2012

Having a blog gives me the license to make one of the best of lists. But, always the pessimist, I'll start with what sucked

The Worst

Dwight Howard
Remember that time Van Gundy was being interviewed about the problems with Dwight, and he was being pretty candid about the rocky relationship, and then Dwight popped up, put his arm around his coach without any knowledge of what was being talked about? That was hard to watch.

The Hobbit
Okay, I haven't seen the movie, so this isn't a critique on it's quality, the point is... I haven't seen the movie. The guy who attended the midnight showings of the last two Lord of the Rings films. The guy who was inspired by Aragorn to grow his hair out. The think is, when news broke that The Hobbit was going to be a trilogy, it was like a balloon was deflated. It feels like a cash-grab, and one that I can avoid, for the time being. I'm sure I'll eventually see it, and that it may be pretty good, but it won't be the whole story; just a tease.

The Public
Blaming mass murders on video games. Backing religious extremists politicians. Letting Chris Brown be relevant. The sad state of social media. George Carlin once said, “Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.”

The Meh

Superhero Movies
The Avengers, Spider-man, Dark Knight Whatever... While all commercial successes, failed to excite. They all, kind of, just lived up to expectations. If this was the 90s, that would be more than enough, but I want something more. If you're not going to inspire or do something different, what's the point?

Streaming Services
Netflix stayed more expensive. Hulu has commercials even if you're a paid user. Content owners still make their content difficult to get to. Who cares, anymore?

The Walking Dead
Season 3 started out pretty great; it moved at a faster clip and had some seriously freaky moments, but has since become bogged down in it's own lore. Some characters act without motivation and often, the show just feels trite. If it didn't do so many cool, nasty things you wouldn't normally see on TV, it wouldn't be worth watching.

Video Games
Nintendo came out with a new console, which has failed to garner excitement. The 3DS and Vita are just kind of there. All the big games were part 3s or 4s, so if you weren't already invested, there wasn't a lot to be excited about. The saving grace, for me, were downloadable games, like Rock Band Blitz and The Walking Dead. The new systems can't come soon enough.

The iPad Mini
A retina screen away from being on the next part of this list.

The Best

Perfume - Fake It

This song may have been a B-Side in 2010, but it became a single this year... so... it's my list, anyway.

CM Punk
This year he became the longest reigning champ of the past 25 years, even surpassing the golden boy, John Cena. He had great matches with Ziggler, Jericho, Cena, Henry, Kane, Bryan, Ryback, Big Show, and even Vince. He was hilarious and threatening. The Rock's stint at WrestleMania may have been what lured me back to wrestling, but Punk is what kept me here.

Boardwalk Empire
Somehow, this show got even better. It was always good, although a little light on plot. The first two seasons were about character development. Season 3 was about turning points and consequences. The show was made by Bobby Cannavale's portrayal of Gyp Rosetti.

Gangnam Style
I don't need to link to it, I just had to bring it up so I could say, "I told you so!"

Smart Toilets
My biggest revelation of 2012. In the future, our grandkids are going to say, "You did what with paper?"

What The Next Walking Dead Game Needs To Be

I've only finished the first chapter in The Walking Dead adventure game, and as everyone who's played it has stated, it's awesome. Essentially, all you're doing is making choices, who to side with, what to do, even who to save. These choices have impacts on relationships and events that'll play out in the story. Very cool stuff.

But I do have a suggestion for the next version:

Make it multiplayer!

The iPhone can already do multiplayer games. How about the action is streamed on your Apple TV, while everyone with an iOS device gets to vote on choices? Then after big decisions, it shows who voted which way. It's a way to share the compelling story, and argue with your friends about the choices they voted on.

Workspace 2.0

Ever since I received my first iPad, it's been my favorite computer. For common tasks, such as web surfing and reading emails, it's a dream. The advent of the App Store has greatly extended it's usefulness. But, even to this day, it is largely considered to be a consumption device. It's great for checking FaceBook and playing Angry Birds, but not for doing any meaningful work. I've always disagreed with this notion, and have the seen the iPad as much more than an expensive toy.
Well, now, I'm putting my money where my mouth is.
I've committed to trying to use the iPad as my main computer. I've relegated my Mac Mini to "hub" status; it's main purpose now is to serve up media and other heavy lifting. I'm going to try to rely on my iPad, coupled with a keyboard, as my day to day machine. This includes reading, gaming, social interaction and organizing. I'm also going to try to do as much of my future school work solely on this device. I'm even writing this very post on the iPad.
Now that I think about it, recollecting the 20 plus years experience I've had with computers, I've done with a lot less, before.

