| rss2email.ru | На что подписаться? | Управление подпиской |
 |  TheAppleBlogTheAppleBlog, 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. http://theappleblog.com рекомендовать друзьям >> |
- Cramer v. Stewart on Daily Show Last Night: The Apple Tie-In
So, am I right in assuming that a lot of you have already seen the culmination of the on-air feud between Jon Stewart and Jim Cramer last night?
If not, I would recommend checking out the full interview at Comedy Central’s web site, and check out the background context, via a simple “Jim Cramer” keyword search on YouTube, if you’re not familiar with what’s been going on. Here’s the short version: Jon Stewart called out all of CNBC for shoddy financial reporting in a lengthy montage, Jim Cramer took personal offense, John fired back at him, specifically, then Jim went on John’s show and basically got eaten alive. Believe me, I’m not doing it justice.
You might be thinking “I thought this was an Apple blog, because of the name,” but bear with me, there is an Apple angle to last night’s events. During the interview, Jon is continually backing Cramer into a corner and then playing a clip of something he said earlier that completely contradicts or points out the absurdity of what he just said to Jon. During one of these clips, taken from a 2006 interview on TheStreet.com, Cramer mentions Apple by name. And not just briefly, as a throwaway example. He mentions Apple as an example of a company where manipulating buzz around a product is simple, and will definitely affect stock pricing.
Why is this so? Cramer infers that it is because of people like us, who devour any shred of Apple news or information with such zest and zeal that letting slip a simple hint that AT&T and Verizon aren’t interested in Apple’s then-upcoming iPhone would catch like wildfire, and share prices would tumble as a result. Aside from Cramer’s very concrete example, I can think of at least a dozen other times when this sort of thing has happened, and suddenly rumors that later prove to be false take on a more sinister character, since they might be misdirection instead of just accidental misinformation.
It would be easy to accept the role of the patsy in these circumstances, the unwilling conduit of information. But really, I can’t help but feel that I deserve at least part of the blame Stewart is laying on Cramer’s shoulders, since we bloggers often put entertainment before more serious concerns of what cumulative effect our pieces might have, taken together. Also, I really just don’t like the feeling that I’m being used as a plaything by financial gamers.
So what’s the answer? Not to refrain from producing content, obviously. The Apple user community is a rich and vibrant one, and participating in that discussion is too valuable to give up. Instead, we should do what Stewart suggests Cramer do, and be more critical about the information we receive. It’s less about what we report, than how we report it. Too often dubious rumors get reported as the gospel truth, without disclaimer. That’s just as bad as Cramer passively taking for granted every word out of a CEO’s mouth.
Переслать - Thanks to TheAppleBlog Sponsors!
We’d like to say thanks to this month’s sponsor of TheAppleBlog:
- WunderRadio: Wunder Radio provides access to thousands of streaming Internet radio stations and on your iPhone or Windows Mobile Phone.
- Mozy: Back up your photos, music, and files with Mozy for as low as $4.34 per month.
Переслать - Google Ends Free Text Messaging Party for iPhone Users
The iPhone, despite aggressive attempts to block such efforts by AT&T (with Apple’s help), did occasionally offer some apps that actually managed to save users some money in one way or another. For instance, for a while, people could tether their phones to their computers in order to share the data connection without having to pay an additional, expensive fee to AT&T or getting a separate dongle and data subscription. And, for a brief time, you could also send unlimited, free text messages using your data connection, in case you didn’t have an SMS option attached to your subscription.
I say for a brief time because Infinite SMS, one of the apps that allowed you to do this, was recently informed that the service they provided would no longer be available. They were not, however, cut off by Apple, as might be expected. Instead, the bad news came from Google, whose Google Talk service they were taking advantage of to offer free, web-based SMS to buyers of their own app.
When it was available for purchase, Infinite SMS cost 99 cents per download, but its developers (Inner Fence) have now removed it from the App Store, saying they could not leave it up in good conscience. They are not, however, planning to offer a refund program to those who’ve already purchased the app. That probably leaves a significant number of people out a dollar, since the app quickly rose to the Top 10 list of paid apps.
Google explained why they decided to close off access from Infinite SMS and other similar applications in a statement released Wednesday.
Infinite SMS is a third-party app that has been using Google technology to provide free SMS for users, while we were paying for the cost of the text messages. While Google is supportive of third-party apps, we’ve decided we can’t support this particular usage of our system at this time. SMS chat is still just an experiment in the early testing stages in Gmail Labs. We’re blocking all external XMPP clients from sending SMS; we’re not singling out Inner Fence.
Other applications, like Textfree Unlimited ($5.99, iTunes link), another Top 10 paid app, still offer free text messaging, since they don’t depend on Google Talk for transferring messages.
We’ve seen before how friendly the relationship between Google and Apple is, despite the two companies having competing smartphone platforms. To me, Google’s excuse doesn’t pass the sniff test. Instead, I think they’ve been asked by Apple (with AT&T’s urging) to cut off the service in order to try to corral users back into using cellular SMS plans. There’s more than one way to reject an app, after all, and this one draws far less negative attention. We’ll see how long Textfree Unlimited can continue plying its trade before someone figures out how to close that back door, too.
Переслать - Ego: Web Statistics on Your iPhone
As someone who manages a few different web sites and Twitter accounts, I do find that it’s easy to waste a decent chunk of time checking all their various statistics. I often browse to the different websites from my iPhone, logging into each account sequentially to view the latest number of visitors or news feed subscribers.
Enter Ego, a new statistics tracking application for the iPhone. It provides one central location to check web statistics that matter to you, supporting Feedburner, Mint, and Twitter. Authentication is handled automatically once you’ve set the accounts up, and a decent range of statistics are offered through a minimal and simple user interface.
Adding and Managing Accounts
The whole point of Ego is to eliminate needlessly logging in and out of several different web sites and accounts. Therefore, there’s inevitably going to be a reasonable amount of setting up required to add all these accounts in the first place. Clicking the settings icon after opening the application allows you to add and edit accounts.
Ego supports as many widgets of each type as you want, color coding them to make it easy to see which widgets represent which service you’re tracking. Three services are currently supported, and I’ll go into further detail about each shortly. After adding an account you’re able to drag to re-order it in the dashboard screen, ensuring the important stats are displayed and loaded first.
Mint
Mint is a simple statistics tracking tool for websites which you can install on your own server. Unlike Google Analytics, it’s a commercial stats package which costs $30 per site. If you’re already running Mint, you need to install the ‘Ego Helper Pepper‘ to allow the iPhone application to connect to the stats system. Unfortunately, you’re also out of luck if you’re running an older version of Mint — version 2.0 or higher is required.
