Twitter has announced a new search engine that not only will bring back relevant tweets but also pictures and video.

Key to this is the second part of the announcment which is the long rumoured integrated image and video hosting option. It will be available via all of Twitter's offical mobile apps. (including Tweetdeck?) I suspect this will mean all new or relatively light users will immediatley simply make the switch without thinking, and never go back to Twitpic or Yfrog images.

There are other users though for who the images they post are more significant than the service they use. This move could have implications for users who have built up significant collections of images on Flickr or Posterous. It's also going to be tough for new kids on the block like Instagram and Color who, despite carving niches of their own, could face an uphill battle to keep users in the face of a well-integrated Twitter image and video service.

This is another step in broadening the Twitter experience too. We know that advertisers are keen for more opportunities to get in front of the millions of global eyeballs looking at the site. Until now photo-sharing pages from the likes have Twitpic have been one way of doing it. Perhaps now we could see them buying space on Twitter's own photo pages?

Also look out for all the Apple references in the video above. What could they be about hmmm?

  Apple is widely expected to launch it's iAd mobile advertising platform in the UK in December. They have apparently signed up a host of big name brands to kick start things too, including Unilever, Nespresso, Renault and Absolute Radio. The idea behind the platform is to allow developers to include ads within their apps. They are hosted by Apple who sell the space to the developers. So the first hitch is the high price tag that Apple is apparently demanding for the ads - reportedly around ten times the current average cost for similar campaigns. The other possible stumbling block for advertisers could be the perennial Apple problem of control. It is true to say the company likes to keep a very tight grip on their platforms and products, for example the approval process for the App Store. Indeed, on announcing their plans for iAd Apple said all of the advertisements would be polished and high quality. This seems to have led to a prolonged creative process which could stymie growth especially for smaller agencies or brands. Whatever the issues though, there is no doubt in my mind that the arrival of iAd in the UK will be huge for the mobile advertising business. It offers new opportunities the likes of which haven't really been seen before and one thing is certainly true, that it will only help Apple's profits to grow even further.  

Steve Jobs has been on his feet again at WWDC. As usual, there was much speculation beforehand about what could be expected, not least the revelations from gizmodo about their prototype iPhone.

Anyway the highlights of the keynote are that there is indeed a new iPhone and it will be available for pre-order from 15 June for delivery on 24 June. Cool features include a unified inbox, threaded conversations, a front facing camera and of course the piste de resistance 'Facetime' also known as video calling. Personally I feel that the final aspect is a bit of a gimmick really, especially as it will only be possible initially over wi-fi and between two new model phones. 

Other interesting announcements include iMovie coming to the iPhone, the ability to select Bing as your default search engine on the iPhone and an updated version of iBooks which will be available on the iPhone.

In some ways this keynote was a bit lacking, the hype would have had you believe we could have expected everything from a new iWork/iLife package, web based itunes, updated iMacs or a new Apple TV but none of this materialised. Considering the amazing demand for iPads since the launch earlier this year I guess Apple decided it had enough on the go for the time being.

Friday was a big day for Apple fans in the UK. Almost 2 months after the iPad was launched in the USA it finally became available here too. Many people were so keen to get their hands on the latest device from Cupertino that they queued outside Apple Stores around the country from very early in the morning. I haven't got an iPad of my own yet, partly because my wife has yet to agree that I actually need one but also because I'm still not sure that the price is quite right. Having read what others have said about their experiences so far though, I'm sure that it's only a matter of time before I decide to shell out. In my opinion, the design and concept of the iPad will be game changing for technology. Sure it has its downsides and the first edition of any new device is never perfect but the way it allows the user to interact directly without needing a hardware mouse or keyboard is the kind of idea which made Star Trek: TNG seem so futuristic in the 90s.

Friday was a big day for Apple fans in the UK.

Almost 2 months after the iPad was launched in the USA it finally became available here too. 

Many people were so keen to get their hands on the latest device from Cupertino that they queued outside Apple Stores around the country from very early in the morning. 

I haven't got an iPad of my own yet, partly because my wife has yet to agree that I actually need one but also because I'm still not sure that the price is quite right. Having read what others have said about their experiences so far though, I'm sure that it's only a matter of time before I decide to shell out.

In my opinion, the design and concept of the iPad will be game changing for technology. Sure it has its downsides and the first edition of any new device is never perfect but the way it allows the user to interact directly without needing a hardware mouse or keyboard is the kind of idea which made Star Trek: TNG seem so futuristic in the 90s. 

So Steve, Phil and Scott have done their thing. Multitasking, folders, a unified inbox with capability for more than one exchange account are all features that will finally persuade me to upgrade to a 3GS in the summer. The real news though is about iAd which will enable the creation of in app advertising with some of the revenue being past on to developers. This is potentially crucial for the future of mobile advertising. I can see that there will be some debate how popular it will be, some users might dislike the intrusiveness of the in-app ads but this should drive the good developers to look at making the transition from content to ad as seamless as possible. This announcement comes only a few days after Apple's game changing launch of the iPad which I know some people might be sceptical about the new device, personally I think that it is far too soon to judge the potential and innovation of the iPad and in time it will be talked about as a pivotal moment in computing development.

So Steve, Phil and Scott have done their thing. Multitasking, folders, a unified inbox with capability for more than one exchange account are all features that will finally persuade me to upgrade to a 3GS in the summer. The real news though is about iAd which will enable the creation of in app advertising with some of the revenue being past on to developers. This is potentially crucial for the future of mobile advertising. I can see that there will be some debate how popular it will be, some users might dislike the intrusiveness of the in-app ads but this should drive the good developers to look at making the transition from content to ad as seamless as possible. This announcement comes only a few days after Apple's game changing launch of the iPad which I know some people might be sceptical about the new device, personally I think that it is far too soon to judge the potential and innovation of the iPad and in time it will be talked about as a pivotal moment in computing development.