The Future of Computing

On January 9, 2007, Apple unveiled the future of computing, in the form of a phone.

Whether or not you hate the iPhone, it is hard to deny, it changed things. It changed how everything works. No bulky file systems, no task manager, just touch. Touch, and the phone does. No defragmenting to worry about, no file organization to worry about. Just…just…touch…

Our current desktops have file systems, task managers, Application folders, and lots of things that the average user (aka "The rest of us") doesn't understand. I have met some people that have used a Mac for years, and still doesn't know how to distinguish between a file and a folder, and had every single one of their files on their desktop. On the other hand, I've seen a 2 year old use an iPhone. The UI is so easy and simple, that there's nothing to worry about. You just DO! And that, my readers, is the future of computing. With the expansion of the app store, the iPad and iPhone will start to replace desktops and laptops. In fact, I believe Mac OS 11 will be a fully touch OS, with the option to add a physical keyboard, like the iPad and mouse. Nobody will have to worry about file systems. You open your word processing app, see a list of all your documents, tap on one, and start working on it. You don't have to search the drive, and you don't have to search the file system. Each app has a list of all the documents you're working on, and they're right there… Every file is stored within the app. And, this is so expandable! For instance, Apple could release Final Cut, or iMovie for the iPhone OS! Just imagine editing the clips on an iPad with your hands! It would be so easy, and such a pleasure. This is what I believe will make its way into OS 11. You'll get access to a file system through a developer menu for advanced users, but otherwise, the average user will have absolutely nothing to worry about. Absolutely nothing to think about. 

Let me show you an example. I'm going to compare phone to phone, because phone to computer would pose more variable to analyze. Below are pictures of the iPhone and a Windows mobile phone.

 The WinMo phone requires you to eliminate background processes with a task manager. So, you have to scroll through the long list of tiny, obscure words, and guess which one will end the runaway process. But, careful; don't kill a vital process, or you may, irreparably crash your phone.

But iPhone users don't have to worry about this at all! There is no task manager; nothing that resembles a conventional computer that could completely confound the average user. It just works, and that was what the Macintosh did in 1984. It made things easier.

Well, the iPhone took it to the next level. And we are on a road to change. I can't wait to see where it'll lead.

Future of the iPhone

In the video above I explain my thoughts on what the future of the iPhone will be. Many people think it may becoming to Verizon or a different US cellular carrier. We will have to sit back and relax and just wait this one out to see what will happen. I would love for it to come to Verizon because I am a Verizon customer, but after seeing the advertisements for the Motorola Droid, I do not feel as confident that Verizon will land the iPhone.

Please go ahead and leave a comment. I would love to hear your thoughts about the situation.

YouTube

My Thoughts on the Future of Linux

In 1991 Linus Torvalds, a Finnish software engineer, created a small operating system kernel he called “Linux”. Back then, there was only one user; him. That quickly changed. Now there are millions of users and numerous different flavors of the operating system that was once one man’s pet project.

But what’s the future of Linux? With many different people being able to contribute to the source code, you would think that eventually everything would fall apart and Linux would become a giant mess.

But that hasn’t happened. But why? There are many different reasons. The reasons are the care given to the project, it’s open source platform, and the love of the community.

One of the ideals that keeps the Linux project alive and well is care. Without care, the project would simply fall apart. While Microsoft, Apple, and other companies that make commercial operating systems care about their projects, they also care about making a profit. In order to make a profit, they have to meet deadlines. The Linux project is different in the aspect. Since it’s an open source and free they don’t have to worry about missing a deadline and loosing profit. The work they do on the project is one set goal: to make it better.

Unlike Windows or Mac OS X, anyone can download and change the source code. In that aspect, anyone can add their own ideas to help improve the project. Although not all ideas get into the final version, every idea matters. That’s what makes this project great; anyone can help and contribute.

With millions of users, it’s safe to say that Linux is loved by many people (including me). That’s off the things that keeps it moving forward. Without the love of the community Linux, and any project, would fail. The love of a community is not an easy thing to get. The project has to be special in order for people to love and care for it.

Do I think Linux is going to continue to improve in the future? Absolutely. In fact, I know it will continue to improve. How do I know this? The love and loyalty of the userbase and the dedication of the contributors will keep the project growing in the many years to come.

Apple and the World of Tomorrow.

Apple, is of course at the fore-front of the technology world, releasing product that help people. Products that are innovative, products that are useful, products that are amazing, and products that are undoubtedly,talked about.

For now.

Microsoft, just one of Apple’s rivals, and probably the biggest, is also at the fore-front of the technology world, coming up with their own innovations, and products that are useful, helpful, and are fun to use, like Bing, and with the promise of Windows 7 being great, and with so many Apple-YouTube users using the beta of Windows 7, like Jon4lakers, Microsoft seems to be taking the stage.

For now.

Are either Apple or Microsoft thinking about the future of their company’s? Probably. We know that Apple is, keeping secrets from the public, which as I noted before, isn’t all that bad.As most of you know, some things can’t be the best forever, like the United States, historians have noted that our country has passed it’s golden age, and is in decline. Could this be the same for Apple? Has Apple’s golden age already passed?

Yes.

I think Apple’s golden age was the summer of 2008. Long lines for the iPhone 3G, and hype about Snow Leopard, which took up less than 30 seconds of the WWDC 2008 Keynote, during that time Apple’s Mac User base was growing rapidly, and partly because of the iPhone, as we found out this year’s WWDC keynote.

What is Apple’s future going to look like? Because we all know their past has been looking very, very good.

JD

My Bite Into Apple

http://mybiteintoapple.com