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The end of the beginning, Steve Jobs

Lasha — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 10:45:45 +0000

It has taken me a little while to gather the courage to begin writing this piece. I knew this day was coming, as did everyone else. 6 days ago, Steve Jobs stepped down as CEO of Apple, Inc., one of the most valuable companies in the world, which he built with the vision and ambition to change the world.

It isn't to say that Steve Jobs invented the markets in which he sought out to dominate, but he certainly did redefine them. This applies to most things Apple has touched since 1997, including all-in-one computers, MP3 players, mobile phones, and tablet devices. He drove Apple with the goal to make the best products possible, and nothing less. With this philosophy, which he is notorious for rubbing into CEO's faces, Apple has seldom failed at delivering best-selling products.

For many years, everything Steve Jobs has ever poured his heart into has come down to this very moment; What's next for Apple. It is now time to see Apple play itself out with the foundation and forward momentum that Steve Jobs has instated. The "foundation" that I speak of includes choosing a rock-solid executive team to carry out Apple's image, including Tim Cook, Scott Forstall, Jonathan Ive, Phil Schiller, and so forth.

I will not lose faith in Apple, nor will my opinions and and feelings towards their future actions be affected by the fact that Apple is no longer run by Steve Jobs. Being "Apple" is larger than any one person, and Steve Jobs himself is not the only one responsible for it. It is all a result of a magnificent collaborative effort to create the best products possible.

Steve Jobs presented his last keynote as CEO of Apple, and introduced what I believe is their "next" major investment for the future (last was flash memory, and it worked out quite well). To reiterate, Apple did not invent cloud computing, synching, and so forth. However, I believe Apple's approach of seamlessly integrating the cloud into Apple products to the fullest extent is superior to most of its competitors. In other words, it is transparent – you don't even know it's happening, but when you log onto your other devices, everything is already there.

No matter how you look at it all, Steve Jobs and Apple moved, created, and shook industries. The end of the beginning of Apple is here. Now begins the life of Apple.

Nintendo, do we need another console that half-delivers its promise?

Lasha — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 08:17:54 +0000

I'll start off by saying that I have been a huge Nintendo fan for as long as I can remember. I like innovation, new ideas, companies trying new things, but I am also a realist. These things need to be fool proof, need to work properly, and most importantly, they need to DELIVER! This applies to any company out there, trying to sell any product. While the Nintendo Wii has been immensely popular with the general public due to its "mass playability," but the same feeling hasn't been shared by all of the game developers.

Brian Ashcraft of Kotaku stated the following about how the Wii fell behind on their promise:

"Wii games were never as interactive as that initial trailer promised—we never jumped behind sofas. The console ended up with a heavy casual game focus, and there was poor third party support—both of which Nintendo hopes to rectify with the Wii U."

The challenge Nintendo still faces with the Wii U

A Wii-owning friend of mine stated the following regarding Super Mario Galaxy:

"You shake the remote to spin. In a few levels you move by tilting the remote. That's it."

I couldn't have summed up my thoughts any better about the state of Nintendo's "motion" approach to gaming. Nintendo themselves never attempted anything TRULY UNIQUE with their games, and neither did developers. In result, the Wii has lost support from some major developers throughout the years. Continue reading for more thoughts...

The fact of the matter is that making unique games for a single "unique" console is plenty more difficult than the standard Xbox 360/PS3 process. Now, developers not only have to develop for 2 screens, but the 2nd screen which happens to be a controller with a full-list of sensors, cameras, and whatnot! The potential for extremely complex interaction from controller to TV is stellar. What are some things I think people will NEVER get accustomed to with the Wii U?

Using the Wii U controller to zoom websites. I can't think of something more annoying than having to constantly refocus my eyes on different screens, looking for and trying to get the right thing to appear on my controller screen.
Using the Wii U controller to play sports games. During Nintendo's E3 presentation, they demoed playing golf by placing the controller on the floor to "feel" the ball in front of you when trying to interact with it. Seriously? The Wii U controller will NOT improve the old/fake sports playing experience one bit, unless you're 7.
Using the Wii U controller screen to primary drive gameplay. The main thing I see developers doing with the controller screen are things like item selection, changing weapons, issuing touch-based and/or 1-button commands to your virtual pet, and so forth. Throwing ninja stars and using the controller screen to snipe your opponents in a FPS? Yes, maybe once in a blue moon.

