Category Archives: Computers

Up until the developments in the mobile sphere, computing platforms were largely stagnant and stable. Largely there was the Windows system, that was widely adopted and easy to create systems for. There was the more curated Apple platform with its restrictions, and the very customizable and open Linux world.

Now however, these players and one notable addition, are seeing the hardware change which requires new and different ways of interacting with the operating system. Not surprisingly, there are different approaches.

Apple

Arguably Apple changed the direction of the mobile universe, marking a shift from hardware buttons and text interfaces with their iPhone and iOS system. Sure there were Windows Mobile and Blackberries before iPhone, but they were very different from how they look today. (Well.. maybe not Blackberry so much…)

Apple has two distinct systems. If you are on a computer, you are using Mac OS. (recently changed to OS X) If you are on a mobile device, you use iOS. This requires app developers to make two versions of apps if they want to reach users on both computers and mobile device platforms. And the way you interact with each system is very different. Mac OS still has a lot of dependence on menus and clicks and using a pointer.

The issues cropping up is whether as our mobile devices become more powerful, can the simpler iOS interface really allow us to do everything we want to do while computing on the go, or do we need something with more tools, and their neccessary complexity?

Microsoft

Microsoft has learned that focusing solely on enterprise users isn’t going to keep they afloat. More and more corporations are adopting Apple devices, mainly because employees bring them in and expect them to just work. So Microsoft is seeing its wheelhouse being chipped away at. Further, they largely lost the consumer preference already to Apple with their shiny simple to use devices.

So, Microsoft is changing their focus. They have the attitude of an upstart. They revamped their mobile OS with Windows Phone. It was lauded by critics and users, so they are applying the aesthetic to their desktop in the upcoming Windows 8. Instead of having two distinct platforms, they have stated that 80% of the code will be shared, making app development easy. They even have put a distinct focus on bringing mobile finger based gestures to the desktop. This is a huge gamble, both in that Windows users hate change, and will not like seeing a very different desktop starting at them. But also because it goes against Apple’s belief that the mobile and desktop spaces are meant to be interacted with differently. It will be interesting to see if this pays off.

That’s because the software company isn’t planning to simply share features between distinct operating systems, as will Apple. Rather, Microsoft hopes to introduce nearly identical experiences (or as close as the hardware will allow) to each. – TechBlock

Microsoft is hoping that people will appreciate having the same interface on all devices. Simpler, less things to remember. But do we want to paw at our desktop screens like we do our phones?

Google

Google has what could be the safest play. They are platform agnostic. Sure, they have Android on phones and tablets, but largely they are web based. Google simply wants you to interact with their various products – no matter the device.

They put out Android, with its faults and more attractive attributes. But they also have released Chromebooks, Google TV and of course their Chrome browser on almost every platform available. And you can access their search, email, and maps from any platform. The downside of this strategy is that fickle users aren’t locked in like they are to an Operating System. It is much easier to change your default search engine than it is your computing platform.

And Google has admitted this is a potential issue.

Rubin said that the biggest problem for Android on tablets is “there’s no organized way for consumers to recognize it as a viable platform,” and that Google wants consumers to see its tablets as part of the broader Android ecosystem. “The educated consumer realizes it now that they’re either picking the Apple ecosystem or the Microsoft ecosystem or the Google ecosystem… we’re going to do a better job at making people understand what ecosystem they’re buying into.”

For Apple users, you get the nice cooperation of devices designed to work together smoothly. For Microsoft you get a large ecosystem of devices that can fit your specific needs. Google needs to find its selling point.

Windows is going to go through another refresh later this year. Windows 8 will bring the “Metro” interface that Microsoft has used on their Windows Phone OS (which I really liked using) and lately their Xbox to the PC. Some have decried this as a mistake. Largely, this is the same reaction that happens whenever a change happens on Facebook, or anything else in life – we react negatively to the unfamiliar, even if it is better. I’m going to examine why I believe this is the right move for Microsoft.

The PC market has gone from completely nerd dominated to widely adopted by the mainstream. No longer something the common person feels intimidated to use, computers are how many of us get our news, entertainment and communicate. As such, more and more of what is done on a computer is not what is traditionally “computing” but more like using an appliance or consumer device: browsing the web, playing music, etc.

As this change happened, the focus of the market for computers has shifted from businesses and their IT departments to consumers. More and more attention is paid to enticing the home user to purchase a new piece of hardware or software. This is a problem for Microsoft because their strength has always been enterprise customers – from their Office software to how their Windows software could interface with all kinds of interchangeable hardware.

