That's all well and good, but I found out last night that this mute switch doesn't actually mute the iPod when it's playing, which seems dumb. So what the hell does it mute?
And in any case, on the iPad, why can't I just hold the volume down rocker down to mute it?
Notification sounds, new email received, calendar event alerts and in-game sounds/music.
If you are listening to music, it is assumed that you want to hear it as you would not have turned it on in the first place. You can use the volume rocker if you are listening to music or hit the pause button on the music controls.
Pause is what you would use to stop your iPod or streaming app music. That is how it it works on the iPod Touch and iPhone.
Spoken like someone with Toxoplasmosis. You should have washed your hands when cleaning the litter box or better yet, never owned a cat in the first place. Your judgement is affected by the parasite living in your brain.
Re:Lost the screen rotation lock button. Fail.
on
Apple iOS 4.2 Hands-On
·
· Score: 2, Informative
Unless there's some point I'm missing?
You are missing the point that some people take their iPads with them to work, to meetings and other places. Other people keep their iPad next to their bed.
Now consider how difficult it is to "mute" a device with an audible alert going off.
First you, you have to press the home button to wake the screen, then swipe right to unlock the screen, which might trigger an unlock sound and then press the volume rocker.
If you are in a meeting, the last thing you want to do is pull out the iPad, enable the screen, swipe to open which might trigger another sound.
If you are in bed and you try to silence your iPad, you will assault your pupils and anyone sleeping beside you with a blinding light of the screen turning on and then possibly trigger an unlock sound before you can press the rocker.
With a mute switch, you can just flick the switch without turning on the screen and you can do it even if the iPad is in a messenger bag.
The required files for CUPS in OS X and 10.1 for windows were dropped from the current release and printing can be enabled with third party software on the mac or by obtaining files from the earlier beta of 10.6.5.
At least the iPad isn't ready for real business purposes or even college student uses at my university. Our CMS and helpdesk system uses Silverlight (not available on the iPad) so that's the entire IT department out. Our LMS uses Java and Flash (not available on the iPad) for content delivery, so that's the Instructors, Staff and Students out. Same for the HRIS and SIS which uses some hairy Javascript code. I suppose if we were to flush millions down the toilet, we could use the iPad's straight-jacketed functionality. Not. Gonna. Happen.
Why would you make such bone headed decisions to use Silverlight for something that works perfectly well as HTML? CMS and helpdesk? Really? How "rich" does a helpdesk or CMS application have to be? Java and flash for content delivery? What is this? 1995?
It sounds like your IT department does not know what they are doing and are not paying attention to the trends in the industry which is towards HTML/Javascript and web services to allow you to create your own UI on the platform of your choice while leveraging a "web service".
Planning your system around "just out of beta" technologies like Silverlight and Java client code does not seem very smart to me.
Don't get me wrong, I think.NET and Java are both great languages for creating server processes and publishing interactive HTML content or industry standard "web services" but using Java clients in this day in age is absurd and Silverlight is even more absurd.
More often than not, I am standing behind someone who forgot their pin, has a demagnetized strip or is dealing with a malfunctioning machine or network.
Cheque writers? They still accept personal cheques in the US at stores? Really?
Sure, someone could count out pennies but most of those are homeless people. Most people just hand the cashier the closest paper denomination they have which will cover it and take the change in return. We have sales tax here in Canada too BTW.
I always pay cash when I go to the US and prepay for my transportation and hotel when I'm still in Canada through services like Expedia in Canadian funds with my card so I'm not left with anything to pay with a credit card when I'm there.
If I do any shopping at big department stores in the US, I use their store credit cards and pay off the balance with cash before I leave the states.
You seem to be under the impression that most places just use paypass or something. There are some places that accept paypass but only to a 50 dollar limit and chip cards still require you to press a bunch of buttons before entering your pin. It is rare that you will see a place that accepts credit cards without a signature or pin.
One more thing. If you travel to mexico with US dollars, people are going to charge you more because they see you as a stupid gringo. If you flash your "American" credit card, they will charge you even more. Your best bet is to get Mexican Pesos from either your own bank or by shopping around locally before you leave on your trip to find the best rate.
