Steve Jobs: A Tribute To My Hero

I wanted to write something on this very sad afternoon which reflected my own personal feelings. As you will all be aware by now, Apple co-founder Steve Jobs sadly died this morning, after a seven year battle with pancreatic cancer, at the age of 56.

Now a lot has been, and will be written about Steve over the next few days and weeks. But I wanted to add my own personal feelings to the growing number of pages across the web expressing their deepest sadness at the loss of a wonderful man.

I never met Steve Jobs. I never spoke to him, I never heard from him. I knew him as much as the majority of you reading this. But Steve Jobs was my hero - he was the man I wanted to be. Whenever I felt down, I'd turn to some form of Apple product to cheer me up, or go and watch another keynote to discover the true art of capturing people. Steve was the type of man you didn't need to meet to know. In fact, you already knew him.

His driven nature led to products that people couldn't have dreamed of. A personal computer with a mouse? 'Won't work', many said. Now look where the Mac is, with its 24% market share.

A portable digital music player?! 'Will never take off', many said. So Steve went and sold over 300 million iPods, just to prove a point.

And then the penny dropped - this man was a genius. He'd gone and changed the face of technology with his pioneering ideas and his inventions that would change the way we live.

The iPhone and the world went crazy. This week saw the fifth generation of iPhone being launched, and over 90 million iPhones have been sold and shipped around the globe. And that figure will double over the next year on projected growth sales.

What about Steve's final big idea - the iPad? Tablet computing was the way forward, and Steve realised this in early 2006, so set to work on designing a device that would be capable of doing so. In April 2010, it hit the market, and within a year had sold 28 million units of both the first and second generation tablets.

He also devised the idea of Apple retail stores, giving consumers an opportunity to play with and hopefully buy the products that are made by Apple. Customer service was always key for Steve - it was always something that he believed very much in. I don't think anyone has ever had a bad experience in an Apple store that wasn't fixed by a member of staff. It's a wonderful place.

I was in an Apple store the day Steve resigned during August, and it was a very weird atmosphere - very sombre. Each employee knew a part of the company had just disappeared, and they were very down. Each customer knew they were with the Apple family on a very strange day in Apple history. And I would hate to have been near an Apple store today - it will have been a very dark day in those big glass buildings.

I own an iPhone. I own an iPad. We as a family own a Mac. And I use the devices each and every day, and I couldn't wish for easier and more intuitive devices to use. They make life so much simpler, and also make my days become so much easier.

The only word that sums up Steve Jobs is 'genius'. I don't think there is, or has been, anyone in the technology market that has ever given so much to how we live.

The news filtered through last night of his sad passing here in the UK, and the tributes began to pour in. At the time of writing, over 35 million people in China have paid tribute to the man behind the biggest technology brand in the world.

But that's not just why he's my hero. The man has had three major health scares, but battled on because he loved his job so much. There was a passion and a fire there that meant he gave 100% every single day, no matter what his health was like, because he adored his company so much.

He also made some very shrewd, and very clever business decisions and investments that led to him becoming a multi-billionaire, all of which will now end up with the many charities and foundations he supported throughout his life.

There also wasn't a day that went by that Steve Jobs wasn't smiling - his outlook on life was something everyone should have to adopt. He was proud of what he had achieved, and wanted the world to know quite how proud, and that's something special in itself.

He was someone special - someone really quite special. Again, I never met him, but the vibe you got from everyone was that he was just a man who had all the time in the world for you, and equally wanted to make sure you left with a smile. He was a God-like figure to many who looked up to him, and aspired to be him.

Without him, the likelihood of us having the platforms to spread our views - on blogs, on Twitter, using Facebook, through networking on the web - would have been a lot slimmer. Most of these sites were built on a Mac, and are accessed daily via an iPhone or an iPad, and that's what helped grow the sites so quick. It's quite remarkable how much input the man has had.

Today really is a very sad day, not just for the technology industry, but for the world as a whole. Steve Jobs brought so much to us, but didn't want anything bar your custom and a smile in return. He has changed the way we all live, and for the better too.

I Tweeted a little earlier, and I think that just sums up everything.

Thank you Steve. Without you, my days would be a little bit darker. You are the ultimate hero.

Taken from General Musings of an Idiot: http://www.gmoai.com

AC - After Cupertino: iPhone 4S Launched In Uneventful Apple Keynote

I blogged earlier this afternoon about the big plans we thought Apple had for us in their keynote this evening. And how unbelievably underwhelming it was.

As we knew, Apple would be releasing a phone, and they did - the iPhone 4S, not the iPhone 5 as predicted. I would call it a recycled idea - it has the body of an iPhone 4, and is kitted out with basically the same insides too. A faster A5 chip, that outputs seven times faster graphics than the iPhone 4, plus a new 8 megapixel that takes some rather beautiful pictures. Bar that, mind you, nothing else shouts out 'BUY ME' - a new antenna system, a global phone, HD video, and AirPlay mirroring.

