Hardware Archive

  • Google is really working the candle at both ends with trying to build a better mouse trap [per se] to compete with Apple‘s Siri. Google knows that it can’t do the things Siri does with out giving relevant answers to the questions at hand… or presented. Google’s voice recognition has made some vast improvements in the last 2 years. They improved the voice recognition of the service, and then added personalized voice recognition, sync’d with the persons Gmail/Google account. The personalization starts keeping track of what you say, how you say it and to make your device more accurate to you; building a database of your speech patterns. But with Siri, she answers your questions… You’re able to ask it questions in normal speech and she just does it. But Google is really playing catch up; now they need a brain for Majel [Google Assistant]. Majel is supposed to be the ‘answer’ to Siri…

    Google is building an answer brain with ‘Knowledge Graph’

    Google is really working the candle at both ends with trying to build a better mouse trap [per se] to compete with Apple‘s Siri. Google knows that it can’t do the things Siri does with out giving relevant answers to the questions at hand… or presented. Google’s voice recognition has made some vast improvements in the last 2 years. They improved the voice recognition of the service, and then added personalized voice recognition, sync’d with the persons Gmail/Google account. The personalization starts keeping track of what you say, how you say it and to make your device more accurate to you; building a database of your speech patterns. But with Siri, she answers your questions… You’re able to ask it questions in normal speech and she just does it. But Google is really playing catch up; now they need a brain for Majel [Google Assistant]. Majel is supposed to be the ‘answer’ to Siri…

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  • If you’ve been around long enough to remember Apple vs. IBM. Or when Commodore C64‘s were better than TSR-80 [coco's]; from there, you can reference everything I’m going to say here. I’d presume this comes around with being in tech long enough to see it circle back around and repeat itself. It started with the PC’s. There was a whole work up on operating system’s, hardware specifications and then how small can you make them, and then how cheap can you make them… Having to watch the history of tech just wrap around again is kind of boring… The only difference is this time, it has to do with small portable devices. Small devices, running small operating system’s; operating system’s that can do just about everything.

    Smartphone development is just a repeat of the PC evolution…

    If you’ve been around long enough to remember Apple vs. IBM. Or when Commodore C64‘s were better than TSR-80 [coco's]; from there, you can reference everything I’m going to say here. I’d presume this comes around with being in tech long enough to see it circle back around and repeat itself. It started with the PC’s. There was a whole work up on operating system’s, hardware specifications and then how small can you make them, and then how cheap can you make them… Having to watch the history of tech just wrap around again is kind of boring… The only difference is this time, it has to do with small portable devices. Small devices, running small operating system’s; operating system’s that can do just about everything.

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  • So one of the interesting things about the pending release of the Windows 8 tablets; Microsoft has decided to not allow other browsers the same luxury as theirs. And a bigger question is, does Microsoft think that their release of a tablet [PC] with Windows 8 is going to be enough to sway people to not care? Talk about a white knight’s, with a sling shot, chances in Hell… this is going to be good. Microsoft has been desperately pushing Internet Explorer 9 as a stable and reputable web browser, but the fact is, it’s still a marsh pit of security loop holes and threats; one of the worst web browsers, if not the worst, out on the web. I say this because it bares repeating… Windows 7 is one of Microsoft‘s better releases of an operating system; everyone seems to love it— it’s being received like the XP of olden days. But also noting that as more companies adopt Windows 7, they are also adopting Internet Explorer 9 as the base browser… Is this really so hard to understand? The fact is that a lot of companies are locked in to Microsoft products and IT shops have to use...

    Is it wrong for Microsoft to restrict their tablets to just Internet Explorer?