Keep most of your credit cards and most of your pesos secured in your room safe or some in a bag/suitcase with a lock on it and carry what you think you will need for the day in a front pocket within a money clip.
I have travelled all over Europe, to mexico, Tokyo, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Honolulu and Seattle. Not once have I ever been targeted for bribes or mugged. They do not have x-ray glasses but look for fear. Don't be a pussy and you will be fine.
I can keep track of my spending just fine but it is much easier to set aside a set amount of cash to use for eating out, snacks etc.. than to log into your account to examine your purchases. Once that cash is gone, you either starve or brown bag it the rest of the week. It is also incredibly rude to use your card for small purchases at a convenience store. While you might get "cash back", the store is charged per transaction on top of the monthly service for the equipment and transaction processing service.
I would be happy to see all convenience stores rip out the credit/debit machines from the till forcing people to go to an ATM and get cash instead of wasting everyone's time in line with the wrong pin, a demagnetized strip or faulty machine at the till.
Department stores, grocery stores are fine but 7-11 should only accept cash and some other stores should offer a "cash only" line for people who want to get out fast.
As for people begging. Are you a scrooge? Just give people some money once in a while or better yet, offer to buy them a sandwich. if you feel that you are in too much of a rush then you need to work on your time management skills.
Look at the weather outside. It is cold and people in your country are starving. Stop being so selfish.
Joe, the majority of users do not need or want an integrated keyboard adding additional bulk. Those who want a keyboard can get a case which let's you use the Apple Bluetooth keyboard but then it is no longer a tablet form factor and you might as well use a laptop instead.
I sometimes put the Apple wireless keyboard in my messenger bag along with the iPad in an apple iPad case so that I can prop the ipad up and type more text with the keyboard for longer emails but the onscreen keyboard is fine most of the time.
There are blutooth scanners and these scanners are far more accurate and reliable than a camera. With a blutooth scanner, no changes in the software are required. The scanner will work with any software, even web UIs providing an alternative to keyboard input. You also can then continue to hold your tablet like a clipboard cradled in one arm while scanning items with the other hand. You can then hit a "submit button with your finger if needed between items.
I will continue to laugh at stupid people who use their credit cards while travelling to other countries that use a different currency. You are throwing away money because not only do you pay the usual interest but you also pay a "per transaction" currency exchange fee and they rip you off on the conversion rate.
Whenever I travel to another country, I take cash in the local currency of that country before I leave to ensure that I can get the best rate and it also means that I am not spending money that I don't actually have.
If you travel to Japan for example, you might be up the proverbial creek without a paddle if you think that your foreign debit or credit cards will work over there. Most cabs in even Tokyo deal with cash only or cash and Japanese credit cards like JCB.
I like to use cash even at home whenever possible because it is easier to keep track of my weekly spending.
I thought about it. I could see it work for us for use with data collection for our DDs, which are internet/web based. But for me I would think if there was an integrated barcode to key entry feature that would do it.
Looking at the iPad/iPod/iPhone the barcode apps are more for amazon, not so you can use it as an entry alternative in another app. So without that they don't have much value here.
And its ability to do lots of sophisticated work, today, isn't very good.
I assume that you don't know anything about software development. The ability or lack there of is only limited by the software written for it. Rather than spouting nebulous hyperbole, why not give an example of what it lacks for "business" use.
Worse, there are no anti-malware/virus pieces (yeah, probably unnecessary but probably required anyway).
Sorry, but how can it be unnecessary and yet required? Is that from some retarded interpretation of SOX? In the non-jailbroken configuration, there is no need for anti-malware because everything runs in a sandbox.
There are no fleet management components or APIs.
Then write one. Do you seriously expect the OS to write an industry specific API? Really? Who gets to decide which industries get an API and which don't? Stop being so damn lazy.
There are no policy controls to prevent data theft of give data protection at all (aside from DRM).
If you use exchange, Apple has your covered. An administrator can perform a remote wipe of any lost device. You can also enforce passcode length policies for unlocking the device.
