Practical Technology

for practical people.

June 22, 2011
by sjvn01
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Five reasons Android can fail

I use Android every day both on my Droid II smartphone and my Barnes & Noble Nook Color e-reader/tablet. I like it a lot. But, I also have concerns about how it’s being developed and being presented to customers.

Before jumping into why I think Android faces trouble in the long run, let me mention one problem I don’t see as standing in Android’s way: The Oracle lawsuits Yes, Oracle claims that Google owes them billions in damages for using unlicensed Java technology in Android’s core Dalvik virtual machine.

I follow patent lawsuits and here’s what going to happen with this one. It will take years and millions of dollars in legal fees, but eventually Google will either beat Oracle’s claims or pay them hefty licensing fees. So, yes, one way or the other Google, and to a lesser extent Oracle, will spend hundreds of millions on this matter before it’s done. But, so what?

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June 21, 2011
by sjvn01
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Firefox 5: New, but improved?

I’ve liked Firefox since it first showed up. But, this new Firefox 5 concerns me. Oh, it’s a fine browser. But, it’s not a major new release. At most, I’d call it Firefox 4.1, but really it’s little more than Firefox 4.02.

The Mozilla Foundation, following in the footsteps of Google’s Chrome Web browser, seems to believe that if they keep popping out new “major” releases every six weeks, they’ll convince people they’re better than the competition. That seemed like a dumb idea to me when Microsoft went from Word for Windows 2.0 to Word for Windows 6.0 back in 1993. The idea hasn’t improved any with age.

At least, in the case of Google Chrome, though, there usually have been significant updates. Chrome 12, didn’t deserve its new major release number either though. In upcoming versions of Chrome that may change. For example, We can look forward to Google building Skype-like video and Voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP) right into the browser. Firefox? Not so much.

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June 21, 2011
by sjvn01
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The Best & Fastest Computers are Linux Computers

While Linux still has trouble getting a grip on the desktop, everywhere else Linux rules. No where is that clearer than it is in the fastest of the fast: the supercomputers.

In the latest Top 500 Supercomputer list list, which was released on June 20th, Linux accounts for 91.00 % of the top supercomputers. Linux is followed by Unix with 4.6%; and Windows with 1.2%. When it comes to super-fast computers like supercomputers or IBM Jeopardy winning Watson, Linux rules.

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June 20, 2011
by sjvn01
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USB 3.0: Great technology, but hard to find

Over the last few years, the Universal Serial Bus (USB) has become the universal interface. Starting in 1995, when USB 1.0 could only transfer 12 Mbps (Megabits per second), the standard started up slowly. But when USB 2.0 came along in 2000, with its 480 Mbps, the days were numbered for PS/2, serial, parallel, and even the FireWire interface. So, why hasn’t USB 3.0, also known as SuperSpeed USB, with its 5 Gigabits per second (Gbps), become the interface of choice since its introduction in 2008? Well, there are several reasons.

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June 20, 2011
by sjvn01
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Why even bother with accurate information? The Sony and Sega Sagas

Seriously. What kind of joke is this? On Sunday, Sega announced that 1.3 million of its users had had their information stolen. Before that it was Sony losing millions of customers information. It’s getting to the point that when I look at the headlines I almost go “Oh another million users have had their information stolen. Yawn. I wonder how the Colorado Rockies did last night?”

What is wrong with this picture!? I don’t know about you, but I don’t want my information stolen every time I login into a major network.

But what can I do? As a writer I can point out just how crappy Sega and Sony’s security is, but I think they’ve got the message by now.

Maybe what I can do–and you as someone who just wants to play a game–can do, is to start using bogus information on these services.

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June 20, 2011
by sjvn01
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Ready or not, here come the business tablets

OK, we all know that people want to bring their consumer technology into the office. In particular, though, people really want to use tablets in the workplace.

And they have a lot of iPads. Deutsche Bank analyst Chris Whitmore recently observed that Apple sold 6.5 million iPads during the fourth quarter of 2010, more than anyone expected. Whitmore expects Apple to sell 28 million iPads in 2011. You didn’t need an analyst to tell you about the iPad’s success, though. Whether you love Steve Jobs or have a picture of him on your dartboard, you know iPads were instantly, insanely popular.

It’s not just iPads, though. At CES, everyone and his OEM announced tablets, including the BlackBerry PlayBook from RIM, numerous Android tablets such as the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, HP’s webOS tablets and even some Windows tablets. But, while everyone might want a tablet, or maybe two if they’re small, will these mobile devices find a home in business?

The intent is there for business use. Almost 30% of iPad users say they now use their iPad as their primary computer, and one survey has shown that over half of would-be users plan to “use a new tablet device like the iPad to conduct work.” But will they really use tablets for work? And, if they do, how can IT manage all those devices?

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