WaveSpace - Tech

Hackability

nospam@example.com (Guy McArthur) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:19:22 -0500

Hackability: the freedom to modify the technology you own, in ways that, for example, make it more useful or more interesting. Is it important? To many, it is not. As computers become more like mere appliances (and appliances more like mere computers), it is inevitable that these devices become less hackable, more tightly controlled, less open. Yet others feel that this is a fundamental right--we're talking about devices that you own after all--and we'll lose something important if it goes away.

The argument is peaking lately with Apple's iPad announcement, which promises to be the first widely purchased device with all computing power of a netbook but all the restrictions of the iPhone and iPod Touch.

I'm going to get to my take on the issue in a roundabout way. First, a case study in hackability: podcasting. Contrary to popular belief, podcasting was not invented by Apple. It was invented by people cobbling together software--hacking--on their computers. They took an open format, RSS, to encapsulate audio files and wrote programs, initially in Python (a free and open source scripting language) to do something novel: automate the delivery of home-made radio programs. One of the originators was Adam Curry who wrote the first working prototypes, despite not being a programmer.

So this is the type of software hacking I'm talking about and it's something you won't be able to do on the iPad. Yes, no doubt people will find a way to "jailbreak" them--crack the security protections, but sooner or later, they'll succeed in completely locking them down. Microsoft's XBOX 360 for example, has yet to be cracked. And, of course, you can write iPad/iPhone software, if you purchase a key and own a Mac to write the software on (presumably, those systems will never be locked down). FWIW, no less a person than the inventor of the personal computer and co-founder of Apple, Steve Wozniak, professed that his "favorite gadget" [quoted in the Gizmodo blog] of the moment is an Android device. So the greatest hardware/software engineer of all time is having fun on a platform that is explicitly hackable.

It's also worth point out that a prerequisite for hackability is the freedom to install whatever apps you want, something that Apple has steadfastly opposed (often citing apps for being explicit, or politically objectionable, or for unfathomable and contradictory reasons).

Luckily, there are hackable alternatives to Apple's mobile platforms, so their closed appliance-like nature does not really bother me, except as signs in a disturbing trend. (I don't want all computers to be locked down).

Ultimately, a great deal of innovation comes from hackable systems, as Apple's own early history perfectly illustrates. We need those people who want to push a device beyond what its software A.P.I. provides, or assemble hardware to create new types of devices. Design, be it hardware or software, is an art. They say there are three types of artists: the innovators who roughly pioneer new styles and techniques, the masters who perfect the art form in stunning works, and the imitators, who work within existing genres but lack the genius to push the boundaries. The iPad, like most Apple products since the Mac, is the work of a master; it wasn't the first tablet PC, but it will be the first to really show what the platform is capable of becoming. But those innovators need the instruments to work with too.

The iPad

nospam@example.com (Guy McArthur) — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 20:32:44 -0500

I watched, giddy with anticipation, of what wonders Steve Jobs would produce today. Some form of tablet, I've long thought, would be the ideal form for the personal computer. When Palm Pilots were the accessory du jour, I hoped for one with with a 8.5x11" screen for better book reading and web browsing. For their time, they were very useful devices (I have two), especially when they added wireless internet, cell phone capability, an MP3 player and a camera. Sadly, the company devolved and has never tried to make a tablet computer.

Microsoft, and its associated PC manufacturers, have had a decade-long experience in this field. These Tablet PC's are essentially just laptops with a slightly different form factor, but with equivalent bulk. They have not been marketed extensively to consumers.

So the iPad is the first attempt by a major player to create a mass-market tablet computer. As such, and because it is Apple, the particulars are very interesting to geeks like me, if not the entire tech-obsessed community.

The iPad name is not catchy, but that's not terribly important. iTab or i1 would have been better. iSlate would have been worse.

As expected, the operating system and user interace is the iPhone OS, a scaled-down version of OS X. When Apple introduced this with the iPhone and iPod touch, combined with the multi-touch interface, it was a major revolution--think of how terrible cell phone interfaces were (and many still are). It doesn't have the jaw-dropping sex appeal that it had in 2007, but there is still nothing better (though Android is catching up).

It's interesting that Apple is trying to position it in a niche between an app phone and a laptop, rather than an uber-device that tries to do everything. I think such a device is possible; for instance, consider an iPhone that you could also dock into any type of display: an LCD when at a desk or a thin book-sized display for around the house, and as always its own display when away. The only computer/camera/phone/whatever you would ever need.

I like the fact that Apple is using an open, DRM-free format (ePub) for books. They have still not fully embraced such formats for music and video unfortunately.

It (and all Apple devices) really should have a built-in card slot for expandability. SD cards are now available up to 64 gigabytes and will go up to 2 terabytes in the near future. Carrying around a few of those is unbeatable bandwidth.

Overall, I have a wait-and-see attitude regarding the iPad, and the anticipated slew of copy-cat tablets. Right now there are too many special purpose computers (gaming system, DVR / media hub, eBook reader, smart phone, laptop, desktop, etc). The challenge for the iPad and any other tablet computer is that they'll have to do better in at least a few of these categories if they're finally going to catch on.

Lucky 13

nospam@example.com (Guy McArthur) — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 01:20:45 -0500

I'm jealous. My wife ordered a new laptop the other week, a Dell Inspiron 13. I have an Inspiron B130 from a few years back. The cost was essentially the same. Hers is surprisingly light, glossy, a thing of beauty and packed with features. Mine is bulky, heavy, boxy and slow by comparison. I guess that duality is only fitting.

She wanted something with a DVD drive, so netbooks were out of the question. We ended up customizing the base system with a Core 2 Duo (dual-core 2 GHz, 800 MHz bus), 250 GB drive, 3 GB memory, the Intel wireless option (for Linux support), dual layer slot-loading DVD reader/writer, 8-in-1 card reader, bluetooth and a webcam and the total was around $800 with shipping and Arizona tax included (because they sell at Best Buy here, there's evidently no way around it).

I compared that to the MacBook just for laughs. The base feature set is very similar to the options we choose, essentially the only significant difference was that it has another gigabyte of memory (and for OS X, you'll definitely want it). For around $1400. Without tax and shipping. So essentially Apple is charging twice as much.

Compare it also to my laptop, which is about two years old. Single processor, slower, one-sixth the memory, a graphics card with little or no 3D acceleration, tray loading read-only DVD drive, no camera, no card reader, no bluetooth, a measly 40 GB drive, and of course no support for the newer, faster wireless standard (N). It has a slightly larger screen (14.1" vs. 13.3") but it's definitely not as sharp. And, as I indicated, my laptop is a brick by comparison. It's amazing what two years and a lot of competition will bring.

In addition, the layout of the ports is smarter. Everything is either on the sides or in front. There is only a single USB port, but FireWire on the other side. And still only VGA out (no digital or optical). We can live with that. I like the keyboard layout too.

It came pre-installed with Vista. Before re-partitioning for Linux, I had to check it out. And I have to give them credit, the user interface looks very nice, very polished. It doesn't seem slow compared to XP but then, this is a very fast machine.

I put on Kubuntu Linux, installed Google Gadgets and a few other things. Because of US patent issues, encrypted DVD support isn't pre-installed with Free Software, and I'd forgotten how I got that going with mine. That was basically the only stumbling block. Stick in a DVD and get a 'Play? Copy?' etc dialog. It burns at about 6x. Google Earth is fast: I'm spinning and zooming around landscapes, the frame rate is high; on mine it's like clunk-clunk-clunk. Then I have to give it back to her; playtime is over.

The one slight negative seems to be that the maximum audio volume isn't that loud. It's fine for headphones, but if you couldn't really play something for a person who isn't right next to you.

Weight was a real issue. My laptop was listed at 5.4, while the 13 is 4.9. It feels like more than half a pound of difference though. Who needs a netbook?! This is one outstanding value and if you're looking for a new laptop, I highly recommend it.