    So one of the interesting things about the pending release of the Windows 8 tablets; Microsoft has decided to not allow other browsers the same luxury as theirs. And a bigger question is, does Microsoft think that their release of a tablet [PC] with Windows 8 is going to be enough to sway people to not care? Talk about a white knight’s, with a sling shot, chances in Hell… this is going to be good. Microsoft has been desperately pushing Internet Explorer 9 as a stable and reputable web browser, but the fact is, it’s still a marsh pit of security loop holes and threats; one of the worst web browsers, if not the worst, out on the web. I say this because it bares repeating… Windows 7 is one of Microsoft‘s better releases of an operating system; everyone seems to love it— it’s being received like the XP of olden days. But also noting that as more companies adopt Windows 7, they are also adopting Internet Explorer 9 as the base browser… Is this really so hard to understand? The fact is that a lot of companies are locked in to Microsoft products and IT shops have to use...

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  • This is a little bit of a rant, BUT… I believe everyone is aware that copying a DVD or a Blu-Ray disc is incorrect; it’s against the law… I rented me a DVD the other night, Underworld – Awakening, and I noticed that it had this new warning on it. Thank goodness for the Internet so that you can go online and research this new ‘information’. It’s almost to the point I really miss the days of VHS; at least with VHS you could fast-forward tape, jump past the crap and watch the movie that you paid for, but with DVDs and Blu-ray it’s a little harder… Over the years, the movie companies have been taking away people’s DVD players abilities to skip past the movie trailers, special notices and various other things.  From the earliest VHS movie, I can recall seeing the legal warnings about copying the movie— I think everyone has, but now the US government has added another set of notices that can be skipped over; each one being 10 seconds.

    They continue to muck with entertainment – and pirates still don’t care…

    This is a little bit of a rant, BUT… I believe everyone is aware that copying a DVD or a Blu-Ray disc is incorrect; it’s against the law… I rented me a DVD the other night, Underworld – Awakening, and I noticed that it had this new warning on it. Thank goodness for the Internet so that you can go online and research this new ‘information’. It’s almost to the point I really miss the days of VHS; at least with VHS you could fast-forward tape, jump past the crap and watch the movie that you paid for, but with DVDs and Blu-ray it’s a little harder… Over the years, the movie companies have been taking away people’s DVD players abilities to skip past the movie trailers, special notices and various other things.  From the earliest VHS movie, I can recall seeing the legal warnings about copying the movie— I think everyone has, but now the US government has added another set of notices that can be skipped over; each one being 10 seconds.

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  • A couple of months ago, my dad picked up a multifunction machine; meaning it has the ability to fax, copy and print— and it does it all wirelessly. The wireless ability of the multifunction machines are hugely beneficial, especially for people with laptops. After just a few minutes of using wireless scanner he had an epiphany, he realized very quickly that all of his important documents could be scanned in and stored on his computer and then retrieved whenever he needed them. For me, the process was instructional because I’ve been scanning in documents and storing them on my system since 1996. Back then, scanner didn’t have auto document feeder’s. Correction, yes they did, but they were highly expensive; companies and corporations were the only ones who are actually using this technology and it was mostly used with multifunction machines and fax machines. As my dad started pondering all the things that he could start scanning in, like his birth certificate and his taxes, and I started to realize that I really hadn’t taken the time to summarize some of the benefits of using electronic document management… so here they are…

    The Benefits to Electronic Document Management

    A couple of months ago, my dad picked up a multifunction machine; meaning it has the ability to fax, copy and print— and it does it all wirelessly. The wireless ability of the multifunction machines are hugely beneficial, especially for people with laptops. After just a few minutes of using wireless scanner he had an epiphany, he realized very quickly that all of his important documents could be scanned in and stored on his computer and then retrieved whenever he needed them. For me, the process was instructional because I’ve been scanning in documents and storing them on my system since 1996. Back then, scanner didn’t have auto document feeder’s. Correction, yes they did, but they were highly expensive; companies and corporations were the only ones who are actually using this technology and it was mostly used with multifunction machines and fax machines. As my dad started pondering all the things that he could start scanning in, like his birth certificate and his taxes, and I started to realize that I really hadn’t taken the time to summarize some of the benefits of using electronic document management… so here they are…

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  • Over the past couple days there’s been a lot of traffic and a lot of articles written about the Apple Mac being attacked by a backdoor Trojan. At last count, it was indicated that roughly 600 to 700,000 Mac users were infected with the virus. since early April, the reports of the viruses have been coming in and for Mac users I’m sure the idea is very troubling, because Apple has always had a loyal group of users who account the operating system as the most secure, and most Mac users don’t even use antivirus or malware software because of this… Those same users are now scrambling to find software that can protect their system. They’re now finding that their systems are not impenetrable; there’s flaws in the operating system that can be exploited. What’s funny is the response from Apple in regards to the Mac’s being infected by malware and viruses; there’s not one.

