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  • Microsoft Retools SkyDrive Cloud Storage

    Microsoft already offers a market-leading cloud storage service through their SkyDrive system. But the computing giant isn’t resting on its laurels, as evidenced by the recent announcement of some major upgrades to their offerings.

    According to the company’s debriefing, SkyDrive’s entire interface has been retooled, and will now match the tile-centric layout of all other Windows 8 devices. The new layout, deemed ‘Metro’ by Microsoft, will appear consistently on all the company’s new releases, include the upgraded Office release and new Windows operating system.

    In addition, Microsoft has added to SkyDrive’s search capabilities, expanded the sorting options, and improved the functioning of the drag-and-drop features. The SkyDrive desktop app has also received upgrades that should smooth performance on both Mac OS X and Windows 8 platforms, helping bulk uploads complete faster and with less glitches.

    Microsoft has also taken off all restrictions from the SkyDrive API, giving programmers the ability to adjust its functioning to their needs. This now allows third-party apps of all sorts to be uploaded to the Drive, making their cloud storage system welcoming for as many devices and users as possible.

    These significant upgrades shouldn’t come as much of a surprise to fans of Microsoft or industry experts. It’s been clear for well over a year now that Microsoft feels their SkyDrive will soon become one of the cornerstone products in their library. And since it will seamlessly integrate into all other Windows-powered desktop and mobile devices, they expect an increase in user retention across the board.

  • Is Apple Manufacturing an HDTV?

    Even though it’s yet an unconfirmed rumor, it’s difficult not to get excited. According to a series of Tweets from industry insiders and an upcoming report by Jeffries, Apple is currently in production on their own HDTV, to come to market in 2013.

    The Jeffries report has not yet been released, so regrettably none of the details can be confirmed. But according to an industry analyst with access to the report, Apple will partner with Verizon and AT&T to handle the service for the Apple HDTV, or iTV as it will be called.

    Customers who don’t want to change out their current cable provider will still be able to get on the Apple bandwagon. The iTV will also sell as a set-top box for Comcast and the other regional providers. Initial reports put the first iTV at a retail price of $1,250, and Apple expects to ship as many as two million units by the end of 2013.

    Of course, this isn’t the first report on an Apple HDTV to come from Jeffries. Near the beginning of the year they suggested a forthcoming product called the iPanel, at around that same price break, and that five million of the devices would be produced by the end of 2012.

    Those rumors seem to be picking up more support as the months pass. The Wall Street Journal has started discussing Apple’s HDTV release, even suggesting it would link directly to the iCloud, to allow for both live and on-demand television services.

    Time will tell if any of these rumors are true. Hopefully Apple will shed some further light on their HDTV at this fall’s new product release conference.

  • The Slow Decline of an Industry Giant

    The Sharp Corporation has been in business for over a hundred years, and has been a major player in the home entertainment industry for decades. But last Friday stockholders showed their displeasure with the company’s recent strategy, resulting in a near 30% drop in share prices.

    This came on the heels of the company’s announcement that it might be in line for as much as a $1.28 billion loss this fiscal year. And after declaring they would cut as many as 5,000 jobs from their international payroll, industry experts are predicting the beginning of the end for this once proud company.

    Sharp laid off the entire advertising and marketing department at its American headquarters, and those looking for reasons should look no further than their bottom line. Sharp enjoyed a LCD TV/HDTV market share of about 21% just seven years ago. Last year, that number had dropped all the way to under 8%.

    A couple of years back, sensing the impending disaster, Sharp put more than $4 billion into a new fabrication facility in Sakai City. They would own more than one third of the business, giving them a huge leg up in manufacture. However, when their money dried up, they ended up having to cut that investment down to under 10% of the company, and looked for another company to bring in additional investment.

    Hon Hai Precision, Taiwan’s parent company to Foxconn jumped in. The problem for Sharp was that Hon Hai’s investment ended up costing them only twenty cents on the dollar compared to what Sharp originally paid, and Hon Hai also became the largest investor through the deal.

    Even that miserable outcome hasn’t saved Sharp yet, as the investment is still waiting to be made official. Add that to Sharp receiving a debt rating from Moody’s Investors Service of Prime-3, basically the lowest grade an investment can receive, and the writing is clearly on the wall for this once proud industry leader.

  • 2011 Sony HDTV Still Leads the Industry

    Several other high-end HDTV units have come to market over the past year. But none have topped Sony’s Bravia XBR-46X929 in terms of style and ability. And with new models coming to market at year’s end, deal hunters could find one at a greater value than ever before.

    Sure, the $2,500 price tag might have discouraged some consumers from stepping up to the plate on this device. But while there may be larger units than Sony’s 46-inch model, none of them marry technology and aesthetic value so completely.

    The front of the Bravia XBR-46X929 is a single piece of Gorilla Glass, giving it a seamless, smooth look when hung up on your wall. And at only 1.5 inches wide, it’s barely noticeable, until you want it to be.

