Tag: Nitin Khanna

Apple’s Fluid Vision

The Original iPad mini and Apple’s fluid vision by Nitin Khanna (Nitin Khanna)

It seems like Steve Jobs and Apple understood that you can’t place things too close inside the screen, but forgot that you can’t place the screen and the edge too close either, because it’ll cause hours of headaches by unwanted swipes, taps, and hard pressed. The Apple of today thinks bezels are bad and it is wrong. Steve Jobs might have said the above, but he’s also the one constantly touting that they made their devices thinner, which reduces battery life and also the ‘holdability’ of mobile devices.

I think the only thing that has changed at Apple is that Steve Jobs died. But that is the most significant change. While I am sure there are employees at Apple who have said, ”We think the bezels are too narrows” or ”This device is too thin and slippery”, their voices don’t have the same weight as Steve Jobs saying, ” That’s stupid!”.

And that makes all the difference. Steve was a user, just like you and me. He mostly like used Apple’s product often and probably found and had engineers fix I think the only thing that has changed at Apple is that Steve Jobs died. But that is the most significant change. While I am sure there are employees at Apple who have said, ”We think the bezels are too narrows” or ”This device is too thin and slippery”, their voices don’t have the same weight as Steve Jobs saying, ” That’s stupid!”.

And that makes all the difference. Steve was a user, just like you and me. He most likely used Apple’s product often and found all the issues that annoyed him and probably told his people to fix them. He’s not there anymore to inform Jony, and Phil, and Tim when they are being stupid.

That’s been one of my mantras – focus and simplicity.Steve Jobs

The war on ports, the fanaticism over thinness and big screen size will eventually fade. Hopefully soon. My iPhone 7 fits just on the edge of comfort inside my dress pant and is painful in the front pockets of my jeans. The iPhone XR is even bigger. I put a case on my iPhone 7 because the shiny package was sliding out of my hand.

2018 is the first year since 2010 that I have not upgraded my iPad and iPhone to the latest.

The war on ports, the fanaticism over thinness and screen size is hopefully over.

Is simpleism compatible at a societal level?

Thoughts on Simpleism by Nitin Khanna

Is simpleism compatible at a societal level?

Based on the definition my answer would be no. Europe only barely managed to survive the simpleism (ignorance is blessed) period of history called the Dark Ages. Rome had fallen and so had European intelligence. Ignorance and authoritarianism prospered.

Europe only came out of that awful period and entered a period of enlightenment after Muslims (Moors) had established a colony in Iberia (Spain/Portugal) and brought with them Asian mathematics and science.

We can already see what simple thinking and " my truth is the only truth I need " thinking looks like at the societal level by reading the tweets of the current POTUS and the writings of climate deniers and anti-vaxxers, and the actions of many current world leaders. What kind of society would we have if everyone was ignorant or used simplistic thinking?

But I am biased. I have degrees in physics, math and engineering, I rejected religions -- it's the same old tribal sky gods nonsense -- some time ago and decided that learning and reason would be my guide to life. I think knowledge is power. Power to make decisions. Power to protect me and my family from the harm ignorance can do.

Ignorance is defined as lack of knowledge or information. So is ignorance really bliss? Or is it just being lazy?Alex Traczyk

But I do agree that too much bad journalism and threatening behaviour from people in a position of power is doing damage to us all (and putting into a constant state of fear).

For that reason, I read less news and I have not regularly watched TV news in over 20 years. I use the Apple News app just once a week. I use Twitter even less than that and Facebook only to check certain groups. But I can do that because at work and in daily life I am around others who do watch and read the news. They tell me when something important happens.

To know, is to know that you know nothing. That is the meaning of true knowledge.Socrates

I see simpleism (or will ignorance) as a form of apathy; the willful avoidance of feeling, emotion, interest, and concern about something of great importance. Perhaps some people feel they do not possess the level of skill required to confront the challenges of the world. But retreating to headspace won’t fix the problems or make them go away.

FYI, you may enjoy this podcast, An IQ2US Thanksgiving Tradition.

NOTE: If my facts are wrong or I have interpreted anything incorrectly, I am ready to be schooled.

Convenience is the enemy of security

Security vs Usability by Nitin Khanna (Nitin Khanna)

99% of security is just keeping your eyes open.

Maybe. Maybe not.

I always update macOS, iOS, tvOS, whenever a security update is available, and my three Linux servers on a weekly basis. I have never had an update go wrong. To me (and many security professionals), convenience is the enemy of security.

But of course, you know what I do for a living. So maybe my advice to always, always, perform the security update for personal devices will be ignored. Fifteen years of experience and knowledge will count for nothing with people like Stephen Pieper.

I've got a wife and kids and elderly parents and elderly parents-in-law. I've got people to protect.

To quote David Halberstam writing about political leaders,

They were brilliant and they were fools.

Do you think that companies like Equifax and Yahoo should be as nonchalant about security updates?