iPhone 6: the embiggening

May 13, 2014 by David Johnson

The word may be made up, but the sentiment is real enough. The iPhone 6 will be bigger than any iPhone that has come before it. There are two very persistent rumors. One is almost certainly real while the other is tantalizingly questionable. The first rumor is that the iPhone will come in a 4.7" screen size. If persistence equals veritas, then you can take this one to the bank. The second rumor is that a month or so later, another iPhone will emerge sized at 5.5". There have been different flavors of this rumor floating around for some time. It is far from confirmed. But it is worth considering the possibilities.

Why 1984 is not like 2014

April 28, 2014 by David Johnson

Microsoft has just completed the purchase of Nokia: the only company that was all in on building Windows Phone devices. To celebrate this occasion, Microsoft has released a new ad. Laughably ironic, Microsoft is painting itself as the underdog. More than that, they are juxtaposing themselves against Apple. Microsoft is the cool and scrappy countercultural niche player for the people who don't want to just follow the crowd. Apple is the grey, soulless establishment for people who have no imagination and just do what is expected. This is all a play on Apple's famous 1984 ad. As much as companies like Microsoft want to catch the zeitgeist of that ad, they never can. Here's why:

Despite new offerings from Samsung, iPhone 5S is still considered the best smartphone available

April 20, 2014 by David Johnson

In an effort to counter program the iPhone, Samsung and others, time their new smartphone announcements to be as far away from a new iPhone as possible. Since Apple releases new iPhones in the Fall, Samsung likes to release in the Spring. That gives plenty of time for the hype and interest surrounding new iPhone to dissipate. Samsung gets to own the product cycle for 6 months without any interference from Apple. Their new phone can be the new hotness uncontested by any real competitors. So how's that working out for the Galaxy S5? According to the New York Times, not so well:

While Apple fights one thief in court, they get robbed by another

April 14, 2014 by David Johnson

Microsoft reverse engineers Apple's Passbook, adds support in Windows Phone 8.1

When Apple showed off PassBook for the first time, I yawned. When I got a chance to try it for myself, I yawned even wider. You see, I haven't taken a single flight, or drank a single cup of Starbucks coffee since PassBook was released. I also have not used a loyalty card at a store. In other words, I don't do the sorts of things for which PassBook was designed. Despite my apathy towards the product, it has had quite an exciting life since its debut in iOS 6. Its biggest claim to fame is that it has been ripped off twice by competitors.

Naturally, the first was Samsung. I covered it at the time it happened. Samsung copied the heck out of PassBook and put in into its own product. Today, it was discovered that Microsoft has done something similar, only worse. Instead of just copying the idea and design of the app, they reverse engineered Apple's PassBook so that it's information can be read in Microsoft's wallet app. Since developers are only interested in writing for Apple's proprietary solution, Microsoft is trying to steel PassBook by making it less proprietary. Right now, PassBook is a feature that helps sell iPhones. If Microsoft has its way, PassBook will help sell Windows Phones as well. This, while Apple is in court with the other thief that stole PassBook. What a world.

David Johnson

Lies, damned lies, and tablet sales

April 12, 2014 by David Johnson

When lies are told about tablet sales, you know that Samsung can't be far away. In just revealed court documents in the Apple vs. Samsung trial, we learned that 2011 saw Samsung's Galaxy Tab sales at about a million units. That wouldn't be particularly interesting if it was not for the fact that Samsung mislead the media and investors to believe that sales of their iPad killer were much better.

More hilarious proof that all app stores are not created equally

April 08, 2014 by David Johnson

Until a few hours ago, Virus Shield was the #1 paid app in the Google Play store. This story is so funny, you just have to read it for yourself. Warning! Take some Advil to keep your sides from hurting too much as you laugh. I'll be back after the break with a little commentary. Read the link and enjoy:

Samsung and that selfish selfie: this is why we can't have nice things

April 07, 2014 by David Johnson

Give a group of kids a little freedom, and someone is going to ruin it for everyone. Samsung is that kid. Remember that piece I wrote last week about the presidential selfie from a Samsung device? The search continues for an unpaid Samsung fan I ended it by wondering if the president was a willing participant in a Samsung promotion or an unwilling dupe. Well we have the answer. The president was an unwilling dupe, and the White House is mulling legal action over it. From The Verge:

New documents reveal Samsung copied like there was no tomorrow

April 06, 2014 by David Johnson

Remember the tech trial of the century last year where Apple prevailed over Samsung, proving the Korean company copied like there was no tomorrow? Well, it's happening again. This time, it is over a different set of phones and a different set of issues. Even so, it looks and feels very much the same. Last year, there was a damning set of Copy Cat documents showing in detail, exactly how Samsung copied the iPhone feature after feature to make their phones look and feel more like the iPhone. This is what probably caused the jury to rule in Apple's favor so overwhelmingly. Well in round two, there is another set of Copy Cat documents that are even more damning. Here's the scoop from Appleinsider:

The curious timing of Microsoft Office for iPad

April 04, 2014 by David Johnson

Microsoft has been around for a very long time. Office has been around for a very long time. What many don't know is that Office was originally a Mac app, not Windows. Microsoft's relationship with Apple was very close. The point I am getting at is that making software for Apple products is nothing new for Microsoft. They know how to do it, and used to make quite a good living at it. They were not pushing any competitive hardware when the iPad was introduced. Why didn't they announce their intentions to make Office for iPad at that time?

The search continues for an unpaid Samsung fan

April 02, 2014 by David Johnson

Serious question: Has there ever been an instance of a celebrity seen in public using a Samsung product who wasn't paid to do so? The last high-profile use of a Samsung phone you might be familiar with is Ellen DeGeneres's infamous, star-studded selfie during the Oscars. She was paid to be seen with a Samsung phone on stage. At the same venue, when not on stage, Ellen used her iPhone. Samsung has decided that celebrity selfies are a pretty good promotional tool. So they are at it again. You'll never guess who they set up as their latest shill:

Time machine: the built-in backup solution for your Mac*

April 01, 2014 by David Johnson

Have you ever lost an important file? If not, you are either very young or very lucky. But being young and lucky is not a strategy for protecting your important work. Also, it is not just documents. Music, movies, applications, and photos are just a few examples of the types of things I've lost over the years. If you don't have a plan for avoiding loss, you are going to be a victim. For years, Apple has included software in the OS with the goal of keeping you from becoming a victim. It may be the most underutilized software that can save your digital life. Let's take a look:

Airport Time Capsule - 2TB review

March 30, 2014 by David Johnson

How's the wifi at your house? I don't mean to just dive in with a personal question. It's just that you might be suffering from a very common problem: high bandwidth, weak signal. The main symptom is that when you go to a certain part of your home, your iPhone, iPad, or Mac has a hard time holding a connection to the internet, or displaying web pages, or streaming music and podcasts. You might also suffer signal degradation when the microwave oven is on. If this is happening to you, don't worry. You're not alone. I might just have a solution for you:

Yet another reason you should think twice before using Android

March 30, 2014 by David Johnson

When a politician or judge proclaims he is getting tough on crime, it only makes me wonder what their stance on crime has been. It also makes me wonder what changed to make them care all of a sudden. What it never does is make me want to vote for them, as it is clear that crime is not a real priority for them. But we are not talking about politics. We are talking about Google, and their new stance on Android apps with deceptive ads:

What Office for the iPad says about the future of Microsoft

March 28, 2014 by David Johnson

Yesterday's announcement from Microsoft may look like just another product announcement in the tech industry, but it is quite a bit more than that. Microsoft indicated a major shift in strategy. Old competitors are now new partners. Microsoft fanboys and haters alike, are confused about the new messaging. They are no longer sure about whom to call friend or foe. Pundits are having a hard time forming cohesive opinions. This is the time before the new talking points have been established. Everyone is hedging their bets. Whether or not you are interested in the new Office product, Yesterday's news will have an effect on your future tech life. Here are a few observations:

It's official: Office 365 for iPad is here, unfortunately, no surprises

March 27, 2014 by David Johnson

Moments ago, Microsoft announced Office 365 for the iPad. The name of the product really tells you everything you need to know. It requires a subscription to use. More to the point, it requires a subscription to create and edit. You can view documents for free. Have fun with that. But that is the stuff we already knew. It is the deal breaker that will keep most people from even trying it. Even so, there was a bit of actual news announced at the event.

Chromebooks: the ultimate Trojan horse

March 27, 2014 by David Johnson

There is an excellent article in Education Week that I highly recommend for anyone with children in K - 12. I would quote it extensively, but I do not want to do anything to discourage you from reading the rather lengthy write-up. Therefore, I will just make a couple of observations on the subject matter in general:

Belkin attempts to crack the QODE with their keyboard case for the iPad Air

March 26, 2014 by David Johnson

The Belkin QODE Ultimate Keyboard Case for iPad Air is the latest entrant in the contest for the best iPad case. Just as an aside, I don't think the contest for the best Android tablet keyboard is quite as fierce. The iOS ecosystem is a huge advantage. Presently, there are some excellent keyboard options for all versions of the iPad, including the mini. But perfection is a tough target to hit. Some are close. None are them are perfect. They all have some flaw which keeps the iPad typist continually looking for something even better than what they have.

Apple addresses diversity, but it's not what you think

March 26, 2014 by David Johnson

Last week, I wrote an editorial on Jesse Jackson's call for more racial diversity in the leadership and governance of Silicon Valley companies. Jackson pointed out that many of these companies have zero diversity in key areas. But Jesse Jackson is not the only person calling for diversity, and governance is not the only area requiring attention. Apple has chosen to respond to a very different call, from a very different source, in a very different area:

Vapor world: How the rest of the industry competes with Apple

March 24, 2014 by David Johnson

Pictured above is Google Glass: Google designed eye ware that does not help you see. Two of the most notable things about the product is that it has absolutely nothing to do with vision, and it doesn't actually exist as a product. Even though there are a handful of very rich and geeky people walking around with prototypes of Glass, it is not a given that the product will ever be sold to the public. It is a skunkworks project being developed in public. ...and it is not alone:

iPhone 5c: how one of the most successful products of the year gained a reputation as a flop

March 23, 2014 by David Johnson

You know the one about the iPhone 5c, how it flopped harder than Fosbury? Surely you've heard about what a disastrously embarrassing failure it has been to Apple. Tim Cook practically admitted it, right? If you've seen any press about the iPhone 5c, it has been something to that effect. Today, we no longer question the assertion. We may discuss why it faild, but not whether it failed. Indeed, that is a curious position to be in for the product that outsold all other competitors. Appleinsider has the story: