Apple Corporation is Bad for Technology

[MiddleClassCentrist]

Today Apple released the iPad Mini.

I wonder how many iSheep think the iPad mini is the pinnacle of innovation and will need one the minute it comes out even though they already have a traditional iPad and an iPhone.

The thing starts at over $300 and the Google Nexus 7 goes for $200. I can only see iSheep wanting to buy this thing.

This iPad mini doesn't even have the latest processor or a Retina display (whatever that is)

I bought a Playbook. Black Friday, on sale for 115... You can't get an Apple device with a screen for less that 150 new. I brought it to work and some said "hey, when did you get the iPad mini?" I laughed... Its as if 7" tablets never existed prior to the mini.

Loving my playbook, price value cant be beat at 115. Especially with more space and a better camera than the nexus. What it is missing is Netflix because they refused to make a BB playbook app (jerks). I wouldn't have paid the original $500 for it but, I wouldnt have bought any tablet at that price point.

[Boges]

Here's my next anti-Apple rant.

When told that Android is destroying Apple in market share, iSheep always respond that iPhones, Macs, iPads, have most of the profit because they are "better quality" and more "high-end".

Well today this rumour comes out.

http://www.cbc.ca/ne...per-iphone.html

According to reports in the Wall Street Journal, the highly sought after Apple iPhone could be much more affordable by the end of the year.

The reports suggest that a less expensive version of the iPhone, using different materials and presumably fewer bells and whistles, is in the works and might retail between $99 US and $149 US. Apple might yet decide not to go ahead with this version, the newspaper also says.

The makers of the iconic phone have faced stiff competition in recent years with the rise of smartphones running on Google's open-sourced Android platform. These phones, which have been steadily gaining market share, offer a wide variety of options and prices, which Apple has not been able to compete with.

Unless you're one of those people that refuses to get into a 3 year contract to get a free phone, you wouldn't care about the price of a phone. You can pretty much get a free smartphone of pretty good quality as long as you're willing to stick with your carrier for multiple years.

The Galaxy S2 is comparable to the iPhone 5, the Galaxy S3 is much better than the iPhone 5. There are Android phones set to come out this year that are crazy.

Android phones aren't cheaper because they don't have the quality of the iPhone, they're cheaper because Samsung, HTC, Motorola, LG etc don't require as much profit from each phone they sell.

With both the iPad Mini and, if this rumour is true, the cheaper iPhone, Apple's response to more inexpensive phones is to scale back on the tech, not take less money.

It's a tactic that will hurt Apple more and more as time goes on.

Edited January 10, 2013 by Boges

[msj]

I just don't understand the logic of the anti-Apple crowd.

They are thinking about introducing another model to the market and this is somehow a bad thing?

Companies do this all the time and as the smart phone market matures this is a natural result of competitive pressures.

Also you AAFB's (anti-Apple Fan Boys) don't seem to comprehend that the reason people like to buy Apple is for the O/S.

We like how it works. We are willing to pay extra because we like it.

Once again, this is good for the market as it provides different people with different products so that we can all be happy with whatever product we choose.

As for the money issue - once again, to buy an iPhone 5 without a contract is about $700-900. To buy a Windows Phone, Motorola or Samsung phone may be $400 to 600 depending on features.

For those of us who buy them (or do it on contract) the difference in price is worth it. See above re: o/s.

Why can't you just accept different strokes for different folks?

[Boges]

Because it's not as good tech. But they're pricing it like it is.

Sure to each their own but that doesn't mean make for interesting message boarding.

[msj]

Sure, if you are going to focus on specs then no argument.

If you are going to talk about preferences when it comes down to the user experience then that is very subjective but from what I see Apple is comparatively inexpensive for those people who like what it does and do not have to waste their valuable time screwing around with MS, Android, Linux, et al to do what they want to do.

But I'm not whining about those systems because I don't want my mugshot on whitewhine.com.

[dre]

Sure, if you are going to focus on specs then no argument.

If you are going to talk about preferences when it comes down to the user experience then that is very subjective but from what I see Apple is comparatively inexpensive for those people who like what it does and do not have to waste their valuable time screwing around with MS, Android, Linux, et al to do what they want to do.

