Apple blog software...
Apple always seems to either a) be in front of the curve (iTunes, iTMS, iMovie) or b) perhaps not first to a product or software, but do it slicker, easier and more "idiot proof" than other guys (iSight, iChat AV, Keynote).
With the popularity of all these blogs out there, I'm kinda surprised Apple hasn't pulled an option "b" from above and released something like this. Extraordinarily simple and hassle-free, tied into .Mac seamlessly, etc. Judging by recent history (3-4 years), we know they'd probably do it really cool and take ALL the hassle or guesswork out of it. They seem to be big lately on "sharing and communication" (iChat, iSight, iCal, iSync, etc.) and this just seemed kinda up that same alley...letting people easily and quickly post their thoughts and opinions online, to their .Mac accounts.
Does this exist already and I've missed it?
Do you think that's something they might do, or am I just reading things wrong. I know, months ago, they had a third-party thing available to .Mac users called iBlog from some company.
Maybe this is as close as Apple wants to get? I downloaded and tried it, but lost interest. I could imagine Apple doing it so well (and linked so nicely to .Mac) that even a non-techie dork like myself could figure it out within 5 minutes of downloading it.
Thoughts?
Oops...should I have put this in software? I don't know...sorry.
Move if needed...
With the popularity of all these blogs out there, I'm kinda surprised Apple hasn't pulled an option "b" from above and released something like this. Extraordinarily simple and hassle-free, tied into .Mac seamlessly, etc. Judging by recent history (3-4 years), we know they'd probably do it really cool and take ALL the hassle or guesswork out of it. They seem to be big lately on "sharing and communication" (iChat, iSight, iCal, iSync, etc.) and this just seemed kinda up that same alley...letting people easily and quickly post their thoughts and opinions online, to their .Mac accounts.
Does this exist already and I've missed it?
Do you think that's something they might do, or am I just reading things wrong. I know, months ago, they had a third-party thing available to .Mac users called iBlog from some company.
Maybe this is as close as Apple wants to get? I downloaded and tried it, but lost interest. I could imagine Apple doing it so well (and linked so nicely to .Mac) that even a non-techie dork like myself could figure it out within 5 minutes of downloading it.
Thoughts?
Oops...should I have put this in software? I don't know...sorry.
Move if needed...
Comments
How many people never considered buying a digital camcorder (or camera) until iMovie, iDVD, iPhoto came along? There were video editing packages and digital photo apps out there before, but there didn't seem to be this big focus or rush to it until Apple really played up this whole "digital hub" thing and created easy-to-use software for messing with this stuff.
Same here. Same line of thinking.
I'm sure iJournal is a fine product (and I'll certainly give it a look), but that's not really what I'm talking about here.
I'd bet a gazillion dollars a HUGE chunk of .Mac users would post daily entries if there was just a simple, built-in component sitting there - dripping with Apple ease-of-use and slickness - as part of the .Mac environment/package.
I've tried iBlog but I don't like it. It felt very limiting and the advanced features were obtuse. I'm sure Apple could do this very well. iBlog is a start with its integration with the iApps and .mac but not there yet.
BTW, if you're looking for good blogging software, check out ecto. It's very cool. (But not free)
I bet $5 Apple is doing something like this, as we speak. It would be a great addition to .Mac, it's timely (you can't swing a dead cat without hitting a blog) and it falls into line with some of the other things they're doing, regarding communication/connectivity/sharing. We've all got that 100MB of space and out own little chunk of the Internet available...
I should exploit my .Mac presence more.
b) I see it as a simple add-on to .Mac, a new "marquee feature" of the service for those interested and who have indeed wished they could easily put their thoughts and feelings out there, using a system/software/set-up already proven and already familiar to them (.Mac)
c) I'd put it more in the league of an iCal or iSync level app, as opposed to iMovie or Tunes
d) People didn't "clamor for" a lot of things (see my second post here), but once it was made available, they embraced it and - in many cases - probably wondered "wow, what did I do before [fill in the blank]!"
e) Being an add-on to .Mac, Apple isn't going to position it as some sort of massive, iPod/iTMS "switcher trojan horse". It's simply a nice addition to an already-nice suite of Internet-based tools and software.
f) I'd use it, if all I had to do was enter some type and click a "Publish to .Mac" button. So would, I imagine TONS of other .Mac subscribers. You know they would. I know they would. They just would.
Make something easy, accessible and have it put some power into people's hands. Recipe for success, if you ask me. And Apple has only proven that about 9 times in the past 4 or so years...
You're thinking too big. I'm thinking small and cute and useful. It ain't no iTMS...it's not supposed to be. Think iCal or something on that level (second-tier iApps with a slightly tighter focus and target audience). Not the "big daddy" iLife 04 stuff...
Originally posted by pscates
When in the hell did you become a moderator?
Truly pathetic, I know.
[edit] <off topic = -1>
1. Not everything posted would be "useless, sophomoric drivel".
2. Would you, in any way whatsoever, be forced to read or view the stuff that was? No.
Lighten up. There's plenty of room and space for all kinds of stuff. Sophomoric, useless and otherwise.
We'd come up with a rating system, maybe: "This site and accompanying blog not approved by garyp. May contain drivel. Proceed with caution".