brunobergher::blog

I’ve been programming for just a couple of years. I have barely no desktop development experience, focusing only in web sites and applications. Mobile apps? Even less.

So I’d think: “how excited could I get watching Apple’s iPhone SDK launch keynote?”. Well, I’m surprised with myself. I’m blown away with them.

If you haven’t watched it yet, please do, or this will make no sense at all.

When Google announced the Android platform it seemed like a milestone, that the standardization of the APIs would be the solid foundation upon which developers would create the mobile apps of the future. I remember talking to my co-workers how I found it interesting that this niche event felt like a moment that would change things to come.

But now, this is a real turning point. OK: it’s a closed platform, only works with two specific devices, depends on a yet-to-be-tested distribution channel*, but, in my truly humble opinion, has what it takes to shape the future of mobile computing. Or even of the entire computing experience.

The keynote was only opened and closed by Steve Jobs—therefore mostly free of his RDF—and filled with useful, tempting information. Each round of explanations about the layers of the iPhone OS made me giggle, finally laughing out loud with excitement when Scott Forstall said the API included full access to the accelerometer (with X, Y, and Z axes!) and multi-touch events. It’s just top exciting.
And the SDK is free.

I just find it amazing that the presentation left me with a weird, uncontrollable desire to start writing Objective-C. Oh, now I need a Mac. : )

* Well, if you don’t count the iTunes Music Store, which is now the #2 music seller in the US, and works much alike the App Store.

… it could probably look like something this:

(It’s a homage/exercise by an art student, by no means comparable to Saul’s work, but definitely worth watching.)

I am a huge fan of the design of movie titles, so much my graduation project was actually a book (some 250 pages long) on this subject. It never went on to publishing, but is one of the most joyful things I’ve ever worked on; I hope someday I can get back to it.

Be sure to check the ‘related’ videos list in this video’s page, which showcases some of his work, including my favorites—Anatomy of a Murder and Ocean’s Eleven (1960).

While at it, try to watch ‘Why Man Creates‘, a short film made by Saul and his wife Elaine Bass about creativity, which won the 1968 Academy Award for short documentary.