Editorial: Can Apple Conquer TV?

Max Bleich is the Editor-in-Chief of thetechtile, who monthly publishes to the website a long-form editorial on the world in consumer electronics. From Apple to Google to Sony and Samsung, just about every topic in the tech world has or will be hit at some point. This month, Max will be commenting on the Apple TV, and it's underlying ambition to rule the living room. 

Perhaps one of the loftiest news stories that we've seen explode over the 'net in the last few days has been CBS's public revealing of their denial of an opportunity to work with Apple, who would have brought CBS content to Apple's TV platform. For anybody who isn't aware, the current Apple TV is a $99 device that currently serves as a do-everything streaming box. It connects iTunes content with YouTube, Netflix, user photo slideshows and news. However, despite the low price point, the device still remains nothing more than a "hobby"- which the late Steve Jobs has considered it to be from the beginning. However, the surfacing of the situation with CBS has brought to light Jobs's desire to dominate the TV market somehow, revealing that this was likely his last big project at Apple before his death.

Editorial: A Post Steve Jobs World

This last week the technology industry and the world itself suffered a major loss with the death of Steve Jobs. Although we've all been preparing for this for years (heck, rumors of his death were spread in 2008), seeing it come to fruition was truly haunting and increasingly difficult to comprehend.

Steve Jobs was undeniably the only reason Apple didn't die back in 1996. He came in, killed the clones, the cluttered product lines as well as the bad investments Apple had made since his departure. Apple is a company that thrives on innovation, and that is what sets it apart from the crowd. Apple is so important in the industry, as it has set the precedents upon which competitors look at to imitate and throw onto the market under their own brand.

Apple began the computing industry and has revolutionized it four times- all of which have been directed by it's founder and father, Steve Jobs. He was the visionary- the man that conceived and breathed life into the products that have undoubtedly changed the very foundation upon which this industry exists. We'd be nowhere without Steve. So this begs the question- where do we go from here? Where does Apple go from here? What will happen to the innovation in the industry?

Musings on Steve Jobs

Although Review Editor Zach Davis isn't due for another video game review until next week, he has offered his own reflection on the death of Steve Jobs and Apple. You can check out the rest of Zach's stuff here.

Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock today, you probably already know that Steve Jobs, founder and, for much of his life, CEO of Apple, passed away today at the horribly sad age of 56. You also probably know the nitty-gritty better than I do, but I don’t care about that anyway: I want to talk about this man’s legacy.

Steve Jobs, 1955-2011

Steve Jobs, a catalyst of the personal computing industry, who has left an immeasurable dent on the hull of modern human society, has died today at the age of 56. Throughout his lifetime, Steve has made a plethora of contributions to the world in the form of consumer and professional products that have become an unmatched industry standard. The void that Steve has left in the world is great, as well as his child, Apple Inc., as a ship without it's captain.

Steven Paul Jobs, as he was named, was born into the world to a parent that was in college and wished not to deal with him. He was to be adopted by a wealthy family, until they decided last minute that they really wanted a girl. Steve would then be adopted by a middle class family in Mountain View. Their names were Paul and Clara Jobs.

Steve wasn't really into education, and had dropped out of Reed College in 1972 after deciding that it wasn't really for him. What looked to be the end of a bright future, was actually the opposite. Steve returned to California and met up with a friend, Steve Wozniak in 1974 where the pair would participate in the Homebrew Computer Club. There, the two Steve's sold a product that allowed for free long distance calls utilizing a whistle found in Captain Crunch boxes as a prize. It was called the Blue Box.

What started out as a hobby soon brewed into passion. Jobs turned Woz's creations into products, selling them all across California. Eventually, Woz invented a personal computer that could be useful for the average man. He and Jobs built about 50 of them and sold them under the name Apple I.

The Apple I was only the beginning, as the two worked hard on a newer product built inside of a plastic casing. This went by an equally creative name of the Apple II. And this is where the company known as Apple Computer flourished. In what seemed to be only days, the two Steve's had hit it big. The Apple II was everywhere and used by everyone. The personal computer revolution had begun.

Apple fought tooth and nail against competitor IBM, each one trying to one-up the other in a constant struggle to be the best. In 1983, Jobs decided that he needed a CEO to take over the bigger picture while he focused on innovation. He hired John Sculley, then CEO of Pepsi, with the famous line "Do you want to sell sugar water for the rest of your life, or do you want to come with me and change the world?"

In 1984, Apple revealed it's biggest attack on the computer industry in the form of the Macintosh. Finally, there was a computer that was easy to use- with a graphical user interface manipulated by means of a cursor on the screen using a device called "the mouse". From then on, everybody and his brother had rushed out to competer. And only a few months later, in a conspiring move, Bill Gates of Microsoft had released Windows- based upon information he had stolen from Apple.

In 1985 Steve Jobs was fired from the company he started in a power struggle between himself and CEO John Sculley. He moved on the found computer company NeXT and entertainment company Pixar. From there, Steve had already began to bring himself up from rock bottom. One step backward, two steps forward.

Steve lasted the next decade on these two companies- with Pixar working with Disney to produce the first successful computer-generated film, Toy Story in 1995. NeXT, although not as successful as Steve would have hoped would prove to be a key element of Steve's future.

The 1990s were tough for Apple. The direction of it's leaders was twisted, the products lacked innovation and the competition was better. To save itself from existence, Steve Jobs was hired back as Interim CEO of Apple. From there, he cleaned out the comparative mess left behind by previous figureheads of the company as he emptied Apple's board of directors and replaced them with the competent men and women that have brought Apple to be the amazing company it is today.

In 1998, Apple unveiled it's first renascence since the Macintosh. The iMac, as it was named, was a product aimed at internet access, more advanced processing and ease of use. For the third time in his life, Steve had released a blockbuster hit- changing the industry from boring beige boxes to beautiful, advanced workhorses for everybody.

As 2001 rolled out, Steve Jobs unleashed upon the world the iPod- the device that brought 1000 songs into your pocket and brought back the music industry from the grave. Never before had such been possible or even plausible. And for a reasonable price, he had once again delivered a revolutionary device.

Flash forward to 2004. Steve Jobs has met his first meeting with the hands of death. He was promptly diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and left with a very short amount of time to live- as the disease is usually considered to be a death sentence. Yet, somehow, by sheer luck, Steve had a rare form of the disease which was removed by surgery. What was thought to be his last bout with death, had become his first.

In 2007, Apple changed the world a fourth time with the iPhone- which combined the power of the internet, the convenience of the phone and the entertaining value of the iPod into one solid device. It also proposed to the world a new technology in the form of the flawless touchscreen. Instantly, Apple had thrown the industry into a giant mess in trying to compete. Google launched Android. Palm launched webOS. Microsoft struck back with Windows Phone 7.

In 2008, Steve took another leave of absence to focus on his health. Only a few months later, Bloomberg posted a mis-guided 2500 word obituary to Steve Jobs. Later it would be revealed that Steve had undergone a risky liver transplant that saved his life. He returned thinner and appeared sicker than he had been before.

Somehow, in less than three years, Steve and Apple had done it again with a new take on the computer called the iPad. It took the innovation of the iPhone and projected it onto a larger screen- startling developers into pushing out apps that have, like the product, changed the world.

This year, less than two months ago, Steve Jobs stepped down from his title of CEO and passed it onto then COO Tim Cook. He remained on the board of directors as chairman- overseeing the big picture while Tim focused on day-to-day.

And today, October 5th Steve Jobs died after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. Although Steve was taken from the world before his time, he had accomplished more than anybody could have done in multiple lifetimes. He has shaken the very foundation upon which this world sits and changed it for the better. Innovation upon innovation he had continued to change the way we live our lives. Everybody has been affected by Steve in some way- and we owe him so much for the contributions he has made to this world.

As we look forward to the future, its very difficult to come to closure knowing that Steve Jobs is no longer with us. Undoubtedly, Steve was a fantastic human being; a role model for us all. He was a strong leader and an effective thinker who focused all of his power into making the world a better place, and for that he will be truly missed.

Editorial: HP Without Apotheker

For less than a year Leo Apotheker had joined HP. In less than a year, he successfully destroyed its vital pieces. And in less than a year, he cancelled the results of a $1.2 Billion acquisition that had so much potential- all because he lacked the will power to rival with the competition.

Reading this title we can look at the former HP CEO's effects in two ways- the positive or the negative. Unfortunately though, it's almost impossible to find such a positive. He came in and left behind him in his departure a comparative disaster upon which it will take years to fix. The result of his actions has left both himself and the company he ran in a laughing stock all across Silicon Valley. It's easy to look at what he did while he was in power- but it's incredibly difficult to imagine the future of the company now that he has finally left it behind him.

