Charlie and the Apple Factory

Here is a fun "off Disney" short animated for the week-end. The guys of College Humor did this short movie based on "Charlie and the chocolate factory" except that the Willy Wonka character is replaced by...Steve Jobs! You will quickly understand that they're having fun about Apple and Steve who, by the way, appeared in good condition this week during the presentation of the iPad 2.

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

The same guys did a TRON legacy parody - non animated but real movie, inspired too by The Big Lebowski in which Jeff Bridges was also playing - and you can watch it HERE.

Video: copyright College Humor

Happy Birthday, Steve !

It's Steve Jobs birthday, today. As you probably know Steve is facing some serious health issues and the best we can wish to him for his 56th Anniversary is to recover as quick as possible.

Who would have said 35 years ago than a young man inventing with a friend in his garage their first computer will be 35 years later at the head of the most loved electronics devices company in the world - and WDC biggest private share holder, too!

Apple Inc did a nice birthday gift to Steve today as they released this thursday the new and amazingly fast Mac Book Pros introducing, too, the "Thunderbolt" technology with which you'll be able to transfert datas at a speed up to 10 Gbps - yes, TEN GIGAS per second! Apple also released today the Beta version of the awaited Mac OS Lion, and next wednesday Apple's special event - without Steve, unfortunately - will introduce the new iPad 2. It' going to be a big week for Apple geeks...

So, Happy Birthday, Steve! And hope to see you soon!

Steve Jobs expected to stay On Disney Board despite his medical leave from Apple

Apple CEO Steve Jobs has announced a new period of medical leave from Apple. Steve will stay Apple CEO and the big Apple fan that i am of course wish him a fast recovery. I don't have to remind you, Disney fans, that Steve Jobs is also Disney's biggest private share holder and a member of the board. There is little doubt that Steve Jobs have some influence on Disney's strategy and anything happening to Steve might have an effect on Disney - that's why you find this news here, coming from Nasdaq.com:

"Steve Jobs is expected to remain on the board of the Walt Disney Co. (DIS) despite the health issues that prompted him to take a medical leave as chief executive of Apple Inc. (AAPL), according to a person familiar with the matter.

Jobs, who is also retaining his board seat at Apple, became by far the largest shareholder in Disney when the media giant acquired Pixar Animation Studios in 2006. As a result of that deal, he owns about 7% of Disney and is a director at the company.

Jobs's role at one of the world's largest media and entertainment conglomerates has prompted speculation and intrigue as the rise of digital communications has provided an opening for Apple and other tech heavyweights to infiltrate businesses like music and television, challenging traditional media titans like Disney.

Some have attributed Disney's early willingness to embrace certain digital distribution platforms to the influence of Jobs.

Jobs's latest departure from Apple due to health issues marks the third time in the past decade he has been forced to step back from his role at Apple. He took a leave in 2004 when he had surgery to remove a tumor in his pancreas and then again in the first half of 2009 for the liver transplant."

Will this new Apple patent revolutionize guests experience at Disney Theme Parks ?

As everyone knows Apple Inc is one of the most secret company in the world. Steve Jobs protects all Apple inventions and want them to be known only when it's the right time and to be honest i think he's right. BUT as i am also a huge Apple fan i'm also happy to learn what Apple's future is made of. And for this, the great Patently Apple web site is just perfect. Like any company Apple must protect their new inventions and the best way to do this is to register a patent at the U.S Patent and Trademark Office. Each day Patently Apple is tracking new Apple patents and for sure it's the best way to learn before anyone what will be Apple's next amazing product. Recently Apple registered a patent for a new application, and this one could revolutionize your future visit at a Disney theme parks!

This new Apple's application is called "Concert Ticket +". As patently Apple explains it "The system that is laid out in this extraordinarily detailed patent, points to a new iTunes based web service for tickets... Apple definitely envisions a way to revolutionize the entire current concert ticket process so as to eliminate paper while enhancing the concert or event experience. But the patent goes far beyond concerts as well - so as to cover sporting events, and... theme park admissions and rides"! Considering that Steve Jobs is not only Disney's biggest stockholder but also a member of the WDC board you begin to understand why it's interesting to have a closer look to this new patent...

