Number Nine ! 

Apple has released its new OS for their mobile devices including iPhones , iPad and even iPods. Like its counterpart in the Mac platform El Capitan this OS concentrates on tightening up the systems under the hood, reducing bulk, eliminating extraneous code. 

Also a new NEWS app.

  

 It’s Lean and Mean. It also adds a few major features a refined look with new system font named San Francisco and better integration within the Eco system. 

For a full well written detailed review of this latest OS and the features it now available  Click Here

New iPods are Finally dropped into Apple stores

new ipod touch

7/15/2015: Apple introduced an updated iPod line today. On the good side, lots of power bringing it up to iPhone 6 specs with a new 64bit A8 processor, access to Metal for gamers, M8 Motion Processor for fitness benefits and a 8 megapixel camera with stabilization. Overall 6x speed inprovements 10x Graphics compared to predecessor.Starting at $199 for 16gig five colors Space gray, blue, gold, pink, and silver as well as a Product Red option.

Under missed opportunities:  As my readers know, I do feel vindicated, barely, although Apple did finally update its iPod line supporting my prediction, they have not chosen to increased its screen size  (hoping for 7″) to better facilitate gaming nor have they increased its audio quality along the lines of Neil Young’s Pono player. Both moves I believed would have reinvigorated the line, ignited the Apple Music (Beats) brand and disrupted the hand held gaming market.

Oh Well 😎

Check out Jim Dalrymple’s of Loop Insight for more details here

 

Updates Updates Updates !!!! 10.4, 8.4 Music App Goes Live

Apple releases OS X 10.10.4 with networking fix, Mail and Photos improvements, more

(click image below to read Zac Halls 9 to 5s post on features)

yosemite

 

 

Apple Music & Beats 1 launches hyped by Eddy Cue, Jimmy Iovine & Trent Reznor

Click Image Below to go to Neil Hughes post in appleinsider

 

Apple Music

 

Apple’s Strong Stance on Privacy is starting to bear Fruit

 

Eric Snowden has publicly endorsed Apple’s stance on privacy during a video interview with Josh Constine of TechCrunch at the Challenge.rs conference held in Barcelona Spain

Read about and watch video here

Apple’s strategy of doubling down on privacy as an effective business model in response to Google and its Android OS seems to be bearing fruit for company. As arguably the most famous proponent of citizen privacy Erik Snowden commented directly to this question posed by TechCrunch journalist Constine

Continue reading “Apple’s Strong Stance on Privacy is starting to bear Fruit” »

Where is Apple headed with Beats Music, New HD iPod, DJs, New Sattelite Delivery Sevice ?

 

UPDATE 4 8/4/2015  This is what I am talking about with Radio starting to expand its channels Click Here 

UPDATE 3  7/15/2015: Apple introduce updated iPod line.  Well I feel vindicated, barely,  although Apple did finally update its iPod line, they have not chosen to increased its screen size to better facilitate gaming nor have they increased its audio quality along the lines of Pono. Both moves I believed would have reinvigorated the line , the Apple Music brand and disrupted the gaming market. Oh Well 😎

Check out The Loops Jim dalyrmple’s post for details here

UPDATE 2 7/3/2015: Wait a minute maybe I was right at least about a new iPod , hopefully with HD ability Check out this post.

UPDATE: I was mostly wrong for now , I believe my thoughts for a new HD iPod were wrong if not I’m sure Appke would have introduced it with the new Music unveiling. However I believe my concept of a DJ curated service will be incorporated not only to music but news as well.

 

Streaming music services are beginning to upend the Music industry. Stung by services like Pandora , iTunes Radio, Rdio and others, music business executives see this a positive development and a possible path to reinvigorate the industry. I have my own thoughts on this but more on that later *

Apple, who many credit with saving the Music business during the Napster days has seen a slow decline in iTunes sales last year. Apple famous for not spending money buying technology they believe they can do better spent roughly three billion dollars or triple the dollars they have ever spent on an acquisition buying Beats Music service. Why ?

