By SteveJack
Steve Jobs announced the opening of the iPhone and iPod touch today with an official SDK coming to developers in February 2008. Although it might not be explicitly stated in the open letter he posted to Apple.com, Jobs also announced that OS X users will double by June.
Let’s break it down: Piper Jaffray Analyst Gene Munster is modeling around 3.2 million iPhones for calendar year 2007 and 12.4 million iPhones for calendar 2008. That’s roughly 9.4 million units by June. Ya think Apple can sell 1.5 times that many iPod touch units by then? With ease, I say. So, very conservatively, that’d be 14.1 million iPod touch units, plus 9.4 million iPhones, which conveniently comes out to 23.5 million. 23.5 million is just about how many Mac OS X users are currently in the world right now.
By June 2008, there will be at least double the devices running OS X as there are today: 47 million.
Sure, some of those will be iPhones and iPod touches that are owned by current Mac OS X users, but many won’t. Regardless, I doubt developers will care as they rush to create applications and solutions for OS X; many with multi-touch goodness baked right in. It’s delicious. (Plus, Jobs hasn’t even trotted out the multi-touch Mac OS X tablet, yet!) What’s that I hear? Is someone chanting “Developers, developers, developers…?”
Some may have called Jobs crazy and said, as did Bill Gates, that he could never win, but Jobs built it anyway. And now, here they come.
SteveJack is a long-time Macintosh user, web designer, multimedia producer and a regular contributor to the MacDailyNews Opinion section.
So I’m going to gain back all that weight I lost, and then some?
Gemini destiny? Damn doppelgängers.
Yes. I predict that you will need a wheelbarrow or a crane to move yourself around, TT.
This was posted on MarketWatch.com
“On Wednesday, Jobs conceded to the outraged in the community of more than 1 million consumers and developers who bought the iPhon”
Um dear dumbasses. Don’t think for a second that this wasn’t planned all along. They didn’t concede anything. Plus, there aren’t millons of developers buying iPhones. There are millions of people buying them who like them as they are now, and would take them even without 3rd part software. Those who are crying and whining about it are a very very small vocal minority.
But, if saying Steve is buckling makes for more drama (page hits) then certainly don’t let facts or logic get in the way of a good story.
Double? That’s a lot of gay people like the late actor John Wayne. Looks like you’re in good company, BustingTheSkullsOfIdiots.
Microsoft forges ahead with “MM” and “NMS” software development technology to maintain pace with OS X
Microsoft announced drastic layoffs in software architects and software engineers as they modify their software design paradigm. Stating they have been minimized, marginalized and kept in the “dark ages” by employing design methodologies in the past, Microsoft has now embraced the results of evolutionary theory having seen that unintelligent, unguided, random changes combined with natural selection have produced functionally integrated, irreducibly complex marvels of engineering and information processing. “The brilliance of nature exceeds our own efforts in this area. It’s time for change!”
Microsoft began software development with this new natural method some time ago and products have been shipped. “All of planet earth is benefiting form this new method”
When pressed for more detail, spokesman stated that after going on a reading retreat some years ago, senior management read “The Blind Watchmaker” and quickly felt certain they could implement a “blind software development process”. “In simplest form, we mimic Nature… with our “Mutational Magic” software development tool we randomly changed the code in a manner analogous to DNA mutation in nature. “Mutational Magic” can produce point mutations (where a “0” is substituted for a “1” in the code), random deletions of code sections, and copying errors where a section of code is copied and randomly placed in a new location.
Bill Gates said “We are wildly enthusiast about this breakthrough. Not only does “Mutational Magic” offer new hope for software development, it is being followed up with “Natural Market Selection”. Sure, most software mutational events will lead to nonfunctional code, but that will be handled by NMS. Once people buy the version that doesn’t work, word will spread and sales will drop. That version will go extinct as sales plummet and better performing versions of the software will sell better. Those better selling version will be further altered by “mutational magic”. We envision a radical new paradigm of natural evolving software that is like nothing the public has ever seen!”
Google refused to comment but is believed to be working on their own version of Mutational Magic that will work on-line and allow consumers to mutate their personal computer files. “Why mutate only the programs, consumers have a right to mutate their data files too!”
