Sherbango soup

Civil War: America's Epic Struggle comes to the iPad and iPhone

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 02:00:00 GMT

Civil War: America's Epic Struggle (US$4.99) from MultiEducator Inc. is a full history course in an iPad and iPhone app. It contains at least as much information as most textbooks on the Civil War at a fraction of the cost, while adding elements that no textbook can. There are 24 multimedia presentations, some as long as nine minutes, a nice selection of music popular during the Civil War, and a wonderful navigation system that just makes sense.

When starting the app, information can be sorted 18 ways, from a changing Categories bar including Battles (sorted either chronologically or alphabetically), Multimedia Presentations, Statistics and topics like Navy, Economics, Railroads, Music, etc. Depending upon where you are in the app, tapping on Categories brings up a contextual listing of what you can see. For example, tapping on Major Battles Chronologically changes the bar to a listing of battles grouped by year. Tapping on a battle such as Bull Run, brings choices of a text summary of the battle, a five minute multimedia summary, seven text articles on aspects of the battle, 20 photos or drawings, most of them taken from the Matthew Brady Archives, and full color maps. Depending upon the battle there is more or less information available, but this is done for 26 battles in total; clearly, there's a phenomenal amount of information in the app, plenty for even a Civil War buff to peruse.

Gallery: Civil War: America's Epic Struggle

TUAW Civil War: America's Epic Struggle comes to the iPad and iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Civil War - United States - iPhone - Unofficial Apple Weblog - American Civil War

Ballmer: Microsoft-Powered Tablets Are 'Job One Urgency'

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 01:33:39 GMT

Steve Ballmer demoing Windows-based HP slate at CES in January 2010
CNET reports on comments from Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer today at the company's conference for financial analysts revealing that Apple's longtime rival is continuing ...

Apple ditched Skyhook and Google, rolled their own location database

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 01:17:49 GMT

TechCrunch went through the fine print and noticed that, with iOS 3.2 (iPhone 3.2 for iPad) Apple switched from using Skyhook and Google’s location database to using their own, home spun, solution.

When reached for comment, Skyhook wouldn’t specifically talk about their relationship with Apple, but they did say that “everyone who has a platform wants to own as much of the location stack as possible. Location data is going the be huge and owning it is going to be the next big war in mobile.“

Indeed. Now roll Apple-acquired PlaceBase and Poly9 Map layer brain-trusts into the equation, and what will we get?

[TechCrunch]

Apple ditched Skyhook and Google, rolled their own location database is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

Unboxing: Apple's mid-2010 iMac has changes on the inside

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 01:00:00 GMT

Apple's latest batch of iMacs bring faster processor, memory, and graphics performance and an improved SD Card slot, while retaining the same external design of previous models.

Top 5 Free iPad Travel Apps

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 00:56:19 GMT

The iPad can be a handy to have on your next vacation, whether you need to research flights for a quick escape from your cousin’s wedding, keep the kids entertained on the plane or figure out which road is the least congested in a strange city. Here are five free iPad apps we wouldn’t leave home [...]

Rumor: Sprint working on iPod touch-friendly 4G hotspot called "Peel"

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 00:47:18 GMT

Filed under: iPhone, iPod touch

I was first introduced to the wonders of the mobile Wi-Fi hotspot at Macworld earlier this year -- our own Mike Rose was carrying one around, and it was like magic. A Wi-Fi connection for up to five people anywhere you go? Yes please. I don't think the charges make it necessarily feasible for someone on a budget (say, a humble blogger like yours truly) to carry around every day, but it's certainly handy to have around, especially if you're traveling.

And now Sprint is apparently looking to piggyback one of these devices on Apple's iPod touch. Macrumors reports on new filings to the FCC that show a device that's almost a case; it's designed to be attached to the back of Apple's handheld, providing local Wi-Fi service anywhere you happen to be. It's called The Peel, and it doesn't connect to the iPod touch at all except physically -- it's just a case that wraps around and sets up a Wi-Fi spot whenever it's hooked up.

It's worth nothing that this isn't the first time Sprint has tried to pair up their 4G service with an Apple device -- you might remember the iPad 4G case that came out a while back. Makes a lot of sense -- Apple's devices need a connection, and Sprint has a much better chance of making you get one if you've already got a device to use it with. We'll keep an eye out for an official release of The Peel.

