Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, Cafecito Organico’s Nicaragua Wiwili, the NY Yankees excellent Soriano signing, or Selma Blair becoming a MILF, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.
Verizon’s huge iPhone 4 announcement has the tech world buzzing. One of the debates that has come up — again — is whether Apple’s “curated” approach to the Apple App Store is a strength or weakness. To me, it’s a completely ridiculous debate. It’s absolutely a strength.
Apple has always been about offering great products that offer a superior experience. The company was never about having the most programs or getting the biggest installed base. Apple’s experiences with its past products can be seen in the “controlled” and excellent App Store. Even though I believe that the Android Market will eventually eclipse the App Store in terms of the sheer amount of apps, I also believe that the App Store will always be a better experience and lack the amount of crapware found in the Android Market. Google’s open approach will give it the numbers, but Apple’s curated approach will give it a superior user experience (it also doesn’t hurt that Google has never been great with UI). At the end of the day, would you rather have more choices or better choices?
Even though I’m an avid Android user, I can admit that the App Store will always have an edge over the Android Market (as well as the Windows Phone 7 and WebOS equivalents). I’m perfectly content with my Android apps for productivity and news, but iOS will always have better entertainment choices. This is especially true for games. I don’t want to get into the technical details of the matter, but Apple’s controlled approach actually works to its advantage in terms of games, while Google’s choices with Android have made things more difficult.
Like I said, I don’t really understand the debate from a consumer perspective. However, I’m willing to listen to other perspectives. That’s where you come in! Do you think Apple’s curated approach is a strength or weakness?
i really like Apple's App Store better than the Android Market. It's more easier to use and faster to find apps. They also seem better to use than on the Android Market for example Foursquare; My gf and I both use it but when we check in i'll usually find the place first on iphone and she'll wait for me to check in and use the place in my update because her Foursquare app won't pick it up. As much as i hate not being able to customize my phone with diff wallpapers or screensavers or diff icons. i would take Apple's walled in App Store over any other OS App Store right now.
What phone does your gf have? If it’s a Samsung then it’s the GPS units fault, not the software’s. The Samsung Vibrant and Captivate have funky GPS units/software that Samsung hasn’t entirely fixed. I haven’t had any issues with the HTC and Motorola Android phones that I’ve used.
If I’m not mistaken I believe she has the same phone as me.
It’s a MyTouch3G, so HTC right?
Yeah, that’s HTC. I wonder what the issue is. I haven’t used any Android phones running anything prior to 2.0 for a long, long time.
Idk either. she just updated it like 2 months ago, i think. I remember her complaining a little while back that she should've never updated her phone because it's slower than ever now. i couldn't tell you what she's running on that phone right now to try to help but it's a little annoying to me. One of the reasons on why i'd rather have a walled in App Store.
@Ray
You are wrong about the GPS on Captivate
It is a software problem with the Captivate GPS. Depends on what ROM you are running. Samsung/ATT put out a fix that repaired it. If the repair didn’t work then you have to factory reset your phone to make the repair take affect. Most people skip doing that part, but that is how to get it to work. My GPS used to not work at all with STOCK rom. My current custom ROM has me getting a GPS lock within 5-8 seconds accurate to 3 meters and stays locked while travelling. Locks even in buildings. This is with the Wireless Network GPS turned OFF and only using the aGPS unit.
This isn’t an isolated case either. I have the earliest build of the phone, I have 4 other friends I have talked into getting this phone. 2 are later builds and the other 2 are the latest build (oddly all have same pre patched version of Android 2.1). All GPS issues can be resolved by simply entering into the LBSTestMode menu and changing 3 settings. To furthur increase accuracy I loaded new ROMs on each phone.
It's both the hardware and software on the GPS side. When I was talking to tokz about the "software", I was referring to the Foursquare app. The GPS issues have gotten better with Samsung software updates, but they're still not as accurate as other phones on the market.
Correct I was only commenting on your “If it’s a Samsung then it’s the GPS units fault,”
The actual aGPS is fine. It is all software, There is no evidence to my knowledge that proves it is a hardware issue. The Vibrant, Captivate, Fascinate & Epic 4G all have the same GPS unit inside and all function differently which supports the fact that is is solely a software issue.
I think the Playbook will catch a lot of users off guard with the BB tethering
Catch off guard in a good way or bad?
The BB tethering is going to mandatory on the WiFi only version if you want to use any of the exchange email due to a BB security "issue". Once the 3G version comes out it will work more seamlessly.
The tablet itself seems nice enough but I worry about the availability of applications.
@Anyone that uses Mobile RPAD.tv
I can never figure out how to leave a comment on the Mobile Version of the site. Am I just missing it?
@slicky
at the top of the page you should see a bar that says rpad.tv mobile style. to the right of that there's an arrow pointing down. click on the arrow and you should see the login option.
Thanks Tokz. Never would have EVER seen that. Worked great.
You're welcome, slicky! i'm glad i could help.
@slicky
Yes that is what I was referring to. Not sure if BBM will require that as well. Really takes some of the luster away from the wifi version I would think.
I don't get why there is the need for the tether though.
Reading RIM’s press releases and following their product leaks makes me sad. The company really needs to get its sh*t together on the software side, like yesterday.
I saw somewhere that the Blackberry brand on the Playbook may destroy its marketability even though everyone seems to love the device. I think they were just saying that, but it was an interesting thought nonetheless.
