iQuest Studios

Not sure if you guys are aware of a company called Psystar, but that is the first company that is dumb enough to actually sell Hackintosh (meaning non Apple computers running Mac OS X) computers. Apparently, they have been around for a while (2,3 months if I am not wrong) and finally Apple has decided to sue them.

Let me shed a little light on this subject of Hackintosh. Ever since Apple unveiled the migration to use of Intel processors in their computers, budding hackers have been trying to get the Mac OS X running on non Apple Hardware. This is only expected given the lack of alternatives to the crash-friendly Windows Operating Systems and the user-unfriendly Linux Operating Systems. Well, they succeeded in the end. However, these versions of OS X were generally challenging to install, definitely not for the faint of heart. (Even I have tried once and failed miserably) Moreover, even after installation, the systems are not as stable as the actual operating system on Apple Hardware, due to a difference in components used. Lastly, such systems lag on older Intel Processors. Using the system on anything below Core Duo is nearly impossible (given that it was designed for Core Duo and Quad Core processors). Updates are also impossible, and everytime there is a system update, users have to reinstall the whole operating system. And yet, the project proved largely popular.

Personally, I don’t like the idea of Hackintosh. Maybe that just because I paid the full cost of an elegant, sleek, sexy, reliable (though not of the best quality) and generally powerful MacBook Pro to run arguably the best operating system available. (some people still swear by Linux distributions, but I don’t see how even the “most user friendly” distribution of Linux, Ubuntu, is anywhere near Mac OS X or even Windows for that matter) But seriously, by allowing Mac OS X to run on non-Apple Hardware is basically robbing Apple of its skyhigh profit levels. Why is that bad you might ask? Apple might lose the incentive to innovate, as can already be seen from the Snow Leopard announcement. Why spend money on hiring a think tank when people are not even going to buy your machines? Moreover, it might just welcome malicious users to come up with a virus that might upset the security that we Mac OS users have enjoyed for a long time.

Anyway, back to Psystar. They are actually the first company to try to sell computers running the latest Mac OS X - Leopard. Obviously this is a direct threat to Apple and an straightforward infringement of Apple’s copyright and End User License Agreement (EULA). I was surprised that it took Apple so long to actually sue Psystar, but I suppose their lawyers were taking their time gathering all possible ways to bankrupt Psystar, just in case they got away with a few charges.

But I supposed Psystar is going to try to attack Apple with Anti Trust Laws, probably by arguing by limiting Mac OS X to Apple Hardware only, it’s being anti-competitive. That is the only chance that they stand against being bankrupted by Apple.

Hmm, this could be interesting. Wonder how it will turn out.

Till next time,
cheers

Tags: Apple, hackintosh, lawsuit, psystar

Today’s WWDC keynote was largely disappointing in my opinion, though you can watch it yourself and pass your own judgement. Basically, it was largely taken up by iPhone Developers from various companies showing off whatever Applications they have developed for the iPhone using the iPhone SDK. Yes, it would be interesting if not for the fact that the iPhone SDK was already introduced in March 2008 and we have seen the ease of use of the SDK. Lots of repeated stuff from the March 2008 presentation such as the Enterprise features and AppStore taking up a great half of the entire Keynote.

Then was the introduction of MobileMe, Apple’s second take on cloud based applications, replacing .Mac. It does have some cool features, however, not unlike Google Apps, but one thing it has the advantage of is a beautiful AJAX based web interface - making Google Apps’ seem immature at best - and of course excellent syncing with Macs. Yes, there might be plugins and workarounds to get all my Mail/iCal/Address Book data synced to Google Apps and across my 2 Macs, but frankly speaking, they do not sync that well. Wheras, on the other hand, from the demonstration at least, MobileMe syncs the devices and the server nicely. I would love to get a MobileMe plan seriously when it rolls out.

