2010 — Year of the Touch Tablet? October 5, 2009
Posted by cuyler in Apple, Hardware, Microsoft.add a comment
One way or another it seems that touch tablet computers are on their way. Archos just released an Internet media device based on Google’s Android OS. And that is just the beginning — rumors say the big guns, Apple and Microsoft, will have their tablets in stores by mid-2010.
Before every Apple event in recent memory, the speculation has been that Apple is about announce a new tablet device. It looks like this may finally come to pass. The latest reports say Steve Jobs has dedicated most of his time since his return to Apple on the new tablet. In some sense, Apple already has a small tablet in the forms of the iPhone and iPod Touch. The new device would probably be based on the iPhone OS and announced in January for release in the summer of 2010. The 6-month lead time makes sense because it gives iPhone developers time to integrate their apps into the new platform.
Recently Gizmodo offered a glimpse of Microsoft’s Courier project, a tablet with two side-by-side touch screens. The user interface is not what you might expect from the maker of Windows — it no doubt incorporates some of Microsoft’s Surface technology. Gizmodo’s video describes the Courier as an “infinite journal”. It looks like it might be the ideal note-taking device.
But do consumers really want a tablet device? Before I got an iPhone, I would have thought a computer without an actual keyboard was useless. However, with dynamic spell checking to correct typos, the iPhone’s virtual keyboard works much better than I would have expected. The touch interfaces are intuitive and ideal for browsing the Internet. Simple tasks shouldn’t require a large computer and keyboard. The Apple and Microsoft tablets would be for people who appreciate the portability of an iPhone/iPod Touch but prefer a larger screen.
Of course, the idea of a tablet device is nothing new. Personal digital assistants have been around since the days of the Apple Newton and Palm handhelds. The Newton was ahead of its time. Computer technology has advanced considerably in last 15 years and hopefully the new tablets will be more successful than their 20th century predecessors.
Those who don’t remember the original PDA built by Apple might find this old Welcome to Newton video amusing:
vimeo 6820724]
Windows 7 Academic Offer September 28, 2009
Posted by cuyler in Software, Windows.add a comment
Earlier this month, Microsoft announced a special educational promotion of Windows 7 for just $29.99 USD from now until the end of the year. You must be a currently enrolled student to qualify — see Microsoft’s terms and conditions.
Update»
People have reported some difficulties installing the student version of Windows 7, which is packaged differently than the retail Windows 7 upgrade. See Paul Thurrott’s article for details.
Zune HD vs. iPod Touch September 21, 2009
Posted by cuyler in Hardware, Zune, iPod.1 comment so far
Last week Microsoft released the 4th generation of their MP3 player, the Zune HD just days after Apple announced their latest revision of the iPod Touch. Like the Touch, the Zune HD has a large touch screen with a single button (no more squircle). Both devices include an Internet browser and allow wireless downloads of music and video. It’s clear Microsoft intends this device to compete directly with the iPod Touch, so here’s a brief comparison between the two products.
First, the Zune HD is only being sold in the United States. So if you live anywhere else, the Zune is not even an option.
The Zune HD is lighter and slightly smaller than the iPod Touch. The Zune HD comes with a touch interface that is on par with Apple’s innovative design. The Zune also has a number of features not offered on the iPod:
- a high-contrast OLED screen which gives blacker blacks
- the ability to output 720p video to an external HDTV (with the addition of the optional AV dock)
- an FM HD radio tuner (and if you hear a song you like you can purchase it directly from the radio player)
- wireless syncing to a computer
- music subscription via Zune Pass
Zune Pass is perhaps the greatest feature of the Zune. For $14.99 a month, you are allowed unlimited downloads from the Zune Marketplace. In addition, you are able to download 10 songs a month which you can keep forever. If you listen to a lot of music this is a great way to go.
Apple’s strong point is their App Store. Microsoft has said that they will support games on the Zune, but so far there is nothing to compare with what is available for the iPod Touch. If you want to play games or run any of the nifty apps, you want to stick with the iPod Touch.
The low-end iPod Touch is slightly less expensive, but it is slower and only holds 8GB. For an extra $20, the low-end Zune holds twice as much music, photos and videos. The 16GB iPod Touch is $299, which is $10 more that the platinum Zune HD which holds 32GB. Overall, the Zunes are more affordable than the Touches.
There has been a lot of speculation that the latest revision of the iPod Touch was going to include a camera, but for some reason Apple decided to leave it out. Apple did introduce a new iPod Nano with a camera. A Touch with a camera may eventually become available, but probably not this year. If you are willing to pay the service charges, the iPhone 3Gs is a great phone and MP3 player that has Internet connectivity even if a Wi-Fi hotspot is unavailable.
But if you live in the United States and listen to lots of music, you might want to give the Zune HD a good look.
For more information, see Andy Ihnatko’s review of the Zune HD. Paul Thurott also has a detailed review and a handy table that compares the Zune HD with the iPod Touch. Update» Also check out the CNET Prizefight: Apple iPod Touch vs. Microsoft Zune HD video comparison of the two products.
This Zune HD Grand Tour video below gives one of the better demos of the new product:
Zune HD September 14, 2009
Posted by cuyler in Hardware, Zune.add a comment
Microsoft is about to release the latest incarnation of their portable music player, the Zune HD. It features a large touch screen that covers almost the entire front face of the device — much like the iPod Touch.
The Zune HD comes with a 16:9 aspect ratio OLED screen which should be ideal for watching HD movies on the go. It also features an HD radio, a web browser and can output video to HDTV.
The 16GB Zune HD is $220 and the 32GB model is $290. They will be available only in the United States starting September 15. Microsoft also offers Zune Pass, which allows unlimited music downloads for a monthly fee.
The Zune HD is Microsoft’s answer to Apple’s iPod Touch. The iPod Touch is over a year old and received just a minor revision last week. So well how do these two stack up against each other? Good question — I’ll add a new post comparing the two models after the Zune is officially announced tomorrow. In the mean time, here is one of Microsoft’s promotional videos of the Zune HD:
Windows 7 Pre-Order June 27, 2009
Posted by cuyler in Software, Windows.add a comment
Microsoft announced a special discount for pre-ordering Windows 7. Between June 26 and July 11, 2009, the Home Premium upgrade can be ordered for less than $50 (in the US — the offer varies in other countries).
This is a 58% savings over the $120 retail price. Microsoft’s site says this “promotional pricing is a limited time offer, while supplies last”. I can’t think of a reason why they should run out (especially since it can be downloaded). However, if you plan on upgrading, it’s probably a good idea to order now. The offer is available on-line from many retailers.
The Windows 7 Professional Upgrade can be pre-ordered for $100. It offers additional features for networked environments including remote desktop, automatic backup, domain join and XP compatibility mode.
New machines being purchased with Vista should be able to upgrade to Windows 7 for a nominal charge or free. The offer varies between manufacturers, so be sure to ask before purchasing a Windows Vista machine in the next few months.
The release candidate for Windows 7 was available for download from Microsoft — product keys are still available until October 21st, if you already have the download. The Windows 7 preview allows users to try out the new operating system. It can be downloaded until August and can be used until Spring 2010.
