Looks great and has some truly interesting features. What concerns me is the price point and the company that is making it – this most likely is vaporware, I hope though, that I am wrong.
Month: August 2010
-
Even Oracle is Pissed at Google
Be interesting to see what Oracle really hopes to gain from this lawsuit – seems odd to sue over the use of Java. Seems even more odd that Google didn’t get the licensing that was needed.
-
Gruber on the Possible January Verizon iPhone Launch
Personally I think it will come out for all (U.S.) carriers next, not just Verizon. It is market share time, best way to do that is to be everywhere.
-
Debunking Google’s Pathetic Fact Post
Google:
MYTH: Google has “sold out” on network neutrality.
FACT: …With that in mind, we decided to partner with a major broadband provider on the best policy solution we could devise together. We’re not saying this solution is perfect, but we believe that a proposal that locks in key enforceable protections for consumers is preferable to no protection at all.
Google’s Original Stance (2007):
The nation’s spectrum airwaves are not the birthright of any one company. They are a unique and valuable public resource that belong to all Americans. The FCC’s auction rules are designed to allow U.S. consumers — for the first time — to use their handsets with any network they desire, and download and use the lawful software applications of their choice.
It’s regrettable that Verizon has decided to use the court system to try to prevent consumers from having any choice of innovative services. Once again, it is American consumers who lose from these tactics.
That looks like selling out to me.
Google:
MYTH: This proposal represents a step backwards for the open Internet.
It changes nothing, in reality. Though it certainly allows for a lot of work arounds, many of which Google is conveniently forgetting about in this blog post.
Google:
MYTH: This proposal would eliminate network neutrality over wireless.
FACT: It’s true that Google previously has advocated for certain openness safeguards to be applied in a similar fashion to what would be applied to wireline services. However, in the spirit of compromise, we have agreed to a proposal that allows this market to remain free from regulation for now, while Congress keeps a watchful eye.
So really that is not a Myth then, it does eliminate that and they are only defending it by saying the free market will correct itself. Except according to Google’s 2007 blog post (linked to above) that is not the case:
Apparently, one of the nation’s major existing wireless carriers doesn’t think consumers deserve more choices.
Earlier this week, Verizon Wireless filed a lawsuit against the FCC’s rules that would require the eventual winner of the spectrum offer open devices and applications. They called the rules “arbitrary and capricious, unsupported by substantial evidence and otherwise contrary to law.”
Google:
MYTH: Google is working with Verizon on this because of Android.
Why are they even bothering to lie about this one???
This is the most pathetic excuse for defending your actions I have ever seen. So much so that I am moving our corporate email from Google apps and I urge you to do the same. Pathetic Google.
-
Companies (Google) Don’t Exist to Help Consumers
One thing that people seem to be forgetting with this whole Google-Verizon net neutrality cluster (f) is that companies are here to make money – not to help consumers. This isn’t just a view of Google either, I have seen it in a couple of places where people state something along these lines: “Wouldn’t it be great if Steve Jobs wrote an open letter supporting net neutrality”. The clear answer is yes that would be great, the more support for net neutrality (no matter which individual) the better off we all are. What people fail to realize though, as the fact that it is not the obligation of other companies to speak up, the obligation of all companies (excluding non-profits) is to make money.
In the pursuit of money consumers are usually the ones that get hurt.
Now of course it is important to note that companies are not out to screw over consumers, doing that would doom any business. What I am saying is that companies will choose profits over consumers any day of the week. It takes a special kind of company that won’t abide by that rule – so special that none come to mind. Sometimes (often) choosing to help your customers as much as you can will benefit you financially – however there are rare cases where this does not hold true. Net Neutrality is one of them, insulin is another.
It is simple economics at work, these huge corporations realize when they have you over the barrel and you are at their mercy. If they pass anti-net neutrality legislation they will have such a case. Google I think is assuming that right now they have customers in such a position, search, email and docs are all very powerful tools that many rely on for everything. For diabetics insulin is that product – no matter how much companies charge for it people will continue to buy insulin, because without they may die.
For most companies the thought process is as such:
Customers are number one while things are running smoothly, when we feel threatened our investors start to worry and our jobs are no longer secure, thus companies will begin to do what ever they think they need to do to survive.
But is Google is feeling threatened? Think about it, Bing is doing an impressive job, Android gets very little press compared to iOS (Apple), and Apple is now entering the mobile advertising space (iAds). You better believe that Google is feeling threatened, that is not to say that they think they are on the verge of collapse, or that even I think that – they aren’t. Google though is very much in a territorial fight with Microsoft and Apple, that is why they are putting customers aside in an unapologetic search of more control and profits.
Google must have realized that right now in time they hold a unique opportunity to try going out and screwing over consumers, while at the same time not losing any customers. We need to speak up, loudly.
-
[VIDEO] Quick Intro to SoundPrism
Awesome looking new music app for the iPad.
-
Don’t Tweet Steven Slater Jokes Or JetBlue Will Chastise You – The Consumerist
JetBlue is supposed to be a modern company, clearly they were just posing as this shows a serious lack of humor that is needed in today’s social world.
-
Flipboard is Just Not that Great
Flipboard the iPad app that allows you to view news and social networking in a beautiful magazine styled wrapper, launched a couple of weeks ago with a lot of fan fare. Their servers were immediately over loaded and it took the site days to get back up and running so that people could use the full features of the app.