Opinion: Apple's iPod Line is a Total Mess

Almost ten years ago, Apple dipped into the music industry and changed it forever with the revolutionary iPod. Ever since, when we have all thought of tiny mp3 or music players- we've thought of iPods. And rightfully so; they produce the industry standard for portable media players (PMPs) and make the best products in the world. They earned their success. But the market is changing- smartphones and tablets are eating up media player market share. At the same time, the relevance of the products are slowly fading into oblivion- but we all still need that product that has excellent battery life, small size, a robust and unbeatable design, large storage sizes and ruggedness. That's the iPod line as it was once upon a time. But as I've said before, things have changed. The products are not as revolutionary and awesome as they were in the past. Something needs to change soon- or Apple will loose the beautiful gem that is the iPod product line.

Editorial: Apple Without Steve Jobs

If you haven't heard the news yet, it's time you did. Steve Jobs stepped down from his position of CEO, and instead opted for a lesser title of Chairman of the Board. He didn't die, and as far as we all know, he doesn't have cancer. But he's older, weaker and thinner. He isn't as fast as he used to be, and the CEO job just isn't working out anymore. Not only that, but the company needs stability and assurance for when that day comes when unfortunately, Steve will no longer be around. As much as we like to deny it, the world only gets one Steve Jobs. And unfortunately, if his condition (whatever it may be) is any indiction- he's a spent force.

The job of CEO is a stressful one, for any company. Then imagine being CEO of Apple. How exhausting must that be? You'd need to be cold, calculating, innovating and capable of dealing with loads of stress and pressure. Sure, Apple's been doing amazingly well lately. Hell, they just re-invented the tablet computer, and they launched the smartphone business full steam ahead. Apple's products are selling like hotcakes- even though the prices really aren't as affordable as the competition. After what is approaching only a year and a half, Apple's iPad is still the number one tablet "PC" on the market. And honestly, the competition is trying too hard to mimic the product. But that discussion is for another time and place. Again, Apple is doing amazingly well- better than any technology company on the planet, and for a brief moment, even better than Exxon Mobil.

Some may argue that Steve Job's is the only innovator behind Apple and if his presence were to cease, the company would dive down like an angry flock of vultures. But honestly, this isn't even close to true. Sure, Tim Cook isn't Steve Jobs, and he's not really the innovation type as far as we know. That's what Johnny Ive is for and Phil Schiller and all the other creative people down at Apple HQ. Still, the world and the company will never be the same when Steve does pass away, which hopefully is many years from now.

The way in which Apple looks and operates years from now is not too soon to change. They will always be that creative, evangelistic, powerful and innovative company we have come to know and love. That's just the way that Apple is. Sure, Steve's departure in 1986 didn't fare well for the company. But they were in a totally different situation. The executive's keeping the company alive wasted money in useless and troublesome products that appealed to neither the consumer nor the businessman. There were too many products, a problem that's all about control.

The products didn't compete either, and they lost the fun and excitement Steve brought to the table before. As a direct result of that, the company slipped under and by 1996, there were talks of bankruptcy. And then, miraculously, Steve Job's jumped into the picture and waved his magical wand of smart business man power and turned the company around completely.

The useless products were dropped, and the company focused only on four computer lines- consumer laptops and desktops and professional laptops and desktops. Then Apple changed the world with the iPod. It doesn't matter what MP3 player you are using today, it was influenced by the iPod. Then Apple changed the wheel again with the iPhone in 2007. How can you imagine a world without your smartphone? In the heat 0f fame and power, Apple did it again with the iPad, which took the world by storm and is currently killing the entire PC industry. Meanwhile, all the other companies are kicking themselves wondering why they never thought of that. And in the future, Apple will continue to launch major changes to products, or invent products like they've done on every opportunity. With Tim Cook, Johnny Ive, Phil Schiller, Peter Oppenheimer and Scott Forestal turning the wheel and executing major strategic decisions, Apple will fare well.

Steve Jobs is a control freak, a perfectionist and a product-making genius. His brain is one of a quickly calculating, innovative and powerful breed. He really is like no other man. He's arrogant, and that arrogance really just helps to make for a better boss who really, in the end, knows better than everybody else. That's an issue Apple is going to have to get used to. The idea of losing Steve, although extremely difficult to imagine, will happen one day. It's a sad, empty feeling. Things will simply never be the same.

We can't understand or begin to imagine a world without the genius that is Steve Jobs. And frankly, neither can Apple.

Editorial: Where HP Went Wrong, Right, and How to Fix Things

On April 28, 2010, HP announced it would acquire Palm for $1.2 Billion. At this time, HP was doing great, but Palm was failing fast- their products were aging, and the new hardware and software wasn't selling very well. At the same time though, the software had a lot of potential, being the only true user interface competitor to Apple's iPhone. As the year marched on, the Palm brand died and was replaced by HP. On July 1, 2011, HP launched the first and the last webOS tablet. Then on August 18- a mere fifty days after the release of the HP TouchPad, the large, successful company announced that they were done with webOS, they were done with the Pre and they were done with the TouchPad. The product itself didn't even have the time to grow or evolve. To add insult to injury, the company also revealed it's plan to duck out of the hardware business and jump into software.

What they got right.

The Touchpad, although rather bulky when compared to the competition, was the only product that actually staged itself as a reasonable competitor to Apple's iPad. It had the speedy, simple interface that's look and feel almost mirrored iOS. Yet, Palm's use of gestures was so innovative that it proved to the perfect rival to Apple's solution and helped make the interface feel more natural. Another worthy thing to mention was the multitasking- it was real and the only solution that just... felt right. Apple uses background multitasking, and it barely takes advantage of the memory under the hood. Google's Android solution just became a RAM hog, and RIM really didn't have it together.

The Pre was a fantastic phone. It was small enough to be cradled in the palm of your hand, it was light enough to shove or slip into any pocket. The interface, as mentioned before, was simple, clean and beautiful. For myself, I found it to be more visually stunning than iOS. But hey, it's just my opinion. The Pre also happens to be one of most attractive designs I've ever seen in a piece of hardware. Sure, it's not up to iPhone standards, but then again, it's target market doesn't really care about appearances.

Where they went wrong.

The Veer was horrible. That being said, the thing is freaking adorable. But in all seriousness (can you believe we're being serious today?) the Veer was lacking in more places than not. The largest flaw, which has been flaunted as the product's greatest feature, is it's tiny chasis. Unfortunately, most people who use a touchscreen phone, expect a display with a size of 3.5 inches or greater. The Veer, although following in the same screen size as it's older brother, the Pixi, is far too small to use and feels too much like a toy. To add to it's cheapness, webOS performance feels too sluggish and it annoys the hell out of me. Sure, it's faster than the original Pre, but this half-baked sequel to the rather snappy Pixi just feels rushed and over thought. Because of this, the unit didn't sell well. That just leads to the next issue...

Why didn't HP just release the Pre3 at the same time as the Veer? The Pre3 is perhaps the best looking and most sensible continuation of the Pre line- an upgraded chasis, a better keyboard, webOS 2.0, a 1.4 GHz processor... the list goes on and on. This is what the Pre2 should have been, but wasn't. Instead of focusing on the Pre3, which would have been the savior to the webOS product family, it focused on it's iPad competitor- the TouchPad.

The biggest problem with the TouchPad is, HP focused so hard on beating the first iPad instead of it's successor. The hardware feels the same- with the same thickness of the iPad and dimensions. To add to that, it shipped with a glitchy version of webOS, when they easily could have waited and shipped a fresher version that fixed everything. The use of plastics just makes the device feel cheap, and the display leaves a rather stale taste in our mouths. It's the iPad 1, in a world of iPad 2 copycats. Because of that, it was ignored. But then, HP decided to liquidate their stock at ultra-cheap prices. They brought it down by a hundred dollars and then three hundred dollars... until the product cost only $99. It sold out like wildfire. And apparently, the company is now processing more just so that they can satisfy the newfound desire for the product.

What HP should do to fix things.

Kill the Veer and focus on the Pre3. The Veer has no place on the market, and therefore is just cluttering the selection of webOS devices. The Pre3 is the potential savior of the platform, and so far has a lot more potential than the Veer or the TouchPad ever did.

Upgrade the TouchPad in terms of both hardware and software. Don't try and mirror the iPad 2. You should be able to say that your product not only competes with the iPad, but blows it out of the water. Get developers excited and ready to build the best applications they can, and make it easier for them to code. Focusing on just one development platform makes things a lot easier.

License webOS to other companies, and give the users more choice. Don't focus on exclusivity like Apple does. You're trying to hard to be Apple, instead of focusing on building the best products in the industry.

Support your early adopters; the people who bought the Pre, Pre Plus, Pixi, Pixi Plus and the Pre2. Those are the users who have stuck by you to the very bitter end, and like you for webOS and it's features. If you don't support them, you'll lose them to Apple or Google. Giving users 50 dollars off of the TouchPad, instead of providing software updates or new phones, is not the way to conduct business. When users purchase a device, they expect support for 3-4 years.

Just one more thing...

Selling off or even spinning off your powerful PC business is a huge mistake. Your users will never forgive you, your products will ultimately be garbage, and innovation will be non existant. Pump innovation through both business and consumer sectors. Give people what they crave for in a product. Make it sexy, make it affordable, make it easy for anybody to operate. That's why Apple's been kicking your ass these last few years. Take a stand, because if you don't, somebody else will.

Editorial: The Death of Borders Doesn't Spell the Death of Books

I hear it everyday, all the time and everywhere. They defend it so strongly, and refuse to listen to the truth and the data points and instead rely on their own standards. I'm talking about people who read, and actually, people who don't. I read very often. In fact, I constantly immerse myself in books, I read news everyday and I use those things to manage this blog. I am not a book hater, I am not illiterate, and I don't think the book industry will ever die. Sure, we've all seen a complete disappearance and loss of book stores in our neighborhoods. And it's not likely to stop anytime soon. Reading is a pastime, a hobby, a dedication and a purpose. We read because we want to learn, we want to live, we want to love and enjoy life through the eyes of others. We want to relate to other people and enjoy their stories- fiction or non. We read because we are human. And books, just like television, radio, gaming, music and even the internet is a form of media... and a popular one at that. Books can never die. But that doesn't mean they can't change.

Books have been the same way for so many years for a big reason- it just works. Books are amazing because they quickly and easily manage to disappear and allow the reader to experience and enjoy the world as created by the author. There really hasn't been a sensible replacement for books until now. Actually, there has been only one major change in how we read texts. Before books were made of paper (thus being made of trees) they were made of silk spun from silkworms- making literacy a rarity. However, once the medium shifted to paper, text became dirt cheap to own, easier to read and collect, and nicer to transport. Thus, the book hasn't changed since. But, after all these years, who's to dictate that change is so bad?

Books are also hard to mange when the collection becomes large, causing owners to go out an spend money on expensive book shelves and other means of storage to feed their obsessive reading and collecting habits. In the end, this not only costs more of your hard earned money, but also space in your home. Not to mention that books use up paper and cost money and energy to make. In contrast, ebooks are just simple files that are easy to edit, import, export and share- as they're very small in size. In the end, you pay more for standalone paper books than you do for ebooks. The Amazon Kindle costs only $114 for the ad-supported model, which only displays ads on the homescreen and as a screensaver- never getting in your way during your reading. It also supports PDFs and documents, allowing you to read your important files on the go with the click of a button. If you want internet access everywhere, it only costs $139 for the ad-supported model. Or, if you hate the barely apparent ads, it'll run you $139 for the Wi-Fi only kindle and $189 for the 3G model. But really, the ads are barely there and only help you out and give you deals on the Amazon store, so they're more of an advantage than a disadvantage.

People always worry about ebook readers and their readability in the strong sunlight. Thankfully, all good ebook readers make exclusive use of a technology called eink- which is just as clear and clean as paper. Not only that, but the device is thin and light for easy prolonged reading and transportation in bags, purses or backpacks with ease. In fact, most ereaders are the size, if not smaller and lighter than most paperbacks. You really won't have a problem transporting this thing where ever you need to go.

So, is the book dying? Not at all. The book is simply changing form and becoming something better and easier to use and own. In reality, the idea of a book is to become a convenience and not an experience. It's simply a vessel to allow the words of the author to thrive. If we can make it easy, why not do so? What's so great about carrying around large, clunky books and having the magical ability to physically turn a page? Do people use it as a workout or is it some strange nostalgic feeling that makes people feel better about reading? Whatever it is, it's time you stop making up excuses and at least take a little time to look at the ebook. You shan't be disappointed.

Bigger, Badder, More Refined: The Mac OS X Lion Review

Apple's flagship operating system, Mac OS X, has been around for a decade, with major releases rolling out once every two to three years- unlike it's competitor, Microsoft Windows. Interestingly enough, with each new software update comes not just visual and usability improvements, but also performance and noticeable OS speed changes that always seem to benefit the end user. With the seventh major revision to Mac OS X, a lot is expected from an OS that dares to call itself a lion. But, as it turns out, this name is the best way to define Apple's robust computing platform. Let us begin!

