Author Archives: Derek Walter

The iPhone Problem That Won’t Go Away

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One of the iPhone 4′s highly-touted features has become its biggest PR nightmare.

The irony is that the now infamous external antenna was supposed to be a breakthrough design that would end the misery of AT&T’s sometimes pitiful network coverage.

I have only been able to duplicate the signal loss issue in a few rare circumstances, and this Engadget post shares the experiences of various editors. While it is clear this issue is not experienced to the same degree by everyone, the Consumer Reports feature determined it is a problem with every Phone 4.

The real danger for Apple is the company is acting like a political team fighting off a scandal: deflect and deny. First it was Steve Jobs telling Ars Technica “avoid holding it that way.” A few days later the edict came down that it was a software issue. Continue reading →

A Declaration

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IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Continue reading →

Thoughts on Apple

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Monday night’s D8 interview with Steve Jobs was a fascinating piece of dialog. While Jobs has lost none of his hubris, for most of the night he was reflective and nuanced about Apple’s achievements and competitors. It was a welcome change to the current political-style mudslinging that has been dominating most of the technology industry lately.

Sure, he took a couple of digs at Google (they made it easy with the recent Wi-Fi snafu) but largely resisted when Walt Mossberg continued to press him about the fact they now compete with their former ally. And Jobs even described how Apple lost the platform war to Microsoft – a pretty spin-free admission.

Most of the coverage overstated Jobs’ suggestion that we were beginning to see the end of the PC era. This wasn’t a proclamation that this would happen overnight. His argument, which is largely correct, is that over time many people will begin to rely more on lighter, touch-based devices and less on keyboard-and-mouse PCs. This is a challenge to both Apple and Microsoft who both have incredible resources invested in PC hardware and software. Continue reading →

Is the iPad Killing the Netbook?

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This chart has become one of the most discussed on the topic of iPads vs. netbooks.

Many pundits and commentators are debating whether or not the iPad is eating into netbook sales. Some studies indicate the iPad is the stake into the heart of the netbook (see here and here.) Others say this is typical Apple-inspired hyperbole (here and here).

Getting to the truth is tricky because tech commentary lately sounds too much like our political system: polarized into overly dogmatic camps who talk at, instead of to, each other. On the one hand are the Apple fanboys, who find Apple devices as items of worship and take pronouncements from Steve Jobs as if the Pope were speaking ex cathedra. Yet there are also the Apple haters, who compare every Apple product to a Fischer Price toy and think all Apple innovations were stolen from someone else.

Instead of listening to these warring factions we should interpret the data. It is fair to infer the massive growth experienced by netbooks is probably declining because most who wanted one have bought it. Most new products that achieve popularity have a spike in sales and then eventually decline.
Continue reading →

First Post From iPad 3G

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This is my first post using the WordPress app from the iPad. I also have attached a screenshot from viewing my site in Safari.

There will be more to come as I cover the iPad. Let’s see what this thing can do!

The iPhone has a Compass – Do We?

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Gizmodo’s now infamous expose of the next-gen iPhone is one of the hottest and most controversial tech stories to hit in a while. Some even cheered Gizmodo for landing the ultimate scoop – getting their hands on an iPhone prototype from the ultra-secret Apple.

But then reality hit. We learn that Gizmodo paid $5,000 for the phone from someone who found it at a Silicon Valley bar. Its unfortunate owner apparently left it behind. Instead of giving it to the police or making a more concerted effort to give it back to Apple, it was sold to the highest bidder. This was after the Apple employee was identified through a Facebook app and the phone was remotely wiped by Apple. All clear evidence that the phone was property that should have been returned.

So this is what we have come to. If something comes into your hands that isn’t yours, resort to the playground ethics of “finder’s keepers.”

This is why when someone returns money that is not theirs or engages in some other act of unforeseen honesty people are shocked. Too many share the view that if the world is ruthless and cutthroat, then we should be too.

There is an old saying about how each of us needs to have a moral compass to serve as a guide when we face such situations. Unfortunately we have another case where it just didn’t work. Maybe there’s an app for that.

iPad Update: Waiting, Waiting…

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Given my previous posts about the iPad (here and here) one might assume that I would wait a few months before getting one.

Wrong. I caved and pre-ordered a 3G model. Despite its limitations, I feel the iPad has tremendous potential and is a glimpse into how computing may evolve.It also doesn’t hurt that the no-contract 3G plan is a fantastic option for frequent travelers like myself.

Is it a bit overpriced? Yes. Does it come with the usual Apple limitations? Of course. But like most Apple products, the things it CAN do are amazing and enough to sell you on it. When it finally does arrive I expect to be giving plenty of apps a trial run and publish the reviews on AppCraver. This week I will have a series of Q&As that should help iPad owners, fence-sitters, or those impatiently awaiting theirs to arrive.

Now comes the usual wait for an Apple product’s arrival. Rumors, news leaks, more rumors, then out of nowhere a shipping notification. Next comes incessantly hitting refresh on the UPS page, as if somehow that will makes its journey from China to California go faster.

As always, it will be a geeky adventure. Let it begin.

The iPad Verdict

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This is me padding my web site analytics from the Apple Store.

Being a thinking person means I am not an ideal Apple customer. I couldn’t accept at face value the iPad was as “magical” as advertised, so I went over to an Apple Store today to try it out. Just like many, I have very mixed feelings about it, and much to think about before deciding to buy one. There’s a gazillion reviews on the web already, so I will not be writing one. I’m offering a few impressions from a tech enthusiast who is pondering whether to purchase an iPad.

Pros

Apple’s hype over the iPad comes closest to its grand hyperbole with Safari’s web browsing capabilities. It really is a joy to peruse the web by tapping, pinching and swiping. And the display is just gorgeous – so much so that looking at a MacBook Pro screen afterwards was a disappointment. I could easily see myself lounging on the couch, patio, or bed with an iPad.

My biggest surprise was how pleasant the iBooks app was. I wasn’t necessarily in the market for an eReader, but I could see myself buying books, especially to have with me while travelling. The app is just gorgeous, and the page-turning animation is quite cool, even though it is just for show.

Some of the preloaded apps were amazing, and really show the potential that developers will have with the iPad. Plenty of specifics and app reviews are out there, so I will just say that I expect that there will be plenty of amazing apps to come, given that there are already over 1,000 on day one. (This also may mean I’ll be plenty busy at AppCraver.)

Probably the iPad’s biggest compliment was that I just didn’t want to put it down. It really is a fun device to use.

Cons

I think the iPad’s criticisms hinge on the word “fun.” Once you get past the fun, there are gaping holes and crippling weaknesses that kept me from walking out of the Apple Store with one (and yes, they still had some in stock).

I have been surprised at how much the lack of Flash support and multitasking are downplayed in other reviews. Yes, HTML5 will probably eclipse Flash eventually, but it will be a while. I don’t really miss Flash on my iPhone, because it’s a phone. But on what is supposed to be a different kind of computer, there are plenty of places on the web where videos have gone missing. For example, on a Nexus One you could watch the NCAA Tournament from the browser, yet would need to pay $10 for the iPhone/iPad add for the same privilege. This artificial pay wall created by Apple is quite irritating. Continue reading →