Mountain Lion Is Coming

Today, Apple released the first developer preview of the next step in OS X, Mountain Lion.  First, let me say that Apple has once again proven it can work on software for months without a peep, then just let it loose to the surprise of everyone.

It brings more iOS features to the desktop. Messages replaces iChat, Calendar replaces iCal, Contacts replaces Address Book, and adds Notes and Reminders as separate apps.  All of this is consistent with Apple's push to integrate the computer and the mobile.  All of these apps (as well as new document-creation apps) will use iCloud to sync between computers and mobiles.

In Mountain Lion, Reminders are taken out of the calendar and Notes are taken out of Mail.  They are separate, just like they should be.  New App Store apps on the Mac will have the choice to save in traditional file system folders, or in a simplified iCloud interface.

One thing bothers me, as Gruber points out:

I’m interested to see how developer support for Mac App Store-only features plays out. Two big ones: iCloud document storage and Notification Center. Both of these are slated only for third-party apps from the Mac App Store. Many developers, though, have been maintaining non-Mac App Store versions of their apps.

 This could get very expensive.  I am a HUGE user of the Omni Apps.  I use OmniFocus, OmniOutliner, OmniGraffle, and OmniPlan extensively and daily.  I bought these apps long before the Mac App Store existed.  Thankfully, the fine folks at OmniGroup keep update in parity between App Store and in-the-wild versions of the software.  By Apple only allowing iCloud and Notification Center to App Store Apps, I will need to re-purchase $400-$500 in Apps so that notifications show up on my desktop.  This seems a bit anti-consumer and anti-developer, especially when alternate notification systems, like Growl, are available for nominal cost.

Brand Recognition From A 5 Year Old

Two and a half minutes of adorable.  A 5 year old's take on brand recognition.  She recognizes what almost every logo is, such as the "Eye" of CBS, but doesn't know what they stand for.

She recognizes, by name, the following brands:

• Disney
• Apple
• GE ("that's where my grandpa works")
• McDonalds
• Nike

 She recognizes as correct products, but not by name:

• Pepsi
• KFC
• Starbucks
• BP
• Mercedes ("on a car, looks like a peace sign!")
• Panera
• Xbox ("that's what you use to control the TV at Ryan's house")

My favorite quote:

That is a parade elephant

If she only knew...

via Ladd Design

Happy Birthday, Macintosh!

The Macintosh ( /ˈmækɨntɒʃ/ mak-in-tosh),^[1] or Mac, is a series of personal computers (PC) designed, developed, and marketed by Apple Inc. The first Macintosh was introduced by Apple's then-chairman Steve Jobs on January 24, 1984; it was the first commercially successful personal computer to feature a mouse and a graphical user interface rather than acommand-line interface.

I know Macs have been my computer of choice since the beginning.  Like many, I strayed into the Windows world during the early 90's when Macs were damn near unusable, especially in "real world" jobs.  Since OS X was released in 2002, I've been all Mac, all the time.

Except when I'm on my iPad...

Fire The Bastards. All Of Them.

The House Republicans walked off the floor today, then pulled the plug on CSPAN in order to avoid a vote on the middle class tax cut set to expire at the end of 2011.

While John Boehner will not confirm his office was responsible for cutting off the CSPAN feed, according to CSPAN's Twitter account, "C-SPAN has no control over the U.S. House TV cameras - the Speaker of the House does."

Just to recap, here's the timeline of what the House of Representatives did today:

10:00 AM - House of Representatives begins session

10:02 AM - Pledge of Allegiance is recited

10:03 AM - Speaker Pro Tempore Michael Fitzpatrick (R-PA) adjourns session for the day over the objections of Democrratic Whip Steny Hoyer. Republicans leave the chamber.

10:04 AM - CSPAN feed is cut off.

So, they were at work for a total of four minutes today solving the overwhelming problems of this country. If they worked at McDonalds and showed up for .8% of their workday, they'd be on the street.

Where they belong.

Peter Pan at MSG

Jenna Wolfe and the Today Show weekend crew spent opening day with us at the Theatre at Madison Square Garden.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy