Apple has unveiled its iPad product this week which people are describing as a giant-seized Apple iPhone or iPod Touch. I think of it as more of a mini-sized Microsoft Surface. I guess it all depends on how you look at it, huh?
iPhone and the iPad and Microsoft Surface
Here’s Steve Jobs introducing the iPad which will revolutionize eBooks & the Tablet.
Even though I’m not and have never been a Mac owner, I thoroughly enjoyed the documentary “Welcome to Macintosh”. I found the well-made film extremely informative and entertaining, perhaps because I’m just a huge fan of technology and these types of things get me excited quite easily. For example, I’ve written about my love for other projects like this, the first great technomentary, Triumph of the Nerds (1996) and the movie “Pirates of Silicon Valley”.
At the heart of the Apple Story (not really just the Mac), sits Steve Jobs. While he did not take part in the documentary, his presence resonated throughout every frame. His tremendous impact is clearly illustrated on all of the individuals interviewed as well as the company and the industry as well. I’ve shared my thoughts and feelings about Steve Jobs in recent posts “Genius” and “Clash of the Titans”.
My favorite segments of the documentary were:
The man who has the world’s largest collection of old Apple and Macintosh computers and just about anything else they made! He had them crammed in every nook and cranny! Amazing stuff.
The Hollywood film editor that shared how the Mac with Final Cut allows him to do the work of six or seven film editors.
Jim Reekes was hilarious and a blast in every piece he contributed. He share the history of the startup sound for the Mac where his composition ultimately became the classic startup sound. I loved his quote “People think it was like going to work at Oz but in reality it was like a sausage factory. I mean, you really don’t want to know how these things were made”.
Guy Kawasaki’s funny takes on the good times and bad times at Apple. I especially liked his story about having a 44,000 mailing list which was basically the first blog.
Here’s the trailer for Welcome to Macintosh
This isn’t from the movie but it’s a visual history of all Apple and Mac computers from 1976 to 2008
The battle between Microsoft and Apple through the decades has been an incredible saga with many twists and turns as each has taken turns being on top. Ultimately, they know their success has a great deal to do with their arch nemesis. Steve Jobs and Bill Gates know how much they and their respective companies needed one another. Despite all the nastiness and mudslinging, especially in TV commercials, Apple and Microsoft are forever linked together in the history of computers and technology.
Through the years, Steve and Bill have found a way to sit down and discuss things in a respectful manner. They actually find kind things to say about the other (that loud GASPing sound emanates from all those Mac Heads out there).
I’ve shared some posts previously about Steve Jobs and Bill Gates. One was about a wonderful movie called Pirates of Silicon Valley and the other was about a fantastic documentary called Triumph of the Nerds.
Here they are together again discussing each other’s legacy.
Here’s the prologue video that played before Steve Jobs and Bill Gates took the stage at D5
I want to start by saying that I am not another big Apple Mac geek lover and fanboy of Steve Jobs. I’ve never owned a Mac and don’t plan to anytime soon. I only recently succumbed to the Apple brainwashing marketing machine and got an iPhone which I love but I still have many gripes and complaints about its design and function. So you see, I’m not writing this with any hidden bias or agenda for or against Apple or Steve Jobs.
I just wanted to write about Steve Jobs and his legacy that will include his beloved Apple. I know he’s not on his deathbed, at least we are all hoping that is not the case! He has stepped down from daily operations of Apple to attend to his health until June. Our prayers are with him.
Anyway, I’ve always been a Bill Gates and Microsoft supporter which meant harboring some level or disdain and skepticism towards Jobs and his Mac minions. Over the years, it got exhausting putting up with the non-stop criticism and arrogance from Apple lovers and even Steve himself. All the while Microsoft kept growing in numbers and popularity.
Then Steve got his comeuppance at age 30 when he got fired from the very company he started! His own creation got rid of him. How odd was that? Talk about eating humble pie. The man he hired ultimately lead to his demise at Apple as the board members voted to get rid of its once revered leader. Well, all of the PC nerds rejoiced and laughed and everyone thought that was the end of the evil genius and his legendary temper. How wrong we all were!
My view and opinion of Steve Jobs changed once I witnessed what he accomplished after his most public and humiliating experience. He went on to start NextStep which Apple later purchased and ultimately became part of the modern Mac OS. That also meant he returned as the captain of the ship.
The other impression thing that he achieved involved Pixar Studios and the groundbreaking animated films he helped launch. He stood by their side for over five long years because he knew in his heart that they were onto something big. His instincts have always been ultra keen.
As if all that weren’t enough, he then unleashes the iphone and starts a new mobile web revolution that continues today as others try to compete. Once again the genius sees the future and makes it happen today. All of these achievements have totally changed my mind about this man who also seems to have mellowed with time. Perhaps it had something to do with his firing, perhaps it was his near death experience with cancer more than five years ago, perhaps just life experiences but more than likely all of the above.
Here is an excellent video I highly recommend. Steve Jobs giving his commencement speech at Stanford a few years ago. He discusses his highs and lows in life and provides excellent words of wisdom.
Another must see is the movie “Pirates of Silicon Valley” which was an entertaining look at the rivalry between Steve Jobs and Bill Gates and the history of computers. Here’s a previous post and the entire movie you can watch online.
Finally, here’s a post I did on the fabulous documentary called “Triumph of the Nerds” from 1996 that covers the early history of computers. It is truly a must see for anyone interested in the true birth of modern computers and technology. You can watch the entire movie online too.
