AI, Mobile, and Eveything Around the Cloud

I bought my aluminum 1Ghz Powerbook eons ago and it has not been on my lap for more than two years since I bought the late-2008 unibody Macbook back in December of 2008. And guess what? It still rocks. See, one of the reason I went with the Macbook was that it had a great screen that the LCD on the Powerbook just could not keep up through over the years of being used and abused as a productivity device and media device. Still, it has a lot of uses that cannot be matched in ways that an aging Windows machine cannot. First, the keyboard on this particular line of the Powerbook is still second to none. The keys are responsive and is, depending on your opinion, a starkly different from the chicklet forms on the newer Macbooks. And that's say that the current keyboards on the Macbook are also excellent. I imagine that many of you out there in Apple land has more than a few Powerbooks still up and running at home. So you know what I am talking about. Whether you've p...

I don't know what to make of what we saw yesterday. Fantastic update to the old work horse lineup? Definitely. A hobby inches towards being another pillar of the Apple digital strategy. You bet. My order of the iPod Touch? Yup. Well, no. Yes, sorta. We'll see. That's where I am right now. After work, I called the Pasadena Apple store to find out when the new gears will be in store. Next week I'm told. Fine, I think I will go in and check things out before I jump headlong into this. I had ordered a 32GB iPod Touch almost right after Steve Jobs finished up yesterday music event. Then later in the afternoon, I cancelled it. Not because I had a change of heart but I really do want to go into the store to see for myself the quality of the video capture and use of the Facetime feature. Yeah, I have used the Facetime feature in the iPhone but this is the iPod Touch. And as with any new Apple product, you'll want to make sure Apple has gotten the kinks out...

The event that Apple announced today to be help on September 1st is going to all about the iPod Touches and, likely, any new features that the iPad is going to gain from iOS 4. Yeah, I know, just about everyone has forgotten about iOS 4. But that's a post for another day. For now, we're going to see the next generation iPod Touch get some iPhone 4 goodies. Anything else?

Some app piracy rates for iOS apps are as high as 50% if not higher in some instances (try 95%). So, I'm making a general plea on behalf of all the hard-working, innovative, and imaginative developers. Pay for fraking $2 app! It isn't like we're being asked to pay for $25 or $40 that DS and PSP owners are paying even for the lamest games. Nor are these $50-$60 console or PC games. They're mostly $1 or $2 apps in the App Store. Seriously, when the number of illegal downloads are reporting scores in OpenFeint double those of legitimate buyers, something is majorly wrong. Plus, Apple needs to protect the legions of developers more. Instead of paying out $1 billion to developers, Apple can easily be paying $1.5 billion or more if it makes it harder for pirates to use apps. Furthermore, using pirated apps is only possible through jail-broken iOS devices. And while I supported jail-breaking 100%, using pirated apps does open up users to malicious attacks. More...

I've already got an iPad but this new iPad commercial would have convinced me to get one had I not already have one. And a couple of those apps on it, I want!

A couple of independent reports out says that the PC market isn't benefiting from the back-to-school rush. On the other hand, Apple's products are still selling well and the recent refresh of its Mac line should continue to spur the hto streak of double digit growth. What's amazing is that there are indication the iPad is hurting netbook sales and even hurting some low-end laptops. So, what does Apple need to do to make the iPad even more appealing and further cannibalize PC sales?

Twitter is great for sending short messages and I’ve gotten pretty good lately at sending out limited text but still get the point across. But once in a while, you’re on to something and you just can’t get in out in just 140 characters. So, I’ve done what I think is a creative way of doing it. Just sent out a bunch of tweets and identify them with part numbers. Here, the subject is Apple’s forthcoming Game Center and Apple’s alleged interesting in purchasing a Chinese gaming company called Handseeing. Instead of writing the whole thing again in prose, I’ll just do the easy thing and reprint the tweets here. So on to the subject matter at hand. #mobile #gaming #apple attempting to buy chinese gaming firm but #Handseeing VP went public, likely trying to drive up price. (part 1) #mobile #gaming #apple first, you don’t try to shake down Steve Jobs like this in public, surprise if deal goes through now. (part 2) #mobile #gaming #apple trying to buy chinese firm really shows its c...

