• microsoft,  rumors,  surface rt,  tablet,  windows 8,  windows rt

    Outlook RT Will Arrive Later This Year

    June 5, 2013 /

     The well connected Microsoft blogger Mary Jo Foley has an update on how the software company is trying to sweeten the appeal of the Windows RT operating system – releasing Outlook RT.  Outlook RT will ship with Windows “Blue” (aka Windows 8.1) which is rumored to ship late this summer (read: September).

    “Microsoft will make available as part of its upcoming Windows 8.1 “Blue” release of Windows client the rumored Outlook 2013 RT mail client, company officials confirmed on June 5.”

    This information was confirmed by Tami Reller, Microsoft’s Chief Financial Officer of Windows according to Foley’s ZDNet report.

    But here’s the interesting thing about Outlook RT, if the report is accurate, it won’t replace Windows Mail client.  Sounds a bit nuts, no?  Given the opportunity to use Outlook or the basic featured bundled email client, I’d pick Outlook all day long.  But then again, I can’t seem to pick an email client for personal use (web-based or native code on my Mac or PC) that I like and use consistently.

    Via ZDNet.com…

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  • apple,  wsj

    Thoughts and Comments: Tim Cook at D11

    June 4, 2013 /

    Back on May 29, Apple CEO Tim Cook, joined Wall Street Journal’s Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher on stage at the D11 conference.  The following are my thoughts on the interview.

    You can watch the Tim Cook interview on the D11 website.  Or, if you have an Apple TV and a Wall Street Journal subscription, on the WSJ Live! channel on your Apple TV.

    Apple’s Stock Price

    – Much to do about nothing.  As a customer, I don’t really care what the stock price is as long as I have an elegant, simple, stylish solution that I really enjoy using.

    Apple & Television

    – Apple has sold over 13 million Apple TV devices.  Half of those sales came in the last 12 months.  I was an early adopter and picked up a first generation Apple TV and really like it.  I still have it.  As a matter of fact, I’ve purchased two more Apple TVs since then.  My desire to upgrade from a single first generation Apple TV to an additional two third generation Apple TV units was driven solely by my iPhone 4S.  I wanted the ability to use AirPlay is seamlessly throw content from my iPhone 4S or iPad 3 up on the 42-inch TV in my family room.  According to Mr. Cook, I’m not alone.

    – Apple TV or technologies involving television, is still an area of intense interest for Apple, but Mr. Cook isn’t talking about the future direction of their TV-based products.

    Wearables

    – Tim Cook uses a Nike+ Fuelband too!  I feel like I’m part of a distinguished club.

    – The wearable computer is an important piece of the post-PC era.  Again, Mr. Cook declined to talk specifics about how Apple will enter that market.

    – Wearables, like Google Glass, are difficult to do, but something on the wrist, is more acceptable by consumers.  People want their glasses to be light, unobtrusive, and to make people want to use them.

    iOS vs Android

    – Apple isn’t about making the “most”, they are interested in making the “best” product.  Google Android might be selling more units, but Apple’s products are the best.

    – People are using Apple products more than all Android devices combined.

    – Apple is doing better in total usage, in terms of commerce, iPad is used to buy more items from the iPad, and they continue to lead customer satisfaction.

    – Jonny Ive has been focused on making the collaboration between hardware and software design teams better.  The results of that focus will be evident in iOS 7.

    Tim’s Apple vs. Steve’s Apple

    – Tim is very different from Steve, but the important things to Apple are the same.

    – The team is there to make great products.  Keeping the culture of Apple the same regardless of whatever changes in terms of products and solutions.

    The iPhone

    – In terms of making the best products, Apple isn’t interested in just making larger phones with bigger screens.  There are trade offs and Apple feels that they can’t make the best smartphone is a large screen right now.

    Apple, US and & International Taxes

    – I don’t understand it, so I’m not even going to try to comment on it.

    Strategies and Acquisitions

    – Since October 2012, Apple has acquired nine companies.  Apple will only announce those that they are required to report to try and keep a strategic advantage.

    – Mr. Cook doesn’t feel that Apple needs to own or acquire a social network.  Apple is content to partner with companies like Facebook and Twitter.

    – You can expect that Apple will open, or expose, more iOS APIs, however, Apple won’t ever allow access to the point of risking customer disatisfaction.  Don’t expect Facebook Home or opening up iOS to deep customization (i.e.: jail breakers and hacks).

    – Apple would bring their technologies to other platforms, if and when it make sense for the company to do so.  That said, I don’t expect iCloud or Apple owned apps showing up on other platforms any time soon.

    – Apple views their services as things like iMessages, iTunes, FaceTime.

    – Apple believes in the element of surprise and releasing products when they are ready.  They will not talk about the future until the product is done.  This is in stark contrast to what Google does with their view of the future and new products (ie: Google Glass).

    – Apple doesn’t need to own great content, they need to have access to great content to be delivered to their devices.

