There are bright summer mornings in midtown Manhattan when tech enthusiasts
happily line the streets around the famous Apple "cube" on Fifth Avenue or sneak
to nearby carrier stories to land a new iPhone or iPad.
This was not one of those days. It was gray and soggy outside T-Mobile's
flagship store in midtown Manhattan this morning, a wet reminder that winter
isn't quite over despite what the calendar says. Similarly, T-Mobile hasn't yet
succeeded in attempts to move past its own dark season.
But T-Mobile, for once, had a reason to celebrate. Today marked the first
time the carrier offered Apple's top-of-the-line phone in its stores. Along
heavily trafficked 34th Street in Manhattan, just a block away from Herald
Square and the Empire State Building, a dozen people stood in the cold rain in
front of the T-Mobile store with minutes to go before the doors opened.
Chris Garron, building a case for mother of the year, made her way from
Queens to the store an hour before it opened to buy her 30-year-old daughter and
25-year-old son each an iPhone 5.
"I wanted to make sure I would get the phone," she said. The 50-year-old
stay-at-home mother's denim jacket and pink hoodie sweater underneath may not
have been the best outfit for standing in the rain,
Garron walked in amid the usual applause of an Apple launch. But instead of
the blue-shirted Apple employees, a T-Mobile staff adorned in pink
Apple-approved T-shirts greeted her. On the front of each shirt: "iPhone. It's
here."
To say T-Mobile is excited about carrying the iPhone would be making an
understatement. For T-Mobile, the iPhone 5 isn't just another flagship phone;
it's a gateway to the carrier's new way of thinking when it comes to its service
plans and device costs. The iPhone launch builds upon its "Uncarrier"
initiative, which involves abolishing service contracts and subsidies.
Executives concede that the change -- which notably requires consumers to
pay full price for their smartphones -- will take time for customers to accept.
But they're hoping that the iPhone and less expensive plans are enough to draw
people into stores and start a conversation about why it's a good deal.
"We've encountered some confusion," said Larry Petrone, district manager
for T-Mobile's midtown Manhattan stores. "When they get past the idea that it's
too good to be true, they really like it."
T-Mobile hopes the appeal of the no-contract plans will move its subscriber
numbers in the right direction. The carrier released preliminary first-quarter
figures earlier this month, having slowed the bleeding of so-called post-paid
customers, or someone that T-Mobile defines as a person who pays for service at
the end of the month. It lost 199,000 such customers in the period, compared
with a net loss of 515,000 in the fourth quarter. In total, it added 579,000
customers, largely due to its prepaid and wholesale business.
T-Mobile will provide more complete financial data on May 8. A T-Mobile
executive told CNET that the carrier likely wouldn't provide figures on iPhone
sales until then.
A subdued affair
Today's launch lacked the usual fanfare. There were two other reporters
talking to customers, one of whom left early. The employees were welcoming and
jovial. Right before opening the doors, Petrone smiled brightly and declared to
those in line that "there were only five iPhones in stock," before laughing and
reassuring everyone that there were, in fact, plenty to go around.
Of course, this isn't a new iPhone, with T-Mobile playing catch-up and
getting the iPhone 5 several months after virtually every other carrier started
selling it. But for long-denied T-Mobile customers, this event was just as
important.
"I kind of had a feeling they would eventually get it and I was one of the
ones willing to wait," said Nene Bah, a customer who has been with T-Mobile for
three years.
Bah, who works at a wholesale fashion company nearby ("I might be a little
late," she joked), was toward the end of the dozen or so people in line, getting
to the store five minutes before the doors opened.
The 24-year-old Bronx native was replacing her BlackBerry 9900 with the
iPhone 5.
The launch wasn't without its hiccups. Garron had to wait more than 30
minutes for her iPhones, and the system had apparently gone down, forcing some
customers to wait longer. Others were stuck waiting in the store with a white
ticket signifying an iPhone order.
Building momentum
T-Mobile tried to set itself up for a strong launch, starting with the
unveiling of the "Uncarrier" event late last month. At the event, CEO John
Legere touted his iPhone 5 as the most affordable alternative in the
industry.
Consumers who pass the necessary credit checks pay just $99 up front, and
$20 on top of the service fee each month for the next two years. Consumers have
the option of paying off the phone early.
A look at the plan that T-Mobile offers and what AT&T and Verizon offer
show savings, although not necessarily to the extent that T-Mobile promises.
Still, the company is offering a strong financial incentive to switch.
Some customers, however, aren't quite ready to make that jump to a
no-contract plan. Fanidia Shawon, who walked in at 9:24 a.m. ET, said she was
sticking to her contract plan since she was part of a family plan with multiple
accounts.
2013年4月12日星期五
IDC believe that unless of course Microsoft would make major modifications
Computer profits are plummeting for the reason that consumers are baffled
and unhappy with Windows eight, and there is no conclusion in sight. So
concludes an IDC report, which states the sinking product sales are the worst it
truly is at any time viewed.
The IDC report discovered that worldwide Computer system shipments had been 76.3 million units in 2013's very first quarter, down 13.9% from the 12 months preceding, and in many cases worse as opposed to seven.7% decrease that IDC experienced forecast. The drop is the worst that IDC has at any time observed as it started tracking the Personal computer industry every quarter in 1995. It really is also the fourth straight quarter that Pc income have declined year-on-year.
That's only the start out of your poor information for Microsoft. IDC concludes that that decrease continues to be fueled because of the inadequate style and design and failure of Windows 8, not merely because of the escalating popularity of tablets. Bob O'Donnell, IDC Plan Vp, Purchasers and Displays had these harsh phrases for Windows eight and Microsoft:
"At this position, however, it appears distinct which the Home windows eight launch not just failed to supply a favourable boost to the Computer marketplace, but seems to obtain slowed the marketplace. Even though some customers respect the brand new type variables and contact capabilities of Windows 8, the radical adjustments on the UI, elimination from the acquainted Start off button, along with the costs affiliated with contact have designed PCs a considerably less beautiful option to committed tablets along with other aggressive equipment. Microsoft will have to make some extremely hard selections transferring forward if it really wants to aid reinvigorate the Computer system sector."
"While people today like the standard look and really feel with the tiles, they?ˉre also quite puzzled and pissed off by the deficiency of get started menu and devote a lot of their time in (traditional) desktop manner. Therefore the base line is I do think they have produced a problem where it?ˉs very difficult for people and other people that have a Pc that works just fantastic are saying it?ˉs puzzling, it charges much more money and that i don?ˉt genuinely have to have it."
O'Donnell and other folks at IDC believe that unless of course Microsoft would make major modifications to Home windows 8 to produce it a lot more acquainted and consumer-friendly, items will only get worse. Jay Chou, senior research analyst on IDC?ˉs quarterly Laptop tracking company, said:
"Although IDC experienced not expected Windows 8 for being a substantial driver to aid stem the tide of Pc quantity windows 7 home premium product key drop, it now seems that and not using a training course correction from Microsoft, the Personal computer market place is headed towards an excellent even worse contraction for 2013 than earlier assumed."
O'Donnell is correct. Microsoft made a large gamble in developing Home windows 8 as an functioning system developed a lot more for tablets and touch than for conventional PCs, and in giving it dueling and confusing interfaces. Microsoft hoped that familiarizing people today along with the touch interface would spur persons to obtain Home windows 8 and Windows Rt tablets, but that hasn't occurred. Now it seems that Windows eight helps to drastically depress product sales of common PCs too.
The IDC report discovered that worldwide Computer system shipments had been 76.3 million units in 2013's very first quarter, down 13.9% from the 12 months preceding, and in many cases worse as opposed to seven.7% decrease that IDC experienced forecast. The drop is the worst that IDC has at any time observed as it started tracking the Personal computer industry every quarter in 1995. It really is also the fourth straight quarter that Pc income have declined year-on-year.
That's only the start out of your poor information for Microsoft. IDC concludes that that decrease continues to be fueled because of the inadequate style and design and failure of Windows 8, not merely because of the escalating popularity of tablets. Bob O'Donnell, IDC Plan Vp, Purchasers and Displays had these harsh phrases for Windows eight and Microsoft:
"At this position, however, it appears distinct which the Home windows eight launch not just failed to supply a favourable boost to the Computer marketplace, but seems to obtain slowed the marketplace. Even though some customers respect the brand new type variables and contact capabilities of Windows 8, the radical adjustments on the UI, elimination from the acquainted Start off button, along with the costs affiliated with contact have designed PCs a considerably less beautiful option to committed tablets along with other aggressive equipment. Microsoft will have to make some extremely hard selections transferring forward if it really wants to aid reinvigorate the Computer system sector."
"While people today like the standard look and really feel with the tiles, they?ˉre also quite puzzled and pissed off by the deficiency of get started menu and devote a lot of their time in (traditional) desktop manner. Therefore the base line is I do think they have produced a problem where it?ˉs very difficult for people and other people that have a Pc that works just fantastic are saying it?ˉs puzzling, it charges much more money and that i don?ˉt genuinely have to have it."
O'Donnell and other folks at IDC believe that unless of course Microsoft would make major modifications to Home windows 8 to produce it a lot more acquainted and consumer-friendly, items will only get worse. Jay Chou, senior research analyst on IDC?ˉs quarterly Laptop tracking company, said:
"Although IDC experienced not expected Windows 8 for being a substantial driver to aid stem the tide of Pc quantity windows 7 home premium product key drop, it now seems that and not using a training course correction from Microsoft, the Personal computer market place is headed towards an excellent even worse contraction for 2013 than earlier assumed."
O'Donnell is correct. Microsoft made a large gamble in developing Home windows 8 as an functioning system developed a lot more for tablets and touch than for conventional PCs, and in giving it dueling and confusing interfaces. Microsoft hoped that familiarizing people today along with the touch interface would spur persons to obtain Home windows 8 and Windows Rt tablets, but that hasn't occurred. Now it seems that Windows eight helps to drastically depress product sales of common PCs too.
2013年4月10日星期三
HTC One phone a knockout contender
To the casual observer, the smartphone slugfest has come down to two
main combatants: Apple, with its iPhone, and Samsung, with its Galaxy
line. The reality, though, is that there are other muscular heavyweights
vying for contention, including the Taiwanese handset manufacturer HTC.
HTC hasn't been able to duplicate the strong commercial success of its
rivals, despite producing Android phones that generally have been
critically well received.
Now, HTC is punching away again with the thin and stylish 5-ounce HTC One, which reaches U.S. consumers on April 19, presumably a week or two ahead of the Samsung Galaxy S4. In many respects, HTC One is, well, one knockout of a device, though I also found a few things in my tests that I wasn't wild about.
It will initially be sold at AT&T, Sprint, HTC and Best Buy and cost $199.99 for a version with 32 gigabytes of storage or $299.99 for 64 GB, under customary two-year contracts. It will also be sold later this spring at T-Mobile, which recently announced its intention to ditch traditional wireless contracts. You'll be able to get the T-Mobile version for a down payment of $99.99, after which you'll be responsible for 24 equal monthly payments of $20.
HTC One certainly boasts a long list of positives, starting with a handsome all-metal unibody design that speaks to the premium quality of HTC's latest flagship. And HTC One has a splendid full high-definition screen (468 ppi resolution), robust Qualcomm quad-core processor and powerful speakers (backed by Beats Audio) excellent not only for listening to music but also for using the speakerphone.
The HTC One also has a camera capable of producing fine quality photographs, even when you're shooting in low light. And the "living" Gallery for showing off those photos reveals not only stationary pictures but moving images, too. It's a very cool special effect.
HTC One even doubles as a universal remote control and can serve up TV recommendations of what to watch based on your designated preferences.
In lieu of a traditional home-screen layout with icons and apps, HTC is making much of a new interface called BlinkFeed, a live and constantly updated stream of customizable social feeds from your Facebook friends and the folks you follow on Twitter, as well as feeds from any number of news sources. The feeds appear as pictures in squares and rectangles of different sizes, and brings to mind the Flipboard app.Tap on a square or rectangle to read the underlying content, which HTC says can come from more than 1,400 content providers in a dozen categories. You can drag down to refresh the screen.
The idea is that your HTC One home screen would look different from mine, though I suspect some users will find BlinkFeed a bit overwhelming. If so, you can go with HTC's alternative Sense Android layout. Given Facebook's own intentions, announced last week, to take over the phone screen, you will also soon be able to use the Facebook Home interface on the HTC One, should you find that choice more appealing.
My main gripe with the HTC One has to do with usability.
For example, the decorative HTC logo that sits below the 4.7-inch display is in precisely the location where you'd expect a home button to be. I kept inadvertently hitting that logo to no effect, because the actual on-screen home icon that you're meant to tap is off to its right. A poor design choice.
As I indicated, the HTC One's camera can produce top-notch picture quality and features a suite of clever photographic stunts built around what HTC refers to as Zoe. When Zoe is turned on, for example, you can capture not only a still photograph when you tap the camera icon but also grab a few seconds of video. Through an "always smile" retouch feature inside Zoe you can drag a circle that appears around a face until you get a pose you can live with. Zoe can also automatically produce a little themed highlight reel put together from some of your shots.
But too often I found the Zoe software confusing. It was not always intuitive how to dig down to get to the various features, clever though they may be.
The camera itself is built around what HTC claims to be the largest and most light-sensitive pixels you'll find on a smartphone — so while there are fewer pixels than on other phones, HTC says the ones on board it capture more than 300% more light than other cameras. I was certainly impressed with most of the pictures I took, in a variety of settings.
I was equally impressed with how music sounded on the phone. And HTC had demonstrated to me a fun karaoke software feature with lyrics fetched from Gracenote, but it didn't work with the music that was loaded on my test device.
I didn't do a formal battery test but did notice low-battery warnings late in the day, so it's something to watch. And be mindful that the battery, like that of the iPhone, is not removable.
HTC One is a beautiful well-sculpted device that belongs in the conversation of heavyweight smartphone contenders. You'll appreciate many of its features even as you wish some of the software were more intuitive.
Now, HTC is punching away again with the thin and stylish 5-ounce HTC One, which reaches U.S. consumers on April 19, presumably a week or two ahead of the Samsung Galaxy S4. In many respects, HTC One is, well, one knockout of a device, though I also found a few things in my tests that I wasn't wild about.
It will initially be sold at AT&T, Sprint, HTC and Best Buy and cost $199.99 for a version with 32 gigabytes of storage or $299.99 for 64 GB, under customary two-year contracts. It will also be sold later this spring at T-Mobile, which recently announced its intention to ditch traditional wireless contracts. You'll be able to get the T-Mobile version for a down payment of $99.99, after which you'll be responsible for 24 equal monthly payments of $20.
HTC One certainly boasts a long list of positives, starting with a handsome all-metal unibody design that speaks to the premium quality of HTC's latest flagship. And HTC One has a splendid full high-definition screen (468 ppi resolution), robust Qualcomm quad-core processor and powerful speakers (backed by Beats Audio) excellent not only for listening to music but also for using the speakerphone.
The HTC One also has a camera capable of producing fine quality photographs, even when you're shooting in low light. And the "living" Gallery for showing off those photos reveals not only stationary pictures but moving images, too. It's a very cool special effect.
HTC One even doubles as a universal remote control and can serve up TV recommendations of what to watch based on your designated preferences.
In lieu of a traditional home-screen layout with icons and apps, HTC is making much of a new interface called BlinkFeed, a live and constantly updated stream of customizable social feeds from your Facebook friends and the folks you follow on Twitter, as well as feeds from any number of news sources. The feeds appear as pictures in squares and rectangles of different sizes, and brings to mind the Flipboard app.Tap on a square or rectangle to read the underlying content, which HTC says can come from more than 1,400 content providers in a dozen categories. You can drag down to refresh the screen.
The idea is that your HTC One home screen would look different from mine, though I suspect some users will find BlinkFeed a bit overwhelming. If so, you can go with HTC's alternative Sense Android layout. Given Facebook's own intentions, announced last week, to take over the phone screen, you will also soon be able to use the Facebook Home interface on the HTC One, should you find that choice more appealing.
My main gripe with the HTC One has to do with usability.
For example, the decorative HTC logo that sits below the 4.7-inch display is in precisely the location where you'd expect a home button to be. I kept inadvertently hitting that logo to no effect, because the actual on-screen home icon that you're meant to tap is off to its right. A poor design choice.
As I indicated, the HTC One's camera can produce top-notch picture quality and features a suite of clever photographic stunts built around what HTC refers to as Zoe. When Zoe is turned on, for example, you can capture not only a still photograph when you tap the camera icon but also grab a few seconds of video. Through an "always smile" retouch feature inside Zoe you can drag a circle that appears around a face until you get a pose you can live with. Zoe can also automatically produce a little themed highlight reel put together from some of your shots.
But too often I found the Zoe software confusing. It was not always intuitive how to dig down to get to the various features, clever though they may be.
The camera itself is built around what HTC claims to be the largest and most light-sensitive pixels you'll find on a smartphone — so while there are fewer pixels than on other phones, HTC says the ones on board it capture more than 300% more light than other cameras. I was certainly impressed with most of the pictures I took, in a variety of settings.
I was equally impressed with how music sounded on the phone. And HTC had demonstrated to me a fun karaoke software feature with lyrics fetched from Gracenote, but it didn't work with the music that was loaded on my test device.
I didn't do a formal battery test but did notice low-battery warnings late in the day, so it's something to watch. And be mindful that the battery, like that of the iPhone, is not removable.
HTC One is a beautiful well-sculpted device that belongs in the conversation of heavyweight smartphone contenders. You'll appreciate many of its features even as you wish some of the software were more intuitive.
Home windows eight is a excellent operating
A person requirements to consult the Mayan calendar, a Sumerian tablet, or
perhaps the Oracle of Algernon, because I'm actually over the exact facet as Ed
Bott within this week's argument, "Windows eight: Can this OS be saved?" Nicely,
other than for something: I do not feel that Home windows eight requires saving.
So to me, the debate's premise is type of moot. It's going to be exciting to
discover the arguments on this 1, but severely, Windows eight will not will need
conserving. Hold off on decreasing the lifeboats.
Each time Microsoft releases a whole new model of its operating method, you can find somewhat of controversy and preventing that usually takes put. And i understand your love for Windows XP or your attachment to Windows seven, but it is time to embrace the long run.
In my mind's eye, I consider two nerds stepping into the argument about irrespective of whether Windows eight could be saved and ending up inside of a slap fight that eventually is damaged up by one of their moms. Scenarios similar to this just make me dangle my head in shame. But that's the character of IT folk. It truly is kind of like arguing Windows vs. Linux, or Computer system vs. Mac.
Faith is belief-based. Technological innovation is observation-based. Learn the primary difference in advance of getting a side.
Now having claimed that, I'll explain to you that in my humble viewpoint, Home windows Vista and Windows Me were being entirely bogus and absolutely unneeded efforts. Sorry, I do know which i explained inside of a prior put up that I would in no way dog Vista once more, but it truly is such a simple focus on that i are not able to resist. The mere point out of it is like Kryptonite to me. And i'm favourable that far too a lot exposure to Vista would eventually eliminate me. I digress.
I have been to numerous retail suppliers and just one price cut retailer all-around town, and i've found Windows eight on a number of systems. New laptops with touchscreens, desktops, netbooks, and, obviously, the Surface area tablet line.
I set up it on a laptop computer and possess nonetheless to find out anything at all improper with it. Admittedly, I'd appreciate it far more if I had among the list of new touchscreen, types but you will find nothing completely wrong with Home windows eight. And i have put it by means of its paces. I have never been great to Home windows 8. I hated it at the outset, but I forced myself to vary together with the moments and get the job done with it. The Home windows eight Metro-style interface is the upcoming of computing.
The mouse will likely be a point on the previous extremely soon within our post-PC era that one of the debaters writes about so usually. Should you, and he, truly imagine that we've been now into your post-PC era, why the heck would you require to save Windows eight?
Windows eight is often a whole working method that will operate serious purposes. You will find no must apologize for it. It really is an excellent running procedure - each individual bit nearly as good as Home windows XP, as well as in many means, a lot better than Home windows seven. One of my preferred capabilities of Home windows 8 is its outstanding office 2010 activation key boot time. Thirty seconds from ability on, I'm opening applications. Home windows seven, conversely, requires numerous minutes about the very same components.
Windows 8 would not need to have saving any more than Home windows ninety five did. Folks are afraid of a thing new, but in this instance, they should not be. And neither ought to you. Home windows eight is a excellent operating method that warrants a respected area in historical past along with other innovative know-how developments
You required an working procedure that might run over the components that you have now as you really don't need to spend the cash to up grade. Carried out. You desired an operating technique that runs over a a number of components so that your user encounter is similar on all equipment. Finished. You preferred an functioning process that's very easy to use. Finished. You wished an Apple-like working experience with swipey icons and an app retail store. Finished. You needed an running program that does not acquire a long time to boot up - hence all the geeky tales of "going to obtain a cup of espresso whilst it boots". Finished.
Each time Microsoft releases a whole new model of its operating method, you can find somewhat of controversy and preventing that usually takes put. And i understand your love for Windows XP or your attachment to Windows seven, but it is time to embrace the long run.
In my mind's eye, I consider two nerds stepping into the argument about irrespective of whether Windows eight could be saved and ending up inside of a slap fight that eventually is damaged up by one of their moms. Scenarios similar to this just make me dangle my head in shame. But that's the character of IT folk. It truly is kind of like arguing Windows vs. Linux, or Computer system vs. Mac.
Faith is belief-based. Technological innovation is observation-based. Learn the primary difference in advance of getting a side.
Now having claimed that, I'll explain to you that in my humble viewpoint, Home windows Vista and Windows Me were being entirely bogus and absolutely unneeded efforts. Sorry, I do know which i explained inside of a prior put up that I would in no way dog Vista once more, but it truly is such a simple focus on that i are not able to resist. The mere point out of it is like Kryptonite to me. And i'm favourable that far too a lot exposure to Vista would eventually eliminate me. I digress.
I have been to numerous retail suppliers and just one price cut retailer all-around town, and i've found Windows eight on a number of systems. New laptops with touchscreens, desktops, netbooks, and, obviously, the Surface area tablet line.
I set up it on a laptop computer and possess nonetheless to find out anything at all improper with it. Admittedly, I'd appreciate it far more if I had among the list of new touchscreen, types but you will find nothing completely wrong with Home windows eight. And i have put it by means of its paces. I have never been great to Home windows 8. I hated it at the outset, but I forced myself to vary together with the moments and get the job done with it. The Home windows eight Metro-style interface is the upcoming of computing.
The mouse will likely be a point on the previous extremely soon within our post-PC era that one of the debaters writes about so usually. Should you, and he, truly imagine that we've been now into your post-PC era, why the heck would you require to save Windows eight?
Windows eight is often a whole working method that will operate serious purposes. You will find no must apologize for it. It really is an excellent running procedure - each individual bit nearly as good as Home windows XP, as well as in many means, a lot better than Home windows seven. One of my preferred capabilities of Home windows 8 is its outstanding office 2010 activation key boot time. Thirty seconds from ability on, I'm opening applications. Home windows seven, conversely, requires numerous minutes about the very same components.
Windows 8 would not need to have saving any more than Home windows ninety five did. Folks are afraid of a thing new, but in this instance, they should not be. And neither ought to you. Home windows eight is a excellent operating method that warrants a respected area in historical past along with other innovative know-how developments
You required an working procedure that might run over the components that you have now as you really don't need to spend the cash to up grade. Carried out. You desired an operating technique that runs over a a number of components so that your user encounter is similar on all equipment. Finished. You preferred an functioning process that's very easy to use. Finished. You wished an Apple-like working experience with swipey icons and an app retail store. Finished. You needed an running program that does not acquire a long time to boot up - hence all the geeky tales of "going to obtain a cup of espresso whilst it boots". Finished.
2013年4月7日星期日
Gorgeous iOS 7 concept video shows what’s possible in Apple’s next iPhone software
Imagine all the things you’ve ever wanted iOS to do.
Quick settings from the lock screen, widgets that let you make changes in running apps without opening them, true multitasking in which you can see and flip through all open apps, multiple desktops, the ability to download files and store them locally in a user-accessible location, and much more.
Now, make an awesome video showcasing all those. That’s just what Federico Bianco did:
What’s certain about iOS 7 is that we’re going to see something new and updated under the leadership of Jony Ive. He’s not a fan of the kind of skeuomorphic design that Scott Forstall favored – design that connects the new to the old with decorative but unnecessary elements. So we’re pretty likely to see something streamlined, simple, and elegant.
The question is: Will Ive edit iOS while leaving the core of the mobile operating system’s design ethic intact, or will he massively revamp it and come with a new overall concept?
And whether it will contain these or similar elements, only those in Apple know.
Quick settings from the lock screen, widgets that let you make changes in running apps without opening them, true multitasking in which you can see and flip through all open apps, multiple desktops, the ability to download files and store them locally in a user-accessible location, and much more.
Now, make an awesome video showcasing all those. That’s just what Federico Bianco did:
What’s certain about iOS 7 is that we’re going to see something new and updated under the leadership of Jony Ive. He’s not a fan of the kind of skeuomorphic design that Scott Forstall favored – design that connects the new to the old with decorative but unnecessary elements. So we’re pretty likely to see something streamlined, simple, and elegant.
The question is: Will Ive edit iOS while leaving the core of the mobile operating system’s design ethic intact, or will he massively revamp it and come with a new overall concept?
And whether it will contain these or similar elements, only those in Apple know.
Warren's online video that Microsoft
Windows 8's first big update is around the way, supplying extra capacity to
customise touch-enabled Start screens on Windows eight machines with various
sized stay tiles.
The update, codenamed Home windows Blue, which in earlier versions of Windows would've been identified for a Services Pack, has leaked to the internet.
It appears to be from Warren's online video that Microsoft will far more closely align the person interface of Home windows 8 with that of its Home windows Cell phone eight smartphone system windows key shop. A brand new Customise button on the Start out display stops the accidental movement from the stay tiles.
New gestures increase more performance. A swipe up within the bottom from the monitor provides a list of all set up programs whilst a swipe down provides an influence off selection.
The Settings Charm contains a new Personalise button, for more honing of private tastes, and there are various additional possibilities for qualifications colours and designs.
Microsoft's virtual really hard disk generate providing SkyDrive by now comes mounted with Home windows 8, but Home windows Blue includes the option to back again up documents to SkyDrive from inside of Windows 8's Settings webpage, signalling a more in-depth url between computer software and data files put in about the pc and those saved on line while in the cloud.
A brand new Peaceful Several hours operate allows you to silence apps throughout pre-set moments therefore you could get some slumber with out e-mail and Fb notifications waking you with a ping.
A handful of new apps feature Home windows Blue - an alarm clock, calculator, sound recorder and movie maker - but the most significant is a new edition of its World-wide-web Explorer website browser IE11. This features the power to synchronise favorite web sites and browsing record involving Windows 8 units.
The update, codenamed Home windows Blue, which in earlier versions of Windows would've been identified for a Services Pack, has leaked to the internet.
It appears to be from Warren's online video that Microsoft will far more closely align the person interface of Home windows 8 with that of its Home windows Cell phone eight smartphone system windows key shop. A brand new Customise button on the Start out display stops the accidental movement from the stay tiles.
New gestures increase more performance. A swipe up within the bottom from the monitor provides a list of all set up programs whilst a swipe down provides an influence off selection.
The Settings Charm contains a new Personalise button, for more honing of private tastes, and there are various additional possibilities for qualifications colours and designs.
Microsoft's virtual really hard disk generate providing SkyDrive by now comes mounted with Home windows 8, but Home windows Blue includes the option to back again up documents to SkyDrive from inside of Windows 8's Settings webpage, signalling a more in-depth url between computer software and data files put in about the pc and those saved on line while in the cloud.
A brand new Peaceful Several hours operate allows you to silence apps throughout pre-set moments therefore you could get some slumber with out e-mail and Fb notifications waking you with a ping.
A handful of new apps feature Home windows Blue - an alarm clock, calculator, sound recorder and movie maker - but the most significant is a new edition of its World-wide-web Explorer website browser IE11. This features the power to synchronise favorite web sites and browsing record involving Windows 8 units.
2013年4月6日星期六
Why Windows fragmentation will blow Windows to smithereens
The Windows operating system has been plagued with fragmentation ever since
the 3.x branch of the OS was released on multiple PCs.
The transition from XP to Vista, to Windows 7 and most recently, both iterations of the newest version of Windows, 8 and RT, as well as all patch iterations and dot versions in between, has left a scattered landscape of PCs in various states of OS upgrade version malaise. (Cough)
This has created problems for Windows developers when coding applications, and when they test against different versions of the OS and different target devices. (Oh my!)
The introduction of multiple versions of PCs, as well as Windows virtual machines and emulators running in Mac OS X and Linux, has further complicated this situation by creating additional "forks" of Windows, which have their own unique application issues that developers need to address. (The horror! The horror!)
In case you haven't figured it out by now, I'm not being serious. While I have no fondness for Windows I know quite well that -- even though there are, for example, six major versions of Windows 7 -- Windows is now and has been for years the number one desktop operating system..
Why then must the fact that there are multiple versions of Android lead to its being blown to smithereens? It seems like hardily a week can go by without someone proclaiming how terrible Android fragmentation is. Somehow, just like Windows back in its early days, Android keeps getting more and more popular.
Why? Because while operating system fragmentation is indeed a pain for developers, it's not nearly as much of an annoyance as some people would have you believe. Just like you can run pretty much any 32-bit Windows application — save Metro and RT-specific apps -- on any version of Windows, you can run pretty much an Android app on any Android device.
Mind you, the app won't always work well. Anyone who runs smartphone specific apps on tablets knows that, but they will run. Smartphone and tablet vendors know that and they like it. So long as they stick with Android as a foundation, they're guaranteed to have tens of thousands of applications from day one with every new device. Even companies that don't use Android, like BlackBerry, know that this is a smart move, which is why BlackBerry 10 comes with support for Android apps with its Dalvik implementation.
I can't see Samsung, HTC, or anyone else who matters in the hardware business trying to fork Android. For customers, there's just too much value in the common operating system foundation and the Google Play apps and store for vendors to ignore.
Software developers see it the same way. Sure, they're willing to support Apple iOS and Android. That's where the customers are. But support Tizen and Firefox OS and Windows Phone 8 and BlackBerry 10 and Ubuntu? That's asking a lot more. Do you really expect them to rush to support Amazon Android, HTC Android, Facebook Android, and Samsung Android? I don't think so!
Look at the numbers today. According to ABI Research, 58 percent of 2013's 56 billion smartphone app downloads will be Android apps. Apple iOS will have 33 percent, and far, far behind Microsoft's Windows Phone will have not quite 4 percent and BlackBerry will get 3 percent. So, who's going to write apps for less than 3 percent of the market? Nobody that's who.
Let's be practical. The market can support two, maybe three major smartphone and tablet operating systems; after that, you're looking at marginal players.
Maybe there's room there for small players in some niches. Firefox and Ubuntu, for example, are aiming at the low-end range between feature phones and smartphones. I can see that. What I can't see is the successful Android ecosystem being carved into progressive smaller, more labor intensive, and less profitable portions.
The one company that might fork Android, but I doubt they would bother, is Amazon. They have a unique business model. For them Android is not so much an operating system as it is a sales channel.
But, again, why would they bother? They've already tuned it to use Amazon Kindle Store instead of Google Play so they've already accomplished their mission-critical goal. What on Earth could they have to gain by forking the operating system? Nothing, absolutely nothing.
Look at the PC market. For years, Windows has dominated, Mac OS X has had a significant single digit stake, and Linux hangs on at about 1% of the marketplace. There are a lot of reasons that it's worked out this way, but Windows "fragmentation" was never a problem.
