Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Motorola in Mexico earlier this week announced the upcoming release of the MOTOROKR W6 handset, which hopes to combine music with a set of fitness-tracking apps. I think it sounds very cool, honestly. I am sure you can get apps like that for other gadgets, but to have it all come in one piece that's set and ready sounds like a great idea.Users can enter their name, age, sex, weight and height into a fitness app that will then create a training plan based on that information. There is also a timer that keeps track of the duration of workout and the theoretical number of calories burned. The handset can export this information into a Microsoft Excel document for tracking progress over time.
Internal memory can be expanded with a card of up to 2GB.
*~*~*
Oh Lordy.
AT&T is offering a new service that allows parents to track loved ones using their phones.
AT&T's service called FamilyMaps allows people to track the location of any cell phone on AT&T's network from a mobile phone or PC. The person being tracked receives a text message informing him or her that he or she is being watched. The service periodically informs the tracked individual that he or she is being watched.
I can hear the tweeny boppers sighing now.
The service uses satellite GPS technology and cell tower triangulation to pin-point the location of the phone. The service is not supported on prepaid or AT&T Go Phones. And the service costs $9.99 for two phones and $14.99 for up to five phones.
Verizon Wireless, Sprint Nextel, and Alltel have each been offering "tracking" services for more than a year. Sprint Nextel has even lowered the price of its service from about $10 a month to $5 a month.
What's different about these social-networking location services from the service AT&T is offering is that these other services often require those being "tracked" to also run the application on their phones.
*~*~*
Microsoft's Office team has officially announced a Service Pack 2 for Office 2007, which adds some speed, reliability, and printing improvements across the board. The major new new thing? Native support for OpenDocument files (ODF), the major format of OpenOffice.org, without a plug-in, and printing to PDF. SP2 should arrive on April 28.
*~*~*
Delegations from across the Western Hemisphere will descend upon the twin island Caribbean nation of Trinidad & Tobago this week for the fifth Summit of the Americas. A hemispheric agenda on energy figures prominently among the issues they will be addressing.
A key component to such an approach would be the reduction and eventual elimination of the United States' 54-cents-per-gallon tariff on ethanol imports, as well as revision of current agricultural subsidies in the United States.
Enhanced regional collaboration on alternative fuels is a logical next step to the efforts begun by Brazil and the U.S. two years ago. However, overcoming U.S. domestic politics that have allowed debate on ethanol to be influenced by the corn lobby remains a robust hurdle for follow-through on such an initiative.
For more developments on the Summit click here >>
Labels: ATT, cell phone, Microsoft, motorola
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Can the Web save the Big 3 automobile companies? Probably not, but making Web-friendly vehicles could help to sell a few more cars. Tech companies have increasingly been showcasing web applications for automobiles. Microsoft was working with Hyundai on making an in-car computing system and OnStar may be incorporating Twitter into its vehicle systems. Now Ford will be allowing owners of the Ford F-150, Super Duty, E-Series and Transit Connect trucks and vans to access the web from their vehicles through the Opera mobile browser. Opera will be the featured browser on Ford's first broadband-capable, in-dash computer.Ford is purposely installing these computers in trucks and vans to appeal to contractors, farmers, and construction workers to turn these cars into "mobile offices." Truck owners will be able to use the in-dash browser to access sales information, contact databases, job-site plans, inventory lists, calendars, e-mail, or even the weather.
But don't think about driving using your cell phone, that is far too dangerous...
*~*~*
Taking steps to help expand the marketplace and improve the consumer experience for digital entertainment, Microsoft Corp. today announced that PacketVideo Corp. will include support for Microsoft PlayReady technology in its CORE multimedia platform, significantly broadening PlayReady's reach to a range of mobile device platforms. Microsoft also announced the availability of the PlayReady Service Provider Program, in addition to announcing a range of content and technology companies that join the more than 50 companies that have selected Microsoft PlayReady technology to power products and services to deliver mobile and in-home entertainment content. PlayReady is a content access technology that enables content owners and service providers to deliver virtually any type of digital content, using a wide range of business models, from on-demand streaming video and subscription to rental or download-to-own. PlayReady also provides significant improvements in ease of use for consumers looking to access, manage and sync protected content with devices.