TUAW Rumor: Sprint working on iPod touch-friendly 4G hotspot called "Peel" originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fallout From Financial Reform Bill May Hamper Angel Investing

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 00:15:39 GMT

Throughout the spring, we covered the financial reform legislation as it wound its way through committee and Congress. The final version - Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act - was signed into effect by President Obama on July 21. And while some of the provisions that were most troubling in earlier versions were axed before the final bill was passed, there is still a sense that the repercussions from the legislation might dampen investment, particularly at the early stage and particularly from angel investors.

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Liz Fries, a partner at Goodwin Proctor explained to ReadWriteWeb today what some of the implications of the financial reform bill might be.

Income Requirements for Accredited Investors

When the Senate Banking Committee approved an early version of the bill, it increased the income thresholds for "accredited investors" would have required the SEC to revisit these regularly "to reflect the percentage increase in the cost of living." These numbers - $1 million in net worth or an annual income exceeding $200,000 in each of the two most recent years - were adopted in the early Eighties, and adjusting these for inflation would have changed that dollar figure dramatically. Many experts estimated that these changes could have eliminated over half of current angel investors. The National Venture Capital Association, the Angel Capital Association, and others voiced their protest.

In the final version of the bill, the net worth threshold has been raised, and while the dollar figures for income stay the same, the value of the investor's primary residence is now excluded from the calculations. Fries contends that this will likely disqualify some angel investors, but "only at the margins."

Focus Shifts from Legislation to Regulation

Fries calls this "Stage 2" of the financial reform efforts, and says that the focus will shift now from Capitol Hill to regulatory agencies. The SEC in particular will be tasked with writing and reviewing some 95 new rules and conducting over 70 studies. In particular, the agency will be revisiting the definitions and requirements, both for investors and for funds.

While Fries seemed optimistic that these definitions are out of the hands of legislators, the verdict is still out on how the changes introduced in the Dodd-Frank bill will impact investors and entrepreneurs - as well as the overall economy.

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Lab tested: 21.5- and 27-inch Core i3 iMacs/3.2GHz

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 00:01:00 GMT

Straight from Macworld Lab: Benchmark results of two new iMacs, both of which sport Intel's 3.2GHz Core i3 processor.

Death Threats Against Iranian Atheist Blogger: This Week in Online Tyranny

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Death threats aimed at Iranian atheist blogger, Fariboz Shamshiri.

"One electronic threat was that someone would 'cut his throat.' In another message they wrote 'the death is coming to you soon soon.' He says he still doesn't know who send these messages (they're all anonymous), but he suspects -- based on past experience -- range from Basij militia, Revolutionary Guards Corps Cyber Affairs Division and/or some mullahs or students of seminary schools."

His main blog is Rotten Gods and he is the editor of Stop Torturing Us. Iran's lucky to have him. And seriously. Maybe he'll have to explain himself before G-d, but he sure as hell shouldn't have to do so before a mob of sloe-eyed nitwits.

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Singapore bans critical YouTube video.The Asian city-state of Singapore has "banned a YouTube video of ex-political detainee Dr Lim Hock Siew delivering a speech, shot by local filmmaker Martyn See, claiming it was 'against the public interest.'" The ban has made his harassment a cause célèbre and directed huge amounts of attention to it via alternative video sharing sites. How you like Dr. Lim Hock Siew now?

Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez buys TV station. Not contented with censoring others, throwing people who disagree with him in prison, and talking on Twitter, he has now announced the government would be buying a majority stake in Globovisión. That's the station that has been consistently critical of him. ¡Qué sorpresa! The leadership of the station vows to fight him.

Using https to frustrate censorship. CPJ has a great post on using https to frustrate censorship efforts. It makes it more difficult, though not by any means impossible, to eavesdrop on a site. Additionally, the Electronic Frontier Foundation has worked with the Tor group to produce an easily-downloadable plugin called HTTP Everywhere that will help protect your search queries from a lot of eavesdropping.

Uighur blogger sentenced to 15 years in prison. Uighur blogger and journalist Gheyret Niyaz has been sentenced to 15 years in jail for "endangering national security" In reality granting an interview to foreign media last year about the riots in the area is the more likely reason behind this rubbish ruling.

Iranian photoblogger arrested. Hamed Saber was arrested this week for no announced reason, but was probably his photographs. Truth is the enemy of the government, especially of Iran. Although it could have been Access Flickr, the plugin he developed to circumvent Iran's blocking of the photosharing site.

Friends and colleagues aren't sitting still, and that's heartening. There's a Free Hamed Saber blog and a Flickr discussion forum. These are both in Persian so if you don't speak it, you'll have to use a translation service.

