Microsoft is Joining the 7″ Tablet Bandwagon

Credit: Microsoft Inc.

In response to the success of the Google’s 7 inch Nexus, Amazon’s 7 inch Kindle Fire and Apple’s 7.9 inch iPad mini, Microsoft is joining the 7 inch fray. The Wall Street Journal reports that Redmond is developing a smaller version of its Surface tablet, and that it will launch later this year.

If tablets are booming, those in the 7-8 inch category are doubly booming, with IDC reporting that more than half of all tablets that shipped in the fourth quarter of 2012 were this size.

The lower price of the smaller devices makes them much more palatable to cost-conscious buyers. Microsoft is aware of the need for lower-priced devices, and has recently altered the Windows 8 hardware requirements to permit smaller, cheaper screens. Many buyers also find the smaller form factor more convenient due to its reduced size and weight.

The WSJ also notes that Microsoft is working on a smartphone of its own, but that component suppliers were unclear if there were any plans to actually bring this to market.

The paper quotes a person familiar with the situation saying that while 7-inch tablets were not part of Microsoft’s product plans last year  company executives have realized they need to respond to the growth and popularity of small slates. Which boils down to Redmond is having to play catch up yet again.

Microsoft finds itself increasingly threatened in its PC business. The future of PCs is being questioned as users move to alternative computing devices such as tablets and smartphones. Experts agree that first quarter PC shipments totaled 76.3 million units, down 13.9 percent compared to the same quarter last year.

The decline was worse than the 7.7 percent previously forecast by the analyst firm, and the market could be headed into further contraction. Microsoft’s Windows 8 did not help PC shipments grow, as fewer consumers are upgrading PCs to Windows 8, and businesses are largely sticking with Windows 7, IDC analysts said.

As the tablets market gets more and more crowded, soon we will see the separation of the men from the boys.  Darwin’s theory regarding the survival of the fittest will once again be tested.  May be best one win.  Good Day.

Read Full Post »

New Apple iPads Are in the Works

Credit: thewomensvirtualmarket.com

April could be the sweetest month for iPad zealots this year. Pundits are claiming that Apple plans to release the next iPad as soon as this April, which will presumably include both the fifth-generation 9.7-inch iPad and perhaps the second-generation iPad mini. The rumors say that Apple will launch a redesigned version of the 9.7-inch iPad next month, and that Apple is not yet ready to take the wraps off a Retina-equipped version of the iPad mini.  I’m sure this news will rain on many Apple users’ parade.

One consumer electronics analyst said, “Apple is not going to release iPads that costs more or don’t get as good battery life as the current models. So, if the next iPad mini does end up getting slated for April, it could be a spec bump, or have something new other than Retina as a differentiator.”

Reliable sources also claim that Apple plans to release the iPhone 5S by this August at the latest. The newest iPhone will have the same basic design as the iPhone 5 and will feature “a more advanced processor and an improved camera.” As of this moment in time, we have no idea whether Apple also plans to release, either a cheaper version of the iPhone or a larger “iPhablet” at any point this year.  I guess we’ll have to start playing the waiting game.  Good Day.

Read Full Post »

Microsoft’s Computers Hacked

Credit: Microsoft Corporation

Large American corporation are the target of malicious software supposedly originating in China.  Facebook and Apple have been victims of computer hacking and now Microsoft is joining the sinister list of the recent hijacking spree.

Microsoft has disclosed that it recently fell victim to the same type of cyberattack that targeted Apple and Facebook. “During our investigation, we found a small number of computers, including some in our Mac business unit, that were infected by malicious software using techniques similar to those documented by other organizations,” the company said on its Security Response Center website Friday.

Microsoft joins a list of companies that have recently reported being hacked, including Facebook, Apple, Twitter, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. Apple and Facebook were both targeted via a vulnerability in Oracle’s Java platform, and Microsoft said Friday it was hit by a similar attack. “This type of cyber attack is no surprise to Microsoft and other companies that must grapple with determined and persistent adversaries,” it said.

The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and Apple each pointed at China as the source of the attacks. Twitter didn’t say where it thought the attacks originated but urged 250,000 of its users to change their passwords.  China has denied involvement in the attacks.

