Wise Tech Info

2012-06-14T10:27:00.004-07:00

After 20 minutes of using Apple's new MacBook Pro with Retina Display, I switched back to my own six-month-old MacBook Pro to send an email. But when I looked at its screen, I thought my contact lenses had actually fallen out. For a second I was worried; everything on the screen looked less crisp and less bright. It's not an old machine, but it was really as if an optometrist had switched my prescription, or I'd been forced to use my old glasses. Everything just seemed blurry by comparison.The biggest upgrade to the MacBook Pro laptop literally meets the eye. But despite its name, the new MacBook Pro with Retina Display has much more than a new, super-sharp 2280 x 1800-resolution, 15.4-inch display. It also has fastest mobile performance parts on the market, improved speakers, and a new selection of ports. Oh, and it still manages to be only .71 inches thick. Impressive indeed, but worth $2,199?"This is the most beautiful MacBook Pro we've ever made," Apple's Phil Schiller said when he took a curtain off the new laptop this week. And Mr. Schiller wasn't lying. Apple hasn't changed the general aesthetic of the MacBook Pro line since 2008, when it introduced the unibody aluminum design with a glowing Apple embedded in the lid. They haven't wanted to mess with such a well-balanced, clean design.The new MacBook Pro has one major change, though -- it's much thinner than previous Pros. It is only slightly (very slightly!) thicker than the MacBook Air and a handful of other Windows 7 ultrabooks on the market. (To the naked eye, the thickest part of the MacBook Air actually looks thicker than the new MacBook Pro.) That thinness also makes it much lighter than the other Pros.The laptop weighs just 4.46 pounds now; .04 pounds less than my 13-inch MacBook Pro but 1.5 pounds more than the 13-inch MacBook Air. Obviously it doesn't feel as light as the Air, but it's much easier to hold in one hand than the 15-inch Pro and most other laptops. And yet, despite its thin stature, it still feels remarkably solid and sturdy.To accommodate those thinner dimensions, Apple did remove the CD/DVD drive and Ethernet port from this model (they're still available on the 13- and 15-inch Pros). However, it still was able to add some new ports. The laptop has two Thunderbolt ports, two USB 3.0 ports, a 3.5mm headphone jack, SD card slot, and an HDMI port. It also put one USB port on the left edge and another on the right edge so you don't block the ports when you plug in a mouse or external hard drive.Unfortunately, they did remove the tiny LEDs from the edge that told you the battery level when the laptop is closed. Apple also changed the charging port, or MagSafe. The new adapter is flatter and because of the new size and shape won't take older versions, which is a bummer if you've accumulated the older chargers or happen to leave yours at home.What has been kept intact, however, is the extremely comfortable chiclet keyboard. It is also backlit, which came in very handy for writing this review on a dimly-lit plane. Similarly, the wide glass track pad has been untouched. Using it to navigate Apple's Mac OS X Lion operating system was beyond smooth, and gestures like two-finger scrolling and three-finger swipes consistently worked throughout the operating system and software. That is something I cannot say of most track pads on Windows 7 laptops. (The new Pros ship with OS X Lion, but will be available with the next version -- Mountain Lion -- next month.)But, of course, you'll be looking at the screen as you work. And it's simply hard to describe the quality of the display in words. Even as I'm writing this review after 24 hours of use, I'm distracted by the crispness of the text and the icons on the bottom of the screen. And I'm continuously tempted to toggle over to YouTube and watch more 1080p clips, which look better on this display than on most HDTVs.Perhaps the most amazing part about the display, though, is how crisp things look at every angle; turn the laptop to the side and you will see the same quality and presentation.That experience isn't uniform across all applications just yet. Parts of the Firefox browser look a bit blurry and text isn't as crisp in third-party browsers as it is in Apple's own Safari, for example. In Safari, websites pop. It's really the type of thing you have to see for yourself, but with this display, images can be downright stunning. You will just want to call friends over to look at what you're seeing.But just as impressive might be what is inside the laptop. With the screen at 65 percent brightness, the laptop's large battery still lasted six hours on a charge. I was able to work on the laptop for an entire 5.5 hour flight from San Francisco to Newark, and still had 20 percent left when I touched down. On a more grueling video playback test, which loops the same HD video clip, the laptop lasted 5 hours and 22 minutes. That's longer than most Windows 7 ultrabooks, though not as long as the 13-inch MacBook Air, which lasted an hour more in the same test.All the while, you still get blazing fast performance thanks to the quad-core 2.3 GHz Core i7 processor, Nvidia's latest GeForce graphics, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB flash drive inside the laptop. The power of the Pro is probably more than most people will need; the extra graphics and processing power are great for video editing and heavy graphics work, but most people who spend their time running a web browser, email, and some other desktop apps won't get close to challenging the machine's limits. Everything about it flies; it boots in under 20 seconds and resumes from sleep as soon as you open the lid. And if you're looking for even faster performance, you can configure it with a faster processor, more RAM (up to 16GB!), and a larger drive, but you'll spend over $3,000.And there's the rub. It's pretty clear that the MacBook Pro with Retina Display is one of the finest laptops ever to grace this Earth; it's beautiful to look at in more ways than one. But you do have to pay a premium for what is all around the most premium laptop now on shelves.Now, if you have the money for a high-end laptop, the answer is simple: this is the one to buy. The blend of the screen, size, and power is unmatched. Those who want something cheaper, and perhaps smaller, can pick up one of the other MacBook Pros or the 13-inch MacBook Air, which likely provides enough performance for most people in an even thinner and smaller package. It really depends on what your needs are.But do yourself a favor: if you don't have any intention of buying the MacBook Pro with Retina Display, avoid looking at its screen at all costs -- all that practical advice might just seem, well, very blurry.

