John Gruber was at today’s Apple event and was not impressed

[iDaemon]

https://daringfireball.net/2019/03/show ... servations

[maurvir]

https://daringfireball.net/2019/03/show ... servations

He's not alone. There was absolutely nothing of real interest shown. If this is Apple's future, it's a good thing they have more money than god in the bank.

[Betonhaus]

Well it's their future.

That being said it does seem intriguing. I'm not currently aware of shows outside of Netflix and APV that i want to watch but I may consider it when my finances are stabilized again.

But only if i can use it on my Xbox and Android phone.

[Pariah]

If they can work out that skinny TV bundle thing they might be on to something but given the structure of channel ownership that is going to be a confused individual to negotiate.
I'd love to see it happen altho I suspect if Apple breaks the current model (like they did with music) the manner in which sports programing will be distributed will change immensely and it would spell the end of ESPN as we know it.
Which is fine by me.

[Ribtor]

TV and games and a way to go into debt paying for them. Genius.

This is progress.

[user]

They can't all be Earth shattering events. Apple presents something a little less and it's OMG beleaguered.

[Betonhaus]

They can't all be Earth shattering events. Apple presents something a little less and it's OMG beleaguered.

Except this is apparently Apple's future.

They are doing a Blackberry and pivoting to services, despite the move seemingly being unnecessary if they refocused on their hardware.

[Donkey Butter]

so a blog writer didn't like something. will wonders never cease.

[maurvir]

so a blog writer didn't like something. will wonders never cease.

Did you come away any more impressed?

[avkills]

Adobe CC on Linux; death of Apple in the content creation space.

I was pretty underwhelmed. I mean they couldn't have even done a "one more thing" and showed progress on the "NEW!" Mac Pro. How stick fiddling hard is it to make a ATX style tower?

[dv]

TV and games and a way to go into debt paying for them. Genius.

This is progress.

Well that's not new.

[dv]

How stick fiddling hard is it to make a ATX style tower?

The problem is they've got to make an ATX tower, but simultaneously not make an ATX tower. They're probably still arguing about whether to use MXM GPUs or some proprietary MXM derivative that's electrically the same, but 20mm narrower. PCI-E was right out of the question from the start, of course.

[Donkey Butter]

so a blog writer didn't like something. will wonders never cease.

Did you come away any more impressed?

No, though I think more options are always good.

[maurvir]

In a way, Thunderbolt lets Apple get away with making trashcans and still be relevant in the pro world. Our church's media department uses Apple products almost exclusively (there is one guy who can't let go of Windows) and they tie into the BlackMagic video systems with Thunderbolt connections.

Of course, the flip side of that is that these machines are all insanely expensive. You could replicate them for vastly less with regular PC parts, but then you are fighting all the Hackintosh battles and there are enough challenges during services as it is.

[Aaron_R]

If they can work out that skinny TV bundle thing they might be on to something but given the structure of channel ownership that is going to be a confused individual to negotiate.

TV channels nowadays are all owned and operated by mega conglomerates, like 2 or 3 companies probably own 95% of the mainstream channels. So it shouldn't be as hard a task as it was when Apple pulled their groundbreaking music deal almost 2 decades ago (sheesh we are OLD).

I'd love to see it happen altho I suspect if Apple breaks the current model (like they did with music) the manner in which sports programing will be distributed will change immensely and it would spell the end of ESPN as we know it.
Which is fine by me.

That is one of the reason why DirectTV is so much cheaper than cable because those over priced sports channels aren't forced to be included with your package. But I'm a fan of the take what you want model, I've used Amazons subscription service for Starz and Showtime before. ofc whatever Apple offers can't be premium priced like those premium subscription channels however, if it is I don't think it'll prosper (unless it is x$ for xAmount of channels you picked bundle thing).

[avkills]

In a way, Thunderbolt lets Apple get away with making trashcans and still be relevant in the pro world. Our church's media department uses Apple products almost exclusively (there is one guy who can't let go of Windows) and they tie into the BlackMagic video systems with Thunderbolt connections.

Of course, the flip side of that is that these machines are all insanely expensive. You could replicate them for vastly less with regular PC parts, but then you are fighting all the Hackintosh battles and there are enough challenges during services as it is.

While I will agree that thunderbolt is great for storage, output options and networking; external GPU usage is not really that fast compared to the WIn10 world where you can have machines with 1,2,3 or more Nvidia products that can really crunch things for massive simulations, 3d animation and AI stuff.

