Macworld 2008 - Parky's pick

Well you can tell I'm getting better from the flu' - I've redeveloped an opinion. Qu'elle surprise! So, what's this post about then?

Well I understand that Mr. Jobs is going to have another of his Reality Distortion Events in the New Year and that the unveiling of newer whizzo super-duper nooo products will be taking place.


Furthermore I am lead to believe that it is common practice to spout forth gibberish on what one thinks the said Mr. Jobs will announce at aforesaid event.

Now, as someone who has three windows PC's and two Mac's in the house and have nearly bought the Mac Mini and the AppleTV I thought I would project my points of view in those directions.

Firstly, the Mac Mini wasn't a runaway success but sold in respectable numbers but is now in great need of a refresh. I nearly bought one but didn't because I got an old iMac free. The Mac Mini is now old-old-old by Apple standards.

Secondly, the AppleTV. It stank and it still does. I nearly bought one when it came out because I thought it was such a cool idea but waited until I could see it in the Apple Store. I got a-feared of it because it was limited in its wi-fi range (you couldn't put an external aerial onto it) and it ran hot! Really hot!

So we have an old platform in need of a refresh and a great idea with flaws in need of a proper platform. Well here's the duh moment.

Apple are going to merge the two product lines and come out with a domestic media centre.

Take the Mac Mini, beef it up (bigger hard disk, more rammage and chippage) add the AppleTV operating applications and call it, I dunno, the Mac Media Center...

or the Mac Home... or even the iHome....

iPhone crack: Apple, AT&T and was it deliberate?

I was just reading about the iPhone crack and The Inquirers update that the Apple / AT&T deal was toast because of it.

Let's get a little sideways on this.

Apple is smart.
They know that for every software action there is an equal and opposite reaction.
If you put a lock on, someone, somewhere will find a way to take it off.
If you put DRM on, someone will find away to take it off.

In the UK, phones tend to ship unlocked. I can use my RAZR or N95 on Vodafone one day and then use it with, say, Orange the very next day. If your phone is locked you can get it unlocked on the street corner for about £3.

Now, I'm Apple and I want a quick and easy way through the FCC to get the iPhone approved. Might be best to partner with someone who knows e.g. AT&T?

AT&T need a reason to help. Revenue is as good a reason as any. Apple suggest sharing the revenue.. AT&T likes this idea.

As things progress AT&T wants protection. They want the phone locked to their network. Apple doesn't like this but agrees as it keeps AT&T happy.

However - and this is the kicker - Apple knows that the "DRM" they put on the phone, to lock it into AT&T can be cracked. All DRM can be cracked - it's not a question of if just when.

The iPhone is released - AT&T get lots of conversions to their network and then the crackers and hackers get to work and - bingo - it's unlocked in multiple ways within a few weeks of launch.

AT&T get all crusty about it but inwardly Apple are **DELIGHTED**. Apple doesn't need AT&T anymore - what they now want is for the iPhone to work with more networks. And guess what? The crack means their phone can work with any network. They Will Sell More Phones. Apple Get That DRM Sucks.

AT&T will now start lurching around, throwing their weight about suing people. Standard big company reaction. Apple, I beleive will be strangely quiet on the whole issue. Sure, they'll "support" AT&T and make statements about the phone not being supported off AT&T's tariffs - but the average pro-sumer won't care. Not even a little bit.

My take is that Apple KNEW this would happen. They knew that the lock would be picked. If you;ve been in software since Day 1 you can't NOT know the possibilities.

Game over AT&T. Apple wins.

Apple TV delayed again....

Dear Apple Customer, Thank you for ordering the new Apple TV, an easy to use and fun way to wirelessly play all your favorite iTunes content from your Mac or PC on your widescreen TV. Wrapping up Apple TV is taking a few weeks longer than we projected, and we now expect to begin shipments in mid-March, not in February as originally anticipated. You may check the status of your order any time by visiting our online order status website. A shipment notification, with tracking information, will be emailed to you as soon as your order is shipped. There is no need to contact us unless you choose to change or cancel your order. We appreciate your business and thank you for shopping at the Apple Store! Sincerely, The Apple Store Team Further questions? Visit our Helpmenu.