iPhone Event October 4

Stitch, it seems to me that predictions for the October 4 event are all over the map!  It will be an interesting indication of how the new Cook reign will play out over time.

Have you heard about what to expect?  Will there be new iPods?  It seems that this event is not geared toward iPods, but will they "blow everyone away"?  Just wondering what your take is.

Resignation of Steve Jobs

Stitch, you've heard the news. I jhad a lengthy text exchange with my brother, and www agree that with Jobs staying on as Chairman of the Board, the vision of Jobs will not be completely lost. Additionally, the Corp group of executives is extremely talented, and we could say that togethr they also contribute to the overall Apple vision. Jobs has stated that Apple's vision is really encoded in the DNA of the company. I'm not as worried about the future success of Apple, but rather Job's health. That really says something when the man partly responsible for the birth of Apple cannot go on, when you know he desperately wants to!

I'm interested in your take on this changing of the reigns at Apple.

New Comments hard to see on this theme

Just a quick comment, Stitch. I notice that, on my computer, it is difficult to see that there is a new comment to a post. You probably already know that, but I thought I would alert you to it.

Google buys Motorola?

Can it be true that Google would spend 2 years of profits on buying Motorola? And do they want to emulate the Apple model of integrated software and hardware? The following article asks this question.

Link

It seems that Google tried the, "we will create the software and other companies will make the phones using our software" model. But this seemed to fail. Sure they always quote how many phones have the Android operating system running on it. But it is more like, a bunch of low end phones have Android and people accept having it. They don't seek out the phones like the iPhone with iOS. Sure there are some die hard techies that do this with the high end Android phones but this is a small hard core following similar to Linux lovers. The masses love the iPhone and will pay the entry fee for the best.

The article quoted asks if Google can create a euphoric desire for their phones like Apple does. Google is about stepping out of the picture, as in Google search. Very simplistic and unobtrusive. Why did Google succeed in search over the former leader Yahoo? Yahoo plastered an overwhelming amount of ads all over the search page and then the search engine logic did not typically bring the most likely search match that you would probably want to the top. I remember needing to dig 4 to 5 pages deep before finding the link I was truly interested in. Google decided that they would use a ranking system which would assure the most likely desired match to float to the top. This made Google and created a large tech company with loads of cash. Since then there has been very little that brings in the same level of income. Google maps may be the exception. You Tube was bought and Google has tried to make it generate cash flow. Lately they have ads that pop up at the bottom of the video, possibly overlaying the content itself. This always annoyed me with television where they would put an ad at the bottom of the screen during a show advertising some other show. So I don't see a track record with Google except they get loads of search revenue to play with on odd adventures. Android was another purchase back in 2005, with the loads of cash they have they can just buy the good stuff and not innovate new products which actually generate good cash flows and justify their existence. Apple buys companies but they are not core to their operations they are extra gravy to the amazing product developed internally. They don't just search for who is making cool stuff and buy them, they make cool stuff on their own and buy supplemental companies to augment new supporting features.

If Google believes they can buy their way into greatness, they might want to look at Microsoft. MS had/has a cash cow with Windows and the Office tools but most everything else they just buy ( Xbox is an unusual exception). Motorola is no godsend cellphone company. They have had many flops of phones with a few successes. Google will have their hands full to prove that they can actually integrate a hardware company into a software company and have them make amazing products as a whole. So far I have not seen a sign from past Google ventures which prove this ability.

Postpone Macnight!!

Hey Stitch! I'll also email you - just found out that this Friday we are going to my parents' house for dinner, so this Friday won't work as a Macnight. Allow me to suggest we postpone the Macnight until perhaps your home upgrade nears completion. Sound good? I hope your work on the house is proceeding without interruption!

It Just Works!

Stitch, our DSL modem just crapped out, and I had to hook stuff back up once I got a mer modem. I was a little worried about the two airport express units I use to stream music to our two stereo systems. You guessed it: when the modem hooked to the Internet, the airport express units both " just worked" !

By the way, we will soon have to replace our aging iMac. Turns out the iMac we have won't work with Lion! We have the first generation iMac Core Duo, the unit that first shipped when Apple switched to Intel chips. I can't believe how time is flying! Seems just a while ago we were stuck with the G5!

Email BLackout!

Stitch, I emailed you at your gmail address - I did receive your call, but it was buried with others because we were on vacation. I don't think I have your phone number, so check your gmail address when you get a chance. Then I could call you as well as update your contact info!

Spaceship Campus!

Stitch, leave it up to Apple and Steve Jobs to conceive of a spaceship like campus in Cupertino to house 12,000 employees, with green energy, underground parking, and native landscaping of the Bay Area.
Spaceship Campus
On the former grounds of an HP campus no less! Awesome! I'd see if I could work at Apple, but I wouldn't be qualified!

Demise of MobileMe

Well, Stitch, as a MobileMe user, I look forward to the new iCloud and will take full advantage of the capabilities. It is true that MobileMe was far from perfect, but it was so convenient. Now I know why Apple was no longer supporting iWeb with updates. People don't use their own web sites much anymore! (And let's not even bring up iDVD!) Folks want to use web site utilities like Facebook to communicate. I'm not sure if things like the Photo Galleries are also going away, but they probably will. I liked the galleries a lot more than Flickr. I felt they were more polished and smooth.

