Prologue to Genesis

7.3 billion years ago

There was a planet before Earth existed many light years away. This planet had all the basic necessities for life, but life evolved a bit differently than on Earth. It could be because their sun was different – a Red Giant in the last cycle of its majestic life. Whether light was the catalyst for life on Earth or not is up for debate, but that was certainly the case on this distant plant. As the waning light from the Red Giant’s ancient inferno hit this lonely planet, simple lifeforms began evolving. Almost as if  these is simple lifeforms could sense the frailty of their sun, they evolved faster to compensate – and more importantly, they evolved stranger.

In this tale, the first life we must know about is that of the colors. As light first hit the vast primordial sea, certain micro particles learned that at a certain angle they could reflect the most beautiful color from their Red giant. Eventually “male” particles learned that reflecting this color would attract more “female” particles and “female” particles learned that “males” reflecting this color were stronger mates. After learning how to reflect different spectra of light, these particles used light as rudimentary form of communication, entertainment and eventually community based on their symbiotic relationship with it. Fast forward a bit, these particles form something like sentience and worship their Red Giant – the entity that gives their existence meaning. As these formless sentient beings evolved they learned to manipulate their natural color and eventually form any image that could be projected with light. This of course made them incredibly skilled illusionists as they could project any image that they desired. In liquid, gas or solids they could mask their true form as they desired because actually, they have no form, they are simply sentient projections of light. With this evolutionary advantage they reigned as the dominant species on this planet for over 2 billion years. I suppose you could say they developed society, culture, technology – but I use these words loosely because as a human, we would never recognize it as such. It makes sense if you think about it – we evolved into who we are because we are upright-walking, tool-using, big-brained primates; the colors evolved from manipulated light. As an example, just as a hammer is fundamental tool to us, a reflective surfaces was perhaps the catalyst in their technological progress. But I digress – this shit gets a little stranger.

Evolution is always fair. As on Earth, no one species can maintain dominance  without some competition.  Throughout this 2 billion year span, one species began developing some defenses to the colors evolutionary endowment. The main advantage of the colors is their ability to shift form into literally anything, the only thing that makes them distinct is their underlying thought, intentions and sentience. The sensors were evolution’s answer to the colors. Unlike the colors, they have a physical form – I guess you could compare them to slugs, but much bigger and more sparkly. These primordial slugs started as just that but with an extensive sensory network on their skin. Eventually their sensory network grew so much it’s almost as if natural selection said “hey, let’s see what happens if we just jam every sense possible onto a slug, haha, wouldn’t that be funny?”. They sensed light of all frequencies, temperature, pressure, sound and touch. After a billion years, they sensory portfolio included electricity, magnetism and gravity. After another billion years, the sensors had some sort of cataclysmic awakening and learned to sense intentions and eventually thoughts and sentience. Now the colors had competition. You see, the colors can change form and project any images they desire with light, but they can not hide their thoughts. The sensors became the only species on this planet that could detect the colors in any form because they could sense their intentions, read their thoughts and feel their presence.

And so, two separate but extremely different beings evolved sharing in the same planet in the dying rays of the Red Giant’s light.

Prologue to Genesis

7.3 billion years ago

There was a planet before Earth existed many light years away. This planet had all the basic necessities for life, but life evolved a bit differently than on Earth. It could be because their sun was different – a Red Giant in the last cycle of its majestic life. Whether light was the catalyst for life on Earth or not is up for debate, but that was certainly the case on this distant plant. As the waning light from the Red Giant’s ancient inferno hit this lonely planet, simple lifeforms began evolving. Almost as if  these is simple lifeforms could sense the frailty of their sun, they evolved faster to compensate – and more importantly, they evolved stranger.

In this tale, the first life we must know about is that of the colors. As light first hit the vast primordial sea, certain micro particles learned that at a certain angle they could reflect the most beautiful color from their Red giant. Eventually “male” particles learned that reflecting this color would attract more “female” particles and “female” particles learned that “males” reflecting this color were stronger mates. After learning how to reflect different spectra of light, these particles used light as rudimentary form of communication, entertainment and eventually community based on their symbiotic relationship with it. Fast forward a bit, these particles form something like sentience and worship their Red Giant – the entity that gives their existence meaning. As these formless sentient beings evolved they learned to manipulate their natural color and eventually form any image that could be projected with light. This of course made them incredibly skilled illusionists as they could project any image that they desired. In liquid, gas or solids they could mask their true form as they desired because actually, they have no form, they are simply sentient projections of light. With this evolutionary advantage they reigned as the dominant species on this planet for over 2 billion years. I suppose you could say they developed society, culture, technology – but I use these words loosely because as a human, we would never recognize it as such. It makes sense if you think about it – we evolved into who we are because we are upright-walking, tool-using, big-brained primates; the colors evolved from manipulated light. As an example, just as a hammer is fundamental tool to us, a reflective surfaces was perhaps the catalyst in their technological progress. But I digress – this shit gets a little stranger.

