The problems PDAs and mobile phones suffer are comparable to the mess of incompatibility and complexity that plagued desktop computing in the 80′s. The problems aren’t all the same, but they similarly act to limit the usability and potential of consumer electronics.
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Contributed by: Daniel Eran, RDM

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Apple is building a new platform, and applying lessons it learned from the 90s, when tried to launch the Newton as a new platform. Like the original Macintosh from a decade prior, the Newton started as one product, and intended to branch out into a range of systems. Here’s why it failed and the lessons to be learned.
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Contributed by: Daniel Eran, RDM

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The iPhone rumour mill has been cranked up to eleven by Digg.com founder Kevin Rose claiming that the new iPhone will be ‘small as sh*t’. Which, as any qualified scatologist knows, is very, very, very, very small. Possibly.
Rose also claimed that users should be able to use it on any GSM network, and that it almost certainly has a slide-out keyboard.
He also claimed that it will have two batteries: one for the music-playback, the other for the phone. This pretty much confirms that his story isn’t bogus because, as we all know, two small batteries are (nearly always) a LOT better than one big battery. Maybe.
He also thinks two iPhones will ship: a 4GB and an 8GB model, costing $249 and $449 respectively. This has the ring of truth. The iPhone will need memory, and (in the United States at least) be priced in dollars.
What Kevin Rose didn’t say (probably because he didn’t have time, or maybe just forgot) is that the new iPhone will nearly certainly feature WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, a full suite of contact management utilities that synchronise effortlessly with Macs and PCs, a 5 megapixel digital camera (with optical zoom), voice recognition, a full range of flash-memory slots, a built-in high-resolution projector, and a virtual projector keyboard.
He also omitted to confirm that the iPhone would weigh less than 10 grammes, be a mere 3mm thick, and that the built-in screen would allow the viewing of hi-def video at full resolution.
He was probably wanting to leave Steve Jobs with a few ‘just one more thing’ announcements. Possibly.
Contributed by: Brett Jordan

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60 Minutes on CBS featured a segment on NetFlix and discusses DVD popularity and potential competition from online movie distribution. In the segment Apple ITV “Apple plans to boost its new downloading business by introducing iTV within six months. It’s a box that will connect the Internet and TV. Reed Hastings told 60 Minutes he’ll unveil plans for his own download service in January. And Netflix has posted a customer service number on its Web site.” See the segment here.
Contributed by: bradvr

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Longing for the days of laptops the size of the the PowerBook Duo, reader Eric Nix offers the following request:
Have we seen the end of Apple’s ultra portable laptops? Hopefully, no.
Many users demand ultra portability because of frequent travel. In my case, I frequently travel to third world countries for international relief work. I need something that’s ultra portable with a decent battery life. Stocked with a few extra batteries, it might be days before I can plug into an electrical outlet to recharge a battery.
Here are the reasons why we 12″ PowerBook users feel abandoned and why we hope Apple will produce another ultra portable laptop:
1. Not every person needs a widescreen display: Most of us don’t watch movies on our laptops. Most of us use the laptop for surfing the internet, reading email, word processing or business applications. Although a widescreen is suited well for many users, it adds unnecessary inches to a laptop’s width.
2. A smaller size translates into better portability: Ever tried using a laptop on a cramped airplane, train or bus? Imagine doing this in a third world country where the seats are even closer together than in the U.S. Yes, you can pack humans on a bus like sardines in a can. It’s not the ideal place for a 17″ widescreen, but the current 12″ form factor works well.
3. Smaller screens allow for better battery life: No unnecessary pixels to illuminate.
4. Smaller sizes and lighter weights make it easy to tote around: Every ounce counts when you’re toting textbooks or extra batteries to your class — a half mile away from your parking garage.
5. Thin is in: A thinner laptop allows one to pack in more of those textbooks, papers, and other “fun” stuff into your laptop bag. Some of us will even opt to carry additional batteries in the saved space.
How about it, Mr. Jobs? Will you give us a 12″ non-widescreen MacBook Pro for us ubergeek travelers who demand portability, or will you alienate us and force us to look for Windows (gasp) ultraportables?
Contributed by: Eric Nix, MD

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For those of you worried about the weak spot/melting point of the MagSafe connector, here’s what I’ve been doing with all my laptop power supplies for the last few years. I cut a short piece of 1/8″ spiral cable wrap available at Walmart or Radio Shack, usually in a package of multiple diameters for a couple bucks, wrap it around the weak point and cinch it down hard with a small zip tie and a pair of pliers. Cheap trick, but until they add some real stress relief at that joint, it cheaper than buying a new power supply.
Contributed by: Kent Sievers

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After reliance on isolationist development using proprietary technologies, the second factor of platform crisis involves embracing the suffocating tentacles of long term legacy support. Here’s how legacy plays into the past, present, and future plans of Apple and Microsoft, and what it means for users of their products.
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Contributed by: Daniel Eran, RDM

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How Apple and Microsoft have both used and fallen prey to four factors of software development disaster in the past and today. Read More…
Contributed by: Daniel Eran, RDM

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After Hitting the Wall in Mac System 7 development, Apple desperately needed a plan for the future. The isolationist, proprietary development style that had formerly differentiated Apple’s products now stood in the way of the company’s very survival. The same situation applies to Microsoft today.
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Contributed by: Daniel Eran, RDM

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Five primary factors will determine the winner in the new generation of consoles. Here ’s a look at the obvious differentiators between Sony’s PlayStation 3, Microsoft’s Xbox 360, and Nintento’s Wii, and how each company plays out a unique strategy in the bid to sell the most consoles
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Contributed by: Daniel Eran, RDM

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