May | 2011 | The Coolness Factor Spring 2013

May 2011
Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
« Apr		Jun »
1	2	3	4	5	6	7
8	9	10	11	12	13	14
15	16	17	18	19	20	21
22	23	24	25	26	27	28
29	30	31

Enterprise Tablet War

May 31, ’11 6:56 PM

When I first heard about tablets I knew that eventually tablets,which at the time we called slates I knew they would weasel their way into businesses and offices of the world.

I actually designed a blog focused on Tablets in Vertical Markets that I never got around to completing being too busy with the Coolness Factor site.

I knew that the sharp minds at Apple would not let enormous enterprise opportunities pass then by and that schools and hospitals would eventually demand tablets.

Over time almost every device manufacturer has come up with their own version of the tablet form factor usually running Android, except for Apple’s iOS, HP’s WebOS, Microsoft’s Windows 7 and a few running Linux. Most are aimed at consumer markets but a few including RIM’s Playbook, HP’s XXX and several just announced at Computex are building tablets for the business market.

There are still many security and other issues to be worked out, but it is only a matter of time before we see the full impact tablets will have in business.

Comments Off

ASUS UX21

May 31, ’11 3:32 PM

ASUS UX21

Asus UX21 Laptop Takes On the MacBook Air UX21 is a super attractive ultra-thin lightweight laptop device housed in a futuristic-looking aluminum alloy casing with an extra durable hinge. UX21′s metal is hardened so that durability worries about its should be minimized.

Specs:

Processor: 2nd-generation Core i7, or Intel Core i5 (2557M 1.7GHz)
Serious performancer
Ports: 2 – 2.0 USB ports, 1 USB 3.0
Display: 11.6-inch widescreen and 1,366×768 resolution
A mini-HDMI port
Weight: 2.2 pounds
ASUS’ proprietary software
SanDisk’s U100
STORAGE: 64GB or 128GBSATA III SSD

CON:

NO SD card readers
There’s no word on pricing yet, but IT will probably be less expensive than the MacBook Air 11-inch. Ultrabooks like the UX21 are expected to cost less than $1000 (that i7 chip will probably cost more) It should be available for 2011 holiday shopping.

Asus debuted its new UX21 ultrathin laptop today at the Computex conference in Taipei. The device has an aluminum alloy body, weighs 2.4 lbs and is 17mm thick. It also boasts a SATA III SSD, USB 3.0 connectivity, the ability to hibernate for a week and a CPU that can be specced up to Core i7.

VERDICT:

It’s clearly meant to be a competitor to Apple’s Macbook Air and has both the power and aesthetics to succeed.You MIGHT have been getting by handly with your dated laptop and have not seen anything or any reason to upgrade or change. Until now!

Going after the Apple MacBook Air is a design challenge that few others have had the cajones to take Apple on. Asus has bowed-up and moved forward by introducing their UX21 ultra-portable unibody laptop at Computex 2011.
Pundits are frothing at the mouth hoping to get their hands around a UX21
I think they are finally justifying their purchase of ASUS. Congratulations!

Comments Off

D9 2011: All Things D Conference

May 31, ’11 1:44 PM

D9 Conference 2011

It used to be called the “All Things Digital Conference” but that was too many letters to remember so it became “All Things D”, that too was a little too much so now its just “D9″, OK Then! This is when tech guru and innovation evangelist and pioneer journalist Walt Mossberg gets to hold court with the big names sitting at his knee.

This years D9 Conference started today Tues. May 31 and will run to Thurs. June 2, 2011 at the Mediterranean inspired Terranea Resort located in sunny Rancho Palos Verdes, California (the feed)

Sorry readers, it is already SOLD OUT! WE must be content with getting our virtual fix and settle with enjoying the vicarious experience.

So what’s the big Whoop? For over a decade groundbreaking innovation has erupted on the All Things D stage and they’re looking forward to even more at D9. All Things Digital conference has been the site of breaking news, and events highlighting innovation, and conversations with influentials in media and technology.

Take a half hour and visit the Conference Site:

Comments Off

AMD Z-Series Fusion processor for tablets

May 31, ’11 12:08 PM

AMD-Fusion

One thing that is sure in the battle for a place inside of tablets, processor manufacturers are getting ready to go to blows that lead to a full-out tech war.

I may be wrong but they didn’t seem to go this hard for laptop domination but somehow the market around tablets have stirred up a manic frenzy of development and unbridled competition unlike anything we’ve seen lately.

Add to all this ARM Holdings, and Atom processors and you have the recipe for massive competitive conflict. (not really such a bad thing) Apple’s pending supplier decision may matter but the prediction remains for “blood on the street”…”Buy property”

Comments Off

Intel UltraBook: In Tablet Game

May 31, ’11 11:14 AM

Photo Credit: Intl. Business Times

Not content to stay on the sidelines Intel is intent on getting in the tablet game, maybe even on changing the game with a new class of laptop. Since companies have more choices which microprocessor they put in tablets, like AMD’s Llano Processor, and ARM offerings are also on minds, Intel is not sitting on their hands as things change rapidly around them. They are introducing more advanced processors and with the UltraBook announcement an Intal tablet device with potential. Intel announced the Ultrabook series at Taipei’s Computex trade show. And as we all know Intel has announced its new Atom processor.

The company admitted that they are late to the tablet game but they do not ascribe to the position that tablets’ have and are disruptingor destroying the market for PC’s. They do acknowledge that currently many tablets use chips designed by rival, ARM Holdings. But such things can change in an instant.

Intel has great expectations for Ultrabooks: They believe they can grab over 40 percent of consumer laptop sales by the end of 2012. They are also going to try to grab up a bigger share of the tablet market, but they reaffirm their belief in the netbook category and want to bring the price of netbooks down to $199.

Almost everyone admits that Notebook and Netbook Sales have dramatically slowed along with laptops, but recent innovations and enhancements indicate there is still more time left in that market and Intel products like Sandy Bridge Processors allow Intel to remain a major force in that game.

Ultrabook Features (shortlist):

Sandy Bridge Processors
Faster processing speeds than PCs
Thin and light designs (less than 0.8 inches thick)

Intel is working with manufacturers to get a first wave of Ultrabook devices out by the holiday shopping season at the end of the year They are trying to hit pricing under $1,000. Asus a major manufacturer says that an Ultrabook model UX21 should come out before the end of the year. Subsequent Ultrabooks to be released next year will be based on processors code-named Ivy Bridge, , and Haswell (to hit in 2013). The first wave of Ultrabooks may not offer specs much different than current laptops, however promise of low power consumption in the Haswell chips will prompt slimmer designs with really long battery life.

Comments Off

Everybody Sues Everybody: PayPal vs. Google

May 30, ’11 11:06 AM

In the continuing saga of “Everybody Suing Everybody” we are learning that PayPal is suing Google and two ex-employees for what they claim are theft of trade secrets and breach of contract, claiming that trade secrets had been stolen and contracts broken.

This suit was filed on the same day Google introduced its Google Wallet mobile payment system., part of a mobile payment platform that competes with PayPal’s current and possible future mobile solutions.

PayPal’s Senior Director of Global Communications, Amanda Pires, says that “While PayPal prefers to innovate to win customers, sometimes the behaviors of people and competitors make legal action the only meaningful way for a company to protect one of its most valuable assets–its trade secrets.”

At issue here are the actions of two former PayPal employees who left PayPal to join Google. Stephanie Tilenius left PayPal in October 2009 and was subsequently hired by Google in June 2010, and went on to became Google’s VP of Commerce and Payments. PayPal asserts that she was bound by contract not to solicit PayPal employees until March 2011.

According to the complaint, Tilenius contacted Osama Bedier, then at PayPal, in July 2010 and attempted to convince him to join Google. Bedier. After months of pursuit, including meetings with top Google executives, Bedier opted to remain with PayPal in December 2010. Tilenius apparently persisted and it’s claimed managed to convince him to resign from PayPal in January.

The lawsuit charges both Tilenius and Bedier with violating contractual obligations and theft of trade secrets, and it also charges Google with interfering with PayPal’s contractual relations.