    Apple MAC users learn that they’re not untouchable…

    Over the past couple days there’s been a lot of traffic and a lot of articles written about the Apple Mac being attacked by a backdoor Trojan. At last count, it was indicated that roughly 600 to 700,000 Mac users were infected with the virus. since early April, the reports of the viruses have been coming in and for Mac users I’m sure the idea is very troubling, because Apple has always had a loyal group of users who account the operating system as the most secure, and most Mac users don’t even use antivirus or malware software because of this… Those same users are now scrambling to find software that can protect their system. They’re now finding that their systems are not impenetrable; there’s flaws in the operating system that can be exploited. What’s funny is the response from Apple in regards to the Mac’s being infected by malware and viruses; there’s not one.

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  • I was working with VirtualBox the other day and while VirtualBox has been updating their stuff here lately, and I really don’t mind the updates, but what I haven’t figured out yet is why they don’t have a process in place yet to fix stuff like just downloading the Extension Pack. The extension pack is required to take advantage of certain advances and features of VirtualBox. What I’m not understanding is when software developers do this kind of backwards stuff, it makes them look lazy. I mean who does this anymore? If you need an extension pack for the application; you need to provide a link to it, or provide a button to just say ‘install it’…

    VirtualBox 4 Extension Pack: Why do you continue to do this?

    I was working with VirtualBox the other day and while VirtualBox has been updating their stuff here lately, and I really don’t mind the updates, but what I haven’t figured out yet is why they don’t have a process in place yet to fix stuff like just downloading the Extension Pack. The extension pack is required to take advantage of certain advances and features of VirtualBox. What I’m not understanding is when software developers do this kind of backwards stuff, it makes them look lazy. I mean who does this anymore? If you need an extension pack for the application; you need to provide a link to it, or provide a button to just say ‘install it’…

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  • When Windows 7 was release it has voice recognition in it. My initial thoughts on the voice recognition was that it was good, but the user interface was for crap. Now, when I did that review, it was on a beta version of Windows 7; it was a release candidate— I recall thinking, this is so bad, they’re going to have to update this to make it usable… but when Windows 7 was released officially, Microsoft had done absolutely nothing to it to improve the GUI. I have always said that the voice recognition of Microsoft was good, but the GUI is the biggest problem with it. It’s like trying climb a range of boulders with a skateboard; it’s clumsy at best. So, when I downloaded the RC version of Windows 8, one of the first things I wanted to see was the GUI of the voice recognition. And what a disappointment it is. Microsoft has done NOTHING to it to make it more user friendly. But I need to explain…

    Review: Windows 8 Voice Recognition Interface Continues To Disappoint

    When Windows 7 was release it has voice recognition in it. My initial thoughts on the voice recognition was that it was good, but the user interface was for crap. Now, when I did that review, it was on a beta version of Windows 7; it was a release candidate— I recall thinking, this is so bad, they’re going to have to update this to make it usable… but when Windows 7 was released officially, Microsoft had done absolutely nothing to it to improve the GUI. I have always said that the voice recognition of Microsoft was good, but the GUI is the biggest problem with it. It’s like trying climb a range of boulders with a skateboard; it’s clumsy at best. So, when I downloaded the RC version of Windows 8, one of the first things I wanted to see was the GUI of the voice recognition. And what a disappointment it is. Microsoft has done NOTHING to it to make it more user friendly. But I need to explain…

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  • Major sporting events have long been a money-spinner for pay-per-view television channels, with millions of TV viewers willing to shell out a significant sum of money every year to see the big occasions. The rights and wrongs of charging extra for such entertainment can be debated for hours at a time, but pay-per-view is here to stay, whether we like it or not. Interestingly, there has been little to make broadcasters nervous about such arrangements over the years, but the Internet may just be making life difficult for them. The proliferation of websites which offer illegal streaming of the big events has encouraged the viewing of top events is likely to cost the TV companies dearly if something cannot be done about these operations.