Apple seems to have fallen behind other subscription services ? Why is it taking so long for Apple to launch? Apple long known for following the beat of its own drummer is once again taking their sweet time until they feel they have it right. After many years as experts in music , Apple understands that the model of incorporating algorithms to choose music for listeners does not encourage listeners to purchase or in this new model, subscribe.
I believe Apple has come up with a model that harkens back to the heyday of the music business, I predict they will reintroduce the DJ.

Continue reading “Where is Apple headed with Beats Music, New HD iPod, DJs, New Sattelite Delivery Sevice ?” »

Today a Famous Italian Director took us for a walking tour of Rome & then to dinner with 30 of his friends.

 

This new app allows people like you and I (the rest of us) to broadcast a live stream to viewers around the world.

Every day people are coming up with new ideas for live broadcasts from back stage of The Ellen Degeneres Show to Q&As with tech Billionaires as well as intimate conversations with people from all over the world. The possibilities are exciting. See below

I have found myself addicted to this new Twitter owned app for IOS. Periscope  

Periscope

Every day after he leaves his Studio usually around sunset the Director Giulio Base conducts a walking tour of the beautiful sites of Rome . The people who follow him can ask questions that he cheerfully answers in a variety of languages.

Later that night bacteria to EST Moe Saleh takes us into Times Sqaure, Central Park or Rockerfeller Center , inside Cathedrals or Grand Central Station as well as other parts of NYC where he has been known to hand out donations at the behest of his followers to people in need or local street entertainers for putting on a show just for us.

Check it out,  it’s free in The App Store by clicking the photo icon above.

This app is only for IOS users only (so far no word yet on a windows phone or android version) and best to keep your eye on your data usage, its live streaming after all. I use my iPad over WIFI and it’s been great !!!

 

 

Apple Buys its Own Forest , with Parcels in North Carolina and the State of Maine !!

From Buzzfeed

The land — two tracts in Maine and North Carolina that, combined, are roughly two and a half times the size of Manhattan — will be managed by The Conservation Fund. This land is part of an estimated 45 million acres of private forest in the U.S. that are in danger of being lost to development.

Apple Forest in NC

 

Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of environmental initiatives and former administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, told BuzzFeed News that the company managing its own supply chain — rather than buying pulp from outside vendors — represents a massive step forward.
“Imagine if every time you opened a package from a company you knew that it came from a working forest. And imagine if companies took seriously their paper chain and made sure that was renewable, just like energy. And imagine if they didn’t just buy renewable paper, but took the step of ensuring that they would stay working forests forever.”
@ over 36,000 acres it is more then twice the size of Manhattan Island, to be fair it probably costs more the $24 as well (apv)

Apple Watch is this its Time ? Mr. Form and Mr. Function step in the ring

After an unprecedented period of development, research and market preparation Apple with todays introduction of Apple Watch has positioned it self to once again to disrupt an industry. As Muhammad Ali loved to shout “They Shook up the World”. This time and for the first time without the guidance of, the man of the hour, the legend, the king of change,  the Master of Disruption the one and only  MR STEVE JOBS. Both Tim Cook and Jony Ives both having been anointed by Steve to replicate the duality embodied in his bodily form are accepting the heavyweight belt. Mr. Form and Mr. Function if you will today stepped onto the World Stage making this “Product” intro not just about a ground breaking new product combining both elements of that form and function equation but one that raises the bar by adding a new challenge for Apple, The fashion Business, not an easy crowd to please. It appears that Apple lead by the duo have taken this challenge very seriousely. Early on for instance, recognizing that for any wearable technology to succeed it had to be more then marrying form and function it had to be stylish enough for non geek consumers to wear, Apple scoured the globe for talent and knowledge outside it’s campus and brought that talent into the mothership and the Apple family. For the first time we are seeing power of Apple’s newly acquired financial resources and marketing savvy being utilized in a highly coordinated worldwide product launch. It certainly appears that Apple has taken their responsibility of due diligence very seriously. A requirement many of the world’s largest companies almost never take the time to do. Apple has demostrated by bringing on fashionistas Andrea Ahrendts and Mark Newhouse as well as other top personnel from the Medical, Health and Watch industry, that they are clearly speaking a new business language, one that lacks the arrogance that many accused Steve of having (granting that Steve’s genius was intuitive) but should command the respect deserving of a new Heavyweight Champion.

