If you recall my last post about renting with Fox in San Diego you'll recall how dangerous the first car was and how long it took to get a clean car. Well, I finally received a response from their customer service department on Friday last week. It only took 12 days after I was told I would be contacted ASAP. The response was mostly laughable to me. They offered to refund up to 30% of my rental and offered me a free day any time I wanted to use it.
My response - You can shove it.
It wasn't in so few words, but that is what I essentially told them. I reminded them the car endangered my life and that this was not the first time they had given me a car that had problems on the road. I also reminded them it took nearly two weeks to respond to an issue I was told to expect a response ASAP. I continued to lecture them on customer service concepts and that their fleet extends beyond 40,000 miles on average. I told them to keep the 30% and the free rental.
I would rather leave things as they are than deal with that company again. I highly recommend that you do not rent with Fox at any time. If it's the last rental company wherever you may be, take a cab. It will be safer and probably cleaner.
Another piece of information to this happened this afternoon. I had updated my Facebook post to Fox's Facebook site a few times telling them I had not received any contact. I got a response from that guy 3 weeks later asking if anyone had contacted me yet... Really!? Sheesh! These guys are really on top of things.... Need I say more about Fox?
Friday, October 28, 2011
18 Months Later and My DroidX is Still Relevant
Hello. My name is Brian Davis and I used to own a Blackberry. It wasn't that long ago when owning a Blackberry meant your were important, had a purpose in your company, and could manage your email better than anyone else when not in front of a computer.
The most recent smart phones offered by Apple, HTC, Motorola, and Samsung running either Apple's iOS or Google's Android OS all have better features and capabilities than the most recent Blackberry on the market. Android has greatly improved notifications of emails in Gmail and coprorate mail, and 3rd party email apps have even improved upon that in some cases. Apple is making strides in improving email notifications, but we all know having a smart phone is no longer about how well you can manage your email. It's about how cool your phone is. What can it do? How many apps can it hold? Can it detect metal, tell you how to find the closest CVS, take high res pictures and video, VPN to your office, or even act as a remote control for your DirecTV box or computer, or make your voice sound funny? I don't know about you, but mine can do all of that and way more.
I traded in my Blackberry Storm 1 about 18 months ago for a DroidX. It was the coolest thing since sliced bread. It has a 4.3" touch screen, gobs of RAM, and included a 16GB micro SD card. My phone is still faster than most other phones I run into even today. It has helped me out at customer sites while performing technical consulting. For example, how do I view a file in Linux (I am not a Linux expert)? Google it and less than 2 seconds later I have a command staring back at me on my screen. Using only my phone I can control the mouse on my home computer. I can also use it as a DirecTV remote. The Google Maps application has saved me from getting lost and also, got me out of areas I shouldn't have been after dark. Oh, yeah, I almost forgot. I have killed countless little green pigs with some very pissed off birds.
Of course, to be fair, just about anyone with a powerful smart phone can run most of these apps, but not everyone. Even with Android on different platforms there are still some differences. Even with my 3G connection and an EVO on some of Sprint's 4G networks, my phone was faster. I could pull up pages and render images faster than the EVO. To me, that says alot, not only about the hardware, but about the network, too. To be fair to the EVO, it is a great phone, but not all 4G connections are created equal.
So here I am 18 months after I bought my DroidX and in a time when a phone is considered ancient after 12 months, and a historic relic after 24 months, mine is still very relevant. It's like the cool muscle car that never goes out of style and can still whoop some ass even against the new comers. The latest 4G phones coming out showing that they are battery hogs on the 4G connection. Look at the reviews and you will see most barely last a day when on 4G all day. I know some software updates have come out to help some of those models, but not all. All of the smart phones I have owned never lasted more than 36 hours on a single charge and on heavy use days barely 16 hours. The Droid Bionic is the best 4G phone on battery life I am aware of. It gets rave reviews in that category.
When I am finally ready to update my phone, my current choice would still be an Android phone. I would probably pick a Droid Bionic from Verizon. Motorola is bringing back the Razr brand with the Droid Razr next month. With no list of specs on the phone it's kind of hard to make a decision on that one. Maybe we will see another commercial where someone buries a Droid Razr in the body of a car by throwing it. I loved those commercials.
Anyway, the bottom line here is, be cognizant of the phone you buy. It could be a dud (Blackberry Storm) or a stud (DroidX). Only time will tell.
The most recent smart phones offered by Apple, HTC, Motorola, and Samsung running either Apple's iOS or Google's Android OS all have better features and capabilities than the most recent Blackberry on the market. Android has greatly improved notifications of emails in Gmail and coprorate mail, and 3rd party email apps have even improved upon that in some cases. Apple is making strides in improving email notifications, but we all know having a smart phone is no longer about how well you can manage your email. It's about how cool your phone is. What can it do? How many apps can it hold? Can it detect metal, tell you how to find the closest CVS, take high res pictures and video, VPN to your office, or even act as a remote control for your DirecTV box or computer, or make your voice sound funny? I don't know about you, but mine can do all of that and way more.
I traded in my Blackberry Storm 1 about 18 months ago for a DroidX. It was the coolest thing since sliced bread. It has a 4.3" touch screen, gobs of RAM, and included a 16GB micro SD card. My phone is still faster than most other phones I run into even today. It has helped me out at customer sites while performing technical consulting. For example, how do I view a file in Linux (I am not a Linux expert)? Google it and less than 2 seconds later I have a command staring back at me on my screen. Using only my phone I can control the mouse on my home computer. I can also use it as a DirecTV remote. The Google Maps application has saved me from getting lost and also, got me out of areas I shouldn't have been after dark. Oh, yeah, I almost forgot. I have killed countless little green pigs with some very pissed off birds.
Of course, to be fair, just about anyone with a powerful smart phone can run most of these apps, but not everyone. Even with Android on different platforms there are still some differences. Even with my 3G connection and an EVO on some of Sprint's 4G networks, my phone was faster. I could pull up pages and render images faster than the EVO. To me, that says alot, not only about the hardware, but about the network, too. To be fair to the EVO, it is a great phone, but not all 4G connections are created equal.
So here I am 18 months after I bought my DroidX and in a time when a phone is considered ancient after 12 months, and a historic relic after 24 months, mine is still very relevant. It's like the cool muscle car that never goes out of style and can still whoop some ass even against the new comers. The latest 4G phones coming out showing that they are battery hogs on the 4G connection. Look at the reviews and you will see most barely last a day when on 4G all day. I know some software updates have come out to help some of those models, but not all. All of the smart phones I have owned never lasted more than 36 hours on a single charge and on heavy use days barely 16 hours. The Droid Bionic is the best 4G phone on battery life I am aware of. It gets rave reviews in that category.
When I am finally ready to update my phone, my current choice would still be an Android phone. I would probably pick a Droid Bionic from Verizon. Motorola is bringing back the Razr brand with the Droid Razr next month. With no list of specs on the phone it's kind of hard to make a decision on that one. Maybe we will see another commercial where someone buries a Droid Razr in the body of a car by throwing it. I loved those commercials.
Anyway, the bottom line here is, be cognizant of the phone you buy. It could be a dud (Blackberry Storm) or a stud (DroidX). Only time will tell.
Monday, October 10, 2011
San Diego Fox Rent a Car - Just Don't Go There
I rent a car every week, and sometimes twice a week. I travel all over the country and get the opportunity to see all kinds of great places. Along the way there will be some bad experiences. Usually, I don't expect them to be as bad as this one, although, I'm sure people have had worse experiences.
This is about my most recent experience with Fox Rent A Car in San Diego, CA. I had rented with Fox before in another state and that experience was very ho-hum. Nothing memorable, good or bad. Recently, Fox had posted all over Facebook about their recent remodel of their San Diego facility. I had never been there before, but by some of the responses people thought it was a good upgrade. Unfortunately, they spent their money on the facilities and forgot about the cars they supply.
I arrived to pick up my car at about 8:20pm. I was greeted promptly and sent out to get a car. I was given a Chevy Cruz. I have to ask, when was the last time anyone saw manually adjustable mirrors on a standard size car at a rental facility? For me, it was about 8 or 9 years ago. This Chevy Cruz was about as low end and low end could be. I wasn't quite sure, but I thought I saw a tape deck in the radio with mechanical station memory buttons. Anyway, I took the sub-standard car and went on my way. As I was leaving the brakes felt a little strange. They felt a little squishy. I thought they were okay enough until I got on the freeway and had to tap brakes at 60mph when I approached some traffic. The pucker factor immediately jumped from 0 to 8 in nothing flat.
Major problem #1 - The brakes must have had air in the lines or were low on fluid. I had to push the brakes almost all the way to the floorboard before they grabbed. They were as mushy at highway speeds as pushing my foot into a bag of marsh mellows. Can you say Holy $#!t!? I can, and did. This car was going to kill me!
Major Problem #2 - My heel was slipping on the floorboard at the brake and gas pedals. I had no grip on the floorboard at all to create leverage from my foot to the pedals. That makes it way too easy to miss getting off the gas in time to get to the brake. Next time you're driving see if your heel doesn't rest on the floorboard. See how comfortable it feels with your heel off the floor. Do you have any control over the gas or brake? I have a feeling very few people do.
I immediately returned to the car lot and explained my situation. The guy I talked to seemed shocked and rightfully so. I asked for a different car and didn't want the other Chevy Cruz they had if that was the way they were designed. Once bitten, twice shy, I say. So after 20 minutes of waiting for another car I finally had to go to the manager. There was only one guy outside and he was getting slammed by people trying to get in their cars and others returning cars. I went inside to find the manager and found there were 3 people standing around doing nothing, including the manager. Figures! The guy trying to help me initially, just didn't have the empowerment to get me in another car quickly. I am now on almost 30 minutes and still trying to get a car after nearly being sent to my death in a car with poor breaks.
Another employee finally offered a Chevy Malibu. Okay fine. So I start getting in and notice the seats have stains all over them as if someone had a kegger in the car recently. I usually drive clients around when I at a client site and there was no way I would ask clients to ride in a car like that. It does not look good for my company. For Fax Rent A Car to even offer a car like that is ridiculous. One or two small stains are acceptable. Stains that span and cover entire back seats and most of the front seats should simply have stain removal done or just replace the seats.
Now, I am on the waiting list again. I go back in and tell the manager my situation that the stains all over the seats are unacceptable as I will be entertaining clients. He asks me what I want and I state I simply want a car that is safe to drive and doesn't look like someone just had a party in it. He finally, reluctantly offers a Dodge Journey. Certainly, an upgraded car class from my originally booked standard size. This car had little dings and scratches all over the bottom skirt of the car. There was also still some stains in the back seat, but it was small enough where I just didn't care anymore. It was still unbelievably annoying. Does this place have a car that didn't look like its best days were well behind it? I was done at this point and needed to get going. I had already spent an hour trying to get a car that was safe to drive and at least somewhat clean.
Shame on you Fox Rent A Car! That was the most insulting experience in renting a car i have ever had. I expect the kind of cars and service I received on 10/9/11 from some fly by night operation where the cars are more than 3 years old. When I rent a car I expect to have a car that is safe to drive and won't kill me if I drive it off the lot. I also expect to have a car that is reasonably clean on the inside and outside. I also expect the car to have power options so as to reduce the stress of driving in an unfamiliar city that much easier. Just in case you are unclear, that should most definitely include mirrors. Try adjusting a passenger side mirror when you are on the road and the adjuster is 4 feet away. Any car with manual operations should be left with the manufacturer. I and other customers pay good money to expect good customer service, a reliable, modern, and clean vehicle. Anything less than that on your part is simply an insult to paying customers. I want you to know I will never rent from Fox again.
This is about my most recent experience with Fox Rent A Car in San Diego, CA. I had rented with Fox before in another state and that experience was very ho-hum. Nothing memorable, good or bad. Recently, Fox had posted all over Facebook about their recent remodel of their San Diego facility. I had never been there before, but by some of the responses people thought it was a good upgrade. Unfortunately, they spent their money on the facilities and forgot about the cars they supply.
I arrived to pick up my car at about 8:20pm. I was greeted promptly and sent out to get a car. I was given a Chevy Cruz. I have to ask, when was the last time anyone saw manually adjustable mirrors on a standard size car at a rental facility? For me, it was about 8 or 9 years ago. This Chevy Cruz was about as low end and low end could be. I wasn't quite sure, but I thought I saw a tape deck in the radio with mechanical station memory buttons. Anyway, I took the sub-standard car and went on my way. As I was leaving the brakes felt a little strange. They felt a little squishy. I thought they were okay enough until I got on the freeway and had to tap brakes at 60mph when I approached some traffic. The pucker factor immediately jumped from 0 to 8 in nothing flat.
Major problem #1 - The brakes must have had air in the lines or were low on fluid. I had to push the brakes almost all the way to the floorboard before they grabbed. They were as mushy at highway speeds as pushing my foot into a bag of marsh mellows. Can you say Holy $#!t!? I can, and did. This car was going to kill me!
Major Problem #2 - My heel was slipping on the floorboard at the brake and gas pedals. I had no grip on the floorboard at all to create leverage from my foot to the pedals. That makes it way too easy to miss getting off the gas in time to get to the brake. Next time you're driving see if your heel doesn't rest on the floorboard. See how comfortable it feels with your heel off the floor. Do you have any control over the gas or brake? I have a feeling very few people do.
I immediately returned to the car lot and explained my situation. The guy I talked to seemed shocked and rightfully so. I asked for a different car and didn't want the other Chevy Cruz they had if that was the way they were designed. Once bitten, twice shy, I say. So after 20 minutes of waiting for another car I finally had to go to the manager. There was only one guy outside and he was getting slammed by people trying to get in their cars and others returning cars. I went inside to find the manager and found there were 3 people standing around doing nothing, including the manager. Figures! The guy trying to help me initially, just didn't have the empowerment to get me in another car quickly. I am now on almost 30 minutes and still trying to get a car after nearly being sent to my death in a car with poor breaks.
Another employee finally offered a Chevy Malibu. Okay fine. So I start getting in and notice the seats have stains all over them as if someone had a kegger in the car recently. I usually drive clients around when I at a client site and there was no way I would ask clients to ride in a car like that. It does not look good for my company. For Fax Rent A Car to even offer a car like that is ridiculous. One or two small stains are acceptable. Stains that span and cover entire back seats and most of the front seats should simply have stain removal done or just replace the seats.
Now, I am on the waiting list again. I go back in and tell the manager my situation that the stains all over the seats are unacceptable as I will be entertaining clients. He asks me what I want and I state I simply want a car that is safe to drive and doesn't look like someone just had a party in it. He finally, reluctantly offers a Dodge Journey. Certainly, an upgraded car class from my originally booked standard size. This car had little dings and scratches all over the bottom skirt of the car. There was also still some stains in the back seat, but it was small enough where I just didn't care anymore. It was still unbelievably annoying. Does this place have a car that didn't look like its best days were well behind it? I was done at this point and needed to get going. I had already spent an hour trying to get a car that was safe to drive and at least somewhat clean.
Shame on you Fox Rent A Car! That was the most insulting experience in renting a car i have ever had. I expect the kind of cars and service I received on 10/9/11 from some fly by night operation where the cars are more than 3 years old. When I rent a car I expect to have a car that is safe to drive and won't kill me if I drive it off the lot. I also expect to have a car that is reasonably clean on the inside and outside. I also expect the car to have power options so as to reduce the stress of driving in an unfamiliar city that much easier. Just in case you are unclear, that should most definitely include mirrors. Try adjusting a passenger side mirror when you are on the road and the adjuster is 4 feet away. Any car with manual operations should be left with the manufacturer. I and other customers pay good money to expect good customer service, a reliable, modern, and clean vehicle. Anything less than that on your part is simply an insult to paying customers. I want you to know I will never rent from Fox again.
Are Home Theater PCs Still Relevant?
I have a Media PC running Windows 7 Professional Edition with 2x1TB Hard Drives, 8GB RAM, and an Athlon X3 processor. It sits in an Antec Home Theater case with a remote control. I have placed about 125 movies of my library on my home theater PC. The question has been brought up to me by friends, colleagues, and even some of my family - Is the Media PC still relevant? Why not get a home media player?
Even just three years ago I would have said yes. Today, however, I have to go with no, the home theater PC is no longer relevant. There are several reasons why. One is that computers and laptops are so much more affordable and powerful than they were three years ago. Home media players are also more affordable, have more features, and play a better range of formats than they did three years ago.
Most people bought or built home theater PCs, because you could find an application to run on the computer that could play the media content you wanted, surf the Internet in your living room, and even do some home accounting right from the comfort of your favorite recliner using a wireless mouse and keyboard. Laptops are starting around $300 to $400 and can easily surf the Internet and perform the same basic home accounting stuff. You can still watch movies on it, and best of all, take it with you on the road. Why bother with a clunky home theater PC that costs time and money to maintain.
