3/7/2012: The Inevitable Apple Roundup

OK, yes, lots of Apple announcements today, so let’s get to ’em because they announced a ton of stuff.

  • A new iPad, which surprises no one. Sounds like they’re focusing on better visuals (both display and camera) for this one, plus a lot of extraws (LTE, acting as a hotspot, etc.) All these changes (and adapted software), are really pushing the iPad towards a kind of “everyunit.”
  • Apparently the latest Siri will have a dictation function, further confirming Apple’s focus on voice. I imagine the people at Nuance are a bit nervous, and rightfully so. If course they probably saw the writing on the wall awhile ago, which would explain their further move into medicine.
  • Surprising no one, the new Apple TV is coming. It doesn’t sound radically different – then again, Apple doesn’t DO radically different. It’s mostly some new integration, better interface, and so on – though I figure it’s going to get better support. My guess is it’s still being figured out, since some of it is basically turning a TV into a big monitor.
  • An iOS upgrade, but that’s probably the most boring announcement.

What’s intriguing to me is that this is all evolutionary not revolutionary – but that’s exactly what Apple does. There’s little that’s unexpected, but you can slowly see all the plans coming together in what’s obviously a suite of integrated devices and opportunities, really extending previous Apple plans.

A few takeaways:

  • Nuance, as I noted, may have seen the writing on the wall.  If you’re in tech ask yourself what companies may become redundant as common consumer tech advances – and then ask if you’re working in those areas.
  • Apple TV still doesn’t seem quite “fully formed” to me.  I’m waiting to see what more they do (though it’s cheap enough I may get one).  I think we’ve got a few iterations to go, at least software-wise, for it to evolve to it’s full potential.  This gives competitors an in.

Steven Savage

Tablet News 2/21/2012

What a fascinating bit of news from Tabletopia!

Nook launches it's new Tablet, which is really the more expensive tablet with less memory, and puts it in competition with the Kindle Fire. B&N isn't quitting, and this does get them some nice attention – and it's intriguing how they seem to be aiming at tablets first, in a way. I almost feel they're downplaying the reading aspect.

TAKEAWAY: B&N is still taking on Amazon (and in a way, everyone else). I'd think their Nook division might be a good place to seek employment, and of course if you e-Publish, you want to be on B&N.

Microsoft appears to have bitten the bullet and released Office for iPad. Now my question here is what they're going to charge for this?

TAKEAWAY: It does show Microsoft is wisely moving with the times – and knows where the money is. What competition will this provide – and face – on the iPad?

Steven Savage

Those Powerful Christmas Gifts

(Some of this was covered in a past podcast, but I wanted to revisit the idea).

What do the Kindle, the iPad, and Smartphones have in common with Gift Cards?

If you answered "flat and I'm sick of hearing of them as gift options" you're close, but I think you're missing the larger picture.  Though I too nearly burnt out on Kindlepadphone news over Christmas, despite my high news-capacity (news is mental jello to me), I believe there is something important about the sales of the Kindle, iPad, and Smartphones over the holiday.  In fact, I think there's a trend here that is worth exploring as it's going to affect technology use, and sales, and any jobs related to them.

We've all heard how Amazon's Kindle sales have been awesome. (I did my part in contributing to them as you saw).  Of course it seems that iPads are selling like crazy(at least in estimates) and have been doing well since the beginning.  Smartphones appear to be hot gifts.  So what is this trend beyond "technical stuff sells" that I'm all worked up over?

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