In case you missed this one with all the focus and hub-bub on the Apple touch devices...check out what Microsoft has been doing for a couple years now...not exactly practical for everyone but it does make you dream and hope for the day when you can get one...
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Here's another beautiful technology failure...seriously guys...what does 2.0.0.14 release even mean - maybe a changed letter or number in the options menu?
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Ah the blessed date...you know the day...it's not your birthday this year...it's not about Christmas or 4th of July...the new date everybody is anxiously looking forward to and saving up for is Jan 27th...the new D-day...the new Demo Day....
Besides the announcement of the much-anticipated iSlate...what we are all waiting for is the announement of the next generation of iPhones...the iPhone 4G.
Look at the following youtube clip to get started...I'm not sure exactly where it came from...or even how official it is...but it does give you some good visuals to get your brain ticking...
The first image posted up top from geek.com is a wonderful little creation that showcases what we can expect - the boys over there have concocted the basic probability of some of the rumors floating around...we'll just touch on a few of the more toastworthy features now...
5 Megapixel Camera
This is the very least Apple can get away with...any more megapixels will definitely be welcome...but considering Google has slapped Apple in the face with the Droid's 5 megapixel camera...I would hope Apple can answer back with a decent challenge...Obviously this camera will be capable of video...the thought of not having video on your cell phone these days...it's absurd!
One of the most impressive rumor quotes circulating is that this release will,
put Apple ahead in the smartphone market because it will make them more like full-fledged computers more than any other phone to date. (geek.com)
Put short...Apple is putting together a veritable coup-de-tat this year...between the iSlate, iPhone, and the new cloud iTunes...Apple is going to be a hard name to get away from...
Much Improved Graphics and Function
Check this out...trusted Apple sources were also heard saying that,
the iPhone 4G as having an OLED screen and front-facing camera for videoconferencing. It should run “dual-core processors and powerful graphic chips that can deliver higher video resolutions and better still images,” in addition to – surprise, surprise – a removable battery.
I'm not sure what I'm more excited for here...an awesome new graphical experience complete with dual-core processor and OLED screen...or A REMOVABLE BATTERY! Ugh...how many times have I wanted to switch batteries in a hurry, or just remove it to charge....PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE APPLE GOD...MAKE THIS HAPPEN!
Just to get an idea of OLED...here is a perfect, pristine example of the display that Sony made quick use of to deliver even better graphics than previous televisions...
In addition to improved graphics and speed, the Apple iPhone 4G should be showcasing the ability to multitask much more efficiently...including da da da dum....third-party apps! I can hear the cheers in your head as you read this...How many times have I accidently exited Pandora in the middle of a wonderful song to check a new email...only then to be surrounded by silence....WELL NO MORE ACCORDING TO SOURCES! Apple will deal with this....
Upon introspection...the feud between Google and Apple does seem like a healthy antibiosis...at least for us the consumers...
More Storage, Slimmer Design, iPhone OS 4.0, Enhanced Gestures and Improved Contact Syncing and Mapping...Too much stimulation....but I like it...
If the two preceeding rumors weren't enough to get you going...then how about these!
64GB Storage - In case you didn't have copious amounts of space already...try having double what you've experienced with the 32GB phone...ah...the sigh of having a seemingly infinite amount of space...Throw in more ram...and I am about to hit a climax...
And to think...who knows if you are even going to need that storage considering the release of iTunes Cloud...??
Improved Contact Syncing and Mapping - Not much is known about these two rumors but to think about it logically...Apple hates Google...so instead of the iPhone relying solely upon Google Maps...they are going to have to dish out a new, improved contender...iMaps? iGuide?
Little was heard about it, but Apple quietly acquired a new startup company called Placebase...an innovative take on the cartographing ways...
For the rest of the features, we will just have to wait like everyone else for that grand highlight of the year...Mark it on your calendars folks...put a reminder in your iPhone...
Jan 27th.
