Seize the mouse.
Apple
The new iPod nano and why I don’t like it
Sep 1st
So today apple announced a chutzpah of new stuff (as expected) including a new apple tv, a new iPod touch, a new iPod nano, and a new iPod shuffle. I’ll cover those in a later post, but for now I want to talk about the nano.
What apple did with this design really stood out to me, and not in a good way. First of all, they got rid of the buttons and replaced it with this extremely tiny excuse for a touchscreen, and got rid of the camera and curved edges and put a clip on it. So basically, it is an iPod shuffle with a touchscreen. But my big problem is the clip…
So lets say you have it clipped to your shirt like that picture. If you want to change the song you either have to bend your head over to see the screen and look like an idiot or you have to unclip it and attempt to hold the awkwardly shaped thing to change your music. So then why don’t you just put it in your pocket? Why include the clip? The only other function is to show EVERYBODY ELSE IN THE WORLD what music you are listening to at the moment. But to tell you the truth, nobody really cares what you listen to other than you. So that eliminates the clip. And what’s with the form factor of this thing?! It is a square that barely fills the palm of your hand, and it doesn’t look like it would be very fun to try to hold.
Oter than the clip, the other thing is how they tried to make it an iPod touch-like interface with homescreens. But instead of having apps, ou have things like albums, playlists, genres, etc. Why?! This interface might be cool if you wanted to use apps on it, and if you want apps go get yourself an iPod touch. it is 1/3 bigger (and is so much more confortable to hold) and boo hoo, you can’t tell the world what you are listening to. Oh, darn. That’s too bad.
I mean, nobody really cares about your music! It’s nice to know you are currently listening to the black eyed peas (I guess that explains why you, sir microsoft employee, are line dancing in the middle of your stores [traitor using iPods, don't worry I won't tell. ;-J ]) but nobody cares at all! It’s just an iPod shuffle with a screen. A smaller, less functional iPod touch. Something along those lines.
If you disagree or have anything more to add, comments are welcome. 
Le Trackpad de Mágico! (Magic Trackpad)
Jul 30th
I have no idea why but this has been requested by numerous people.
Along with the launch of the new and improved iMac, Apple released the Magic Trackpad. It’s basically a larger bluetooth MacBook Pro trackpad. Their tagline is “why do notebooks have all the fun?”
I find it useful even tough I already have a MacBook Pro, because when I need gestures like exposé It is right there, not a reach across the desk to get to my MacBook.
Setup
The setup is very simple. First step is to update your software. Do that by going to the apple menu and clicking Software Update. This will then download the drivers for the Magic Trackpad.
Once you have downloaded the update and restarted, press and hold the power button on your trackpad until the green light starts flashing.
Once that is working, go into System Preferences and click on Trackpad.
Once in the pane, click on Set Up Bluetooth Trackpad in the bottom right corner.
Make sure the light on the trackpad is still blinking (if it isn’t just press the power button once) and you should see a window appear. After a few seconds it should look like this.
Once it looks like that^^^ click continue and your wireless trackpad will be setup! In the pane that follows you can configure a bunch of cool options.
Review
The Magic Trackpad is a good addition or replacement for a mouse. The large surface is convenient because you will rarely have to pick up your finger, however having it so large does make it feel a little bit awkward.
I think that if you are getting (or have) an iMac or other Mac desktop then you may prefer this over the Magic Mouse for it’s multitouch gestures. For MacBook and PacBook Pro users I find this only useful if you are already using an external keyboard and mouse because you can get the gestures right where you need them without reaching out across your desk to get to your MacBook’s Trackpad. It’s aluminum design fits in perfectly with the Wireless Keyboard and is even the exact same height. I’m thinking that apple should create a Magic Keyboard that has a Magic Trackpad on the side of it.
The Magic Trackpad is currently available at your Local Apple store for $69.
Apple Store FAIL
Jul 27th
So I recently took a wonderful eleven day vacation to Japan. It was great. I found some new things about apple in Japan though.
Turns out that in Japan, what you would call “Airport” is called “AirMac”. I thought this was a spoof until I looked online at the japanese apple site.
I happened to also come across one of those certified apple resellers that isn’t really an apple store but sells al appe products. And a look behind the counter made me LAUGH!
SEE IT?!
Well, back to making fun of Microsoft
Jul 16th
Unless of course you live under a rock, you have heard about the terrible antenna problems the iPhone 4 has been having. Basically, if you put your hand over the left black line, all of your signal drops. Apple was having a PR disaster, but today Apple held a press conference and it seems that the truths were revealed.
But I must say, Apple wasn’t playing fair here.
First, Steve Jobs ponts out how all of the smartphones antennagate. He showed test videos of many popular phones including the BlackBerry Bold. This is simply putting down the competition and saying “we can’t go against the laws of physics… yet.” [Steve Jobs]. Fine.
So I got curious and asked I wonder if my phone does this…
Well, I gutters its back to making fun of microsoft…
New view on apple
Jul 13th
I used to dub apple as the greatest of all. But my view is changing as apple begins to turn into the evil empire.
If you look at some of the press you will see how apple us taking a very bad response to this iphone for antenna problem. They have been saying nothing to the press and they are not anything their problem. This is kind if odd for a company so focused on its reputation and good press.
So here what I now say: apple has some of the best computers and electronics and design basi (plural of basis?) But as a company are entirely evil.
On the good side is google, but o don’t really dub apple and google in the same field other than mobile operating system (where I dub android better, more on that later) so I cant really call them head on competitors. But I praise google for being so open. I mean I even have a google socket on the back of my macbook and iPad.
So I guess I like them both.
As far as pcs go, I’m less crazy about mac. I man, people have their reasons, but overall I still dub apple as the best overall computer creator.
Create a WiFi network with your Mac
Jun 17th
I am currently in Japan, and in the Hotel we have no wireless in our room. We do have a wired connection, but we have iPads that need WiFi. Here’s how to take your mac and turn it into a WiFi network in a few steps.
1. Plug in ethernet
into your Mac. Make sure the internet connection is working by visiting a few sites. Many hotels have pages where you have to agree to terms. Make sure you agree and/or pay before proceeding.
2. Turn on internet sharing
Open up System Preferences and click on Sharing. In the list, click on Internet Sharing, but don’t click the checkbox. Configure it so it looks like this:
Then, click on AirPort options in the bottom right. Here you can put in the name of your Wifi network and a password if desired.
Click OK, and now you can click the checkbox next to internet sharing.
3. Connect your devices
On your WiFi enabled devices you should be able to see a WiFi network with the name you put in under Airport Options in step 2. Connect to it and enter a password if you configured one.
Tada! Now your devices should be able to browse the internet. Cool! Be aware that you can’t be on a WiFi network on your Mac while sharing your internet.
Use it wisely!
Traitor? I think not.
Jun 15th
Some people have said some hurtful but understandable things about me, as said in the title of the post.
Well, allow me to say, that I’m not switching over to chrome OS. I’m not switching to windows either, I’m just switching over to android.
What’s the big difference between Mac OS X and iOS? Well, I mean other than one is a mobile operating system. Mac OS X allows development to run in the background. Mac OS X also allows applications to manipulate the core of the operating system (although not preferred).
iOS is completely shut off. For example, people can’t even use their own APIs! It is a closed off system and it is completely CLOSED source.
Android on the other hand seems more like Mac OS X. It is open source, so people can use their own APIs to do whatever they want. Apps still need to be accepted into Android Market, but there is an option to allow other applications that weren’t approved by the app store to be installed. And that’s what makes the difference.
So I’m not exactly a traitor, I’m just supporting what I believe in and personally is best for me. I’m sure I’m not the only one…. Anyone?…….. Comments welcome.
Too many apps in the app store?
Jun 13th
As we all know, Apple has been boasting about their 200,000 apps in the app store.
This is cool, but a little too many.
Actually, no. Ironically, I feel that too many apps are being accepted into the app store.
My theory: An app should only be accepted if it either:
- No other app has the same functionality
- It is better than another app with the same functionality
So we don’t get copycats cluttering the store.
With all of these copycats, the store is harder to search. When you want something, you usually have to turn to a third party to figure out which one is best.
Also, what’s up with these lite applications? They are like trials but they are completely different applications. I think that there should be a trial link in the full application description page. Because after all, the lite version is just a disabled version of the full one, and it doesn’t deserve to have a completely separate entry into the app store.
Do you agree?
Comments welcome.
