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What Everyone Is Too Polite to Say About Steve Jobs In the days after Steve Jobs' death, friends and colleagues have, in customary fashion, been sharing their fondest memories of the Apple co-founder. He's been hailed as "a genius" and "the greatest CEO of his generation" by pundits and tech journalists. But a great man's reputation can withstand a full accounting. And, truth be told, Jobs could be terrible to people, and his impact on the world was not uniformly positive. We mentioned much of the good Jobs did during his career earlier. His accomplishments were far-reaching and impossible to easily summarize. But here's one way of looking at the scope of his achievement: It's the dream of any entrepreneur to affect change in one industry. Jobs transformed half a dozen of them forever, from personal computers to phones to animation to music to publishing to video games. He was a polymath, a skilled motivator, a decisive judge, a farsighted tastemaker, an excellent showman, and a gifted strategist. One thing he wasn't, though, was perfect. Indeed there were things Jobs did while at Apple that were deeply disturbing. Rude, dismissive, hostile, spiteful: Apple employees—the ones not bound by confidentiality agreements—have had a different story to tell over the years about Jobs and the bullying, manipulation and fear that followed him around Apple. Jobs contributed to global problems, too. Apple's success has been built literally on the backs of Chinese workers, many of them children and all of them enduring long shifts and the specter of brutal penalties for mistakes. And, for all his talk of enabling individual expression, Jobs imposed paranoid rules that centralized control of who could say what on his devices and in his company. It's particularly important to take stock of Jobs' flaws right now. His successor, Tim Cook, has the opportunity to set a new course for the company, and to establish his own style of leadership. And, thanks to Apple's success, students of Jobs' approach to leadership have never been so numerous in Silicon Valley. He was worshipped and emulated plenty when he was alive; in death, Jobs will be even more of an icon. After celebrating Jobs' achievements, we should talk freely about the dark side of Jobs and the company he co-founded. Here, then, is a catalog of lowlights: Censorship and Authoritarianism The internet allowed people around the world to express themselves more freely and more easily. With the App Store, Apple reversed that progress. The iPhone and iPad constitute the most popular platform for handheld computerizing in America, key venues for media and software. But to put anything on the devices, you need Apple's permission. And the company wields its power aggressively. In the name of protecting children from the evils of erotica — "freedom from porn" — and adults from one another, Jobs has banned from being installed on his devices gay art, gay travel guides, political cartoons, sexy pictures, Congressional candidate pamphlets, political caricature,Vogue fashion spreads, systems invented by the opposition, and other things considered morally suspect. Apple's devices have connected us to a world of information. But they don't permit a full expression of ideas. Indeed, the people Apple supposedly serves — "the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers" — have been particularly put out by Jobs' lockdown. That America's most admired company has followed such an un-American path, and imposed centralized restrictions typical of the companies it once , is deeply disturbing.But then Jobs never seemed comfortable with the idea of fully empowered workers or a truly free press. Inside Apple, there is a culture of fear and control around communication; Apple's "Worldwide Loyalty Team" specializes in hunting down leakers, confiscating mobile phones and searching computers. Apple applies coercive tactics to the press, as well. Its first response to stories it doesn't like is typically manipulation and badgering, for example, threatening to withhold access to events and executives. Next, it might leak a contradictory story. But Apple doesn't stop there. It has a fearsome legal team that is not above annihilating smaller prey. In 2005, for example, the company sued 19-year-old blogger Nick Ciarelli for correctly reporting, prior to launch, the existence of the Mac Mini. The company did not back down until Ciarelli agreed to close his blog ThinkSecret forever. Last year, after our sister blog Gizmodo ran a video of a prototype iPhone 4, Apple complained to law enforcement, who promptly "]raided an editor's home. And just last month, in the creepiest example of Apple's fascist tendencies, two of Apple's private security agents searched the home of a San Francisco man and threatened him and his family with immigration trouble as part of an scramble for a missing iPhone prototype. The man said the security agents were accompanied by plainclothes police and did not identify themselves as private citizens, lending the impression they were law enforcement officers. http://gawker.com/5847344/what-everyone-is-too-polite-to-say-about-steve-jobs [Photos via AP, Getty Imag