But I'm not whining about those systems because I don't want my mugshot on whitewhine.com.

Apple makes good stuff, that anyone can use. Ive had an ipod and and Iphone 3 and iphone 4 and I liked them a lot. But then I bought an android tablet and I found I liked the OS just as much. Its really easy to use as well, and a bit more powerfull. Im going to try an android phone once my iphone dies.

Also to be honest, the frivalous patent litigation put me off apple quite a bit. But they make good gadgets for sure.

[Bryan]

I recently replaced my Android 7" tablet with an iPad mini. I always like the form factor of the smaller device, but using Android is painful. It's not bad as an eReader, but for anything else, I'd rather gouge my eyes out. For as long as I've had the Android tablet, I've said I'd gladly pay several times the price if I could get an iPad that was just as small. I did, and I'm happy for it. It's a superior experience.

I don't mind at all that there are Apple haters out there. The stuff is so popular that newer models are very hard to get ahold of because they simply can't make enough of them to meet the demand. If more people bought in to the anti-Apple silliness, that would make things much easier for me.

[dre]

I recently replaced my Android 7" tablet with an iPad mini. I always like the form factor of the smaller device, but using Android is painful. It's not bad as an eReader, but for anything else, I'd rather gouge my eyes out. For as long as I've had the Android tablet, I've said I'd gladly pay several times the price if I could get an iPad that was just as small. I did, and I'm happy for it. It's a superior experience.

I don't mind at all that there are Apple haters out there. The stuff is so popular that newer models are very hard to get ahold of because they simply can't make enough of them to meet the demand. If more people bought in to the anti-Apple silliness, that would make things much easier for me.

Im not an apple hater at all, but if I dont know how anyone can have a hard time using Android. Do ATM machines confuse you as well? Cofee machines? What exactly is the problem?

[Boges]

The reason there were lawsuits is because both interfaces are similar. But Android allows for much more customization. It still boggles my mind why Apple doesn't have anything resembling widgets.

[Bryan]

Im not an apple hater at all, but if I dont know how anyone can have a hard time using Android. Do ATM machines confuse you as well? Cofee machines? What exactly is the problem?

It's not confusing, it's just annoying to use. Android doesn't have a tablet specific environment, it's just a blown up phone OS. When you use an iOS app on an iPad, it's not just bigger than on the iPhone, there are more features, and more information.

ATM's? Coffee machines? Some of those machines have a fairly well designed interface, some others are pretty bad.

It still boggles my mind why Apple doesn't have anything resembling widgets.

Apple has had widgets for about 8 years now. They work really well in a desktop environment, but there really has not been much interest from iPhone users. It's seen as needless duplication, since what Notification Centre does very similar. You can set it up so that almost any app can display whatever info you need on the main screen with one swipe. Besides that, apps themselves are essentially widgets anyway.

Edited January 11, 2013 by Bryan

[Boges]

Apps are not the same as widgets. Widgets show the content of the app without actually having to launch the app.

BTW, Apple Fail.

http://www.thestar.com/living/technology/article/1314725--apple-cuts-orders-for-iphone-5-components-report

NEW YORK, N.Y.—Apple shares fell in premarket trading Monday after The Wall Street Journal reported that the company has cut its orders for iPhone 5 components due to weaker-than-expected demand.

The newspaper said that two people it did not identify by name told it that Apple’s first quarter orders for iPhone 5 screens have dropped to about half of what the company had previously planned to order.

[cybercoma]

The iPhone 5 was a big disappointment. Not enough "new" about it for people to switch. LIghter phone, bigger screen, and faster processor. An improvement, but not by much. Everyone with the 4 or 4s can upgrade to iOS 6 anyway.

[Boges]

When you only release one phone a year you kind of need it to be a huge success. Unlike Samsung that have a variety of phones to offer people.

[Fletch 27]

Apps are not the same as widgets. Widgets show the content of the app without actually having to launch the app.

BTW, Apple Fail.

http://www.thestar.c...mponents-report

I supply Apple with one "Major" component on the iP-5. Apple reduced Q1 and Q2 demand by a percentage that would kill its value.. Thats why its not out in the press. Needless to say... Selling them short "aint such a bad idea".

Good timing for RIm to Launch the Z10 and Q10. Apple killed itself with the iP-5 and Android platforms are just now coming out in the press as un-secure and now have incurred well over 100 cases of hacking financial transactions...

AND! The Gorilla glass lens and the 1.3mm thick LCD display, cant be dropped from an excess of 20cm's.... Yup, good times for RIM.

Today they sold out of the "White" model, completely sold out in the UK of the Z10, and over-all RECORD sales for any Blackberry launched to date. Stocks at $16.45... Still a KILLER buy.....

[Boges]

BB will do well initially for sales as loyalists have been holding out for over a year now. There hasn't been a new BlackBerry available for awhile. Those sales will slow down when the Galaxy S4 comes out.

Edited February 5, 2013 by Boges

[Boges]

Suck it Apple!

http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/story/2013/03/14/business-samsung-galaxy.html

Apart from the larger screen and upgraded processor, the S 4 has a battery that's 20 per cent larger than that of the S III. Samsung didn't say if that translates into a longer battery life -- the added capacity might be gobbled up by the bigger screen or other internal changes.

The S 4 comes with a built-in infra-red diode, so it can control an entertainment centre as a universal remote. This is a feature that has showed up in Android tablets before.

The S 4 comes with several new technologies intended to help users interact with the phone. For instance, the screen now senses fingers hovering just above the screen, and some applications react.

The Mail application shows the first few lines of an email when a finger hovers above it in the list, and the Gallery application shows an expanded thumbnail.

Users can control some other applications by making gestures in the air above the phone. In the browser, you can command the screen to scroll up by swiping from top to bottom a few inches from the phone.

The Camera application can now use both the front and rear cameras simultaneously, inserting a small picture of the user even as he's capturing the scene in front of him.

Apple, this week, went on the bitching circuit.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-57572151-37/spin-control-apple-goes-on-offense-against-android/

Schiller started the trash talking last week with a random tweet urging people to "Be safe out there" with a link to a report from F-Secure focusing on Android mobile security threats.

Then, on the eve of Samsung's Galaxy S4 announcement, Schiller sought out Reuters and The Wall Street Journal , to dis Android as "fragmented" and suggest that Android users were left far less satisfied than owners of Apple's smartphone.

"At Apple we know that it's not just enough to have products pumped out in large numbers," Schiller said. "You have to love and use them. There is a lot of data showing a big disparity there."

He also apparently said that you need "9 accounts" to get a similar experience as Apple. Which is a blatant lie. When I was in the Best Buy where I bought my phone I just needed to sign in on my gmail account and I'm set. Also now that I have Google Now (comes with Jelly Bean) Things that I do on a desktop while signed on to Google can retrieved on my phone". For example if I check a route on a desktop computer, that rout will show up on my phone.

I don't plan on buying this phone, yet anyway. But that's the thing about the cell phone market, you have to keep your phone 2 or 3 years to make it worth it.

Edited March 15, 2013 by Boges

[Boges]

iOS 7 got previewed today.

http://reviews.cnet.com/apple-ios-7/

Apple is completely playing catchup to Android. The big announcement here is the notifications and setting are being changed to something similar to what Android currently has.

On a current OS Android phone you can swipe down and find a variety of updates, what music you might be listening to, Google Now Cards, A hot key to your settings and several popular settings you can easily access.

Also the fact that Safari is the only browser is ridiculous. My Android phone comes with a stock browser, but I use Chrome. There are also 3rd party browser designed specifically for saving data.

The idea of an iTunes radio app similar to Songza and Slacker is pointless. It's just coming late to the game for something that already exists.

One feature that is rather cool is a first party flashlight. No need to download your own flashlight app and waste real estate on your front screen for it.

Also the fact that Apple didn't have automatic updates until now is crazy!!! at 7pm or later every day my phone looks for updates as long as I'm on a Wifi connection.

Edited June 10, 2013 by Boges

[cybercoma]

Safari's not the only browser, but it's actually much better than Chrome, IMO.

[Bryan]

Safari's not the only browser, but it's actually much better than Chrome, IMO.

