Steve Jobs in his resignation letter:
>As far as my successor goes, I strongly recommend that we execute our succession plan and name Tim Cook as CEO of Apple.
Very sad, but very interesting to know that (as rumored) the plan was to appoint Cook all along.
Mike Gikas:
>Phones running the Android operating system dominate our newest cell-phone Ratings, thanks to incredibly sharp displays that often measure 4 inches or more and exclusive access to 4G networks, now available on all four major carriers.
If you [click on the chart](http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/electronics-computers/phones-mobile-devices/cell-phones-services/cell-phone-ratings/ratings-overview.htm?INTKEY=I95BEE0) (which you have to be a member to see the full chart) you will see that the highest priced phone is $200, ranging down to $30. I’m sure that has nothing to do with the high rankings. I am *sure* it is all about those “Big, Beautiful Displays”.
Claire Cain Miller for NYT:
>The fine, which the Justice Department said is one of the largest such penalties ever, covers revenue that Google earned from the illegal advertisers and revenue that the Canadian pharmacies received from United States customers.
Paul Eng:
>The Lenovo tablet’s touchscreen, for example, can accept input from a digital pen, which will allow users to draw and annotate documents and pictures. An optional portfolio case contains a built-in wireless keyboard, complete with Lenovo’s TrackPoint—an eraser-like nub that moves the on-screen pointer.
Prices start at $500. I bet RIM is scared now, Lenovo/ThinkPads are *the* corporate machine — and this tablet has email capabilities.
It may not sound great to iPad users, but I bet CTOs stuck with Exchange are going to love this — if only to shut up C-level execs who want tablets.
The difference between this Dashboard widget for Google Analytics users and the others that I have tried? This one actually works.
*(Side note: Please don’t email me about other analytics systems, I have tried them all. Also Mint is the best, but unfortunately it overruns my server for an unknown reason if I even allow access to the directory you install it in, so that’s out.)*
Another tip from Mac OS X Hints, this time about how with Xcode 4.1 you can enable HiDPI. I tried it out and was able put my Cinema Display into `960 x 600` HiDPI resolution. Things look amazingly huge, yet the text was crystal clear.
This should be cool once we get full software and hardware support (you know, so that we can have higher resolutions that what I tried out).
A very cool built-in tool with Lion that I had no clue existed until I saw this. This will help quite a bit the next time I need to position and set up a WiFi network.
Robert X. Cringely responding to reports of “new Macs” and “radical” changes, theorizes on Apple killing the Mac Pro and instead [doing this](http://www.cringely.com/2011/08/is-the-mac-pro-dead/):
>I expect Apple to move to a modular architecture where the building blocks for high performance computers are generally Mac Minis. Start with a new Mini or with a Thunderbolt iMac and expand both storage and processing by adding a stack of up to five more Thunderbolt-connected Minis. A maxed-out system would have six I7 processors with 24 cores, 24 gigabytes of DDR RAM (expandable to 96 GB!) and at least six terabytes of storage. And at $6000, it would be half the price of an equivalently tricked-out Mac Pro.
The geek in me is all sorts of excited about such a prospect. Nothing says cool like daisy chaining a bunch of Macs to make a fully supported (by Apple) home grown super computer — people have been doing [this for years with Mac Pros](http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/08/07/24/virginia_techs_mac_pro_supercomputer_to_crack_29_teraflops.html).
*Sorry, had to wipe drool off my chin.*
While the geek in me would love to see such a scenario — as Cringely lays out — would such a play be in Apple’s best interest, or even “fit” with Apple’s philosophy on computing?
### Philosophy
I think it is safe to say that Apple has an outward goal of making their lineup of products as simple as possible. So the argument, as Cringely states it, for such a move would be that eliminating the Mac Pro makes things all the more ‘simple’ for buyers. But does it?
I think not.
As it is the Mac Pro is the least confusing product — the most straight forward — that Apple sells. It is the high-end-price-is-no-object-geek-badge-of-bad-ass-ness-computer.
That is: no consumer is ever torn between buying a Mac Pro and any other computer Apple sells. High-end buyers buy them and they already know that’s what they need/want. Even I know that a Mac Pro is vast overkill for everything that I do — even if I could do it all at once. The average consumer knows by price alone that such a computer is not for them.
So by eliminating the Mac Pro and adding in the ability to chain Mac minis into mini-super computers — you would now be adding a layer of complexity to a process Apple has spent the better part of 10 years honing: the setup.