Here's another list of the features along with the probability they'll actually show up on the new iPhone....as shown on geek.com...just to make sure you mark it on your calendar if you haven't... :)
•Glowing Apple logo on the back: 1 percent
•removable battery: 30 percent
•Built-in RFID: 30 percent
•Portable DVR functionality: 30 percent
•full metal case (unibody): 40 percent
•LED flash: 50 percent
•64GB NAND flash memory model: 60 percent
•front-facing video camera: 70 percent
•contacts on home screen: 70 percent
•touch-sensitive case: 75 percent
•Dual-core processor and more RAM: 80 percent
•OLED display: 90 percent
•Five-megapixel camera: 90 percent
•Availability between May and July: 99 percent
To summarize everything...one word...uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh (profuse Homer Simpsonesque drooling)....I am speechless....it looks like this decade may very well be the decade of the Apple....Live long and prosper Johnny Appleseed! Long live the new king!
Here's the final, blown away, give-me-more, can't wait TOAST RATING:
Images courtesy of wikipedia.org, geek.com, hightechideas.com, touchmyapps.com
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If you're like me, you enthusiastically purchase a new computer, only to realize the daunting task of moving your media library over. Well that issue is about to be done for, that is, when Apple completes their launch of iTunes.com - the rumored cloud version of iTunes.
It was only a matter of time until this happened, especially following Apple's latest acquisition of lala.com - the hugely popular, online cloud music service. This is a great move for Apple, and a great deal of "strategery" seems to be taking place under Steve Jobs' watchful eye. That is, with release of the iSlate, or Apple Tablet, or whatever you want to call it, an online cloud sort of environment is just what the doctor ordered.
If it is truly a cloud service, implying no need to download videos, music, and other media...that could be absolutely awesome in terms of memory management. Now it isn't such a bad thing to go with a thin, chic-looking little tablet, because you don't need the 100+ GB for all your plethora of media. Just let Apple handle it with their bundles of money they are going to earn this year. Not a bad trade I reckon...
Look for the iTunes preview page sometime this quarter, just to get a taste...
For now, you may just to make use of Mojo - the best way I've found to share your library with other computers...It looks like Apple shut it down on their main site, but if you go to the following link, you can download it...not sure for how long...but get it while you can and you can share your iTunes library with others on your network...It is definitely toastworthy!
With all the talk about the advent of 3D TV's those who are salivating right now are just thinking of all the ways they can play new movies, games and other electronics just to see something in 3D that should be 2D after all these years...
One of those new toys that could change the way we game as much as color TV changed the way we watch movies will come in two words and a beautiful twelve inch package.
It's none other than Project Natal...
If you have been on hiatus or sabbatical the past year, and haven't been able to even conceive how advanced video games are getting, then this post is for you!
The details are locked up pretty tightly, but nowhere near as hush-hush as the steel chest in which Apple keeps its iSlate. Here...try out this video for starters...it will get you salivating...
While many out there claim thatthis has nothing on the Wii...I beg to differ...let's see you try to kick while holding a wiimote and let's see what happens...yeah...just as I thought. It would appear though that Microsoft is attempting to tap into the interactive gaming market and take a break from the hardcore gamers it usually caters to...good move in my book. Those who are fans of the Wii will be bought over...the only thing they may not find is Mario or Metroid...but who knows maybe that'll change one day...
Let's take a look at some of the details we do know about the enigmatic Project Natal...
Currently the release date is listed as Nov 10, 2010
No price has been released yet, though some speculate it may be around $100
Rumors are also going on that Project Natal will serve as the basis for the new Xbox 360 to be released some time later
Using gestures, vocal commands, and objects the user will be able to control the game - No controller except for your body!
This Jimmy Fallon clip shows how that will look...pretty awesome start, and this was back in June '09...
While many gamers will be a gung-ho to run out and play Halo or Call of Duty, they might be disappointed because there's not much hope of having too many advnaced games like that starting out. Just like the Wii in its humble beginnings with Wii Sports, you may want to wait until some of the high-end games come out...
But can you imagine the feel of an invisible assault rifle or plasma gun in your hand...yesssss....
And don't be afraid, if you have Office 2007, it will install it without overwriting your previous copy.
To start off, I wanted to give you all a firsthand look at how this new version plays out...Will it be as powerful an upgrade as the previous version was? Will it flop? Let's check out the facts and you can decide for yourself....
The first little screen that greeted me after installing was this little beauty...not exactly encouraging...
I'm not really sure what this means, but now it shows up for my other version of Office...but just click ok and think of it as a friendly startup greeting...because it will start up just fine after that....
To be completely honest, when I first opened up the new Word, I wasn't exactly blown away...in fact if it hadn't been for the cool new startup screen, I would have thought I accidently clicked on my old version.
The following is a side by side comparison of each of the ribbons from Word 2007 and the new Word 2010...the major differences are circled for you...
Home Ribbon
Insert Ribbon
Page Layout Ribbon
Review Ribbon
View Ribbon
Developer Ribbon
Having compared the two, let's look at what Word 2010 can do...
The Good:
Builds off a successful, intuitive interface from 2007
Snapshot tool - Favorite! The snapshot tool, under the insert ribbon allows the user to incorporate an image from a current open window into a Word doc. Pretty awesome!
Image edit options - With the ability to erase background, and other basic photo edits, Word 2010 bypasses going to an outside photo editor to make changes.
New Smart Art, clip art, security measures, and overall visuals make this a prettier program to stare at for hours...
Awesome new print settings makes it much easier to print what you want.
Jumplist integration with the new Windows 7, and a much easier way to open recent docs
Finally, check this one out! One of the coolest features that Word 2010 builds upon is collaboration...Just look at the info pane under the File Ribbon...you can actually load up past drafts of your doc, edit authors, and other collaborative features from this pane...
"Accomplish more when working together - Brainstorm ideas, provide better version control, and meet deadlines faster when you work in groups. The co-authoring experience for Microsoft® Word 2010, Microsoft PowerPoint 2010, Microsoft® Excel Web App and Microsoft OneNote shared notebooks let you work on a file with several people at once - even from different locations."
Pretty smart move since the internet is moving to be THE way to collaborate...
Now let's look at
The Bad:
For those who are expecting a new, stunning interface (like me) you will be disappointed...as you can see from the first clips above, there isn't a heck of a lot of difference between the two versions...Looks like Microsoft is playing it safe...(as usual)
One big disappointment for me is not including an integrated way to open up a .pdf in Word. Sure you can save a doc as a pdf, but there is still no way to open a pdf in Word...guess Adobe and Microsoft are good friends...
I would have liked more integration with social networking sites such as flickr, Facebook, blogger, etc...I mean sure you have the ability to upload a post, but it still takes a lot more effort on my part if I want to upload a post with pictures. Flickr wouldn't even let me upload pictures...and for the common layman, a nice little button that integrates with Flickr, either for inserting images or otherwise would be leaps over what Word does now...
They took away the big yellow button...I liked that giant thing in the left-hand corner...now it is just a tiny File text link...
The Bottom Line:
With some added collaborative features that makes multiple authorizing easy and secure along with some pretty visuals, Microsoft has definitely improved upon Word 2007. Where it comes short is the guarded conservativity that Microsoft is known for. Add in the fact that Google Chrome OS will be coming out, and undoubtedly the collaborative tools and other features Google will bring to the table will be mind-numbingly cool. Microsoft must be a little scared...
Bottom line is that while this is a great program, it is definitely not a major impetus to lay down a $100+ to get a new copy. Word 2007 has just about the same features, just with a bit different layout.
If the final release doesn't change much I wouldn't recommend the switch...
Final Toast Rating:
Let me know your thoughts...do you agree/disagree with this rating? Why?
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You've had the neighbor...You know...the one that uses a cell phone, internet, and bluetooth...Oh wait...I guess that is most everyone in the United States, at least the major cities. Well, Arthur Firstenburg is just plain fed up...and has been for years.
Carrying on a crusade to end electromagnetic rays everywhere, Firstenberg first realized he was allergic, or hypersensitive to electromagnetic rays as a medical student at Cornell. From that point on, he dropped out to become an advocate against any type of electromagnetic-promoting behavior (such as cell phones, wi-fi, etc...)
Now, I am not doubting the existence of hypersensitivity to electromagnetic rays...I mean I am allergic to penicillin, and I have to annoy doctors by asking for prescriptions they don't hand out to everyone else.
Where we run into a little problem is the direction this story has taken. While I am allergic to penicillin, I haven't sued any neighbors for their use of it.
But that is exactly what Firstenberg has undertaken. As reported in the Santa Fe New Mexican, Firstenberg says, "he suffers from electromagnetic sensitivity [and] is suing his next-door neighbor for refusing to turn off her cell phone and other electronic devices."
Can you say extreme? Imagine this happening to you...sure you've had noisy neighbors and neighbors who have their whole living room on their front yard...but have you ever been sued for googling or facebooking?
The story gets worse...let's venture on...
As a result of this pesky neighbor's continued web surfing, Firstenberg has taken up temporary residence in his car, as a means of escaping the rays...but does anyone else realize a little problem with this? There are sure a heck of a lot of rays floating in the air these days in case you have noticed...we have radio waves, microwaves, not to mention all the plethora of waves in between...
Says Firstenberg's lawyer, he "cannot stay in a hotel, because hotels and motels all employ wi-fi connections, which trigger a severe illness...If (Firstenberg) cannot obtain preliminary relief, he will be forced to continue to sleep in his car, enduring winter cold and discomfort, until this case can be heard."
It should also be mentioned that Firstenberg has been complaining for year to his neighbor, Monribot, regarding her use of electronics. While she has been much more attentive to his pleas than most people would, she finally drew the line about using her iPhone.
I don't blame her...With so many great apps like Fieldrunners, Bejeweled, and Scrabble, I don't think I could go a day without my phone...
Time will tell how this monumental case will turn out...The only problem I can see is that the judge, lawyers and jury are going to have to get rid of their phones beforehand and the stenographer will have to pick up a typewriter along the way...
Though the news story is definitely entertaining, I give the man's adamant efforts a final electronic-infested toast rating of:
In recognition of the brave efforts of Mr. Jon A. to become the #1 follower...On behalf on the Mechanical Toaster, I would like to present him with the following honorary certificate (Not that it really has any authority behind it, though it is signed by Yoda...but I consider you an honorary jedi in my book :)
Congratulations!
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We may not have the ability yet to predict crimes before they happen...or even cool holographic screens that we can move around like an iPhone interface...but there is one thing we do have, and that is a cool black glove that enables us to control our computer...Whahahha!
Codenamed the Peregrine, this little sophisticated piece of technology enables multiple keyboard shortcuts (up to 30 actions) - Check out this video for a nice intro to how this all works out...
As you can see, using multiple contact point along your finger and palms, you can customize actions your keyboard hotkeys would have taken a second to touch with the tip of your finger.
Plus, the fact that this is made from military-grade fabric is pretty awesome...I usually don't hesitate to put military-grade things on me, no matter what article of clothing it is...
The only obvious limitation with the Peregrine I can see is that you still have to use a mouse...I mean how cool would it be to just move your hand for mouse actions...now that's something I would pay good money for.
But, before you discount this glove and decide to wait another decade until technology catches up fully with Tom Cruise, check out this next video, demoing the gameplay using the glove. I think I could actually keep up with the computer on Warcraft III if I had one of these...
Granted, the guy's Asian demoing the product, so naturally he is going to be ten times better than me at a computer game, but this could actually level the playing field.
If you are interested, you can get yours preordered today for a mediocre $129.99, which isn't bad I guess if you're a serious gamer...How much do you spend on flashy lights and other gizmos just to make your computer look like a rice rocket at a LAN party.
If you haven't heard of the latest and greatest at CES 2010, then this post is for you. Dominating displays and excitedly hushed whispers frequented the show regarding 3D Televisions. Yes, they are coming...this year - August more or less. Yes, they promise a beautiful display of colors and interactive entertainment. Yes, the Super Bowl will supposedly be broadcast in 3D next year...
