Two years ago, Apple launched its Find My iPhone service, which provided MobileMe subscribers with lost device location functionality. Apple expanded its Find My iPhone (and Find My iPad) service to all customers in November, including those who didn’t fork over $99 annually for MobileMe. Earlier today, Research in Motion (RIM) launched an open beta of BlackBerry Protect — a free service which duplicates some of Apple’s Find My iPhone and MobileMe sync functionality, providing BlackBerry users with remote backup and restore, lost device tracking and wipe, and the ability to remotely activate loud ringer mode, so you can annoy the hell out of your friends for hours after losing your BlackBerry in their couch. BlackBerry users can download Protect through App World.

Working in the tech industry, it’s reasonable to say that my colleagues and I have overlooked the fact that outside of the bubble — OK, FAR outside of the bubble — Jim Jones iPhone owner might not realize that each of the over-350,000 iPhone apps was not actually developed by an Apple employee. After hearing a CNN reporter declare on a live broadcast today that Apple recently “developed” a Catholic ‘Confession’ iPhone app, I’ve decided to launch a one-part series, titled “Where do Apps Come From?“

Sure, iPhones were flying off shelves in 2007 when the only apps available were the standard “widgets” still pre-installed by Apple, including Phone, Mail, Safari, iPod, Stocks and Weather, among others, but the creation of the App Store — and subsequent third-party app development — has added significant value to Apple’s flagship mobile product.

By definition, third-party apps are developed by a third-party (i.e. not the phone’s manufacturer), which means that the now hundreds of thousands of apps that now populate the app store were created by tens of thousands of individual developers — from a 13-year-old kid in his parents’ basement to multi-billion-dollar giants like Google and Microsoft — even The White House developed an app. So there you have it; all but a tiny fraction of the apps available today were not developed by Apple.

Do you have a mobile phone on AT&T? You can get 1,000 free rollover minutes simply by texting “Yes” to 11113020. AT&T doesn’t offer an explanation for this generous bonus, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it had something to do with the iPhone’s launch on Verizon. Either way, free minutes are free minutes, so enjoy!

Via Engadget.

I’m about to board a flight to Beijing, where I’ll be working until Saturday. Because of China’s tight restrictions on Internet access — unless the situation has improved since my last visit, in June — it’s unlikely that I’ll be able to access social networking sites such as Twitter, Facebook, and this blog until after I return. I may try to post by email, so we’ll see if that works. If not, have a great week, and I’ll be back on Sunday!

In addition to the obvious use of JetBlue’s Facebook group that I mentioned above, the airline is also using the page to schedule events, post tips, and interact with passengers. Travelers are also using another service — Meetup — to schedule their own events around the country.

*Disclaimer: Astute observers will notice that the image above doesn’t look quite right. Yes, it’s been “Photoshopped” so my conversation appears at the top of the page, two hours after it was posted. Please feel free to send complaints via email

By now, everyone has seen their airport kiosks, Western Union store counters, or infomercials, but with the release of Rosetta Stone TOTALe, the full-immersion language tool has finally hit the Web. I’ve been using TOTALe to learn Mandarin over the last month, and I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how much I’ve learned. I’m months away from being able to have a conversation with a native speaker lasting longer than 20 (er shi) seconds, but my vocabulary has expanded far beyond 1 (yi), 2 (er), 3 (san), and water (shui). Beyond basic greetings and a few key objects, I’m now able to complain about odor and personal hygiene, which just may come in handy during my next visit to Beijing in October. I can even recognize several dozen characters, and pronounce 5+ variations of “xie” (it’s used for far more than just thank you, in which case it’s pronounced “shey”).

Rosetta Stone TOTALe takes full advantage of the Web, supplementing the traditional three-part Rosetta Course with Rosetta Studio, where you can speak directly with a native-speaking “coach,” and Rosetta World, which enables language learners to interact with others learning the same language by playing games and communicating in chat rooms. I also like being able to learn Mandarin using any computer, but the current version of TOTALe does not allow you to store the program locally on your computer, so you’ll need an Internet connection whenever you want to learn (the next version — coming soon — will include CD components so the software can be installed on your computer, and accessed without an Internet connection).

The price — a one-year TOTALe subscription is currently on sale for $999 — may cause some sticker shock for potential language learners, but compared to a university or language institute course, TOTALe is a bargain. There’s no free trial, unfortunately, but Rosetta Stone offers a 30-day money back guarantee on TOTALe, so if you don’t mind paying $999 up front, I definitely recommend taking advantage of the 30-day trial (Rosetta Stone provided me with a 3-month media demo account). I will continue using TOTALe for the remainder of my trial period, and will post next month about my progress, along with more details about the service and interface.

I’m leaving to pursue a career in real estate. Yeah, you heard me correctly – real estate. I’ve grown to love the ins and outs of Manhattan’s real estate market after making some recent investments – to the extent that I come home every night to check the latest listings, and even get text alerts on my phone when the closing price of a property in my neighborhood becomes public. I couldn’t pass up this opportunity, even if it meant walking away from a job I worked so hard to get. I’d be happy to explain exactly what I’ll be doing when I see you in person – the position couldn’t be a better fit.

I’ll still be the geek who refreshes the live stream frantically during Apple keynotes, and the guy you ask which entry-level DSLR to get your dad for Father’s Day. I plan to continue writing for PC Magazine and other publications on a freelance basis as time allows. You might even see me at parties and media events, as a “plus 1” of one of my very good industry friends, or perhaps representing my soon-to-be-frequently updated Tech, Travel & Tuna blog (look up – this is it).

The good news: not being tied to a magazine frees me up to post here more, to be more blunt in my Twitter posts, and gives me time to really play with some of the gadgets I never had a chance to before. The bad news: I’m leaving a corps of incredible journalists and some very hard-working vendors, who made my job a constant adventure.

As always, you can reach me at zshonig [at] gmail [dot] com.

Zach

P.S. Below you will find the job description for my soon-to-be-vacant position at PCMag.com. Please let me know if you have any questions about the required qualifications or job responsibilities.

Staff Editor – Consumer Electronics

Job Responsibilities:
–Produce, line edit, and write product reviews
–Write news stories, blog posts, and weekly newsletters
–Write and edit product roundups and buying guide
–Maintain a product reviews database and provide general support for analysts
–Help to maintain and update 15 landing pages on PCMag.com
–Prepare product photos for landing pages
–Meet with vendors for product briefings
–Represent PCMag at industry events

Applicant Requirements:
–At least 4 years of editing and online production experience, preferably in the tech arena. Knowledge and experience with the aforementioned product categories is a plus.
–Solid writing and editing skills and a keen eye for detail. Copy editing experience is a plus.
–Experience working with a content management system. Image editing experience is a plus.
–Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, competitive, deadline-driven environment
–Self-starter and proactive problem solver with a positive attitude
–Interest in and experience with social media is a plus
–Bachelors Degree (Journalism, Communications, or English preferred)

Unfortunately this doesn’t apply to Sidekick customers (Microsoft claims that files on both the Sidekick server and its backup server became corrupt), but this is the perfect opportunity to discuss what should be perhaps the most important step in your daily workflow, especially for anyone who uses a computer or smartphone for work (which these days seems to be most of us): BACKING UP! Some Windows-based computer manufacturers make it fairly painless for you to backup your system daily, but for Mac and iPhone users, it’s really a no-brainer. If you’re not using Time Machine and/or syncing your iPhone with your computer daily, then please, for the love of god, start backing up tonight!

You may not find this statistic quite as fascinating as I, but in 2009, I found it hard to believe that there’s anyone out there that has never sent a text message, until my friend Annie came to visit. I was impressed when Annie, 23, made it through four years of college without texting, but to go this long when so far away from many of her friends is quite the feat. I don’t recall when I sent my first text, but it was certainly long before I left for college, and perhaps even earlier. Annie’s reasoning is simple—texting costs money, even when making a phone call does not. She has no problem sending an email, or picking up the phone, but Annie doesn’t know the first thing about texting, and she’s perfectly fine leaving things be. Annie has promised that her first text will be to me, whenever that happens to be

Are you a non-texter? Share your story as a comment…

Updated: At 5:45PM on Thursday, August 27, 2009, I received my first text from Annie!

Q: Well, how was Beijing? Should I go?

A: After spending two months living in Beijing, I’d hesitate to recommend the city to tourists looking to soak up Chinese history and culture. Sure — there’s plenty of that in Beijing, but there’s so much more to China that you won’t be able to see through Beijing’s environmental and propaganda haze. I came to tolerate life in the city towards the end of my journey, but only because the Olympics were in town, and many familiar Western conveniences became available, such as an Apple Store and Cold Stone. Unless you speak Mandarin, communication with locals is almost always impossible. Some are learning limited English, but are unable to pronounce words correctly due to a lack of native speakers to practice with.

For photographers, Beijing can be a great place to shoot on clear days, but unfortunately, the sun only breaks through the clouds every so often. If you’re only in town for a week, you may not have a single day without a hazy blanket to get in the way of you and that perfect shot. The Chinese make incredible subjects, and are generally more open to photographers than Westerners. Unfortunately, I think much of this comes from a fear of confrontation, especially when they’re unable to communicate with the foreigner behind the camera.

Q: What was it like to work at the Olympics?

A: I can’t even begin to describe the Olympic experience – it was so incredible to be able to work alongside the world’s top photographers, reporters, and athletes. Just being around the athletes was a thrill – there were so many, from almost every country in the world. There were also plenty of opportunities for staff and journalists to mingle with athletes outside of the competition venues, especially towards the end of the Games.

During the first week of competition, I answered questions for photographers at the road cycling course (and ended up doing quite a bit of computer troubleshooting as well). A few days after road cycling, I transferred to indoor volleyball, where I worked as a flash quotes reporter, interviewing athletes in the mixed zone alongside reporters from around the world. Often, we had to work through translators — it was really an experience unlike any other.

Q: Can I work at Vancouver 2010 or London 2012?

A: Honestly, I’m not quite sure. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) required the Beijing Organizing Committee (BOCOG) to hire native English speakers from overseas only because very few were qualified in China. Fortunately for the next Winter and Summer Games, that’s not the case — both will be held in countries where English is the official language. If you’re an expert with relevant experience, feel free to contact VANOC or LOCOG for more information about joining their staffs during the Games. I’d certainly recommend giving it a shot — working at the Olympics is an experience like no other.

I have a few regrets about my experience in China. Some are less significant, and were only realized when I read the United Airlines magazine on the flight back to the States. I can’t believe I spent two months in Beijing and only visited half of the locations they suggested in their cover article. I never made it to the restaurant, Made in China, but I certainly heard great things. My biggest regret, however, is not taking more time to travel around the country. I visited Shanghai and Tianjin, and made a side trip to the suburbs with Vincent Laforet, but I really wish I had taken more time in the beginning of my trip to explore other parts of the country. Some friends flew to see pandas in their native habitat near Chengdu, or visited the Terracotta Army at Xi’an. I’d love to visit China again at some point in the near future — but I don’t think Beijing will make it on my itinerary.

This marks my final post to Behind the Lens at the Beijing Olympics. Thanks for visiting, and feel free to continue sending questions or adding your comments to individual posts.