Author Archives: Derek Walter

Why the Google-Apple Marriage is on the Rocks

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It was a marriage of convenience. But like most such marriages, there comes a time when it just doesn’t work anymore.

So has been the case with Google and Apple. Despite the recent Steve Jobs-Eric Schmidt coffee date, the companies are going in two diametrically opposed directions – punctuated by Apple’s lawsuit against HTC.

Google’s primary aim is to get everyone on the web through its services to increase use of its search engine, thereby benefiting its online ad business. Hence the push for Google’s Chrome browser, Chrome OS, and Android. Apple’s cash cow comes through its proprietary hardware and software via iPad, iPhone, and iPod. If you use those devices, all official software comes exclusively through the Apple-controlled App Store.

To illustrate the point further, consider how both companies are working in the mobile space. If Google has its way by the end of the year many netbooks will be running its Chrome OS, which is essentially based on the Chrome browser. All data will live on the web, which means that developers are free to make anything they want for it as long as it’s accessible by a browser. Of course, most of your data will probably end up on Google’s servers in the form of Gmail, Docs, Calendar, etc. (I have already discussed how Google owns my soul.)

Apple, on the other hand, has created what will likely be another very popular device in the iPad. By all accounts it will have excellent apps and create a great user experience. The catch: everything goes through Cupertino. Developers from The Wall Street Journal to The White House must submit all their apps for approval. Continue reading →

Dear Google: Add Some Muscle to Docs

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I spend a lot of my time in the Google ecosystem. I am a heavy user of Gmail, the Chrome browser, Calendar, Reader, Buzz, Picasa, and Docs. Yes, this pretty much means I am intellectual property of Google; but for now I am willing to live with the trade off because of the excellent interface and mobility these cloud-based products offer.

However, lately I’m finding the one hangup to all of this is Google Docs. For example, while Chrome is on a lightning-fast development pace (in just over a year they are already testing a version 5.0) Docs seems to be crawling along. This runs counter to many news reports that Docs would get significant improvements this year – making it a competitor to Microsoft’s Office suite. Most posts I see on the Google Docs blog are about some new template to help organize your NCAA bracket or plan a wedding – not a new feature release.

Docs is a great opportunity to get more users into the Google world. It makes being productive with the same series of documents between my desktop, laptop, and iPhone very easy. And now with the latest version of Documents To Go, I can edit and sync my docs (editing in the mobile browser is only available for Gooogle Spreadsheets). Continue reading →

What Tiger Didn’t Say

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Tiger’s scripted mea culpa hasn’t exactly received rave reviews. But most commentators haven’t talked about a glaring omission from Friday’s statement.

In no part of the speech did Tiger give any kind of declaration of love for his wife. Given that all indications are that she is slipping away, it is a bit curious. He talked plenty about marriage, selfish behavior, irresponsible actions, and tons of apologies.

Sure, Tiger is super private, doesn’t want to discuss his marriage and probably is not comfortable with getting all touchy feely in public. That is perfectly understandable. But given that he has more mistresses than major championships one would think he could give just a tiny shout out to how much he loves his wife and hopes to stay with her.

Unless he doesn’t. In that case, it indicates at least one potential factor to all the bad behavior.

Most of this is really not our business and has received entirely too much press coverage. But Tiger’s handlers are not serving him well if they want to keep him scripted and in control of all access. If Tiger wants the public to trust him again, he needs to do a lot better job of convincing the public what he means.

An Extreme Makeover for Windows Phones

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Say goodbye to Windows Mobile (many will say good riddance). Microsoft tossed the whole thing in the Atlantic with this week’s introduction of Windows Phone Series 7.

Despite its unfortunate name this new mobile operating system may actually hold some promise for resurrecting Microsoft in the mobile space.  For a company often criticized for it’s failure to innovate, Microsoft looks like it really got it this time.

However, Redmond may have to fight the too-little-too-late feeling from many consumers. Apple, Google and Palm all have mature operating systems with a couple of years’ worth head start. Android releases a new device hourly and has won the hearts of most major phone manufacturers an many users with a deepening collection of apps. Palm has developed a core group of followers. And we don’t even need to go into Apple’s success. Continue reading →

Google, Google, Buzz Buzz Buzz

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Congratulations all 150 million Gmail users – you’ve just joined a social network. This is purely anecdotal, but most people I have come across this week are not all that thrilled with Buzz. The feeling is pretty much, “Great, another social network to follow.”

I too am a bit skeptical, though I understand what Google is trying to do. Its bread and butter is indexing the Internet and getting everyone online through using Google services. The social networking explosion has, for better or worse, left a bunch of the web out of Google’s clutches.