Meet the mintBox: A New Mini-PC with Linux Mint Preinstalled

2012-06-13T01:59:00.002-07:00

Microsoft's “secure boot” plans for Windows 8 PCs may have many members of the open source community up in arms, but even as the ongoing saga continues to unfold, a small army of alternatives are quietly marching onto the scene.

Dell 'Super Excited About Windows 8,' Vows No Dell Smartphones

2012-06-13T01:57:00.003-07:00

Appearing in a wide-ranging on-stage interview here at market researcher Gartner's annual security and risk management conference, Dell offered insights into several of his company's rapidly evolving business lines, including the decision to walk away from Android tablets in the U.S. market in favor of Windows.

"I think the Microsoft Windows 8 solution is going to be very attractive to customers for a number of reasons," Dell said. "You'll see us at launch, at Windows 8 launch, with a full complement of devices--tablets, hybrids, convertibles--you know every imaginable and maybe some unimaginable forms."

Dell said that he expects Windows 8 devices to enter the market with an attractive price point, and that in the business sector, where the company primarily plans to focus, shops that already run Windows will be inclined to remain in that environment as they deploy tablets and other new devices.

Windows 8 'Evolutionary'

Dell said he is "super excited about Windows 8 and what that brings to touch computing and tablets," saying the next iteration of the operating system will chart an "evolutionary path for Windows into tablets."

Dell also confirmed that the company plans to bring an ARM-based tablet to market. But his enthusiasm for mobile devices does not extend into the smartphone arena. He said in no uncertain terms that the company has no plans to bring a phone to market.

"You're not going to see us in phones, not in terms of hardware," he said.

As for Android and Apple devices, Dell said that the company is making a bid to offer businesses support through its expanding services division, which takes a "device-agnostic" approach.

"If you have an iPhone or an Android phone, we want to manage and secure that for you," he said.

Those efforts tie into Dell's work on desktop virtualization, which includes integration with mobile devices running Android or iOS. Dell indicated that the company will introduce a new package of software for securing and managing Apple and Android devices in a virtualized desktop environment later this year.

Asked if he had considered abandoning PC production as IBM did and HP has signaled it is considering, Dell dismissed the idea, saying that the company remains committed to its traditional PC business while embracing the transition to virtualized environments.

"We are unencumbered by legacy," he said. "So if you think about those other companies with one or two fewer letters in their name, they have this old stuff that they're protecting in one form or another. And we don't care about old stuff. In fact we want to get you off the old stuff and get you onto the new platforms. This is why we're emphasizing things like application modernization and migration. It's why we're taking the x86 solution and pushing it to the absolute maximum."

Dell also indicated that the company plans to pad out its portfolio of security products, a business line that the firm has been expanding with the recent acquisitions of SonicWall and SecureWorks. He said that security is one of three core business lines the company is focusing on, alongside connected devices, comprised of PCs and other end user products, and virtual infrastructure, which includes product lines such as servers, storage and networking equipment, as well as the software to bind them together.

"You really cannot be an end-to-end IT company without having a very strong security capability," Dell said.

No Cloud as Commodity

In the arena of cloud computing, Dell is staking out a position as a provider of secure private clouds and related services. But the company has no plans to enter the utility-like business of providing on-demand computing resources as Amazon and others offer.

"You're not going to see us get into sort of the commodity, you know, infrastructure as a service," he said. "That's not a high priority for us.

Why You Should Be Excited About iOS 6

2012-06-13T01:46:00.002-07:00

In case you missed it, Apple had a little media event yesterday. Of course, I kid. Yesterday was the keynote presentation at Apple’s WWDC (Worldwide Developer Conference) and it has dominated tech news for the last week.—including the obligatory unveiling of all things magical,like iOS 6.

