Time for a Jawbone Jambox!

Just a quick notice from my friends at MobileFun UK – for those of you like me that are fascinated by the Jawbone Jambox (easily one of the best Bluetooth speaker sets on the market) the time is nigh. For a short time MobileFun is offering a 40£ discount (that’s about $60) on the Big Jambox (in three different colors) when you use the code JAWDROP.

The Jambox is a great accessory for whatever device you have- it provides fantastic sound (thanks to LiveAudio technology) from phones, tablets, or any other source be it Bluetooth (including Airplay) or wired (via a standard audio line in jack), acts as a convenient speakerphone, and is updatable and configurable via Jawbone’s MyTALK support.

While the Jambox isn’t cheap, it is easily one of the best choices you can make to augment the audio experience for your mobile device or laptop. The code is only good for 48 hours, so don’t wait!

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A discount iPhone?

We are in the dark period between hardware releases for Apple, so rumors abound as to what’s to be released in the near future. The speculation has been fanned by Apple’s recent financial reports- although Apple is awash in cash and has generated an astounding $13.07 billion in revenue in just the first quarter of the fiscal year, the sales figures didn’t match what financial pundits had predicted based on Apple’s meteoric rise in sales and revenue over the past few years. Consequently Apple’s stock price took a tumble (that was soon reversed) thanks to the pessimism. What’s a consumer to think? Has Apple really run out of mojo? Is this just a return to reality for a company that’s feasted off of meteoric sales fueled by practically creating two new product categories?

There are multiple factors in play concerning, and most are not readily evident. While the iPhone still reigns supreme in the US, it isn’t the industry leader around the world- Android has the lion’s portion of market share thanks to its breadth of pricing, handsets, and the slow release of the iPhone around the world. Apple has had some significant success in China, the world’s largest market for handsets, but they currently rank 6th in market share.

The iPhone won’t likely retain its market dominance in the US forever as competitors flood the market; Android has evolved at a blistering pace, and Microsoft is pushing their new mobile version of Windows 8 just as new names like Ubuntu and Firefox have been linked to mobile devices. What some don’t realize is that Apple has never been focused on market share- they place far more value on margin. Organizations like Amazon and Google sell their devices with almost no profit (and sometimes at a loss) to steer customers to their real profit centers- advertising and data mining for Google, the various Amazon stores for that entity. While Apple does generate a tidy profit from their media and app stores, they have never embraced the strategy of employing a loss leader (something that generates no or negative profit that brings more customers to the things that do).

The breadth of Android devices has been recognized as one if the reasons the platform has such a commanding portion of the handset market; devices range from iPhone equivalents like the Samsung Galaxy line to bargain models from makers like Huawei. While Apple does keep older models of iPhone in production to offer a broader range of prices, they have never sold a handset that was designed to appeal to bargain hunters (or a device that deviated from the established form factor). Some (including former Apple CEO John Sculley) have called for Apple to deviate from their business model to compete in the inexpensive handset demographic, even going so far as to insist that a cheaper version of the iPhone must be pending (with no actual evidence to support the claim). Others report on a rumored handset dubbed the iPhone Math that sports a 4.8 inch screen similar to some of Samsung’s phone/tablet (“phablet”?) hybrids.

Not only is such action not likely to happen, it would border on foolishness for Apple to do so. They have managed to generate more profit than all of their competitors combined by not focusing on market share and ceding certain segments of the market. While the sales figures from this past fiscal year weren’t explosive, they were still greater than the GDP of many countries- and this was in a quarter that was one week shorter than usual. Apple has only developed products to that offer significant value in each category, not devices solely to compete for money in that category. The Mac Mini is more than a cheaper version of the iMac; it has a different form factor and possible uses. The iPad Mini is less expensive than the full sized iPad, but the primary focus hasn’t been the price, it has been the utility offered by the smaller size of the device. The same can be said for the Shuffle, Apple’s cheapest iPod; it has a significantly different form (diminutive and lacking a screen) but is tailored for specific uses, not just to generate sales in those that can’t afford an iPod Nano or Touch. Creating an underpowered or under spec-ed device just to compete in a market segment they have never pursued for little more than market share is nonsense unless there were some way they could keep the profit margins they count on, and to date none of their competitors have been able to do so with far more time and emphasis on that demographic.

As for the super sized iPhone Math, the waters are less clear but still doubtful. I have no doubt there is a larger sized iPhone in product research (just perusing the research models revealed during the Apple v Samsung trials recently shows how broad the scope can be) but Apple tends to control every aspect of their consumer product line. The screen resolution of a larger device would pose problems for apps; it would either have to sport a non-retina display (unlikely considering the flack generated over the lack of retina in the iPad Mini) or would have to have a custom resolution- very unlikely given Apple’s insistence on uniformity in App Store apps. Another facet is Apple’s own in-house research; they have reported more than once that the screen of the iPhone and iPod Touch was specifically designed to allow one handed operation. The iPhone 5 allegedly is the largest factor that can still adhere to this purpose according to their engineers, any larger and Apple would have to ignore their own stated strategy. Then there’s the question of product identity; a massive iPhone becomes a potential competitor to the iPad Mini (which has allegedly already cannibalized sales from its full sized sibling).

While I’m far too low on the technosphere’s food chain to have precise insight on Apple’s product development, I’d still wager a week’s pay that a majority of the hand wringing and speculation on what they will (or should) do is just so much noise. The next big thing won’t be a big iPhone, it will likely be an entirely new category of device.

 

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They aren’t sports teams

As I’ve stated before I used to revel in the role of electronic tinkerer. Building new PC towers was an easy and inexpensive way to gain a better, more powerful system while satisfying my craving for learning something new. I picked up a good deal of tricks from a high school friend and augmented it by devouring all the PC magazines and online articles I could get my hands on. My deep integration into all things PC naturally evolved into a sentimental attachment to my creations and the core of their electronic life- Windows. That’s right, I used to be an Apple hater. In hindsight I think it was just a subconscious way to justify the effort I put into each system (beyond the satisfaction of bringing a new PC to life by myself)- I was able to build something more powerful, with a faster processor, heftier graphics card; just pick your benchmark or component. Competitors by their very nature had to be inferior!

Since that time I was lured into the Apple fold bit by bit, gateway iPod to iPhone to Mac without a moment of regret. While I’ll admit to being an apologist on occasion (although to be honest the iPhone 4′s antenna and Apple Map’s oft discussed problems never impacted me) I’ve reflected often on the natural tendency for people to form cliques. What used to be a Mac versus PC argument (which still exists, albeit a bit more subdued than it used to be) has now become more of an iOS versus Android tussle.

Again, a caveat- I’ve teased a coworker or two about their Android handsets. It wasn’t maliciously done, but I can debate/argue with the best of them when I put my mind to it. That being said, it seems almost bizarre to me how we naturally form mental groups based on such personal choices as what kind of gadgets we prefer. I was an early adopter of the iPhone, and was already comfortably in the Apple fold by the time Android was a viable smartphone choice. Both handset operating systems had their growing pains, but both have matured into impressively powerful platforms with unique values to offer. Had I not opted for an iPhone I would have been just as enthusiastic about my first Nexus (and this blog may have had a different name).

Android truly does offer value that iOS never will. It’s open architecture provides flexibility and configurability so far unmatched (although new platforms from Ubuntu and Firefox may challenge that). Android offers unparalleled user control over its structure; users can change just about every aspect of the operating system’s interface. Google’s market strategy of seeking profit by supporting their core business of advertising and data mining allow them to give the OS away to handset manufacturers who can configure it to a massive range of different devices. iOS only recently became available on more than one type of device, but Android phones vary so much they could be broken down into subcategories, each providing unique value like low price, removable batteries, a physical keyboard, or pseudo-tablet size screen. Android owners have multiple app sources as well; legitimate (Google Play and Amazon’s app store) as well as not-so-legitimate. Then there’s one of the hidden facets of Android that some customers flock to- it simply isn’t Apple.

With all those selling points, why would anyone buy an iOS device? Glad you asked. iOS benefits from some of the very things it’s been criticized for, such as its “closed” architecture. Apple controls the product line from start to finish, and this affords them far greater influence over the quality of their operating system, components, and end user experience (just do a quick search for Android fragmentation if you’d like to see why unity is important). The physical construction has always been high quality, with more research on ergonomics and optimal functionality than the average consumer will ever be aware of. Rather than build a wide range of devices for all budgets, Apple keeps previous models of iPhone in production, selling the older model at a discount (yet still making a respectable profit margin thanks to existing production lines) allowing them to insure that no matter what your budget, you’ll get a quality device.

Thanks in part to the curated nature of the app store and part to the customer base Apple has cultivated the iOS App Store reigns supreme. iOS users are far more likely to purchase apps (dirty secret- Google makes more revenue from iOS users than it does out of the more numerous Android users!), and this cash flow influences development, feeding the store’s massive number of apps. Then there’s the rest of the iTunes Store, both free content and paid. Music, audiobooks, podcasts (both video and audio), movies, television shows, even education- nothing matches iTunes’ scope of media. Both operating systems can tie into third party providers like Netflix and Spotify, but iOS users have a much broader selection at their fingertips- you can even access Google Play (or any of Google’s products) if you really want to.

Then there is the staggering array of third party accessories. Literally any category you can think of, from the beautiful to the absurd, is out there for iOS devices. Third party developers have created new ways of using your device and better ways of doing what you were already using it for, spurred on by the unity of the platform. It’s far more profitable (not to mention easier) to develop for a product line that changes in slow increments rather than one that has almost countless forms simultaneously.

The unity of hardware and software have allowed Apple to develop a wide ranging product line, from iPod Touch to full sized iPad, offering stability  and interoperability that no competitor can match. iOS also acts as a valuable part of their product ecosystem; users can get far more utility from their devices if they use Apple products solely. As time passes iOS and OSX will cross pollinate and the defining line between them will blur (unlike Window’s clumsy attempt to force immediate integration of mobile and desktop operating systems via Windows 8). Google has no ecosystem to leverage; they began as system agnostic and even though they ventured into hardware with Android and the overlooked Chromebook they largely remain that way.

Given time I could probably provide countless more reasons why iOS was the perfect choice for me. The stability, clean and simple interface, quality of devices, interoperability, and breadth of support both software and hardware made my choice a simple one. My requirements won’t make everyone happy; those that haven’t lost their love of tinkering with the internals of their devices in particular (most of my Android-loving friends mention the modifications they’ve made to their handsets as one of the primary reasons they love them). Just bear in mind if someone wants to influence your choice of device, it’s not like choosing a sports team to follow; pick what best suits your needs.

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An Apple Television set this year? I hope not…

The new year brings new chatter in the pundit world about what Apple has in store for us. Hot off the news of cuts in iPhone 5 components (some harken this as a sign of Apple finally losing consumer’s hearts, while others point out that its more likely product of adapting to production constraints and normal product demand fluctuation) some bloggers have argued the point that Apple has lost its innovative edge. There have been no new category-defining product releases now since the iPad, only revisions of existing product lines. With no new exciting innovations Apple will surely slide into oblivion.
The most hotly anticipated new product category being bandied about is an Apple branded television. Tim Cook has stated that the Apple TV has indeed been elevated from hobby status and sales figures of the diminutive set top box would support this new focus. I’ve written before how surprisingly useful the device is; it’s actually taken the place of my old media center Mac Mini with no loss of functionality (partially thanks to AirPlay Mirroring from my various iOS devices). The commonly held pundit position is that the natural next step in development would be for Apple to move away from the set top box to creating a smart television of their own. Google has partnered with some TV manufacturers, and others have created smart TVs of their own that provide access to streaming content providers and some limited app libraries. So far smart TVs haven’t been a hit, as they really don’t provide much unique value to consumers; most already have access to streaming media thanks to the proliferation of game consoles and multimedia devices like TiVo or BluRay disc players.
The belief is that Apple would trump all of these competitors with their superior content and design. Cupertino has been in the mutimedia business for some time now, thanks to iTunes. If Apple could leverage their libraries to broaden access to media they could finally reach the tipping point for consumers to move en mass from cable/satellite to internet-based television. Apple’s device engineering could create some sort of value to make their device stand out from the crowd; iTunes streaming from any device on your home network (like all current Apple devices can) would just be a start. Why not a video version of iTunes Match? A paid subscription to streaming channels from traditional cable/satellite providers like Comedy Central or ESPN? For US consumers they could aim for the sky and gain access to NFL Season Ticket. The contracts wouldn’t be easy to work out, but early access to the new wave of consumer entertainment and a growing market of Apple devices energized by a new branded smart television would be enticing to content providers. So what’s holding Apple back?
One major factor is likely profitability. Televisions are a low margin industry, with numerous manufacturers but little real differentiation. New technology has failed dramatically in the recent past- anyone remember when 3D tvs were the next big thing? Apple typically enters the high end of any market with a strong emphasis on profit margin; this would be difficult to do in televisions while remaining competitive. Secondly, just as other smart tvs would an Apple branded set really offer consumers enough to warrant the investment over a standard HD tv and current media providers? Would this new tv work to supplant or attempt to augment current cable and satellite providers (and if so would they be willing to let Apple into their market)? I have no answers, but these accumulated questions would likely deter me away from entering the television set market without some overwhelming research data to spark the (likely significant) investment.
I for one hope Apple chooses to develop their current Apple TV set top box. Televisions come in a remarkably wide range of features and sizes, and I’d prefer to be able to use the tight competition in the market to keep prices low while being able to tailor the specs of a set to my particular needs. Should Apple start manufacturing smart TVs instead of the set top box they’d likely have a limited product lineup; two, maybe three sizes that would likely be considerably more expensive than the standard HD set. There’s no reason that all of the consumer value arguments for an Apple television set couldn’t be equally applied to an expanded and improved Apple TV, while still offering the value of being easily paired with the set of the customer’s choosing.
I’d agree that Apple would benefit from a new product that creates its own industry as the iPhone and iPad have, but I don’t think a television would necessarily do this. I think we have another year of incremental improvements to existing product lines to look forward to this year- and that’s not a a bad thing.

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The future of driving audio

My fascination for all things tech and clever extend beyond gadgets- I’m one of those unfortunates that upgrades their car every 2-3 years. The fascination comes from the same root as my love of electronics: the desire to understand the facets that make it enjoyable (be it screen resolution and processor power or 0-60 times and MPGs), the fun in following blogs and news sources to broaden your horizons, the indulgence in the joy of something innately “cool”, and the fun that new toys always bring.

The enjoyment of driving a car is closely tied to its ability to mesh with other things I love, especially music. Driving without accompanying audio is almost unthinkable to me, be it music, audiobooks (especially good for long drives), or podcasts. With each successive vehicle I’ve sought to improve not only the ride but the ability to enjoy all the aspects of that ride, from the first time I installed an after-market auto reverse cassette deck in my beater Volkswagen Rabbit to the iPod integration of my Mini Coopers.

The upgrade to the iPhone 5 gave me an opportunity to both consolidate my devices and tinker with new (to me, at least) tech. Mini Cooper uses the same sort of factory stereo input for Apple devices as many other car manufacturers- a 32 pin connector that splits into USB and standard stereo jack plugs. The setup provides the ability to control your device from the stereo (and steering wheel controls if you have them) and the display of some metadata of the tracks on your device. While it works, the user experience isn’t exactly seamless. The Cooper’s controls allowed sorting by Artist, Album, Genre, and Playlist, but that’s it. Selection was limited to scrolling with a knob on the stereo; ok if you have just enough music to fill a Shuffle, but when you start to fill up an iPod Classic the task of finding a specific artist or album becomes a Sisyphean task. Having my entire library was nice, but realistically I was limited to either playing the entire library on random or choosing one of the smart playlists I had made (mostly limited to podcasts, as the stereo unit had no category to sort them).

Using my then iPhone 4 wasn’t a viable option as the cable connection interfered with the phone’s ability to interface via Bluetooth for calls. Using a much cheaper USB thumbdrive was considered, but it would have made synching podcasts much more difficult and wouldn’t have overcome the hurdles created by a large library. Thankfully, my choice of successor to the Mini had an answer.

I shopped around quite a bit before choosing a Hyundai Genesis Coupe. The GT model had everything I was looking for in a car- power to spare, top notch interior, stylish looks, and best of all just about every electronic feature I could want. While XM is great (especially access to NFL games), there are times when you want to hear a favorite album or podcast. The Infinity stereo in the Genesis has the same sort of cable input as my Mini had- 32 pin connector that split into USB and stereo jack controllable by the head unit and steering wheel controls. It has some additional features, like voice control and a 5″ color LCD screen capable of showing far more track metadata, but it’s still close to the same setup. Thankfully, it’s capable of something that only a few cars are so far- Bluetooth audio streaming.

The ability to stream from my iPhone’s music and podcast library (or play the audio from any streaming source) is an absolute boon. When coupled with Siri you needn’t do much but choose the phone as an input, then tell it what you’d like to hear. Launch Pandora, pick a playlist or album, or whatever your heart desires. I’ve seen some new models being touted by manufacturers that have streaming audio built into the stereo, from Pandora to Spotify. The concept is an intriguing one, but I already have the capacity to enjoy those sources and would rather not pay a premium for additional ways to access them (or potentially another data plan).

Using your iPhone instead of an iPod for audio has a couple advantages- rather than upgrade my aging iPod Classic (to the tune of about $250) I just chose a higher-capacity iPhone (adding $100 to the contract-subsidized price). While I don’t carry my entire music library with me, I carry the vast majority of tracks I’d like to hear more than once. In addition, I don’t have to bring an additional device to my office to sync new content- podcasts and music sync wirelessly now. If there’s something I’d like but don’t have locally, solutions abound: for podcasts there’s both Apple’s Podcast App and Stitcher, for music there are too many sources to cover (streaming and purchasing). For those that want access to their entire library but don’t have the capacity there are a couple easy solutions- iTunes Match or Google Music.

One caveat- the Genesis’ Infinity system isn’t completely compatible with Siri and it doesn’t take advantages of Apple’s new eyes-free iPhone mode (although it’s been announced for future models). Currently I have to access Siri via my iPhone’s home button, but it’s an easy task that doesn’t divert my gaze from the road thanks to a cup holder mount that keeps my iPhone in easy reach. While the car has audio control built in, it can’t interface with Siri or access the library on the iPhone, it only interacts with devices connected by the now-outdated 32 pin cable. I haven’t tried to use it with a Lightning adaptor, but to be honest the Bluetooth streaming it affords doesn’t give me much incentive to try.

For those of you still using physical media like CDs for your audio, take a look at some of the digital options available to you. Many new cars are offering these features as they add a good deal of value without costing the manufacturer much to include. More access to the media you enjoy is always good, and having an additional use for your iPhone makes it that much more valuable.

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A new year with Bandello

While looking over my backlogged App information, I came across some welcome news from one of my favorite sources Bandello. The indie game focused organization has a new game and some very promising news of broader horizons.

First, there’s EpiX (developed by Blinzy Studios). This little gem is a happy mix of retro gaming, clever use of your iOS device’s touchscreen, and the joys of indulging in (what is for some of us) obsessive behavior. Like most indie games EpiX is a simple one- your Viking helmeted hero stands alone against waves of marauding orcs, with only your sword and special powers between you and certain doom.

The gameplay has only one control: tapping the screen. Touch the orcs (represented in retro 8-bit glory as a pixellated head) to “kill” them as they approach you from all angles. What sounds ridiculously easy becomes rather difficult to manage as the waves become thicker and thicker, populated by tougher and faster orcs that can blend in with the terrain (making them difficult to pick out). When the orcs get too close they do damage, shrinking your life meter. Augmenting your trusty sword are a variety of power ups such as Heal, Shield, and Fireball (with self explanatory effects).

The pixellated sprites and primitive electronic soundtrack invoke more than a little old school gaming nostalgia, and the uncomplicated gameplay is surprisingly engaging. While the game is billed as an epic orc-slaying venture, I found it to be more akin to an old school gaming version of popping bubble wrap (and if you’ve never indulged in this obsessive past time, it offers far more satisfying enjoyment than words can convey).

Like many solid indie games, one of the best facets of EpiX is the price- FREE. It is advertising supported but the splash screen pitches for other games aren’t intrusive and are something I’ll gladly endure for a quality time waster.

Secondly, Bandello has announced the much-praised game Nihilumbra (from Beautifun Games) could be making the jump from iOS to PC and Mac thanks to Steam Greenlight, Steam’s community-based sounding board for possible new additions to the Steam Store. Games with sufficient support are greenlit for the store, and the page provides the game developers feedback from interested game players they may not normally have access to. If you haven’t played Nihilumbra give the page a look; they need support from gamers like you!

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Not another ‘best of’ list

A new year always sparks pundits to look back on what has been. While I’m no pundit, I’m not immune from the urge to evaluate all the tech and apps that I’ve had the privilege to use/evaluate. Unlike those pundits, I don’t want to rehash the tired “Best of the year” category- best is far too subjective; what’s best for me more than likely won’t be best for you, and I lack the clout or resources to be able to sample more than a fraction of what Apple and its ecosystem of app and accessory developers have to offer. Instead, I’d like to share with you the things that have made a lasting impact; the games that I just can’t put down, the apps that have proven far more useful than I had originally thought they could be, the accessories that I couldn’t live without.

Games: While I haven’t had them long, the games that I gravitate towards epitomize what I love about iOS gaming: a unique concept, innovative controls and gameplay, and an eye-catchingly well made display.

First, there’s Groove Coaster. I love the spartan Tempest-like vector graphics, the simple yet engaging interface, and the use of music as an integral part of the gameplay. It’s been consistently enjoyable.

Second, another relative newcomer- Into the Dead. It does a better job of creating a tense, gripping environment than just about any game I’ve played. This latecomer to the booming zombie game genre may not be as well known as other apps but it holds its own against the best of the category.

Honorable mention- Carmageddon. While not a great game (especially the dodgy controls) its an extremely faithful port of the DOS-based classic

Accessories: The Brydge iPad keyboard. There are plenty of Bluetooth iPad keyboards out there, and most are less expensive than the Brydge, but none offer the combination of durability and functionality that the Brydge does. It’s aluminum chassis pairs perfectly with the iPad (although I’d love to see a future model with softer, rounded edges like the iPad has), and it’s patented hinge allows it to be forward compatible with future iPad models.

iOS feature: iMessage. The ability to use the same messaging platform across all my devices has been very welcome. While the app isn’t perfected yet, it’s been far more useful than I had thought it would be when I installed the initial OSX beta app. I’d love to see Apple make the iOS app as functional as the OSX version, specifically compatibility with other chat platforms.