Manage your Mint stats
By default, the Mint widget displays the number of page views and unique visitors your site has received today. Tapping on a widget will cause it to cycle through the number of visits so far this hour, this week, this month, and a total count of all visitors received to date.
This system of displaying information saves valuable space on your iPhone screen, and doesn’t require drilling down into, and back up from, additional views.
Twitter
The second service supported is Twitter, which requires your Twitter ID and password to set up.
Twitter followers and following stats
The default widget displays (arguably) the most important statistic — the total number of followers you have. Tapping it will alter the view to show the number of people you’re following, and the number of updates which you’ve sent to the service. Also shown is the most recent tweet that has been posted to your account.
FeedBurner
The final service that can be tracked is FeedBurner, a tool for managing and reporting RSS feed information. Setting up FeedBurner requires you to enable the ‘Awareness API’ found in your account settings — without this, Ego won’t be able to retrieve any data.
FeedBurner reader count and trend
This is the simplest widget, displaying only the current number of subscribers to your feed and (when tapped) the number of subscribers you’ve gained or lost since yesterday.
Future Versions
Many would agree that support for Google Analytics — fast becoming the most popular statistic tracking tool — is a big requirement. Fortunately, the developers note that:
We built Ego with a very flexible framework for adding support for other services. Coming in version 1.1: Google Analytics support!
I’m sure that this won’t satisfy everyone, and it’ll be interesting to see whether the developers choose to cater for every request they receive, or keep the application focused on a narrow selection of services. They’re taking requests, so if there is a particular stat you’d like to be able to track, you can email the developers via the Ego site.
Conclusion
For me, this simple app will save a huge amount of time and annoyance. Having all my statistics in once place means I’m likely to check them more often, but it’ll be far quicker to do so. Support for additional services is necessary, and I’m sure future upgrades will add greater flexibility.
I’m particularly fond of the user interface, and the way that tapping to change the information displayed makes the app even easier to use. Not being required to drill down to see further information saves time, but consequently limits the actual data which can be displayed.
It would be useful to see trend information (as displayed in FeedBurner) for the other widgets. I’m aware that data depends upon what is available from the service API, but I expect this would be feasible with Mint. Trend data is always useful — more so than a single figure.
If you manage a web site and are a statistic junkie, spending $1.99 on this app will be a fantastic investment.
Переслать - At Home With the New Mac Mini: My Setup and Impressions
I recently received my brand new Mac mini in the mail, and, as it always is when I get a package from Apple, it was a joyous occasion. For once, I didn’t have to find someplace to cram a huge box, since the packaging is size-appropriate for such a small desktop.
My afternoon the day it arrived was spent going through the extremely satisfying computer-lover’s ritual of setting up a new machine. I didn’t do an automatic set-up using one of my existing machines, because the mini was going to be used primarily as an HTPC, and as such I wanted it specially tailored for such a narrow focus. I wanted to devote as much of the 4 GB of RAM, 2.26GHz processor, and 120 GB HD to media playback as was possible, so I skipped a lot of my usual software installs and went with the basics.
Essential Software
The basics included the latest version of Perian, the all-in-one codec solution for Quicktime, and VLC for when that wasn’t enough; Firefox for browsing and YouTube viewing; LineIn, for audio pass-through from my TV to my speakers; and Rowmote Helper, for use with Rowmote for the iPhone, a great supplementary remote application for the Mac. I also installed Logitech Harmony remote software to go with the brand new Logitech Harmony 550 universal remote bought specifically to compliment the new mini. I’m still debating whether or not to also put Hotspot Shield on the machine so that I can watch Hulu outside of the U.S.
Media Storage
I decided to make my iTunes library resident on the Mac mini’s own internal HD, since I don’t like waiting for the drive to spin for music to start up. I also don’t like the extra time it takes to add music from another source, owing to the extra copy time to the USB-attached drive. My extensive video library, however (all backups of DVDs I own, honest) would be impossible to fit on the measly 120 GB HD, so that would have to stay on the external drive. I may yet invest in a drive with Firewire 800 connectivity to make this an even more practical solution and cut down on playback hiccups.
Connectivity and Calibration
For connection, I was forced to use the included Mini-DVI to DVI adapter, in combination with a DVI-D to HDMI cable. My audio goes out to speakers, so luckily no audio connection to the TV was required. I still think it’s pretty ridiculous that no HDMI out is included in a machine otherwise so perfectly suited to the HTPC role. As mentioned in my earlier post on why I was buying a Mac mini in the first place, I also run TOSLiNK to mini-TOSLiNK cable from my TV to the mini’s mic/input port. I still have four empty USB slots since I use Bluetooth-connected control devices.
It took some fiddling with the display settings, but now I’m more than satisfied with the playback of both standard and high definition video files via the Mac mini. Blacks are still not as crisp or clear as I would like them to be, but that’s probably more of a problem with my somewhat older Samsung 32-inch LCD flatscreen than with the computer.
Playback
Video playback, both streaming and downloaded, offered no problems, and the GeForce 9400M has no problems with full 1080p video, although my TV technically only supports a max resolution of 1360×768, so 1080p is downscaled. Even gaming performance (I briefly installed Lego Star Wars: The Original Trilogy for testing purposes) seems to compare favorably with my iMac (20-inch, mid-2008 with 4GB of RAM and an ATI Radeon 2600 HD).
Verdict
I wouldn’t use it as my primary DVD player, because the mini’s drive produces a lot of noise when it spins, but my Xbox 360 or PS3 can easily fulfill that role. Other than that one minor complaint, and the lack of a true HDMI-out solution, I’m already very much attached to my new piece of Apple hardware. In fact, I’m not sure how I got by without it in the first place. I just hope my iMac doesn’t languish in neglect while I lavish attention on its new younger brother.
Переслать - GrandTotal + TimeLog = Invoicing Bliss
If you haven’t noticed, the writers here at TAB like to write about invoicing applications. Some of our recent reviews include Billings, OnTheJob and Involer. But forget all of those other invoicing applications. I just found the one true ring of invoicing and time management: GrandTotal + TimeLog from Media Atelier.
I have been testing this application bundle for the past two weeks ,and I am very impressed with the quality and overall user experience. Because of its integration with Address Book, iCal, MobileMe, and iWork, it really feels like it’s a native app.
