I´m not a big fan writing about what everyone else is writing, but seeing that the awesome magazine Katachi is located right here in Oslo I jumped on the bandwagon and asked for their opinion.

In question on what their general thoughts on the Retina Display, they responded:

“On a general basis, the introduction of the retina display will increases the size of many of the files up to four times … We believe however that the new iPad is a fantastic evolution, because it brings the visual quality of the publications up to a level that competes with print.”

“That said, many publishers will have to change how they produce their iPad magazines. People have neither time nor the willingness to download huge data files. It also eats up hard drive space. It would be bad if people stop buying magazines on the iPad because they believe they don’t have enough space on their iPad”.

So with understanding of the problem, Katachi went about how they would solve the issue and how their solution is quite unique compared to some competitors (*cough* Adobe Digital Publishing *cough*)

“This problem makes Origami Engine (our publishing tool) really come into its own, since we use actual page layout that is object-based, live text based and will soon include vector based graphics”.

I find it quite odd that other publishing tools wouldn’t use live text – a no brainer in my head. Speed has always been an issue for me on iPad magazines. Being a owner of iPad 1 and not 2, I may have to blame myself, but some magazines just seem (and probably are) so damn heavy and slow.

“Our goal has been to minimize file size from the very beginning. The first edition of Katachi was 275MB. Our pages can be between 30-80% less than most other publishing tools. The smallest page in the first edition was 70k (Barcelona-page).”

Maybe one key feature can be the use of different files as Katachi “will next week also support vector graphics (SVG), which will significantly minimize file sizes.”

Thanks to Katachi for taking their time for this interview. 

To solve the mystery, I´ve speculated 3 reasons:

1. The cost – Maybe Apple simply thinks it will be to expensive for most consumers to buy a 128GB iPad that they don’t bother messing up the already tight supply line.
2. To messy - To many choices. With potentially four versions (16GB, 32GB, 64GB and 128GB) there will simply be to much clutter in the iPad line.
3. Create demand - This is my fav. reason. iPad is being re-invented every year, so naturally Apple wants customers to buy new iPads every year. With the 128GB iPad, consumers might get to settled with the larger investment they just did and not wanting to upgrade. With 64GB being the largest cap, people tend to fill up the hardware, being frustrated with to much apps and clutter and then wanting to buy a new one when it comes out.

Especially after Retina Display, the apps will get larger and iPads will much faster get filled up.

Since we are on the speculation train: next iPad will have a 128GB hard drive.

iZettle is one of these products.

iZettle is basically a payment terminal in your pocket. It works with all iOS devices and lets you charge customers/friends/foes with either VISA, MasterCard or Diner.

iZettle in it self is totally free and has no monthly fee´s. It costs 1,50 NOK + 2,95% of total sum per transaction to use. Yes, that´s a little more then a credit card terminal, but a credit card terminal costs a lot of money to rent. This is even as safe and regulated as using your card at lets say 7eleven.

You can even build a own portfolio with products with sub products with individual prices and images.

Some examples can be:

• Hat – $4.99
• T-shirt
• Black – $9.99
• Yellow – $15.99
• Dragon – $999

When logged in iZettle.com, you can see all your transactions, where they where sold, what product sells the most and what gives you the most revenue. It just works. 

In my opinion, this is on the verge on revolutionary because it opens up so many doors for businesses and individuals that in the old way couldn’t charge costumers with VISA. Yes, there is Square in the states that was first, but they use the stripe on the card rather then the chip which is the new European standard.

In all my love for iZettle, I get a little sad that Sweden again builds a genius product while Norway sit on the sideline.

Imagene: OS XI and iOS merging together into something called OS.

Gatekeeper is the new, well, Gate Keeper for the Mac. By default you can´t download software unless it´s from the Mac App Store or a “Identified Developer”. You can adjust the settings to be only downloads from Mac App Store or have it like today where it downloads everything.

One day, instead of seeing “how to jailbreak iPhone” articles, we will see “how to jailbreak Mac”.

The question in all of this is pretty clear. Is this good or bad?

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To celebrate my, ehm, love, I bought a rear panel to celebrate Steve Jobs. It´s bought on https://store.kogadget.com/, but they have pulled it after I bought it. I gave around $35 for it and it was actually super easy to install. I followed the the iFixIt how-to without any problems.

So, here´s some pictures of the transformation. And yes, I need to change the front panel.

This is how you look with a new rear panel, sitting casually by the window

Do I believe them? Nope. So why do major sites do it? One word: Fucking heaps of clicks. Ok, that was five. But it´s important to emphasize why I call bull on this one.

It leaves me really no choice but to hang up the mighty bull flag and say that there probably will not be two iPads in 2012.

Why would Apple stress with making two iPads a year? If this would happen, they would start a trend, whether they like it or not, where iPad in Q1/2 is shit and the good iPad comes in Q3/4. Thereby, sales would go down on the first iPad.

I´m calling three iPads in Q2. One normal 9´7″, one cheaper 7″ with lesser prossessor and one 11″ with SD and USB slot, ultra Retina Display and unicorns coming out of the screen – feeding me with grapes in a slightly sexual, but still classy way.

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If we´re looking on how Apple has done the iPhone the last couple of years, its really easy to see the pattern:

• iPhone 1G
• iPhone 3G = iPhone 3GS
• iPhone 4 = iPhone 4S

Only a major launch happens every-other year. Blame it on the 2-year contracts, the need to work extra on major releases if you will. The matter of fact is that the next iPad will probably be a speed bump from iPad 2. Let´s call it iPad 2S.

Of course, this is just a guess from my side, but I wouldn’t go as far as saying it is a wild one.

On the other hand, I hope I´m wrong.

Important: The images are taken from The-Talks. A really good website you should check out.

I should have done some audio commenting on this, but we´ll do it next time.

So look at the presentation and please leave a comment of what you think.

Isn’t it weird that Steve Jobs, a self proclaimed music lover, would allow mediocre headphones to all their devices as a standard.

It´s something that I have thought about for a long while, but recently came up again when I read the biography.

So what´s negative with the earbuds?

1. They break easily
2. They get dirty easily
3. The sound isn’t all that

These three points can be summed into one point – cost – and that is why Apple have these as standard headphones.

Think about it

The earbuds only costs $29 which is a price most can pay. So when they brake which, let´s be honest, they will, it isnt that much of a investment to buy some new ones.

Because they have a mic. Because they are white. Because it signifies that the customer uses Apple – people want them.

Apple could have shipped better earbuds, but these are good enough so the user will accept them. The user will keep buying them because they are good to have. The general audience may think they aren’t the best, but it works.

Default earbuds isn’t famous for being super great, so why should Apple go to great strengths to meet a picky niche when they will end up probably buying headphones from another brand.

All in all, the earbuds is fine. And people buy heaps of them. Which = $

I´m a pretty big fan of Pixar. They can make a chair come to life and make me get emotional attached to a cup. It´s really how we should aim to make every business. Special, lifelike and magical.

Toy Story is of course the big favorite and since I have a desk now to fill out, I needed some decorations.

Because of that, I bought the official figure of Buzz Lightyear for £39 at Amazon. I mean, this IS exactly how it is in the movie.

If your nerdgasm hasnt exploded all over the keys, I can assure you that it´s officially approved på Pixar/Disney.

It stands 33 cm and 14 cm wide (27 with wings). It can say over 65 sentences (thats from the movie), has interactiv talk back communication, retractable helmet, flip-up wrist communicator and body with sensors for interactive responses. This isnt even everything it does.

And Woody.. Your next.

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