It’s interesting how married to Operating Systems people can become. My first computer was an Apple IIGS, but then we swiftly moved to Windows. I used to join in deriding Macs, then I got one. Mac OS, especially 10 and up, became my OS of choice. However, I still used Windows (and occasionally Linux) on a daily basis. I’m basically platform agnostic. A platform is a tool, and the one that works best for you is the best… for you. There is no perfect platform for everyone, for computer or phone.

I mention this because of discussions I’ve been having with some fellow techies. This week I finally broke down and bought a Pre. The reactions from my iPhone, WindowsMobile and Blackberry using friends (Sort of sad, but I don’t personally know a single Android user – no I’ve never met Justin) were almost comical in their predictability. I even got complaints about the Pre from a fellow Pre owner… because he’s really a Blackberry user. I’m not saying they’re wrong – I’m just saying the Pre is closer to my “ideal” phone than most of those other options (In fact, I recalled a doodle I drew ten years ago and it resembles the Pre to the point of scariness).

Every phone does its job in one way or another and every phone does it for someone. The cell market is really big enough for everyone. So how about we all just calm down and let people find the right solution?

So, why is the Pre my “perfect phone” (so far, anyway?)? Click the read link and find out.

[Warning – this thing is a fricking essay. I clearly have no life.]
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Comic book fans have long been awaiting a Digital Format for comics. The theory is that just like we have digital audio, video, and ebooks, one day we should have digital comics. There are groups dedicated to scanning comics into formats like .cbz and .cbr (renamed .zip and .rar files, really), and distributing them via the internet, but the legality of such endeavors are… well, non-existent really.

Marvel Comics, publishers of such hot properties as X-Men and Spider-Man, as well as really good comics like Agents of Atlas and Nova, have long experimented with digital formats, but mostly online. They’ve made several “motion comics” available on iTunes – but comics purists turn their nose up at such mixed media. Sure, you can get Joss Whedon’s Astonishing X-Men run for a low price, with some neat animations, and it may be fun but it’s not comics.

Recently, comic news and rumor site bleedingcool took notice that Marvel’s newest online comic book reader was a lot like the Longbox reader. Longbox are trying to set themselves up at the iTunes of Comics. Now Marvel’s announced a distribution deal with Longbox, and that pretty much explain the reader. Indeed Marvel’s added support for a whole bunch of iPhone readers . So now you can buy a comic for 99 cents and read it on your desktop, laptop, or iPhone. DigitalLongbox hopes to add eReaders to that list soon, but one journalist has created a bit of a storm by suggesting that all this digital comics talk is a harbinger of the oft-rumored “iTablet”.

It would be fascinating to see, but considering the niche – and a large niche, but still a niche – of comic book readers vs the billions of music lovers, videophiles, and just plain readers, it’s hard to imagine comic books as the “killer app” for an iTablet, especially since you can read them just as well on an iPhone, and there are even solutions for Windows Mobile, Android, and other platforms. If you don’t want to squint, there’s always the option of using your netbook.

I’m not saying it wouldn’t be cool, I’m just doubting that it “proves” anything.

Software development communities are what make an open platform OS great.

In the Windows Mobile world, XDA-developers member A_C, is famous for developing iPhone-UI inspired applications known as the S2 series (S2Play, S2U2, S2View). A_C distributes these completely free of charge for the benefit of the community and WM users everywhere, and are in a constant state of “under development”, despite being more stable than some commercial products out there.

The problem is, some unscrupulous people have decided to take advantage of A_C’s free software policy, and sell them as packages of “iPhone theme” bundles.

These bundles are being sold on a number of websites, from www.iphonethemeforppc.com to ebay. A_C has been trying in vain to put a stop to it, but its too large a task for one man.

So, in retaliation, A_C has decided to stop all development of the S2 series unless people learn their lesson.

Since A_C’s applications have a large cult following in the WM community, this whole fiasco has created the internet-version of an angry mob. Users on various message boards have started banding together to harass anyone on net who has the audacity to steal A_C’s software to profit from it.

As far as I know, this may be the first time a strength-in-numbers approach such as this has applied to software development. Meanwhile, S2 development has indeed stopped, leaving some users who were looking forward to compatibility updates (Treo 800w users, I feel your pain) devastated.

The moral of the story?

You ultimately hurt yourself in the end by preventing any future updates.
For the sake of continuing development, don’t steal software! Its bad, m’kay?