andrew t elliott

Apple's Closed App Ecosystem is a Myth.

Wed, 05 May 2010 16:36:00 -0400

The simple fact is that Apple has made is so easy to develop and distribute applications via the App Store that it leaves developers wondering how they ever did it before.

Here’s how you did it before: From your website, the user can download your application. For a fee, the user can acquire a license key, or license file which they are given instructions how to install.

Here’s how you COULD do it: Develop your app, using published or unpublished APIs within iPhone OS. Build your file. Compile your .ipa, upload it to your website so that it can be downloaded by users, charge users a licensing fee for one year (length of your $99 dev subscription) at the same time you get their UDID. They received their .mobileprovision file unique to their device. Tell them how to install it, etc.

Done. You’ve created your own app store whereby you don’t split money 70-30 with anyone, but which will CERTAINLY be busted at some point by Apple - likely by not renewing your dev license.

Right?

And for those trying to make a case for their apps on the iPhone *cough* ADOBE *cough* - you can use this as a proof of concept and spread your videos and demos to the far reaches of the blog-o-drome to prove your perfect implementation. The creates a groundswell of support and rings as a true counterpoint to anyone’s Thoughts which may preach the opposite.

Just like everyone else

Wed, 07 Apr 2010 14:42:47 -0400

I’m not giving away an iPad.

Good luck!

Twitter is not for breakfast @rickygervais

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 16:47:00 -0500

Twitter is not for breakfast @rickygervais

Tablet to be "iPhone on steroids"

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 11:55:45 -0500

Tablet to be "iPhone on steroids":

This makes sense in the Apple product model. This is the “iPhone HD”, not that it will be named as such, but in concept it will be to the iPhone what the iPhone is to the iPod Touch. It is the “Pro” device in Apple’s mobile ecology.

The timing of a March or April ship date makes sense as well. New features are released to the Slate in April, available exclusively on the Slate for 3 months when some (not all) are integrated into the new iPhone model in June/July, and some are added to the iPod Touch in September.

Each business unit feeds the other, but the largess of desire is place on the new, most profitable iteration of Apple’s multitouch devices.

To paraphrase a teacher of mine: The Slate is the runway in Milan The iPhone is Bergdorff And the iPod Touch is JC Penney.

One sets the fashion, one commercializes it, the other sells it to everyone.

Contra - I wantcha.

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 14:24:42 -0500

(Skip to the bottom and listen to the album while you read this.)

I’m very pleased with the new Vampire Weekend album.

I’ve been a huge fan since I first discovered their self-titled freshman effort. It’s catchy, fun and I can listen it over and over. If I had it on CD, I would probably have left it in the player for two weeks straight. Instead I can offer play count information: 56.

I’m not a music reviewer and lack the analytic capabilities to assess the album in a deep way. I do know about technology, though, so I’m looking at their digital release plan for the album.

I first came across “Horchata” via Pretty Much Amazing Blog in October (I RSS them, so I’d say I found it on the 5th or 6th). PMA offered a 96kbps download of the song (which is now a free download at vampireweekend.com).

Over the next two months, “Cousins” was released as a single and “White Sky” (my fave) showed up on their MySpace page.

They are now streaming their whole album on their website. It streams low-quality MP3s through a flash interface, simply play the whole album through or pick it by song. It’s possible to intercept the MP3s (via Download Helper or similar) but at 96K it’s not worth it. It’s a model I’m a big fan of, low quality is free, real deal is gonna cost you.

On top of that, I’m most impressed with is in the Facebook Connect and it’s really small and simple:

They just made their own little connect that calls it out. Otherwise it’s a regular status update (I’ve obscured the name and photo). It’s so minute, but it’s what made me stop to reflect on how I had come to be so exposed to an album before it even went onsale.

For your listening pleasure:

How to sell me on the "iSlate"

Mon, 04 Jan 2010 11:29:00 -0500

DISCLAIMER: I know nothing real about any of this, I’m just a fan and can’t wait to see what’s next.

These are my outstanding questions on the iSlate:

What problem is this device solving? This is the fundamental issue I have with the tablet computer: it’s a solution for a problem I’m not yet aware of.
How do you hold it? - I am most curious about how this gets solved. Is it like an iPhone? 10” is too big to hold and use with one hand. To hold it with one hand on the side seems awkward. To hold it as a painters palate is too unstable.
Where do you use it? - Real portability? Is this an everywhere device, like the iPhone or is this like a laptop, which can be used while walking around, it’s just not recommended.
How do you carry it? - In a bag? A pocket? Does it come with a special sleeve like the 5G Video iPods did?

