Apple

The guys from Rooster Teeth make a holiday horror video based on Siri.

Chris Keall wasn’t sure who to vote for in Epsom, so he asked Siri:

Siri asked: Should I vote for Paul Goldsmith? from Chris Keall on Vimeo.

Once again Labour Policy not properly costed ?

Labour yet another poorly thought out or costed policy. This time it was to 30 bored kids on a field in Hamilton, forced to sit their by their union hack teachers all getting the news about laptops for kids.

Nice sounding policy but I have a few questions. The answers will probably need Labour to form an expert panel since they don’t seem to have them.

I have worked in IT for many years. The hardware (laptop is this case) is often the cheapest part, but what about software?

Is Labour committing to pour taxpayer dollars into Microsoft or Apple’s prodigious cash coffers?

What about open source?

Maintenance is always a huge cost, and average life of any laptop is three years tops, is this a commitment long term?

Who funds upgrades?

What about middle class ? Miss out again ?

Up to what decile school would be supplied?

What about hidden costs, would kids be allowed to take these laptops home ?

If so there are obvious problems with that plan. After their flat screen TV and Sky decoder the laptop will be the most valuable item in the house.

Are we going to see a massive glut of state funded laptops appearing on Trademe? Imagine the chaos in class…”I lost it miss, honest”

If they are not allowed to go home then Labour has made schools more attractive for burglars with 30+ laptops per classroom.

Who will fund the necessary increase in security?

Will they still end up on Trademe after the thieves have been?

Lots of questions, not many answers.

Now that Steve Jobs has died some of his thoughts are being released through his biographer:

The Apple chief also criticised America’s uncompetitive education system, which he said was “crippled by union work rules.” He said Mr Obama should have schools open until 6pm, 11 months a year.

This sis something the government should look at. It would save millions in in childcare costs for parents, and teachers are paid a salary anyway so there is no extra cost in extending the hours of school.

A tribute video to Steve Jobs made entirely from sounds from Apple products and Steve Jobs own voice from his 2005 Stanford commencement speech. Every instrument, including drums, has been sampled from a Mac product, tuned by ear, and replayed in the context of the song.

In Australia there has been an injunction placed on Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 because of a lawsuit between Samsung and Apple. It hasn’t stopped the punters however:

“If we could ask one question of Justice Bennett in the wake of her decision it would be this: does she really believe, in a global consumer economy, that there is any practical value in an Australian court slapping an injunction on a mass-market consumer product that is, in any event, widely available for purchase online?”

The only people affected by the injunction are the bricks and mortar retailers. Once again though it shows why legislators just don’t get it when it comes to technology versus the law.

A very handy infographic from Likecool.

The Wall Street Journal just published this:

PRESS RELEASE: Letter from Steve Jobs

August 24, 2011–To the Apple Board of Directors and the Apple Community:

I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple’s CEO, I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come.

I hereby resign as CEO of Apple. I would like to serve, if the Board sees fit, as Chairman of the Board, director and Apple employee.

As far as my successor goes, I strongly recommend that we execute our succession plan and name Tim Cook as CEO of Apple.

I believe Apple’s brightest and most innovative days are ahead of it. And I look forward to watching and contributing to its success in a new role.

I have made some of the best friends of my life at Apple, and I thank you all for the many years of being able to work alongside you.

…if you are a hipster that is

In addition to looking stylish, if you are a hipster, the BookBook for iPhone also acts as a fully functional wallet.

They also have the BookBook for iPads.