How come Microsoft did not think of a desktop app store?!

For many years linux offers a kind of app store but it was never properly implemented and/or commercially explored. But on the latest Ubuntu version they launch something called “Get Software” that is exactly that.

Once again Microsoft dismissed the enormous success of the Apple App Store for the iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch and did not think about adapting (call it “stealing”, if you wish! it would not be the first time) that concept and using it for Windows.

The people at Cupertino (read:Apple team) did the opposite and are launching the Mac App Store.

I think the thing that bugged me most about this is that I also did not think about it. How come such a great opportunity got away from every startup and tech company out there?

This would be a great project for a startup. I wish I had the vision for this a couple of years ago. Now… It’s to late.

Coincidence or not, today Microsoft announced that will be launching a Marketplace for PC Games and I am sure soon Microsoft or somebody else will create something similar to the Mac App Store for Windows.

I will finish by making mine the words of Nicholas Deleon on a CrunchGear post about the Mac App Store:

“to expect that the Mac App Store won’t be anything other than a smashing success is pure folly”

BTW: Love the new MacBook Air. After watching the keynote all I wanted was to go and get one. (I dont know how Steve Jobs does it but it gets me feeling like that on every keynote event)

Disclosure: I never owned any Apple product. But I think I will stop resisting and cause that to change sometime soon.

iPod Shuffle

Too expensive. $49 for 2Gb.

iPod Nano

Too small for touch. So whats the point in Multi-touch?

iPod Touch

Like it. Amazing features for a music player. Again, expensive.

iTunes 10

Hate the new logo. Nothing changes with the software that I always hated. Confusing, odd navigation, mysterious playlist and I lose track of my media files.

Ping

Niche pseudo social network. Close minded inside iTunes and doesn’t bring anything new. There is a lot that can be done there. Let’s see.

Apple TV

The actual box hardware and the price are spot on. The software is too basic. I want much more on my TV.
The remote control is one of the things that I think needs someone to reinvent. Hate writing something with the remote arrows and we need to be able to write or comunicate what we want with the box set. How else can we search and navigate through piles of data fast?
This will also be a challenge for the upcoming Google TV. I am curious to see how they solve it.

Apple claims to aim at personal computing

Microsoft Steve Balmer says that he loves developers and Windows is number one for home and business users.

Is this a case of not always getting what you want?

Am I not getting something?

or is it just a case that you aim your business towards an audience and most of the time you get a completely different one!?

Couldn’t resist to add this video

image by: Derek K. Miller

Foi apresentado no passado fim de semana no MacWorld 2009 o novo MacBook o portátil da Apple que promete dar muito que falar.

Este modelo está previsto ser colocado à venda nos próximos meses e será entregue aos seus utilizadores sem teclado! Não por erros de transporte mas porque a Apple aposta em que o modo de escrita será feito por um rato/roda (Wheel) maior que a do iPod mas com o mesmo aspecto.

As opiniões já rodam o mundo e o video acima foi visto por milhares nas primeiras horas após o lançamento.

Quanto a mim. Sou antiquado. Não gosto da ideia. A Apple tem conseguido tornar-me num fã dos seus produtos e na sua maioria são do melhor que existe no mundo mas neste caso ponho sérias duvidas quanto ao sucesso e continuidade desta já famosa roda.

Mais ainda penso que o Touch Screen para o qual a Microsoft está a trabalhar e a construir o novo Windows 7 para que tenha uma boa compatibilidade será bem mais interessante.

Carregar no teclado, apesar da gordura no ecran parece-me que será bem mais prático.

Bem, já me aconteceu estar errado… por isso só esperando para ver e fazer o teste.