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After reading the press release and the various commentaries on the press release, I've got to give credit to Apple for fixing what's been wrong with computing for SOOO long.  The found a way to fix give users that want to give the average user a secure desktop computing environment without having to have them to remember to update their virus definitions or having to install 20 layers of crap.  

With the launch of Mountain Lion this summer, all of that will happen automatically thanks to good old fashioned code signing, a technology that's existed longer than Windows XP...  There I said it.  Apple is yet again succeeding where Microsoft has failed so many.  What's really great about this is that if you WANT to run unsigned code, you still can.  Those apps will still function and the developers won't be losing money.  But by running signed code only (the default now), Apple now posseses a kill switch that can completely disable apps that they believe are malware.  And knowing Apple, this is going to be implemented in a way that's clear to the user and doesn't require them to posses a CISSP to be able to discern.  In Apple fashion, it will yet again be the intersection of Technology and Liberal Arts.

I'm willing to be bet that if Microsoft would have previously released something similar, Kelihos (ok, ok, not Kelhios, but a variant) wouldn't be roaring back to life...

In fairness code signing will not stop all attacks or exploits.  See exhbit A, Path.  But haivng a centrally managed kill switch will do SO much for user security that's not before been seen on desktop devices.  As far as I'm concerned, this now makes Mac's and OS X not a "nice to have" but a "must have" for everyone that cares about their security.

Oh and there were a few other good nuggets coming out in Mountain Lion (10.8) as well.  I'm super exicted for Airplay Mirroring from my Mac!  And Messages looks slick too especially if Apple can resolved the Caller ID issue by then.

Is it summer yet? :-)

I was saddened when I heard today that Steve Jobs had passed. This man was so much more than just the creator of the iPhone.  He was a visionary.  He was someone who on countless ocaisions dared to stare down the norm and think different.  And as a result he transformed a failing company into the most profitable company in the world.  And boy did he create some great products!

If there's one thing that we all can learn from his life, it's to Think Different.  Don't accept the norms. Just becuase something has been done in a certain way or exists in a certain state doesn't mean that's the way it has to be!  Sure there will be resistance.  People are naturally adverse to change.  But anything is possible if you put your mind to it.

I can only dream to have as much of an impact on people's live's as Steve had.  But I believe that each moment spent thinking outside the box contributes directly to my personal impact.  We must live for each moment, because in the end, we're all mortal.  So it goes.

So we're flying right now from O'hare to San Fran onboard Virgin America on their recently added direct flights and I've got to say that I'm in love with this airline.  What do I get for the price of admission?  

• A really sweet looking interior that Jody commented "looks like I'm going to a disco party".
• LCD screens in the back of each seat that feature many things for FREE including...
  • A realtime Google Maps view of the plane (and did you know that it's -31F at 32,000 feet over Iowa?
  • Satellite TV including many variants of ESPN, Disney, Nickolodean, MSNBC, etc.
  • Virgin music statiions
  • Games!  I was just playing Doom using an included controller!  For FREE!
  • And for a fee, on demand TV and movies!
• And most importantly, legroom!  Even though I'm in cattle class, I for once don't feel crammed in like a sardine (actually sardines have more room on other airlines...)

And the LCD screens are more than just entertainment, it's how your order your beverages, food, skymall purchases, everything.  They even have a built in credit card reader.  If Virgin adds more service in the future from O'Hare I really might skip Kayak and just book whatever Virgin has available.  It really is that nice!

Also another nice bonus, I'm test driving a Samsung Chromebook right now that I picked up at the Gate in Chicago.  I get to keep it for the flight and return it to San Francisco when I get off the plane.  And yes that's free too, but only for a limited time (so ACT NOW!!!).  What's even better still, is that for using this free Chromebook, I get access to free Gogo Internet in flight!  Honestly, even if the other airlines gave me free in flight internet, I'd be much more content.