And this is what I’m looking forward to seeing on January 26th:

Steve Jobs dramatic introduction - like the MacBook Air hiding in the envelope, I’m looking for a nice visceral reveal from Steve Jobs. And maybe a joke about how skinny he and the device are (though I’d much rather see Jobs with some more meat on the bones).
iPhone OS - I don’t think it will primarily run the iPhone OS, but I do think it will be capable of supporting the iPhone apps.
OS X Touch - We will see an innovative UI that is a NEW OS interface, and this will be the real jewel. Anyone can make and assemble hardware, but the most copied features on the Mac are ways to get from point A to point B. I don’t know what it’ll be called, but Steve loves touting OSX whenever he can.*
Business Model - Steve has previously described Apple as a three-legged stool: Mac, iPod, iPhone. Look right at the top of the Apple.com page - the three are listed in that order. But where does the iSlate fit in the picture? All products in the Mac line-up have the word “Mac” in them - MacBook, iMac, Mac Mini, Mac Pro, etc - same with iPod, and same with iPhone. The only orphan is the Apple TV, which is still a “hobby”. So, if the moniker “iSlate” is the real deal - where will it fall?
iMac bezel-less design cue - I love this look and I know Jonny Ive does too, I’d be surprised if it were omitted.
iSight built-in - I’ll be excited to see this, because it’ll be the first iteration of a real, usable videophone. No one has really adapted iChat as a communication tool. This also brings us one step closer to being The Jetsons, rocket-cars, pill-based-food and houses in the clouds.

Awesomeness I don’t expect, but would love to see:

Cloud-based streaming media - I think it’s time that Apple start firing up those servers in North Carolina. For iWork Cloud, iTunes subscription TV service, or LaLa.com?
Tactile Feedback - Not the worthless buzzing haptic feedback.

1999 brought OSX, 2001 was iPod, 2005 was Intel, 2007 was the iPhone. It’s been 3 years since we were shown the first glimpses of the iPhone, and people have finally wrapped their heads around it so obviously it’s time for a new revolution in computing.

*Lest ye forget, it was the NeXt acquisition that gave birth to OSX and brought Steve back to Apple.

Big, Gorgeous iTunes Artwork

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 18:32:00 -0500

I have no doubt that this can be automated. I also have no doubt that I won’t be the one to do it. For your edification.

Sample: Artwork from The Wire, Season 3:

Copy the link. Paste the link into your browser.

At this page, either copy the location of the image or view it.

You now just need to take the “100x100-75.” out of the image to get a crisp, clean 600x600 uncompressed jpeg of your artwork.

This is for informational use only. Please use responsibly and do not redistribute iTunes artwork without the requisite permissions, etc etc. Be cool, y’all.

Theater in a digital download

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:20:52 -0400

Theater in a digital download:

But where does the audience live in this, the next iteration of documenting theater?

Isn’t this just poor film - and not theater? Hasn’t this road been explored. I can’t help but think of Dogville.

Theater is the unique artform that is rebuilt upon every viewing for a specific audience. “It’s a good audience tonight” is an unthinkable utterance from a painter, novelist, sculptor, etc. Our work is created in front of the audience now, always now. Doesn’t this remove one of the critical definitions of theater?

"Okay, ladies and gentlemen, let me know when you’re done holding the doors… they’re very..."

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 17:42:01 -0400

“Okay, ladies and gentlemen, let me know when you’re done holding the doors… they’re very sensitive. So just let me know when y’all are ready to go home.”

- Conductor of the F Train, at West 4th

If pride is a sin, I’m a sinner. Love my homemade wedge....

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 08:08:14 -0400

If pride is a sin, I’m a sinner. Love my homemade wedge. Plus mine is full of rice, so if I ever have a water-mishap I can rip it open and throw the phone inside to dry it.

Toldja I was proud.

Compare to: http://www.moviewedge.com/

Infinite backwards compatibility on a mobile phone

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 23:38:06 -0400

Infinite backwards compatibility on a mobile phone:

Article makes a good point: Users will be upset when their device is no longer supported by the software updates. Though I think it’s fair to point out that those who are getting iPhones are mostly the type who get swept up in bigger is better, latest is greatest mentality and those who are not so tech savvy to endeavor in upgrading their phone will do so because switching devices is so easy on the iPhone. I think you can rely on a 3 or 4 year rotation for most users. The others are not reliant on the L&G, so they don’t care about software updates.

Apple has already established a model with the “No-PPC on Snow Leopard” agenda.

Make way for the new no one expects an upgrade for DOS anymore, even though they bought that once upon a time.

Though cutting the cord on the G1 owners seems pretty soon. Come on! Those people we so excited to get a Google Phone!

