Next stop Ubuntu

Ubuntu today unveiled its take on the tablet, the 4th screen in their 4 screen strategy. The tablet UI borrows from that of mobile version, smooth transitions and elegant UI elements. The notion that innovation is dead has be shattered by Ubuntu's efforts on the UI front. It's unlike anything currently on the market and that in itself is cause for an applause. Desktop, TV, phone and tablets now have their own distinct sprinkle of Ubuntu but my thought process lends me to believe in this "post PC era", making the phone and tablet the most vital of the 4 screens.

Greeting from Jailbreak island...

A few years ago I found iOS awesome, the interface was a breathe of fresh air when compared to the popular devices of that day. I remember the Nokia N95 was the "top dog" in those days, for years Nokia milked that device not trying to innovate further, they got comfortable. Then came the iPhone and the rest is history. Fast forward to today, Apple and iOS feels like they are in the same position as Nokia with their cash cow of yesteryear, stuck. The interface employed by Windows phone, Android and now the Blackberry OS 10 seems brushed with a paint brush transported from the future. Now I own an iPhone 4S, I love the device, the hardware is beautiful and the quality of the applications continue to stand a notch above all else. Where iOS in my opinion stumbles is in the navigation and multitasking department. 

Artificial Intelligence is our future.

Artificial intelligence, what is this? A fancy definition: The basic concept of Artificial intelligence surrounds the theory and development of computer systems able to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence. My interest in Artificial intelligence first peaked after watching a presentation by IBM on "Watson". Then came Siri and Google Now, my interest now at an all time high, so elevated I thinking of pursuing this field at the post grad level because I believe AI is the future. 

Video depicting Watson:

The Old and New Microsoft: Tragedy or Triumph?

When Gates and Allen founded Micro-Soft nearly four decades ago, they couldn't have known that their company would rise to heights such as it did. Now a 200 billion dollar enterprise, Microsoft is a giant in an industry where giants are rare and perhaps ephemeral. A company doesn't get so far without burning a few bridges, and Microsoft burned their competitors with such artful spectacle that they became a force to be reckoned with.

That Microsoft, dear readers, is no longer with us. 

A Storm is coming.....

When there is storm brewing on the horizon you can feel the air be sucked towards the center of nature's wrath. The storm I'm referring however isn't one of the physical nature but the technological one, two actually. 

Key Lime Pie 

Google has been doing everything right in my humble opinion, with each update there is a clear path forward inline with their ideals. Moving forward with Key Lime Pie however it gets a bit tricky, with previous generations of Android there were clear holes that consumers requested filled. Android has matured and Key Lime Pie will present a view of how Google tends to break new ground not just satisfying clear needs. Key Lime Pie must present Innovation. 

iOS 7

The general mood around the tech world is Apple's mobile OS needs work. A fresh coat of paint for starters while providing users with more power and ease of use. Anticipations are high that Apple will deliver yet another defining product but I will not forecast such, I am taking a wait and see approach to Apple when it comes to software. Apple has much riding on version 7, lets hope Apple gets its storm into the category 5 range or else the industry and consumers will apply punishment. 

Microsoft, lets talk....

A Consumer's Prospective: 

Bane - Do you feel in charge?

Microsoft - I have over 90% of the PC market!
Bane- And this gives you power over me?

I glanced at an article recently outlining Microsoft's new approach to Office and my initial reaction was; I think everyone at Microsoft needs to meet Bane. The product now comes with two choices of ownership; $100 per year for Office 365 Home Premium and $150 per year for Office 365 Small Business Premium. Outside the subscription model Office Home & Student cost $140 , Office Home & Business ($220) and Office Professional ($400).


Now why would I make such a statement? Meet Bane? One would argue that the Office suite is a well respected and is an unmatched set of productivity tools. I would not argue against this assertion but my problem doesn't stem from the quality of the product but the presentation and pricing. Allow me to explain.

Problem #1

'Could the sales of tablets surpass desktop PCs by the end of 2013? That's the prediction from Antoine Leblond, the head of Windows Web Services at Microsoft'- Source: Neowin. When I read this piece of the article I was baffled that there is someone at Microsoft who realizes tablets are on the rise. What I'm trying to figure out however is, does Microsoft realize it has practically no foothold on that market?

Problem #2

Windows 8, beautiful and innovative in my humble opinion. Microsoft found a way to bring the PC market kicking and screaming into the era of touch. Now someone from the Windows team needs to go over to the Office team and whisper "we are doing touch now so please lets be on the same page". How can a company urge developers to make their applications more touch friendly while releasing in 2013 a 'core' product that's clearly not built with touch in focus. This puzzles me.

Problem #3: The Google Problem

In an interview with AllThingsD, Amit Singh, a Google VP and head of its Enterprise unit, said “Our goal is to get to the 90 percent of users who don’t need to have the most advanced features of Office” - Source: Forbes. Now Google clearly understanding the importance of a solid Eco-system has declared war on Microsoft Office. Office is not just productivity tools but it is an essential part of the Windows Eco-system and Microsoft needs to understand that.

Bringing it together.

Microsoft is missing the ball, they understand where the world is going but the company seems divided. The Windows team has one direction and the Office team has another. Office being so important and Microsoft's position being so weak, the price of this software should be much lower. It is in fact a step in the wrong direction, Microsoft should be so embarrassed that it offers it for a deeply discounted price. Now lets step over to the competition, the Google threat is real, I'm sure that Google will be making a huge step to gain that 90%, Google's current productivity services leaves much to be desired but 2013 may mark the year it changes all of that.

Microsoft do you still feel in charge?

Confession of a "secret" BB lover

I'm a technology junkie, that is a well known fact but the misconception added to my love of technology is the thought that I'm an Apple fanatic. Let me clear this up somewhat, I'm only part Apple fanatic, I would be lying if I said I wasn't that much. Let me explain, I love what Apple is doing on the PC side of the world, nothing can get me to switch back to a Windows machine. The union between a Macbook and OSX is so beautiful, the hardware in every sense complements the software and vice versa. That's how it should be! Moving over to the mobile side I have fallen out of love with Apple, the iPhones are great but the software leaves room for improvement. 

I pride myself as someone who tries to ensure that I speak from an informed stand point and not as someone standing on a matches box speaking from no real prospective. That in mind, my first smartphone was a blackberry (Bold 9000) then I moved to an Android device (HTC Nexus One), migrated to an iPhone (iPhone 4) then back to a Blackberry (bold 9900) and now I'm back to having an iPhone (iPhone 4s). When I speak about a product it's not because I have seen videos or watched people use them but I speak from the prospective of someone who has lived with a device. 

Why I love the Blackberry? 

I have always been a strong critic and lover of the Blackberry. My friends will tell you that I will always advise them to upgrade to a real device because using all the different platforms at the time, the Blackberry felt caged. The only bright spot of the Blackberry is BBM. Now that might seem limited but it's far from reality. BBM feels like a family, a family you can't help but love. You might say there is Whatsapp but Whatsapp in my opinion feels like a stop gap to what you really want. It's a cheap knock off of the real drug, BBM. 

Why I'm going back to the Blackberry!

BB10 has addressed my main concern with the Blackberry, it nows brings the OS into the 21st century. BB10 in my estimation is not better than Android or iOS or Windows phone but it can hold its own and that for me is all I need. A phone is suppose to be a device to connect you with people, those friends and family members and no one beats the Blackberry when it comes to connecting people.