Geek & Mild by Sean Sperte
Link: MS pimps Flip4Mac
Microsoft discontinues Windows Media Player for Mac OS X and pimps Flip4Mac’s product(s) for all your .WMV needs. So now what’s left? Office? Pssh. Let’s just consider Microsoft’s Mac presence offically dead now.
11-Jan 2006
Windows on a Mac “okay” with Apple
Phil Schiller says, “That’s fine with us. We don’t mind … If there are people who love our hardware but are forced to put up with a Windows world, then that’s OK.” This is great news, and confirmation that Apple’s not going to try and shut down any operations that try and perform this task. Dual-OS Macs, mmmm.
11-Jan 2006
The MacBook Pro
I’ve read several reactions to yesterday’s keynote, most of which are positive concerning the MacBook Pro (and other new offerings from Apple), but there’s also a low rumble of complaint against the name of “MacBook Pro.”
Just to get readers up to speed, here’s what the MacBook Pro really is:
- Intel-powered duo-core processor running at 1.67ghz and 1.83ghz
- Up to four times faster than current PowerBook models
- Same aluminum casing as PowerBook G4
- 15.5” screen, as bright as Cinema Displays
- Same weight as 15” PowerBook G4
- As thin as 17” PowerBook G4
- New features include (but aren’t limited to): Built-in iSight camera, “MagSafe” power slot, IR port and Apple Remote, pre-installed Front Row
So that’s the MacBook Pro. Of course, I want one.
Steve Jobs said something key during the … uh – keynote. He said “we wanted all of our product line to have the name ‘Mac’ in its title.” This tells you that the name was deeply considered before it was adopted. Other names have been suggested by the Mac community, but there are problems with each:
- iBook Pro - The iBook is branded as a consumer product already and simply adding a “Pro” to the title would confuse an already delicate branding situation. There’s also the fact that this is a new product line.
- iMac Mobile/Portable - This makes no sense. The iMac is a desktop system and has been adopted as such; and again, it doesn’t say “I’m a new product.”
- MobileMac - Would you want to walk into an Apple Store and ask for a “MobileMac?” Me neither.
- MacPad - Doesn’t make as much sense as “book” and sounds more like an Apple accessory than a Pro product.
- pMac - This is the best suggestion I’ve read/heard as it retains the “Mac” in the title while remaining simple and Apple-esque. The problem here is that the “p” would actually stand for something, while the “i” in iBook and iMac hasn’t ever been defined. Plus, “pMac” (probably) doesn’t look very cool when etched onto the aluminum casing.
So, when you really think about it the name makes sense … and it’s starting to grow on me.
More of my thoughts soon.
UPDATE: I came across a thread on the Apple Discussions site in which one person had a great recommendation for the new laptop name: Macintosh ProBook. Now that’s a solid product name. Fits the bill, gets it done. Apple, are you listening?
11-Jan 2006
The dust settles in San Francisco
Today the Mac community simultaneously let out the breath they’ve been holding; and after the dust settled a new Intel-iMac and Intel-PowerBook MacBook were revealed.
Boasting speeds up to 5 times faster than their predecessors, the new systems from Apple are available for order today (the laptop will ship in February). As of this writing the Apple Online Store is still down, but should reflect the new models and pricing by the time you read.
More of my thoughts later.
UPDATE: Apple’s posted the product page for the MacBook Pro and Intel Macs page
UPDATE 2: I’d just like to point out the new Apple.com homepage and Intel PowerBooks MacBook Pros … ahem, “nailed it”!
10-Jan 2006
Newsvine: This changes everything
Back in November Mike Davidson announced what he’d been up to since leaving Disney’s media group and starting his own business. Newsvine, he said, was to be the new hotness in news, “just like your favorite news site, only smarter.”
I have been (extremely) fortunate to be able to participate in the beta launch of Newsvine for the past few weeks and let me tell you … it lives up to the hype. News hasn’t been the same for me lately.
What Newsvine does right
The way Newsvine makes news smarter is by giving control to the readers. This is done by enabling voting, live chat, and comment systems for every article (and seed, a submitted link to an external article). It sounds more simple than it is. But it sounds less powerful than it is, too. The potential this type of interaction has is truly culture-shocking – we may soon witness a shift in the way journalism is approached.
“We believe in turning news into conversation,” Mike says. “It is only when readers interact with it that it achieves its full impact.” The life of a news story only comes from those who read it. No readers, no life. That’s what makes the current news medium so lifeless and Newsvine so … living. It’s the interaction, the personality, the relationship.
The power of the ‘Vine
Readers of Newsvine have the ability to create their own “column,” in which they post articles (similar to blog entries) and seed external articles. Seeding an article to the ‘Vine allows other readers the ability to view the article, comment on the seed, vote for it, discuss it in a chat room, add tags, and more.
On the front page of Newsvine (above the fold), news is displayed based on user activity, popularity, and post time. Only the most relevant stories are displayed; making the news seem more “living,” even before you read it. It feels revolutionary, really.
I’ve had similar feelings before, but never in relationship to news – it’s been with things like iTunes, text messaging, wireless internet, real-time playback of uncompressed video. News, to me, is usually always boring. I’m much more of a skimmer: You know, glance at the headline, skim the text for relevancy, check out the photos … I’m definitely not the news-hound. With Newsvine, though, the news is living and current.
Of course, there’s a lot more to Newsvine; so much, in fact that you have to see it to understand. Which brings us to …
The public beta
Today marked the first (okay, maybe the second) major public release of Newsvine, as they opened the doors for thousands who’d been on the waiting list. In addition, each user was given the ability to invite 20 other people to join in the beta. The Newsvine team says they’ve spent the last few weeks preparing their servers and systems for such an event – which is sure to bring huge amounts of hits and strain on the network. So far (tonight), though, the site’s snappy and fresh; like always.
My sincere hope is that they pull it off, and Newsvine does become the new hotness. Not only is the concept and execution really cool, but the guys who are behind it are genuine … and, well, local: They’re located right here in Seattle!
News/Reviews Roundup (live updating):
- My own quick-review
- Brian Benzinger (Solution Watch)
- Emily Chang’s writeup about Newsvine and Nuvvo
- Stowe Boyd’s First Take
- Steve Rubel (Micro Persuasion)
- Review from lexrob.com
- Nathan Burke
- From Nik Steffen’s Useless List
- “I Digg Newsvine” - All That’s Cool
- Anthony Casey’s review
- David Peralty (Pheonixrealm)
- Josue Salazar’s review
- “Fresh Off The Vine” from felocity.org
- Maria has some nice words to say about Newsvine
- David Appleyard - Newsvine Launches
- Newsvine impressions from Chris Casciano
- Allan Rojas’ hands-on preview
- The guys at Hypergene’s first impressions
- “Newsvine is *fantastic*” says Nitesh Dhanjani
- A quick one from imalm.com
- Seth says he’ll just be pimping his own blog ;)
- Top of the Vine promises to be a “topical, irreverent and useful guide to Newsvine” and the unofficial Newsvine blog
- From TechCrunch
5-Jan 2006
Link: The difference between Web 1.0 and Web 2.0
I guess the new Generation Church site really is Web 2.0 after all.
1-Jan 2006
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