Digital Millennium Copyright Act takes a hit. Or two. A recent U.S. district court "fair use" ruling has made it legal to jailbreak a phone. That's if the ruling holds up against future court cases. A separate court case has ruled that DMCA takedown notices have to be spot-on. If they are not complete, and in a form that's usable to the target (in this case Google) they are liable to be ignored, and legally so. DMCA has been at the center of a number of copyright disputes, one side arguing that pointing is the same as publishing (and search engines, for instance, are culpable if a site they include in results is breaking the law) and the other side arguing that, well, it's not.

Censorship graphic by Andréia Bohner

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Introducing the Apple Magic Trackpad [First Look]

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 23:47:34 GMT

It only makes sense that the company who brought us the first mouse would try to re-invent the way desktop computers are used. Apple is attempting to bring multi-touch to the masses with its new Magic Trackpad. While this might seem like just a trackpad, this could be a sneak peek on how Apple plans [...]

Google search blocked in China, again; other services partially blocked

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 23:44:00 GMT

A conciliatory end? Looks like we spoke too soon. Yes, Google and China seem to be on a collision course yet again, with the company's "Mainland China service availability page" showing that web search and ads have once again been fully blocked. Additionally, image and news search have been downgraded from "fully accessible" yesterday to "partially blocked" today. YouTube, Picasa, and other services already blocked remain as such. Looks like the saga continues.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Google search blocked in China, again; other services partially blocked originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Xbox 360 4GB's packaging shows off 250GB HDD upgrade option

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 23:41:00 GMT

It seems like a no-brainer, but at this point Microsoft has yet to confirm a separate 250GB HDD for its new Xbox 360 consoles -- and really, if you're picking up the 4GB model next month, that might come in handy. Newer press shots show a different side of the packaging, however, and if you get a high-res snapshot, you can see that it's touting the various accessories you can buy to enhance your new Xbox 360 4GB experience: wireless controllers, Kinect, and... a 250GB HDD. Now, it could very well be misleading advertising -- such a disc drive already exists, but you have to buy the current slimmed-down model or Halo Reach special edition bundle to get it. Somehow, though, we get the feeling this HDD is destined to be wrapped in separate packaging all by its lonesome -- Microsoft's Aaron Greenberg even insinuated as much not two weeks ago. Only question is, when and for how much?

New Xbox 360 4GB's packaging shows off 250GB HDD upgrade option originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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20 great, free iPad comics

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 23:27:43 GMT

Filed under: iPad

CNET's Crave blog compiled a great list last week of twenty great, free comic books to read on your iPad. For me, more than anything else, the iPad seems perfect for a visual, interactive medium like comics. Movies are better on my big screen, and books can be read on a Kindle (or just on paper -- weird, I know), but for the iPad, having the ability to zoom in on a great piece of comic art or download new comics straight to the device to be read on that big, colorful screen seems perfect.

Enter this list, which has some great free samples from both the DC and Marvel comics apps, or a few other free Comics reader apps available on the store. There's some really good stuff out there for the low price of absolutely nothing, from some classic books that are hard to find in print to some newer promo books for current series or comics that have been made into movies.

Man cannot live on free alone -- if you're really into comics, you'll probably want to buy a few from their official apps (though it's a shame that pricing and selection isn't quite there yet, but hopefully Marvel and DC will eventually figure that out). And this article doesn't even mention the tons of great single-app books you can find on the App Store, for both the iPhone and the iPad. The iPad was designed for consuming media, and comic books are one of my favorite media around.

TUAW 20 great, free iPad comics originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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App Store - iPhone - Unofficial Apple Weblog - IPad - Comic book

iBooks Store adding increasing number of multimedia titles

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 23:27:42 GMT

Filed under: iPad

It was earlier this week that Jeff Bezos, father of the Kindle and CEO of Amazon was saying that "A color screen doesn't make an Ernest Hemingway novel any better."

True enough -- the Kindle has a beautiful sharp screen that is a pleasure to gaze at. Not all books, however, are Hemingways, and we're starting to see so-called multimedia titles showing up in the Apple iBooks Store.

One example is the 'Enhanced Edition' of Nixonland, by Rick Perlstein, a chronicle of our 37th President. The book contains the full text of the book first published in 2008. It also includes 27 videos of the former President and newsreels that put those turbulent years into perspective.

Gallery: Enhanced iBooks

TUAW iBooks Store adding increasing number of multimedia titles originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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IPad - Amazon.com - Apple - Ernest Hemingway - Rick Perlstein

CrossOver, CrossOver Games 9.1 released

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 23:13:00 GMT

These utilities allow some Windows apps and games to run on a Mac without Windows itself. Major updates bring support for more apps and games, as well as a core software update that includes more than 23,000 changes.

