cm litton

Pinboard links for Mar 4

Sun, 04 Mar 2012 21:23:47 -0500

"AT&T is retooling its throttling policy with regards to users with unlimited data plans,..."

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 20:36:27 -0500

“AT&T is retooling its throttling policy with regards to users with unlimited data plans, originally implemented last year. Instead of throttling customers on a case-by-case basis, users are going to be slowed after a fixed amount of data usage each month.”

- Isn’t this the way it should be?

Congressmen want answers to things they know nothing about.

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 18:04:18 -0500

Congressmen want answers to things they know nothing about.:

Congress wants answers from Apple on the iOS/Path/Address Book issue. I have a better question. Why can’t we balance a budget?

Is Verizon planning a Coup?

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:41:00 -0500

A WSJ article caught my eye the other day about a proposed marketing alliance between Verizon Wireless and Comcast. The alliance makes available a ‘quadruple play’ of wireless, cable, phone, and broadband. The agreement is getting serious attention in Washington as the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division is already investigating.

Later I find another ‘alliance’ between Redbox and Verizon Wireless. This one to combine new release rentals with content-rich video on demand. The press release tackles the reason,

It will offer subscription services and more in an easy-to-use, flexible and affordable service that will allow all consumers across the U.S. to enjoy the new and popular entertainment they want, whenever they choose, using the media and devices they prefer.

Big media companies and ‘easy-to-use, flexible, and affordable’ are not like peanut butter and chocolate (snark). It seems that legacy media are trying to ‘blend’ or ‘merge’ with existing new media to help them move into the 21st century. However when has any ‘merger’ ever brought ‘flexible and affordable’ to market.

These are the first salvos of Verizon buying these companies. Granted it will not pass Congress without a LOT of axle grease, but never say never. By ‘partnering’ with various companies outside of the ‘core’ to bring new lines of content management, Verizon might score big by becoming the new media empire. One that just might make content available to all types of devices. Realistically the price will never go down, however our choices will go up. Now by choices I mean not WHAT we are watching, but WHEN and WHERE.

Pinboard Links for Feb 7th

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:47:00 -0500

Best way to run Windows on your Mac

iPhone, iPad, apps for children with learning difficulties

iCloud: the essential guide

Fact Smackdown : Chinese dying to make iPhones

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:33:50 -0500

SumOfUs:

In many cases, people literally are dying while making Apple products. Reporters have documented cases of deadly explosions at iPad factories, and repeated instances of employees dying of exhaustion after working thirty to sixty hour shifts. In some of the factories Apple contracts with, so many employees have attempted suicide that management installed nets to prevent employees from dying while jumping off building ledges.

Forbes:

However, knowing how to deal with this or any other industrial danger does not, regrettably, mean that it is always dealt with. To judge whether safety really is ignored at Foxconn we would like to, well, why not, compare it with US workplace safety? For there are some 4,000 or so killed each year in American workplaces.

Microsoft...a good artist.

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:24:02 -0500

Advising users as to why they might choose a Mac over PC, it usually involves at least three main concepts;

A computer with just the software you need and no crapware
A computer that will not be ‘obsolete’ in two years
A computer with basically no virus issues

For most, these concepts plus the basics of email, calendars, music, and word processing is more than enough to ‘think different’. Now it seems Microsoft has been reading the Apple playbook with Microsoft Signature, available only at your local Microsoft Store. Some of the new ‘features’ along with my snark,

PCs with Microsoft Signature are designed to be lightning fast from the moment you turn it on the very first time.

It has only taken you what, a decade to figure out that consumers want a fast computer?

Just the software you need.

Unfortunately it is all Microsoft.

Every PC comes with Microsoft Security Essentials anti-virus software that is ready to go with no renewal fees!

Like that has been loads of fun for pro Microsoft users.

You get phone support for virtually anything you need on your new PC for the first 90 days!

Just like AppleCare!

To me it is saying the way we have sold computers AND the systems in place to give you outstanding performance were flawed. Sorry we did not pick up on this sooner.

I know it has been tough for Internet Explorer as of late, but...

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 22:19:00 -0500

I know it has been tough for Internet Explorer as of late, but will extra levels really help?

Apple increases business share.

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:40:00 -0500

A new Forrester report shows how much has changed for Apple in just three short years in the Enterprise environment. In 2008 it warned companies,

Unless your market is a niche business group, Windows is the only desktop you need support.

Now fast forward to this year. Forrester surveyed thousands of IT personnel in multiple countries and found that 21% of those individuals were using Apple products. Even more telling to me is that 46% of enterprise companies issue Macs to employees. Combine that nugget with a previous report from Forrester that those who have embraced Macs are,

Information workers who use new technologies and find innovative ways to be more productive and serve customers more effectively.

I think some IT elders are a little worried about job security with the Mac environment. It does not have as much downtime, requires less “hands-on” with IT staff, and can live a productive and quite life. Not the recipe for job growth in these complicated times. However at the end of the day it is about the work. If you can get more done in the day, have less issues with your hardware, and work with an ecosystem that traverses the mobile and desktop worlds, how is that not a win?

