AI, Mobile, and Eveything Around the Cloud

Amazon sold a lot of Kindles over the Thanksgiving, Black Friday and through Cyber Monday.  That’s what it told us, what it wanted us to think, and made the press like Reuters repeat it over and over again.  How many tablets did Amazon sell?  No one knows because it has not released any actual figures.  So, I’m gonna make them up. The Kindle line, including tablets and ebook readers were collectively outsold by the RIM’s Playbook by a factor of 25 to 1.  And what’s worse and surprising, the Touchpad, you know, the HP’s WebOS tablet that isn’t even on the market no more, has outsold the Kindle Fire. Amazon, you failed.  As did the press for simply regurgitating Amazon’s press nonsense.

Source:   9to5Mac . Here is an interesting article speculating on what Apple could do with AMD if it decides to buy it.  First of all, that’s not going to happen.  It’s likely Apple has enough chip designing talent right now.  Any future buyout would be specific to a need, not a wholesale buyout like AMD.  On top of that, Apple is looking to transition away from legacy chip designs like Intel as iOS devices dominate Apple’s attention. However, it is fun to speculate.  A lot of reasons why Apple could benefit from buying AMD has been spoken for in the article.  I’ll let you read them yourself.  However, this is one particular point in the post that I find enticing for Apple fans. That is that the government wants to make sure Intel has a competitor in the market.  While I doubt Apple would run amok of regulators if it does find reason to buy AMD, consider that Apple has never shared its technology willingly with others, it’s unlikely to...

Source:   Marketwatch . "So-so" article about Black Friday shopping in stores.  We know this.  You can get decent deals online in relationship to standing in line and considering the savings.  It's about economics and the value of your time.  That's what I learned the last few Black Fridays. Another thing, we end up getting crap we don't really need and don't necessarily want. Also, it's crazy. More to the article.  Oh, one more thing in the article I thought is worth mentioning:  expect violence. Stampede.  Herds of humans that had just eaten millions of pounds of turkey coming at you. Good luck on Friday.

Source:   9to5Mac . This is huge in my mind.  Warner Brothers launched a new called for next day viewing called “Day After Us”.  Yes, a studio launching an app like that.  What is more significant is the ability to download it for off-line viewing. At first, I thought we’d have to pay a month subscription for that but apparently its free.  Maybe this is a test run and we will have to pay something in the future just like Hulu was pretty much free until, well, it wasn’t anymore. I like to see Hulu and Netflix follow suit.  With the ability to download movies or TV shows for offline viewing, it would greatly help folks who travel or have kids they need to entertain on trips without the benefit of wireless connection. Again, I say this:  this is a big deal.  This is the exact iTunes description for the app.  The link is here.  Big Bang Theory among shows that WB mentioned. Watch the most current episodes of Warner Bros popular te...

Here are some pics of the unboxing. After it has been restored, I'll take some pics with its camera so we can see how good it is. - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Source:   USA Today . First, I thought Windows 8 was an interesting take on the whole UI experience - a drastic departure from the Start menu that we are so familiar with and the desktop.  There is still that but that's how what Microsoft would like us to see going forward.  It'll be a new dawn for Microsoft and Windows. However, things could be setting pretty fast if these survey pan out.  And they almost never pan out exactly.  But if it does, Windows 8 could be the worst version since, well, the original Windows.  No one remembers that.  Tech pundits will compare it to Vista.  Windows 8 may make Vista look like a glowing success. So, if people aren't buying Windows 8, what will they be considering as an alternative?  Some are just trying to stick with what they have.  We've got a few XP machines and even Vista.  As bad as Vista is, we're used to it.  And no one is talking about getting Windows 8. A good portion of t...

Source:   All Things D . I was not sure that Apple’s iPad was cannibalizing much of PC sales.  Sure, there have been in some cases.  If anything, I thought it’s been Macs that has been cannibalizing PCs.  Well, I am turning into a believer.  iPads are doing a lot of damage to the PC market, particularly the home market, And according to the ATd, the iPad mini will really make things worse for the PC guys.  Windows 8 launch or not, Surface or not, the iPad mini is about get us past the beginning of the post-PC era and more along the way of what we can expect in the tomorrow of tablets. And while there have been sub-10” tablets like the Nexus 7 and media devices like Kindle HD and Nook HD, none of them has the branding power of Apple when it comes to tablets.  And this is why the $329 iPad mini will really show us just how devastating Apple’s iOS and accompanying ecosystem will be. And this is just in the consumer market.  And this is just ...

There's a splatter of posts from blogs to newspapers to financial sites reporting Samsung's mobile chief as saying that the Korean tech giant will not be settle with Apple on the various patent issues.  Rather, they'll stick it out in the courts. It's a good move.  There had been reports that Steve Jobs had discussions with Samsung about this.  And you know where that went.  Right now, Samsung is counter-suing Apple with FRAND patents which getting itself unwanted attentions from various regulatory bodies.  Even that has not deterred Samsung in the least. So, what’ll happen is we’ll see where this goes.  Right now, Samsung is appealing the more than $1 billion judgment it lost to Apple by claiming the foreman was biased and quite possibly hit information from the court about his past.  I don’t think we’ll see anything come of this.  There is simply no evidence that his past clouded him in the Apple-Samsung case. But it s...

I admit it.  I am guilty at times for cross the road without properly looking for traffic that might splatter me all over the road.  I mean I do look before I cross but I really ought to pay more attention.  So, there.  I’m guilty of using my smartphone while walking. It’s not a crime yet.  Not like in some states where if you’re driving and using the phone at the same time, you could get you a ticket from your friendly neighborhood patrol officer. However, this  LA Times story  really takes the cake.  A teen trying to find a signal for his cell walks right into a rattlesnake nest and gets bit multiple times. Ouch. I do pay attention to the occasional poop that people’s dogs leave behind.  But I guess I now have to look out for snakes. This blows…but what are the chances I’ll be in the wilderness, not wearing boots, looking for cell signals.

You might be hearing rumors about new Apple stuff coming.  People, don’t believe a word of this.  This is from “always wrong” Digitimes which I will not dignify it by linking to any sites that uses them for their click-baiting activities. So, there will not be any new iPhone 5S in the next six months.  I know that Apple just refreshed the iPad but with the same form factor so I wouldn’t put it past Apple to refresh it with one similar to the iPad mini but there is no hurry there as far as Cupertino is concerned. Think about it.  Apple has not even come close to finishing rolling out the iPhone 5 in most territories and has has problems keeping up with demands in the Western world. What makes you think it's gonna go ahead with the 5S production? Also, iTV?  Will this rumor die already?!  Unless Apple has content deals in place, you can forget about that. So, there you have it.  The only thing worth noting this morning is the hundreds of million...

Here are three commercials.  One is from Microsoft.  Another from Samsung.  And one from Apple. Just watching them, there is one that stands out.  One that doesn't really show me what its product is capable of doing and why I ought to pick it over other competing devices. This first one is from Microsoft to show off the new Surface tablet based on its Windows 8 RT. This one is from Samsung for the Galaxy S III.  It's cute. This one is from Apple showing off the iPad mini.  It's cute and it shows off the size and that being smaller doesn't mean you have to compromise. Now that you've seen all three, what do you think? The one is from Microsoft to show how well the Surface clicks, as in how well the keyboard cover clicks well with the Surface.  My iPad's Smartcover also clicks well with my iPad too. I spent a good amount of time with the Surface.  It's a fantastic commercial but aside from a simple swipe, it doesn't show off w...

Source: Yahoo . Yeah, I definitely didn't see this coming. Apple and HTC has settled their patent war and has a 10-year licensing agreement. Meanwhile, Apple and Samsung continues to fight it out. Maybe the $1 billion+ judgement Apple won against Samsung had something to do with this. We don't know the details yet but I am sure elements of it will leak out over the next dew days. Analysts will want to know how much this helps the bottom line for both companies. The losers in all this could well be patent attorneys.

Source:   MTV . You all know what World War Z is.  If not...OMG, are you kidding?! Seriously though, you have got to go pick up a copy of World War Z, fictitious chronicle of a zombie outbreak Now, you know that when there is a good thing, Hollywood can't help but get its hands on it.  Well, now there is a movie based on the book (very loosely I might add) starring Brad Pitt. Now, here is the trailer.  Enjoy!  I've already watched it at least 5 times!!! Get More:  Movie Trailers ,  Movies Blog Get More:  Movie Trailers ,  Movies Blog I've already watched it at least 10 times!!!  Yeah, between post the video until now, I've watched it another 5 times with my coworkers. Again, you have got to get yourself a copy of it this weekend at your local book store.  I know Barnes and Noble has copies of them. In fact, go tonight after work and you'll be able to start reading it tonight and through the weekend. ...

Source:   The Verge . This is in the rumors category but I think this time, I can make an exception because we all knew this was coming.  And yes, I still hate trafficking rumors.  Now, with that out of the way, here we go.   Anyway, Microsoft has an Xbox tablet in the world.  Microsoft is making a sub-10" tablet.  The Verge is saying it is a 7" tablet but I think the powers-that-be in Redmond are probably still finalizing the details. And we truly don't know what the details are.  What I do know is this:  Microsoft ain't out of the game.  Microsoft's attempt to become more Apple like is moving ahead full steam.  They've done bad with the Zune but they seem to be doing quite well with the Xbox.  So, why not follow that model?   I am not quite ready to say that Microsoft is back.  It'll be years before we see Windows tablets and phones make inroads if at all.  However, Microsoft has a history of succeeding, if not the ...

Source:   9to5Mac . This isn’t a bad joke and I know today ain’t April Fool’s Day.  Still, this is one of the worse wake-up calls as far as Windows 8 and Microsoft’s Windows RT tablet goes.  And Surface users are not going to be happy about this when they find out. Remember how everyone has been crowing about how for the same amount of money, you get double the storage on the Surface over the iPad?  So, for $499, you get 32 GB on a Surface tablet while you get only 16 GB on the iPad from Apple.  Advantage Microsoft, right?  Not quite. See, with a Surface’s 32 GB, you actually only get about half of that for your wares and stuff.  That’s right.  HALF!  And where’s the other half?  Microsoft took them up.  5 GB for Windows recovery and tools and the rest for built-in apps.  Talk about bloatware.  But that’s is only 13 GB, that’s still more than the iPad, right? Well, for whatever reason, only 29 GB is reported by Wi...