Ballmer pushes slates but reveals few details

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 23:05:00 GMT

Microsoft's CEO told analysts that the company is aggressively pursuing slates, although he gave few details.

Why Do You Need a Computer to Use an iPad?

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 23:00:06 GMT

One of the first disappointments a brand new iPad owner often faces is the fact they can’t use their magic new toy right out of the box. New iPad users turn on their device and what greets their eyes? An iTunes activation screen; the same screen iPod touch and iPhone users see. To setup an iOS device, whether iPad, iPod Touch, or iPhone, you need a computer running a compatible version of iTunes.

But why?

Other smartphones, tablets, and media players don’t require a connection to a computer before you can use them. Moreover, iPad users learned recently what iPhone and iPod touch users already know: to upgrade their device’s OS, they again need a computer. Other devices can do updates over the air. Software updates on a Mac or PC don’t require a second computer, so why should iOS devices?

The initially obvious answer is the fact you need an account with iTunes to fully use an iDevice. That account manages the purchases you make on your iOS device. Since many users already have an iTunes account, this argument doesn’t make sense. A new iOS device owner should simply be able to enter their account info (or create an account on the spot) when turning on the device for the first time. Instead, new owners have to hook up to a “real” computer.

Again, why?

Of course, having a computer synced with your iOS device is handy. You can back up your data and quickly sync data from your computer. Documents, music, movies, pictures, calendars and contacts all easily get transferred from the desktop. However, with our lives existing more and more in the cloud these days, transferring this data via a computer running iTunes seems to defeat the independence of the iPad. With the camera connector kit, the argument has even less relevance. We can use the iPad anywhere, but we have to race to a computer with an Internet connection to do updates or move content back and forth.

Why? Why? Why?

Cynics would say that it’s about making sure that iPad sales don’t cannibalize traditional computer sales. With Apple’s market share though, sales shifting from desktops and laptops over to iPads is actually a benefit to Apple as evidenced by the recent earnings conference call when this issue was discussed.

There are probably a lot of PC users with older Windows machines who would be happy to replace their old PC with an iPad, which would handle almost all their computer needs. Apple’s “walled garden” approach really shines through for these users. No worries about competing browsers and email clients, downloading and installing software (even in the Mac universe, how many times do you see people running apps off the disk image rather than dragging it to the Applications folder?) Malware isn’t currently a concern, and the parental controls are quite handy. The price helps bridge the digital divide, making powerful computing accessible to everyone. That goal was one the motivators of the netbook movement. Apple changed the rules and added a new one: this magical and revolutionary device still needs a traditional and mainstream copy of iTunes running somewhere for setup and maintenance. Again…why?

Because Steve said so, that’s why!

Ultimately the iPad will probably gain independence. But for now, regardless of logic, market conditions, or technology, Steve Jobs sees the iPad as a companion rather than a replacement for the traditional desktop or laptop. It’s both something more and something less than the typical computer. Will we see the day when the umbilical cord between traditional operating systems and the iOS devices is cut? One can dream.

Do you think iOS devices should require a separate computer? Why or why not?

Related GigaOM Pro Research (subscription required): Can Anyone Compete With the iPad?

iPhone 4 launch may be cancelled in New Zealand, confusion reigns down under

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:59:35 GMT

Intel shoots down class action status in antitrust lawsuit

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:50:00 GMT

Intel shoots down class action status in antitrust lawsuit
Intel on Thursday landed a crucial victory in a private lawsuit that accused it of unfair pricing [sub. required]. Special Master Vincent Poppiti recommended to the US District Court in Delaware that the judge deny the lawsuit any class action status as there was no proof PC shoppers as a group were price gouged by alleged Intel price dumping meant to exclude AMD from the market. As Intel only set its own pricing, computer builders were free to drop their own stickers rather than simply widen their profit margins, Poppiti said....

Intel Corporation - Advanced Micro Devices - Delaware - Personal computer - Class action

New iMac Is Editors’ Choice

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:46:17 GMT

PC Magazine reviews the new 21.5-inch iMac and makes it the Editors’ Choice (4/5 stars) for mid-priced all-in-one desktops, citing its “classic” design, excellent display, powerful multimedia performance, and reasonable price. The review adds: “The $1,199 iMac is the system that can convert your friend/relative/significant other into one of the Mac faithful.”

