Opinion: Apple, Shape Up Your Changelogs
I recently updated to the most recent release of iTunes. I did this as soon as it came up in my Software Update, as I always try to have the most up-to-date versions of the software on my computer. Newer is better, right? Well, that’s usually been my view, but in addition to some cool new and improved features, there were some things that I was very used to that I now had to learn entirely new ways of doing. This led me to hate the new iTunes, and only after finding ways to recreate old features, which took me some time, could I really accept it as an improvement.
Opinion: An Updater’s Chronicle
Today, I upgraded my operating system to Snow Leopard. I knew that it would be worth it in the end, but every time I do this I am petrified. Of all my files disappearing (this happened once to me); of the upgrade stopping partway through, leaving me with no operating system (this too has happened); of my programs not working after the upgrade because they haven’t been upgraded themselves. Luckily for me, however, none of these happened when I upgraded today. I write this not only as a story of my installation, but also as a reassurance to you that Snow Leopard will not become—despite its namesake—a sharp-toothed beast with untold powers of destruction. This cat is surprisingly tame.
Opinion: Apple and the Cats
The release this past Friday of the newest Mac operating system—codenamed “Snow Leopard”—added one more to a slowly increasing list of big cats that Apple has used to name its software. And this got me to wondering—why are all of the systems named after these animals? It doesn’t seem like computers have too much in common with man-eating, furry giants. But then I thought about it some more, and realized that perhaps the choice isn’t as peculiar as it might seem.
News: Snow Leopard to Include Anti-Malware Utility
Apple has long used the security of its software as a selling point. While Windows machines are often plagued with viruses, spyware, malware, any number of bad things, Apple users generally go about their days with little or no security protection, because little to none is ever needed. However, starting with Snow Leopard, the company is apparently packaging anti-malware tools into its operating system. This has two effects: firstly, it makes the system more secure, but secondly, it also gives the system the appearance of being less secure. Apple has not yet returned requests to comment on the feature, which is getting analysts and bloggers talking.
News: Apple Denies Rejection of Google Voice App
In a letter written to the Federal Communications Commission, Apple stated that, rather than rejecting a proposed iPhone application for the Google Voice web service—as had been previously reported by many news agencies—the company was “still pondering” the program. This letter is in response to an ongoing investigation by the FCC into Apple, AT&T, and Google, and their connections to and thoughts about the Google Voice service.
News: Apple—Accidentally and Briefly—Releases Snow Leopard
Earlier today, a listing appeared on the Apple Online store that no one expected. A product was posted claiming to be a Box Set bundle of iLife ‘09, iWork ‘09, and the clincher—the as-yet-unreleased operating system Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard. While this was simply the result of a glitch in the store, and not actually the release of the product—which, consequently, was removed as soon as the error was noticed—it adds to evidence already collected that suggests that Apple may be releasing the new operating system much earlier than previously expected.
Opinion: The Developer Connection
What makes a great app? Is it the features? The price? The interface? The answer, of course, is all of these. But even when put together, these aspects don’t always add up to be the ideal piece of software. There’s another part that isn’t always available, but when it is, it catapults an app within range of perfection. This final piece of an app is the user’s connection with the developers.
Opinion: Putting Apps on Trial
Developers have always struggled with the question of how to market their products. Sure, you can simply advertise, but for something like a computer program, the user’s experience with the application is one of the biggest ways to decide whether or not to purchase something. With only advertising, this can never be a factor in the decision of the potential customer. And so, software makers thought up the idea of a free trial. But this idea, despite being almost as old as software itself (or at least paid software) is still working out some kinks. Now there are mainly two types of trials—time-limited trials and feature-limited trials. Both seem to have their own advantages and disadvantages, and work better or worse for different kinds of software.
News: Deposit Your Checks by iPhone
Although online banking has been around for some time, with individual websites for banks, as well as aggregator sites such as Mint.com and Wesabe, a new iPhone app has taken the process to a whole new level. The privately owned bank USAA has released an application that allows its users to deposit a check in their account simply by photographing both sides of it with the iPhone’s built-in camera.
Opinion: The Tao of the Desktop
People can do all sorts of different things to their desktops. Some are cluttered, some are sparse, there are pictures, designs, photos—pretty much anything you can think of is, at the moment, on someone’s computer background. For the sake of productivity, many people stress the fact that your desktop should be clean—not filled with files that aren’t used—but that probably doesn’t work for everyone. How can you discover your perfect desktop?
