While I do partially agree with this, there's one fundamental problem:
How do you use a tablet properly with a PORTABLE external keyboard? Or rather, where do you get a portable keyboard that's sturdy (and heavy!) enough to dock a 7-12" tablet in without having it fall over when placed on a slanted surface, such as lecture hall "desklets" (can't think of the proper word, sorry... living in Germany is ruining my English). Of course, you could just lay both flat on the desk surface, but there's often not enough room for this. Not enough for side by side either, in many cases...
A clamshell/convertible, on the other hand, holds up the screen by itself. No need for crazy constructions etc... solve this problem and pure tablet devices in combination with external keyboards may become usable in a mobile work context.
And sure, touchscreen keyboards are fine for some stuff, but taking notes via typing requires tactile feedback, even if only for the reason that you can't look at the keyboard/screen all the time.
Actually, Dell also has a division for real products... I haven't yet used a Dell Precision series device I didn't like. Hell, objectively they're nearly on par with Thinkpads, and all that keeps me from buying one is personal preference...
Why apply it to Windows? The criticism doesn't apply there either... Linux isn't at the end of its life cycle, it's just not mainstream on the desktop.
Meanwhile, Linux market share everywhere else is skyrocketing - mobile, embedded... hell, you can hardly buy tech these days that doesn't run on some form of Linux or at least Unix. Linux may not be raking in the market share on the desktop, but it's sure as hell evolving much faster than its competitors, migrating into more appropriate markets and, quite frankly, doing a damned good job of it.
However, as someone who uses Ubuntu and other desktop variants only when I need to compile something for Android, but uses Android and iOS devices every day, I can safely say that Linux on the desktop will be sticking around for a long time to come, even if only as a (fantastic) development platform for all the other platforms it runs on.
Did he say anything else the first time he was quoted? It's true, he NEVER said that Android was or ever would be better, just that it would become dominant.
Windows is dominant in PC OS market share, but is it better than OS X? For me personally, yes (just like Android is much better than iOS for my taste), but it's definitely not a question that can be answered objectively.
Same thing here - Wozzy admits that openness and variety will always trump a closed off controlled system, but is still of the opinion that the closed, controlled system is better. How was it a misquote?
Unfortunately Google themselves aren't the ones bending over... Android users are. I would love to receive a few more updates for my Desire, but I'm guessing Gingerbread, if not Froyo, will be the end of the road.
Actually, I was referring to future devices, along the lines of "You can't have our proprietary Google Apps unless you guarantee that the phone will receive all Android updates released up to two years after release, with each update being released a maximum of one month after it is released by Google."
As far as I know, manufacturers also need "approval" of some sort in order to use all the Google apps - Maps & Navigation, GMail, EMail, Youtube and so on... Couldn't threatening to withhold those be a decent incentive to keep handsets up to date as well?
How does that help people buying current 1.6 phones because they don't know any better, and then wondering why so many apps are unavailable on their devices?
If Google doesn't start forcing carriers/vendors to upgrade their handsets in a timely manner, no amount of SDK wizardry is going to help.
1. Great webmail interface w/ decent threading 2. Good inbox search (have you noticed how bad some e-mail clients are at this?) 3. Tight Android integration including push e-mail 4. Tight GCal integration, which again has tight Android integration 5. Tight GDocs integration, which works well across platforms and also works well on Android with third-party apps 6. Tight GContacts integration, which again has tight Android integation
As an avid Gmail + Android user, I can say that it's definitely made my life much more integrated, seamless, and just easier. Can't do that with some obscure e-mail server or your own... unless you rent an Exchange server or set up your own. There are cheaper options of course, but that's just too much effort, IMO...
Reasons to use Facebook:
1. Possible text messaging integration, meaning I can send people who don't have internet on their phones messages without shoving money up my service provider's ass 2. Standardized FirstnameLastname@facebook.com e-mail addresses. I do like that... 3. Can't really think of anything else. Is there anything?
Now that would get me to buy Kinect and the corresponding console... but how do Diablo-style probability-based (defense points vs. attack rating determines hit probaility) attacks translate to full-motion gaming? That would make for a lot of frustrating, "I slashed right at his head but the game still says I missed!" type problems.
Re:Failed on the first question
on
2010 Geek IQ Test
·
· Score: 2, Insightful
I think starting the quiz is the first test;)
Can't get in either, same error. Probably their way of saying "FU, we're slashdotted!"
Personally, I was pretty pissed off when I couldn't find any way to sync, or much less import contacts from Facebook to my Google contacts. Now Google is fighting to make that easier for me... and that's a good thing.
Notice that Google hasn't blocked the current method, they've just added a warning... an elegant solution, IMO.