More Microsoft news...
At CTIA 2009, Robbie Bach, head of Microsoft's Entertainment and Devices Division, ran through essentially the same news that his boss, CEO Steve Ballmer, presented about six weeks ago during the Mobile World Conference in Barcelona. The company demonstrated how Windows 7 has built-in software for connecting to 3G wireless networks, showed off some of the features of Windows Mobile 6.5, and played a quick video highlighting its mobile application store, Windows Marketplace for Mobile.
The demonstrations were all geared around Bach's central theme of the "three screens:" the PC, the television and the mobile phone. Microsoft intends to make sure Windows is able to give people access to their personal data, information, and services on all three of those screens.
But Bach promised that Windows Mobile phones will be the subject of Microsoft's next big advertising push, and said the company's partners will have 10 phones running Windows Mobile 6.5 ready when that operating system arrives in the second half of this year.
*~*~*
SANYO Fisher Company (SANYO), a subsidiary of SANYO North America Corporation, today announces that shipping has started for the new, 2009 Dual Camera Xacti lineup announced in January this year.
The all-HD Dual Camera lineup for 2009 offers a variety of unique features including 1080p, 60frames per second High Definition Video with 8 megapixel photos (VPC-FH1), standard (720p) High Definition Video, up to 2 megapixel photos and 30x optical zoom (VPC-TH1) on land, or even underwater - down to a depth of 10 feet for an hour (VPC-WH1), and standard (720p) High Definition Video and 10 megapixel photos (VPC-CG10).
As part of the launch for the new lineup, SANYO has also unveiled part of its marketing plan for the 2009 Dual Cameras part of which includes a push into online communities. One highlight of the plan features SANYO's Dual Camera line in a number of videos alongside a number of Web Stars - many of the hottest names in online video culture. Some of these stars earn a living making viral videos capable of generating audiences that often surpass that of some hit TV series. Web names such as Lisa Nova, iJustine, Rhett & Link, Mr. Safety, Audrey Kitching, Brandon Hardesty and Apprentice A are creating a variety of videos typical of their style, but with a theme relevant to the 2009 Dual Camera line.
*~*~*
Is gaming all about ego? Gosh I hope not!
"Most people are very narcissistic," said Electronic Arts' Wright, creator of the Sim City and Sims franchises and now last year's avant-garde Spore, onstage with Federated Media's John Battelle. "The more you can make the game about that person, the more interested, the more emotionally involved they will get."
Advancements in technology have made it possible for the customization craze of the social-networking world to permeate the console and PC gaming sectors, and that has begun to open up the industry to new users who didn't see the appeal in hardcore gaming or immersive role-playing virtual universes.
When it comes to the Wii, probably not.
"The Wii, to me, represents the idea of non-immersive gaming," he said. "When you think about the Wii...most of the entertainment is not happening on the screen, it's about watching your friend act like a doofus swinging the thing around and maybe throw it into the TV set."
Labels: auto, camera, dashboard computer, ford, gaming, Microsoft, sanyo, wii
Thursday, March 19, 2009
IBM developerWorks offers free e-Kits. E-Kits give you a collection of tutorials, articles, webcasts, podcasts, and demos about a particular product, task, or role.
They have a Web 2.0 e-kit which states, "Organizations want to take advantage of open, flexible Web 2.0 technologies. They want to use social software and mash-ups to add a new dimension of imagination and innovation. IBM's Web 2.0 solutions are already helping businesses apply Web 2.0 technologies across the globe to gain a competitive advantage."
Other e-kits include: IBM Rational Build Forge Demos, Software Developer e-Kit and IBM Business Analyst e-Kit to name a few. Definitely worth checking out for some good resources.
*~*~*
Remember the restaurant I wrote about which had touchscreen tables to order your food and also to play games while you wait?
Microsoft has a touchscreen coffee table concept which is very cool. Microsoft Surface is without a doubt one of the coolest coffee tables I've ever seen. But of course, this isn't your average coffee table, this is a multimedia hub that'll allow you to browse all kinds of multimedia through an incredibly responsive Natural User Interface.
Microsoft is only really looking at commercial sales just now with half an eye on integrating one of these things into a kitchen table or worksurface in a few year's time.
*~*~*
Time Warner's Time Inc. (TWX) invited the press to its midtown headquarters yesterday to show off the latest and greatest at the publishing group's digital portfolio. But while Time is happy to boast about its online audience, it is also acknowledging that Web advertising alone may not be enough these days. So it's going to start charging readers.
PaidContent's Staci Kramer got a Time Inc. official to provide an equally vague take: "There is nothing specific to point to now but you can expect some experiments within six to eight months. We're also looking closely at devices and applications and pricing and business models associated with those."
The upshot: You're going to see more and more publishers at least fiddle with the notion of getting readers to pay for something online. The New York Times (NYT), for instance, has been publicly musing about this for some time now.
*~*~*
The first generation of Chevy Volt extended-range electric cars, at the center of General Motors' financial viability plan, has yet to hit showrooms. But that (along with its financial troubles) hasn't kept GM from working on generations two and three, the company said in a call with reporters this morning. GM said that in fact the parallel projects were a sign of the automaker's long-term commitment to electric vehicles for the mass market.
To be sure, gen-one Volts will be on the expensive side for an average car buyer - in the neighborhood of $40,000, according to former Volt frontman Bob Lutz, or about twice the cost anticipated for the new Honda Insight hybrid. This makes government incentives for fuel-efficient vehicles especially important in GM's plan for the Volt. "First-generation technology is expensive," said Bob Kruse, GM's executive director of global vehicle engineering for hybrids, electric vehicles and batteries. "Incentives help make it viable."
In short, GM is still counting on the government far too much. And $40,000 is definitely too expensive for the average car buyer. Especially considering the cost of maintenance on these gen-one Volts.
They have a Web 2.0 e-kit which states, "Organizations want to take advantage of open, flexible Web 2.0 technologies. They want to use social software and mash-ups to add a new dimension of imagination and innovation. IBM's Web 2.0 solutions are already helping businesses apply Web 2.0 technologies across the globe to gain a competitive advantage."
Other e-kits include: IBM Rational Build Forge Demos, Software Developer e-Kit and IBM Business Analyst e-Kit to name a few. Definitely worth checking out for some good resources.
*~*~*
Remember the restaurant I wrote about which had touchscreen tables to order your food and also to play games while you wait? Microsoft has a touchscreen coffee table concept which is very cool. Microsoft Surface is without a doubt one of the coolest coffee tables I've ever seen. But of course, this isn't your average coffee table, this is a multimedia hub that'll allow you to browse all kinds of multimedia through an incredibly responsive Natural User Interface.
Microsoft is only really looking at commercial sales just now with half an eye on integrating one of these things into a kitchen table or worksurface in a few year's time.
*~*~*
Time Warner's Time Inc. (TWX) invited the press to its midtown headquarters yesterday to show off the latest and greatest at the publishing group's digital portfolio. But while Time is happy to boast about its online audience, it is also acknowledging that Web advertising alone may not be enough these days. So it's going to start charging readers.
PaidContent's Staci Kramer got a Time Inc. official to provide an equally vague take: "There is nothing specific to point to now but you can expect some experiments within six to eight months. We're also looking closely at devices and applications and pricing and business models associated with those."
The upshot: You're going to see more and more publishers at least fiddle with the notion of getting readers to pay for something online. The New York Times (NYT), for instance, has been publicly musing about this for some time now.
*~*~*
The first generation of Chevy Volt extended-range electric cars, at the center of General Motors' financial viability plan, has yet to hit showrooms. But that (along with its financial troubles) hasn't kept GM from working on generations two and three, the company said in a call with reporters this morning. GM said that in fact the parallel projects were a sign of the automaker's long-term commitment to electric vehicles for the mass market.
To be sure, gen-one Volts will be on the expensive side for an average car buyer - in the neighborhood of $40,000, according to former Volt frontman Bob Lutz, or about twice the cost anticipated for the new Honda Insight hybrid. This makes government incentives for fuel-efficient vehicles especially important in GM's plan for the Volt. "First-generation technology is expensive," said Bob Kruse, GM's executive director of global vehicle engineering for hybrids, electric vehicles and batteries. "Incentives help make it viable."
In short, GM is still counting on the government far too much. And $40,000 is definitely too expensive for the average car buyer. Especially considering the cost of maintenance on these gen-one Volts.
Labels: GM, IBM, Microsoft, time inc, touchscreen
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Shanghai-based online game company The9 reportedly has not won approval from the Chinese authority to operate Wrath of the Lich King in Mainland China.After the Spring Festival, The9 again filed an application for the operating right in the mainland. To reach its goal, the company intentionally deleted the game's new contents about death knights and Dalaran. However, the expansion pack still contains contents such as massacre, and the Chinese authority considers them as dangerous.
Then, rampant rumors arose saying that The9 would postpone the release of Wrath of the Lich King, annoying Blizzard Entertainment, the game's developer, and that both sides broke up in their negotiations on the renewal of their contract relating to the further operation of World of Warcraft (WoW) in the mainland.
There were some reports that The9 President Chen Xiaowei privately met with top executives of Electronic Arts (EA and Nasdaq: ERTS), talking about operating games of EA. The Chinese company has denied the story, explaining that the localization of the new expansion pack is being sped up.
In other WoW related news...
In its first week, Dawn of War II managed to take the PC sales crown from the World of Warcraft expansion Wrath of the Lich King. One would've expected Lich King to retake the top spot the following week now that the die-hard fans of Dawn have bought their copies but it seems that scrappy little real-time strategy game's got legs.
*~*~*
Microsoft is boldly entering a new category of accessories with the introduction of the USB-powered Notebook Cooling Base, which sports a built-in fan and cooling channel to prevent overheating. The whole thing is just 1.16 inches thick, and there's even a cable management clip if you find yourself in need. As for pricing, you can expect the breezy pad to land this July for $29.95.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Prime View International, maker of electrophoretic displays AKA epaper makes the screens for Amazon's Kindle 2. That much we know. However, rumors that they are working on a larger-sized touchscreen makes us think they are now ramping up production of the "student's Kindle" we heard about last year. *~*~*
Identity theft cases surged in 2008, according to the Federal Trade Commission's annual data.
In 2008, ID theft was by far the biggest complaint to the FTC, representing 26 percent of complaints. The next biggest one--third party and creditor debt collection scams--represented only 9 percent of complaints.
The FTC's annual Consumer Sentinel Network report (PDF), released Thursday, details that ID theft complaints totaled nearly 314,000 in 2008, up from about 259,00 in 2007 and up substantially from about 31,000 in 2000.
The Consumer Sentinel Network is a secure online database that harvests complaints from law enforcement authorities, as well as other groups such as the Internet Crime Complaint Center and Better Business Bureau.
*~*~*
Small robots the size of riding mowers could prepare a safe landing site for NASAs Moon outpost, according to a NASA-sponsored study prepared by Astrobotic Technology Inc. with technical assistance from Carnegie Mellon Universitys Robotics Institute.
Astrobotic Technology and Carnegie Mellon researchers analyzed mission requirements and developed the design for an innovative new type of small lunar robot under contract from NASAs Lunar Surface Systems group.
The results will be presented Friday in Washington, D.C., at a NASA Lunar Surface Systems conference co-sponsored by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and its Space Enterprise Council.
*~*~*
On Friday, Microsoft is releasing a free add-on, dubbed Canvas for OneNote, that takes that same approach to viewing one's notebooks in OneNote.
Because it is an adjunct to OneNote, Canvas requires one really be a heavy user of that program to get the benefit. (It also requires Windows Vista and uses Microsoft's Windows Presentation Foundation graphics technology).
*~*~*
While CDs have not yet gone the way of the LP, more and more users are starting to carry their entire music libraries on iPods and MP3 players. When it comes time to drive, these users don't want to take a quantum leap backwards to carrying dozens of CDs in their glove compartment. No, these days, any car stereo receiver worth its salt will either play digital audio from an external storage device or seamlessly interface with a portable digital-audio player.
The Alpine iDA-X100 takes a bold step forward by completely eschewing the CD legacy format, moving to a completely USB-based input scheme with full-speed iPod connection, and an exceptional control scheme for navigating large digital-audio libraries.
Those who haven't jumped on the iPod bandwagon will appreciate the Sony XPLOD CDX-GT920U, which natively supports USB devices, but not the iPod. Users who have chosen to carry their digital audio on a Bluetooth-compatible device, such as a mobile phone, will appreciate the Sony MEX-BT2600, which features A2DP stereo audio streaming over Bluetooth.
Labels: identity theft, kindle student, Microsoft, music, NASA, robots
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
The Microsoft SideWinder X8 Mouse, available on store shelves this week, offers a best-in-class tracking engine with Microsoft BlueTrack Technology and wireless freedom built for lag-free play. The newest mouse to join the SideWinder line, the SideWinder X8 offers the best frame rate, speed and acceleration on the market and a tracking range from 250 dots per inch (dpi) to 4,000 dpi, giving gamers ultimate control and precision.The SideWinder X8 Mouse offers the following top features to deliver ultimate wireless gaming performance:
- BlueTrack Technology. The world's most advanced tracking technology for gaming, with image processing of 13,000 frames per second, 75g maximum acceleration and 120 inches per second maximum speed.
- 2.4GHz wireless. The device is built for lag-free play with virtually no latency.
- Play and charge. Get up to 30 hours of active gaming on a single charge, or use the play-and-charge cable for nonstop action. The winding cord management system offers easy charging - simply unwrap the cord from around the storage box and snap it onto the underside of the mouse.
*~*~*
Apple today announced the public beta of Safari 4, the world's fastest and most innovative web browser for Mac and Windows PCs. The Nitro engine in Safari 4 runs JavaScript 4.2 times faster than Safari 3.* Innovative new features that make browsing more intuitive and enjoyable include Top Sites, for a stunning visual preview of frequently visited pages; Full History Search, to search through titles, web addresses and the complete text of recently viewed pages; Cover Flow, to easily flip through web history or bookmarks; and Tabs on Top, to make tabbed browsing easier and more intuitive.
"Apple created Safari to bring innovation, speed and open standards back into web browsers, and today it takes another big step forward," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. "Safari 4 is the fastest and most efficient browser for Mac and Windows, with great integration of HTML 5 and CSS 3 web standards that enables the next generation of interactive web applications."
Safari 4 is built on the world's most advanced browser technologies including the new Nitro JavaScript engine that executes JavaScript up to 30 times faster than IE 7 and more than three times faster than Firefox 3. Safari quickly loads HTML web pages three times faster than IE 7 and almost three times faster than Firefox 3.
*~*~*
Google denied its Google Earth ocean-floor mapping software had unearthed the mythical sunken island of Atlantis.
Walter Smith of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and David Sandwell of UC San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography, two scientists who helped gather some of the ocean-floor data in Google Earth, cleared it all up in a post on the company's official blog.
"Some have speculated that these are the plow marks of seafloor farming by aliens," the post said of the undersea grid pattern off the coast of northwest Africa that had sparked the speculation. "One theory that's gained more traction is that these marks might be the ruins of the lost city of Atlantis. If that were the case, some of the city blocks would have to be over eight miles long--that's about fifty times the size of a city block in New York City."
"These marks are what we call 'ship tracks,'" it explained. "You see, it's actually quite hard to measure the depth of the ocean. Sunlight, lasers, and other electromagnetic radiation can travel less than 100 feet below the surface, yet the typical depth in the ocean is more than two and a half miles. Sound waves are more effective. By measuring the time it takes for sound to travel from a ship to the sea floor and back, you can get an idea of how far away the sea floor is. Since this process--known as echosounding--only maps a strip of the sea floor under the ship, the maps it produces often show the path the ship took, hence the 'ship tracks.'"
*~*~*
Taking the lessons learned from the development of hydrogen-powered cars and applying them on a larger scale, New Holland Agriculture has developed the impressive NH2, the world's first hydrogen-powered tractor.
