iCloud Drive, new sensations

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Like every year, the WWDC is full of news. And surprises. This time, Apple wanted to astonish us with iCloud Drive for OS X Yosemite. From the comfort of our Finder, we will be able to access all of our files stored in Apple's cloud, iWork documents either as third-party iOS apps. In the presentation, Apple showed folders with documents from their own office suite while those in the iOS app Goodreader.

The iCloud Drive version for iOS will allow sharing data and files from third-party apps. No detailed it when they mentioned this new feature but it seems that he will have a good reception among both developers and the public. With iCloud Drive, we finally have a way to manage our cloud files from Apple. 

Another innovation comes from the side of the price of iCloud Drive. Now are cheaper and besides of the free 5GB, we may contract 20GB for $ 0.99 per month or 200GB for $ 3.99. Prices will be up to 1 terabyte. 

Google divides his Drive in separate applications for iOS

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Google has given us the month-end surprise yesterday launching Documents and Sheets, two separate apps, to manage text documents and spreadsheets stored in Google Drive. An application for each file type: like Apple with iWork and Microsoft with Office for iPad.

There is not a simple separation: each of these applications will have the ability to create and edit documents without an internet connection, with a very clean interface,  focused only on those files. If we want to see the rest of data we have stored in Google Drive, follow its official application available for it. 

The presentation application will "coming soon" to complete the circle office automation. So we have three trios iOS applications face to face: 

• Pages / Word / Documents
• Numbers / Excel / Sheets
• Keynote / PowerPoint / Presentations. 

The battle has begun. 

These two new Google apps are completely free, and you can download for iPhone and iPad from the App Store.

Is Apple starting to fill iOS with bloatware?

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One of the first computers I remember used was a Performa 460, which saw the first with color screen, I was like 7 or 8 years. It was very small and did not remember why we switched to Windows, but what I know that they were not "dark years" as some have called the period of dominance by Microsoft. 

During those years in Windows and as an adult, passed through my hands several laptops before returning to Mac, Toshiba, Asus, HP and Compaq, excluding the company that was also a HP and Dell. 

The truth is I've had enough complaints of all laptops, and some quite large. Format Each year, computers which lasted 3-4 years, countless hang up, famous blue screen, Ctrl + Alt + Sup worn ... not to mention disastrous designs dissipated heat directing the charger cable, melting it literally. 

Besides this, there was something that always bothered me about them: the bloatware. It was impossible to dodge, I'd purchased a new laptop or restaurabas and you were there those "useless" programs.

Some were useful as antivirus or Office (yes, test) but then there were others who were rubbish, like Dell multimedia software and application bar at the top of the screen. Instead start using the computer immediately, you spent half an hour or more uninstalling the trash that came pre-installed by the manufacturer. That software "useless" without thinking about if brought or not value to the end user.

When I have a Mac, this situation changed. Computer and operating system were designed and created by a single company that shared the same interests and that did not differentiate their computers with empty programs. It was a change for the better I appreciated greatly.

The bloatware in the era of the smartphone and tablet

In this Post-PC era where tablets and smartphones dispute attention to PC, we are experiencing a similar situation regarding the bloatware. Android smartphones in my environment are usually Samsung. I was surprised by the amount of duplicate apps I've found: two mail clients, two apps store...

So much win manufacturers with their bloatware software?

Apps that insurance may uninstall either official or "unofficial" but that involves additional work for anyone who is not a means-advanced user. This situation was accentuated by the Samsung Galaxy S4, which users criticized.

Again and focusing on iOS, Apple delineated this situation on its platform thanks to its control of the hardware and software. Many users stored apps in a folder. It can berate Samsung, a new terminal with 16 GB of storage is saturated by all the duplicate software, but at least you can expand memory.

The evolution of the standard apps on iPhone

I have been in iOS since my first iPhone 3G and have never had the feeling of having to delete apps around first start. However, it may reflect the increase in native Apple app with a new version of its mobile operating system. If we look, we have gone from: 

• iOS 1: 17 native apps on the original iPhone. 
• iOS 7: 25 native apps on the iPhone 5s.

All this to you without obligation to install nearly as iBooks and Find My iPhone, now would be 27 apps. Tallying, we have to every iOS review brings us one to two native apps that can not be removed, with the obvious waste of space.

According to rumors iOS 8 would present "Healthbook" and even the dubious "Preview" and "TextEdit", then we would have 28 or 30 native apps if we have "compulsory". We can also add free iWork, reaching 33 apps.

Will Apple offer some kind of solution so that its terminals are no longer filled with apps or continue "adding value" like it or not the user?

Rumor: possibilities for Preview and TextEdit

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At the launch of iOS and iCloud, its goal was to merge this experience in Mac OSX, to make a more efficient synchronization between devices. After three years of its introduction, Apple continues to improve its functionality. The company is working on a couple new app, as well as improving existing providing app developers to create apps compatible with working iCloud-iWork.

Apple is developing versions of Preview and TextEdit for Mac OSX system, which have been optimized for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. These new features would aim to eliminate the need to use PDF as previewing documents, creating their own Standard. 

In short, developers would be encouraged to build the app with this structure in order to synchronize all the functionality without the need for third-party apps. Imbue TextEdit and Preview app in iWork to work together to both iOS and Mac OSX.

Is still at an early stage of development, and can be considered to launch later this year. It is possible that the way is displayed in the new presentation of iOS 8 which is expected for June 2 at WWDC 2014.

Can Apple create a really cheap iPhone? (2nd Part)

Why Apple can make a cheap iPhone (2nd Part)

The three restrictions we have seen before have a weak point: they are based in the past. Look at the history of Apple so far is okay, but do not put too much weight on it or use it as a guide to what will come in the future. Because, how many times Apple has said that he would not do something then wound up doing?

To Apple can create a cheap iPhone would have to resolve all the limitations of the previous post -why Apple can not make a cheap iPhone (1st Part)- wich is not impossible but neither have heard rumors about partnerships with Foxconn and other suppliers. I think new assembly lines, new agreements with partners, new form of distribution, new training etc. in the Apple Stores would be required. That is, a new chain parallel to the premium segment value.

" Not enough to take some scissors and cut the price of the iPhone 5c half, is much more complex "

But then there's the business model. Apple makes money selling hardware now surrounded by its own free software (iOS, OS X, iLife, iWork) and also accompanied by free services (iTunes, iCloud, FaceTime, iMessage). Is a new business model based on services and thought to be possible this cheap iPhone? 

It would not take that Apple completely changed, only that the new iPhone would generate sufficient profits (revenues minus costs) from the different stores of digital content (music, apps, books, movies, series) and accessories. Last week, the darkcore commentator put on the table some very interesting ideas, arguing that Apple make much money with iTunes following its commission (the famous 30% to developers). Few years ago, these commissions iTunes served to cover operating costs.

All that said, what do you think is the scenario that will follow Apple?

Here's Word to iPad

Satya Nadella began the great change that you want to apply to Microsoft two days ago, launching Office for iPad and embracing iOS as a platform where you can get a good market share in their applications. So far that's what it looks like, because if you open the App Store from an iPad you will see that Word, Excel, PowerPoint and even OneNote are the most downloaded free applications. 

With this scenario, it is time to take a good look at the Office applications. And start with Word, which is probably the most used. It is difficult to know why: globally many more documents are created spreadsheets and presentations. Let's see if Microsoft Word has a champion application in the App Store.

Microsoft finally respects the iOS platform and launches Office done perfectly tailored

After a brief walk about the application, without rummaging through all the sections, I have already taken a good feeling: Microsoft finally he has got the hang of the App Store. He had already hinted with OneNote, but Word (and other Office applications) confirms that this is maintained applications. In Redmond have not been limited to trying to patch something they had or to be ready to protect their selfish platforms: have created a Word from scratch and respecting the platform to be run. Congratulations.

A success of Microsoft , but users will accept it ?

Personally, if these applications are the first of a new era of Microsoft, I'm excited. It does so because this is a matter of good. A simple, easy to use interface, which shows that Word is not locked into what we all take for granted always and I even get to like it more than the pages to have a touch of identifying color.

Where is Word scratched me in their business model. I would not pay for a subscription to Office 365 knowing that I can edit and save .DOC and .DOCX with Pages. And I can also edit documents compatible with Google Drive. We could use the argument format compatibility with the official word, but at this point it comes down to use fonts that are installed font everywhere.

So yes, I think Word is an excellent application... to see Word documents. And that can already do with other alternatives that I'm used, further allow me to edit documents if paying a penny. That's the Word's problem: late.