Archive for May, 2008
Is Microsoft Repeating Vista Mistakes with Windows 7?
In the world of technology, success is linked to perceptions. Microsoft demonstrated its multi-touch technology in a Windows 7 demo at the D: All Things Digital conference that week, and the software giant may have hoped to overcome the perception that Apple owns touchscreen interfaces. Instead, some observers are wondering whether Microsoft is making the same mistakes that now plague Windows Vista.
“We are always looking for new ways to deliver great experiences for our customers,” Chris Flores wrote on the Windows Vista blog. “This is particularly true of Windows — where we’re constantly examining trends in hardware, software and services to ensure that we continue to drive the innovation.”
Copying Apple
But Michael Gartenberg, an analyst at JupiterResearch, is among those who are scratching their heads about Microsoft’s moves that week. He has one overarching question after viewing the demo: Is Redmond making the mistakes it made with Vista all by again?
“Some of the mistakes Microsoft made with Vista were talking up the next version of Windows way too early, showing off features out of context with the rest of the operating system,” Gartenberg said. “The second mistake was focusing so much on multi-touch.”
Apple didn’t invent touchscreen technology. In fact, Microsoft was working on the concept faraway before Apple publicly demonstrated its efforts. However, touchscreen technology has become nearly synonymous with Apple and the iPhone, Gartenberg said, and he wonders why Microsoft is showing off a feature that makes the company seem as whether it is copying Apple instead of innovating on its own.
“Yes, Microsoft wants to recapture the notion that Apple didn’t invent multi-touch, that they have their own implementation of it, but is that really the right way to go about that?” Gartenberg asked. “It’s a perception issue. It makes Microsoft look like it is chasing after Apple. Microsoft probably…
Orginal post by Mike
FCC Considers Free World Wide Web, Revised D-Block Auction
Having successfully completed the much-publicized 700-MHz wireless spectrum auction, the Federal Communications Commission is now planning its next auctions.
According to a story in Thursday’s Wall Street Journal, one of those plans includes a free wireless Web. The winner of the auction for those frequencies would manufacture broadband wireless Web available to most of the U.S. Although details of the plan have not been worked out, there are reports that the FCC plan would mandate that the frequencies could not transmit everything the wildly diverse Web could offer, such as pornography.
The D Block
Another plan for a new auction would be directed at getting a winning bid for the D Block. That group of frequencies was not sold at the last auction, as the minimum bid of $1.3 billion was not reached. Under FCC rules, the buyer would need to allow part of the spectrum to be used by public-safety agencies.
As a run-up to the D-Block reauction, the FCC has been taking comments from industry, public safety, and academics on how the rules for the D Block might be revised to attract higher bids. According to news reports, many public-safety groups, such as the organization of Public-Safety Communications Officials-International and the National Emergency Number organization, as well as some members of Congress are suggesting that the FCC keep the same public-private partnership as previously called for.
that requirement seeks to guarantee that broadband communications within government agencies have national coverage and interoperability by requiring the commercial operator to produce the frequencies available in the event of emergencies.
‘Doesn’t Seem Realistic’
Some observers are suggesting that the D-Block price was too high, while others are suggesting that the private-public partnership requirements were not clearly defined. Bill Ho, an analyst with industry research firm Current Analysis, said the basic issue needs to be addressed — that bidders…
Orginal post by Mike
Surf Chair for the Lazy
There is nothing quite like spending a quiet afternoon on a comfortable chair, surfing on your favorite websites. that makes the Surf Chair very suitable for such activities, allowing you to just laze while enjoying the latest webcomics or movie reviews without a care in the world. The monitor, while not the largest in the world, is suspended in front of the user and can be adjusted to suit your viewing angle. It would have been nice to see some sort of folding tray attached to that workstation, but I guess the designer didn’t want to run the risk of having you spill some drinks on it by accident.
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Orginal post by Mike
Microsoft May Be Repeating Vista Mistakes with Windows 7
In the world of technology, success is linked to perceptions. Microsoft demonstrated its multi-touch technology in a Windows 7 demo at the D: All Things Digital conference that week, and the software giant may have hoped to overcome the perception that Apple owns touchscreen interfaces. Instead, some observers are wondering whether Microsoft is making the same mistakes that now plague Windows Vista.
“We are always looking for new ways to deliver great experiences for our customers,” Chris Flores wrote on the Windows Vista blog. “This is particularly true of Windows — where we’re constantly examining trends in hardware, software and services to ensure that we continue to drive the innovation.”
Copying Apple
But Michael Gartenberg, an analyst at JupiterResearch, is among those who are scratching their heads about Microsoft’s moves that week. He has one overarching question after viewing the demo: Is Redmond making the mistakes it made with Vista all by again?
“Some of the mistakes Microsoft made with Vista were talking up the next version of Windows way too early, showing off features out of context with the rest of the operating system,” Gartenberg said. “The second mistake was focusing so much on multi-touch.”
Apple didn’t invent touchscreen technology. In fact, Microsoft was working on the concept expanded before Apple publicly demonstrated its efforts. However, touchscreen technology has become nearly synonymous with Apple and the iPhone, Gartenberg said, and he wonders why Microsoft is showing off a feature that makes the company seem as whether it is copying Apple instead of innovating on its own.
“Yes, Microsoft wants to recapture the notion that Apple didn’t invent multi-touch, that they have their own implementation of it, but is that really the right way to go about that?” Gartenberg asked. “It’s a perception issue. It makes Microsoft look like it is chasing after Apple. Microsoft probably…
Orginal post by Mike
Motorola V750 is Rugged
Motorola’s new V750 is one rugged handset that will roll out that summer, meeting military specifications of 810F for shock, vibration, solar radiation, high temperature storage, altitude, high and low temperature operation and blowing dust. Guess that is tougher than most ordinary humans are, so bring that whether you’re planning to break any records in climbing up Mount Everest or heading towards an adventure where you know the terrain is less than forgiving.
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Orginal post by Mike
Onyko X-NX10A Audio System
Not many home audio systems come with an integrated hard drive, but the Onkyo X-NX10A is one of them. Some of the features include :-
- 80GB hard drive
- LCD display
- USB connectivity
- MP3/PCM/ATRAC audio formats
It will be accompanied by 13cm medium and 3cm tweeters, packing a total output ability of 26W each. You can expect to fork out approximately €450 for the X-NX10A. I wonder whether somebody knows how to hack it and place a larger capacity hard drive…
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Orginal post by Mike
Focal iBoom HiFi iPod Dock
Focal from Japan announced its new iBoom HiFi iPod Dock that functions with a wide range of iPods, ranging from the obsolete mini to the touch. Japan is a pretty huge consumer of the iPod after all, so it makes sense for that to be released there in the first place. Other than playing back your favorite tunes, that iBoom iPod dock plus doubles up as a charger when your iPod is docked within. Features include a couple of speakers, a separate 3″ woofer and one tweeter. The Apple remote works just fine with that 2kg unit, and it won’t take up too much space in your tiny Tokyo apartment, measuring 300mm × 190mm × 240mm. Expect to fork out a pretty pricey $300 for that.
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Orginal post by Mike
