Archive for the ‘Apple’ Category

Should my mom have gotten this?

January 28, 2010

John Gruber’s latest thought-snippet, for our consumption.

It’s Not a Big iPhone: “

Marco Arment isn’t quite getting it yet. He’s on the cusp of it, though. He writes:

Most of us had some crazy ideas. John Gruber wanted Apple to reinvent mobile computing. I wanted Apple to reinvent portable input mechanics and novice usability. I think a lot of other people wanted Apple to reinvent the laws of physics.

In reality, none of this happened. The iPad is effectively a giant iPod Touch, which itself is effectively a data-app-only iPhone.

I would say that redefining mobile computing is exactly what happened. It is surprisingly, delightfully, iPhone-esque in many ways. But if you use it for just a few minutes, it becomes obvious that the iPad is not a big stretched-out iPhone, but rather that the iPhone is a shrunken stripped-down version of the iPad. The iPad is what they’ve been building toward all along.

The iWork apps are amazing. Totally usable. Totally new UI for office apps. Maybe the best comparison is the Calendar app. It doesn’t look anything like the iPhone Calendar app.

In terms of, say, style and UI grammar, yes, it’s the same vibe as the iPhone. But in terms of scope and ambition, it’s a far bigger thing.

(Via Daring Fireball.)

Apple confirms mystery Jan. 27 “creative” event

January 18, 2010

Apple confirms mystery Jan. 27 “creative” event.

I’ll temper my excitement with moths flying out of my wallet.

Let me just say I want that image painted on my next macbook.

Technolust: more virulent than previously thought

January 29, 2009

I’m only partially ashamed of my desire and procurement of toys and goodies. I feel guilty sometimes that any sum of money would be better placed in a savings account. Let’s not blame the parents for such failings, they work hard enough without such quibbles. Regardless, my desire for tech is apparent and tolerated — to a point.

Recently I influenced a superb friend into desiring a high definition television. Yet another is contemplating (however imperceptibly) purchasing my laptop since it’s a nice improvement over their current portable computing machine. Moreover my constant demo-ing of the iPod touch gives both of these friends a desire in their pants for things Apple.

The wheeling and dealing nature of geek lust is apparent with the following anecdote. One of the arguments I’ve laid out for the Macbook pro purchase is that for the price I’m willing to part with it for, $1,000, they could affordably purchase an iPod too. Why would I give up a decent machine for so little? Simply, it’s the nature of the river.

The Star Trek fans out there may recognize the river of commerce, somewhere there is a person with too much of one thing, too little of the other. Navigate the river properly and you’ll be able to get everything you need and then some. This is a similar case.

I have a Macbook Pro, but I desire a new Macbook with its’ smaller size and shininess. And here’s someone who doesn’t has money enough to buy a new Macbook Pro, much less one and an iPod touch. The solution, buy mine of course! It’s a win-win. This sort of behavior was once denounced by Heather as being ridiculous, akin to a child being sick of their toys and casting them aside.

Quite contrary to that, it is a method that allows people who need or want something to get it, without spending more than they want. Hopefully I can once again predict the future and in a year or two bartering will make the proper comeback it deserves.


MacBookFail?

January 12, 2009

As far as computers go, I rather appreciate my hard working MacBookPro… When the video card died, I traversed the state to get it repaired. I finagled and cajoled an apple store employee to not charge me $1,500 to fix it – instead opting for a Jedi-rific 300 bucks.

Now, it won’t charge.

Why’s my Mac hate me?

Creator of xbox laptop outdoes himself

April 15, 2008

My good sir, there are few ways to improve upon apple tech. Mr. Ben Heck, renown for making Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 laptop mods has graced his skills on the Apple IIGS. I wonder what he can do on my 3G ipod…

*ponder*

(Link via Engadget.)

Airport Extreme + USB Hard drive (+ patience) == poor mans Time Capsule

March 25, 2008

Last weekends trip to Kansas City ended successfully. After convincing miss Heather that yes indeed we needed a new router I picked up a new Airport Extreme (802.11 N) router. Despite wanting this router for many months, my patience was rewarded. Instead of “having” to buy a Time Capsule (which even with the student discount is 270 odd US$), last weeks firmware update for Airport Extremes allowed Time Machine to work with them.

Now only if terabyte hard drives were more affordable…

The trouble with power

March 20, 2008

I heard about this happening, but that doesn’t make it any less frustrating for the common geek. The power supply taken to work burned itself out thusly.

Magsafe-MBP02.JPGMagsafe-MBP01.JPG

I’m going o Kansas City this weekend, maybe the Apple genius’ can be smooth talked into letting me get a new one, perhaps much cheaper than the 70 odd students pay.

When updates attack: Mac OS X Leopard (10.5.2)

February 11, 2008

The Gods of Apple deem their faithful as deserving of an update for Leopard. What wonderful improvements will be behind the 341 megabyte download? Time will tell.

Wil Shipley, or how I learned to love the cow

February 9, 2008

Do you know who created Safari? Sure “Apple did it” is more or less accurate, but who is the person in charge of Safari? I certainly don’t. While not typical, knowing the main guru of a favorite piece of software lends itself to the experience. Wil Shipley is that guru for Delicious Library, software that I can best describe as a computer shelf for all your shit. While I initially panned it as “meh,” Delicious Library actually is kinda cool with extended use.

The reason Delicious Library even had a chance in my house was my knowledge of Mr. Shipley, via the Drunken Batman‘s conference a couple years ago, “Evening at Adler.”

What does this have to do with anything? HYPE my dear Watson! Wil Shipley recently gave a keynote at the C[4] conference for programers. Despite my obvious deficiency is such matters his words of wisdom were worth the hour long presentation and any confusion on my part.

[video after the break]

(more…)

New iPhones, no problem!

February 5, 2008

Let it be known to all, the prophesies spoke of this day! The day Apple released larger capacities for both iPhones and iPod Touches. Do not howl at the moon or gnash your teeth. The Christmas present you received is no less special. Nor can you cry that Apple has somehow did a “bait & switch” is absurd. The price of the new iP**** are one hundred dollars more than what was available before.

As a geek, I find nothing wrong with the situation. Franky, I am more likely to buy an iPhone now that my entire library can be properly stored on it.