Mac vs. PC: Here are the real differences

The burning rivalry between Mac and PC is one of the most storied rivalries in the history of technology – ruining friendships, bringing down corporations and inspiring some very creative commercials — but do we truly understand the fundamental difference between a Windows PC and a Macintosh? I’m sure many of you do, but for those who don’t have a grasp of the finer details, Computerphile has put together a short video primer explaining how Macs and PCs differ.

Professor Tom Rodden begins by discussing computer systems in their most basic form. You start with the physical hardware, then an operating system, then the applications on that operating system and finally the windowing system which the user directly interacts with. Of course, the way we interact with our computers has changed drastically over the years, but the basic interactions remains the same.

Moving on to the advent of the Macintosh computer, Rodden explains that historically,Microsoft has been a software company. The Surface tablets are the first hardware built by Microsoft in quite some time. Apple, on the other hand, controls both the hardware and the software in its computer business. This means that Apple can “optimize and protect” its computers in ways that Microsoft can’t.

Apple’s operating system can therefore make presumptions about the hardware it will be functioning on because Apple can extensively test its operating system with every piece of hardware it releases. Microsoft doesn’t have this luxury, as dozens of manufacturers create hardware for Windows. This is where device drivers come into play, and why certain accessories or programs might be incompatible from one Windows computer to another.

The obvious downside to siding with Apple is that you’ll only ever have one machine to choose from. This leads to inflated prices, which is why an $1,099 iMac is seen as a bargain. OS X and iOS are both regularly lambasted for bring closed off in comparison to other mobile and desktop operating systems as well. You have more freedom on Windows to customize both hardware and software than you ever will on a Mac.

All of this may sound redundant to those of you who understand the technical distinctions between Macs and PCs, but everyone else should take a few minutes to watch the video above.

SOURCE:

YOUTUBE (COMPUTERPHILE)

Another key iWatch hire shows how Apple could put other smartwatches to shame

The smartwatch market has suddenly got very crowded over the last year, in good part thanks to the five different smartwatches Samsung has released in the last eight months alone. So how will Apple differentiate itself when the iWatch finally comes to market this fall? From what we’ve heard, it seems Apple is going to position the iWatch as the ultimate fitness tracking machine that will reportedly pack 10 different sensors you can use to check up on your health. And now Network World has spotted a recent Apple hire who could help make the iWatch even better than what we’ve been expecting.

Alex Hsieh, the former lead software engineer at Atlas Wearables, joined Apple this month and Network World points out that he spent his time at Atlas working on “a fitness tracker akin to other wearable devices, albeit on steroids.”

What made this device so special? Even though it hasn’t yet released, Network Worldsays that it “promises to measure a user’s calories burned, heart rate, and distance traveled during a particular workout” and can also “purportedly evaluate a user’s form during various exercises while also keeping track of reps and sets performed.” It seems that the device is also pre-programmed with popular exercises that it can teach you if you’re looking for new ways to work out.

Since Hsieh only recently came aboard, it’s tough to say whether we’ll see anything similar on the iWatch when it comes out. However, his hiring definitely an indication that Apple is looking at making this device much more of an all-purpose fitness tracker and not just a smartphone for your wrist.

Rumor: Apple's 'iWatch' to have 'slightly rectangular' 2.5" display, wireless charging

A fresh set of rumors about Apple's anticipated "iWatch" were supplied on Thursday by mainstream media outlet, which was told by an unnamed source that the device will boast wireless charging capabilities, and will sport a slightly rectangular watch face.

 "iWatch" concept by Martin Hajek.

The face of the watch will measure about 2.5 inches diagonally, according to Reuters, which cited a person familiar with the unannounced product. That face is expected to protrude slightly from the band and create an arch shape.

The display of the watch is expected to be a touchscreen supplied by LG Display, and Taiwan-based Quanta Computer Inc. is said to be planning to start production of the device in July.

The source also claimed that the device will include a heart rate monitor from Heptagon that will track the wearer's pulse. That aligns with rumors from over a year ago that said the device is expected to focus on biometrics for health and fitness feedback.

The so-called "iWtach" also expected to feature wireless charging — something The New York Times also claimed earlier this year.

Apple is said to be planning a media event for this October where it's expected to introduce the company's "first wearable device," which is widely believed to be a wrist-worn connected device. The "iWatch" is believed to tap into the new HealthKit tools for developers that Apple will include in the forthcoming iOS 8 mobile operating system, which is currently available in beta for testing.

Other recent reports have suggested the device will sport a flexible OLED touchscreen. Such technology could allow Apple to introduce unique designs not possible with traditional LCD panels. 

This is what the Apple iPhone 6 couldlook like

Recently, schematics allegedly showing the dimensions of the next two versions of the Apple iPhone were leaked. The 4.7 inch Apple iPhone 6 had dimensions of 137mm tall x 66mm wide x 7.0 mm thick. The 5.7 inch Apple iPhone phablet weighed in at 157mm tall x 77mm wide x 6.7 mm thick. With that thin form factor, we wouldn't be surprised if the larger screened model was the one rumored to be called the Apple iPhone Air .

MacRumors paid designer Ferry Passchier to develop renders of both phones, based on the schematics. We can see the more rounded corners, smaller top, bottom and side bezels, and a power button that is moved from the right side to the left side of the device. And similar to some iPhone 6 cases that we've seen, the flash has reverted back to a round design . 

There has also been talk that Apple will release the 4.7 inch Apple iPhone 6 this year, with the larger model coming to the market sometime next year.

Tim Cook reflects on second anniversary of Steve Jobs' death

Apple CEO Tim Cook used the eve of
second anniversary of Steve Jobs'
death to write an email to all Apple
employees, reflecting on the moment.
Cook told employees that Steve would
be "proud of all of you" and everyone
should honour Jobs' memory by
"dedicating ourselves to the work he
loved so much." Here's the full copy of
the letter obtained by 9to5mac .

Team-
Tomorrow marks the second
anniversary of Steve's death. I
hope everyone will reflect on
what he meant to all of us and to
the world. Steve was an amazing
human being and left the world a
better place.I think of him often
and find enormous strength in
memories of his friendship, vision
and leadership. He left behind a
company that only he could have
built and his spirit will forever be
the foundation of Apple. We will
continue to honor his memory by
dedicating ourselves to the work
he loved so much. There is no
higher tribute to his memory. I
know that he would be proud of
all of you.
Best, Tim

In 2012, Apple remembered Steve Jobs
with a video tribute
and a message from Cook on its
homepage.
On Saturday, two years to the day
that Steve Jobs passed away, Cook took
to Twitter to share thoughts more
personal in nature, saying he would be
using the day to reflect back on his
friendship with Steve and the "dents"
Jobs made in the universe.

Second anniversary of Steve's
death. Going on a long hike today
and reflecting on his friendship
and all the dents he made in the
universe.
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) October
5, 2013

The remark is an obvious reference to
one of Steve Jobs' iconic quotes, who
once said, "We're here to put a dent in
the universe. Otherwise why else even
be here?"

Facebook says bug exposed 6 million users' contact information

Facebook Inc has inadvertently
exposed 6 million users' phone
numbers and email addresses to
unauthorised viewers over the past
year, the world's largest social
networking company disclosed late
Friday.
Facebook blamed the data leaks,
which began in 2012, on a technical
glitch in its massive archive of contact
information collected from its 1.1
billion users worldwide. As a result of
the glitch, Facebook users who
downloaded contact data for their list
of friends obtained additional
information that they were not
supposed to have.
Facebook's security team was alerted
to the bug last week and fixed it within
24 hours. But Facebook did not
publicly acknowledge the bug until
Friday afternoon, when it published an
"important message" on its blog
explaining the issue.
A Facebook spokesman said the delay
was due to company procedure
stipulating that regulators and affected
users be notified before making a
public announcement.
"We currently have no evidence that
this bug has been exploited
maliciously and we have not received
complaints from users or seen
anomalous behaviour on the tool or
site to suggest wrongdoing," Facebook
said on its blog.
While the privacy breach was limited,
"it's still something we're upset and
embarrassed by, and we'll work
doubly hard to make sure nothing like
this happens again," it added.
The breach follows recent disclosures
that several consumer Internet
companies turned over troves of user
data to a large-scale electronic
surveillance program run by U.S.
intelligence.
The companies include Facebook,
Google Inc, Microsoft Corp, Apple Inc
and Yahoo Inc.
The companies, led by Facebook,
successfully negotiated with the U.S.
government last week to reveal the
approximate number of user
information requests that each
company had received, including
secret national security orders.
Copyright Thomson Reuters 2013