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TheAppleBlog
TheAppleBlog, published by and for the day-to-day Apple user, is a prominent source for news, reviews, walkthroughs, and real life application of all Apple products.
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iPhone Left Out of the Flash Party: Big Deal

Today’s big announcement is that Flash is getting an update to 10.1 that will bring support for full Flash functionality to a lot of mobile phones — except, of course, for the iPhone, which remains staunchly Flash-independent.

Google Android, Symbian, and now BlackBerry are all signed on with Flash to work together on the Open Screen Project, which is designed to bring the full-fledged Flash experience to all platforms, including HD video and Adobe Air applications. Apple looks to be missing the boat, but just what kind of seafaring vessel is it really passing up here?

Granted, Flash 10.1 promises to deliver big improvements in the way devices handle YouTube, which is a real, tangible benefit that everyone can appreciate. But what about the rest of it? Adobe Air apps on all platforms? I don’t like Air on the desktop, and I already avoid it at all costs (which basically means I don’t have to use it as long as I don’t have to use Windows). And aside from Air, what has Flash really done for me lately?

There are two instances where I notice the lack of Flash on my iPhone while browsing. The first is when visiting some band and many big-budget movie and game sites. The second is when I run into some instances of online advertising (really, both are promotional tools and could probably fall under the “advertising” blanket category).

With movie/gaming sites, I sometimes make a note to check it out at home if I really care, or I just shrug my shoulders and check out something else. I don’t spend the next 10 minutes swearing softly to myself and cursing Apple for keeping me from my pre-packaged corporate promotional material. Nor do I feel as though I’m now somehow worse off than my friends with Flash Lite-enabled devices.

Add to this the fact that CSS animation and other dynamic HTML effects are making exciting strides, and that these will likely be included in future W3 specifications and eventually bypass the need for things like Flash altogether, and my level of envy would dip even further, were that actually possible.

So am I terribly upset that Apple won’t be taking part in the wonderful new world of Flash 10.1, which should ensure that shooting the duck to win a prize in an annoying animated banner ad will be the same edifying experience on my desktop and on my mobile device? In a word, no. In many words, I’m glad that Apple continues to adhere to its policy of staying away from a tech that may be widespread, but in point of fact offers very little value.

Subscribe to GigaOM Pro and gain access to our Webinar, "Biggest Opportunities in the Smart Grid," on Oct. 7, 2009.

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Palm Pre Can Sync With iTunes Again Thanks to Latest Update

Palm is clearly very determined to encourage Apple to release updates for iTunes, because it keeps updating its own software for the Palm Pre to re-enable iTunes syncing. The latest update, 1.2.1, does indeed restore the device to the honored “Source List” in Apple media management software — this despite receiving a slap on the wrist from the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) only recently.

That appears to be the sole purpose of the incremental update, too, besides a few standard maintenance and bug fixes. Maybe Palm is hoping this is the time Apple will just roll over and acquiesce to having another manufacturer’s device take advantage of its proprietary software. Not likely.

So who’s the villain here? Is it Apple for being the big bully and not letting Palm play along with its iPod and iPhone devices? Or is it Palm, which isn’t satisfied with its own solution and has to go leeching off the better software design of its rival, despite the repeated objections of both that company and organizations governing its devices’ use?

Here’s an excerpt from the USB-IF’s letter (via Softpedia) back to Palm in response to the smartphone maker’s complaint against Apple:

Your letter also states that:
“Palm will shortly issue an update of its WebOS operating system that uses Apple's Vendor ID number for the sole purpose of restoring the Palm media sync functionality.”
I attach for your information the USB-IF's adopted and published policy regarding Vendor Identification Numbers (VIDs). Under the Policy, Palm may only use the single Vendor ID issued to Palm for Palm's usage. Usage of any other company's Vendor ID is specifically precluded. Palm's expressed intent to use Apple's VID appears to violate the attached policy.
Please clarify Palm's intent and respond to this potential violation within seven days.

So, according to the Forum at least, Palm is in the wrong here. And why wouldn’t it be? We can lament all we want the fact that iTunes doesn’t provide an API to hardware manufacturers so that we could use our Sansa, Zune, BlackBerry, and whatever other devices with it, but the fact remains that it doesn’t, and because of that no company really has the right to commandeer the use of the software for its own purposes. What if the DSi started doing that with Sony’s Media Go PC software for the PSP? Obviously, it wouldn’t fly.

And it’s not like iTunes media is inaccessible for devices other than iPods and iPhones. BlackBerry’s recently released Desktop Manager for Mac allows for syncing with iTunes playlists. It does so by reading the iTunes library .XML file, which is readily available to all programs, and it handles the actual syncing process on its own. It’s something Palm could easily mimic.

I was rooting for the little guy, but as this drags on, I’m beginning more and more to take Apple’s side. Palm is looking increasingly like it’s unwilling to try to stand on its own. No doubt the update war will continue, but to what end? Apple will eventually win, and Palm’s time would be better spent trying to design an equally elegant solution of its own.

Subscribe to GigaOM Pro and gain access to our Webinar, "Biggest Opportunities in the Smart Grid," on Oct. 7, 2009.

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Ads Suggest Imminent Mac Updates
AppleInsider was first to report on a series of Google AdSense placements temporarily appearing in several European countries hinting at new iMacs, Mac minis, and MacBooks.

Google searches for those models in countries including the Netherlands, Germany, Italy and Austria returned ads for the respective Apple Stores with new features and prices. Translations from the Dutch ads describe the new Macs as follows:
- iMac: Ultra Thin 20 & 24 inch models. From only €1099.
- Mac mini: Faster and more affordable than ever. From only €499. Order immediately.
- MacBook: Apple’s Newest MacBook. Thinner, lighter and faster! Free delivery. Order today.
While the iMac ad confirms the long-rumored redesign reducing thickness and weight, the even-longer-rumored addition of Blu-ray drives is not mentioned. In a way, this is not too surprising. If Blu-ray comes to the Mac, it seems odd that the iMac would get it first. The Pro machines would seem more likely candidates to introduce the Blu-ray drive, if for no other reason than price premium. The rumor of a price drop is not reflected in the ad, either, unlike the Mac mini.

The current price for the Mac mini at the Netherlands Apple Store is €599, the new price fitting nicely with recent rumors that the low-end model has been discontinued. A lower-priced, faster Mac mini, hopefully with more than a miserly 1GB of RAM, would be a welcome change to what is arguably the poorest price/performance Mac currently for sale.

While the MacBook ad does not specify a price, “thinner, lighter, and faster” fits in with current expectations. At $999, the polycarbonate MacBook is Apple’s answer to the netbook—despite what Apple executives say about the iPhone—but at double or even triple the price of the budget portables, it’s a tough sell. While Apple may not be losing business to Acer and Toshiba, it’s arguable that the MacBook isn’t taking business, either. At $899, or even $799, a MacBook becomes a more attractive “real notebook” upsell to the hot-selling netbooks.

It’s likely we won’t have to long to wait to find out, though. Look for that familiar sticky note at the Apple Store saying “we’ll be back soon” in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Subscribe to GigaOM Pro and gain access to our Webinar, "Biggest Opportunities in the Smart Grid," on Oct. 7, 2009.

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Google Maps iPhone App Now Serving Ads

Looking for sushi in New York via the Google Maps iPhone app? Hope you like sifting through sponsored links, as Google Maps for the iPhone is now serving up sponsored links.

Obviously Google is in the business of ads, but what threw me off was that the sponsored link info bubble popped up by default right when I did the search (as seen in the screenshot below). Maps is obviously a free app, so I don’t have beef with some ads, but when using a mobile UI, where pixels are already hard to come by, popping up the info bubble by default and taking up precious screen real estate just seems bad form.

Hat tip: Ubergizmo

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