Monday 31 December 2012

Belkin's WeMo Remote Control

Very interesting device for the gadget minded ...
Whilst it mentions that it uses an iPhone App it does not say there is an equivalent Android App. I am sure one will be "in the works" if not already available.

Belkin's WeMo lets you wirelessly control any plugged-in product at home:
wemo7Belkin has introduced a new home automation product called WeMo which allows you to turn home appliances and electronics on or off wirelessly from anywhere. WeMo is a large wall plug adaptor with a built-in wi-fi connection that allows users to turn the device plugged into it on or off. For example, a person can plug in their lamp to the WeMo Home Automation Switch and then switch it on or off using the accompanying free WeMo iPhone app.

Standard Windows RT Apps?

Of interest to those considering Windows RT ...

What applications are available on Windows RT?: Tony McSherry looks at the desktop applications available on the Windows RT Surface tablet.

Saturday 29 December 2012

Windows 8 RT Branding

And so the Windows 8 confusion continues ...
I have been saying this for months - although unaware of the Twitter confusion with ReTweet (RT)! The whole Windows 8 marketing must be coming from the same group that came up with Outlook Express on Windows XP, Windows Mail on Windows Vista and Live Mail on Windows 7. Just to add to the confusion with Outlook in MS Office and the recent decision to rename Microsoft Hotmail (originally MSN Hotmail or later Windows Live Hotmail) to Outlook.com! Confused yet??

Windows RT branding will be too confusing, Dell exec predicted: Windows RT branding will be too confusing, Dell exec predicted
Between Windows 8, Windows Phone 8 and Windows RT, it seems Microsoft has released too many disparate versions of Windows for consumers to keep track of - just as an executive at Dell reportedly predicted would occur. Dell vice chairman and president of Global Operations and End User Computing Solutions Jeff Clarke told The Australian Financial Review that he at one point urged Microsoft to change the name of the Windows RT operating system used on ARM-based tablets like Microsoft's SurfaceA Windows device should be compatible with all Windows applications, Clarke argued, but Windows RT tablets are not. Thus, the mobile OS should not carry the "Windows" moniker. But Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer reportedly told Clarke that the Windows brand was just too important to drop.

Windows RT Confusion on Twitter

There's little doubt that Clarke's prediction has come true - Microsoft has even reportedly had to relax its own return policies due to customers' confusion over the various versions of Windows. Twitter users have been sounding off as well: "I keep wondering what Windows is retweeting," wrote CIO Online editor Brian Eastwood on Monday, referring to the tendency to abbreviate retweet as "RT" on Twitter. Another user, Corey Ginnivan, echoed that sentiment last Wednesday, tweeting, "I can never tell if your [sic] telling me to Retweet or if you're talking about the Surface." There isn't even a simple way to determine which Windows apps will work on Windows RT devices when you're browsing the Windows app store from a non-RT device.
When queried repeatedly by one Twitter user last Thursday, Microsoft's official @Surface account replied that the only way to see which apps are Windows RT-compatible is to check each individual app's "details" tab to make sure that ARM is listed as a supported processor.

A future for Windows RT

Microsoft even launched a dedicated site to explain the difference between the Surface with Windows RT and the Windows 8 Surface model, but that seems to have done little to alleviate Windows users' confusion. Nevertheless, Dell Vice President of Consumer Marketing Neil Hand insisted to The Australian Financial Review that "there's a future for RT." "Making sure we educate the market place on the differences was going to be a necessary action no matter what," he said. "Just calling it something different is not going to solve the problem."

Windows 8 Shutdown Menu

A very good step by step guide ...
But should all these Windows 8 add-on menus be necessary? Why couldn't Microsoft make all these options configurable for those who did not want change for change's sake!

Add a Shutdown menu to the Windows 8 desktop: Greg Shultz has found a technique that will allow you to recreate a reasonable facsimile of the Shutdown pop-up menu on Windows 8's desktop.

Windows XP's Retirement

For all those still enjoying Windows XP ...
I think this is a fair comment on the current situation.

Windows XP's retirement is in doubt, say some experts: Some security researchers wonder if Microsoft will indeed retire Windows XP on April 8, 2014.

Google in 2012

A good summary ...

In Depth: Highs and lows for Google in 2012:
It's been an interesting year for Google. Android stormed the smartphone charts but didn't do so well in tablets, so Google stepped in and made arguably the best non-Apple tablets around. Google's given huge sums to charity while avoiding huge amounts of UK tax, and when Apple booted its Maps off iOS it was Apple, not Google, that ended up getting hurt.

Thursday 27 December 2012

Windows 8 Training??

Might be worth a look when it is becomes available ...
For those who need some assistance with the new Windows 8 user interface.

