Far-East-Enders’ Blog

So this is a post. I'm wondering if I can upload an image to this post. There, I've tried it:

Test completed.

We (and I include myself, you and the person sitting next to you here) have become reliant on an enforced social structure. From the left wing cries of financially supporting those who won't support themselves all the way to people having 'job descriptions'. I long to run a company where the employees define the jobs, where anyone can identify a need - from finance to front line - and do something about it, but I digress...

If you don't follow Tim O'Reilly on Twitter (http://twitter.com/timoreilly) then you should. Despite being one of those people you're unlikely to have heard of but have enabled and defined the world you take for granted, he seems (having never met the guy) to have an infectious mix of altruism and realism.

Here's the latest thing he's shown me: http://twitter.com/timoreilly/status/20320418465

I'm as half-offended by the structure as you, but the fact is that you, me, Tim or anyone couldn't survive without the structure that many of us despise. We dream of escaping society but we have become reliant on it, so we may as well admit that and use it for good.

The problem Apple now face with techies is the same problem any techie faces with mortals; they've set a benchmark.

I get asked questions from the technically challenged people at work like 'can't you just integrate our sales and invoicing systems' as if it's plugging a couple of Lego bricks together. Why do they ask this? Because they've seen other systems that do it. It might have been in a multinational or a complete bespoke system, but they've witnessed it, so it's possible.

"Can't you just spend a couple of hours on it?"

Just like they have NO idea of the complexities of linking a web-based sales system with a beta API to a notoriously closed source and antiquated accounting package, I have little idea of the complexities involved in making an iPhone work. But, there's things I can do on my Windows 7 laptop / Exchange server / even my old Windows Mobile PDA I can't do on my iPhone. Can't Apple just spend a couple of hours on them?

Why can't I search my 4 6GB Gmail accounts instantly from the spotlight search?

Why can't I use the same tagging system in Thunderbird, Outlook and on my iPhone?

Why can't I create some real estate and make the browser bars disappear by shaking the phone?

The answer is because I have no idea what I'm talking about. The difference is, I know I don't, so I shut the fuck up.

That said, I do remember when my iPhone (3Gs) was stable, user friendly, and a joy to use. It was before iOS4. The backward steps Apple have taken with the new OS are because they started listing to people. A camel is a horse made by committee.

They even know my name. I leave to a chorus of 'bye Drew'.

The worst thing that has happened in this country in the last 24 hours - or even 7 days - is below.

Front page of the Sunday Times. Can you imagine how BIG either the crane or bridge or both would have to be to make the front page of the Sunday Times in England?