The only feature that does look quite brilliant is called Siri - a voice recognition assistant service. You ask her whatever the hell you want - what's the weather, make me a meeting, call my wife - and she will come up with a very logical answer. That is the only stand-out feature for me.

Other announcements included a slightly updated iPod line-up, and as predicted, the iPod Classic is now dead and buried. A few minor updates to the iPod Touch, including a white version, and a few new additions to the iPod Nano, and we're there. And that was that.

There were also a few new features mentioned regarding iCloud and iOS 5. No Facebook integration as suspected, nor any major advances on what we heard in June. One quite neat new application is 'Cards', Apple's new take on Moonpig here in the UK, and Hallmark in the US. A card making service, sending greetings cards across the US and around the world with your photos or your creations plastered across the front. It's $2.99 a card for domestic US mail, or $4.99 to send a card anywhere else in the world. And the app is free, too. Very clever to diversify into another new market, and watch them make a big killing in market share too.

We also saw something called 'Find My Friends', using the same technology as seen in 'Find My iPhone', which allows you to discover your friends with an iOS GPS-enabled device. The demo given during the keynote was at Disneyland, showing all your friends in your address book in the local area. Clever, but needed? Not really.

So, dates, I hear you ask. October 12th is the big one for most of us - that's the release date for iOS 5, iCloud, Cards, and Find My Friends. All are free, and will be made available across the globe next Wednesday.

October 14th is the release date for the iPhone 4S, priced at $199 for the 16GB model, $299 for the 32GB model, and $399 for the 64GB model. It can be pre-ordered from October 7th - this Friday. It's available in both black and white. (hurrah, you may be saying, after the iPhone 4 white model fiasco...)

The 3GS is also here to stay. It's available in 8GB, and is now free via contract. The iPhone 4 is also only available in an 8GB model, priced at $99.

No iPad. No Mac updates. No iPhone 5. No big surprises. And no Steve Jobs, either.

Ah well, there's always January...

All pictures courtesy of Engadget.

Taken from General Musings of an Idiot: http://www.gmoai.com

BC - Before Cupertino: Apple Prepare For iPhone Keynote

At lunchtime in San Francisco, we'll know what's being released. The rumours will stop, and we'll just start getting excited for the new product.

But until then, the trepidation continues to build towards Apple's big iPhone announcement this afternoon, at 6PM here in the UK, and 10AM in the US.

At the time of writing this, there's just under three hours to go before the announcement. As I said last week, the signs indicate the new iPhone 5, which has been the subject of the Apple rumour mill since the summer of 2010.

Courtesy of MacRumors

But, does that mean that wonderful Apple-shaped mill should stop now?! Nope - we've only just started! Watch social media go crazy as every tech blogger in the world tries to tell you that they know exactly what is being released and what it looks like. Only to have egg on their face two hours later.

The big rumour last week was that there would be two phones announced today - the iPhone 5, which will be Apple's latest, most powerful phone to date, with all the updated technology available, and the iPhone 4S, which will be a cheaper alternative, combining the technology of the iPhone 4 with some updates and upgrades to attempt to crack the Chinese market. Wouldn't surprise me at all if this was to happen, but for some strange reason, I just get the feeling it will be one or the other today... And I'm leaning towards the 4S, seeing as that is what we've seen leaked prototype parts for.

However, I won't speak too soon. After the iPhone 4 was leaked last year by someone leaving a prototype in a 3GS body in a bar somewhere, Apple have been on complete lock down, keeping all elements of the new phones secret and threatening to file a lawsuit against anyone who leaks any information about the new phone. Or phones, if you're being optimistic.

So what else have we heard? Well, today's earlier announcement that Microsoft are discontinuing the Zune, their own portable music player, has fuelled rumours that maybe Apple will revamp the iPod range today too, and that Microsoft are just getting out the market before they make an even bigger loss on their own player. It would make sense - we've seen the iPod line-up change ready for the holiday season every year for the past four years or so. It would be a real money-spinner for them to do it today.

There were also rumours that maybe the Mac line-up would change too. Now, these have cooled off slightly seeing as the new Macs have been released throughout the last 18 months, with an update to one of the machines every three months or so. But why not? It's always worth a punt that Apple will throw something out there.

A few whispers appeared that maybe Apple will shock us all today, by announcing the iPad 3, alongside a new phone and the new iPod range. This was because iOS 5 will be released alongside the new iPhone, and therefore a full upgrade of the whole iOS device catalogue is of course needed. Well, us Apple fans think so anyway. A retina display has apparently been very difficult to create for the iPad, but if they've pulled it off, we may see an appearance at the keynote later.

So, realistically, what are we likely to see today?

Of course, iOS 5 will be seen today. The announcement of the new software in June, given a 'Fall' release date indicated at the time that they were waiting for a new device. Don't be surprised to see new features unveiled today. We've already seen the likes of Newsstand, Reminders and iMessage, but there are talks of Facebook integration into the software, to match that of the already announced Twitter integration. Let's see.

One of the smaller announcements, but one of the most crucial, is that iOS 5 will be based around Delta updates - meaning the days of sitting around waiting for 500MB updates to download are gone. Now, any update to iOS 5 will be dragged down from the cloud, and only items that have been changed will be updated. Thank God for that.

We'll also hear more about iCloud, Apple's new cloud-based storage system. Announced alongside iOS 5 in June, it'll allow for apps, music, photos, documents, and anything else you could possibly wish to store on an iPhone, an iPad, a Mac or an iPod Touch to be updated across all our iOS devices, keeping everything updated quickly and easily without the need to constantly be plugging in your device.

Also expect to see the iPhone 4S. The majority of leaks indicate that this is what we'll be seeing today - based on the iPhone 4, with better, faster, more impressive technology, and potentially a bigger screen too. The Apple Stores in the US have stocked up on unlocked 3GS phones too, so expect to hear something regarding that. It would mean Apple have a tiered phone pricing plan - the 3GS at the low end, the 4 in the middle, and the 4S at the very high end.

Something will happen with the iPod - whether it just be new colours schemes or a complete overhaul. Rumours are floating around that Apple are ready to cut off the iPod Classic and the iPod Shuffle - heightened by the removal of click-wheel applications from the App Store late last month.

Release dates for iOS 5 and the new iPhone are still to be announced, but many believe that iOS 5 will either be made available immediately after the keynote today, or on October 10th, meaning that the iPhone is slated in for the 14th October.

Bar that, we'll just have to wait and see. I'll speak to you AC - After Cupertino.

Let's Talk iPhone.

Taken from General Musings of an Idiot: http://www.gmoai.com

I Wandered Lonely As A Cloud

I wandered lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o'er vales and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host, of golden daffodils;

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,

Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

 

Continuous as the stars that shine

And twinkle on the milky way,

They stretched in never-ending line

Along the margin of a bay:

Ten thousand saw I at a glance,

Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

 

The waves beside them danced; but they

Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:

A poet could not but be gay,

In such a jocund company:

I gazed--and gazed--but little thought

What wealth the show to me had brought:

 

For oft, when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude;

And then my heart with pleasure fills,

And dances with the daffodils.

 

William Wordsworth, 1888

Taken from General Musings of an Idiot: http://www.gmoai.com

Apple Prepare For iPhone 5 Launch On October 4th

Having looked at the dates of upload to GMOAI the last few months, it's fair to say it's been a little neglected. Not a lot has ended up at the end of that URL. But that's what happens when you have many fingers in different pies. So apologies to all, but I promise to get you something AT LEAST once a week.

Today, we're gonna talk Apple. And we will do next Tuesday too. But tonight the official invitations for the iPhone event at Apple HQ in Cupertino next Tuesday were leaked to the world. And not only has social media gone nuts, but so has every Apple geek across this planet - and I'm one of them.

And there it is, in all its wonder. Now, let's decipher it. Obviously, the 'Calendar' is the date of next Tuesday, the 4th of October. The event will begin at 10AM, as 'Clock' says. 'Maps' shows us it'll be at Cupertino, but the most intriguing part is the 'Phone' application, with a big red '1' button on it. Indicating a new phone? Just one?!

Having seen all the rumours and leaks over the last year or so of the new iPhone 5, we've also seen a growing number saying that we're quite likely to see a cheaper version produced too, knows as the iPhone 4S. So why hasn't that been listed too? Will it even happen?! All questions I'm sure we'll see answered over the next seven days.

Equally, there seem to be plenty of rumours flying around about 'secret' features to iOS5, also expected to be rolled out just before the iPhone 5 is in a few weeks' time. We've already seen the announcement of Twitter integration into the core software, but will we see Facebook jump on board too? There seems to be a deep hatred of Google between the two of the biggest companies in the world, and so it would surely make sense to come together and beat Android, and Google+ together. But we'll have to see with that one.

Seemingly, Facebook may feature again next Tuesday, with the announcement of their very long-awaited iPad app. Supposedly ready since May, Facebook are ready to unveil what will be the most-used app on the iPad over the next two weeks, and thus increasing their own personal market share of the social networking market even further. Or so they hope.

There'll be plenty more to look forward to - the inevitable 'One More Thing', Tim Cooks' first keynote as CEO, and all the new features of the new products - but until this time next week, we'll just have to keep second guessing...

Taken from General Musings of an Idiot: http://www.gmoai.com

The University Loneliness

There aren't many times in life that you stand and wave, before turning and feeling something is missing now in your life. The first time you leave home. The day your kids grow up and leave home themselves. When friends emigrate abroad.

But I didn't expect to be making so many of these goodbyes this September, when I had to turn, walk home, and be sat in an empty house for hours on end.

As you're all aware by now, a 'school administrative error', as I am now calling it, purely so I don't continue to get really wound up, caused my university place to blow away aimlessly in the wind to some other poor sod waiting to sort his life out. Letters should have been sent in March, as opposed to handed to me to send on Results Day - ending up in a complete and utter debacle where my place disappeared into thin air. I wouldn't mind so much if it was my fault, or the university's fault. But the fact it was the schools' fault, and it was the simplest thing to sort, makes it all the worse. But hey ho.

Thankfully, there are a fair few of us affected by school-related issues, and therefore we're staying behind - whether it be to re-sit the entire year, re-sit specific subjects, or hold out for an unconditional offer next year, knowing you've got the grades.

But that doesn't make it any easier. Oh no - far from it. Watching your friends disperse across the country, enjoying themselves this week in what is Fresher's Week, whilst I sit watching lunchtime re-runs of Celebrity MasterChef as I've already done all my jobs for the day.

It does beg the question: why don't people have some consideration? I know that if I was in their position, knowing that my best friends were left lagging behind, I'd keep stumn, keep my excitement from them, and keep it off the web. There's no humility - there's a level of arrogance that people are crossing every now and then, which just makes you feel awful. And it's not just me either. Having spoken to friends up and down the land, they're feeling the anguish too.

I don't mind the evenings, as they're what they always have been. But I hate the days - the long, drawn-out days that continue to get longer. With nothing to fill them but two hours of lessons every Friday morning, and the lack of jobs available to those in need of filling time, there is a distinct emptiness that continues to grow and grow, alongside this incessant loneliness of a silent house, and a lack of contact from anyone.

There's only so many Tweets you can send, emails you can check, and songs you can listen to before the echoing silence becomes deafening. And I'm only 48 hours into my 12 month stint at this.

I know a lot of people have been in this position previously, and are now in high-paid, enjoyable jobs, and have great lives. They say the 'Lonely Year', as we've called it, made them who they are today. I also know that I have close friends that have stayed back, because they're in the same position. But without seeing them, or being able to have a proper conversation with them, because our lives are now placing us elsewhere, it becomes more and more difficult.

So I hope you all enjoy your first year at university, and all enjoy the fun nights out and the new friends and experiences you will inevitable make and enjoy. But please - for the sake of people like myself stuck in this void year, stop making it worse for us by posting your fun across your social networking platforms?

The long road to the end goal has only just begun. Prepare yourselves for plenty more of posts like this...

Taken from General Musings of an Idiot: http://www.gmoai.com

9/11: The Day The Earth Stood Still

There are millions upon millions of articles and blog posts about 9/11 that will all have a more provoking meaning than this one. This blog needed writing, especially on this 10 year anniversary we are honouring today.

I remember vividly my own memories of 9/11. I was 8 at the time - and just home from school. I flicked the TV on, ready for the children's programmes to start, but was met with an image of two burning towers. I shouted through to Mum 'The Twin Towers have been hit by two planes' - reading the tagline from the breaking news, before being told to stop making things up. However, when she came through, she was glued to the telly too, watching this grotesque and vulgar act pan out across the world's media.

I remember watching them fall, and the next morning too. Dad's birthday is the 10th September, and Mum's is the 12th - and she just didn't want to celebrate her birthday. The newspapers were all full of the most horrific images, and every TV channel was showing the previous day's events. I remember school being one of the most sombre days to memory - with assemblies and a minute's silence - a very novel idea to an eight year-old. Every lesson had some element of sadness, and nobody wanted to be there. Bearing in mind we're from the UK, it proves quite how big a global impact Bin Laden's scheme had caused.

Nobody could really calculate quite how big an impact this would leave. The Twin Towers were once the tallest buildings on Earth, and now they're a graveyard, and nothing but steel and rubble at ground level. But looking back upon that fateful day, it wasn't the actual attacks that touched me the most, but the reaction of the American people.

Yes, of course there were tears, and sadness, and it was the worst day in American history. But there was a sense of patriotism, and almost a sense of pride that their country would continue to stand tall, and that the attacks would not halt their wonderful America.

That's what I'll remember - there are some poignant interviews on the internet with people who lost loved ones, yet still feel that pride in their country.

Today, we remember the 2,977 people who lost their lives in the events of September 11. We also see all their names unveiled in public for the first time at the World Trade Center Memorial. Today will be a day that will bring back horrific memories, but also that feeling of not being beaten down by Al-Qaeda, and that the American people can never be beaten.

Taken from General Musings of an Idiot: http://www.gmoai.com