Honorable mention: Airplay. The Apple TV is a great device in its own right (more on that later) and Airplay provides a great way to expand its usefulness.

Device: The Apple TV. I’ve been able to move beyond a media center PC and TiVo thanks to Apple’s diminutive streaming device. It almost instantly became the integral part of my living room’s media center; it does a better job with streaming content than any other device I’ve used, syncs perfectly with my iMac‘s iTunes library, and offers a decent selection of integrated apps. I’m hoping that Apple fulfills the rumor of opening it to the App Store; it is just another iOS device after all.

News/Reading- Mr Reader. I still rely on RSS feeds for my daily news and entertainment, and Mr Reader has been the best RSS client for iOS that I’ve found so far. Some prefer the eye candy of Flipboard, but I get a great deal more out of Mr Reader’s classic interface and sharing features.

Audio- Stitcher. I’m a huge fan of podcasts, but the recently introduced iOS Podcast app isn’t quite ready for prime time. Stitcher does a great job of bringing me the content I want, without the need for iTunes syncing.

Honorable mention- Pandora. Spotify may be the rage lately, but Pandora is still my go-to source for personalized internet radio. I purchased a subscription over a year ago and have gotten more than my $36 worth out of it.

That’s my list of additions from the past year I can’t do without. Feel free to share yours with me in the comments section!

 

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Netbooks, we hardly knew ye

But we knew enough to realize you were never a viable choice. Netbooks, the diminutive laptops so popular only a few years ago, are going the way of the dinosaur per a recent post at MacRumors. According to the post the last major manufacturers of netbooks, Asus and Acer, will end their production lines in the first quarter of FY 2013. Sales have slumped to practically naught, extinguishing what many pundits thought was the next wave of computing.

It wasn’t that long ago that Apple was lambasted for their staunch refusal to produce a netbook of their own. It was thought the light, portable and inexpensive netbook would offer a gateway to to the digital age for many consumers that didn’t want or need the power of a full fledged laptop or desktop. Apple’s adherence to high margin products was deemed at odds with the will of the market. What these doomsayers missed was that the popularity of netbooks wasn’t due to the mini laptops hitting a bullseye of unmet demand, it was merely the ripple of a near miss.

The issue is best summed up by Steve Jobs himself: “The problem is that netbooks aren’t better at anything. They’re slow, they have low-quality displays, and they run clunky old PC software. So they’re not better than a laptop at anything, they’re just cheaper.” Netbooks were more portable than regular laptops, but provided this at the expense of user experience. Netbooks were notoriously wimpy, struggling to multitask with the simplest of programs. They ran either an old operating system (XP), a limited one (Windows 7 Starter), or something that confused/alienated too many users (various versions of Linux). They simply didn’t offer anything new, just the same old in a smaller, less functional form.

Enter Apple’s answers: first, the MacBook Air. The most successful ultraportable offers all the power of a regular laptop in a svelte, minimalistic form. The current models are a fantastic mix of power and portability, and while competitors have finally started innovating, they still haven’t quite caught up with the Air.

Then the coupe de grace- the iPad. For consumers that wanted internet access but didn’t need a full laptop it was a perfect answer. Right out of the gate the iPad excelled at several tasks, especially media consumption. As iOS has matured the uses for the iPad have exploded, from communication to productivity to finance. I’ve been able to completely replace my laptop with an iPad and third party Bluetooth keyboard (first a Zagg Folio, lately replaced by a Brydge Plus).

I had a few chances to toy with various netbooks, from Asus to Dell, and my initial fascination sparked by a new gadget was quickly cooled by how clunky they felt to use. Even those that find Apple’s products too expensive or restrictive have better options- Android tablets have made drastic improvements since their introduction, and can be had far less expensively than a netbook.

