Disqus - Latest Comments for andrewsmit

Re: Apple was right to refuse to help the FBI

Andrew Smit — Mon, 04 Apr 2016 11:20:57 -0000

Think we're going to have to agree to disagree here, but I believe the "So long as the devices are under Apple's control in a controlled environment" is naïve, there is no way that software would remain private, but that's a matter of opinion, not fact.

Re: Apple was right to refuse to help the FBI

Andrew Smit — Mon, 04 Apr 2016 11:03:15 -0000

But the FBI said it's "just about one phone" - if it becomes law then definitely not just about phone, it's technically a backdoor.
If Apple (and Samsung etc) had to comply in order to sell their devices in the US, what's stopping China from putting the same laws in place.
Apple's PR campaign and lawsuits were different things, the PR campaign (particularly Cook's cancer comment) weren't great, but from what I read their legal stance was pretty solid.

Re: Apple was right to refuse to help the FBI

Andrew Smit — Mon, 04 Apr 2016 10:58:55 -0000

No I understand, sorry, the key alone exists, the software doesn't.
How do you know it's trivial to rewrite the software?
Regardless, even if it was 5 minutes work, do you believe a court has the right to order a developer to write it?

Re: Apple was right to refuse to help the FBI

Andrew Smit — Mon, 04 Apr 2016 09:38:01 -0000

The master key doesn't exist, it would have to be written by apple's engineers.
Would be interesting though, could a court compel a company to write software?

Re: iPad mini review: why Apple thinks you are an idiot

Andrew Smit — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 04:31:40 -0000

The 2nd hand market for Apple products is great as well...

Re: iPad mini review: why Apple thinks you are an idiot

Andrew Smit — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 04:23:13 -0000

Challenge accepted. :) I do get a little annoyed when I see "Steve Jobs would never" but thanks for the clarification, makes a little more sense. Of course it's ok to theorise, but we need to consider the facts first.

That said, you're right, there is no rule, but Apple watchers know that Apple follows rules that tend to repeat itself, and is key to their success. The iPad 2 (non-retina) launched 8 months after the iPhone 4 (retina).

Why the iPad Mini with non-retina makes sense:

- Cheap 7" Tablets were started selling well, possibly eating into the iPad's marketshare, Apple needed a "horse in this race" this is beyond doubt.

- Apple's margins are legendary, they've managed to remain price competitive in the tablet market and "ultra book" whilst maintaining these margins, but these margins are decreasing, Apple can't afford to take a hit of their margins, and it's not in their DNA to sell products for a loss or small profit.

- Knowing that, Apple has to release a smaller tablet in 2012, and they need to sell it for a profit - enter the iPad Mini. To include a retina meant that it would increase the price making it a hard sell against those 7" tablets from Google and Amazon and it would significantly heavier.

So Apple needed something in 2012, it needed to be better than the competition in areas that mattered (weight) and it had to be significantly cheaper than existing iPads. Those 4 factors are why the 2012 iPad Mini doesn't have a retina screen.

My prediction is that we will see an upgrade of the internals of the iPad Mini next year, but no retina screen (unless Apple make some breakthrough in SoC and battery design) and when we do see the retina iPad Mini come out, the existing Mini drops in price and continues to sell well.

I think Steve Jobs would have been proud of the iPad Mini. Mine arrives next week. :)

Re: iPad mini review: why Apple thinks you are an idiot

Andrew Smit — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 02:44:06 -0000

The iPhone went retina in it's 4th generation, the iPad in it's 3rd, you want the Mini to go retina in it's 1st? Apple has a high stock price and large profits for a reason, they're not stupid.

When you use lines like "I cannot help but think that if Jobs was still in charge – he would have done something" you discredit yourself and this review. No one knows what Steve Jobs would have done, let alone you, it's pointless making that statement.

Let's not forget the mistakes that Apple made under Jobs: MobileMe, Scratched iPod Nano, iPod Hifi, Puck Mouse, the Cube, iTunes ROCKR (Motorola phone with iTunes).

Re: Internet killing the video store

Andrew Smit — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 05:36:20 -0000

Interesting that video rentals are dropping, and I'm sure piracy + VOD services are partly to blame, but not all. DVD prices (to purchase) are significantly cheaper these days, so surely they play a role as well? they used to be in the R300+ range, now most are between R100 and R150.

Re: Once Again, RSS Is Dead. But ONLY YOU Can Save It!

Andrew Smit — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:41:09 -0000

Rss is still alive, according to me anyway.

Re: Carrier IQ: do SA mobile operators use snooping software?

Andrew Smit — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 03:52:20 -0000

Uh, I follow relatively closely, and I don't think it's "well known that ALL Apple iPhones spy on their users by relaying certain points of data to Apple". Can you be so kind as to provide proof?

Re: 2010 Outsurance 94.5 KFM Gun Run Entries are open!

Andrew Smit — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 14:01:56 -0000

Nope entries are closed. This page refers to the 2010 race though.

Re: Saturday Morning Run

Andrew Smit — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 06:54:05 -0000

Yes it definitely still happens. Looking forward to catching you on the road.

Re: Wednesday Time Trial

Andrew Smit — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 08:41:26 -0000

Of course, you're welcome to join.

Re: Wednesday Time Trial

Andrew Smit — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 07:42:14 -0000

Yip, Mike Russell will be there.

Re: Wednesday Time Trial

Andrew Smit — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 07:34:38 -0000

Hi Johan. There will be a time trial this evening.

Re: Going solar at home

Andrew Smit — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 12:21:37 -0000

R30k is very optimistic, I suggest you read this article by Tim Cohen - http://bit.ly/gBWAN2 - that said, solar panels for your geyser is a cost effective, and you make money back very quickly.

Re: Lighthouse 10km Night Race

Andrew Smit — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 14:26:19 -0000

The results are out! - http://wp.me/p1q2mj-8g

Re: Lighthouse 10km Night Race

Andrew Smit — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 05:24:29 -0000

Hi Jason,

Thanks for your comment, we will look at including them next year, although
I don't believe the current route would allow a staggered start. The results
aren't out yet, as soon as they are, we'll post them here.

Re: Lighthouse 10km Night Race

Andrew Smit — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 05:07:58 -0000

Not yet, as soon as we get them we will post them here.

Re: Annual General Meeting

Andrew Smit — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 03:24:18 -0000

Fixed, thanks Grant.

Re: Images of Pain and Colour

Andrew Smit — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 04:10:45 -0000

Enjoy the blog, really I do, but I have to ask, who pissed you off by telling you that cycling was easy?

Re: 5 reasons why the iPad is a fat waste of money

Andrew Smit — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 04:28:10 -0000

Perhaps baiting is too strong a word, and it's not meant to be critical, it was clearly written to insight a response, and by getting responses you're doing your job and generating page views.
Back to topic though, perhaps a macbook 11" is more suited to your needs?

Re: 5 reasons why the iPad is a fat waste of money

Andrew Smit — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 02:52:59 -0000

Definitely some baiting going on here, but ok, I'll bite.
You've made some valid points, if the iPad was designed to be a full computer, but it's not.
Firstly, the price. If it's too expensive, why is the only valid competitor (the Galaxy Tab) more expensive? And it has half the screen real estate. (Please don't use ZAR comparisons as the iPad isn't officially in South Africa yet)
And flash support? Come on, have you read the reviews of the galaxy tab? With flash turned on the browsing crawls to a halt. Apple should be lauded for finally taking a stand against the propriety web plugin.
Those are all debatable points however. To call the iPad a waste of money is a bit rich, seeing that over 4 million have been sold (in the US), so surely that debunks that point?

Re: 2009 Outsurance 94.5KFM Gun Run

Andrew Smit — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 06:34:55 -0000

Hi Edward,
The event is not chip timed, it is timed according to your number. Also please note that this page is for the 2009 race, not the 2010 one.

Re: Eric Schmidt and the art of tact

Andrew Smit — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 06:39:32 -0000

Uh, Eric Schmidt is not the "Co-CEO" he is the only CEO. Therefore represents the company. Larry is President of Products and Sergey is President of Technology. See http://www.google.co.za/int...