The Truth About Legacy Technology

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:45:12 GMT

We labor under two major misperceptions about technology: Technology from one point in time is better than one further in the past and anything new displaces what came before. When we actively think about these ideas, we may dismiss them. But it's my contention that these are in fact our unconscious, default positions. (These notions would no doubt be scoffed at by medieval Europeans who spent years desperately dreaming of copping a squat inside like the Romans did. But they are operant in the here-and-now.)

As people who live in and among the very latest of technology, I think it's a necessary corrective to examine how we use legacy technologies. So, I asked the most first-adopty people I could find, my fellow ReadWriteWeb staffers. What "old fashioned" technology did they employ every day? Some of them did not respond, as they were immersed in a virtual reality safari or traveling in time. But here's some backtalk from those who did.

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Marshall Kirkpatrick, Co-Editor and VP of Content Development

Fireplace; bicycle; iPhone 3G (just kidding, kinda); shovel instead of tiller and gardening at home instead of Food Inc.; text editor instead of word processor; wi-fi instead of wireless card; printed newspapers and magazines because they are cool; books; dirty scowl instead of brain-piercing laser beam

I'm not going to say anything about the chickens.

Adrianne Jeffries, Evening News Writer

The most prominent example that comes to mind is handwriting. Pens, pencils and paper are still often more efficient for me than laptops, computers or mobile devices. Examples: grocery lists, writing while field reporting, writing passive-aggressive notes to roommates, sometimes directions to a place. It's possible to write up to 300 words per minute using shorthand, which I am studying.

So cool I think I'm going to pass out. The world record for shorthand is 350 words per minute and the world record for typing only 212.

Abraham Hyatt, Production Editor

If you go into a hardware store, most hand tools have a sexy, modern version. (Just check out the framing hammers.) But it's frippery added on to something that hasn't changed in hundreds of years. I own my great x 4 grandfather's homemade scrub plane. It's identical to wooden planes available today. Same goes for hand saws. I have my great x 2 grandfather's hand saw -- you could have bought it in a store today. It's technology that has reached a kind of perfection. There's no way to improve on it; it's functionality in its purest form.

That's a powerful idea, the perfection of a technology.

Klint Finley, News Writer

I have a lot of cognitive dissonance about paper vs. digital readers. I wrote a little about it. "The best reason to read books and magazines on paper is because they are not on computers...I did spend the better part of today reading off of screens, and I doubt I'll ever be able to get away from screen reading. But I've got to say, at least at this point in space-time, print is looking better than ever."

Although the functionality of e-readers is undeniable and the possibilities are interesting, today I picked up "Listen to the Warm" at St. Vinnie's and it smelled like...victory.

Audrey Waters, News Writer, Startup and Cloud Channels

The Post-it. Also, I prefer a fountain pen.

If you have a beer with Audrey, you will eventually hear about Post-its.

Sarah Perez

I still prefer a bar of soap to those body wash/poof combos. Ha!

If you have a beer with Sarah, you will eventually hear about soap bars. No, I don't know. We live on different oceans. But I like to think when she's hammered she goes on a rant about the "poof" as a sign of the End Times.

Richard MacManus, Founder and Editor-in-Chief

I still use a paper notebook most of the time. I have a paper diary to complement Google Calendar and probably use the former more. I read paper books. I go to the library (it's a big building with books in it).

Always a smart-ass this guy. A building is a building with... Wait, what now?

It should surprise no one that a bunch of people who, whatever else they do or seem to be, are in the final analysis writers, would, when it comes to legacy tech, trend heavily toward pens and paper. Technology is not electronics (although electronics is technology.) Technology is us, doing and it has as much of a foundation in our lives as language, religion, philosophy or music.

That connection is so important, in every part of our lives. A connection to what we do, to another person, to family, to a community, to the great men and women of the past who inspire us. We recognize that technology didn't start with AOL, or with Amiga, or even with the Babbage engine. It started when the first hairbag picked up a rock and broke the end off a coconut or twisted a stick off a sapling and dug out some termites. And it won't end until we do.

Pantheon photo by Andrew Wales
Photo of weirdies by Marshall
Second photo of weirdies by Abraham

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Google Says Web Search Completely Blocked in China [UPDATED]

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:45:12 GMT

Google is reporting that its web search, which was fully or mostly accessible yesterday in mainland China, where it is 6 a.m., is now being completely blocked.

The company's stock had slipped nearly 2% in after-hours trading at the time of this post. Google has not made an official statement to the media or on its blog.

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Google.cn has been blocked multiple times in China, most recently a month ago, before China chose to renew the company's Internet Content Provider license.

