Chris Howard's Profile

  • http://www.qwertyrash.com
  • Jul 24, 2008
  • 906
  • 1

Recent articles written by: Chris Howard

Latest comments made by: Chris Howard

  • Rule #1 of Apple: It never perfects any product. I've had so many "obvious" things on my wish list for various products for years! And look, it took TWENTY years for Apple to get with the program on multi-"button" pointing devices. I don't know which feature or features Apple is going to continue to short-change us on. It could be the camera, it could be video-phoning, it could be the lack of an SD-slot, or the lack of bluetooth. Or any combination of these or others. But whatever it is, we'll all still buy the iPhone but wish it had here. And this will be a feature large numbers of folks want, not something that a handful want. But Apple still won't do it. Secondly, the slider keyboard is the equivalent (in won't happen-ness) of a real consumer affordable headless Mac. (The Mac mini is too underpowered an more importantly, too inflexible to qualify as a true headless Mac). Neither of these will happen. Likewise I don't think Apple will release an iPhone nano. What good is it to Apple to release a product that is not revolutionary? (Like you I can't see how they could make an iPhone that's just a phone. Motorola ROKR anyone?) You want an Apple phone? You get an iPhone. I see more chance of changes to the iPod line up. eg Culling of the classic once touch goes 64GB.
    AustraliaChris Howard had this to say on Jul 18, 2008 Posts: 906
    What's Next for the iPhone?
  • Fantastic, Bakari! This should help heaps for me. I've also dropped them a line for a feature I reckon would benefit old farts like me with short memories.
    AustraliaChris Howard had this to say on Jul 15, 2008 Posts: 906
    Tracking Your Time with Slife
  • True, Chris. If a book is good enough, I'll buy the hard copy. Many times I want to read books *away* from my computer, even textbooks like the Big Book of Apple Hacks. Many nights I sat up in bed with it, bookmarking hacks to try the next day. I've bought a few books via download, and DRM or not, they end up not getting read. They end up either forgotten, lost on my hard disk somewhere, or used occasionally for reference. Does anyone read in full a book they download? Who can sit in front of a screen scrolling thru 500 pages? And none of the portable book readers are any good. Whereas many of go right thru hard copy books, even Until there's a decent electronic book reader, I'll keep buying hard copy books. So DRM free won't change my buying habits, and in fact could benefit printed books, because I might "accidentally" see a DRM-free book I like that would influence me to buy the hard copy. But downloadable books would have to be significantly cheaper than the printed counterpart, for it to be good for hard copy sales. You don't want to pay for the same book twice. At worst, they could have a scheme where if you've bought the download at the same price as the hard copy, you can get the hard copy free. As far as DRM goes, well, it's actually discouraged me from buying downloadable books since it is so restrictive on what software and devices I can read the book on.
    AustraliaChris Howard had this to say on Jul 04, 2008 Posts: 906
    DRM Free O'Reilly Titles? An Author's Perspective
  • James, so true. This reminds me of how digital cameras redefined how much the average person would spend on a camera. Before digital, most people spent around AU$100. Part of the reason was the cost of film and processing made taking a gajillion snaps very expensive. So no one wanted to outlay for something that would be under-used. (I was a rarer beast and often spent upto AU$400 on camera. But I liked decent pictures and took a lot.) But once digital became entrenched, folks suddenly didn't bat an eyelid parting with AU$200 to AU$300 for a digital camera. Coz they knew they could use the thing to death. (Of course many babies and children suffered severe flash burns :) ) The iPhone, as you point out, looks like doing the same thing. It'll nudge people into spending more on a mobile phone than they have in the past. Again, a major part of that is that they'll use the extra features and so get value for money. For me, at this new price point, the iPhone is suddenly much more tempting as I normally spend around AU$100 on a mobile phone. So the step up to AU$250 (which is what I expect), is not so dramatic as to AU$450 like it could have been. But, of course, there is still one limiting factor: running costs. I'll only get an iPhone if I can get it on pre-paid - which is being rumored down here. Otherwise I'll have to fork out a bit more and settle for the iPod touch - which, Steve, we're still waiting to hear about the next version. Will it have GPS too?
    AustraliaChris Howard had this to say on Jun 10, 2008 Posts: 906
    Attention Cell Phone Makers, The End Is Near