The NH2 was developed as part of New Holland Agriculture's Energy Independent Farm concept, a framework for future agriculture in which farmers produce their own compressed hydrogen from water using electricity produced by wind farms, solar panels, or biomass and biogas processes situated on the farm.
Labels: Apple, browser, concept tractor, google, google earth, Microsoft, mouse, safari
Monday, February 23, 2009
A recent study found that only 30 percent of people who purchased an iPhone app actually used it the next day; for the same group, only 5 percent were using it 20 days later! And those are for paid apps; the stats get worse for free apps.Only about 10 percent of iPhone applications appear to retain an audience over time, and most of those are games, entertainment applications such as movie listings, and things like Facebook ("their user sessions must be off the charts," Pinch Media CEO Greg Yardley said).
*~*~*
Police to receive new helicopters
The new state-of-the-art helicopters will help police protect communities and tackle crime.
A total of nine police forces will have access to the new aircraft, under the latest round of funding for police air operations.
One of the helicopters will be used as part of a trial project to enable neighbouring police forces to work together by sending the nearest available aircraft to incidents across force borders.
Statement from the Policing Minister
Announcing the new aircraft funding, Home Office Policing Minister Vernon Coaker said, 'Air support units play a crucial role in helping police protect communities against crime.
'They help officers with a wide range of operations, from searching for offenders or missing people, to assisting other emergency services with transporting injured people.
'I am pleased to announce that we are building on the success of our existing fleet of police aircraft with these new helicopters, and that we are strengthening the way forces work together to make best use of the resources available to them.'
The police aircraft fleet
The police aircraft fleet comprises 29 light and medium twin-engine helicopters and three fixed-wing aircraft, operating from 29 units in England and Wales.
Police aircraft use hi-tech daylight and thermal imaging cameras to search for offenders who run off from crime scenes, assist in vehicle pursuits and look for vulnerable missing people.
The helicopters are also fitted with 'Nitesun' - a powerful searchlight to help find offenders in the dark and also to floodlight accident scenes.
The helicopters can be used to transport critically injured people to hospital at night, which air ambulances are not equipped to do. They are also fitted with 'Skyshout' - an airborne public address system used to pass critical messages to the public or emergency services.
*~*~*
Microsoft laid over close to 1,400 employees last month. A letter went out this week to some of those employees letting them know they were overpaid, and asking for them to give some of the money back.
Word on the street is that the overpayment issue effected a good number of those employees, and some employees might have also been underpaid their severance from the company, which also isn’t exactly exciting.
Microsoft informed affected employees via a letter that most received Friday. The letter didn't explain why the overpayment happened, just told previous employees how much money they owed Microsoft and how they could go about paying the company back. Pretty harsh.
The letters employees received did give them the number for Microsoft customer service to call if they had questions, although that number was closed for the weekend so they're SOL until Monday morning.
Labels: economy, helicopter, iPhone, iphone app, Microsoft
Thursday, January 8, 2009
What is this iRiver business? Chances are you have seen a review of iRiver P35 on every techie website in the world lately. But really we don't know when it will be released or how much it will cost so all the features in the world are not quite enough to get me hopeful yet.Features of the iRiver P35 include:
* 4.3" TFT LCD touchscreen display at 480 x 272 resolution
* Wi-Fi connectivity
* Integrated microphone
* TV Out
* Full movie codec support
* microSDHC memory card slot (up to 16GB)
* USB 2.0 connectivity
* Integrated FM radio
* Voice recording capability, audio and video playback, Flash support
*~*~*
Looking to bring in some extra money while cleaning house? Why not sell your old video games? Forbes.com suggests there are three approaches to take—easy but low-return chains like GameStop, the take-a-shot nature of auctions or Half.com/Amazon selling, and the higher prices one might fetch at sites with less mainstream recognition like Goozex.
*~*~*
Microsoft has introduced its second iPhone app after dipping its toe with the release of Seadragon Mobile last month. The name of the application is Microsoft Tag (still in BETA form), and it enables users to instantly access mobile content, videos, music, contact information, maps, social networks, promotions, etc. simply by pointing the device's camera to a custom tag.
