Archive of TheNextWeb.org
Written on January 8, 2009 – 2:12 pm
Ernst-Jan Pfauth, editor in chief
While Nicolas Negroponte tries to find an affordable solution for e-learning in developing countries, some educational institutes try to find one for the western world.
I know it’s not a Touch, but hell, what a funny pic
A class of year 8 students at Shepparton High School in central Victoria in Australia is currently participating in a global mobile learning project. They’re not using the XO laptop as their gear, but an iPod Touch. First results - whatever they’re worth, as it’s test group of 8 persons- show that school work has increased attendance and increased enthusiasm for homework.
After some time of getting used to - students weren’t as savvy as the initiators expected - kids used the shiny devices for searching the web, downloading music, participating in quizzes, submitting assignments and collaborating with a school in Singapore. Yeah! I’d have come to school for that too.
Founder of the project, Louise Duncan, says that the iPod is a lot cheaper than your average laptop. Plus it allowed students to tailor information and stay focused in class. I think it’s a brave and good step to find new ways that might appear scary - the thought of using an entertainment device -, but in the end make class more attractive for kids.
And it’s great promotion for Apple…
I hope you like that post!
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Written on January 5, 2009 – 3:32 pm
Zee, Internet Marketer, Design Connoisseur & Web App Devotee
Despite ever increasing denials that health issues played a part a in the pulling out of MacWorld, Jobs has finally decided to come clean in an open letter.
He highlights that his startling and publicly noticed weight loss has been due to a hormone imbalance. He concludes, “I will continue as Apple’s CEO during my recovery.”
Here is Steve’s letter:
Dear Apple Community,
For the first time in a decade, I’m getting to spend the holiday season with my family, rather than intensely preparing for a Macworld keynote.
Unfortunately, my decision to have Phil deliver the Macworld keynote set off another flurry of rumors about my health, with some even publishing stories of me on my deathbed.
I’ve decided to share something very personal with the Apple community so that we can all relax and enjoy the show tomorrow.
As many of you know, I have been losing weight throughout 2008. The reason has been a mystery to me and my doctors. A few weeks ago, I decided that getting to the root cause of this and reversing it needed to become my #1 priority.
(more…)
Written on January 4, 2009 – 5:39 pm
Ernst-Jan Pfauth, editor in chief
While I was standing in line for one of the first iPhone 3G’s in Holland last July, this tweet by Amazon CTO Werner Vogels made me chuckle:
Strange how people who fanatically promote openness are lined up outside a shop that delivers some of this era’s most closed/lockedin tools
He was absolutely right. The iPhone IS locked-in and many examples of rejected iPhone apps show what the consequences are. If you develop an app that comes close to Apple’s core products, you don’t stand a chance. Just ask Dutch iPhone app developer Vincent Verweij about his experiences with the Apple Store.
Yet almost every 2.0 geek seems to have one, even mr. Vogels himself. Thus the best thing we can do is accept it and laugh about it. Here’s a suggestion how to do so: wear a t-shirt of an exploded iPhone. The most locked-in device, now revealed on your t-shirt. Quite a funny example of fashion sarcasm.
See all the t-shirts here.
Written on December 30, 2008 – 3:04 pm
Ernst-Jan Pfauth, editor in chief
Grab your old Macs, place them on a table, and see the color pattern. Yes, from beige to bright colors to white to silver.
Same in Wired’s infographic shown here. It shows a spectacular timeline of 25 years, designed in an unconventional way. Randy Krum from Cool Infographics notes that “the style also invites the viewer in to explore the details hidden in the image and find the extra images that specifically tagged with a date across the top.” Click for a larger version and see for yourself.
Written on December 30, 2008 – 12:52 pm
Ernst-Jan Pfauth, editor in chief
If you’re an iPhone app developer, you’re basically working for that one big hit. Like the developer of the iFart app, he told VentureBeat ow much profit he makes on a daily basis. A whopping $10,000!
Dutch iPhone developer Vincent Verweij got pretty fed up with this. He burns a lot of money while developing his apps, without seeing much revenue coming back. “To survive in the App Store, you’re only hope is short hits, I don’t want my business to depend on that,” Verweij told Emerce.
