Over the past year and a half, give or take, I have become quite the fan of {F}ree/{L}ibre {O}pen {S}ource {S}oftware {FLOSS} technologies.  The freedom and ability to download a wide range of software, for free, as well as the ability to change up the software code to customize it for personal applications, and even the ability to contribute back to the community {aka Picardism...oh ya!} is something that I truly think enables the highest degree of satisfying user experiences.  I have previously mentioned that I have found, through much experimentation over the past little while, that much that can be done with proprietary softwares can be done using FLOSS-based softwares just as well.  Some prominent examples include Firefox {web browsing}, Thunderbird {email}, OpenOffice (document creation and editing}, GIMP {image editing}, Audacity {audio editing}, among many others {FSF FLOSS software directory} 

I particularly want to focus this post on operating system technology.  For those not in the know, an operating system is the underlying abstraction layer {bones and muscle} of all computer systems, enabling the many hardware and software interactions that are needed for you to work on computer systems; enabling you to not have to think about such things (see the image to the right {borrowed} from wikipedia).  Much like driving a car; many proclaim that they don't care how the car truly works, just so long as it gets them to point A to B and back successfully with ease {steering wheel, gas pedal, speedometer, etc} and satisfaction {design aesthetic, smoothness of ride, colour, radio, bluetooth, etc).  Truth of the matter is, even for those who say they don't care about this abstraction layer of sorts, that in fact this layer does have an impact in terms of use and usability as well as to what degree of satisfying experiences can be had.  It is all very much interrelated.

Many of us have grown up using Windows or Mac operating systems.  If we use a computer, we should be aware of at least one of these technologies. Now I don't hate these technologies.  Actually they do work quite well, when they work ;-)  However, it's their proprietary nature that I personally feel gets in the way of being able to obtain truly satisfying people-computer experiences.  When using these technologies there can often be times we are coerced, forced even down a path of technological use which may not necessarily be best. We then become accustomed to it, making it the norm and instead of making things better, we just fall into a routine maintaining the status quo.  In fact there is something better, something that better promotes the ideals of interaction and usability and human innovation.  That something is FLOSS. 

For about a year I have been using the Ubuntu opertating system exclusively, minus a brief interlude back to using MacOSX.  Ubuntu is a GNU/Linux FLOSS-based operating system that is highly human-centric.  It's slogan is actually, Linux for humans.  Looking back on my FLOSSy experiences thus far, I find that they have been truly enlightening and satisfying all at the same time.  I enjoy the incremental aspect of FLOSS use, meaning that sometimes things don't always work out on the first try and sure, some effort is needed to get things going, adapted and customized according to my preferences.  I find that this activity is actually needed in modern technological society. Sadly though I see, or have seen, that we as a society have lost something from our use of modern technology. It actually seems that we are becoming "dumb" ...or dumber ;-) to the point of ignorance and it could very well linked to our use of modern technology.  If it's too confusing, or if it doesn't work right out of the box, or if it's too scary, why tinker with it? Why learn why it is the way it is?  Why not try to make it better?  No, instead why not just complain, or call the help desk?  It's easier.  Truth be told is that it is this activity of research and exploration in the things we use daily that is truly one of the most critical human traits we have. It keeps us on the cutting edge, makes us knowledgeable {more knowledgeable} and helps us to innovate and improve our existence.  This is the reason why I love FLOSS so much.  It injects this feeling back, research and exploration, learning, and knowledge gaining while also injecting the feeling of contributing to something good, something bigger, something good for society.

With that I encourage you all to try Ubuntu.  From a human-computer interaction standpoint, it is truly the best place to start your FLOSS operating system experience {and hopefully stay}.  I really think that society would be a better place by promoting FLOSS use.  It promotes a sense of what it truly is to be human.  Perhaps an ideal that is disruptive at first.  It may sound to some like technological socialism.  You know what, it's exactly that, and it's exactly what we need.  In my mind the benefits of encouraging a FLOSS-based technological society are too huge to pass up on.  -tMac

...and the shenanigans begin again with Apple. FUCK{!} is the only word I have for it all.  I must pardon my language in advance.  Since I've recently switched back to an Apple computing environment, I've been actually regretting it...and here's the why...

Ok, I've had some beefs with Apple recently.  If you've read some recent posts, you know this.  This time is no different.  Apple is up to their usual BS and as such I give a big Colbert wag o' my finger at the software giant as they not so quietly begin their battle of law with various cellphone makers, specifically the infamous HTC, among others.  In the suit, Apple is claiming egregious patent infringement on a wide many intellectual properties so-called held by Apple; solely by Apple.  Really?

Now, I have no issue with inventors taking claim for innovations thought of, and developed by said inventors.  This is all cool.  And ok, to be honest, sure, some could see Apple's side of the argument as being sound.  Apple is, after all, a leader in product and technological designs.  This is true indeed. My issue with Apple is their claims on what they call their own innovations, those developed by them directly, solely by them.  Many of these are very suspect.  Example: the iPhone.  The iPhone is an excellent example of leading innovation in product design.  Apple truly did outdo themselves here.  This is FACT.  Huh, you may say?  Wait for it....wait for it ;-)  My argument resides in the point that I think much of the technology that comprises a product like the iPhone, could really, and should really not be considered as having a sole inventor.  Much of these innovations and ideas that comprise said technology are widely researched, tested, and adopted by a wide variety of other products and they continue to be such.  So I ask this; where is the line drawn? ..or where should it be drawn? 

An example: Kleenex.  As many of you know, Kleenex is a house hold brand name leader in snot rag technology (among other uses). You know it, the brand, I know it well and I'm sure you've used some variety of kleenex-based product at least once in your lives.  Kleenex has become the defacto, universally accepted name of snot rags alike. Truth be told, the design of Kleenex-inspired products is universal as well, regardless of brand name or otherwise.  Now, my point is this.  Let's say, for instance, we have a technology like "multi-point, interactive touch screens" which was truly popularized by the iPhone device.  Now, Microsoft has researched and innovated products using said technology.  Apple too, and HEY, Google as well! Specifically to Google, they have developed this little operating system called Android and, my oh my, could it be that Apple has some valid competition FINALLY?  And even better, some valid open sourced technology!!??  Now sure, it can be said that some aspects of Android were inspired by the iPhone, sure.  But really this could be just like how I am inspired by Eric Clapton or Neil Young when I play the guitar.  Could it be that if one of my songs sounds similar to Neil Young, not an exact replica, but similar, could Neil knock down my door and smash my guitar?  Ha!

Back on point.  Like Kleenex, can one really lay claim to every occurrence of such instances without monopolizing the system?  I say NO!  Now, with technologies such as touch screen technology becoming more mainstream; more the defacto way of developing interactive designs, I say to this as well, NO!

So with this I say to you Apple, oh Apple, Apple oh Apple.  Fuck you!  Fuck you Steve Jobs!  Have you not forgotten how Xerox in the mid-70's "inspired" you?  I don't care if you are the CEO of the decade.  I truly hope the good guys win this battle and that Google, HTC, and every other company you try and pull this bullshit on, puts you in your place; illuminates you a little, and gives you a better perspective.  If this isn't a rallying cry for open source technologies, I don't know what is.  I, now more than ever, cannot wait to Ubuntu-ize my Macbook Pro.  RMS4LIFE! -tMac

Oh Apple, how I love thee..or wait, do I really? 

Being an avid Mac user since, oh, let's say roughly 2006, I have become accustomed to a higher degree of design quality and usability {software} in my technological products and Apple is directly responsible for this mentality. Truth be told is that Apple product design has always had a strong emphasis on designing quality high-end products attached with satisfying technological experiences.  This cannot be denied.  Those who do deny, simply do not know and that is simply fact.

That all said, recently I have become quite judgmental of Apple, not in terms of their product designs, never!  However, I have more so in terms of their business model and platform. Does Apple boast a successful business model?  Indeed it does.  However, at what cost to us, the everyday consumer, computer, and technology user?  My view is the cost is quite high; almost too high and action is needed!

Some of you know that I have increasingly become more fed up with Apple and it's proprietary ways. From the Apple Touch/iPhone, to the Apple TV (mine has since been hacked nicely to work the way I want it to, now able to play all kinds of file formats...it's called freedom baby!), to now the iPad; Apple's new and fancy thingy which Jobs himself proclaimed would revolutionize the industry as we know it (really?), it's all designed for controlling our experiences (skynet??) rather than enabling truly satisfying experiences for all.

Sure, Apple has made some very nice products, the iPad being one indeed.  But in a World with ever increasing limitations on our technological freedoms, we need to start opening doors in such regards, ensuring these freedoms rather than closing them and continuing to foster an unhealthy, unsustainable technological environment. 

With my love/hate relationship with Apple, last year I began testing alternatives, choosing to evaluate a Dell intergrated GNU-Linux technological platform for my everyday activities. In my evaluation I learned that much that could be done with proprietary software, could be done with free/libre open source software just as well, with a little bit of work of course in some instances.  I won't lie, things were going well.  However, one aspect of my experience that I felt truly lacking was the emotional aspect of design and how it related to the degree of satisfaction I obtained while working.  This, when thinking about it, was partially due to the difference in the quality of hardware in my Dell vs the quality of hardware on a Mac (cheap plastic vs aluminum) but also partially due to the way I interacted with the technology itself - opting to leave my "heavy" plasticy laptop at home and opting to purchase a small, lightweight netbook in its place (which is a great little device mind you - An Acer Aspire One with Ubuntu Netbook Remix installed on it - another post maybe!).  This aspect of technology does matter - people do have an emotional attachment to the products they have and the quality of a Dell (or any other PC really) vs a Mac are, in my knowledgeable opinion, on 2 complete opposite sides of the spectrum.  The saying that "you pay for what you get" is, quite frankly, true. 

It cannot be denied the hardware quality of Apple products in relation to others on the market.  Because of this I have since traded my Dell and have come back to Apple just for that fact.  My MacBook Pro is lighter, better built, and has more of an emotional quality to me personally than my Dell had ever had.  However, I do miss the whole open source and freedom aspect of my Dell/GNU-Linux experience.  There is something said to have technology that is free and open - it's just non-DRM (digital "restrictions" management) quality goodness that simply works.

After hearing about all the many restrictions attached with the iPad (a biased source but you can also find similar unbiased ones), all of these emotions came flooding back.  I don't know why Apple has to model their business the way they do but it's just the way they roll.  Google, for example, is a leading company with an active open source mentality and environment and yet is still very successful - Maybe Apple can learn??  Given my very strong beliefs in fostering an open and free technological World, I have since decided to install and evaluate a GNU-Linux environment on my MacBook Pro; using Ubuntu of course, an open source and free operating system {think of it as a very viable alternative to Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Mac OSX}.  In my view, open source is the future, so let's all start playing, designing, developing, and sharing! -tMac

PS: Apologies for the uncensored use of the php goto statement in the title of this post