Bluekat Magazine

I’ve just been taking a look at some of the videos springing up al over the et about the new G1 phone by T-Mobile.  It’s  the first handset on the market to feature the new Android OS, an open source operating system developed by Google.

The G1 is supposed to be an “iPhone killer” and if that’s anything like an iPod killer then it will look like a brick when its sat side-by-side with an iPhone and wont even put a dent in the sales of the iPhone.

I’m not saying that Android is not a great idea, just that this particular monstrosity will offer no competition to the iPhone. As phones go in general, looks count for a lot and there are far slicker, sexier looking phones out there by all the big manufacturers.

Secondly the success o the iPhone has largely been attributed to the interface, its ease of use and the way its works on  the small touch screens. Like every other mobile phone to date that is suppose to rival the iPhone the G1 does not have the same touch sensitive screen as the iPhone, this means the screen will not be as responsive as the iphone’s which will effect how some of the applications work on the G1.

On the plus side and I think this will ultimately be the clincher for most people, Google phones will come unlocked so consumers will be free to pick and choose the carrier of their choice, whoever, the G1 as I understand it is locked into the T-Mobile network so you would have to sign a contract with T-Mobile to get this phone.

From what I’ve read the best advice if you are interested in getting an Android phone is to wait for some of the other manufacturers to get their devices out. There is nothing special about the G1 other than the Android Operating system. Better to wait for a special phone to go with it.

microsoft’s marketing department finaly realised that it’s latest ads weren’t getting the message across (thats assuming that there really was a message to begin with).

The ads featuring Jerry Sienfield and Bill Gates were ridiculously cryptic, far too long (the last one was four minutes long!) and just plain boring.

It should be interesting to see what Microsoft come up with next especial as according to TechCrunch they are retaining the marketing and advertising company, Crispin Porter & Bogusk, that made the terrible ads in the first place.

I guess some people never learn.

I know that are people out there who “get” the Microsoft ads and think they’re very clever. I dont think an add should be that cryptic, and I don’t believe that the majority of they’re customers understand the adds. I know they had everyone interested in tech talking about the adds but how many blogs and news articles had anything good to say about them?

-Bluekat

I’ve been hearing a lot about this on a lot of tech news sites and blogs about Microsofts new marketing campaign which is suppose to be in response to Apple’s Mac v’s PC ads. Those ads make me laugh, unlike this ad.

“Can you make computers taste like cake?” – WTF? Seriously, two questions spring to mind when I watched this:

1. Who’s idea was it?
2. Who approved it?

I know I’m a big fan of the mac but, seriously this just ‘aint funny!

Video Source: YouTube

Google announced that they would be releasing their own web browser, and its called Chrome. Their new approach to web browsing and how the software processes javascripts are explained in a well drawn and written comic book, yes comic book. It really is a full length graphic novel! You can see for yourself here.

I, personally am both for and against this browser.

As a web designer I think its great that Chrome (which is almost certain to be a success) will enter the arena as a web compliant browser. It makes my job so much easier, and puts more pressure on Microsoft to adhere to web standards like every one else in the browser business.

On the other hand as an end user I really hate Google’s EULAs (End User Licence Agreements), for some reason Google think its acceptable to claim copyright ownership over everything you write, create and or store with their tools. They did this with Google Mail where they had the right to reproduce any or all of the content of you inbox and reproduce and distribute it royalty free and as a user of said product you agree. As you can probably guess they’ve done it again in the EULA Chrome.

Chrome will track your every move online but more worryingly has a buil-in key logger which will take loog every single keystroke you make while you are in the browser and quite possibly every keystroke you make while the browser is running.

Now if that doesnt sound like spyware to you I don’t know what will! I’m not overly paranoid about this but my biggest concern is where is all this data stored and how secure is it. You have to remember that when web sites like Google and Facebook gather all this information on you that most of the time its not what they will do with it that should concern you but what a hacker can do with it should they crack their security and gain access to your data that should ake you think twice about how uch information software like a web browser can be giving away about you.

If your are interested in downloading a beta of the Chrome Browser you can get it here. (Too bad its only for Windows at the moment).

Came across a great FREE anti-virus utility for Mac OS X. With it’s growing market share OS X user can’t afford to be so complacent about internet security.

The iAntivirus.com home page has a threat list data base which is updated with all the latest trojans currently out there. The software itself is very easy to use. The only down side to this utility is the end user requirements which I think are far too High.

Minimum specifications are an Intel Mac running OSX 10.5. I don’t know how they justify this, it is free so I’m not complaining.

I’ve no doubt that as the security threats increase on the Mac more developers will enter this arena and develope products for a wider range of system configurations.

If your interested in iAntivirus you can download from there homepage here: Antivirus.com.

- Bluekat

Micrsoft demonstrates its latest implementation of its Surface technology on a large spherical display.

While this device shows great ingenuity on behalf of the Microsoft programmers and engineers. I don’t see this as a very practicle device. Maybe I’m just being a little short sighted about touch screen technology, which I think is nothing more than a fad.