The Department of Justice looked deeply into non-poaching pacts last year. Google was among several tech companies that stood accused of conspiring with each other not to try to hire each other’s employees, thereby suppressing employee wages.

Google at that time defended the right of employees to seek better opportunities, stating that, “Silicon Valley was built on the ability of individuals to use their knowledge and expertise to seek better employment opportunities, an idea recognized by both California law and public policy,”

A Google spokesperson has said, “We respect trade secrets, and will defend ourselves against these claims.”

Lawsuits around non-competition agreements are not uncommon and this is not the first time Google has been accused of poaching valuable employees.

In July 2005, competitor Microsoft sued Google to enforce a non-competition agreement against Dr. Kai-Fu Lee, a former Microsoft executive who left the company to work for Google in China. The two companies eventually settled in December 2005 under undisclosed terms and Lee left Google in September 2009, shortly before a virulent cyberattack that one element prompting Google to scale back involvement with China.

To quote Rodney King, “Can’t we all just get along?”

Comments Off

ViewSonic ViewPad 10: Dual OS Tablet

May 30, ’11 10:11 AM

ViewSonic ViewPad 10

If two heads are indeed better than one, does that cliche also apply to tablet operating systems? In this case we’re talking about the ViewSonic ViewPad 10 tablet unveiledat Computex and runs on both Android on Windows 2011. Sounds Interesting, right?

ViewSonic’s tablet is unique in that it provides instantaneous switching between OS’s without shutting down or turning off the tablet .

Android of course supports simple Web tasks and browsing and Windows 7 supports business and enterprise applications.”

P.S.: ViewSonic is also showing its ViewPad 7x, a 7-inch Honeycomb tablet based on Nvidia’s dual-core Tegra processor. The 7x weighs only 380g and boasts front and back cameras, a capacitive 10-point multi-touch display, an HDMI port, DLNA support and HSPA+ connectivity.

ViewPad 10 Specs and features:

Powered by Intel’s Oak Trail processor, Runs Windows 7 as its primary OS, Loads Bluestacks virtualization software allows Android apps to co-exist within x86 Wintel.

Type 10.1″ LCD Capacitive multi-touch screen with LED backlight
Resolution 1024×600
Brightness 220 cd/m2 (NITS)
Contrast Ratio 700:1
NETWORKING
Wireless Connectivity Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n), Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
DIMENSIONS (WxHxD) Physical 10.8″ x 6.7″ x 0.57″ (WxHxD) (275mm x 170mm x 16.5mm)
Packaging 12.9″ x 8.8″ x 0.28″ (WxHxD) (326mm x 224mm x 72mm)
WEIGHT Net 1.93 lb. (0.875 kg), Gross 3.75 lb. (1.7 kg)
PACKAGE CONTENTS: ViewPad 10, power cord, Quick Start Guide, User Guide, CD System Recovery for Windows Driver, CD System Android Recovery
WARRANTY: 1-year limited warranty on parts and labor
CAMERA: 1.3 megapixel camera (front)
CORE CPU Processor Type: Intel Pine Trail N455 1.66GHz
Chipset Mobile NM10 Express
MEMORY: VPAD10_AHUS_05: 2GB DDR3, 16GB SSD VPAD10_APUS_05: 2GB DDR3, 32GB SSD
INPUT/OUTPUT: 3.5mm audio jack for stereo headset, 2 USB 2.0 ports, mini VGA port, Micro SD card slot
SENSOR: G-Sensor
BATTERY: Li-ion, 3200mah
Life 4 hrs (approx)
Operating System: Dual OS VPAD10_AHUS_05: Windows 7 Home Premium (2GB DDR3, 16GB SSD) with Android 1.6* or VPAD10_APUS_05: Windows 7 Professional (2GB DDR3, 32GB SSD) with Android 1.6* *Must access Flash through Windows OS. Upgradable to Android 2.2

VERDICT
We cannot issue a verdict at this early point without getting hands-on, however this new ViewSonic tablet seems at first glance to becompelling and powerful in both hardware and software, and it may even be optimal for business and enterprise users who desire a tablet device for both entertainment and professional uses”

For more information on the full range of ViewSonic Tablets:

Comments Off

Google’s Music Beta: iTunes competitor

May 30, ’11 8:35 AM

Google Music Beta

Google has an online music service called Google Music . The idea initially was that this would be an iTunes competitor with services somewhat similar to or competitive with iTunes.

