Interestingness Rediscovered

Competing these days is about not competing at all

Competition is still about fighting each other in the same ballpark, at least in the Japanese business context. On the surface, it sounds fair and gentlemen-like. Deep inside, everybody is exhausted trying to catch more fish in the red ocean. Also over time they lose the ability to think outside their box. Some even don't realize they are in a box.

Each time I make a visit to my homeland, I see companies trying to "impress" clients and competitors. Let's take digital cameras for example: A quick googling "The world's thinnest" in Japanese yields the following results as of Feb 14th, 2010.

• The world's thinnest camera with 10x optical zoom (Nikon Coolpix S8000)
• The world's thinnest full-HD video camera (Sanyo Xacti)
• The world's thinnest G-Shock camera (Casio Exilim G Ex-G1)

Seriously, who cares? They might be spending all their power to beat their opponents, but they do not realize they are just collectively masturbating, at least from their customers' point of view. None of them came up with Flip Mino, a video camera we actually want.

The definition of competition has changed. It is no more about competing against each other. It's about how not to compete.

I once visited Sanyo, then an electric giant boasting Japan's largest electronics industrial complex owned by a single company, to demonstrate a semiconductor IP. They said they were not interested in. We gave them the name of our biggest Asian customer: Samsung. They dismissed Samsung as the "company who just kept wasting an incredible amount of money."

Five years later, Sanyo became a subsidiary of Panasonic and Samsung became the world's No.1 electronic brand. People at Sanyo (to be fair, me too) did not understand Samsung was not only competing with them but also was already surpassing them. We failed to see its influence because Samsung played a different game from Japanese companies.

Japanese companies developed almost everything inside, with their in-bred workers. Samsung brought in almost everything, from staff to technologies to design. Japanese companies sold products domestically first, and after a successful reaction, sold them worldwide. Samsung targeted worldwide audience from the beginning. Even the Korean market, their supposedly home base, was treated as one of the many Asian regions.

Competition will always exist, but it is getting clearer that winners are those who put the word "competitor" out of their head and do what really matters for them and their customers.

Upgrading URL shorteners

Hootsuite, which I use for tracking and composing tweets, comes with a URL shortner: ow.ly. It is a versatile tool that I use whenever I want to introduce a web link. It is like having a freebie. On a free web application.

The only downside of ow.ly is that it shows off the Hootsuite advertisement at the top of the destination page. Wait a second, maybe I am exposing my colleagues the fact that I am a semi-Twitter addict. Let's hope they already know. We all hate surprise.

URL shorteners came a long way to become shorter thatn the original TinyURL days. Because they all have tracking features to find out who clicked how many times at what hours, major companies are joining the bandwagon by providing their proprietary shortners. Statistics might be worse than damn lies, but we still trust it despite/because of.

To me, ow.ly is still the best just because it has only four characters, the shortest of all major shorteners. Can others follow suit? Here are the major shorteners and how they can be improved.

Google: google.com -> goo.gl

Nearly perfect, but it is still five characters. Also it is hard to pronounce. What about gu.ge? Their soon-to-be-closed Chinese version is pronounced Gu-Ge (谷歌) anyhow. They won't mind about copy infringement, if done internally.

Youtube: youtube.com -> youtu.be

Too long. Following our SMS conventions, "you" -> U, and "tu" -> 2. Therefore, U2.be. Oh, no.

New York Times: nytimes.com -> nyti.ms

Again, too long. What about ny.ti? Sounds like Nice Tie? because all people who read New York Times in paper apparently wear ties. They will be extinct soon, of course.

Facebook: facebook.com -> fb.me

This is a smart naming. "Facebook Me." Also short. But not exactly flawless. They should focus more on the core part of their brand, the "Face" part. Therefore, it should be fc.me. Hmm, maybe no.

The losers should have some redemption too.

TinyURL: tinyurl.com -> tinyurl.com

They might be the pioneer of URL shorteners, but their days are numbered. It's time to start anew: they should pick ti.ny. There, much better.

Microsoft: Bing.com -> Binged.it

This TechCrunch article says it eloquently: they are (as usual) beyond redemption. fa.il.

Rediscovering blog identity

The seasonal identity crisis has arrived. This blog used to be called "Free Random Thoughts: melting technology and communication in the Asian pot." Now it is "Interestingness Rediscovered: missing angles in our familiar view." The following describes why so.

I always thought I had no consistency in the blog topic I chose. In the 30 days prior to the title change I wrote about being freelance, Powerpoint as ebooks format, overrated value of stuff, making viral online video, our shortening attention, editing in the 2010s, what iPad means, online notepad, Google Buzz, and quoting.

They are loosely connected by two keywords: technology and communication, as was stated in the blog's old description: melting technology and communication in the Asian pot.

It is actually a cop-out statement. Communicating is what makes us who we are, and technology helps us do so. Plus I happen to be in Asia (Taipei). Therefore the description is no different than "everything about a person living in Asia." Which is nothing, considering there are billions of people living in territories defined as part of Asia. The title "Free random thoughts" doesn't say anything either; all our thoughts are random, in a sense.

In short, I picked the blog title and description because I didn't know what my blog was about.

But during waves of soul-searching(which get surfing-high after a long meeting, missed lottery, or fewer marbles than usual in a pack of M&Ms), I started seeing there is a pattern in topics I choose. They are about finding a fact or truth that are not paid attention to.

It's not necessary about presenting a unique opinion, though it might be so as a result.  It's also not about catching up with the latest trend, though it might be timely. It's about finding out a missing angle when seeing familiar (in other words, tired) issues in our life.

For example, this entry itself is about an obvious point being missed when naming a blog: this blog's old title showed who I was, whereas a blog title should always describe what the blog is about. Period.

Mission Statement

My ultimate goal is to shout "It's an elephant!" in the well-known story of a group of blind men touching an elephant:

Each one touches a different part, but only one part, such as the side or the tusk. They then compare notes on what they felt, and learn they are in complete disagreement.

 ...But more likely than not, I might be one of those blind men. At least I hope I am presenting a partial truth about that elephant.

Why Segway Failed and How to Make it Come Back

Once self-touted as the greatest invention in history of humanity, Segway was quietly sold at the end of January. Despite the initial fanfare, they never acquired the ubiquity they aspired for. What was the problem?

I suppose it was because no one could make riding Segway sexy. Listing the iconic Segway riders makes this point clear. Is there anyone who wants to date them?

• Mall cops
• Chinese Segway army
• The movie Speed Racer (corporate engineers)
• Steve Wozniak and his pals playing polo

Clearly Segway's unpopularity is not because of its impracticality. Millions of city residents buy shiny BMWs and Audis, 10 times as costly as Segway but only twice as useful (I guess). I am afraid the real answer we don't want Segway is that we simply cannot think of a context to impress others (especially girls for men) using it.

Objectively, riding a Segway can be as sexy as riding a mountain bike wearing pink helmet and yellow spandex. But alas, bike riders has Lance Armstrong as the official sexydom ambassador. Segway had Steve Wozniak. The game was over even before it started.

The Segway team really should have added sexual element into that so-unsexual machine. Maybe the current owner will do it; that's when Segway will come back with a vengeance. What about this Korean dancing team (very hot in Taiwan currently) doing their moves on Segways?

What does it mean to be self-employed?

At BrazenCareerist.com Penelope Trunk and Ryan Paugh had another (almost) weekly webinar on career management: resume doctor, location independent, how to be a better blogger, so on. This time it was about self-employment, which touches on almost everybody's nerves. (They do pick interesting subjects.) Here is the summary of their messages.

To employ or to be employed

• There is no shame in suiting employed life.
• Self-employment is NOT a goal. Set a work goal.
• If you are doing good as employee, test your water by doing side projects. If you can't do that well, you won't be able to handle self-employment.
• You can try, and you can always go back to corporate life. It's not going to be a dead-end in your resume.

On marketing

• Do or hire great marketing.
• 80% marketing, 20% real work.
• Random hook-ups does not hurt. Just try it as a marketing tactic. Don't be bad in bed, though.

Self-employment vs. Entrepreneurship

• Self employed and Changing-the-world are different. The former is a one-person operation and comprises almost 90% of all entrepreneurs. The latter works in team and is actually about being funded.
• It is very hard to find a fundable idea. (For Penelope) finding the right idea and team for funding took 3 years.

On ideas

• There is no unique idea. It's all about execution.
• People who don't tell idea are people who don't do anything.
• Most entrepreneurs go through 15-20 ideas before they hit on one.

Am I ready?

• The only question: are your skills/ideas marketable?
• Don't think of yourself as woman. Men have all the power, no women did it all alone. Dress like women, network with men.
• Once you think failure doesn't matter, it's much easier to start.
• Be specific at what you are great. Nobody wants to hire non-experienced freelancer.

On time management

• System for time management: most people work 100% of their time.
  
• Have personal time to keep yourself from getting crazy.
• Most entrepreneurs get up early. at 5am. And they work more hours than most people.

To keep on going

• Declare what you don't do.
• At the beginning, take whatever.
• Be great at spending less consistently.
• Have a structured, excellent package.

Does quote make a person look smart, or the other way around?

We all love quotes. If we look at them individually, almost all of them teach us something invaluable, make us look smart (by listing quotes), or at least make us laugh. The quote form itself has a magical power: almost anything sounds smart-ass when marked as quotes.

Quote is the greatest tool for making a boring sentence/person look smart. - Isao Kato -

Why does a quote always sound wise? I believe it is because a quote is stripped off its original context. We wrap a quote with our imagination; we try to make up for or find our personal story that actually fits well with the quote. In another way, we add our own meaning to a quote. It is especially true for the one below:

There are two ways to argue with a woman. Neither one works.

Naturally, a question arise: are people with many quotes actually who we think they are? When we take a look at their individual quotes they look awesome. But what if we review their quotes collectively?

I picked up Henry Ford, the visionary auto czar, to review his integrity through his quotes: all quotes are taken from Brainyquote and Wikiquote.

• Any colour - so long as it's black. (be arrogant)
• If there is any one secret of success, it lies in the ability to get the other person's point of view and see things from that person's angle as well as from your own (be emphatic)
  
• If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses (be arrogant)

Is this guy an arrogant genius or emphatic dreamer? Two more...

• As we advance in life we learn the limits of our abilities (know your limit)
  
• Anyone who keeps learning stays young (dream on)

Is this guy a believer or pragmatist?

Conclusion: though each quote might have its own source of wisdom, collectively they show an image of a real human: full of contradictions and conflicts.

Everybody will be famous for 15 minutes. - Andy Warhol -

Why don't we way, every quote has its wisdom for 15 seconds, and move on without caring too much about them?

5 ways I want to read an imaginary e-book

I might be selling out by naming the entry that way. Countless online tips say naming the title "10 ways to", "How to", and "Why" is the way to attract more readers. I clicked those tips maybe fifty times and after the first three, all advices start to look the same, except for ones revealing personal experiences.

If including a personal element is the way to make a collection of tips stand out, why not having one purely based on fantasy? That's totally personal.

So, here are the five ways I want to read digital books using an imaginary e-book reader.

Search and destroy.

This one is already realized, I guess. Pick a keyword, read relevant topics, then consider the book to be finished. It's even better than using the Index.

Example: university textbooks, adult entertainment (which is completely out of yours truly's choice, except for learning foreign languages).

Say it aloud.

I want uninterrupted reading experience. Why can't we read texts when the book reader is open, and continue listening texts when the reader is closed? That way I can read while, say, on a bus, and switch to listening while walking. I seriously want this function; it's either this feature becomes realized or I die hitting my head on poles and stomping my feet into ditches while reading texts on my smartphone.

Follow me.

I have an attention-deficit problem, frequently losing where I am reading and re-reading a chunk of page. I would like the e-book to have a colored marker on the page moving at a constant speed. All I need to do is to follow the marker to keep the reading pace, therefore forcing me to pay attention and never losing track of where I am. It should even turns the pages automatically.

Translation on the spot.

I love learning languages. My current goal is to be able to read and write in Chinese and Spanish. Reading books in those languages is an excellent start, but referring to a dictionary does not work well with the reading flow. I would like the e-book to integrate Google Translation so that whenever I touch a word it shows up the definition immediately.

Book-on-demand.

I want a fully-functional library system realized on an e-book. I can borrow unlimited number of books for a fixed monthly fee. After a certain period of time I lose access to those books. Simple, right? The library system will solve...

• The school textbook dilemma, again. We lease a book for the term, and when done, return it back. That's what we want (not the scholars and publishers).
• The short story collections dilemma. If I only want to read a section or a chapter in a book, I want to do that. People who say a book has to be read as a whole to properly get the idea obviously overlook the fact that most of us now buy singles in iTunes and are fine with it.

We know how to use Buzz, but we do not know how to talk in Buzz

I have started using Google Buzz. Or I should say Google started making me use it, because when I woke up one day the Buzz icon was there, complete with the list of my followers and people whom I follow. If someone "steals" our connection and declares that I am a fan of who-knows, we would be blocking that person/service for good. But it's the act of God, so no one complains.

What if the "Following" list included someone unwelcomed (fortunately not my case), let's say, our parents and our boss? If we list these scenarios in order of chillingness, it should look something like this:

1. Our boss following us
2. Our parents following us
3. Our ex- following us
4. Our secret crush following us (and promptly dumps/unfollows us after finding out the auto-following function)

As of this moment (Feb 12th) the whole world is buzzing the Buzz. But no one I have read has buzzed about the stalkish nightmare that should follow. I suppose it is a matter of time.

One issue with Google Buzz is that it nearly flattens the hierarchical relationship we had with each email acquaintance. The email used to be our mailbox at our gate: everything comes in, from coveted love letters to letters about making love, and we filter them subsequently. The entry is wide open because we know they cannot come in further.

With the integration of Buzz, it looks like now everybody can enter into our living room. People get our email address (the location), follow us (get inside our house), listen to our conversation (dwell in our living room). We still have our bedroom locked, but is the wall thick enough to shut all the sound?

Facebook has the same feature but that's a service originally intended for our dearest friends, so there is little problem. (Almost) everybody in Facebook is someone whom we trust, so we can talk about our private life. It's the 3PM tea-time chatter.

Twitter does that too but that's a broadcasting station so we know everything we say should be generic, mass-media. It's the 3PM radio station. If you want to talk about your privacy, it's your choice.

Email list is problematic. It includes everybody from the dearest to the hated. And we don't have a good way to talk with our friends, family, coworkers, students, etc. in a single voice. If we take the safe route, there will be no juicy element inside our conversation and that's not a conversation any more.

The fact is, with Goolge Buzz the Pandora's box has opened. If the email starts going the public road, what else is left for privacy? Whether we like it or not, we have to figure out a way to deliver our message in the everything -is-in-the-eye-of-the-public world.

The definite online note-taking tool: JJot

I have no business or personal association with jjot.com and its creator. I am going to promote jjot.com just because I find it very useful. No, it is not jott.com, another online note program. Neither it is jot.com (which curiously leads to google.com).

What is Jjot?

It is an online Post-it application. That's it. This is how you use it.

1. Any given day, an idea comes up: Tiger Woods actually boosted Nike's profile by living its mantra: Just Do It.
2. Tweet it from your mobile phone. The end.
3. Okay, that was a bad example. An idea that has a potential to become a blog entry or to-do item comes up: Did Tiger's behavior benefit any of his sponsors? / According to her, I need to buy a 1/2 kg pack of non-sweetened, non-Craft yogurt by tomorrow 4pm at Jason's market in Xin-yi road.
4. Access jjot.com, jot them down.

The easiest application to use

The best part of this application is that it is damn easy to use. No login process (it's still private though), no save dialog, no screen switch, no endless options. Just create a new note and write, then the application automatically saves the note for you. Everything is handled inside the main view. The sign-up doesn't even need the usual email verification. And of course it is loaded extremely fast.

Minimal, but absolutely necessary functions.

It has just the right amount of features. Let's list them.

• Note board creation/deletion
• Note size change/full screen/pop-out
• Bold letter
• Bulleted list
• Hyperlink
• Search
• E-mail
• Print

That's it. Sure there is no image-saving, voice recording, or even numbered-bullets. But does it matter? What we need is a Post-it, not an editor. Besides, unlike the paper version, sorting the posts is dirt simple: grab and drop. Also, there is no advertisement. Huge plus.

The original post-it company, 3M, has its own version of electronic post-it system. Unfortunately and surprisingly, it sucks. It has bloated features like photo-post option, is riddled with 3M advertisement, and worst of all, everybody needs to pay after the 30-day trial. Everything goes against the spirit of post-it notes: easy to use and dirt cheap.

Ideal for blogging idea board

Jjot.com can be used as a to-do task list but that's kind of limiting its potential. I find this tool very useful for assembling random ideas which can form the basis of a piece of writing, such as blog post.

Jjot interface does not include sub-folders. Everything is done on a flat plane, visible in a single interface. Sub-folders are must items when we need to separate information, but they actually works against fusing ideas. When we put items in separate folders, those ideas become fixed, or in other word, dead. The currently-invisible connections among ideas are lost - we can see the connections among items in the same folder, but not at all beyond the folder "walls."

Putting all ideas in a single plane keeps the potential connections among the seemingly random ideas. Considering that one of the most interesting aspects of any writing, including blogging, is to witness the creation of a new idea/insight/truth by fusing well-known, existing topics, having all ideas in a single place without getting them over-cluttered is an ideal environment. I must confess I didn't know I needed it before I started using Jjot.com.

I also like keeping the size of each note small - 140 characters or so before the scroll bar starts showing up. This way, I can list many notes on my screen and also force myself to tighten my writing as well as thinking. One positive effect of Twitter is that it trains us to be a concise writer due to its 140 characters limitation. We can do the same for post-it notes.

Bonus: Ninjawords

The same creator has another useful tool called Ninjawords.com. It is touted as an online dictionary "fast as a ninja." After using it I can confirm it is fast - maybe faster than Ninjas. Google translation is still my favorite because of its translate-as-you-type response and practicality (for example, no need to search for the root word when looking up the meaning of a Spanish verb), but Ninjawords comes up at a good second place.

Writers vs editors

From Technical Editing by Carolyn D Rude: Ernest Mazzatenta (what a surname), former president of the Society for Technical Communication, has collected statements from hundreds of writer-researchers about what they like and dislike about editors. I am going to skip the boring part (what writers like most about editors) and get down to the juicy subject: what writers dislike most about editors. Bold highlights are added by yours truly.

• asks the writer to rewrite a section without giving any indication of what's wrong with it or any direction to take
• makes changes only to incorporate the editor's style of writing
• suggests qualifiers and disclaimers to analyses that, in the writer's professional judgment, are excessive
• uses words that are not acceptable to the writer and won't change them
• replaces words with synonyms
• requires too many iterations (for example, ten)
• makes comments that are inconsistent with the department head's comments

Except for the last two points, they are all about crash of the egos. I imagine the dialogue that goes there.

Writer: Don't forget who you are - do just what you are supposed to do.

Editor: Let me help you, hard-head. I know better about what good writing is about.

Should we all put down our keyboards and take 101 Office Politics?

iPad kills who?

I am milking the iPad news as much as possible, but this is the end. Every innovation crushes one or two old industry, and iPad is no exception. Who will be declared obsolete?

Netbook

It is the first obvious group of victims. The problem with netbooks is that they are not better at doing anything compared with iPad. Even the price point, the biggest advantage they have had so far, is eroding due to iPad's US$499 offer at the entry level. Even its most expensive model costs less than $900. High-end netbooks cost around $1,000. It is clear who the winner will be.

Kindle and its followers

The only advantage Kindle has over iPad is its incredible battery duration (1 week against iPad's maximum 10 hours). I personally have been a book person for my whole life, and I will buy an iPad over Kindle. It is because iPad allows me to distract. I cannot sustain my concentration over an hour just by reading a book. Sometimes I need to take a break, jot my notes down, and search for relevant information on the web - and iPad allows me to do them all.

Portable video player

Remember the DVD players with small LCD screen? They are all going to die. Bad news for Asian electronic industries clunking out those exotic players. Good news for frequent travelers who finally have a portable device with which they can spend the torturous time on the plane.