This is a Big Event for Apple

357-applewatchPSD

I am not one hundred percent sure that Steve had nothing to do with the Watch , I do know that the idea was in his head as evidenced in one of his last keynotes introducing the iPod Nano, every one of those present in the live audience could see that twinkle in his eye that we all knew meant he was up to something.

Apple Launches Upgraded iPod
SAN FRANCISCO – SEPTEMBER 01: Apple CEO Steve Jobs demonstrates the features of the new touch screen version of the iPod Nano as he speaks during an Apple Special Event at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts September 1, 2010 in San Francisco, California. Jobs announced upgraded versions of the entire iPod line, including an iPod Touch that includes a camera. He also showed the new iTunes version 10 and the release of the second generation of Apple TV. 

One of the members of our Board of Directors is going to use it as a watch,” Jobs said

SteveWatch-420x321

September 1 2010

September 1 2010


ICONIC: From Shrine of Apple A Great Gift for any Fan of Great Industrial Design

Iconic: A Photographic Tribute to Apple Innovation takes you on a tour of the most visually stunning and important products produced by the world’s most innovative company — Apple.

Iconic

With a breathtaking collection of unique photography, Iconic: A Photographic Tribute to Apple Innovation takes the reader on a tour of the most visually stunning and important products produced by the world’s most innovative company — Apple. Follow Apple’s journey through a photographic collection of their most important desktops, portables, peripherals, prototypes, iDevices (iPad, iPod and iPhone) and packaging.

Weapons Of Mass Distinction or How Apple dropped the Big One on Google

 

Googles Graveyard, just some of the apps , products and services Google has shuttered Google+ is now on life support. 

Google Businesses Killed

 

Hi Tech Buddies

Well another week and yet another announcement from Google about shutting down another previously touted service or product.

It seems Google has given up on its stated Dream to challenge Facebook with its Google+ application.

Link here for a well written Slate piece on the dearly departed.

Google’s failed effort to topple Facebook as a social media sight, and former scapegoat for other shuttered services an effort we were told that Larry Page was absolutely committed to and devoting all of Googles resources to. Once again people begin asking whats up with Google?

Why do they constanly cancel all these products and services ,  sometimes after committing fantastic advertising budgets to them, jumping out of airplanes and shifting employee’s lives around? Is Google just indifferent to the efforts of their developers,  indifferent to its loyal users who devote hours and hours of time and in some cases financial investment to these platforms, products and services only to be abandoned time and time again. Is Google as a company mindless, misguided, poorly managed? Do they not have a business plan?

I thought the answer to all these questions was obvious but I still see articles by tech journalist reportedly surprised when Google kills a product or Service. Whats up with them? Why are they all wasting talk and pencil lead pontificating about about Google’s “Noble” ambitions and strategy, is it just click bait or do they really not get it.

First lets say this one more time. Continue reading “Weapons Of Mass Distinction or How Apple dropped the Big One on Google” »

Apple Invites you to “Spring Ahead” Live Streaming Event Set Your Alarms!!


Apple Watch Event

On March 9th @ 10am PDT Apple will hold an World Wide Event introducing the Apple Watch to theWorld ! This will be a live streaming Event viewable on Apple Tv or direct from Apples Website. We hope to learn pricing and configurations as well as features not previously announced.

Steve Jobs unveils “One More Thing ” @ the 2014 WWDC, finally able to RIP

On Monday June 2nd,  Steve Jobs of Apple Inc. unveiled what will most likely become his Greatest Product to date.  Although passing away almost three years ago , Steve was able to unveil

“One More Thing”

steve & tim

Tim Cook’s Apple 

Like many of the products unveiled by Steve in his history at Apple Computer as well as Pixar and now Apple Inc. they are not so much a revolution as an evolution. Apple’s secret sauce has always been the ability commoditize technology and place it into the hands of the public as a useful tool for change. Steve once talked of producing a personal computer as friendly to use “for the rest of us” as a household appliance. In 1977 there were a handful of personal computers before the Apple 1 , and once again in 1984 (working as a pirate within his own company) he saw the need to replace the design with a more user-friendly UI the result became the Macintosh which today we call the iMac. This formula could be applied to software as well as hardware as in spreadsheets, desktop publishing, MacWrite, MP3 players, iTunes, Mobile Phones, iPad, iBook Author, iTunes U etc. all required a dash of Apple’s special sauce to make those product categories relevant and groundbreaking. Continue reading “Steve Jobs unveils “One More Thing ” @ the 2014 WWDC, finally able to RIP” »

IOS 6, is Here, its real and it’s Fabulous!