Amazon once offered a service that allowed users to store 1,000 songs on its site server for free, and play them using a direct internet connection from the server site. But Google had a tough time obtaining a licenses from major labels.

Google’s music service is said to also include a system that functions much like a hard-drive controller. Users can listen to songs uploaded in streaming mode, but they can not download them.

Google’s Music service was initially available US users by request or invitation. now Music Beta is available free for a limited time when you request an invitation:

So, how does Google Music Beta work?

Music Manager is a program for Windows and Mac that adds user’s music. They can import iTunes ratings, music and playlists into it. The interface is minimal and seems compelling. Of course they stress downloading the Android app.

When you create a playlist it is instantly available across platforms. Now you can listen anywhere, even offline. All of your Google music is available in the cloud to all of your devices. The new music interface for the Honeycomb platform takes advantage of these syncing options.

Instant Mix is a feature that instantly creates a playlist based on your music selections. This is similar to Apple’s “Genius” feature in iTunes.
Recently played music is automatically cached by tablets and phones for offline play. This is in addition to a feature that allows you to manually download music for offline play.

One cool feature is one that when you get a new smartphone, just sign in to your Google account and all of your music is immediately available. (very cool)
You can add up to 20,000 songs to your library and if it’s still in in beta, it’s free.
Any Android device running version 2.2 or above can grab the new Music service on their device now. TMob G1 users are SOL

You can get to your personal music collection at home, at the office, or on the road. Listen from any web enabled device. Not online? No problem. The songs you’ve recently played will automatically be available offline. You can also select the specific albums, artists and playlists you want to have available when you’re not connected.

Upload your personal music collection from different computers and devices to a single library, you can even upload music files from your iTunes library and all of your playlists. And when you add new music to your computer, it can be automatically added to your music collection online. Now your entire collection, is can now exist in one place. Once your music is online, it’s always available. Playlists are automatically kept in sync.

Your personal D.J. & Mix Master

You can create your own custom playlists with a few clicks. Or you can use Instant Mix to automatically build new playlists of songs from your collection. All the playlists you create and all the changes you make are automatically available everywhere your music is.

Google Music app should be available from Android Market.

Comments Off

APPLE: History repeats!

May 29, ’11 11:08 PM

Apple's mistake

Who would have known back in 1984 that Apple would rule the technology roost and have corporations around the planet trying to catch up, keep up or steal the spotlight.

For a company that started the race from the front, it is interesting that Apple is in a lead position they must maintain just to stay in the overcrowded race. At this point Apple has the financial resources, developer talent and the market momentum to remain dominant.

Apple is still trying to deal with the historic times that they made colossal strategic errors by lifting their skirt and enabling and empowering massive competition by inviting Microsoft at first and years later Google into their loop only to give away the long range future and create competitors that would offer Apple’s innovation to the whole computer industry leaving Apple to serve a proprietary marginalized niche. Microsoft’s infamous one year UI deal with Apple back at a time when “DOS was dead” allowed Microsoft to grab up the Mac’s user interface and give birth to windows. The rest is history. One would have hoped that Apple would have learned it’s lesson. Fast forward a few decades, Apple managed to do the impossible by surviving and thriving only to repeat the same mistake with Google both of which I think were the two biggest businesses blunders ever. the rest again is history. Future developments of the iPhone, iPad and MacBook products will finally determine just how this will all play out and shake out. This is an on-going epic story without a clear ending at this point, but my money, as always, is on Apple. If only for their style, design sense and leadership, and definitely not their long-term strategic partnership decisions. If not for those blunders right now Apple should be and would be ruling the digital world.

Comments Off

WebOS Tablet: HP TouchPad (Summer)

May 29, ’11 4:00 PM

If you thought iOS and Android were the only mobile OS platforms out there, guess again and make way for the HP TouchPad running WebOS (remember Palm?) I for one am really anxious to get my hands on the new HP TouchPad when it get close to planned availability in Summer 2011. TouchPad doesn’t get anywhere near the amount of pub it either deserves or demands.

When you visit HP’s website you pretty much get boiler plate hype “The TouchPad Works the way you do, so you get more done. There’s nothing like it and it works like no other tablet. Seamlessly move back and forth between apps without losing your place.”

Then they go on to describe the experience. “See your related activities grouped together automatically, so you stay organized. If a call or text message arrives on your HP Pre3 smartphone, you can answer or reply right from TouchPad.2,3,4 Not to mention share websites with other HP webOS devices.5 Plus you experience more of the web, including Adobe® Flash®”

And then they differentiate it from competitive products. “Multitask your way. People work on more than one thing at a time. That’s why we designed webOS to handle all the things you want to do, all at once. No other tablet lets you organize activities by stacking related apps—or automatically stacks them together for you. TouchPad gives you a seamless way to move back and forth between all the things you’re working on.”

Specs and Features

Operating system: HP webOS
Display: 9.7-inch XGA capacitive, multitouch screen with a vibrant 18-bit color, 1024×768 resolution display
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon dual-CPU APQ8060 1.2GHz
Dimensions: Width: 190mm (7.48 inches)
Height: 240mm (9.45 inches)
Thickness: 13.7mm (0.54 inches)
Weight: Approximately 740 grams (1.6 pounds)
Keyboard: Virtual
Email: Microsoft® Exchange email with Direct Push Technology
POP3/IMAP (Yahoo!® Mail, Gmail™, AOL, Hotmail®, etc.)
Messaging
Integrated IM and SMS
GPS
A-GPS (3G models only)
Digital camera: Front-facing 1.3-megapixel webcam for video calling
Sensors: Light sensor, accelerometer, compass (magnetometer), and gyroscope
Media formats supported: Audio formats: DRM-free MP3, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, AMR, QCELP, WAV
Video formats: MPEG-4, H.263, H.264
Wireless connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n with WPA, WPA2, WEP, 802.1X authentication;
Bluetooth® wireless 2.1 + EDR with A2DP stereo Bluetooth
Memory: Choose either 16GB or 32GB internal storage
Battery: Rechargeable 6300 mAh (typical) battery
Connector: Charger/microUSB connector with USB 2.0 Hi-Speed
Headphone port: 3.5mm stereo headset/headphone/microphone
Speakers: Internal stereo speakers and Beats Audio™
HP Touchstone for TouchPad7: Compatible.

HP has a history of developing and delivering quality tablets with a laptop form factor, I actually have one that I use frequently. Knowing the amazing talent and expertise HP has to put behind the TouchPad I truly expect them to deliver a superior device not only competitive but exceptional and unique in its own right.

Comments Off

COOL PHONE: Motorola Droid X2

May 29, ’11 11:17 AM

Motorola Droid X2

I was among those that thought the iPhone design was IT. Obviously all of the companies that started imitating it thought so to. But my design muse always whisper in my ear that Smartphones could be better. When I saw the Motorola Droid X2 at first I thought it came closer to my tastes even though it looks very similar to the first Motorola Droid. But as with Apple second editions set the pace Motorola has a hit.

Pro:

5.4 oz weight
It is slim and light
Speedy 1GHz NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual-core processor
Verizon’s First Dual-Core Smartphone
higher-resolution 4.3-inch 960×540 screen
8-megapixel camera
720p video recording
Four buttons across the bottom

Cons:

No front-facing camera for videoconferencing
No Verizon 4G LTE network
Android 2.2 soon to be 2.3
Needs Android Honeycomb 3.1.
Plastic Styling

Comments Off

W3C: HTML5 Draft, Last Call

May 29, ’11 10:33 AM

HTML5

A piece of very important info for web developers almost got right past me.

After 3 years of development the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) HTML Working Group has elected to move the much anticipated HTML5 draft specification to what they term as “Last Call status”. This means HTML5 is about to become the big noise in the band.

