Google Clamps Down On Android's So-Called 'Openness'

The real truth about Android is now beginning to come out: it's apparently NOT really so open after all!

In fact, not only has Google officially decided against releasing HoneyComb, but now, in an excuse to limit Android's huge fragmentation issues, the Mountain View search giant has caused a storm of protest because it is now tighting control over its patent plagued platform, by insisting that licensees abide by Google's strict 'non-fragmentation' rules.

Well, I was always told that open systems, ones particularly based on Linux, including Android, were completely free for anyone to do what ever that they wanted to do with it, and any good, old time that they wanted. Apparently not so, unless, of course, Google itself is not abiding by the rules of the open community.

In fact, Engadget reports that things have been getting so heated, "that complaints have apparently now been made to the US Department of Justice." Already there are members in the U.S. government calling for 'anti-trust' charges against Google and, oh, baby, now this has got to add a lot of fuel to that fire!

Engadget spectulated that this, "....... may have something to do with allegations of Google holding back Verizon handsets with Microsoft's Bing on board, ostensibly in an effort to trip up its biggest search competitor. Another major dissatisfaction expressed by those working with Android code is that Google needs an advance preview of what is being done in order to give it the green light -- which, as noted by a pair of sources familiar with Facebook's Android customization efforts, isn't sitting well with people at all."

No wonder it isn't sitting well with OEM's and developers, among others, and who can blame them. As quoted by Engadget, and as Nokia's Stephen Elop puts it:

"The premise of a true open software platform may be where Android started, but it's not where Android is going."

As far as possible anti-trust charges against Google goes, Microsoft recently gave some additional anti-trust complaints to the European Union, which is already looking into anti-trust charges against the search giant. Ironically, if anyone should know anything about anti-trust practices, well it should be none other than Microsoft, a company that has traditionally acted in a mannor very similar to Google's own recent moves.

In conclusion, since I'm not privy to the inner workings of Google, I can't honestly say whether they are guilty or not of anything, but from the increasing number of reports that I'm hearing on how just 'un-open' Android seems to becoming , as well as the other various complaints, it's becoming increasingly clear that when Steve Jobs said that Google's motto of, "Don't be Evil", may be nothing more than "a load of crap" after all.

And that's my 2 cents 4 this Thursday, March 31, 2011

The iPad Kindle's Dell's Jealousy And Desperation

Dell's jealously is quite apparent when it comes to Apple's highly successful iPad, as it was just reported that Dell's global head of marketing, Andy Lark, recently predicted that it will ultimately fail, and stated:

“An iPad with a keyboard, a mouse and a case [means] you’ll be at $1500 or $1600; that’s double of what you’re paying," he said. "That’s not feasible.”

Ha, ha, ha! Is that funny or what?

How can you be expected to believe Dell when its executives apparently can't even count! As AppleInsider pointed out, you could easily get all of the above for around $207. Add that to a $499 iPad, at the low end, and you can see that Mr. Lark's figures don't exactly, well...... figure! When it comes to believability, apparently Dell is pretty dull!

Dell isn't the only company to bash the iPad success either, as AppleInsider's post also goes on to explain, but, as far as I'm concerned, Mr. Lark's statements are based not on reality, but simply rather just on plain old jealousy, frustration and sheer desperation.

As interesting as WebOS, Windows and Android tablets might seem in their respective demonstrations, they are, in fact, all rather half-baked and come out looking pretty lame in comparison to the iPad itself, and especially when compared to its silky smooth performance. Yes, the other tablets may boast of having more features, like running Flash, for example, but considering how Flash is not only extremely buggy, and a big resource hog, plus being a really big drain on battery life, coupled with the fact that it is also so dog-dang slow and, most importantly, its also one of the biggest, if not the biggest, threat to any device's security, I can't see how anyone can brag that have it on board.

In the future Android, Windows and WebOS tablets may indeed give the iPad a run for its money, but certainly not for now. Presently, they all come out somewhat short as far as I'm concerned. For one thing, Steve Jobs may have given Android a little too much credit when he said that it had about 100 tablet-ready apps available, because the truth is, that in comparison to the iPad's 65,000 plus, Android actually only has approximately a mere 17!

In the meantime, and in conclusion, I can't really take too seriously comments like Andy Lark's, and that goes especially when coming from a company who' s founder infamously stated that the best thing that he would do with Apple, if he were in Steve Jobs shoes, would be to: ".......... I'd shut it down and give the money back to the shareholders."

And that's my 2 cents 4 this Wednesday, March the 29th., 2011

The Impressive But Impractical Acer Iconia

Some people might find Acer's new dual-screen tablet, the Iconia, to be a rather cool and unique looking tablet, and it is. However, thanks to its whopping $1,200 U.S. starting price, for both Canada and the U.S., you can now also call it one of the most expensive!

With an Intel i5 processor, well the Iconia is sure to be one of the most powerful and fastest tablets around. Trust me, with dual 14 inch touch screens your going to need all the power and all the speed that you can get. I can't imagine what kind of battery life this thing will get, but I can't imagine it could get that much. No doubt, both screens come with their own battery.

Besides the i5 processor, well this beauty also boasts an impressive 4GB of memory! Wow, now how sweet is that? Also, the Iconia comes with a full 64bit copy of Windows 7 Home Premium(blah), full Intel integrated graphics, support for USB 3.0 and a whopping 640GB disk drive, and according to Engadget, it will also feature "a 1.3 megapixel camera, 802.11b/g/n WiFi, an HDMI output, gigabit Ethernet and a chassis that weighs in at 5.95 pounds. "

Personally, I'm not too sure that I like the idea of having dual-screens, and especially at 14 inches each. It would seem to me to be a rather unseemly and heavy thing to carry or lug around. On a flat surface maybe, but just imagine trying to hold this thing in one hand while using it with your other hand at the same time? That's me anyway, but you have to admit that at the very least its a very unique looking tablet, but I'm just not sure if I, or someone like President Obama, who is an iPad type of guy, would be interested in such a tablet, as cool as it might be in other regards.

The tablet market has certainly now gone main stream, and all thanks to the enormous success of both the iPad 1 and iPad 2. As Obama Pacman reported, block long iPad line-ups have not been limited to just the U.S. either, as the line-ups were equally as impressive and equally as long over seas as well.

The iPad has kicked started the tablet space in such a way that no one, no, not even Apple itself, could have possibly imagined it would, and there's no stopping it now. I expect that tablets will now take on a much bigger and more important role in technology from now on.

The Iconia, in conclusion, is certainly one of the most unique of all the tablets now coming to market, but as cool and impressive as it is, it is still rather impractical as far as I'm concerned. It may sell well, but some how I don't see it, or any other tablet for that matter, racking up the huge around-the-block line-ups as we have seen with the iPad 1 and iPad 2, but I could be wrong.

And that's my 2 cents 4 this mild and sunny Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Iconia photo via: Engadget

WWDC 2011: Will The iPhone 5 Make An Appearance?

The annual five-day love feast for iOS and Mac developers, better known as WWDC, will be held in glorious San Francisco this year on June 6th.

Yes, sir if your one of the above developers then this is one date that your going to want to pencil in, because, as many believe, that just like last year, Steve Jobs could possibly also be announcing the iPhone 5, which some are saying could include, and my fingers are crossed on this one, a bigger four-inch screen! I love the present Retina display, don't get me wrong, but the extra real estate that a four incher offers over that of the present 3.5 incher is more is really sweet. The only thing that some Android models have, that I like, is their four-inch screens.

At this years WWDC event, Apple will be unvailing over a 100 new features, many of which will be eagerly adopted by its idea and patent stealing competition I'm sure, and as Gizmodo reported, according to Phil Schiller, at least:

"At this year's conference we are going to unveil the future of iOS and Mac OS. If you are an iOS or Mac OS X software developer, this is the event that you do not want to miss."

In conclusion, I don't want to miss this one either, because, I just can't wait to see what uncle Steve and the Cupertino gang have got up their collective sleeves, and I'm hoping, and almost betting, that what ever it is, it's going to be good, real good, and, who knows, maybe even magical!

And that's my 2 cents 4 my rare second post of the day, Monday, March 28, 2011

Is This The Scariest Tsunami Video Ever?

Is the above video the scariest of all of the recent Japanese tsunami videos, as contended by Gizmodo?

I'm not sure, but it 's definitely a very scary video, and one that shows just how overwhelming and destructive the raw power of mother nature can be, and just how puny and helpless man is compared to mother nature when she's in one of her angry moods!

I can only wonder what all of those poor souls standing on top of that five-story building where thinking as everything around them was being swept into oblivion? Are they going to be next, is no doubt, one of the things that must have crossed their astonished minds and who can blame them?

Obviously, one of their biggest concerns would naturally be for their love ones where ever they were and if they would ever see them alive again! I know, for one, that I'd be completely fraught with total anxiety until I could confirm, one way or the other, just how my love ones, friends and associates were where.

If anything, the recent and tragic events that have unfolded in Japan can only help to put the fear of God into one, and help one to, hopefully, concentrate on what's really important in ones life, such as one's health, family and friends. All I will say, in conclusion, is, may God help Japan and its precious citizens, because after mothers rampage, well, their certainly going to need all of the help they can get.

And that's my 2 cents 4 this Monday, March 28, 2011

Is Android Really An Open Platform, Or Just A Hypocritical One?

Google loves to brag that Android is much better than Apple's iOS because it's 'open', but apparently Google's recent move to close Android's 'GingerBread' tablet version to others points that it may just may be hypocritically the other way around!

However, as AppleInsider pointed out yesterday, I'm beginning to think that it's the later.

Android so-called biggest advantage over that of iOS devices, or devices coming from RIM's PlayBobok or HP's upcoming WebOS based devices, such as the TouchPad, is that it is totally open, opened to anyone to add or do what ever they want to do with it, but is it really? Well, that claim is nothing but a lot of 'you-know-what', as far as I'm concerned.

The way I see it, if it was truly open, as they claim it is, then they wouldn't be restricting GingerBread from being downloaded by anyone, any old time, to do what ever they wanted to do with it, now would they? No, this move, on Google's part, to restrict who can download GingerBread doesn't surprise me one little bit. After all, when a company builds an OS, such as Android, largely on other people's stolen IP, then it also shouldn't be surprising if they claim that its open, when, in fact, it's really only partially open! Android is open alright, but only to the degree that Google wants it to be open, and then, no more and no less.

Funny thing, at least to me, is how they (Google and others) love to knock Apple down big time for pulling an app from its own App Store, for example, and then, when they turn around and hypocritically do the exact same thing, then they expect us to believe that somehow, when they do it, well that's a fine-and-dandy thing, but, however, when Apple does it, well now that's just another bad example of Apple's nasty, closed 'walled-garden' platform.

Android, of course, truly is open when it comes to allowing just anyone to download as much crappy software to its Android Marketplace, including software infested with trojan's, spy ware and other such nasty malware.

After all, why bother monitoring, like Apple, all of its apps to ensure that they are safe and of a higher quality? That'll just make it all the harder to give the false impression that the Android Marketplace is just as good as the App Store!

Seriously, the more apps, good or bad, that Google can cram into its eco-system and bolster its store's image, then the easier it is for Google to convince the sheep to swallow its cool-aid, and to accept the notion that it's open and thus better than Apple, even though critically thinking minds everywhere know better.

In conclusion, Android may be open alright, but only partially. You can add and do a lot with Android, but only to the degree, as stated above, that Google wants you to. If it's to Google's advantage, than thats fine, but if it's not, then expect to have Android's door slammed shut tight in your face!

And that's my 2 cents 4 this Friday, Happy iPad 2 day in Germany, Canada, and other countries day, March 25, 2011

OS X: Happy Birth Day!

Even though one of the fathers of OS X's, Bertrand Serlet, is leaving to pursue other scientific adventures, OS X itself turns the big 10 today!

Ah, it seems just like yesterday that I purchased and started to use the very first publicly available version of OS X. It was nick named Cheetah, and if I remember correctly, however, it should have been more correctly called turtle, yes, it was that slow. Not that slow that you couldn't use it, but slow enough to notice.

Cheetah was, in fact, nothing more than an expensive 'beta' version. Unfortunately, even though it really wasn't ready for prime time Steve Jobs had no choice but to release it early as developers were beginning to lose interest in it like real fast! Steve had to demonstrate that OS X was a serious venture or risk OS X becoming much like Apple's previous attempts to create a new and modern OS, such as its ill-fated Copeland and Pink OS's.

