AI, Mobile, and Eveything Around the Cloud

The Playbook from Blackberry received approval for use within the US government.  It was given FIPS certification.  And because the iPad was not, it appears that Russia could be looking at the Playbook or even an Android tablet with better security features. It's likely that Apple will also try to obtain this certification but you can never really tell.  And given Google's interest in pushing for a more prominent role in government, Android could benefit greatly.   We should know just how all this plays out eventually but this could be a huge victory for RIM.  And it needs every bit of help it can now.  And who will be the next to be certified?  Apple or Google? Source:   BGR , Financial Post .

I like spending time with friends and families so generally when I am out, I leave some personal issues and worries at home. They get in the way of fun. I marvel at my ability to do this. Being fashionably late, especially in Los Angeles, seems to be something that more people are taking to a whole new level. But with my mobile devices with most of the time, I have had something to do while I wait 15 minutes or half and hour while people I am having dinner with or just meeting up for coffee shows up. And as I write this post, I am an hour early. Actually, no. The people I am having dinner with are an hour behind. Again, this is entirely fine with me. Most of the time, I am okay with it. I got a chance to update my calendars, fire off a couple of emails, mod a pic I tool this morning donating blood and write a couple of journal entries (both on my phone and actual moleskin notebook). In recent years, I almost never leave home without something to distract myself with. Before the smart...

iPhone cases has always offered a clue about what Apple's future plans for its mobile devices.  And while this is confirmation that Apple's next iPhone has a resigned shape, we cannot help but feel that there simply is no way for Apple to control information the way it once did. Like when Steve Jobs one-more-thing'd us with the original aluminum Powerbook.  That was totally unexpected.  These days, we simply have to way for obscure Chinese or Vietnamese website to leak the information to seal the deal on whatever rumors we've been hearing weeks or months prior.  So, I ask this.  Can there ever be another "one more thing" from Steve Jobs or Apple?

Apple recently moved to disrupt the laptop market by removing the white MacBook from public market and replaced it with the 11" MacBook Air. It seems to be as a big a deal as the the release of Lion, Apple's newest OS, and new hardware. There was a few reasons for this. First, solid state drives are going mainstream. they are fast and has less moving parts that makes traditional hard drives more prone to failure. Second, iCloud will supplant local storage. Gone are the nice big storage for music and video. Access to your media and files are all going to be on Apple's servers. Third, the Airs are super thin and has no room for SuperDrive. Physical media like the DVD and CD-ROM are on the way out. Sharing videos will take place on sites like YouTube. And if you want to watch a video, download or stream it. Fourth, reverse scrolling will be preparing millions ready for the tablets. Put all that together and you can clearly see that Apple is getting rid of the old and ushe...

Google continues to do great work on the search front. And while it's debatable how some of their UI looks and feel, at least with search, they're doing pretty nice by me. They've made the UI better for tablet by way of adding and move search buttons and drop-down menus for easier access. On top of that, this is my favorite part. The image results layout has imrpoved with bigger previews so you know exactly what you're looking at. Continuous scrolling is nice and faster load time. It may not seem like much but with tablets fast becoming mainstream devices for consuming media and text, it makes sense for Google to make it easier for us early adopters to latch on. Bing, your move.

I ran 6.2+ miles yesterday. Applause. Thanks! It was fun and could have ran longer it or hadn't been for the fact that it wad just way too hard to see. As I was running, I thought I'd do something fun. Live-blog the experience through Google+. Okay. It was just a couple of pics of landmarks and some info about my run. You can see here. As you can see, I had some fun with it. Did some touch-ups of the pics, added zombies. Again, it was fun. Gave me time between updates for a breather it two. I hope to do it again. And maybe I'll find a way to make it more efficient. - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