    And once you turn it on, you’ll truly understand the power of what you’ve purchased. The color is as good as it gets, the unit automatically adjusts the backlight section by section, and the image is smooth as can be, even during scenes of huge action.

    The Bravia comes stock with Netflix and 3D capabilities, as well as other huge bonuses such as Amazon Instant Video, YouTube, Hulu Plus, Skype and even digital music services from Pandora. All of those bonuses make the menu system a bit much to manage, but the set will quickly become your only requirement for total home entertainment.

    Again, you can certainly find a cheaper 46-inch than the Sony Bravia XBR-46X929, and the remote is a bit clunky and counterintuitive. But if picture quality and a massive amount of applications mean more to you than the temporary pain of shelling out a few extra hundred dollars, you simply won’t find a better HDTV set on the market. At least until Sony releases its next model.

  • What to expect in Windows Phone 8 and not Windows Phone 7.8

    Microsoft has already announced that Windows Phone owners should expect another update on their smartphones, the Windows Phone 7.8 update.

    Although every update is received with satisfaction, this time was rather different. Windows Phone owners were not happy when they heard that their current Windows Phone 7 smartphones won't be updated to Windows Phone 8. Microsoft sees Windows Phone 8 as part of the whole Windows 8 change and sadly for current Windows Phone owners, it couldn't be done on their existing smartphones. Windows Phone 7.8 update will contain some new features, but unfortunately it won't be like the Windows Phone 8 update.

    According to a French document that leaked at the Internet, Windows Phone 7.8 will lack the following features, comparing to Windows Phone 8:

    – Windows Phone Wallet
    – Internet Explorer 10
    – Real Multitasking
    – NFC
    – Device Management
    – MicroSD card support
    – Secure boot and encryption
    – Multi-core processor support

    Nokia did not comment on whether the document is correct, although the French blog "Smartphone France" claims it as authentic.

    Even though we are not totally sure of the document's authenticity, we do know that current Windows Phone owners will feel "betrayed" by Microsoft, since their relatively new smartphones will become obsolete sooner or later. Buying a smartphone just a few months ago and being obliged to leave it does not seem the ideal situation for any customer. Although Microsoft does plan something bigger, they still know that they need to win the current Windows Phone owners.

    Windows Phone 8 handsets are expected to arrive in the following months, with Nokia collaborating with Microsoft once again. The fact that the new iPhone arrives in the mid-September raises the competition even more, with Microsoft being aware that Windows 8 should make the difference. It's their chance to prove they can make it big in smartphones, too!

  • Are we addicted to our smartphones?

    We live in a digital era where surfing on the Internet and checking for emails and any new notifications has become a never-ending habit. Even though we are not expecting a message, we feel "obliged" to check our smartphone.

    Time's Techland has conducted a big survey among 5,000 Americans, Chinese, Indians, South Koreans, Brazilians and South Africans and found out that we are indeed significantly addicted to our smartphones. According to the respondents of the poll:

    – 84% wouldn't live a day without a smartphone

    – 20% check the smartphone every 10 minutes

    – 50% of Americans sleep with their smartphone next to them

    – 32% prefers to communicate by text message

    – 17% checks the smartphone while eating, regardless of the person they are dining with.

    – 73% of Indians feel closer to their family with the use of technology

    – 79% of Chinese feel better informed about the latest news

    – 48% of South Koreans feel that they spend too much time on their smartphones, instead of observing the world

    – The average appropriate age for a child to have the first smartphone is considered the 13 years.

    The stats above indicate that smartphones have become part of our daily routines and even more, an extension to our life, our work, our social life. We cannot deny that times are changing and that the future will be even more digital. Technology has improved communication and we should embrace it, in order to improve our lives. However, it's up to us to decide the extent that we will use our smartphones, in order to balance our online and offline worlds.

    Don't let smartphones and the digital world take over your life. Instead, use them wisely and enjoy all their benefits. They are a lot!

  • LG sold 5 million LTE smartphones!

    LG is proud to announce that they managed to sell 5 million LTE smartphones, commenting on their strategy for "different phones for different consumer needs".

    It was just a month ago when they announced that they had sold  million LTE smartphones. Now, in just a month they managed to reach another milestone, selling almost one LTE smartphone every two and a half seconds! Their strategy is based on the diversity of their consumers, trying to offer a smartphone for every need. They already have 10 LTE smartphones, which are available in USA, Korea, Japan and several countries in Europe and Asia, where LTE services are available. The most popular LTE smartphone is definitely Optimus LTE, selling 2 million units, while Optimus Vu has sold 500,000 units. Another success was Optimus LTE II, the first LTE with 2GB RAM, which has already sold 500,000 units in just 70 days.
    LG is very optimistic about the future of LTE smartphones, feeling comfortable that these figures are just the beginning.
    According to the CEO of LG Mobile Communications Company, Dr. Jong-seok Park:

    “Sales of global LTE smartphones are expected to increase ten-fold this year from last year.”

