A PC sings iPhone’s praises

Sean Roberts, Alestle Photographer

by Sean Roberts, Alestle Photographer

Yes, I’m a PC, but that doesn’t mean all Apple products are dead to me.I recently tried out the iPhone 3G, now it’s my primary phone. I chose the iPhone because I was  looking for a fast and reliable phone from AT&T, this seemed to be the pick.

The iPhone was surely an innovative leader in the market when it came out. Right now it is still one of the best phones on the market. However, it has been lagging behind as of recently. With few real innovations in the past few years, Apple will have to start innovating again or fall behind.  Apple will announce its iPhone OS 4.0 on May 7, and I hope for its sake that major changes are made. A new iPhone is also in the works, but I do not suspect that very much is going to change as compared to what we have now.

That being said, the iPhone is one of my favorite devices thus far. While I haven’t tried any Android phones (There are only two that I know of for the market right now for AT&T) it is far superior to what Windows Mobile or RIM has to offer so far (See my post about Windows Mobile 7.) The speed and Web browsing capabilities are second to none, and the app store has personally helped me wake up and track my running.

Along with the iPhone, I had a chance to check out the iPad and determine if my review from the past was correct. It was.

The iPad is sleek, I admit that. It’s sleek and fast like the iPhone. Still I see it as completely useless, especially at the price point. The typing is awkward, and carrying around such a large device with an unprotected screen seems like a recipe for disaster.

Apple, stop picking on HTC

Sean Roberts, Alestle Photographer

by Sean Roberts, Alestle Photographer

When Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple, Inc., said “we have always been shameless about stealing great ideas” in an interview, he wasn’t kidding.

Apple has decided to sue HTC, for infringing on patents. Among those was the idea of an unlock screen on a touch screen device, and scrolling activity. (For more patents, click here. ) Some of the patents, even going back to the 90’s covering operating systems as a whole, are similar to Apple patenting “Method of transportation by the use of human locomotion”, otherwise known as walking.

Many of the patents Apple has have already been in place or in constant use for some time in the technology industry, and none of them were real innovations. I could understand patenting something completely new and out there, but hording ideas just so that you can stifle innovation is ridiculous.

To make things even worse, instead of suing Google for their Android operating system, the primary source of complaints, or Microsoft, for their Windows Mobile  operating system, they are suing the hardware maker HTC. Only a small number of the patents are hardware related, and HTC has very little responsibility for the software in question. The only reasonable explanation is that Apple is going after the weaker corporation for an easy win. This is a sad move, which should narrow into the range of anti-trust.

What will Apple patent next, the use of a telephone?

Windows Mobile 7 offers more usability, less control

Sean Roberts, Alestle Photographer

by Sean Roberts,  Alestle Photographer

Windows 7 changed the game for Windows desktop computing. Windows Mobile 7 will change the game for mobile computing.

In a shocking departure from Windows Mobile 6.5, which looks like a dinosaur in today’s market, Microsoft changed the game entirely. Microsoft started from scratch to make what is looking like a great new mobile operating system. The new layout resembles nothing that has been seen before. Instead of graphic oriented content that you see with most mobile operating system’s right now, Windows Mobile 7 is primarily information text oriented. The layout is simple and easy to use.

This is a great move for Microsoft as it will move the operating system to the main stream.  However, some users might not enjoy the move. Business users, who primarily use Windows Mobile operating systems are used to more control.  Microsoft is leading away from this control in order to move closer to what other operating systems are doing. Time will tell if they will lose business audience because of this move, or if they will be another big competitor with the iPhone and Android operating systems.

Everybody panic, Facebook changed its layout.

Sean Roberts, Alestle Photographer

by Sean Roberts, Alestle Photographer

Facebook has been rolling out a new home page layout over the past few weeks. That can only mean one thing. Complaints.

Undoubtedly, I will receive group invites from “10 million against facebook layout change” to “Sign up for this website to get the old facebook back!” (Hint, it doesn’t work). Now this is annoying.

