Microsoft Needs To Do Better

Striving to become relevant in the so-called post-PC age, Microsoft has embraced the idea of making its own hardware. Torpedoes, or unhappy and crappy OEM partners, be damned, the software giant seems to be all gung ho this time.

Forget what used to be an on-again, off-again hardware adventure, this time, Ballmer and company seem serious enough to take their biggest stab yet at the hardware market.

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer unveils the Surface family of PCs for 

Windows during an event in Hollywood, California.

Of course, Microsoft isn’t exactly a complete newbie in the hardware segment. It has had its share of wins and losses. While the Kin smartphone and the Zune media player bring too many cringe-worthy moments even for the most die-hard Microsoft fans, the Xbox gaming platform demonstrates how a determined and focused Microsoft can eventually rule even the most unwelcoming market.

Arnova 7 G2: Humbler Tablets As Good As Their More Pretentiously Priced Rivals

For the past couple of weeks, I have been using a low-caste tablet computer. It does not have the genes or a pedigree that its higher-priced counterparts from Apple and Samsung can lay claim to, no sirs.

Despite its low-end bearing, the Arnova 7 G2 tablet performs as capably as most other tablets.

Nor does it come with any pretentions at all. Unlike those quite popular tablets whose marketers have claimed are made in the land of milk and honey but are actually made in Taiwanese-owned factories in China, the Arnova 7 G2 makes no effort to hide its low-market intentions.

Microsoft's Surface Tablet Finally (Officially) Arrives

After months of sketchy details, which prompted some analysts and critics to dub the tablet as another case of vaporware, Microsoft unveiled some more details about its Surface tablets.

A screengrab from Microsoft's TV ad for the Surface tablet

Complete with a music-and-dance TV ad, which showed off some of the tablet's eye-candy features, the "great unveiling" of Microsoft's pricing strategy for the Surface tablet, specifically for the Windows RT version, had most of the media in frenzy although not as rabid as those generated by an Apple product launch.

Nevertheless, the Surface announcements grabbed some serious media and analyst attention.

Finally, a Real Windows Tablet

Finally, Windows fans can have their tablet fantasies come to life without betraying their favorite operating system.

An added pleasure would be knowing that the tablet comes from Microsoft itself.

Microsoft's Surface tablet comes with a cover-cum-keyboard.

After causing the most media buzz the software company has ever had for almost four decades of existence, Microsoft finally unveiled the Surface tablet computer.

Seems like Microsoft has got a beauty, from whichever angle.

Microsoft actually introduced two models of the Surface tablet. The Windows RT version comes with a USB 2.0 port, while the Windows 8 Professional version includes a USB 3.0.

Windows fans just have their tablet wish granted.

These tablets are expected to be available later this year.

I wonder, if I would be good and nice for the rest of the year, would Santa give me one of these?

So slender, this beauty-and-brain tablet.

Microsoft to Turn Windows Phone Into Another Xbox

Microsoft, Nokia, and wireless operator AT&T threw a lot of their respective marketing muscles behind the Lumia 900 Windows Phone smartphone. Despite this, however, the phone, which has received much critical acclaim for its innovative design and refreshingly different mobile OS, posted so-so sales numbers.

It was not a flop. It was not a blockbuster, which Microsoft and Nokia badly need, either.

Nokia's Lumia 900 sold more units than expected; however, it was not big enough to give Windows Phone a significant market presence.

Things are looking bad for the smartphone partners. Things, however, are not desperate.

Things could improve a lot later this year, when Microsoft launches its next mobile OS, Windows Phone 8. And if we're to believe the rumors and leaks, the next-generation Windows Phone OS will come with some serious firepower.

A Microsoft-Branded Tablet Makes Sense, as Well as Enemies

Much has been said about why Microsoft should come up with its own tablet.

The reason most cited by IT columnists, bloggers, and all the other usual suspects is that by offering its own tablet computer, Microsoft can have control over the tablet's design and features, and most importantly, all aspects of the user experience.

Microsoft will launch its own tablet on Monday, some analysts claim.

Think of what Apple has done with the iPad — despotic control over everything about the world's most popular tablet computer. And consumers, millions of them, seem to love being told what to do. They love having no choice, apparently.

Is Facebook releasing its own smartphone?

Doomed IPO or not, Facebook doesn't seem too happy being an app on everybody else's smartphone. No, sires, the social networking behemoth wants to have its own smartphone, most market analysts believe.

There's no shortage of Facebook-friendly smartphones today; however, Facebook wants to launch its own smartphone, reports say. (Photo from HTC)

Not that we should accept everything that analysts say at face value. God knows we would all be millionaires by now if we were to receive a peso for every analyst forecast that didn't turn out quite near what actually occurred later.