If you expect Apple or any other OS vendor to do your job then maybe you should go back to flipping burgers. The data is not supposed to be stored on the device but if you insist on storing too much data locally instead of using the web then it is up to the developer to ensure data is encrypted and/or deleted when exiting the app.
There's no sanction from Apple to use the iPad in business. They claim it's a consumer device, and not one for business. Ask them.
Look, of course you can create the same quality of app, ignoring UI consistency with other apps, but it can take a greater deal of effort to do the same things on Android that you take for granted on iOS. The frameworks provided by iOS give a lot of things practically for free which have to then be implemented from scratch by the developer on Android.
Ease of development is one of the main draws to iOS for developer. Facebook is better on iOS because it is easier to implement on iOS than Android. Stop drinking the FOSS koolaid.
If you were to compare Android sales to iOS sales by including non-phone devices on both sides, iOS would come out the clear winner.
If you were to look at install base, it would be no contest. Not only are Android sales smaller but their install base really fragmented whereas most iOS devices are at least at 3.x.
If you look at the raw numbers of android phones sold in a quarter, versus the iPhone then Android is the clear winner of those two even worldwide.
But if you look at the total addressable market for apps on iPhones running iOS 4.x and compare that with those running and/or upgradable to Android 2.x, you see a different picture. Even now, there are android phones being sold with 2.1 on them instead of 2.2. Every iPhone except for the original iPhone will be able to run 4.2 when it arrives and even the original iPhone can still run iPhone OS 3.1 so it can run a lot of current apps which still support 3.0 or above.
Now if you look at just the marketshare of iOS devices which includes iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad versus Android devices with the android market place on them, iOS wins by a landslide.
Looking at install base of iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad versus Android is even more one sided.
Considering I live within 2 miles of King's Mountain, and have been job searching for over a year without luck, I'm agreeing with you. The tech sector down here is severely lacking in opportunities, most of the positions I see are for the Research Triangle area several hours away. I still see the same "Senior Administrator" and "Senior Programmer" positions reposted in the Charlotte area constantly, with the same crazy requirements that no one ever fits, of course.
Here is an idea. How about applying for those positions anyway? You never know until you give it a shot.
The inhabitants of the earth are of two sorts: Those with brains, but no religion, And those with religion, but no brains.”
- Abul Ala Al-Maarri
So I assume that you would in the latter group then since you don't understand the difference between faith and religion. Modern Atheism is a belief system aka. a religion. A personal faith in god is not the same as a belief system/religion/philosophy. Religion is a man made system of dogma and rituals. Modern Atheism has a set of man made rituals and dogma. Ergo, Atheism == Religion.
I have a brain and I do not follow a religion. I have a personal faith in god and I share that faith with a community of believers.
How can a place you don't want to escape from be a prison. Prison is a place you are held in against your will. The moment you are not held against your will, you cease to me in prison. Even if the sign on the wall says "prison".
There is no sense trying to use logic with these people. When the exit doors are not locked and you are free to leave the furnished room, it is not a prison but a hotel.
They want us all to stay in a hostel which is sparsely furnished and with a total lack of privacy.
That depends, you go to it often enough, and the data it's collected will say "In my personal experience as a vending machine, quite a few people with facial hair and mohawks like iced tea". And then it'll offer you iced tea.
Do you also wear a lot of gold chains and said "I pity the fool" a lot?
So why don't you do things you find repulsive for 40 hours a week?
Do what makes you happy, money is just money.
But I have to ask you, why should anyone care so damn much about what tools are used in the workplace? Do you see carpenters getting this passionate about tools brands? No. Fanboyism has no place in the workplace be it pro or anti-MSFT.
I use macs at home and I would prefer working with macs but I enjoy software development even if it is on windows with.NET, Java or Python. If you cannot enjoy your job, regardless the platform, then you need to find a different career as it is not software development that you love but a particular language/platform. Fanboys belong on the outside looking in.
Java is safe. Dalvik is in trouble though.
on
Which Language To Learn?
