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Month June 2012

Hey Google, Microsoft: Good luck with that!

Both companies have dived in the deep water and hope to swim to the top of the white hot marketplace. One hitch! These products have the potential to disrupt their traditional relationships and compete with their partners.

Are the risks worth the potential rewards? Heck yes, if they can indeed pull it off without shooting themselves in the foot. Some informed pundits believe this may be the deathnell to 3rd party manufacturing relationships for the two big powers. Partners were not notified or warned that their provider was going to enter the market as a competitor. The opportunity exists for another company to create a platform to compete by taking up with disatisfied and disgruntled Google Android partners looking to insure their future.

Now that the hype is laid and the boasts have been made. Other than put fear in the hearts of Nook and Kindle Fire proponents how will the new Google Nexus 7 fare in the emerging tablet marketplace?

So far one week in media reviews have been on the whole positive and customer pre-orders are quite promising.

The question informed sources are asking is whether this will savage Google’s Android partner base, the chief reason Android is so powerful with smartphones. This is a question that Microsoft is force to consider after revealing its Surface line of semi-tablets.

For now I think I’ll just stick with an iPad.

Beware of Media Shills

Most media analysts are legitimate and credible and stand above selling out or  trading in their veracity and believability for trinkets, financial rewards or pats on the back.

There are however some prominent pundits and analysts out there that simply can’t wait to sell out and barter their credibility to gain favor from big industry players with deep pockets or high-class swag to give away in the exchange. These shills extol the merits of bunk second rate products and make wild bonehead statements about companies that are hanging on by threads.

Their ill-timed, inelegant and more often offbase conclusions and misguided declarations are just too easy to see through and just as impossible to justify or rationalize in any way other than by the demented and insane.

In their zeal  they sell out by loudly touting inferior bunk products as “the best” and plant stories that go against what is commonly known in the marketplace and that defy the bounds of common sense and reason.

Sure once in awhile they can get something wrong or make bad choices but when their attempt from the beginning is to avoid truth they fall into the shill category.

 

Google+ Events Spam: Promises fix

Talk about “hand in the cookie jar”! Google, the company that warns against gaming the system has been caught doing just that. In this case after launch of Google+ Events last wednesday the new social invite feature was used yo spam millions of users of folks with large followings. Upset users have begun to revolt bringing a quick response from Google includong a promise to quickly fix the problem.

This is yet another example of the effect of inadequate testing or a compamies inability to anticipate how social engineers will play a new vulnerable system. Often when the horses are out of the stable it is too late to reel them back in.

Bits & Bytes 6.29.12

The weeks are just flying by and each one brings serious thrills and marketplace chills to the ever-evolving world of technology. Most of the past week’s news came out of Google I/O 2012 that was held at Moscone in San Francisco.

See our previous post for a quick review of the Google I/O haps wrap.

Bits and Bytes for the week:

  • Google I/O was a rousing success this year
  • Google Nexus 7″ Tablet announced
  • RIM in trouble: huge loses, deep cutbacks and many layoffs

Google Compute Engine: Amazon Web Services competitor

Some smart pundits say that Google Compute Engine is somewhat lacking and is clearly no match to Amazon.

Google’s Compute Engine fits in the “Infrastructure as a Service” space by offering cloud infrastructure similar to Amazon Web Services. This first effort is billed as a “limited preview”.

Google’s Compute Engine allows users to spin up virtual machines. Now coupled with Google’s App Engine, Google Apps and Drive the company is building out a very robust cloud stack and says they will provide all the access to its computing power to interested companies.

However there is competition, companies like Microsoft, IBM, Oracle, VMware, and HP also have cloud stacks in this space. Google states they are in it to win it with raw performance and sheer computing power.

There are indeed some pluses Google brings to the game like easy integration with Google Docs, allowing users to work offline in Chrome, and ultimately on Chromebooks.

Urs Holzle, senior vice president for technical infrastructure at Google, talked up Google’s infrastructure as a service effort. Holzle, also claims that Google App Engine has a million active apps, and heavily pitched the company’s service levels, value and performance.

Apple’s iCloud: Sluggish and unresponsive

The following may just be my own personal experience with iCloud. Your experiences may differ.

Since I have been prompted, encouraged and enticed to dump MobileMe for iClould I have had a bit of a rough time of it.

for me iClould crashes frequently and in general has been a huge step backwards from MobileMe.