No matter where you stand when it comes to computers, whether you love the Mac, Windows or even Linux (why?!!), everyone must respect and be ever grateful for everything Steve Jobs has done not only for technology but for mankind as well. The world will forever be a better place because of his contributions. Let’s just hope we will hear him say “One more thing” again and again for many more years to come.
Steve Jobs and Apple can sell anything.
This comic strip is part of an on-going series called I.T. Happens. Here’s the entire series.
You might not be able to make Windows perform like a Mac but you can definitely make it look and feel like one with some free tools you can install in minutes. Checkout the following tips, tricks and tools and enjoy your new Mac-lite PC.
Rainlender is a skinable desktop calendar
Trillian is a universal instant messenger that resembles iChat.
iTunes is most likely already on everyone’s system but just in case, here ya go!
Change your desktop wallpaper to one that the Mac Leopard OS uses. Search google for other images if you don’t like this one.
Change your mouse cursors to Mac OS X cursors
Apple icons are a must have to put the finishing touch on your pseudo-Leopard OS.
Here are over 1,400 icons.
Replace your Internet Explorer browser with either Safari or Firefox (if not already!).
Replace Microsoft’s Gadgets with Yahoo’s Widgets which look and feel more Mac-like.
RocketDock will probably give your PC the most Mac-like appearance and functionality because it replaces the windows taskbar and allows you to launch all of your applications from its very Leopard-style interface. Here’s a good video of how it works:
[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=3npL5L66__A]
ObjectDock is similar to RocketDock. Give them both a try to see which one you like better.
Here’s another screencast:
[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=WpRhXa7zJjg&feature=related]
Note: It doesn’t make sense to have RocketDock or ObjectDock and the Windows taskbar visible at the same time so it’s best to hide the taskbar. Right click a blank space in ObjectDock, go to the settings tab, select behavior then on the box with check marks select “Hide the Windows Taskbar”, and hit OK.
Installation Kit
For Windows XP users, you can try FlyakiteOSX which is a free installation kit that does most of the dirty work for you. I’m not sure it will work with Vista so I cannot vouch for it! Let me know if you get it to work though. 
Final Thoughts
Yes, I know it’s a lot of work, isn’t it? Why not just get a Mac if you’re willing to go to all this trouble to make your PC look like one? Well, I actually happen to love how my Vista looks and performs and merely offered this up for those that want the Mac look n’ feel but for whatever reason are stuck with a PC (being in IT, I hold many MacHeads captive to the Windows OS because of corporate policy). Maybe I’ve done this out of guilt for keeping these Apple lovers away from their beloved OS.
Ridley Scott has always been one of my favorite directors so you can imagine the surprise I had today when I learned that he was the one who directed the memorable 1984 Apple commercial! Obviously, looking at it now with this knowledge makes perfect sense. It does have the same look and feel as his classic Blade Runner and Alien movies. It’s hard to believe it’s been 25 years since this commercial was originally aired!
Here’s a special behind the scenes interview
Here’s the classic commercial that was aired during the SuperBowl
Here’s Steve Jobs introducing the 1984 commercial at the 1983 Keynote
Just for comparison’s sake, checkout Apple’s first TV commercial from 1977!
Fast Forward again this time 30 years to 2007 for the ground-breaking iPhone commercials
Final Thoughts
Even though I’m a big supporter (literally) of Microsoft and their Windows systems, I have a deep respect and admiration for Steve Jobs and Apple. I think Steve and Bill both realize that they needed each other in order to push the industry as far as it could. Because of their rivalry we’ve all benefited. Their companies continue to innovate and take technology to the next level.
Here’s a post about the movie “Pirates of Silicon Valley” which covers the history of Bill Gates (Microsoft) and Steve Jobs (Apple).
Also worth checking out is “Triumph of the Nerds” which is a documentary covering the history of computers including Microsoft and Apple.
While everyone is excited about the new 3G iphone (as I am), I feel compelled to complain about the exclusive distribution deal that Apple and AT&T have in place for this beautiful little gadget! I don’t like exclusive deals like this and hope that more of us complain about it so that it doesn’t become a common business practice.
Choice
This is the United States of America and we believe in our freedom of choice! In this day and age I find it appalling that we are forced to purchase a mobile device from one specific carrier! How did this happen? There’s no way that we should stand for this.
We should be allowed to use whatever carrier we want to use: T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, whatever! Shame on Apple and AT&T for this blatant money grub maneuver. Our best interests were not considered one iota! They only thing they focused on was the bottom line which was profit and revenue.
The iRevolution Has Begun!
What can we do about this? Well, a revolution has begun already. People are going with other phones such as the Blackberry. Others are waiting for the GPhone from Google slated for release this fall. Another thing that many frustrated consumers are doing is unlocking the iPhone so that they can use the carrier of their choice! Yes, it’s totally legal, easy to do and get this, it’s free!
Unleashing the Beast
http://www.ziphone.org is the best place to start. It’s been around a long time and has been very successful even for the most novice of users. They’re already working on the 3G version so that will be available very soon. Once you do this, then you will be able to use the carrier that YOU, not Apple or AT&T wants you to use! What a concept, huh?
So Easy Even a Caveman can do it!
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shP6vEhNMec]
Final Thoughts
Look, I like Apple and AT&T and can’t wait to get my hands on the 3G iPhone someday. I just don’t like what they’ve done here with their exclusive deal that has totally taken away our freedom of choice. If they want to establish a system with different levels of preferred vendors as Microsoft and others have done, then fine. Apple could’ve made AT&T their premiere or preferred vendor of the iPhone with greater quantities and preferred product shipment and support, but they should not have closed the door on all of the other carriers!
