25 5 / 2012
Apple responds to eBook case [PDF]
Apple starts out strong:
The Government’s Complaint against Apple is fundamentally flawed as a matter of fact and law.
And they continue:
The Government sides with monopoly, rather than competition, in bringing this case. The Government starts from the false premise that an eBooks “market” was characterized by “robust price competition” prior to Apple’s entry. This ignores a simple and incontrovertible fact: before 2010, there was no real competition, there was only Amazon. At the time Apple entered the market, Amazon sold nearly nine out of every ten eBooks, and its power over price and product selection was nearly absolute.
Thanks to John Gruber for pointing the link out so I could share it.
10 3 / 2012
The new iPad isn't so new
Paul Taylor, disappointed:
The new iPad will simply be called “new iPad”, maybe because the name is strong enough to carry its legacy unto another flood of eager Apploids, or maybe because there really isn’t that much new to it.
This makes sense. Apple called it the new iPad because there isn’t much new to it. Except, oh wait, thats not true at all. Not a single device has a screen resolution even close to the iPad’s retina display. And I’d bet they won’t come close for another year, at the least.
18 2 / 2012
Over consumption
Right now I have 31 tabs open across 3 Safari windows. I have iTunes playing music, and I have Messages open with 5 conversations. I also have Mail running in the background, and Twitter hidden in my dock. On top of all that, I have a few books waiting for my attention. I think I’m stretched too thinly.
Okay, maybe not too thinly. But I’ve reached a point where I have so much content queued up, and more keeps pouring in. Sometimes I see myself closing old tabs with articles that I, at one point, wanted to read. But I know if I don’t close them they’ll sit there for another week before I get a chance to either read them, or close them anyways. I need to consume less, produce more.
I had a related thought today after reading some similar articles. Somehow it surprised me that we’re paying for entertainment. We’re paying to be unproductive. Call it whatever you’d like - some might describe it as social, others might defend it as their way to relax. You know what relaxes me? Listening to some nice, calm music. You know what doesn’t? Sitting through 20 minutes of an action show with 10 minutes of advertisements thrown in my face. I pictured a future where media companies have to beg us to consume their content, and throw it at us for free. I dream of a world where the social influence to watch television is the minority - something a bad friend would suggest. Much like how smoking a cigarette might be considered today.
Of course, we’re far from this future. But are we really? Maybe with the upcoming Apple TV (or at least what’s rumored), I think we’re on our way to a commercial-less viewing experience. For a price, still. And in the case of Apple, a high premium. But at least it’s one step closer, right? I can only hope.
04 2 / 2012
`Subtle Changes to Apple Iconography`
Amazes me that people will actually spot these subtle differences in the first place, assuming they didn’t get a special tip-off.
Well to be fair, they probably did get a tip-off. Either that or the person who mentions it designed it.
23 1 / 2012
The iBookstore's policy
John Gruber:
Why not run the iBookstore the way they’re running the Mac App Store? The fact that Mac apps can be sold directly doesn’t seem to be slowing the growth of the Mac App Store.
When it comes to Mac apps, Apple had no choice but to allow external sales. Mac apps have always had that exposure, and Apple knows most users would rather have all their apps under an account where they (a) don’t worry about serials (i.e. digging through old emails), (b) don’t wonder which apps they bought, (b) can re-download with 1 click anytime.
So naturally users will generally want to use the Mac app store. But with the iPhone there was never another official way to install apps, so Apple could set the standard. Code signing, limited APIs, etc. But more importantly, their store is the only way to install apps - and it’s better for everyone.
They’re doing the same thing with textbooks. Up until now you either used a standard e-book, or wrote a custom app. Standard e-books are ugly and boring. Custom apps are big projects, but allow 100% customizability. Apple went right in the middle - they made a tool easy enough for authors and publishers to use, but they kept their standards as high as the iOS app store.
Complain about it all you want, but textbooks is a godsend for publishers and independent authors.
20 1 / 2012
This is the new year
I just bought Lauren Ipsum on the iBooks Store:
No computers will be found in this book. If the idea of a computer science book without computers upsets you, please close your eyes until you’ve finished reading the rest of this page.
The truth is that computer science is not really about the computer. It is just a tool to help you see ideas more clearly.
Finding content:
I came across the website on my Mac while looking through old items I added to my reading list. The website was generally well-kept and the book sounded interesting. I grabbed my iPhone and searched for it. A few taps later and I had read the free 30 page sample. Another tap and I had bought the book.
Consuming content:
Our generation is split into two general parts: consumers and creators. I’d bet that most people are consumers. Every day I try harder and harder to jump the fence between the two. Said best by _why:
When you don’t create things, you become defined by your tastes rather than ability. Your tastes only narrow & exclude people. So create.
Back on topic. I had just purchased the book after reading a 30 page sample on my phone. My phone needed charging so I took out my iPad and launched iBooks. The book was already there, waiting for me. I opened it up and it flipped to the page I was previously reading on my phone.
It was that simple.
What this really means:
Before this point, I had never experienced this. Sure, iTunes Match is great and all. Some would argue it’s the same idea. But to experience this “it just works” philosophy, it really is magical.
29 11 / 2011
`Because it makes my life easier`
I choose to fit myself into most of Apple’s intended-use constraints because their products tend to work better that way, which makes my life easier. But that requires trade-offs that many people can’t or won’t make.
I think over the past year I’ve done this as well. Two years ago I would have tried to use Android, and I was even looking at the OpenMoko phones. But now, I realize I don’t want to hack my phone. Hell, I don’t even jailbreak.
He goes on to say:
You should use whatever works for you. And I no longer have the patience or hubris to convince you what that should be. All I can offer is one data point: what I use, and how it works for me.
And I could not have said it better myself.
21 10 / 2011
New Apple products?
My guess is by April 2012 there will be a new Macbook Pro, iMac, TV and possibly an iPad.
01 7 / 2011
`What Makes the Thunderbolt Cable Lightning Fast`
From the iFixit blog:
Their transceiver technology enables “reliable data transfer at cutting-edge speeds over low cost, thin-gauge copper cables”. […] But, now you can at least sleep better at night knowing that there’s little chips inside your cable making it go fast. Your move, Monster Cable.
27 6 / 2011
`I have no title for this`
Good analogy of Final Cut Pro X. Oh, and it was cut in Adobe Premier.
EDITED Nov 26, 2011:
This was removed from Vimeo, and it popped up again on youtube.
24 6 / 2011
Responses to Final Cut X complaints
The part that caught my eye:
Professional editors should (1) learn to tell what’s really missing from what’s just been moved around, (2) recognize that there’s no obligation to switch from the old program yet, (3) monitor the progress of FCP X and its ecosystem, and especially (4) be willing to consider that a radical new design may be unfamiliar, but may, in the long term, actually be better.
This is important to remember; professionals shouldn’t be worried about Final Cut X’s appearance or missing features. Most professionals should know better than to upgrade right away. It’s a completely redesigned program; give it a year. No one is forcing you to upgrade.
10 6 / 2011
Why MobileMe has not taken off in the business world
Ever since MobileMe was released and had similar functionality to Microsoft Exchange, everyone wanted custom domains, but Apple still has not given in. […] Until Apple allows custom domains, and opens up a hosted Mac OS X Lion Server reseller program, iCloud/MobileMe will never take off in the business/professional world.
Very interesting analysis of Apple’s stance on MobileMe (iCloud) email. Right now it makes most sense to use Google Apps, for free.
