schininis's Profile

Yes . . . I will hold onto some apple stock . . . but don't think I haven't been taking a little profit now and again! How else could I afford to keep buying new apple gadgets to play with all the time . . . I'm optimistic but not NUTZ. I think you missed my point, but I completly agree with you about iPhone sales. I was not talking about being able to just sync to OS X or windows, I was talking about the fact that many new devices will be running OS X. So then . . . somewhere down the line there isn't an "I just don't understand how to use a Mac" attitude out there anymore because many (MANY) more folks will already be using a limited version of OS X on other devices. Forget the iPod halo effect . . . it's the opposite . . . the iPod (and iPhone) will BE mini Macs running OS X. Then the jump to OS X on a laptop or desktop is a no brainer . . . you like it already. Plus, I think apple will make many products in between the iPod and the MacBook. With that lean and mean OS X running in flash on those sub-laptop products they will OWN mobile computing in not time I think . . . which of course is the fastest growing segment of the market.

Look a little closer at that patent application. I design stuff so it's easy for me to understand what's going on . . . and I forget that it is a little hard to "get it" if you aren't used to reading this kind of stuff. What apple means by overlays are PHYSICAL 3-D REAL keys. It will function EXACTLY like a normal keyboard. But the way it will work is the interesting part. There will be a big touch screen that will work like the iPhone. Then when you want to use it as a REAL keyboard you will place a special plastic keyboard with moving keys on top of the touchpad. The keyboard (or any other type of interface) is nothing more than a series of keys with special surfaces on the bottom that will act on the touchscreen as if your finger is touching it. There is no electrical, USB, or any other kind of connection between the touch screen and the keyboard!!! All you will have to do is tell the computer which overlay you are using, so it will know what the key touches mean. The only problem might be if the large touch screen is too expensive and drives the cost of the device up . . . but I'm thinking it's too cool an idea not to try!

Of course! (sound of slap on forehead) . . . best article on the iPhone I have read. Very honest assesment. I tried FOREVER to like my RAZR . . . really . . . we get these things and even if it's hard to dial or sync or hear . . . we forgive them because we are delighted with how thin it feels in our pockets, and we're hoping the really hot girl will notice and ask us about it when they see it. (they NEVER do) It will be the same for the iPhone . . . masses WILL buy it and the price hurdle will drop every 3 months to allow more people to join the cool club. I will be helpless too, as I have a need to be cool and am not willing to smoke or get a tattoo. I do kinda have a hunch though that apple will in the end get the interface details right . . . or better . . . or just bigger so the over 40 crowd can see the buttons. Maybe the best news is that since it's one big software interface they can keep modifying things until they DO work better, without a complete retooling. If you look back on the iPod each generation slowly brought mostly good changes. The current 30gig is my all time favorite . . . so far. With the iPhone I believe they have develped a platform that will allow for continued refinement in much faster cycle. That's the real secret weapon here, apple does listen quite well to it's users, and in an industry when new phones are constantly coming out . . . this platform will allow them an easy way to stay ahead . . . as needed. The growing number of iPhone critics (those who realise that they are hopelessly uncool and would like to prevent others from being cool) will still be scratching their heads saying that their Blueberry X5000 Genius Phone can technically do more than an iPhone . . . of course us cool folks will stop their rant by yelling "look a puppy" and then rudely checking our apple stock on our iPhone! BTW thank god I bought some apple stock last summer . . . otherwise I couldn't afford to get the next instument of coolness, and I'd be forced to keep my . . . gulp . . . RAZR!

Wow . . . what a nice series of interesting points of view. Let me add a couple of tidbits to consider. iTMS is not just a store. I gave my son my 1st gen iPod and bought a new one. The very next day he had ripped all his CD's and was a happy camper listening to the same music he WAS listening to using his portable CD player. I didn't show him how, or dig up the instruction manual . . . iTunes just worked the way it was supposed to. That sounds easy, to write software that will rip CD to play on a digital device . . . but it isn't . . . I know this because I've messed with plenty of software that can't! The fact that I can also buy music at iTMS is the extra bonus I don't HAVE to need or WANT at first . . . but it does become irresistable eventualy, or handy, or just more conveineint. When my other son needed Hawaiian music for a skit he was doing . . . well who's gunna drive to a store and pay 14$ when you can pay 1$ and have it in less time than it would take me to find my darned keys. I also agree with the enormity of what is now the iPod. Stand in an Apple Store and listen to the folks who come in to buy. I listened to a middle aged woman who was looking at iPods and she wanted to know if Apple ALSO sold MP3 players. The sales guy just started right in explaining things as if he got that question a million times a day. Most consumers have heard 2 terms, MP3 and iPod, and that's the extent of their knowledge when they come to the Apple store with cash in hand. The other factors, like the iTMS, great industrial design, or the simplicity of use only really come into play after I own the product. Those are the things that MS won't be giving me anytime soon, and it's also those things that make for loyal repeat iPod brand customers.