javacowboy

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javacowboy
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  • Editorial: Steve Jobs shared secrets of Apple's iPad but nobody listened

    javacowboyjavacowboy
    The iPad is simultaneously two things:

    1) A fantastic media consumption *and* creation device that is so much more convenient that the desktop/laptop form factor.
    2) A crippled device artificially limited by two easily reversible hardware and software design decisions.

    Which design decisions am I referring to?

    a) Lack of USB-C on the non-Pro iPad.  This would open up a universe of desktop peripherals to iPad users such as removable storage, etc.  Aside from possible supplier constraints, I can't see why USB-C is a Pro-only feature.
    b) Lack of spellchecking using only an attached keyboard.  Fixing typos requires reaching for the screen and breaking the flow of typing.  Windows and Linux have the context menu key/shortcut (SHIFT-F10).  macOS first-party have use an elegant API where users can select spelling corrections using arrow keys.  From my experiments at the Apple store, no such API exists for iPadOS.  This limitation prevents Apple from selling the iPad and iPad Pro to authors, journalists, transcriptionists, etc who spend a lot of time typing.
    dysamoriawatto_cobra

  • A5X: How Apple took iPad to a luxury tier rivals couldn't match

    javacowboyjavacowboy
    StrangeDays said:

    Define atrocious. If you weren’t getting the advertised during normal use then you had an issue.

    Have fun going backwards. 
    Anything that involves using 3rd party apps, especially developer tools is absolutely lethal on my battery life.  I've seen it drain in 3-4 hours.

    This is the late 2017 model of MacBook Pro.  Battery life on my iPad Air and 2012 MacBook Pro in their prime was far better, in case you think I'm trolling or making this up.

    The XPS that I evaluated was far better for light apps.
    muthuk_vanalingam

  • Editorial: Apple Pay passes PayPal, tramples Google Pay & Samsung Pay

    javacowboyjavacowboy
    Apple Pay still works with my first generation Apple watch.  I've had problems with some readers (my inclination is to blame banks or payment processors, not Apple) but most of the time the experience is seamless.
    Don.Andersenlolliverwatto_cobraBart Y

  • Production of Apple's 16-inch MacBook Pro has supposedly begun

    javacowboyjavacowboy
    fastasleep said:
    javacowboy said:
    1. Get rid of the TouchBar, which is useless for doing anything other than selecting emoji and return physical ESC and function keys
    It’s so strange that people post shit like this with (presumably) a straight face. Emoji is probably the least used function I use the Touch Bar for. Guessing you haven’t actually used one. 
    I have a late 2016 15 inch MacBook Pro with a TouchBar.
    1. I've explicitly enabled function keys for all of my 3rd party apps since I'm sure most if not all of them don't yet support it
    2. The volume slider is much worse than the volume up and down buttons
    3. Tabs displayed with Safari are moderately useful
    4. Some games that require function keys don't respect my settings to enable the function keys for that app
    5. Lack of physical function keys is problematic for 3rd party apps like IntelliJ that require them
    6. Lack of tactile feedback for function keys is a problem for me
    7. I've mapped CapsLock to ESC and I'm happy that Apple has given us this option
    8. It's possible there are first party apps that make good use of the TouchBar and I simply don't notice or use. them sufficiently.   If this is the case, I'm willing to compromise and say that Apple should make the TouchBar optional instead of required for the 15 inch MacBook Pro.
    speakingmywords

  • Editorial: Why Microsoft Surface isn't growing after seven years of trying

    javacowboyjavacowboy
    Honest question:  Have any of you actually tried Surfaces, for work or otherwise?

    What are you impressions?  What are the distinct pros and cons?
    watto_cobra