iOS and Mac OS X are symbiotic entities. When designing iOS, Apple distilled the Mac down to something pocketable, but the core concepts are there, such as an app-centric workflow, an always-accessible “home base” Dock, and a fierce pursuit of intuitive interfaces. After gaining knowledge and experience from nearly five years and four versions of iOS, Apple clearly felt that it’s time to return the favor in Lion. Apple is incorporating some of the fresh simplicity of iOS back into its point-and-click desktop computing platform that, at its conceptual core, is almost three decades old.
posts
The More Things Change...
Joshua Topolsky, in his review of the Motorola Xoom, the first Honeycomb-powered tablet to hit the market:
The problem with the Xoom isn’t really about the core of the experience or the core of the hardware – it’s about the details. Too much in both the design (like those wonky buttons) or the software (like the feeling that this is all very much in beta) makes you wonder if this wasn’t rushed out to market in order to beat the next wave from Apple. Regardless, there isn’t much here for consumers right now. The Android Market is almost devoid of tablet applications, the OS feels buggy and unfinished, and the hardware has pain points that we find troubling. And that’s to say nothing of the pricing and carrier commitments being asked of first-time buyers.
Memphis in Electric Vehicle Demonstration
It’s Official: Memphis is on the grid.
On Tuesday morning, representatives from San Francisco-based ECOtality North America hosted a partner forum at The Peabody to welcome the Bluff City into a five-state embrace of electric vehicles and charging stations called “The EV Project.”
“Electric vehicles are coming, and we want to make sure businesses in Tennessee are as EV-friendly as possible,” said ECOtality’s Stephanie Cox.
A huge win for the Bluff City.
Dave Caolo Wrote a Book
Writing this book has been an incredible challenge and the realization of a dream. I’m extremely proud of it, and feel certain that you’ll enjoy it, too. Aimed at small business owners and independent professionals interested using the iPad as a business tool, Using Your iPad as a Business Productivity Tool describes how to incorporate the iPad into your workflow and your business successfully.
Congrats, my friend. Can’t wait to read it.
AASPs, ACNs and the Genius Bar
BGR has learned that the topic in question is a new, retail-based service being called Joint Venture. First rumored back in March of last year, Joint Venture is an extension of Apple’s current Genius Bar services that is aimed at small businesses and prosumers. Subscribers of the new service will be able to speak with a store-based Apple technician — lovingly referred to as Geniuses — over the phone for one-on-one consultation and troubleshooting, or they can request an on-site visit. Currently, Apple’s Geniuses are not allowed to provide support remotely via the phone or in-person outside of Apple’s retail locations.
OmniFocused
Patrick Rhone, in Episode 10 of the Enough podcast:
It’s not like you can buy app and magically solve your productivity problems.
That said, Patrick builds a great case for OmniFocus, but builds an even better case for selecting the right tool — not necessarily the most popular or nicest one.
Every episode of this show is better than the one before it.
iPad 2 Timeline
Federico Viticci has collected all of the iPad 2 rumors that have floated around for the last 5 months into a timeline.
I think the Internet is obsessed with this device.
Shawn Blanc, on Going Indie
This morning, he announced he’s writing full-time starting in April:
When I began shawnblanc.net in July of 2007 it was with the intention of enjoying and exploring that place where creativity and computers come together — I am fascinated by that blend of the artful and the technical. And for almost four years now I’ve been exploring that place while writing this site on the side, as I’ve been able.
But writing on the side, as I’m able, is no longer enough for me.
I Just *Got* FaceTime
Maybe it’s because I’ve used video chat in the past on my Macs. Maybe it’s just because I just bought an iPhone 4 a few weeks ago. Maybe it’s because I’m a little dense sometimes. Whatever the reason, I just now came to realize what FaceTime is all about.
Right now, I’m sitting at the University of Memphis, cramming for a massive exam I have in the morning. My wife Merri just called me from her 4th-generation iPod touch, and I got to see and talk to her and our two kids, right from the palm of my hand. I could wave to our infant daughter, and see our two-year old son show me where his eyes, ears and nose are. Since I missed dinner with them, it was a great way to have just a moment to connect.
A Simple Explanation
Gruber, on Readability’s app rejection:
Maybe I’m missing something, but these guys claiming to be surprised and disappointed by Apple’s insistence on a 30 percent cut of subscriptions when their own business model is to take a 30 percent cut of subscriptions strikes me as rich. And how can they claim that Readability isn’t “serving up content”? That’s exactly what Readability does. What they’re pissed about is that Apple has the stronger hand. Readability needs Apple to publish an app in the App Store. Apple doesn’t need Readability.
On Readability and Subscriptions
Tablets and Pencils
Don’t get me wrong: I’ll always have a tablet in my life, just like I’ll always have pencils, pens, a laptop, a phone, a camera, etc. But until someone comes up with a tablet that can do something unique and special that nothing else in my life can do better — as opposed to a slightly truncated, more portable, or cheaper version of something I’m already doing with another tool — I’m probably over being truly excited about the new ones that come along.