  • yep, agreed, robo. A limited number of authorised vendors - eg Dell and HP - would be my preferred choice. That'd limit the hardware configs and so the incompatibilities. Of course, it would open the flood gates of unauthorised clones, but that's what you get when you try to expand your base and you've gotta accept that. I've always believed expanding OS X's marketshare thru third party vendors like Dell and HP would be good for Apple's bottom line and long term future of the Mac. Personally, I'm with the speculators. Dropping the Mac branding from OS X is quite significant given Apple last year boosting the Mac branding by calling all it's personal computers Macs. So to go in the face of that, changing Mac OS X to OS X Leopard, really does make you think it's an OS for other machines too. Of course, maybe Apple has a fourth leg, another non-Mac product, coming out, so is now just really going to call the lot OS X, since it'll run on iPhones, iPods, Macs, and a possible new device.. Can't wait til Tuesday! (Down Under time)
    AustraliaChris Howard had this to say on Jun 07, 2008 Posts: 906
    We forgot about OS X 10.6!
  • Is OS X !0.6 going to be for PCs??? With the Mac branding not on OS X posters at WWWDC and with the rumor 10.6 will have no new major major features, speculation is flying that 10.6 will be available for PCs. Turn your speculators up to 11!
    AustraliaChris Howard had this to say on Jun 06, 2008 Posts: 906
    We forgot about OS X 10.6!
  • It seems to me that with Apple TV, Apple is waiting for something to happen, rather than making it happen. Apple is being reactive, rather than proactive. As an analogy, it would be like if it released the original iPhone with a keyboard and some limited single-touch features to see if people might be interested in touch. That's what Apple seems to have done with the Apple TV. It's just sticking a toe in the water. With the Apple TV, Apple seems to have lost its courage.
    AustraliaChris Howard had this to say on Jun 06, 2008 Posts: 906
    Come on Steve, at WWDC Make the Apple TV Great
  • lmao
    AustraliaChris Howard had this to say on Jun 05, 2008 Posts: 906
    We forgot about OS X 10.6!
  • Thanks, evilcat. Interesting. I can see the value of Apple doing that and it basically makes sense, but I just can't imagine Apple releasing a major dot upgrade with zero new major features. If that rumor is even half true, then you'd seriously expect 10.6 to get a showing next week. What a WWDC! iPhone 2.0, iPhone Down Under, a rumored new handheld device, and 10.6 revealed (maybe). I can hardly wait. :)
    AustraliaChris Howard had this to say on Jun 04, 2008 Posts: 906
    We forgot about OS X 10.6!
  • Hmm? I answered 1) A&C;, 2) C, 3) A, 4) B, 5) B. Shows I'm basically pragmatic about the whole Apple thing, I guess.
    AustraliaChris Howard had this to say on May 31, 2008 Posts: 906
    How Big of an Apple (L)User are you?
  • chortle, chortle. :)
    AustraliaChris Howard had this to say on May 30, 2008 Posts: 906
    How Big of an Apple (L)User are you?
  • Yay, I'm normal! I got 12. :)
    AustraliaChris Howard had this to say on May 30, 2008 Posts: 906
    How Big of an Apple (L)User are you?
  • I don't think either of us are doing a very good job, zato. :)
    AustraliaChris Howard had this to say on May 15, 2008 Posts: 906
    iPhone 2.0: Part One, A Physical Keyboard
  • Yeah, DM, it'd be interesting if a third party could make a small and sleek keyboard that wouldn't turn the iPhone into a brick-sized device. It will be interesting to see if the strongly rumored larger form factor iPhone has a keyboard or mini-USB for attaching one. Zato, you don't contribute enough! Always get a chuckle out of your trolling efforts, but of course, don't take them seriously.
    AustraliaChris Howard had this to say on May 14, 2008 Posts: 906
    iPhone 2.0: Part One, A Physical Keyboard
  • "you usually get what you pay for." Unfortunately, based on mine and friends' experience with Macs and iPods, I suspect we don't get what we pay for from Apple anymore. Brainsan, I'm not sure Apple is as altruistic as you hope. As several respondents above have already said the only reason Apple won't allow clones is because it would cut into its very profitable hardware business. Apple's primary motive is profit. While it was a niche player, it had to make high quality products. But as its market has expanded, it has been able to cut corners on quality. I do believe that clones can again be a reality without compromising OS X's reliability. Unlike Windows, which runs on anything, Apple simply chooses one or two PC manufacturers to license OS X to, and sets some reasonable hardware limitations. And then we wouldn't see all the compatibility issues that plague Windows. I don't recollect that the clones in the '90s were plagued with compatibility issues. Compatibility is a non-issue., The only issue for Apple is profits. That is. being "the richest". "making the most money". It believes it can make more profit making all the Macs, instead of sharing that market.
    AustraliaChris Howard had this to say on Apr 27, 2008 Posts: 906
    Is The Time for Clones Now?