Comments for levjoy dot com http://www.levjoy.com/blog Mon, 19 Dec 2011 21:31:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Comment on Our right to communicate by Josh http://www.levjoy.com/blog/2011/12/13/our-right-to-communicate/comment-page-1/#comment-100162 Josh Mon, 19 Dec 2011 21:31:01 +0000 http://www.levjoy.com/blog/?p=2191#comment-100162 I don't know why that happened! https://freepress.actionkit.com/donate/staff_challenge_2011/ I don’t know why that happened!
https://freepress.actionkit.com/donate/staff_challenge_2011/

]]> Comment on Our right to communicate by Todd http://www.levjoy.com/blog/2011/12/13/our-right-to-communicate/comment-page-1/#comment-100161 Todd Mon, 19 Dec 2011 21:29:04 +0000 http://www.levjoy.com/blog/?p=2191#comment-100161 Your link doesn't work. Your link doesn’t work.

]]> Comment on Re: Jobs and “changing the world” by Josh http://www.levjoy.com/blog/2011/10/06/re-jobs-and-changing-the-world/comment-page-1/#comment-100152 Josh Sat, 08 Oct 2011 20:39:33 +0000 http://www.levjoy.com/blog/?p=2181#comment-100152 My personal opinion on "openness" and Apple has been evolving. A couple of years ago, I was so frustrated enough by some of its practices -- blocking controversial apps, insisting on tightly coupled software and hardware -- that I sold my iPhone and went all in on Android. But I soon discovered that there's no real ideological purity when it comes to computing (or anything else, come to think of it). I've shared some people's complaints about the lack of "generativity" inherent in Apple devices, which came to a head when the first iPad was introduced. But I soon realized that, as you say Jed, these devices are built to allow us to be as creative as possible, and the restraints imposed by Jobs et al can actually lead to some wonderful discoveries. Apple still needs to confront its role as a gatekeeper of expression -- its curation of an app store gives it extraordinary power over what can and can't be said -- and we as its customers have a role to play in keeping it honest, as we at Free Press did when it's patent filing for technology that would block camera phones was discovered. That said, one of Steve Jobs' great breakthroughs was that UI matters. Every new Apple device makes that clear. By creating devices and interfaces that introduced millions of people to power of personal computing, he definitely made some big changes. Did he "change the world"? For me that's still up for debate. My personal opinion on “openness” and Apple has been evolving. A couple of years ago, I was so frustrated enough by some of its practices — blocking controversial apps, insisting on tightly coupled software and hardware — that I sold my iPhone and went all in on Android.

But I soon discovered that there’s no real ideological purity when it comes to computing (or anything else, come to think of it). I’ve shared some people’s complaints about the lack of “generativity” inherent in Apple devices, which came to a head when the first iPad was introduced. But I soon realized that, as you say Jed, these devices are built to allow us to be as creative as possible, and the restraints imposed by Jobs et al can actually lead to some wonderful discoveries.

Apple still needs to confront its role as a gatekeeper of expression — its curation of an app store gives it extraordinary power over what can and can’t be said — and we as its customers have a role to play in keeping it honest, as we at Free Press did when it’s patent filing for technology that would block camera phones was discovered.

That said, one of Steve Jobs’ great breakthroughs was that UI matters. Every new Apple device makes that clear. By creating devices and interfaces that introduced millions of people to power of personal computing, he definitely made some big changes. Did he “change the world”? For me that’s still up for debate.

]]> Comment on Re: Jobs and “changing the world” by Jed http://www.levjoy.com/blog/2011/10/06/re-jobs-and-changing-the-world/comment-page-1/#comment-100151 Jed Sat, 08 Oct 2011 18:32:27 +0000 http://www.levjoy.com/blog/?p=2181#comment-100151 I love this (obvs). Steve Jobs managed to increase the cognitive and creative capacity of millions of people. Millions of minds have bicycles* now. He's left his mark by allowing millions of individuals to expand their creative powers. Apple is an enormously influential enterprise and I'm glad people like you and Free Press are there to take Apple to task, but Nicole's quote is really telling. Job's legacy, and Apple's real impact, is a very emergent thing. My logic might be too twisted here (I'm emotional, ok?!), but Apple's willingness to assert control over its products to ensure that they're safe, fun, and easy to use ultimately results in more people being able to do more things. I think it's a net positive thing. Now I'm afraid I sound like a fascist. *http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VisNJDd51zA I love this (obvs). Steve Jobs managed to increase the cognitive and creative capacity of millions of people. Millions of minds have bicycles* now. He’s left his mark by allowing millions of individuals to expand their creative powers.

Apple is an enormously influential enterprise and I’m glad people like you and Free Press are there to take Apple to task, but Nicole’s quote is really telling. Job’s legacy, and Apple’s real impact, is a very emergent thing.

My logic might be too twisted here (I’m emotional, ok?!), but Apple’s willingness to assert control over its products to ensure that they’re safe, fun, and easy to use ultimately results in more people being able to do more things. I think it’s a net positive thing. Now I’m afraid I sound like a fascist.

*http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VisNJDd51zA

]]> Comment on Jobs by Re: Jobs and “changing the world” – levjoy dot com http://www.levjoy.com/blog/2011/10/05/jobs/comment-page-1/#comment-100149 Re: Jobs and “changing the world” – levjoy dot com Thu, 06 Oct 2011 18:47:11 +0000 http://www.levjoy.com/blog/?p=2182#comment-100149 [...] response to last night’s thoughts about the passing of Steve Jobs, my lovely and thoughtful wife texted me [...] [...] response to last night’s thoughts about the passing of Steve Jobs, my lovely and thoughtful wife texted me [...]

]]> Comment on Jobs by Lina http://www.levjoy.com/blog/2011/10/05/jobs/comment-page-1/#comment-100148 Lina Thu, 06 Oct 2011 01:46:49 +0000 http://www.levjoy.com/blog/?p=2182#comment-100148 Would never call you a pushover! :) The "change the world" trope has always been problematic, hasn't it? What does it mean, really? I guess my point is it can mean a lot of things. We tell everyone that their actions can "change the world" and yet people who make sweeping changes within their own and aligned industries haven't? Is it sufficient to have vision or do you need to execute to change the world? Did Gandhi change the world? Or only the Commonwealth? Did MLK change the world? Or only the US and its relationship to civil rights? Have the stars of Bollywood who have 2 billion fans around the world, or Lady Gaga who has a huge fan base, changed the world? Or not really, because no one in North America knows the B'wood stars, or the older generation doesn't listen to Lady Gaga? I'd argue that they all-- and Steve Jobs-- have changed the world by creating influence and innovating-- thereby teaching/modeling. And that redounds to so many different segments of global culture and society. No, maybe not a direct benefit to the poor yet-- and that I agree with (and usually do-- the largely affluent tech community rarely sees past its own world to those without access)-- but in this case, I think they may be right in giving Steve Jobs the description. Would never call you a pushover! :) The “change the world” trope has always been problematic, hasn’t it? What does it mean, really? I guess my point is it can mean a lot of things. We tell everyone that their actions can “change the world” and yet people who make sweeping changes within their own and aligned industries haven’t? Is it sufficient to have vision or do you need to execute to change the world? Did Gandhi change the world? Or only the Commonwealth? Did MLK change the world? Or only the US and its relationship to civil rights? Have the stars of Bollywood who have 2 billion fans around the world, or Lady Gaga who has a huge fan base, changed the world? Or not really, because no one in North America knows the B’wood stars, or the older generation doesn’t listen to Lady Gaga? I’d argue that they all– and Steve Jobs– have changed the world by creating influence and innovating– thereby teaching/modeling. And that redounds to so many different segments of global culture and society. No, maybe not a direct benefit to the poor yet– and that I agree with (and usually do– the largely affluent tech community rarely sees past its own world to those without access)– but in this case, I think they may be right in giving Steve Jobs the description.

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