First, to help you to understand how it works let me give you more details about the part of the patent about concerts as the theme park part of the patent works on the same technique. You will see below the explicit patent picture, and here is Patently Apple explanation (the numbers in the text refers to the picture below):
"Apple's patent FIG. 8A shown below illustrates an iPhone obtaining and storing electronic tickets. The electronic tickets may be any data identified as electronic tickets and may include, for example, encrypted or unencrypted XML files which may be associated with a particular device or user account. An iPhone may obtain electronic tickets from an NFC enabled ticket (#106), by scanning a paper ticket (#108), by receiving an electronic ticket via e-mail (#110) or via the Internet, or by purchasing an electronic ticket from the kiosk or unmanned kiosks presented earlier.

In Apple's patent FIG. 8B we're able to see a variety of benefits that may be associated with the electronic tickets stored on the iPhone. After receiving electronic tickets using one of the manners depicted in FIG. 8A, additional benefits may be obtained by communicating information associated with the electronic tickets to a web service.

To provide a brief example illustrating the electronic ticketing system of FIGS. 8A-B below, a user may purchase an NFC-enabled ticket (#106) for a concert. The user may tap the NFC-enabled ticket to an iPhone running a ticket management application which may cause the iPhone to receive ticket information from the NFC-enabled ticket. The iPhone may next authenticate the ticket with a web service such as iTunes. Thereafter, the user may use their iPhone to gain entry to the concert through the ticket turnstile noted below (#94) - and obtain additional benefits as outlined below.



I-tickets may provide additional benefits, such as digital content which may include a live recording of the event, exclusive interviews with artists associated with the event, or studio recordings by artists associated with the event. The electronic tickets may offer other benefits, such as discounts on merchandise related to the event, discounts or prepaid refreshments for the event, discounts or prepaid merchandise like a T-Shirt for the event, and other related content, such as a digital map (#120) to the event or of the venue including your seating positioning relative to the stage".



Now, let's see the part of this patent about theme parks, which is from patent points 464 through to 478. You have the patent text below but as it is typical patent language i suggest you read it slowly if you want to understand something!

In two words this new application will allow you to order and store in your mobile device (IPhone or others) the entrance ticket to Disney parks but not only. Instead to make the queue to buy the ticket you will present your IPhone at the entrance and they will scan the image and barcode and that's it! This will be great for normal guests but of course if you're an Annualpass holder you don't really care about that. As you will see what's next is more interesting as "the electronic theme park ticket - that you will have stored on your IPhone or other mobile phone may also include such benefits as special ride tickets or prepaid or discount refreshments". Also, "other benefits which may be associated with the electronic theme park ticket may include photos of the user on certain rides, as well as certain entertainment which may become available while the user waits in line.



"In-line entertainment may include, for example, complimentary or for-purchase digital content such as music, videos, or games". "A map to or of the theme park may also be associated with the electronic theme park ticket. Prepaid or discount parking or transportation may also be associated as a benefit with the electronic theme park ticket".

Also "the supplemental ticket data associated with an electronic ticket may include the GPS coordinates delineating where the event may take place. With such information, the electronic device, upon receiving the electronic theme park ticket, may also automatically instate an "out of office" reply to all incoming email or phone calls, indicating that the user is currently unavailable while the user remains within certain GPS coordinates delineating the bounds of the theme park. Additionally, as some theme parks may be affiliated with movie studios, the electronic theme park ticket may include a benefit such as special movie releases. Such special movie releases may become available, for example, when a user enters the theme park using the electronic theme park ticket".

With this App guests will be able "to obtain photos associated with recent theme park rides. As the user passes a ride exit, the unmanned kiosk or the exhibit station may be nearby. The unmanned kiosk and the exhibit station may enable the user to exploit a variety of benefits associated with the electronic theme park ticket". Thanks to the data supplied by the ticket to credit an account for an online media service, such as an iTunes.RTM. account, associated with the ticketholder with the images at a later time, the user may retrieve the images from the online media service from his electronic device. The electronic device may display a screen when, as discussed above, the electronic device interacts with the unmanned kiosk or the exhibit station located near the ride exit. Text may indicate the name of the ride. A button, labeled "See Photos," may enable the user to view photos from the ride. Another button, labeled "Suggested Rides," may recommend similar rides and provide maps to the rides".



"It should further be appreciated that the screen may be additionally or alternatively displayed while the electronic device is operating in a tour mode and the GPS coordinates denoting the end of the ride are detected by the location-sensing circuitry. The electronic device may compare the location data observed by the location-sensing circuitry and various locations denoting ride exits, noted as GPS coordinates in the supplemental ticket data. A hyperlink to a website or other server from the supplemental ticket data may provide up-to-date photo data from the ride".

"A number of benefits that may be associated with the electronic theme park ticket may ...become available to the user. While still at home, the user may prepay for parking and for enough refreshments for the whole family. The user and family may drive to the theme park aided by a map to the park. Upon arrival, because the user has prepaid for parking, the handheld device may display an electronic coupon indicating the user has prepaid for parking when the user arrives. Alternatively, the prepaid parking may be redeemed by tapping the NFC-enabled conference ticket to a kiosk or unmanned kiosk, which may verify that parking has been prepaid by contacting the web service".

"The user and family may gain entry to the theme park using the handheld device using the techniques described above. Once inside the park, the user and family may avoid certain ride lines with special ride tickets and, while waiting in line throughout the day, may take advantage of special in-line entertainment such as a trivia game against others waiting in line. After riding certain rides, the user may purchase photos of his family's recent ride experiences by tapping the handheld device to an unmanned kiosk stationed at the exit. Meanwhile, though the user may not have set an "out-of-office" reply before going to the theme park, the handheld device may automatically set an "out-of-office" reply when the user entered the park, based on user preferences. Finally, when the day winds down and the family is ready to go, certain special movie releases may be offered for purchase on the handheld device on the way out. As the user and family drive home, one of the recently-purchased special movie releases may play in the car".

If you own a IPhone or another mobile device that you can connect to a ITunes account all what you've read above should be possible. Instead to buy a ticket at the entrance booth or stop to pay for the parking you wil show your mobile device and the electronic or parking lot and that's it! And not to mention all what was described above and the goodies you may receive on your mobile device while waiting in line... Now that you've read the above description of the patent you probably understood how this new Apple patent might revolutionize your future Disney parks visits.

Do we all say "thank you" to Steve?


Thanks to leave a comment or discuss this article on D&M english forum on Mice Chat


Pictures and part of the text coming from Apple patent: copyright Apple Inc

No more " Future in the Present " : The new Apple IPad and why i'm furious about it !

After months of hype and expectations Steve Jobs finally introduced yesterday the Apple IPad. Before i go further i have to say that i'm a huge Apple fan something that all faithful Disney and more reader probably know as i've told you this before. Of course i was expecting this new tablet but i think it's fair to say that my expectations were reasonable.

Now, is this new IPad simply a big IPhone? On a certain point of view, yes it is. Will you be able to do with it all you can do with a Mac Book or even a Net Book? Definitely not. Is it a problem? Well, yes and no. No, because it's a new device which don't intend to replace the laptops. And yes, because on the IPad some features are missing and as we will see it's unforgivable.

Let's talk about the good things first: great screen, undeniably, although book reading will be probably more tiring for your eyes than the eInk technology of the Amazon Kindle. Also, definitely great and elegant multi-touch interface which, just like on the Iphone, works like magic. And the IWork multi touch version looks great too (although you'll have to buy it separately for a reasonable price). Watching movies, sharing photos and playing games will be much better on the IPad, there is no doubt about that. Surfing on internet or reading/writing emails on a big screen will be highly appreciated. And the keynote feature will be fantastic for any designer/photographer/graphist, etc...to do their presentation to a client. The biggest surprise came at the end of Steve's keynote when he revealed the price: starting at $499 (wi-fi connection only) the IPad should be a success and probably a danger for the Net Books sales. Although...