Why Japan's Tech Industry Is Failing

For decades, Japan has been the global leader in consumer electronics. Want to know what the next hot gadget is? Just take a look at what the Japanese are throwing out.
Or at least that's how it used to be.
Today, the most important gadget is the smart phone. And while Japan has been on the bleeding edge of phone features for years, they are not ahead of the game here. Apple and Google, American companies, are leading the way. Sure, the components are made overseas, many of them designed by Japanese companies, but most of their contributions are internal. The logo on the back is of a bitten piece of fruit.
The reason Japan's tech companies are beginning to falter (and this is just speculation for speculation's sake) is because they lost their 'Cool'. Sony used to be a powerful name. It stood for quality, craftsmanship, and prestige. They were also cool as hell. The WalkMan was as much a fashion statement as it was a portable music device. But with the advent of cheaper knock-offs and price wars, Sony has lost a lot of it's caché.
While Japanese companies may lead the way in feature sets, oddly enough, that isn't always what consumers are looking for. People want devices that will impress their friends, or at least will blend in with them. In the phone space, this means iPhones and Androids. When an iPhone sells, it only bears Apple's name, and does nothing for Japanese tech companies' brands. While Android phones are adorned by names like Sony and Samsung, people still refer to them as 'Android phones'.
It's a question of branding, or lack of it.

The New iTunes...

Has completely reignited my confidence in Apple. It took a little longer than advertised to get it out the door, but it was worth it. It's snappier, tidier, cleaner and more powerful.
The new album view is awesome. It analyzes the dominant colors used in the art, not only for the background, but also the song info. Clever.

'Up Next' is a killer feature. Add any song, artist or album to the upcoming in progress playlist. Then go back to your playlist when it's done. Also gives you the ability to remove upcoming songs, making for nicer listening experiences.

Search has gotten way more powerful, allowing you to find artists, albums, and songs sharing the same name while keeping things nicely sorted.

TV shows are now sorted much more cleanly, including grouping seasons of the same shows.
I can only hope this is the future of the music play on iOS.

What The iPad 4 Tells Us About The iPad 5

People were in an uproar. "How could they replace my iPad after only 6 months?"

But upon further inspection, it's clear that the newest iPad is an update, not an upgrade. A faster processor and a better FaceTime camera. That's pretty much it. While these improvements are welcome, they're certainly not enough to warrant an upgrade from the previous model.

So why was Apple so quick to introduce a new model? Why are they clearing out the 6 month old "new" iPad for $380 bucks?

Perhaps, iPad 4 has more to do with iPad 5.

Previous iPads were introduced during the Spring. Now that they have a new model, they can wait until Summer, at least. I'm anticipating a new refined design, both, in software and hardware. Expect the iPad 5 to be thinner, which seems to be Apple's latest modus operandi. iPad 5 will have a laminated screen, leading to a sleeker, more svelte appearance.

But aside from exterior aesthetics, I think the next round of iOS devices will feature a reimagined OS. This is more than just the recent promotion of Jony Ive as the head of software interface; I'm expecting a complete re-thinking of iOS. As Microsoft tries to position it's Surface device as a work machine, Apple has a real opportunity to beat them to the punch. An iPad that is as much about work, as it is play, would take the device to next level.

It's fun to speculate.

9:41

Ever wonder why photos of Apple products usually show the time as 9:41?
Well, when Jobs would unveil products at keynotes, he wanted the revealed item to show the actual time. The whole presentation was synced perfectly, so the product would appear on the screen with the real time. The tradition has continued in the current line of products. Just another subtle, yet awesome detail.