He also complains about the low prices for apps - max 3 euros -, the short life-cycle, overabundance, and the cocky attitude of Apple. Verweij developed an app called Camera Pro, which added 15 new features to the camera. That app was a little too good for Apple, so the company rejected the app (for now). Verweij lost around €10,000 because of this disappointment.
So what’s Verweij gonna do now? Hold on to yourself: he’s going to focus on Windows Mobile and Symbian again, since these platforms have more possibilities. I bet he’s also working on Android apps, but he probably didn’t want to tell the reporter.
By the way, Gerard van Enk tipped the readers of Emerce about a research by Mobile Orchard: people are willing to pay more than 99 cents for business and GTD apps
Written on December 29, 2008 – 10:29 am
Ernst-Jan Pfauth, editor in chief
Anyone who has spent some time in a coffee bar with wifi already knew it, yet it’s official when Wired reports it. Mac users aren’t special anymore. First of all, every college student has a Macbook, secondly, have you ever seen the sales numbers of the iPhone?! If you need a more thorough analysis of the undoing of the Mac cult, read the Wired article. Here are their eight reasons with links to articles supporting the thesis, the complete story is here.
Written on December 23, 2008 – 12:48 pm
Ernst-Jan Pfauth, editor in chief
Looking for some humor during the work day? Try following MACvPC, a Twitter account based on the famous Mac ads in which a typical cool dude (representing an Apple) makes fun of a sloppy corporate guy (a PC). Those chats are now continuing on Twitter.
Here’s the Twitter account bio:
Hi, I’m Mac. I’m cool, fun, easy, and I voted for Obama. Hello, I am PC. I am hard working, always on the job, and I voted for McPalin.
According to their Twitter location, Mac and PC are currently enrolled in a “12 Step Dueling Personality Issues Program”. They have enough time to chat though, considering the large amounts of funny updates. Like this one:
MACvPC only has 329 followers now - but believe me, it will be a HIT! Especially since the people behind the account makes the effort of replying to almost everybody. Who doesn’t want to hear a joke based on your own remark?
Written on December 22, 2008 – 6:09 pm
Ernst-Jan Pfauth, editor in chief
Advertisements like these two from Apple and BASF make me wonder how we will look at recent ads in about twenty years. “Haha, check out that vintage iPhone, with that ridiculous touch screen”. More at Royal Pingdom.
[Hat tip: Dennis Goedegebuure via StumbleUpon]
Written on December 18, 2008 – 6:34 pm
Ernst-Jan Pfauth, editor in chief
A netbook is a light-weight, low-cost, energy-efficient, highly portable laptop suitable for web browsing, email and general purpose applications — primarily noted for its small form factor.
… and thus a perfect tool for tech bloggers or other people who spend too much time on traveling or attending conferences. If only Apple would have one in its laptop collection. This is not the case, unfortunately, yet research of BoingBoing shows there’s a way to get one before Christmas. Yes, Christmas 2008!
Most of the popular netbooks can run OS X, but some of them lack features which are absolutely essential for an Apple-imitation. Here’s a graph showing which one you should get.
Read the piece on Boing Boing to get started and let us know whether you’ve got yourself an Apple Netbook for Christmas!
Written on December 17, 2008 – 10:34 pm
Zee, Internet Marketer, Design Connoisseur & Web App Devotee
The French competition regulator has ordered Apple to allow all French mobile phone carriers to sell the iPhone, as opposed to just Orange which is a subsidiary of France Telecom.
The competition regulator said Apple’s exclusive arrangement with Orange posed a “serious and immediate threat” to competition in the mobile telecommunications sector and increased costs for mobile phone users looking to change mobile phone carriers.
Bouygues Telecom SA, the third largest mobile operator in France, filed a complaint in September and today the Regulators have taken this action as a ‘protective measure’ while it continues its investigation.
Both SFR (the second-largest carrier in France) and Bouygues Telecom (the third largest) have (naturally) welcomed the decision and hope to begin selling the handsets soon.
via Business Week / photo credit
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