Apple's Latest And Greatest News: Steve Jobs Is Back 4 WWDC!

Yesterday I read, as is my usual daily habit, several news posts concerning Apple. I especially liked TechNewsDaily's post on Apple's iconic Fifth Avenue Store. Apparently, it's the most photographed tourist site in all of the Big Apple, or at least in Manhattan! Yuppers, more people snap up pictures of Apple's sleek, glass-cubed store than any other tourist attraction, be it the Empire State building, Rockefeller Center, Times Square, etc.

Another interesting Apple post was TNW's post, "Apple accounts for nearly two thirds of all app downloads despite fierce competition!" Android fan boys can boast till the cows come home about how Android is out selling the iPhone, but the truth of the matter is that the iPhone out does Android in pretty much every other area, including, as TNW notes, downloads. Amazingly, even though Apple's downloads have shrunk somewhat because of Android and the other so-called app stores, it still managed to account for almost 60% of all downloads out of the other 58 copy-cat app stores that were surveyed in the first quarter of 2011! Way to go Apple!

Another amazing story that I enjoyed, concerned Apple's amazingly, huge, humongous, colossus, and overly enormous piggy bank that is now growing so fast that the blog, Bullish Cross predicts that it could possibly hit the amazingly, huge, humongous, colossus, and enormous sum of $300 billion by 2015, only a few short years away! This is up considerably from the $81 billion projected that Apple will have by the end of this year. Wow, for crying out chocolate cover bacon and grits, now that's what I call one-hell-of-a-piggy-bank! Hmmm.... just think of the all the yummy pizzas that one could buy with that kind of cash..... oh, baby!

In conclusion, by far the biggest news that I read yesterday about Apple was its announcement that Steve Jobs, the big man himself, will be heading its upcoming WWDC, where he is also expected to announce Apple's new iCloud service, iOS and OS X Lion! Now that's big and exciting news indeed, and the mere fact that Steve was going to be there sent Apple's stock soaring. The stock hit $347.83, or up some $10.42 cents per share, or some 3.09%, in regular trading, and yet another $1.17 in after hour trading. With approximately 930 million shares, that little bit of news meant that Apple's market value increase by an amazingly, huge, humongous, colossus, and overly enormous $10.7 billion plus for the bloody day..... now that's what I call a good day's

And that's my 2 cents 4 this Wednesday, June o1, 2011
Steve Jobs picture via: Gizmodo

The Future Is Almost Here: 2011 WWDC

For a lot of people, myself included, Christmas doesn't come on December 25, but rather in June, and actually goes by the name of WWDC, or Apple's World Wide Developers Conference.

As usual, the weeks and days before the big event is one of wishes, hopes, guesses and wild rumors. ComputerWorld's Johnny Evans speculates that we might, based on rumors, expect to see the sixth generation of the iPhone, or better known as the iPhone 5. As he points out, the next iPhone will actually be the sixth. There was at first the iPhone, then the iPhone 3G, the iPhone 3GS, the iPhone 4, followed by the Verizon iPhone 4. Personally, I consider the Verizon iPhone to be basically the same as the iPhone 4 on AT&T, but whatever.

The iPhone 5, or even iPhone 4S as some are calling it, is basically going to be a beefed up iPhone 4, including an A5 chip, an 8 megapixel camera, GDMA and GSM compatibility, and may possibly even include NFC capabilities. Personally, I would love to see a four inch screen more than anything else.

The big iPhone news here will be the introduction of iOS 5, one that some speculate could be one hell of a sweet upgrade indeed. However, the really game changing iPhone is not expected until sometime next year, but you never know, you know, Apple could always surprise us yet again?

One thing that really excites Jonny Evans, however, like myself, is more info on OS X's upcoming Lion, an OS that some are now beginning to believe will be available at, or shortly there after, WWDC itself. As Mr. Evans notes, there will be some really great Lion features, including:

"Reading List, Mission Control, Finder and Mail improvements (including a unified in-box and full-screen view). AirDrop, iCal improvements, and much broader support for Microsoft Office improvements will also feature in this release, which Apple has said will implement those features which most make sense taken from its iPad systems."

Another significant bit of WWDC news could be with the MacBook Air. This is especially interesting considering the tight availability of the existing models. Intel's new low-powered i7's are a real possibility, and with that low power I'm hoping that Apple will bring back its back lit keyboard. The removal of that was considered to be a really big bummer on Apple's part and the sooner it's brought back, well the better as far as I'm concerned! Jonny Evan's lists the following MBA interesting points to consider:

-These are the systems Apple sees as the future of mobile computers.

-They are likely to emerge as 'best in class' citizens of the more compatible iOS and Lion systems.

-Competitors at Computex this week are already targeting the form factor, with Intel introducing a new 'Ultrabook' design to compete with iPads and the MacBook Air.

-Apple has already admitted that MacBook Air notebooks are among its most popular Macs, and that these computers contributed to Apple's 28 percent year-on-year increase in market share."