    Pay-Per-View TV Suffering Because of the Web

    Major sporting events have long been a money-spinner for pay-per-view television channels, with millions of TV viewers willing to shell out a significant sum of money every year to see the big occasions. The rights and wrongs of charging extra for such entertainment can be debated for hours at a time, but pay-per-view is here to stay, whether we like it or not. Interestingly, there has been little to make broadcasters nervous about such arrangements over the years, but the Internet may just be making life difficult for them. The proliferation of websites which offer illegal streaming of the big events has encouraged the viewing of top events is likely to cost the TV companies dearly if something cannot be done about these operations.

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  • We all know the iPhone can do amazing and wondrous things, but one of the coolest features of the iPhone is the fact that it takes its own internal functions and expands on them. Your GPS, for example, is oh so much more than your every-day GPS that you can plop up in your car. No, your GPS on your iPhone is a magic wand in and of itself that can do amazing and mystical things. Well, maybe not quite – but it can be used in some pretty cool ways you never knew about. All you need are these apps.

    5 Apps that Use Your Phone’s GPS in Ways You Never Knew

    We all know the iPhone can do amazing and wondrous things, but one of the coolest features of the iPhone is the fact that it takes its own internal functions and expands on them. Your GPS, for example, is oh so much more than your every-day GPS that you can plop up in your car. No, your GPS on your iPhone is a magic wand in and of itself that can do amazing and mystical things. Well, maybe not quite – but it can be used in some pretty cool ways you never knew about. All you need are these apps.

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  • Today’s technology makes it easier than ever for everyone from the average Joe to the business executive to stay organized at all hours of the day. There are literally apps for everything to help you manage your time and work and even more apps to help you multitask. You might have some of these awesome tools on your laptop, or on your tablet or some might even be on your phone. So what exactly do you do when you’re fumbling around between technology devices to get the information you need? Technology is supposed to make your life easier and more organized, not more difficult and challenging to keep track of. Here are some ways to better organize your use of all of your technological devices.  

    Organize Your Technology to Organize Your Life

    Today’s technology makes it easier than ever for everyone from the average Joe to the business executive to stay organized at all hours of the day. There are literally apps for everything to help you manage your time and work and even more apps to help you multitask. You might have some of these awesome tools on your laptop, or on your tablet or some might even be on your phone. So what exactly do you do when you’re fumbling around between technology devices to get the information you need? Technology is supposed to make your life easier and more organized, not more difficult and challenging to keep track of. Here are some ways to better organize your use of all of your technological devices.  

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  • Using the fax machine is a method of communication that has been around for a long time and is still prominently used in the business world today. If you need to send a fax, you don’t necessarily have to use a traditional fax machine to get the job done. Instead of using a fax machine, you have the option of sending a fax online. This process is sometimes much more convenient than having to use a regular fax machine.  

    Are You Really Into Online Faxing?

    Using the fax machine is a method of communication that has been around for a long time and is still prominently used in the business world today. If you need to send a fax, you don’t necessarily have to use a traditional fax machine to get the job done. Instead of using a fax machine, you have the option of sending a fax online. This process is sometimes much more convenient than having to use a regular fax machine.  