As usual, most of what Boges writes about Apple is flat out made up.

I have always had several different browsers on my iOS devices (and on my Macs), but I still use Safari 90% of the time because it's just a better browser. It loads faster, it's more stable, the features integrate into the core functions of the OS, it syncs all bookmarks, accounts, and currently open pages across all computers and mobile devices. That last feature I use everyday to start reading a site on one computer/device, and come back to it later on another one.

Automatic updates is something a lot of users really don't want -- I sure don't. I BETTER be able to turn it off when it's implemented. Sometimes, the way an app or OS looked/worked before is preferred to the new one, and I never want those changes imposed on me, I always want to manually decide when and if I get updates. That's one thing that ticks me off about both Adobe and Google -- their applications keep defaulting to automatic updates, and you have to continuously reset the preferences back to manual updating.

The fact is, except for a few pieces of floaty eye candy, Apple is several years ahead of Google. It's isn't even close.

[Boges]

The fact is, except for a few pieces of floaty eye candy, Apple is several years ahead of Google. It's isn't even close.

You should defend that statement a bit. You can say you don't want the options Android offers but I can't see someone wouldn't like to have different options.

That's why it's good.

You may not like automatic updates, but clearly that's something people want or Apple wouldn't finally be putting it in iOS7. As for a cross platform browser. Chrome does that nicely. Google Now also keeps track of your Google activity on any computer where your signed into a Gmail account.

What are some of the things that Apple allows you to do that Google/Android doesn't?

Edited June 11, 2013 by Boges

[GostHacked]

You should defend that statement a bit. You can say you don't want the options Android offers but I can't see someone wouldn't like to have different options.

That's why it's good. You get tinting the way you like to use a computer or mobile device.

You may not like automatic updates, but clearly that's something people want or Apple wouldn't finally be putting it in iOS7. As for a cross platform browser. Chrome does that nicely. Google Now also keeps track of your Google activity on any computer where your signed into a Gmail account.

What are some of the things that Apple allows you that Google/Android doesn't?

I know something else in common between the two platforms, the NSA has access to both!

[Boges]

Another thing. A lot is being made of the revamped look of iOS 7. As if, how it looks matter.

Did it ever occur to Apple that allowing 3rd party developers to create themes based on what you may like is the way to go. That way user can make their phone look however they like.

That being said the new look, looks a lot like Google Now.

I think Apple should be sued

http://technewsreporter.blogspot.ca/2013/06/wwdc-apple-copying-competitors-side-by.html

Edited June 11, 2013 by Boges

[cybercoma]

What's with your anti-Apple crusade? I don't get it. I have a bunch of Apple products and I really like them. I don't begrudge anyone for having Android products. They're nice too. I can't for the life of me understand the fanboy attitude.

Edited June 11, 2013 by cybercoma

[Boges]

What's with your anti-Apple crusade? I don't get it. I have a bunch of Apple products and I really like them. I don't begrudge anyone for having Android products. They're nice too. I can't for the life of me understand the fanboy attitude.

I didn't start this thread but I'm simply adding evidence to back up the statements made in the OP.

Apple has decided to sue it's competition because they believe they own the basic principals of the modern smartphone. But in reality the competition does what Apple does, only better. IMHO of course.

Apple started this whole, My tech is better than yours with their "I'm a Mac, I'm a PC" ads.

I just like to point out that Apple isn't very state-of-the-art when it comes to the kind of tech they bring to market, but they are price their products like they are.

You may not care, which is fine. There are plenty of people that just have iPhone or Android phones just as basic tools. It bugs me that my wife uses her Android phone like an iPhone because it can do so much more than what she's using it for. But that's her choice.

There are people that like to use their tech for the newest and greatest stuff. I just found an Android App called Google Goggles that scans words on paper and translates them into simple text. If it's in a different language It'll translate.

I'm sure iOS has something like that, but I'm always looking for the new cool things to do with this tech I have. I just like to point out the difference.

Edited June 11, 2013 by Boges

[cybercoma]

Apple certainly didn't invent patent trolling. I agree that it's a despicable practice, but it's an unfortunate reality of the legal climate of corporate America.