*~*~*
Divx has announced the newest version of their video player. Divx 7 is based on the H.264 video compression standard and offers video at up to 1080p HD resolution.
The new version of Divx comes in two different formats. The free download Divx 7 for Windows for Divx video playback and Divx 7 Pro which allows for Divx video creation. Both versions contain the Divx 7 video player which offers support for H.264 files.
Labels: divx, goozex, iphone app, iRiver, Microsoft, video, video game
Saturday, November 24, 2007
No, I have not purchased Vista and when my parents asked if they needed it for their new computer I told them no. Their printers are older and the drivers probably wouldn't have worked. I think Vista is pretty but there are programs you can use to customize the look of any OS.
Everything I have heard about Vista has been negative. And I have Windows XP which though it has its problems I enjoy it. I think this OS is user friendly and there are enough security options you can take to tighten up the loopholes.
I read an article about some pros and cons. The discussion prompted the question; should Microsoft abandon Vista? I'm not sure it needs to disappear, but it needs to be fine tuned. It's a system memory hog and even the newer computers with their 3.2 GHZ cannot keep up with Vista's demands and that's just not cool.
So tell me...what do you think?
SOURCE
Everything I have heard about Vista has been negative. And I have Windows XP which though it has its problems I enjoy it. I think this OS is user friendly and there are enough security options you can take to tighten up the loopholes.
I read an article about some pros and cons. The discussion prompted the question; should Microsoft abandon Vista? I'm not sure it needs to disappear, but it needs to be fine tuned. It's a system memory hog and even the newer computers with their 3.2 GHZ cannot keep up with Vista's demands and that's just not cool.
So tell me...what do you think?
SOURCE
Labels: Microsoft, Operating System, Vista
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Microsoft has been creating several amazing products recently. Earlier this year I blogged about Photosynth. Today everyone is talking about surface computing. What was a top secret project - Microsoft has now unveiled as a new Surface computer. A coffee table type computer that interacts with objects and human touch. The table is basically a PC encased in a spiffy black table base with a delicious 30 inch touchscreen under an acrylic top. 5 cameras under the screen sense and identify objects. Wireless networking allows the computer to sense what object has been placed on the screen, and will automatically connect to it if able. A multi finger, multi user interface allows you to organize your photos and move them around as if they were real printed photos. No mouse, no keyboard, all touch - and with both hands if you want. Imagine placing a digital camera and a cell phone on the screen, and then all of the sudden see the pics spill out of the camera all over the screen, and sliding some of those images under the phone to transfer them.
Microsoft will initially target stores, hotels and casinos with the new technology. Surface computers will be available in some Las Vegas casinos, Starwood hotels and T-Mobile stores by the end of the year.
You would think something this awesome would be priced way too high for most of us to touch, but Microsoft is saying $5,000 to $10,000. Prices are expected to drop within 3-5 to make them much more affordable for the rest of us consumers.
Microsoft is working on a limited number of programs to ship with Surface, including one for sharing digital photographs - which couldn't possibly get old.
Thank you Microsoft!
See this demo!
Read more -
Labels: Computers, Gadgets, Microsoft, technology
Saturday, April 21, 2007
"What if your photo collection was an entry point into the world, like a wormhole that you could jump through and explore..."
Photosynth will wow you. Some brilliant minds at the Microsoft Live Labs have figured out a way to arrange 2D images taken from digital cameras and create a 3D environment. This Photosynth program intelligently organizes the data from a collection of images (of the same scene) and compiles a beautiful 3D image. Imagine being able to "walk through" you photos as if you were there again? And zooming is cool too - only the data that is required to display the current view is used, which means two images of the same subject taken at different distances will not be displayed at the same time. Also, while looking at the entire collection, you can see where each image was placed to create the final compilation. You can save and share your collections as well. The system requirements aren't too bad: Windows XP SP2, 1 GB RAM, and a video card with at least 128 MB RAM and DirectX 9. This is quite an exciting technology, and I think you should check it out here.
Labels: Microsoft, photography, technology
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