Several shows on the TV have attempted to promote culinary skills with even celebrities donning the apron, but you may not have seen anything like this. I caught a YouTube channel with over a million subscribers called ‘Grandpa Kitchen’ (not ‘Grandpa’s Kitchen’) featuring an aged man cooking Indian and western delicacies in the open with some youngsters as assistants, and err…peering pets. The delicious stuff is then distributed to some less fortunate beings for charity. But what’s so unique about this cooking “show”? At the onset, I was surprised to watch the straightforward chef bake a huge pizza using basic skills & equipment! Because you’d imagine pizza-making at home might require, besides an oven and the ingredients, some expert culinary skills, but cheers to the grand old cook who never fails to prove you wrong using just the everyday kitchen appliances with confidence. Then with each video, he carries his adept cooking skills to create some more restaurant-styled delicacies such as doughnuts, KFC-styled crispy chicken, french fries, etc. It’s exasperating to watch the endless list of mouthwatering stuff being made in such simple terms. I just have one disagreement with the food being cooked in the open environment which could pose a public health risk.
youtube
Apple Is Changing User Behaviour, Not Just User Experience
The iPhone 7/Plus launched without the standard 3.5mm audio jack creating a storm on the Internet. The problem isn’t about the missing elements from a traditional user interaction perspective with a device such as the iPhone as it is about changing a user’s perception. It’s indeed very courageous of Apple to remove the audio jack completely replacing it with the lightning connector which means you cannot listen to music while charging (it’ll require a new $40 accessory). Simply put, we can’t charge AND listen to music or take calls simultaneously and we have to keep the iPhones charged. Suggesting that Apple wants the AirPods as your default hearing device regardless. Apple’s users have often had to reluctantly change the way they interact with devices based purely on how Apple defined its product line so ‘courageously’ and regardless of how frustrating it was. The astonished fans complained but eventually caved in. Now, this isn’t the first time that Apple has done something ‘courageous’ with its product line by removing a standard feature or software – the iPads didn’t support Adobe Flash (they still don’t even today), and yet if the sales numbers are correct the audience seems to have loved the iPad! From a product design standpoint with its power to innovate Apple really at the helm of changing user behaviour of this generation unquestionably. Perhaps Apple did contemplate the backlash of its decision to remove the 3.5mm audio jack from the iPhones and the ‘courageous’ comment from Phil Schiller is proof of defending itself from its perched place. So if there’s one product company which is going to affect our lives within the realm of technology and design innovation it’d be Apple.
Here’s Steve Jobs explaining ‘courage’ perfectly with Apple’s products.
The iPhone Demo
No matter what the critics have to say about the Apple iPhone. Scratches or no scratches, after watching this demo, it’s difficult to resist the temptation of buying one. The innovative design, the iPod plus the touch screen features make the iPhone a must have device of the new era. Apple Inc’s Phil Schiller shows John Blackstone the many features of the iPhone which launches in the US in June 2007.
Microsoft's video venture : Soapbox
It all began when YouTube offered free video upload and streaming through Flash. One could now subscribe to RSS feeds and also embed the video on their blog or website. The contest for capturing this exciting space (and thus the imagination of the user) had now begun in earnest. Just recently, Yahoo announced it’s arrival on the scene by taking over the online video sharing website called JumpCut.
Microsoft also is ready with it’s reply to YouTube and its ilk. The video upload & streaming project is codenamed “Warhol” but is finally going to be known as Soapbox, although features do not seem to be much different from YouTube’s. Only time can tell if Soapbox succeeds in its endeavour or melts with time.
Dig into Microsoft's Zune
Zune would signal Microsoft’s foray into the music player arena, already dominated by Apple’s iPod family.