·
· Score: 2, Informative
I don't see why you should worry about Java given that Apple and Oracle have both committed to the OpenJDK initiative.
So this means that both cross-platform java desktop apps and web services are safe.
I have to ask though, why the avoidance of.NET? If you are "working" for a living then you should be willing to work with whatever tools/languages are required. Leave zealotry at home and don't bring it into the workplace.
pertmgreen, imacs are perfectly fine for the vast majority of consumers. Consumers don't give a crap about installing more hard drives and other shit like that. They know that their time is valuable so they will go out and buy a new computer, hand down the old one to someone and expect to have something that works out of the box. This applies equally to both mac owning and pc owning consumers.
If you are concerned about "saving" money through the false economy of "upgrades" then that means that you consider your free time to be valueless in the equation because you enjoy assembling PCs as a hobby. Most people have no interest in that.
I don't think so. As far as I can tell, all of those phone classes allow app installs that are not blocked by "redundant" features. Firefox mobile is doing their beta on Android, for instance.
You seem to have a reading comprehension problem. Webkit is the rendering ENGINE used by the primary browser of not only iOS on iPhones but also on Android, Blackberry, Nokia and webOS. Also, webkit serves as the rendering engine for webOS applications.
Whether or not you can install firefox mobile (which did not exist until recently) is irrelevant. The point I made which you seem to be completely unable to comprehend is that webkit is essential to multiple platforms so webkit has to remain stable at all times.
Sure, but you can install a different browser on WM6 et al. If the iPhone browser was broke, you'd be eternally screwed.
If Webkit was severely broken then Android, Blackberry, Nokia and webOS would be screwed as well since they all use webkit and webOS from HP (formerly Palm) also uses it to render their web apps.
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That's all well and good, but I found out last night that this mute switch doesn't actually mute the iPod when it's playing, which seems dumb. So what the hell does it mute?
And in any case, on the iPad, why can't I just hold the volume down rocker down to mute it?
Notification sounds, new email received, calendar event alerts and in-game sounds/music.
If you are listening to music, it is assumed that you want to hear it as you would not have turned it on in the first place. You can use the volume rocker if you are listening to music or hit the pause button on the music controls.
Pause is what you would use to stop your iPod or streaming app music. That is how it it works on the iPod Touch and iPhone.
Dogs have masters.
Cats have staff.
Spoken like someone with Toxoplasmosis. You should have washed your hands when cleaning the litter box or better yet, never owned a cat in the first place. Your judgement is affected by the parasite living in your brain.
Unless there's some point I'm missing?
You are missing the point that some people take their iPads with them to work, to meetings and other places. Other people keep their iPad next to their bed.
Now consider how difficult it is to "mute" a device with an audible alert going off.
First you, you have to press the home button to wake the screen, then swipe right to unlock the screen, which might trigger an unlock sound and then press the volume rocker.
If you are in a meeting, the last thing you want to do is pull out the iPad, enable the screen, swipe to open which might trigger another sound.
If you are in bed and you try to silence your iPad, you will assault your pupils and anyone sleeping beside you with a blinding light of the screen turning on and then possibly trigger an unlock sound before you can press the rocker.
With a mute switch, you can just flick the switch without turning on the screen and you can do it even if the iPad is in a messenger bag.
The required files for CUPS in OS X and 10.1 for windows were dropped from the current release and printing can be enabled with third party software on the mac or by obtaining files from the earlier beta of 10.6.5.
At least the iPad isn't ready for real business purposes or even college student uses at my university. Our CMS and helpdesk system uses Silverlight (not available on the iPad) so that's the entire IT department out. Our LMS uses Java and Flash (not available on the iPad) for content delivery, so that's the Instructors, Staff and Students out. Same for the HRIS and SIS which uses some hairy Javascript code. I suppose if we were to flush millions down the toilet, we could use the iPad's straight-jacketed functionality. Not. Gonna. Happen.
Why would you make such bone headed decisions to use Silverlight for something that works perfectly well as HTML? CMS and helpdesk? Really? How "rich" does a helpdesk or CMS application have to be? Java and flash for content delivery? What is this? 1995?
It sounds like your IT department does not know what they are doing and are not paying attention to the trends in the industry which is towards HTML/Javascript and web services to allow you to create your own UI on the platform of your choice while leveraging a "web service".
Planning your system around "just out of beta" technologies like Silverlight and Java client code does not seem very smart to me.
Don't get me wrong, I think .NET and Java are both great languages for creating server processes and publishing interactive HTML content or industry standard "web services" but using Java clients in this day in age is absurd and Silverlight is even more absurd.
More often than not, I am standing behind someone who forgot their pin, has a demagnetized strip or is dealing with a malfunctioning machine or network.
Cheque writers? They still accept personal cheques in the US at stores? Really?
Sure, someone could count out pennies but most of those are homeless people. Most people just hand the cashier the closest paper denomination they have which will cover it and take the change in return. We have sales tax here in Canada too BTW.
I always pay cash when I go to the US and prepay for my transportation and hotel when I'm still in Canada through services like Expedia in Canadian funds with my card so I'm not left with anything to pay with a credit card when I'm there.
If I do any shopping at big department stores in the US, I use their store credit cards and pay off the balance with cash before I leave the states.
You seem to be under the impression that most places just use paypass or something. There are some places that accept paypass but only to a 50 dollar limit and chip cards still require you to press a bunch of buttons before entering your pin. It is rare that you will see a place that accepts credit cards without a signature or pin.
One more thing. If you travel to mexico with US dollars, people are going to charge you more because they see you as a stupid gringo. If you flash your "American" credit card, they will charge you even more. Your best bet is to get Mexican Pesos from either your own bank or by shopping around locally before you leave on your trip to find the best rate.
Keep most of your credit cards and most of your pesos secured in your room safe or some in a bag/suitcase with a lock on it and carry what you think you will need for the day in a front pocket within a money clip.
I have travelled all over Europe, to mexico, Tokyo, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Honolulu and Seattle. Not once have I ever been targeted for bribes or mugged. They do not have x-ray glasses but look for fear. Don't be a pussy and you will be fine.
I can keep track of my spending just fine but it is much easier to set aside a set amount of cash to use for eating out, snacks etc.. than to log into your account to examine your purchases. Once that cash is gone, you either starve or brown bag it the rest of the week. It is also incredibly rude to use your card for small purchases at a convenience store. While you might get "cash back", the store is charged per transaction on top of the monthly service for the equipment and transaction processing service.
I would be happy to see all convenience stores rip out the credit/debit machines from the till forcing people to go to an ATM and get cash instead of wasting everyone's time in line with the wrong pin, a demagnetized strip or faulty machine at the till.
Department stores, grocery stores are fine but 7-11 should only accept cash and some other stores should offer a "cash only" line for people who want to get out fast.
As for people begging. Are you a scrooge? Just give people some money once in a while or better yet, offer to buy them a sandwich. if you feel that you are in too much of a rush then you need to work on your time management skills.
Look at the weather outside. It is cold and people in your country are starving. Stop being so selfish.
Joe, the majority of users do not need or want an integrated keyboard adding additional bulk. Those who want a keyboard can get a case which let's you use the Apple Bluetooth keyboard but then it is no longer a tablet form factor and you might as well use a laptop instead.
I sometimes put the Apple wireless keyboard in my messenger bag along with the iPad in an apple iPad case so that I can prop the ipad up and type more text with the keyboard for longer emails but the onscreen keyboard is fine most of the time.
There are blutooth scanners and these scanners are far more accurate and reliable than a camera. With a blutooth scanner, no changes in the software are required. The scanner will work with any software, even web UIs providing an alternative to keyboard input. You also can then continue to hold your tablet like a clipboard cradled in one arm while scanning items with the other hand. You can then hit a "submit button with your finger if needed between items.
I will continue to laugh at stupid people who use their credit cards while travelling to other countries that use a different currency. You are throwing away money because not only do you pay the usual interest but you also pay a "per transaction" currency exchange fee and they rip you off on the conversion rate.
