TechBait

The Archos 5 is a slate computer that competes in the same market segment as Apple’s iPad and HP’s Slate computer which runs Windows.  The Archos is a nifty gadget because it is compatible with the Android marketplace apps and is essentially backed by Google’s massive software effort.  It is larger than a phone and makes for a great WiFi Internet device when home or have access to a WiFi hotspot.  As anyone knows, the small screens on most smart phones are woefully inadequate for real web surfing, and the Archos and other similar devices provide a larger screen and more memory for a fuller Internet experience.  While it is true that this device would be better if it had 3G capability like the iPad or other devices in this segment, perhaps the Archos makers know that most gadget freaks already have 3G smart phones and this is yet another tool that the true gadget freak will have in their technology bag of fun.

Hewlett Packard plans to buy Palm for (Dr. Evil voice) one BILLION dollars….. in cash.  I guess by laying off all those HP workers, closing all those offices, and offshoring so much work to India and China has enabled the “deep pockets” that HP sports.  Well, I guess this gives HP more of an “in” in the mobile phone market, but I still say Android is where it’s at these days.  I have no experience with the Web OS that runs some Palm devices, and I know that some swear by it….  I guess we’ll see.  It’s nice to see Palm get saved, but as with any acquisition all of those peripheral accounting, HR, IT and other jobs are gone….

I agree with Google that the outlook for Android is VERY good since they are doing with mobile phones what Microsoft did with PC operating systems.  It’s funny that Microsoft was there first and failed horribly at the PDA/mobile phone OS market.  Android is one OS that is running on the devices from multiple manufacturers, and in time there will be so many more Android devices than iPhones.  It’s just the Law of Averages at work.  The article mentions that Microsoft is entering the fray by attacking HTC over patent violations, but another story states that HTC cut a deal with Microsoft, which would mean Microsoft sticking it to Apple by giving HTC a pass of sorts through a royalty agreement.  The software business is once again looking like a soap opera script.  It’s fun though.  :)

HTC is licensing Microsoft patents as they are facing patent lawsuits and possible injunctions by Apple, who wants the HTC phones banned from the US market.  Sorry, but IMO this is just another illustration how these micro patented features are just a bad idea.  It hobbles creative freedom and results in less choice for consumers.  If Apple’s iPhone is so great, then let it compete for the hearts and mind of consumers based on the whole Apple aura that surrounds it, rather than Apple using these patented features to force HTC to stop selling what seems like great phones in the US market.  This is just Apple afraid of Android, IMO.

The article also proposes a fun conspiracy angle claiming that maybe Microsoft is “throwing HTC a life preserver” in it’s pending battle with Apple.  i.e. Microsoft sticking it to Apple.  That is funny, and very possible.

As most tech heads know by now, Gizmodo got it’s hands on an Apple iPhone prototype which Apple wants back.  The unit is very nice, and it sports many improvements, most notably a 16% larger battery and a front facing video camera, presumably for video chatting and calling.  It also contains a extra microphone for better voice calling clarity.  I wish my Motorola Droid had a front facing camera for this purpose so that it could mimic my notebook computer and let me Skype and video chat via mobile phone.  Oh well, perhaps one day.  The back of the new iPhone is not a mound of plastic, and it reportedly feels less like a toy than previous versions.

FREE SHIPPING on MacBook 2.26GHz 2GB/250/SD only $954.59! Save $44 +Free Parallels & Printer after rebates. Ends 2/15

I am chuckling over a well written article about a NJ Apple store being robbed.  The article author wrote it in such a way as to make it humorous, even though there is nothing humorous about a store being robbed.  Honest folk like most of us pay good money for computers.  Hopefully the culprits will be apprehended in due time.

31 seconds to all but clean out a computer store is impressive though.  These people must practice for that kind of speed record.  At first I thought how did they not get caught after throwing a rock through the front window, but if they could accomplish that in 31 seconds then that obviously explains it.

