» Give Glass a chance
Me writing for Macworld about how I better not see any of you damn punks talking up an “iWatch” while trash-talking Google Glass.
The “cheap” iPhone
Rene Ritchie speculates on how Apple might release a cheaper iPhone.
If Apple sticks to their current pattern, there’ll be an iPhone 5S later this year, and the iPhone 5 will drop to $100 on-contract, the iPhone 4S will drop to free on-contract, and the iPhone 4 will be retired.
…
But Apple doesn’t always stick to their current patterns.
We’re not the only ones making this point, but on the panel I was on at Macworld Expo, I said the same thing Rene says: Apple isn’t going to do this if it can’t make money doing it.
Meanwhile, Dan Frommer speculates that maybe the cost of miniaturization means the cheap iPhone is a (new) big iPhone, not a small one.
I’m not sure I see Apple releasing a larger, heavier device just to make it cheaper. But, of course, it depends on how much larger and heavier. If I had to place a bet, I’d go with Apple leveraging the designs and components they’ve used to date, possibly mixing it up with an aluminum back on the iPhone 4 (something that was previously rumored) but keeping it 3.5 inches.
Which probably means it’s not going to be that at all.
» The economics of The Magazine
Planet Money’s Jacob Goldstein looks at The Magazine. Something doesn’t have to be huge to be a success.
Have I mentioned I wrote a piece for The Magazine?
» A teachable moment
Matt Drance on Sony’s PlayStation 4 non-event yesterday:
If you’re going to strike early, you must strike hard.
Personally, I just like to make fun, but if we have to learn something Matt’s post is basically what should be learned.
» Huh?
Sean Hollister for the Verge:
Google will ship two versions of the Pixel, one with Wi-Fi only and one with Verizon LTE: the Wi-Fi model will come with 32GB of storage, and is on sale today for $1,299. It will ship next week. The LTE model will have 64GB of storage for $1,449.
A Chrome device that starts at $1300. But it’s $1500 if you want a persistent Internet connection and, well, it’s Chrome, so, you might want a persistent Internet connection. So, let’s say $1500.
Did I have a stroke?
Again?
» Where were the women?
The Verge’s Russell Brandom:
There was something missing from the stage at last night’s Sony event, and it wasn’t just the final price, release date, or physical console for the PS4. With almost 20 different speakers over two hours, not a single woman took the stage.
Usually these kinds of complaints about industry-wide problems hit Apple first. While I’m pleasantly surprised Cupertino isn’t being trotted out again as the poster child for the technology industry’s woes, the only female I remember appearing onstage at an Apple event in the last 10 years is Roz Ho when she headed up Microsoft’s Mac applications group and that was years ago.
Pro tip to Sony: you make people sit through an overly long presentation that doesn’t show the product you’re talking about and it gives time for people to think about these things.
» BRAINS
Plants vs. Zombies is free today, so shamble your way over to the App Store if you don’t already own one of the best iOS games ever.
» Quality Time
The Magazine has made the piece I wrote for their fifth issue available to the public for your reading enjoyment.
» Google opening retail stores
The John Blog imagines how that will play out.
» Exposure
Chris Higgins on his experiences writing a book and writing for The Magazine:
But here’s the thing: running that feature story in The Magazine was a far bigger deal than publishing my own book. I didn’t expect that.
I was surprised by the feedback I got on Twitter when my piece was published in The Magazine. I haven’t gotten that much notoriety since I led Disneyland security on an 8 MPH Segway chase through Tomorrowland.