I understand product pivots and corporate changes of direction, these are business decisions that often push the envelope to good places. But when users are forced to become guniea pigs to the experiment I cease to be amused or appeased.
After I lose almost a hour each day just accessing and organizing my mail I begin to lose my sense of adventure. There is enough stuff that does not work in the diverse world of computing for the few things that did work begin to function inappropriately.
The big quandry for me is why in the heck it hangs up my whole computer causing me to perform a hard restart. I have tried iCloud with various browsers with the same result. I have not given up yet but my patience is wearing real thin.

Google…Whatever Dude!

Take a word, any word. Now precede it with Google and you have what seems to be Google’s new naming convention and possibly more.

Google Glass, Google Now & Google Play, are a few of the first but certainly they will not be the last.

Try it. Think of a word preferably a noun and append the word Google in front of it and imagine what product it spells out.

  • Google undies
  • Google gaspump
  • Google pies
  • Google .45s

These examples are about as silly as the real products we are now being offered. Some of the products are actually quite worthy but the current naming convention causes me pause.

Google I/O becoming a big deal event

Google I/O is really turning out to be more of a major technology spectacle and event than ever in previous years. Google is finally revealing the fruit of all the innovations it has stimulated internally and throughout the developer community and the external innovations it has diligently monitored and tracked over the years.

Of course there are the obligatory presentations , keynotes and leading industry speakers including a whole showroom floor full of product demos and informal networking opportunities.

Google I/O 2012 has become the launch pad for a number of innovative products and accessories.

Highlights:

  • Google Nexus 7 Tablet Introduction
  • Google Glass update
  • Android 4.0 Jelly Bean preview
  • Hangouts and Google+
For an event initially and traditionally aimed at developers Google I/O now speaks to consumers and media looking to identify the better device/platform mix.

 

New Google Tablet: Nexus 7

The news coming out of Google I/Oin keynote are all around the new Google Nexus 7 tablet.

Google Nexus 7 Specs:

  • 7″ Tablet
  • OS: Android 4.1 “Jelly Bean
  • Processor: Quad-core Tegra 3
  • Internal storage: 8GB or 16GB
  • RAM: 1GB
  • Display1280 x 800 HD Pixel density: 216 pixels per inch
  • Camera: Front-facing 1.2 megapixel
  • Battery: 4,325mAh (8 hours active use)
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth Micro USB port and NFC
  • Screen: Scratch-resistant Corning glass
  • Pricing: 8GB mode ($199) 16GB device ($249).
  • includes: $25 Google Play credit + Transformers Dark of the Moon.

 

Google is taking pre-orders now and will ship in the next two weeks.

Stuff Mag: Microsoft has no plans for own phone

Google, RIM, and Apple have their own handsets running on their own operating systems. However according to Stuff Magazine Microsoft may not actually be planning to release their own branded device. This is the case according to Microsoft’s Greg Sullivan senior marketing manager for Windows Phone. Sullivan is on the record as stating that, despite the recent announcement of the MS-branded and recently announced Surface tablet line, they have no plans to apply the same strategy to smartphones – instead they are deferring to rely on handsets built by partner companies like Nokia, HTC and Huawei to move Windows Phone 8 forward. This is similar strategy to that Microsoft has traditionaly taken with Windows driven computers over the years. Some believe however that if Microsoft were to acquire a major phone manufacturer such as the very troubled Nokia that decision could and probably would change in the future.

Bits & Bytes 6.22.12

It certainly definately a week in technology to pay attention to for sure.

Bits & Bytes for the week:

  • The Oracle v. Google patent case is done and gone finally.
  • Google I/O event is on.

Me-Too Tech

These days few companies are engaging in original nor advanced innovation. Rather they seem content to merely imitate and integrate the best efforts of other product and market leaders as their main means and methods of innovation and competion. This becomes a problemwhen they don’t bring anything new or creative to the game.

Any company that makes a product  related to or in an industry or market anywhere near that of the successful one they work to extend or enhance theirs and morph it to that new market and sees this as an opportunity ripe for the picking and too good to turn away.

When companies like Google with Android and Microsoft years ago with Windows create development and deployment plaforms make it simple. easy and painless not to mention cost effective they eagerly jump in both feet. As consumer we are left with a flood of mediocre similar products that are hard to differientiate from each other. This is where the marketing hype kicks in trying to convince us that one is as good as or better than the other.