The only question that remains then is will this be another failed venture, or will it be a revolutionary mark in history?
You be the judge - Here are the facts...starting with a Forbes video showcasing the new technology...
Personally, the man in this video wasn't exactly brimming with confidence...and if I'm correct, I don't think he even got a full sentence out without another question firing from the interviewer's lips...
I think everyone is a bit full of skepticism when it comes to products like this - Let me refresh your memory a little, take a trip down Nostalgia Lane, visiting some of the past "great" ideas that failed miserably...
1 | Picture Phone
Believe it or not, but the picture phone was invented back in the 1960s. Riding the wave of Star Trek, everyone who had tons of money must have wanted one...the only drawback apparently was that if 4 or 5 people used them in even the largest cities, they would crash the entire city phone system...
Not exactly the most appealing of names...having any connotation of stinking never sells well for products...The idea was too be able to send aromas over the internet...now how they were supposed to accomplish this is beyond me, but as you would surf the internet you could be presented with electronic fragrances to heighten the surfing experience...only problem was...no one wanted to have to buy software in addition to popup blockers...plus there are a lot of pages out there I wouldn't want a smell coming from...
This one is actually pretty cool, and I am hoping it will catch on one day so I can get my hands on one. It is no other than a holographic sort of virtual keyboard that you can plug into your computers, PDA's, and other accessories. I just don't think it has been marketed too well, and according to the review at CNET it was one of the worst products because "Unfortunately, when we tested it, we got the following message during setup: "The device does not offer any usable services. Please enable any desired services on that device or choose another one." Definitely not a good way to start...not impressing CNET can have lasting repercussions...and for the price of $169.99, I'm not really to enthralled to dive in and try it...
One of the predominant comments made by testers at CES was that "the 3D image does seem to stretch behind the screen, with moments that deliver a sublime sense of depth, such as, say, the ballroom floor during the "Alice in Wonderland" trailer or even the foreshortened spinning wheel in "Wheel of Fortune." Sounds pretty good eh? Having the game winning pass of the Super Bowl thrown right at your face sure sounds appealing.
The other great thing is that with a lot of the TV's demoed, you can actually switch back and forth between 2D and 3D, which I think is essential considering the wide array of movies, tv shows, and video games that may not be made for 3D.
In two words...sleek design - check out this picture from engadget...
The one unraveling thread I can see with all the vibrancy, luster, and brilliance in contrast from these TV's is the use of glasses. Being the sole manner of viewing the TV's in 3D, each viewer must be equipped with special glasses that operate just like the old school red-blue glasses we've always had as kids. These new ones are not too much different, though they have definitely been Oakley-ized to look significantly cooler.
The reason why I don't see this working is the impracticality of putting on glasses just to watch TV. Now instead of spending hours finding the remote, in addition you'll have to find your glasses. Then you have tiny glitches when viewing due to the refresh rate, which no matter how fast you make it, you might always see a minor glitch when refreshing. Consider vision problems too, what happens to people blind in one eye, or with less visual acuity in one eye? I'm not sure how companies are going to get around this one. The last issue with these glasses is the idea that each TV only comes with 1-2 glasses. This means if you have a big family like mine, or if you are psyched to invite your buddies over for the big game, you are going to be out a few hundred dollars. Speaking of cost, we haven't even gotten to how much the actual TV unit costs...you are going to be down a whopping $3000 or more (up to $12,000)
Yes...that's three zeroes after the twelve....
Bottom Line
Here's the final toaster take on these possibly ground-breaking TV's. They are awesome, no doubt about it...with picturesque demos at CES and beautiful contrast, it could make watching movies at your house a lot more fun that going to the theater. However, with issues such as cost, appeal, and practicality to be dealt with, it may be a risky investment initially. That's why my advice to anyone reading this blog is to wait...at least 1 year if you have ants in your pants to get one...wait and see how things go. And if you can wait, I would wait 2-3 years until all the kinks are worked out. That's my practice with Microsoft Windows, and it hasn't steered me wrong yet....
Final Skeptical, Unsure, Maybe Just Maybe Toast Rating: (out of 5)
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