Shawn King over at The Loop links to a very interesting post at the Counternotions blog written back in July, 2008 about Steve Jobs saying yes to the iPhone. The post is even more relevant today than it was when it was written. It's a fun thought experiment.
Horace Dediu has a great post today on Asymco focused on the size of Apple's product list. Or, perhaps more appropriately, their lack of size. There's an argument to be made that by limited the scope of their products, Apple has grown to be the world's most valuable company.
Apple has never been shy about eliminating technologies from their products they feel are obsolete, or soon will be. The list is long. The floppy disk, VGA ports, optical disks, replaceable batteries, and ethernet ports are but a few. There was much gnashing of teeth when each was eliminated. In most cases, the function of each was replaced by a superior technology or an available adapter. I've had little sympathy for the complainers.
There is however a missing feature on the new Retina MacBook Pro that escaped my attention, and I've never heard it mentioned elsewhere. Scott Kelby blogs about the missing feature today. It's a 0.275" x 0.125" slot in the casing of computer, and it can be all that prevents your MacBook Pro from walking away if you turn your back on it for a few seconds. It's a Kensington slot.
Apple made a terrible decision to omit a necessary security feature present in every computer available on the market. It's a decision that needs to reversed immediately. Until it is, there will be no Retina MacBook Pro in my future. No matter how large the puddle of drool gets below my mouth.
MacStories delves into the history of third party services since the genesis of iOS with a beautifully visualized story posted today. It's remarkable to see the increasing role that third parties are playing in the stock iOS ecosystem.
It's also easy to see a looming problem for Google and Android on the horizon. Google has very few friends among these third parties because they've launched competing services of their own. Apple, and for that matter, Microsoft are in a position to benefit from this conflict immensely going forward. If someone wants the "Facebook phone", they'll find the solution much easier on a non-Google platform.
Mat Honan has posted the next chapter in his epic hacking saga. The new post picks up where the last story left off and details Mat's road to recovery. Please read it in full.
Some reassuring words from Tapbots on the future of Tweetbot in the face of the recently announced changes to the Twitter API. I'm cautiously optimistic that Twitter will not commit suicide any time soon.
We have what could be our first look inside the new Apple dock connector if new leaked photos are accurate. iResQ has the photos posted today. The inside view seems to confirm the simplicity of the first new connector Apple has created since the original design. I'm so excited at the prospect of connection that has no wrong or right insertion orientation.
Apple has been on a great streak over the last 10 years. That success has been based on great products, and arguably better customer service. Anyone who's walked into an Apple Store knows what I'm talking about.
That's what makes the recent report of cuts to Apple's store staff and the reasoning behind it so distressing. Josh Browett has been the head of retail for less than six months, replacing the excellent Ron Johnson who departed to head up JC Penny. This debacle is a serious strike one against Browett continuing in his current role at Apple. I favor his removal immediately because it shows a fundamental lack of understanding for what makes Apple, Apple.
I'll let Jim Dalrymple have the final word.
Two days in a row, the best thing I've read has come from John Gruber. Today, it's an in depth exploration of what Apple would hope to achieve by releasing a smaller version of the iPad. I'll say it again, there's nobody who does it better.
Daring Fireball's John Gruber decided to celebrate 10 years of blogging by posting a beautiful story about pixels. I haven't been around anywhere near the full 10 years, having discovered John in early 2008, but this post is representative of John's best work. If by some miracle, you learn about Daring Fireball from this very lowly blog, you'll be well served to start following now.
Nobody does it better. Anywhere.