GrandTotal
As an invoicing application, GrandTotal has an impressive feature set. Here is a short list of the many things GrandTotal can do:
- The ability to create recurring invoices
- An invoice editor that lets you customize your own layout (using existing templates or creating your own)
- Quotes & account statements
- Flexible tax settings & multiple currency support
- Integration with Address Book and TimeLog
- Catalog for recurring and fixed amount items
- Reminders for due & overdue invoice
- Many export options, including PD
Version 1.2 was released this week and with it came the following new features:
- iPhone application (more below)
- All-new UI for the Preferences dialog box
- Ability to create an invoice with just the Gross total
- Addition of a Recent list to the Overview
As I mentioned, the application is very easy to use. Let’s take a look at the main UI (items are intentionally blurred to protect the innocent):
GrandTotal Overview Tab - Recent/Open Invoices
GrandTotal Preferences - TimeLog Integration
TimeLog
As a time-tracking application, TimeLog’s feature set is also very impressive. Here is a short list:
- Uses iCal calendars and calculates the time spent on projects. You can assign clients to your projects from the Address Book. Your timesheets are then synced with MobileMe, ensuring they are current no matter which Mac you use.
- There is a menu item that lets you manage your time easily. You can start and stop the Timer with just one click.
- TimeLog can track the applications you use and then display the usage in the TimeLine. One caveat here is that it tracks everything you do. The developer does not have blacklist functionality yet, but he is working on it.
- Export your timesheet to Pages or Numbers — this is great for sharing your data with others prior to sending out an invoice.
- Integrates with GrandTotal — all of your timesheet data is easily available in GrandTotal for quick processing of invoices.
TimeLog Main WindowiPhone App
New to version 1.2 of GrandTotal is an iPhone app that lets you review your invoices while on-the-go. The best part? It’s free.
In the app, you can view Overdue, Due and Open invoices. You then click the invoices to see the full details as well as the contact information of the client. The client information is “hot” in that it will take you to your address book contact entry so that you can call/email/text them. A nice feature to have would be to re-send any outstanding invoices via the iPhone app.
The one requirement in using the iPhone app is that you must have a MobileMe account to sync your GrandTotal data. Otherwise, the app doesn’t work (which will be a deal breaker for some).
GrandTotal iPhone App Main Screen
GrandTotal iPhone App Invoice Detail Screen
Conclusion
The tag-team of these two products provides a pretty powerful punch in managing your time as well as your billing. The user interface for both GrandTotal and TimeLog is exceptional and makes it pretty easy to get set up for your small business.
Further, you now have iPhone integration so that you can review your invoices and their current standing with your customers. This way, it’s just a quick call away for asking the question: “Is the payment on it’s way out?”
However, are these two apps the best out there? Have we reached invoicing nirvana? Well, I would say it’s pretty close — if you don’t mind a few items:
- The price. Compared to the competition, which averages about $40, to purchase both GrandTotal and TimeLog be prepared to spend about $75.
- iCal integration is excellent, although there is a big caveat. I would discourage you from using any existing calendars as TimeLog changes the data to existing iCal meeting entries.
- Application management. In the competitive space, both Billings and OnTheJob contain the majority of features in one, rather than two applications.
At the end of the day, you can overcome these issues if you want to have the most full-featured time management and invoicing products on the market.
The developer says that more is on the horizon. Maybe an iPhone app for TimeLog? Possible integration with accounting applications? Stay tuned. One thing is for sure, based upon what we have with GrandTotal and TimeLog, we can only continue to expect great things in the future from Media Atelier.
Переслать - iPod Shuffle Unboxing and Hands On
Much has been said about the new iPod shuffle. Its size has been praised, lack of buttons grumbled about, and — as with most new Apple products — has caused a little controversy. I wanted to try the product out for myself as I’ve been needing a small MP3 player for exercise. My iPhone is a little too cumbersome to carry while running.
I’ll be taking a look at the packaging, unboxing the iPod shuffle, and offering my thoughts on the hardware and software bundled with the gadget.
Unboxing
Apple seems to be continuing down the road of shrinking packaging material, and the box for the iPod shuffle is really small. It comes presented with the shuffle center stage, containing a simple manual, 3.5mm audio to USB adaptor, and the headphones.
Initial Impressions
The first thing to note, as you’d expect, is that the iPod shuffle is absolutely tiny. I’m fascinated to see where the constant shrinking of the shuffle will ultimately lead to, and I don’t think it’ll be long before you’ll struggle to find it in your pocket. The build quality is also remarkable, with the aluminum construction feeling bulletproof.
As with the previous generation, the entire device is fashioned into a large clip. You can easily attach it anywhere, and it’s sturdy enough that I wouldn’t be concerned about it falling off when running. The top of the shuffle sports a small switch which toggles between shuffling tracks or playing music sequentially.
The headphones are (unfortunately) exactly what you’d expect. They’re standard iPod headphones, albeit with a new and sleek in-line track/volume controller. They have the same ‘rubbery’ feel as recent iPod model earphones, and offer the same reasonable level of comfort and sound. Don’t expect to be blown away, though Apple should be working on an adaptor to allow you to use your own earphones in the near future.
iTunes Connectivity
Connecting to iTunes is as simple as ever, and includes a few options which haven’t been present before. Upon connecting, you’re asked to register your iPod (with a nice new graphic to show the new shuffle in the lineup):
Registering the iPod Shuffle
When setting up, you’re asked if you’d like to enable VoiceOver. This works by generating spoken audio for the names of your tracks on your Mac (or Windows machine), before transferring them to your iPod along with the music. Because of this, you’re asked if you’re happy to install the VoiceOver desktop software.
Installing VoiceOver
This integrates silently into iTunes, and you don’t really notice anything is occurring. A short downloading status message appears, and then syncing music is handled as normal. You’ll be pleased to know that disk mode is supported as before, allowing you to transfer other files on the iPod. If you’d like, you can also set a volume limit and automatically reduce the quality of audio when syncing to fit more on the device.
iTunes Settings
Track Navigation & VoiceOver
There has been a decent amount of debate over how usable the headphone remote would actually be for skipping between tracks. I’d say it’s probably the least user-friendly interface that Apple has created for the iPod to date, but that doesn’t mean it can’t still function very well.
The annoying aspect of VoiceOver is that it isn’t the quickest method of navigating your iPod’s content. There’s quite a bit of waiting involved, and it’s tricky to skip through what is being read out. Not a problem if you have two or three playlists, but increasingly annoying as you add more. While the new computer voice in Leopard was noted as a decent improvement, I still think that artificial computer vocals have some way to come before they’re anything like the real thing. ‘Alex’ is perfectly coherent, but it’s a little odd to have your track information spoken to you by a digital voice.
Commendations, Complaints and Caution
On the whole, the size reduction and multiple playlist support do make the iPod shuffle a decent improvement. It’s brilliant if you’re exercising, and the controls do allow for simple track control without fumbling with the iPod itself. I’d really appreciate a way to use my own headphones with the shuffle, and look forward to some form of adaptor being released.
It is possible to trick the iPod, by setting the track and volume playing with the default phones and switching across to your own. Far from ideal, and doesn’t allow any subsequent control of the player. If you’d like to buy a better pair of supported in-ear phones, you can do so from Apple.
However, the general fact is that most shuffle owners don’t want to carefully select specific tracks to play; there’s been no way to do this in the past (even lacking multiple playlist support), so in many senses the new version is a step forward. I’ll certainly be happy with being able to use the new navigation method and appreciate the ability to flick through playlists.
Ultimately, the new iPod shuffle is a decent looking flash drive, backed up with a seasoned and fantastic piece of software — iTunes. The player has a few areas in which improvement is needed, but represents a solid advancement of Apple’s iPod device.
Переслать - Apple's Marketing and Sales Teams May Need an Update
In case you hadn’t figured it out by now, I like the new iPod shuffle. So much so that I ordered one (in black) the day they were announced.
I bought it online since shipping and engraving are free. I lose the instant gratification of the Apple Store, but I gain the personalization of engraving. (Though I admit it was challenging to come up with an engraving because there’s a small limit on letters.) Shortly after ordering, I got a confirmation email saying it would ship in three to five business days. So far, so good, now all I can do is wait. But look what I received today:
I think somebody goofed. I mean, it’s nice that Apple thought of me and all that, but I have a couple of issues with this email:
- “We hope you’re enjoying your iPod.” Well, no, I’m not. Because I don’t have it yet. In fact, unless you’re hiding something from me, you haven’t even shipped it yet.
- The picture is of an antiquated shuffle, not the shiny new one I ordered. I mean, the thing has the controls on it instead of using remote headphone controls. Remember back when we used to control these things that way? That was ages ago. You know, before the Enlightenment.
- The email makes no mention of the new shuffle at all.
Apple, you should get a note to the appropriate groups to have your canned email updated ASAP. And maybe not send it until you think the recipient actually has the item in question, OK? Oh, and maybe include a reference to the actual item that was purchased? Thanks anyway… I guess… Man, if they ship me that green one I’m gonna so go ballistic.
Переслать - OLED Technology Could Make Its Way Into a New High End Mini-MacBook
An interesting bit of scuttlebutt from Australian news site Smarthouse’s David Richards says Apple is close to launching a touchscreen “netbook type” computer according to new sources in Asia, which is a pretty widely-disseminated rumor this week. But what I hadn’t got wind of before is Richards’ report that Apple has been exploring the use of flexible OLED (Organic light-emitting diode) display technology for both screens and keyboards.
Richards says “insiders” have told SmartHouse that Apple is using a new version of their operating system software that incorporates a synergy of iPhone and MacBook capabilities, and that the fruit company has also recently been in discussions with Sony about licensing OLED technology into notebooks.
If this information is accurate, it puts wind under the wings of the school of thought that the new hardware from Apple, whatever it turns out to be, will be more along the lines of a laptop than an iPod touch on steroids, although not necessarily a laptop as we conventionally know them.
While Steve Jobs and Apple have been famously resistant to and haughtily dismissive of the netbook phenomenon, Richards says that sources have told SmartHouse that Apple had a change of mind after they were able to improve the capability of their touchscreen software and because they had been able to get new patents that allows them to deliver new features to a — taaa daaa! — “small notebook.”
As for OLED’s, if you’re not familiar, the technology has been touted as a coming “next big thing” in laptop computer development since at least 2000, which is when I first researched the topic and wrote about it.
Organic light-emitting diode (OLED) technology screens emit light directly and, consequently, the LED or CCFL backlighting required by conventional liquid crystal displays (LCDs) can be eliminated, which reduces bulk and power consumption. Active-matrix OLED screens also offer a wider viewing angle than LCDs, so they can be seen clearly from the side, and they have a much faster response time than LCDs as well.
OLEDs use thin sheets of film coated with a highly fluorescent material that emit light when electrical current is applied. This electroluminescent film is much easier to produce than liquid-crystal screens, and illuminates the screen much more efficiently than do backlit LCDs, which use an array of polarizers and color filters.
OLED technology could theoretically enable fabrication of display screens 1,000 times thinner than a human hair (that should appeal to Apple!) using organic light-emitting diodes that can be printed on a sheet of plastic. Theoretically they should be cheaper to manufacture — costing only an estimated 60 percent as much as LCDs to produce.
Sounds exciting, if that’s what’s really in the works.
Переслать - App Review: Convert — Apparently Form Does Not Equal Function
App Quick Stats
An app for converting an array of different units, Convert looks great and could be useful too.
The iPhone isn’t just about gaming and entertainment. Admittedly I’ve got two full screens worth of music and gaming apps, another screen for news, books and recipes, and then a screen dedicated to file-sharing and chat.
On my fifth and final screen however is a selection of software tools. There’s the basics, like Calculator and WeDict, sat alongside GPS-tools such as Locly and HearPlanet. Until now though, there was no unit converter.
The clever people at Polar Bear Farm have created Convert, a unit conversion tool that marries a variety of seemingly esoteric units — to the layman — with a polished interface.
With quite a history behind them, having launched in 2007, Polar Bear Farm is no strangers to app development. Notable past releases included Nice List, a stylish holiday gift manager, and Note Pad, a replacement to the iPhone’s own Notes app, upping the game with graphical flair and desktop syncing.
Then there’s Telegram, filling the iPhone voice-messaging void by allowing users to send short audio messages to each other. The point is, Polar Bear Farm is an app developer who seems to specialize in creating tools that manage data and make life easier. And what’s more, these tools are always visually stunning.
Units and Values
Moving on to Convert, the most exciting thing when first opening the app is the aesthetic. It’s not at all iPhone-esque, gone is the Apple-aesthetic we all adore. Instead is a reductionist approach — metallic and digital, calling to mind expensive electronic tools created for specialists.
This may not be too far from the truth though as, while the app is indeed visually stunning, it also seems to pack in an array of esoteric units for converting. The units are separated in to ten different classes: Angle, Area, Length, Mass, Power, Pressure, Speed, Temperature, Time and Volume.