Last, but not least, many are expecting, finally, news on Apple's iTune/iCloud streaming service. Already, unlike Google and Amazon, Apple is believed to have completed deals with most, if not all, of the four big music companies that will allow it to stream music via the cloud to iOS devices, and, of course, both Macs and PCs! This could put the old kaput's to the competition and finally make it near impossible for them to overcome. After all, Apple didn't spend over a billion dollars for their massive North Carolina data center for nothing. I'm expecting big things here, even game changing ones.

In conclusion, you can bet your last pair of cream-puff underwear that all of the speculation and rumors are going to hot up the closer we get to the big day, but one thing seems to be shaping up: WWDC 2011 may just be one of the most significant events yet, and I can't wait until June the sixth to see what happens.

And that's my 2 cents 4 this Tuesday, May 31, 2011

The Asus PadFone, The Smartphone That Thinks Its A Tablet

Engadget, among others, is reporting on Asus's new PadFone. The PadFone is basically a smartphone, but one who's new docking pad can easily into an honest-to-goodness tablet!

As Engadget pointed out, its only a mock-up for the time being, but Asus is hoping to have it in customers hands around Christmas time. The docking station itself is utterly useless without the phone, as all it basically does is give you a larger multi-touch screen, plus some extra ports thrown in for good measure.

Some people seem to be really excited about this concept, but personally I think it looks downright retarded! I especially don't like that stupid bulge, which, of course, consists of the phone part. The PadFone will also be featuring the next update of Android OS, namely, "Ice Cream Sandwhich". Apparently, HoneyComb isn't sweet enough, especially when you consider that many reviewers consider it to be half-baked.

Even though I give kudos to Asus for coming up with the concept for the PadFone, the current mock-ups, which could chance at any time, simply don't turn my crank as some people would say. I'm much more interested in Apple's concept where an iPad can simply slide into a large, multi-touch iMac looking type display unit, meaning you get yourself a nice tablet and desktop combo, a much better concept than simply a phone, tablet combo! Apple's concept would give you a 21" or larger screen that, in my mind anyway, is a hell of a lot cooler than some dinky 10 inch tablet screen.

In conclusion, even though I'm not that crazy about the PadFone concept itself, it is just one more sign that the competition to take on the iPad is about to get a lot hotter from here on out.

And that's my 2 cents 4 this Monday, May 30, 2011

Did Apple Just Build An A5 Equipped MacBook Air?

Apple's new MacBooks and iMacs may have Intel's latest cpu's and ThunderBolt on board, but, if a recent report from a Japanese blog is correct, well future Macs may have a little extra added, namely: A5 processors!

Yes, it seems, that according to the Mac Blog MacOtakara, Apple has already built a ThunderBolt equipped MacBook Air, and, further more, it claims that Apple was surprised and impressed that it performed far better than it had originally expected.

The blog couldn't verify whether the A5 equipped MacBook Air was running a version of iOS or a full-blown version of OS X, but if true, this more-or-less, adds some extra muscle to recent rumors that Apple was considering dumping Intel processors for those of its own designed ARM processors.

As pointed out by Tuaw, if true the A5 MacBook Air would most likely be more of an experiment rather than any actual plans by Apple to abandon Intel based models. First of all, the main reason being that even though ARM based chips are more than powerful enough to run existing iOS devices, they are not nearly as powerful as Intel's own. As Tuaw also pointed out, an A5 MacBook Air would be essentially nothing but an iPad with a built-in keyboard.

Also, as noted by AppleInsider, any transition to ARM chips would present another significant challenge, namely that all existing Mac OS X programs would have to be rewritten or modified, something that seems a little unlikely. This alone would make the chance of ARM chips replacing Intel chips anytime soon rather unlikely. However, it does gives some credence to Apple planing on making some big changes in the future, and changes that we can now only speculate on.

For me, I can't help but wonder and speculate that since Apple has already bought out two chip design companies, if Apple may not be planning on using some of its huge piggy bank to do something really big, like possibly buying out AMD, Samsung , ARM or some other chip manufacturer outright? This would mean that Apple would control most of the critical parts of its business from designing to the manufacturing of its products. Also, by controling a company such as AMD, ARM or Samsung, Apple would also yield a lot of control critical over components needed by its competition, a definite competitive advantage if you ask me.

In conclusion, we really don't know if Apple did, or didn't, build an experimental A5 MacBook Air, but whether they did, or didn't, I'm betting that Apple is definitely planning on doing something big, something really, really big in the near future that's going to turn the high tech world on its head! Maybe I'm wrong, but time will tell.

And that's my 2 cents 4 this Friday, May 27, 2011

Video-4-The-Day: A Trip To Saturn

5.6k Saturn Cassini Photographic Animation from stephen v2 on Vimeo.

Today's post will be a short one, but a Jim-Dandy one at that! As you can see, it's a video of a real, live fly-by of the majestic, beautiful and ever so graceful planet of Saturn, the mighty gas giant that orbits the Sun between the orbits of puny, little old Mars and the even mightier planet Jupiter.

This is one video that you have to watch at full screen. It was recorded from images stitched together as the American space probe, Cassini, approached the jewel of the night skys in 2004. The resulting video shows what it would actually look like to fly pass the glorious ringed planet at a speed of approximately 17,000 miles per hour, which is almost as fast as me running away from a plate of ham! (Yikes! I hate, oh how I hate ham!)

In conclusion, this amazing video of Cassini's approach of Saturn was featured on one of my all-time favorite web sites, Astronomy Pic Of The Day, and was shot in real color, and features a musical background from the NY Philharmonic playing Adagio for Strings by Samuel Barber, which, to me anyway, is a perfect fit for this video.

And that's my 2 cents 4 this Thursday, May 26, 2011

Consumer Report's Top Ranking Laptops: MacBook Pro

Yesterday's post, on the new Dell XPS 15z, noted that it looked a lot like the MacBook Pro, which, by the way, a lot of companies are keen on copying in way one form or another these days. However, what the Dell's, HP's, and other laptops on the market don't have, that the MacBooks do, is Consumer Report's highest rankings, because just like a hard-working housewife with her trusty broom, the entire line of Apple MacBooks have sweep its recent top rankings!

For example, as noted by AppleInsider:

"Apple took an impressive five of the top seven spots in the 13-inch category. The 13-inch MacBook Air led the pack with 76 points, while Sony and Asus took the final two places. The Mac maker took three of the top spots in the15-inch category, though the competition lagged by just three points.

In the 17-inch category, Apple took the top two spots with scores of 80 and 81. However, it should be noted that Apple did not win the 14-inch category, since it doesn't make a laptop that qualifies for the size class."

Wow, that's quite impressive, and especially considering that Consumer Reports also lists the iPad as leading the rankings for tablets in both quality, features and pricing, and that the Mac itself, including desktops, is now seriously kicking Windows sorry ass big time, as noted by John Paczkowski of all things 3D, who wrote:

"There’s really no other way to say this: The Mac is kicking ass. Not only is its growth outpacing that of the broader market, it’s doing it in virtually every segment from government to enterprise".

In conclusion, it's not surprising to read of the MacBooks recent high ranking by Consumer Reports, especially considering the fact that everyone seems to be copying Apple products in one form or the other, be it the iPhone, iPad, the App Store, or the MacBook itself, which only goes to prove who's the boss when it comes to designing and building the best products, and that would be...... Apple!

And that's my 2 cents 4 this cloudy, but at least it's not raining, Wednesday, May 25, 2011

The New Dell XPS 15z: Or How Dell Rips-Off Apple

Dell has been teasing the tech community that its new Dell XPS 15z would be worth the wait, that it would be unique, innovative and utterly different than anything else on the market. What the XPS 15z turned out to be, however, is anything but. What Dell did was basically the same as what everyone else does these days.... it simply rip-off and copied Apple!

Yes, just as Microsoft's Vista and Windows 7 have shamelessly copied OS X, or even more shamelessly, just as Google 's Android rip-off and copied iOS, Round Rock's latest laptop has blatantly copied the MacBook Pro's look and, to a certain extent its feel. As you can see, in the above video, it's a very nice looking laptop, and certainly the nicest that I've seen so far coming from Dell, but to call this thing as being innovative, or unique would be stretching it a bit.

Even though the XPS 15z seems to have a good build quality, Engadget says: "But let's get this out of the way right now: though the XPS 15z most definitely looks like a MacBook Pro and sports similar materials, you'll wind up disappointed if you're expecting the same exacting attention to detail."

Gizmodo went so far as to call Dell's XPS 15z official unveiling as: "Well That's Terribly Disappointing." Basically the XPS 15z is nothing more than another Apple clone, nice, but hardly nice enough. That isn't to say that it's not a great computer, because it is. The problem is that that it offers nothing new, unique or innovative as Dell's teasing promised it would be. Certainly, its basic sticker price of $999 is attractive enough, especially considering it comes complete with one of Intel's new dual-core i7 chips and some pretty nice speakers, plus its over-sized track pad which even comes with some MacBook Pro like multi-touch gestures.

The XPS 15z is not, of course, the very first laptop to attempt to mimic the design and feel of the MacBook Pro, that would go to companies like HP and their line of Envy laptops. Still, if I were in the market for a Windows laptop the XPS 15z would definitely be in the running. If I have to use an inferior machine, running an inferior OS, other than the MacBook Pro, then the MacBook Pro qualities of the XPS 15z or the HP Envy would certainly be enticing, which, no doubt is exactly what Dell and HP were trying to achieve by mimicking the XPS 15z and Envy's to mimic the MacBook Pro in the first place.

As far as the new Dell XPS 15z goes, well, I will simply conclude by quoting Engadget which stated: "When Dell tells you that the XPS 15z has no compromises, that's not quite the case -- it's a solid choice at this price point, but corners were cut to get here."

And that's my 2 cents 4 this dreary, blue and rainy Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Watch Out iPad, HP Claims Its TouchPad Will Be More Than Just The Number One Tablet --- It'll Be The Number One-Plus Tablet!

