Answers...

to commonly asked questions.

July 2012

Why does my computer say DOS?

Hope you are doing well.  I was interested in your reaction to iOS 6 and the new map feature.  Is it as bad as the reports say?  If we have iPone 4s or earlier devices should we, in your opinion, upgrade to iOS 6?  Thanks.
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The topic of maps has gotten a lot of press with iOS 6. But let’s keep one thing in mind. We have started to see a trend in iPhone/iPad releases over the last five years. It goes like this:

1. massive anticipation and speculation
2. analysts forecast crazy huge first weekend sales
3. device is released, apple can’t meet demand
4. analysts call it a let down
5. someone finds something to complain about the new device
6. news channels and bloggers use the story as link bait for about a week
7. device breaks all sales records
8. stock goes through the roof
9. analysts reverse their stance
10. problems that were never really that big a deal go away.
11. Everyone starts talking about the next device.

My point is this: Yesterday the USA today had 19 stories on the front page of their website. 14 of them had something to do with the iPhone. Everyone milks any news about Apple or their devices for all the links they’re worth so the result is that a small story often turns into a very big one for no reason. I challenge you to find any news site right now today without a story about Apple on it.

Now to the actual issue of maps. I use maps religiously everyday in my work. The new maps are fine. Some things I like, some I don’t. I also use the
Motion X drive app. In my opinion, it’s always been superior to even google maps. I’ve not found a reason to jump on the “hate” bandwagon over the new map app in iOS 6. Certainly not a reason to avoid the update. It’s a good update. You may want to wait for 6.1 in a week or two however. Every day that goes by Apple is filling in the holes in it’s map. But remember, those holes are not so evident in Charlotte. However, if you are traveling in Indonesia, Tonga, or the Fuakland islands you may want to wait until more detail has been added.

Apple’s decision to leave Google’s maps was 100% the correct one. They had to. They know how much potential for ad revenue there is in location and map services in the coming years and that would have been money they would have just given away to Google. They had to take the step to create their own maps app because in the coming year the hot market will be where you are, not what you like. Imagine getting a notification for garden seeds that are on sale at Home Depot and you just happen to be at Home Depot, or walking in to Target and getting a notification that pants are on sale. All of this data will be generated by location based ads will can very likely be integrated into maps. Apple had no choice. Yes, I’m sure there are problems with the map app. Just as there are problems with every app. But it’s no deal breaker, nor will it keep more than 10 people in world from buying the iPhone 5. The map detail will fill in in the coming months and everyone will move on to talking about how easy it is to scratch the aluminum.

In the last several days, I’ve been asked by several clients what I think of the map problem. I always ask the same thing…”have you experienced a problem?” I bet you can guess what their answer is.

Godaddy sent messages gone

Scotty -

I know no one still alive uses AOL, but now mine, since the computer came back, is so slow, and doesn't seem to want to be used as a search engine.  And even though Quick Time Player is still in my apps, and I can get it onto the tool bar, it won't work.  But the simplest of all, is I want to clear my messy desktop and store the stuff I want to keep in a folder, but can't remember how to create a folder.  Any simple way to explain?

Thanks.
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You are right. Way way time to abandon AOL for pretty much anything. I do highly suggest not using the AOL software and instead going to a web browser like
Safari or Google’s Chrome. You can still go to aol.com to check mail and see their news and stories if you wish plus you can also add your aol email into Apple’s email client (the stamp). This way you will be able to see your mail but can avoid the ads.

There are several ways to create a folder on the mac so you can drag other items into it in order to organize things. Here are a few ways to create folders:

1. Control+click or right click on the desktop and choose “new folder”
2. When in the finder, under the menu bar word “File” choose “new folder”.
3. With a finder window open you can select the gear icon and select “new folder”.

Screen Shot 2012-09-21 at 8.03.29 PM

Once you’ve created a new folder you can always just drag it to the area you want to permanently store it. Inside another folder or into the documents folder for example. If you are still struggling to create and manage your folders, I’m
online every Monday at 7pm and would be happy to walk you through it.
This image is a theme.plist hack