Harry McCracken: The Era of Beta Hardware

post from Daring Fireball on 21 April 2011 08:04:49 PM. © Daring Fireball

Harry McCracken on RIM’s PlayBook:

The hardware is nice and the WebOS-like interface is fun. With aserious software update or three — and more apps — today?sdisappointing PlayBook could be the powerful, professional-gradetablet that RIM has been bragging about for months. It?s justthat the company essentially released an unfinished product,presumably because it was so very anxious to get into the tabletmarket before other iPad alternatives had a chance to get an edge.
Motorola?s thinking with the Xoom seems to have been similar: Itshipped a tablet with a 3G data connection and a promise of a free4G upgrade and a MicroSD slot that didn?t work.

I don’t understand why so many reviewers bend over backwards to grade these things on a curve. If the iPad 2 had the problems and deficiencies the Xoom and PlayBook have, these same reviewers would (rightly) trash it, and declare (again, rightly) that Apple had finally lost its Midas touch.

These aren’t “beta” tablets. They’re bad tablets. It’s that simple. It’s true that their hardware seems closer to iPad-caliber than their software, but improving software is the hardest part of making products like these. By the time RIM releases “a serious software update or three” the entire market will have changed. The truth is, Motorola, Samsung, and now RIM have released would-be iPad competitors that pale compared to the iPad. Just say it.

The mass market doesn’t buy, and doesn’t want to buy, products based on what they might become months from now if these companies somehow dramatically improve the software. They buy products for what they are today, out of the box. Motorola and RIM and Samsung are Apple’s industry peers. These are the big leagues, this is The Show. They’re charging customers real money to buy these things. They should be judged by the same standards. Judging these things on a curve is the flip side of my criticism of Walt Mossberg’s iPad 2 review:

Stating the plain truth, that the iPad 2 has no seriouscompetition as a mainstream consumer device, doesn?t make youbiased. It makes you accurate.

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Read The Full Article:
http://technologizer.com/2011/04/21/the-era-of-beta-hardware/

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Senator Al Franken Sends Letter to Steve Jobs on
iPhone Location Tracking

post from Daring Fireball on 21 April 2011 06:05:00 PM. © Daring Fireball

Really good questions, especially the first one:

Why does Apple collect and compile this location data?

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Read The Full Article:
http://idealab.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/04/al-franken-to-steve-jobs-on-iphone-t
racking-i-want-answers.php?ref=fpi

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The Talk Show, Episode 39

post from Daring Fireball on 21 April 2011 06:04:59 PM. © Daring Fireball

Featuring special guest star Adam Lisagor. When I have grandkids and tell them I used to have a podcast, this is the episode I’ll play for them.

Brought to you by two fine sponsors: Audible and MailChimp.

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Read The Full Article:
http://5by5.tv/talkshow/39

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Android Location Service Cache

post from Daring Fireball on 21 April 2011 06:04:59 PM. © Daring Fireball

Android phones store the same type of location information, but, unlike iOS, Android’s cache only contains recent entries — which is to say Android is doing it right.

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Read The Full Article:
https://github.com/packetlss/android-locdump

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Mewshop Presents the Art of the App: iOS
Development Workshops

post from prMac on 21 April 2011 04:38:00 PM. © prMac

Manhattan Edit Workshop, the cutting-edge authorized digital training destination, is pleased to present the Mac development community with two new, in-demand iOS App development workshops. Exploring the fastest growing development trend in the industry. The new Mewshop Art of the App Workshops delve into the power of programming and development on the iOS platform. The Art of the App Intensive and The Art of the App Fundamentals walk students through the basics of iOS development.

Read The Full Article:
http://prmac.com/release-id-24605.htm

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iPhone App Brings Arab Music to Users in Midst of
Arab Rebellion

post from prMac on 21 April 2011 04:34:00 PM. © prMac

Arab-American developer Sean Mikhail has created a new app for the iPhone and iPod touch. Doumbek Master 2.0 allows users to play the doumbek drum, the signature instrument of the Middle East. Doumbek Master gives users around the world a chance to connect intimately with Arab culture through music, and an opportunity to better understand the magnificent culture behind the recent political rebellions in the Middle East.

Read The Full Article:
http://prmac.com/release-id-24557.htm

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Zevrix BatchOutput for Microsoft Word Featured in
MacTreasureBundle

post from prMac on 21 April 2011 04:31:00 PM. © prMac

Zevrix Solutions announces that BatchOutput DOC, its popular output automation solution for Microsoft Word, is available in MacTreasureBundle, a bundle of 7 great products. The bundle ends on May 8. In addition to batch printing, the software allows users to carry out professional PDF production. The app works directly from Word simplifying and streamlining the output process. Users can automatically split Word documents into single PDF files, reduce file size and optimize images.

Read The Full Article:
http://prmac.com/release-id-24604.htm

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Mewshop NAB 2011 Padumentary Episode Three:
Singular Software

Manhattan Edit Workshop, the cutting-edge authorized digital-training destination for post-production and content creators, chats with Bruce Sharpe of Singular Software, developers of workflow automation applications for digital media, at NAB 2011 in this Mewshop Padumentary episode. Josh Apter talks dual-system audio syncing with Bruce. The NAB Padumentary Series is a perfect example of the innovative, entrepreneurial and integrated spirit of Manhattan Edit Workshop.

Read The Full Article:
http://prmac.com/release-id-24602.htm

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The Popular Facebook Reader Frienatic Now
Available on the iPhone

Florida based Suncoast Apps, LLC has just announced the release of Frienatic 1.1 available now for the iPhone as well as the iPad. Frienatic is a fresh way to view your Facebook friends, status updates, news feeds and more. Frienatic is a dedicated Facebook reader like no other. The app was inspired by some of the newer iPad RSS readers but is dedicated to Facebook. The app is available as a universal app for both iPhone 4 and the iPad.

Read The Full Article:
http://prmac.com/release-id-24601.htm

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Celebrate William and Kate's Big Day with the
Royal Wedding iPhone App

Neon Play, the UK based mobile games studio, has released an iPhone application entitled Royal Wedding 1.1 to complement the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. The app contains biographies and news articles about the couple, their history and the royal wedding. There is also a gallery with over 100 beautiful photographs from top royal photographer, Ian Jones. The story of their engagement and all the key details about the wedding and the venue is also featured.

Read The Full Article:
http://prmac.com/release-id-24600.htm

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