Sun Microsystems responded, that “We have been concerned with Apple Computer’s resurgence lately and especially the iPod. We’ve embraced the concept behind Mutational Magic and have a new product coming out soon that mutates songs for download to the iPod. We apologize for those homes used in our market analysis, but the hearing damage caused by the mutational combining of “Kid Rock” with “God Bless America” is believe to be short lived. Surely Natural Market Selection will make this version a low seller and it will run its course.
A London based think tank entered the excitement, voicing its concern that the vast majority of mutations are not beneficial, but indeed harmful. “We must emphasize that this will not lead to “software success”. Well designed software will be destroyed and riddled with errors as harmful mutations corrupt a designed code built for a purpose to perform a specific function”
Later in the day, Microsoft was asked to comment on the sales of its new products. They had no comment as the recently installed version of Excel was not totaling properly and new sales figures were unavailable.
Similarly, the NASDAQ was asked to comment on any change in stock price for Microsoft, but also had no comment, sighting a recently installed operating system that was not allowing them to track stock prices.
Just before this went to press, the ASLU clarified their position, “Yes we are slightly left of anything else in your field of view”.
All interviewees were asked what evidence exists demonstrating that MM and NMS will generate complex computer code:
Microsoft responded, “It’s a fact of computer science, and Google has been researching it, they have the evidence.”
Google responded, “It’s a fact of computer science, there’s a rumor Apple’s iPod used these techniques during development”.
Sun Microsystems responded, “It’s a fact of computer science, Google is cutting edge, the water cooler talk says they have the evidence”.
Apple said, “You can download our response for $.99 from our web site”
Richard Dawkins, author of the “The Blind Watch Maker” was unavailable for comment. His publicist stated he’s in seclusion working on his next novel, “The Blind Heart Surgeon”.
That’s better, SteveJack!
“Yes. I predict that you will need a wheelbarrow or a crane to move yourself around, TT.”
Lucky I already have one of those.
Oh, wait, that’s for my ego……
what a waste of digital space marketensnared…
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe that SteveJack may be under-estimating things by some considerable margin.
My statement is based on my belief that all iPods with a user interface (i.e. excluding the Shuffle) are based on OS X, not just the touch. So, in reality, Apple is developing OS X with three distinct interfaces: the standard Macintosh keyboard/mouse combo; multi-touch (for iPhone/iPod touch) and click-wheel (for all other iPods).
There is actually a strange Venn diagram at work here: the Macintosh is good for standard applications, media applications and games; the iPhone/touch branch of the family are pretty useless for games (unless they’re puzzle type things), but is good for personal information management whilst the click-wheel iPods are good for games.
Actually, the iPod touch and iPhone are good for some really interesting things that I could tell you about; but I feel a short business plan coming on so you may have to wait for a couple of Macworlds to discover what I’m thinking about.
And Safari use should triple, with mac, iphone, itouch, and windows users all using it.
Speaking of Safari… can’t get it to launch with 10.5 so-called ‘gold’ build.
Yeah, Macromancer, as someone posted in another article, Steve said “be patient” for an SDK all the way back in freakin’ May. Oh well. Sad that us goobs just posting in MDN comments can do better research than paid journalists.
Do people with Windows Mobile smartphones and PDAs count as “Windows users”?
“Do people with Windows Mobile smartphones and PDAs count as “Windows users”?
They may count, but Excel doesn’t….
“Do people with Windows Mobile smartphones and PDAs count as “Windows users”?”
No, because these devices don’t run full versions of Windows they cannot be counted towards the total of Windows users in the world.
The only time people running a cut down partial version of an OS can be counted is when they own an Apple product.
Apple’s OS X users to double by June
June of what year?
Apple, like MS, is their own worst enemy. Apple’s recent political meddling & open coziness to certain political leanings (and parties) is dangerous stuff. Why can’t Apple just make great products, and keep the politics out??
Case in point: I’d love to get a Toyota Prius for the mileage, but since it’s become THE poster child of the radical left, there’s no way I’ll even consider it. Who wants to own anything that labels you as “one of them”?
Personally I hope the OS X revolution has just began. But if Apple becomes the Prius of computing, I won’t be part of it.
crossroads,
You are only labeled in your own mind. If you do what’s right it doesn’t matter what others think.
Yes, let’s not be “one of them”.
I’d rather be identified with the unwarranted war, torture first, eavesdropping everyone, CIA Agent outing, political prosecution, tax cuts for the well off, widestance, let children eat aspirin crowd.
Crossroads…
Congratulations! You’ve come up with some of the most moronic arguments in the history of human reasoning.
If I can paraphrase what you’re saying: “I recognise the economic benefits of owning a hybrid vehicle, even if I’m sceptical or frankly unbelieving of the environmental need for reducing my personal carbon footprint. However, because I’m scared of being labelled as a “tree-hugging pinko liberal” by my relatives, friends, colleagues and peers because of their own prejudiced views, I’m going to continue driving a vehicle that costs me more money than is strictly necessary!”.
Now I could have sworn that somebody told me that the United States was a nation of rugged individualists, however it would appear that you are actually scared of someone’s opinion. Can I make a suggestion that you don’t sign up for military service; hell, you might want to consider your attitude to standing on a deep-pile carpet because you may also be scared of heights.
Simple
good choice for a name.
Crossroads
Apple has always been associated with the left.
Al Gore is on their board.
I wouldn’t expect anything less.
And unless you do a lot of stop and go driving, the Prius is just stupid.
This whole article is a dumb analogy and quite a stretch of the imagination by Mr. Steve Jack.
Mac OSX and iPhone OSX may be “based” on the same technologies, but they are very different cats… No pun intended.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t believe that Microsoft counts Windows mobile users in with their Windows Market-share. Apple should not either.
“the Prius is just stupid.”
Over total lifecycle it’s more of a polluter than a small 100% gas powered car.
Petey, here’s another analogy.
While an apple core is still an apple, an orange is not a plum.
Windows mobile is not based on Windows. It’s a different software architecture. It just kinda, sorta, maybe looks and works and is named like Windows.
Apple took one core (sorry) software and expanded/contracted it to work with different hardware. Windows took different software designs and named them all Windows.
When Apple improves OS X, all its products improve. When Windows improves, well that’s a debatable proposition.
(As an aside, do you remember when everything Microsoft was putting out had .Net in it’s name? That worked out swell.)
Crossroads
Be afraid, be very afraid, the Salem witch trials never ended. Just ask the Dixie Chicks.
Crossroads, chill. Please. Don’t confuse politics with business. At the end of the day, Apple has one big objective: to be profitable for its owners, the stockholders. They do that by designing great products. The other stuff is just noise. Filter it out and keep an eye on the company’s prime objective, because THAT is what matters to any business.
If it means that Bob Dylan or Al Gore grace the home page of apple.com for a day, big deal. I recall after the Indian Ocean Tsunami that Apple put everything else aside to feature a link to the Red Cross and other charities for almost a week. Using the company’s clout to help people can be a good thing. And the positioning the company takes in that respect can do more than create good will – it can be good for business.
So if a company like Apple want to take a break from marketing for a day, it’s not going to change their prime directive. Given what Apple stock has been doing of late, I am pretty sure the company knows what matters. And if you’re an Apple stockholder, that’s good news.
“Apple took one core (sorry) software and expanded/contracted it to work with different hardware. “
I particularly enjoy running photoshop and other desktop apps on my iPod.
Wait, I can’t do that. That must mean you’re an idiot.
Hey Limp
Just because you get off on dead people and goats doesn’t mean you’re not a man.
It’s just that your core, defining parts operate with different software.
You may want to boot desktop software with a tiny device, but most people like live human beings.
“In a week, you’ll be able to purchase Leopard. In a few years, you may look at it as a watershed event for a new interface paradigm. With over 300+ features Leopard is a big cat. Here, we’ll only explore key components to the extent they’ll likely influence hardware/software interface design in the next 2-5 years.”
“What’s in Leopard for Designers (1): Core Animation”
http://counternotions.com/2007/10/18/leopard-for-designers-1/
(First in a series of strategic considerations of various Leopard technologies.)
Wow like my hands are sooo big, sooo big, like wow man…
Wow, it must suck to be an adult and still care what other people think about you. You will never know who you really are as long as you continue to try to fit into some artificial mold to impress and be like people (and not be like another artificially created group of people) you don’t even know. Grow up. It seems that herd thinking and insecurity is all the rage now.
Where exactly did you get the GM, because I just checked and it still hasn’t been posted to the developer site.
I see Limp is forging my ID.
Do I detect a case of hand envy?
And I’m sure it’s not just Hand Envy, Limp is probably also jealous of the amount of anal sex I get to have with young boys every weekend.