Microsoft historically comes from behind, and history may be repeating itself with Microsoft coming from behind like a tsunami. See this new Xbox TV commercial as an example.
This is amazing if it actually works. No more remote control. My life will love me, the price of a Xbox is worth it just for that alone. This is the TV future I have been patiently waiting for.
The big surprise here is that this is not Apple. The Apple-Media-Club (Gets a lot of clicks to fanboy apple) have always been waiting for this in Apple announcements. They have been predicting it for years. So the fact Microsoft has in some ways overtaken Apple here would be a little shocking to them, (But not surprising to me). And really, if Microsoft can make the best game console into such a usable platform in my living room, and I can easily justify it to the wife. Wow, this is a winner indeed.
The interesting point here is how fast can apple respond or will they even bother. Will Apple just keep pushing the AppleTV cheap small unit out as is. Or may be, in an upgrade/new unit, get voice (new iPhone 4S-Suri) control? But not motion control, you would need to much CPU I imagine.
Still, could we ever see Apple allowing an iOS tool to control an Xbox like an AppleTV. This is the question. Apple tends to only allow Apple technology to work with Apple technology. This is the one MAJOR failure with Apple. Yes this has given them an advantage in the early evolution of this technology, but as it become more pervasive, will this be the cause of mass abandoning of Apple closed technology?
Will apple open up? Especially now the Steve Jobs era is over?
I have been waiting for this “Change over period” for a long time. I am just happy it seems to be upon us.
As a 42 year old developer who started using a VC20 computer when I was 9 years old, I have seen how the world has evolved over the years. It amazes me how we are set to repeat the errors of old. Even with the internet recording the history of programming patterns, the new generation seem happy to drink the coolade, ignoring that history and walking us into mountains code that is not cross platform.
The current war cry of the blogger based movement is, HTML5 or native code. To a long tooth coder like myself, both are unrealistic and if anything, based on propaganda by large companies with hidden agendas.
The objective for a programmer is to build a solution using the best tool for the job. To build a solution that is cost effective and works within the capabilities of the client. For example, budget, time frame, future proof etc. HTML5 and native code are exactly NOT this. For the programmer, this type of development may be interesting and fun, but for the client, these technologies do not supply these results.
HTML5 is, when looked at objectively from a management perspective, is most lkely the worst programming language combination of tools ever invented. It utilizes about 5 different technologes all trying to run together, pushed by “commitees” with aifferent agendas and finally, implemented by a plethora of comapnies trying to better each other.
Native code does produce better results on slower platforms, but also locks you into those platforms. It feels like the PC/MAC wars all over again.
The ironic issue here is that once HTML5 does mature enough, it will be used for the same annoying content Flash is used for today, however, once integrated into the base HTML code, it wll be impossible to remove ads and other annoying portions of a web page. Has anyone ever considered that this is EXACTLY what Google wants as it make it impossible to block premium content ads?
If we look at Adobe Flash as an example, there are reasons why it became as popular as it did. The core reason is that it was truly cross platform. Produced results closer to native applications that HTML could not. Used a few more cycles then native code but worked everywhere. Was far easier to develop for. It was everywhere because it was simply enough for any coder to master.
The push into HTML5 and native apps only helps the companies we use these technologies with. In the short term with the imature platforms from Apple, Google, Microsoft, yes following these paths have some short term gains and hype about them, but in the long term, the same old problems programmer have had will start to float to the surface and technologes like Flash will come back like a train.
Be it flash or a new generation of cross platfrom tools, being open or closed. The current trends are foolish and short sighted. They only help the large monolithic companies archive dominance through lock in or lock out.
HTML5, locks you out of truly effective apps, native Apps lock you in to the vendor your using.
If anything, I wish the bloggers and media would talk to real programmers, and not the properganda from the larger companies. But then again, we all need to get paid.
Mobile development has always been a pet hobby of mine. I have been studying it for quite some time. Not knowing which way to jump.
Yesterday, however, I discovered a huge issue with Android. A fundamental fault in Android that, as a developer, lets all the hot air out of it as a mobile platform.
What is the issue? You may ask.
The problem with Android is that it underlying exposed API’s are not static. Meaning, each vendor who makes a phone, be it with blackberry type keyboard, slide out keyboard, or any custom input device, have been implementing non-standard API’s. This has lead to Apps having a moving target in terms of compatibility. (Ie, its near impossible to make an App that works on most Android phones.) You can spent 2-3 times longer just making the App work on different phones, then writing the app itself.