Facebook will change its layout. That does not mean your life is now over. Instead of rushing to complain about the new layout, take a chance to enjoy it. Facebook changed it for a reason, in this case it was to simplify it and make it easier to use.

I just got the new layout Monday, while it took some time to get used to, I am starting to like it more and more. It even seems like they are preparing for a rumored e-mail service by making messages more visible. Things are undoubtedly going to change with Facebook. Get used to it. It’s a social networking Web site.

In another year I’m sure its will slightly tweak its layout again, and again people will complain. By this time, I doubt there will be any complaints about the current layout anymore.

The only reason people have problems with the new layout change is the fact that it is a change. Change is going to happen in all of our lives. The least of our concerns should be Facebook.

‘Unbelievable’ iPad unbelievably overrated

Sean Roberts, Alestle Photographer

by Sean Roberts, Alestle Photographer

In a video that resembled something you would expect from a proponent of Jonestown, a glossy-eyed Apple employee announced… the highly anticipated, highly hyped iPad. It is being hailed as a revolutionary new “magical” device, and at an “unbelievable” price.

What’s really unbelievable is that anyone would actually spend up to $829 on this. In what amounts to a mix of total arrogance and complete unoriginality, the iPad looks like a giant iTouch, and with huge oversights in software, this will likely a big bust for Apple.

While Apple is clearly targeting the ‘Average Joe’ consumer rather than the most technical of users, the average consumer doesn’t have much to look forward to either. If you’re thinking of getting a new portable computer for light activities, just get a netbook. Here are six things I can do on a netbook that you cannot do on a iPad.

1. Do two things at once. For some time, all commercially successful modern computers have allowed multitasking. It’s such an intuitive task that most consumers would not even think about. Though smartphones have been stuck with a lack of multitasking, those performance and stability issues resulted because of the complex tasks on something as small as a phone.

In what looks like a direct port from the iPod, Apple put the same lack of multitasking on their iPad as they did their iPhones. This is a huge mistake. Even Average Joe Consumer wants to do two things at once. Apple included a relatively fast processor in the new iPad, but unfortunately, we can’t use it.

2. Replace the battery. For anyone who has owned a laptop, you know that battery life is not forever. After two years, my laptop lasts a good 30 minutes without a charge. With a laptop, however, or almost any non Apple product, I can go out and buy a battery any time I want. Not so with an Apple product. I have to send it to them for THEM to replace — and it will cost me a lot more money.

3. Anything with a webcam.  One fun thing to do on a computer with a webcam is make goofy photos and videos of you and your friends. In fact, it’s become a very popular feature on most netbooks and portable devices. Most people expect at least the ability to video chat with friends and family on a webcam, especially Average Joe. Unfortunately, the iPad is lacking a front-facing camera, a back-facing camera or a camera at all.

4. Go out to eat. After spending up to $800 dollars on features I already have on my phone, I’m going to have to stick to the ramen for a while. If I wanted a portable device, I would buy a netbook and save on the budget. You can easily find a similar netbook for around $400. Why I or any average consumer would spend up to twice as much for half the functionality?

5. Air conditioning… or anything else with a USB hookup. With no USB ports — in fact, the only data input port is a proprietary Apple port — good luck attaching your camera, printer, or USB air conditioner to this media device,

6. Feel like a man. The feminine hygiene jokes will never leave the iPad. Personally, I’ve got no interest in carrying a pad around everywhere I go.

Special Mention: While the iPad and netbooks both share in the ability to read books, both of them do it poorly. Unfortunately, Apple is making the iPad out to be an eBook reader for the casual consumer. However, staring at a bright screen for hours causes eye strain, which was the same issue that prevented computers, notebooks, and netbooks from being popular eBook readers. This problem led to innovations like eInk found in Amazon’s Kindle, a far more popular eBook reader than any computer.

I was almost looking forward to Apple’s new netbook— it’s a great idea, in theory — the iPad was a huge disappointment. My recommendation: if you’re planning to buy an iPad, wait until more devices like it are release. Plenty are planned, and I’m willing to bet you won’t be nearly as disappointed.