The N900 is a great device that's insanely open, but the things you're listing have become pretty much everyday type things on Android and also, to a certain extent, iOS. The Skype support on the N900 is unparalleled, of course, and I haven't tried an actual PS3 controller on Android yet (do those work as Bluetooth HID devices? Because if so, the BlueZ module in CyanogenMod should pick it up fine, right?), but emulators are very standard fare these days, as is pairing a WiiMote for on-the-go gaming and WiFi and VoIP.:)
Now if you wanted to talk about, say, the N900's vastly superior multitasking (at least it seemed like it in the 15 minutes I used it), the much better keyboard than most Android devices and, well, the fact that you can much more easily run, well, pretty much anything on Maemo... that would be a different story;)
Is that really relevant to end users? I don't think it's a necessary distinction, and is more of an annoyance in that users are baffled when the "synced" addresses don't show up in their Google contacts on the web...
So how come the official Android Facebook app imports all Facebook contacts' E-Mail addresses directly into the Android contacts database?
Sure, it's not a permanent sync/merge (the addresses are removed if you uninstall the Facebook app), but it doesn't seem that Facebook is overly concerned with keeping contacts' E-Mail addresses private.
Hmmm, Tab Mix Plus has a fun "Reload every x seconds" option... maybe I should just leave that on for a day or two, set to reload the North Country Gazette every second. Who's with me?:p
Even as a very satisfied HTC Desire user (read: rabid Android fanboy), I've got to say that I quite disagree with you there.
The iPhone4 is simply a stunning piece of hardware that has yet to be matched by any of the Android offerings. The OS, while clunky, is smoother and more intuitive in many parts, and offers pretty much everything rooted Android offers when jailbroken.
If the iPhone4 was as cheap as the Desire or Galaxy S, I doubt those devices would have anywhere near this many users. Sad, but likely true...
I know what you mean... WQVGA... WSXGA+... WTF. Acronyms are good, as they save you from typing "XXXXX by XXXXX" every time, but this is getting ridiculous.
Of course there comes a point in time where you're going to have trouble with this, but I'm pretty sure I've got a few more years until I can no longer appreciate 1080p on a ~5" display:)
Slashdot Mirror
While I do partially agree with this, there's one fundamental problem:
How do you use a tablet properly with a PORTABLE external keyboard? Or rather, where do you get a portable keyboard that's sturdy (and heavy!) enough to dock a 7-12" tablet in without having it fall over when placed on a slanted surface, such as lecture hall "desklets" (can't think of the proper word, sorry... living in Germany is ruining my English). Of course, you could just lay both flat on the desk surface, but there's often not enough room for this. Not enough for side by side either, in many cases...
A clamshell/convertible, on the other hand, holds up the screen by itself. No need for crazy constructions etc... solve this problem and pure tablet devices in combination with external keyboards may become usable in a mobile work context.
And sure, touchscreen keyboards are fine for some stuff, but taking notes via typing requires tactile feedback, even if only for the reason that you can't look at the keyboard/screen all the time.
Actually, Dell also has a division for real products... I haven't yet used a Dell Precision series device I didn't like. Hell, objectively they're nearly on par with Thinkpads, and all that keeps me from buying one is personal preference...
Why apply it to Windows? The criticism doesn't apply there either... Linux isn't at the end of its life cycle, it's just not mainstream on the desktop.
Meanwhile, Linux market share everywhere else is skyrocketing - mobile, embedded... hell, you can hardly buy tech these days that doesn't run on some form of Linux or at least Unix. Linux may not be raking in the market share on the desktop, but it's sure as hell evolving much faster than its competitors, migrating into more appropriate markets and, quite frankly, doing a damned good job of it.
However, as someone who uses Ubuntu and other desktop variants only when I need to compile something for Android, but uses Android and iOS devices every day, I can safely say that Linux on the desktop will be sticking around for a long time to come, even if only as a (fantastic) development platform for all the other platforms it runs on.
And more importantly, will either one do anything for Android? :p
Did he say anything else the first time he was quoted? It's true, he NEVER said that Android was or ever would be better, just that it would become dominant.
Windows is dominant in PC OS market share, but is it better than OS X? For me personally, yes (just like Android is much better than iOS for my taste), but it's definitely not a question that can be answered objectively.
Same thing here - Wozzy admits that openness and variety will always trump a closed off controlled system, but is still of the opinion that the closed, controlled system is better. How was it a misquote?
And what about apps that require newer features? Take C2DM for IM apps, for instance...
Sure, it's great if your app doesn't require these new features, but what about those that do?
Unfortunately Google themselves aren't the ones bending over... Android users are. I would love to receive a few more updates for my Desire, but I'm guessing Gingerbread, if not Froyo, will be the end of the road.