Digital photo frame

iPad does not have an SD card slot nor USB memory. But does it matter with iPad's 16GB or more storage? Besides, as my friend says, it is "a nice experience to view something/someone in the bed." Power-connected photo frames cannot do that, even if some of them can play videos and connect to the Internet.

Macbook Air

Apple's own products cannot be spared from the coming tsunami either. Macbook Air is essentially an iPad with slightly larger screen and full-size keyboard. Unfortunately the keyboard is not detachable, the screen is not touch-sensitive, and the battery dies after a couple of hours. In hindsight, Macbook Air will be remembered as a necessary experiment to move toward the iPad. (I volunteered myself to become a guinea pig. Only that I did not know.)

Phone support representatives at Apple

How do we separately pronounce iPod, iPad, and eye pad? Apple will be seeing the situation described in this skit from the classic movie Airplane! Millions of times - enough to kill several support representatives out of exhaustion.

Breakdown of iPad video: successor of Jobs

I bet that the true reason Steve Jobs "slipped" his tongue before iPad's official release and said that it would be his "most important thing he has ever done" is because he now really knows his days are numbered. Liver transplant is a serious issue and we shouldn't have a high hope for the new decade, probably even a quiet retirement for him. I think he knew iPad would be his last big job. How could it NOT be his most important work?

Switching the topics (I admire Steve Jobs but do not feel empathy for him), who would take the throne after he is gone? The iPad launch video holds a clue. I guess it is Apple's way of introducing the next leader(s).

Four executives are introduced in this video. One of them will be the CEO, and the rest will be promoted to CXO, whatever that X is. Here are the four, in the introduced order:

• Jonathan Ive, Senior Vice President Industrial Design
• Phillip W. Schiller, Senior Vice President Worldwide Product Marketing
• Scott Forstall, Senior Vice President iPhone Software
• Bob Mansfield, Senior Vice President Mac Hardware Engineering

Jonathan Ive

Pros: Guru of industrial design, which is probably the most important element of Apple-ness. Liked by Jobs supporters and haters alike due to his subdued and humble nature.

Cons: Looks like a soccer hooligan without beers and tattoos (maybe he has one). Too media shy. Too content being in the current position.

Phillip Schiller

Pros: The boss of marketing, which is usually the closest step toward the coveted CEO. Frequently talked on stage while Jobs was battling his cancer.

Cons: Has three big warts on his left cheek. I know, it is racist and irrelevant, but how come I clearly remember their positions and shapes but none of the stories he talked about in the video? When Steve talks, people watch. When Phillip talks, people stare.

Scott Forstall

Pros: Young.

Cons: Nobody knows him. Well, many people know by now, in the following context: "Who is Scott Forstall?" "That creepy guy in the video with misty eyes" "Oh I see. What does he do?" "I don't know"

Bob Mansfield

Pros: Sounds very knowledgeable and trustworthy. Despite the scary face, his eyes show genuine respect and kindness. Nicknamed "Teddybear" inside Apple. I don't know.

Cons: Probably looks better on the Mac vs. Windows ad series, but as an ex-KGB henchman for the Windows guy. Looks does matter.

Conclusion

Ive will be the new head. That is why he appears at both the beginning and the end of the video. Mansfield will become his mentor and soulmate who supports him in the backstage. Schiller will orchestrate the strategy and events. Forstall serves as the "passion" guy.

In the worst case scenario, Forstall gets sacked after people realize he ISN'T faking his misty eyes in the video. Schiller gets frustrated by his eternal No.2 position and starts demanding irrelevant stuff to Ive (such as: design something that looks like Windows machine - it's the best strategy to crush them). Mansfield and Ive leave Apple to start their venture. Apple goes back to the dark ages under the helm of Schiller. He then writes a memoir defending himself. Steve Jobs rests somewhere up there (or down there).

In the best case scenario, Steve Jobs recovers fully and continues being a tyranny for the employees and messiah for the users.

What iPad means: ultimate time killer 2/2

(Continued from the previous part...)

Application is off the limit.

Is iPad a Kindle killer? Or is it just a bloated version of iPod Touch? I think the answer to both questions are "right, but not just that." Except for taking photos and making phone calls, looks like iPad is designed to do EVERYTHING that can be done with a moderate display size. Reading, watching, playing, surfing, and writing.

