We’ve added a new feature to this blog called Ask TTT.
In Ask TTT, you can ask us a question, suggest a topic you’d like to see us cover, comment on a post, or just send us a message. To submit a question or message, click the Ask TTT link on the top menu.
Well, the end of an era… Steven Sinofsky was President of the Windows Division of Microsoft for just short of 3 1/2 years. He presided over the popular Windows 7 product, only to depart suddenly with the formal release of Windows 8. His departure was supposedly his decision, but as Windows 8 has not been a resounding success so far, one has to wonder. There were also apparently, some “management style” issues involved.
At any rate, will the “Start Menu” return to the Windows 8 desktop environment now? I’d say it’s a possibility.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=i1GNDs7DCTw
What? You were expecting something a little more staid?
In what the media has dubbed “Mapplegate,” the much anticipated introduction of Apple’s iOS 6 and iPhone 5 has met with a little — shall we say — snag.
Last summer, Apple made a big thing about the fact that they were dumping Google Maps in their iOS devices in favor of their own map app. The reported reason… the Google Maps app in iOS devices was of inferior quality. Well, Apples own map app is out, and … TALK ABOUT INFERIOR QUALITY. OH MY GOSH! One has to wonder if anybody in Apple ever tested this.
Has the Eiffel Tower really fallen over?
Aside from the fact that:
Yes, aside form that, it’s not bad.
The iPhone 5 was Apple’s first big product introduction since the Steve Jobs era. Oh, my! I can only imagine what he would be saying now.
Yesterday, Apple’s current CEO Tim Cook issued an apology for the disaster. He recommended that in the interim while Apple works on a fix, customers should use one of their competitor’s apps, like Google Maps. The competition is fierce between Apple and Google, so this has to irk Apple to the core (no pun intended), and you can be sure Google is Giggling (pun intended) around the water cooler and in the board rooms.
One of the things that makes this news is the fact that Apple traditionally seems so perfect. So when something this visible goes so terribly wrong, it’s like a realization that, yes, Apple is actually made up of fallible human beings.
But this really isn’t the first time. Remember the iPhone 4S antenna problem? And there have been other similar things. But Apple always seems to rebound high, and its loyal customers forget quickly. So this won’t be doing any permanent damage to the company. But it does make for an interesting anecdote.
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.
June 18, 2012, 5:03 p.m.
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:
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
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.
A few months ago, Microsoft made available a Consumer Preview of Windows 8. Dennis Korger, a.k.a. “The Computer Curmudgeon,” was undoubtedly one of the first people in SaddleBrooke to get a look at it. Since then he’s put it through its paces. He knows the good, the bad, and the ugly. Attend Dennis’ upcoming talk, and you will know it too.
If you’ve ever taken one of Dennis Korger’s Windows classes, you know just how knowledgeable he is. Dennis will demonstrate Microsoft’s new operating system, Windows 8, at the May meeting of the SaddleBrooke Computer Club User Group. You don’t have to be a member of the Computer Club to attend.
Most people who’ve had a chance to play with Windows 8 either love it or hate it. No one seems to be neutral. What will you think of it? Here’s your chance to find out.
Date: Monday, May 21
Time: 1:00 pm
Place: Mountain View Club House – West Ballroom
I’ll be there, probably in or near the front row. Come up and introduce yourself.
Microsoft Skydrive; Box.com; Dropbox; and now Google Drive. These are all contenders in the cloud storage marketplace, which is suddenly heating up.
The “Cloud” has become a ubiquitous term that, in its simplest form, just means the Internet. Cloud is a good, descriptive word, I think. It’s amorphous; out there somewhere in the sky; you can’t touch or feel it, but you know it’s there.
“Cloud Storage” is, therefore, a place to store you digital stuff on the Internet. Think of it as your online hard drive. It’s a hard drive that is available to you wherever you have Internet access. There are a number of applications for cloud storage, including:
A few days ago, I reported on the coming new standard that will dramatically increase WiFi speeds (Get Ready for Blazing Fast WiFi, April 13, 2012). Now the first actual product to support the new 802.11ac standard has been announced.
The Netgear R6300 router will hit the streets next month with a WiFi speed of over twice as fast as previously available. Of course, there are no devices that can make use of that standard yet. But if you want to be one of the first to be prepared when the devices start to show up, the R6300 is backward-compatible with the previous 802.11n and 802.11b/g standards, so you can use it with your current devices.
While Netgear is the first 802.11ac router to hit the market, others will soon follow.