Zen Thoughts
THOUGHT: Going Back To Zen
Have virtually been living without a handheld for a couple of months now. E-mail, browsing the internet and chatting (all using a handheld) became without utmost importance since I've moved here in Canada. I say its because of the lifestyle that I'm having here doesn't require me to be "always connected" all the time. I now rely on my eMac at work and my PowerBook at home to stay connected in cyberspace. This might be the reason why I haven't buy a Treo 650 yet.
I've been using my Tungsten C before as my main PIM and eBook reader (aside from doing emails and stuff) in the past. Lately, I realized that I just wanted a slim, easy to carry organizer like the Palm V (or even go with the simplest original Pilot). Really, I've been trying to finish reading an eBook that's been inside my Tungsten C since mid of last year, but hasn't been able to do so (coz the screen of Tungsten C is not comfortable to my eyes at all). Gone are the days that I've enjoyed reading eBooks on my Palm 3xe. For that reason and the need to have a simpler PIM organizer pulled me back to my Tungsten T. Believe it or not, I've gained back the joy of my life. The form factor and simplicity made up the reasons for the switch. Even managed to have my portable keyboard working again. Yes, zen is back and its never been better.
W
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THOUGHT: About Photocasting
After podcasting, there's photocasting. Steve Jobs just unveiled iPhoto 6 (part of iLife '06) that comes with photocasting features.
What's Photocasting?
According to Apple's website:
As easily as you can create a new photo album — and you know how easy that is in iPhoto — you can share it with friends and family thousands of miles away. At full resolution. Automatically. The catch here is, you should first subscribe to Apple's .Mac service.
This uses the same logic behind why Apple decided to go into music with the iPod (and iTunes). Music, pictures and movies are innate in every human being, but there's more to photocasting than what iPhoto could offer. Yahoo's Flickr do a better job than Apple's (since you don't need a .Mac to store your photos). Not only that, Flickr let other users and guests critique the photos at hand. Aside from that, there are a couple of widgets that are readily available for OS X Tiger's Dashboard.
What's more stunning than iPhoto 6 + .Mac has to offer? Meet Guy Kawasaki's FilmLoop. The interface is very cool and has a "Tiger" feel to it. Its indescribably amazing! Its even available for both Mac and Windows users.
W
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THOUGHT: Apple's Next Logical Step (UPDATED)
Previously... before the Stevenote
I've been in hiatus for quite some time, but it doesn't mean that I haven't been in touch with what I love most - technology. Tomorrow, its gonna another monumental event as Steve Jobs deliver another keynote at the Moscone Center for MacWorld SF 2005. And here's my thoughts on what would probably Apple's next logical step:
1. Home Digital Entertainment is the next big thing.
Talking about High Definition (HD), Front Row, the Intel switch and ofcourse Mac mini. Go figure it out. Apple has been pushing HD (not to mention they're also part of Blu-ray a.k.a. HD version of DVD), the next step would be making Front Row widely available (by including it on iLife '06). To cap off the big bang would be introducing a Mac mini with iLife '06 and is capable of the "Home Digital Entertainment" revolution.
Why not making it for PowerMacs? I don't think that would fit the bill. PowerMacs are intended for professionals and not consumers. The ones that we see that will be capable with these will me iMac G5s and Mac minis.
What about Plasma Displays? Guess not. Dell, Gateway and alike are already selling them, Apple is unlikely to copy them. It will leave it to Sony to make them.
2. iPod shuffle 2nd Generation
Its ripe to make the next iteration for the iPod shuffle. There's not gonna be a capacity bump for the shuffle, instead its gonna be multiple colors and a different form factor.
But there's a possibilty of an announcement for a capacity bump on the iPod nano.
3. iBooks HD
iBooks are for consumer. Apple's thrust into HDs will be evident in both desktops and portables. Mac minis, iMac G5s and iBooks are consumer centric products. These are the products bundled with iLife. And again, iLife '06 would probably have Front Row included.
In Tiger, we have Dashboard. In the new iMac G5, we have Front Row. These are evidences in which way does Apple setting its sail. They have proven themselves that the interface of Front Row is better than Windows Media Center.
Until then, let's see what's inside Steve's hat. -.^
Post Stevenote reaction
Dah! The most boring .Mac centric keynote ever! The MacBook Pro (not only is an icky name) looks like just an incremental upgrade for the PowerBook 15"! Steve, you could do better than that.
W
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THOUGHT: Stroke v.s. Keys
Was reading an article about the History of Apple's Newton and a thought suddenly pops in. This is the very same reason why handwriting technology never took off and the trend that keeps input recognition back to the keyboard. The development dates way back before the Newton and failed ever since. Only Palm's Graffiti had this little success. Why? Coz its similar to pressing a letter in a keyboard (with just one stroke).
Gosh, I thought the typewriter already gave engineers the clue. Its more productive and efficient if they've just focused their energy on innovating killer applications (beyond giving machine the option to psyche out what you really want to do). Just give a freakin' interface (like the keyboard, thank you) and let the user figure out what keys to press.
Technology like voice recognition, eye scanner, etc. should no longer be the focus point of the R&D team. Its gonna be a complete waste of time! People use the keyboard easily than writing, since a key press is less work than writing a letter (and same goes with saying it). This is the very same reason why I love my Tungsten C so much! I couldn't see myself carrying a LifeDrive with a UWK yet.
In this note, you might even guess: Is the thumboard also responsible behind the Treo's success?
