AirPort: Too Simple?

I've been a big fan of Apple's "AirPort" line of network devices for quite some time. The "Extreme", "Time Capsule" and "Express" models are all solid performers with excellent wireless range packaged in Apple's trademark minimalist design. No external antennas or buttons and just one LED to tell you when it's on and if it's working properly. Even the software Apple provides to setup and manage AirPort devices (AirPort Utility 6) has built-in wizards for adding or replacing AirPorts in your network. For 90% of users, Apple's Airport devices provide everything they need for a safe, reliable home network.

For the other 10%, Apple's network ecosystem forces some hard choices. For example,

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The Sun is Starting to Peek Through iCloud

Anyone who takes more than a cursory glance at this site will know what an Apple fan I am. They would also know that I'm a professional technology consultant who regularly deals with a variety of hardware, environments and operating systems. What may not be as evident is my opinion that on-line services are making all that stuff less and less relevant.

For me, the "light bulb" moment was when I first installed Dropbox in 2008. The capability to save a file once and have it instantly available on all my devices was a nearly magical experience waaaaay back then. I instantly became a Dropbox evangelist and remain one to this day. Thanks to their referral plan and other special offers, my Dropbox folder is now 10 gigs (up from the initial 2 gigs included in their free service) and I've never given them a cent.

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AirPlay: A Superior WiFi Streaming Protocol

For the life of me I can't understand why Apple spends so little effort promoting AirPlay and Home Sharing. The latter is the software baked into iTunes and every iOS device that allows you to share all the media you own across all your devices via WiFi (or wired Ethernet). AirPlay is the hardware/firmware/software network infrastructure that makes it all happen. Put them together and sharing any media between any AirPlay-equipped device(s) is easy, seamless and reliable.

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Woz Is Officially "Round th' Bend"

According to a Cult of Android post, Woz thinks Apple should start making an Android phone. Saying, “We could compete very well.” Well...yeah, but why would Apple want to? Oh hell. Woz's statements are so silly, I won't even counter.

What the hell has gotten into the boy? I mean, we've always thought the guy was a nerdy genius in the '70s (he wanted to give the Apple I boards away) and thanked God every day it was Steve Jobs making the business decisions back then, but this is crazy on a whole new level. While they're at it, Apple could make a Windows phone too. Hell, why not a trifecta? Build a Blackberry model just to show everybody they really know how to lose billions with the best of 'em!

Woz, Woz. What are we going to do with you? Im starting to feel about him the way I feel about my 84 year-old uncle Gene who puts his shoes on the wrong feet, forgets to zip his pants and still talks to aunt Sally who's been dead for fifteen years.

Here in Texas we just say, "Bless his heart!"

Blast From the Past

My first computer was an original IBM PC. I paid over $2000 for the 8088 machine equipped with two 360K floppy drives, a 10” amber monochrome monitor and no hard drive. Looking back, the technology is almost laughable, but one thing the system came with that wasn’t quickly outdated was an authentic 84-key IBM “Model M” mechanical keyboard. In fact, as I went through several hardware upgrades over the next few years, the only piece of the original system that survived was that keyboard. I cycled through 286, 386, 486 and Pentium machines. Each new machine came with whichever clone manufacturer’s default keyboard which I would try for a time then inevitably revert to my old IBM “clicker”.  After 10 years, the old keyboard just got too worn and ugly to use with a shiny new computer. Plus, the old 9-pin keyboard plug got to be a hassle to convert to PS/2 and then USB. But, it never failed to work flawlessly even after multiple spills, drops and general abuse. The thing was built like a tank.

Fast-forward 20 years.

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