Kind of like the floppy drive's demise, I guess it's time to move toward the future! I feel kind of like I'm saying goodbye to a great software package like Hypercard! It's hard to let go...

iCloud

Stitch, as a Mobile Me subscriber, having endured the scorn of the masses for choosing a service that many say is inferior, I watch tomorrows announcements with high hopes! Word is that new Time Capsules and Airport Expresses will make appearances along with the new iCloud service. We shall see! I seriously hope there will be a cool music streaming service.

iPad2 a Dream on Vacation

Stitch, just returned from a 2 week vacation to Spain and France. The iPad2 was an indispensable tool, especially for the plane flight. I took several Seinfeld episodes, two SNL shows, and 3 rented movies on the trip. It is really nice to get lost in a good movie or show while on a long plane flight. The only thing I would want to do differently is have a better way of holding the iPad2. It turned out that the easier way to watch was for me to actually hold the iPad in one hand. It's light enough where I could do that for a significant amount of time!

Anyway, it was a life saver! Oh, and I even downloaded Numbers and kept track of vacation expenses. How cool is that?

Macintoshafanatica is an iPad2 owner

Stitch, I must apologize for being MIA on our Macnight blog. Things became quite messy here at work, but they have since stabilized nicely. I must relay the information that we are now proud owners of a new iPad2, 64 Gb wi-fi. A few observations having used it for about a week. (I actually posted this a couple days ago, but for some reason it was taken down!)

1. It is truly the ultimate web machine. In this respect, it is better than a desktop computer, and definitely better than my iPod Touch. I absolutely love it. In fact, I am typing this as we speak on our iPad. This brings me to...

2. I can actually type faster on the iPad 2 in landscape mode than I can on a regular keyboard. This is because I do not type correctly, however, and the slightly smaller keyboard makes it easy for me to type incorrectly. Don't laugh!

3. It is a dream to watch a movie or tv show on this device. I have already rented 2 movies, and I have ripped some tv shows that I own. Awesome.

4. It is not as good as the iPod Touch for listening to music for obvious reasons.

5. This machine makes me far more responsive on email than I have ever been because it is so damn conveninent.

6. We did not buy the smartcover, because we think we would have regretted it. Found out from a salesperson at the Apple store that the clicking of the cover on the aluminum case eventually causes small dings. Outrageous! However, cases have never been Apple's forte.

7. GarageBand for the iPad is absolutely kick butt, and I believe software like that will be the reason more people buy the iPad than other tablet computers.

Well, that's enough for now. Any questions? Oh, and I highly recommend the iPad2!!

iPad2 is HERE

Stitch, the iPad2 made it's much vaunted debut. Dual core, gyroscope, 33% thinner, front and rear facing cameras. But the two things which surprised me might seem modest to you:

1. The new cover seemed very slick. With all those colors and the fact that it is a convenient stand for the iPad2, seems like a lot of droolworthy stuff for such a diminutive case.

2. GARAGEBAND!! Man, for a $5 application, that induces drool from a Garageband user like myself!

What did you think? Does Apple stay ahead of the competition?

Facetime MacNight

I am just throwing this out there as a possibility. How about having a Facetime MacNight since due to distance we cannot have a MacNight at our usual venue. I have downloaded the Facetime App for OSX and have used it with my son's iPod Touch. It is pretty cool. What do you think?

Love the New Look!

Stitch, I love the new look! So "deep space" - probably one of the best backdrops we've ever had. Good job!

iPad2

Stitch, clearly the iPad 2 will be announced a week from today. There is no doubt in my mind Apple has been feverishly working on the next generation because, once everyone saw how to do it from Apple, no one wants to be left behind. That happened with the iPhone, and Apple knows the drill. I just hope Apple prepared enough for how crazy everyone was trying to get a piece of the pie. No doubt, Steve Jobs knew it could get like this. It will be interesting to see what Apple has up its sleeves!

Steve Jobs sightings and Apple stock

Supposedly Apple stock took a dive on rumors Jobs was hospitalized:

Stock Jobs

On the other hand, the article mentions Jobs has been sighted recently at a restaurant and also on the Apple campus looking good. I am praying, Stitch, that Jobs is ok!

Classic iPod on the way out?

Stitch, does this mean the venerable Classic iPod is on the way out?

Classic iPod

I can't help it - I hope the classic iPod survives. I think there are still a lot of people who want the additional capacity, and don't need all the additional functions of a Touch. What do you think? Should Apple let the classic die?

Jobs on Medical Leave

Well, Stitch, I hope Jobs' medical issues can be dealt with. I'm a little concerned, because Steve Jobs wants nothing more than to be on the job with Apple. So I admit this makes me uneasy!

Verizon iPhone to expand market

I think with the new Verizon iPhone, Apple's cell phone market has expanded tremendously. Some had suggested that there may just be a shift of disgruntled AT&T users to Verizon because of the poor network performance of AT&T. But I believe this will be a small percentage. Most people are locked into two year contracts already and they have already invested in an iPhone with AT&T. Verizon's iPhone is a new model which require a new agreement and investment. If this change occurred at a change in new iPhone models then people may switch networks. Plus cell phone networks are like cafeteria food, people will always complain about it. All it takes is one bad experience. But is this experience really bad enough to make you switch networks? More likely there is a large group of current Verizon customers who have been waiting for the iPhone because they did not want to switch to AT&T. The market gets bigger. Now if Apple can release some lower end phones to compete with the low priced Android phones, it would be a checkmate to Google.