I commend developers who will prove me wrong and completely blow me away. Ken Levine, the Creative Director of Irrational Games said "...when any new technology comes along, you have the spirit of experimentation." Sorry, Ken, but I saw almost none of that spirit with the Wii, and I am doubting I will see any more with the Wii U.

This time, maybe Nintendo won't wimp out of creating a revolutionary Super Mario title, and back up their seemingly revolutionary approach to gaming with a few bangs.

With all that said, I leave you with a LOL (that may not be so funny if you think deeply about it): The Greatest Prank Nintendo Ever Pulled.

UPDATE 3/19/2011:

Nintendo's Satoru Iwata recently stated in an interview that games utilizing a 2nd Wii U controller aren't yet being considered, because it would be too expensive to sell to customers. Do you know what this means? Kids (as well as adults) around the world will always be fighting each other for the single Wii U controller. The losers will be stuck with an old, less-cool, Wiimote. Read the Engadget post here.

Expensive? EXPENSIVE? ARE YOU SERIOUS!??!! This, to me, sounds like a big fat lie. I think that the real reason why a 2nd controller isn't being considered is because of development complexity, and the possibility that the console can't handle MULTIPLE Wii U controllers without it being bogged down. How many screens can a single Wii U console process for and output unique content for each player (board games aside!)?

WWDC 2011 thoughts and reactions

Lasha — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 05:09:57 +0000

Today, Apple played a lot of catch up with iOS 5. Features were unveiled that people have been wishing for since the iPhone's incarnation in 2007. For instance, how long have we been whining for a Notifications revamp? Over-The-Air updates and synching? An improved lock-screen?

I am happy about the direction Mac OS X is taking. Mission Control is one of my favorite features because I am already huge a fan of Expose, and making application windows with Expose and Spaces on crack puts a smile on my face. One other game changer is Resume/Auto Save in combination with Versions. With this trio, you technically never have to save or worry about going back to where you left off. Versions allows you to get a taste of Time Machine, meaning that you can access to previous versions of your document since you started working on it, just in case you made a booboo and need to revert.

Back when Apple bought the $1bn dollar datacenter in North Carolina, speculations of the grand agenda began. Everyone knew that it was obviously going to be cloud-based, such as a huge revamp to MobileMe, but now we know exactly what Apple has been planning, and oh boy is it huge!

iCloud, combined with all of the developer APIs that will be offered, certainly gives Google and Amazon a run for their money. Yes, Amazon has a concrete set of cloud-based offerings, but most of them are in a completely separate class, such as S3 (simple storage service) for application developers of all levels. We don't currently have a master list of all the APIs developers will be able to utilize with iCloud just yet, but, as Apple said deliberately that they're taking this very seriously, we are sure to find out its limits very soon. More after the jump...

Why is iCloud such a big deal even though it's not technologically innovative or original? Well, the simple answer is that IT'S ALL INTEGRATED. It's seamless! It's designed to work with little to no effort from the end-user, and everyone already knows that this is the type of user Apple is targeting, unlike Android primarily targeting the tech-savy hipsters with all their crazy robot commercials.

Android users have had the pleasure of being able to sync everything, but they will each tell you how unpleasant and un-organized of an experience it all is. There are separate interfaces and sets of tasks you need to perform to take advantage of syncing with Google Docs, and Picasa, and getting wireless synching and so forth to work properly. This is exactly what Apple has aimed to eliminate, and boy have they done a damn good job at it.

Click here to watch the keynote and see how exactly everything comes together.

A few months ago, Tim Cook said that Apple was ready to make their next big bet, and the cloud is it. Their last bet was Flash storage, and they nailed it – Apple is the current largest consumer and reseller of Flash storage-based products in the world (iPods, iPhones, iPads, and now, MacBooks).

Will the iCloud put businesses such as Dropbox and Box.net out of commission? We don't really know yet, but they each do have a very loyal user-base, with their own sets of matured APIs, with solid business model. Who knows, Apple may just eat them right up and call it a night.

Competition. Apple knows how to bring it.

Nokia and Microsoft, sitting in a tree…

Lasha — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 05:03:08 +0000

It was only a matter of time until Nokia threw in the towel, but nobody guessed it was going to happen this way. Nokia almost completely abandoned the platform they've invested billions into, and sided with Microsoft, who will also end up dumping billions into the platform (simply because they can, easily).

In many ways, I see this as a match made in heaven. Microsoft, very late in the mobile OS game, but still with a pretty decent chance at gaining a healthy user base. Nokia, a phone maker virtually non-existant in the modern-day smartphone era, and in desperate need of a 360° overhaul. These two behemoths are... *ahem* ... a match made in heaven. More after the jump...

Nokia has the potential to bring the best of the best, and the best of the low-end market. This is where years of telecom experience comes into the picture; Good hardware. Microsoft, on the other hand, is no less experienced in the mobile OS market, but their expertise hit an expiration date quite some time ago. That's where Windows Phone 7 comes in and starts to shine. A fresh new approach.

There's one thing and one thing only that Microsoft has going for them. They know how to treat their developers very well. They provide the best tools, and the best support. I am close friends with a few .NET developers, and they swear by the platform like no tomorrow — for good reason! This is so important because developers make or break the platform. This it NOT newsflash! Apple's iOS and Google's Android are duking it out day by day, while everyone else plays catchup.

So far, we've seen a decent level of creative output from WP7 developers, but more needs to be done! I have full hope that, a year from now, Nokia and Microsoft will be a force to be reckoned with. People just need to LOVE this platform just like most iOS and Android users/developers. Sorry, but I don't know where the Blackberry is at...

Are we ready for ANOTHER mobile OS?

Lasha — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 11:07:13 +0000

Just hours from now, Microsoft will officially unveil their Windows Phone 7 mobile platform. In a world saturated with iPhones, Android devices, and hundreds of thousands of apps, does Microsoft stand a chance? I guess the bigger question is, what do they hope to achieve with Windows Phone 7?

These days, people looking to buy a new Smartphone pretty much know what their options are. iPhone, if they're looking for a HUGE library of apps and don't care about the "openness" of the OS. Android (device), if they're looking for a phone that doesn't run on AT&T, and is "open" for you to download literally anything you want onto the device. Blackberry, if they're looking for a business-oriented phone. Windows Phone 7, doesn't have a "thing" that people will go to it for, but the super-unique interface and a fresh take on social integration may do the trick.

I don't think any serious iOS or Android device user will switch to Windows Phone 7. Each of the two platform offer too much to leave behind in favor of a newborn platform. Microsoft could easily target the late adopters who haven't yet made the jump to Smartphones. This way, they can have a market of their own to grow with. We can only hope that Microsoft leaps through their infancy, and quickly become a serious contender in the Smartphone wars. More after the jump...

The problem of fragmentation.
One of Google's big problems is OS fragmentation, and Microsoft may face the same problems. The fact that you can buy low-end phones that don't support Android 2.2 is damaging to adaptation rates and consumer satisfaction. If Windows Phone 7 will face the same fragmentation problem right away, adopters of cheaper phones will not be happy that they can't do certain (potentially cool) things because of it.

The inevitable "app store" battle.
Windows Phone 7 is the new kid on the block, and the bullies are gonna get their bully on. Microsoft's fresh entry into the world that runs on apps will be VERY difficult. What makes a device worthy to develop for? Market share that shows potential for profit for developers. After all, it's the paid apps that are of the best quality. Not to worry, there will also be a fair share of fart apps, too.

In the end, you gotta give it to Microsoft for hyping up their new baby, starting from scratch, and showing that they too have the chops to compete. What are your thoughts on Windows Phone 7 -- Potential, or not really?

Microsoft buying Adobe speculation

Lasha — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 03:21:23 +0000

Earlier today, Adobe shares jumped nearly 12% on speculation that Microsoft will be acquiring them. Publications all over the internet went haywire saying how crazy this is, and that it may mean trouble for Apple. I think that's a load of bull. Technically, Apple's been doing just fine without Adobe, but there are some things that could hurt both companies.

Worse case scenario:
Microsoft + Adobe seize development of Creative Suite software, and creatives around the world are forced to use outdated software. Okay, let's wake up and smell the Americano. Adobe, even under Microsoft's evil wing will not cut Mac development, unless they're interested in losing the bigger chunk of their revenues. Creative agencies all over the world primarily run on Macs. Will they start switching to Windows? Yes, many will, but most will not.

Apple produce a fine bundle of applications known as Final Cut Studio. This will be Apple's chance to shine with the apps in their respective fields (as if it's not already). Imagine how badly Adobe's and Microsoft's reputation would suffer if they made these moves. Continue reading...

To put it frankly, I don't think it will happen. Adobe has Flash, Microsoft has Silverlight. There's also Adobe Reader, but what good will a free format do for Microsoft? Anyone can create software that authors out to the PDF format. Flash authoring is a different story, but... imagine if Microsoft hacked the Flash player to run Silverlight apps!! They will practically own the market with their own technologies like C#, the .Net platform, and so forth.

It's a scary thought -- the creative industry being run by Microsoft. However, I'm not getting my hopes up. Adobe can turn out to be the man in the relationship and use Microsoft's funds to become the best Adobe ever! Adobe, if you're listening, you can start by making Photoshop crash less than 5 times a day.

Apple iPad, smooth landing (part 2)

Lasha — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:02:16 +0000

Check out Part 1 of this article if you haven't already.

Lack of Multi-tasking(?)

While the iPad can't run multiple apps, you can certainly enjoy the ability to switch seamlessly between applications. It's not often you need something running in the background, unless it's Pandora radio being streamed at all times (which can't be done to begin with due to lack of Flash support).

If you can achieve virtually anything without forcing apps to stay running in the background, then what's the point of having it? I would just be glad that I know it's better for my battery life. I honestly can't think of any real effects of not being able to run multiple apps simultaneously, so please enlighten me in the comments section.

The Price is Right

Starting at $499, one can't really complain that it doesn't do what a MacBook does. It's already cheaper than what everyone expected (which is good!). While the iPad physically resembles the iPod Touch, it's just not the same. It's not released yet, but the fact is that apps won't be designed the same way as regular iPhone/iPod Touch apps - they will be customized to take full advantage of the bigger screen and faster processor. This is a huge part of the whole "experience" of the iPad. Read on for more...

What this means for the competition

My answer to this is: What competition? Apple created a new category of computing, remember? You can't really compare it to Netbooks or existing Tablet PCs. The purpose of the iPad is too different to compare.

Companies are going to wrestle with the idea releasing competitive products simply because there are easier alternatives, such as slapping a desktop OS on a 9 inch Netbook or Tablet. Would they try to create a custom OS designed to work with the screen size and hardware abilities? If they did, one would ask if it would even be worth it. We've seen how cellphone manufacturers have failed miserably when competing with the iPhone's level of usability.

A friend of mine told me that the likes of Sony will release a tablet that will be a REAL revolutionary product in comparison to the just "ok" iPad. Can they do it?

Apple iPad, smooth landing (part 1)

Lasha — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 16:37:20 +0000

Ladies and Gentlemen, the Apple device everyone's been waiting for has finally landed with pinpoint precision. We were all expecting a bang, but most of us found the new iPad a pleasant surprise. As I predicted, Apple devoted their energy towards creating an amazing user experience, rather than a hardware phenomenon.

User Experience

It's designed to be what it is. It doesn't try or promise to do anything it's not supposed to do. This is the sole reason of why Apple's products are so successful. Would you run Photoshop on a device that's not designed to handle it? No, because you won't have a good experience. This is what Apple keeps in mind at all times - thus, why people always find things lacking in Apple products.

It's not designed to be the next revolutionary piece of hardware that will pop a piece of toast out its speaker holes, but rather to give users the experience they can't get on an a smaller and less powerful version of the same device (iPhone/iPod Touch). If you watch the iPad video on Apple.com, you will see the level of interactivity this device achieves is not really possible on a smaller screen. More after the jump...

A brand new Category

Apple is not afraid to define their audience, as they've done so eloquently with their other products. They're not afraid to make bold moves and do what they think is right. The category where you don't think about the technology. You put it all aside and you just do what you need to do. That's what Apple claims, at least.

Regardless, this is a new category of computing that Apple has single-handedly defined, and the markets will follow. This new "market" of computing is clearly not for everyone. It's not designed to win over mobile workaholics or people who don't leave their desks. There are machines that do that already (laptops and desktops). This machine, though, is designed for those in-between, and a lot of people are totally missing the point. If you have an iPhone or iPod Touch, great. You don't need this device. I can't guarantee how you'll feel after you use it, though. First impressions have been VERY positive at the hands-on session after the unveiling.

"It's really hard to design products by focus groups. A lot of times, people don't know what they want until you show it to them."
-- BusinessWeek, May 25 1998 (Steve Jobs)

Continue to Part 2 of this article...

How the iSlate can change the market

Lasha — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 08:06:42 +0000

Apple's "Come see our latest creation" event (Jan 28, 2010) is less than a week away, and rumors and soaring higher than ever. As with any other major Apple announcement (read: iPhone), rumors soar to the point where you don't know what to believe any more. The revolutionary iSlate device is supposed to change the market, as the iPhone did. Given Apple's track record of successful products, this will be one them (especially in the multi-touch department).

iPhone on Steroids

Nobody REALLY knows what Apple's hiding up their sleeve, but it most likely has to do with eReaders, portable computing beyond the Mobile Phone level, and a completely new way of consuming media.

An article from the Business Insider reported that Apple has had talks with NYT, WSJ, Conde Nast, Harper Collins and so forth about content distribution. On top of readable media, Apple's also interested in mixing video into the picture, which may be great for those on the go, provided there will be fantastic battery life. And as you may figure, Apple's definitely dabbling on the gaming side as well, teaming up with EA to show off what it can do.

Now, this is starting to sound a bit familiar, right? Yes, the iPhone. Just like how the iPhone introduced a new wave of portable computing and data consumption, Apple is aiming to do the same with the iSlate. They already have an established App Store, a fantastic base of developers, and a loyal user base. There's no better time to try and pitch a new product to those looking for the next greatest thing.

I read somewhere a long time ago that the display technology for this device was going to be revolutionary. If Apple is targeting both traditional media AND digital media consumers, they better have a screen that works superbly well for both tasks. It's one thing to introduce a fantastic new way of interaction with a device, but if you can't look at what you're doing for a long period of time, it goes to waste. Read on for more...

Competition

Currently, I'd say that Barnes & Noble's Nook is the coolest eReader on the market -- 2 screens, Android OS, huge development potential. Apple's "reader" would surpass anything on the market with App development for the iSlate device, which would then have people question the life of its competition.

Amazon recently announced the Kindle App Store, but it's currently limited to selected partners. With the eInk technology the Kindle uses, it's purely limited to text-based apps, so I don't understand what EA will try to pull out of their ass to make a game (Sudoku?). Unless the Kindle has some hidden secret powers, I don't see how Apps are going to succeed.

Speaking of App Store and apps in general, people are asking whether existing iPhone apps will be upscalable to run on the iSlate. My guess is no. It just doesn't make sense to take existing apps and simply enlarge them to bit a bigger and higher quality screen. I do, however, think Apple will provide the tools necessary to make it easy for developers to create modified versions of their software.

Muli-Touch

On numerous accounts, it has been reported that the device will have amazing new multi-touch abilities. It's hard to imagine what this could translate into, judging on the fact that the iPhone and MacBook touchpads have fantastic multi-touch as it is. I don't think the public is quite ready for the type of technology we've seen in Minority Report and Avatar, yet.

However, a fantastic interface design would do. Incorporating existing multi-touch technologies would successfully drive forward an interface designed with the user in mind. Regardless of the technologies being used, a user's likability of a product is primarily determined by their experience. And Apple knows how to provide a good experience.

Durability

Apple products get thinner and thinner for every major update/release, but not necessarily weaker. Apple's unibody architecture has served the notebook line very well, and I am sure the same level of build quality will be put into the iSlate. But, what about the display? If it's glass, it WILL crack because a bigger display can be damaged more easily. So, what will it be?

Introduction of a new series: Impulse Wave

Lasha — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:52:35 +0000

Spontaneity is a human characteristic that is unlike any other. The things that come out of spontaneity are, well... downright amazing. Some of the best ideas in the world (whatever they are) were sprung up this way, and that's a fact whether or not I prove it to you.

Impulse Wave is going to be a new series of posts based on impulse discussions, thoughts, ideas, and so forth. I am positive that this is going to be an interesting series, provided new installments get posted regularly. This series is going to require your feedback, so make sure you keep up by subscribing to the feed.

Style and Organization: Since a lot of the content for this series will come from text-based discussions, there will be excerpts posted from the dialogues. I am also considering posting full conversations (edited, of course) so you don't miss any juicy details... and the drama.

User contribution: This series will be the first to invite the public (that's right, you!) to participate. If you want to share your thoughts, email me. I'm waiting.

Dell Joins the Green Route with Studio Hybrid Series