Google had been redirecting google.cn to google.hk, its uncensored site in Hong Kong automatically, but stopped that practice earlier this month and simply included a link to google.hk on the google.cn site in order to pacify Chinese lawmakers.

Shares of the state-supported Chinese search competitor Baidu jumped 2% after the news.

The Chinese information ministry purposefully makes it difficult to tell if access is being blocked from the top. But the Chinese government's history of blocking the search engine suggests this is a deliberate move.

UPDATE: Some Internet users in China are reporting they have full access to google.cn, Rebecca MacKinnon reported. However, the service may still be blocked for others, or for most individuals in China. At the very least it appears that it is blocked for the computers distributed around the country that Google uses to monitor availability.

Below: Google's chart tracking availability of services in China. Discuss

Forget Technical Terms - Whoever Gets the Most Developers Wins...Period

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:45:11 GMT

In a recent survey by Evans Data, Google gets accolades for its public cloud. IBM gets top marks from developers for its private cloud.

But what do developers want the most? They want the cloud to be simple to use. They want it to be as as easy to get your data in as easy it is to get the data out. And they want it to be secure.

Evans Data survey took a look at the whole gamut of issues related to cloud computing. It's an annual survey. It's conclusions focus more on the dichotomies between private and public clouds.

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Google and IBM share a common denominator. Both apply the basic principles of open-source to its cloud computing efforts. That makes it easy for developers to work with the platforms.

This brings up a certain issue we have with the terms used for cloud computing. It does not matter if one cloud is public and another is private. It's about getting the most developers. To do that you need to open up. Period.

ReadWriteWeb views cloud computing as more of a network of platforms that serve as individual ecosystems. In the Future of the Cloud, we discard the notion of public and private clouds to focus more on emerging platforms.

Future of the Cloud: Cloud Platform APIs are the Business of Computing

View more documents from ReadWriteWeb.

From the report by Mike Kirkwood:

"As an industry, we are emerging from a phase of infrastructure cloud computing that has been driven by server virtualization and scaling compute. Now we are moving to the next phase of cloud platforms where higher order jobs such as collaboration and communication services are the drivers. In this phase the action will be in how the cloud scales the work done by people, and in how an always-on, always-available infrastructure supports applications that both cut expense and generate revenue.
It's in this phase that we'll discard our previous categorization of IaaS, SaaS, and PaaS, and private, hybrid, and public types of clouds, and instead focus on platforms that extend end-to-end and enable emerging ecosystems. The foundation of the emerging ecosystem is based upon the following.."

Google is attracting developers as best as any cloud provider. Proof is in the API calls it gets. According to Programmable Web, Google is tops in the API billionaire's club.

IBM is developing an ecosystem in its cloud environment that includes RightScale and Kaavo for deploying applications and workloads in the cloud. Navajo Systems provides an additional layer of security. Silanis is used for e-signatures. VMLogix allows for manual, functional, and compatibility testing. AppFirst provides performance monitoring. And SOASTA CloudTest helps deliver load and performance testing.

Forget the technical terms. They will go away. The ideas are what matters. Those ideas will drive the innovation. Ideas are what excites developers.

What matters are the people. Attract developers through what you provide them, not by bandying about terms that in the long run no one really cares about.

But not everyone would agree. We asked on Twitter what people thought of technical terns like IaaS and PaaS.

Eric Delattre said cloud is the term that needs to go:

"@alexwilliams @rww the opposite, use IaaS, PaaS, SaaS instead of Cloud!"

Discuss

Thumbs Up for Magic Trackpad

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:44:37 GMT

SlashGear reviewer Vincent Nguyen judges the Magic Trackpad a “pretty tempting proposition” because it brings the “useful” Multi-Touch “gestures Apple’s mobile users have been enjoying to their desktop compatriots.” Adds Nguyen: “I wholeheartedly recommend the Magic Trackpad.”

Apps Built for iPhone 4

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:39:11 GMT

Jim Dalrymple at The Loop highlights apps built to take advantage of iPhone 4 features — including the gyroscope, accelerometer, and Retina display. Writes Dalrymple: “There are a lot of great apps for the iPhone, but to experience the ultimate in cool apps you have to look for those built to utilize the newest technologies in iPhone 4.”

New iMac King of the All-in-Ones

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:36:01 GMT

Reviewer Jonathan Rougeot (computershopper.com) calls the new 21.5-inch iMac the “king of the all-in-one” category for its beautiful design, innovative peripherals, faster performance, and stellar display. He concludes: “With its more muscular interior and consistently stylish exterior, the iMac continues to be the cool, smart all-in-one that all the other models envy.”