I'm trying to keep an open mind regarding this but patents are supposed to protect the inventors...when when Acer/HTC suggests that Apple should innovate rather than ligitate, I'm trying to understand their logic behind it. I know that prior patents does keep competitors from using one's technology. And the way to work around it is to innovate or find an even better way to implement a trait or function.   I think what Apple is doing is unprecedented so it's making a lot of people feel uneasy.  New rules and all that.   From the patent reform information that I could find on the Web, specifically, Wiki, I can see why Google would want to push for it.  It seems that it would make it harder to bring patent suits while prolonging the process of litigation.   And yet, many of the companies involved in the mobile patent wars, Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Oracle support the Patent Reform Act of 2009.  However, even a wider range of industries are against it. ...

iPad 3 is coming. It's not coming.  It'll have a high rez screen but it'll cost more than the regular iPad 2.  Oh, and Apple may or may not be lining up manufacturers to make it. If you're a close watcher of Apple, the historical progression of rumors and such all tells us one thing.  There obviously is a successor to the iPad 2 but it will not be coming until Q1 of 2012 at the earliest.   Right about now, Apple is ramping up production of the iPhone 5. That means for the iPad 3 to make a fall, even a late fall, debut, Apple will have to start production real soon.  And according Taiwan Economic News , to Apple is still finalizing suppliers to make it. Furthermore, does Apple really want to be concentrating on two brand new products at the same time?   And let's not forget the annual iPod refresh as well.   So, iPhone, iPod and iPad 3.  That's quite a lot in the mix.  Then there are some of the Macs that will need to be refreshed as well. ...

The last I heard, Apple had over 50% share of the mobile profit while only a quarter of the mobile device share.  And with Apple increase it's footprint this quarter, it would be pathetic if that figure remains the same.  Well, no worries.   9to5Mac suggests that Apple could capture as much as two-third of the total mobile profit.  That's right, one company with a vast majority of the pie. It was only 4 years ago that the iPhone was introduced and Apple was vying for a mere 1% of the total phone market.  At the time, many analysts thought that was an impossibility.  And at the time, Nokia had nearly sixty percent of the profit.   After Apple came Samsung with 15% of the profit in mobile.   9to5Mac has much more details and pretty graphs so I'm gonna make you click over to read up on them.

ATT is looking at throttling unlimited data plan users.  It doesn't matter if the user is an Android or iPhone user.  Or any platform for that matter.  This is coming from multiple sources on the Web so it could be ATT looking to trying to let the information leak, simmer a bit, and take the temperature.   With the merger with T-Mobile on the line, it doesn't seem like a smart move to make at all.  By anyone's standard, this is a bad thing, my fellow mobile warriors.  And I'm talking about the throttling but you're welcome to throw the merger into the mix of this bad. The other side of this issue I've got is that many bloggers seem to be taking in stride.  They should be pissed off.  All I know is that should Sprint get the iPhone, I wish there would be a mass exodus from ATT and Verizon.  Sprint is now the last of the carriers that offer unlimited and unthrottled data plans.

I've bought quite a few Apple products refubished. My Powerbook was.  So Is my current Macbook Air. And even a couple of iPods as well.  They're top notch as far as I'm concerned.  So now, Cult of Mac is reporting that the iPhone 3GS can be had for one penny. It's significant because the iPhone 3GS is a very good mobile device.  As a lower end mobile computer, it is good enough to give some high end competing smartphones a run for their money. On top of that, the battery life is better than most if not all Android devices out there.   What this move by AT&T is essentially their way of clearing the stock out for you know what.  The next iPhone.  There was fear that Apple may not release an iPhone this year. There's always a chance of that happening but not a good one.  The recent increase in chatters as well as moves by carriers, like this one, seems to all of seal the deal on the iPhone coming in a matter of weeks.   So, if you're looking...

9to5Mac has a screen shot of Korea Telecom's fulfillment system that is more evidence that the iPhone 5 is, and I can happily say this, weeks away. Though, how many weeks exactly, no one knows. What's interesting is that they've got a placeholder for the 16 GB and 32 GB. Is anyone hoping for 64 GB model? There is also a third placeholder with two zero's so it's hard to discern more information about the iPhone 5's storage. Again, it could be just KT, like the rest of us, eagerly anticipating the arrival of the next iPhone and wanted to set the table for when it does arrive. There is a bit of information at 9to5mac about the third placeholder I'm gonna make you click over to their website to find out. Source: 9to5Mac .

Feeling a bit numbed after looking at Motorola's numbers, this is worse than what I felt after seeing RIM's own quarterly result.  Now, Moto is saying it'll ship at most 1.5 million Xooms . What more can I expect?  As a mobile fan, I had high hopes that Motorola can stage a comeback in 2011 like they did when they fell but came back with the RAZr phones.   So, if this is how the flagship Android tablet is doing, you have to wonder just how other Android tablets can do up against the iPad, Playbook, and Touchpad.   Doing some quick math and estimation here, I see the follow breakdown of the tablet market: RIM can possibly ship up to 1 million Playbooks a month HP can possibly ship  up to 500K Touchpads a month Samsung can possibly ship up to 2 million Galaxy Tablets a month Other Android tablet makers can ship up to 1 million tablets a month Apple can ship up to 5 million iPads a month Take some liberty with the figures, this is how I see the tablet market break ...

Motorola Mobility in their financial report reported by shipped only a dismal 440K.  Honestly, this is pathetic.  For the flagship Honeycomb device, Motorola and Google has really dropped the ball. By now, I was expecting about a million tablets shipped a month.  And this figure is even worse than just 440K.  The number Motorola provided is shipped, not the sell through.   I think it all hinges on Samsung now.  The Galaxy brand has a better following and should be able to do better.  On top of that, Amazon is rumored to be prepping up to 4 million Kindle tablets for the Holiday seasons.   Hope of anyone with a fight chance against Apple's iPad comes down to Amazon and Samsung.  Source:   Motorola .

I said this three years ago and again two years ago.  And when Borders started going out of business, I said it as well.  And finally, someone is listen.  BGR reports one of their sources has knowledge that Apple is looking hard at a Barnes and Noble takeover. And it would make a lot of sense than BGR is suggesting.  These megastores have the room to accommodate Apple's expanding needs.  in fact, Apple could convert Barnes and Noble stores into super destinations for its fans.  And should Apple start to sell TV and expand its reach, it will need places to display them.  Current stores do not have enough room. Furthermore, I like to see Apple save the brick-and-mortar book stores.  I think the two companies would be a perfect match.   The question now becomes what will Google do?  Or Amazon and Microsoft?  Neither of these Apple competitors have the retail reach Apple does. Source; Boy Genius Report .

Is Windows Phone catching on?  Nielsen reports that Windows Mobile stands at 9% of installed base in the US. In the last report, WP7 took 1%.  This time around, Nielsen did not provide data for WP7.  But WMPowerUser blog optimistically suggests that Nielsen folded WP7 data into the Windows Mobile data as one and that WP7 has increased so much that it is able to off-set loss of older Windows Mobile devices. That is possible.  Until we get clarification from Nielsen, we won't know with any certainty.  We do know that there are the "other" section with 1".  

Due to the high flying iOS devices, iPhone, iPod touch, and the iPad, Nintendo has slashed the price of the newly released 3DS from $250 (the amount I paid for) down to $170.  I would be pissed if not for the free games I I should be getting from Nintendo for my trouble. My issues aside, Nintendo is in a world of hurt.  As like $324 million of hurt.  That's how much Mario and friends lost in the latest financial result.  And what I did not realize was that they've been bleeding money for more than a year now.   What happened?  Apple.  That's what happened.  Take your pick. iPhone.  iPod touch.  The iPad 2.  This kind of power hit Nintendo hard as it has sold just over 700K...worldwide! While Nintendo did address the slow start of the 3DS out of the gate, they still refuse to acknowledge the real issue and danced around the true issue of changes in the mobile market and Apple roadblock.   Certainly new games from 3DS will help t...

iPhone coming out about mid-September.  That sounds right.  The chatter just before the iPad 2 launch is very similar to what we're hearing now for the next iPhone. But as for the iPad 3 in November.  Forget about it.  Not gonna happen.  Don't think I'm right.  Go back the last five years or more  Since when have Apple released a product after Halloween?  Nada.  In fact, one year, Apple had to issue a public statement telling the public that their Holiday lineup was set and nothing new was going to be updated for that year. As for when the iPad 3 is coming out, that's anyone's guess.  If there is even an iPad 3. Source: Macrumors .