When it comes to tablets the iPad is number one, but not for long, at least according to HP's European head, Eric Cador. Speaking in the beautiful French resort of Cannes, Mr. Cador said:

“In the PC world, with fewer ways of differentiating HP’s products from our competitors, we became number one; in the tablet world we’re going to become better than number one. We call it number one plus.”

HP's new TouchPad will be utilizing Palm's highly praised WebOS which it recently purchased for $1.2 billion, and an OS which was developed largely by former Apple employees. Before HP bought it, it was believed that Apple also interested in buying Palm for $600 million cash. However, the rest is history and now HP got what it always wanted, its very own OS.

One of the factors that HP is touting that will make its TouchPad better than number one is the notion that it is big not only in the consumer space, but also in the enterprise space as well. Good luck on that one HP, because frankly your going to need a lot of it. HP might be big, but so is Apple, a company that has so much money in the bank that, if it wanted to, it could easily buyout HP outright.

In conclusion, HP may dominate the sales of PC's, but that doesn't automatically mean it will do so in the tablet space, but on the other hand it doesn't exactly rule it out either. We'll just have to wait and see what happens, but in the meantime, and as far as this old bloke goes, HP is just one of many other companies that have boasted that they would beat out the iPad, but of which have all thus far completely failed to come even close. In other words, I won't be holding my breath on HP's TouchPad either,.



And that's my 2 cents 4 this Monday, May 22, 2011

Sources: Engadget via The Telegraph. Photo via: Laptopning

Video-4-The-Week: An Unearthly View Of The Earth

El Cielo de Canarias / Canary sky - Tenerife from Daniel López on Vimeo.

Today's post will be a little different, it's an 'unearthly' view of the earth, and specifically a time-lap view of the hauntingly beautiful Canary Islands, so be sure to view it in full-screen mode for dramatic effect, the earth as you may have never witnessed it.

From my perspective , after viewing this video, it almost seemed as if I was on some mysterious and enchanting far-off planet in the far flung reaches of the galaxy, so let's just call it the 'Planet of the Canaries' for the moment, even though no canaries can actually be seen in the video.

There may be no actual canaries flying around in this amazing video, but what we do see is an absolutely enchanting and utterly amazing view of clouds weaving majestically in-and-out between the mountain tops like the rise and fall of a mighty ocean, and virtually breath taking, as they dance silently and as gracefully as any ballet dancer ever could. Ah, it's almost as beautiful as a fall morning in Baden-Württemberg, or Bavaria, in equally beautiful, if not more so, Germany!

So, in conclusion, what ever you do, please view the above dream-like video in full-screen mode and dream on.

And that's my 2 cents 4 this Friday, May 20, 2011

Source: Astronomy Picture of the Day

iPad Accessories: Logitech Tablet Keyboard for iPad®

It comes with with a 3-year warranty, includes four installed AAA batteries, case/stand, is Bluetooth wireless, includes user documentation, and costs $69.99 U.S. --- it's the new Logitech Tablet Keyboard for iPad®, and as you can see from Engadget's photo above, it's also a very sleek and sexy looking little thing-a-ma-jig to boot!

Of course, it's not the only case/combo for the iPad, but it's definitely, in my humble opinion, the first to make me go, "wow, I want it!" , and it's also definitely a better deal then Apple's own keyboard, since it's wireless and allows you more mobile freedom. According to Logitech, whom I just last night happened to purchased a new mouse/keyboard from, for my one-and-only Windows machine, the Logitech Tablet Keyboard for iPad® includes the following nifty features:

Keeps a low profile

The compact keyboard combines the best of traditional keyboards and laptop keyboards, for a great experience wherever you use your tablet.

Does double duty

On the go, the carrying case helps protect your keyboard. And once you arrive, it converts into a sturdy stand for your iPad that’s adjustable to just the right angle.

Speaks Apple

The keyboard pairs easily with iPad (and even iPhone® or iPod® touch ) over Bluetooth® wireless. Use it on your desk, lap or anywhere within 30 feet of your iOS device.

Plays along

You get media controls—like play, pause, volume up and volume down—right at your fingertips.

In conclusion, the Logitech Tablet Keyboard for iPad® is the most interesting iPad keyboard/stand/cover combo that I've seen yet, and unless someone can top it and soon, this is most likely the one that I will personally eventually end-up purchasing myself.

And that's my 2 cents 4 this Thursday, May 19, 2011

Nanosys QDEF Film: Or How To Add OLED Color Depth To An iPad Without Adding Extra Power Consumption

The one big advantage over traditional LCD screems that OLED's have is their superior color depth, which by comparison, makes LCD's panels look, well a little washed out. However, as you can see in the above video of a modified iPad, its LCD screen is easily showing off all of the color depth richness of a OLED, but without all the extra power consumption that OLED's demand!

This is because the iPad was outfitted with Nanosys new QDEF screen film, a film that adds about 100 microns to a screens thickness, but nonetheless is expected to see production in several Android based Korean tablets soon.