Whether you buy a $699 Mac mini or a $10,000+ Mac Pro, the setup will always be the same: plug in the monitor/mouse/keyboard and plug everything into the wall, press the power button. For there you get one of the most highly polished and thought through setup procedures in computing.
*Done*.
Could you imagine how messed up the streamlined Apple setup process would be if you wanted to setup two, three, ten Mac minis — so that they were working together — as one? I think no matter how hard Apple would try such a process would be a nightmare for both the user *and* Apple.
Not to mention: what does one do when the system isn’t working? Take the entire setup to the Apple store? Sure taking in a Mac Pro is a chore, but taking in a series of interconnected computers and their related power adapters?
That’s down right “un-Apple”.
### Sensibility
Then you have to take into account whether such a move would even make sense for Apple as a company. I am not certain, but I would guess the margin on the Mac Pro is much higher than on the Mac mini, especially when you start talking RAM upgrades.
Even if that isn’t true, even if the Mac mini is a higher margin machine, is it worth not having a computer that you can dangle in front of every geeks face as the Mac Pro?
If Apple ditched the Mac Pro, what then would Pixar use? What would they say is *the* machine that you should use if you are:
1. A pro-photographer?
2. Pro-videographer?
3. Graphic design studio?
4. Gamer?
The same iMac you bought your Mom?
There would no longer be a *the* machine, now it would be *the* machine*s* — and how many of you think that such an array would be feasible for the normal pro in the above list to setup stress free?
As much as we want such a neat setup, how many actually believe that Apple could carry over the “Mac experience” to such a setup?
I don’t.
### But Macs Are Fast
Yes, the iMac is lightening fast. Yes, so is every other Mac. But they aren’t *Mac Pro* fast and that’s the problem.
Even *if* Apple had such an idea in their head — why not keep the Mac Pro and allow users to chain them together, natively, out of the box, right now? If you think chaining Mac minis together would be sweet, imagine even the idea of doing the same with Mac Pros?
*Crap, drool, again.*
I just don’t see Apple doing this. The complexity of such a system is something that Apple is quickly moving away from. I have no doubt that they are not happy with the Mac Pro as it currently stands, but the answer isn’t killing it — the answer is just making a touch smaller *and* faster.
Apple isn’t about to try and teach/support users on chaining Macs together, no matter how much they want to drop the Mac Pro from the line up.
Jeff on the Agile Blog (makers of 1Password):
>If people are forced to use a difficult and confusing system, they are likely to make serious mistakes. At best, a security product should make it easier to get your work done. At worst, it shouldn’t make things prohibitively difficult to complete your tasks.
One of the reasons that I used and love 1Password isn’t because it makes me more secure, but because it makes using website *easier* not harder. Not only for storing passwords, but for storing credit cards and more. In his article, Jeff, talks a great deal about how this idea is central to making users (sometimes as a fringe benefit to the user) far more secure.
Robin Wauters for Aol/TechCrunch:
>The upcoming iPhone 5 will almost certainly be a single phone that supports multiple networks, namely CDMA (such as the one used by Verizon or Sprint in the United States) as well as GSM (which is used by AT&T and T-Mobile in the U.S.).
What does “almost certainly” really mean? Nothing.
Also, on a related note, “proof” that a prototype exists does not mean it will be real.
Roger Johansson points to some concerns about using the [aforementioned](https://brooksreview.net/2011/08/webkit-adjust/) `-webkit-text-size-adjust:none` attribute that I posted about. Instead I flipped my code to 100%, should keep the layout tidy and respect resizing if needed.
Ricardo Bilton:
>I don’t know what goes on psychologically, but when the average person sees a $99 price tag, something in their brain clicks. Eyes light up with dollar signs and hearts beat with a certain kind of deal-hungry fervor. The same thing happened to me, which is why I found myself biking all around town in search for a device that I didn’t actually want. There was a thrill, and a mostly irrational lust to save money on something I had no intention of buying hours prior.
I had a twinge to get one then I asked my wife: “TouchPads are only $99 now, should I get one?” To which she responded: “Why? It is still a waste of $99.” Always good to have a rational person near you.
That’s the question asked by Christopher Phin at Tap! Magazine. Phin’s basic answer boils down to this:
People buy iPads both specifically because they can see where it’s going to fit into their home or office lives, and because they’re understandably drawn to a shiny slab of Apple gorgeousness – from where the useful, practical, productive bit often follows.
I can certainly see that logic. He is not saying that iPads are useless, but that often people just don’t know what the hell they are going to use them for when the get them — but they just want one because they look so damned neat.
