Jacob Hall, Editor-in-Chief of TapSauce | APPS | 08.07.2012 @ 1:00 pm
Today in “Apple VS Google”:
“Our license to include the YouTube app in iOS has ended, customers can use YouTube in the Safari browser and Google is working on a new YouTube app to be on the App Store.” And thus, Apple’s attempt to completely sever ties with Google took another step forward. Starting with iOS 6, the Apple-designed YouTube app that has graced the front of every iPhone will be no more. This is the second Google casualty on the iOS device, following removal of Google maps. The only thing left? The Google search bar. Apple is dead set on removing any foothold its chief competitor has in its hardware, but is it being reckless? Can Apple do maps as well as Google? Can it build a search engine as effective? No. No. No. Tread lightly, Apple. Don’t screw your customers.
Today in “Microsoft VS Everyone”:
Unlike the ever-internal Apple, Microsoft has risen to prominence with the help of numerous manufacturers, whose computers have housed Windows operating systems for years. Now that Microsoft is getting into the hardware business directly with their upcomign Surface tablet, their associates aren’t too happy. Acer, in particular, isn’t being too quiet, warning that Microsoft may cause serious harm to the industry as a whole. Says Acer CEO JT Wang:
“We have said [to Microsoft] think it over…Think twice. It will create a huge negative impact for the ecosystem and other brands may take a negative reaction. It is not something you are good at so please think twice.”
Ouch. Is Microsoft going to hurt itself by rushing to Apple’s level?
Today in “Google Fail/Cautious Google”:
Earlier this week, Google delayed the release of their Nexus Q device despite it being just about ready to ship (it would be on shelves by next week if not for the delay). Apparently, the device was such an inoperable mess that it was borderline unusable. Ouch. Some have already painted this with the most negative brush strokes possible, but I can’t help but look at this as a good thing. How often have companies put junk hardware on shelves just to get it out there? How often have we bough a shoddy product and watched it break within hours of use? The Nexus Q is going to be Google’s answer to the Apple TV: they can’t afford for this one to be a bust. By delaying it, they not only have a chance to fix it and transform it into a quality product, they’ll be able to maintain their good name by not putting something unusable out there. People may be picking on them, but good for Google.
Today in “Dire Warnings”:
Look, we love technology. We love the internet. We love being connected. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves and start thinking we’re living in some kind of untouchable paradise. Mat Honan’s recent internet security problems have been documented in a terrific article and it’s terrifying and infuriating. We spend so much of our lives online and seeing how fast a couple of practical jokers with a little hacking experience can destroy an innocent’s guy’s life and work is astounding. Enjoy the internet, folks, but please, please, please…be cautious.