Why Apple needs Verizon

If one looks at the current mobile OS landscape, it’s not difficult to draw certain parallels with the history consumer desktop computing has endured over the last 30 years.  Apple’s iPhone and Google’s Android are arguably the two hottest players in the smart phone market currently.  While Blackberry and Windows Phone are there, they aren’t generating the same degree of buzz or interest (yet) and that is producing a not so unique rift in consumer philosophy.

In one corner Apple maintains its closed environment with both hardware, software, and development.  In the other corner you have Google with Android, which as strange as it sounds mimics the position Microsoft had with Windows during its rise to dominance during the early 90s.  Google has a fast and growing mobile strategy that takes advantage of a variety of handsets and giving the end user freedom to develop and install software as they see fit.  Apple wants total and complete control, period, while Google is promotes more consumer choice and freedom.  I won’t argue which way is correct because it’s highly subjective based on user preference and arguments are had from both sides.  However one other differentiating factor is while Apple has been locked in with a single wireless carrier (AT&T), [another means to exert control over the user experience of the iPhone] Android is available on all major US carriers with flagship products on 3 of those 4:

• Droid Incredible (Verizon)
• Nexus One (T-Mobile)
• EVO (Sprint)

Each of those offerings provide exceptional competition to Apple’s iPhone 3GS on AT&T and from recent reports Android on a whole has a growth rate that is astonishing.

Apple needs to diversify their carrier options if they want to keep their lead.  Verizon has long been thought of as the logical choice for the iPhone (even Apple thought so during the initial launch but Verizon turned down the offer) thanks to their excellent network:  both in speed and reliability.  If Apple chooses to remain only on AT&T they limit their customer base and for various reasons (contract, dislike of carrier, etc.) make it difficult to get new users.  Meanwhile with Android being a solid OS that Google is grooming into quite a pedigree that is available on a variety of devices on a variety of carriers, it compounds Apple’s competition. 

People not willing to switch to AT&T are finding great alternatives just about everywhere else they look.  That is something that Apple must consider to stay relevant in this rapidly growing segment of computing.  If they don’t they risk repeating their misstep with their battle with Microsoft.  In early June it is expected that the next version of the iPhone will be announced at Apple’s WWDC, the world will surely be listening for another carrier to be revealed.

The next phase of computing

Over the last few years it has become increasingly apparent that the mobile phone and in particular the smart phone has gained in prominence not only as a communication device but also as a multi-function tool that facilitates our ability to complete our everyday tasks efficiently. In some cases enabling us to do things that weren't possible in recent memory. This trend is not an isolated instance but rather part of a much larger wave that  has every indication of growing and accelerating the more we become comfortable and reliant on being always connected to the Internet and each other.

Five years ago the world was accessing the Internet and staying connected to each other primarily through their personal computers. With the desire to be more mobile and the speed increases and advances in smaller and smaller hardware the desktop gave way to the laptop for many people and it sufficed. In present day the smart phone has increased in great strides in terms of computational power, storage capacity, interface methods, and screen size and resolution. This in combination with an always on 3/4g connection to the internet and the mobile phone is truly becoming or has already supplanted the main computer system for many.

This has come about by no small part from the iPhone and its associated app store, which greatly expands the perception of what a mobile phone is capable of. Granted these concepts that Apple has brought about have existed in some prior form but they do deserve the credit of popularizing it to the masses which opened the door for competitors such as Google to attempt and attract more people to the idea of mobile computing with their Android operating system. Microsoft also is taking their Windows Phone 7 in a new direction which again takes advantage of a ripe market that is eager to have the best. Apple, RIM, Microsoft and Google all are working frantically to snatch up those on the fence with the assurance that their platform is that mythical "best".
For certain though with this level of competition and the degree of quality we are already seeing in shipping products; the mobile computing platform will be and is the battlefield to watch going forward.

The Zune HD

Let me start off by saying that the Zune HD is a fantastic device and its media playback software on Windows is equally impressive.  I have spent many weeks prior to its launch researching everything I could about it.  With Its main competitor being the iPod Touch, Microsoft knew that they would have to release something incredible.  The good news is that they have but there is a catch.  That catch being that while the Zune HD trumps the iPod Touch in music and video playback it also fails to realize that people have come to expect more from their handheld devices.  More functionality and value is required if they are carrying around yet another piece of tech.  

The iPhone OS App Store has really popularized the idea of adding new functionality to your device whether that be a phone or media player.  There are of course other applications available on other platforms (phones) but they simply can't compare to the relative overnight success Apple has managed to accomplish in getting the mainstream audience to adopt this practice.

Extending Apps to the iPod Touch only further accelerated its growth and provided a mostly static device with a wealth of new possibility especially for those who don't wish to get an iPhone.  For instance I am writing this post in an app on my iPod Touch that thanks to Wi-Fi I can easily send over the Internet to go live.  This is something I can't do on a Zune HD and more functionality and value for my limited pocket space is crucial.  Yes the Zune HD is a better media player, offering a more visual and aural experience but considering the Touch is still no slouch in that area and the extensibility it brings via apps it's still a very tough sell for tech savvy consumers who weigh many factors. 

It's true what Apple claimed back in early September, the iPod Touch is a mini computer.  With that in mind what would you prefer to carry with you; a mini computer or a Walkman?  Neither answer is wrong.

