Content Preview: rss
13 hours ago
Rupert Murdoch has this misguided notion that his web sites are being robbed by the likes of Google and Yahoo!. He contends, as well, that people like his content so much, that they would be willing to pay for it. The general consensus is that Mr. Murdoch is wrong. I think there is a lot of logic to what the general consensus thinks. But, I also think that the news maven may also be right. To a point, that is. First, let’s look at why he is wrong. Search engines like Google, Bing and Yahoo! serve to drive people TO sites, not steal from them. I think Mr. Murdoch just does not understand this. He’s not alone here. There are governments, companies and individuals who think search engines are stealing content when, in fact, they drive hits. Why this is so difficult for them to understand is beyond me. I love the fact that my little corner of the Internet is often times on the first page of hits and, sometimes, is even the first hit. The more people who read my stuff, the ...13 hours ago
Zune Phone My ‘new’ favorite devices-for now, anyway-are my Pre and my Zune HD. The Pre is a terrific smartphone-made somewhat less so with the last software update-and the Zune HD is a terrific media device. Both devices have two or three functions that they do well. The Pre is a nice phone, a good Internet browsing device and it is a competent information manager. The Zune HD does multimedia very, very well. It’s also a decent game playing device. In fact, about the only thing it does not do so well-and it is the software that it is the issue here-is browse the Internet. What if the best of both devices were in one device? Not only would that be a dynamite device, but it would also be a true competitor to iPhone and all of the cool Android devices such as the Eris and Cliq. Microsoft should pursue this and do it quickly. A Zune device with the cell radio and syncing ability of the Pre could sell very well. I look at my Zune HD and really have to wonder just what the ...4 days ago
When Vista released, there was an almost immediate anti-Vista backlash among most of the tech press. I called out CNet for it’s almost relentless barrage of anti-Vista postings and stories that were purported to be ‘news.’ It was not just CNet, though. The most vocal anti-Vista site was, with out a doubt, PC World and all of its sister sites. One writer, in particular, seemed to have a bone to pick with Microsoft and he used his bully-pulpit to spew his anti-Microsoft rants. Funny thing happened with Windows 7, however. Just about everyone seems to like it. Even PC World has a difficult time putting out anti-7 posts. But, they do. Especially any of the drek written by the aforementioned author, who will remain nameless here. So… What would you call a statement like “Windows 7 sales brisk? Can’t give it away?” What would you say if I said that because I could not sell a copy of Windows 7 that I purchased for $50 (US) for $80 and no one wanted to buy it at that price and ...5 days ago
Google Chrome OS. Two words and two letters that add up to…nothing. Google recently held a press conference, a dog and pony show, to show off what they have done, so far, with their new ‘operating system.’ If what they showed off is anywhere close to what they intend to release next year, then the words ‘operating system’ become meaningless. What Google is doing is, essentially, a minimalist Linux with the Chrome browser grafted on as the UI. Given the devices that this thing is being targeted, it really ceases to become an operating system and more of a terminal application. Or, in other words, a browser device. Less a computer and more a dumb terminal, akin to the old ADM-3A terminals from Lear-Siegler back in the late 1970’s and earl 1980’s. To be fair, the virtual images floating around the ‘net are NOT from Google and were compiled from the source code that Google released after it’s press conference. The image I am using is from the GDGT website. It barely qualifies as ...5 days ago
Thanks to my lovely wife, I am now the proud owner of a Zune HD. I must say, this is one sexy device. Thin, sleek, beautiful screen and great sound all add up to a device worthy of the words sexy, great and killer. I’ve been a fan of the Zune since I got my 30gb, 1st gen Zune a couple of years ago. The Zune HD is the device that Microsoft should have released then. The Zune HD is one of those devices that you must experience to appreciate just how nice it really is. Everything about it, from the packaging to the setup is well done. Setup was very easy, much easier than the first gen device. I, literally, connected it to my computer, which already had the Zune 4 desktop software installed. It installed a driver, which took about a minute. After that, the Zune software asked me for a name for the device and then asked me if I wanted setup the wireless sync, which I did. It detected the wireless network in my home and sent everything that the device needed to access my ...