Having trouble learning Windows 8? There’s an Aussie answer for that: dynamic-learning-windows-8-01
With a heavy emphasis on touch and rectangles, Windows 8 isn’t like your traditional mouse based operating system, and that makes learning it a little harder. Thankfully, there’s a homegrown solution coming designed to make everything easier to understand. Previewed recently for GadgetGuy, the educational program is developed by Dynamic Learning Online, a company that has been creating interactive training for quite some time, and has previously worked with the government to bring a series of interactive tutorials to Australians, educating seniors on how to use computers. For that project, over 20,000 senior citizens across Australia took part, with over 153,000 lessons taken over the course of two years.

Smartphones now over 50%

Staggering growth in Smartphones continues ...
A smartphone has to be the most comprehensive computing device available. An increasingly powerful computer combined with a phone and all packed into a very portable device! 

More than half of Australians now using smartphones:
smartphoneindexMore than half (52 per cent) of Australian mobile users are now using smartphones according to the Telstra Smartphone Index – up from 41 per cent in 2011 and 32 per cent in 2010. The research, conducted by the Neilsen Company on behalf of Telstra, shows one big growth area is mobile shopping. Half of smartphone users have used their device to research a purchase and three in four of these have gone ahead and bought the product offline.

Surface in Australia Shops

So it is finally available in the shops ...
A 32 GB version starts at $559.

Microsoft's Surface tablet goes on sale at JB Hi-FI and Harvey Norman:
surfaceretail2Microsoft has announced its exciting new Surface tablet will finally go on sale through Australian retailers by mid December after initially being offered online. Surface runs the Windows RT operating system – a light version of Windows 8 – and is available in 32GB and 64GB capacities. JB Hi-Fi and Harvey Norman will stock the device before Christmas to give customers a chance to touch and feel the product before they buy.

Saturday 22 December 2012

Windows 8 Start Button

An ingenious solution to the missing Windows 8 Start button ...
Thanks to Greg Shultz this is a very neat solution without having to use any third party software.

Add a self-made Start button to the Windows 8 desktop | TechRepublic

Android edges out Apple's iOS

Google's Android takes the mobile lead ...
Not surprisingly Android now takes the lead - a position it should easily retain since so many mobile manufacturers have adopted the Android Operating System.

Android edges out Apple's iOS as Australia's most popular smartphone system:
androidleadsAndroid has edged out Apple’s iOS on the iPhone as the most popular operating system in the Australian smartphone market, according to technology research company Telsyte. Telsyte’s research shows 44 per cent of smartphones are Android devices which is now just ahead of the iPhone on 43 per cent. Android has gained the lead through the sheer number of handsets running the software including devices by Samsung, HTC, Motorola, Sony, LG and Huawei.

Saturday 15 December 2012

Google Drive document sharing

A comprehensive tutorial on sharing via Google Drive ...
This is a great introduction to using Google Drive for document sharing and collaboration.

Get started using Google Drive for document sharing: Sending file attachments through email is so 1999. Make the switch to share documents using Google Drive and reap the benefits.

8 of 10 Choose Windows 7

Windows 8 not getting traction with those "in the know" ...
Whilst the shops will soon stock nothing but desktops and laptops loaded with Windows 8, the system builders are seeing a different story. Some of the comments in this article are very interesting, particularly the main objection to Windows 8.

8 of 10 customers choose Windows 7, says PC builder: Given a choice, customers of a Pacific Northwest PC system builder overwhelming pick Windows 7 over the newer Windows 8, the company's president said Thursday.

Sunday 9 December 2012

Windows 8 Desktop

If only Microsoft had made this an option ...
Clever workaround but why didn't Microsoft make this a "tick in the box" option? They could really regret this decision if it seriously puts users off Windows 8.

Make Windows 8 boot straight to the desktop: Greg Shultz walks you through the steps required to make Windows 8 boot straight to the desktop using a scheduled task.

MS Surface Pro Market

At what market is the MS Surface Pro targeted  ... 
Some valid arguments in the article below make you wonder what Microsoft is really trying to achieve with the Microsoft Surface Pro and hence Windows 8.

Microsoft's Surface Pro highlights flawed two-for-one strategy: Microsoft's upcoming Surface Pro tablet sums up the company's seeming strategy with Windows 8: That business users can do with one device what they currently accomplish with two.

Mobile Phone Bill Shock

Mobile Cap Plans - users beware ...
I can easily check my progressive Data Usage on my Telstra Mobile Cap Plan but there appears to be no way a user can check progressive Call Usage within the Plan. I have challenged two Telstra Shops to show me how this can be done without success. This ability should be a legislated requirement on all Mobile Carriers.