Whenever I travel to another country, I take cash in the local currency of that country before I leave to ensure that I can get the best rate and it also means that I am not spending money that I don't actually have.
If you travel to Japan for example, you might be up the proverbial creek without a paddle if you think that your foreign debit or credit cards will work over there. Most cabs in even Tokyo deal with cash only or cash and Japanese credit cards like JCB.
I like to use cash even at home whenever possible because it is easier to keep track of my weekly spending.
I thought about it. I could see it work for us for use with data collection for our DDs, which are internet/web based. But for me I would think if there was an integrated barcode to key entry feature that would do it.
Looking at the iPad/iPod/iPhone the barcode apps are more for amazon, not so you can use it as an entry alternative in another app. So without that they don't have much value here.
If there is a need for that then you can do this:
http://www.tuaw.com/2010/06/01/hacksugar-cuecat-barcode-scanner-on-the-ipad/
And its ability to do lots of sophisticated work, today, isn't very good.
I assume that you don't know anything about software development. The ability or lack there of is only limited by the software written for it. Rather than spouting nebulous hyperbole, why not give an example of what it lacks for "business" use.
Worse, there are no anti-malware/virus pieces (yeah, probably unnecessary but probably required anyway).
Sorry, but how can it be unnecessary and yet required? Is that from some retarded interpretation of SOX? In the non-jailbroken configuration, there is no need for anti-malware because everything runs in a sandbox.
There are no fleet management components or APIs.
Then write one. Do you seriously expect the OS to write an industry specific API? Really? Who gets to decide which industries get an API and which don't? Stop being so damn lazy.
There are no policy controls to prevent data theft of give data protection at all (aside from DRM).
http://www.apple.com/support/ipad/enterprise/
If you use exchange, Apple has your covered. An administrator can perform a remote wipe of any lost device. You can also enforce passcode length policies for unlocking the device.
If you expect Apple or any other OS vendor to do your job then maybe you should go back to flipping burgers. The data is not supposed to be stored on the device but if you insist on storing too much data locally instead of using the web then it is up to the developer to ensure data is encrypted and/or deleted when exiting the app.
There's no sanction from Apple to use the iPad in business. They claim it's a consumer device, and not one for business. Ask them.
I see.
http://www.apple.com/support/ipad/enterprise/
http://www.apple.com/ipad/business/
http://manuals.info.apple.com/en_US/Enterprise_Deployment_Guide.pdf
http://images.apple.com/ipad/business/pdf/iPad_Security_Overview.pdf
You were saying? Are
Look, of course you can create the same quality of app, ignoring UI consistency with other apps, but it can take a greater deal of effort to do the same things on Android that you take for granted on iOS. The frameworks provided by iOS give a lot of things practically for free which have to then be implemented from scratch by the developer on Android.
Ease of development is one of the main draws to iOS for developer. Facebook is better on iOS because it is easier to implement on iOS than Android. Stop drinking the FOSS koolaid.
If you were to compare Android sales to iOS sales by including non-phone devices on both sides, iOS would come out the clear winner.
If you were to look at install base, it would be no contest. Not only are Android sales smaller but their install base really fragmented whereas most iOS devices are at least at 3.x.
If you look at the raw numbers of android phones sold in a quarter, versus the iPhone then Android is the clear winner of those two even worldwide.
But if you look at the total addressable market for apps on iPhones running iOS 4.x and compare that with those running and/or upgradable to Android 2.x, you see a different picture. Even now, there are android phones being sold with 2.1 on them instead of 2.2. Every iPhone except for the original iPhone will be able to run 4.2 when it arrives and even the original iPhone can still run iPhone OS 3.1 so it can run a lot of current apps which still support 3.0 or above.
Now if you look at just the marketshare of iOS devices which includes iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad versus Android devices with the android market place on them, iOS wins by a landslide.
Looking at install base of iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad versus Android is even more one sided.