Even though the the HTML5 spec may just now be emerging, savvy Web developers have been using preliminary HTML5 tools for a long time now. And infrastructure, application and equipment manufacturers have been preparing for the change. HTML5 is already in wide use throughout the web. It is showing up innately embedded video and highly experimental movie projects proving that draft status did not stop developers from moving forward in embracing HTML5.

It’ll will still be several years before HTML5 reaches the official Recommendation status. Last Call is the first of a series of important steps. including 10 more weeks of bug reports. At that time the W3C’s HTML Working Group will have until January 2012 to fix those bugs. Once that’s done, barring any substantive changes, HTML5 will move the designation of Candidate Recommendation, then, eventually to official W3C Recommendation.

HTML5 is supposed to maintain backwards compatibility with early versions of HTML

A few believe that until a few outstanding issues are resolved, the HTML5 Working Group should hold off on the move to Last Call. here is also a battle goin on between the backers of Flash and HTML5 folks.

Comments Off

LG Optimus Black (P970)

May 28, ’11 3:14 PM

LG Optimus Black

Sounding like the name of a space villian the LG Optimus Black (P970) is an attention getter of the highest order. It is light, bright and does LG proud. We had been wondering what they were waiting on to compete with Samsung, HTC and Apple now the Optimus Black has answered that.

LG Optimus Black Specs and Features

OS: Android 2.2
Processor: 1GHz TI OMAP
Storage:2GB
Screen: 4-inch NOVA Display 800×480
Connectivity: WiFi b/g/n, WiFi Direct, Bluetooth 2.1, DLNA, GPS, HSDPA 7.2Mbps
Camera: 5MP with single LED flash and AF (front 2MP
)Video: 720p at 30fps
Dimensions: 122 x 64 x 9.2 mm/109g
A light weight super-slim handset
4-inch NOVA display screen technology.
Standard Android 2.2, rather than Gingerbread.LG
Home overlay on top of Google’s OSA music control widget Connection control for Wi-Fi,
Bluetooth and data connections.
Gesture button
Downloadable apps, themes and wallpapers
SmartShare
LG’s DLNA
Facebook Twitter, and MySpace for LG included
Screen Battery life supposed to be superior

Verdict
Available now, it is a fine looking handset with a lot of dual-core devices coming out soon this one might miss the mark with jaded users but be a hit with first time Smartphone owners/users.

Comments Off

RIM: Can they Still be a Player?

May 28, ’11 1:51 PM

Research In Motion

Tech Analysts are sometimes like a gang of bullies that enjoy kicking folks when they are down.That seems to be just whats happening these days as media types that used to praise the CrackBerry explosion as an unmatched innovative phenomena now swarm around Research In Motion and declare that the company is swirling down the drain having fumbled their smartphone strategy so badly that it no longer has a chance of competing.

Others a bit more optimistic say there are still things RIM can do, but they must move quickly, or risk becoming irrelevant. They still have some strong products like the new heavily advertised Playbook and they still hold a coveted enterprise position, but the company must now rally against competitors with really bad intentions.

I edisagree with InformationWeek’s Eric Zeman. It is not over for RIM. Yes, BlackBerry smartphones are indeed stale and lagging badly behind Apple’s iPhone’s and Google’s Android smartphones but there still are opportunities for the company to come up with business-oriented devices and business-focused services that can keep them in the game and a strategic partnership wouldn’t hurt.

RIM will have to convince consumers and BlackBerry owners not to abandon BlackBerrys and switch to Apple and Google platforms, which both at this point provide richer hardware and a wider selection of applications. Plus, now with Microsoft and HP getting back in the game the window is quickly closing so an agile RIM must get in motion and turn this significant challenge into an opportunity.

As an enterprise device, RIM’s enterprise solutions are top shelf, Their handhelds are dated but are known for providing secure access.

RIM’s PlayBook can easily be a successful tablet play as it continues to sell very well as of this moment and users seem quite satisfied with their choice.
The question RIM must address is can they win over customers looking for alternatives to iPads and Android tablets. To do this it seems that RIM has to capture magic in a bottle. But to quote my Tech Support Director “They need to stop “dickin’ around” before it’s too late.

We don’t and shouldn’t count them out, and from the heart, wish them well.

Comments Off

2011 Dell Inspiron 15R (2nd Gen.)

May 28, ’11 11:01 AM

Dell Inspiron 15R

If your pockets aren’t exactly buldging and its time to upgrade and invest in a new laptop you want a laptop you might want to consider the new 2011 Dell Inspiron 15R (second generation model).

Price wise it is very reasonable starting at a low $499, but optional extras can drive up the cost significantly so be careful.
Inspiron

15R Positives include:

Low $499 Pricetag
Second-gen Intel Core i3 Sandy Bridge processor processors
USB 3.0 ports
Bluetooth
An HD Webcam
Optional swappable lids.

Negatives:

Bulky heavy body
Disappointing Battery life
Costly extras can drive up the price

Comments Off

Google to nix Translate and 17 APIs

May 28, ’11 9:33 AM

In what amounts to pulling the rug out from under web service API developers, Google nixes Translate and 17 other APIs.

The company states that they can no longer afford to maintain the service and will shut down the popular Google Translate API one of the most popular public web services on the Internet.

This API made a whole generation of creative mashups and mobile applications and solutions possible. It will die off later this year and the API will be completely shut down on December 1, 2011. Google claims “extensive abuse” and a message on their site states: “The Google Translate API has been officially deprecated as of May 26, 2011. Due to the substantial economic burden caused by extensive abuse”

Except for Google Translate, all the targeted deprecated services will continue to work for their “standard deprecation period”, (normally 3 years).

Some will be replaced with hopefully better APIs, but most will simply be dropped.
This could be a death nell to the growing momentum behind Mashups and AJAX developers should look deeply into this to see if you are affected.

Comments Off

WEB 2011: Web Traps

May 28, ’11 8:34 AM

The web 2011 is a dangerous place especially with the advent of social media..There has long been Malware, Trojans and other covert and overt scams and traps out there but as users are a bit more digitally literate The Stealth Web has become a hunting ground. It is much harder to tell if you can trust a web site or not these days when there are so many ways to set traps and lure in victims and suckers. Bad guys’ are even co-opting the good guy’s content to lay web traps, they don’t see themselves as criminals or scammers rather they believe they are hunters laying traps and thinning out the herd by preying on the weak. You didn’t sign up to become prey however in the advance of Internet trends that is exactly what you’ve become.
Be Careful Out There

Comments Off

CRAYON: CReAte Your OwN newspaper

May 28, ’11 7:16 AM

Back in the days of Portals and Personalization I had a little known favorite. Over time I forgot about it and did not use my account in over what was probably six years. I woke up one morning thinking about it and decided to go online to see if it still existed. To my surprise CRAYON was alive and after a little experimention I was able to pull up my account and there was my personal newspaper.

I congratulate the folks at CRAYON for holding the fort and surviving through all the trends and internet changes.

Dave Maher is also a graduate of Bucknell University, with a BS in Computer Science and Engineering. He lives in Southern Maryland

Jeff Boulter co-founded CRAYON with Dave Maher. He is currently pursuing other opportunities.

They state that there are now 150,000 users which might be what has kept them around, But CRAYON still does not deserve to be a best kept secret.

Visit them here: main CRAYON page

Or: CReAte Your FREE Newspaper

WHAT TO DO? Create and configure your own free main page

Choose a password for your paper
Modify your newspaper
Set up how your paper looks and works
Title your paper
Enter a motto or slogan for your newspaper
Choose a Page Layout
Add news sources section-by-section
Publish your newspaper
Bookmark your paper
Go to the URL to read your paper daily

Take a minute to give it a try. It’s free and useful. You might even want to make it your browser’s start page.

Comments Off

COOL SMARTPHONE: HTC Sensation

May 27, ’11 3:30 PM

HTC Sensation

If you are a T-mobile client looking maybe hanging on to your old G1 and thinking of upgrading to a quality Android smartphone, get in line and take a look at the hot new HTC Sensation.

When we first looked at the HTC Sensation we were impressed but felt that time would certainly tell if it would turn out to be a truly worthy iPhone competitor or replacement even. Well, some time has past and it may have fallen short of killing iPhones so it’s time to revisit the HTC Sensation. among a number of other devices from HTC such as the HTC Incredible S and HTC Desire S they have burrowed into our attention among the stiff smartphone competition coming from just about everywhere, including Motorola’s Atrix and LG’s Optimus 2X s.

HTC Sensation

erformance:
1.2 Ghz dual-core processor
768MB RAM4.3-inch screen
960×540 resolution
revamped Android interface and HTC Sense V 3.0 UI
Well built solid three-tone aluminum back
Connections: micro USB for charging, and a 3.5mm jack.DLNA for wireless streaming
Bluetooth 3.0 you can use phone for tethering
Storage: 1GB internal, Vodafone bundles an 8GB card
Optional HTC Sensation MHL Cable rather than HDMI for HD TV
Quick launch in mere seconds
3D homescreens
Native Flash support
Two cameras: A front-facing VGA camera, and rear 8-megapixel camera
Captures HD video and 1080p and 720p

The Sensation is “a real comer”, a serious device and in the opinion of many, outstanding. The metal build is welcome and feels durable. Performance is good, programs load quickly. The HTC Sense UI is cool and compelling.

1.2GHz dual-core processor
Nice 4.3-inch screen
Manufacturer-skinned Android 2.3
Aluminum with Soft-touch Casing
Gorilla Glass protective screen
Sense 3.0 UI customizations
qHD resolution
Camera with dual LEDs
qHD resolution
Well Built
Good Ergonomics
1080p video recording
Sense 3.0 UI

Display not the best out there
Locked bootloader
A bit bulky

Comments Off

COOL WEB RESOURCE: .NET Magazine

May 27, ’11 2:20 PM

.net has long been one of my personal favorite magazines and web sites. It managed to make it onto my short list of favorite publications and now onto this site.

So what is .net?

.net is a magazine for web developers and as such it should necessarily be very well designed and absolutely chock full of information and features and indeed .net is exactly that .In both their online and print versions.

According to the .net site: “.net is the world’s best-selling magazine for web designers and developers. Each issue boasts a wealth of expert tips and advice, including over 30 pages of advanced step-by-step tutorials on subjects as diverse as CSS, HTML, JavaScript, web graphics and Flash. You’ll also find in-depth features, not to mention interviews where major industry players impart their wisdom.”

A quick reading will confirm that .net is everything they say it is and we strongly concur that If you’re serious about web design or development, then .net is a magazine that should definately appeal to both your tastes and interests.

Online at you’ll find:

News
Articles
Tutorials
Features
Interviews
Opinions
Shopping

When I am bored and have a little too much extra time on my hands, I pull out .net Magazine to read and discover what’s going on in the digital world.

Comments Off

‹ Older posts

The Coolness Factor Spring 2013

Month May 2011

Enterprise Tablet War

ASUS UX21

D9 2011: All Things D Conference

AMD Z-Series Fusion processor for tablets

Intel UltraBook: In Tablet Game

Everybody Sues Everybody: PayPal vs. Google

ViewSonic ViewPad 10: Dual OS Tablet

Google’s Music Beta: iTunes competitor

APPLE: History repeats!

WebOS Tablet: HP TouchPad (Summer)

COOL PHONE: Motorola Droid X2

W3C: HTML5 Draft, Last Call

LG Optimus Black (P970)

RIM: Can they Still be a Player?

2011 Dell Inspiron 15R (2nd Gen.)

Google to nix Translate and 17 APIs

WEB 2011: Web Traps

CRAYON: CReAte Your OwN newspaper

COOL SMARTPHONE: HTC Sensation

COOL WEB RESOURCE: .NET Magazine

Archives

TCF Posts Archive

Recent Posts

TCF Calendar

TCF PAGES

Month May 2011

Archives

TCF Posts Archive

Recent Posts

TCF Calendar

TCF PAGES

TCF Tag Cloud