Tools Toys and Technology

About the Tools You Use and the Toys That Make Life Interesting

Tools Toys and Technology - About the Tools You Use and the Toys That Make Life Interesting

Windows Gadgets Are a Security Risk

Microsoft is advising users of its Vista and Windows 7 operating systems to disable any gadgets you may have activated on your computer.

Gadgets are little visual tools and — well — “gadgets” that display clock faces, calendars, news feeds, weather and other information on your desktop. I have one on every one of my computers that monitors CPU usage. At least, I did until I followed Microsoft’s advice and took it off.

The problem with these little screen ditties is that they have vulnerabilities that could allow an attacker to take control of your computer. The upcoming Windows 8 will not support gadgets, plus the feature was never widely used in the first place. So rather than fix the problem, Microsoft is just recommending that you not use them. Windows 8 will be able to offer similar on-screen information on Live Tiles on the Windows 8 metro Start screen.

Vizio Enters PC Business

Vizio, noted for its flat screen TV line, has entered the computer business with new laptops and all-in-one desktop models.

These computer will enter an already very competitive market, going head-to-head with established names like HP, Dell, and Acer, not to mention Apple. But they’ve been successful in the TV marketplace, where they are know for attractive but affordable products. If that image carries over to their new PCs, I predict that they will do well.

They are going after it aggressively. Their new products sport Intel’s latest Ivy Bridge processor and start at a competitive price of $898. Vizio computers will be sold at Walmart, Amazon, Costco, Sam’s Club, and other retail outlets, as well as their own Website at vizio.com.

Even More Tablet Rumors – This Time from Apple

From time to time, the possibility of Apple introducing a 7-inch iPad has been batted around among the pundits. Since Apple traditionally deals in the “high-priced spread” and especially since the late Apple leader, Steve Jobs, always talked smack about the small tablets, an Apple 7-inch tablet has not seemed  very likely… until now.

Things are changing.

The first serious 7-inch tablet competitor was Amazon’s Fire. Recently Google’s Nexus 7 entered the fray. That impressive product, along with the rumored pending upgrade of the Amazon Fire, are likely to spur the 7-inch market. Also Microsoft’s announced Surface tablet, while a 10-inch, not a 7-inch display, is likely to take market share from Apple’s traditional market dominance. So this would appear to be a good time for Apple to abandon its snubbing of smaller, less expensive tablets, and enter that marketplace itself.

To compete in this arena, Apple will have to at least come close to the price point of the 7-inch competitors of $200. That means there will have to be some compromises from the current iPad. Notably, the high-resolution screen of the new iPad will probably be the first casualty. How will Apple fans respond to the feature downgrade? I suspect we are going to find out soon.

Internet TV Revisited

Copyright © 2012 Richard Beaty

I’ve got some updated news on Internet TV this month. So, let’s call this issue: Internet TV Revisited.

Paid YouTube Subscriptions? It Could Happen.

YouTube has been in business for less than 8 years. It seems like a lot longer than that, doesn’t it? In that time, they’ve created a video streaming juggernaut. They currently stream over 4 billion – that’s BILLION with a “B” – videos daily. Think about it … 4 billion today, 4 billion tomorrow, 4 billion the day after that. Try to imagine the Internet band width they have to have.

Continue reading →

Yet Another Kindle Fire Rumor – 10 inch Tablet Coming?

Just yesterday I posted the rumored new 7-inch Kindle Fire that may appear as early as next month. Now today, yet another rumor of a 10-inch version coming by the end of this year.

The new 7-inch Fire is needed to keep Amazon in the hunt and compete with the new Nexus 7. A 10-inch product would presumably enter Amazon into a position to compete with the iPad.

If true, this would be Amazon’s first 10-inch tablet. It is rumored to have a higher build quality than the first Kindle Fire, which was, admittedly, a little cheap looking. Higher quality in both a 7-inch and 10-inch Fire could result in a resurgence of Amazon in the hotly contested tablet marketplace.

7-Inch Tablet Showdown

Things are heating up in the 7-inch tablet market. There are two notable “new kinds on the block”

New Kindle Fire

There have been rumors of an imminent new Kindle Fire before. And I fell victim to one of those rumors in this blog a few months ago. But this time, it really looks real.

The rumor has it that the next generation of Kindle Fire will be released by the end of July. Specks of this new Fire are also just rumor at this point, but among the speculations are a camera, physical volume adjustments, 1280 x 800 pixel display (an upgrade from the current Fire’s resolution of 1024 x 600), and continue to sell at the current price of $199. Some people thought that this might be a 10-inch tablet, but at that price, that is very doubtful.