Traditionally, one-stop-shopping type gadgets promised to deliver all and failed to accomplish one. iPad might actually succeed, not because it successfully addresses today's applications but it places itself as "do whatever you want with me" device.

An egoless device that serves us, not them.

iPad does not restrict users with clunky keyboard, forced button placements, and small screen as its predecessors did. Software interface and touch-based interactions frees users and developers from hardware barriers. It is a big, plain canvas waiting to be painted. (Painting applications?)

It is, contrary to what we think of Steve Jobs, egoless. Apple has introduced cool devices that tell (or force) us how to use them, such as iPod. This time, the true potential is up to the users. I guess Apple wants to see a positive surprise too, like when they found out many iPod Touch users were playing games with it.

(I can think of Google Wave as another attempt to create an "ultimate" tool that serves us. But unlike Apple, Google couldn't come up with a usage in the context of our existing applications. Maybe Google is too wired for doing single task, such as search or email.)

The ultimate time killer

What happens when a device is open to interpretation, small enough to carry around, feels good when holding it, and provides great interaction? We start filling it with our favorite activities. That means killing our times.

Apple prepared iPad with loads of applications based on existing contexts: iTunes and iBooks and so on. But those are gimmicks for the geeks and fanboys who are not good at thinking in future terms but very good at criticizing a new gadget based on existing usages. Apple had to take care of them (otherwise the iPad won't have a successful launch), but the true potential lies in what happens from now.

I imagine people carrying an iPad like they do with their iPhones now and engage in whatever activities on the street, at work, at school, at home. Instead of just reading texts and surfing the web, we will be designing, writing, and even moving our bodies in concert with iPad.

Verdict: I will buy one when it will be introduced to...Taiwan. (Magic Mouse, originally introduced in October 2009, became available here in December 2009) Damn Apple, I hope this time you pay some respect to the home country of the manufacturing company you cannot live without.

What iPad means: ultimate time killer 1/2

One of the reasons we budding writers like events is there is so much to write about without the agonizing 10pm-drafting-turning-into-pondering-about-life-turning-to-PlayStation moments. That already half-explains why iPad is the ultimate time killer as the title says: everybody fill their time thinking or writing about it.

 

With self-respect I will milk this opportunity as much as possible while it is still hot.

Unremarkable design? No: it is the first realistic "handheld" computer.

At first sight it is just a bloated version of iPod Touch or iPhone. Or a smaller MacBook Air screen sans keyboard. It has the same metal frame, home button, and black edge. That edge with a wide margin is what makes us feel unimpressed. It is after all, a gimmick for an excuse of not filling the entire surface with actual screen, right? That was the past; not anymore. Check this video (from TechCrunch) and we'll see.

The black area works as a palm rest! Since it covers all over the screen, we do not have to force ourselves to keep the iPad in one position. Left, right, up, down, whichever orientation will fit our hands (body). As Jonathan Ive noted in the Apple's official iPad introduction video, I don't have to change myself to fit the product. It fits me.

Everything is on the web. Finally.

From the hardware point of view, iPad is a browsing machine. That is it. It is not a phone nor a computer in the "desktop" sense. Yet it can work as a universal computing device for ordinary people. Web, book, game, movie - most daily usages are covered. Apple did not create the infrastructure. It waited patiently, and then when the timing was ready, it presented a killer machine that finally utilizes the potential of the Internet.

The iPad will be remembered as a symbol highlighting the turning point from the age of local ownership to the age of shared network. Don't think about storing locally. Just put it up there or take it from there.

Their waiting for the right timing also highlights what makes Steve Jobs and his pals truly awesome: they can be both extremely confident (build what is essentially a 10-inch screen and show it as the new reality) and equally humble (wait for this long until the infrastructure gets built).

Other companies, such as MS, are just the opposite. They (we) are non-confident (add hundreds of unnecessary options to whatever they make to show themselves off) and non-humble (tried to sell tablet computers 10 years ago).

So is iPad a Kindle killer? Or is it just a bloated piece of iPod Touch? Continued to the next entry...