Linked List: September 20, 2011

Tuesday, 20 September 2011

Microsoft to Take 30 Percent Cut of Metro Apps Under Windows 8 ★

Daniel Eran Dilger:

If Microsoft refuses to allow existing Windows apps to run on ARM tablets, that would force Apple to convert iTunes to a Metro app and begin paying it a 30 percent cut unless iTunes remained free, if Apple decided it made sense to distribute iTunes on Windows 8 tablets in the first place. Microsoft has not yet spelled out any plans to charge a 30 percent fee on in-app purchases, but such a policy would suddenly become possible on Windows once Microsoft erected its own Apple-like software store.

So many implications to this stuff. I doubt Apple would ever do a version of iTunes that goes through Microsoft’s app store, and they may not need to, even if Metro gains fast adoption. The purpose of iTunes for Windows is to support syncing stuff to iPods, iPhones, and iPads — but iCloud is intended to eliminate the Mac or PC as your digital hub. But still, it’s interesting to contemplate a Windows where iTunes isn’t allowed.

What Netflix Could Have Said This Week ★

Matt Drance pens a “why we’re splitting in two” explanation from an alternate universe.

“Netflix Classic” is a way better name for the discs-by-mail spinoff, agreed, but I suspect one unstated reason for the split is that they’re preparing to sell one or both of the post-split companies, and thus they want to keep the existing brand entirely on the streaming side. Drance’s explanation would go over better with Netflix users, yes, but it’s not just better-written — it’s a different strategy, and one that I think is at odds with Netflix’s actual goals here.

Still, though, it’s a bit depressing to see a company that people love make decisions that people dislike. That aforelinked Oatmeal comic isn’t really a great metaphor, but it conveys the frustration users are feeling, as they look at a future where the overall discs-plus-streaming Netflix experience is both worse and more expensive.

The Joy of Tech Comic on the Netflix Split ★

Another comic with a more cohesive explanation for the Netflix split.

The Oatmeal: Why Netflix Is Splitting Itself in Two ★

Makes more sense than Netflix’s own explanation.

In Windows Phone 7 News ★

Developers can’t build a single binary that runs in both Windows Phone 7.0 and 7.5? (Via Steve Troughton-Smith.)

Samuel L. Ipsum ★

“Do I look like a placeholder text?!”

How to Clean Apple Products ★

Great support resource from Apple.

Inside an Amazon Warehouse ★

Spencer Soper, reporting for The Morning Call on the working conditions in Amazon’s Allentown, PA warehouse:

During summer heat waves, Amazon arranged to have paramedics parked in ambulances outside, ready to treat any workers who dehydrated or suffered other forms of heat stress. Those who couldn’t quickly cool off and return to work were sent home or taken out in stretchers and wheelchairs and transported to area hospitals. And new applicants were ready to begin work at any time.

An emergency room doctor in June called federal regulators to report an “unsafe environment” after he treated several Amazon warehouse workers for heat-related problems. The doctor’s report was echoed by warehouse workers who also complained to regulators, including a security guard who reported seeing pregnant employees suffering in the heat.

How to Revert Safari 5.1 to Its Old Single-Process Mode ★

Jason Sims:

Annoyed by Safari 5’s tendency to spontaneously reload pages when you didn’t ask it to? There’s a workaround for it, but it introduces a few problems of its own. Some Safari extensions will not work, and some of the new gestures won’t work either.

What you do is enable Safari’s hidden Debug menu, and turn off the on-by-default “Use Multi-process Windows” option. I ran Safari like this for a few hours yesterday, and it seems to help with Safari 5.1’s general sluggishness (when you have a lot of windows and tabs open) too. But that fact that most Safari extensions (or at least the ones I care about) no longer work in this mode is a deal-breaker for me.

What I’m trying today is switching to the WebKit nightly builds.

HP Begins Layoffs at Palm Division ★

John Paczkowski:

The company, which announced plans to shutter its webOS hardware business back in August, is sacking hundreds of employees as a result. Sources close to HP say the company plans to lay off as many as 525 employees, and that it began carrying out that dreadful duty this week.

That’s a lot of good talent hitting the market.

Instagram 2.0 ★

Sweet update to one of my very favorite iPhone apps.

Apple Releases Major Update to Final Cut Pro X ★

Jim Dalrymple:

“We got a lot of feedback from our professional users,” Richard Townhill, Apple’s senior director applications marketing, told The Loop. “We listened to the pros and have taken their top feature requests and put them in this update.”

Final Cut Pro now has Xsan support, which includes projects and events. With Xsan support, users can access the same source media while creating separate projects on the SAN. Of course, this means that users can edit from any system attached to the SAN.

The new version also includes support for Rich XML import and export. XML interchange gives users access to third-party workflows like high-end visual effects, color grading and media asset management. This includes products like Blackmagic Design’s DaVinci Resolve and Square Box System’s CatDV.

Finally.

Apple Tops ACSI Customer Satisfaction Survey for Eighth Consecutive Year ★

American Consumer Satisfaction Index:

“In the eight years that Apple has led the PC industry in customer satisfaction, its stock price has increased by 2,300%,” remarks Claes Fornell, founder of the ACSI and author of The Satisfied Customer: Winners and Losers in the Battle for Buyer Preference. “Apple’s winning combination of innovation and product diversification—including spinning off technologies into entirely new directions—has kept the company consistently at the leading edge.”