Marco Arment on the demise of Flash for mobile:
If web developers must make non-Flash implementations of everything, why bother making the Flash versions at all? This isn’t just the death of mobile Flash: it’s a confirmation from Adobe that all Flash is on its way out.
[…]
Rather than fight a losing battle for a particular runtime, Adobe can focus on what it does best: making tools for creative professionals.
To illustrate the previous post’s point on how the iPhone is “on par” with Android, I’d like to refer to a handy chart of Android software support put together by Michael DeGusta.
Go look at the chart. It also includes the first four iPhone models for comparison. To summarize his findings about Android, DeGusta lists:
- 7 of the 18 Android phones never ran a current version of the OS.
- 12 of 18 only ran a current version of the OS for a matter of weeks or less.
- 10 of 18 were at least two major versions behind well within their two year contract period.
- 11 of 18 stopped getting any support updates less than a year after release.
- 13 of 18 stopped getting any support updates before they even stopped selling the device or very shortly thereafter.
- 15 of 18 don’t run Gingerbread, which shipped in December 2010.
- In a few weeks, when Ice Cream Sandwich comes out, every device on here will be another major version behind.
- At least 16 of 18 will almost certainly never get Ice Cream Sandwich.
Also worth noting that each bar in the chart starts from the first day of release - so it only gets worse for people who bought their phone late in its sales period.
Kind of incredible, isn’t it?
Anthony Pafford runs commentary on a Verizon press release that supposedly promotes the iPhone 4S. His comments are bracketed throughout the presser:
Oct 14, 2011 - Apple iPhone 4S has arrived
Just in time for shoppers to start thinking about the holidays, along comes another iPhone.
[oh, *another *iPhone….]
The Apple iPhone 4S hits stores today, Friday, October 14th.
[Now the good bit—]
Although the look and feel remain the same,
[you don’t ‘Although’ in an overall positive message or lead with a negative if you want to promote a product.]
most of the new features
[not all of the new features?]
bring the iPhone 4S up to par with many of Verizon’s current models
[up to par? So the iPhone 4 was below par and it’s new features only serve to bring it up to par with some other Verizon devices that apparently set the standard. What device could it be that plays such an acceptable game of golf?]
and in some cases even surpass the Android technology.
[Wow! You mean to tell me in this obligatory press release about the new Apple iPhone that the new model serves to play catch up with the amazing features of Android phones and even occasionally does better? Sign me up for this acceptable but lagging technology!]
It gets even more biased the more you read. Ever since the Verizon iPhone debuted earlier this year, I’ve had the impression this is an uneasy alliance between Verizon and Apple. Even the event announcing the Verizon iPhone seemed demurred with reluctance between the two companies.
Make sure you hit up the link above to read the rest of Anthony’s thoughts.
A good catch by reader Justin Van Nostrand that the presser is actually from a Verizon reseller. Nonetheless, most folks don’t see that difference (I didn’t at first) and the whole thing should still leave a bad taste in your mouth.
If you’re a writer, you need a reader.
That may seem dazzlingly obvious, but I’m not talking about the person who may eventually read what you’ve written. I’m talking about someone you have in mind before you begin writing.
I don’t care if you’re a “blogger”, a poet, a novelist, or someone who writes marketing copy. You need a reader. You need someone who is your model, someone who you are writing specifically for. Without this idea of who you’re writing for you might find that you’re writing just for yourself, or worse, for no one at all.
This is something I have heard a couple times in the past, and I have to admit I still don’t have a clear picture of a person or type of person I imagine reading these words I write. Further reflection on this today has me thinking the pursuit of writing for a reader is the first crucial step of refining a writer’s voice.
Stephen M. Hackett nails the Android review process.
Ben Brooks on how to keep a business solvent:
Time again there has been one business model that has proven to be successful, as stated recently by Marco Arment:
[…] the traditional style of spend less than you make.
That’s the only way to make money, short of fooling someone into buying your company for more than it’s worth.
Ben mainly cautions business owners about the dangers of firesale prices. If you own a business or are in a position to make financial decisions for a business, consider Ben's article required reading.
Tools & Toys is a new project by one of my favorite writers, Shawn Blanc. Every item is hand-picked by Shawn to whet the appetite of geeks, coffee drinkers, music lovers, writers and more — in other words, me.
This is one site I'll be reading daily.
Microsoft walks us through their "improvements" to Windows Explorer in Windows 8. I think I just threw up in my mouth a little.
Federico Viticci, at MacStories, talks about having a reliable, trusted system for getting your work done. If there is one extensive article you read today, make sure it is this one.
For me, the trusted system has become a synonym of great software developed by people that are serious about the bits and Xcodes they work with. Software from people that have something to lose if things go south. Apps from developers that are deeply invested in the platform — apps from people that often do this for a living but that are also users of their own creations. And this synonym has led me to trust the smaller, indie devs less, because I always fear the app I’m showing interest in will be discontinued tomorrow and never come back to support my needs.
I can vouch for being burned by some devs who took my money, and other people's money, and then promptly left their app to rot or removed it from the store entirely. Granted, this happened early on in the App Store, it was a new market, but I am also more cautious now. I've developed relationships with some developers, like the folks at the Iconfactory. I trust AgileBits with my most secure credentials. I could go on.
Even more so, I have become very hesitant to adding new items to my trusted system. I agonize over mucking with my home screen layout because it means retraining muscle memory. But that doesn't mean I won't go search for something new if the need arises. However, I read many reviews and weigh the usefulness of an app heavily before trusting it by clicking the buy button.