All of that is a joke on the Mac right now.

[ukimalefu]

Just to keep everything in one place...

Apple is doing a GAMING service?!

I heard gamers only want to use steam (and/or xbox/Playstation)

https://www.theverge.com/2019/3/26/1828 ... nt-caution

[avkills]

Just to keep everything in one place...

Apple is doing a GAMING service?!

I heard gamers only want to use steam (and/or xbox/Playstation)

https://www.theverge.com/2019/3/26/1828 ... nt-caution

Well for AAA titles, xbox/playstation and PC. The rest is just arcade fluff for wasting time.

[Pariah]

Just to keep everything in one place...

Apple is doing a GAMING service?!

I heard gamers only want to use steam (and/or xbox/Playstation)

https://www.theverge.com/2019/3/26/1828 ... nt-caution

Well for AAA titles, xbox/playstation and PC. The rest is just arcade fluff for wasting time.

LOL, ya, funny thing is that casual arcade type games are a bigger market than AAA games.

[iDaemon]

so a blog writer didn't like something. will wonders never cease.

I think you’d scroll a LOOONNNNGGG way to find a similar “thumbs-down” evaluation of an Apple event/presentation on THAT blog. Fwiw.

[Pariah]

so a blog writer didn't like something. will wonders never cease.

I think you’d scroll a LOOONNNNGGG way to find a similar “thumbs-down” evaluation of an Apple event/presentation on THAT blog. Fwiw.

Gruber is pretty well known for being a boot-licking, Apple apologist so this is a bit out of the ordinary for him.

[dv]

so a blog writer didn't like something. will wonders never cease.

I think you’d scroll a LOOONNNNGGG way to find a similar “thumbs-down” evaluation of an Apple event/presentation on THAT blog. Fwiw.

Gruber is pretty well known for being a boot-licking, Apple apologist so this is a bit out of the ordinary for him.

Well known? I don't know who any of these people are any more. All the tech writers I used to follow are dead.

[user]

NEVER follow me.

[obvs]

Apple's big news is a credit card.

Yawn.

[DukeofNuke]

so a blog writer didn't like something. will wonders never cease.

I think you’d scroll a LOOONNNNGGG way to find a similar “thumbs-down” evaluation of an Apple event/presentation on THAT blog. Fwiw.

Gruber is pretty well known for being a boot-licking, Apple apologist so this is a bit out of the ordinary for him.

Well known? I don't know who any of these people are any more. All the tech writers I used to follow are dead.

What was that one guy's name? His first name is Andy, and he wore a trademark wide-brim Fedora. Remember him? Is he dead?

[iDaemon]

so a blog writer didn't like something. will wonders never cease.

I think you’d scroll a LOOONNNNGGG way to find a similar “thumbs-down” evaluation of an Apple event/presentation on THAT blog. Fwiw.

Gruber is pretty well known for being a boot-licking, Apple apologist so this is a bit out of the ordinary for him.

I dispute that characterization. But that is not too far off.

But his views on a host of other (more political) subjects is in line with mine. Privacy, the current regime etc. And probably a fair number is other folks here.

Plus he’s well-versed on Bond movies and Kubrick movies.

I like his blog posts.

That - and about $400 - will buy me an Apple Watch.

[iDaemon]

so a blog writer didn't like something. will wonders never cease.

I think you’d scroll a LOOONNNNGGG way to find a similar “thumbs-down” evaluation of an Apple event/presentation on THAT blog. Fwiw.

Gruber is pretty well known for being a boot-licking, Apple apologist so this is a bit out of the ordinary for him.

Well known? I don't know who any of these people are any more. All the tech writers I used to follow are dead.

What was that one guy's name? His first name is Andy, and he wore a trademark wide-brim Fedora. Remember him? Is he dead?

That’s Andy Ihnatko. Boston-based dude. Humorous.

He’s on Instagram.

[Metacell]

So Apple hasn't yet brought us glue-on iNails or iPasties? Well, I guess they're through.

[dv]

so a blog writer didn't like something. will wonders never cease.

I think you’d scroll a LOOONNNNGGG way to find a similar “thumbs-down” evaluation of an Apple event/presentation on THAT blog. Fwiw.

Gruber is pretty well known for being a boot-licking, Apple apologist so this is a bit out of the ordinary for him.

