Google Kills Its Other Plus

post from Daring Fireball on 01 November 2011 09:03:55 PM. © Daring Fireball

Andy Baio on a recent change to Google’s web search — the removal of the longstanding and beloved by search nerds + operator:

Google wouldn’t disclose exactly why they phased it out, though itseems obvious that they’re paving the way for Google+ profilesearches. When Google+ launched, instead of adopting Twitter’s@reply syntax, they coined their own format for mentioning people— adding a plus to the beginning of a name — triggering thefuture conflict with the + operator.

So not only has the push for Google+ resulted in the removal of sharing features from a relatively mid-level Google property like Google Reader, but it’s altering the feature set of Google’s bread-and-butter flagship product: web search.

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Read The Full Article:
http://waxy.org/2011/10/google_kills_its_other_plus/

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CNet: The Inside Story of How Microsoft Killed
Its Courier Tablet

post from Daring Fireball on 01 November 2011 09:03:55 PM. © Daring Fireball

Interesting reporting by Jay Greene for CNet, but I’m not buying it that Courier was near completion. This, to me, is damning:

When Courier died, there was not a single prototype that containedall of the attributes of the vision: the industrial design, thescreen performance, the software experience, the correct weight,and the battery life. Those existed individually, created inparallel to keep the development process moving quickly. Thoseprototypes wouldn’t have come together into a single unit untilvery late in the development process, perhaps weeks beforemanufacturing, which is common for cutting-edge consumerelectronics design. But on the team, there was little doubt thatthey were moving quickly toward that final prototype.
“We were on the cusp of something really big,” said one Courierteam member.

One prototype that looks right, one with the right screen, one that has the right software, one that has the right weight, and one with the right battery life. Just mash them all together in a few weeks and you’re done. Sure.

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Read The Full Article:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-10805_3-20128013-75/the-inside-story-of-how-microsoft-k
illed-its-courier-tablet/

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Nosy Crow's Cinderella Wins iLounge.com iPad Kids
App of the Year Award

post from prMac on 01 November 2011 07:40:00 PM. © prMac

Independent publisher Nosy Crow is pleased to announce that its Cinderella App has won iLounge.com's Best iPad Kids App of the Year Award. The award will be published in iLounge.com's 2012 iPhone + iPod Buyers' Guide. The iLounge.com Best of the Year awards recognize the products and developers that most improved the way users enjoy their iPods, iPhones, and iPads. Cinderella is an interactive picture book app recommended for children ages 3 and up, featuring beautiful illustrations.

Read The Full Article:
http://prmac.com/release-id-33300.htm

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iPhone 4S Arrives in Hong Kong and South Korea on
November 11

post from Daring Fireball on 01 November 2011 07:04:12 PM. © Daring Fireball

This is the soonest-after-launch that an iPhone has hit these countries.

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Read The Full Article:
http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2011/11/01iPhone-4S-Arrives-in-Hong-Kong-South-Ko
rea-on-November-11.html

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Samsung Asks for iPhone 4S Source Code

post from Daring Fireball on 01 November 2011 07:04:12 PM. © Daring Fireball

Oonagh Reidy, reporting for Smart Office:

In Federal court today Samsung counsel Cynthia Cochrane said herclient would need the source code for the iPhone 4S and agreementsApple had with major carriers Vodafone, Telstra and Optus in orderto make a legal case for a ban before the court.

First Samsung wanted to see the unreleased “iPhone 5” and “iPad 3”, now they want the iOS source code and Apple’s carrier agreements. I see we’ve arrived at the “grasping at straws in desperation” part of the dispute.

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Read The Full Article:
http://www.smartoffice.com.au/Business/Technology/C8S9P5D2?page=1

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Paranormal EMF Scanner released for iPhone and
iPad in the App Store

post from prMac on 01 November 2011 05:19:00 PM. © prMac

Imagined Apps introduces Paranormal EMF Scanner 1.0, for iOS devices. Do you know what's out there in the Dark? Do you want to find out? Experience "Bone Chilling Fright" with Scary paranormal sounds and ghost voices. And if you want even more ways to frighten everyone, check out the library of Creepy Ghost voices & Demonic sounds that can be added. To send an icy cold chill up your spine, just turn off the lights and start the Paranormal EMF Scanner!

Read The Full Article:
http://prmac.com/release-id-33194.htm

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Phony Eyes - app now available for iPhone, iPod
Touch, and iPad

post from prMac on 01 November 2011 04:29:00 PM. © prMac

Indie developers, Skip Arnold and George Doulou introduces Phony Eyes 1.0, an app for iOS devices. Playful, fun-rific, and kooky, Phony Eyes is unlike anything you have seen before, trust us, we've looked! Select a variety of eyes, based on gender and skin tone. Express particular moods through realistic animation. Use the phone to cover your own eyes for a, hilarious and sometimes "creepy", appearance that shows your true colors! There is 30 possible gender-skin-mood combinations.

Read The Full Article:
http://prmac.com/release-id-33193.htm

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The Type of Companies That Publish Future
Concept Videos

post from Daring Fireball on 01 November 2011 04:03:56 PM. © Daring Fireball

Joey deVilla, defending Microsoft’s “Future Visions” concept video:

As you might expect, Jon [sic] ?Daring Fireball? Gruber,who?s often been called Apple?s freelance PR guy, viewed itwith a jaundiced eye.