Amazon is currently getting things ready to ramp up their own Kindle tablet.  I'm using Kindle because its the brand that is most popular within Amazon's own line of products and just as with Barnes and Noble did with Nook and Nook Color, I anticipate that "Kindle" will be very much the name of the tablet. What's not entirely known are the specs.  Months ago, there was talk that Amazon might include a 4-core chip from Nvidia.  It was a ridiculous notion obviously.  And WSJ is reporting that the the top end tablet will not sport a traditional 10" display but one that is smaller. And there will not be cameras. I reckon this is probably the result of one of two things.  Amazon really wants to reduce the cost of their tablets or they have yet to develop the skills to build in adequate camera and have been unable to find a source to their likely. Amazon will be going up against the iPad 2 as well as a second wave of Android tablets.   You're asking, wait a sec...

The amount of time that people spent on Google+ dropped from nearly six minute to five and a quarter minutes.  That's a drop of 35 seconds.  Is that really worth reporting on?  Well,  CNet  apparently thinks so.   Well, folks, let's just say that the decrease can be for any number of reasons.  I'm surprise that the number has not dropped more.  In the first few weeks, you would think that most of the time is spent on Plus trying to figure out how to use it and manage our Circles.  Now that we know mostly how things work on Plus, we don't need that extra couple of minutes looking around for things.  Further more, Google+ are more savy tech-wise.  True mobile warriors I reckon.  We're probably on our Androids and iPhones.  You don't need to spend give minutes answering, updating, and posting pics.   And a drop of 35 seconds is nothing at all to worry about.  Plus has already reached twenty million.  I can't wa...

So you know the title of this post made in jest.  Last week, Tim Cook of Apple made the point to say that the iPad was cannibalizing Macbook sales.  And according to MacNN, 2,200 students in Owensboro, Kentucky will be receive Airs. Intalled on these Airs will be Lion.  Just as important is that iCloud should play a meaning part of these students' education.   Apple also made it a point to say that this was education deal involving MBA.   So, not exactly the Air cannibalizing iPad sales but it is important to show that laptops still have legs against the up and coming tablets.  And it's nice to see some sibling rivalry between Apple products.  You can get that while the school was consider the deal,the iPad had crossed the educators' minds. Question is, so why did the school pick the Macbook Air over the iPad? Source: Macnn . 

HTC, Patents, Resolution I generally like to focus on just the mobile part of Apple's iOS and OS X but you can't help but get sucked into the back and forth patent spats between Apple and Android device makers.  And Apple won a key preliminary ruling when an ITC judge ruled that HTC violated two of Apple's key patents. And just as when it looks like HTC might be able to use some graphics patents they recently acquired, FOSS Patents is saying the validity of those patents may be called into question, further weakening any offensive that HTC might try to mount.  Their sole recourse would be an appeal.   As a mobile warrior and fan, you can help but hear about this every day.  But perhaps, with HTC signaling that they are willing to sit down and settle this, we could be coming to some resolution soon - one way or another, regardless of whether Apple even wants to sit down with HTC and resolve this or not. The conclusion is that this will end up well for Apple and it'll...

So, I ask you - what does Angry Birds, the all time popular mobile game have to do with Nazi Germany? Angry Birds, if you don't already know, is about these pissed off birds try go get at the pigs for stealing their eggs.  Kids stuff.  Nothing more.  Nothing less. Apparently, Glen Beck equates the birds to the wealthiest 1% while the pigs have taken their eggs to redistribute.  Ooookaaaay, so someone has not taken his meds agin. According to Macworld , Beck then proceeds to make a connection to the Nazi and even his co-hosts had no idea what he was talking about. So you Android and iPhone users who play Angry birds (myself included), we're the richest people in the world and the socialists are stealing our eggs and we could be Nazis.  Or not.  

Mashable has a post that gives a very good state of the ereader and tablet market.  It's a recommended read for all mobile fans.  It doesn't get into what is being sold and which mobile platform has the pole position in the market.  What it does is provide concise information on who is buying the tablets and how they are using them. I've highlighted some information from the post but I've left the bulk of information from the post for you to read when you click through.  Here are some interesting information I like to share with you.  I've focused mostly on the tablet.  To me the ereader is a device fit for one thing.  Reading.  In 2010, 10.3 million tablets sold, 6.7 million ereaders sold. Household with $150K is twice as likely to own a tablet Household with children, 12% already own tablets Growth of single function devices like the ereaders will slow as tablet sales pick up steam and acceptance among consumers. This last point explains a lot ...

Okay, for some reason, I'm pretty excited about this though I don't know why. I've never even seen the show but I've heard all of my friends talk about it.  Now, Madmen is available for streaming on Netflix. I'll probably give this a go after I am through with Star Trek: The Next Generation. There are four MM seasons.  I hope that's it.  One of the things I hate most about TV today is cliffhangers. Source:   Huffington Post .

I can't wait for iTunes Match.  And you know what?  I can't wait for video that I buy from Apple for the same treatment.   Over the weekend, I attempted to install OS X Lion on my 2008 Unibody Macbook.  Earlier, the attempt to install Lion on my late-2010 11" Macbook Air went through without a hiccup.  No so with the MB.  In fact, it tells me that the HD is locked and I'm was not able to get beyond that point. I've done some searches through the forums online but no one seems to have the solution I needed.  While I did back up the most important personal files through Time Machine, there was one problem.  A lot of my latest videos from iTunes were not backed up.    I KNOW that this is my fault but I just wasn't thinking at the moment.   Hence, I can't wait for iCloud and iTunes Match fast enough.  And I can't wait until iTM has video support as well.  In light of the rumors that Apple is doing its due-diligence on a potent...

Effectively immediately, the iOS app store and the Mac store are now open to 33 new countries and territories.   It's All Tech has the full list. However, the listen doesn't really say anything.  I reckon most of the people in the world have not heard of half the countries and territories part of the list of 33.  So, I went to Wikipedia and added up the population to give us a perspective. In all, the 33 new fronts has a combined population of around 375 million with Nigeria account for 155 million alone.  Together, they have a combined GDP of 850 billion USD.   I can't say that this means much.  Nor do I think these territories have that many Macs or iOS devices.  Having said that, it is better to for Apple and developers to be ready once Apple finds a way to increase its presence in these new markets.

Reports are circulating that Apple is staffing up for the fall as the back-to-school season gets into full swing.  An added element to all this is that Apple will be launch the new iPhone 4GS or 5 around the time students follow campus stores and, likely, Apple stores for their mobile gears to tackle the new school year. We can safely assume that the new staffing will be for both purposes.  Therefore, it does not give us additional information to pin down a timeframe for the iPhone launch.  My guess is that I'll be lining up right around early September.  How do I know that?  I don't. It is just a gut feeling. Having said that, there is one way we can know for sure.  Apple will have to hold a media event for the iPhone unveiling.  The time of this is critical.  If we are going to see the iPhone in early September, that would mean Apple will be holding its event about two weeks before it goes on sale.  An early September launch could mean that...

If Apple's fruity brand is any indication that a benign fruit can be potent, then you ain't see nothing yet with Mango.  That is, Microsoft's Windows Phone 7.5, Mango. Wow, I totally screwed that one up didn't I?   Well, Mango is the WP OS that Microsoft should have released a year or so ago but did and decided to go with WP7.  And while WP7 was a markedly departure from the icon style UI, the tile UI was much different and there was much to like about it.  So much so that Windows 8's UI is modeled after it. And now, Mango is on its way to manufacturers and we could be seeing new Mango devices later this winter.  And with Nokia's support, Mango could be a true force to be reckon with.  And given the legal trouble that Android makers find themselves under with Apple and Microsoft, it is possible that more than a few of them will be looking at Mango to avoid future legal issues. Google has got to be watching this closely.  On top of that, Mango's new fea...

LTE tablets are the future and no one is disputing this fact.  Near-term, is LTE just a marketing gimmick the way Verizon Wireless marketed the Thunderbolt as being the first LTE device that resulted in a lot of complaints about coverage and battery life? That being said, I wonder what the first LTE tablets will be come when it comes to battery life?  We won't have to wait long as VZW and Samsung are able to until the LTE Galaxy tablet. If they don't match up to rivals like the iPad, well, you know how the story will end. Source:   MobileTopSoft .

Boy Genius Report  via Macumors is reporting that Apple is working on a 15" Macbook that may or may not be a part of the Air line up.   Obviously, no one should be surprised by this at all.  Given Apple's propensity to shake things up from time to time, I reckon an 17" version was probably worked on as well.  Whether we'll see them released into the market is anyone's guess.  Macrumors suggests that Apple is in the late stages of development.   My curiosity lies on just how much this 15" Air will hold up against the 15" Macbook Pro.  Performance, weight, battery life, and whether it'll still have a dedicated GPU all comes to mind.  And ultimately, how much   It is conceivable that by releasing a 15" Macbook Air, Apple is finally getting rid of internal optical drives from the entire line of Macbooks.  And we might see the 17" version as well.  What does that mean is that mobile warriors maybe able to carry around their Macs that ar...

Either it's a mistake on the part of the art department or we can really be seeing and iPod touch with 3G connectivity coming from Apple. What is interesting is that if this was a mistake, it was one made deliverately to take out whether the data plan comes from ATT or Verizon Wireless. Now, Cult of Mac , site that spotted this interesting info, is erring on the side of caution here but I think there could be something to this.   If you compare the touch picture with those of the iPhone pics on Apple's site and the screen of your iPhone, you'll will see that any information about the carrier was taken out by Apple online - after all, Apple doesn't want to favor one carrier over another now that it has two in the US.   Furthermore, I like to throw this in.  Is this new iPod touch a pre-paid iPhone rather than a new iPdo touch with 3G capability? I believe it's time that Apple really rearrange the chairs on the mobile deck.  In fact, I like to see Apple throw thos...

Our bank accounts are limited.  Well, maybe some of yours are not but mine definition has its limits.  Small limits.  Therefore, you can understand that pricing plays a big role in a vast major of my purchases?   Therefore, it is not surprising that in a survey by Retrevo, nearly 50% of respondents attach price as a major factor regarding their tablet purchases.  In the same survey, 55% of the respondents will purchase a tablet from Amazon with the nearest competitors coming in at 31% for both Motorola and HP.   Taking both into consider, and the fact that the Kindle tablet will sport a LCD screen coming in at 9" rather than the customary 10" its competitors like the iPad, Touchpad, and Xoom, and the report that it will have a more rudimentary two-finger touch  support than more advanced touch features more capable in competing devices, Amazon could be going for the lower price entry with a  good enough product this go around If Amazon can co...

I don't know if the two RIM CEOs work for a $1 like Steve Jobs but I do know that they are not among the 2K+ RIM employees that will soon be getting their walking papers.  And as for being the two guys that make RIM such a dominant force in mobile enterprise communication, they are also the forces behind what has happened to RIM to this date.  To be fair, RIM is still growing and is still a cash cow but growth as slowed as Apple attempts to usurp RIM's enterprise mantle. So, the fact that the two CEOs who failed to recognize the fast changing pace of the smartphone and tablet market will continue to take the company in the same direct they've been going the last couple of years is just how life is.  Ten years from now, the ideal situation would be that blogs would talk about how back in 2011, there was so much pressure to remove them from their posts as CEOs and had the company caved, RIM would not be the power house it will be in 2021. Somehow, I don't think that will ...

I think patent trolls are bad things for the tech market or any market for that matter.  They represents the worst elements of the system. And the system needs to be reformed.  But at the same thing, reformation of the patent system does to negate one thing:  the need to have patents or the need to innovate. I fault Google for not protecting Android and not having the leadership to foresee a future in which rivals will not be willing to allow Android device makers to simply usurp the technology they developed by competitors.   In an interview with Techcrunch , Kent Walker, Google's General Counsel, seems to be suggesting as much.  On top of that, I suggest that Google fire Walker for his ineptitude.  It would have been under his leadership to secure the Nortel patents and he failed to do that.  I see this interview as his attempt to cover his mistakes. Having lost the bidding with to rivals, he now consider patents to be "government-granted monopolies"...

"Boot to Gecko" is Mozilla's answer to Chrome OS and new entry into the mobile market.  And it will not be for netbooks but also tablets and phones.  And it seems like Mozilla is taking aim directly at Google and trying to do for the mobile in ways that Android has failed to do.  Failed in what ways depends on your perspective. Mozilla promises real-time openness without Google's invisible hands and the times when Google controls things with Android that is not entirely transparent.  In essence, The Firefox OS or whatever it'll be called will be truly open in ways that Android is not. Now, you've noticed that I don't want to call this exciting new project by its current given name because it is pretty lame.  "Boot to Gecko"?  Please, Mozilla.  I think Firefox OS sounds better, don't you think? And yes, this is very exciting news if Mozilla can truly come through.  We need more competitors in the mobile market than not.  One thing I think Mozi...

If you're new to the mobile scene, you should know that Clearwire, is a company partly owned by Sprint that provides the WiMax network in the United States.  It's not doing well.  But I'm hopeful.  And I'm hopeful that my iSpot will see a lot of milage for years to come.  I am expect another three, maybe four, years before the WiMax network in the US changes for good Meanwhile, Clear is still trying to capture a piece of the lucrative wireless data market.  And even without my iSpot, which connects only to iOS devices for $25 a month, this new  $99 Spot 4G  from Clear is in its own right, a pretty compelling deal.  See, I went with my iSpot because I wanted to see if I can live off this $25 a month rate without owning a phone.  I did that for about seven months before I got reapplied for the iPhone and Triumph. So, my question is you is whether anyone out there is running their home network off an WiMax hotspot like this.  Typically in m...

Here is an interesting fact about gaming, free-to-play games and just how much we'll pay. And apparently, the average amount a dedicated player is going to expose their wallets to is $14 per game. This is dramatically higher than "free" that these players were willing to pony up to start with.  However, there are not that many players with the willingness to pay that amount.   What potential game developers should realize is that they need to understand as long as they can develop a large following with free to start and can retain a loyal following, they can expect to the revenue to start flowing in.  But just 3% are willing to spend the $14.   I can't say if that's good or not.  Of course, there is the ad revenues that also come into play for most free games. Source:   Toucharcade .

The reason that the Chinese government in Kunming gave for closing the fake Apple stores was not over intellectual property rights or trademark issues but over the lack of permits to operate the stores.   I know the Chinese government has a seriously need to save face, like all the time, but these kinds of double speak at home and saying something else entirely whenever a Chinese official visits a Western nation shows just Beijing either has no control over the situation or they are no serious whatsoever about enforcing international laws. How bad is this?  Only two of five stores were shut down.  So, I am guess the other three has the backing of the local government through actual business licenses or has the local political boss' support.   What's worse?  The people who work there actually thinks they work for Apple. Source: Pulse , Reuters .

It looks like Retina display is coming to the Macs.  When? it's anyone's guess but Arstechnica has a good detailed section on it within their Lion review article.  It's definitely must read on both accounts. Again, the question is when will this happen?  I think Apple is likely trying to leverage this technology as soon as it can.  It'll be inconceivable that its competitors can move fast enough.  After all, Apple is probably going to update the iPad with the Retina display sooner rather than later.  This could mean that the economy of scales of the iPad screens can also help Apple absorb any increase in display prices for the Macs in the future. That said, when Apple increase the  iPhone 4 due to it having the updated Retina display over the 3GS, it could be promising that the Macbooks, iMac, and the Cinema displays get Retina upgrades without much if a price increase if any.  I would not be shocked if Apple does provide the current LCD display w...

I'm a simple person when it comes to commerce taxes and whatnots.  So, when California, my home state asked for taxes to be collected by out-of-state online retailers, to me it made sense.  For too long, many residents, myself included, buy from Amazon because it was not only cheaper at some brick-and-mortar stores, you did not have to pay taxes upfront Well, there is sales taxes on your online purchases which you're supposed to send to the state yourself during the course of the year or during tax filing times.  Billions of dollars of taxes were lost over the course of the last 12 to 13 years.   I'm not here to debate that issue.  I'm wondering about the tax issues as it relates to Amazon's earnings.  California itself is the 9th biggest economy in the world even as we struggle through our own recession and employment problems but we continue constitute a large percentage of Amazon's online market. Now for many online buyers, there may be no reason to buy ...

The Wall Street Journal along with a few other apps that sell books or subscriptions directly from the app.   My guess is that WSJ tried to work with Apple on softening these rules, and they are not new, but has not been able to get Apple to bend.   Hence, what Forbes (Onxo) believed were two hit pieces against Steve Jobs and Apple.  

Apple has had a great third quarter but it looks like Samsun's second quarter has been even better than Apple and may have shopped about a million smartphones more than Apple.  Samsung's resilience to the iPhone assault seems to have legs.  After all, the Galaxy line has done very well in the marketplace and may have the kind of name recognition that the iPhone has.  From a competitive standpoint, the Galaxy is the single most direct competition to Apple's iPhone than the Android platform as a whole.  When people talk about Android, it is just what it is, a platform.  With the Galaxy, Samsung has created an international brand that has appeal and come to represent quality and excellence.  Though not quite at the iPhone's level, its success could possibly be why Apple and Samsung have become bitter mobile enemies even as the two companies worked together to supply Apple with the parts for its mobile needs. Samsung's quarter was helped by the release of the G...

Forbes is asking whether if Rupert Murdoch is gunning for Steve Jobs.  Just before the release of Apple's quarterly earnings last week, the WSJ journal released a post, coming "down" to the level of bloggers, in talking about a potential replacement search for Steve Jobs' replacement by the Apple board of directors.   At the time, I gave it no second thought.  I read the post because it was just a diversionary exercise as we were minutes from what we know was another huge quarter from Apple.   But as The Daily floundered from bad execution and bad quality in general, Apple has basically moved on.  And as with all things on the Internet, so have others.  And the bloggers leave you, you're in a lot of trouble.  And for this reason, Murdoch is probably not very happy with Apple and used the WSJ to place a "rumor" to taint Apple's forthcoming good news.   And this isn't something that is above the embattled leader of Newscorp.  Right now, the Mur...

Apple discontinued the White Macbook for the general public.  And given that move compound that to the number of potential Macbook buyers who had been holding back in anticipating of new Macs, it looks like gates. According to Macnn , some Apple store locations have sold out of both the 11" and 13" Air in hours. I cannot help but think that perhaps the Air, which represents the new norm for the mainstream Macbook buy, is a sign that Apple is quickly moving to change the parameters of the PC market. Consider this.  Not only is Apple ending the Macbook, it is also making SSD a standard as well.  And furthermore, Apple is making its laptop easier to carry and lighter on the back or shoulders. And given the initial benchmarks coming in, it doesn't look like the Airs are lacking in processor power.

First, let me say that I love the iPad.  Regardless of your personal preference, the iPad is leading the charge for a new category of mobile devices.  I eventually hope to acquire another tablet that runs on a competing mobile platform.  To date, I've yet to find one entirely to my liking.  And it has more to do with the size and build of the tablet than anything else.  And since I"m not made of gold, the price is a factor as well.  So, why would an Apple fan consider a tablet with a smaller than 10" when Steve Jobs said that anything less than 7" simply doesn't work. Well, for typing, I suppose he is correct.  I don't like pecking at the screen and smaller sized screens simply doesn't allow that.  But I can't say that I've bought that argument entirely.  There are a lot of things the the mobile users can do on the tablet that do no require excessive typing.   So far, the 7" tablets on the Android platform are still running non-Honeycomb...