User Interface



Apple is perhaps one of the best companies when it comes to delivering a solid, speedy UI that appeals to both consumer and professional users. On the consumer end of the spectrum, simplicity is a key factor that dictates how fast simple tasks are accomplished. The same goes for experienced users who wish not to toggle with an OS to make it work, but to jump in and jump out without a moment to lose. Lion manages to accomplish both of these tasks, presenting the user with a refined experience tailored for ease of use. It seems that every aspect of the interface has been modified to some extent. Window Buttons, for example, have shrunk with the green "go" button given a new fullscreen functionality. Windows still have that attractive grey gradient, but it seems that it has become a bit lighter- something most users won't care to notice at all. At the top right hand corner of most windows, is yet another full screen button that allows most apps to jump into the new fullscreen mode and make use of the added space. Remember when Aqua was released? Yeah... that's pretty much faded away. The gooey scroll bars have been replaced with iOS-esqe solid grey ones that fade away when not in use... for most apps. Loading bars, buttons and checkboxes have been slightly modified to help slowly do away with the old, aging Aqua interface OS X grew up with. It was cool then, but its slowly losing its appeal a decade later. Surprisingly, these new features don't feel too cumbersome, and the interface remains very snappy and buttery with very little OS lag issues (But sometimes, when over-multitasking, it's happened to me). One thing that is deathly apparent in Lion, is Apple's love for textures. Whether it's the bumpy, plastic surface in Dashboard, the worn leather in iCal or the grey cloth at the login window, there are textures everywhere. Usually, incorporating these features are great in touch-based interfaces. But the problem is, OS X isn't a touch OS. You use a trackpad or a mouse. Whats the good of these textures if I can't touch them?

Launchpad, Mission Control and Widgets



Although widgets have been a part of the OS X family since the 10.4 Tiger release, Expose and many of the aspects of the Finder have been replaced by two newer apps; Launchpad and Mission Control. Launchpad is basically the Mac version of iOS's SpringBoard application- displaying applications in a touch-centric grid-like interface. But honestly, this makes no freaking sense if OS X isn't even touch compatible. Seriously, who thought of this? Not only that, but Launchpad is an application. No, it's not part of the UI. It's an application. This means you need to open it yourself to use it, which its totally senseless when I can simply dash into my Applications folder I keep in my dock, find the app and open it. Another thing I could do, which sometimes is faster, is search for the app and launch it in seconds with Spotlight. So, besides looking pretty, Launchpad contains no real useable aspects to it.



Mission Control however, is a very different story. Imagine Expose merging with Spaces. Yep, thats basically what this is. With the touch of the former expose key (F3 on most Macs) or opening it from your dock, you're immediately launched into a slick interface displaying open applications and the windows that accompany it as well as the current state of your desktop and the dashboard. In the real world, Mission Control has been very useful to me. Typically, I run anywhere from four to six applications as once, and more always seem to be running in the background. I'm a full-blooded multitasking machine. Whether I'm screwing around in Photoshop, blasting Bob Dylan over iTunes, browsing the web over Chrome, writing up a document in TextEdit, checking my email or even playing a game everything is very, very snappy as I jump into Mission Control and switch into other apps. Not only that, but I usually run VMware Fusion with Windows XP in the background, using the apps whenever I need them. All of this with only 2 GB of RAM and a 2 GHz Core 2 Duo. That's simply amazing. As far as widgets go, they're all the same, besides the new isolated panel they will now be living on, which honestly, makes a lot of the clutter go away from the interface.

Speed, Stability and Bugs

As mentioned earlier, OS X seems to feel speedier and speedier with every update, and Lion definitely doesn't fall short of expectations. Every little action in the OS is buttery smooth and fast acting, with little-to-no delay time (at least, that I can notice). Opening apps is fast, navigating around the desktop is fast, multitasking enough to burn a hole from the computer is fast. Everything is speedy. As far as stability goes, OS X is the grand standard in protection. Built on the rock-solid UNIX foundation, silly viruses and malware don't even touch the surface of Apple's fierce cat, let alone come near it. If you're in the market for a secure, virus free platform, Mac OS X is always a safe bet.

WHERE IS ROSETTA?



Yes, it happened. Apple removed PowerPC support through Rosetta from OS X. For most people this isn't a big deal at all. For me, this mean Halo Demo support is dead as well as my other favorite old PPC apps. But seriously, how hard would it have been for them to simply port the platform over to 10.7? Would it really have been difficult enough that it would be scrapped altogether? Well, its like this, Apple is moving forward. They officially cut off PPC support with the previous release, Snow Leopard, and now they're cutting off PPC application support with Lion. However, as I've said, most people won't notice as the apps used by most are either going to come from the app store, or the shelves of a store where PowerPC software is nowhere to be seen.

Mac OS X or iOS?

One of the new features of iOS 5 (coming this fall, likely September) is PC-Free. iPads, iPod touches and iPhones will officially be "real" computers, independent of Mac or PCs. Updates will arrive over the air (OTA) and syncing will also be cordless. So honestly, if I really wanted to, I could buy an iOS device like an iPad 2 and never have to worry about updates or anything that would require a Mac or PC. Its not like this isn't a plausible choice either. A lot of people who buy iPads, iPhones or iPod touches don't own computers, and wish to use the devices as such. But honestly, OS X is still a solid platform with tons of support and functionality that make it not only worth using, but rewarding with the speed and stability of a super computer. In the end though, its all about what you need the device for. If you happen to be a college student in need of something to take notes with and use to write up term papers, then a MacBook would for sure be the way to go. However, if you like to travel and be able to just browse the web, check your email and consume media, then the iPad 2 or even the iPod touch is right for you. If you want a go anywhere device for communications, web browsing, email, documents and everything under the sun that fits in your pocket, then the iPhone is the go-to device. If you really like games, then get both an OS X and an iOS device.

Wrap Up

If I had to describe Mac OS X Lion in a single sentence, it would go something like this. An amazing operating system and software platform with a robust interface designed for the rumble and tumble of everyday computing. Lion really could have been Apple's Windows Vista, but it isn't. It's speedy, secure, beautiful and simple. For both consumers and professionals, Mac OS X Lion is an excellent operating system and a wise choice for users to upgrade to. In the package you get many new, fantastic features and hey, FaceTime for free!

This review was done with the aid of two Apple computers. A White 2009 MacBook with 2 GB of RAM and a 2 GHz Core 2 Duo and a Mac Mini with 2 GB of RAM and a 1.8 GHz Core Duo. Both machines ran extremely well under the operating system- even under significant multitasking and usage.

Mac OS X 10.7 Lion gets five out of five stars.

From Desk To Pocket: A major shift in computing

The computing world is by far one of the fastest shifting industries in the entire planet. It seems as if every two or three years, technology makes another giant leap forward in terms of speed, functionality and compatibility. One of the greatest changes in the computer world which has since dominated the lives of many Americans and human beings is the shift from the desk to the pocket. Mobile computing, once a hilarious idea inconceivable due to cost and build factor, is now more than real- it's amazing.

Mobile computing, in all truth, began with the popularity of the cellular phone in the mid nineties and expanded with the release of the iPhone in 2007. You can be an Apple fanboy or an Anti-Apple PC person or even a regular dude in a coffee shop, and you'd know that this is cold hard fact. Before the iPhone, smartphones weren't exactly powerful and were only a business man's toy. Ever since the iPhone however, everybody can find a use for a smartphone, even your grandparents. The iPhone isn't just a phone, it's a pocket sized computer with the horsepower comparable to a personal computer only five years ago. But it continues to try and catch up, coming dangerously close to the common consumer computers of today.

You don't need to constrict yourself to an Apple product though. Google's Android solution is just as viable, providing a similar set of content compatibility and usage. Also, the third party hardware support for Android is overwhelming, with a plethora of solutions for just about every feature desired by consumers. Unfortunately, the same cannot yet be said for either Windows Phone 7 or Blackberry- two OS's stuck in the past without many of the "hot" features of iOS or Android. But the night is young, and it never really is too late to make a change, something Microsoft is working very hard to do in order to appeal to their lost audience of mobile dwelling computing trolls.

How else has the mobile landscape changed? Well, in terms of large screen computing, the tablet seems to be taking over the space of your venerable notebook or netbook computer. Yet again, tablets are a revolution not started, but perfected by Apple's iOS solution. The iPad is currently the staple industry tablet and the leader in terms of sales and popularity. Other than the iPad, the only comparable systems would be the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, the Motorola Xoom and the HP Touchpad- all of which were shipped almost a year after the iPad. Touch computing is one of the greatest and most fantasized ways to interact with an interface. It's a natural feeling to see something and want to touch it. For people who have never used a computer, this changes everything. The interface is extremely easy to use and adapt to using, replacing the traditional desktop interface and becoming far cleaner all at the same time. And now thanks to the next iOS 5 update, you no longer need to own a computer to own an iOS device, making touch computing even more accessible to the world.