Evolution is always fair. As on Earth, no one species can maintain dominance  without some competition.  Throughout this 2 billion year span, one species began developing some defenses to the colors evolutionary endowment. The main advantage of the colors is their ability to shift form into literally anything, the only thing that makes them distinct is their underlying thought, intentions and sentience. The sensors were evolution’s answer to the colors. Unlike the colors, they have a physical form – I guess you could compare them to slugs, but much bigger and more sparkly. These primordial slugs started as just that but with an extensive sensory network on their skin. Eventually their sensory network grew so much it’s almost as if natural selection said “hey, let’s see what happens if we just jam every sense possible onto a slug, haha, wouldn’t that be funny?”. They sensed light of all frequencies, temperature, pressure, sound and touch. After a billion years, they sensory portfolio included electricity, magnetism and gravity. After another billion years, the sensors had some sort of cataclysmic awakening and learned to sense intentions and eventually thoughts and sentience. Now the colors had competition. You see, the colors can change form and project any images they desire with light, but they can not hide their thoughts. The sensors became the only species on this planet that could detect the colors in any form because they could sense their intentions, read their thoughts and feel their presence.

And so, two separate but extremely different beings evolved sharing in the same planet in the dying rays of the Red Giant’s light.

Prologue to Genesis

7.3 billion years ago

There was a planet before Earth existed many light years away. This planet had all the basic necessities for life, but life evolved a bit differently than on Earth. It could be because their sun was different – a Red Giant in the last cycle of its majestic life. Whether light was the catalyst for life on Earth or not is up for debate, but that was certainly the case on this distant plant. As the waning light from the Red Giant’s ancient inferno hit this lonely planet, simple lifeforms began evolving. Almost as if  these is simple lifeforms could sense the frailty of their sun, they evolved faster to compensate – and more importantly, they evolved stranger.

In this tale, the first life we must know about is that of the colors. As light first hit the vast primordial sea, certain micro particles learned that at a certain angle they could reflect the most beautiful color from their Red giant. Eventually “male” particles learned that reflecting this color would attract more “female” particles and “female” particles learned that “males” reflecting this color were stronger mates. After learning how to reflect different spectra of light, these particles used light as rudimentary form of communication, entertainment and eventually community based on their symbiotic relationship with it. Fast forward a bit, these particles form something like sentience and worship their Red Giant – the entity that gives their existence meaning. As these formless sentient beings evolved they learned to manipulate their natural color and eventually form any image that could be projected with light. This of course made them incredibly skilled illusionists as they could project any image that they desired. In liquid, gas or solids they could mask their true form as they desired because actually, they have no form, they are simply sentient projections of light. With this evolutionary advantage they reigned as the dominant species on this planet for over 2 billion years. I suppose you could say they developed society, culture, technology – but I use these words loosely because as a human, we would never recognize it as such. It makes sense if you think about it – we evolved into who we are because we are upright-walking, tool-using, big-brained primates; the colors evolved from manipulated light. As an example, just as a hammer is fundamental tool to us, a reflective surfaces was perhaps the catalyst in their technological progress. But I digress – this shit gets a little stranger.

Evolution is always fair. As on Earth, no one species can maintain dominance  without some competition.  Throughout this 2 billion year span, one species began developing some defenses to the colors evolutionary endowment. The main advantage of the colors is their ability to shift form into literally anything, the only thing that makes them distinct is their underlying thought, intentions and sentience. The sensors were evolution’s answer to the colors. Unlike the colors, they have a physical form – I guess you could compare them to slugs, but much bigger and more sparkly. These primordial slugs started as just that but with an extensive sensory network on their skin. Eventually their sensory network grew so much it’s almost as if natural selection said “hey, let’s see what happens if we just jam every sense possible onto a slug, haha, wouldn’t that be funny?”. They sensed light of all frequencies, temperature, pressure, sound and touch. After a billion years, they sensory portfolio included electricity, magnetism and gravity. After another billion years, the sensors had some sort of cataclysmic awakening and learned to sense intentions and eventually thoughts and sentience. Now the colors had competition. You see, the colors can change form and project any images they desire with light, but they can not hide their thoughts. The sensors became the only species on this planet that could detect the colors in any form because they could sense their intentions, read their thoughts and feel their presence.