And this leads me to the second part, i.e the features desperately missing. First, no USB port or no SD card reader include - you have to buy for $29 the adapter package to be able to upload your pictures/movies. $29 is not dramatic but where was the problem to include this directly in the IPad? Frankly...!?!

Also, just like on the IPhone, there's no possibility to run multiple third party apps at once, outside of the Apple apps that can work in the background, such as iPod which mean that you'll be able to type an email AND listen your music at the same time, which honestly is the least we can expect of this kind of device.

Then comes the first big mistake: although you'll have access to internet and go on any site you wish, all this on a big screen, don't expect to watch videos - like the one i can post on Disney and more or any other site - as the IPad OS don't support Flash!!! So, what's the point to have a fast internet access on a mobile device with a big screen if you can't access ALL internet? Since when internet is only about text and pictures? I don't know the reason behind this missing Flash (officially it's because the use of Flash is "eating" too much battery) but frankly, it's stupid. However, you still can go on Youtube and watch almost any Youtube videos, even high-definition videos.



And here come the missing feature which drive me crazy: there is no webcam on the IPad! And this is really an unforgivable mistake. Why? Here is why: when the first IPhone appeared, back in 2007, with his new multi touch interface, suddenly it was "the future in the present". A kind of Star Trek device which would have been teleported to the 21st century. Of course, now we don't have this feeling anymore but back three years ago this "future in the present" effect was one of the big reasons of the huge IPhone hype.

Do we have this feeling with the IPad? No we don't. And what enrages me is that it could have been the case. Think: you're sit on a bench in a park, or in a remote place 10000 miles from your home and you want to call AND see your girl/boy friend or anyone you wish. Then, instead to take out of your bag a laptop that you need to unfold, etc... what you have is something that looks, virtually, like a piece of glass. And thanks to it - and Skype! - your girl/boy friend would magically appear even if you're up in the mountain or lost in the jungle as long as there is a 3G connection. Wouldn't it be great? Do you remember the sequence in Stanley kubrick's "2001, a Space Odyssey" when the scientist on a space station use a videophone to call on Earth his little daughter for her birthday? In the movie they were in 2001 and we are in 2010! Okay, i'm kidding, but frankly what the hell was the problem to put a web cam on the top of the IPad? It would have changed everything.

If Steve has to learn a lesson in all this, it's this one: ALWAYS BRING THE FUTURE IN THE PRESENT, that the key of the success. And Steve better don't tell me that Apple don't have new innovations! Just go to the excellent PatentlyApple web site , a great site tracking all Apple new patents, and read the three parts article called The Tablet Prophecies HERE, HERE and HERE where you'll discover all the great inventions that Apple researchers created for a tablet device. Sure they'll come in the future, and sure, Apple keep some bullets for the IPad V2, but honestly i'm sick to have to wait for the next version, specially when what i am asking for - Flash support and a webcam - is so simple, so elementary...

Edited: More about all this with a good analysis on the missing features on CNN.com HERE

Let's end by something less negative with pictures of accessories that Apple developed specially for the IPad. First, this dock and wireless keyboard (virtual multitouch keyboard is of course include in the IPad) which can be helpful. Apparently the regular wireless keyboard of the IMacs will work with the IPad.



And the next one is a neoprene case which will not only protect the IPad but also reverses into a triangle to convert the tablet into either a freestanding TV orientation, or lays down to become a full screen mini-laptop. Not bad at all.



Let's end with some fun. As here at Disney and more we have the sense of humor, here is three videos of Apple products that you will never see in the future! Very funny.






This third video was released in 2007 and believe it or not, but it's all about the IPad! Well, a different kind of IPad! (I must tell you first that in America the word IPad also mean a woman personal hygiene product...)




All pictures: copyright Apple Inc