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  • apple,  ipad,  microsoft,  office,  windows 8

    Gates: Microsoft Surface Has “Richness”

    May 7, 2013 /

    Yesterday, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates appears with Warren Buffett on CNBC’s “Squawk Box.”

    During the program, it wasn’t surprising that Gates was bullish on the prospects of the Surface family of tablet computers and Windows 8.

    There are two quotes that everyone is talking about.  Here’s the first:

    “”If you have Surface or Surface Pro, you have got the portability of the tablet but the richness of terms of the keyboard, Microsoft Office, of the PC,” Gates said.”

    And now, the second:

    “”With Windows 8, Microsoft is trying to gain market share in what has been dominated by the iPad-type device,” Gates said. “But a lot those users are frustrated. They can’t type. They can’t create documents. They don’t have Office there. So we’re providing them something with the benefits they’ve seen that has made that a big category but without giving up what they expect in a PC.””

    Both of these quotes have Apple fanboys crying foul.  For staters, Mr. Gates has better head over to a local Best Buy or Staples.  Assuming that he does, he will see the myriad of keyboard solutions for the Apple iPad.  So as far as I’m concerned, the keyboards for the Surface and Surface Pro are accessories, just like the keyboards for iPads, and as a result, is a wash.  If Microsoft put one of those Surface keyboards in the box as standard hardware, I’d give him the point over Apple.

    But the second quote, some would say — and I agree with — is a little self serving and misleading.

    First of all, I’m not frustrated with my iPad.  I love it.

    Second of all, I can type.  The iPad has a large on screen keyboard, assuming that you are using a full size iPad.  And even if you don’t want to use the on screen keyboard, Apple and others make full size keyboards that connect via Bluetooth.  I choose to use the Apple mini keyboard with my iPad.  But, fine, I really don’t care.

    Thirdly, and this is the misleading part in my opinion, we can create content on our iPads.  We don’t need Windows 8 PCs and we sure don’t need Surface tablets.  For people who want to create general productivity content, that is to say word processing documents, spreadsheets, and presentations, there are at least three very good options.

    There is Apple’s own iWork products: Pages, Numbers, and Keynote.  Not to mention, iPhoto, Garage Band, iMovie, and even Cards if you are into that sort of thing.  (Cards is the weakest of Apple apps in the list, but I have used it a few times, so I’ve included it here.)

    If you want to be able to work with real Microsoft Office documents, you don’t have to wait for Microsoft to eventually get around to releasing a native iOS version of Office.  You can create and edit Office documents — in their native formats — right now with Documents To Go from BlackBerry and QuickOffice from Google.  I’ve used both apps in the past on other mobile platforms and still use Documents To Go occasionally on my iPad.

    So is looks like Gates was doing a lot of squawking and not much in the way of persuading the educated consumer about the merits of Windows 8 and Surface tablets.  The numbers are clear.  iPad sales continue to climb with millions of units sold each quarter.  So do the numbers of units sold for the Microsoft Surface.  With 1.6 million units sold, maybe they will reach 2 million this year.

    [Via ComputerWorld.com…]

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  • apple,  att,  blackberry,  sms,  sprint,  texting,  tmobile,  verizon

    The Use of Carrier SMS Texting Is In Decline

    May 5, 2013 /

    I generally don’t read USAToday, except while traveling, but a pair of articles on texting caught my attention.

    The first, “Sore thumbs? Text messaging declines” (link) talks about the decline of SMS messaging by consumers.  People aren’t texting less, they are sending more messages then ever.  According to the article, Americans sent an estimated 2.2 trillion messages in 2012.  What is in decline is how many of those 2.2 trillion messages are sent and delivered by Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and other wireless carriers.

    It place of SMS messaging is the rise in popularity of Internet-based short message service (SMS) applications such as Apple’s iMessage, Snap Chat, BlackBerry Messenger, and all the rest.  Unlike the SMS service you sign up for when you buy a new cell phone, these new texting apps use your phone’s Internet connection rather than the voice network on your cell phone.

    So what does this mean?  Well, for one thing, it means that many of us can probably save some money on our monthly cell phone bills.  The days of thousands of dollar monthly bills due to uncontrolled text messaging is probably coming to an end.  My entire family has either an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch and we all text each other with iMessages.  The number of pure SMS messages charged against my cell phone’s texting service plan in a month are virtually non-existant.

    I once read an article online that spoke about text messaging fees from the big four wireless providers here in the U.S.  I didn’t save a copy of that article, but it essentially said that text messages are sent of the voice portion of the cell phone and that it only costs the phone company a few pennies to send a message.  We, the consumer, are paying anywhere from $0.10 – $0.25 for each message we send and receive.  To illustrate, if I send a text message to a friend on the same wireless service as me, the phone company will make $0.40 – $1.00 on what is really just to messages.  They make money when I send the original message twice (they charge me to send and my friend to receive) and when my friend replies.  Talk about price gouging.

    The second article, “Fewer drivers nabbed by texting bans” (link) has to do with texting while driving, a very stupid thing to do, and the efforts of law enforcement to reduce the habit.  That piece, I think will be a different rant altogether.

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  • case,  cygnett,  galaxy s4,  samsung

    Check Out Cygnett’s New WorkMake Evolution and Galaxy S4 Drop Test

    May 2, 2013 /

    Cygnett makes some amazing cases and the new WorkMate Evolution tri-materail protective case for the Samsung Galaxy S4 is no exception.

    But don’t take my word for it.  Check out Cygnett’s torture test video.

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4PrO6mn-N4]

    (No Samsung phones were hurt during the filming of this video.)

    I think the WorkMate Evolution Bright Blue case is my favorite.  I really like that color.

    The WorkMake Evolution cases are on sale now for a very affordable $29.99.  To see the full line of WorkMate Evolution cases, check out the Cygnett website for more details.

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  • android,  apple,  google,  ios,  ipad,  iphone

    Google Now Arrives on iOS As Part of Google Search 3.0

    April 29, 2013 /

     This morning Google Search 3.0 arrived in the Apple iOS App Store giving millions of iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch users access to Google Now, an “information assistant” that has been available on Android-powered smartphones for the past year.

    Once you have activated the Google Now feature in the Google Search app, you can use Google Now to see time and weather updates based on your current location, get notices of breaking news and your favorite sports teams, area restaurants, and currency exchange rates.

    Rumors that Google Now was coming to Apple’s mobile operating system appeared back on March 12 when a leaked video showing off Google Now’s iOS tutorial video appears and was quickly pulled down from YouTube.

    For more information, visit the Google Now website.  Google Search is a free application in the iOS App Store (link). To use the Google Now features, you must be running iOS 5.0 or later.

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  • app store,  apple,  ios,  software

    Apple Store iOS App Gets Updated

    April 24, 2013 /

    Last night, Apple released and update to their iOS Apple Store application.

    The update, while minor, strikes me as a tool to help keep new iPhone owners all worked up about when they can upgrade to the new iPhone, allegedly the iPhone 5S.

    The two new features puts up a notice of when you are eligible for an iPhone upgrade, with pricing, keeping you informed once you buy your new phone with delivery notifications.

    Hey, when it’s a new toy, even overnight shipping is too long and we *need* to know where our phone is and when it will arrive at on our front porch.

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  • apple,  iphone

    You’ll Get a Larger iPhone When We Don’t Have to “Trade-Off”

    April 24, 2013 /
    Mockup of iPhone with 4.94-inch screen, created by Marco Arment – marco.net

    During today’s Apple quarterly earnings conference call, Apple CEO Tim Cook was asked about the iPhone maker’s plans for a larger screened smartphone.

    “We would not ship a larger display iPhone while these trade-offs exist,” Cook said during his company’s quarterly earnings conference call on Tuesday.

    I kinda have to agree with AppleInsider’s article. Apple CEO Tim Cook won’t ship a larger sized iPhone until the screen is ready. In my mind, that means being able to to a 5″-ish sized screen sporting Retina display quality in yields that can be sustained in a high quantity to sustain a global launch over to calendar quarters.

    In other words, the iPhone 5S will be the same tall 4″ screen seen on the iPhone 5 and a larger 5”-ish screen will appear in 2014 on the iPhone 6.

    [Via AppleInsider.com…]

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  • dell

    Blackstone Gives Up on Dell Takeover Attempt

    April 19, 2013 /

     From the Wall Street Journal:

    “Blackstone Group LP has ended its pursuit of Dell Inc. less than a month after the private-equity firm said it would try to top a leveraged buyout by the computer maker’s founder and a rival investment firm.

    Blackstone had been putting together a bid for Dell to trump the $24.4 billion offer from founder and Chief Executive Michael Dell and private-equity firm Silver Lake Partners. Blackstone’s offer would have kept part of the company in the hands of public shareholders.”

    As a Dell customer, I’m happy to see this get behind us.  It’s a bit worrisome to be ordering Dell hardware and services and not knowing who’s going to end up in control of the company.

    [Via WSJ.com…]

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  • apple,  ilife,  iphoto,  mac,  mac os x,  mac pro,  macbook pro

    Briefly Noted: Apple Releases iPhoto 9.4.3 Update

    April 17, 2013 /

    Yesterday afternoon Apple released a minor update to their iPhoto software for Mac OS X.

    iPhoto 9.4.3 gains the ability to now delete photos directly from the My Photo Stream, export photos directly from My Photo Stream, and allows you to edit RAW photos that have been manually imported from My Photo Stream.

    In addition to the My Photo Stream enhancements, Apple also fixed a number of bugs related to Facebook photo syncing, stability improvements and fixes related to making your own books, calendars and cards.

    The iPhoto update is free to customers who purchased it from the Mac OS X App Store.  If you don’t have a current version of iPhoto, it can be purchased for $14.99.

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