All the basics are present and correct too, so entering the Length section will bring up Inches, Kilometers, Miles and Feet, among other conversion options. Notably, however, the app does not convert currency, something which — as an iPhone user who travels frequently — would have proved incredibly useful.
Perhaps more importantly, the app incorporates a diverse range of less commonly-used unit-types, such as radians, nautical miles, and drams. Unfortunately, Delorean owners will be disappointed to find that there is no option to convert Gigawatts.
Although the UI isn’t quite as intuitive as it should be, the actual conversion process is incredibly easy. Select the unit to convert from and then unit to convert to, then tap the numbers on either side of the equation, enter the new figure and instantaneously the equation adjusts to display your answer.
Comparing Problems
When I initially heard about the app’s $1.99 price tag, I felt somewhat unsure, questioning whether a unit converter is really worth two bucks. For my own conversions, I use Google. It’s free to use, although admittedly somewhat clunky on the iPhone and requiring a data connection.
In comparing Convert to Google’s calculator, I discovered a couple of interesting anomalies. When numbers are displayed, it always expresses them in full so 596 days in microseconds would be 51,494,400,000,000.
There are, of course, shorter ways of expressing the same value. Google’s calculator outputs 596 days as 5.14944 × 10^13 microseconds (see it here displayed properly). The issue is further compounded with even larger numbers — Convert doesn’t seem to like really big numbers, in fact. it seems if a number is too big for the display, nothing at all is shown. As such, converting 596 days to nanoseconds leaves the display blank (whereas Google has no trouble).
The point is that the tool should be able to handle these kind of equations and express the outputted value clearly to the user. Convert seems to have been designed as much for the layman as for Make enthusiast or even coders and physicists. Esoteric units of measurement are all well and good, but the app should be able to handle esoteric equations too.
Furthermore, there’s some notable competition on sale in the App Store. One app in particular, The Converter, packs in a serious amount of units for converting, including currency conversion too, for 99 cents. However, The Converter (and all of the other conversion apps on offer) certainly aren’t as aesthetically impressive as Convert. I just don’t know if a pretty user interface is enough to warrant an extra buck.
Summing Up
With its appropriately stylized visual, so much work seems to have gone in to creating an app that looks professionally produced. The sound design too, is excellent, the app clicks and bleeps just at the right time giving a satisfying level of tangibility to this digital tool.
However, there seem to be a couple of drawbacks to an app that could be accused of putting form before function. Firstly, despite the range of different units on offer for conversion, in comparison to other (cheaper) apps, Convert actually only seems to provide a paltry selection. The app therefore needs an update that expands the unit library to something much more substantial.
The other issue is with the way the app displays — or occasionally doesn’t display — values. With the user interface so rigidly set as part of the design and the apps current inability to express x to the power of y, it literally leaves no room to display incredibly large numbers. I’m surprised that this issue didn’t get caught in the testing phase.
As the app currently is, despite the fact it looks so gorgeous, I really can’t recommend it. There are cheaper apps out in the store that, while they certainly don’t have the good looks, have the features and the brains to hold their own. Until this app gets a much-needed upgrade, I suggest you avoid it.
Переслать - Become a Mac Power User: System Preferences
The great thing about using Apple computers (loaded with OS X of course), is that some of the tasks that can be frustrating and difficult on another operating system are simple and possibly even fun. So assuming you’ve got a handle on using that Mac of yours, it’s probably time to step it up, and work even smarter with your Macintosh. Here are five System Preferences tips that should start you well on the road to becoming a Power User.
Spaces (look for: Exposé & Spaces)
Expand on the workspace available to you, and organize your work all at once. Spaces gives you multiple desktops (also known as ‘virtual desktops’) with which to group your open applications. Some people like to group by activity (work, play, etc) while others may group by application (internet, documents, graphics, etc), and still others may group by project (website, movie, photography). There’s no hard and fast rule that requires you to categorize in any of these ways (I don’t), so figure out what works best for you. Spaces can be configured via the System Preferences application, and you can assign hotkeys and edges of your screen for navigation between your desktops. Oh, and there’s even a twenty-thousand foot view, where you can see all desktops at once, complete with the open windows in each.
Exposé (look for: Exposé & Spaces)
This remains (in my experience) one of the ‘Wow!’ factors of OS X. Exposé gives you the ability to spread all open windows out for viewing at once, application specific windows only, or just move them all aside to check out the computer desktop. As with Spaces, you can assign hotkeys to trigger these actions, or (as I’ve done) use the corners of your screen to initiate Expose. When there are a lot of windows open at once, Exposé can make it infinitely more powerful to find what you’re looking for in short order. As mentioned in Spaces, you can view all desktops at once — couple with Expose=é (using hot corners) and you can view all open windows on all desktops too!Keyboard Shortcuts (look for: Keyboard & Mouse)
Using keyboard shortcuts (also called key-bindings or hotkeys by some) such as CMD+S for saving, CMD+C and CMD+V to copy and paste (respectively), and so on, should be at least vaguely familiar to everyone. While many applications have settings which allow you to assign key bindings to certain app-specific actions (both Spaces and Exposé do, for example), the Keyboard & Mouse Preference Pane lets you review and assign operating system-wide hotkeys. (Further still, are third-party programs like Quicksilver that let you set Trigger actions that can be mapped to any system action and key combination you choose.)Multi-Touch Gestures (look for: Trackpad)
To preface, this one’s only for the MacBook and MacBook Pro users. Other than setting your Trackpad preferences, there’s not much to configure here. It’s most useful to look at the different Multi-Touch gestures that you can use to perform different actions. For instance, you can rotate images in iPhoto and Preview by twisting two fingers, or navigate forward or backward in Safari. Though the one item I will point out is the “Screen Zoom” listed under “Two Fingers.” Setting this up allows you to zoom in on any part of your screen when combining a key press and two-finger ’scroll,’ which can be very useful (and cool).
Preference Pane Plugins (look for: “Other” section of System Preferences)
The core functionality of OS X can easily be extended (even more) by third party System Preferences add-ons, which are called Preference Panes. The options are seemingly endless, and I find myself doing a lot of house-cleaning to keep it from getting out of control. But a few highlights that you may like to look into further are Growl, Hazel, TextExpander, GeekTool, and iStat Menus.
These five tips have only focused on leveraging your System Preferences. By no means do you need to embrace all of these tips at once, but be aware of them. Over time you’ll gain a level of comfort and add to your repertoire of ways that you can interface with your Mac. Before you know it, you’ll be doing things on your Apple computer that will cause friends to stop you, and inquire as to how you did it. Consider yourself, Power User.
Переслать - Apple iPhone 3.0 Event Next Week
There will indeed be an Apple event in March, but it (obviously) won’t be the rumored desktop event. Instead, next week press have been invited to attend Apple’s iPhone 3.0 special event next Tuesday, March 17. Rumors about what the iPhone 3.0 firmware would bring have been circulating, but no firm details have yet emerged, and Apple’s invite betrays no additional information.
The event next week will mark a little over a year since the reveal of the original iPhone SDK, and the timing is probably not coincidental, since part of the 3.0 announcement will include the revelation of a new SDK for developers to work with. And considering the wording of the invitation, 3.0 will likely mirror 2.0 in that the firmware won’t be immediately available. “Get an advance preview of what we’re building” definitely suggests that Apple isn’t ready for a public release just yet. We might see a timeline similar to last year, with the actual release being timed to coincide with the introduction of new iPhone hardware in June.
A key feature promised early but still missing from the iPhone firmware is support for third party background notification. Recent rumors speculated that Apple might be opting to instead allow one or two applications to actually run in the background, which would probably tax the existing iPhone’s processor. Likely we’ll find out which solution Apple is going to choose at next week’s event.
Turn-by-turn navigation was another feature floated early that has yet to appear, and there’s a long laundry list of user complaints that Apple still hasn’t addressed, like the lack of copy and paste, and MMS. We’ll see Tuesday just how deaf they really are to customer feedback.
Переслать - Follow The Oregon Trail on Your iPhone
Well, it came to pass. Beloved childhood memory The Oregon Trail ($5.99, iTunes link) got updated and graphically reinvigorated for its arrival on the iPhone and iPod touch platform. The question is, is it still just as fun and educational as it was when you used to play it on your Apple II? Well, you no longer get the fun of installing from floppy discs, but the App Store version does present some other new tricks to make up for the loss of that experience.
The people behind Oregon Trail’s most recent resurrection are none other than Gameloft, whose many gaming titles for the iPod touch and iPhone have made them one of the platform’s primary developers. Hopefully, that also means they know what they’re doing, since they’ve had enough practice. I’ve enjoyed their previous kicks at the can, so I was optimistic about my experience with the Trail.
Kudos to Gameloft for going for a look appropriate to the play of the game, instead of trying unnecessarily to stretch the graphics resources of the platform. It would of been easy to go for an angled top-down 3-D view or something else, but the 2-D side-scrolling cartoon look suits the game mechanics and keeps the spirit of the original intact.
Remember hunting? Well, it’s still here, and in the new version it takes full advantage of the iPhone’s touch screen interface. During hunting sequences, you’re given a target number of animals, and a time frame in which to reach that goal. The screen changes to a top-down view with you on a stretch of desert. Clicking anywhere on the ground will move your character to that spot, and arrows to either side of the screen show you where game will enter. Once an animal appears on screen, you tap it to shoot it, and then tap the ambiguous bouncing meat-leg icon that appears to move to and gather the resulting piece of food.
It’s basically a duck hunt interface where you have to pick up your own kills. Occasionally you’ll run across an event that is essentially a hunting game where the animals are after you. Larger animals take more shots to kill. It becomes more fun when you hunt larger game, since squirrels and bunny are very easy and present no real challenge.
You can also fish and gather berries for food. Fishing involves dropping your line by holding a finger to the touch screen to determine depth, and moving left and right to place the line horizontally, then you tap your character to draw the line back in, and it catches whatever happens to fall in its path between the original placement of the hook and the fisherman. I found this one much less straightforward and more aggravating than hunting, but more challenging, too, and possibly more fun as a result.
Picking berries is a response-and-reaction mini-game. The right side of the screen becomes a berry bush, where berries appear in predetermined locations. You have to press them as quickly as you can, or they disappear. Among the berries will appear a bad berry, which you have to try to avoid. Get all the good berries in a series, and you achieve a combo, which grants extra points.
Finding food isn’t the only source of mini-games. You’ll also have to cross rivers (accelerometer-based obstacle avoidance), send telegrams (a remember-the-pattern Simon clone) and repair your wagon (basically a simple rhythm game). For variety of play, you really couldn’t find a much better package than Oregon Trail. Not to mention the fact that it stays true to its educational origins and manages to teach you something, both in-game and during loading sequences.
Переслать - Study: For Many, Apps Lack Staying Power on iPhone
Results of a recent study by Pinch Media were released (and poked fun at by The Onion) and reveal that users of iPhone/iPod touch apps lose interest quickly. Our own Om Malik actually pointed this out just a month after the App Store launched, and it seemingly continues to hold true today. But how relevant are these findings? I submit that the study is more a commentary on the design of the App Store than the apps that people are loading their iPhones with.
The study says that people lose interest in free applications more often than paid. Well duh! I’ve got nothing vested in a free application, so if it doesn’t hit the mark for me, why continue using it? I’m much more likely to give an app I paid for the proverbial college try before abandoning it and feeling like I wasted money. This is all common sense so far.
The claim is also made that applications with the most staying power are Games, Social Media and Entertainment specific. I’ll agree with that for the most part — when I need to kill time, it’s Twitter, news, or some game. However, my morning ritual has me checking the likes of The Weather Channel, USA Today, Omni Focus, Ski Report, Chase, and Weightbot/Lose it. Some are free, some paid, but none exactly fit the the categorization — of course we’re all different.
I think it’s fair to say that many applications are purchased/downloaded with the idea of needing them one day. Open Table, Wikipanion, Amazon, and eBay all fill this void for me. I don’t need them on a daily basis, but when I do, it’s nice to have them available.
A metric that is not captured here is when people revisit an application down the road. There has been many an application that I’ve grabbed because of its potential and/or lower introductory price. I’ll download them, not touching them for weeks — possibly even deleting them temporarily — then decide to give them another look after some updates. Vocalia was one of these such instances. It was little more than a proof of concept when it launched and I bought it, and now it’s a solid voice dialer.
We’ve all heard (ad nauseum) about the runaway success of the fart apps and other silly gimmicks and gags. Some have made a lot of money (some are free), but it’s my guess that these apps especially fit the confines of Pinch Media’s study. Gimmicks usually offer little in the way of staying power.
So what makes an application for the iPhone or iPod touch have what it takes to remain in use? I think it’s a simple answer with a not-so-simple solution — whatever fits the needs of a particular user. Luckily each developer has a different vision which some cross-section of consumers is bound to be in line with. Perhaps some developers will find usefulness in these study results — though while everyone gets different utility from their apps, and user scenarios vary so greatly, it seems Pinch Media’s findings are sort of useless.
How accurately can your app usage practices be defined? Do you think they’re widely relevant for developers to create a killer app?
Переслать - New iPod Shuffle Interface is Killing People: Apple Sought For Questioning
Yes, the headline is an exaggeration, but as I read more and more about the reaction to this thing I’m really struck by some of it.
“If I lose my headphones then I can’t use the device!” Well, if you lose your headphones now what do you do? Hold the thing up to your ear and crank the volume? You need to get headphones in either case. And third parties will provide more options.
The interface gets lots of flack. Apparently the click, double-click and triple-click is just too much. No one can use it. Grandma will be helpless.
Much is made, for example, of the diagram Apple supplies about its usage:
How quickly we forget that the 2G unit had a diagram of its own:
Yeah, neither one is pretty. I learned long ago not to even try to remember the status of the lights.
Let’s think about what you do most of the time with this thing:
- Play/Pause
- Volume Up
- Volume Down
- Next Track
- Last Track
I’d say as a device meant more to be used while exercising, at the gym, etc., the above covers what you do 95 percent of the time. So let’s look closer at those…
The Three Basics
One can see that the first three items are the same for both devices. You have an upper button to raise volume, a center button to play/pause, and a lower button to lower volume.
However, notice those buttons will always be oriented correctly on the 3G shuffle. Gravity will see to that. On the 2G shuffle, however, that’s not the case (see photo). Depending on how you wear it, the orientation will be different. And remember that you’re not facing the darn thing when you use the controls. It’s controlled while being worn. I can’t possibly be the only one who used this thing in the real world and noticed that.
So right off the bat I can say the usability of the the three main controls is actually better and easier on the new shuffle than the old.
Next and Previous
Regarding next track, instead of a separate button you now use the center button and double-click. Those decrying this are overreacting. It’s not like it’s a foreign concept that a user will balk at. Some of us have been double-clicking for 25 years! In actual use, I’m sure I could go to the next track as quick, if not quicker, than any 2G shuffle user.
That leaves previous track. A triple-click is a bigger leap, I’ll grant. However, with the concept of next track easy to grasp at two clicks, I don’t think explaining a third click for previous will be that tough.
And remember, the orientation issue of the buttons when wearing the old shuffle applies just as much to the next/prev buttons. In actual use the buttons will not be oriented like you see in the marketing photos, and the device is not facing you. With the headphone controls, the orientation never changes and they’re always right there.
Will You Hold, Please?
All the ruckus about how other, less used controls require holding the button down also seem much ado about nothing.
First, click and hold, like a double-click, is not a new concept, so can we stop acting like nobody will ever get it?
Second, the 2G button had its share of holding, too, which everybody seems to have forgotten. You had to click/hold the center button to enable/disable the controls (i.e., the “hold” function). The 3G doesn’t need this feature because the controls were wisely moved off the device.
You also had to click/hold to fast forward or rewind. In short, you executed the next (or previous) track command but then kept the button held down. The 3G works the same way. This really isn’t that tough folks.
Remote Controls are Great
Remember the original iPod came with a remote? Yep, it clipped to your person and let you not have to fiddle with the device. It lasted a generation or two, but like the dock and extra cables, it got cut when Apple scaled back costs. Still, Apple knew the convenience of this capability, and I’m glad it’s back.
When the iPhone required the remote headphones that came with it, I don’t remember anybody screaming about how they were stuck with Apple’s headphones. And yet that was an expensive device where one may have more reasonably thought they’d have more choice.
Apple’s had remote headphones for a while now, and it’s a breeze to operate them. The controls are always in the same place; they’re easier to use, not harder. Third parties are getting on board as well.
Size Matters
Moving beyond the interface, I’ve read several more comments that this thing may be too small. The comments seem to think the 2G was “just right.” What is this? Goldilocks? It’s meant to be worn, people. Smaller is better.
Look at it This Way
Everybody trying to shoehorn this into the iPod line with standard thinking will have their head explode. This thing is to the 2G shuffle what the original shuffle was to the iPod. Apple took an interface element people just assumed had to be there, and removed it. Many think it won’t fly, but I like it.
Think of it this way: Apple took their $29 remote headphones, and for $50 added a 4GB memory stick wrapped in beautiful aluminum with a 10-hour battery, full iTunes capability (including playlists and podcasts) and voice features, all at a tiny size and weight with a clip to hold it on.
Complain all you want, the more I think about it, the more I like it. I hope to have mine soon.
Переслать - UPDATED: iTunes 8.1 Available Now
Along with the release of their new iPod shuffle, Apple has updated iTunes to version 8.1. New features include improved speed with large libraries, Autofill, a switch to 256-Kbps AAC as the new import default, and more notably iTunes DJ and Genius sidebar for Movies and TV Shows.
For a lot of users, the first two will be more than welcome additions — seriously, who can argue with speed improvements, especially if they apply to networked libraries as well. Also, as I'm sure a lot of other non-shuffle owners will agree, the Autofill feature is one that has been much lamented over. The shift to a higher encoding rate, however, is an interesting move and may cause confusion with some users when they suddenly can't fit as many songs on their iPods and/or iPhones as they were used to, notable because Apple's capacity calculations are still based on the 128-Kbps bitrate.
Party Shuffle has been transformed into iTunes DJ which, beyond a more suiting name change, adds an extra layer of interactivity for touch device owners with the Remote app (iTunes link), that was updated last night to version 1.2 to add iTunes 8.1 compatibility. When enabled, you can "allow guests to request songs with Remote for iPhone or iPod touch" as well as "vote to control when songs play." Access to the DJ playlist is password protectable to limit access, and if you're so inclined, you can also greet participants with a welcome message.
The update is available now via Software Update and the Apple-released notes for this update are below for your perusing.
- Supports syncing with iPod shuffle (3rd generation).
- Allows friends to request songs for iTunes DJ.
- Adds Genius sidebar for your Movies and TV Shows.
- Improves performance when downloading iTunes Plus songs.
- Provides AutoFill for manually managed iPods.
- Allows CDs to be imported at the same sound quality as iTunes Plus.
- Includes many accessibility improvements.
- Allows iTunes U and the iTunes Store to be disabled separately using Parental Controls.
