Linked List: March 19, 2009

Thursday, 19 March 2009

Noted for Future Reference 

Steve Ballmer:

“Apple gained about one point, but now I think the tide has really turned back the other direction. The economy is helpful. Paying an extra $500 for a computer in this environment — same piece of hardware — paying $500 more to get a logo on it? I think that’s a more challenging proposition for the average person than it used to be.”

(Via David Weiss.)

iLounge’s Gallery of iPhone OS 3.0 Screenshots 

NDA-busting screenshot gallery shows most of the new stuff. Note, for example, that Voice Memos continues recording while in the background — you get a red double-height status indicator at the top of the screen, much like the green one when you’re on a call.

HD Movies Now Available for Purchase and Rental From iTunes Store 

Apple:

Starting today, movie fans can purchase box office blockbusters for download in HD for $19.99 from iTunes, and films will be available as iTunes Movie Rentals in HD for $4.99 within 30 days after release.

Previously you couldn’t buy HD movies, and HD rentals were limited to Apple TV.

Cisco Buys Pure Digital, Makers of the Flip Video Cameras 

It’s a good acquisition for Cisco, but I hope they let the Flip continue to be the Flip.

Merlin Mann on SXSW 

Merlin Mann:

Not a list of peoples’ jokey internet names, not a moldy hillock of kinda-funny-once “memes,” not a series of asynchronous “@” responses, and not a goddamned drama about who follows whom today and what it all means. Talking about meeting people who speak in sentences and have complicated lives and make great things and care about a lot of the same stuff you do. That’s the thing.

Camaraderie doesn’t develop very well through LCD screens, and there is very little in this world that is better or more important.

The Camblr Strikes Back 

Cameron Daigle follows up on his “household Star Wars terms that aren’t actually spoken in the films” post from last week.

How Upgrades Should Be Done 

Sascha Segan:

Never mind the cut and paste. Never mind the picture messaging, or all the other stuff that should have been in iPhone 1.0. Never mind the new payment methods that will shake up the mobile shopping marketplace. The most radical thing Apple said at the iPhone 3.0 software release was:

“The upgrade will be available for free, this summer, to all iPhone owners.”

Why can’t any other smart phone vendors do this?

Two points. First, yes, Apple’s iPhone upgrade policy and iTunes integration is a killer feature. When you buy an iPhone, you’re buying a phone that will get better and offer more features over time. No one else can say that, at least yet.

Second, though, what’s with the “or all the other stuff that should have been in iPhone 1.0” silliness? Does Segan really think these features haven’t taken time and effort to develop? Should Apple have waited until this coming summer to ship the first iPhone?

Update: Android phones, at least so far with the HTC G1, follow a similar upgrade policy. We’ll see how it works when the G1 is two years old, though. And my friend Aaron Swartz says his beloved Sidekick has a great update system, too. Also, one thing the G1 and Sidekick offer which the iPhone does not is over-the-air software updates. I wonder how many iPhone owners never find out about updates because they never bother syncing with iTunes on a computer.