Well known? I don't know who any of these people are any more. All the tech writers I used to follow are dead.

What was that one guy's name? His first name is Andy, and he wore a trademark wide-brim Fedora. Remember him? Is he dead?

Yeah, him and Levitus wrote the Balloon Help column for MacUser.

I was thinking of Charles W. Moore & Rodney O. Lain, specifically.

[Betonhaus]

So Apple hasn't yet brought us glue-on iNails or iPasties? Well, I guess they're through.

Well they did come out with socks that one time.

[maurvir]

Apple's big news is a wasteful credit card.

Yawn.

FTFY

[ukimalefu]

Apple's big news is a wasteful credit card.

Yawn.

FTFY

why is it wasteful?

I really haven't watched the keynote or read much about it, but aren't they simply offering convenience and security? cool, but boring.

[maurvir]

Apple's big news is a wasteful credit card.

Yawn.

FTFY

why is it wasteful?

I really haven't watched the keynote or read much about it, but aren't they simply offering convenience and security? cool, but boring.

The interest rates start at just under 14% and go up to 32%. If you have even halfway decent credit, you can get a vastly better card. Of course, if you treat it like an AMEX, that won't be a factor, but still.

https://www.cnbc.com/2019/03/26/goldman ... -card.html

[macaddict4life]

Apple's big news is a wasteful credit card.

Yawn.

FTFY

why is it wasteful?

I really haven't watched the keynote or read much about it, but aren't they simply offering convenience and security? cool, but boring.

The interest rates start at just under 14% and go up to 32%. If you have even halfway decent credit, you can get a vastly better card. Of course, if you treat it like an AMEX, that won't be a factor, but still.

https://www.cnbc.com/2019/03/26/goldman ... -card.html

If you have decent credit, you are smart enough to not run a balance, and shouldn't really care about the interest rate.

The rewards rate, on the other hand, is meh. I get 5% back at the Apple Store (or at Best Buy) if I use my US Bank Cash+ card and select electronics stores as much quarterly category. 2% everywhere isn't bad (but also isn't amazing), if lots of places you shop take ApplePay. 1% is unremarkable, though still better than the nothing that came from their previous partner.

[user]

Probably cool like my CompuServe card was.

[Donkey Butter]

I thought the CC was pretty neat. The card itself is made out of titanium, I mean, how cool is that.

It does sound like it will be more secure than other cards. 3% back when making purchases with apple (online or instore) 2% when using apple pay and 1% if you have to use the actual card. and you get the money back that day. (with my current card I get a rebate cheque once a year) There are also loads of little reminders and warnings.

they claim there are no fees with the card and according to Apple's website

Variable APRs range from 13.24% to 24.24% based on creditworthiness. Rates as of March 2019.

[avkills]

Don't almost all CC companies offer 0% for the first year to people with good credit?

[avkills]

Just to keep everything in one place...

Apple is doing a GAMING service?!

I heard gamers only want to use steam (and/or xbox/Playstation)

https://www.theverge.com/2019/3/26/1828 ... nt-caution

Well for AAA titles, xbox/playstation and PC. The rest is just arcade fluff for wasting time.

LOL, ya, funny thing is that casual arcade type games are a bigger market than AAA games.

Yeah I know. All those in-app purchases.

[dv]

Don't almost all CC companies offer 0% for the first year to people with good credit?

6-12 months depending, yeah. But it's usually a temporary incentive.

I could see Apple doing that conditionally, like when you finance a new Mac purchase or something.

[obvs]

Apple's big news is a wasteful credit card.

Yawn.

FTFY

why is it wasteful?

I really haven't watched the keynote or read much about it, but aren't they simply offering convenience and security? cool, but boring.

The interest rates start at just under 14% and go up to 32%. If you have even halfway decent credit, you can get a vastly better card. Of course, if you treat it like an AMEX, that won't be a factor, but still.

https://www.cnbc.com/2019/03/26/goldman ... -card.html

If you have decent credit, you are smart enough to not run a balance, and shouldn't really care about the interest rate.

The rewards rate, on the other hand, is meh. I get 5% back at the Apple Store (or at Best Buy) if I use my US Bank Cash+ card and select electronics stores as much quarterly category. 2% everywhere isn't bad (but also isn't amazing), if lots of places you shop take ApplePay. 1% is unremarkable, though still better than the nothing that came from their previous partner.

Because only stupid people have debt.