. You can check it out here: Reel Reviews iPhone page.

To see a full resolution screenshot as it appears on an iPhone just click on the iPhone graphic on the left.

Check it out Chris’ application: Podcaster iPhone Kit.

I have used examples of the BlendTec’s Will It Blend videos in a number of corporate “new media” presentations recently. They are a great example of harnessing the power of YouTube et al., viral video and a bit of fun. For iPhone lovers (present company included) here is the newest, and somewhat painful blender test. Don’t forget, those that need the Mac Daddy of blenders check out the “BlendTec Total Blender

Paul Figgiani and I were experimenting with video for the iPhone today. Here is a high quality video formatted for the iPhone. It is suggested you play with this over wi-fi.

iPhone Link: GigaVox iPhone Video

For all the regular web visitors , click on the graphic below to watch it.

I couldn’t resist. I bought one too. I have to admit, my experience was great. I headed to an Apple store at 10:30 PM after doing some interviews for an upcoming Disneyland Podcast. I was in and out of the store with my new iPhone in under 3 minutes. It is set up and activated. Friends coming over in the morning, I better figure out how to show this thing off.

Update: This thing is amazing. Everything works as advertised. I am sure that I’ll discover some issue or frustrations, but for now: Wow. It is rare a new device is everything you’d expect. Bravo Apple! My Treo 680 is already in the desk drawer. (Watching West Side Story in it’s correct aspect ration as I type this. Finally, a widescreen ipod!)