In 2007, Apple introduced to the iPhone. The original iPhone which I still use. Many people still use. The thing is at that time, there was no app store. No apps to download at all. So meet OpenAppMkt. It's a website with depository for webapps. Honestly, why would anyone create this just now? A new months ago when Steve Jobs and Adobe got into a spat over Flash. Flash no good, cumbersome and a lot of bugs. Also a security risk, Steve Jobs said. So Steve said, HTML 5 is better. Essentially embracing Web. I've used webapps that are recommended from Apple's webapp site from time to time. I'll be honest. Most of those apps are subpar. A few are quite good. And more and more, with innovations in HTML and Apple's Web framework, I can really see a lot of improvements over the next year or two. Oh, and Google is probably better at developing webapps than anyone else. So I also expect great things from Google Anyway, keep Apple's webapp site and OpenAppMkt i...

The newly refreshed iMac today is unlike anything on the market. We've seen tons of iMac killers come and go over the years and the iMac still reign supreme as an all-on-one computer. And why? It offers no compromises. So this is why I think the best combo for a mobile warrior who needs power is an iMac with an iPhone or a 3G iPad for mobile needs. Let's face it. If you can afford a Macbook along with an iMac, great, but most folks I know can't. Let's not get into the Magic Trackpad yet. That's story for another post on how I think it can be improved. But the iPad and iPhone can double as a great trackpad with a number of 3rd party apps in the iTunes store. The one main compromise is that while on the road, mobile computing is entirely restricted to the iPhone or iPad. For 95% of what you'll need to do, Apple's iOS devices including the iPod Touch is provides everything you need. The only issue is whether you'll need cellular Internet o...

First, ATT is confirming iPhone shipments have begun. I read over the weekends that Apple was doing the same but I did not want to get into it but with a secondary source like ATT, it's a lock. As a matter of fact, MacRumors has a screen shot of the matter. This is fantastic news despite the dismal day everyone had trying to order the iPhone last Tuesday. This Thursday is going to be wild. As a matter of fact, iOS4 is suppose to be released today. So be ready to be flooded with Apple and iDevice news. If you have not order one, I feel for you. I went through Radio Shack because there was no line and I was the second person to have ordered that day in person. I noticed that many of the Radio Shack folks were ordering for themselves and friends. FaceTime .  Although I anticipated as much it's good to have confirmation that users will not be charged their cell minutes for using FaceTime. It would have been moronic for ATT to charge mobile users who use their own Wi...

All everyone has been talking about is the FaceTime feature and the sexy new look of the iPhone. So, let's talk about the new display. 960X640 Officially called by Apple as the "Retina Display" 4X the pixels in the same 3.5" screen. 4X the contrast 326 pixels per inches, make it virtually difficult for the human eye to see from 18 inches away.  It's about the right range when one holds the iPhone from one's face. IPS - same technology as in the iPad:  in-plain switching More durable, scratch-resistant glass - used in helicopters and high-speed train Finger-print resistant - sort of There are other technical details that we don't need to bother ourselves with other than that it's just absolutely gorgeous.   However, in the last week, there have been back and forth debate about the quality the Retina Display and whether Steve Jobs' claim at 326dpi is higher than the 300dpi is more of his reality distortion field. Does that matter? It...

Here is the video on the new iPhone 4. A lot of updates coming tonight after we've got some time to digest the information. All is good except one thing. We're still stuck with AT&T. will be availabe on June 24th. Pre-order June 15th.

I think there could be a number of reasons why Apple has yet to offer a viable solution for wireless syncing of the iPhone, Ipod Touch, or the iPad. My guess is as good as the next guy but I'm gonna say mine's better - because, well, they're my guesses. The most talked about reason for no wireless sync is bandwidth. ATT isn't going to be able to support millions of iDevices trying to sync their movies, music, and mail. The network would be killed. However, there's WiFi you say. I agree. Which brings me to my next point. WiFi ought to work just fine. I agree but even with gigabytes of data, it can take a while. And it would mean battery life expended. Why use up battery life when you can connect your iDevice to your PC or Mac that also charges your iDevice at the same time? So, that could be why but I'm not so sure. Here's the reason why I think Apple is partially keeping wireless sync from taking place. iTunes store. When you plug in your ...

You know those ads from Verizon Wireless?  They've been hitting ATT and Apple's iPhone pretty hard and it just got harder. But you know what?  I absolutely love it!  It's like the PC-Mac ads Apple put out but without the humor. I think this will get Apple, Steve Jobs in particular, pretty pissed off.  And you don't want Jobs pissed off.  I think the gloves are off as far as Apple and Google are concerned. More at Onxo Mobile Society .

