Putting Learning First
Posts tagged Change
Calendar of the Future
Aug 25th
While I not would normally incorporate a youtube video in a Kwout clip I am doing so because you will want to watch this video within the Calendar of the Future Manifesto site. This is the first of many videos that explore what the next generation of calendar will need to be. Very interesting project presented from the folks from Tungle.
Please take the time to review all the short videos in each section of the site.
12 Technologies that changed everything
Aug 18th
I found it particularly interesting that I have actually owned or used many of these technologies (no I wasn’t on Sputnik or any other spaceflight). Perhaps this confirms my role as a bleeding edge early adopter.
Misguided Tablet Strategy
Aug 2nd
Microsoft’s misguided tablet strategy is the apotheosis of the company | Tech Sanity Check | TechRepublic.com via kwout
Jason Hiner the Editor in Chief of TechRepublic makes the argument that Microsoft’s misguided tablet is the apothesis of the company. Balmer’s notion that Windows 7 will run on Slate PC’s in 2010 has not and will not realized because a tablet PC are much more than just another form factor for Windows. All one has to do is look at the success of the iPad and the forthcoming Android tablets to see that these devices are much more like smartphones than they are like PC.
HP and ASUS have both dropped their intentions to create a Windows 7 tablet due to the excessive power consumption of Windows 7. Hiner goes onto blame the lack of leadership or poor leadership for Microsoft’s current plight. Perhaps this is just the latest example of the impact of disruptive innovation. The iPhone and now the iPad have radically changed the tech industry in the past 2-3 years so perhaps we are starting to see the beginning of the end of Microsoft’s dominance.
Meltdown in Higher Education
May 10th
The Coming Meltdown in Higher Education – The Chronicle Review – The Chronicle of Higher Education via kwout
Seth Godin argues that Higher Education’s run of 400 years in the US is about to end for the following reasons:
- Most undergraduate college and university programs are organized to give an average education to average students.
- College has gotten expensive far faster than wages have gone up.
- The definition of “best” is under siege.
- The correlation between a typical college degree and success is suspect.
- Accreditation isn’t the solution, it’s the problem.
While it is easy to agree with Godin and in particular the notion of accreditation promoting mediocrity for all but with universities controlling the parchment (degree granting) I don’t see this changing anytime soon. Sure, we have many wonderful examples of college dropouts doing exceptionally well (Bill Gates, Michael Dell, Marc Andreesen etc.) but these unfortunately the exception and not the norm. While I applaud the notion of DIY U and see its benefits we still live in a society that is dependent upon credentials.
Read the original post on Seth Godin’s Blog…
Thoughts on Flash – Steve Jobs Open Letter
May 3rd
In his recent letter Thoughts on Flash Steve Jobs attempts to explain why Apple does not and will not allow Flash on iPhones, iPods and iPads. Jobs provides the following six reasons:
- Openness – Flash is proprietary; web standards such as HTML5, CSS and JavaScript which the iPhones, iPods and iPads use are open.
- ‘Full Web’ myth – The Flash that is primarily used on the Web is also available in a more current H.264 format that does play IPhones, iPods and iPads. Furthermore with Youtube, Neflix, ABC, NBC, CNN, Fox and many other media publishers iPhone, iPod and iPad users aren’t missing out.
- Reliability, security and performance - Jobs states: “Symantec recently highlighted Flash for having one of the worst security records in 2009. We also know first hand that Flash is the number one reason Macs crash..”
- Battery life - Twice the life with H.264 videos which play for up to 10 hours, while videos decoded in software play for less than 5 hours.
- Touch format – Flash is made for a mouse-driven PC, and not Apple’s touch-based interface.
- Substandard development – Third-party developers are primarily interested in their own needs and not the needs the entire platform. Jobs states: “For example, although Mac OS X has been shipping for almost 10 years now, Adobe just adopted it fully (Cocoa) two weeks ago when they shipped CS5. Adobe was the last major third party developer to fully adopt Mac OS X.”
Perhaps Jobs’ concluding statement sums up his argument best:
Flash was created during the PC era – for PCs and mice. Flash is a successful business for Adobe, and we can understand why they want to push it beyond PCs. But the mobile era is about low power devices, touch interfaces and open web standards – all areas where Flash falls short.
Apple can never be accused of falling short in looking to the future and were one of the first companies to move away from Floppy drives and to other mass media formats so their record is consistent. Furthermore, Apple has always put the user experience first and controlling that experience is extremely important. They have been able to charge a premium for that user experience and anything that detracts from that experience lessens their unique selling proposition.
While I can appreciate some aspects of Adobe’s argument and would question Apple’s openness I tend to agree with Jobs that the most advanced and innovative platform is what we need to create the best apps. Ultimately we want technology to get so good it goes away and simply allows the user to do what they need or want to do. Mobile devices like the iPhone, iPod and iPad are getting us much closer to this state of technological development and if we need to leave Flash or any other technology behind in order to advance, then that is what we need to do.