Microsoft’s Windows Phone Developer Summit in SF

 

Microsoft’s Windows Phone Developer Summit

It seems that by flooding media’s agenda and attention with a flurry of events and announcements Microsoft aims to climb back in the race. Yesterday they made announcements of the Surface line of tablets of a sort. Today in San Francisco it is a bald face attempt to attract the area’s hip innovative developers over to the Windows Phone platform

They presented a feed of the event. It’s over now, maybe they will play it back or stream it.

 

Welcome Summer 2012!

Summer 2012

We’ve made it all the way through the cold and wet months and days of 2012 and earned our way to a brand new Summer which just started officially and will wrap Sept 21st. We all hope for a Summer full of sunshine and sweet fresh-ripened fruit.

Elsewhere, In the world of technology we should be planning to attack the grounds of our great parks and beaches in search of Mother Nature with our cool connected ultrabooks, tablets and super slick smartphones in tow. Don’t forget to charge them up!

I am not alone in stating that Summer is my very favorite season of the year, although I really do enjoy all the other seasons about as much.

- “Boat Drinks!”

boat drinks

Run up to Google I/O 2012 in SF

Now that Apple, Samsung and Microsoft have revealed a few of their hold cards at conferences focused around them it is time for Google to put on a show supposedly aimed at developers as was WWDC. That has been what Google I/O was usually all about. But just as Apple has pimped WWDC to be an opportunity to launch new things, we can be sure Google will do the same.

This years event (12th in the event line) will be held in San Francisco at Moscone should go a long way in spelling out Google’s proposed direction for the remainder of the year and into 2013.

At Google I/O 2012 we might expect to see:

  • A new Google-labled tablet
  • New Android features
  • A host of new Android smartphones and tablet devices
  • Updates and enhancements to Chrome, Google Doc, etc.
  • Many innovative Android phone and tablet device and app demos
  • Promotion of Google+ for Social Media

This year Google will attempt to make the event as virtual and geographically distributed as they can through what they are terming as “Google I/O Extended”. Events and parties will be held in various cities and the main event with keynotes and sessions will be streamed live.

To register for Google I/O you will need a Google+ account (Surprise! Surprise!)

Mystery Solved: Microsoft Surface

 

Microsoft Surface

Microsoft Surface

First Microsoft would not state for the record what the event would be about. Then they refused to even say when or where it would occur. All the while they covertly spread seeds of rumor and disinformation about what it would involve. It seems all this was a blatant Mad Men-type marketing attempt to heighten the drama, interest and suspense around the mysterious event to scare up some free press.

Now so close to the moment we have discovered that that Barnes and Nobles is not a part of the mystery announcement and that the event will occur in Los Angeles at Milk Studios.

Was this Microsoft trying to be cool like Apple? Will any of this help usually boring Microsoft pull off something cool? In a short couple of hours the other shoe will finally fall and we will all see if Microsoft has the goods to merit all this mystery and be enough to get back in the game.

Odds-on Speculation was strong that Microsoft would use this event to launch a new Windows tablet (they were right, sort of) into a market that has deep historic reservations about anything almost anything new coming from the once-dominant company that virtually owned the market and had all the chips, but some say didn’t play fair.

At 3:30 p.m. PST I’ll take some valuable time out of my day to sit down and plug into one of the live blogs and like all the other tech media pundits not invited to attend I’ll sit back in emperor-like gladitorial judgement to give it thumbs up or down.

A few questions come to mind. Why LA? Are they deliberately staying out of the SF Bay Area traditionally Apple territory? If so, what does that say? Who is Microsoft aiming whatever they will announce at the media, traditional and social, or us everyday technology consumers?

LET THE GAMES BEGIN!\

Microsoft’ has unveiled two tablets. or as they are calling it a new  ecosystemem withe name of Microsoft Surface

Microsoft Fanboys who needed a reason to jump back on the MS bandwagon now seem to have one. A few of them have gone way overboard claiming that Microsoft Surface is the single best thing that ever happened in computing,

The day after the event Microsoft staffers must be rejoicing and patting themselves on the back believing they hit it one completely out of the park leap frogging past Apple wiith a device that seems to combine the function and appeal of tablets and ultrabooks in one fell swoop. Nobody saw that coming.

They differ in dimensions and a few features:

No straight dope on pricing –

The Surface for Windows RT will cost about what similar to other Windows RT tablets

The Pro version will have prices similar to Ultrabooks.

Microsoft Surface for Windows RT has an NVIDIA chip inside,

Surface for Windows 8 Pro, which runs off Ultrabook-grade Ivy Bridge processors.

Bits & Bytes Fri. 6.15 to 6.21

There was much happening in the world of tech to list in this weeks Bits and Bytes. If we miss anthing major, please let us know so we may pass it on to all of our readers.

