Marco Arment follows up on the corrupt app problem that affected numerous iOS users:
By republishing “updates” to these apps, Apple is helping users avoid deleting them and losing their data.
Nice move, Apple.
Better yet, the way this was implemented means that the ratings for the current are reset.
Alexia Tsotsis, TechCrunch:
It’s not exactly clear when Google ceased to be a search company. It became more like a company that wanted a finger in every pot in order to protect its future as a search company.
Google is an interesting company. What we all love about the Mountain View search giant is their child-like enthusiasm for technology and its impact on humanity. At its core, I believe Google really wants to make cool stuff that benefits society and connects us all.
At the same time, they have collected a large pile of projects that were born of big promises and died in obscurity. It seems that in many cases, the focus was on simply making something for creation’s sake without proper regard for polish or long-term vision. Now that Google is working on augmented-reality glasses, we are to wonder if Google’s vision is unfocused.
Marco Arment describes a recent problem that Instapaper users experienced after updating:
- The app crashes immediately on launch, every time, even after a delete and reinstall as long as the corrupt file is being served by the App Store.
- It doesn’t even show the Default.png before crashing. Just a split-second of a partial fade to black, then back to Springboard.
- It may only affect customers in some regions.
- If updating from iTunes, some customers might get a dialog citing error 8324 or 8326.
- Mac apps might show this dialog: “[App] is damaged and can’t be opened. Delete [App] and download it again from the App Store.”
- The console might show: AppleFairplayTextCrypterSession::fairplayOpen() failed, error -42110
It turns out that it wasn’t his fault - and it wasn’t limited to Instapaper. In fact, Apple’s update servers were to blame. Technical issues exist, but by Apple not addressing the issue publicly, Arment’s customers were left angry and responded with a slew of 1-star reviews. This a good example of a broken review system, or at the very least a lack of proper developer relations. Shame on Apple.
Susie Steiner:
There was no mention of more sex or bungee jumps. A palliative nurse who has counselled the dying in their last days has revealed the most common regrets we have at the end of our lives.
If you are like me, more than one of these will hit home.
(via: Patrick Marsh)
Mark Sullivan, TechHive:
The people who produce rock concerts are always looking for new ways to thrill and surprise us, and they’re increasingly turning to technology to do it. Here’s how some of the major components of the “big show” work.
Sullivan makes you appreciate how complicated it is to produce a concert - and that things don’t go wrong more often.
Sarah Manguso offers great career advice for young writers. The ideas that she promotes are easily transferable to any avenue of life.
One of my favorites:
When asked an ignorant question, take it as an opportunity to educate the questioner; compassionately explain his error in judgment or perception.
Dalton Caldwell:
As I understand, a hugely divisive internal debate occurred among Twitter employees around this time. One camp wanted to build the entire business around their realtime API. In this scenario, Twitter would have turned into something like a realtime cloud API company. The other camp looked at Google’s advertising model for inspiration, and decided that building their own version of AdWords would be the right way to go.
I am an enthusiastic 1 Twitter user and easily prefer it over Facebook. Like Caldwell, my initial draw centered around the power of their realtime API. Unfortunately, as Twitter begins to implement their monetization strategy, it is quite clear which team won.
My wife would tell you that enthusiastic = obsessed. ↩︎
The Telegraph:
Count Robert de La Rochefoucauld, who has died aged 88, escaped from Occupied France to join the Special Operations Executive (SOE); parachuted back on sabotage missions, he twice faced execution, only to escape on both occasions, once dressed as a Nazi guard.
This guy was simply amazing. His story harkens to a time of romanticized war heroes - fearless men and women doing everything possible for their country.
Below are this site’s statistics following the sixth month of regular publication. Past stats can be found for January, February, March, April, and May
June featured a rather significant drop in page views - no doubt a direct result of decreased activity. The past month included two trips related to my Ph.D., one to Croatia and Serbia, so most posts were limited to linked material. July will include far more original writing. Stay tuned.
Thanks to everyone who visited the site and offered feedback via Facebook, Twitter, and email.
If you have any suggestions or comments, do get in touch or feel free to follow me.
U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh, issuing a pre-trial injunction of Galaxy Nexus sales in the U.S.:
Although Samsung will necessarily be harmed by being forced to withdraw its product from the market before the merits can be determined after a full trial, the harm faced by Apple absent an injunction is greater. Apple’s interest in enforcing its patent rights is particularly strong because it has presented a strong case on the merits.
This is the second win issued by Judge Koh for Apple over Samsung.
