Apple Subscription: Seems Fair

I am sure all the bitching, moaning, and crying to the adults helped but after reading the details of Apple's subscription policy, it seems to make a lot of sense.  And quite frankly, it's fair.

If you bring in your own readers/viewers, you get to keep all the money.  Your did all the work.  But if we helped you out, we get a cut of the pie.  For Apple, that's 30%. 

Oh, and with personal data, it's opt-in, not opt-out like Facebook or Google.  So, that means we have to actively say that publishers and whoever they sell our information to can have access to our personal data.  Good move, Apple.

My only issue is that the 30% seems a bit much and I'm sure with some content publishers like Rupert Murdoch, he is powerful enough to be able to call up Steve Jobs and ask for some kind of a special deal.  

So, I hope after this week, all this nonsense will stop.  And here's what so great about competition.  Google, Nokia, Microsoft, RIM, or HP can totally say to publishers can say we'll take nothing from you.  And that might further change things at Apple.  

So the more things change, the more things become the way they should be.

More at Apple.

Wifi Chips Need To Be More Battery Friendly

Over the weekend, I took my MacBook out for some time at Borders. I had to do work on the laptop that I cannot do on the iPad at this time.

And this is an older MacBook. Late 2008 and the battery life has been put through it's paces in the last couple of years. According to a battery utility, it's got 80% left of the original charge left. When it gets to 70% or less, I'll probably have to decide if I should get a other battery or invest in a new MacBook.

I turned it on and it attached itself to the free wifi. And the battery indicator said there was 2.5 hours of work I could do. But I wanted to spend my afternoon there working so I turned off the wifi.

It has been quite some time since I've done that. The long battery on the iPod touch, and specifically, the iPad has really spoiled me. The battery life jumped to four hours!

I was there for about four hours and got about three hours of work done so there was some change left in the battery had I wanted to stay longer.

But my point is the wifi chip. What a power hog! I hope today's wifi chips are more battery friendly. But if they are not, someone need to invest some time and research on making wifi use more efficient and the chips draw less and less power.

We'll be using wifi for years if not decades more. Bring mobile isn't just about more efficient CPU, display, or bettery batteries. It's about other components of the mobile devices or laptops. And it's also about programming for power management.

For now, wifi chip and its ubiquity is one area that I see that can help mobile warriors work longer and worry-free.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPod touch

Borders Bankruptcy: Sad And Maybe There Is No Road Back

I am writing this post sitting at a table at the Borders store in Pasadena. I love coming here to get work done. And I generally like the music, crowd, and the overall atmosphere.

Which is why I was really saddened by the reports that it would file for Chapter 11 protection last Friday.

I tried to buy books locally here when I can. Personally I love Amazon's prices compared to the retail prices here. Who doesn't?

I bought a technical book, a couple of books for my nephews, and a large latte. I checked the prices online afterwards. I could have saved about $20 if I bought the them online.

That is not the worst part. I am browsing through Orson Scott Card's "The Lost Gate". So far I like it and I am contemplating getting it. And since I don't need it right away, I can buy it from Amazon or Apple's iBooks store.

Buying it from Borders will cost me about $25 after tax because I have the paid membership rewards card. The book is $14.32 on Amazon.

And if I was to decide to buy the ebook version, it's only $11.99. That IS the worst part. Barnes and Noble has its own struggles but they are not as bad as Borders' financial troubles because they have the popular Nook ereader and a loyal following. Borders' own ebook plan is nowhere as popular.

I truly fear for the mom-and-pop stores and, now, Borders as well.




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPod touch

3D on Mobile - Nice To Have But Few Real Needs So Far

LG is pushing hard into 3D with mobile. The next LG phone and tablet for T-Mobile in the US will have 3D capability. I really applaud their first mover status in this market. It can make a difference. But as for mobile 3D, I'm still out on just how big a market it will command and just who will use it.

Nintendo will release the 3DS in a matter of weeks and 3D in gaming is something that only a small segment of the consumer market can look forward to.

3D camcorders adoption has not quite pick up pace nor has 3D televisions. It will take many more years before 3D is evolved enough as a mature technology so that regular folks like myself will compelled to adopt it. However, as the technology move mainstream, what uses are there?

Imagine a day when a doctor is able to bring his tablet into an appointment and show the patient 3D medical scans. Miners are able to see 3D images of routes to make their passages safer. Or possibly military adoption of 3D use on the battlefields or humanitarian missions that will open up new doors for the technology.

It is possible mobile market will ease the way to 3D use in the consumer market that home entertainment has failed to do. Now, it is easy to bring up Apple in this matter. After all, using hard drives in MP3 players did not become widely used until Apple introduced the original iPod. If Apple starts using 3D tech in its iPhones and iPads, it can help but that still might not be enough.

Someone has to demonstrate 3D use to the average mobile warrior and lead him to a self-realization of how they could have lived without it. From there, it goes into the living room.

Who will that be and how will it be done is history that is still being written. We've seen failures so far but success is assured. Maybe it will be 3DS or LG's mobile 3D that open the door and someone else charges through and changes our perceptions once more.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPod touch

Too Much Mobile Still?