When the iPad came out my wife asked if I was getting one, my answer that the time was ‘no’. I was set in two thoughts:
It took just two weeks for the then still unreleased iPad to change my mind. I bought an iPad with the following thought: at the very least it will be a better screen to watch movies on while flying.
That was the extent of my “reason” for buying an iPad. Since then I am a huge proponent of an iPad and if given the choice between a 13″ MacBook Air with no iPad, or a desktop computer + iPad — I would choose the latter.
Hands down, without a shadow of a doubt, the iPad is the best “couch computer” I have ever owned. It is also the best: meeting tool, coffee shop companion, flying entertainment device I have ever had.
But honestly so would be the 11″ MacBook Air.
Oh I almost forgot the iPad is better than anything I have ever used at doing a few specific tasks, including:
I think Phin is spot on when he states:
But there’s something I see time and again with the iPad: people often don’t have, as Darren implies, a clear practical use in mind when they’re buying one; but over weeks and months, they start using it more for all kinds of both predictable and unexpected tasks, and using traditional computers less.
This is partly do to the excellent apps available, but I think a larger part of it all is because people simply want to use the device.
Craig Grannell in response to Phin’s post stated:
Only by embracing new technology and then seeing what we can do with it can we ensure we don’t remain stuck in the past. And for everyone moaning about the lack of obvious utility in tablets, people once said the same thing about computers—and look where that got us.
I can completely relate to this because growing up I had no need for a computer, but I sure as hell wanted one. After getting a computer guess what? I found a lot of things I could use that computer for.
Of course all of this discussion started because of Darren Murph’s post at Engadget where he questioned the utility of the iPad while still disclaiming that he does think they are useful, to someone, somewhere, probably.
Murph:
[…]but this isn’t about proving that a tablet can do one or two things; it’s about the limitations and awkwardness of using one that no one seems to talk about.
and:
Tablets, for whatever reason, seem to defy logic when it comes to purchase rationalization in the consumer electronics realm.
The brunt of Murph’s argument seems to be that he finds the very awkward to use, laptops to be more useful and buyers of tablets to be anomalies.
In fact he believes his smartphone is a far better alternative and cheaper too.
What Murph misses is that no consumer decisions are rational, that’s why we have a world with Ferraris. That’s why we have first class and coach. That’s why we have tailor made hand-stitched clothing and one size fits all shirts.
Consumers sometimes, how ever un-rational, want something neat and shiny. What Murph seems to miss that Grannell and Phin both pointed out is that something can be both “neat and shiny” while still offering a lot of utility.
We saw it first with computers, then the Internet, smart phones and now tablets.
Murph ends with these two questions:
But here’s a genuine question: how many of you actually use your tablet (of any brand) for productivity tasks as much as you thought you would when you lined up around the block to buy it? And after you invest a couple hundred in accessories to make it halfway useful, aren’t you better off (financially and otherwise) with a bona fide laptop?
You already know from my statements above that I use the iPad for far more tasks then I ever thought I would — and it is indeed my preferred way to read email. I don’t for one second think it would have made more sense to buy a “bona fide laptop” because:
If you (you as is anyone) continue to think about tablets in comparison to laptops then you will never understand the value that tablets hold. In the same way that someone that compares car travel to airplane travel will never understand the value of the road trip.
J. Eddie Smith, IV on why he takes notes in OmniFocus:
>The biggest advantage of putting note-ish things into a regularly-reviewed inbox of any kind is that the notes always get a second look. I process my inbox nearly every day.
I never thought about doing this, but he makes a pretty compelling case for it.
Wx is an award winning US weather app for Mac, iPad, and iPhone with forecasts, alerts, radar, maps, and more. Read more about Wx and check out other iOS and Mac apps by Hunter Research and Technology.
Om Malik:
>And when he says Windows Mobile, he does mean Windows Phone 7 operating system.
Seriously? The “he” in the above is referring to Frank Meehan, chief executive officer (CEO) of INQ. If you haven’t heard of INQ it is likely because of the fact that they are a company that would actually consider going back to a Windows Mobile platform.
Tess Stynes:
>Hewlett-Packard Co. unveiled a new desktop computer Monday, just days after the technology company disclosed plans to sell or spin off its personal-computer business.
Excellent translation of Frank X Shaw’s recent blog post on the state of “post PC” by Brian S Hall:
>Posted by **Frank X. Shaw**
>Corporate Vice President, Corporate Communications, Microsoft
>*Translation: Remember. I’m paid to do this.*
He did a really great job in the entire post, well worth the read.