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I don’t care if you hate Apple or not.  They seem to have the innovative MOJO that everyone is attempting to capture.  In most cases, that MOJO is monopolized by a company that is used to setting the bar in terms of technological and sociological advances. 

In my 37 years, I have yet to see any single company that innovates like Apple does.  We had the Apple I and Apple II years ago (my first touch of a computer system), followed by the development of the Macintosh Computer system in 1984.  A flurry of advancements in processing power, capability and functionality spurred Apple forward through the 80′s and early 90′s.  During the Early 90′s it really seemed like Apple was losing it – bad marketing, execution, development almost laid waste to what was an awesome company…  Only with the return of Steve Jobs and his electrifying personality, did Apple find new life and a new found resurgence. 

With the advent of Mac OS X, new Apple computer designs and increased stability (thank you NeXTStep), Apple was starting to grow again and reach new persons.  The iPod was a phenomenal success and what a revolutionary device (except for the DRM stuff, which proved to just be more problematic than anything).  The iPod helped spur better design and innovation and led ultimately to the iPhone – and for the first time, we had a device that was as close to converging computer and phone and multimedia player than anything had done before.

For the Record, I was an early adopter for the iPhone – best purchase I ever made.

Now we come to the Evolutionary change announced today and it is truly a jump forward.  Companies have been pushing and touting their tablet based PC’s with Windows OS, but have been hampered by mediocre performance or kludged operating system implementations.  I also admit that the NetBook craze of the past several years has really driven the market forward, but that craze did not seem to last very long.

The advent of, what I can only characterize as an iTouch on Steroids, the iPad will bridge the gap between my iPhone and my MacBook Pro 13″.

Let’s look at some of the key points of the device:

• Runs Safari, E-Mail, Photos, Video, YouTube, iPod, iTunes Store
• Enhanced Maps
• New Notes application
• New Calendar application
• New Contacts application
• LED IPS display (9.7″), 1024×768 display
• Multi-Touch capable
• Thin and Light (1.5 lbs and .5 inches thick/thin)
• 10 hours of battery life (probably will be more like 6-8)
• Wireless (WiFI)
• 3G capable (separate unit due out in April) (called WiFI + 3G Model)
• New 1 GHz A4 (Apple Developed) CPU
• 30 pin dock connector (like iPod/iTouch/iPhone)
• Audio – speaker and microphone built in – and headphone jack for privacy

Well – there are a lot of criticisms on the Internet (especially from Gizmodo site) about the device and I have to say that this is an impressive piece of technology and artwork and it will enhance my life and my technological arsenal.  This device will not be for everyone, but it is helping setting the stage for other hardware manufactures to step up their game, once again, to meet Apple and try to beat them – without the iPhone, the HTC based phones would look like crap and don’t get me started on Android.

Thank you Apple for once again setting the bar.  Let’s see if Microsoft and the PC hardware developers can follow suit – I hear Dell has some cool things on the way.

B

What is certain to be a death knell to our democratic way of living, the supreme court took it upon themselves to extend the 1st amendment (Free Speech) to corporations. The decision allows for the unlimited giving of funds to a campaign to further the agenda and cause of a political party, person, or proposition.

What does this mean? Just that the large corporations with gobs of money can now steer a political candidate and fund their own agenda around the democratic process and essentially drown out John Q. Public from ever being heard.  Your vote just became that less important to the candidate – why would a candidate try to fight for the individual when he can focus on several large corporations and secure all the funding he needs – it isn’t that you will be flagrantly ignored… you will just be lost in the shuffle.

Think about it – if a technology company wanted to get a bio-chip installed in all Americans, all they need to do is find a candidate, throw gobs of money at the campaign and effectively get their voice into congress – and that person can further the agenda of the company and not the people. (yes, this is an extreme example).

Companies will now start furthering their own agendas by voting in their candidates. Large Insurance companies not wanting a government run healthcare initiative, Big OIL companies wanting lax controls on environmental initiatives or recalls on existing laws, and other nefarious acts by large companies with no regards to the individual or society.

Mark my words and hear them – our Democracy is dying and and new Republic dictatorship or autocratic society will rise in its stead – We will have no rights and no ability to rebel by the time we notice it.

Think George Orwellian, ala “1984″ or a “V for Vendetta” based society.

Want to read the article about it – here

Have you heard the latest about the Apple Macintosh tablet project to be (hopefully) announced on the 26th of January?

There is a lot of speculation around the Internet concerning the project and I have to tell you that with each and every new posting, the fervor is rising and I am getting my credit card ready… erh… I mean… excited about the possibilities.

But… I think some people might be giving Apple a lot more credit than they are due and I am concerned by some of the conceptual drawings and hopeful inclusions.

I think it will be a slim device, much like an iPhone/iTouch device – a skoshe bit larger (depth) and probably about 8-9 inches.  It will be a full touch screen – no doubt.  Would be cool if they have a stylus, but Apple has never released a stylus before (except with the Newton).  I also think that the OS, based on Mac OS X, will not be a full blown Mac OS X implementation.  It will be more like the iTouch/iPhone OS – but multi-tasking.  I would be surprised if you could actually ‘install’ things on it that were not sanctioned and acceptable like the iTunes App store. 

I cannot imagine, say, PhotoShop CS4 being installed on the device – but that would be pretty cool.

I am sure it will have all the amenities needed to be productive just as the iPhone/iTouch already have. 

Without a doubt, next week looks to be a great week for Apple Fanatics as there is expected to be rumored upgrades to the MacBook Pro line, announcement of iPhone OS 4.0 (with multi-tasking, thank God) and of course the TABLET!

Hoping for the best,
Bill