512 Pixels

Apple’s Scott Forstall, on the how the time displayed on promo shots of Apple products is set:

We design the (product launch) keynotes so that the big reveal of the product happens around 40 minutes into the presentation. When the big image of the product appears on screen, we want the time shown to be close to the actual time on the audience’s watches. But we know we won’t hit 40 minutes exactly.

[…]

And for the iPhone, we made it 42 minutes. It turned out we were pretty accurate with that estimate, so for the iPad, we made it 41 minutes. And there you are - the secret of the magic time.

If that’s not the most anal-retentive thing Apple’s ever done, I don’t know what is.

[ Also via Craig Hockenberry.]

Craig Hockenberry, back in 2008:

But on the iPhone, you have a limited area and associated mechanisms for getting the user’s attention. In effect, it creates a notification bottleneck.

This notification bottleneck forces the user to work when figuring out who needs attention. First they have to recognize the notification by sound, feel or sight (or a combination of those senses.) Then they have to navigate to the recognized application, which may not be easy given the phone’s current state. Finally they need to deal with the source of the notification. Now imagine doing all this frequently: the network will end up being a constant source of distraction.

If you’re still unconvinced, let me ask you one final question: do you want to get IM notifications while you’re making a 911 call?

As I’ve said before, notifications on the iPhone (and iPad, for that matter) suck. Android (and WebOS, for that matter) get it right — a single place for all notifications to live. While the sounds may vary, if an app needs your attention on those platforms, it will be apparent.

I hope this is an issue Apple address with the announcement of OS 4 in a few hours. I know most people are clamoring for multi-tasking. I know I am — at least on my iPad — but multi-tasking without better notifications is going to make the current problems in Apple’s notification scheme far worse.

Hardmac:

It seems to us that since the beginning of the year, Apple has not communicated any more like a manufacturer of computers but more, in the words of Steve Jobs, like a manufacturer of mobile products, primarily of the telephones and tablets. It is difficult to hide from you that this reversal, or rather this radical turn has for us a frustrating aspect. Of course there would be no question of wanting to go back 10 years and to find Apple in a situation of imminent death, but we still need to dream about products which make a ‘bong’ when one turns them on.

My feeling that Apple is stretch too thin gets stronger every week the MacBook Pro line doesn’t get refreshed.

The Associated Press:

The Transportation Security Administration said Tuesday that in general you should not need to remove your iPad from your bag. That’s because it’s relatively small and people who carry the device often don’t have bulky accessories like plugs and external drives that clutter the image when computer bags are screened.

I’m flying to Idaho in two weeks, and was wondering this today, as I’m thinking about leaving my MacBook Pro at home.

The Associated Press:

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled that the FCC lacks the authority to require broadband providers to give equal treatment to all Internet traffic flowing over their networks. That was a big victory for Comcast Corp., the nation’s largest cable company, which had challenged the FCC’s authority to impose such “Net neutrality” obligations on broadband providers.

The ruling marks a serious setback for the FCC, which is trying to adopt official net neutrality regulations. FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, a Democrat, argues that such rules are needed to prevent phone and cable companies from using their control over Internet access to favor some online content and services over others.

Not good. Not good at all. Net neutrality really needed one in it’s “win” column.

[ via NPR]

My buddy Kevin Lipe nails it again:

Nobody needs to progam a Mac to enjoy using it, except it’s the ability to run whatever software I want that makes a computer a useful tool to me. Nobody needs a computer that comes with schematics (like the original Apple II and II+) except the people who make expansion cards (like synthesizer cards, Z-80 cards, you know, the things that let you use an Apple II for whatever you want to use it for). Nobody needs to make an airplane out of bicycle parts, except the Wright brothers. […]

A computer is a tool, just like a screwdriver. I wouldn’t buy a #1 Phillips from Snap-on if it were unable to open up guitar effects enclosures because those circuits are sometimes patented and/or copyrighted. The iPad is an elegant machine, and I’m convinced its a landmark in the evolution of human-computer interaction. But, even with thousands of apps available, there may be a point at which I’m not allowed to do something I want to do with it, so it’s easier for me to just use a computer with which I can.

GigaOM’s Paul Sweeting, talking with NPR about the iPad:

With the iPad, you have the anti-Internet in your hands. This is not an open platform where you can create a lot of content … that you can then access and use and incorporate into what you’re doing.

I agree. My iPad is really, really slick, but it won’t replace my Macs when it comes to getting real work done.

ARTINFO:

When Steve Jobs unveiled the iPad in a breathless, globally-broadcast event yesterday afternoon, few people were as bowled over as the man who took the photo displayed on the sleek product’s desktop, veteran photographer Richard Misrach.

“I was in bed watching Inglorious Bastards when I got a call from Jeffrey FraenkeL, my dealer in San Francisco, and he said, ‘Do you know what’s going on live here?’” Misrach told ARTINFO. “I was totally shocked. Naturally my other galleries started calling and my family was all atwitter, because it’s a whole different world.”

Paul Thurrott:

More later in the review, I guess. Is this thing even worth reviewing?

[…]

It’s an Apple product through and through. You don’t need it. But I get that you might want it. Apple does have that effect on people.

What a team player.

Business Insider:

One big trend that’s apparent: big media and entertainment companies are doing very well in top free apps, but are barely present in top paid apps, whether by number of apps downloaded, or by the gross revenues from their apps.

Of course, the iPad has only been out since yesterday, but this doesn’t bode well.

Those with OCD shouldn’t buy an iPad.

If you’re like me, you spent way too much time trying to figure out why only your primary Google Calendar would get pushed to your fancy new iPad. It seems to be a bug with Google Sync, but one crafty user discovered a work-around:

On your desktop Mac enable the safari debug menu, set the user agent to iPhone, go to m.google.com/sync

While in preferences, turn off Javascript - this is what is preventing us from selecting multiple calendars!

make sure you’re signed in to your google account, and then visit: http://m.google.com/sync

Works like a charm.