After learning this, I now understand why Ice Cream Sandwich is such an important release. And why it slated to be taking so long.
If Google plan to make Android a viable App platform, they need to act as a traffic cop and force all hardware makers to adhere to common API’s across all phones. Ie, so an App has a fighting chance to work across most phones.
This is a big turn in direction to make, so much so that they will have to re-think many of the business relationships and models currently happening with Android. Ie, a Reboot, potentially into a completely new Android world is required if they plan to stay relevant. Windows Phone really has a chance to leap frog Android here. Microsoft appear, from what I have heard so far, to have done this right out of the gate.
Currently, I am now leaning towards Apple iOS as it does have this right. I have a love hate relationship with Apple. I am not a big believer in some of its business practices. They can be very unethical at times, but they do know how to make an OS eco system for mobile.
Google Plus looks great. Its been a while since I have blogged but this is defiantly something I simply have to speak up about. Put it simply, my initial impressions is that Google Plus is the alternative to Facebook I have always wanted but was not sure how it would actually look like. All the little issues I have with Facebook or don;t like about facebook seem to be addressed in Google Plus. It seems to be a tool for me and not a tool for Zuckerburg to take advantage of my information or to promote to me.
One of the main reasons I am excited about it, but at the same time dissapointed (see below), is that CIRCLES seems perfect for making my hundreads of connections, Family, friends, co-workers etc. manageable from the one account. I will not have to keep different accounts that portray me differently to different groups..
For example, when in work related groups, I am all serious and not much fun, while in groups of my close friends, I am a bit of a joker and like to take the piss out of things..
I need to keep these “FACES” I like to call them, seperate. But at the same time, I cannot manage my online existance through a plethora of different portals (Multiple gmail acounts, facebook, linked in. goes on and on..) Its just not manageable.
At early glance and from the information I am getting, Google Plus should be able to handle this complex problem from one central account. I cannot wait..
There is just one MAJOR problem Google needs to fix.. Google Apps accounts are still not available due to the fact they do not have profiles associated with them.. I live in my Google Apps account….. The word is that this support is months away, but then again it has been just around the corner for 12 months now..
It will be a massive FAIL if Google Plus does goes public without Google Apps support.
Otherwise. Google, you have surprised me. This actually looks great out of the gate. Not like Buzz and WAVE, Interesting tech/tools but not a simple path to seeing what it can do for me.. Log into Google Plus, the amazing interface design and best of class HTML5 design. Easy to use, pritty to watch.
Facebook feels like a black and white TV. Google Plus feels like the new Colour TV behind the show room glass. Look whats coming..
All I can say is. I want it now.. Its just go to work in my Google Apps account…
Google just purchased Widevine, a major DRM player (Read here). This turns Google into a content super power like Apple and Microsoft. The need for a Switzerland of content DRM, Adobe Flash, is now disappearing. Is Adobe Flash really running out of options?
As a developer, watching the propaganda of HTML5 completely wiping out Flash has been disturbing. Its simply not the case. HTML5, will reduce the need to Flash type technologies but as a development tool, HTML5 and that way it works sucks. Its only saving grace is that it does have so much industry support from so many players.
HTML5 as a development technology is disjointed, uses a plethora of different standards to build interfaces. Its a recipe for hi-costs and impossible maintenance. Media industry, please stop drinking the coolade and listen to the developers, not the PR departments.
Google purchasing Widevine and becoming a premium content super power. Now that’s likely to be more damaging to Flash they HTML5 could ever be.
HTML5, as it matures and developers figure out it costs far more to implement then the nice rounded developer environments from Microsoft, Apple and Adobe, will defiantly splinter Flash. The <video> tag will defiantly reduce its general use be a huge amount. But it is the need for a proprietary video player that supports content protection (DRM) that would have kept Flash on every device. This move by Google changes this, and now every content provider super power has their own DRM system to push.
Flash will always have a future as will Silverlight. There are simply to many really nice features HTML5 will never touch.
The real move here now for Adobe is to stop trying to play nice with the incumbent gate keepers. Apple, Microsoft, Google will always trump that. Adobe now need to open up its DRM technology to the masses and start supported the inevitable consumer to producer model.
This would be very easy to do as they can always release the content Management Systems available for Flash, as very inexpensive tools any producer could afford.
Imagine the Adobe DRM server for $1000. A simply linux server tool that allows you to create content, encrypt it, place it on all the torrent sites..
The end users download it and try and play it..
Screen pops up. Please make 50cent micro transaction to unlock content… Over the top of any embedded Flash capable player on any device. Click yes.