Still, even though it was rather slow and had little to no additional software at first, the first publically available version of OS X was pretty to look at, real pretty, and it was totally unlike anything that had gone before it. The icons, if desired, were huge and of such a high quality that everything else looked like utter trash in comparison!

Not only were the icons unlike anything seen previously, but the fonts, as well, were miles ahead of anything else that it wasn't even funny! OS X's font's were so sharp, so crisp and so easy on the eyes and to read that it was a real pain having to go back and read the fonts from either Mac Classic or especially Windows.

Well, that was then, and this, of course, is now, and OS X has grown up considerably since the first version of Cheetah started to roar. From Cheetah to Snow Leopard, and soon OS X Lion, OS X has gone on to inspire and totally revolutionized virtually every one of todays modern OS's, and not only the desktops varieties, such as Windows and Linux, but, in addition, virtually all of the modern mobile OS's as well, including, of course, not only iOS, but Windows Mobile 7, WebOS and all of the various Linux varieties such as Android.

In conclusion, all I will say is: HAPPY 10th. BIRTHDAY OS X! May you have many, many more!

And that's my 2 cents 4 this Thursday, March 24, 2011

OS X CD photo via: Flickr and MT Boulanger

New ThunderBolt iMacs Coming This May?

Yesterday, according to a post by AppleInsider, Apple may be issuing brand spanking new iMacs as early as this late April or early May.

It should be noted that this is all based purely on rumors made on a recent Twitter post by Brian Tong of CNet. According to Mr. Tong, he sites an anonymous source, which he confidently believes to be very reliable, that new iMacs are indeed "en route by ocean" to the U.S. and will feature Intel's latest "Sandy Bridge" silicon iron and its new Thunderbolt technology that premiered on the newest MacBook Pros.

Considering that the iMac was last updated way back in July of last year, I was rather expecting to see newer models at anytime. As much as I like the present look or form factor of the current iMac, unfortunately, according to Mr. Tong they won't be seeing any outward design changes this time around. That's both good and bad as far as I'm concerned, but I was still hoping to see a new external case. And yes, even though the present iMac is a rather sexy looking beast, I would still, none-the-less, love to see it further refined. For one thing, even though the last version drastically eliminated much of the bottom chin of the device, I would like to see it go farther, like eliminating it altogether! In other words, I would love to see the new iMacs end up looking much more like the present 27 inch Cinema Display, which, in my humble opinion, is a hell of a lot sexier than the iMac itself.

Also, I would love to finally see a an iMac with a built-in touch screen, and one that pivoted in order to allow you to use it horizontally as well as vertically. As well, I would also love to finally see an iMac, MacBook combo, one that featured either a slide-in, slide-out tablet or laptop! Apple has already taken out patents for such a combo, but has made no moves to market one as of yet, and maybe it never will, but I'm a hoping nonetheless. The idea that you could easily pop-in, or out your Apple tablet or laptop and thus instantly convert it into a more powerful iMac has always appealed to me. What ever, I just would love to see Apple do what it has done so well in the past, namely put out radically different products and more on the lines of these artist concepts found here.

With all of the attention these days being heaped on both the iPhone and the iPad, well it's time for Apple to show a little more love on its Big Macs, and in conclusion, and as far as this bloke goes, the sooner and the more radical that they are, the better!

And that's my 2 cents 4 this Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Future concept iMac photo via: Flickr and Baddewilblog

Another Week, Another 3 Apple Inspired Knock Offs

It seems that every week some competitor is coming out with some type of Apple inspired knock off and this week certainly is no different as you can see from the three companys listed below.

First off, Samsung, a major supplier of components to Apple, has just released in Europe its new MacBook Air inspired X1A Series 9, super ultrathin 11.6 inch laptop. Seen above, this sleek little-bugger sports an Intel i3 cpu; 1366 x 768 screen; 2GB of Ram and a 128GB SSD! The X1A goes on sale this April and will sell for approximately 1,200 Euros. In certain aspects it out features the MacBook Air, but its limited to officially running Windows 7 or Linux. This is a bummer, especially since the MBA can run both Windows, Linux and its own superior OS X.

Amazon is also going live this week with its own copy cat version of Apple's extremely popular App Store. Amazon's decision, however, of also including 'App Store' in its name apparently is going a wee bit too far for Apple who believes it could confuse customers, prompting them to sue Amazon as a result.

Thirdly, this week Rim announced that they are now taking preorders for their new BlackBerry iPad wannabe, its sexy new PlayBook tablet, which they expect to deliver April 19 . Its starting price is $500, similar to the iPad, but that only gets you a measly 7 inch screen which is great for portablitliy, but hardly sufficient to use in comparison to having a larger screen.

All of the above competitors are clearly getting their inspiration from Apple, and they clearly all have their plus's and negatives as well. The Samsung X1A, for instance, has some pretty decent and nifty specs, but it only runs Windows or Linux OS's, while the Amazon AppStore only has some 3,000 to 4,000 apps, and despite the fact that the PlayBook is slick and sexy looking, its screen is a little too small as far as I'm concerned and worse, it has very little apps to offer, so much so, in fact, that RIM has seen the need to run, in some kind of emulation mode, Android apps, which certainly are numereous, but lack the quality and numbers of those found in Apple's own App Store.

In other words, and in conclusion, as good as many of these Apple inspired offerings are, I'll think I'll make it easy on myself by sticking to the original Apple products rather than these mere knock offs.

And that's my 2 cents 4 this Tuesday, March 22, 2011

The Man Behind The Man: Steve Jobs & Jonathan Ives - Designer Extrodinary

The fears that one of the main reasons behind Apple's incredible success, besides that of Steve Jobs himself, namely Jonathan Ives, was about to leave Apple in order to return to educate his children back in his native England are apparently not true and nothing more than rumors.

In a fascinating profile of the 44 year old designer, Rob Waugh, reporting for Britain's Daily Mail, describes how the once designer of toilets rose to become the near-mythical designer of Apple products, including everything from the iMac, the iPod, the iPhone and iPad, and just about everything in between.

The Daily Mail article points out how Jonathan Ive was not only Apple's gain, but clearly Britain's loss, as noted by fellow British designer Sir James Dyson, the man behind the Dyson vacuum, who the Mail quotes as saying:

‘Britain has a strong tradition of design and engineering,’ he says. ‘But after we’ve trained brilliant minds, we need to keep them in Britain. Then the designs being exported to the world can create wealth here.’

In a way, you could say that Jonathan Ive is the man behind the man!

Truly, if Steve Jobs is the man behind Apple's success (and he is), then it can also be said that it's equally true that Ive was a huge factor behind that success, as the two of them both seem to think and act like one, with each propelling the other higher and higher, and the two of them together propelling Apple even still.

In conclusion, not only is Rob Waugh's post a great read, but it's also clear from reading it that Jonathan Ive has played just as an important role in Apple's success as Jobs himself. In the end, all I will say is: Good work Johny!

And that's my 2 cents 4 this sunny Monday, March 21, 2011

Jonathan Ive photo via: The Daily Mail, copyright Dave Benett

My 1,000th. Post And The iPad

Today's post, my 1000th., will be a another short one on the subject of the iPad, but I hereby promise, that on my last juicy Big Mac and yummy fries, that I won't post another thing on the iPad this week, since I don't post on the weekends, ha, ha, ha!

Seriously, there is some rather great news for all iPad owners, be it owners of the old or the newer version, because Richard Branson's new iPad publication, "The Project" will now no longer cost you a single solitary dime, at least for the fourth issue anyway, says the fine folks over at Gizmodo.

Yuppers, as long as advertisers continue to pick up the tab, it's hoped that we may never have to pay another itsy-bitsy penny for this great new read, and in this economy, well, let's face it, that's a good thing, a very good thing indeed!

The decision to offer The Project subscription-free while both the New York Times and Rupert Murdoch's The Daily, at the same time, are planning on erecting subscription pay walls is very interesting indeed. Of course, both these and other publications have a right to earn a profit for their hard work. After all, reporters, writers, photographers, etc., etc., as well as all all of the other associated costs don't come cheap, but, hopefully, if Richard Branson can make a go of it, then others, hopefully, in the future, as well, will follow his brave move in making their online publications totally subscription-free as well. Let's hope so anyway.

When it comes to online advertising, honestly, I personally don't mind them one little bit, providing that they are tasteful, well done, and that they address both the needs and wants of the readers. Actually, if they meet both my needs and wants then I actually prefer them! After all, if the major TV networks, which are all totally supported by advertising, can be profitable, then why can't the online publications such as The Project, The Daily, New York Times, or whom ever, also be directly supported by their advertisers, and make a profit at the same time? After all, unlike traditional publications, online versions don't have the extra cost for paper, delivery, etc.

In other iPad news the popular photo sharing site Flickr has also just come out with a new iPad slide show feature for iPad owners, and their announcement stated:

"We’re happy to announce some big improvements to the photo light box for iPad users! The light box is a handy, full browser photo viewer available from any photo page. From a photo page on Flickr, simply tap on a photo to view it larger (if available) and on a clean, dark background. Now you’ll be able to quickly swipe between photos, add to your favorites, and share with friends and family gathered around you. So grab your iPad and try looking at your favorite photos, your photostream, or the latest updates from your contacts in the new light box. Enjoy!"

In other iPad related news, well some are reporting that Apple may be facing some seirous component supply issues as a direct result of the recent and tragic events now unfolding in Japan. These reports have hit, naturally, of course, the price of Apple's stock, but what I find rather funny is why these reports would particularly impact Apple so hard, and yet barely seem to touch other OEMS stock even though they too are also in the same component supply boat as Apple?

For my 1,000th. post I will say, in conclusion, that it's really great to see Richard Branson's "The Project" being offered subscription-free, and to see Flickr's new slide show feature for the iPad, and I sincerely hope that they both succeed. Also, it's my hope that any component shortages due to the recent and tragic events in Japan will be short lived ones, and even more importantly, that the people of the great nation of Japan will also recover from this tragedy as quickly and as painlessly as possible.

And that's my 2 cents on my 1000th. post, 4 this dark and gloomy day, Friday 19, 2011

Eddy And The First Professional Rock Video Ever Made Entirely On The iPad 2!

Wow, now that didn't take long!

Why, the iPad 2 has been barely released and yet, as you can see from the above video, someone has already gone and released a professional music video, the very first, made entirely on and with an iPad, or should I more correctly say four iPad 2's!

The video is from Eddy, and, if I do say so myself, it features a real lively and catchy little remix called, "Need." Not only is it a catchy little dance number, but, for the moment anyway, it's now available as a free download, so get it now if you want, because who knows how long this great offer will be available.

There's been a lot of talk about the iPad 2's so-called 'lousy camera's, especially the front-facing one, but all-in-all, as Eddy's music video demonstrates, it's seems to be more than acceptable. Of course, the video was made with more than just the iPad 2 itself. It was also made with and by four professional video photographers, or as the video called them, "iPad-ographers!" No doubt too, that they employed some professional lighting and camera angles that also contributed to the overall 'acceptable' outcome of the video.

In conclusion, what can I say except that it's a cool music video, one featuring a hot singer and a very hot song, so if your into rock music, then by all means, go and check out the very first ever professional rock music video ever made on the newly released iPad 2.

And that's my 2 cents on the first iPad 2 music video 4 this hum-drum Thursday, March 17, 2011.

Cool iPad Music Apps: Stereolizer

Pssst..... wanna see something that's not only interesting, neat and even down-right freakingly uber awesome, but also down-right bloody dang-tooting cool? Then, by all means, click on and enlarge the above video to see Stereolizer, a $1.99 music app for your iPad that'll have you reliving the glory of days of radio gone by.

Specifically, Stereolizer is an app that brings back the days of listening to the radio by including a sexy-looking radio tuner, complete with nice big knobs, and, as well, a nifty little tape deck, which certainly comes in handy when you get the hankling to record any of the songs from its built-in list of over 10,000 online radio stations, or even for recording your own songs, and you can also even easily select and store your favorite radios into 3 presets of 10 radios each with its cool looking vintage analogical tape!

Simply reading about Stereolizer helps to bring back memories from my teen years, when I would stay up late, well into the night, listening and recording my favorite tunes until I plunkt out from sleepyness, dreaming that I too was also a famous rock star with a zillion sexy chicks wildly screaming out my name!

In conclusion, Stereolizer unfortunatley only comes in English and French, but it looks just so damn freakingly cool, that for my two bucks, its well worth it.

And that's my 2 cents 4 this cloudy and cold Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Source: Gizmodo

Bejeweled 3: The World's Top Puzzle Game Coming To The iPad?

Unfortunately, I, like millions of other poor saps out there, have to confess that I am virtually chained to an addiction that I can't, I won't, and quite frankly, I just bloody well refuse to give up!

Yes, while other people might be chained and totally addicted to alcohol, cocaine, cigarettes, or heroin, etc., etc., I, myself, am totally enslaved and happily addicted to a game called Bejeweled 3!

Yes, I know that sounds a little strange coming from a little snit like myself, a virtual non-gamer, but trust me on this one: Bejeweled 3 is just so damn much fun it's totally addictive and once I start playing it I just can't stop playing. Be it 1 am, 2 am, 3 am, or 4 am in the morning, once I start playing I usually can't stop until I end up bleary-eyed in the wee morning hours. This 'gem' of a game, by the way, probably also helps to explain all of them bloody deep bags under my eyes that I keep waking up to after playing all night as well!

Well, if playing Bejeweled 3 to all hours of the morning, day and night isn't bad enough, I have now just read that it appears that the world's number one top puzzle game will be now making its way from the computer screen to iOS screens everywhere, including, of course, the iPhone and the iPad!

Wikipedia describes Bejeweled 3's game play, which you can see above, this way:

"The core objective of the game is essentially the same as the previous installments in the series. Players are supposed to swap one gem with an adjacent one to form a chain of three or more gems of the same color. When this occurs the gems disappear and a new bunch of gems which are randomly generated drop from above to fill up the empty space. When falling gems automatically line-up a chain reaction known as a cascade is caused. In addition to high-definition graphics, new sound effects and the ability to match more than one set of gems at one time (a key feature that debuted in Bejeweled Blitz).[2] Bejeweled 3 also has a badge system, with some of the badges reserved for the most elite gem matcher's.[2]"

Bejeweled 3 features 8 modes of game play, including: Classic, my favorite; Zen; Lightning and Quest, plus several secret modes including: Butterflies, which I love; Poker, which I also really like and Diamond Mine.

Bejeweled 3 sells for just under $20 , which is low enough that even a cheap bastard like myself couldn't resist paying for, because, quite frankly, when your addicted what's a measly $20 for a quick and permanent fix? Well, just let me say that as far as this cheap little bugger goes, it was money well spent and despite the gobs of bags under my eyes that I get from by playing far longer than I should, I definitely consider it worth the price of admission, and especially considering all of the many, many hours of enjoyment that you'll get from this simply but 'gem-dandy' game.

Of course, if you don't want to pay the 20 bucks, then you can always play the free online version, but remember: you'll still have to pay by having your game play interrupted by various crummy ads, plus the knowledge of knowing that the paid version offers so many more features and cooler and fun game play. You can find some extra tips for playing the older version 2 here.

In conclusion, even though Bejeweld 2 is already available in the App Store, I still don't know when the Bejeweled 3 iOS verison will be arriving, but I do know that I can't wait..... and I don't even own an iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad 2 yet! Trust me, coming from a non-gamer, like myself, I can highly, none-the-less, recommend Bejeweled 3, but with a warning: be prepared to become addicted! Oh, and by the way, and once your addicted don't be surprised if you start waking up tired and with bags under your eyes.

And that's my 2 cents on Bejeweled 3 addiction 4 this sunny, but cold, Tuesday, March 15, 2011

The iPad 2's Highly Successful Opening Weekend

By viewing the video above, it's easy to believe Scott Sutherland, from WebBush Securities, when he says that Apple may have already sold up to one million iPads 2 during its opening weekend! With such long line-ups, it's no wonder that some now believe that the iPad still has no real competition!

Some believe that the iPad 2 will easily help to extend Apple's already commanding lead, and thus allowing it to dominate the tablet space for many years to come, with MoneyMorning even going so far to list seven reasons on why they believe it will remain the 'king of tablets'. Yes, even though the iPad 2 may be somewhat incremental, it's still believe to be more than enough to kill off its ever growing competition.

When it comes to the competition, PCMag recently did a comparison between the iPad and one of its perceived biggest competitors, the highly praised Motorola Xoom. As nice as the Xoom is, PCMag concluded that the iPad was still, by far, the best tablet of the two, or any tablet period, and they concluded:

"Apps are one of the biggest reasons to buy a tablet, and right now, this one isn't even close. It's part of the reason that, despite winning smaller victories like better multitasking views and e-mail notifications, the Xoom is just not on the same level as the iPad 2.

The iPad 2 received a higher rating than the Xoom because we think that it's a better device overall. But again, the Xoom is no slouch. If you aren't tethered to iTunes, the Xoom is the best non-Apple tablet you can buy. Will the BlackBerry PlayBook or other Android tablets change that? Stay tuned."

Sorry Xoom, nice try, but, as they say, "better luck next time!"

One of the reasons developers, like Mark Rein are so excited about the iPad 2 is because of the raw power that its new dual-core A5 chip, and, as well as its graphic GPU brings to the table. As one of the co-founders of Epic Games, Mark knows a thing or two about gaming, so it's amazing to hear him state that the iPad is as powerful, if not more so, then some dedicated gaming consoles such as the XBox 360 or the PlayStation! In fact, when it comes gaming consoles he states:

".... This is now more powerful than the first-generation Xbox. This is probably more powerful than a PlayStation 2 or a PlayStation 1 for sure. This is on the road to that, if it's not already."

Wow, now that's pretty powerful stuff to say about what is, undoubtedly, a much more powerful device than I even personally realized that the iPad was!

When it comes to the iPad 2's graphic abilities, well apparently - "... it blows away" its competitors such as the Xoom, and it is no doubt one of the reasons that even Linux purists 'can't wait to get an iPad 2".

In conclusion, as great as the iPad 2's opening weekend was, its distracters, of course, will continue to mock it, downplaying everything about it, while, at the same time, copying everything from it, and all the while still claiming that their iPad wannabe is better and more original. Too bad they just couldn't be more honest and just admit how great it is!

And that's my 2 cents 4 this Monday, March 14,

The iPad 2 Goes On Sale: Can: It Outsell The Original?

The original iPad sold well, some 15 million units in less than a year, but with the iPad 2 now officially going on sale as of today, can it possibly be expected to outsell the original iPad?

One indicator of just how well it might sell is the fact that the iPad's availibility, just mere hours after going on sale, has already slipped by some 1 to 2 weeks, meaning that Apple has probably already sold out its initial allotment! InvesterPlace.com did a post yesterday that helps to also boost the notion of the iPad 2 outselling the first.

The post reported on a ChangeWave survey that showed that even before the iPad 2 was even announced, it indicated that some 27% of people were not only planning on buying a future tablet, but when it came to other tablets such as Motorola's Xoom, the Galaxy Tab and RIM's PlayBook, among others, Gigaom reported, " it doesn’t look like Apple has much to worry about."

No wonder, with some 82% of those surveyed indicating that they would choose the iPad over the competition, I guess that Apple really doesn't have all that much to worry about after all, at least for the moment anyway. The only thing that would worry me would be if Apple were to become so complacent that it started to take the competition for granted. Clearly, the competition isn't going to be standing still and will stop at nothing to steal Apple's thunder, as did Android, in any which way that they can.

As InvestorsPlace noted, ChangeWave's recent survey indicated that the iPad, and tablets in general, are already having a very real impact and big impact on the planned purchases of other electronic devices, and in particular laptops and e-book readers. The survey noted that 17% of people have already put off purchasing the Amazon Kindle, while another 9% have put off purchasing other e-book devices directly because of the iPad.

Laptop purchases were further put off by some 11% of the people surveyed, and followed by another 10% for netbooks.

In conclusion, now with the super-energized iPad 2 now officially on sale, the above survey is already somewhat out of date, but one thing that we can be sure, the iPad 2 will not only outsell the first, but that it has already helped to totally change the digital landscape and it is now the main driving force behind the surging post-PC era.

And that's my 2 cents 4 this rainy, and I mean rainy, Friday, March 11, 2011

Asus's iMac Inspired ET2700 All-In-One PC

In the above video you can see the new, slim and very sexy all-in-one ET2700 PC from Asus. It sports a 27 inch multi-touch monitor that is capable of handling ten-finger input, and has an impressive 178 degree field of view, both horizontally and vertically.

Looking at the new Asus ET2700 it doesn't take that long to notice that its overall design and aesthetics, as good as they are, seem somewhat a wee-bit familiar. Hmmm, now where in hell have we seen this basic design before? Yuppers, I don't exactly know about you kido, but not only have I've seen this basic Asus ET2700 design before, but I know where too ...... it's from the iMac!

Yes, even though the monitor is somewhat recessed from the bottom panel, unlike the iMac, the front of this concept PC, which was recently revealed at this year's CeBIT, is more-or-less a total and blatant rip-off of the iMac. The pedestal or stand, though slightly different from the iMac is also a rip-off of the iMac's as the two bottom photos from imidoresc.ro clearly shows.

In conclusion, at the moment, this is nothing more than a concept PC. Whether-or-not Asus gets around to putting it on the market is another matter entirely, but it clearly shows the huge impact that Apple designs have on other people's designs. This can be seen in Google totally ripping off iOS's UI and patents for use in Android, and, of course, everybody else's copy cat version of the iPad and iPod. The list could go on, iTunes, the App Store, Windows 7 copying of gadgets, transparency, etc, etc, and so on, and so on.

And that's my 2 cents 4 this cloudy, but mild Thursday, March 10, 2011

Source: Engadget

Tablets: Thin Is In As The Next Galaxy Tab Gets Ready To Challenge The iPad 2

As the tablet wars ignited by Apple heats up, one participant, Samsung, plans to go directly head-to-head with the iPad 2 in the thinness department.

As reported today by Engadget, Samsung's upcoming 8.9 inch Galaxy Tab is teasing that it too, just like the newest iPad, will be incredibly thin as teased in photo on the left.

As far as the photo goes, well it's as plain as the warts on a witch's big, fat nose that this thing really does look incredibly thin, and barely thicker than its audio jack input!

Thin may be in, but whether-or-not it's going to be enough for Sammy, or anyone else for that matter, to be able to knock the iPad from off of its high perch is another question. Most likely Sammy's new Tab will include some form of Android's fragmented iOS copy cat OS, but regardless of what it or other tablets may or may not include some analysts are now doubtful that any of them will be able to pose that much of a threat to the iPad, and especially now that the iPad 2 is about to hit the market this very coming Friday. AppleInsider also reported that another one of those analysts, Mark Moskowitz, thinks that the iPad could even cause a 'bubble burst' for its competitors and he stated:

"In our view, the technical and form factor improvements of the iPad 2 stand to make it tougher for the first generation of competitive offerings to play catch-up, meaning actual shipments could fall well short of plan,"

Well, as far as the new Samsung Galaxy Tab goes, we'll just have to wait it out to see just how thin it is on the 22nd. of this month, but by then the iPad 2 may have already sold a few hundred thousand units. Sales wise, some analysts are even predicting that it will sell out even faster than the original iPad did, which, as we all know, sold out incredibly fast and in huge numbers!

In conclusion, the battle of the tablets is just beginning and the ultimate winner has yet to be crowned. For the moment, the iPad 2 reign supreme, and the one tablet to beat. Whether-or-not any of the hordes of upcoming tablets from the patent plagued Android platform, or the RIM PlayBook and HP's new WebOS based platforms can actually dethrone the iPad is debatable, but I'm sure that if any of them do, well it ain't going to be easy or pretty, but then again, who really knows?

And that's my 2 cents 4 this sunny Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Cool Accessories For The iPad and iPad Wannabe's: The PadPivot

Above you can see a video of the PadPivot, a new iPad stand designed not only for use on your desk or table, but also for your knees, where most tablets, including the iPad, usally end up being used the most.

The developers took their idea for the PadPivot, which works with other tablets besides the iPad, to KickStarters, a site dedicated to helping budding entrepreneurs raise capitol to kick start their ideas for new products. The PadPivot developers needed a modest $10,000, but backers, some 2945 strong and growing, have so far already ended up pledging a whopping $120,352 as of this writing!

One of the neat things about the PadPivot is just how bloody small and portable it is. You can literally fold the thing up and store it in your pant pockets. The PadPivot developers, according to their KickStarter page, states the following about the PadPivot:

"PadPivot™ is the ultimate tablet stand for iPad, Galaxy Tab, Kindle, or other tablet device. It features hands-free positioning on your lap and adjustable angles and positioning on the desktop. The ingenious hinged design allows Pad Pivot to fold small enough to fit in your pocket, purse, or bag making it the most versatile and unique stand in the marketplace. Be sure to watch the video!

Each PadPivot™ comes with:

Microfiber Carrying Bag (Basic or KickStarter version)

Tether Strap to keep on leg

Dust Cover to keep Grip Plate clean when not in use (Basic or KS version)

Shipping Charges:

Free Shipping to US and Canada

Europe - Add $15 to your Pledge for shipping at the $25, $35, & $70 Levels.

Outside North America and Europe - Add $20 to your Pledge at all Levels."

With its tethering strap to keep it safely and securely snuggled onto you leg, the PadPivot will allow you to do other things while using your iPad, like taking a sip of coffee, or maybe a bite from a nice juicy donut! Hmmm..... donuts..... yummy! Of course, as you can see from the video or the photos on its site, the PadPivot makes a niffy and convenient table stand as well as a leg stand.

In conclusion, the PadPivot might just be the one iPad accessory that your really looking for. I don't have an iPad 2 yet, but, hopefully, soon after the bloody little darling goes on sale here in Canada and beautiful Germany, then I'm most likely going to buy one whether I can afford it or not, plus a PadPivot to go with it as well.

And that's my 2 cents 4 this sunny, mild Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Source: Gizmodo

Is Android Being Hypocritical When It Comes To iOS?

Despite all attempts to make Apple and its ground-breaking iPhone platform appear to be an evil walled garden, the fact remains that when it comes to mobile platforms Android is not only being highly hypocritical of Apple, but it has a lot more problems on its hands to worry about than iOS has, and I'm not simply talking about Android's reported fragmentation issues either.

That's because in addition to all of its fragmentation, Android, the so-called free and open platform, is now beginning to appear to be anything but free and open, and more importantly it appears not be anywhere near as ....... SECURE! Yes, while criticising Apple for pulling apps from its App Store, or using a so-call 'kill-switch', Google hypocritically does exactly the same thing, but only when Google does it, well, they are good, where as Apple is bad!

So, is Google's Android community really being hypocritical when it comes to Apple and its iOS platform?

Well, for starters, since Android is supposedly free and anyone can supposedly add just anything old app that they want, and any old time that they want, Android is now being plagued with all kinds of cheep and cappy apps, including malicious and dangerous ones that are loaded with all kinds of virus's and what not. Recently Google discovered over 57 of these malicious apps and they accordingly decided, without asking for their owners permission, to activated a 'kill-switch' to automatically remove the rogue apps in question, as well as modifying the owners device!

This is beginning to smack people as being a little too creepy, and as Gizmodo pointed out: "This is all very unsettling to say the least." Yes, and it's more than unsettling, it's also down right creepy and smacks of Google being 'Big Brother', something that they love to accuse Apple of being.

Google, in response, sent the infected device owners the following message:

"You are receiving this message to inform you of a critical issue affecting your Android Market account.

Hello,

We recently discovered applications on Android Market that were designed to harm devices. These malicious applications ("malware") have been removed from Android Market, and the corresponding developer accounts have been closed.

According to our records, you have downloaded one or more of these applications. This malware was designed to allow an unauthorized third-party to access your device without your knowledge. As far as we can determine, the only information obtained was device-specific (IMEI/IMSI, unique codes which are used to identify mobile devices, and the version of Android running on your device).

However, this malware could leave your device and personal information at risk, so we are pushing an Android Market security update to your device to remove this malware. Over the next few hours, you will receive a notification on your device that says "Android Market Security Tool March 2011" has been installed. You are not required to take any action from there, the update will automatically run. You may also receive notification(s) on your device that an application has been removed. Within 24 hours of receiving the update, you will receive a second email confirming its success.

To ensure this update is run quickly, please make sure that your device is turned on and has a strong network connection.

For more details, please visit the Android Market Help Center.

Regards,

The Android Market Team"

I must agree with some of Gizmodo's commenters, like Snitch, who stated:

"Does this mean that they can use a cheap excuse and pull your Facebook app for example. Just the fact the they have that kind of power over your Device is kind of creepy. Why don't they use this method to push out software updates instead and be less evil."

Good point Snitch, and that's exactly what I would like to know. Another commenter, who I unfortunately can't remember, stated something to the effect that:

"Why be upset with Google? Would you be upset if the police went into your house to arrest criminals stealing your stuff? Do you think you have to first give the police permission to stop them?"

My answer to such thinking would be: since when is Google the police? They are not the police; nor are they a government agency... period! They are, in fact, just a corporation, and apparently one that has gotten so big that they think that they can act like the government at will. The fact remains, they can hypocritically knock down Apple for its so-called wall-garden, but the truth is, Apple's so-called wall garden is the main reason why its App Store is filled with quality and secure apps, unlike the mostly crappy and insecure ones found in the Android Market Place!

So, in conclusion, is Google's Android community being hypocritical when it comes to Apple and its iOS platform, the platform that they love to knock down at the same time they love copying to the ninth degree? Yes, I most definitely think so and apparently it's also a lot more than that too.... it's apparently also a lot less secure, and a lot more buggy to boot!

And that's my 2 cents 4 this very wet, rainy Monday, March 7 (already!), 2011

No Blog Post Today: Blogging Technical Difficulties

Unfortunately, due to technical difficulties with my otherwise most excellent Google sponsored Blogspot account, I won't be posting my regular post today. Maybe tomorrow, hopefully, if there are no more technical difficulties. Otherwise, I'll just have to wait until I can move on to another blogging service, and who knows how long that will take?

Until then, take care.



And that's my 2 cents on not being able to give you my 2 cents 4 this Friday, March 4, 2011

The iPad 2 And Steve Jobs: He's........ BACK!

He's ............. back!

Yes sir, Mr. Apple himself, Mr. Steven P. Jobs, was back on the big stage and showing off some of the really big improvements from the big new iPad 2 launch, which, by the way, goes on sale on the 11th. of this month.

As great as the new evolutionary, but not quite so revolutionary, iPad 2 goes, it's great and all, but, for me, what was even greater then the iPad 2 itself was how great Steve both looked and sounded, and as you can see for yourself in the portion of his presentation seen above, or you can see in the full 71 minute presentation seen here.

Yes, the man still looks as skinny as a proverbial toothpick, but otherwise he looked a hell of a lot better than what some gossip rags and web sites recently said he did, and claiming that the poor billionaire had a measely six weeks in which to live! Way to go Steve, you just made a monkey out of em all. Of course, this doesn't mean that he's still not seriously sick or that he's out of the woods yet, but after all the gloom-and-doom that some where spreading, well it's a welcome change, and one that, hopefully, gives hope that he'll recover and return, as soon as possible, at the job he loves so much.

As for the new iPad itself, it now features a much more powerful dual-core A5 cpu, and an amazingly and incredibly thin body, front and rear cameras and new, and some might even say some what mind-blowing software like the new Garage Band for iOS, and, of course, the newer upgraded iOS 4.3 itself. These and other upgrades, according to many, will now make it a lot harder, if not impossible, for all the 102 upcoming iPad copy cat wannabees tablets out there to effectively take on the iPad now. Good luck trying to kill off the iPad now, suckers!

In fact, even before the iPad 2 came along, mind you, the first iPad was so good that many, like TechCrunch, noted that when it came to the iPad, it ".... Still Had No Competition." How much more so is that true today, thanks to the iPad 2.

As far as the competition goes, they are certainly getting better, but they all had one big advantage that the iPad didn't, and namely that Apple did all of the really hard work and design for them. All they had to do was simply sit back and start copying away! In addition, of course, they all hoped that by adding their own little spin or twist to Apple's basic design, be it by including something a little bit different, or something a little extra that the iPad didn't originally have, they could all hood wink us into believing that their wannabee iPad killer clones were all that much better, that much more innovative and even all that more original than the original itself, the iPad!

In conclusion, it's great to see that the iPad is back, and that Steve is back, for ever how long, too!

And that's my 2 cents 4 this Thursday, March the 3rd... already!, 2011

Leaked Photos Of Super Thin iPad 2?

Here's a Chinese site that posted pictures, that they claim, are from Apple's new iPad 2, and, as you can see from the above photo, taken from their site, the new iPad definitely looks to be a lot thinner than that of the first gen. The iPad 2's front, including its bezel, looks pretty much the same with the exception of the now included built-in web cam. There also appears to be an additional camera on the back.

Whether these are actual photos of the actual iPad 2 remains to be seen, but later on today, at 1:PM Eastern Standard Time, all will be revealed and we'll know one way or the other. Personally, I rather like the extremely 'thin' form factor, but there are reasons, of course, to believe that the photos are no more than fakes, because as Engadget pointed out:

"We've looked into the digits on the back of the device and the model number is one for the original Apple TV while the FCC ID is for a WiFi-only iPad, but those could be mere placeholders on what is, once again, a mockup and not a real working tablet."

Whatever Apple reveals, some are now saying that the iPad 2 is not really the one to watch, but rather, however, it will actually be the iPad 3, which is expected sometime this fall. That particular model is expected to include a new and improved "Retina Display," and one that some claim will be a real game changer.

Meanwhile, over in the Android camp, the biggest challenger to the iPad, according to some, is Motorola's new Xoom tablet. As nice as it looks on paper, however, some are coming away from using the Xoom feeling a little disapointed. The biggest advantage, according to Google and its supporters is that Android is 'an open platform', which, according to them, is a much superior platform than the so-called 'closed' platform of the iPad.

Yes, they basically are claiming that Apple is a big, bad bully, for killing off and removing apps from its highly successful App Store with such reckless abandonment. Ha, what a piece of 'you-know-what?" Android, if anything, is open alright, open to everyone, including, all of those big, bad meanines out there. You know who I mean, all of those scheming little crooks, spammers and makers of all those lovely little trojans, virus's and what not.

Yuppers, and when it comes to trying to pull-the-wool over our eyes with downright lies about Apple's so-called walled-garden and its closed ecosystem, Google is also a big hypocrite for slamming Apple for pulling apps from its App Store. That's because Google does the exact same thing, but only when Google does it, well it seems that it's just fine and dandy. Just recently, for example, they pulled another 21 apps from their market place. Of course, I'm sure that Google and its 'Droid-tards', or what ever you call em, will happily point out that was justified because these particular apps were dangerous, but frankly, they should never have been allowed in the Android market place........... in the bloody first place! Why to go Android, so much for your so-called 'open' platform! Why it's almost enough to make one want to vomit.

In conclusion, I'm looking forward to seeing whatever Apple's latest iPad crop will bring forth. but I'm hoping that it includes, as many suspect it will, Intel's latest and greatest technology....... Thunder Bolt. I recently read somewhere that Motorola's new Xoom tablet was built largely based on what they anticipated that the iPad 2 would include. Well, well, I be willing to bet that they never quite anticipated anything as radical as Thunder Bolt, which, for them, would be like being hit in the head by a real thunder bolt. Now if that doesn't shock the 'you-know-what' out of them, then I don't know what would.

And that's my 2 cents 4 this Wednesday, March 2, 2011

The BBC On The The Funnier Side Of Using A BlackBerry Or An Apple Product

Since I'm stuck here in beautiful, but ever so snowy Canada, I am now so totally pooped-out and exhausted from shoveling this mysterious 'white stuff' that keeps falling, for some strange reason or another, from the sky to the ground! Therefore, being the totally exhausted little whimp that I am, I've decided that I'm going to go easy on myself for today's post by simply posting the above video on the frustrations of using 'fruity' technology such as a BlackBerry or an Apple!

So, inconclusion, I hope that you, my dear two or three readers, will enjoy this hilarious BBC sketch above, as performed by the extremely talented, funny, English comedic genius's of Ronnie Colbert and Harry Enfield, as much as I did!

And that's my 2 cents 4 this snowy, snowy Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Sourc: Flickky.com