At first blush, the MobileMe to iCloud transition seems like a retreat from any sort of social platform. While some MobileMe services will survive (like the bulk of what are currently sync services), sharing services like web hosting and the MobileMe gallery are disappearing. This strikes me as odd. Apple has pushed “Share” menus into many of their apps. Photos from iPhoto or Aperture, for example, can be easily shared with Facebook, Flickr, or Apple’s own MobileMe Gallery. What’s going to happen after MobileMe is EOL’d? Presumably, the sharing options for MobileMe will disappear, leaving users to depend on signing up for a third-party service.

This strikes me as un-Apple like and a step backward, particularly since features like iCloud’s PhotoStream seem like an easy way to painlessly share photos. Why cede this to third parties?

My guess is Apple’s got something bigger planned. Much of the battle in the social sphere is for an online identity. Google ties your Google login to your Google+ account and their other services, and Facebook attempts to be a personalized portal into all your internet interactions. One thing that’s clear from Lion and iOS5 is that Apple is making a big push into making your AppleID your central identifier for all interactions with Apple. Why not make this the key for interacting with other Apple users via FaceTime, iMessage, email, Ping and novel ways to share?

I suspect it’s not ready yet, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see something next Spring.

AppleInsider | Apple’s new MacBook Airs to bring back backlit keyboards – sources

According to people familiar with the matter, backlit keyboards will join the string of hardware enhancements planned for the new 11.6- and 13.3-inch notebooks, which are also expected to adopt high-speed Thunderbolt ports, an upgrade to Intel’s Sandy Bridge architecture, and possibly high-speed 400MBps flash memory.

While it seems silly for touch typists, there is something really gratifying about the backlit keyboards on Apple’s laptop. While they certainly make keys easier to see, they just look cool and make the whole machine seem more high tech. Even it was too dim to add much over the light from the screen (e.g. the first 17″ PowerBook), the backlit keyboard was one of my favorite features and one I missed when I switched to the original MacBook.

I’m still undecided about whether I’ll go for the 11″ or 13″ Air, but I’ll definitely be choosing a model with a backlit keyboard.

AppleInsider | HTC says Apple would rather sue than compete ‘fairly in the market’

Responding to the latest legal challenge from Apple, people speaking for handset maker HTC on Tuesday said they are “disappointed” that Apple is suing its competitors “instead of competing fairly in the market.”

There are many sites reporting this “news” today. Whether you agree with the statement or not, it’s the usual corporate spin. How is this useful information?