As for the Chromebook itself, it's really lightweight, decent battery life (by Apple standards, that's 7 hrs), and quite honestly just works.  It even has a large touchpad like my Macbook complete with two finger scrollling (though OS X Lion has now taught me that the scrolling is backwards!).  I was even thinking that this would be great for folks that didn't need much in a computer besides a browser and basic office apps (Google Docs).  So I headed to Best Buy's website.  500 bones.  And as far as I know, that wasn't Canadian currency.  I really think this is a great laptop, but not for $500.  Really I'd say the sweet spot would be at $300.  Yes, that's on par with budget PC laptops but I think it has a number of selling points where it could do really well against them.  But at $500, the Google Chromebook is going to end up the same way as Google Buzz, not Google+.

So next time you're flying check and see if Virgin is servicing your route or perhaps consider going on a route that they do service.  It will be one of the best decisions you've ever made!  But stay away from buying a Chromebook at least until the prices come down.  But one and it will be one of the worst decisions you've ever made!

[Update]  One more strike against the Chromebook, Netflix streaming is not supported.  I guess there'll be no Trouble with Tribbles on this flight or anywhere for a Chromebook user.

In a letter to shareholders today, Netflix called DVD's a "fading differentiator" (Source via Read Write Web).  I'll admit, their streaming product is pretty solid and they've managed to garner support from almost every platform.  Apple TV has support for it.  So does the XBox 360 (and the new Kinect app is phenomenal!), Nintendo Wii, iPad, iPhone, of course any web browser, and several TV's and Blue Ray players.  Basically any device these days it seems has Netflix support.  The problem is that while they have a large library of content available to be streamed instantly, good luck trying to find the latest hit content.  Or for that matter, good luck trying to find hit content of any age.  A few recent examples:

• Old Star Trek movies:  Used to be available via streaming but now are mysteriously only available through disc
• Star Wars:  Only ever disc only
• Back to the Future:  Only ever disc only
• Indiana Jones:  Only ever disc only
• Avatar:  A semi new movie.  Also only disc only.

Are you seeing a trend here?  Having informally studied these cable killers for a while, I know part of the problem is the windowing system of the entertainment industry.  Netflix is aware of this and is working on partnerships to bring big name content to their offering such as Mad Men, Glee, and Star Trek TV series.  They're also working on original content by the way of House of Cards.  These are all great and fine, but until they're able to offer popular picks via Netflix Instant, they had better not be heralding the death of the DVD.

Also, while they're working on adding new content.  Perhaps they can work on better content discovery tools.  Ever look at what's "new" on Netflix?  Didn't know "Gangs of New York" was new...

I was perusing the Book of Face recently, I found my sister, reacting to Time's announcement of Mark Zuckerburg as the person of the year, posted the following:

With iOS devices selling like hotcakes these days and having had the fortune of being an owner of iOS devices for almost 2 years now, I figured it was fitting to share some of my recommendations for apps.  I started a few weeks ago trying to make a list of my favorite apps and their App Store entries but became tired of that tedious process by about the third app.  Then I came across a service called AppsFire that would do all the hard work for me of linking the app name with it's app store entry.  AppsFire is a startup that launched in March that at the time only had a client for Windows to inventory all of your apps.  Today, they have a Mac client as well!

According to the scan of my system, Appsfire found 258 apps including 120 paid apps totaling $333 USD if you bought them all today!  Since it occurred to me that several of these apps I'd get rid of in an instant if I could get my money back, I wanted to share my pics with you all so you don't end up dropping your hard earned coin on bad apps.  As of right now, I created three profiles on the Appsfire site and will continue to update those as my tastes change.  Please note that these apps may not fit everyone's use cases.  They simply are what I find myself using the most.

Are you an Appsfire user?  Add me so I can see what you're using.  After 258 apps, one things clear:  I love me some apps!

Appsfire Lists

I'm just getting settled in my new home here.  Please excuse the mess while I tidy things up.