The Death of Windows

It's fitting that Mac is calling their new OS Lion. It's fitting because it is the OS that is going to tear though and conquer everything. Windows? It's dead.

Apple has built an empire on the phrase, "It just works." And you know what? It does. Next time my parents need a computer, why would I get them a Windows? With Apple, more so now than ever with Lion (due out Summer 2011), the learning curve is virtually gone. Why does the iPhone, the iPod Touch, and the iPad work? Because you can sit down with them and know how they work with little effort.

What's more, Apple is now the computer of choice for just about every single college freshman. Microsoft had a similar tactic when I was in college--I paid only 15 bucks for the Office Professional suite and 25 bucks for Windows 98 at the college bookstore. Apple is at nearly every college campus in the country, offering discounts and, of course, Apple credit cards to pay for them. For the ones not willing to pay $1000+ on a laptop, they give an iPhone.

People want things that look the same. It's only logical that people want a computer that interacts as simple as their phone. The new iMovie program in iLife is enough to make any parent lust to have it in their home--so their kids too can create videos that blow their peers away. And iPhoto is iCandy to every senior’s eye--a photo suite that makes it simple to print out albums.  It's cool, and there's something for everyone.

Apple is doing something that Microsoft hasn't figured out: they're making their consumer see how their life will be easier if only they could have on.

Microsoft has a nasty habit of innovating after innovation--Zune is better than iPod in many ways, but it came too late; the same can be said of the latest Windows mobile. If the rumors are correct, they too are working on an app store for computers/tablets, but time will tell if it comes too late.

Windows, for now, will remain the computer of businesses, but I suspect Android will soon take care of that. 

Things change. The giant today is the dwarf tomorrow. So why should it matter? Because, while I love Apple, and have four in my house, the idea of having a computer with apps means the ultimate end to customization. Sure we can tweak the computer, but soon it will only be in a way that Apple wants.

I like Apple. I like apps. They're simple. But the idea of someone having them deciding what apps are approved and rejected is worrisome.

My First iPhone App

Everyone is creating iPhone app these days; I figured it was about time to learn what it was all about. I spent the past two weeks learning the code and the features. I'm still learning.

Last week I started developing my first app...a very simple one to help you find the address and number of the libraries within your county. The first version only includes California. I hope to have an update up very soon with additional states.

The app is called LibFind, and today it was approved for sale. It can be purchased here (all money goes to paying for a poor librarian!).

I'm hoping to have some advance features implemented as I learn them. Below are a few screenshots.

For those interested in developing apps, it's not as hard as you think; it takes a lot of time and patience (and a Mac computer), but Apple offers plenty of tutorials.

What Do You Get the Redneck Book Lover in Your Family?

Steve Jobs: The Lost Interview

Back in the day, I used to write faux parody interviews for The Door Magazine. One of the interviews that made it to the editorial board, but was ultimately passed for reason I don't remember, was with Steve Jobs. After the iPad hype, I decided to dig up the interview; you can read it in it's entirety here.

The Kindle Killer Isn't Very Killer

Before it was even released, the hype surrounding the iPad already helmed it a Kindle killer; whether or not it is, doesn’t really matter because it’s cool, so people will obviously buy it, and thus it will no doubt give Kindle a run for its money. My bet is Amazon is going to respond come summer with something that tries to one up the game.

Name aside, there are a number of reason why the iPad is a bit disappointing.

The biggest flaw for me is there is no USB. Let’s assume you just typed the great American novel and you’re ready to print it. You have two options: sync it or email it. The convenience of saving to a thumb drive is one to be missed. The least they could have done is put in an SD slot that lets you easily put your photos into it. Am I the only one who hates syncing photos on an iPod?

There’s also no HDMI out; sure, you can get an A/V adaptor to hook it up to your TV, but it would be so much easier if you didn’t have to.

You can only customize it if Apple says it’s okay. That really stinks. Every computer has limitations, but this thing is really locked down. You can only install the programs that it approves and change the actual appearance of it if they decide that it is okay to do.

I don’t use webcams often, but I like the feature. They’re dirt cheap to put on computers, so what gives Apple? If this is the bridge between a phone and computer, then why did you remove one feature that is on both?

Wanna upgrade? Wait for the next version to come out and buy a new one. That’s not the case with netbooks and computers; do you need more RAM? A better processor? Bigger hard drive? A screwdriver and a little common sense will probably be able to get the job done.

How about that 10 hour battery? That’s great until it begins to deteriorate, which all batteries quickly do. There’s no replaceable battery.

But Apple has a great commercial, and that’s why everyone, I’ll admit myself included, is lusting after this thing.

Before heading out to buy Apple’s sexiest new gadget, pause for a moment and look at your options.

There are two by Lenovo that should be worthy competitors.

The first is the Lenovo s10-3t; it’s the same price as the Apple, almost the same weight and size, it has a real keyboard built right in, USB and SD slots, and its hard drive is three times the size. It also has Windows 7, which means you can customize it all you want, or even put Linux on it should you desire to do so. The battery life isn’t 10 hours, true, but it should get you 5 to 6 by turning off the Wi-Fi, and if you want more then you can always buy a backup battery.

Even more impressive (but at a rumored twice the price) is the Lenovo Ideapad U1 hybrid, which is also a Windows 7 touch screen that splits apart into a Linux machine (complete with its own processor).

