So – this is the second part of my collection of old links just waiting to be released. I thought about going for a link blog like Scoble and Ventura, but I don’t think that’s as cool as writing about it and getting my thoughts in on the stories too. But, to the point; links and great stories:
Apple:
The iPhone still amazes me, and some of the 3rd part application problems are still rumbling. Is it a good or bad idea? Can’t quite figure it out, but this example is a great idea for using the touchscreen perfectly. And with the D.A.V.E. coming out in May, one could really want the iPhone to be open for 3rd party applications; or at least that Apple will support this kind of technology, because it’s really something I believe will be a fantastic gadget! (In short for the lazy ones; D.A.V.E. is an external hard drive to which you can connect via BlueTooth or WiFi… See my point?)
On a sidenote, the iPod Shuffle – instead of the Big Mac – is now used in measuring the wealth of the various countries. That’s a crystal clear evidence that Apple is about to take over the world. Yeah yeah yeah – for real, homie – and in march they’re one step nearer total world domination!
Oh, and if you haven’t noticed; Apple and Apple stopped arguing. Now Beatles are coming (though it may not be exclusively to iTunes, and therefore probably no Beatles iPod), and I hope it will be without DRM as Steve Jobs voted for.
Note about the DRM-case: Make a search on TUAW, Macworld, Macrumors etc. for some more articles about it. Doug even got nostalgic and all. In whole, it’s a quite interesting story, and I can give a little teaser about it with an unusually funny statement from RIAA (which proves they don’t get ANYTHING of what Steve Jobs wrote…), as well as an upfront stupid statement from one of the Zune-guys.
Information Management:
I love usability. I really do. The easier I can perform a complicated task, the more I enjoy doing it. It’s really that simple. If I want to buy tickets for the theatre, I want to have a look at how the view is from that seat, and The Pioneer Theatre in Salt Lake City really got around that in a beautiful manner. Also, try to take a look at Senduit’s uploading screen. Does it get any easier to understand?
As you might have understood by now, I study Information Management, and it’s not all about usability (which is described quite clearly at a Google Enterprise Blog post; Usability = Adoption = Value) and technology (Tame The Web got a really nice article about the difficulties about understanding the IT-folks and their wishes), but also about what to do with the information we gather around town. Therefore, I find this article about what to do with all the storage we can buy really interesting. Because you really can gather a lot of information, but how are you gonna find it again? This is an interesting question that – amongst other things – is an issue we (as Information Managers/Architects) are going to think a lot about in the years to come.
Another thing I stumbled upon was the concept of The Low Hanging Fruit. I’m really not that into the concept yet, but it seems insanely interesting (at least from a nerd’s point of view…).
Oh oh oh! Have you ever tried to locate an IP? It’s not that funny, and you get to see that your visitor is from e.g. Singapore. You can go “Wee”, but not “Wow” (to steal a Microsoft-term…). This IP Locator is how you can give sort of a “Wow”-effect to a usually boring thing. Wow.
Vista:
Simplicity in opportunities seems to be the key element for Apple when choosing an iPod (you can choose the ultra-small (colorful) Shuffle, the all-round Nano or the huge Video iPod), as well as their OS. You are not overwhelmed by the choices you have to make, and this is – as I see it – part of their success. You are not confused, and they help you along the way. With Microsoft, that seems to be a whole lot different… How on Earth am I to choose between their Home Basic, Home Premium or Ultimate? And, the opportunities raise the roof when you count their Upgrade versions plus Enterprise and Developer Editions (the Enterprise even comes in both 32- and 64-bit), which makes a total of around eight different versions. Why not just give it all in one version for the regular customer (with the option for 5 licenses) and one for the developer? I know that not a lot of companies use OS X, but Microsoft could cut it down to three (maybe four) editions with a Home Edition, Enterprise Edition and Developer (both 32- and 64-bit if you really really want it). It’s that simple, and an Ultimate Limited Numbered Signature Edition is really pushing it… Plus, the old “Macs are so very expensive compared to a PC!”-argument can stop now. Right now.
And regarding the Zune; do I really have to post this as an example of why you have got to listen to your employees just once in a while?
“I think I should talk with Jobs,†he concluded in a later message, referring to Apple CEO Steve Jobs. “Right now I think I should open up a dialog for support of the iPod. Unless something changes the iPod will drive people away from Windows Media Player.â€
(quote taken from Ventura’s site)
Bonus:
Ventura’s post about the grammar of swearing is hilarious as fucking.
Phew – that’s it. I don’t have anymore right now, but it kinda keeps on coming, and I really want to update y’all a lot more and more frequent than right now…