Apple Event Round Up

First, let's see how I did.

iPad mini
I think this item is a win. People are upset that it isn't cheap enough; it's not the $200 Kindle or Nexus. What those people fail to realize is that Apple has never been interested in being the cheapest option. They have always been about making high-end, luxurious machines. They are the BMW of the computer world. They're are more than happy to let Amazon and Google race to the bottom of the narrowest profit margin. When you have a war-chest like Apple does, you can afford to wait it out. At $329, the iPad mini is the most affordable iPad ever. As they stated yesterday, they've sold 100 million iPads already, and now they have a device at an even lower price point. Many will still go for the Kindle or Android alternatives, but quite a handful will be left unsatisfied and go with an iPad soon after.
As far as the device is concerned, it's a master stroke. The form factor and usability are off the charts compared to other offerings.

iPad (4th Gen)
Alright, internet, calm down. So Apple did ship a new iPad only 6 months after their last. This doesn't mean your device is useless. I have a 3rd Gen iPad, and it's still every bit as powerful as it was yesterday. This is a worthy upgrade if you are coming from the 1st Gen, but a newer device is still just as relevant. Some people are worried that newer, faster hardware will cause developers to create more intensive apps that old iPads can't run. The new iPad mini is essentially an iPad 2 in spec. Developers are not interested in leaving these users in the dust. As long as you can run iOS 6, you're good.
And Apple is a cool company; if you bought your 3rd Gen iPad within the last month, they'll switch it out for the one, no problem.

iBooks
I've played with the new iBook Author a little. I like it. I have ideas.

Mac mini
This machine serves two types of people.
For many, like myself, it's the budget mac that you can hook up to an inexpensive monitor. It's my main machine, and with a few upgrades here and there, has served me very well for a few years, now.
For others, it's the server Mac. Throw it in a closet, and let it do it's thing. Simple. Compact. Efficient. Neat.

iMac
Beautiful. But expensive. It doesn't look serviceable, meaning you better max it out when you purchase. It's the showroom Mac, the one you use at your new company to impress clients. An engineering feat, but not for the budget conscious.

13" Retina MacBook
My dream machine, but only when spec'd out to the limit. Maybe rev. 2 will bring it closer to my budget.

Closing Thoughts
This is Tim Cook's Apple. All the products Steve worked on or touched have now probably all been revealed. Yesterday's event was explosive, fast-paced, and exciting.

Tim is a manufacturing guy. He understands how to roll-out a product. The proof? The new iPads will be shipping in more countries with more characters at a faster rate than any previous device. Something Google and Amazon can't touch, yet. People forget that Apple is global, and their brand carries a lot of prestige across the world.

RIP DVD Drive. It's no longer on any of their new Macs. We never even got a Blu-ray drive, but Steve said as much.

Apple Event Predictions

• New, smaller iPad. Not retina, but still needs to come in at $299 or less. Comes in colors.
• New iTunes will be available today.
• 13" Retina MacBook Pro.
• Refreshed Mac Minis and iMacs. I'm going to go out on a limb and say one of them gets a little cheaper.
• Something new in the media space. Like a new movie partnership or service. Something that makes the new smaller iPad and Apple TV even more appealing. 

On The Impending iPad Mini

So, right now, my iPhone does a lot. And my iPad does a lot of what my iPhone does, and a lot more. And my Mac does a lot of what my iPad does, and a lot more. The circles overlap quite a bit.
This could be a good thing. My tools are flexible and powerful. I can write a blog post from whatever device I'm nearest.
This is also sometimes confusing. When I want to listen to music, I have to actively think about which device I should use. The iPhone is in my pocket, so I can listen as I move room to room. But my Mac is hooked up to my best speakers. But, I feel like surfing the web, so I should just play the music from the iPad already in my lap. I know, the epitome of 'First World Problem'.
What if the new iPad Mini occupies much of the same space the iPhone and iPad currently do? It would be portable enough to take with me everywhere, but still powerful enough to accomplish 90% of my tasks. It also wouldn't overlap as much as my Mac, which is increasingly becoming a "Work" machine.
Or I can stop fussing over imaginary objects that don't yet exist and see what's revealed Tuesday.

The First iPhone Commercial...

still the best.

Where The Tech Companies Aren't Getting It...

When Apple introduced the first iPhone, it was a monumental moment in technology. They introduced an entirely new type of a device, a phone that was capable of running sophisticated and powerful software. The reason the phone was successful, was because they developed an elegant user interface. The iPhone had serious muscle, but was presented as being extremely intuitive and natural. This interface was the key to the success of iOS.

Then came the iPad. A device that was an even further departure from the norm. Once again, Apple was in the position of trying to convince the consumer that they needed a device that never existed. They leveraged the sensation of iOS in order to explain the capabilities of this new platform. And it worked. People who experienced the iPhone were immediately familiar with the iPad. The rest is history.

But, now we're at a crossroads. I believe that the tablet and smartphone are very different devices, and should be treated as so. Tablets, in their current incarnation, are largely single-use devices. They're for browsing the web, checking emails and watching videos, usually once at a time. Tablets are much more of a casual device. Phones, however, are about speed and power. They're about getting to info as quickly as possible. They are inherently multi-tasking devices.

Then why are the operating systems the same. Besides a few minor cosmetic differences, iOS is the same on the iPhone as it is on the iPad. This no longer makes sense. People know what smartphones are for and what tablets are for. Familiarity can be achieved through consistency of user interface elements, and does not necessitate an identical O.S..

Apple isn't alone in this. Android and Microsoft both offer tablet experiences all too similar to their phone's. But I do have a feeling Apple is aware of this. It won't suprise me at all if iOS 7 is a great departure. This is a really opportunity for them to innovate in the now stagnant phone market.

 

Let It Scratch

A new iPhone has been released, and with that, comes the complaints. Once again, the devices "susceptibility" to scratches is one of the issues.

The Horror.

Things scratch. These are phones, not crystal amulets. They are tools, like hammers. They go in and out of your pocket, like your worn out wallet. They are not precious items. 

The Japanese know what I'm talking about.

These items encapsulate "Wabi-sabi".

People used to have phones that got worn down before the iPhone, but they didn't complain. It's not that the iPhone is a more special device, it's that people weren't used to dropping a couple of hundred bucks every other year for a new gadget. Most of them took whatever was offered for free. What was once a tool has become a status symbol; like a car. People like to keep their cars shiny.

You can spend your phone's 2 year life worrying about every nick and dent. You can wrap it an unnecessarily bulbous case. Or you can enjoy the device for what it is. A tool.

Is This Too Much To Ask For?

I wish I could use this...

To control this...

When I set it here

It's okay...

I don't need to have the iPhone 5 day 1.

I'm still a good person.

I can still be happy.

Why Apple and Samsung Fans Argue

Because Apple is the new Microsoft, and Samsung is the new Apple. Not in principle, just in position. Apple has become the giant, the de facto, the way things are done and the way things are expected. Samsung fans feel like the rebels.
But don't kid yourself. If Samsung could, they'd switch places with Apple. They'd trade in all their "beliefs" and do the things the Apple way if it meant more market share.
Apple was the rebel because they did things differently because they thought it was better. Samsung is the rebel because they do things differently because they think it will sell more phones.

Samsung Must Think Consumers are Dumb

Samsung created this ad, attempting to point out the "shortcomings" of the iPhone 5.

There are 2 major problems with this ad. 

First, it shows the lack of originality on the part of Samsung. Are we still just counting features? It comes down to experience. Experience is paramount.

Second, the list is completely nonsensical. Samsung simply compared what they wanted to and left out a ton of iPhone 5 features. Sure, it's their ad, but they should give consumers some credit.

Of coarse, the internet proves more clever than Samsung and has responded.

Now they look like jack-asses.

Check Out My Newest Apple Device

Bought a replacement battery for $3. Good as new.

That's 40 sweet gigs.

Apple Event: Aftermath

So, how'd I do?

Not bad. But that was kind of the story with this event. Almost everything was leaked. Made the whole keynote less exciting.
As for the phone... the sense I'm getting is that it has to be held to be appreciated. People are saying it's really quite remarkable. I'll hold off until I can try one out. Probably a good time to jump ships to Verizon.
People are kind of disappointed. They want revolutionary when we're getting evolutionary. The truth is, there's not a whole lot more you can do with a phone. We're probably 3-5 years away from anything that will really change the game. It's faster, thinner, lighter, more powerful and more intuitive. Those all sound like plusses to me.

The nano is interesting. They scrapped the watch idea, and decided to go back to a more feature-rich media player.
But maybe....

They're hinting at my future fantasy phone.

Apple Event Predictions

• New iPhone, with suffix. Since they'll keep the old models around, the new, taller iPhone will be something akin to iPhone HD.
• Really, really good camera. Like, better than most point-and-shoots good.
• New iPad mini. I'm not super sold on this but it could happen. Amazon's Kindle reviews go out today which looks like an offensive maneuver on their part.
• New iPods. Their a bit long in the tooth. The iPod Touch will be brought up to par with the iPhone. Or, it will become stupid cheap.
• New Macs. But not announced. They'll just show up on the website later. Updates to the iMac and 13 inch MacBooks.