Posts tagged Tech
Regarding the Impending Doom of Mac OS X
(The following is the result of a sleepless late night writing session. It is long, and if you’re not particularly interested in the future of computers, I wouldn’t waste my time. I should also note that I’m writing from an Apple-using context; I mean no offense to Windows or Android users.)
The computing world is at a crossroads, and it’s going to get awkward.
Down one street is the classic desktop computer at its peak; these machines have never been more powerful or more functional, and they open its user up to an incredible world of creative possibilities. However, it is still reliant upon admittedly antiquated computing paradigms: the Finder, complicated hierarchies, criss-crossing reference files, command-line tweaking, and maddening software/hardware drivers. But for power and productivity, the classic desktop is unmatched.
iPad 3 Bingo
Tomorrow, Apple will do their thing. Specifically: hold a press conference and show off a shiny new product, which will–barring a major disaster–find its way into many millions of eager hands. Meanwhile, the analysts and journalists have been doing their thing. Specifically: spend months chasing rumors and rumors of rumors, making predictions, and praising/criticizing unannounced products– all in hopes of luring a few more readers to their websites.
So, hey, I’ll join in.
What will happen
Pretty cocky, I know. But if there’s one thing Apple hasn’t done in a while, it’s surprise people. The leaked parts and specs are partly to blame– we pretty much know all there is to know about a new Apple product before it is released. But Apple is also being deliberately conservative. For one, they’re the comfortable market leader, and they’ve done so by releasing a revolutionary product every few years, which then evolves and grabs more market share. And it’s worked for them. But it’s also the way Apple designs: it needs to be thin, and it needs to have solid battery life. That means we won’t be seeing an octo-core monster of an iPad tomorrow. It’s not that it’s not possible, but Apple would have to sacrifice thinness and battery life. Not going to happen.
So, anyways, what will happen:
The iPad HD
-Dual Core A5X Chip with improved graphics processing
-“Retina Display” (Double-resolution from iPad 2; virtually print-like)
-Improved front and rear camera
-The exact same design as the iPad 2
…and that’s about it. Expect some new app demos and a lot of talk about how much money they’ve made with iOS devices. Maybe a new case. And that’s about all on the iPad front. It’s all about the Retina Display this year.
What could happen
1080p Apple TV
-This seems really likely. The stock of the current model has run completely dry. And the invitation, referring to something to “see” and “touch”: I’m guessing the Apple TV is the “see.”
-It’ll probably have some new streaming partner (Hulu?), but the long-rumored Apple-streaming service isn’t going to happen yet (or if it does, it’ll just be ABC). The Cable companies and Networks want nothing to do with Apple.
What should happen
Buttons and more buttons
-It would be very un-Apple like, but I want to see Apple innovate with buttons. The iPad as a touch-screen only device is amazing. But having used a third-party iPad keyboard case over the last week, I’ve come to embrace the iPad as capable of so much more than what most people use it for. So, I’d like to see Apple release its own, amazingly-designed keyboard case (the keyboard dock they released with the first iPad doesn’t cut it by a long shot). A large part of the market that’s been hesitant would then jump onboard, I assure you.
-But what I’d REALLY like to see in the realm of buttons? A game controller. Seriously. This needs to happen. Apple has transformed the game market with its touch-based, easily-accessible, inexpensive garage games. But it could evolve into so much more if developers simply had the option of proper buttons. Then transfer those games to the Apple TV over Airplay… then things really start getting serious.
iOS 6
-All of the obvious upgrades have made their way to iOS: Copy & Paste, tethering, cloud syncing… there aren’t any features that we nerds are clamoring for. And that’s what makes the next version of iOS potentially exciting. It’s a chance for Apple to take the software into a direction that we’re not expecting, instead of checking things off of the expected feature list.
What’s not going to happen
Updated Mac Pro
-Pleeeeeease?
Sharing: iPad 3 Concept
(Or, more realistically, iPad 7 Concept)
Random Fall Fun With a Canon 7D
First off, big thanks to Andy Waddell for letting me borrow all of his 7D gear. I had a blast getting to know the Canon shooting system over the weekend. And while I spent 90% of my time trying out its video capabilities, I also snapped a few photos here and there, just to see how it compares to my trusty Nikon D5000. The verdict: slightly better low-light performance, killer speed, and AF about on par with my Nikon. This was, of course, all based on observation and not any sort of legitimate photography science.
However, the difference in video performance is staggering. This shouldn’t be too much of a surprise, given the huge steps Canon has taken in DSLR video over the last couple of years and Nikon’s half-hearted “me too” attempts. But I’ll have more to say/show about that later.
Link: Steve Jobs' Eulogy
I’ve tried and failed several times to write some sort of a send-off to Steve Jobs. My feelings about Steve are complicated, mixed, and often changing. He was hailed as a visionary– a once-in-a-generation sort of figure. He was dismissed as a tempestuous, stubborn, and overly-demanding leader. He was loved, hated, mocked, worshipped.
However, Steve was a private man. We know a lot about the “public” Steve, from his rousing press conferences to his reputation as a stickler for absolute perfection.
Steve’s sister, Mona Simpson, had a bit of a different perspective- different from the pundits, the Silicon Valley insiders, and you and me. The touching, revealing liturgy that she delivered at his memorial service is worth a read, especially if we feel compelled to pass judgment on a guy that none of us really knew.
Creativity is just connecting things. When you ask creative people how they did something, they feel a little guilty because they didn’t really do it, they just saw something. It seemed obvious to them after a while.
So it begins…
Trapcode Form 2 Released
Excited. Very, very, very excited. Well done, Mr. Norrby.
Sony unveils new NEX-7 Mirrorless camera
It looks like the first truly great compact DSLR replacement has arrived. So pretty.
Photoforge
Finally, a legitimately powerful image editing app for iPad.
The above image was a 10.7 MP RAW image, and though Photoforge couldn’t read the RAW data (that would be something), it was able to edit and export full-res, which I think is a first for iDevices. It comes with a full slate of intuitive controls, including a proper Curves editor, HSL, Levels, White balance adjust, Noise removal, etc. It all works the way it should, instead of suffering from the gimped or completely automated workflow that has become custom on iPad/iPhone. But then the real kicker: layers and masking, making this easily the closest thing to a desktop Photoshop replacement out there.
If there’s any gripe, it’s the speed, which is forgivable considering what it is trying to do. Most adjustments will take 5-10 seconds to process (or at least that was the case in my tests, using data-heavy RAW files).
The lack of RAW control keeps this from being a complete Photoshop replacement in my workflow, but I’m stoked to finally have a legitimate second option on the iPad.
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