Companies that Apple Should Have Bought But Didn't

I was really excited when there was word that Apple was in talks to buy Barnes and Noble.  Until something happens (not happening doesn't count), I remain hopeful.  Meanwhile, Technologizer via Daring Fireball, here are some companies that Apple left on the tablet.

Here are just a couple:

• Pixar doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me but why Apple did not buy Palm I'll never know.  
• There was talk that Apple should buy Nitendo and given how Nintendo is stumbling now, Apple should take another crack at it.

Here are a couple that doesn't make sense at all:

• Universal Music - Apple doesn't want to deal with contents. Maybe when they run out of things to take over.  This includes Disney which previously bought Pixar from Steve Jobs
• AMD - The company bleeds money and there is no tech they can offer today.  Apple's choices of buying chip startups has so far made the difference in the smartphone and tablet war.

Here are a couple that might work for Apple:

 

• Adobe - Apple can use the creative suites to entice more users to adopt the Mac and iPads.  I said it might work because there are probably other companies on the market that fit Apple's strategy.  
• EA - Video games is big now for Apple's iOS ecosystem and Apple can probably use some exclusives if it wants to invade the living room armed with top games.

There are more companies that you should check ou with a click through.  Any other companies that you think would be a good fit for Apple?  

I've got one.  RIM.  My only concern is the privacy issues that some countries are trying to insert themselves in the middle of.  RIM is a growth company despite being hammered in the US.  It is doing well everywhere else. And with a Apple-RIM combo could further allow Apple's other products, Macs and iPads, to make deeper penetration into enterprise.

Then again, you'll probably have to add RIM to another company that Apple passed on.

Note: Thanks to Dave the Mobile Warrior for showing me these two posts.

I bought 20 GB of extra iCloud Storage; Dropbox And Terms of USe

I decided to go ahead and buy an extra 20 GB of iCloud storage.  Now, I've got 25 GB in all.  You might think that I'm feeling a bit foolish consider that iCloud is still in beta.  

Well, most and more people around me are getting the iPhone and iPad because it's so easy to use and so seamless to integrate into their lives.  

However, if your mobile life is not as integrated to the iOS and OS X ecosystem as I am but want to be able to have similar cloud storage experiences, there are other options.

9to5Mac has a couple of competing services, Dropbox and SugarSync, that can be used beyond Apple's wall-gardened.  Having said that, they offer very different terms and privacy guards that Apple offers.  So if you're just a regular mobile user, you ought to be fine. However, if you're a developer and have certain files you like to keep as your own, you may want to consider your options carefully beyond price and storage capacity. 

So read the terms of services carefully.  I tend to be overtly cautious but you can't be too careful either.  And cloud storage is the future.

HTML Animation Creation Tool From Adobe: What We Need To Know

Edge, a new HTML 5 animation tool from Adobe.  Anyone who is interested in creating simple animations for website, I recommend download this beta and giving it a test drive.

In Macworld's post here, they give us four things to watch out for.  One point they mentioned is that this will not replace Flash.  My take:  Not yet. 

Also, it's geared towards mobile.  However, it doesn't mean if you're creative, you can't use it for anything else.  

Give it a try.  It's free anyway, for now.

Source: Adobe.

Apple's Split Keyboard Makes It Possible For Tablets With Less Than 10" Screen Sizes

I mentioned last Friday that I would point out something within the framework with what Apple has shown us that points the Apple tablets with less than 10". That feature is the new split keyboard that will soon be available in iOS 5. And this split keyboard will allow Apple

During a few financial calls back, Steve Jobs disparaged those tablets on the market with less than 10" screen. It was the 7" Galaxy Tab that Steve Jobs are up in arms about. Steve Jobs basically said that unless users are able to file down their fingers to tap at the screen, it would make no sense for users to operate a tablet with a less than 10" screen. As I was listening in on that call, I thought to myself, "well, the iPhone and iPod touch had a pretty small screen. In fact, they are 6.5 inches smaller than the 10" iPad and they seem to work just as well".

I think what Steve Jobs was ranting about in particular was the keyboard. As for trying to type with both hands in landscape mode, the 10" screen on the iPad is just perfect. In the portrait mode, you're forced to tap at the keys or use your thumbs but unless you've got a larger than normal hand, you can have problem trying to reach for certain keys while trying to hold the iPad at the same time.

This is where the split keyboard comes into play.