I am not a thief, so I wonder where they manage to sell such things without raising enough flags to get caught.  I imagine they sell them off into some underground network of some sort, or maybe they have mafia ties.  I could see Tony Soprano and his guys cleaning out one of those stores and saving a few items for the family kids or for Christmas gifts.  LOL

There are reports that Google is spending over $100. million to open source a video codec by ON2 in order to leapfrog a web video standards impasse.  As it stands today, much of the web’s video is encoded in proprietary formats like Adobe Flash, for example YouTube’s .flv video files, and that various browsers are set to use the Ogg Theora codecs while Apple refuses to use it due to an “uncertain patent landscape”.    Netscape accuses Google of sabotaging the standard because they use the Adobe formats for YouTube, etc.  Lots of infighting.  If you want to play the videos you need a third party proprietary plugin like Adobe Flash.  While this is free for the end user of an approved Operating System, it is very hard for device and software makers to create software and products around this without facing potentially huge licensing/royalty or lawsuit issues.  Having an open source alternative that is backed by such a standards setting monster like Google would take a huge step towards making this problem go away.

Ogg Theora is actually based upon an earlier open sourced version of the On2 codec, but it’s performance can’t match the newer versions or the non open sourced competitors.  The Register article explains the whole situation very well.  I’m linking to it in order to comment on it.  Google has become this 8000 lb gorilla on many technology fronts.  They wield enormous power due to their sheer size and domination of the Internet search and advertising markets.  One little change in their search algorithm or standard can shut down many people’s profitable Internet properties overnight, with no recourse.  They have become evil, ironic for a company who’s motto is or was, “Do No Evil.”

So, if they open source this video codec and make web video seemless and ubiquitous without the worries of patent issues, they would take a small step away from being evil.

According to many articles, including this one, Apple tried to have Microsoft stop running ads touting how expensive it is to buy an Apple notebook.  The ads showed a frustrating shopping trip of a twenty something who wanted a laptop for under $1000.  She was frustrated at the Apple Store, and ended up buying an HP Pavilion running Windows for $699 at a local electronics store.  Well, I have to back that up.  Apple’s products are expensive.  Now, many Apple fans will say that there are good reasons for that, and there are.  This doesn’t alter the fact that the average consumer sees things in dollars and cents, pounds and pence, euros and whatever.  I really can’t believe the nerve of Apple, though.  After running those commercials where the pudgy facsimile of Bill Gates, representing the PC, was constantly bested by that pretty boy who was in Galaxy Quest, they had the gall to complain about Microsoft running ads that were ACCURATE vis a vie pricing?  Give me a break, Apple!  Apple should be touting WHY their machines are priced higher.  You know, their OS is tailor made for the hardware and that there are less driver issues and incompatibilities because they have a closed system and control all that stuff.  If Apple freed up the hardware and just marketed the OS, then Macs would be on the shelves for PC prices, but Apple is not MS and would never be viable enough without their hardware business.  It is a slightly different business model.  It has worked for them and I do not begrudge them this.  I do begrudge them crying “No fair!” to what amounted to accurate Microsoft advertising.

Apple, you are better than that.

Microsoft’s COO, Kevin Turner, is claiming that Microsoft is going to open a chain of retail stores right next to Apple stores in the Fall.   Turner also claims that Microsoft has hired a retail team to implement the plan.

Wow.  I smell a big flop coming.  Why does Microsoft need it’s own retail stores?  I can understand the sporting spirit in taking on Apple (as if they didn’t already have their hands full of Google and the Chrome OS and browser, not to mention search, and advertising, and…), but all I foresee in these stores is overpriced Windows and XBOX stuff.  It will be fun though, and I welcome this move by Microsoft because you know, they keep this industry entertaining.  I also endorse vigorous competition between technology behemoths.  The consumer usually wins when they duke it out like this.  I just hope that the stockholders don’t get left holding the bag.