Linked List: June 6, 2012

Wednesday, 6 June 2012

Six months ago:

“Android is ahead of the iPhone now,” Schmidt declared to an audience of techies and aspiring entrepreneurs at the LeWeb conference here. […]

One Android-toting audience member said he was frustrated to see iOS apps beating Android versions to market. But in part because of Ice Cream Sandwich, “my prediction is that six months from now you’ll say the opposite,” Schmidt said.

We’ve got a couple of weeks left before we break out the claim chowder on this one, from the same day:

Onstage at LeWeb in Paris this afternoon, Google’s Executive Chairman told the audience that, “By the summer of 2012, the majority of the televisions you see in stores will have Google TV embedded.”

Script Debugger 5.0 ★

Major update to one of my favorite apps of all time. If you dick around with AppleScript, you should have Script Debugger. And if AppleScript is a serious part of your work, you’re simply nuts if you don’t have it.

Bloomberg: Microsoft and HTC Are on the Outs ★

Ian King, Tim Culpan and Dina Bass, reporting for Bloomberg:

Microsoft locked out HTC from the development of products using the newest version of its operating system on concern that HTC doesn’t sell enough devices or have ample experience making tablets, said the people, who asked not to be named because negotiations between HTC and other companies are private.

Think about how fast things change in this industry: just three years ago, HTC was responsible for 80 percent of Windows Mobile device sales.

CNet’s Stupid ‘Hands On’ ★

I don’t want to spoil it, just read it.

Airfoil Speakers Touch Back in the App Store ★

Paul Kafasis:

First, the good news: Airfoil Speakers Touch is once again available in the iOS App Store. You can download it directly on your device or click here to learn more about sending audio from your Mac or PC to your iOS device.

Unfortunately, Airfoil Speakers Touch can no longer receive audio directly from other iOS devices or iTunes. Read on for more information about this troubling change, as well as the reasons behind it.

Pizza or Not ★

My type of DF readers.

‘Was He Inebriated?’ ★

Charlie Sorrel, back in the Zune’s 2008 heyday:

When CNBC reporter Jim Goldman interviewed Jobs after Tuesday’s Macworld keynote, he passed on a comment from Robbie Bach, entertainment chief at Microsoft, that the Zune 2 is a “worthy alternative to Apple’s iPod”.

Jobs’s reply? “Was he inebriated? Do you even know anyone who owns a Zune?”

(Thanks to Jim Maiella for the reminder.)

Missing the Point ★

Robert Atkins says John Moltz and I are missing the point of the EFF’s “crystal prison” argument and their proposed “bill of rights for mobile computer owners”:

It’s a pity Richard Stallman is such a boor because he’s actually right about some things: if we aren’t vigilant, the general public will have its legal right to build and run arbitrary software on hardware they own eroded to the point where it’s impossible to do so legally.

I believe this is the thinking behind the EFF’s proposed “bill of rights” for mobile computer users: nobody wants or needs to log in to the root prompt on their iPad on a daily basis but it’s incredibly important it remains possible and legal to do so.

I suppose the “slippery slope” argument is the best light in which to see the EFF’s stance — that if some computers implement such restrictions, someday they all might, so therefore none should. I don’t buy it, though. Look at this iOS Security report (PDF) Apple published last month — a huge chunk of the security features Apple is touting are in direct opposition to the EFF’s “bill of rights”. Trade-offs.

Texts From Xcode ★

Some WWDC-prelude humor.

R.I.P. Zune ★

Nick Wingfield, writing for Bits:

There was nary a mention of Zune, an existing Microsoft music and movie service, at the E3 event where Xbox Music was announced. But afterward, a Microsoft spokeswoman, Melissa Stewart, confirmed that the Zune brand is going away so Microsoft can use the better-known Xbox brand for its entertainment services, including its online video service.

Why not hold another public funeral, like the one they held for the iPhone in 2010? People need a chance to grieve.

Actual Search Results in Google Search Results, Through the Years ★

Re: last night’s item on the ever-decreasing screen space Google devotes to actual search results, I wondered aloud how today’s Google search results compared to those from five years ago. Here’s a 2005 comparison of various search engines’ results for “search engine”. Google devoted the most space to actual results, by far.

DF reader Mike Pantoliano tweeted with this screenshot, showing Google search results from 2008 for “pizza”, the same search term from yesterday’s item.

And to Google’s credit, there are plenty of search terms for which Google still shows a results page that is overwhelmingly devoted to actual search results.

Google Previews Improved 3D Map Imagery ★

Gee, I wonder why they previewed this now, rather than waiting until it actually shipped? It does look cool, though.

‘Wreck-It Ralph’ Trailer ★

Upcoming animated movie from Disney — think Toy Story meets classic ’80s video games. (Via Andy Baio.)

‘Sorry, Cheapskates, but HBO Doesn’t Want Your Money’ ★

Dan Frommer on why you shouldn’t hold your breath waiting for HBO to offer access to its shows other than through a traditional cable package. Me, my wishes are humble. I just wish they’d let the HBO Go app work with AirPlay.