Is $20 for a 720p HD movie from iTunes worth it?  Last week, I got the Blu-Ray version of Pixar's "Up" (it'll always be Pixar for me) last week for $24 after taxes at Target.  It also includes extras as well as a digital copy, and a travel journal. Later that day, I downloaded the HD version of "Up" from iTunes, I paid $20.  A few weeks ago, it was something I would not imagine myself doing.  Today, in addition to the HD movie, I also get iTunes Extras which includes a couple of shorts, chapter selection, alternative scenes, and other “extras”.  For a long time, I did not think getting a digital movie from iTunes is worth it since you get so much more with a physical copy, whether is a DVD or Blu-Ray disc. What you do get from iTunes is the convenience of a digital copy so that you don’t have to rip a copy of it yourself, which in the past, doesn’t always work for me.  Still, we are talking about $20 for a digital copy versus a $24 physical copy that so...

As if we didn't already know given the evolutionary changes and growth of Apple's mobile gear.  But if what Financial Times is report is in fact correct in the way presented in their exciting article, mobile folks, especially Apple fans, will be extremely happy. I have indicated in the past that Apple is likely to introduce new products in early 2010 rather than late 2009 as there is virtually no need to do so given the strength of its already robust mobile lineup.  However, I have also indicated that I love being wrong and that we'll see this new mobile device, dubbed iTablet by many in the blogworld, as a larger iPod Touch. There have been a lot of rumors generated late last week about something from Apple but I don't want to get into that.  However, given the strength in reporting financial news, I'll give FT the benefit of the doubt (though WSJ has just a strong reputation but they have been known to be wrong in the past).   So, what is the Financial Ti...

Apple has tried to make sure porn stays out of the iTunes app store.  Perhaps, Apple should just let the issue be and put some sort of stricter access to the apps that are not for general consumption. I think, eventually, such a move may serve Apple in the long turn.  Maybe porn wouldn't be the only category of apps that it will find offensive.  Don't be surprise if the ACLU or a group dedicated to digital freedom sues Apple and anyone else looking to restrict access to apps based on  or a court with an unique sense of net neutrality will force wireless providers and app stores to open up regardless of the materials or values provided by the apps.  More at Onxo .

Apple will likely stop counting how many apps there are for the iPhone and iPod Touch once the 100,000th app has been reached.  Because we may eventually see 250,000th.  500,000th.  Or even the millionth app. A some point, the app business is going to be bigger than it is today, both in terms of the number of applications and the number of apps that will eventually be downloaded.  You think it's impressive Apple got its one billionth download in 9 months?  How about about the 2nd billionth in five to six months or the next billion after that in 3-4 months when China joins the iPhone craze? By then, we might be 75-100 thousand apps in the iTunes app store while Android Market may well reach over 10K.  But how does Apple manage 100,000 apps in the app store as it currently exists?  And if Apple's competitors are willing to admit this, they are waiting to see what innovative means Apple will conjure up to do just that. Already, developers have gone ...

I've waited a whole day to weigh in on the announcements from the WWDC. I've made some notes but I'm not about to weigh in just yet. For some reason, this is very different. This is a very different beast up at Cupertino. Maybe it's because there is no Steve. But it's more. Just a few quick notes here: Phandroid wondered if the $99 iPhone 3G was an attempt to clear out the stock. No. It's not. I've wondered about that myself but this is Apple going for the kill. The iPhone is the one to beat. And here's what amazing about the competition (except maybe Android): they're trying to beat the iPhone with smartphones. Folks, the iPhone and iPod Touch are a part of mobile computing platform (iTablet will be too when it's finally released). The iPhone just happens to be a handheld computer that makes phone calls. Moving the 13" Macbooks up to the Pro league. It's been talked about as a mini Pro but who would have thought that Apple...

It's obvious how much Palm loading up with ex-Apple execs and engineers has irked the people currently occupying the halls of Cupertino that is Apple's headquarter. What's not known is just how much Jobs and Co. is willing to let that slip out into the public. Outside of thinly veiled patent threats surrounding the Pre, there really hasn't been much said about the issue. Now, most bloggers (and Wall Street analysts with these blogs) believe that Jobs will officially return to work from his medical leave by introducing the next generation of new iPhones. No one knows if it'll be at the WWDC in early June or at a special planned media event. Whenever or wherever the new iPhones are unveiled, I can totally hear what Steve Jobs is going to say about the prices. "We have three models. $99. $199. And $299. (PAUSE) And no rebates required," to thunderous applause and laughter. (I don't know if there will be a $99 model. However, given how aggressive A...