Steve Jobs has been quoted as saying that while some people need trucks, most of us can get by with just a car. Sure, some people need to haul lumber or tow something – the real world equivalent of photoshop or programming but most of us only need a “computing device” in a limited capacity, to consume. Browsing the web, listening to music, etc. We are just driving around. Apple realizes this and thinks that most users can get by with an iPad instead of a full fledged Mac computer.

Microsoft lost a lot of home consumers to Apple when people made the switch for the easier to use systems that Apple makes. Microsoft realizes this, and is now in the process of making its PC software more consumer friendly. Bigger brighter icons, touch friendly interface hiding all the ugliness. Plus, their new Windows 8 operating system will be able to be used on both Tablets and PCs, avoiding the issue of developers having to develop a tablet app and a desktop app – like they have to with iOS and Mac OS.

But what about those truck drivers who actually need to use a Windows device to do something? Well, Microsoft is handling this much better than they did in the past. Instead of forking their systems for Home and Business users (like they did with 95 and NT), they treat the Metro Interface as a “skin” on top of traditional Windows. You can exit out of Metro and get to the desktop if you need a more familiar Windows look and feel. This is similar to how Windows users could always get to the DOS terminal or Mac users can pull up a Unix Command Line. So, they avoid alienating users who wouldn’t upgrade for fear of not liking the new system and being stuck.

photo credit: gynti_46 via photopin cc

half the shit you call computing—running custom ROMs, reinstalling OSes, fucking with network settings—is like a chef sharpening his knives over and over and calling that cooking. Real computing is the actual stuff you do—cutting videos, editing photos, writing. Or at least it should be. Not the shit people do to make all of that work.

-Gizmodo, random thoughts on technology

Thats actually kind of profound. If you really stop and think about it. Most nerds/computer guys talk specs and tweaking this and fiddling with that. But that is not the end game. The point of computers and technology isn’t to spec out something. It’s to create a tool that better enables us to work or play. (warning you will roll your eyes after reading this next part) but that is why Apple is winning in the consumer race. They make products that people can use to make a movie about their summer vacation that isn’t terrible to sit through, and even easier to make. They hide the “work” that windows makes you wade through in order to just enjoy using your computer. Its about UX, not the specs.

I know. You are just getting used to Windows 7. But here is a quick peek at what Windows 8 will look like. It is a remarkable leap. Arguably as big as the change from Windows 3 to Windows 95. You can see heavy influence from the much praise UI design of Windows Phone 7.

Google announced their plan to launch their Chromebook line this summer. What’s a chromebook?

I was lucky enough to receive one of their beta test pilot Cr-48 notebooks, so I’ve been playing around with one for a few months now. Basically, its like having a notebook, but all that is on it is a web browser. That sounds extremely limiting at first. But think about how much you do outside of the browser? Outside of maybe word processing and music on iTunes, I bet 95% of what you do in on the web. And Google is trying to address the other two via Google Docs, and the newly launched Google Music.

And the benefits are quite appealing. Viruses are almost nonexistent. Startup is practically instant. And updates get pushed to the device.

If you want to learn more, watch the video below:

If you have questions about Chrome OS, leave a comment below.

By now you must have heard about the iPad. (if not see here)

Missing Features

The most common reaction, warranted or not, is “Oh, its a big iPod touch.” And honestly, yeah it pretty much is. It runs the iPhone/iPod touch Operating System. Along with that comes all the normal restrictions, including no multitasking, and weird notifications.

But, I predict this will change. The OS version is 3.2 according to reviews. The iPhone has had this OS since June. It is getting a bit old. Apple last year announced the 3.0 version of the OS on March 17th 2009.

The iPad is not going to be on sale until 60 days from the announcement date of January 27th. Right at the end of March. See the connection?

I predict that Apple will announce the 4.0 software in March, right before the iPad goes on sale. It might not be available at launch, but you will know it is coming. It will probably come later in June when the next iPhone comes around. Again, because the upgraded iPhone will probably have many of the same specs as the iPad (1Ghz processor, better screen resolution).

The 4.0 OS will have multitasking and better notifications. It just has to. How else would you be working on the new word processor app on the iPad and then paste in a spreadsheet from the spreadsheet app?

Who is going to use this?

Again, people are wondering – who is going to use this? Its clunkier than a phone. It has less functionality than a full computer. My prediction? Older people.

Hear me out- people like my Dad. He doesnt want to deal with drivers. He doesn’t want to mess with complex configurations and installations. All he wants to do is go online, maybe send an email, post to a college football message board, check scores and news. And this would be super simple for him to use.

The only missing feature? Printer functionality. This will prevent him from making the leap to using this as his sole computer. If printer functionality is added, this would be perfect for the “I’m not a computer person” in your life.