Ballmer on iPad: 'they've sold certainly more than I'd like them to have sold'

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:32:00 GMT

Poor guy can't catch a break. Talking to analysts today about the world of tablets, Steve Ballmer put on a brave face about his lack of a strong competitor to the iPad, saying of Windows 7 products in the works with third parties: "They'll be shipping as soon as they are ready." Unfortunately, Apple's iPad looms large, with Ballmer stating that "they've sold certainly more than I'd like them to have sold." Perhaps more revelatory, Steve likened the tablet challenge to the situation Microsoft faced when the netbook started out as a Linux product, mentioning that part of their chore is "tuning Windows 7," in addition to working with hardware partners. Obviously Microsoft is down, not out, when it comes to tablets, but will a few million iPads be their eventual demise or the impetus they need to succeed? Tune in next week someday for the thrilling conclusion!

Ballmer on iPad: 'they've sold certainly more than I'd like them to have sold' originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Let the iPhone be your guide at New York's Natural History museum

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:23:00 GMT

The American Museum of Natural History Explorer app gives visitors a guided tour of the museum, complete with turn by turn directions, and information on exhibits.

Bell outlines iPhone 4 pricing, confirms $10 iPad sharing

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:20:00 GMT

Bell outlines iPhone 4 pricing, confirms $10 iPad sharing
Bell this evening became the second Canadian carrier to detail its iPhone 4 pricing and confirmed many of the details leaked out a day earlier. The provider is matching Rogers' efforts and will have its own 6GB smartphone data plan for $30, again only available until September 30. Device pricing on a new contract or a full upgrade is similar, at $160 for a 16GB iPhone 4 and $270 for a 32GB model....

IPhone - Smartphone - Canada - Rogers - Handhelds

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Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:20:00 GMT

iPhone 4 launch may be cancelled in New Zealand, confusion reigns down under

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:07:15 GMT

Filed under: iPhone

Imagine if Apple's handset prices in the US weren't announced at WWDC, and the subsidy pricing was up to AT&T. Imagine if AT&T told potential iPhone customers that the iPhone 4 would launch on July 30, and pricing info would be released well in advance of that.

Now imagine the weeks leading up to July 30 went by, and AT&T didn't say a word about the iPhone 4's pricing, even though many other countries had already released handset and plan info. It's July 29, and instead of working with its customers, throwing them a bone, giving them some sort of information, AT&T instead remained utterly reticent and deleted any posts on its forums remotely critical of its handling of the situation. Imagine AT&T followed up by deleting all mention of the iPhone 4 from its website: no pricing info, no pre-orders, not even a "coming soon" link.

Imagine that July 30 comes along, with the usual line-ups happening nationwide. You'll also have to imagine there's no Apple Stores, and AT&T is the only place in the country where you can buy a subsidized iPhone. At eight in the morning on the day the iPhone 4 is supposed to launch, there's no trace of it at any AT&T store, or Best Buy, or Wal-Mart, or anywhere else you might reasonably expect to find an iPhone 4 on the day it's launched. And even in the midst of all this, and with media reports flying about that Apple's partnership with AT&T has been cancelled, AT&T still doesn't have a single scrap of information to spare for its loyal customers. Not a word of explanation. Not a single excuse. Nothing. And no iPhone 4 anywhere in the nation.

Now replace "AT&T" with "Vodafone," and you have a picture of the iPhone "launch" in New Zealand. I put "launch" in heavy sarcasm quotes, because the iPhone 4 is not launching in New Zealand today... and thanks to Vodafone, no one has any idea when or even if it will be coming to New Zealand at a subsidised price. Read on for a textbook example of how to generate a PR disaster, and also an example of how not to treat potential customers.

TUAW iPhone 4 launch may be cancelled in New Zealand, confusion reigns down under originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone - AT&T - Apple - New Zealand - Unofficial Apple Weblog

First Look: Rocknor's Donut Factory

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:00:00 GMT

Filed under: iPhone

Rocknor's Donut Factory is due to hit App Store on Monday. It is an iPhone update of a Windows game that was critically acclaimed back when it was released in 2003. It offers terrific puzzles and fun gameplay that's unfortunately hampered on the iPhone by a too-literal transition from the original game.

In this game, you move dough through a factory -- shaping it, cooking it, topping it, and shipping it out -- using a variety of assistive machines. You have to be clever. Some of the factory floor layouts are fiendish. Getting each donut produced to order to meet your quotas isn't as simple as you might think.