Scott Forstall has just taken the WWDC 2011 stage and details about the changes and improvements iniOS 5 are flowing thick and fast. Keep one tab in your browser locked to this post as we update it with all the new features, and throw another one open for our liveblog where you'll get to see and read the very latest as it happens. We've now put together the full list of highlights from the WWDC presentation, which you'll find after the break. iOS 5 will be made available this fall, with compatibility promised for the iPhone 4 and 3GS, iPad 1 and 2, and iPod touch 3rd and 4th generation. • Firstly, stats. Scott notes that Apple has so far sold 200 million iOS devices, with more than 25 million of those being iPads. There have been 14 billion downloads from the App Store, tallying over $2.5 billion paid out in revenue to app developers. The iTunes Store isn't doing badly, either, with 15 billion songs sold. • And the first new feature: an overhaul of notifications. At last! A new Notification Center aggregates all your, well, notifications into one and is accessible by swiping down a menu from the top of the screen. Yes, just like Android. Small X buttons alongside each note allow you to dismiss it, though there's no "clear all" option for the more decisive among us. Notifications are also making their way onto the lockscreen, where swiping across a text message takes you right into it. A little something like Samsung's TouchWiz implementation. • Newsstand is a new place to house all your magazine and newspaper subscriptions. • Twitter integration is also coming to iOS 5, with a single sign-in allowing a multitude of apps to make use of your Twitter credentials. That includes the Camera and Photos programs, finally letting you tweet images out directly from your galleries. • Safari Reader is a new browser feature that will strip out distractions and present the text of a webpage with no other excess content. Accessible via a button next to the address bar. Also added to the iOS browser is a Reading List, which does what the name suggests by accumulating a list of pages you want to read later. Accessible on multiple devices. Tabbed browsing is making a debut in v5.0 as well, which is sure to be a boon for iPad users. • Reminders is another self-descriptive feature. This one's intelligent enough to remind you to do things based on your location. It'll sync across devices and with your calendar. • Yay, there's now a camera button right on your lockscreen! The volume-up button is also doubling up as a physical shutter release key when you're in the camera app. Pinch-to-zoom is said to be available right in the app, while holding your finger down on a particular area will lock down exposure to optimize the shot for its particular lighting. Some new in-device editing options have also been added, including cropping, rotation, red-eye reduction, and a one-click enhance option. • A new split keyboard has also been shown off in iOS 5. • Headline feature: PC Free! No more cables required for syncing. Now we're talking. Setting up and activating a new iOS device can be done right on the device itself, and syncing will be wireless too -- there'll be no need to tether to a computer anymore. Over-the-air updates are also part of the new deal, and in better news still, they'll contain only the data that's changed, meaning you won't have to re-download the entire OS every time Apple opts to make a minor tweak. • Another pretty significant novelty: iMessage. It's a messaging service exclusively for iOS users (irrespective of which device they're rocking), which comes with delivery and read receipts, an indicator for when the other party is typing, and the ability to push messages to all your devices. Kinda, sorta like BBM. You'll be able to send messages, photos, videos, and contacts. Group messaging will also be available. It works over either WiFi or 3G and looks to be making good use of Apple's new push notifications. • Perhaps the biggest innovation of all in iOS 5, however, will be the way iCloud affects the use of your mobile device. Hit up our overview post of the company's new cloud-syncing solution to learn all about it. • iOS 5 will ship in the fall to the following devices: iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4, iPad 1 and 2, and iPod touch 3rd and 4th generation.

Apple Seminars Online http://www.seminars.apple.com/ I can recommend the "iWork seminar", covers "Pages", "Numbers", and "Keynote". Very well done, not to geeky. I downloaded it, played it on Quicktime. iWork for Business See how iWork '08 allows you to create stunning presentations, create compelling word-processing documents, and present spreadsheets that get people excited about your data. Online Seminars are available for the following topics: Audio | Databases | Design, Print & Graphic Design | Digital Media | Enterprise | Keynote | Music | Photography | Sci/Tech | Servers/Networks | Small Business | Support Most online seminars require fast (ie DSL, cable, T1,...) internet access and QuickTime 7 to view any video presentations. To find out more about these and other Apple events, please visit: http://www.apple.com/seminars Audio [^] The Podcast Recipe: Producing a successful show. Find out what it takes to perform a great-sounding podcast, produce a professional show, and promote a podcast to reach as many people as possible. Databases [^] Organize your work and life with your Mac. Get organized with Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard, Bento and FileMaker Pro! Design, Print & Graphic Design [^] Motion for After Effects Users Join Jem Schofield as he shows an existing After Effects composition and demonstrates how to enhance that project. Motion Basics for Designers Jem Schofield shows you