By now you must have heard of sinister Unit 61398 of the People’s Liberation army “an overwhelming percentage of attacks on American corporations, organizations and government agencies originate in and around their white tower,” claims The New York Times who were themselves recently owned by the 1337 h4ck3r5 of Unit 61398.

Earlier this month U.S. President Barack Obama issued an executive order seeking better protection of the country’s critical infrastructure from cyber attacks.  We have to be extremely careful in determining what sites we visit on the Internet, and search for the best antivirus software you can afford.  All precautions are necessary during these perilous times of constant cyber attacks aimed at our computers.  I’ve been hit a couple of times and it hurts.  Ouch!  Caveat and Good Day.

Read Full Post »

Refurbished iMacs Available at Apple

Credit: Apple Inc.

If you are an Apple loyalist and have an unsatisfied thirst for an iMac, I have good news for you.  Apple is currently offering refurbished iMacs at tempting prices (e.g., $1,189.00 and $1,269.00).  That’s a savings of 20 and 15 percent off.  Looks to me like a terrific deal.

Apple has added refurbished models of the current-generation 21.5″ iMac to its Online Store in the past several days, offering a faster-shipping alternative to customers looking to get a desktop Mac.

New iMac models on the Apple Online Store list a lead time of several weeks to get delivered, while the refurbished models claim to ship in 1-3 days, with $200 and $230 discounts on the low- and high-end 21″ models respectively.

Apple Retail Stores list mid-March as the earliest time to pick up new 21″ iMacs ordered online, but Amazon.com claims to have both 21″ models in stock [$1,299 and $1,494] and eligible for Amazon Prime shipping.

27″ iMac models have yet to appear on the refurbished store, with the company reporting a 3-4 week lead time online and late March for in-store pickup. Amazon has the base 27″ model in stock for $1,799.

To be candid with you, I have a problem buying high-price ticket items in the United States, mainly because I can’t use the product’s guarantee.  I prefer to buy my stuff where I can see it, touch it, and rest assured I will use the product’s guarantee for when the products goes sour.

Recently I purchased a Vaio laptop and it came with a factory defect.  No problem, I took it to Sony Panama, and in less than four days, I got my computer back with a brand new motherboard.  How can I do that with a U.S. purchased product?  Even though the price may be slightly higher, I’m willing to cough my hard-earned cash on products in Panamanian computer stores.

I’m definitely interested on a low-end 21.5″ iMac, but the piggy bank is empty as this moment.  I’m a patient man and can wait until the time is ripe.  Meanwhile, my ole desktop HP will do the work.  Patience is still a virtue in this part of the world.  Take Care

Read Full Post »

Google is Flexing Its Muscle With a Brand New Mobile Phone and Tablet

Credit: Google Inc.

As you are probably aware, Google gobbled up Motorola when it was on a free fall.  For a while, nothing happened with this acquisition.  Now it seems that nuts and bolts are beginning to move with technology acquired from Motorola.  According to the rumor mill, Google is preparing a launch of an unbreakable mobile phone and a new tablet.

The rumored “X Phone” and “X Tablet” will mark the first time Google controls everything from the device’s hardware to its software, following Apple’s operating strategy. Rumored specs are said to include a top-notch camera and photo software, a bendable display and a high-end ceramic case. Now, Google CEO Larry Page has incited a new round of speculation last Tuesday with comments he made during the company’s fourth quarter earnings call.

“In today’s multi-screen world, the opportunities are endless… battery life is a huge issue… when you drop your phone it shouldn’t go splat,”  he said. ”There’s a real potential to invent new and better experiences.”

Google’s CEO also added that simple tasks such as recharging a phone’s battery can even be a pain for some people. It is believed that Page was hinting at the possible “X Phone,” and that it could include extra long battery life, wireless charging capabilities and an unbreakable case.

Google could announce its Motorola-built flagship smartphone and tablet at its annual Google I/O developer conference on May 15th.  Let’s wait and see what the fuzz is all about.  I’m sure Apple and Samsung are sleeping with one eye open waiting for the formal launch in May.  Yep, consumer electronics is a cut-throat industry.