W
**Written and sent wirelessly using a palmOne Tungsten|C**
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THOUGHT: Enter The Dark Side
So much fear about this, I sense. It sounds like a topic of taboo
that you should be afraid to discover and discuss. Yes, I know. We are
not suppose to discuss Windows Mobile here, but hey aren't they supposed to
be gaining grounds and becoming the dominant mobile platform? Its like
the evil empire being fought by the rebel alliance in a neverending battle.
You see, when the fight started towards the turn of the century that was
during the timeline of the great battle in Yavin (where Luke managed to
destroy the first version of the "Death Star"). We are currently
living when Vader blurted out "Luke, I am your father". And a month
or so from now, it will be heading towards "The Return of the Jedi" period.
Exciting isn't it? Putting the jokes aside, why did the geek
community referred to Microsoft as the evil empire? And Windows Mobile
being the Dark Side of the Force? I've read some posts stating that
the Windows Mobile platform should only be called as the Other Side (rather
than the Dark Side). You see, no one wants to be the antagonist.
Everybody loves to be the hero. They just don't get it! Its a
different analogy all through out. The analogy should be this way: To
be a Jedi, you can only exercise your Jedi powers when you let go and feel
the Force. While it would take fear, anger and hatred inorder to provoke
the more powerful Dark Side. In human terms, Palm OS engineers are the
ones cracking their brains out to improve the human interface inorder for
Palm users to get things done in a breeze (through a simplistic system).
On the other hand, it would take a genius to maximize and fully appreciate
the powers of a more complex and more powerful Windows Mobile platform.
Although it is presented that way, I'm not saying that Windows Mobile is
totally bad. I'm just presenting it on what the user experience will be
and what level of expertise each system requires.
W
**Written and sent wirelessly using a palmOne Tungsten|C**
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THOUGHT: The Fate of Palm and The Future of Handhelds
Every handheld in the future will be unified (in specs and feature) and
take the form of the Redmond beast; it shall all bear the sign of the
Windows CE. The future as being witnessed now have been foretold by
naysayers of Palm long time ago. The Redmond takeover are yet to be seen,
but the unification of specs and function otherwise is already becoming a
reality. I saw this vision upon the introduction of palmOne's T5.
Although the T5 became the first to market the 256MB NVFS (non-volatile
file system), this only reinforced the foresight of Microsoft - that
someday every handheld will do what a regular desktop has and is capable of
doing (the blueprint of the original Win CE system). I've opened this
thought about a year ago (on what's going to be the role of handhelds in
the future). But, that doesn't end there.
Mobile Phone or Nothing
Its hard to believe, but its like The Book of Revelations came too
soon (and you are in complete denial of what's happening). Talking about
PalmSource (the OS developer of the Palm platform) and palmOne (the
hardware manufacturer) are already changing their focus (from handheld to
smart and dumb phones). This was also evident in the total withdrawal of
Sony from the world of Palm. Without a suprise, this scenario have already
been envisioned by then Handsping execs (Hawkins, Colligan, Dubinsky - that
the future of Palm no longer rest on handhelds but on mobile phones). With
this, there would come a time that Palm will no longer be the appropriate
platform when handhelds are concerned.
When, you say?
Couple of months down the line, (who knows) we'll all be bearing witness to
the unveiling of a new handheld that is more powerful and have the
necessary whizbang of what only a desktop could do a few years back. I
admit that we couldn't stop change and development, but it used to be that
Palm is the Macintosh of handhelds. The simplicity and features that
"makes sense" are slowly drifting away. Gone are the days when Palm
dictates where the path of the next handheld evolution would take its
route. I felt deeply disappointed on what's really happening to Palm, for
I am a hardcore handheld user (and not much a fan of smartphones). I dread
to see that day, but believe it or not its coming very soon (and there's
nothing that you and I could do about it)!
W
**Written and sent wirelessly using a palmOne Tungsten|C**
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THOUGHT: Understanding The Myth Behind The Cult
I would kill for Steve Jobs! Not! I mean the guy has serious problems when his passion overcomes his sense of dealing with people. What's there to love about this man anyways?
Can't blame him though, the guy is a perfectionist in a not-so-perfect world. His vision and passion helped stir the direction of a dying company into reviving its coolness today. Passion is the common denominator between me, him and the rest of the Mac users (well, not totally all). The passion one would not settle for anything less. Inside the Mac community there are zealots that lived among us -- drawn by blindness of reality (treating every single thing Jobs do to be the best thing there is since sliced bread).
Well, not everything that Apple do is the best there is (not all). It is just lucky to have the best marketing guy that Silicon Valley ever produced. Steve Jobs is just a show stopper (just even mentioning his infamous keynote speeches). He's a celebrity (for crying out loud). That's why Apple doesn't need a celebrity endorser at all! Just by saying his "one more thing..." gives an orgasmic signal to the nerve endings of his followers - I kid you not! While being part of the crowd that get constantly awed by Apple's creation, I have always kept myself attached to the ground. Living beyond one's means is a total full of crap! I totally witnessed those things happening around me. Zealots and wannabes spending for products which they can't afford (just to be part of the so-called community). I buy a product depending on its usefulness (particularly product that makes sense) in ratio with its affordability. Reality Check: Tech devices (especially portables, handhelds, music players, AV products and alike) aren't investments, treat them as a luxurious expense. Whether you agree or not, they devaluate over time. You must be able to afford it before taking the plunge.
W
And one more thing, if the iPod shuffle doesn't make sense then you could always get the Creative MuVo (that is if it still makes sense to you). If you would ask me if I would buy the shuffle over the MuVo -- my answer is an astounding YES. Why? More on that next time. -_^
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