Year 2011 in review

[Antony]

Year 2011 started with the launch of Mac App Store in January, it was initially planned for OS X Lion (10.7), but Apple pushed it forward for everybody to enjoy.

Then, there's groundbreaking Thunderbolt I/O technology, started with the MacBook Pro update in February, then new iMac in May, followed by Mac mini and MacBook Air in July. All before the release of Apple Thunderbolt Display (27-inch) in late July. Apple discontinued Xserve in late January, Apple recommend Mac Pro or Mac mini Server instead. Speaking about Mac Pro, it is the only product line not being updated in 2011.

Software-wise, the launch of OS X Lion in July marks the first major OS X release in digital distribution. For those who do not have broadband connection, Apple later released the OS X Lion available in USB drive, and many Apple boxed software are moved to digital distribution on Mac App Store only.

Apple launched iPad 2 in early March, thinner, lighter and faster than the original iPad. iPad 2 added camera, and introduced Smart Cover. Later in October, Apple released iPhone 4S, featuring Siri. The sale of iPhone 4S was not just extreme popular, but Apple also rolled it out worldwide faster than previous iPhones. On the release of iPhone 4S, Apple also launched iCloud, replacing MobileMe service.

Unfortunately, just the day after the announcement of iPhone 4, Apple co-founder Steve Jobs passed away on 5th October 2011. Jobs resigned as CEO of Apple in late August, passing the title to Tim Cook. Within a week of Steve Jobs' death, UNIX co-creator and C language designer Denis Ritchie also passed away. Both Jobs and Ritchie made significant influences to our technology.

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[beanboy89]

Why did you move this from the Apple section to the Lounge? Aside from one brief mention of Denis Ritchie, this is completely Apple-related.

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[Antony]

There was actually another part of review which I must have forgotten to click submit. I will add it when I get back or have better connection.

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[Antony]

On the nature side, Year 2011 started with disasters here in Australia. Brisbane (Queensland) started the no-so-happy year with flooding, more than 200,000 people affected, 40-something people died. After Queensland floods, there was Victorian floods. Not yet fully recovered, Queensland was hit again with category 5 Cyclone Yasi in early February. It was the largest storm to hit Australia in record with winds up to 300 km/h and waves 9 metres high. Thankfully, people followed the evacuation order, no one died directly from cyclone.
Then, the devastating earthquake in Christchurch (New Zealand) with 6.3 magnitude. The famous cathedral and the restaurant I dined there were destroyed.
Then, Japan was hit an earthquake. The main problem was not the earthquake, but tsunami which their power planet did not stand well.
Chile had volcano eruption in June. Then, the news-making United States had tropical storm Irene (was hurricane Irene). Resulting an over-panicking over-reacting over-preparing and over-protecting measure which made the world news. Comparing to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the world learned that United States has different approaches to natural disasters, perhaps depending on the wealth of the region, or perhaps the skin colour.
Travelling at 50 kph right after the tropical storm was pretty reasonable to people like me, which I could only drive at ridiculous 19.95 kph during a nice fine afternoon at non-peak hours, but American whined.

A few famous people did not make through the year.
Former first lady Betty Ford did not make it, Amy Winehouse reportedly drank herself to death at age of 27. Late Michael Jackson's best friend Dame Elizabeth Taylor passed away at age of 79. Speaking about Taylor, Michael Jackson's doctor Conrad Murray was found guilty, and sentenced for merely 4 years.
There are some other deaths which might be of American Government's liking. In fact, the US Navy Seal killed the Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. Then Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi was captured and killed. Just before Christmas, North Korea's “Dear leader” Kim Jong-il died of a suspected heart attack.

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