Dave Caolo

In a TUAW post from May of 2009, we considered what Apple’s next big thing might be. In retrospect, it’s amazing how close we were to the iPad:

“…. consider [ebooks] on a device with a color touch screen that also has your photos and music, maybe even a few fun apps, and ubiquitous connectivity. Also notice that Apple’s keyboards have been getting smaller and thinner lately. The Bluetooth model without the number pad would be a perfect companion.”

Eerie.

Eventually, every male child will play “Old Faithful” and launch a geyser of pee into the air, usually while flat on his back. After much trial and error, I found the best way to combat this.

Get a stack of paper Dixie cups and some tissue. Take one cup, wad some tissue into the bottom and place it within reach. Now, when Jr. lets it fly, quickly grab the cup and invert it over the stream. The tissues will soak up the pee and you’ll stay nice and dry. When the performance is over, simply toss the cup into the trash. Set up the next cup and you’re ready for the encore.

Typically stunning pictures from Boston.com.

Many people are bemoaning the iPad’s lack of a camera. Actually, they’re questioning why Apple would be so thoughtless as to exclude one. These are the same people who demanded copy-and-paste of the original iPhone and Wi-Fi of the iPod. “Apple has squandered a huge opportunity” they say.

That’s perfectly wrong. They’ve seized an even bigger opportunity.

The designers at Apple know full well that users want a camera in the iPad. They know that customers will bitch and moan without it. They know they’ll lose a certain percentage of sales. They also know that taking the time to find the single best way to implement it is worth the complaining.

Apple isn’t always the 1st to market. They didn’t create the first digital music player. They certainly didn’t create the first mobile phone and they didn’t create the first tablet computer. The important thing is they took the time to devise the absolute best way to implement each of those devices.

The iPod is hands-down the best digital music player. We take the iPod touch for granted at this point, but it’s a phenomenal device. When I consider it from the perspective of a former Rio owner, I’m in awe of the touch. The same is true when I consider the T-Mobile phone I owned 8 years ago. The iPhone is light years beyond that device.

Apple could have released a “compromise” phone 7 years ago, but they didn’t. The could have crammed every feature on their list into the original iPhone, dispersing the developers’ attention from the core functions that made the original model such a hit. Likewise, future iPad models will include features that users are demanding today. They’ll be added when — and only when — Apple is damned good and ready.

And that’s how it should be.

From “20 unholy recipes: Dishes so awful we had to make them.” Enjoy.

Microsoft’s naming conventions continue to baffle me. “Zune” was good. “Windows Phone 7 Series” is too long. People will feel compelled shorten it.

“Nice Zune.”
“Nice iPhone.”
“Nice Windows Phone 7 Series.”

To all the Microsoft fanboys who’ve dismissed the iPhone because it doesn’t support Flash and lacks a physical keyboard: Suck it. The Windows Phone 7 Series* doesn’t support Flash and lacks a physical keyboard.

Update: And no copy/paste.

*See? Way too long.

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One of the fun things we did at Macworld Expo was to get our hands on a full-scale, 1:1 iPad mockup that the folks at Hard Candy Cases had made. The detail was great, right down to the switch, ports and Apple logo. It was even weighted properly.

We won’t see the real thing for a while, but the mockup gave us a terrific impression of the device’s size and weight. Thanks again to Dave from Hard Candy.

[Via TUAW]

The Mac, Safari and iTunes make several appearances in the new Toy Story 3 trailer from Pixar. Not surprising since Apple CEO Steve Jobs was also the CEO and owner of Pixar for 2o years (he’s now the largest individual Disney shareholder with a seat on the company’s board of directors). Macinstein has a full run-down of all the Apple cameos.

[Via TUAW]

We recorded a lot of video at Macworld 2010, using the Blue Yeti mics to capture the audio. They worked spectacularly. If you’re looking for a high-quality, low-priced ($150) prosumer mic, the Yeti deserves your consideration.