Oh, before I forget, there’s another persistent rumor out there that Dell could go private again and that Microsoft could cough out several billion dollars to buy part of the pie.  There’s never a dull moment in Silicon Valley.  Good Day.

Read Full Post »

Strong Rumors Apple Will Refresh iPads March 2013

Credit: Apple Inc.

Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, recently told the media, “We are not taking our foot off the gas.”  He meant exactly what he said to the very last iota.  Apple is not sleeping on its laurels.  They are augmenting the frequency of their new product launches to keep their products fresh and exciting and distancing themselves from their closest competitors.

Apple is prepping a thinner, lighter fifth-generation iPad that shares some of its design cues with the recently released iPad Mini, according to Japanese blog Macotakara. The report was picked up and translated by 9to5Mac.

The report also calls for the next iPad Mini to be released with a Retina Display, following other similar reports. The addition wouldn’t be surprising, as it was a key missing feature with the original iPad Mini. If the Apple Mini was an instant success with a normal resolution, it will certainly be a killing with the gorgeous Retina Display.  The difference in color resolution is impressive.  At the end of the day, Apple will transfer this technology to all their product lines leaving their competition biting the dust.

Yesterday I was streaming a video on photography from Netflix dubbed, “TED Talks – Video & Photo Mojo” with my Apple iPad (Third Generation) with Retina Display, and the colors were absolutely gorgeous.  I had never seen anything like this.  A picture of an Afghan Girl seemed to jump out from the gadget’s screen.  It was that good.

The release of a next-generation iPad would drastically shorten an already shortened product life cycle for Apple’s main tablet. The fourth-generation iPad was released last month, just eight months after the third-generation iPad, and the proposed next version would come just five months later. The March timing has been the company’s usual launch period for the iPad.

The fresh iPad rumor is that the gadgets will be more thinner and lighter.  According to Macotakara’s report, the new iPads will have have dimensions of 4 mm in height, 17 mm in width, and 2 mm in depth smaller.  The current iPad is 241.2 mm in height, 185.7 mm in width, and 9.4 mm in depth. Smaller and thinner is beautiful.

Presumably, the next iPad would pick up the white and silver and black and slate elements from the iPad Mini, which in turn picked them up from the iPhone 5.  If Macotakara’s rumor is accurate, Apple is indeed pushing the envelope in consumer electronic’s technology and raising the bar.  Samsung, Google, and Microsoft; are you listening?  Good Day.

Read Full Post »

Steve Jobs’ Vision and The iPad

Credit: Apple Inc.

Some people are capable of only looking as far as their tip of their nose; while others are able to envision the vastness of the Universe.  Visionaries such as Isaac Newton, Leonardo da Vinci or Albert Einstein belong to this unique intellectual elite.

When Steve Jobs came up with the iPad tablet, nobody thought it would be an instant hit, not even the consumers themselves felt there was a need for such a gadget.  Steve Jobs created a product out of the blue, that people never thought they needed, less alone cough some money at it.  A new industry was created and instantly everybody followed suit.

I resisted the temptation and looked the other way in an effort to avoid the “herd syndrome”.  I told myself there was no need for an iPad for Yours Truly.  Instead I purchased an Amazon Kindle Fire.  It was a horrible decision.  I was in for a deep disappointment.  The gadget was restricted to a few features such as reading electronic books, browsing the web and viewing and listening to YouTube videos.  The rich content of newspapers, magazines, movies, and TV shows were only possible if you lived inside the United States and owned a U.S. credit card.  (Omar frowns!)

These are the official words from Amazon.com about the Kindle Fire tablet obtained from their official Web site:

“With a U.S. credit card, you will be able to purchase new apps and music for Kindle Fire HD while you are abroad.  To purchase, download, or stream movies and TV shows, you must be physically present in the United States and have a U.S. billing address.”

As Apple bombarded the Internet and other media outlets, I learned more and more about the iPad, and slowly the itch of owning one grew inside my head.  Finally, I succumbed to the song of the mermaid and swiped the card.  I paid a high price for my iPad—almost $550.  That is a lot of money for a retiree in this part of the world, but the mermaids were singing like angels.

For several months, I’ve read the manual and searched under the hood to discover its rich features.  Now I realize it was an excellent deal.  The iPad is a full-fledged computer with a generous amount of apps; in fact, too many for my meager needs.  The more I read, the more I realize what a great piece of equipment this popular juggernaut really is, and how vast was the vision of Steve Jobs.

Below is the Table of Contents of Apple’s iPad PDF Owners Manual for iOS 6 software (third generation) with the much touted Retina Display:

1. Chapter 1:  iPad at a Glance
2. Chapter 2:  Getting Started
3. Chapter 3:  Basics
4. Chapter 4:  Siri
5. Chapter 5:  Safari
6. Chapter 6:  Mail
7. Chapter 7:  Messages
8. Chapter 8:  Facetime
9. Chapter 9:  Camera
10. Chapter 10:  Photos
11. Chapter 11:  Photo Booth
12. Chapter 12:  Videos
13. Chapter 13:  Calendar
14. Chapter 14:  Contacts
15. Chapter 15:  Notes
16. Chapter 16:  Reminders
17. Chapter 17:  Clock
18. Chapter 18:  Maps
19. Chapter 19:  Music
20. Chapter 20:  i Tunes Store
21. Chapter 21:  App Store
22. Chapter 22:  Newstand
23. Chapter 23:  iBooks
24. Chapter 24:  Podcasts
25. Chapter 25:  Game Center
26. Chapter 26:  Accessibility
27. Chapter 27:  Settings
28. Appendix A:  iPad in Business
29. Appendix B:  International Keyboard
30. Appendix C:  Safety, Handling & Support

As you can see, the iPad has an extensive use and certainly worth its salt.  I’m focusing on the use of Siri, the voice activated feature, and photography apps.  The resolution of the Retina Display is as good as Apple says it is, or even better.  I’m still learning the ropes.  As I learn new tricks, I’ll share them with you right here at Lingua Franca.

Maybe you too will soon be listening to the sweet songs of the mermaids.  Good Day.

Read Full Post »

Apple Upgrades iOS 6.0 to Version 6.0.1

Credit: Apple Inc.

On October 23, 2012, Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, made several product announcements such as an upgraded iMac, a new operating system called iOS 6, and the expected Apple iPad mini.  It was a great day for Apple, very similar to the product announcements made by the late Steve Jobs.

A few days later, Apple users were fuming over problems with their Maps application.  It was flawed and full of bugs, nothing like Google Maps.  The zealots were furious and their anger was felt on Tweeter, Facebook and other tech sites on the Internet.  The uproar was so intense that it pressured Tim Cook come out into the open and apologize for the flawed software and promised Apple would take care of the problem.

True to his word, on November 1, 2012, Apple released its first revision of iOS 6, entitled iOS 6.0.1, which as you would expect from such a lowly number, is all about bug fixes and performance updates to iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch users. That’s fine, and will come as good news for those affected by bugs it claims to fix.  Many of the bug fixes are related to the iPhone 5 and iPod touch (5th generation).

The iPhone 5 apparently shipped with a bug that does not allow the device to receive over-the air updates.  For that reason, iPhone 5 users have to also download a patch to download iOS 6.0.1 through the setting app.  Kindly click here to see a gallery of the process to install iOS 6.0.1 on the iPhone 5.

I found out about this latest release in my iPad, because I discovered a small red circle in the middle of the Settings button.  When I pressed the button, I noticed there was a Software Update, from iOS 6.0 to version 6.0.1.  I was previously aware of the 6.0 version, but was reluctant to download it because there were Wi-Fi and Maps apps flaws.  It was cautious to wait and see if Apple would take care of them.  When I found out that the latest version was reliable, I went ahead and unloaded it.  It took about 15 minutes to complete the process.

After iOS 6.0.1 had been downloaded and installed, I noticed that the YouTube app had disappeared.  No problem, I went ahead and bookmarked it through Safari and went back to business as usual.  Other than that, I haven’t noticed anything special, except that the Maps app had been enhanced, but I don’t use this application much,  so it meant  nothing to me.  As far as I’m concerned, most of the improvement were made under the hood, not noticeable to the user.