Actually, I was referring to future devices, along the lines of "You can't have our proprietary Google Apps unless you guarantee that the phone will receive all Android updates released up to two years after release, with each update being released a maximum of one month after it is released by Google."
Or something like that.
As far as I know, manufacturers also need "approval" of some sort in order to use all the Google apps - Maps & Navigation, GMail, EMail, Youtube and so on... Couldn't threatening to withhold those be a decent incentive to keep handsets up to date as well?
How does that help people buying current 1.6 phones because they don't know any better, and then wondering why so many apps are unavailable on their devices?
If Google doesn't start forcing carriers/vendors to upgrade their handsets in a timely manner, no amount of SDK wizardry is going to help.
Reasons to use Gmail:
1. Great webmail interface w/ decent threading
2. Good inbox search (have you noticed how bad some e-mail clients are at this?)
3. Tight Android integration including push e-mail
4. Tight GCal integration, which again has tight Android integration
5. Tight GDocs integration, which works well across platforms and also works well on Android with third-party apps
6. Tight GContacts integration, which again has tight Android integation
As an avid Gmail + Android user, I can say that it's definitely made my life much more integrated, seamless, and just easier. Can't do that with some obscure e-mail server or your own... unless you rent an Exchange server or set up your own. There are cheaper options of course, but that's just too much effort, IMO...
Reasons to use Facebook:
1. Possible text messaging integration, meaning I can send people who don't have internet on their phones messages without shoving money up my service provider's ass
2. Standardized FirstnameLastname@facebook.com e-mail addresses. I do like that...
3. Can't really think of anything else. Is there anything?
...at what pixel density?
That would be the simplest solution, of course, but it sort of kills the Diablo vibe... or not?
Nope... but weren't we talking about Diablo? :p
Now that would get me to buy Kinect and the corresponding console... but how do Diablo-style probability-based (defense points vs. attack rating determines hit probaility) attacks translate to full-motion gaming? That would make for a lot of frustrating, "I slashed right at his head but the game still says I missed!" type problems.
I think starting the quiz is the first test ;)
Can't get in either, same error. Probably their way of saying "FU, we're slashdotted!"
How is the pissing match itself impacting users?
Personally, I was pretty pissed off when I couldn't find any way to sync, or much less import contacts from Facebook to my Google contacts. Now Google is fighting to make that easier for me... and that's a good thing.
Notice that Google hasn't blocked the current method, they've just added a warning... an elegant solution, IMO.
The N900 is a great device that's insanely open, but the things you're listing have become pretty much everyday type things on Android and also, to a certain extent, iOS. The Skype support on the N900 is unparalleled, of course, and I haven't tried an actual PS3 controller on Android yet (do those work as Bluetooth HID devices? Because if so, the BlueZ module in CyanogenMod should pick it up fine, right?), but emulators are very standard fare these days, as is pairing a WiiMote for on-the-go gaming and WiFi and VoIP. :)
Now if you wanted to talk about, say, the N900's vastly superior multitasking (at least it seemed like it in the 15 minutes I used it), the much better keyboard than most Android devices and, well, the fact that you can much more easily run, well, pretty much anything on Maemo... that would be a different story ;)
Is that really relevant to end users? I don't think it's a necessary distinction, and is more of an annoyance in that users are baffled when the "synced" addresses don't show up in their Google contacts on the web...
So how come the official Android Facebook app imports all Facebook contacts' E-Mail addresses directly into the Android contacts database?
Sure, it's not a permanent sync/merge (the addresses are removed if you uninstall the Facebook app), but it doesn't seem that Facebook is overly concerned with keeping contacts' E-Mail addresses private.
Too late, my Desire adjusted automatically and woke me. Prior art? :P
Hmmm, Tab Mix Plus has a fun "Reload every x seconds" option... maybe I should just leave that on for a day or two, set to reload the North Country Gazette every second. Who's with me? :p
Even as a very satisfied HTC Desire user (read: rabid Android fanboy), I've got to say that I quite disagree with you there.
The iPhone4 is simply a stunning piece of hardware that has yet to be matched by any of the Android offerings. The OS, while clunky, is smoother and more intuitive in many parts, and offers pretty much everything rooted Android offers when jailbroken.
If the iPhone4 was as cheap as the Desire or Galaxy S, I doubt those devices would have anywhere near this many users. Sad, but likely true...
I know what you mean... WQVGA... WSXGA+... WTF. Acronyms are good, as they save you from typing "XXXXX by XXXXX" every time, but this is getting ridiculous.
Of course there comes a point in time where you're going to have trouble with this, but I'm pretty sure I've got a few more years until I can no longer appreciate 1080p on a ~5" display :)