Man that was a whippin. Good run til now RROD.
Yeah, my condolences RROD. I was rooting for you guys, now I'm rooting for the Bears.
Oh… by the way… STEELERS!!!!!
Yes my condolences to RROd too. What a jinx u are N8!
Looks like you're they only one still alive.
If the bears lose to the packers i would never forgive them. I will be heartbroken, it will be up there with the cubs being 5 outs away from the world series!
We got MANHANDLED. I don't understand how you can play great and win 13 of 16 games but get to the playoffs and forget how to play defense. Green Bay did what they wanted and we couldn't do anything about it.
Damn, there goes my Super Bowl prediction. Sorry, RROD. Well, at least Smartguy will see his vengence through Da Bears today.
-M
My condolences to Big Blak as well…
But GOD DAMN am I happy we don't have to play the Pats next week.
Nothing against the Jets, I just think we'll have a smoother ride facing them.
Sorry to see the pats lose, big blak.
so yesterday, apparently, amazon.com had a total meltdown
they were selling ps3s for 39.99
about 20 of my friends got one, one guy got 6..lol..
i dont know if they are gonna honor those orders…58 bucks after shipping!!
the link is shut down now, this was about 11 pm est last night..damn i hate my job!!!
and to be fair, i realize that there is no way amazon could honor all those ps3s….especially since they are listed as 60 gig ps3s…its just funny…
http://www.ripten.com/2011/01/16/get-a-brand-new-…
wow! what a big goof on Target's part. I'm sure they'll issue a refund to everyone that placed an order for these 60GB PS3s. There's no way they ship these out.
I am going to try and relieve some stress here. BAD DAY SO FAR and it just started.
Alarm doesn't go off on my cell phone this morning. Noticed my music that I let play all night wasn't working on my cell phone either. Looked and my alarm was going off and music was playing but had no sound coming out. Volume was all the up. Checked all the settings and nothing worked. Did a Factory Restore. Volume still didn't work. Plugged it into my PC to flash it back to stock before I had to be at work in 5 minutes (its a 10 minute drive so I'm already late). USB debugging was on so I had to unplug to turn it off so I could flash my phone, Unplugged USB and volume started working.
Leave for work and have to take a several mile detour because of an accident on the main road that leads to the highway from my house.
Get to work and start working on a waterline that I have been working on since the beginning of December. it is 30,000 feet long with 500 feet per page and I was nearing completion. Did a few things then I noticed my PC had not tethered with my phone properly so I saved my work and closed AutoCAD 2008. Then shut down my computer. Pressed Power button and screen stays black and can't hear a post code beep, but fans are running. Reset again and screen comes up "No Keyboard Detected". Powered off again jiggled cables. Power back on. "ERROR LOADING OS". Power off and on, Check BIOS. Seems fine, reboot and works.
Fire up AutoCAD and its says it was improperly shut down (which it wasn't) and I needed to recover my drawings. Attempt open drawing via recovery. "Corrupt database please recover" I JUST DID. Lost my entire drawing. Can't figure out how to fix this one. Now I have to tell my boss that the only copy is lost and I have to start over after having spent all this time and money on it.
HAHA. I went to hit SUBMIT COMMENT and I thought to myself "this is going to mess up too after writing it all out. So I copied the entire comment from above then hit SUBMIT. "Error: You must be signed into to comment" WTF I wouldn't have even been able to write it if I wasn't signed in. Refreshed the paged and sure enough I was logged out of WordPress now.
I want to just go back to bed. (time for a Ctrl+c)
I am sorry SlickyFats. wow. If anyone deserves today off it is definitely you. I hope they can figure out how to recover everything and your stuff gets back to working properly! Good luck with everything!
@slicky
sorry to hear that you're having a rough day. i would've taken a personal day after i found out my Pc lost my files. i hope everything works out for you eventually.
Uh-oh. Steve Jobs is taking another medical leave.
i think he's trying to get better for the iphone 5 release in June. This means that the iPad 2 will probably get pushed back for that date too. i can't see anyone else announcing these two products.
I doubt the iPad will get pushed. It's much smarter to stick to the annual cycles the company established with the iPhone and iPod lines. Releasing in April 2011, as rumored, gives Apple's consumer electronics devices enough space between each other.
i guess you're right, but like i said who the heck is going to get me excited for the iPad 2??
It'll be by committee with Tim Cook leading the way. Same deal as when Jobs took a six-month leave for his liver transplant in 2009.
oh i know but Tim Cook is boooooooring.
You'll have to get used to him. He's the most likely heir. Unlike last time, Jobs left this leave open ended, which has people fearing the worst. I almost want to do an article on it, but I don't feel good about it. I rather just discuss it here with y'all.
yeah i just read that on CNET. i'll give him a try for the iPad 2 announcement but that's it. I say if Jobs isn't back for the iphone 5 announcement feel free to write an article.
@Ray
I support your nonwriting of an article. It almost seems disrespectful since the letter is open ended. I wish him the best.
Yeah, I just don't have anything to add or a unique take on the matter. Everything is just so obvious that it would feel exploitative to write an article. Certainly there are articles I've written that are meant to foster discussion and snag some SEO traffic, but a "What do you think of Steve Jobs' illness?" article seems a little dirty.