I’ve been meaning to write this since Leo Laporte opened his mouth about what Apple’s real direction.
Since the announcement of the iPad, Leo has been saying that it made sense that Apple dropped “Computer” from its name. Leo theorizes that Apple no longer wants to be a computer company and neglecting its Macintosh line. Eventually Apple will stop making Macintosh computer.
Leo passionately berates Apple for being unable to multitask just like its iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. It is a fallacy that the iPhone OS devices do nt multitask. I can browse the web and listening to TWiT podcast on the iPhone at the same time. I can talk on the phone and use Maps App at the same time. I can listen to some Bad Religion songs and twiterring via Twitteriffic App at the same time. The iPhone OS devices doesn’t allow third party apps to run in the background.
Let’s get back to the point. Apple is not neglecting their Macintosh product line. Apple is publicly focusing on one product at a time. As a company, Apple is making iPad as a showcase. Afterall, it is a brand new category in their product line-up. The MacBook Pro will get updated. The iMac will get updated. The Mac Pro will get updated. They all are updates to an existing product line. What about the iPhone? In my previous post I made the point that Leo has been making stuff up about Apple and its iPhone plan. Apple never announced any new iPhone in March/April timeframe as Leo adamantly insists. There will be a new iPhone this June or July and Apple will announce it at WWDC.
So, what about Leo’s opinion on Apple’s plan for its Macintosh line? Assuming that Leo is correct that Apple will cease making Macs and become a “consumer electronic” company, how would people making apps for the iP(hone/ode touch/ad)? Is leo assuming that iPhone OS SDK will be available on Linux and Windows? I am sure that it is not in Apple’s roadmap.
Apple is known for its lack of transparancy when it caomes to their products, at least under the second term of Steve Jobs regime (it does feel like a regime, in a way). Whatever happened to the long awaited MacBook Pro line? Intel has released its Arrandale CPU line for months now. Other PC makers already released notebook computer utilizing Intel’s latest offerings.
Leo, have you forgotten anything about a podcast about computer hardware? Let me refresh your memory. It is called “This Week in Computer Hardware” with Ryan Shrout and Leo Laporte. Wait a minute, you’re in it. In This Week in Computer Hardware 49: USB 3D, Ryan Shrout mentioned the integrated GPU in Arrandale CPU does not have supports for OpenCL. You know how much Apple is pushing for OpenCL adoption as standard. Since nVidia has exited computer chipset business thanks to the lawsuit from Intel. Apple is currently using nVidia GeForce 9400M integrated graphic chiset for most of its Macintosh line. Apple seems to be waiting for GPU solutions to be included in the next generations of Macintosh portables. Apple will not solely rely on Intel’s own Integrated Graphics that is built in to Arrandale CPU.
Leo Laporte is prone to rumors and speculations. Anyone remembers the infamous “zirconium” casing for the iPhone? What about the Apple Television set as rumored by attention-hungry Jason Calacanis. Leo also reported that “we” all knew that Apple has been buying some kind of touch screen for a device that no one knew existed. To be honest, Leo has been listening to Paul Thurrott way too much. I do sense that Leo disagrees with Thurrott, unfortunately Leo doesn’t stand his ground.
Leo Laporte has a Nationally syndicated radio show and a widely popular Internet-Media-Network (something to roughly replace the term Podcast Network). Should not Leo be more responsible in reporting the news?