Right now I have an HTC Desire, running Android so I am a fan. I like Android because it open, and it makes a brilliant phone. I thought it would be at least a year before I actually wrote this post. I was joking that Android will be so widely deployed that it will running washing machines. And lo and behold what did I find but Android powered home appliances. There are now touch interfaces for washing machines and microwaves running Android. I'm sorry but the "cool" factor for Android goes out the window when your Mom is using an Android touch interface to wash your underwear. These Android powered appliances have also made an appearance at CES. It makes the Android vs IOS fight fade into the sunset. I don't think there will be washing machines or microwaves run by IOS.
The other problem with Android could be a load of cheap phones running older versions of Android with no hope of upgrading to Froyo, Gingerbread and beyond. The spread of these phones could cause the same problems Nokia has. Too many handsets and no real phone that says this is Android.
Android could lose it's identity.
So is Android Microsoft's stalking horse? It could if Android fades as a popular choice while Windows Phone 7 matures. WP7 it will be made as a mobile only OS and hopefully never run a washing machine or microwave. Microsoft may take a similar tact with WP7 as Apple has with IOS, so you might see a version running Microsoft TV or a tablet etc.
If this happens I will lament the fall of Android, like I mourned the end of Symbian. They will both hold a special place in my heart, but I will be using something else.
Now where is my HTC Desire?
Thursday, 6 January 2011
Tuesday, 4 January 2011
What will Apple do?
I love computers. I am a computer fanboy. I like and use Windows and Apple computers (linux looks cool too). Microsoft and Windows seem to have a clear idea where they are going. They will continue to produce an operating system that will be a productivity powerhouse. With Windows 7 and beyond I can buy a cheap netbook, or set up an awesome 3D, Video editing workstation. Or a powerful Windows server.
Right now you have similar choices with Apple. From the iPad through Mac Pro you have a wide variety of choice. Except Apple has decided to stop making the Xserve, and previously they stopped making Xraids. Gee I'm glad we went all Mac with our server. Yes you'll be able to buy leftover equipment and third party stuff for awhile. They are selling Mac Pro and mac minis with OS X Server, which is an option, but try rack mounting a Mac Pro. Creative Cow asks if they will add fibre channel to Mac minis. At work, server space is a premium. The IT guys would laugh if we asked for space for mac minis or mac pros.
Both Microsoft and Apple produce software. Microsoft Office is a must have. Apple has their own Office products of which Keynote is a superior product. However Apple was rivalling Adobe with video editing software with Final Cut Studio. I love Final Cut Studio, it's an elegant editing solution. They supported the Red One, they have their own HD codec (apple pro res). Wow! Amazing! But is Final Cut profitable enough for Apple to support it? And with rumours flying about Apple cutting Final Cut staff and not attending NAB what are we to think?
I worry that with the success of IOS Apple will get bored of pro level support. It's happened with their servers, will it happen with Final Cut? DVD Studio Pro was a smart solution for DVD authoring, where are the Apple tools for Authoring Blu-Ray? Apple Shake and LiveType are dead. Will Final Cut Studio die?
In the light of Apple's endearment of IOS devices and their boredom of Apple pro software why is Steve Jobs ranting at Adobe? Steve Jobs should be reaching out to Adobe and begging them to support Mac Pro hardware with their Creative and Video suite. If we don't have Final Cut we will have to go with Adobe Premier Pro. Apple already relies on Adobe selling Mac Pro's to run Photoshop, After Effects and Illustrator. But these applications run fine on Windows. So if Apple starts ignoring the high end users will everyone flock to Windows? I love using Adobe applications on a Mac, but I also don't have any issues using them on Windows. I use Photoshop and Illustrator together with 3DS Max all the time on Windows.
Will Apple sell Final Cut? Pro Res? DVD Studio Pro? What if Adobe bought these and develped the heck out of it. Wow that would be fun. We could use Final Cut in peace knowing for sure it was supported, Adobe could create Blu-Ray studio pro.
So what will Apple do? I have high hopes, but also dread. So I'll say this;
Dear Steve,
Adobe can be your biggest ally in selling high end Mac Pro's and MacBook Pros. If you aren't going to develop your pro video software, let it go to someone who will. Yes the iPhone and iPad are cool, but what will people consume without production tools and hardware. I would hate to see the day when Apple is a consumer only company and all real productivity that shows up on your iPhones and iPads are produced only on a Windows computer.
Regards,
Fred Weimer
Right now you have similar choices with Apple. From the iPad through Mac Pro you have a wide variety of choice. Except Apple has decided to stop making the Xserve, and previously they stopped making Xraids. Gee I'm glad we went all Mac with our server. Yes you'll be able to buy leftover equipment and third party stuff for awhile. They are selling Mac Pro and mac minis with OS X Server, which is an option, but try rack mounting a Mac Pro. Creative Cow asks if they will add fibre channel to Mac minis. At work, server space is a premium. The IT guys would laugh if we asked for space for mac minis or mac pros.
Both Microsoft and Apple produce software. Microsoft Office is a must have. Apple has their own Office products of which Keynote is a superior product. However Apple was rivalling Adobe with video editing software with Final Cut Studio. I love Final Cut Studio, it's an elegant editing solution. They supported the Red One, they have their own HD codec (apple pro res). Wow! Amazing! But is Final Cut profitable enough for Apple to support it? And with rumours flying about Apple cutting Final Cut staff and not attending NAB what are we to think?
I worry that with the success of IOS Apple will get bored of pro level support. It's happened with their servers, will it happen with Final Cut? DVD Studio Pro was a smart solution for DVD authoring, where are the Apple tools for Authoring Blu-Ray? Apple Shake and LiveType are dead. Will Final Cut Studio die?
In the light of Apple's endearment of IOS devices and their boredom of Apple pro software why is Steve Jobs ranting at Adobe? Steve Jobs should be reaching out to Adobe and begging them to support Mac Pro hardware with their Creative and Video suite. If we don't have Final Cut we will have to go with Adobe Premier Pro. Apple already relies on Adobe selling Mac Pro's to run Photoshop, After Effects and Illustrator. But these applications run fine on Windows. So if Apple starts ignoring the high end users will everyone flock to Windows? I love using Adobe applications on a Mac, but I also don't have any issues using them on Windows. I use Photoshop and Illustrator together with 3DS Max all the time on Windows.
Will Apple sell Final Cut? Pro Res? DVD Studio Pro? What if Adobe bought these and develped the heck out of it. Wow that would be fun. We could use Final Cut in peace knowing for sure it was supported, Adobe could create Blu-Ray studio pro.
So what will Apple do? I have high hopes, but also dread. So I'll say this;
Dear Steve,
Adobe can be your biggest ally in selling high end Mac Pro's and MacBook Pros. If you aren't going to develop your pro video software, let it go to someone who will. Yes the iPhone and iPad are cool, but what will people consume without production tools and hardware. I would hate to see the day when Apple is a consumer only company and all real productivity that shows up on your iPhones and iPads are produced only on a Windows computer.
Regards,
Fred Weimer
Monday, 3 January 2011
No Netflix in the UK
Sometimes I feel left out. When Paul Thurott on Windows Weekly talks about Netflix streaming movies on the Xbox 360, I wonder why we don't have a similar link up with Lovefilm and the 360 here in the UK. I love my Xbox 360, Xbox live etc, but I would like to have a wider choice of movies, tv etc.
Another cool tech product Paul talks about is the Roku digital video player. The Roku box has netflix, hulu, flixter, amazon video and web content. It would be nice to this in the UK
There are some positives here in the UK for your Xbox 360. You can have video on demand via Sky Player on the Xbox. Sky and Microsoft really got this right. You can watch films and TV shows on demand. And now with the latest update the premium channels have adaptive bitrate so the quality is very good. I have to say that the Sky Player on the Xbox 360 is extremely polished, easy to use and a great experience.
There are Zune movies on the 360. You can download or stream HD films and the choice of films in the UK seems to be very good, although I don't know if the U.S. gets a better Zune service or not, comments appreciated.
Yes I like Sky Player on the Xbox, but we need more choice in the UK.
Another cool tech product Paul talks about is the Roku digital video player. The Roku box has netflix, hulu, flixter, amazon video and web content. It would be nice to this in the UK
There are some positives here in the UK for your Xbox 360. You can have video on demand via Sky Player on the Xbox. Sky and Microsoft really got this right. You can watch films and TV shows on demand. And now with the latest update the premium channels have adaptive bitrate so the quality is very good. I have to say that the Sky Player on the Xbox 360 is extremely polished, easy to use and a great experience.
There are Zune movies on the 360. You can download or stream HD films and the choice of films in the UK seems to be very good, although I don't know if the U.S. gets a better Zune service or not, comments appreciated.
Yes I like Sky Player on the Xbox, but we need more choice in the UK.
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