Today's Media PCs can be built for much less than what they could 5 years ago. I can build a decent one for about $600 including the OS. I spend about an hour or two month cleaning up old content and keeping the bunnies out. I can buy a home media player that is capable of streaming content from the Internet, the home network, and even digital copies of DVD movies for a little less $300. Some of the Home media players still require external storage, while others have built-in storage of 2TB.
My personal thought on using your own storage or purchasing a device with storage has to do with your ability to fill it up quickly. 2TB can realistically hold up to about 200 DVD movies or about 50 Blu-Rays. If you are going to fill it up quickly, then splurge on a larger drive and use the USB or wired network connection on the home media player. That way you don't have to spend the money on a drive included with the device, and a drive that is aftermarket. Just spend it once on external storage and upgrade from there.
A home media player that is always getting good reviews amongst home theater enthusiasts is the Pop Corn Hour A-210. Coming this month to stores and selling for less than $200, it looks frugal in its appearance, but features are anything but. This device requires separate storage either through USB, network, or the internal SATA interface. This device supports just about everything you could require access to, including DVD and Blu-Ray ISO formats, popular video formats, including VOB, MPG, and MOV. You can also store and play your CDs through this device.
Another device from PCH is the C-200 with a bit more pizazz. It has the ability to use an internal BD-ROM, more USB ports, and a front LCD information panel. Not to mention this device can download apps from the Pop Corn Hour market. It's a bit bigger, but the style fits right in with most home theater components. This device runs at about $300, based on those who have owned and used Pop Corn Hour devices they are one of the best on the market in terms of reliability, features, and quality. Read the reviews for yourself.
I don't own one these yet, but when it is time to replace my home theater PC or perform an upgrade, my next upgrade will most likely be to a Pop Corn Hour home media player. If you are in the market for providing a device that can stream content to your TV from your home network or a storage device, then consider getting a home media player. It is much smaller and uses less power than a home theater PC.
Even just three years ago I would have said yes. Today, however, I have to go with no, the home theater PC is no longer relevant. There are several reasons why. One is that computers and laptops are so much more affordable and powerful than they were three years ago. Home media players are also more affordable, have more features, and play a better range of formats than they did three years ago.
Most people bought or built home theater PCs, because you could find an application to run on the computer that could play the media content you wanted, surf the Internet in your living room, and even do some home accounting right from the comfort of your favorite recliner using a wireless mouse and keyboard. Laptops are starting around $300 to $400 and can easily surf the Internet and perform the same basic home accounting stuff. You can still watch movies on it, and best of all, take it with you on the road. Why bother with a clunky home theater PC that costs time and money to maintain.
Today's Media PCs can be built for much less than what they could 5 years ago. I can build a decent one for about $600 including the OS. I spend about an hour or two month cleaning up old content and keeping the bunnies out. I can buy a home media player that is capable of streaming content from the Internet, the home network, and even digital copies of DVD movies for a little less $300. Some of the Home media players still require external storage, while others have built-in storage of 2TB.
My personal thought on using your own storage or purchasing a device with storage has to do with your ability to fill it up quickly. 2TB can realistically hold up to about 200 DVD movies or about 50 Blu-Rays. If you are going to fill it up quickly, then splurge on a larger drive and use the USB or wired network connection on the home media player. That way you don't have to spend the money on a drive included with the device, and a drive that is aftermarket. Just spend it once on external storage and upgrade from there.
A home media player that is always getting good reviews amongst home theater enthusiasts is the Pop Corn Hour A-210. Coming this month to stores and selling for less than $200, it looks frugal in its appearance, but features are anything but. This device requires separate storage either through USB, network, or the internal SATA interface. This device supports just about everything you could require access to, including DVD and Blu-Ray ISO formats, popular video formats, including VOB, MPG, and MOV. You can also store and play your CDs through this device.
Another device from PCH is the C-200 with a bit more pizazz. It has the ability to use an internal BD-ROM, more USB ports, and a front LCD information panel. Not to mention this device can download apps from the Pop Corn Hour market. It's a bit bigger, but the style fits right in with most home theater components. This device runs at about $300, based on those who have owned and used Pop Corn Hour devices they are one of the best on the market in terms of reliability, features, and quality. Read the reviews for yourself.
I don't own one these yet, but when it is time to replace my home theater PC or perform an upgrade, my next upgrade will most likely be to a Pop Corn Hour home media player. If you are in the market for providing a device that can stream content to your TV from your home network or a storage device, then consider getting a home media player. It is much smaller and uses less power than a home theater PC.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
The Incredible Vision of Steve Jobs
Like it or not, Steve Jobs is the reason we pay for the music we get online, have phones ranking high on the cool factor, and have mobile apps. I own an iPod Nano that is about 6 years old and just recently died. My wife owns an iPod Shuffle and so does my daughter. I will be the first to admit Steve Jobs is responsible for the non-Apple devices I do have and the success they have enjoyed. I am speaking specifically about the iPod and iPhone, and the other devices that followed. Also, the Macintosh computer and the PCs that followed. For without the former, the latter of these devices probably would not have enjoyed the success they have had. In no way do I mean Apple's devices play second fiddle. Quite the contrary.
Let's take the Macintosh computer first. It was the first computer designed to be placed in the home and used by people at home. The PC was designed to replace the terminals in the office and made its way to the home because of the success of the Macintosh. The graphical interface of the Macintosh spurred the development of Windows, which good or bad, has become the dominant Operating System. The Macintosh was the first computer in a long line of successful computer designs from Apple that made their way into millions of homes and business across the world.
While Apple never saw the true success they probably deserved in the computer market, they more than made up for it with the invention of the iPod. Digital music players were all over the place and almost all of them had nothing in common with each other outside of playing music. Some had decent interfaces, while others were horrible. Some had an FM radio, while others did not. Some allowed unprotected music files, while others did not. Almost all of them used Windows Media for synchronization or acted as a USB storage device for synchronization.
In 2001 the Apple iPod put an end to dysfunctional interfaces and clumsy controls. With a sleek virtual wheel, a touch button center, a display big enough to read the entire song information, and too much storage to know what to do with buyers lined up to buy the most expensive digital music player on the market. Music players at the time were trying to move toward flash memory, which was rather small at the time, while the iPod was using a real hard drive. They had the technology to protect the hard drive and keep it from skipping when in motion. Many others did not have that capability.
Taking it a step further, Apple setup the iTunes Music store to buy music and put it on your iPod. A one stop shop to select, purchase, and download your music right from the comfort of your own computer. The best part is it was legal. A few years before the iPod, illegal music sharing was rampant and even Dave Chappelle took a shot at it in one of his skits. No one else could touch the iPod and the iTunes music store.
The iPod transformed the digital music player as a whole. Anyone who produced a music player from that point on looked to the iPod for inspiration and technology innovation. Microsoft even tried a failed approach. While it sold decently, its were paled in comparison to the iPod. It was the first time Microsoft was stomped by Apple. Victory goes to Steve Jobs.
The iPod spurred innovation even for Apple by producing the iPhone. The best music player just became a phone. The concept was an immediate hit with a large touch screen and the same smooth iPod interface, again no one could touch it. AT&T owes its current success to the iPhone. The next best phone to try and match the iPhone's success came from Google - Android. The Android system probably would not have enjoyed the same success it has today, because it was immediately compared to the iPhone. Initially, it failed in comparison, but grew to overtake the iPhone in registrations. I think this interesting, because only one phone runs the iPhone OS. The phone has been upgraded and just was released with its 5th generation, while the Android OS runs on dozens of different types of phones. It took dozens to knock off one.
Steve Jobs was responsible for the success of his own company since his return, starting with the iPod in 2001. He was also responsible for the success of dozens of other companies with the development of apps for the iPhone, the creation of competing devices, and even media producers making content for the iPhone - a.k.a. the PodCast.
I don't think I even need to mention the iPad. I need only to mention two companies to confirm superiority there - HP and RIM. If you're wondering why they're being brought up in a tablet discussion, I simply say, "I rest my case".
With the passing of Steve Jobs today we have lost one of the greatest technical visionaries of our time. His ideas have created our digital life as it exists today. Work, life, and play can all coexist together on something that fits in the palm of your hand. There are several choices on how one can have work, life, and play coexist, but it all started with the iPod.
