Thoughts on the iPhone 4
Posted by clark in Commentary on 2010/07/21
You may have noticed I’ve not said much about the antenna issue. That’s because it’s really hard for me to think it’s much of an issue when no one can buy an iPhone yet because of demand. Mine’s been on backorder for over a month now. Maybe once I have it I can say something.
Successor to Obj-C
Posted by clark in Commentary on 2010/07/06
Waffle says that Apple is definitely creating a successor to Obj-C. You might recall I’ve been saying that ever since the dreaded section 3.1.3. I really think Apple is going to switch to a high level language using LLVM that will allow detailed optimizations for phones and other portable devices. Already some languages like Java can be optimized better for newer hardware than C++ can. That’s because you just can’t easily “rewrite” C/C++ to take advantage of multiprocessors and the like. You can optimize for pipelining and the like to a degree. But there’s always a limit and many people have been saying that writing to a virtual machine just has huge advantages in terms of optimizing code.
I suspect Apple will come out with something very similar to Obj-C initially and then add features over time. But this explains why they were opposed to so much of the Mono compilers that were compiling directly to machine code.
The alternative is that Apple doesn’t just make an interpreted Obj-C but comes out with a totally new language. I’m far, far more skeptical of that. Folks keep bringing up MacRuby but I’m skeptical of that as well. (And not just because I’m a Python guy) We’ll see I suppose.
iPhone 4 Reception
Posted by clark in Commentary, iPhone on 2010/06/28
OK, truth be told I had to post on this just so I could upload that hilarious picture making the rounds. However my business partner, who somehow managed to score an iPhone 4 the morning of release, has noted the same issue everyone else is. That is if you short the antenna by holding it even how Apple suggests you lose a lot of reception. There are rumors this is partially a software issue but basic physics suggests it’s an issue of antenna tuning. It’s pretty surprising this made it through all the testing.
Of course I almost always put a case on my iPhone and I’m sure I will with my iPhone 4 as well (assuming I ever get one). So I don’t see it as quite the disaster some are making it.
Security and Android
Posted by clark in Commentary, iPhone on 2010/06/23
Interesting CNet article on security and Android. Apparently 20% of Android apps expose very private data. This includes email and IM content, phone call info, location and so forth. Yes while installing the program you are made aware of these access issues, but I don’t think most users understand the implications.
While Apple has (to some extent justly) been criticized for its approach to the iPhone I think that the fragmentation issues and “anything goes” issues on Android are catching up with them. I think Apple’s strategy relative to Android has always been that the 80′s and 90′s can’t repeat but rather it’ll be a repeat of the late 90′s and early naughts. That is the internet changed everything and the big worry is fragmentation and security.
iOS 4 Thoughts
Posted by clark in Commentary, iPhone on 2010/06/22
Well it took about 4 attempts to upgrade. Apple’s servers were really being hit hard yesterday. I’d waiting until late thinking that would make things easier. Little did I know!
After only a morning playing with it here are my thoughts:
1. The folders are quite nice and really bring back the more minimal feel the phone had when I first got one a few years back. It’s nice to have all the games and lesser used apps hidden. Beyond that I tend to leave everything the same.
2. After running a bunch of apps I realized I really didn’t need multitasking. The only app I like it in is 1Password (when I was jailbroken). 1Password doesn’t appear updated to handle switching rapidly between apps without having to retype every password under the sun though. So I’ll definitely be rejailbreaking as soon as the 3GS and 4G jailbreaks are out just so I can quickly switch between email and 1Password or elsewhere. I use 1Password to keep very secure notes that won’t be compromised if my phone is lost. I use it a lot. So this was an issue.
Ars Jumps the Shark
Posted by clark in Uncategorized on 2010/06/08
Ars is one of my favorite sites. I regularly read the articles and forum. However today, in reaction to Safari 5′s new Reader mode I really think they jumped the shark.
There is something contradictory—some might say hypocritical—in Apple’s actions. At the same time someone in Cupertino is building a completely unblockable ad platform for the iPhone and the iPad, someone else is working on ad supression tools for that big open Web that Apple supposedly loves so much
There was a very insightful comment in in the comments to the article I enjoyed:
Forget hypocrisy, but what I find very ironic is that online tech journalists are crying foul because software innovations are threatening their old-fashioned business model. I’m sure the former staff of defunct print magazine employees will get a kick out of this.
Thoughts on OSX
Posted by clark in Commentary on 2010/06/08
Over the past few months a lot of people have become worried about Apple’s commitment to OSX. Of course a lot of this is overhyped. Apple just came out with Snow Leopard. Further just because the last six months have all been about iOS (hate that name) doesn’t mean 10.7 is being neglected. Further a lot of what is done for iOS impacts OSX proper. One might even say that some OSX features we expected to make it to the iPhone haven’t. (Think some of the nicer Obj-C 2.0 features)
Still, Apple hasn’t been about OSX much of late. Yes WWDC brought us Safari 5 and a new version of XCode (still NDAed at the moment). But there hasn’t been a lot of OSX love. Macs now reportedly make up only 25% of Apple’s profits. It’s not at all surprising that smart phones and pads get more of the attention. 25% is still a lot and not something to be neglected.
Quick Thoughts on WWDC
Posted by clark in Commentary on 2010/06/08
I’m still home with the new baby so I only have time for a few thoughts.
1. The lack of Mac info was hugely disappointing. That combined with not even having design awards for Mac products makes me worry about OSX.
2. I’m excited about the new Safari although sad webkit2 wasn’t quite ready. (It’ll give Safari roughly the capabilities of Chrome) I’m holding off upgrading until I’m sure Glims, 1Password, and Click2Flash all work.
3. The keynote was somewhat underwhelming. I blame Gizmodo’s leak of the new iPhone. Had we not already known most of the features it would have been much more exciting.
More Google Thoughts
Posted by clark in Apple TV, Commentary on 2010/05/24
Some more thoughts on Google. First I honestly don’t understand this sudden breakup into various camps. You have the Firefox folks against Google and Apple. You have Apple folks against Microsoft and Google. It’s identity politics at their worst. And most of the arguments seem more bent on demonizing the “out group” and identifying with the “in group” than making any kind of rational investigation.
Honestly, all of this is actually very good for consumers. It means some serious evolution is occurring. I doubt Apple would be working nearly as hard for the expected WWDC iPhone announcements were Google not chomping on their heels. Hopefully HP/Palm, Microsoft and Nokia can get in and be competitive as well. The more ideas out there the better.
I can’t help but contrast the current flurry of evolution in the mobile market with desktops over the past decade. Sometime after 2001 we reached the point where most people’s computers were powerful enough to do what they needed: email, light word processing and spreadsheets. Digital video complicated that a bit but overall the desktop has been remarkably stable. Compare a computer from 2002 to one from eight years earlier – say 1994. There is a huge difference in power and capability. But I compare my current MacBookPro to my PowerMac G5 from 2003 and while there is a difference it isn’t a huge one. The main difference today has been in power efficiency. The power available in a laptop in 2003 was weak with short lived battery life. I’m shocked at how long I can use my MBP before plugging it in. Read the rest of this entry »
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Apple and Jailbreaking
Posted by clark in Commentary on 2010/07/26
Contrary some I don’t think Apple has been attacking jailbreaking merely to show due diligence for some hypothetical agreement with AT&T. That said I think today’s ruling on the DMCA is an opportunity for Apple. Up to now they’ve been extremely aggressive on jailbreaking. (Although to be fair jailbreaking relies on exploits that Apple has to patch as soon as they discover them independent of the jailbreak question) I think though that there are two reasons why Android is catching up with Apple. First is AT&T and the value of the mindshare of the bay area and NYC – both places with the worst AT&T coverage. (Primarily due to the regulatory red tape of installing new towers in either city: reportedly over 3 years per tower versus a few months in most other areas) The next is the fact Android has more capabilities.
If Apple eases up on jailbreaking it can keep its simplicity and ease of use (which for the typical user is why the iPhone has better satisfaction than Android) but have the power that Android provides for techies (who chaff heavily at Apple’s limits). Make jailbreaking hard, but not too hard, and the typical user will never attempt it. Yet they’ll keep the mindshare Apple needs.
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