The rumor of a new Kindle Fire had better be true this time, for Amazon’s sake. Because a serious competitor has just come on the market.

Google’s Nexus 7 Tablet

Google is expected to announce it’s Nexus branded slate this week. We won’t have to wait long to get the specs on this, but at first glance, it appears to be targeting Amazon’s Kindle Fire directly. Like the Fire, Nexus 7 appears to be optimized for content from the Google Play marketplace, just as Fire is for Amazon’s collection of books, mp3s, games, TV shows & movies, etc.

The Nexus will be built by Asus and will supposedly sport the newest version of Android, named “Jelly Bean.” The 7-inch display has 1280 x 800 resolution, the same as is rumored for the new Fire. Nexus 7 offers 8 and 16 GB storage options. The entry level price point is expected to be $200, head-to-head with Fire.

Google Play is simultaneously being updated to more completely compete with Amazon’s content offerings. It will be offering movies and TV shows, as well as magazines.

With the hardware, content offerings and price running so completely parallel between Google’s Nexus 7 and Amazon’s new Fire, this is going to be a competition showdown to watch!

Live from Hollywood … It’s Microsoft’s New Surface Tablet

June 18, 2012, 5:03 p.m. 

This is as “Hot Off the Presses” as it gets!

I just finished watching a live podcast of PC World’s coverage of Microsoft’s LA introduction of the “Surface” tablet. Yes, this is Microsoft’s own hardware. And does it ever look snazzy! And practical.

In the words of PC World’s Melissa Perenson,

“Have to say, from the looks of this, Microsoft has out-Apple’d Apple.”

Prior to this event, there was much mystery and speculation about what the special Microsoft announcement would be. Among the speculations:

  • Would it be a Windows RT tablet, with an ARM processor running tablet apps only — a direct competitor to iPad and other tablets?
  • Would it be a full Windows 8 tablet, running full desktop programs — a PC in a tablet form factor?

Turns out it’s BOTH. Surface comes in two flavors, Windows RT and Windows 8 Pro. Both have a 10.6 inch display. The RT version comes with either 32 GB or 64 GB memory; Windows 8 Pro version comes with 64 GB or 128 GB. You can use it as a touch-screen tablet; stand it up on its own kick stand for viewing movies, etc; and the screen cover can be folded down in front of the free-standing tablet and serve as a keyboard.

Price? That’s still a mystery. It was said that the RT version would be inline with other tablets, but that’s a big window: from $200 to $700. The price of the Pro version was not addressed. Hopefully we’ll hear about that soon.

When will we see these tablets? The RT version will come out simultaneously with the release of Windows 8, presumably October. The Pro version will appear 3 months later… looks like an end of year introduction.

In my June TTT article I said I’d be waiting to see these Windows 8 tablets before I brought out my credit card. I think I’ve just seen my tablet.

Information is still somewhat limited, but here’s where you can go for more information:

Website: http://www.microsoft.com/surface/en/us/gallery.aspx

Specifications:
http://www.microsoft.com/global/surface/en/us/renderingassets/surfacespecsheet.pdf

 

 

Get Ready for Windows 8 Tablets

The dawning of tablets that are “real” computers that are able to run “real” computer programs (as opposed to primarily content consumption devices) has advanced well beyond the rumor stage. They are real, and they are coming this fall.

The details of who is going to offer what is still rumor. There have been substantial and credible leaks, but for the most part, companies are remaining mum on details.

One of the more exciting rumors is about the HP “Slate 8.” This is supposed to have a state-of-the-art Intel processor running Windows 8 Professional. This means that you will be able to truly install and run desktop software, as well as Windows 8 apps, on the device. The Slate 8 is believed to have a 10.1-inch display, is 0.36 inches thin, and has a 10 hour battery life.

Dell is also expected to enter the fray with its own Windows 8 tablet. Recently leaked specs on the first Dell offering rumor that it will also have a 10.1-inch display and a similar thickness (or “thinness”) as the HP Slate 8, an Intel Clover Trail Atom dual-core processor (Intel’s low power-consumption processor due out soon), 2 GB of RAM and a 128 GB solid state drive.

The HP and the Dell are just the first two of what promises to be a whole slew of Windows 8 tablet options that we will undoubtedly see this fall. Many of these will probably be variations on the versatile tablet-laptop hybrid design, which gives the user the option of using as a stand-alone tablet or docking a keyboard to the device.

This fall is guaranteed to be an exciting time in this new tablet computing market.