I got Flipboard when it came out and waited for two days before I could get Twitter up and working on it – some people waited even longer. Last night I got an itch to clean up some of my iPad apps and get rid of the ones that I just don’t really use – turns out Flipboard was one of them.
I was surprised when I came across the Flipboard icon and needed to decide what to do with the app – after all it is a beautifully designed app and there really is nothing wrong with it. Except for the fact that I don’t use it. Flipboard doesn’t fit into my workflow at all, it is too slow to actually get updated on news, Reeder is much better. It is not all that great at conveying information – though it does an excellent job displaying information.
Flipboard then is like an awesome new gadget that you truly do not need. It is the iPod nano when you already have a shuffle and four other iPods – sure it looks and works great, but when do you use it over all the other iPods you have?
Ultimately Flipboard is staying on my iPad, not because I will use it, or because it is useful – rather it is staying because it makes a power case for people when they want to be wowed by the iPad. Flipboard is an beautiful and well thought out app, however just because it is beautiful doesn’t mean it is useful.
-
iOS 4.0.2 Update for iPhone and iPod touch
Fixes the PDF bug that allowed you to use Jailbreakme.com to well Jailbreak your device – update also out for the iPad. Update to these now – before some dick head gets a malicious PDF out in the wild.
-
Ditching the Cell Phone Can Be a Power Move
The above headline is MSNBC’s, mine would read: “Ditching the Cell Phone is a Power Move and a Dick Move”. I can certainly see the appeal of no cellphone, I think we all can. Doing so is selfish – you are essentially saying that you are more important so people need to figure out how to contact you for themselves.
If you really want to be less distracted by the cellphone, turn the ringer AND vibrate off. You are welcome.
-
RIM Reportedly Bows To Pressure From Saudi Arabia, Hands Over Blackberry Access
Luckily for RIM they decided to be bastards at the same time as Google, so their stories are getting lost in the clutter. This however is a huge deal for Blackberry users – we don’t fully know what RIM has conceded to yet, but it seems clear they have conceded some things.
One way or another Saudi Arabia is getting to eavesdrop on Blackberry customers in their sovereign nation. This is nothing new, as usually they would just do this through the Telcos and that would be that. The problem though is that whatever concessions RIM made to satisfy the Saudi’s they are likely going to have to make in most other countries. How would they be able to justify not allowing it?
-
Excellent Insight
Matt of 37Signals.com”
Let’s be honest. “Sent from my iPhone” really means “I’m not going to bother to proofread and correct this because it would take me an extra 30 seconds.”
Get rid of that signature and proof read, if for no other reason that it making you look smarter.
-
A paper trail of betrayal: Google’s net neutrality collapse
Ars Technica offers this great walk through of just how big of a Flip Flop Google has pulled on Net Neutrality in just a few years time.
-
Macworld Interview: Author Susan Orlean on her life with the iPad
Susan Orlean:
I don’t think of the Internet as a danger. Its funny…we just bought a new car and we were looking at getting a DVD system, a built in one, factory installed. And they’re ridiculously expensive of course, and all they do is play movies. So a friend of mine said what a waste. Just get Austin an iPad.
And that way if I get him just the small one without 3G, loaded up with a bunch of games and download some movies for him, it would take us like three years before we come close to the price that you pay for DVD. And she said its old technology anyway and it will be useless and they charge about $2,000 for them.
My wife and I recently got a new car (new to us) and when we were looking I had already decided that I couldn’t care less about having a navigation system in it – I would rather have an iPod connection. I use my iPhone for directions, I don’t need a navigation system, I need music. In the end we ended up finding the car we wanted at quite a deal because it did not have navigation that so many ‘normal’ consumers must have these days.
-
Why Google Became A Carrier-Humping, Net Neutrality Surrender Monkey
Google’s Spokeswoman, via Wired:
We have taken a backseat to no one in our support for an open internet. We offered this proposal in the spirit of compromise. Others might have done it differently, but we think locking in key enforceable protections for consumers is progress and preferable to no protection.
No, actually standing your ground and not rolling over in the hopes of profiting is preferable.
-
Google Agonizes on Privacy as Advertising World Vaults Ahead
The fourth leg in Google becoming evil: they are going to start selling more of your data.
-
Mad At Google? The Question Is: Are You Mad Enough To Stop Using It? Can You Even Stop Using It?
Those are three powerful questions that very clearly explain why people aren’t more pissed about the recent Net Neutrality events.
-
How neutrality locks in the web’s ‘Hyper Giants’
Andrew Orlowski:
When Microsoft tied up the office software business, few Lotus or WordPerfect users failed to realise the market was changing – but very few web users now notice how much it’s changed.
Pro-neutrality campaigners are now furious at being thrown under a bus. They might be more furious to discover Google lobbying for rules it would never have to abide by itself.
-
Flexibility and power
Brent Simmons:
But flexibility detracts from power just as often — or more often. Flexibility is an invitation. It says, “Hey, futz with this. And this. And this. You’re not getting anything done, but at least you kind of have the illusion of doing something.”
Spot on.
-
First Trojan for Android Phones Goes Wild
Sarah Perez:
The Trojan penetrates Android-based smartphones disguised as an ordinary application, says Kaspersky. Users are prompted to install a small file of around 13 KB that has the standard Android extension .APK. But once the “app” is installed on the device, the Trojan bundled with it begins texting premium rate phone numbers (those that charge). The criminals are actually the ones operating these numbers, so they end up collecting the money via charges to the victims’ accounts.
Now they really are the Windows of the mobile world (not counting the actual Windows Mobile platform).