Facebook wants something like this, its own smartphone. (Photo from ubergizmo.com)

But putting our aspirations to be millionaire aside for a while, we might see some semblance of future reality in what these rumors, I mean analysis and forecasts, say.

Facebook has been quite vocal about its lack of mobile muscle, about how mobile Internet could be detrimental to its advertising-based revenue model. Also, this is not the first time Facebook and smartphone have been used in one sentence by media and market commentators.

Some observers claim to know better than Facebook's top honchos and have said in no ambivalent way that making its own smartphone would be like committing suicide for the social networking site. Of course, an equal number of analysts say it would be a good idea, almost as great as eradicating world hunger.

Either way, it would be something exciting to see. Don't you agree?

Google Chrome Overtakes Internet Explorer Worldwide in May

Microsoft seems to have given up the fight in the browser wars. Or is the software giant holding its fire, finally unleashing its own barrage, until it launches Windows 8?

Whatever the case might be, Microsoft needs to act fast.

Chrome is fast outgrowing Internet Explorer (and is pushing it out of the browser picture?).

Recently, Google's Chrome browser overtook Microsoft's Internet Explorer for the first time, Web site analytics firm StatCounter said.

Data released by the company showed that, in May 2012, Chrome accounted for 32.43 percent of the global browser market, slightly ahead of the Internet Explorer's 32.12 percent, and was trailed by Firefox with 25.55 percent.

AMD launches Trinity APU microprocessors: Ultrabooks don't have to be as costly as the Mac

Purists and most Mac fans have been saying that Intel-sponsored ultrabooks are poor copies of the MacBook Air.

While these significantly thin laptops, which are PC makers' varied attempts at creating laptops as anorexic as Steve Jobs' ultraportable computer, may look like the MacBook Air, they are not MacBook Airs. In terms of performance and wow factor, ultrabooks are just light years short of the MacBook Air.

AMD's Trinity processor offers hardware manufacturers the ability to make ultrathin laptops that cost less but are just as powerful as the Intel-powered ultrabooks.

And to add insult to injury, most of the ultrabooks come just as expensive as Apple's bestselling thin computer, or at least hideously more expensive than conventional, thicker-girded laptops.

Nokia launches 1 Series of mobile phones: Nokia 110 and Nokia 112

Seeking to regain its long-held and recently lost crown as the world's largest vendor of mobile phones, Nokia today launched its 1 Series of affordable handsets. But in a twist of some sort, instead of the usual low-cost mobile phones, the Finnish company came up with the Nokia 110 and Nokia 112.

Nokia 110 offers users an inexpensive yet fast means of connecting to the Internet, its vendor says.

Now, these phones may be inexpensive, but they offer young and urban consumers a fast and affordable means of connecting via social networks. They come with the Nokia Browser, an Internet browser Nokia claims reduces data consumption by up to 90 percent. This means the phones offer online access, while saving their users in terms of time and data costs.

Apple Insider's take on Siri's choice for the best smartphone ever

Much have been written about Siri reportedly choosing the Lumia 900 over the iPhone as the best smartphone ever. I guess, it's about time we look at how the quintessential fanboi source, Apple Insider, views the whole thing.

Siri said Nokia's Lumia 900 is the best smartphone ever. Maybe she needs to drink more kool aid.

The story itself is fair and level headed. Comments posted by fan, er, readers are something else, however. A couple or so even threatened to stop visiting the site for Apple Insider having the "gall" to publish such a blasphemous story.

I guess, owning an iPhone doesn't really add that much to one's IQ or reading comprehension. To be fair, however, owning a smartphone, in general, doesn't have that effect on most users.

'via Blog this'

HP ready for another tablet love affair, with Windows 8

Bangkong Post, in one of its recent stories, said that HP is preparing to get back into the tablet ring. But this time, HP, one of the largest hardware companies in the world, will come armed with Microsoft's next-generation operating system, Windows 8.

The TouchPad, HP's WebOS-based tablet, failed to ignite sales.

In 2011, the company had to make a hasty and embarrassing exit from the tablet computer market after the dismal showing of its WebOS-based TouchPad tablet. After this, few analysts and observers believed the company would ever try coming up with a consumer-oriented tablet computer again.

HP is hoping its Windows 8-running tablets would do better than the TouchPad did.

The company, however, has been selling Windows 7-powered tablets to corporate clients in several industries, including manufacturing, healthcare, and hospitality markets. Also, HP, even before the TouchPad fiasco, had been in talks with Microsoft regarding future Windows 8-based tablet computers.

Will the market be more favorable for the Windows 8 tablets from HP than it has ever been for the TouchPad? I guess, we'll find out by the time the holidays shopping season gets here.
'via Blog this'

Much ado over a hoodie

Recently, Bloomberg ran a story about an investment analyst not cool with Zuckerberg's hoodie. 


“Mark and his signature hoodie: He’s actually showing investors he doesn’t care that much; he’s going to be him,” Pachter said in an interview on Bloomberg TV. “I think that’s a mark of immaturity. I think that he has to realize he’s bringing investors in as a new constituency right now, and I think he’s got to show them the respect that they deserve because he’s asking them for their money," said Michael Pachter, an analyst for Wedbush Securities.


Pachter is clearly not a fan of hoodie-wearing tech entrepreneurs, or perhaps, of all company founders who never wear a suit and a tie when meeting with potential investors.


His sartorial tastes notwithstanding, Pachter seems mistaken about one thing, most of all: Zuckerberg is not asking for the investors' money. It is the other way around. The investors are asking, in fact, begging, to be allowed to put their money where they believe more than 100 percent they are going to earn plenty more.


This corner says: Keep the hoodie, Mr. Z!


'via Blog this'

$99 Xbox 360 with Kinect now official, The Verge reports

Tech blog The Verge recently posted an online story confirming that, indeed, Microsoft is offering a $99 Xbox 360 bundled with Kinect and a two-year subscription to Xbox Live Gold service.

While some analysts promptly pointed out that the deal would ultimately cost the consumer more, most observers, however, believe that with such a low initial investment, more gamers can afford Microsoft's gaming console.

Also, while we would be understandably reluctant to dub Microsoft as being a model of charity here, its low-cost move for the Xbox 360 will certainly prolong the gaming platform's hold on the gaming market's number 1 position.

Great marketing move, and a nice attempt to adopt the "mobile phone model" for the console market, we'd say.

'via Blog this'

Samsung's Galaxy S III Runs Windows Phone: Best of Possible Worlds

Samsung continues pushing the envelope with the latest version of its Galaxy S smartphone, the Galaxy S III (or S3, whichever you prefer).

Powered by a 1.4GHz quad-core Exynos processor, 1GB RAM, and a GPU that the company claims runs 65 percent faster than the Mali 400 that comes with the Galaxy S II, the latest Galaxy phone comes with a removable 2100mAh battery.

Windows Phone-powered Samsung Galaxy S III: Best of possible worlds

Nokia is running out of time. Fast

A story published recently by the Wall Street Journal presents a diagnosis of what's ailing Nokia, the world's erstwhile largest mobile phone maker. What is striking about the analysis, apart from its accuracy, of course, is how balanced the author's take on Nokia's predicament is.

Unlike most other stories about Nokia's (and Microsoft's) smartphone misfortunes, this piece by WSJ does not have that "wicked" and "glee-filled, gloating" tone. While the author did not in anyway sugar-coated his analysis of Nokia's problems, he presented a reality-based look at the options that the company may take to get out of the dismal situation.

Indeed, time is running out fast for Nokia. It definitely needs to come up with a "game-changing" device or two in order to reverse its painful decline into oblivion.

Nokia's road ahead is without a doubt going to be increasingly difficult, and getting out alive and well is never guaranteed, after all.

But there is hope. After all, Nokia has got what it needs to survive and prosper.

Nokia needs to arrest decline in emerging markets

Nokia is having a hard time catching traction in the smartphone market.

While most reviewers have only good things to say about its Lumia series of Windows Phone-powered smartphones, consumers are somehow not buying.

Nokia's Lumia 900 and other Windows Phone smartphones get all the media attention.

And although most of the more than 2 million who actually bought the phones as of the first quarter of 2012 are very much satisfied about their Nokia smartphones, there are just not enough of them to counterbalance all the bad news hitting the Finnish mobile vendor.

Saying Goodbye to Windows XP

In two years time, Microsoft will end all support for Windows XP, one of the world's most popular computer operating systems ever.

When April 8, 2014, comes upon us, the software giant will stop issuing fixes, security patches, or any other form of support for the OS and its millions of users.

Microsoft said it will stop all support for one of the world's most popular operating systems ever.

This is no big deal. Things like this happen all the time, in almost all industries. Automobiles, watches, even cosmetics, they all go out of fashion and become obsolete, or unimportant enough to merit a trip to history's dustbin.

Obsolescence, however, happens faster and more often in the high-tech world.