Considering I live within 2 miles of King's Mountain, and have been job searching for over a year without luck, I'm agreeing with you. The tech sector down here is severely lacking in opportunities, most of the positions I see are for the Research Triangle area several hours away. I still see the same "Senior Administrator" and "Senior Programmer" positions reposted in the Charlotte area constantly, with the same crazy requirements that no one ever fits, of course.
Here is an idea. How about applying for those positions anyway? You never know until you give it a shot.
The inhabitants of the earth are of two sorts: Those with brains, but no religion, And those with religion, but no brains.”
- Abul Ala Al-Maarri
So I assume that you would in the latter group then since you don't understand the difference between faith and religion. Modern Atheism is a belief system aka. a religion. A personal faith in god is not the same as a belief system/religion/philosophy. Religion is a man made system of dogma and rituals.
Modern Atheism has a set of man made rituals and dogma. Ergo, Atheism == Religion.
I have a brain and I do not follow a religion. I have a personal faith in god and I share that faith with a community of believers.
Now I get to pay $1.29 to rent "Honey Pie"...until my HD crashes, then I get to do it again! Hooray For Apple(& Apple)!
Have you never heard of backups? I hear that they often use CD-R/RW or DVD+-R/RW for that purpose.
How can a place you don't want to escape from be a prison. Prison is a place you are held in against your will. The moment you are not held against your will, you cease to me in prison. Even if the sign on the wall says "prison".
There is no sense trying to use logic with these people. When the exit doors are not locked and you are free to leave the furnished room, it is not a prison but a hotel.
They want us all to stay in a hostel which is sparsely furnished and with a total lack of privacy.
That depends, you go to it often enough, and the data it's collected will say "In my personal experience as a vending machine, quite a few people with facial hair and mohawks like iced tea". And then it'll offer you iced tea.
Do you also wear a lot of gold chains and said "I pity the fool" a lot?
So why don't you do things you find repulsive for 40 hours a week?
Do what makes you happy, money is just money.
But I have to ask you, why should anyone care so damn much about what tools are used in the workplace? Do you see carpenters getting this passionate about tools brands? No. Fanboyism has no place in the workplace be it pro or anti-MSFT.
I use macs at home and I would prefer working with macs but I enjoy software development even if it is on windows with .NET, Java or Python. If you cannot enjoy your job, regardless the platform, then you need to find a different career as it is not software development that you love but a particular language/platform. Fanboys belong on the outside looking in.
I don't see why you should worry about Java given that Apple and Oracle have both committed to the OpenJDK initiative.
http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2010/11/12openjdk.html
So this means that both cross-platform java desktop apps and web services are safe.
I have to ask though, why the avoidance of .NET? If you are "working" for a living then you should be willing to work with whatever tools/languages are required. Leave zealotry at home and don't bring it into the workplace.
pertmgreen, imacs are perfectly fine for the vast majority of consumers. Consumers don't give a crap about installing more hard drives and other shit like that. They know that their time is valuable so they will go out and buy a new computer, hand down the old one to someone and expect to have something that works out of the box. This applies equally to both mac owning and pc owning consumers.
If you are concerned about "saving" money through the false economy of "upgrades" then that means that you consider your free time to be valueless in the equation because you enjoy assembling PCs as a hobby. Most people have no interest in that.
I don't think so. As far as I can tell, all of those phone classes allow app installs that are not blocked by "redundant" features. Firefox mobile is doing their beta on Android, for instance.
You seem to have a reading comprehension problem. Webkit is the rendering ENGINE used by the primary browser of not only iOS on iPhones but also on Android, Blackberry, Nokia and webOS. Also, webkit serves as the rendering engine for webOS applications.
Whether or not you can install firefox mobile (which did not exist until recently) is irrelevant. The point I made which you seem to be completely unable to comprehend is that webkit is essential to multiple platforms so webkit has to remain stable at all times.
Sure, but you can install a different browser on WM6 et al. If the iPhone browser was broke, you'd be eternally screwed.
If Webkit was severely broken then Android, Blackberry, Nokia and webOS would be screwed as well since they all use webkit and webOS from HP (formerly Palm) also uses it to render their web apps.