Followers

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 14:14:36 -0400

Dear cult member, You can see that I’ve provided you with two new ways to stalk me: LaLa and FourSquare. Just click the links on the right. (RSSers, you’ll need to come visit the site for a moment)

I love both of these sites, but I don’t much know anyone there yet. So I’m just playing in the sandboxes alone. So come and join me, it’s awesome in here!

Why isn't the future here yet?

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 14:11:20 -0400

I wear contacts. And when I go to see a 3D movie, I get the polarized glasses just like everyone else. However, I would like for my optimologist to prescribe me polarized contacts.

If you had polarized contacts, you could interact with the world in a completely different way. Every 2D surface could be brought to greater depth. Advertising would be the thing most noticable. This is a very achieveable future. Let’s make it happen, huh?

James Cameron, I’m looking at you to take point on this one.

Furr by Blitzen Trapper

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 13:21:33 -0400

Loving this song. Give it a listen. Lyrics provided because they are awesome.

Furr - Blitzen Trapper

Yeah, when I was only seventeen
I could hear the angels whispering
So I drove into the woods
And wandered aimlessly about
Until I heard my mother shouting through the fog
It turned out to be the howling of a dog
Or a wolf, to be exact
The sound sent shivers down my back
But I was drawn into the pack and before long
They allowed me to join in and sing their song
So from the cliffs and highest hills
Yeah, we would gladly get our fill
Howling endlessly and shrilly at the dawn
And I lost the taste for judging right from wrong
For my flesh had turned to fur
Yeah, and my thoughts they surely were
Turned to instinct and obedience to God

You can wear your fur
Like a river on fire
But you’d better be sure
If you’re making God a liar
I’m a rattlesnake, babe,
I’m like fuel on fire
So if you’re gonna get made
Don’t be afraid of what you’ve learned

On the day that I turned 23
I was curled up underneath a dogwood tree
When suddenly a girl
Her skin the color of a pearl
She wandered aimlessly, but she didn’t seem to see
She was listening for the angels just like me
So I stood and looked about
I brushed the leaves off of my snout
And then I heard my mother shouting through the trees
You should have seen that girl go shaky at the knees
So I took her by the arm
We settled down upon a farm
And raised our children up as gently as you please

And now my fur has turned to skin
And I’ve been quickly ushered in
To a world that, I confess, I do not know
But I still dream of running careless through the snow
Through the howling winds that blow
Across the ancient distant flow
To fill our bodies up like water till we know

You can wear your fur
Like a river on fire
But you’d better be sure
If you’re making God a liar
I’m a rattlesnake, babe,
I’m like fuel on fire
So if you’re gonna get made
Don’t be afraid of what you’ve learned

(lyrics from songmeanings.com)

Twitter

Fri, 24 Jul 2009 16:08:39 -0400

Been tweeting a lot so I just added my feed in here, so if my posts seem quick and dirty — they are.

#TwitterPseudonym

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 23:26:08 -0400

The two issues that I am most encountering on Twitter are that I want to enter contests, without spamming my friends/followers, and that I have dirty tweets that I’m not tweeting because I don’t want all my followers that are “Professional” to associate that sort of deviancy with me, per se.

And that’s the rub: Gotta make a second twitter account to post all the terrible and awesome stuff. Also to filter spam out of my regular feed.

Also: share user name and password with friends for plausable deniability.

Power Tools

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 22:13:05 -0400

Frank: I think if we use this.
Me: No way, this one will be just like:
Frank: Yeah!

Sunset in Brooklyn following storm. (Taken from school roof on...

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 20:29:00 -0400

Sunset in Brooklyn following storm. (Taken from school roof on the last day of school.)

Free Energy - Dream City

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 17:28:51 -0400

Free Energy - Dream City:

Been listening to this one for a couple days. As the referring site says, it’s pretty much amazing.

More on the Quarter Life Crisis

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 19:37:04 -0400

me: Professor Responsibility says "Pay off debts before making new ones"
Josh: Professor Responsibility is wise. If not a pain in the ass.
me: Yeah, I try not to listen to him, but sometimes he's REALLY LOUD
Josh: He sounds like some sort of DAD.
me: He is. It's me as a dad. Maybe that's what the Quarter Life Crisis is about. Being your own dad and rebelling against yourself.
Josh: You could be right. I think it's about having had too many expectations that we'd all be rock stars and movie gods by the time we were 24. EN-TITLE-MENT.
me: But I think it's really more about our pre-24 identities striving for rockstarness through inverse actions of our parents. Then once we become the rent payers, breadwinners, trying to rebel against ourselves, which is in effect rebelling against the rebel. It all becomes feedback and we're left confused with our ears ringing.
Josh: You've left me with nothing clever to say in response. I think you're right.