how to take elements from existing projects and animate them using one of the exciting applications in Final Cut Studio, Motion. Design at full speed. Breakthrough design and productivity with QuarkXPress 7 Universal. View a hands-on demonstration of the improved user interface and see how advanced new capabilities can take your productivity to the highest level yet. Perfect Color Starts Here. With Apple Cinema Displays Join the Apple Cinema Displays product manager to learn how adding an Apple display to your creative system can boost your color-viewing experience. Digital Media [^] Podcast Producer- How to make it work for your business. Podcasting is now one of the most powerful tools you can use to market your business. Watch Stephen Tonna demonstrate creating and publishing podcasts using Podcast Producer. Enhancing Video Podcasts with Final Cut Studio Add chapter markers, titles, images, and URLs to your podcast and produce video and sound with Final Cut Pro, Soundtrack Pro, QuickTime Pro and Compressor. Final Cut Studio Workflow with Panasonic P2 Media Join Apple's Steve Bayes in a workflow demonstration of content capture from a Panasonic P2 card from a Panasonic HVX200 camera into Final Cut Pro v5.1.2. Final Cut Studio Workflow with Sony XDCAM-HD Final Cut Pro, included with Final Cut Studio, now includes native XDCAM-HD support for Sony?s latest XDCAM-HD system. Shake: Advanced Digital Compositing & Integration with Final Cut Studio Join Shake Product Manager, Dion Scoppettuolo, in a demonstration of Shake using King Kong footage from WETA Studios. Capture, Create and Share Digital Media with QuickTime 7 Pro Join Apple?s team of QuickTime experts in this free online seminar to learn how QuickTime 7 can take your digital media to the next level. Pre-Visualizing and Presenting Your Ideas with StoryBoard Artist Watch Jeff Walsh of PowerProduction demo StoryBoard Artist and find out how to convey your ideas with more depth, flair and accuracy than you thought possible. Enterprise [^] NEW! Mac for Hospitality This seminar addresses challenges often faced by the hospitality industry by exploring customized digital solutions from Apple and Nanonation. News and Sports Editing - Infinite Possibilities with Final Cut Pro Join broadcast news industry pioneer Joe Torelli, and learn the steps to mastering Final Cut Pro in the fast-paced news and sports editing environment. Apple and Telestream: Turn the media you have into the media you need Apple and Telestream discuss powerful multimedia solutions that make it possible to deliver video content to any audience regardless of how it is created, distributed, or viewed. Mac for Computer Forensics & e-discovery Join Apple and a panel of experts in computer forensics as they discuss the challenges and opportunities in their field and why the Mac is their preferred choice for examinations. Best Practices for Integrating Mac OS X into Active Directory Learn how the built-in capabilities of Mac OS X can enable you to integrate Mac OS X and Active Directory in a way that fits best with your environment. Best Practices for Mac OS X Client Management Discover how you can implement important client management tactics in your enterprise. Keynote [^] Communicating Your Vision with Keynote '08 Join Jeremy Butcher, marketing manager at Apple, and Ken Soliva, art director at Trek Bicycles as they take you through the creation of a presentation using Keynote '08. Music [^] Your guitar. Your Mac. Your music. Join Apple's Mark Altekruse to discover how easy it is to connect your guitar to your Mac, and create a superior sound as you play and record. Making Music on the Mac with GarageBand Tune in to this free online seminar and learn how to transform your Mac into a musical instrument and record new and inspiring masterpieces. Guitarists and the Mac: A Conversation with Pat Metheny Join Pat Metheny in this free online seminar and learn how the Mac can help you take your music to the next level. Photography [^] Aperture for iPhoto Users If you use iPhoto and have considered using Aperture, this online seminar will answer many of your questions. Creating a Rich Media Podcast with Final Cut Pro Brian Storm shows news professionals how to use Final Cut Pro to take digital storytelling to a whole new level with rich media podcasting. Sci/Tech [^] Microscopy on the Mac Learn how the Mac and iVision software from BioVision create a fantastic solution for microscopy data acquisition and analysis. Introduction to LabVIEW This seminar introduces you to the fundamentals of creating computer-based measurement and automation applications using the Mac and LabVIEW graphical programming. Getting Started with OsiriX - Reviewing and Manipulating Diagnostic Medical Images In this 32-minute, pre-recorded presentation, Dr. Joe Borelli takes you through the basic installation, set-up and use of OsiriX. ChemDraw and BioDraw for Mac OS X: High productivity tools for chemists and biologists Jeffrey P. Carter discusses tips on how to make optimal use of both ChemDraw and BioDraw, so you can spend more time on your core research efforts. Servers/Networks [^] Assembling and Configuring an Apple Workgroup Cluster Learn how to physically assemble an Apple Workgroup Cluster and configure it using the Mac OS X server assistant. Assembling and Configuring an Apple Workgroup Cluster for Bioinformatics Learn how to physically assemble an Apple Workgroup Cluster and configure it using the Mac OS X server assistant. Experience