    “With that in mind, we are planning to introduce an even more impressive LTE line-up in the next several months second to none.”

    According to a report by Jefferies & Company, LG is dominant in LTE patents globally, having a value of more than 8 billion dollars.

    It seems like LG has found a way to survive in the competitive smartphone market industry, hoping that LTEs will maintain and even increase their numbers in the following years.

  • The Top-Rated Vizio M3D470KD HDTV Set

    If you want a high quality HDTV device but can’t see yourself paying more than $1,000, do yourself a favor and check out the 47-inch Vizio M3D470KD. Coming in at a lean $900, this edge-lit LED delivers excellent image quality, intense colors, and fantastic wireless connectivity.

    Vizio’s solid new release centers around the remote control. It’s fitted with a full keyboard, so linking the set with an Apple TV and navigating streaming content is a breeze. It’s not fully without it’s flaws, as the sound from the built-in speakers isn’t fantastic, but you can’t do much better at this price point.

    The M3D470KD features both 2D and 3D viewing, and tests shows it performs well in either setting. And though the image does suffer from some softness depending on the content, it features a wide range of angles of acceptable viewing, which sets it apart from other LED competitors.

    Again, the big drawback is the sound. It distorts without being pushed very far, and the imitation surround sound system is just that. So if you’re looking for the full theatrical experience, it will best be paired with a set of quality speakers.

    It’s also quite green, having earned the Energy Star label. While it uses a fairly average amount of watts when turned on, when turned off it uses close to zero energy. The backlight adjusts to the amount of ambient light as well, so it won’t waste the juice if it’s unnecessary.

    Vizio’s new release isn’t the simplest HDTV to set up, but it comes with a wealth of installed features. You’ll access Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon and Vudu Pay-Per-View services and YouTube right out of the box, as well as direct access to many of the most popular websites in the world. You’ll even find a dedicated set of web video channels, pulled from sites like PBS, Vimeo and Funny or Die. So if you’re willing to pay for a solution to the audio issue, you’ll find yourself more than happy with the purchase.

  • Bose's Latest and Greatest HDTV Offering is the VideoWave II

    Bose is known internationally for their audio systems, but the VideoWave II, the next generation of their popular original home theater offering, gives users a 55-inch HDTV and all that is needed for a full home theater.

    As does the 46-inch in the first VideoWave, the larger HDTV now includes LED backlighting, a significant upgrade over their initial product line. And the 55-inch set features a slimmer profile, for better wall placement.

    The HDTV set has also been given a facelift, with an aluminum-finish bezel and matching click pad remote. The set handles full 1080p resolution and a solid 120 Hz front panel. The magic of Bose takes over in the rear, with their patented waveguide technology running six woofers. Add that to the PhaseGuide sound radiator and you’ve got the power and impact of seven distinct speakers.

    The software is just as smart as the hardware in the VideoWave II. Bose’s ADAPTIQ audio technology customizes the sound settings for maximum quality in the room. It actually bounces sound off the ceiling and the opposite wall, recreating a seamless surround sound experience. It’s a stunning effect, and removes all the clutter of speakers from your space.

    The HDTV set ships with a console unit that accepts inputs from a wide range of devices, including most cable and satellite boxes, Blu-Ray machines, mobile devices and game consoles. The remote has junked infrared reading in favor of radio frequencies, so anything you plug in can be safely stowed away without a connection loss. Add on a dedicated iPod dock, and you’ve truly got all you need for home entertainment.

    The price may be the best part, as purchase delivery and installation is only $5,999. It’s easily mounted on the wall, but also comes with a stand for your entertainment center.

  • Cloud Storage Service Carbonite Chastised for "Misleading" Advertising

    Now that there are a ton of affordable cloud storage options on the market, younger companies must find ways to break through the noise made by their much bigger counterparts. Carbonite, a relatively small American cloud storage company, declared on their UK website that users would enjoy unlimited online backup storage. Apparently, the Advertising Standards Authority has cried foul, and Carbonite is scrambling to explain the details.

    An anonymous third party made the ASA aware of the website’s claim, and declared that the wording of Carbonite’s promise was misleading. Apparently it violated several sections of the Code of Non-broadcast Advertising, Sales Promotion and Direct Marketing, which weighs in on internet promotions. The ASA’s claim goes even further, declaring that Carbonite refused to help ASA investigate the situation.

    The problem is apparently in the details. The ASA found that unlimited data could be uploaded, but once a user exceeded 200GB of data, Carbonite would make less bandwith available. The slower backup process was not specified, leading to the rule breach.

    Carbonite was told to remove the statement from their site, but they instead released word saying they respectfully disagree with the ruling. Their statement suggested Carbonite was not made aware of the decision nor allowed to participate in the review process, so they will be contacting the ASA to look into the issue.

    Although Carbonite may not agree with the ruling, turning their back to it may bring dire consequences. The ASA has the power to submit an open case to the Office of Fair Trading, and they can have a company shut down. Possible civil claims by affected users are also always a possibility.