Picasa 3.5

This photo management program was updated this week for Windows and Mac OS X and even Linux.  As a Windows user I was quite pleased with this program, however I was always bugged by the way that it didn’t quite follow folder structures that I already had created on my hard drive.  In later versions they addressed this but I still felt it was unwieldy in terms of the control over how you viewed those folders, and caused me to look for something that suited my needs better (I found this in Windows Live Photo Gallery).

As far as this updated release the main feature is the ability to automatically identify faces, which is very handy for searching for particular people.  Geo location is also included now, as well as an improved tagging interface—both of which add a lot of power to this program and add more value to the equation when comparing similar offerings.

One problem I did encounter is that my RAW files from my dSLR camera are still not fully supported it seems (they load but are darker than they should be).  I am using a Canon EOS Rebel T1i, which I should mention load and look fine in WLPG.

If you are already a Picasa user then this update is a must get.  If you’re looking to start better managing your photos it’s a fine choice but if you’re a Windows user I would also check out Windows Live Photo Gallery and see what better suits your preference.

Picasa Download   Windows Live Photo Gallery Download

The Apple TV Factor

Ever wonder what is going on with the Apple TV?  Yeah me neither seeing as it's popularity is shockingly low and it's promotion is even lower.  It does beg the question though as to what is Apple's goal for this device and why aren't we seeing more attention towards it.

I have my own theory or wish that they may attempt to transform it into a home console of sorts the same way most consoles handle games and media (photos, music, video).  I could go even further to think that there would be someway to dock or otherwise tie in with the iPod Touch (the gaming platform it now is) as well as the apps.  This being a totally digital distribution model, working with an already popular device, and now in your living room.  I have to think this is something Microsoft is planning with the Xbox 360 and Zune HD so it is plausible that Apple may also be looking in that direction.

Doing this allows Apple to extend the value of the iPod over the iPhone and helps to differentiate the two devices while providing an even larger inroads to your digital life.  Apple is huge in the personal electronics space and video game sales are also huge, it seems like a business that they could be profitable in despite their computers never being at the forefront of that recreation.

Windows 7 thins its product lineup

Well maybe, it depends how you look at it.

• Windows 7 Starter
• Windows 7 Home Premium
• Windows 7 Professional
• Windows 7 Enterprise
• Windows 7 Ultimate

Starter will be available with new PCs but is very crippled (no glass, can only run 3 applications at a time, etc.).  Home Premium and Professional will be the major push for retail and the average user while Enterprise will provide features for businesses and Ultimate will include everything but won’t be marketed as extensively as Home Premium and Professional according to Microsoft.

So what we have here for the average consumer is really a choice between Home Premium, Professional, and Ultimate (for those who really need to have it all).  Which really is the same number of versions that you had with Vista when you think about it (Home Basic, Home Premium, and Ultimate).  From the way Microsoft is talking though I suppose their marketing campaign will differ though to simplify the apparent choices.

It’s important to remember than unlike Vista, each version of 7 supersedes the previous, lower version meaning that as you move up from Starter you will always be gaining features never losing what you had from the lower tiers, which is a very smart move.  I just hope Microsoft is as smart with their pricing as they haven’t yet released that information.

The UAC Debacle

As I’m sure you’re all aware (if you’ve been following the very popular Windows 7 beta) there has been some issues with how Microsoft is handling UAC (user access control) in Windows 7.  Initially they wanted to lower the default alert threshold so users wouldn’t be bothered when changing settings for Windows since it was a major complaint with the way Vista operated with UAC.  Then in an outcry from the security-conscious testers/observers Microsoft bends to their demands for it to be more like Vista (more secure but more alerts) considering malware on the system could lower or disable UAC and not prompt the user—leaving the system open to run anything without the users consent.

It just seems that Microsoft can’t please everyone and the user base can’t agree what they collectively want from the vendor.  Personally I feel that Windows should be as secure as possible and the user needs to adapt to the world in which we live where security is a survival trait—we can’t remain to be lazy and naive about real threats that exist and no Mac OS X isn’t the solution.  Apple handles their version of UAC the same way (high alerts) and they have already proven that they aren’t immune to attack.

Windows 7 and shortsighted people

Increasingly I’ve been reading more and more about Windows 7 and how it has grabbed the attention of even the staunchest Apple advocates such as Walt Mossberg, David Pogue, and Leo Laporte each conveying that they not only feel it is better than Vista but that they haven’t found any show-stopping flaws.  Leo Laporte even goes as far on his podcasts to promote a campaign to release Windows 7 now since in his experience he has evaluated it as shipping ready quality.

While it is widely held that Windows 7 is an improvement over Windows Vista I am prompted to point out that just because you feel it’s ready doesn’t mean the company writing the code should listen and obey.  Microsoft understands what went wrong with the way Vista was handled and has made drastic improvements in how they organize and deploy their efforts for 7.  This alteration in work ethic has lead to this very good beta product, but remember it is only beta.

I am very excited to see 7 launch but not at the expense of Microsoft bending to those vocal proponents and sacrificing more time for testers and the coders at Microsoft to smooth and polish the product. 

With that said, no amount of testing will ever make a perfect product and keeping a product in a perpetual testing phase in hopes that it will make it better is foolish.  Windows 7 needs to be released this year, but not just yet.