Mobile: Pay Attention When You're Walking While Using Your Smartphone. You Might Get Bitten by Snakes

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.

Stop Posting DigitTimes Nonsense! No iPhone 5S In The Next 6 Months!!!

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 millions Apple is guarantee to get from HTC in the 10-year patent licensing deal and quite possibly more from other Android device makers.

I really implore Apple fan sites to stop using Taiwanese tech tabloids as basis for their posts.  You guys are looking more stupid with each of these posts.

Based On The Commercials, Which Will Convince You To Buy A Product?

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 what the Surface can do for the user.  Here are a couple of more Surface commercials that Microsoft should show more than the one above.

This one shows off a Windows 8 computer in ways that the iMac cannot compete with.  A computer becomes a canvas for a child looking to be challenged and a potential artist to be challenged.

Whether you're an Apple or Google fan, or just a general mobile fan like myself, you have to appreciate the fact that Microsoft has a very good product in Windows 8 here.  But some of Microsoft's commercials suck.  They're just as bad as Samsung's commercials that made fun of Apple users but do nothing to showcase its own products.

Didn't See This Coming: Apple and HTC Settles Patent War

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.

Friday Movie: World War Z Trailer

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.

Here's the wiki page about the book, not the movie.

Microsoft To Make Sub-10" Tablet - Xbox or Surface Tablet

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 first, second, or even the third attempt, they'll eventually get it right.  

This Blows: Surface Tablet Has Only Half Of Usable Storage

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 Windows.  So you get 16 GB.

Well, technically, that is still more than the 16 GB iPad because Apple does siphone away a couple of GB for itself.  Still, that isn’t quite the shocker that Surface users are faced with.

So, there you have it.  Still about 1.5-2 GB more than the iPad but definitely not double as Microsoft would like to have us believe.  It’s likely that this same is on the Nexus 7.  Android does not take up half the internal storage for itself and bloatware like Microsoft does.