512 Pixels

Our Time is Now

Congratulations, my fellow Apple nerds. Our time has come.

While Apple is just a company, for many of us, it’s a company that is often at the center of our daily work. Without its products, many of us could not have the jobs or hobbies that we enjoy.

With many still reeling from the company’s quarterly results announced yesterday, I think the dust is settling on what is an all-new world.

Now, this world has been forming for a long time. Apple has passed every other technology company in most metrics over the last few years. While it might not be the biggest in market share, looking at the hard numbers, it is hard to make an argument that those statistics mean much anymore. Apple is crushing its competition, and is doing it consistently.

In this new world, we are not the weird hippies holding on to our obscure computers and even more obscure software titles. Talking about iPad apps in line at Starbucks isn’t weird anymore.

Apple has entered the mainstream culture, and on its coattails, we’re able to enjoy being invited to sit at the cool table.

Of course, many of us had the rainbow Apple logo stickers all over our PowerBooks back in the day, and preached about the virtues of AppleTalk. Now, we can still do that, but attractive people might talk to us.

Yes, there will always be idiot bloggers and ill-informed pundits clamorous for page views. I think as time marches on, writers who preach on the impending implosion of Apple will be held in the same regard as the sidewalk preacher claiming the world will end unless you repent and tithe.

Let’s ignore those crazy kids and party.

Ungeniused 017 - The Sock Monkey

This week, Myke and I talk about sock monkeys — those lovable creatures that have helped numerous children fall asleep soundly over the years.

This week’s episode is brought to you by Wet Frog Studios. Aaron Mahnke has done logo design and brand management for Stephen and Myke, and — quite frankly — has blown way past our expectations. If you’re a nerd with a product, Internet presence or start-up, you owe it to yourself to work with Wet Frog Studios.

‘Highest Quarterly Revenue and Earnings Ever’

Tim Cook:

We’re thrilled with our outstanding results and record-breaking sales of iPhones, iPads and Macs. Apple’s momentum is incredibly strong, and we have some amazing new products in the pipeline.

No kidding. Here’s Apple’s PR machine:

The Company posted record quarterly revenue of $46.33 billion and record quarterly net profit of $13.06 billion, or $13.87 per diluted share. These results compare to revenue of $26.74 billion and net quarterly profit of $6 billion, or $6.43 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter. Gross margin was 44.7 percent compared to 38.5 percent in the year-ago quarter. International sales accounted for 58 percent of the quarter’s revenue.

Absolutely insane.

The Macintosh 128k Turns 28

The computer that started a revolution was announced today, back in 1984:

Here are the specs of the machine:

Essentials:

  • Family: Classic Macs
  • Codename: Macintosh
  • Gestalt ID: 1
  • Minimum OS: 1.0
  • Maximum OS: System 3.2/Finder 5.3
  • Introduced: January 1984
  • Terminated: October 1985

Processor:

  • CPU: Motorola MC68000
  • CPU Speed: 8 MHz
  • FPU: none
  • Bus Speed: 8 MHz
  • Register Width: 32-bit
  • Data Bus Width: 16-bit
  • Address Bus Width: 32-bit
  • ROM: 64 kB
  • Onboard RAM: 128 kB
  • Maximum RAM: 128 kB

Video:

  • Monitor: 9" built-in
  • VRAM: 1 bit 512x342

Storage:

  • Floppy Drive: 3.5" 400 kB

Input/Output:

  • Floppy: DB–19
  • Joystick/Mouse: DE–9
  • Serial: 2 DE–9
  • Audio Out: mono 8-bit
  • Speaker: mono

Miscellaneous:

  • Power: 60 Watts
  • Dimensions: 13.6“ H x 9.6” W x 10.9" D
  • Weight: 16.5 lbs.

Of course, the original Macintosh is famous for bringing the graphical user interface to the masses at an affordable price. While the Lisa before it sported many of the same features, it was the Macintosh that history remembers. While the original models didn’t sell super well at first, they spurred a revolution that brought the power of a computer to the desks of businesses, families and classrooms.

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