Australians are still being stung by mobile phone bill shock:
billshockthumbDespite the popularity of mobile cap plans, Australians are still being stung by bill shock according to a new study by Macquarie University. The research, which was supported by budget mobile service provider Amaysim, shows that Australians are paying on average of $28 extra per month and cumulatively a staggering $557 million annually. The main culprits for excess bill charges on capped plans are making more standard calls than the cap allows followed buy excess data charges and international calls.

Slow Windows 8 Uptake

Comprehensive analysis - Windows XP just under 40% ...
A not surprising result for Windows 8 that is really following too close on the heels of Windows 7 which, at 44%, has only just passed Windows XP!

Windows 8 uptake: More like Vista than Windows 7: After a month on the market, Windows 8's usage uptake resembles 2007's Vista -- ultimately a poor performer for Microsoft -- rather than the eventually successful Windows 7, Net Applications said Saturday.

Saturday 8 December 2012

First SMS sent 20 years ago

Seems to be varying stories as to who originated SMS ...
Also have a look at the Wikipedia article at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Text_messaging
Whoever actually started "texting" first doesn't really matter - there is no doubt it has had phenomenal effect on personal communications.

First text message sent 20 years ago today:
text20thumbIt was 20 years ago today that the first text message was sent by Canadian Neil Papworth and little did he know he would be changing the way we communicate. Papworth, a 22-year old software engineer, was seated at a computer terminal on December 3, 1992 in the Newbury office of Sema to test a new messaging system for the Vodafone network. His first message was sent to a company colleague in another building where Vodafone was celebrating its Christmas party.

Wednesday 5 December 2012

Christmas 2012 Tablets

Thinking of a Tablet for Christmas...
A reasonable cross section of those available at the moment with their pros and cons.

Christmas 2012 round-up: The best new tablets - Roundup - PC World Australia:

Google joins Drive & Gmail

Another Google integration of services ...
Another step towards integrated Cloud Computing which will save on uploads/downloads of large attachments.

Google integrates Drive and Gmail, enables 10GB 'attachments' - PC World Australia:

Monday 3 December 2012

Surface Pro Pricing

Very expensive compared to a laptop ...
The Surface Pro has an Intel i5 CPU, 64 or 128 GB storage, no DVD-ROM, no keyboard (extra $120) and still costs a minimum of $900. You can buy a Lenovo E530 laptop with Intel i7 CPU, 6GB RAM, 750 GB storage, DVD-ROM, HDMI, VGA, Ethernet, 3 USB (2 USB 3.0) and even a keyboard for $700! Guess you are paying for the portability of an ultra light laptop!

Surface Pro tablet pricing starts at $899, Microsoft says: Microsoft on Thursday set pricing for its Surface Pro 10.6-in. tablet with a starting price of $899 for a 64 GB version and $999 for a 128 GB version.

Facebook users feel 'stuck'

Interesting although limited research ...
Still struggling with the value of Facebook (or Google+). Keep thinking I should be using it more often but then I look at it and find little to interest me. Facebook has about a billion users whilst Google+ only has 400 million! Personally I much prefer Google+ as  it has less advertising and is simpler to use. I am on both if you can find me!

Facebook users feel 'stuck': According to a survey conducted by a postgraduate at USyd, Facebook users are over the experience - but feel stuck with it as a means of keeping in touch.

File Expert file sharing

Already had File Expert but never tried this ...
I had already done my due diligence in selecting a file manager for my HTC One XL smartphone and chosen File Expert. It seemed to work really well but I had never tried the web interface outlined in this article. It really is great - don't have to plug cables in or anything!

Share files between your Android tablet and desktop with File Expert: Jack Wallen takes a look at File Expert, an Android application that allows you to easily transfer files between your tablet and your desktop.

Windows XP under 500 days

A date for all Windows XP users to put in their calendars ...

Windows XP countdown clock ticks under 500 days: Microsoft will end support for Windows XP on April 8, 2014, when it will issue a final security update for the 11-year-old operating system.

Protect Your Devices

These look like a good idea for the beach ...

The cheap and easy way to protect your devices:
protectsleeve3Summer is only days away and we’ll be heading to the beach or sitting by the pool with our devices but a new product to protect them all has just been released. Legend has unveiled the Protect Your range of smart sleeves which are custom made to fit over smartphones, tablets and e-readers. Each sleeve is like a strong zip-lock bag for your device.

MS Surface RT Review

Another good "hands-on" review of the MS Surface RT ...
Good hardware / mediocre software seems to be a trend in these reviews!

Microsoft Surface RT tablet review (64GB) - reviews - Tablets - none - PC World Australia: