Google Docs and the iPad

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Today I received a pleasant surprise when Google issued an update to Google Docs and Google Sheets finally enabling split screen.

In this case the “finally” term is merited. Apple first announced split screen in June 2015. It took Google 14 months to update these apps for split screen. I’d love to hear the story behind why it took so long but suspect we never will. During those 14 months, Microsoft Office for iOS got a lot better and I began to seriously question Google’s commitment to iOS.

While it’s nice that these apps support split screen on the iPad Pro, I’m not holding my breath that they’ll be getting lots of attention going forward.

As a writing tool, there isn’t a lot to love about Google Docs. However it does have one advantage … and it’s a big one. Google Documents has is the rock-solid ability for multiple people to access and edit a document simultaneously. While they’ve tried, neither Apple’s Pages nor Microsoft Word come close to matching Google Docs on this feature. Quip was interesting, but they’ve been acquired and Dropbox Paper looks promising, but it is still early days.

If anything, the examples set by Quip and Dropbox Paper is that it is possible for other companies to compete in this collaboration space but Google remains king of this hill. I’m hoping that doesn’t remain the case forever because Google’s been pretty lukewarm about the iPad for the past 14 months or so.

 

 

On the Economic Feasiblity of Apple Providing Decent Wireless Earbuds With the New iPhones

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Thomas Ricker, writing for The Verge:

“I’d prefer ‘good enough’ wireless earbuds included with the
iPhone,” says Gruber, “and ‘amazing’ headphones as the upsell
product.”

Same, but that doesn’t mean it’s economically viable for Apple to
do it. When I first read Gruber’s take a few weeks ago I thought
bundling an acceptable set of wireless earbuds would be too
expensive. After all, the most popular models recommended by
experts start at around $80, and can easily cost more than $200.
But that was before I received the Meizu EP-51 Bluetooth earbuds
for testing.

These Meizu earbuds cost $28 and are pretty decent. Of course Apple could make something similar. Apple loves profit margins, but institutionally their distaste for wires and cables is even stronger. They might go with Lightning earbuds by default, but they should go wireless. That’s what justifies removing the standard jack — not that one port is better than another, but that wireless is better than wired.

Gurman on New MacBook Pros

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Mark Gurman, writing at Bloomberg:

The new top-of-the-line MacBook Pros will be slightly thinner than
the current models but are not tapered like the MacBook Air and
latest 12-inch MacBook, one of the people said. The new MacBook
Pros have a smaller footprint than current models and the casing
has shallower curves around the edges. The pressure-sensitive
trackpad is also slightly wider, the person added.

Interesting. I was expecting a tapered design.

The new computers have been in advanced testing within Apple since
earlier this year, said one of the people, who didn’t want to be
identified discussing products before their release. The MacBook
Pros aren’t likely to debut at an event currently scheduled for
Sept. 7 to introduce next-generation versions of the iPhone,
according to one of the people. Apple spokesman Bill Evans
declined to comment.

Interesting. I definitely expected them to be announced at the September event, even if they’re not available for sale until late October or early November. That’s what Apple did with the iPad Pro last year. If they’re not announced at the September 7 event, when will they be announced? They could do a smaller event in October, but I was told last year that Apple no longer wanted to do that.

New MacBook Pros are reportedly on deck, but not in September

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Everyone knows the MacBook Pro has languished. Apple has focused less on its portable option for power users in recent years and more on iPads, of which there are now two Pro models. But many, many people still rely on the MacBook Pro to get work done, and after more than four years without a major overhaul, Apple is reportedly gearing up to surprise us all with a huge upgrade.

We’ve heard this before. Back in May, rumors swirled that Apple was slimming down the 13- and 15-inch Pro models while also planning to add a touchscreen panel to the keyboard. That panel would replace the current strip of physical function keys and make the MacBook more responsive and interactive, since the function keys could change depending on the app you’re using.

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Bloomberg: Apple said to be testing new MacBook Pro

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Mark Gurman:

The updated notebooks will be thinner, include a touch screen strip for function keys, and will be offered with more powerful and efficient graphics processors for expert users such as video gamers, said the people, who asked not to be named.

The new computers have been in advanced testing within Apple since earlier this year, said one of the people, who didn’t want to be identified discussing products before their release. The MacBook Pros aren’t likely to debut at an event currently scheduled for Sept. 7 to introduce next-generation versions of the iPhone, according to one of the people.

And:

The most significant addition to the new MacBook Pro is a secondary display above the keyboard that replaces the standard function key row. Instead of physical keys, a strip-like screen will present functions on an as-needed basis that fit the current task or application. The smaller display will use Organic Light-Emitting Diodes, a thinner, lighter and sharper screen technology, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said earlier this year.

Apple’s goal with the dedicated function display is to simplify keyboard shortcuts traditionally used by experienced users. The panel will theoretically display media playback controls when iTunes is open, while it could display editing commands like cut and paste during word processing tasks, the people said. The display also allows Apple to add new buttons via software updates rather than through more expensive, slower hardware refreshes.

You had me at new MacBook Pro.

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