Merrimack Tech News: 5/29/11

Friday, June 3, 2011

The Big Friday Edition of Today's Links and My Two Bits....

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Today's Links and My Two Bits....

“Windows 8 previewed at conferences”

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-13627037

“Hardware firms are tight-lipped on Acer’s 'troublesome Microsoft' comments”
http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2075510/hardware-firms-tight-lipped-acer-s-troublesome-microsoft-comments
A little rumbling in the ranks over Microsoft's iron like grip on the development process I see.

“HP CEO says open to licensing WebOS software”
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/02/us-hp-ceo-idUSTRE7510VV20110602

Software updates will be an important feature in iPhone5
http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/156181/20110602/iphone-5-apple-software-updates-will-be-defining-mark-wwdc-steve-jobs-unveil-mac-os-x-10-7-lion-iclo.htm

Android still has some work to do in getting more apps to market report says
http://www.intomobile.com/2011/06/02/distimo-may-2011-report-android-still-has-lot-catching-up-do/

“Apple gains control of iCloud domain”
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-20068165-37.html
I’m surprised that Apple hasn’t tried to take the Will Smith movie title iRobot. Wait that’s the next product line coming from Apple.

“FaceNiff is an Android application that lets users sniff and intercept web session profiles over Wi-Fi networks, stealing other users’ credentials from services such as Facebook, Twitter and others.”
http://mashable.com/2011/06/02/faceniff/

Apple might be missing the boat when Windows8 is released
http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/microsoft_brings_touchscreen_to_pcs_laptops.php
One step closer to the bendable future.

“Richard Stallman selling signed books”
http://mashable.com/2011/06/02/stallman-books/

“Making the Case for Security”
http://www.technologyreview.com/business/37676/?p1=BI
If a company does not take computer and network security seriously then it risks ruining its reputation with customers who in turn would seek to avoid the risks associated with that company. This turn would hurt the profitability of the company not to mention the huge insurance premiums that company would have to pay as a result of this negligence.

“Samsung Introduces Faster, Lower Power Memory Modules”
http://www.informationweek.com/news/hardware/processors/229900001

Gmail hack reportedly from China
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/02/us-google-idUSTRE74P5FJ20110602
Gotta love international espionage it keeps things so interesting.

“YouTube is giving users a choice over how they want to license their content.”
http://techcrunch.com/2011/06/01/youtube-now-lets-you-license-videos-under-creative-commons-remixers-rejoice/

“Researchers Crack Audio Security System”
http://www.technologyreview.com/computing/37690/?p1=A2&a=f

“A working class Apple iPhone would disrupt Android, RIM, Nokia”
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/btl/a-working-class-apple-iphone-would-disrupt-android-rim-nokia/49727

Product Review; “Dell Inspiron Zino HD”
http://www.pcworld.com/article/189191/dell_inspiron_zino_hd_attractive_multimedia_minipc_delivers_good_performance.html#tk.nl_bux_h_prodrv

Product Review; “Canon Pixma MG6120”
http://www.pcworld.com/article/225064/canon_pixma_mg6120_high_style_and_performance_for_a_midlevel_price.html#tk.nl_bux_h_prodrv

Product Review; “Sony Bravia XBR-46HX909 46-Inch LCD TV”
http://www.pcworld.com/article/207320/sony_bravia_xbr46hx909_a_powerful_expensive_hdtv.html#tk.nl_bux_h_prodrv

“HDTV Buying Guide: Making Sense of the Specifications”
http://www.pcworld.com/article/183099/hdtv_buying_guide_making_sense_of_the_specifications.html#tk.nl_tex_h_cbintro

Consumer Horror Stories;
“Verizon pursues dead woman's bill for three months”
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-20068068-71.html

For those seeking their CCNA certs
http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/74515

Techy stuff;
A tool that allows for a continual traceroute
http://tekcert.com/blog/2011/06/01/cool-free-tool-week-winmtr

“Getting ready for IPv6 day”
http://blog.ioshints.info/2011/06/getting-ready-for-world-ipv6-day-in-six.html

Some reasons why NFC is not ready for the consumer market
http://networkingnerd.net/2011/05/31/nfc-not-for-consumers-yet/

Surfs up!...................................Eric

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Why China Will not Supplant the US as the Tech Capital of the World

China to be the next Tech Capital of the World? There are people out there who think that China will be the Tech capital of the World. Perhaps even surpassing the U.S within the next ten years. I politely disagree. The Chinese government might be investing government funds in space flight, solar panels, levitating trains, and they might have a large tech manufacturing base. How ever these factors don’t make China a great tech superpower. There are other factors that remain. Let’s begin with the Chinese currency which is not allowed to freely float against other nations. Rather China insists on basing its currency on a basket of currency's with heavy exposure to the dollar. Then there’s fact that Chinese society is still a closed society. Meaning that people cannot open express what they think or feel in public without persecution. In the market place there no openness as to which companies are actually making money without heavy investments from the state. The market needs to know that there is a free and open flow of information about companies, and even about the state in order to make the proper investments to meet the needs and demands of Chinese society. But there is none of that. Rather the Chinese government seeks to supplant the market, and make the investments as to which technologies and industries are going to prosper. This is in contrast to the market place in the U.S. The Chinese government cannot possibly understand the needs and wants of its people that an open market would be better able to respond to. Thus in order to be a truly great leader of Tech it needs to be the one thing that it refuses to be, an open society. I was in Egypt a few years ago, and my wife and I were astounded by how modern tech coexisted with primitive ways of living. We saw satellite dishes on top of clay brick houses, with a water buffalo and donkeys in the front yard. Then there were cell phones and computer cafes everywhere. Even in Cairo we saw water buffalo pulling carts through the heart of city. China might get the great tech gadgets, and have the factories. But it must still deal with the fact that for the majority of Chinese they will still rely on crude to primitive ways of living just like the Egyptians, and learn to merge the two cultures together primitive, and modern tech. I believe that the US will remain the best place to see tech succeed, and on a greater scale than you would in China.

Surfs up!....................................Eric

Today's Links and My Two Bits....