Now, consider trying to do the same on a 5" to 9" tablet. A full sized keyboard on these screens might be possible on a 9" screen but anything below that, you have to have a child's hand to be able to peck at the keyboards in landscape mode accurately. And if you try typing in portrait mode, everything from a 6" and bigger screen, you run into the similar problem you do know with the 10" tablet. Depending on the size of your hands, you will have a hard time typing with your thumbs while trying to steady the tablet.

This is where the split keyboard in iOS 5 comes into play. The split keyboard would allow Apple to make a smaller sized iPad or a bigger sized iPod touch and allow the user to be able to type with their thumbs more easily, thereby, eliminating the problem of trying to type to peck at the keys with your fingers as you type.

Here is a video the split keyboard works. See how with split keyboard allows you to type and reach all the keys and smaller icons without having to try and reach the middle of the screen with your thumbs.



On top of that, the increasing chatter about and iPod touch with 3G modem makes very little sense. I think the people who are leaking these news may not have all facts. I think it makes more sense that there could be a smaller sized tablet, or, again, a bigger sized iPod touch with the room for a 3G modem and a large enough battery to give this tablet sufficient battery life.

And the split keyboard would work great on it. So, what do you think? Do you think I'm on to something or am I just grasping at straws? The main point here is this. Apple cannot ignore the mid-sized segment of the market indefinitely. It is a spot where Apple's competitors could try to grab a foothold in the tablet market and expand from them. Apple will eventually have to nip it in the butt. And one more thing: Apple, particularly Steve Jobs, has a way of saying that Apple won't do something but exactly a year or so later, do exactly what they said they wouldn't do.

They said they would never make an iPod that plays video. Jobs said no one in America reads anymore but we all know where we are with iBooks. And what better way for Apple to do a 180 on the no 7" iPad than to come out with one a full year later - complete with iOS 5, split keyboard, and 3G access.

Skype For iPad Here! (For Some)

I eager wait for the arrival of Skype app for iPad.  I've been using the iPhone version on the iPad and I just have had enough of it.  I do quite a bit of IM on Skype and it just was maddening to type on it.

As you know, Skype was recently bought out by Microsoft and there is no way we can tell what Microsoft intends to do with it.  

For now, I'm just going to think small and appreciate the arrival of a native iPad app.  

On another issue:  FaceTime.  It's Apple's video chat solution.  Could se see some kind of an improvement with the arrival of iOS 5?  There is chatter that Apple may being 3G to the iPod touch (I think it's more likely a larger sized iPod touch with 5-7").  I would love to see FaceTime and Skype go head-to-head.

Source:  Appleinsider.

HTC Filed Suit Against Apple In the UK; Apple Likely snapped HTC's Olive Branch

After being handed a setback by ITC that ruled HTC violated two key Apple patents and having the S3 patents that Apple's Mac alleged violated be ruled unpatentable, HTC was in a much weaker position in the courts and bargaining position.  

Hence, HTC suddenly became malleable to sitting down with Apple and negotiate an agreement with Apple.  That was last week.

Today, we learned that HTC filed a suit against Apple in the UK and the war between the two is likely to escalate to the level of fighting between Apple and Samsung spanning continents in multiple jurisdictions.  

Why?  Is HTC simply trying to rattle Apple a bit?  On the surface, one could see this as a ploy to bring Apple to the tablet.  However, I've got another explanation.

Apple took the olive branch from HTC, broke it in half, and threw it right back at it.  

And if I'm right, all the Android device makers will have to deal with Apple in just such a manner.  Apple does not file patents to collect royalties. Many Wall Street analysts mistakenly insist that exchange of money will make this "all go away" especially Taiwanese research firms.  Apple filed patents to protect its products from being copied and infringed upon.  

Also, HTC assured investors that the spat with Apple will not hurt its business.  I think HTC investors ought to do a little homework and find out just who HTC is dealing with.

Some TV Shows Bought On iTunes Streams To Apple TV, Now About iOS Devices?

Apple has a deal with ABC, Fox, and possibly others that allows Apple TV to stream TV shows they bought.  When I first read about this earlier this morning, I had to reread the post to make sure it was what I thought it to be.  And this was made possible through an Apple TV update available today. (Macworld)

If you buy a TV show from a studio has such a deal wtih Apple, you can now download the TV show but also stream it live through Apple's servers to your Apple TV and onto your HDTV.  This certainly has me closer to buying a TV after all.

What's missing is that some studios and channels have not yet agree to this.  Hence, users reported that some TV shows are missing.  

And while Apple now allows TV shows to be redownloaded, I wonder how soon before Apple allows users to simply stream TV they've gouth.  Furthermore, are we any closer to a TV subscription?