The model of interaction with the iPad is to be a "consumer," what William Gibson memorably described as "something the size of a baby hippo, the color of a week-old boiled potato, that lives by itself, in the dark, in a double-wide on the outskirts of Topeka. It's covered with eyes and it sweats constantly. The sweat runs into those eyes and makes them sting. It has no mouth... no genitals, and can only express its mute extremes of murderous rage and infantile desire by changing the channels on a universal remote."

The way you improve your iPad isn't to figure out how it works and making it better. The way you improve the iPad is to buy iApps. Buying an iPad for your kids isn't a means of jump-starting the realization that the world is yours to take apart and reassemble; it's a way of telling your offspring that even changing the batteries is something you have to leave to the professionals.

These two paragraphs sum up my opinions about the iPad (and Apple in general these days) better than I ever could. I did find it curious that Doctorow left "Or by voting in presidential elections." off the end of the Gibson quote, but it's amazingly appropriate despite the omission of what I see as the punchline.

There's another great reference in the post to the "Maker's Manifesto," which states that if you can't open it, you don't own it. "Screws not glue." I used to like Apple, but it's hard to ignore the fact that over the past 5 years or so they've locked down their products well beyond the point of ridiculousness. They want you to buy early and often, and spend spend spend on apps and content. Great business model for people who don't care or don't know any better, but definitely not for me.

Why did I think of Windows when I read this? ;-)

So often I see companies create job specs for engineers where the key requirement is to hire someone who can hit the deck coding like mad using whatever tools have been selected. To that end they load the specs up with endless tech hubris and at interview ask the details of this or that bit of syntax or API call. But what about the next project within the company where the tech is different? All those engineers that just got hired are now useless, they don’t have the skills and we lose time whilst they learn. Or we could fire them and hire another lot?

Couldn't agree more. The longer I'm in this business the more weary I grow of one-trick technologists. Yes, I think it's important to spend a lot of time with a few select tools so you don't fall into the "jack of all trades master of none" camp, but frankly better that than complete inflexibility or unwillingness to try new things.

Palm has made it official: in December, they will facilitate any developer to distribute any app to any Pre owner: directly and easily. The lingering questions about whether 'sideloading' (allowing users to install apps directly instead of through the app catalog) and whether their policies regarding app distribution and open source software have all been resolved in one fell swoop. The resolution, as Derek wrote, is that any developer can submit their app to Palm, who will then provide an URL which will directly install the app -- Palm won't hinder, review, or otherwise throw up roadblocks. There are more details from the developer relations team here and though in this giddy, late hour I don't see devils in those details, it's possible they could be there.

Really, really awesome news. Totally changes my thoughts on the Pre (yeah, people are probably getting whiplash by now). If the Pre makes it to Verizon this will definitely be my next phone.

Thawte is ending their Web of Trust, including their free Personal Email Certificates, in less than 2 weeks' time. This hasn't been picked up by the media yet. Seems to me a lot of people, including myself, are hurt by this.

Bummer. Wonder if there are any free alternatives out there.

It appears Palm is seeking to follow Apple’s footsteps in gaining a reputation for inconsistent and spurious rejections and removals of iPhone and iPod Touch applications. In this case, Palm has resisted including a free application because the source code is attainable elsewhere.

It's getting to the point where there are zero good options for a cell phone. I had high hopes for OpenMoko's Neo FreeRunner but I think it's still kind of iffy that it's usable as an actual phone (though it's a seriously cool project), and even if it does work I believe I'd have to be on T-Mobile to use it. I'm too happy with my service, call quality, etc. on Verizon to switch.

I'll have to look more into Android I suppose (if they ever make it to Verizon) but I'm starting to think I'll just get a burner and call it a day. Until the mobile companies start being so draconian about everything, low-tech might be the way to go.

Like many of you out there, I've searched and searched on the Internet for a solution to this issue, which I've also noticed to be quite popular (why should it be? you create something on the virtual machine and you want to save it, right?), and many guides are incomplete or they point you in the wrong direction. Therefore, I present today  a step-by-step tutorial (with screenshots) to this very simple-to-fix issue (you won't believe how simple it was in the end).

On the rare occasion when I have to use Windows I use a VM in VirtualBox, but Windows 7 folder sharing doesn't work as it did with XP for some reason. Easy enough fix--full details in the article but basically you set up the shared folder and then map the drive using \\vboxsrv\sharename

Oh how the worm turns. Can't say I disagree. Apple started out as an "alternative" with their "Think Different" campaign (to contrast with IBM's "Think" motto), but between iTunes and the iPhone they want control over every aspect of people's digital lives. High time Apple went back to their roots--I think the backlash has been building for quite a while and the tighter Jobs clenches his fist the more customers will slip through his fingers. Or something. ;-)

I believe we must choose to safeguard the openness that has made the Internet a stunning success. That is why today, I delivered a speech announcing that the FCC will be the smart cop on the beat when it comes to preserving a free and open Internet.

In particular, I proposed that the FCC adopt two new rules to help achieve this.

The first says broadband providers cannot discriminate against particular Internet content or applications. The second says broadband providers must be transparent about their network management practices.

Given how out of touch and backwards government usually is on the Internet, this is a very welcome shock.