What happened this past week?

  • Apple is pushing Podcasts Out of iTunes and into its own iOS6 app
  • HTC is planning to aim on Upper End phones to raise brand’s value
  • Judge provides Apple 2nd Chance To Prove Motorola Infringement
  • Apple’s Siri vs. Samsung’s S-Voice = Serious Competition!
  • iOS 6: Apps requests permission to access personal data
  • iOS 6 restricts apps from stealing your contact data
  • Vizio (a TV company) launches Laptops & All-in-One PCs
  • Nokia’s mounting problems haunt Microsoft
  • Nokia Cutting at least 10,000 More Jobs
  • Motorola Solutions snatching up Psion
  • Surprise: Microsoft Building Own Tablet soon
  • Coming: 13′ MacBook Pro w/Retina display
  • Microsoft upcoming L.A. Event stirs Windows Tablet Talk
  • Oracle-HP settlement talks hit a deadend
  • Syncapse snaps up Clickable
  • Federal government looking into Data Caps
  • Possible MacBook Pro (Retina) has pundits raving for joy
  • Lamborghini’s ridicously expensive Android tablet
  • Apple+Facebook relationship is established in iOS 6
  • iPhone 4 ans 4S might lack some iOS 6 features, Facetime
  • Apple Killing Ping in upcoming iTunes Releases
  • Acer releasing 10″ ICS tablet with Full HD display soon
  • RIM CEOs get paid hefty $12 million for weak outcomes
  • Yahoo interim CEO Levinshon puts Dave Dibble in charge of tech
That’s enough to make you think and to keep you interested, for more news Bits and Bytes check back here ocassionally throughout the week or suscribe to our RSS feed. We are here to keep you informed and happy.
- The Publisher

 

WWDC 2012

This post is not really so much about WWDC than it is about the concept of the World Wide Developers Conference.

First this unique event is very well located in San Francisco where the streets literally flow with talented young creative types eager to make their millions by coming up with the next best thing.  Another key factor is that it is so near the halls of money and power not to mention it is on the rim of the Pacific Rim.

We all now realize thatthe engine that fuels and drives new technology industries such as mobility is development. This is no more evident than in the App explosion fueling the smartphone and tablet revolutions. In other words the Bay Area is where the action is and where innovation lives.

There is a blood in the streets battle going on to draw developers to platforms such as Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android, now, the once great Microsoft is making strong moves to get back in the game. The objective is to win over the developer base and here is where WWDC comes in.

In the next few days we can expect many new product announcements, company perks and fluffed up press releases.

There will be a number of live blogs reporting from the event that we should all monitor. I will wait until the end of the day to summarize and take comments. See you then.

Microsoft going Social

Microsoft launches So.cl social network

Was there ever any thought that Microsoft was going to be content to just sit by and watch the whole Social Media parade go by and not try to jump in Ferris Bueller style and try to take the reigns? No way in hell!

Well, if there was ever any doubt cast it aside right now. Microsoft has spits out So.cl, pronounced “social” Their lastest attempt to get in the Social Media game.

Microsoft’s research-oriented FUSE Labs launched this new, student-oriented social network in late May.

It is thought to be an experimental product placing Microsoft’s toe in the water, So.cl is an indication that the once-great software giant is trying hard to find the next big thing or at the very least keep up with the latest things.

Apple Stalls Samsung S III U.S. Release

Apple is suing Samsung in a last ditch effort to block sales of Samsung’s highly anticipated Galaxy S III smartphone in the United States.

Apple is hoping to be granted injunction against Samsuing on the grounds that the Galaxy S III infringes on at least 2 cherished Apple patents.

The complaint filed in a California court past week asserts that the Galaxy S III infringes on data-tapping and unified search technologies owned by Apple.

Apple’s complaint claims “it is clear that infringement can be shown with respect to these patents based on the current record.”

Samsung sees it differently. “Samsung believes Apple’s request is without merit, We will vigorously oppose the request and demonstrate to the court that the Galaxy S III is innovative and distinctive.”

Apple’s move to block sales of the Galaxy S III in the United States is the latest in a long line of patent disputes between the two companies. In May, Apple filed a motion against Samsung over their Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet.

It is curious that these two particular companies are in some select ways partners or clients. Even more so, a  recent attempt to sit down and negotiate and resolve these disputes failed miserably so here we are in the throes of a struggle that could determine the future of the leaders in the smartphone battle.

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