SuperSite Blog Daily Update: December 16, 2010

Good morning.

We finally got a bit of snow here in the Boston area. Nothing notable, other than that it's the first. Plus, it's colder than all get-out.



The Wall Street Journal has an interesting article about how Apple's decision to manufacture the iPhone added $1.9 billion to the US trade deficit with China last year. "Designed by Apple in California" just sounds so much nicer, doesn't it? And give the WSJ some credit for somehow contorting the story to be less critical of Apple. The headline actually reads, "iPhone: Not Really 'Made in China'." Good stuff.



Microsoft has launched a new web site for Windows Live plug-ins, which includes add-ons for Windows Live Photo Gallery, Movie Maker, and Writer. These things were previously available otherwise, but not as easily found, and if you want to use, say, Windows Live Photo Gallery in tandem with your favorite online photo sharing site (like Picasaweb), this is the place to look.



The New York Times has a funny article describing yet another problem with the iPad: It's not masculine, and men feel lame carrying one around. Just so we're clear: The answer is always to wear one of those gadget jackets. That never looks dumb. Cough.



Head's up: There's a total lunar eclipse happening next week, with ideal conditions for those living in North America. Assuming it doesn't snow.

Discuss this Article 3

chuckb84
on Dec 16, 2010
That WSJ article is very good. The iPhone and the iPod before it are examples of how this global system has become very complicated. I think it is still important to MAKE things, but the USA does a better job than people realize at capturing the largest dollar fraction of the value of these products. More on this at:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/28/business/worldbusiness/28scene.html?_r=1
and
http://www.signallake.com/innovation/AppleiPod.pdf

I admit to some disquiet over phrases like "capturing value", but this is how the global economy works. The problem is that China may? will? figure out how to do the higher value intellectual work as well or better than the USA, and what happens then?







Waethorn
on Dec 16, 2010
"iPad: It's not masculine, and men feel lame carrying one around. Just so we're clear: The answer is always to wear one of those gadget jackets. That never looks dumb"

Or you could get yourself a man-purse. Cuz, you know, if Indiana Jones and all those Spike TV commercials can convince you its manly, then you certainly won't look like a fruit with your matching hipster electronics, now will you?

Mustang17
on Dec 17, 2010
See, The sitting in a train with an ipad, you look like a geek. Plus people can see what you are reading, and if your using one on a train from Glasgow on a late evening, well you might was just give it away to the nice hooligan.

In a busy train, not a chance, how can you hold onto it and hang on to something and peruse your favourite tech site. Nah...

Apart from sitting in your lounge, or perhaps in a parked car, where else can you use it?



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