Schiller says the success of Apple’s operating system is indicative of the changing fortunes in the tech industry. While less than 20% of Windows users have moved to the three-year-old Vista, more than 70% of Mac users have upgraded to the Apple operating system introduced at about the same time. He has similar hopes for Apple’s four-month-old Snow Leopard OS. Says Schiller: “I expect Snow Leopard will have an amazing upgrade rate, and Windows 7 won’t.”
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On Pay Walls and Micropayments
The American Journalism Review, on the gap between newspapers’ bills and income created from online ads:
Charging readers for access won’t really solve this problem, and in some respects it may make matters worse. Pay walls invariably reduce traffic. Whatever revenue a news-paper might gain by charging readers will likely come at the cost of ad revenue […] You think online ad rates are low now? Just wait until advertisers discover that the newspaper is delivering a much smaller audience after it starts charging for access.
On Getting Uncomfortable
From a Q & A with Jim Brady and the Colombia Journalism Review:
The line I keep using is that in any newsroom structure, the Web has to be positioned in a way that it can do things that will make the print side uncomfortable. It’s got to have enough autonomy that it can push into technologies in new areas and make the newsroom go, ‘Do we really want to be on Twitter?’ You’ve got to take some risks, you’ve got to play on some new playgrounds. And when you have to run all those questions through a print structure, often the answer is no, or it takes a really long time to get to an answer.
‘Beautiful Newton’
On Paying for iPhone Apps
Ever since Apple unveiled the App Store, I’ve heard this sentence more than I can tell you:
I’m not going to pay for an iPhone app.
First, Some Background
When Apple announced the App Store, they offered developers two pricing options: free apps, or paid apps (set at any price above $0.99, with Apple taking 30% to cover infrastructure costs). At first glance, 30% seemed high, but the App Store not only puts every single app in front of every single iPhone and iPod touch user, but Apple takes care of all of the backend to make it possible — hosting, billing, reviews, everything.
10.6 Guest Accounts Murdering Other Users In Their Sleep?
A flurry of reports have surfaced around the web explaining that even an accidental login to one’s Guest account within Snow Leopard could lead to mass deletion of all user files on the primary account, and when we say “mass deletion,” we mean “mass deletion.” The problem goes something like this: if one clicks on the Guest account after upgrading their machine to OS X 10.6, and everything hangs, there’s at least a decent chance that all of your data will be evaporated whenever you surf back over to the main profile.
Like Old Macs? Like Twitter?
Sidekick Users Left Without Data
Regrettably, based on Microsoft/Danger’s latest recovery assessment of their systems, we must now inform you that personal information stored on your device - such as contacts, calendar entries, to-do lists or photos - that is no longer on your Sidekick almost certainly has been lost as a result of a server failure at Microsoft/Danger. That said, our teams continue to work around-the-clock in hopes of discovering some way to recover this information. However, the likelihood of a successful outcome is extremely low.
Mac Owners Love Their Tech
This report from the NPD group is a few days old, but somehow I missed it. OS X Daily breaks the numbers down:
\* 85% of Mac owners also own a PC
• 72% of Mac owners use a notebook / laptop
• 66% of Mac owners own three or more computers
• 63% of Mac owners own an iPod
• 49% of Mac owners own a navigation device (GPS, but is iPhone included?)
FCC Looking into Google Voice
WSJ:
At the heart of the inquiry is the allegation that Google may be blocking calls to certain numbers with high access charges.
Google reserves the right to restrict outgoing calls to some phone numbers, including adult chat lines and conference-call centers, which charge higher access fees to carriers. Blocking such calls reduces Google’s expenses for the service.
AT&T Inc. has cried foul about the practice, saying Google is violating rules that were designed to ensure that phone companies will connect all calls. Earlier this week a group of lawmakers asked the FCC for an investigation into the matter, saying the practice could hurt rural customers.
Obama Wins Nobel Peace Prize
CNN:
Unlike his predecessors, Obama was selected not for substantive accomplishments, but for his “vision” and inspiring “hope” at the beginning of his presidency.
I liek the guy and his policies; I just hope he lives up to this.
Tethering on Hold
American iPhone owners will not be able to officially tether their devices for some time, AT&T has acknowledged. “Whenever we offer new features, we want to offer the best possible customer experience,” a carrier spokesman claims. “For tethering, we need to do some additional fine tuning to our systems and networks so that we do deliver a great experience.”
Same song, second verse.