And so, two separate but extremely different beings evolved sharing in the same planet in the dying rays of the Red Giant’s light.

Apple vs. Android

A classic and time-honored human tradition is that of competition of comparables. Competition spurs creativity, innovation and progress.

It’s no wonder that every great idea, product or company seems to have a comparable competitor – Coke vs. Pepsi, Target vs. Walmart or Samsung vs. LG for example.

This form of competition is part of the human experience and isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

No one can argue that mobile computing and the rising popularity of apps have changed our life. It’s clear now in 2012 and that when Apple introduced us to the concept of an app in 2007, it wasn’t a passing fad, it is here to stay and it’s now integral part of our modern life and culture.

Good call, Steve.

But, as with every good thing, we humans need another option and perhaps more importantly Apple needed to be kept in check by another comparably powerful force competing in the same field.

So, enter Google’s Android. Alas, even in our high-tech modern world, this primal survival-of-the-fittest competition is inescapable. I love it!

Every Sherlock needs a Moriarty.

But technology is not only moving forward at an incredibly accelerated pace, it’s also a uniquely human pursuit. We influence technology as much as technology influences us. So the question of the Apple-Android battle going forward is which technology is more human?

In fact, they are both very human technologies; however both play to different human characteristics. In the long run, I would guess that Android will prevail, here’s why:

1) Steve Jobs was truly a once-in-a-generation entrepreneur and leader. He wasn’t your average CEO, he wasn’t your average human being for that matter. He was a man whose thumb was on the pulse of innate human desire. He knew what we wanted before we did. He also created perhaps the world’s most successful technology-based cult. Apple is now the largest company in the world by market capitalization. Steve may have been a controversial character at times, but he had one goal and one goal only – that was to make Apple a great company and he executed that goal perfectly. I know that sounds obvious, but understand that the typical CEO isn’t thinking like this. Actually, the typical CEO needs to keep the shareholders and the board happy which doesn’t necessarily align itself with making a great company. Now Steve is gone, leaving behind the great company that he built and there is no one that can truly replace him. At best, you can put a competent CEO at the helm, but you’re not going to see the Jobs-esque rate of innovation like we’ve seen at Apple for the last decade. We can already see the truth in this only a few months after Steve’s death. The current CEO is considering issuing a dividend (money that Jobs would have probably used for R&D), making smaller tablets, expanding Apple stores into Target – all logical decisions that a good CEO would make, but NOT the kind of decisions that made Apple the technological titan it is today.

2) Steve’s greatest mistake was perhaps making Apple too dependent on his genius. He was a control freak. You can’t even develop apps for the iPhone unless you own a Mac. Contrast that with Android, they don’t care about the form of the phone or the manufacturer, their philosophy is – mobile computing is here to stay, let’s build an operating system. No one will argue that iPhones are beautiful, but I think Android is smarter for essentially diversifying and outsourcing handset manufacturing allowing them to focus on building the best OS. Their philosophy is to let Samsung or HTC make the phones, they are the experts and they are only going to get better and we’ll make the OS for their phones and we’re going to make it easy to use for any phone (and guess what, you can write an app using any computer not just a Mac). In this fashion, Android has positioned itself much more ubiquitously than Apple. The human element in the Android philosophy is that of value of choice (choice in handset, eBook reader, TV or whatever else the future holds). The human element in Apple is our need to feel a sense of belonging.

So the competition really boils down to which human urge is stronger? Our need for choice or our need for exclusivity?

Truth be told, I don’t know. And if Steve Jobs could have lived forever, I’d be even more unsure.

But because Apple is bound to lose at least some edge in it’s innovation due to Steve’s death, I think that’s enough to give Android the long term advantage.

One thing for sure is that the types of competition that we see in the technology space are bound to get more and more intimately tied to the human experience and play on ever more subtle human needs.

Personally, I’m excited to see how this plays out.