Apple released iOS 6 today. Apple’s servers are functioning nicely. You can plug your iPhone into iTunes and click “Check for Update” or go to Settings > General > Software Update on your iPhone. Along with a slew of apps updated for the new iPhone and IOS 6 . Also released Mac Os 10.8.2 and 10.7.5 for those not on Mountain Lion

Read Macworld’s review of Apple’s new IOS

 

Will Apple introduce “The iWatch”, Should Dick Tracy Watch Out !

Thx to ADR Studios for this concept design

With Apple changing the design of the iPod Nano and what looks to be a modified version of IOS could it be that Apple will be introducing an iWatch with capabilities to interface with the iPhone and iPad? I think there exists a very strong possibility.

Apple may see a market to populate these devices with custom apps like weather, exercise pedometers, email, twitter and text monitors, health apps, remote controls and Siri interface to control it all. This is a market Apple could really get into especially design wise. I can see Jony Ive having a lot of fun designing a “Fashion Accessory ” combined with a separate SDK allowing third parties to develop apps for it, this could be very interesting.

The technology of Star Trek and Dick Tracy may finally be upon us.

Click here to view one potential competitor all ready producing a product

click here to read an in depth post from Tog

When Apple litigates, it’s Personal and it’s Business!

Apple Inc. of Silicon Valley has declared war on “The Copyists”, their name for companies they believe have illegally appropriated Apple developed Technology. Many pundits think Apple is being over aggressive in their reaction and should just keep competing. Below I try to lay out Apple’s reasons and point out why this is an important business move but their selection of recipients is personal. Continue reading “When Apple litigates, it’s Personal and it’s Business!” »

Apple’s New 7″ iPad Touch, Tim Cook’s “Stroke of Genius” ?

This image in no way represents any product from Apple , instead I have added it to attract readers attention.

As a company Apple Inc. can be seen as sporting a Cheshire smile from ear to ear , Why you might ask , because they have been able to pull off their greatest product deception since , well, The original iPhone introduction. Read below to see I how believe Apple will surprise everyone with its new product.

Continue reading “Apple’s New 7″ iPad Touch, Tim Cook’s “Stroke of Genius” ?” »

Microsoft takes the fight to Google in “Requiem for a Heavyweight” at a phone store near you

Pressure Makes Diamonds

Here is how Microsoft is putting this x factor and it’s ring savvy to good use in their crucial battle with Google’s

Larry the Kid.

Continue reading “Microsoft takes the fight to Google in “Requiem for a Heavyweight” at a phone store near you” »

My Wish list for IOS 6, It’s that time of year ! How am I doing so Far? (Updated) 3 out of 10

It would appear that we are at a reaching point of useful new features in IOS. At least ones I can name off the top of my head, However with all new technology we can not predict what Apple or other parties have dreamed up. For now this is my wish list for IOS 6. Not necessarily in order of priority order. tv

Please fill the comments with your ideas! I will publish them and credit you in an upcoming post tv

  1. Junk Mail Control (I know theoretically it should not need it , but a lot still gets thru).    No 
  2. Group Email (oh do I need a good group email function for address book)  No 
  3. More control of address book functions (like manipulation of contacts into groups)  No 
  4. NFC for Electronic Payments (let’s get started with it tied to iTunes account).  Yes, Passport
  5. Tab key on the keyboard (what’s up with that).   Maybe
  6. APIs for the notification center, (I miss Weather and Stocks in my iPad notification center) No
  7. Ability to delete Apple apps that are no longer used (some of these Apple needs like address book but others like stocks they do not).  No 
  8. Signatures, multiple. Yes!!!
  9. rebirth of the bounce feature in mail (why did they drop that anyway). No 
  10. Ability to attach files and photos from within an email. Yes!!!
Over all Apple only hit 3 out my 10 wishes for IOS 6, Not Great