I'm not exactly sure why they picked the iPad to show off the new film, other than the fact that it kind of makes all Android tablets in comparison look, oh, you know, a little washed up themselves. I'm sure Apple might be interested in also using Nanosys new film, and if they do, well I don't think I would mind the extra 100 microns being added to the iPad's overall screen thickness, after all, what's a measly 100 microns anyway?

In conclusion, even though OLED's have their benefits over LCD's, so do traditional LCD's have benefits over OLED's, so being able to combine all of the color depth goodness of an OLED screen on top of all of the goodness that you get from the iPad's LCD screen, such as its color consistency and fidelity, etc., would seem to me to be a wining combination indeed.

And that's my, I wish it would stop raining and I was in Germany, 2 cents 4 this Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Via: Engadget

Rumor: Microsoft To Buy Out Nokia? If So, Should Apple Buy Out Samsung?

Today, Engadget reported that Eldar Murtazin, a Russian blogger with a considerable and successful track record on all things Nokia, is now behind a rumor that Microsoft will start negotiations, as early as next week to, buy out Nokia's entire mobile division, thus making Microsoft, in the process, not only one of the largest suppliers of mobile OS's, but also the world's largest mobile hardware manufacturer.

Of course, this is just a rumor, but what if it turns out to be true? If that's the case, of course, then it would not only have huge implications for Microsoft and Nokia themselves, but the entire mobile industry, including Apple and its game-changing iPhone. The implications would be huge, but, as of now, still pretty much unknown.

Certainly, it would give Microsoft a huge leg up on the rest of its competition, but considering Microsoft's huge 8.5 billion dollar recent take over of Skype, and other recently costly deals, it would also dig deeply into Microsoft's huge, but diminishing, cash hoard. That would put it, understandably, at a disadvantage in its ability react to any other sudden changes made by the rest of the industry in the future. Less cash, less options.

So, as far as Apple goes, what could it possibly do to compensate for any Microsoft buy out of Nokia? Well, for one thing, Apple just happens to be sitting on one of the world's largest hoard of cash itself, over some $66 billion or so, give or take a nickel here-or-there. Apple's Jobs has already hinted that it was holding on to such reserves to better enable them to do bigger and more dramatic things in the future if it ever needed to. So just what could that entail? Well, as many know, Apple is now squaring up for a big legal fight with one of its chief components suppliers, namely Samsung. What if Apple decided to end its Samsungs problems by simply using its huge cash reserves to simply buy out the Korean giant itself, lock-stock-and-barrel?

Such a buy-out wouldn't come cheap, nor would it come easy. That's because Koreans tend to be rather jealous and nationalistic when it comes to their companies, but if Apple could pull it off, then it could emerge out of the deal as a far bigger company indeed, and one better in control of not only its own future supplies, but that of its competitors as well, since Samsung is also a major component supplier for most other mobile phones, including those using Android. Wow, when you consider that side of the deal, now that would have to be a kick in the 'you-know-what?' for those in the Android camp, now wouldn't it?

Another thing, it would also give Apple another huge treasure trove of patent portfolios to compliment that of its own, and one that it could use against all comers, if and when ever it felt the necessity of doing so. In other words, it would be a very good insurance policy.

A lot of people have been asking what Apple would do with its massive war-chest of cash and I think that buying out Samsung would be one of its smarter choices, but, of course, not its the only choice. Other companies that would be a good-fit for an Apple take over would include Sony, AMD and, last, but certainly not the least, Arm Holdings, the company behind the ARM chips used in most smart phones these days, including the iPhone , as well as most Android phones. The ARM chip was created by Acorn in the U.K. for its PC's, but with Apple's help and input it became an important mobile chip.

In conclusion, if Apple were to control most of the ARM chips used in Android phones, as well as a majority of their AMOLED screens, and what have you, it certainly would help to put the fear-of-God into the Android camp, but could also, at the same time, send them running to Intel's new line of mobile Atom chips, but, then again, as long as ARM continues to stay ahead of the curve, well that may not be that big of a deal either.

And that's my 2 cents 4 this Tuesday, May 17, 2011.

Opening photo via: Engadget

10 Points To Making A Secure Mac Even More So

When it comes to security on the Mac side of things, the web site FairerPlatform lists some really good points to consider. Chief among them is the simple fact that there are virtually NO Mac Virus's out there...... PERIOD! This is especially important to consider if your ever confronted with fake Mac security programs such as MacDefender.

Yes, as they point out, there are certainly a few nasty Mac Trojans out there, but of and by themselves, unless you specifically grant them permission, they are virtually harmless, so be sure to check out FairersPlatform's post on Mac Scareware.

