Tech Blog

[#1]

Like it or hate it, Apple has significantly changed the way we interact with our devices and media.

iWhatever devices have come to define the standard to which other hardware developers aspire. Software developers have, in droves, switched dev. teams to Xcode and Objective C.

And this is not a bad thing, regardless of what you think of Apple’s closed system of the iTunes store or of Steve Jobs fan-appointed position of technology messiah.

Because, and for me this reason really resonates, Apple is taking a position of an ‘Industry Leader (tm)’ regardless of the consequences. And isn’t that the role of leaders? To blaze the trail and believe that it’s the best way forward, and that people will follow?

Sure, there are many issues with the details, yet, I can’t ignore the fact that I’ve got 7 Apple devices (8 if you include the Apple //e in my basement) in my household. How ‘bout you??

Yet, daily I work and write on PC devices running Windows. So what is it that attracts us to the ‘magic’ of Apple?

Design? Sure, Apple has had this cornered since the Lisa days. While they’ve been challenged, they’ve rarely been bested.

Yet, with the evolution from iPhone/iPod Touch to iPad, there is something missing. References to the iPod Touch as the iPad Nano are common. Yes, it’s a much bigger screen with more potential, but we’re not seeing it yet.

The iPad has a very weird niche between that of a functional laptop and a casual media browsing device. And yet, it is engaging.

Basically I’m thinking the killer app for the iPad has yet to be released. VisiCalc was the Tipping Point for the Apple // line. I’m wondering what it’ll be for the iPad. Whatever it is, it’s got a narrow window to appear. Otherwise Nintendo or Sony or Asus or HP or Dell will figure it out.

Got some thoughts on that? Leave them in the comments!

[#2]

Don't have much time so I'll just give you my report on Apple devices.

We have total of 4 Apple products in our house.

There are 3 iPods in our household.

One 3rd gen Nano (Phat)

One 6th Gen iPod Video/1st Gen Classic

One 2nd Gen iPod touch (Jailbroken and multitask supported)

And one MacBook Pro 13-inch

So far I've been delighted with my purchases and is annoyed at Apple wanting control over everything but hope they can fix that.

My favourite tech company so far.

[#3]

Nice. So, how has Apple secured this 'niche' in our hearts? That's the million billion dollar question

[#4]

Killer app for a tablet? Remote control for your house.  Everything in your house.

Why shouldn't my tablet be able to talk to my TV: change channels, set programs to record, queue a movie in Netflix (when it comes to Canada!)?  I want an Internet-enabled kettle, so when I'm coming home from work, my tablet tells the kettle to have water boiling for me when I get home. (Granted, you can do this without a tablet per se, if you're odd enough to have connected your kettle to the Internet at all . . . but that's beside the point.)  Why "clap on, clap off" the lights when I can dim them with my tablet?  Oh, did I spill something on the carpet?  Now instead of going over to its dock and waking it up, I can just use my tablet to wake up my Roomba. . . .  The list goes on.*

I'm past the tablet computing revolution and am waiting for those smart houses we've been promised.  With advances in wireless communication, it shouldn't be too hard to start having more smart appliances in the home--some refridgerators are already Internet-enabled, after all.  So if one already has smart appliances in the home, the next step is some sort of smart controller one can use from anywhere in the house.  And if one already spends one's time in front of the television while absently pecking away at a tablet, it sounds like tablets (and their smartphone cousins) can serve that role ably.

I know this is mostly a dream, and we won't see it any time soon.  Nevertheless, I truly think that if tablets will fulfil their role as "ubiquitous computing" they need to step into the role of mediator for our networked appliances of the future.  That is, until those same appliances rise up and enslave us all.  Oh, why did we give the toaster 4 GB of RAM?!

*Disclaimer: I do not actually have an Internet-enabled kettle or a Roomba, although both would be awesome.  Come to think of it, I don't have a tablet.

[#5]

@tachyondecay: very nice! Yes, having devices that are aware of our location and able to take action based on the location / time of day / etc it is one way to define 'Killer App' .

[#6]

I am the odd-man out with zero Apple devices.

They look cool and snazzy, but I find them more flash over function.  You can get better value with other name brands, but you don't get the fancy colours, or the name, which I could really care less about.

Perhaps I come from a gaming generation in which Apple never appealed to me.  I am by far a Microsoft lover, but it gets the job done.

[#7]

apple is great!