Practical Technology

for practical people.

February 20, 2012
by sjvn01
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What will Apple’s iPad 3 ‘retina display’ mean for you?

The rumors appear to be true. The next model Apple iPad 3 will have a ‘retina display’ display. MacRumors has their hands on what appears to be the iPad 3’s display component With four-times the pixels of the earlier iPad displays, the reputed iPad 3, screen with its 2048×1536 resolution, will have twice the resolution of the iPad 1 and iPad 2, which can only boast 1024×768 resolution. That’s all well and good, but what will it mean for you?

Dr. Raymond Soneira, president of DisplayMate, the world’s leading display and display tuning company, isn’t in the least bit surprised at Apple’s move. Soneira wrote: “The next generation iPad will quadruple the number of screen pixels with a resolution of 2048×1536.” This in turn, will indeed give the iPad 3 a Retina Display [because it] does not require the same pixels per inch (ppi) as the iPhone 4 Retina Display because it is typically held much further away from the eye, whose visual sharpness is based on angular resolution rather than linear ppi resolution. The iPad is typically held 15-18 inches away as opposed to the iPhone 4’s 12-15 inches. As a result, to meet the 300 ppi Retina Display specification made by Steve Jobs at WWDC for the iPhone 4, an iPad Retina Display would need only 240 ppi. So an iPad Retina Display could start anywhere above 1862×1397 pixels.”

What will Apple’s iPad 3 ‘retina display’ mean for you? More >

February 20, 2012
by sjvn01
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What does Ubuntu want to be when it grows up?

Once upon a time I knew exactly what Ubuntu was. Built on top of Debian Linux, it was the most popular Linux desktop around. Today, Ubuntu is in the clouds, on servers, tablets and smartphones, and, oh yes, it’s still on the desktop. By spreading its energy in so many directions it’s hard to see what Canonical, Ubuntu’s parent company, really wants from Ubuntu. So what exactly is Ubuntu today? Well, here’s my overview of Ubuntu 2012.

First, Ubuntu is still very popular on the desktop. It may no longer, however, be the most popular desktop Linux. Mint, which is built on Ubuntu, is arguably the desktop Linux of choice for experienced Linux users.

That’s because Ubuntu switched its interface from the popular GNOME 2.x style desktop to the more beginner friendly Unity interface. Now, Ubuntu is getting ready to switch its interface again to an even more entry-level user friendly interface: Head-Up Display (HUD).

What does Ubuntu want to be when it grows up? More >

February 20, 2012
by sjvn01
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The CIO and Patent Lawsuits

The recent Bilski Supreme Court decision has made it far, far too likely that your company may face a patent lawsuit at some point.

You may think that the last thing on earth that could happen to your company would be that your business might be sued because it used a particular software program. You’d be wrong.

In the aftermath of the Bilski Supreme Court decision, the Supreme Court did nothing to stop software or business method patents. As a result, not only software development companies but all businesses are now in more danger from patent lawsuits than ever before.

That’s because as Keith Bergelt CEO of the Open Invention Network (OIN), a non-profit, patent-protection consortium, observed, “Patent lawsuits have been doubling for the last three to five years, and I expect this trend to contribute.”

Continue Reading →

February 17, 2012
by sjvn01
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Porn, Death, and the Internet in Iran

What is it with Iran? Do they want to alienate the entire world? As Violet Blue reports, Iran is getting ready to execute Web developer Saeed Malekpour for allegedly building and maintaining porn websites. What he really did was help write a script that’s part of generic Web photo uploader. At the same time, Iran boasts of further nuclear enrichment advances; seems to be attempting terrorist attacks; and is saber rattling in Persian Gulf. What do Iranian citizens think about this? It’s hard to say. Iran is continuing to censor the Internet.

For more than a week now, Iran has locked down almost all Internet services that use the HTTPS protocol for security. Google has confirmed that Iran started blocking such services as Gmail and YouTube starting on February 10th. This may have been to stop protests on the anniversary of the arrest of Green movement leaders Mir Hussein Moussavi and Mehdi Karroubi on February 14th for contesting the results of the disputed 2009 presidential vote. In addition, Iran will be holding parliamentary elections on March 2nd.

Iran makes no pretense about trying to censor the Internet. Government officials say, for example, that Google offers Iranians “online criminal content.” Amin Sabeti, a British Iranian IT blogger, said the Iranian government wanted to create its own version of the Internet because it viewed the Internet as an enemy. According to the New York Times, Mr. Sabeti said, “One of the members of Iran’s Internet filtering council said Google is using SSL and we cannot monitor it, therefore we’ve blocked Gmail and Google’s services.”


Porn, Death, and the Internet in Iran” More >

February 15, 2012
by sjvn01
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Windows 8’s five biggest enemies

We’re finding out more and more about Windows 8 as its beta release approaches. And, you know what? The more I find out, the more I feel secure about saying Windows 8 will be a flop.

I’ve already explained in general terms I think Windows 8 will follow in Vista’s footprints as a strategic failure. Here’s specifically, from least important to most important, are the operating systems and platforms that will ensure Windows 8 be a non-starter.

Windows 8’s five biggest enemies: More >

February 14, 2012
by sjvn01
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Linux: It’s where the jobs are

The job market is still only slowing shifting back into gear, but the IT job market is still doing better than the general market. And, guess which technology is doing especially well for would-be IT employees? If you said, “Linux,” you’d be right.

According to a survey by The Linux Foundation and Dice, the top technology job site of more than 2,000 hiring managers at corporations, small and medium Businesses (SMBs), government organizations, and staffing agencies from across the globe” slightly more than eighty percent of companies that use Linux are making hiring Linux professionals a priority.

The 2012 Linux Jobs Report(PDF link) found:

  • Demand for Linux talent is on the rise, but finding those professionals is difficult.

    • Eight in 10 (81%) survey respondents say that hiring Linux talent is a priority in 2012. This pressing matter is particularly evident when Linux demand is compared to hiring in other skill sets: 63 percent of hiring managers are increasing Linux hires relative to jobs created in other skill areas. The issue? A full 85 percent say finding Linux talent is somewhat to very difficult, making Linux professionals some of the most sought talent in 2012.

    Linux: It’s where the jobs are: More >