Thanks to the innovation of Apple, creativity of their third party accessory and app developers, and the innovation of Android device manufacturers consumers simply have better options for every reason someone might consider a netbook. Good riddance to bad tech, I say.

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It keeps me coming back

One of the unfortunate facets of owning gadgets is their nature to break. Regardless of how well something is manufactured, eventually even a brand new just out of the box item will have a manufacturing error or damage caused by shipping. In my past life as an electronic DIY-er the solution usually involved pulling my home constructed PC tower out of its nest of coiling black wires, cracking it open, and replacing the offending part (or salvaging what I could for my next cobbled together tower). Other devices were simply discarded when they went awry; support and customer service for the various non-Apple players I’ve owned was virtually nonexistent and the construction of the devices made tinkering with their innards a task beyond my skills at the time.

Since my conversion to all things Apple the story has been considerably different. On the whole my devices have been remarkably reliable, to date I’ve only had two instances where a device had to be returned (and I’ve owned a lot of Apple products). The consistent level of support and ease of obtaining it has become a main factor in my adoption of Apple products.

Case in point: my new iPhone 5 had a minor light leakage in its display; in the top right corner black backgrounds revealed a touch of light seeming to bleed in from just beyond the edge of the screen. The issue was minor enough that I didn’t deem it worthy of pursuing, but it devolved to other color bleeding (blue over white backgrounds as well) and then streaking pixel loss. Since my iPhone is my only home phone and my primary means of communication at work, I was more than a bit concerned. Unlike my experience with other handsets the solution was simple, quick, and easy. A trip to my local Apple retail store and a demonstration of the issue to an associate resulted in them taking my damaged phone and handing me a new replacement. The associate even backed my iPhone’s data to iCloud for me to insure that everything would transfer. Service was friendly, even though my iPhone had chosen the worst possible time for me to need to visit a retail outlet- the last few days before Christmas. Even though the store was teeming with customers picking up last minute gifts, the store associates were able to accommodate me with a smile.

Contrast this with the DMV-like line at the customer service desk of Best Buy, and the myriad different ways other PC and device manufacturers offer service. Many retailers offer refunds or replacements for defective merchandise, but the experience of dealing with the merchant usually leaves a great deal to be desired. If you purchase directly from the manufacturer your options for service are even more limited and almost certainly require you to ship your item back to them. When I had a possible issue with the Time Capsule router I had purchased online (and the issue was just as likely due to Comcast than a defect in the router) Apple happily replaced it with a new one off the shelf at my local store rather than requiring me to ship it back.

Apple’s support for their devices goes beyond just replacing devices. I was notified of a recall of the Seagate hard drive in my iMac, and was provided links to schedule an appointment to drop the desktop off at the Genius Bar. Even the ecosystem makes for a better overall experience, as my Time Capsule backups restored my iMac and the OSX App Store had all of my software purchases available for immediate download. The same can be said for all of the iOS devices I’ve had- each upgrade was immediately restored with the same apps and data saved automatically to iCloud when I sync the device. Any app that wasn’t part of the last backup is available via the App Store’s Purchased tab; every App you’ve ever bought/downloaded is listed. While there are several computer-agnostic backup services out there, you’ll have to purchase their coverage separately. The service may not offer the same seamless user experience that I had because of that openness; broad compatibility is typically inversely related to detailed compatibility.

I’ve made big financial choices in the past based on similar thinking and have been very happy with the results. Mini Cooper offers some outstanding customer service thanks to their affiliation with BMW; this friendly all-encompassing service (along with a superior product) resulted in my purchase of two consecutive Minis.

Not everyone is in the market for high-end products that Apple produces. Those that aren’t deride the perceived “Apple Tax”, those that do understand that quality and service come at a premium. When I chose Apple devices over competitors it was for more than the device, it was the support and ecosystem built around those devices that form the user experience. Provided they maintain their commitment to the customer experience, both using the device and supporting their products, Apple will have my business.

 

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