For both hardware OEMs and software programmers the minor nuisance of supporting multiple versions of Windows was never a real issue. Supporting multiple, incompatible operating systems, however, is a problem. Wwhich is why Mac OS X and Linux have remained niche desktop operating systems and why I suspect Windows RT, which is incompatible with other Windows versions, will never be successful.
So, with all that, do you really think Android hardware and software companies will break compatibility when there are many solid business reasons to keep using Android as their base? The Windows ecosystem companies weren't that foolish and I don't think the Android ecosystem businesses are any dumber than they are.
The transition from XP to Vista, to Windows 7 and most recently, both iterations of the newest version of Windows, 8 and RT, as well as all patch iterations and dot versions in between, has left a scattered landscape of PCs in various states of OS upgrade version malaise. (Cough)
This has created problems for Windows developers when coding applications, and when they test against different versions of the OS and different target devices. (Oh my!)
The introduction of multiple versions of PCs, as well as Windows virtual machines and emulators running in Mac OS X and Linux, has further complicated this situation by creating additional "forks" of Windows, which have their own unique application issues that developers need to address. (The horror! The horror!)
In case you haven't figured it out by now, I'm not being serious. While I have no fondness for Windows I know quite well that -- even though there are, for example, six major versions of Windows 7 -- Windows is now and has been for years the number one desktop operating system..
Why then must the fact that there are multiple versions of Android lead to its being blown to smithereens? It seems like hardily a week can go by without someone proclaiming how terrible Android fragmentation is. Somehow, just like Windows back in its early days, Android keeps getting more and more popular.
Why? Because while operating system fragmentation is indeed a pain for developers, it's not nearly as much of an annoyance as some people would have you believe. Just like you can run pretty much any 32-bit Windows application — save Metro and RT-specific apps -- on any version of Windows, you can run pretty much an Android app on any Android device.
Mind you, the app won't always work well. Anyone who runs smartphone specific apps on tablets knows that, but they will run. Smartphone and tablet vendors know that and they like it. So long as they stick with Android as a foundation, they're guaranteed to have tens of thousands of applications from day one with every new device. Even companies that don't use Android, like BlackBerry, know that this is a smart move, which is why BlackBerry 10 comes with support for Android apps with its Dalvik implementation.
I can't see Samsung, HTC, or anyone else who matters in the hardware business trying to fork Android. For customers, there's just too much value in the common operating system foundation and the Google Play apps and store for vendors to ignore.
Software developers see it the same way. Sure, they're willing to support Apple iOS and Android. That's where the customers are. But support Tizen and Firefox OS and Windows Phone 8 and BlackBerry 10 and Ubuntu? That's asking a lot more. Do you really expect them to rush to support Amazon Android, HTC Android, Facebook Android, and Samsung Android? I don't think so!
Look at the numbers today. According to ABI Research, 58 percent of 2013's 56 billion smartphone app downloads will be Android apps. Apple iOS will have 33 percent, and far, far behind Microsoft's Windows Phone will have not quite 4 percent and BlackBerry will get 3 percent. So, who's going to write apps for less than 3 percent of the market? Nobody that's who.
Let's be practical. The market can support two, maybe three major smartphone and tablet operating systems; after that, you're looking at marginal players.
Maybe there's room there for small players in some niches. Firefox and Ubuntu, for example, are aiming at the low-end range between feature phones and smartphones. I can see that. What I can't see is the successful Android ecosystem being carved into progressive smaller, more labor intensive, and less profitable portions.
The one company that might fork Android, but I doubt they would bother, is Amazon. They have a unique business model. For them Android is not so much an operating system as it is a sales channel.
But, again, why would they bother? They've already tuned it to use Amazon Kindle Store instead of Google Play so they've already accomplished their mission-critical goal. What on Earth could they have to gain by forking the operating system? Nothing, absolutely nothing.
Look at the PC market. For years, Windows has dominated, Mac OS X has had a significant single digit stake, and Linux hangs on at about 1% of the marketplace. There are a lot of reasons that it's worked out this way, but Windows "fragmentation" was never a problem.
For both hardware OEMs and software programmers the minor nuisance of supporting multiple versions of Windows was never a real issue. Supporting multiple, incompatible operating systems, however, is a problem. Wwhich is why Mac OS X and Linux have remained niche desktop operating systems and why I suspect Windows RT, which is incompatible with other Windows versions, will never be successful.
So, with all that, do you really think Android hardware and software companies will break compatibility when there are many solid business reasons to keep using Android as their base? The Windows ecosystem companies weren't that foolish and I don't think the Android ecosystem businesses are any dumber than they are.
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