Переслать - The New iPod Shuffle: Digg Does Not Approve
Apple released the 3G iPod shuffle today. That’s “3G” as in third generation, not 3G as in the communications protocol used by the iPhone 3G. See? It’s as clear as the dirt on the floor. But I digress…
Naturally, Digg Nation has weighed in on Apple’s latest move. Since we all know every tech reader on Digg is a would-be genius — and as a group they clearly have their pulse on the market. Their approval and support of the new device is critical to the success of— oh, forget it. Who am I kidding?
Truth is, it’s more like comic relief to read Digg comments, especially about all things Apple.
As usual, Apple adds features, which lead to changes, which lead to readjustments, which lead to cries of derision.
Controls on the headphones
This one gets the most attention but, really, Apple has moved in this direction for a while now; where have these people been? The latest gen iPods utilize special headphones for the mic feature, and the iPhone has always had headphone controls.
Do people always physically pull out the device to control volume, skip, etc? Really? Controlling via the headphones is so obvious and useful you really ought to give it a try.
As for cries that I must use Apple’s headphones, no. In case you haven’t noticed, third party vendors have come out with their own versions. Apple moving to this at the base iPod level will explode the third-party market. That’s a Good Thing™.
Size
I’ve seen some say it’s “too small.” I’m not even sure what that’s supposed to mean.
I suppose it’s possible that such a device could really get too small (i.e., if I drop it in the carpet I could lose the thing), but it ain’t there yet. For a wearable device, the smaller and lighter the better.
What they added
As usual, many people complain about what’s not there and blithely ignore what’s been added, which is more than just the headphone controls.
Previously, there was no way to know what song was playing. Now, with VoiceOver, there is. Is that not worth something? It is to me.
More importantly, in earlier generations there was no way to have playlists. Limited to 2GB memory, one might have argued this wasn’t a huge drawback. But the new shuffle is 4GB, and I think some method of using playlists is necessary. So they added it. Simply and elegantly.
Sure, if you had two dozen playlists, the voice interface would be time consuming, but I think Apple feels most people with a shuffle will have perhaps a half-dozen or so, so the voice interface makes perfect sense.
As for me…
I liked my 2G shuffle, but gave it to my daughter so she can listen to tunes at the bus stop for school.
I used it for bike riding, and was better off with the iPhone and headphone controls then fumbling with the physical unit, though the iPhone bulk was an issue in and of itself. So for me, the addition of headphone controls is huge. Now I get that great feature along with the tiny size. Perfect.
I’ve already put my money where my text is. I ordered a black one.
Переслать - Apple Cuts Down "A Real Tree," Shuns Charity Apps
Yesterday we covered Apple’s seemingly automated rejection of a new Tweetie update, which has thankfully since been reversed. It must’ve been a no brainer once they realized what they’d done, especially since, while using Wordbook last night, I found I was able to search for, find, and have a computerized voice speak any profanity I could imagine, so long as the filter was off in the app’s settings.
I was also made aware of a second rejection yesterday, this one actually less of a rejection and more of a revocation after the fact. The app in question in this case is A Real Tree (iTunes link), which we covered when it was initially released. Mokugift, the people behind A Real Tree, contacted me explaining the situation, and it provides some rare insight into how Apple deals directly with iPhone developers. As a bit of background, A Real Tree is an app that is used to help plant trees in areas hurt by deforestation. You purchase the app, they plant a tree. Simple.
In the email, Mokugift’s representative describes how Apple called them a week ago to inform them that A Real Tree would need to be altered or would be removed from the App Store. The reason given was that a new policy was in place prohibiting apps from claiming to do anything beyond themselves, and that any and all applications related to charity were also no longer permitted. According to Apple, this was clear from the SDK agreement, though a search by Mokugift couldn’t produce any such reference in that document.
Not only that, but when asked for a written copy of the new policy, the Apple rep stated that they were only allowed to communicate it over the phone. In other words, they couldn’t commit anything to paper, where it might get out to the newsmedia and circulate. The shyness went even further, according to our source:
This person even declined to email us from an Apple email address to confirm that he worked for Apple. We wondered if this was legit, so we called Apple and asked for him via the front desk. He answered, so as far as we know he works there, but he won’t confirm his role nor this unwritten policy.
The conditions Apple gave in order to keep A Real Tree in the Apple store were to remove any reference to planting any actual trees, which is basically the entire point of the app. Mokugift was given until March 10 (yesterday) to comply, otherwise the app would be pulled. As of today, the app is still available, but there is no description associated with it.
Mokugift would like to continue helping the United Nations Environment Programme, but they’re at a loss as to how to convey the purpose of the app without stating that they will plant a tree for every app sold. They’d like our readers to offer suggestions as to how to get around the limitation. My own idea? Encourage users to write reviews which describe the app’s functionality, so at least it will be visible somewhere on the app’s page in iTunes.
Pretty sure we didn’t need another example of why the App Store review process is broken, but we got one anyway. Has me really hoping the Cydia Store pans out.
Переслать - Ode to Apple's Netbook Mini Touch HD Tablet Device
I’ve been reading all the rumors
Of Apple’s new machine.
Seems everyone knows just what it is
Although it’s never been seen.Some say it’ll be a netbook;
That’s what Chinese papers proclaim.
Their track record has been spotty at best
But we believe them all the same.Others say it’ll be a touch;
An amazing new device.
Stunning, breathtaking, typically Apple,
Right down to the asking price.Still others say it’s a tablet;
The form pushed by the last generation.
Some people just can’t let this idea go;
It’s like rumor constipation.
The competition will laugh.
“It’ll never sell” they’ll bemoan.
Then immediately tell their engineers
To begin making one of their own.Tech pundits of course will hate it;
They’ll nit-pick it and start naggin’.
But after an incredible blow-out quarter
They’ll scramble to get on the bandwagon.Apple bashers will decry it
Despite features with which it’s graced.
“Who cares that it can cure cancer,” they’ll wail,
“When its battery can’t be replaced?”Of course there will be cool features
Like only Apple designs.
Push a button and it logs in to the DMV
To erase all your parking fines.The broadband features are many,
I can only name a few.
It’ll jam the wireless signal
Of the loser’s Dell sitting next to you.Alas, this is just speculation.
No one really has a clue.
But that won’t stop anyone from bringing
All of this news to you.Truth is we don’t know much about it.
Not the inside, not the screen.
In fact I think all that we know for sure
Is that Apple will say it’s green.Переслать
| rss2email.ru | отписаться: http://www.rss2email.ru/unsubscribe.asp?c=6893&u=24004&r=311667163 управлять всей подпиской: http://www.rss2email.ru/manage.asp |