the power of Automator and Apple Remote Desktop 3. With Automator actions available with ARD 3, you can automate a wide range of workgroup administration tasks such as configuration, setup, cleanup, and support. Manage creative workgroups easily with Apple Remote Desktop 3. See some of the more than 50 new features that speed up and simplify software distribution, asset management, remote administration, and remote assistance. Increasing Workgroup Productivity with Xsan Join Doug Cunningham as he demos how to set up Xsan, reviews powerful admin and reporting tools, and demos real-time collaboration in a video environment. A Blueprint for Tiered Storage Steve Duplessie, recognized independent expert on storage technology, discusses the practicalities of tiered storage & set-up of a solution that works. Small Business [^] iWork for Business See how iWork '08 allows you to create stunning presentations, create compelling word-processing documents, and present spreadsheets that get people excited about your data. New to the Mac for business users If you're contemplating a move to the Mac, this online seminar will give you useful tips and valuable information to help you make the transition seamless. Brand Your Business Better with Apple. See how Sustainable Harvest creates professional looking marketing materials like newsletters, presentations, podcasts, movies, photobooks and websites. New to the Mac and Compatibility with Windows Two part seminar for businesspeople contemplating a move from another computer to the Mac and weighting Windows compatibility needs. Buying a Mac and Getting Support Travis Fears and Mimi Basu of Apple discuss the many options available to purchase a Mac and get support and training after your purchase. Supporting your growing business - Scaling with Apple Jeremy Butcher from Apple Pro Markets will walk you through the many ways that Apple can scale with your business. Accounting on the Mac: Managing Mac Clients. Join Apple and Terri Zeh Jacobson, President of Resources for Small Business as she describes how she supports Mac clients using MYOB and QuickBooks. DWG on the Mac See how ArchiCAD, eDrawings and VectorWorks allow you to view, edit and manipulate DWG files on the Mac. Standards-based Web Electronic Filing Systems Apple invites you to view a free webcast that discusses technical best practices around web-based electronic filing solutions. Support [^] Why Hire a Member of the Apple Consultants Network Learn about the services provided by and advantages of hiring members of the Apple Consultants Network.

Google gets serious about the Mac Posted by Matt Asay Post a comment In the "20 percent time" that Google employees have to work on projects of personal interest, it turns out that an increasing number are spending time writing open-source projects for their beloved Macs. Google has long had a fondness for the Mac, with upwards of 6,000 of its 20,000 current employees opting to use the Mac over Windows. It is in the 20 percent employee development time, however, where this statistic becomes interesting. At Google, development time translates into products. The more Mac-friendly employees, the more Mac-related development. The more Mac-related development, the more Google-sponsored Mac-based open-source code. As Google's Mac Developer Playground demonstrates, some of this code is quite interesting. Here are a few of the best open-source Mac projects from Google: * AppMenuBoy: Easily add hierarchical menus in the dock of applications. (10.5 Leopard) * MacFuse: "Implements a mechanism that makes it possible to implement a fully functional file system in a user space program on Mac OS X...(that) opens up a whole new set of opportunities for Macintosh developers, who can now put intuitive and innovative interfaces around all kinds of information." * Statz: Ever want to update your status in Skype, Adium, etc. all at the same time, from one user interface? Well, here you go. * Vidnik: "Record video segments using your iSight camera, and upload them to YouTube." Makes the Mac-to-YouTube process even easier (if that was possible). There's much more. You can always find stable projects ready for mass consumption like Google Desktop for the Mac and Notifier here, but much of the most intriguing code is housed on the Playground. All of it open-source. All of it is available for developers to tinker with, improve, and distribute. This is a very different Google from the one I've been imagining for the past few years. All of which has me thinking: what would a Google-plus-Apple combination look like? Both companies share a respect for design and aesthetics. Both companies focus on consumers. Importantly, both companies are also at the top of their game. Could the two merge and create an even more powerful Goopple? Yes, though it is unlikely. I just can't imagine Steve Jobs sharing the stage with anyone. So I'll continue to enjoy Google's open-source Mac projects and imagine a day when the best in desktop meets the best in Web. What a cool combination that would be. Cool 8)

Anyone using an OS X set up localized to Thai? I mean, when you buy a Mac in Thailand, does the system default to Thai menus, alert messages, dialog windows, etc? Or is English the default system and there is only a Thai script input method available from the flag menu at the top right? This would mean I could open a document and write in Thai script but the File menu itself would still appear as "File"? Or is it in Thai? Thanks. Jo