I think the Apple iPad will be amazing and that most tech critics just don’t get it, because they are too distant from the needs of the casual users. Therefore I trust Steve Jobs on this rather than anyone else. Time will tell who was right and who was wrong.
Some quotes from the respected tech journalists on Apple devices in the past:
The Macintosh uses an experimental pointing device called a ‘mouse’. There is no evidence that people want to use these things.
(John C. Dvorak on the introduction of the original Apple Macintosh in San Francisco Examiner, 19 February 1984)
No wireless. Less space than a nomad. Lame.
(Slashdot editor CmdrTaco comments on the release of the iPod, 23 January 2001)
The original iPhone was also almost universally criticised for lack of many features (some of which have appeared in iPhone 3G and 3GS). So with Apple it is best not to listen to the reviews, but try these things out on your own.
Apple has finally extended the reach of the App Store to Estonia, allowing my to legally buy applications for the iPhone. It is pretty cool, but of course I’d also like to see Apple allowing Estonians also to buy music and film, and to order photobooks and calendars.
So far I think I’ve spent more than 10 euros at the App Store, and it has been open for two days only…
Usually when large multinational corporations are referred to in the area of human rights, it is mostly related to abuses of these rights (or rather businesses putting their immediate profits ahead of other issues). However, in this instance two companies have publicly come out in support of human rights in the matter of gay marriage in California, where a vote will be held together with the presidential elections on whether to amend the State Constitution to eliminate the right for same-sex couples to marry gay. On Friday Apple announced that:
Apple is publicly opposing Proposition 8 and making a donation of $100,000 to the No on 8 campaign. Apple was among the first California companies to offer equal rights and benefits to our employees’ same-sex partners, and we strongly believe that a person’s fundamental rights — including the right to marry — should not be affected by their sexual orientation. Apple views this as a civil rights issue, rather than just a political issue, and is therefore speaking out publicly against Proposition 8.
Google had announced their opposition to the constitutional amendment last month.
By conventional wisdom, it is usually a tricky thing for corporations to be involved in what may be perceived as political matters, as there is the worryl that potential customers may be put off by this. However, I think that this paradigm is changing and people want to consume products by companies that have a positive brand value. Apple and Google have generated a lot of good karma for themselves, hopefully more companies will follow suit and step up for what they think is right. In the long run it brings more loyal customers and therefore also profit.
I got the iphone today and it is amazing. The price does not matter, the 24 month EMT contract does not matter, the phone is simply amazing. There is nothing close to this that exists, it truly is a do-everything device. I had quite high expectations, but it is unbelievable.
Yesterday was Friday 13th, so naturally some things had to go wrong: in a global scale the Irish said no to the Lisbon Treaty, but in my personal level my MacBook Pro refused to show any video (the screen was completely blank). At the local Mac service I was told it was the motherboard which was faulty and there would be a 2 -3 weeks wait until a new one arrives.
Fortunately I can borrow another MBP at work and restore my documents to that one until I get it fixed. Also, my MacBook Pro was within warranty period, so I do not suffer a financial setback, just an inconvenience.
I like that in US universities there are these commencement addresses, where notable people talk to students.
Now Barack Obama, filling in for Ted Kennedy, made a commencement address to Wesleyan University graduating students. Some highlights:
Each of you will have the chance to make your own discovery in the years to come. And I say “chance” because you won’t have to take it. There’s no community service requirement in the real world; no one forcing you to care. You can take your diploma, walk off this stage, and chase only after the big house and the nice suits and all the other things that our money culture says you should by. You can choose to narrow your concerns and live your life in a way that tries to keep your story separate from America’s.
But I hope you don’t. Not because you have an obligation to those who are less fortunate, though you do have that obligation. Not because you have a debt to all those who helped you get here, though you do have that debt.
It’s because you have an obligation to yourself. Because our individual salvation depends on collective salvation. Because thinking only about yourself, fulfilling your immediate wants and needs, betrays a poverty of ambition. Because it’s only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realize your true potential and discover the role you’ll play in writing the next great chapter in America’s story.
There is more:
We will face our share of cynics and doubters. But we always have. I can still remember a conversation I had with an older man all those years ago just before I left for Chicago. He said, “Barack, I’ll give you a bit of advice. Forget this community organizing business and do something that’s gonna make you some money. You can’t change the world, and people won’t appreciate you trying. But you’ve got a nice voice, so you should think about going into television broadcasting. I’m telling you, you’ve got a future.”
Now, he may have been right about the TV thing, but he was wrong about everything else. For that old man has not seen what I have seen. He has not seen the faces of ordinary people the first time they clear a vacant lot or build a new playground or force an unresponsive leader to provide services to their community. He has not seen the face of a child brighten because of an inspiring teacher or mentor. He has not seen scores of young people educate their parents on issues like Darfur, or mobilize the conscience of a nation around the challenge of climate change. He has not seen lines of men and women that wrap around schools and churches, that stretch block after block just so they could make their voices heard, many for the very first time.
Here is the full video:
P.S. There was another commencement address I liked a lot and tried to heed to. Apple CEO Steve Jobs had a commencement address at Stanford in 2005 where he talked about his struggle with cancer, what drives him, etc:
Every January begins with suspense and excitment for every Apple fan and I am one of them. The secretive company announces new products and services (and updates to existing ones) at the Macworld Expo in San Francisco and this year is no different: on 15 January at 9 am local time (7 pm Estonian time) Apple’s CEO Steve Jobs will have a keynote presentation to talk about the future. Last year he introduced the iPhone, which did not ship until late June, but was a game-changer.
The speculation is running wild: Apple Tablet, a new ultrathin notebook computer, new MacBook Pros, movie rentals from iTunes, re-invented Apple TV, etc. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens…
Those who want live coverage: MacRumorsLive will be providing updates. The event will be available later as a stream from Apple’s site. Meanwhile, check out last year’s show (iTunes Free Podcast link) to experience the so-called Steve Jobs Reality Distortion Field.
I bought and installed Mac OS X Leopard today. Have played around with some features and it looks like it is nice. Will know more later.
Update 15 Dec. Leopard really is lovely. Even the Exchange mail account I could not never get to work on Tiger suddenly works and I no longer have to use both Entourage and Mail.app.
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