Stuff like this makes the inevitable fact that the GOP will win back the House today just plain sad.
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VLC and the App Store
Jacqui Cheng explains the recent drama with the iOS version of VLC. This is another example of how “open” can mean “terribly confusing.”
The Galaxy Tab
After spending the last couple of days with the Galaxy Tab, we can confidently say it’s the best Android tablet on the market. Now, that’s not saying much given the state of the Android competition, but we can also assuredly say that the Tab is the first true competitor to Apple’s iPad. Its crisp display, compact form factor, touch-friendly software and dual cameras undoubtedly have what it takes to win over the average tablet seeker. However, we still have some reservations right now. Google hasn’t yet provided any direction on Android as a tablet platform, which means that the Tab is held back by lagging application support and software that doesn’t fully take advantage of the extra screen real estate. Remember, that when the iPad launched many developers were already working on tablet specific apps and Apple had an iPad app store in place. Put simply, without that ecosystem and support from Google, Samsung is left to its own devices – literally. Just today Samsung rolled out an emulator for the Tab that uses the Android SDK and the company says it’s working with Google and plans to use future iterations of Android, so we’ll have to see what happens – but for now it looks like the saga of the Samsung Galaxy Tab still has several chapters to go.
On Google TV and Beyond
Had Google simply focused on a few key features — lightning-fast browsing and perfect search results, for example — we’d have readily excused the missing pieces with the assumption that they’d soon arrive in an equally polished way. Indeed, the most disappointing thing about Google TV is the immediate realization that it could be so much more if only Google given itself some more time.
I feel like a lot of Google services and products have this half-done feel about them. Most of Google services can be greatly enhanced with some fine-tuning, but that isn’t something most consumers want to do. Of course, changing Gmail settings is one thing, but shipping a half-baked product that costs hundreds of dollars are two different things. People forgive a lot less when they are paying for something.
The Power Mac G4 Cube Enters the Fold
I own a lot of Apple gear. The current list includes:
- 1 original Macintosh
- 1 Mac Plus
- 2 Macintosh SEs
- 1 Color Classic II
- 1 eMate 300
- 1 original iBook G3 Clamshell (Blueberry)
- 1 iMac G3 (Sage)
- 1 PowerBook G3 (Pismo)
- 1 14-inch iBook G4
- 2 PowerMac G4s (1 Quicksilver & 1 Mirror Drive Door)
- 1 13-inch MacBook
- 1 24-inch Intel iMac
- 1 15-inch MacBook Pro
All of these systems boot and run with the exception of one of the SEs and the Pismo.
The New Mac App Market
So I expect a lot of iOS developers to start making Mac apps, especially individuals and very small teams.
I think he’s right. The number of Mac apps is about to really start to grow. I think Marco nails this bit too:
But a huge new market is about to open next door. And yes, it’ll probably be dominated by Angry Birds and other inexpensive, often trivial apps. When this happens, a lot of traditional Mac developers are going to look down on it. But those with a bit of free time to develop their own inexpensive, often trivial apps might have a different viewpoint entirely when they see their sales numbers.
Banned White iPhone 4 Promo
Not a Netbook
Mark Spoonauer at Laptop Magazine:
Apple said it would never make a netbook, and it hasn’t. The 11-inch MacBook Air is a powerful ultraportable that makes other systems in its class look positively bloated. More important, this machine never keeps you waiting, thanks to the way it uses flash memory. We just wish the hinge for the display were a bit tighter to prevent unwanted movement. Some may prefer the new 13-inch MacBook Air ($1,299), which offers a higher-resolution screen, faster CPU, and a SD Card slot. If you’re torn between Windows and Mac, the $899 Acer Timeline 1830T offers a much faster Core i7 processor and longer battery life but integrated graphics and a much less compelling design. But if you want the thinnest, lightest Mac experience ever, this Air will leave you elated.
No Shave Novemeber
Get my helpful PDF with contest rules and a built-in sign up list here.
On AppleCare
Others will tell you they’ve owned several Macs, without AppleCare. This is the same lot who never purchases “extended warranties,” which they consider “scams.” To them I say that AppleCare is an exception, especially since Macs are increasingly difficult or impossible to get into. Still others will say that Apple ought to include 3 years’ worth of protection with every Mac they sell. Perhaps, but the world as it exists is often disappointing compared to the world as we wish it existed.
TSA Thinks 11-inch Air is Pretty Fly
U.S. air travelers can leave their shiny new 11.6-inch MacBook Air laptops in their bags when passing through airport security checkpoints according to the TSA. The 13.3-inch model, however, is too big and still must come out for separate screening.
The iPad, Kindle and other like-devices don’t have to be removed for screening, either.
I flew to Idaho with my iPad earlier this year. Here’s what I wrote then:
White iPhone Vaporware?
While it looked like the white iPhone 4 was simply delayed again, signs now indicate that it has been scrapped all together.
The white model isn’t shown on Apple’s online store, but it does still appear on the iPhone 4 Gallery page.
While I would think Apple would just give up on this, removing it from the store might just damage control at this point.
I guess we’ll see…