A good news is that Siri is working in my iPad (third generation).  I’m still learning the ropes; it has a lovely feminine voice and understands my heavy Spanish accent.  To test the software I asked, “Siri, do I need and umbrella today?”, and the gorgeous voice told me “Yes” and provided several weather statistics.

You can set Siri to understand several languages which is very convenient if English is not your native language.  For example Siri has three different versions of Spanish, (e.g., Spanish Mexico, Spanish Spain and Spanish United States).  It also has four versions of English (e.g., English Australia, English Canada, English United Kingdom and English United States).  Interesting!

This is an area which I will concentrate on in the future.  I was aware that Apple had introduced Siri with the late iPhone 4S.  The software had caught on and is very popular among Apple iPhone users in the States.

To talk to Siri, press and hold the Home button and speak.  Siri also helps you get things done just by asking.  You can make a FaceTime call, send a message, dictate a note, or even find a restaurant.  I don’t know if you can do all these things in Panama, but will find out in the upcoming days.

And now you know that Apple had corrected the faulty software and is looking forward for new products and services in the future.  How well Apple will do under the leadership of Tim Cook, remains to be seen.  Its latest maps software was met with widespread frustration and ridicule over glaring mistakes.  Apple stunned investors when it announced the ouster of chief mobile software architect Scott Forstall and retail chief John Browett—the latter after six months on the job.

Some pundits agree that Forstall and Cook disagreed over the need to publicly apologize for its maps service embarrassment.  Cook flexed its muscle and got rid of Forstall and gave Jonathan Ives the new responsibility of overseeing the design of Apple’s software and hardware.  This will also be interesting to watch in Apple’s post Jobs era.

On November 2, 2012 Apple delivered the Apple iPad mini.  Tim Cook reversed Apple’s reluctance to enter the small-tablet market, lagging Amazon and Google, considering Apple was a pioneer in the tablet market in 2010.  Many Apple zealots found many features in the iPad mini to love it, but some features, like the display, left a bit to be desired.  Some Apple users are saying, “I’ll wait for the iPad mini Retina 2 to be released in the future (circa six months from now.” 

Did Cook make a wise decision?  We will see if there are small iPad minis inside the kids’ stockings during the upcoming holidays.  Good Day.

Read Full Post »

Unveiling The Secret Yacht That Steve Jobs Envisioned

Almost a year after Steve Jobs’ death, the secret boat he designed was finished by a shipbuilders in Aalsmeer, Holland.  The name of the boat is Venus—after the Roman goddess of love, beauty, sex, fertility, prosperity and victory—and some pundits say that it looks much like an Apple iPhone 4.  According to Dutch website OneMoreThing, the finished ship was launched at shipbuilder Koninklijke De Vries in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands. Jobs’ widow Laurene and three of their children, Reed, Aaron and Eve, were present at the ceremony.

Built entirely out of aluminum, the yacht was designed by Jobs personally along with some help from French designer Phillipe Stack. It’s a big one, too. The ship measures between 70 and 80 meters, but because of the aluminum construction, it’s lighter than your typical yacht, giving it a bit of an edge when it comes to speed.

The front of the ship is equipped with a large sun deck with a jacuzzi built in. Behind that comes an all glass cabin that’s topped with a bridge equipped with seven 27-inch iMacs that handle the ship’s navigation and controls.

Walter Isaacson wrote about this yacht in his biography of Steve Jobs, who had evidently been working on the project alone for six years:

“After our omelets at the café, we went back to his house and he showed me all the models and architectural drawings. As expected, the planned yacht was sleek and minimalist. The teak decks were perfectly flat and unblemished by any accoutrements. As at an Apple store, the cabin windows were large panes, almost floor to ceiling, and the main living area was designed to have walls of glass that were forty feet long and ten feet high. He had gotten the chief engineer of the Apple stores to design a special glass that was able to provide structural support. By then the boat was under construction by the Dutch custom yacht builders Feadship, but Jobs was still fiddling with the design. ‘I know that it’s possible I will die and leave Laurene with a half-built boat,’ he said. ‘But I have to keep going on it. If I don’t, it’s an admission that I’m about to die.’