Both of these computers are better, in my opinion, than the iPad, but here I am, with the rest of the world checking out the iPad as if it’s a worthy companion. It’s funny how much hype for a product can actually make you desire a product that is less superior to its competitors.

Will it kill the Kindle? Certainly makes me wonder, and hope Amazon comes out with something to compete. But the Kindle does have one thing on the iPad (aside from a better screen), it’s ridiculously simple and doesn't require any subscription plan—that alone will save you $180 to $360 a year over the subscription plan that Apple has set up with AT&T; plus the Kindle is worldwide.

The Future (?) of Reading

With the Apple iSlate (?) schedule to come out at the end of the month, I digitally conceived what it may look like for the future of reading. Enjoy:

Is iTunes the New Kindle?

A new story is out saying Apple may consider putting books on iTunes; I'd hardly consider this a story—I'd consider it a fact. The technology is there, and people are already putting books on their iPod touch and iPhones; I predict a new touch will come out sometime next year (followed soon after by a new iPhone) that has better resolution that can handle books.

Publisher's are struggling to figure out how to make profit in a digital age; I've been saying for years that they'd soon have to go through what the music industry went through several years ago with MP3's, and I think the time has arrived.

Two things are on my mind, however. One is what format Apple would use; one can only hope they don't use their own; and two, what will happen to the authors? Musicians simply learned to tour if they wanted to make money, but what about authors? Maybe Stephanie Meyer can sellout the Nokia, but the average author can't even get a handful of people to show up for a signing at Barnes & Noble. What happens when people start putting books up on bit torrent and publishers go from making $50,000 to $100,000 on a mid-list author to making less than $10,000—my guess is they cut back the number of authors they sign, which is already low.

My longstanding idea for putting advertisements in an eBook might start looking like a better idea to them. And FYI, here are the two blogs I've mentioned advertising in the past:

http://speakquietly.blogspot.com/2007/12/future-of-books.html

http://speakquietly.blogspot.com/2008/06/welcome-to-wonderful-world-of-free.html

A 200 dollar laptop? An Apple Netbook?

When Apple starts thinking about jumping on the netbook wagon, you know it's more then just a trendy little phase; in 2009, the company is rumored to release a netbook version of the Mac. It's said they might actually compete with others by setting the price in the 500 dollar range, but one has to wonder if that's really competing...a new $200 netbook is also rumored to be coming out next year from Eee PC; granted the Eee PC is a Linux model, but you really can't beat the price if all you want to do is type and surf the net.

As the economy continues to hit sour notes, it's easy to see these computers completely taking over the laptop market...they kind of already have. It's hard to justify paying 1,000 dollars a for a laptop when these will do just fine.

Why You Shouldn't Feel Guilty for Illegal Downloading

Yahoo! announced last week that it is doing away with its music service; so what happens to all the people who used Yahoo! to buy music? The easiest way to explain things: you're screwed. If you did a lot of downloading, then you better start backing up that music on CDs and then ripping it back onto the computer, because that's about the only way to get rid of the DRM.

To all those laughing and saying that didn't happen because you use iTunes...well your time could come to. Apple makes a lot of money off their little iTunes store, but they've screwed their customers over big time in the past. They've walked away from their customers in the past, and you better believe they'll do it again if they want to focus their energies on something else.

The problem that everyone is complaining about, is, of course DRM. When you buy a song with DRM you don't really buy the song; you buy the rights to play it on your computer or iPod, but if the company wants to they can just stop supporting that DRM at any moment.

Until the music industry comes up with a better solution...like get rid of DRM entirely...then why are people supposed to stop downloading music? Piracy is the easiest and most practical way to get a lot of music; iTunes is a bit of a hassle--especially if you don't want MP4 files.

Weekend Funnies

Is This the Beginning of the End?

Readers of this blog will know that I believe Microsoft is on a downward spiral, and desperately needs to sex things up (note to read: while I do have an Apple computer, my primary computer is a PC...so I really am hoping for them to get better.) Need more proof? The picture below is something my wife (also a Microsoft hater...she's embarrassed when she has to tell her cool friends that she owns Windows OS and not Leopard); it's a picture of an Apple computer being used to give a PowerPoint Presentation at a Microsoft conference! So it's so bad even Microsoft employees don't use their own products!

Can anyone save this company?

Weekend Funnies

Weekend Funnies

Hackintosh

Windows is the operating system of yesterday. It seems like they are trying to lose users. First they put out Windows Vista, which is sluggish on half the PCs it's pre-installed on (it was so bad, that I ended up paying nearly 150 dollars to downgrade to XP on my wife's computer). Now it seems Microsoft is out to get XP users too! Their recent XP update is full of bugs.

It's no wonder so many people are switching to Mac. What I don't get is why Apple just doesn't sell a PC version of the Leopard operation system; back in the pre-Intel days, this sort of thing would have been complicated. Now? Piece of cake. So unleash the Leopard, Steve Jobs! I know I'd line up to buy it.

I've gotten to the point where I'm considered turning my PC into a hackintosh until I can get the money and the courage to take the leap to the Mac side. Sure it's illegal, but what are my options? Don't make me do this Apple! Just give me an OS to put on my PC and I'll happily pay you!

Solar Powered iPod?

How would you like your iPod to be solar powered? Read the article below about a solar powered MP3...if it succeeds the iPod is sure to follow.

http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/patterson/11392