My personal message to Steve Jobs - Your vision is second to none. You pushed others to compete against you to create products challenging yours. You created features and services no one had ever done before forcing them to follow in your path. I was not a follower and owned only a couple of Apple devices. I know that because of the devices, services, and features you created, my devices I do own have tried to match you and come very close to being your match. While I will probably never be considered an Apple guy, I will always know that the devices I do buy have the capabilities and features because of your pioneering vision in technology. Thank you for all you have done for the technology industry. You will be sorely missed. I hope Tim Cook is half the pioneer you were. Rest In Peace.
Let's take the Macintosh computer first. It was the first computer designed to be placed in the home and used by people at home. The PC was designed to replace the terminals in the office and made its way to the home because of the success of the Macintosh. The graphical interface of the Macintosh spurred the development of Windows, which good or bad, has become the dominant Operating System. The Macintosh was the first computer in a long line of successful computer designs from Apple that made their way into millions of homes and business across the world.
While Apple never saw the true success they probably deserved in the computer market, they more than made up for it with the invention of the iPod. Digital music players were all over the place and almost all of them had nothing in common with each other outside of playing music. Some had decent interfaces, while others were horrible. Some had an FM radio, while others did not. Some allowed unprotected music files, while others did not. Almost all of them used Windows Media for synchronization or acted as a USB storage device for synchronization.
In 2001 the Apple iPod put an end to dysfunctional interfaces and clumsy controls. With a sleek virtual wheel, a touch button center, a display big enough to read the entire song information, and too much storage to know what to do with buyers lined up to buy the most expensive digital music player on the market. Music players at the time were trying to move toward flash memory, which was rather small at the time, while the iPod was using a real hard drive. They had the technology to protect the hard drive and keep it from skipping when in motion. Many others did not have that capability.
Taking it a step further, Apple setup the iTunes Music store to buy music and put it on your iPod. A one stop shop to select, purchase, and download your music right from the comfort of your own computer. The best part is it was legal. A few years before the iPod, illegal music sharing was rampant and even Dave Chappelle took a shot at it in one of his skits. No one else could touch the iPod and the iTunes music store.
The iPod transformed the digital music player as a whole. Anyone who produced a music player from that point on looked to the iPod for inspiration and technology innovation. Microsoft even tried a failed approach. While it sold decently, its were paled in comparison to the iPod. It was the first time Microsoft was stomped by Apple. Victory goes to Steve Jobs.
The iPod spurred innovation even for Apple by producing the iPhone. The best music player just became a phone. The concept was an immediate hit with a large touch screen and the same smooth iPod interface, again no one could touch it. AT&T owes its current success to the iPhone. The next best phone to try and match the iPhone's success came from Google - Android. The Android system probably would not have enjoyed the same success it has today, because it was immediately compared to the iPhone. Initially, it failed in comparison, but grew to overtake the iPhone in registrations. I think this interesting, because only one phone runs the iPhone OS. The phone has been upgraded and just was released with its 5th generation, while the Android OS runs on dozens of different types of phones. It took dozens to knock off one.
Steve Jobs was responsible for the success of his own company since his return, starting with the iPod in 2001. He was also responsible for the success of dozens of other companies with the development of apps for the iPhone, the creation of competing devices, and even media producers making content for the iPhone - a.k.a. the PodCast.
I don't think I even need to mention the iPad. I need only to mention two companies to confirm superiority there - HP and RIM. If you're wondering why they're being brought up in a tablet discussion, I simply say, "I rest my case".
With the passing of Steve Jobs today we have lost one of the greatest technical visionaries of our time. His ideas have created our digital life as it exists today. Work, life, and play can all coexist together on something that fits in the palm of your hand. There are several choices on how one can have work, life, and play coexist, but it all started with the iPod.
My personal message to Steve Jobs - Your vision is second to none. You pushed others to compete against you to create products challenging yours. You created features and services no one had ever done before forcing them to follow in your path. I was not a follower and owned only a couple of Apple devices. I know that because of the devices, services, and features you created, my devices I do own have tried to match you and come very close to being your match. While I will probably never be considered an Apple guy, I will always know that the devices I do buy have the capabilities and features because of your pioneering vision in technology. Thank you for all you have done for the technology industry. You will be sorely missed. I hope Tim Cook is half the pioneer you were. Rest In Peace.
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