I decided to stay in Saturday night because I had a full today out today and I didn't want to exhaust myself.  And I thought I would get some house work done.  But I didn't really get to that.  A bit too much mobile still.  

I got a call from overseas via Skype.  My mistake was answering it.  It was a video chat.  Fine, interesting.  But it turned into a two-hour long conference.  I realized I was still somewhat of linked to my mobile habits despite cutting off my G1 data plan.

See, about six months ago, I got rid of my T-Mobile data plan to cut back on being so connected all the time.  Then I got the iSpot from Clearwire to use with my iOS devices when I needed to.  But with the ubiquity of Wi-Fi at home, that is a bit hard.  

I am contemplating to go one of these weekends without my mobile devices.  I may even go to the extreme of heading to my hometown for a weekend.  Stay in a hotel and leaving my iPad and phone at home.  I'll bring my laptop, which is fine because though it has Wi-Fi, I am unlikely to pay for access.

And to stay in touch with folks, I'm gonna have to make all arrangements ahead of time. You know, like we did before cell phones and e-mails.

HP’s Web OS Touchpad Will Insanely Cost $699

HP’s Touchpad will cost $699 for the 16GB model. This is from a source that whispered this information to Boy Genius Report. But I kind of want to put this out there even though I don’t like posting rumors.

However, I’m making an exception this time and this is how I’m framing it. I hope this is just a feeler that HP is putting out to the blogs just to see how people will react.

When it comes to launch, we may actually see it at a comparable price to the iPad with the same storage capacity. Otherwise, HP’s endeavor in the tablet market will be in for a lot of hurt. More than that, this is just the Wi-Fi model. How much will the 3G model eventually cost?

Now, this is why I think HP could be pulling an Apple. Before the actually iPad launch, Apple leaked to the media that it was going to cost $1000 and as much as $2000. But history told us it was much much lower.

Perhaps, this is where HP is trying to mess with the minds of its competitors. In this case, it isn’t really Apple that it wants to get at but Motorola, Samsung, and RIM. The Xoom is priced at $800 while the Tab is kind of everywhere. And RIM’s Playbook will probably go for around $500 because if it’s smaller size.

So I want to be clear. If this leak did come from HP to GBR, then it’s having the effect they wanted. People are reacting. And we are reacting negatively.

Let me repeat this. HP, $699 is too much. $599 And you might get more than just Web OS and hardcore Palm guys to bite (like me), but not much more. We have other options like Android.

So, I hope you receive this message clearly, HP. Eat some of that margins or it’s gonna get ugly for Web OS quickly. The Web OS is a very excellent OS. From the look of things, better than iOS and Android. But it’s not gonna matter if no one will buy into it.

One more thing. HP is the biggest PC maker in the world. I think they can leverage their position in the market to source the parts they need to be competitive.

More at BGR.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPod touch

Sony May Pull Content From iTunes: Example Of What Is Wrong With Content Providers

Sony said that content providers were being held ransom by Apple and its iTunes. Sorry, I disagree. I think it’s the ineptitude of content providers due to their archaic thinking that makes them feel this way.

Here’s why. First, iTunes is very closed. Nothing on earth comes even close. Having said that, it should be easy for anyone offer a service to compete with iTunes. And we definitely have seen how easy that is can be done with all the plethora of services, brands, and devices over the year. And yet, they’ve all failed in their own unique way.

What isn’t not unique is that how they’ve failed. I think it’s because of DRM and music studios trying to bleed their users and restrictions they put in deals. Even as the content battle is currently unfolding and iTunes success in the future is hardly guaranteed, the future tech and media historians will see if any failure to stem piracy and promote competition will rest in the hands of the providers who hold the media rights.

And at times, instead of working together, you have studios working against one another or have varying motives. Take Sony for example. Music is a failing part of the empire but it continues to hold onto the rights because they hope it will help it sell its other products and services. As far as BMG, Universal, and others, they don’t care. They want to sell music. Not help Sony sell its phones or TV.

So when I read that Sony was contemplating pulling its content from iTunes, I say let them. That means more music for the other studios to sell on the largest music store in the world.

What content providers need is an open exchange where they make everything available to all the outlets and customers. Think of this as a stock market where the worth of contents is decided by a free market.

Providers can set the price and availability and the market will decide if they’re willing to pay for it.

But first, to do that, they need to get away from these stupid deals they make with different companies in an attempt to dethrone iTunes or try to get everyone to go with the subscription models.

Maybe Google should set up such an exchange, not only for Android but for iOS, Web OS, and Windows 7 devices as well. Not just for mobile or Google TV but for Windows, OS X, and the living room. If this is about being free of iTunes, Sony should join in such an effort instead of crying to the media about having its feelings hurt by Apple.

Let’s be honest, Sony. You tried for decades to create your own iTunes and failed miserably each and every single time. And now someone beat you to it and we will not be the shoulders for you to cry on.


More at The Age.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPod touch