Then of course the iPhone 3G - which many called a 2nd Generation iPhone, though personally I would disagree. What’s really new over the 1st Generation iPhone is just a slight change in design, an option for a larger flash drive, longer battery life, a GPS unit and a HUGE drop in price. Now, the huge drop in price is really something I must protest about. Starting at USD$199 - meaning roughly a maximum price of S$400 when it comes out in Singapore - the iPhone will become one of the cheapest (if not the cheapest) smartphone on the market. What happened to Apple product’s exclusivity? Not to sound like a prick, but I buy Apple products knowing that it will be a premium product (not in terms of quality though) that many others would not be willing to pay for. (of course also mainly because they are great) But recently, it would seem Apple products are losing its status as a premium product, especially with the falling US dollar. It is not an uncommon sight to see people lugging around MacBooks or having iPod Nanos - both of which are the cut down versions of the other Apple products. Now with the iPhone at such a ridiculously cheap price, people would be mad to not buy one. I wouldn’t be surprised to see at least 5 iPhones in a crowded MRT carriage after its launch here in Singapore. That’s why I am going to buy the white edition - however much I prefer black over white - because the white version only comes in 16GB flavors, which are slightly more expensive over the 8GB model. At least a white iPhone will stand out amongst all the black iPhones that I foresee many people carrying in the future.

Anyway, let me get back to explaining why I wouldn’t really call this new iPhone a second generation iPhone. Yes, it might have 3G, it might have GPS, it might have Handwriting recognition for chinese (and Japanese) characters - a huge plus point for me - , it might have a longer battery life, but otherwise everything remains almost the same. Not much innovation, not even a video taking option nor a camera upgrade. This is very unlike Apple tradition. Look at the Leopard OS X - over 300 new features over Tiger, many of which can be seen from the user end. (eg. Time Machine, Spaces etc.) However, the new iPhone, to me, only offers a few minor updates over the first generation of iPhones. (I still don’t think they support Bluetooth file transfer) Look at the new OS planned as well - 10.6 (Snow Leopard) - emphasis is on quality and security of the OS. Is it because Apple is losing steam in terms of innovation? I rather hope not.

In short, as I mentioned at the start of the post, WWDC 2008 Keynote has largely disappointed me in terms of the innovation that Apple can come up with.

Tags: 2008, 3G, Apple, disappointing, iphone, keynote, Mac/iPod/iPhone, mobileme, SDK, WWDC

I went down to the Apple Support Centre today to collect my new battery for my MacBook Pro. I must say I am rather pleased with the job they have done on my laptop. The sunken in Power button was fixed, and the bottom case with some bulging part above the lid button was also fixed. Even my very dirty screen was wiped for me. All this for the excellent price of $0, even though my warranty’s expired, all thanks to the exception code given to me by the very friendly Apple Staff on the support hotline.

But I couldn’t help thinking: what if I don’t have the exception code? Well, from the price list displayed at the Support Centre: it would cost me S$100 just to send the machine in for diagnosis, and extra costs for my replacement parts (the battery costs about S$235, and I am told that to fix my sunken in Power button, it would cost another S$100 to S$200) and of course transportation fees for the parts to come in from the US. So of course the guy recommended me Applecare, which extends the warranty of the product to 3 years from the date of purchase. Of course I politely declined his offer, given that it costs S$629. (Can you believe it, Applecare for the Macbook Pro is more expensive than any other Mac line - even more expensive than Applecare for iMac or the Mac Pro!)

Now, as we all know, Apple has poor quality control, and the problems and defects for it’s various products are numerous, especially issues of swollen batteries and excessive thermal grease. A look at the MacBook Pro’s wiki page on the Apple Defects Site and one could probably guess why lots of people chose to buy Applecare. Is it possible that Apple is so evil so as to deliberately lower their quality control, in hope of increasing sales of their wildly expensive Applecare plan? (The Applecare plan for the Macbook Pro is 20% of the price of the base model). I mean it is possible right? It would seem like a great chance to profit. (I have never seen exactly what’s in the Applecare box, but I can’t believe people actually pay S$600+ for a paper box)

But of course, to quote my friend: “Big brain, evil heart; everything’s possible.”. Seeing that I am such a person too (ok, maybe that was a tad egoistic), can I really fault Apple?

Till next time,
cheers

Tags: Apple, Applecare, defects, evil, macbook pro