The biggest gripe I hear from the business side is that the Macs are not secure enough. Really? F-Secure, a global SaaS security firm, tracked 58 emerging Mac threats for Q2/Q4. You can get that number for PCs on a Thursday afternoon. The more “excuses” that are thrown against the wall, fewer and fewer are sticking.

Now here is the really easy part. You do not have to go through it alone. From Apple corporate to Premium Resellers, Mac professionals are always close by to assist in setup, deployment, and implementation. What is stopping you now?

Apple's textbooks will move iPads

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:56:06 -0500

At the end of the day, the recent announcement from Apple on expanding iBooks and the new authoring tools have real potential. The “this will help kids learn” line is probably boastful thinking as kids who want to learn will, and those who do not…will not. And it does not matter if they have extra tutors or a $500 learning device.

Apple has a good history of giving away services (i.e. low to no profit) to sell hardware. This is no different. The books will look amazing and be constantly updated. Many schools have access to Title I money for education and why not use it on iPads. I mean the parents of children are already buying Macbook Pros for 8 year olds in school, so a text book enabled iPad is a steal.

Now there is heartburn because of the EULA of the iBooks Author tools. But make no mistake, this software is for making textbooks. The after thought of authoring other books is just that…an after thought. As with Apple, you can always take it or leave it. You always have the choice.

Now combine the iPad3 rumors, iPad2 price drop rumor, and the new iBooks tools, and one can see that the more applicable an iPad is to a group, the more they will sell.

Yoink 2.0 Brings Smarter Drag & Drop To Lion

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 22:32:33 -0500

Yoink 2.0 Brings Smarter Drag & Drop To Lion:

Interesting way to move items between full screen apps.

iPad Survives 100,000 Foot Fall With G-Form Case

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 08:46:26 -0500

iPad Survives 100,000 Foot Fall With G-Form Case:

Now as demonstrations go this was pretty cool. A better test would be to give it to a 3 year old for two hours.

Why the iPad will always be #1

Sun, 25 Dec 2011 22:41:36 -0500

Why the iPad will always be #1:

You do not have to look hard to see the way it has changed our lives both personally and professionally.

How The iPad Transformed Millions Of Jobs In 2011 [Year In Review]

Sun, 25 Dec 2011 22:40:01 -0500

How The iPad Transformed Millions Of Jobs In 2011 [Year In Review]

Share files with Dropbox

Sun, 25 Dec 2011 22:26:58 -0500

Share files with Dropbox:

Great MacBit from MacWorld. If you own a computer, yes even a PC, you should have Dropbox.

iTunes gets "Complete my Season Pass," free Pan Am episodes

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 08:59:17 -0500

iTunes gets "Complete my Season Pass," free Pan Am episodes

Any discussion of the cell phone market usually breaks down to...

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 17:22:51 -0500

Any discussion of the cell phone market usually breaks down to Apple versus Android. Diving further into that discussion brings up the topic of ‘market share’. I think Apple, although not really concerned with market share, will start to gain on Android…with the iPhone 3GS.

The third generation of Apples iPhone has now become like so many Android phones…free. The phone is now available for free throughout AT&T. In fact in early 2011 the iPhone 3GS was outselling every other phone in the market.

Now that the iPhone has come down to free with contract, I think a phone that is three years old will take some of the air out of the Android market share ballon. Which to me is very telling.

Using an unscientific approach, I found 143 android models to gain 50% global market share, while 5 iPhone models to gain 15% market share. Where can Apple go from here.

Where is MY ice cream?

Sun, 11 Dec 2011 10:40:47 -0500

Where is MY ice cream?:

Neat behind the scene look at what it takes for cell phone companies to get the latest release of the Android operating system ready for their phones. I would say for the vast majority of Android users they could care less. They have a phone they enjoy, can make calls, and gets on the Internet.

This is a different approach than Apple. When new software is ready, it is made available very quickly. Now Apple does have the benefit of being the manufacturer and developer, which gives it the ability to move quickly.

The take away is if you are a loyal Android user and want the goodies that come with the new operating system, then you had better check with the manufacturer first. For an Apple user, go about your day.

66,000 agree AT&T sucks

Sun, 11 Dec 2011 10:40:16 -0500

66,000 agree AT&T sucks :

Poor AT&T. Consumer Reports, 66K people, and 22 markets are giving you the finger. Are they really that bad or when the hole is SO deep you might never get out?

iPad now family device

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 10:22:00 -0500

iPad now family device:

As a father I cannot afford to get the kids their own iDevices. Sometimes I not sure I can get one for myself! It does however help when a device like the iPad CAN be used by various family members for varied use cases. USA Today,

This holiday season, toy makers have turned Apple’s pricey tablet and smartphone into playthings for kids. They figure in this weak economy, parents will be willing to splurge on toys for their children that utilize devices they already have — or want — themselves.

Makes sense for sure.