However, in yet another post, FairerPlatform, points out 10 top things that you can do to help secure, or should I say make your Mac even more secure that I would like to highlight. They are as follows:

#1 Keep Mac OS X up-to-date

#2 Turn off automatic login

#3 Turn off “Open safe files

#4 Use strong passwords

#5 Turn on OS X’s Firewall

#6 Turn off unnecessary sharing services

#7 Turn off unused network services

#8 Password protect screen saver, sleep modes

#9 Download and use anti-virus software such as ClamXav or Sopphos's Free Anti-Virius For Mac Home Addition

#10 Don’t open email attachments

All of the above points, in conclusion, will help to ensure that your already relatively safe Mac is even a lot more secure. I personally use Windows 7, Ubuntu and, of course, OS X and I can easily say that of the three the Mac is the easiest, fastest and most trouble free of them all, and not to mention probablly the safest and most enjoyable to use, but that's hardly a reason to ignore common sense. So for your own safety please consider making the above 10 common sense points, common practice.

And that's my 2 cents 4 this extremely heavy rainy Monday morning, May 16, 2011

Site Down For Maintenance

I like to apologize to my 2 or 3 dear readers, since my blog has been off line due to maintenance beyond my control. See ya all this coming Monday, God willing!

And thats my 2 cents NOT 4 this Friday, May 13, 2011

The Queen And The iPad

The iPad appeals to people of all ages, including both sexes, be they tall, short, fat, skinny, young or old. And now, according to Britain's Sun newspaper, the iPad appeals to more than just us normal, everyday folk too. Yes, it seems that Britain's elderly queen, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, is now hankering for her very own iPad too!

The Sun is reporting that the 85-year-old Apple loving queen, who has at least two iPods and is reported to owning several Macs and a mobile phone, has now also a hankering for Apple's latest wonder-gadget after first seeing two of her grand kids, Prince William and Prince Harry, demonstrate their own iPads to her majesty, and wowing her in the process. As far as those two go, well they just happen to think that "it's hilarious" and also happen to think " she's really cool" that their granny loves the iPad. She's not the only grand ma loving iPader too as you can read here.

The Sun reported, that according to one royal insider said:

"The Queen hadn't seen anything like the iPad before. She was very impressed.

"She was particularly taken with how easy it was to use, the large screen and how light it was.

"For a woman of her age, she is very switched on. It was only a matter of time before she asked someone to go and get her one."

Well, all I will say, in conclusion, is that I also, just like Prince William and Harry, think that her Majesty is indeed, a very, very cool and up-to-date and hip lady and I wish her and her new iPad all the best.

And that's my 2 cents 4 this "I can't believe I can see the sun after two weeks of rain!" Thursday, May 12, 2011

Her Majesty's photo via Wired.com, who also report that the Queen also "adores the Wii " as well.

Adding Tactile Feedback To The iPad With iKeyboard

The iPad is great for gaming, great for reading, great for the net, great for listening to music and great for watching movies, among other great things. What it's not that great for, however, is typing, as is the case with most other on-screen touch keyboard devices. Touch screens really can't give you tactile typing unless you add an optional physical keyboard, but unfortunately that comes at a cost of adding extra weight and bulk, not to mention extra cost. However, as you can see in the above video, there is another possible solution....... the iKeyboard.

iKeyboard is a slip-on, slip-off overlay that brings the tactile feel of typing on a real honest-to-goodness physical keyboard to the iPad's touch screen, but without all of that extra weight and extra bulk, and at a far lower cost of a physical keyboard add on.

According to the iKeyboard designer, Cliff Thier, who is hoping to raise enough money on KickStarter to bring the iKeyboard to life, the iKeyboard is sort of like:

" Adding a Bluetooth keyboard to an iPad amounts to turning a prince back into a frog.

My solution is to provide the feedback missing from a virtual keyboard by “grafting,” or piggybacking, a real keyboard onto the screen. My invention—the iKeyboard—will sit atop the virtual keyboard and be lightweight. It will add little bulk and not increase the footprint of the tablet. It will be easy and fast to deploy and remove.The iKeyboard will improve accuracy and typing speed, letting tablet users do real writing. It will set the brain free. In certain settings—the lecture hall, the library, the classroom—the iKeyboard will be an essential tool rather than just a useful accessory."

In conclusion, iKeyboard looks like winner to me. So far, Chris has already raised some $1,435 from 36 backers, of the estimated $4,000 on KickStarters that he needs to get his project to market. I, for one, am really hoping that he makes a go of it, because I have to admit that the lack of tactile feedback on the iPad is its biggest drawback for me, and one that iKeyboard hopefully will remedy at a reasonably low cost. I can't wait.

And that's my 2 cents 4 this cloudy, but at least it's not raining, Tuesday, May 11, 2011

Super Cool Software: Everest 3D!

Everest 3D - 3D RealityMaps from 3D RealityMaps on Vimeo.

Germany, or as I prefer to call it Deutscheland, is a very, very cool country, with a lot of really cool people. People who happen to make a lot of really, really cool things, be they cars, cameras, or what have you. Now you can also add to that list a really cool piece of software: Everest 3D!

Everest 3D, from 3D RealityMaps, is a free app that allows you, at your leisure, to virtually climb and explore the world's mightiest and tallest mountain and all from the comfort of your PC or Mac.

