"There's an app for that"....WHO CARES!

    Over the past few weeks I have been contemplating different posts.  My general rule of thumb is to not post anything that doesn't stay on my mind for over a week.  This is one way that I can self regulate in hopes of preventing the impulse flaming posts I sometimes do.  This one has some staying power.
    Let me preface by saying I am an Apple fan.  However I am not an Apple fanatic whom has drunken the 'Apple Juice'.  I don't have blinders on and repeat the Pledge of Steve Jobs everyday I wake up.  The idea that they can take something that has been around for years, repackage it, call it "i" something and introduce it as NEW and actually have people believe it is new is remarkable.  None-the-less they have some cool beads.
     However.....

     This whole "There's an app for that" has got to get some perspective.  It is a cute saying and all.  A bunch of people I work with have drank the Apple Juice with little discernment for the implications of what this really means.  It kinda reminds me of the stories I hear about the Pilgrims buying land for some sugar and shiny beads.  Apple sure has some shiny beads.  :)  But I digress.

     In an era of Web 2.0 and SaaS (Software as a Service) why would anyone want to digress to installing applications?  Yet, people are flocking to these devices in DROVES.  We are pushing our vendors to make more and more applications "webified" where all we need is a simple web browser and a connection to the Internet.  This whole "installing applications" is a nightmare many system/network administrators don't want to live through again.

     Apple (and for that matter Google with Android) has taken an old "client/server" model infrastructure, doctored it up into a thinner client, made it cutesy and popular, and called it new, spectacular and breath taking.  OOOOOO!  AND WE ARE BUYING INTO IT! How foolish are we.  I say we because even I like the gadgets.  After getting things installed and playing with it for a while I realized that this iTouch, iPad and iPod things are really nothing more than really dumbed down computers that you install applications on to make it work.  Seriously, how much processing power does it take to be a single application device?  Other than playing music, these devices are single task devices.  Again, polishing old technology, calling it something new, making sure everyone is filled up with the Apple Juice sure does go a long way.

     I believe we are going to look back on this era and ask ourselves, "What the H311 were we thinking?"  In saying that, I also believe this is a necessary baby step to cross what seems to be the great chasm of change where the network IS the application and the application IS the network.  (If I have to explain it to you, just go buy the i-Whatever and don't worry about it. :D )

    I think I am going to invent the "New Water"  It is going to be the next generation of water that is 'more wetter' than traditional water (purposefully poor grammar in ironic symbolism to the i-world).  I am going to put it in completely bio-degradable containers so that when you are done with the water, you can eat the package and it will not harm you.  It might even be a super water package.
    In the end, Apple did a very good job bringing back around old technology of installing and purchasing applications.  Just wait to see what happens when the first and second generation devices go away, users have to "upgrade" the device to do things, and then have to repurchase "upgraded" software to work on their new device.  Again, take something old, polish it, call it new, and make a TON of money.  Brilliant!
     Pass the Apple Juice!
Tom