Tuesday afternoon
Today’s sessions are over. I spent most of the day learning about technologies that are not really new, such as Core Data but that should help me with my current projects. As I was learning more about the value of current and future Cocoa APIs I couldn’t help thinking if Apple was moving in the right direction.
It seems to me that most analysts think that with the venue of the Internet, OSes are doomed. Sun was probably the first company to suggest that, pushing for light clients, really another name for an appliance that can only run a browser. After seeing initial interest in the concept many started doubting that this vision would ever become a reality because HTML limitations were hindering efforts to move complex client-server applications to the new model. However, new technologies such as CSS are helping the new Web 2.0 applications become more competitive and take on new challenges, which means that once again, talks of the demise of the PC are being heard loud and clear.
It seems to me that Microsoft has accepted that ultimately Windows will become a commodity on the desktop and is working exclusively on providing a solution to the current problems faced by its customers without even trying to set a vision for the role of desktop computers in the future. Apple seems to be moving on a different path. They want PCs to be able to perform tasks so complicated for the browser and so appealing to the users that both will have to coexist for many years to come.
The question is not who is right or who is wrong, the question is will Apple with its small market share be able to influence the whole industry to adopt this new vision. Apple does not seem to be interested in working with other technology heavy weights to promote this vision. That is logical since most of these companies work closely with Microsoft, its main rival. But in order to survive they will need to quickly convince a larger number of consumers that the PC offers value beyond the browser. That is why iLife and iWork are strategic, but they will need many more applications like those. Visually rich apps will be key. That is why technologies such as Core Animation are so important to Apple.