Personally Google’s index-the-universe aspirations make me a bit queasy, but I am a heavy user of their services and generally happy with the experience. And Google does tend to listen to user feedback pretty closely – Buzz was already tweaked recently to account for some privacy concerns. But by making Buzz a permanent part of Gmail, Google is showing it has pretty heavy aspirations for this service and hooking in new users.

I’ll follow the Buzz for now, but I am hopeful there is a way to turn it off in the future if the buzzing gets too loud.

iPhone App Roundup

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One of the coolest writing gigs I have is reviewing iPhone apps for AppCraver. It gives me a chance to check out what is new and exciting (and sometimes lame) in the app universe. I thought I would give a run down of some of the apps I’ve had a chance to play with lately. Links to the reviews are included.

Awaken – This is a pretty cool app if you are bored of the alarm clock settings on the iPhone. I was especially a fan of picking any song from your music collection to wake up to.

Night Recorder – Part sleep aide, part spy tool. This app records even when your iPhone is on standby, meaning you can finally catch your partner’s snoring or those spirits that haunt the attic.

The Inferno – Dante’s Inferno is all the rage with the launch of the new video game, but this iPhone game avoids turning Dante into a weapon-wielding steroid mutant freak. It’s a nice puzzle game that I found to be quite addicting.

**Shameless self-promotion here: My web site performs quite well on your iPhone or Android device thanks to the WPtouch WordPress plugin (The above logo is the button it places on your iPhone if you save the bookmark). If you run a web site in WordPress and want a super easy way to create a great looking mobile site, I highly recommend it.

The Sarah We Never Knew

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Sarah Palin speaks at a 2008 rally (Photo by Derek Walter)

When Sarah Palin took to the stage at last year’s Republican National Convention, she gave the best speech of the week and single-handedly resurrected John McCain’s fledgling campaign. At the time, I wrote a glowing review while blogging the convention for The Fresno Bee (I’m even ashamed to admit I used the phrase “Sarah Barracuda”).

During that week Palin seemed like the perfect vice presidential candidate to complement McCain. The buzz was that she was a popular, conservative governor who had worked with Democrats and fought corruption. The message was complete. It was the Reform Ticket.

Fast forward to last weekend. Palin’s speech to the tea party gang was simplistic, cliche-ridden, and just downright bad. Not to mention she ought to think twice about criticizing President Obama’s use of  a teleprompter given that she opts for a Sharpie. She had no issue sharing the stage with other buffoons like Tom Tancredo.

I have to believe that any ounce of Palin’s well-spoken deliveries or talking points were the result of the McCain campaign team. No wonder they muzzled her. If the Sarah we have now was acting like this back then, McCain would have lost by another 50 electoral votes. Continue reading →

Apple iPad: Cupertino is in control

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The device you didn’t know you need: a ginormous iPod touch.

Apple’s unveiling of its unfortunately-named iPad this week was a major letdown for mostly one reason: openness. By opting for the iPhone operating system on the iPad, Apple maintains an iron-like grip on the device. Applications must go through the App Store. Want to get work done? You are stuck with iWork. Steve Jobs’ hatred of flash means lots of Lego icons when surfing the web.

Probably the most crippling limitation is that in its current form the iPad can only handle one app at a time. While this is moderately annoying on the iPhone, it is ridiculous on a computer with a 1 Ghz processor.

In fact, the iPad unveiling probably leaves more questions than answers. Will developers start making more in-depth applications specifically for the iPad? (For example, imagine a full-blown version of Office or more detailed magazine and newspaper apps) How well will applications sync between your iPhone and iPad? Will AT&T’s network be able to handle even more connected devices?

It would be unwise to call the iPad a flop. Even with some quirky restrictions, you can never count out a device that comes from One Infinite Loop. The Apple fanboys and geeks will line up to get one of these. The question is if the masses will follow.

One eReader to rule them all?

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Apple tablet rumors will finally cease and desist Wednesday when the The Turtle Necked One saunters on stage with Apple’s “latest creation.”

When these rumors began (somewhere in the middle of the Bush administration) I thought I would never have use for such a device. I’m already happy with my laptop (a Toshiba tablet running Windows 7), iPhone 3GS, and a brilliant 23-inch Samsung monitor attached to my desktop. Seems like another gadget is the last thing I need.

But it looks like this Apple tablet thing is less a replacement for these other devices than what may turn out to be an excellent companion device. We didn’t know we “needed” an MP3 player until Apple made the iPod franchise a hit. My suspicion is that this device will be an eReader/music/video/Internet device on steroids that could over time change how we engage with multiple types of content.  Continue reading →