The desktop unfortunately, is the only unchanged platform in the industry. Computing in terms of sitting down at a desk has grown too difficult for the world and is no longer a requirement thanks to the radical changes in technology in the mobile space. I predict that within the next fifteen years or so, desktop computers won't cease to exist, but simply be used far less than tablets or laptop computers- the next technological medium to be replaced and ultimately eliminated.

A Blast From The Past: The Half-Life Series Review

This week, instead of reviewing something new or going too far back in the past to review an old favorite, I’d like to take everybody back to a simpler time. Back to when the internet was still blossoming, when Clinton was still president and there wasn’t a war on terror yet. Seinfeld was making an exit, and blah blah blah… you’ve heard this before. Today, I’m going to talk about the Half-Life series. “Max, why would you EVER want to do that? There hasn’t been an update to the game since 2007, and even so, most people are aware of the series.” Well, my imaginary critic, that’s simply not the case. Over the past month, I’ve been talking to my close friends and relatives who have played games like Doom, Quake, Halo and Call of Duty. Some of them were even familiar with Wolfenstein 3D or Marathon. Oddly enough though, none of them have ever HEARD of Half-Life besides in biology or chemistry class. So, to answer your not yet existing question, there is a good reason why I decided to do this. Another thing- I managed to replay every game from the series, from Half-Life to Half-Life 2: Episode Two. Nothing is really a recollection from gamer’s past. I played these games when there were fresh, and I played them again for more clarity. I must say, it felt great. Now, onto the review.

The Half-Life series revolves around the central character of Gordon Freeman; the protagonist and only playable character in the series. Freeman is a theoretical Physicist at the Black Mesa Research compound located in Los Alamos. During a normal day, Freeman is offered to perform a special test on an unknown sample (and puts on a Hazardous Environment suit or HEV suit to protect himself, a big part in the game) which somehow causes a phenomenon in the laboratory known as the “resonance cascade”. Freeman is transported to an alien world called Xen, to a group of aliens called Vortigaunts and back to the facility all in a matter of seconds. Freeman awakes to find the lab in shambles, many of his co-workers dead or transformed into zombies via frog-like parasites called head-crabs which grab onto your head and morph your body to a disgusting, deadly creature. Freeman also comes across dog-like screaming aliens with multiple eyes, Vortigaunts and monsters spewing green sludge from their mouths. As if Freeman’s  day couldn’t get worse, the government sends in a team of marines to apprehend Gordon, kill the survivors and aliens and overall keep everything hush-hush to the outside world. For the sake of preventing spoilers, this is all I will detail for the first game, now on to the next few.

After Half-Life became a huge success and a pop culture phenomenon, it’s mother company, Valve decided to release a few short spin off’s, a major sequel, a remake of the original, two episodic titles and two puzzle games with a loose tie-in to the Half-Life universe. Half-Life 2 has since been noted as “the best game ever” and has won over fifty game of the year awards. Half-Life 2 continues the story of Gordon Freeman and his troubles, twenty years in the future, in a dystopian world controlled by a race of human-like brutes known as the Combine. Unfortunately, I’d like to also stop it here. This game has such a fantastic plot that it needs to be experienced by the gamer, and not by some random reviewer. However, I will note a few non-plot related aspects. Most reviewers as well as myself will attest to the game’s amazing physics engine. Out of all the games I have ever played, this one is as real as it gets. Throughout the game you experience many little puzzles as well as a proper blend of story and some of the most satisfying shooting experiences ever. The end of the game specifically feels great but a little too easy for my tastes. The next two episodic titles continue to both add on to the story and gameplay, as well show an obvious gradual graphical improvement. However, most times it feels as if they exist only as a machine built to tell the Half-Life story, and many gamers will get to feel that. However, it certainly doesn’t take too drastic of an effect over gameplay, which continues to be amazing in both titles. And hopefully soon, there will be the release of a final episodic title or hopefully a whole new game.

Perhaps the best way to play the Half-Life series is, well, in order. And considering the way the story works, you really have to do that to understand the series and to really appreciate it. My suggestion is that you purchase both the original on Steam (or PS2 or plain CD) and The Orange Box- a collection of Half-Life 2, Half-Life 2: Episodes One and Two, Portal and Team Fortress 2 (Mac & PC through Steam, PS3 and 360). These games work better together and feel more satisfying when played in a row. So, what’s my recommendation? Please, if you have not played this game or even heard of it, go out and buy it. At most, all of the games in the two mentioned packages cost thirty bucks- that’s half the cost of one xbox 360 game. Also, do yourself a favor and get the Portal series as well, in case you haven’t read my Portal 2 review yet, let me tell you right here that it’s all worth it.