iPhone, MobileMe, Google Apps and Clouds
The glitches with iPhone activation, MobileMe, and Google apps this week bring up some general issues about cloud computing summarized in this CNET article. The article talks about service level agreements (SLAs) and the issues involved in using someone else's computers for your work. In some cases, that is unavoidable--Facebook has to function on the Web, but in other cases such as a cloud-based word processor, the desktop is an alternative. In the iPhone/MobileMe world, the lack of synchronization is just that--you can still access contacts on your other devices (if you can get to them).
There are two lessons to be learned from this. The first one is that when cloud computing fails, it fails in different ways than desktop computing fails. The most obvious distinction is that cloud computing can fail or degrade with slowdowns that don't happen on the desktop (and if they do happen, you can probably figure out that InDesign is slow at rendering your yard sale flyer because you happen to be editing a video at the same time). Transparency--letting people know what's happening in the cloud--is a big help, but doesn't prevent the problem. One way is to design for speed issues. MobileMe may be having some trouble getting its sea legs, but the benefit in that is that some people have seen a message that says Safari is becoming unresponsive because a script is running slowly. That's a good start.
The second lesson is more interesting. One of the virtues of cloud computing is that it shares resources and should actually improve performance for many people because large resources can temporarily be made available to a multitude of users. Configuring cloud computing allows for peaks and valleys, but in general, the larger the pool of users and the larger the pool of resources, the more stable it should be. The flip side of this is that enormous spikes in use are not what cloud computing handles best. Once MobileMe settles down to a relatively consistent level of use, and once the flood of Day 1 iPhone G3 activations is over, things should be better.
These global one day extravaganzas for iPhones, new operating systems, Harry Potter books, and movies get lots of publicity at the cost of stressing support and distribution networks. Still we know how to do them, and the media knows how to cover them. And there's always the risk that the one-day nature of the product launch can cause problems that are not intrinsic to the product. Maybe it's time to come up with a new marketing technique other than the global one-day launch. Something more interesting, more effective, and with less risk. Global one-day launches are getting to be passe. It's time for some innovative company to Think Different.
P.S. Thanks to Ginny and Michael for pointing out ongoing iPod Touch upgrade issues.
There are two lessons to be learned from this. The first one is that when cloud computing fails, it fails in different ways than desktop computing fails. The most obvious distinction is that cloud computing can fail or degrade with slowdowns that don't happen on the desktop (and if they do happen, you can probably figure out that InDesign is slow at rendering your yard sale flyer because you happen to be editing a video at the same time). Transparency--letting people know what's happening in the cloud--is a big help, but doesn't prevent the problem. One way is to design for speed issues. MobileMe may be having some trouble getting its sea legs, but the benefit in that is that some people have seen a message that says Safari is becoming unresponsive because a script is running slowly. That's a good start.
The second lesson is more interesting. One of the virtues of cloud computing is that it shares resources and should actually improve performance for many people because large resources can temporarily be made available to a multitude of users. Configuring cloud computing allows for peaks and valleys, but in general, the larger the pool of users and the larger the pool of resources, the more stable it should be. The flip side of this is that enormous spikes in use are not what cloud computing handles best. Once MobileMe settles down to a relatively consistent level of use, and once the flood of Day 1 iPhone G3 activations is over, things should be better.
These global one day extravaganzas for iPhones, new operating systems, Harry Potter books, and movies get lots of publicity at the cost of stressing support and distribution networks. Still we know how to do them, and the media knows how to cover them. And there's always the risk that the one-day nature of the product launch can cause problems that are not intrinsic to the product. Maybe it's time to come up with a new marketing technique other than the global one-day launch. Something more interesting, more effective, and with less risk. Global one-day launches are getting to be passe. It's time for some innovative company to Think Different.
P.S. Thanks to Ginny and Michael for pointing out ongoing iPod Touch upgrade issues.
posted by Jesse at
7/12/2008
2 Comments:
I installed iPhone OS 2.0 on my iPod Touch this morning ans it's working perfectly. I've also been using Mobile Me on my Mac and Touch. Nice!
Here is an update on the OS v2.0:
I have had the software since Ginny Brady above and can say I have mixed feelings. I am a tech junky on everything tech, and my friends will agree.
Pro's:
1. Apps are awesome and range from free (who doesn't like free) and over $30 dollars.
2. The ability with either iPhone or iPod Touch users to do amazing things with these apps. ie: Twitterific, AIM, ebay, remote, games and more games.
Cons:
Only one Con so far..
1. Stability of the unit that it resets every other day!!
I can not imagine being an iPhone user that has their unit reset when they are in need of making an emergency phone call.
I hope Ginny Brady will add her experience with the device and I hope Apple will update their software to alleviate this major headache. I also hope that the software that is used to make apps is also available to the Windows PC.
If anyone has any questions or comments please leave them here. I love reading jesse's blog and try to add to it. I have my own called Plattsburgh Tech, but haven't posted lately.
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