Sadly, Jobs did die before the yacht was finished, but the shipbuilders finished the visionary’s dream.  The Steve Jobs was aware he might not live to see the boat launched, but continued to tinker with its design. Now, at its christening more than a year after his death, his quotes about the yacht become even more poignant. In the Isaacson book, Jobs said, “I know that it’s possible I will die and leave Laurene with a half-built boat. But I have to keep going on it. If I don’t, it’s an admission that I’m about to die.”

If you are interested in watching a video about the secret project of Steve Jobs, please click here.  Good Day.

Source:  Steve Jobs’s Secret Yacht Looks Like a Giant iPhone—Yahoo! News

Read Full Post »

Movies

During my prime time days, I was an intense movie fan.  Every week, the United Fruit Company in Changuinola, Bocas del Toro would bring in the latest movies for the entertainment of its employees.  The entrance fee to the club where the movies were projected was free.

Artists like Clark Gable, Doris Day, Gregory Peck, Elizabeth Taylor, Dick Bogarde, Joan Crawford, Cary Grant, Richard Burton and many others were on the silver screen every week.  One of movies I will never forget was “The Bridge on the River Kwai”, a 1957 British World War II film by David Lean based on the book, “The Bridge Over the River Kwai” penned by French writer Pierre Boulle.  The classic motion picture was brilliantly acted by William Holden and Alec Guinness.

After I got married, I gradually distanced myself from the movies, mainly because the costs of going to the theater was too expensive and the streets began to get dangerous at night.  I would rent rent a movie now and then, but not on a regular basis.  Then out of the blue came Netflix to Panama.  I gave it a shot and so far I’m pretty satisfied.  The price is unbeatable—$7.99 per month for a database of thousands of pictures.

Credit: Netflix Inc.

Yesterday was an exciting day.  I was able to download the Netflix app from iTunes for my recently acquired Apple iPad.  I had deferred doing so, mainly because I was busy with a business consulting project and was also reading the instructions manual of the gadget.  The process of setting up an iTunes account was a breeze, although I was a bit hesitant providing  my credit card information.  Read too many horrible stories about credit card fraud.  But I had no choice if I wanted to stream motion pictures with my tablet.

Shortly after downloading the Netflix app, I was enjoying my first motion picture on a tablet.  Certainly for me it was a historic day.  The name of the motion picture was The Hindenburg (1975) performed by George C. Scott, Anne Bancroft and William Atherton.

Picture of the ubiquitous Apple iPad.  Credit: Apple Inc.

This film is a compendium of the facts and fiction of the events leading up to the disaster of the aircraft that took place on Thursday, May 6, 1937, as the German passenger airship LZ 129 Hindenburg caught fire and was destroyed during its attempt to dock with its mooring mast at the Lakehurst Naval Air Station, which is located next to the borough of Lakehurst, New Jersey. For dramatic effect, sabotage was chosen as the cause, rather than electricity lashing out at a couple of tons of hydrogen.

It was not an excellent picture, but at least it was entertaining and was based on a historic event.  The disaster was the subject of spectacular newsreel coverage, photographs, and Herbert Morrison’s recorded radio eyewitness report from the landing field, which was broadcast the next day.

The real cause of the fire remains unknown, although a variety of hypotheses have been put forward for both the cause of ignition and the initial fuel for the ensuing fire. The incident shattered public confidence in the giant, passenger-carrying rigid airship and marked the end of the airship era.  Adolph Hitler attributed the cause of the tragic event as an “Act of God”.  Maybe he was predicting the fall of the Third Reich, also as an “Act of God.”

The LZ 129 Hindenburg begins to fall after catching fire on May 6, 1937. Fatalities: 36. Survivors: 62. Credit: Wikipedia Encyclopedia.

I have other Apple apps on my list, but Netflix had the honor of being the first downloaded application on my juggernaut.  Soon there will be others, you can bet on it.  Good Day.

Read Full Post »