Linked List: November 1, 2012

Thursday, 1 November 2012

Virgin America: Our Best Airline, But Losing Money 

I really hope they turn it around financially; Virgin is so far and away my favorite airline that second place isn’t even close.

Behind the Un-Retirement of Bob Mansfield 

John Paczkowski:

As one source close to the company told AllThingsD, “The timing of Bob’s return is not coincidental.”

To begin with, Mansfield was not a fan of Forstall’s confrontational management style, and sources said he generally tried to avoid the iOS exec. Indeed, Bloomberg reported last year that Mansfield would meet with Forstall only if Cook were present to mediate. I’ve heard many similar stories.

“It wasn’t a him-or-me situation,” one source said of Mansfield’s return and Forstall’s departure. “But, put it this way, I think Bob was much more willing to commit to two more years once he knew Scott was on his way out.”

The speculation regarding skeuomorphism as a factor in Forstall’s ouster has gotten out of hand. That’s not what this was about. This is about Forstall’s relationship with the other senior executives at the company. Personalities and politics, not rich Corinthian leather.

Trip Chowdry, Champion Jackass 

The funny thing is, Dalrymple didn’t even cite the jackassiest thing Chowdhry has said this week:

“Microsoft and Sony retail stores are much better looking than Apple Stores, which at many locations look dated and small. Further, the new Palo Alto Apple store has no restrooms for customers anymore.”

Tweet of the Day 

Be sure to check Ralph Gilles’s profile to see who he is. (Via Cabel Sasser.)

UK Court Orders Apple to Re-Write ‘Inaccurate’ Samsung Statement 

BBC News:

Samsung complained that the notice posted by Apple was “inaccurate and misleading” because it added comments about other rulings in Germany and the US that had gone in the iPad-maker’s favour.

“This has received enormous publicity and has perpetuated confusion as to Samsung’s entitlement to market the Galaxy tablet computers in issue,” a Samsung lawyer said in a written statement to judges.

“It has created the impression that the UK court is out of step with other courts.”

Of course, the UK court is out of step with other courts.

It’s Global Warming, Stupid 

Speaking of Hurricane Sandy, I like this analogy:

On Oct. 29, Foley thumbed thusly: “Would this kind of storm happen without climate change? Yes. Fueled by many factors. Is storm stronger because of climate change? Yes.” Eric Pooley, senior vice president of the Environmental Defense Fund (and former deputy editor of Bloomberg Businessweek), offers a baseball analogy: “We can’t say that steroids caused any one home run by Barry Bonds, but steroids sure helped him hit more and hit them farther. Now we have weather on steroids.”

Letterpress T-Shirt From United Pixelworkers and Loren Brichter 

Proceeds are going to Hurricane Sandy relief.