A Look At OS X Yosemite And iOS 8.1
by Brandon Chester on October 27, 2014 8:00 AM ESTConclusion
It has definitely been a busy few months in the Apple world. September delivered the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, along with iOS 8, and a preview of the still mysterious Apple Watch. This month we got the iPad Air 2, the iPad Mini 3, the iMac with Retina 5K display, iOS 8.1, Apple Pay, and OS X Yosemite. Those last three points are some of the most interesting, and they all happen to be part of Apple's software ecosystem. I don't think that's a coincidence. We're reaching a point where it's becoming more and more difficult to differentiate your products based on hardware alone. Great software driving a great experience is where the focus needs to be moving forward.
Apple's strategy to provide that experience appears to be deep integration of their services across all of their product lines. It starts with the cloud, with new additions to iCloud like iCloud Drive and Photo Library. From there it goes to software commonality, with a design language that exists on both iOS and OS X, and applications that exist on both platforms. On the opposite end of the spectrum from the cloud are the new continuity features which provide integration between all the devices that you have right there with you. SMS Forwarding and iPhone call transferring expands communication on iPad and the Mac to new areas, while Handoff makes the transition between applications seamless and accurate right down to where your cursor was.
What interests me the most about Apple's stategy is how it provides incentive for a user with one Apple device to buy other Apple devices. This exists to a certain degree with other manufacturers as well. If you own a Samsung smartphone, you may be more inclined to buy a Samsung tablet due to the similar hardware design and user interface. But apart from any brand loyalty you feel, you don't really have any incentive to buy a Samsung laptop which runs Windows and doesn't integrate with your other devices. Apple's integration covers their entire lineup of devices. An iPhone user has a lot to gain by choosing a MacBook over a Windows Ultrabook, and an iPad over a Nexus 9. It would be interesting to analyze what percentage of people purchasing a new Apple device already own one or more Apple products.
Overall, I'm happy with the work that Apple has done with iOS 8.1 and OS X Yosemite. It's clear that a lot of this has been in the works for some time now, and integrating products and services to this degree requires a lot of planning to position your hardware and software so that it will be capable of working together in the ways you want them to. The Yosemite redesign has also gone quite well, and there aren't as many jarring inconsistencies as there were with iOS 7 at launch despite OS X being a more expansive operating system. Apple has definitely learned from their experiences with the iOS redesign. That being said, there is still a lot of work to do. Apple Pay needs to expand rapidly, and iCloud Photo Library isn't as far developed as I had expected it to be.
It's hard to say where Apple will go as we move forward. It will be hard to outdo the work that has been done with Yosemite. However, history tells me that there are still great things yet to come from Apple. It seems that year after year Apple is able to make updated products and proclaim them to be the biggest advancements in that product's history, and regardless of my initial reaction, I somehow always find myself agreeing .
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piroroadkill - Monday, October 27, 2014 - link
Call and SMS handoff to other devices! Woah, we're going back in time to Palm Pre. Still a pretty solid set of ideas around that device...ppi - Tuesday, October 28, 2014 - link
I have SMS synced with my Outlook for a year already (and nobody knows how long our IT witheld that one)Call handoff ... I am not sure I would want it, but as optional feature, why not.
CharonPDX - Monday, October 27, 2014 - link
Continuity looks great!Too bad everyone in my house has one side of the equation too old.
I have an iPhone 5C (good!) with an old 2008 iMac (nope.)
My daughter has an iPad Air (good!) and an iPhone 4 (nope, not even iOS 8,) with a 2008 MacBook Pro (nope.)
My wife has an iPhone 4S (nope - just "call on your Mac",) and a brand new MacBook Air (good!)
So the only person in my family that can make *ANY* use of Continuity/Handoff is my wife, and then only for "call on your Mac" - AKA " Use your Mac as a bluetooth Speakerphone.)
Highhbrid - Tuesday, October 28, 2014 - link
There seems to be a lot of talk about soldered RAM in Mac products. The main reason why you can't upgrade RAM in phones is because the form factor would not be nearly as thin and it wouldn't exactly be an SoC anymore.. form factor is crucial to a handheld device. You have to consider things holistically if you're going to try and compare different fruit here. Very seldom do I observe this amongst convo.I think that with a Macbook Air there is legitimate reasoning for soldering the RAM in place. You and Apple want that device as thin as possible. The thinner you can get it, the lighter too.
With Macbook Pros the argument is a lot weaker. Until those bitches get razer thin (which we're an iteration or two from) removable RAM is easy to pull off. Under a generous, PRIVATE Apple, I believe that they would throw that in.
However when you consider the demographic of Macbook Pro purchasers, it's quite an easy money grab for Apple.
"Higher reliability, better performance, and a more compact design" some will say.
Reliable is in, I put the RAM in wrong? Very rarely do I reset someone's RAM to fix there problem.
Performance: I've seen how fast 16GB @ 2133 MHz goes. I'm not buying it.
Compactness? Refer to the above.
Soldered RAM in a Mac Mini? lol Apple
solipsism - Tuesday, October 28, 2014 - link
You didn't make a valid argument to support your comments that the MBP isn't think enough at this point, you just said it would have to be "razor thin" and eluded to the MBA being thinner.How much space is available right now for removable RAM when you consider the size of the sticks, the channel they sit it, how much much further it will sit below the main board, will that interfere with the bottom casing if it's pressed upon in that area, and will there be enough room for thermals.
I suppose it's possible they could have, but it does come with a cost, which you didn't address at all except to say there is zero benefit.
Highhbrid - Tuesday, October 28, 2014 - link
It's inevitable that they will get thinner. How thin? Who knows. But apparently thin is a big deal to Apple, that was their opening feature to the Air 2 announcement. We will see.I think that the first MBPr could have physically included removable RAM, even if it has to be 1mm thicker. Ultimately, that's Apple decision and they could have included it, I feel.
I didn't say anything about the MBA except that there is a valid reason for soldering the memory into place. The MBP are thin enough IMO
blackcrayon - Tuesday, October 28, 2014 - link
Soldered RAM alone doesn't mean anything. The real issue is that the device will cost more up front. If you won't/can't pay more just buy something else.KoolAidMan1 - Wednesday, October 29, 2014 - link
Soldered RAM on the Mac Mini is terrible. It makes sense if they made it REALLY small like an AppleTV but its the same chassis as before.There's an excuse with the MBA and MBP. This is just stupid.
jaymond - Tuesday, October 28, 2014 - link
When will One Drive or Google Drive copycat the photo features of iCloud Drive? I'm a One Drive user and would love this feature. I'm not willing to pay Apple's prices for cloud storage when I have 1TB free with One Drive with Office 360, but I would like to get my photos off my HDD on my Macbook Air.RichieTech - Wednesday, October 29, 2014 - link
The iMac starts at $2500..... starts! And yet no touchscreen! That's the most asinine thing I've ever heard. I'm sure it looks gorgeous but for that price it should do more and so should the previous models for that matter.The iPad can't form its own network, cant have multiple user accounts and doesn't have its own file structure and cost between $500 to $800.... pffffttt !!! I just spit my beer all over my desk :/
I don't see anything different about OS X(
Thanks iCloud for pics of Scarlett Joe... I'm sure you'll keep my credit card safe with Apple Pay?!
You fear after 13 years, you should be glad after 13 years your moving on!
Nope