Dieter Bohn Android 9 Pie review

Over 20 years ago, Apple announced the future of software and documents: OpenDoc. Instead of big, monolithic applications, software could be cobbled together from "parts," each of which could do one thing well. A spreadsheet part, a text editor part, an FTP part; all compatible and complimentary due to a standardized document format. Apple killed off OpenDoc in 1997, as part of the refocusing efforts led by Steve Jobs.

But I'm feeling an OpenDoc resurgence in my bones. Apple is adding "Shortcuts" to iOS 12, and Google is bringing "Slices" to Android 9 Pie (which Dieter just reviewed). Neither feature involves some sort of open standard for Office-style documents, but both features point toward a future where our phone workflows can be centered around actions and tasks, not just siloed applications.

Somewhere, up in software heaven, Cyberdog is smiling down on us all.