Dr. Drang, on Type2Phone

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Dr. Drang, on the little app that allows users to type on their iOS devices via the Mac:

What isn’t wonderful, at least not initially, is what goes on in the Type2Phone window as you type. Every keystroke shows up in a little white chiclet which scrolls from right to left as you type. It’s really distracting.

[…]

So what you see on your Mac is not what appears on your iPhone; it’s more like the output of a keylogger program. Weird.

I understated how weird the UI is in my original post, but I agree with Dr. Drang — ignore the Mac’s screen, and this thing is a serious efficiency booster. I’m still using it quite often, especially with my iPhone.

The Macalope, on CNet

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The Horny One:

Clearly, CNet has no bias. Well, other than the bias for conventional wisdom.

Crothers, it should be noted, famously declared that the iPad had “met its match in the [HP] TouchPad”. If this is the analysis that a supposed lack of bias brings, give the Macalope bias every time.

18 Ways to ~/Library

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Dan Frakes over at Macworld:

While I understand Apple’s motives here—I’ve had to troubleshoot more than a few Macs on which an inexperienced user had munged the contents of ~/Library—there are plenty of valid reasons a user might need to access their personal Library folder.

Thankfully, there are tons of ways to get it back.

Paul Thurrott: RIP, RIM

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On the SuperSite for Windows:

RIM stands as a warning for any tech industry Goliath that once owned a market only to watch it get snatched away by smaller, faster moving rivals with better products and better strategies. This is a fate that could befall any company–Microsoft, Apple, Google, whatever. Though I have a hard time imagining any of them being as poorly run as is RIM.

RIM is dead. I’m glad I never wasted time covering this junk.

Dell Leaves Netbook Market

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Joanna Stern at the Verge:

While very few are still buying netbooks, many manufacturers have continued to release the small Intel Atom-powered computers (see Asus, Toshiba, etc.). However, Dell isn’t going to be one of those companies.

[…]

Not only are the Inspiron Minis being put in the grave, but the company confirmed for us that it will not be releasing new netbooks based on Intel’s forthcoming Cedar Trail platform. In other words, it is done with the category.

To be honest, I wasn’t aware anyone was still making netbooks.

via The Loop

On Backpacks — And What’s in Mine

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Ben Brooks:

For the most part I am an over one shoulder bag type of guy. Since my freshman year in high school I have been using a messenger style bag of some sort — that was 1998.

In his post, Ben outlines his usage of his new backpack — a Tom Bihn Smart Alec.

I — like Ben (and Michael Lopp) — switched from a messenger bag to a backpack this year.

I use an older[1. This bag used to be Patrick Rhone’s, but I bought it over Twitter from him. It enjoys the warmer weather we have here.] STM Revolution. Mine is the small version, in graphite with orange highlights.

IMG 0769

It’s got a large back pocket with a laptop sleeve that easily fits my 13-inch MacBook Pro and iPad 2, with another pocket up front with a zippered section and a spot for cables. The bag has two water bottle pockets and a built-in rain cover. The shoulder straps are wide and comfortable. The zippers and handles

IMG 0772

Here’s what is normally in my backpack on any given weekday:

  • 13-inch MacBook Pro
  • iPad 2 with Smart Cover
  • Kindle 4 in carrying case
  • Laptop and iPhone chargers
  • Miscellaneous cords and cables
  • Two USB thumb drives
  • Thinline ESV Bible
  • Field Notes brand notebook
  • Manila folders for current projects
  • Two blue Pilot G2 .07 pens
  • Wallet & Keys

With a messenger bag, this just wouldn’t be possible. Ben, Michael and I might not be the coolest kids on the block with our backpacks, but I don’t mind one bit.

On Pushing Apple Rumors

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Joshua Schnell at Macgasm:

Google has published a listing of their top keyword searches from 2011. Out of the 10 fastest-rising global search trends, Apple holds three spots. At number six was the iPhone 5, number nine Steve Jobs, and number 10 is the iPad 2. Other lists also have Apple products, including the iPhone 4S and iPad 3 on the Fastest Rising Consumer Electronics list.

There are a number of things we can take away from the findings. The first thing is that the general population is genuinely curious about what’s going on at Apple these days. That’s a great thing for Apple, and us, obviously. The second, and probably more important thing to point out here is that people eat up Apple rumors with an appetite that’s much bigger than the competitors’ audiences. Devices like the iPad 3 and iPhone 5, not even released yet, are on these lists.

With the Google Nexus, is it More of the Same?

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MG Siegler:

Google has done some very nice work here. Both the Galaxy Nexus and Ice Cream Sandwich are a new pinnacle of the Android platform. But in the end, it still comes down to something very simple: which device do I want to use day-to-day? Which phone do I reach for when I’m not doing a review? It’s still the iPhone. Without question.

Keep at it, Google.

With every release of Android, I always get the feeling that the operating system is almost there. It seems that Ice Cream Sandwich may suffer from the same problem as its predecessors.