Technology companies will continue to try and find more applications for it but for the most part its place is in small mobile devices which are too small to have a full-sized keyboard.

Think about it, what would you rather have in your living room, the latest Dell or Apple desktop computer or one of those “spherical things”?

Dont get me wrong providing the price is not rediculously expensive, a device of this kind will have a good place in some multimedia exhibition, or in museums. But they have no real practical application in most businesses which is what Microsoft seems to be touting and they definately have no place in the average household.

- Bluekat

BT has unveiled its sleek new Home Hub 2.0, complete with 802.11n Wi-Fi, eco-friendly power-save function and kid-unfriendly child controls.

The curved black design of the unit and the matching phone are the most obvious changes from a cosmetic point of view, but it’s beneath the bonnet that the new router has altered the most.

First up is the adherence to the draft version of 802.11n, allowing users to drift further from the hub – cue a whole series of adverts of surfing from the garden.

Key change

It’s a key change for BT, who are hoping that the growing familiarity of their audience with wireless networking, and the increased demand for Wi-Fi from anywhere within a property and its grounds will make the router a popular option.

Jon Hurry, Commercial Director of BT Total Broadband told TechRadar: “We’re on the edge of 802.11n taking off. It’s already standard in Apple’s latest laptops for instance.

“We did some research that showed that 40% of consumers were unhappy with the range of their Wi-Fi and the possibility of drop outs and obviously the N standard goes a long way to solving that.

“We are always looking to bring our customers the most complete broadband experience and we felt the time was right for this upgrade.”

More control

BT have also brought in parental controls, allowing access to certain computers to be cut off at certain times – something that is sure to bring about widespread annoyance to kids one frag away from success on late night Xbox marathons, but please the adults in the household.

The box comes with WEP security out of the box – better that the older WPA protection and, although there may be older devices that will not now work, increasingly common.

There is also a power save function that allows the box to be programmed to switch itself off at certain times to, erm, save power. And the price? Home Hub 2.0 will be free to new customers who sign up to a BT Total Broadband Option 3 contract. It’s also included with Option 2 online orders. Existing customers can purchase the new Hub for £45, up from the previous £30 for the old hub.

And those that went through the horribly convoluted set-up process will be delighted that this has now been heavily streamlined.

If you’re interested, you can put fingerprints all over the box from Friday 18th July.

Source: Tech Radar

Along with the new iPhone SDK 8 beta that came out tonight, Apple also shipped a pre-release version of iTunes 7.7 to developers in the iPhone Dev Program. iTunes 7.7 is a requirement for the new iPhone 3G and iPhone 2.0 firmware; it also appears to include a new remote control feature.

According to an anonymous tipster, iTunes 7.7 will allow either an iPhone or iPod touch to download a free application that can remote control iTunes from anywhere in the vicinity of your Mac (most likely over your home network). Reportedly, this free application will be available in the App Store upon the 2.0 firmware release.

There is, of course no confirmation on this from official Apple sources.

Source: TUAW

More news on the home cinema front today as the MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America) announced an innovative new way to prevent illegal downloading of content from affecting sales.

Taking a break from suing the young, the old and the innocent, it has rather belatedly decided to spend some of its time researching the current model and finding ways to work with it rather than against it.

The idea is that high definition movies will be released on cable and satellite television before they’re released on optical disc, no doubt at the cost of a premium channel subscription.

Source: Gizmodo

Fanboys may be ready to fight to the death for their console of choice, but a new survey by Forrester shows that nearly half of all Europeans play computer games on multiple platforms, with the PC still the favourite for gaming.

Forrester’s survey into gaming reveals some interesting facts about gaming in Europe, including the fact that nearly three quarters (73%) of Europeans with access to an internet connection play some form of computer games.

60% of those polled declared the PC as their platform of choice, with twice as many people playing games on a desktop PC (49%) than do on a laptop (23%).

One third of online Europeans play their video games on consoles – although 41% have a console in their household – suggesting that many consoles are for the kids, or lay dormant for long periods.

There is good news for handhelds such as the Sony PSP and Nintendo DS, along with the burgeoning mobile phone gaming markets, with 20% of consumers using the former and 27% using their phones for gaming – a combined share of 47% and second only behind desktop PCs.

Interestingly, 43% of those polled played games on more than one platform.

PlayStation 2 still dominant

The powerhouse of the last decade of gaming – Sony’ s PlayStation 2 is still the dominant player in its sector owned by 60% of those with a console. The PlayStation 3 holds a seven per cent share, still some way behind the original PlayStation One which has 14%.

The Xbox 360 is also a little behind its successor the Xbox – but only a single percentage point divides Microsoft’s consoles, with the former on 11% and the original 12%.

Second to the PlayStation 2 lies the Nintendo DS handheld with 26% and Nintendo also takes the third and fourth spots with the older Game Boy (17%) and their smash hit Wii (16%).

Just less than one in ten console owners had non-specified consoles, which presumable embraces the likes of Sega’s Dreamcast.

Source: Tech Radar