Social: Is There A Time When It's Okay To Be Tracked?

I abhor Facebook.  I think its campaign to erode privacy to allow Facebook to sell the best product it can, you the Facebook users, to the highest bidder is just horrible but it essentially undermines what privacy is all about for generations of users and it'll only get worse over time.

It's why I am not on Facebook and it's why more folks are waking up to the realization that they don't want to be sold by Facebook to advertisers.

However, not all tracking is bad if there is a benefit to the user as well.  Sure, companies like Google track users and also pushes ads out to us but at least we are getting great suites of apps and services.  Facebook offers none of that.

Take Google Now.  It's been on Android for a while and most people who use it love it.  And now, it's also available in limited functionalities for the iPhone.

So yes, Google is absolutely not giving away its apps and services for free out of the kindness of its corporate heart.  It’s doing it so it can shows you ads and buy goods and services from/through it.  It wants to sell ads that you want to see and click through.

So, while some have issues with that, and I certainly do at times when companies try to pull a fast one on us regarding privacy issues (that does include Apple and Google), there is good to providing some trusted companies with a certain amount of personal details like search results and some geolocation data.

Apple collects info so that it can ultimately provide you with services or apps you want and design/engineer hardware so that it can sell you hardware.  Google does it because it want to make money but it does provide valuable apps and services.

Google Now is a good example.  Siri is also a good example.  Google optimizes searches to help users become more efficient.  All of these services require some information be collected.  At times, we give Google more information than we should or even realized that we are doing it.  It's why we have to keep an eye on Google and other companies that maintain huge databases about its users or subscribers so that no abuses happen.

I have had issues with Apple and Google in the past regarding their privacy issues and it's important that we as mobile users raise our concerns when warranted.  In general, I think companies and governments collect more information than they really need.

At this time, society is faced with a lot of new technology and mobile/social computing practices that no other generations have had to deal with.  There will be companies like Facebook who will keep tearing away at the walls of privacy or a government agency or legislation that overreach.  We just have to push back hard and make sure we don't give up too much freedom or privacy in the name of free and/or useful products.

There is a balance that can be reach.  It's a delicate balance but it's doable.

American Oil Independence In Coming Years Could Mean Greater and Stabilizing Engagement With the World

Source:  NYT.


Along with every American, I look forward to the days when America achieves energy independence, which would be a great boost to national security and possibly free up billions that could potentially create a new Economy 3.0 or even 4.0.

However, in this NY Times post, while it rightly suggests that American engagement in the Middle East and other troubled spots in the world won’t end, I reject the idea that it could continue to go badly in the future.

New regimes that could potentially come to power or those that want to stay in power in oil rich nations will need to prepare for the future that comes a time when their coffers are no longer filled with oil profits.

The might of the US military and missions in any given region means hundreds or billions in cold hard cash.

Of course, having plenty of natural resources and energy does not automatically mean things will go well.  Again, ask the Saudi how stable their kingdom really is.  Or Russia where it takes the hands of a strong man to keep things together.

Then again, while we have our own issues, the United States isn’t any one of those countries.  I look forward to 2017 and beyond where American international policies will like change quite a bit and hopefully a much more steady peace.  And maybe, just maybe we won’t have the Chinese as our bankers.

Of course, we hope whoever is in the White House won't take us on various war campaigns or try to use any new political power as leverage.  As you well know, with great power comes great responsibility.  It applied to Peter Parker when Uncle Ben said it to him and it applies to any president or nation as well.

This Kinda Sucks: Galaxy S 4’s 16 GB Storage Really Has Only 9 GB And Lame Design Explanation

Source:  Droid-Life.

I think my title says it all.  Remember back during the Surface days when we found out that Microsoft’s Windows 8 RT tablet had only half of its storage available to the user?  We were pretty harsh on them and just about every anti-Microsoft and pro-whatever chimed in to rip on Redmond.

Well, now we find out that Samung’s flagship Galaxy device will only have 9 GB available to users.  The rest are packed with wares that most users won’t care for, probably won’t use after the novelty wears off, and will end up jail-breaking it to get pure Android back.

I think this is certainly something that reviewers and sellers has to inform potential buyers about.  Of course, that would never happen. So my fellow Android and mobile readers, now you know.

I know that Samsung is working hard to differentiate its mobile offerings but they need to know that there’s a balance between trying to offers features few developers will support and real world uses of their devices.  I’m sure they’ve got the data to know that.

Now, couple that with complaints about cheap plasticky build and it’s convoluted explanation why its devices are designed the way they are.  Except, of course, we have seen it and it’s called “the Galaxy S III”.



However, at the end of the day, Samsung will sell lots of the new Galaxy S 4’s.  A lot and it may not matter too much at the end of the day.

Design-wise, Nexus 4 has me very impressed as does newcomer, HTC One.  Though it remains to be seen if HTC One also suffers from the Galaxy S 4 storage problem.

Twitter Not Thinking IPO

No IPO for Twitter.  Not thinking about it.

Good.  I think they see the headaches public companies like Apple have had to go through.  Apple buying back more than $50 billion stocks and dishing out $100 billion over the next couple of years.

Other cash rich companies like Google and Cisco to name a few will eventually entertain this route.

Don’t be surprised as time go on, Apple gets fed up and goes private.  Twitter, take your time on IPO or don’t go that route at all.  You’ve got enough cash to do small acquisitions you need and there really aren’t big companies you need to buy up.

iTunes Ecosystem In Terms of Stickiness And Filter and the Uncompromising 5” iPhone

Source:  Appleinsider.

There is no doubt that monetizing apps, ads, and services is easier and greater percentage on Apple’s iOS than on Android even though Google’s mobile platform has the lion’s share of the market in terms of units sold.  Apple retains the grown in terms of profit with over 70% of the mobile profit and similar numbers in terms of app and ad sales.

So, I found this Appleinsider post to have a lot to say about stickiness.  Once you’ve spent years using one platform and invested in it in terms of apps, music, and other media, it’s hard to make that switch to a new platform and having to start all over again.

Without DRM, it’s easy to do that with music but iOS apps will not work on Android devices and iTunes video like TV and movies will only work in Apple’s iOS and OS X ecosystem.  It’s no wonder the analyst in the post changed his mind at the last moment and opt out of the latest and greatest from Samsung.

So far, there is very little that Samsung can compete with Apple, Amazon, or Google on the whole ecosystem front.  And I specifically mentioned Samsung because of its drive to differentiate itself from the rest of Android competitors and position itself as an alternative to Apple.

Market Filter

However, there is one other thing that the whole stickiness issue could well work on Apple’s favor in ways that we don’t know if it’s good or not.  Certainly, Apple’s iOS devices like the iPhone plays in the keep end of the mobile market:  the high-end part of the mobile pool.  That is where in all likelihood where mobile users are willing to spend money and experience mobile computing and entertainment beyond those in the general mobile market where Android dominates but are less likely to take up purchasing apps, music, and media.

And with more Android users willing to leave Android and go over to iOS than iPhone users are willing to migrate over to Android and iPhone users generally more loyal and satisfied with their iPhones, it could create a market filter of users on one end who are willing to broaden their mobile experiences through all that the iOS ecosystem provide and another general mobile market who use their devices as it and are less likely to spend money for apps and media.

This isn’t an indictment on Android or Samsung or to say that Apple can just sit on its butt and think that its ecosystem will save it.  It is only a snapshot of the mobile market as it current stands.  Android owns the market share in units sold with Samsung leading the charge as the world’s biggest phone seller while Apple now dominates in terms of profitability.

5” iPhone

The analyst in the AI post mentioned the hole on Apple’s iPhone lineup which is a 5” iPhone.  I generally did not buy into Apple’s line about its unwillingness to make a tablet with a smaller than 10” screen but look at where we are today with the iPad mini.  So, last year when Tim Cook carefully phased his argument that the 4” screen on the iPhone 5 was the best screen Apple made for one-handed use and other attributes like resolution, colors, and brightness as a whole, I knew he was not excluding a bigger iPhone whether it will be used as a phone or more as a true mobile device.

At the most recent financial call, Tim Cook said Apple would not ship a 5” iPhone until certain factors and compromises are addressed.  He called them “trade-offs”.  The most important thing was that he did not dismiss the notion outright.

Basically, he did two things.  Apple will ship an iPhone with a 5” screen or whatever it picks to be the best for Apple’s users when it’s ready and it’s the best device they could make without major compromises.  Meanwhile, he poked at his competitors by suggesting their 5” or great devices were filled with flaws and trade-offs that Apple was unwilling to make.

Once Apple does ship an iPhone with a bigger screen, look out.  It could be the last piece of Apple’s mobile lineup that will solidify its hold on the high-end market.

Sure, 2007 was an important year because it was the first year that Apple released the iPhone.  The following year, the 3G iPhone was huge.  We got the Retina Display in the iPhone 4 but most will agree that the 4S and the 5 were mere incremental upgrades.

However, a 5” or bigger screen iPhone could give Apple a boost in the mobile market mobile warriors have been waiting for.  And it would be a huge deal to Apple fans, its investors, and super-charge the mobile market not seen since 2007.

And if you thought Apple’s hold on the mobile market was strong now, in a year or so, the 5” iPhone and with even stronger iTunes content and services, Apple may begin to choke off more profits from its competitors, even Samsung.

SWYPE Confirmed Previous Talk with Apple

Source: Mac Daily News, 9to9Mac.

This is huge and it looks legit. SWYPE has spoken to Apple about getting the SWYPE keyboard layout on the iOS devices. However, that is not to say that the talks went anywhere. On any given day, Apple is approached about new technology, features, or app ideas. Apple might even reach out to companies as well.

However, with Tim Cook in charge, I can see the possibility of Apple opening up a few cracks in its walled garden for a privileged few like Twitter, Vimeo, and even Facebook.

In the interview, Aaron Sheedy, a SWYPE VP, only confirmed that talks had taken place and called Apple smart. My guess is that Apple did not say yes (but it didn't completely closed the door on the idea) and SWYPE calling Apple smart was a way of it trying to make sure it doesn't run afoul of Apple's good grace regardless of whether Apple was receptive to SWYPE bring a keyboard option on the iPhone.

If this happens and SWYPE is an option in the future, just think of the possibilities. There are other services that could come to iOS was an option that was previously unavailable. We already have options of search engines and emails, so maybe one day, we might see Apple open to allowing users to change their default mail or browser app.

 

Posted with Blogsy

Apple: In Tim We Trust

Since Tim Cook took over for Steve Jobs, what we have seen at Apple is quarter after quarter of growth.  It’s insane what Tim Cook has achieved.  And he has the advantage over other CEOs at competing companies in that he worked under Steve Jobs.  No matter now you look at it, I’m sure some of the reality distortion magic has rubbed off on Tim Cook.

And despite the fall of Apple’s stock price, the reality is that Apple as a company has been dominating every market that it has a product in in terms of profitability.

In the immediate aftermath of Apple’s latest earnings result that came out on Tuesday, we can safely say that Apple continues to be in good hands under Tim Cook’s guidance.  He has learn and grown.  Case in point is the iMac fiasco which he owned up and said that he should not have announced the iMac back in October of 2012 when Apple just was not ready to ship yet.

No CEO at any other company would do this.  Think, folks.  This is huge!  Never will you see the CEOs of Google, Microsoft, HP, Dell, or Samsung own up to their mistakes.  Because of this, Apple fans and investors can proudly declare “In Tim We Trust”.

Going forward, we can look at Tim Cook’s management in this matter.  Software and hardware development will continue hand-in-hand smoothly given the changes in personnel last year.  Ives will have all the room he needs to make the best product he can design.

And products will be launched when they’re good and ready and they’ll be good and magical because the are products that Apple’s liberal art influenced programmers, designers, and engineers would want to make for themselves.

Tim Cook hinted no new products until fall of 2013 and into 2014.  He doesn’t want to rush things.  When the timing and the right technology is at hand, he'll pull the trigger.  He already projected Apple's 5" iPhone.  Until trade-offs are addressed, Apple will not release it.

There will be short term pain in the stock market.  A lot of distractions but he’ll do his best to shield the rest of Apple, the Apple that as a company is doing well, from it all.  He’s already promised to give back $100 billion to investors.

Also, Steve Jobs’ vision for Apple’s place in the living room will continue to evolve as the whole iTunes ecosystem is augmented with new deals from content owners.  Apple TV will eventually graduate from hobby to being a major pillar in Apple’s strategy for mobile and home entertainment.

Meanwhile, Tim Cook will also be laying the ground work for the future in terms of supplies and manufacturing.  He’ll make nice with the corrupt Chinese government and continue to make inroads into India to grow Apple’s markets there.

All the while, Apple will push into new markets.  Take this week’s iBeetle which provides us with a taste of what Apple’s plans are for the automotive industry.  Will Apple make a car or just be happy that cars in the future will be iOS ready?  No one knows for sure and Tim Cook and his team will evaluate and see now the market evolves.  Maybe Apple will be just fine and happy with drivers bring their iPhone into their car to act as the vehicle’s brain or maybe Apple will see something no one else has and get into the market with its own Jony Ives designed vehicle.

New products with no compromises, growing ecosystem, new markets, continuing search for markets to disruption.  That’s what Apple will continue to do.  It was like that under Steve and continues to be the case under Tim.