This video encapsulates everything wrong with Microsoft. Theircoolest products are imaginary futuristic bullshit. Guess what,we?ve all seen Minority Report already. Imagine if theyinstead spent the effort that went into this movie on makingsomething, you know, real, that you could actually go out andbuy and use today.
Of course, he?d never say such a thing about Apple?s classicKnowledge Navigator video, which at the time it was made —circa 1987, when the Macintosh II and SE, IBM PS/2 series andAmiga 500 and 2000 were brand new machines — was at least aspie-in-the-sky as this newest Microsoft video.

DeVilla isn’t the only one who accused me of Apple-biased hypocrisy regarding my stance on Microsoft’s “Future Visions” vs. Apple’s “Knowledge Navigator. It is true that when I linked to Andy Baio’s post about “Knowledge Navigator” a few weeks ago, I didn’t add any commentary.

But the exact same criticism I have for Microsoft today applies to 1987 Apple. “Knowledge Navigator” encapsulates everything that was wrong with Apple in 1987. Their coolest products were imaginary futuristic bullshit. The mindset and priorities of Apple’s executive leadership in 1987 led the company to lose what was then an enormous usability and user experience lead over the rest of the industry, and eventually drove the company to the precipice of bankruptcy. That 1987 Apple was a broken company is so painstakingly obvious from today’s vantage point that I didn’t think it needed to be mentioned.

“Knowledge Navigator” didn’t help Apple in any way. Apple never made such a product. It didn’t bring Siri to us any sooner than if that video had never been made. It only served to distract from and diminish Apple’s then-current actual products.

“We’re like Apple in 1987” is not a badge of honor — it’s a flashing red warning light.

Apple today, from a strategic and operational perspective, is nothing like Apple of 1987. Apple today would never release to the public a concept video speculating on what sort of products they might be making 10 or 20 years from now. The attention of the public and the media is a rare and precious commodity. Apple today uses what attention it gets to focus on actual new products, ones that you can go out and actually buy and use.

Apple today is a company that, several times a year, every year, releases new products that millions of people literally line up to buy the first day they’re available. Apple in 1987 was a company that began work on the Newton, a product that nobody ever had to wait in line to buy. The Newton was a brilliant design and full of terrific industry-leading ideas. And it struck the market like a wet match.

I’m not lambasting Microsoft just because they’re Microsoft (or because they’re not-Apple), and I’m not praising today’s Apple just because it’s Apple and even when Apple farts I proclaim that it smells like roses. I praise Apple for its successes, which are undeniable.

Putting this “Future Visions” video in public squanders attention that Microsoft could otherwise have focused on its current and imminent new products — like Windows Phone. Take a new iPhone 4S and a Windows Phone 7.5 device back in time 20 years and they might seem equally impressive to a pair of 1991 eyes. But one of them sold more in a weekend than the other does in an entire financial quarter. Is not Windows Phone scarily similar to the Newton? Innovative design, much to praise — and but striking the market like a wet match?

DeVilla writes:

I would argue that if Microsoft wants to rehabilitate its imageand regain its relevance in the hearts and mind of both the alphageeks and the public at large, they should probably make more ofthese videos, not only for the public, but for their own benefitas well. Without visions like concept videos to guide them,especially with the lack of someone in the visionary role, theymay remain stuck on their current course: doing well buteffectively coasting, content to make incremental improvements toalready successful products or playing catch-up as with InternetExplorer, phones and tablets in efforts that are in danger ofbeing too little, too late.

That sure helped Sculley-era Apple.

DeVilla then cites old examples from Sun and AT&T. Sun went out of business, and AT&T never accomplished anything in their concept video. Not a damn thing.

I’m not arguing that making concept videos directly leads to a lack of traction in the current market. I’m arguing that making concept videos is a sign of a company that has a lack of institutional focus on the present and near-present. Can you imagine a sports team in the midst of a present-day losing season that makes a video imagining a future championship 10 years out? Institutional attention on the present day — on getting innovative industry-leading products out the door and creating consumer demand for them — requires relentless company-wide focus.

1987 Apple didn’t have that focus. 2011 Apple does. Only one of those Apples releases futuristic concept videos. But you know who else does release futuristic concept videos today? RIM. Great company.

Read The Full Article:
http://daringfireball.net/2011/11/companies_that_publish_concept_videos

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Karelia Software Releases Sandvox 2.2

Karelia Software today released Sandvox 2.2, an update to its award-winning website building software for the Mac, now with a new Map object, powered by Google, a new Text Inspector for handling bulleted and numbered lists, Strikethrough formatting, customization of 'left to right' or 'right to left' writing direction, built-in Tidy HTML function, and more. The Sandvox 2.2 update is available today free for registered Sandvox 2 owners, or new in the Mac App Store and from Karelia.

Read The Full Article:
http://prmac.com/release-id-33299.htm

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Kinect Effect

This is better (it’s human and emotional, with music to match), and the Kinect is a legitimate hit product, but still, read the fine print: “Depictions are visionary”. Now the coolest things Microsoft has shown us for Kinect are things you can’t actually do with it.

(Apple has fine print too, yes. In the new Siri ads: “Sequences shortened.” They make her seem faster than she really is, but show you only real things you can actually do. Today.)

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Read The Full Article:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_QLguHvACs&feature=grec_index

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