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  • In many cases of the futuristic fiction genre (especially Sci-Fi), we hear stories where an advanced technology has evolved or has been created, and said technology plays a huge catalyst to the plot or memorable scene in the film. An example of this would be in the 80s and 90s, when we had the internet and super computers making us speculate what technology was around the corner. With it came many films where breaking technology played a huge part to tie in with topical trends and the market. Examples would be films like 2001: A Space Oddessy where a super computer called HAL 9000 evolves to consciousness and goes on a mission to wipe out anyone who tries to shut it down, Jonny Mnemonic where Keanu Reeves plays a man with a large percentage of his brain replaced with computer memory, and The Matrix in which it turned out that all of reality as we know it was actually a computer generated simulation.

    Three Fictional Films 3D Printing has made a Reality

    In many cases of the futuristic fiction genre (especially Sci-Fi), we hear stories where an advanced technology has evolved or has been created, and said technology plays a huge catalyst to the plot or memorable scene in the film. An example of this would be in the 80s and 90s, when we had the internet and super computers making us speculate what technology was around the corner. With it came many films where breaking technology played a huge part to tie in with topical trends and the market. Examples would be films like 2001: A Space Oddessy where a super computer called HAL 9000 evolves to consciousness and goes on a mission to wipe out anyone who tries to shut it down, Jonny Mnemonic where Keanu Reeves plays a man with a large percentage of his brain replaced with computer memory, and The Matrix in which it turned out that all of reality as we know it was actually a computer generated simulation.

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  • Imagine that you are an IT Manager for a large company.  You are responsible for ensuring every employee has a working computer equipped with the right hardware and software programs to do their jobs.  Each hardware and software program requires a license — and they are expensive.  When a new employee is hired, you must make certain they are covered by your company’s existing licenses.  If not, other licenses may have to be purchased.  As you can see, all of this is not only very costly, but difficult to organize and very stressful. Relax.  There are big changes on the horizon.  Instead of setting up multiple programs on each employee’s PC, wouldn’t it be easier to simply install one program instead?  This program is designed to allow each employee to securely log onto website that hosts all of the programs required to get their jobs done. This website offers what has come to be known as cloud computing.  Cloud companies offer services as varied as word processing and email to complex analytical and design programs.

    The Many Benefits of Cloud Computing

    Imagine that you are an IT Manager for a large company.  You are responsible for ensuring every employee has a working computer equipped with the right hardware and software programs to do their jobs.  Each hardware and software program requires a license — and they are expensive.  When a new employee is hired, you must make certain they are covered by your company’s existing licenses.  If not, other licenses may have to be purchased.  As you can see, all of this is not only very costly, but difficult to organize and very stressful. Relax.  There are big changes on the horizon.  Instead of setting up multiple programs on each employee’s PC, wouldn’t it be easier to simply install one program instead?  This program is designed to allow each employee to securely log onto website that hosts all of the programs required to get their jobs done. This website offers what has come to be known as cloud computing.  Cloud companies offer services as varied as word processing and email to complex analytical and design programs.

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  • Media companies are the worst when it comes to being progressive with technology. Using a few short examples, DVD shrink and RealDVD are just two packages of software that were shut down by the media industry as forms of pirating; this is back in 2008. The problem the media companies had with software packages like this was that private individuals to take their DVDs and make copies of them, and do whatever they wanted to with the digital copies. But even though the studios went after companies that made software like this, the practice kept going; just about everyone has the ability now to insert a DVD into their computer, ‘rip a copy’, and then play that disc/DVD anywhere. Now Wal-mart and their VUDU video service wants to get some cash for you going digital…

    ‘Disc-to-Digital’ — you’re kidding right?

    Media companies are the worst when it comes to being progressive with technology. Using a few short examples, DVD shrink and RealDVD are just two packages of software that were shut down by the media industry as forms of pirating; this is back in 2008. The problem the media companies had with software packages like this was that private individuals to take their DVDs and make copies of them, and do whatever they wanted to with the digital copies. But even though the studios went after companies that made software like this, the practice kept going; just about everyone has the ability now to insert a DVD into their computer, ‘rip a copy’, and then play that disc/DVD anywhere. Now Wal-mart and their VUDU video service wants to get some cash for you going digital…

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