As you can see in the above video (click on full screen for full impact), Everest 3D is a RealityMap of Mount Everest that is modeled to look just like the real deal, and one that even allows you to track, in real time, from time-to-time, actual mountain climbers as the make the dangerous and arduous trek up to the summit of the biggest, and most bad-ass mountain on the face of the earth, and all in the safety and comfort of your own little sweet home.

All I will say, in conclusion, is that if you ever wanted to explore the world's greatest mountain, but you just happen to be a big wimp like myself, then you can at least do so virtually and all thanks to this cool German piece of software, so, by all means, go ahead and down load it here.

And that's my 2 cents 4 this windy, wet, dreary Tuesday, May 10, 2011

The World's Most Valuable Brand: Apple

In a new report issued today by BrandZ, Apple has now just dethroned Google for the position of being the world's most valuable brand, and, according to the report, Apple is now worth an a mind-blowing $153 billion vs Google's $111 billion, give or take a nickel.

Of course, Apple's market capitalization is more than double that, or some $320 plus billion plus, but at least according to Millward Brown, the company behind BrandZ, Apple brand value is now not only the most valuable of all of the world's companies, but it was also one of the fastest rising of the companies on the list. Facebook, by the way, was the fastest, growing its brand value by over some 264%, giving it a value of $19 billion plus.

The world's ten most valuable companies in the top 100, according to BrandZ, are as follows:

As you can see, Apple is in pretty good company. With the battle between Google and Apple now raging on, it's nice to see Apple finally topple Google from the top perch, and especially since Google has repeatedly dominated the top spot for the past four of the six years since the list was created. Good show Apple!

In conclusion, I'm not too sure what value there is in BrandZ's valuation, but having Apple top of all comers on BrandZ's prestigious list of world companies certainly is another notch in Apple's belt, and again, as above, all I will say is "Good Show" Apple.

And that's my 2 cents 4 this windy and very rainy Monday, (I can't believe it's) May 09, 2011.

Via: Bloomberg's via Engadget

China And The Great iPad Line Up

Lenovo, Motorola and Dell, among many others, may now be shipping their tablets to the Chinese market, but for many Chinese customers they simply don't measure up, and that's mainly because it's the iPad that they want, as AppleInsider's photo above shows.

PCWorld reports that Chinese customers are lining up for the iPad, such as 48-year-old Yu Hong, who waited for up to 20 hours in line for one. She, like many Chinese customers, happily declared: "I love it. I've been waiting so long for this," she said, "I can finally have what I've been dreaming of."

Such line ups and sentiments as Yu Hongs is great news for Apple indeed as the massive Chinese market has seemingly falling in love with anything and everything Apple related, and this has already resulted in Apple seeing as much as 10% of its entire world sales now coming from the Chinese mainland.

Already, some 78% of all tablets sold in China are already iPads and since it is expected that tablets sales in China will climb from 600,000 t0 over 4.5 million in the next year, Apple finds itself enviably in the best position to capture most of that increase.

AppleInsider also noted that an informal survey, of those waiting in line to buy the iPad, indicated that the white model was the more popular. Apparently, the Chinese have a special love for white products which resulted in the white iPhone 4 recently selling out quickly after it first went on sale.

In conclusion, the Chinese market is absolutely huge, and its looking more-and-more like it could be Apple's to own. Also, if 40-year-old Huang Wei's recent statement of: "I don't like those other tablets".......... "I have all of Apple's products. I just need to have an iPad." is any indication of the Chinese market, then the competition will simply be just left battling for Apple's scraps, at least in the great land of China.

And that's my 2 cents 4 this Friday, May 06, 2011

Ancient iPad Rediscovered: The Remarkablly Accurate 17-Year Old Knight Rider Concept Tablet

Above you can see a video of the world's oldest iPad, which, by the way is a whopping 17 years old!

Actually, it's really only a remarkable accurate and right-on-the-money concept from Knight-Rider newspapers about tablet and electronic newspapers, and one that stated some 17 years ago that:

'Tablets will be a whole new class of computer.

'They will weigh under 2lbs; they will be totally portable; they will have a clarity of screen display comparable to ink on paper; they will be able to blend text, video, audio and graphics all together; and they will be a part of our daily lives about the turn of the century."

Knight-Riders amazing look into the future of tablet computing was mostly and remarkably right on the button, and as The Mail Online pointed out, "........ this device, also hailed as the future of home computing, was made 17 years ago..." was a device that "...... provided a glimpse into tomorrow's world that was incredibly accurate".

Accurate it was indeed, but in conclusion, it wasn't the very first glimpse into the future as Apple itself demonstrated an even more advance concept, its Knowledge Navigator seen here.

And that's my 2 cents 4 this Thursday, May 05, 2011

New ThunderBolt iMacs Come With Swappable Graphic Cards

Boy, oh boy, now that didn't take very long, did it? Yuppers, the fine folks over at iFixit have just taken apart another product for a closer look see, and this time it was the brand-spanking new 21.5 inch iMac that was just released yesterday.

As you can see, from iFix's photo above, there is a lot more to the insides of an iMac than what we are used to seeing from its clean and sexy outside, but most interestingly, as pointed out by AppleInsider, one of the most interesting things that iFixit may have discovered about the latest iMac is, and I quote:

"A look inside Apple's new 21.5-inch, Thunderbolt-equipped iMac desktop discovered the ability to swap out the graphics processing unit board for a new one.

"With a bit of magic, the GPU heat sink detaches from the logic board, exposing the AMD GPU board," the solutions provider said. "You heard that right, folks -- you don't have to replace the entire logic board if your GPU explodes from too much l33t gaming. You can just swap out the GPU board for another one."

This is a big change from past iMacs when you were stuck with whatever Apple's original iMac came with, and you needed to change the entire mother board if the graphic component failed. Of course, not that most people would ever really need to change their original graphic card since most of them are more than up to snuff for the vast majority of things that they'll ever do and were fairly reliable, but it's still rather nice to know that if you ever have the hankering to so, well, at least on the new 21.5 inch ThunderBolt equipped models, and presumably the 27 inchers as well, you'll now have that option.

In conclusion, since I'm now saving up my pennies for the top-end 27 inch model, I'm really quite ecstatic to read about this change to the graphic board, and in the meantime, if your like me and you just love exploring more of these things out for yourself, then by all means, head on over and check out all the goodness of iFixit's cool and full iMac tear-down here.

And that's my 2 cents 4 this Wednesday, May 04, 2011

One Of The Best iPhone Concept Cases Yet, Complete With Built-In Printer!

As the Apple Store goes down to make way for newer models of the iMac, complete with ThunderBolt and Intel's latest and greatest iron, Sandy Bridge, Gizmodo did a short post on a concept that looks absolutely fantastic, an iPhone case with a conceptual built-in printer!

As you can see from Mac Funamizu's concept photo above, this looks like one hell of a great idea, and one that would also include geotaging abilities, and the adding of QR codes to photos, so you could "read" the codes of the photo, which then could be automatically sent to an uploading service such as Flickr or PhotoBucket, or whom have you.

In conclusion, I really, really love this concept case, with its Polaroid like abilities, even though obviously it doesn't appear that it could possibly hold, or store, all that much photo paper, meaning in-turn that you would have to hand feed it most of the time, but still, in the end, all I will say is that I really, really want one, don't you?

And that's my 2 cents 4 this Tuesday, May 03, 2011

iOS vs Android: Is Android Unbeatable?

When it comes to Google's Android vs Apple's iOS goes, many would have you believe that Android has already won the battle and that from now on, the iPhone and iOS are doomed, but is that really the case?

The truth is that Android's seemingly non-stoppable ascendancy has already hit a big-fat road block, and it's called the iPhone! Yes, after first hitting the big-time by first blatantly copying everything it could from the iPhone, the iPhone has turned right around to bite Android in the big old you-no-what?

According to a post by ComputerWorld, the Verizon iPhone, for one, is already beginning to hurt Android, and ComputerWorld goes on to interestingly state:

"Take a look at the latest data from Strategy Analytics. Released overnight, it reveals that Apple overtook ZTE in Q1 2011 to become the world's fourth-largest handset maker, up from sixth position one year ago.

Strategy Analytics tells us: "Apple shipped a record 18.6 million handsets worldwide in Q1 2011, more than doubling from 8.8 million units in Q1 2010. Apple captured fourth place in global handset shipments, rising from sixth position a year earlier and leapfrogging rival ZTE. Apple continues to benefit from strong operator subsidies and co-marketing, enabling its global handset share to reach a healthy 5 percent during the quarter."

That's 5 percent of the market on the basis of what is now four types of phone: the iPhone 4, the iPhone 4 for Verizon, the white iPhone 4 (unavailable in the period) and the iPhone 3GS. But all four of these devices deliver a consistent user experience, which Android devices inherently cannot promise

Despite what Android fans might think, it is the iPhone that is the number one selling smartphone in the U.S., and it's no wonder why that, according to revenues, Apple is now the number one mobile phone company in the world, replacing Nokia, the world's long-running champ. In fact, it's also interesting to consider that when you throw in the iPad, then Apple is also the world's number one PC manufacturer too!"

So, in the end, is iOS doomed by an unstoppable Android?

The answer is a big fat no!

That's because it's increasingly becoming quite apparent, that when it comes to the iOS vs Android battle goes, the truth is anything but what Android fans would have us believe. The truth is, that with Android's growth already now stalling, and its market share finally pulling back after two straight years of non-stop growth, and with developers now preferring iOS because they consider Android is much too risky, and with pending legal action on the part of Oracle, Microsoft and Apple itself, the world of Android is anything but the paradise that Google and its fans make it out to be, and that iOS is anything but doomed, and there is no guarantee that Android will even be around in a few years time, let alone guaranteeing that it will be forever unbeatable.

In conclusion, when it comes to the race for world smartphone domination, the race is still far from over, but at least the long held notion that Android is unstoppable is also over, because, in the end, it's nothing more than pure fiction, plain and simple.

And that's my 2 cents 4 this Monday, May 02, 2011