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Google doesn't get 'social', but Apple doesn't understand the Internet

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Re: Google doesn't get 'social', but Apple doesn't understand the Internet

#81

Post by ZeroGravitas »

Bud wrote: post #55
wvenable wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My parents just purchased a laptop; they're not really "computer people" but it's hard to get by without one these days. They might have been better off with an iPad but they could never use it because it requires an existing computer to work. My daughter got an iPod touch for Christmas and I was shocked that it's just a useless brick until connected to a computer. I had to bring her laptop to Christmas (and hide it)…

You were shocked that her music collection did not magically spring into the iPod from points unseen? What were you expecting to happen? Did it involve an omnipotent Deity?

Looks like someone else hasn't heard of the internet.

Re: Google doesn't get 'social', but Apple doesn't understand the Internet

#82

Post by nickpinkston »

seabee wrote: post #58
rradu wrote: post #42

"Google doesn't know how to have fun" Has anyone ever actually said this? Between the logo doodles, April fools jokes, and bright colors, Google is one of the funnest companies around.

Don't forget silly extras you find from time to time (kayak across the Pacific in Maps, 'Undo send' in gmail). How often do you find things like that from large companies?

Undo send is awesome - my ADD ass always remembers one more thing just after hitting send. The delay helps on a mental level oddly enough.

Re: Google doesn't get 'social', but Apple doesn't understand the Internet

#83

Post by RyanMcGreal »

SoftwareMaven wrote: post #60
wvenable wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My parents just purchased a laptop; they're not really "computer people" but it's hard to get by without one these days. They might have been better off with an iPad but they could never use it because it requires an existing computer to work. My daughter got an iPod touch for Christmas and I was shocked that it's just a useless brick until connected to a computer. I had to bring her laptop to Christmas (and hide it)…

I think the first person who makes a "hard drive" with an iPod/iPad connector that emulates iTunes so people can backup their iPads without owning a computer will make a lot of money. It's the only thing keeping an iPad from being a general-purpose device for a very large demographic (or Apple could get with the times and allow a true cloud sync).

> It's the only thing keeping an iPad from being a general-purpose device for a very large demographic

That and the fact that the device hides the existence of a file system. Even unsophisticated computer users understand and use the concept of folders and files.

Re: Google doesn't get 'social', but Apple doesn't understand the Internet

#84

Post by brudgers »

>"What, for example, is Microsoft really, really good at? Or Facebook?"

Microsoft is really good at B2B.

Facebook has a great email replacement because it does not fill your inbox with your friend's vacation photos, but still provides the opportunity to view them.

Re: Google doesn't get 'social', but Apple doesn't understand the Internet

#85

Post by dave84 »

rictic wrote: post #68
Anechoic wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Exhibit B: In order to do things with your iPhone (like download podcasts, or update firmware) Can you not download podcasts on the iPhone over the cell network? I have 3rd gen iPod touch and it lets me download podcasts over wifi.

From personal experience, you can not (unless maybe you come across an especially small podcast episode; there might be a maximum data limit like you get with apps)

I just tried to download a 44mb podcast over 3G using iTunes on the iPhone, it told me it was above the 20mb over the air limit. I normally use the Podcaster app though, I just tested the same podcast and it downloaded on 3G without problems.

Re: Google doesn't get 'social', but Apple doesn't understand the Internet

#86

Post by Herring »

Samuel_Michon wrote: post #76
Herring wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I really hope it's other trolls modding up these pro-censorship posts.

Just because someone has an opinion different from yours doesn't make them a troll. You calling someone a troll because you don't agree with someone's opinion does.

I was being charitable. Not all opinions are created equal.

Re: Google doesn't get 'social', but Apple doesn't understand the Internet

#87

Post by Bud »

fakelvis wrote: post #70
Bud wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He has a bit more than hearsay going for him; Apple's success in various markets lately has been huge. Linux's success in getting people to spend anything like that kind of money in any consumer context? Basically nil. Come on, we all know this, we don't need a page of citations to prove to us that Apple is the biggest non-Exxon company in world history, and it's not by accident or some mysterious means.

Linux's 'failure' in getting people to spend "that kind of money" in a consumer context is most likely due to the fact that it's not a centrally-owned commercial entity with a product line and shareholders (i.e. what Apple Inc. is), not due to do any actual 'failure'. I'm not saying that the users of Apple products and those of Linux distributions don't differ in their purchasing habits (and I'm not saying they do, e…

I'm repeating it because it's fun and useful shorthand for saying that Apple has become incomprehensibly huge lately, not out of some innate desire to mislead you personally. :) And come on; it's clearly not a linchpin of my "argument", which does not fall flat just because PetroChina and whoever else might also be really big. Nor am I delivering some cruel insult to Linux. I loves me some Linux. I was just pointing out the facts.

As an aside, it would appear that Linux now has an exciting new path to earning money: winning Jeopardy!

Re: Google doesn't get 'social', but Apple doesn't understand the Internet

#88

Post by alok-g »

ryandvm wrote: post #61
alok-g wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My personal plight is the opposite -- In order to do things with Android, you need to sync to the cloud. Plugging it to the computer is not enough.

That's absurd. How difficult is it to connect your wifi-capable, smartphone to the Internet?

Connecting it to internet is not the issue. The issue is that there are features on the phone that have been artificially rendered unusable without syncing with Google.

Just for example, you cannot create a new entry in Google's Calendar app without adding a Google account for syncing.

It further seems that Google has even restricted the APIs beneath so the third-party developers cannot populate the calendar app using data from Outlook. You must have a Google account added to the Calendar app.

Because of this limitation, developers have to build their own app for calendar to support Outlook sync without Google account.

Likewise, I have found it often difficult to add apps to Android without using Android Market (which requires signing into Google Account). ADB works fine, but then it is generally hard to find APK file to begin with.

Re: Google doesn't get 'social', but Apple doesn't understand the Internet

#89

Post by Bud »

ZeroGravitas wrote: post #81
Bud wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You were shocked that her music collection did not magically spring into the iPod from points unseen? What were you expecting to happen? Did it involve an omnipotent Deity?

Looks like someone else hasn't heard of the internet.

Doesn't really look like that, no.

Transferring an average music collection, say 10 gig, over USB2 is a much better way to do things than using WiFi. In addition, of course, although it seems you're mostly interested in being difficult and dishing out random pettiness, using WiFi would also involve making a connection to (gasp) your computer, where your music was likely residing before you purchased the mobile device in question.

So yes, Zero, I have "heard of" the Internet. I've also heard of plugging a cable in when it's much faster to do things that way, and when you have to plug the device in to charge it anyway, usually at least once daily.

Re: Google doesn't get 'social', but Apple doesn't understand the Internet

#90

Post by ZeroGravitas »

Bud wrote: post #89
ZeroGravitas wrote: post #81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Looks like someone else hasn't heard of the internet.

Doesn't really look like that, no. Transferring an average music collection, say 10 gig, over USB2 is a much better way to do things than using WiFi. In addition, of course, although it seems you're mostly interested in being difficult and dishing out random pettiness, using WiFi would also involve making a connection to (gasp) your computer, where your music was likely residing before you purchased the mobile device…

If you're looking for someone being difficult and dishing out random pettiness you might want to re-read your own contribution to this thread.

As for the actual point, you still seem to think, despite the other answer, that an iPod Touch is only used for large, purchased music collections. That's not really true any longer with music available via Youtube, Spotify etc. and a variety of other diversions available (web, gaming, email, netflix, iPlayer) basically none of which require a(nother) computer to be involved.

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