Saturday, October 6, 2012
Facebook doesn't want you to know that the Obama campaign follows porn sites
http://twitchy.com/2012/10/06/facebook-blocks-twitchy-from-posting-for-24-hours-threatens-permanent-ban/
Monday, October 1, 2012
Dear Tim Cook
Dear Tim Cook,
Thanks for letting me know that you're going to cut my iCloud storage back by 20GB.
As you recall, Apple gave me the extra 20GB because you guys decided to cancel MobileMe right after I had renewed it (on the family plan) for $99. Instead of giving me the service I had paid for, you gave extra space in this new service. You also gave me a hellish labyrinth of confusing sync options. You also gave me an online "backup" for my iOS devices, which I apparently need because syncing an iOS device with iTunes has become so utterly baffling to me (a veteran IT careerist with 30 years experience) that I haven't had a successful sync in a year.
Most of the storage I'm using in iCloud seems to be consumed by these backups. In fact, once you downgrade me to the usual free 5GB of iCloud, I will immediately be unable to back up one of either my iPad 2 or my iPhone 4 without upgrading my storage. I have no idea what will happen to my photo stream, which is now the only way I can manage to get pictures from my phone to my desktop consistently.
Notice too that I don't have the latest and greatest devices. I've not upgraded my iOS gadgets, nor have I upgraded my 2008-vintage Macbook Pro. I have put Mountain Lion on some of my home devices, but I have at least two that are still running OS X 10.5, because they need to run old PPC programs that I can't afford to upgrade.
I'm really writing you to say that I've detected a shift in Apple. Back in 2004, when I finally switched to Mac, Apple was making high-quality products that lasted a long time, and gave me a professional edge. Upgrades were simple, straightforward, annual events that didn't leave me unable to work. I was able to multi-task; at one point, I was regularly running high-end DJ software AND a 3D virtual world client at the same time, with no ill results.
Now, OS X seems oriented toward task-switching instead of multitasking. OS Upgrades are painful, and frequently result in a number of older programs that simply won't work. My iPhone 4 is great for just about everything but being a phone. On my iPad, I could lose everything except the Kindle and Evernote apps, and not notice it.
The shift is this: Apple used to make my life easier. Now you make it harder, and you want more money.
I'm seriously considering giving up my phone entirely. I don't agree with the perception that being reachable and interruptible 24//7 is a virtue. I want a phone that's smarter about handling calls for me, not one that forces me to decide how to handle them. Here's a clue: if my phone is moving faster than 5 miles an hour, don't even let it ring. Send my calls to voicemail. I'm driving. Leave me the heck alone.
As far as my iPad goes, it's been useful primarily as an ebook reader. Innovations such as retina displays are not enough to get me to upgrade. Frankly, I'm ready to try a Kindle or a Nook; the experience seems better.
Notice that, Tim. An avid Apple fan just said that your competitors' devices are more compelling.
My laptop is reaching the point where an upgrade is in order. What are my choices? The Air is not a good platform for gaming, which is most of my non-work use of a laptop. The new Pro is way too expensive. The Macbook hasn't been upgraded. And frankly, I probably don't need a laptop all that much.
Maybe it's just the economy. Maybe I'm getting old. But things aren't the same between us, not like when Steve was in charge. I don't know how to fix it, or even if Apple cares about people like me anymore. But I thought I should write.
Thanks for letting me know that you're going to cut my iCloud storage back by 20GB.
As you recall, Apple gave me the extra 20GB because you guys decided to cancel MobileMe right after I had renewed it (on the family plan) for $99. Instead of giving me the service I had paid for, you gave extra space in this new service. You also gave me a hellish labyrinth of confusing sync options. You also gave me an online "backup" for my iOS devices, which I apparently need because syncing an iOS device with iTunes has become so utterly baffling to me (a veteran IT careerist with 30 years experience) that I haven't had a successful sync in a year.
Most of the storage I'm using in iCloud seems to be consumed by these backups. In fact, once you downgrade me to the usual free 5GB of iCloud, I will immediately be unable to back up one of either my iPad 2 or my iPhone 4 without upgrading my storage. I have no idea what will happen to my photo stream, which is now the only way I can manage to get pictures from my phone to my desktop consistently.
Notice too that I don't have the latest and greatest devices. I've not upgraded my iOS gadgets, nor have I upgraded my 2008-vintage Macbook Pro. I have put Mountain Lion on some of my home devices, but I have at least two that are still running OS X 10.5, because they need to run old PPC programs that I can't afford to upgrade.
I'm really writing you to say that I've detected a shift in Apple. Back in 2004, when I finally switched to Mac, Apple was making high-quality products that lasted a long time, and gave me a professional edge. Upgrades were simple, straightforward, annual events that didn't leave me unable to work. I was able to multi-task; at one point, I was regularly running high-end DJ software AND a 3D virtual world client at the same time, with no ill results.
Now, OS X seems oriented toward task-switching instead of multitasking. OS Upgrades are painful, and frequently result in a number of older programs that simply won't work. My iPhone 4 is great for just about everything but being a phone. On my iPad, I could lose everything except the Kindle and Evernote apps, and not notice it.
The shift is this: Apple used to make my life easier. Now you make it harder, and you want more money.
I'm seriously considering giving up my phone entirely. I don't agree with the perception that being reachable and interruptible 24//7 is a virtue. I want a phone that's smarter about handling calls for me, not one that forces me to decide how to handle them. Here's a clue: if my phone is moving faster than 5 miles an hour, don't even let it ring. Send my calls to voicemail. I'm driving. Leave me the heck alone.
As far as my iPad goes, it's been useful primarily as an ebook reader. Innovations such as retina displays are not enough to get me to upgrade. Frankly, I'm ready to try a Kindle or a Nook; the experience seems better.
Notice that, Tim. An avid Apple fan just said that your competitors' devices are more compelling.
My laptop is reaching the point where an upgrade is in order. What are my choices? The Air is not a good platform for gaming, which is most of my non-work use of a laptop. The new Pro is way too expensive. The Macbook hasn't been upgraded. And frankly, I probably don't need a laptop all that much.
Maybe it's just the economy. Maybe I'm getting old. But things aren't the same between us, not like when Steve was in charge. I don't know how to fix it, or even if Apple cares about people like me anymore. But I thought I should write.
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