TUAW First Look: Rocknor's Donut Factory originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone - AppStore - Unofficial Apple Weblog - Apple - Microsoft Windows

Steve Ballmer: 'Apple sold more iPads than I'd like them to sell'

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 21:50:00 GMT

Speaking to Wall Street analysts, Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer noted that tablets are a big issue for the company and expressed concern about Apple's success with iPad.

Just Mobile intros UpStand desktop stand for iPads

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 21:50:00 GMT

Just Mobile intros UpStand desktop stand for iPads
Just Mobile has expanded its line of accessories for Apple gadgets with a new stand designed for iPads. The UpStand is a desktop stand machined from aluminum, with rubber grips that help hold the iPad in landscape orientation....

Apple - IPad - Aluminium - IPhone - IMac

e-Reader Price War Could Slow as Sony Hints It's Pulling Out

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 21:24:25 GMT

We posted yesterday about the price war that's currently raging between Barnes & Noble, Amazon and Sony, makers of some of the top-selling e-readers in the U.S.

Today a public relations representative sent us a statement on behalf of Sony that suggests the company may be pulling out of the race to the bottom.

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"Pricing is one consideration in the dedicated reading device marketplace, but Sony won't sacrifice the quality and design we're bringing book lovers to lay claim to the cheapest eReader," said Phil Lubell, VP of Digital Reading at Sony Electronics. "Our global customers expect to get the best digital book reading experience and we're concentrated on delivering that by investing in Sony's award-winning design and original digital reading enhancements, such as eBook library borrowing and the only full touch screen on the market."

Image from Sony's e-book web site

Amazon announced the Kindle Wi-Fi, which has a 6" display, will retail for $139 in August, making it the cheapest e-reader yet. The Wall Street Journal reported this morning that a lesser-known manufacturer is coming out with a 5" screen e-reader for $99 later this year. Sony's least-expensive e-reader, the 5" screen Sony Reader Pocket Edition, was $149.99 at the time of this post.

So does this mean Sony won't lower the price of the Sony Reader anytime soon? It would seem so, but the company isn't ready to box itself in.

"Nothing to announce at this time regarding a price move," said Leanne Drown of The Racepoint Group, which represents Sony. "The quote reflects broader thinking around strategy moving forward."

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Thu, 29 Jul 2010 21:20:44 GMT

Apple Job Posting Suggests 'Revolutionary' New Mac OS X Feature

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 21:16:51 GMT

AppleInsider points to a new Apple job listing that appeared on Monday looking for a software engineer to work on a "revolutionary" new Mac OS X feature.

We are looking for a senior softwa...

Ballmer: killing the iPad is a "job one urgency"

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 21:15:00 GMT

Ballmer: killing the iPad is a "job one urgency"
Developing a Windows-based alternative to the iPad is a "job one urgency" at Microsoft, company chief Steve Ballmer said today during the annual Financial Analysts Meeting. He admitted that Microsoft was uncomfortable with how well iPads were selling and was tuning both its software and hardware partnerships to provide a competitive option. Besides altering Windows 7, it's counting on Intel's Oak Trail Atom platform and plans to push hardware makers "as soon as they are ready."...

Microsoft - Steve Ballmer - IPad - Intel Corporation - Companies

MLB Trade Rumors: New York Mets Don't Need Roy Oswalt to Win - Bleacher Report

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 21:13:20 GMT

msnbc.com

MLB Trade Rumors: New York Mets Don't Need Roy Oswalt to Win
Bleacher Report
For the sake of Mets baseball, let's hope Big Pelf, a 10-game winner this season, was right. There's no doubt that the Mets would have been in a better ...
Oswalt trade proves that for Phillies, now is all that matters SI.com
Roy Oswalt Heads to Philly, Joins Philies Long Island Press
Market a mixed bag as Trade Deadline nears MLB.com
Yahoo! Sports - HULIQ - Hot Cappers
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Mobile Apps Leak Personal Info on Android, Apple Phones - CIO Today

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 21:08:46 GMT

New York Times (blog)

Mobile Apps Leak Personal Info on Android, Apple Phones
CIO Today
Mobile apps for Android-based smartphones and Apple's iPhone can disclose personal information, two Black Hat speakers warned. ...
Study finds 14% of free iPhone apps can snoop contacts Apple Insider
Android App Data Theft: Advantage Apple? PC World
Top smartphones spy on you Inquirer
ITProPortal - New York Times (blog) - Wired News
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