TweetFollow Us on Twitter

Autumn 91 - Editor's Note

EDITOR'S NOTE

CAROLINE ROSE

[IMAGE 002-003_Editorial_html1.GIF]

Dear Readers,

I'd like to bring up a subject that's been on my mind lately and a matter of interest to me--and probably to many of you--for quite some time now. It's the subject of what we called the "paperless office" as far back as the Seventies, when I worked in the same group as Doug Engelbart, inventor of the mouse. I laughed to myself back then when I'd hear predictions that in ten years or so, manuals would be obsolete. Who needs information in any form other than electronic? Printed manuals persist, but they're definitely an endangered species. At Apple and many other companies like it, the trend is toward "on-line only" dissemination of information: it uses the technology in zippy ways, it costs less, and it saves trees. Who needs paper, anyway?

I myself don't care if I ever see most memos, notes, reports, and similar daily jottings in print. I prefer to file the majority of this stuff on-line rather than in my physical file cabinets, which I mostly use to hold rice cakes and pistachio nuts. When I need a reminder of some technical information like the meaning of a parameter or the definition of a word, I like quick on-line access to it as much as the next person. And Balloon Help is great when I'm wondering what a particular command or button is for.

But when I don't know how to do something at all, or how different pieces fit together, I prefer to read printed documentation. I'm speaking here of the background material that's needed to get you launched on a particular product in a way that will make you really know what it's about. (Whether this information is needed at all could be the subject of another editorial.) Call it "concepts" versus "reference." For me, there's nothing like reading about concepts in a real book when and where I want. The image that comes to mind is "curling up in front of a fire." I'd much sooner do that with a good novel than a technical manual, but still I like to pick a place and time away from my computer to take in the concepts. It's quieter and more comfortable, especially on my eyes, and it's a more pleasing visual and tactile experience. I learn more that way. Later, I might want to look up some conceptual material on-line, but for first-time reading and learning, I want hard copy.

At the last company I worked for we surveyed a lot of developers on this, and most of them seemed to agree. We decided to divide our technical documentation along those exact lines: concepts versus reference; concepts would always be available as a printed manual while reference would be on-line only (or primarily, at least).

This all ties in with the fact that Apple Associates and Partners no longer receive a printed copy of develop as part of their regular mailing; they have to subscribe to develop to receive it in print. The mailing has been simplified to be just a CD-ROM disc and a 16-page publication in newspaper format that points to things on the disc. Those developers who don't want a lot of paper don't have to deal with it; those who do can order it. So Associates and Partners will cast their vote for paper develop by subscribing to it. (Letters from all of you expressing your opinions--especially when they agree with mine--are of course more than welcome.)

Speaking of electronic media, those of you who were receiving develop with its CD-ROM disc bound into it will notice that the disc corresponding to this issue has been packaged separately in its own case (made of partially recycled fiberboard and plastic). This should put a stop to the problem of mangled discs. Also, the disc is no longer the Developer Essentials disc, but the Developer CD Series disc, the same disc that Apple Associates and Partners receive. We hope this will make life easier for us and less confusing for you (not to mention that you'll get more goodies on the disc than before!).

I'll end with a vaguely related trivia question: What word was used instead of "click" to describe the action of pressing a button on that first mouse? If you've got any good trivia questions of your own, send them along to us. We need all the help we can get.

[IMAGE 002-003_Editorial_html3.GIF]

Caroline Rose Editor

CAROLINE ROSE has been writing computer documentation ever since "peripheral storage" meant paper tape. After a seven-year digression into programming, she returned to writing and joined Apple to document the inner workings of a new computer named Macintosh. In what proved to be another (five-year) digression, she left Apple to launch NeXT Computer's documentation effort--a real learning experience. She's thrilled to be back at Apple among old friends and new. Caroline loves to read, swim, hike, travel, dance, sing, and spend time with her best friend, Cleo (see photo). This summer she got her feet wet (literally) on a backpacking trip in Utah, through a tributary of the Escalante River and some pretty spectacular canyons. Her new wilderness goals are hiking up Half Dome and rafting the Colorado. *

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION Use the order form on the last page of this issue to subscribe to develop. Please address all subscription-related inquiries todevelop, Apple Computer, Inc., P.O. Box 531, Mt. Morris, IL 61054 (or AppleLink DEV.SUBS). *

BACK ISSUES For information about back issues of develop and how to obtain them, see the reverse of the order form on the last page of this issue. Back issues are also on the Developer CD Series disc.*

 

Community Search:
MacTech Search:

Software Updates via MacUpdate

Latest Forum Discussions

See All

Six fantastic ways to spend National Vid...
As if anyone needed an excuse to play games today, I am about to give you one: it is National Video Games Day. A day for us to play games, like we no doubt do every day. Let’s not look a gift horse in the mouth. Instead, feast your eyes on this... | Read more »
Old School RuneScape players turn out in...
The sheer leap in technological advancements in our lifetime has been mind-blowing. We went from Commodore 64s to VR glasses in what feels like a heartbeat, but more importantly, the internet. It can be a dark mess, but it also brought hundreds of... | Read more »
Today's Best Mobile Game Discounts...
Every day, we pick out a curated list of the best mobile discounts on the App Store and post them here. This list won't be comprehensive, but it every game on it is recommended. Feel free to check out the coverage we did on them in the links below... | Read more »
Nintendo and The Pokémon Company's...
Unless you have been living under a rock, you know that Nintendo has been locked in an epic battle with Pocketpair, creator of the obvious Pokémon rip-off Palworld. Nintendo often resorts to legal retaliation at the drop of a hat, but it seems this... | Read more »
Apple exclusive mobile games don’t make...
If you are a gamer on phones, no doubt you have been as distressed as I am on one huge sticking point: exclusivity. For years, Xbox and PlayStation have done battle, and before this was the Sega Genesis and the Nintendo NES. On console, it makes... | Read more »
Regionally exclusive events make no sens...
Last week, over on our sister site AppSpy, I babbled excitedly about the Pokémon GO Safari Days event. You can get nine Eevees with an explorer hat per day. Or, can you? Specifically, you, reader. Do you have the time or funds to possibly fly for... | Read more »
As Jon Bellamy defends his choice to can...
Back in March, Jagex announced the appointment of a new CEO, Jon Bellamy. Mr Bellamy then decided to almost immediately paint a huge target on his back by cancelling the Runescapes Pride event. This led to widespread condemnation about his perceived... | Read more »
Marvel Contest of Champions adds two mor...
When I saw the latest two Marvel Contest of Champions characters, I scoffed. Mr Knight and Silver Samurai, thought I, they are running out of good choices. Then I realised no, I was being far too cynical. This is one of the things that games do best... | Read more »
Grass is green, and water is wet: Pokémo...
It must be a day that ends in Y, because Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket has kicked off its Zoroark Drop Event. Here you can get a promo version of another card, and look forward to the next Wonder Pick Event and the next Mass Outbreak that will be... | Read more »
Enter the Gungeon review
It took me a minute to get around to reviewing this game for a couple of very good reasons. The first is that Enter the Gungeon's style of roguelike bullet-hell action is teetering on the edge of being straight-up malicious, which made getting... | Read more »

Price Scanner via MacPrices.net

Take $150 off every Apple 11-inch M3 iPad Air
Amazon is offering a $150 discount on 11-inch M3 WiFi iPad Airs right now. Shipping is free: – 11″ 128GB M3 WiFi iPad Air: $449, $150 off – 11″ 256GB M3 WiFi iPad Air: $549, $150 off – 11″ 512GB M3... Read more
Apple iPad minis back on sale for $100 off MS...
Amazon is offering $100 discounts (up to 20% off) on Apple’s newest 2024 WiFi iPad minis, each with free shipping. These are the lowest prices available for new minis among the Apple retailers we... Read more
Apple’s 16-inch M4 Max MacBook Pros are on sa...
Amazon has 16-inch M4 Max MacBook Pros (Silver and Black colors) on sale for up to $410 off Apple’s MSRP right now. Shipping is free. Be sure to select Amazon as the seller, rather than a third-party... Read more
Red Pocket Mobile is offering a $150 rebate o...
Red Pocket Mobile has new Apple iPhone 17’s on sale for $150 off MSRP when you switch and open up a new line of service. Red Pocket Mobile is a nationwide MVNO using all the major wireless carrier... Read more
Switch to Verizon, and get any iPhone 16 for...
With yesterday’s introduction of the new iPhone 17 models, Verizon responded by running “on us” promos across much of the iPhone 16 lineup: iPhone 16 and 16 Plus show as $0/mo for 36 months with bill... Read more
Here is a summary of the new features in Appl...
Apple’s September 2025 event introduced major updates across its most popular product lines, focusing on health, performance, and design breakthroughs. The AirPods Pro 3 now feature best-in-class... Read more
Apple’s Smartphone Lineup Could Use A Touch o...
COMMENTARY – Whatever happened to the old adage, “less is more”? Apple’s smartphone lineup. — which is due for its annual refresh either this month or next (possibly at an Apple Event on September 9... Read more
Take $50 off every 11th-generation A16 WiFi i...
Amazon has Apple’s 11th-generation A16 WiFi iPads in stock on sale for $50 off MSRP right now. Shipping is free: – 11″ 11th-generation 128GB WiFi iPads: $299 $50 off MSRP – 11″ 11th-generation 256GB... Read more
Sunday Sale: 14-inch M4 MacBook Pros for up t...
Don’t pay full price! Amazon has Apple’s 14-inch M4 MacBook Pros (Silver and Black colors) on sale for up to $220 off MSRP right now. Shipping is free. Be sure to select Amazon as the seller, rather... Read more
Mac mini with M4 Pro CPU back on sale for $12...
B&H Photo has Apple’s Mac mini with the M4 Pro CPU back on sale for $1259, $140 off MSRP. B&H offers free 1-2 day shipping to most US addresses: – Mac mini M4 Pro CPU (24GB/512GB): $1259, $... Read more

Jobs Board

All contents are Copyright 1984-2011 by Xplain Corporation. All rights reserved. Theme designed by Icreon.