Siri Will Shake Up Apple's iPad Line

2012-06-13T01:44:00.002-07:00

Apple announced Monday an improved version of its Siri voice-control software is coming to the new iPad, which has been shipping since March. The decision creates a wider gulf, features-wise, between the iPad 2 and the "new" (3rd-generation) model, which are priced $100 apart at the low-end (16GB, Wi-Fi).

Assuming Apple has corrected many of the well-publicized glitches that plagued the "beta" version of Siri, which debuted on the iPhone 4S, the charm of voice commands may help sway customers toward the new iPad, which starts at $499.

Currently, the 3rd-gen iPad's most compelling feature is its Retina display with 2048-by-1536-pixel resolution. The iPad 2, which starts at $399, has a 1024-by-768 display. The new iPad has a better rear-facing camera and a faster graphics engine too. (Here's a spec comparison between the new iPad vs. the iPad 2.)

The additional of Siri could spur sales of cellular-enabled iPads as well. Recent studies show that tablet owners prefer Wi-Fi-only slates over those with cellular connections. The primary reason is financial: When you're already paying a pricey cellular bill for a smartphone, you don't want to add a second data plan for a tablet.

A Siri-enabled iPad could get slates out of the house (or Starbucks and other Wi-Fi zones) more often, however, particularly if Siri's tight integration with Apple's new mapping features--as outlined in Monday's demo at WWDC 2010--work as advertised. Given Siri's past problems, however, its performance as a roadworthy assistant remains to be seen.

Google's Sub-$250 Nexus 7 Tablet Coming Late June, Report Says

2012-06-13T01:42:00.003-07:00

An Asus representative confirmed Google will announce a Nexus-branded and Asus-built 7-inch tablet at the end of the month with a sub-$250 price tag.

The representative, who wished to remain anonymous, revealed the news to Android Authority during last week's Computex trade show, but offered no other details about the tablet except that “it will be awesome.”

While we can't independently confirm Android Authority's report, we do know that Google has hinted at its own tablet since December. That's when Eric Schmidt said the company would “market a tablet of the highest quality” within six months. Google later showed interest in competing with budget tablets such as Amazon's Kindle Fire.

Last month the Nexus tablet popped up on benchmarking site Rightware. According to the specs will use a quad-core NVidia Tegra 3 processor, and come with the Android 4.1 (“Jelly Bean”) operating system.

In January, Asus announced the MeMo 370T, a 7-inch Android tablet with Nvidia's Tegra 3 quad-core processor inside, and promised a price tag of $250. Since then, Asus has gone quiet on the fate of the MeMo 370t, leading to rumors that it will actually form the basis for Google's tablet. Nvidia, meanwhile, has announced a reference design for sub-$200 quad-core tablets, so it's possible that a Nexus tablet would make use of this design.

Google is hosting its Google IO developers conference at the end of June -- and it's a likely venue for a tablet announcement. The tablet will likely appeal to tech enthusiasts because unlike the Kindle Fire, a Nexus tablet would be able to access the full Google Play app market, and would run the latest version of Android without any modifications.

As for other Asus tablets, the representative said the Transformer Pad Infinity TF700T is still on trackfor a late June launch. But U.S. wireless carriers have shown resistance to Asus' Padfone, a phone that docks into a tablet, because it would basically provide free tethering on the larger screen. Only AT&T is open to the idea, but negotiations are going slow, the rep said.

Follow mario wisdom on Twitter, Facebook, and follow @wismario17 on Twitter for even more tech news and commentary.

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Apple Kicks Google Maps Off iOS

2012-06-13T01:38:00.001-07:00

As expected, Apple has announced its own mapping solution for iOS 6,featuring real-time traffic conditions, turn-by-turn navigation, Yelp integration, vector graphics, and 3D flyovers. The new Maps app, due out this fall with iOS 6, means the end of the Google Maps-powered app that iOS devices have used since 2007.

For iOS users, this news comes not a moment too soon--many of the features Apple announced Monday have been available on Google Maps for Android for years. Apple's break with Google means the iPhone maker can finally offer significant improvements to Maps on iOS instead of relying on a reluctant partner/competitor to bring new maps features to Apple devices.

If you have an iOS device, chances are the new Maps app will be arriving on your handset, since nearly every popular iOS device in use today (with the exception of the original iPad) is getting iOS 6. Apple introduced the new Maps app during the keynote address at the company's Worldwide Developer's Conference (WWDC) in San Francisco.

Here's how the new Apple-designed Maps app matches up to the old Google-powered one.

The New Stuff

There are several new additions to the iOS Maps app, including a visual redesign that uses vector-based graphics instead of bitmap images. Vector graphics are drawn by the device based on a set of instructions, instead of loaded from a remote server. This change means that it will be easier for users to pan across a map quickly, without having to wait for new map images to load every few seconds. Google introduced vector graphics for Google Maps for Android in 2010.

Apple has also integrated real-time traffic information and turn-by-turn navigation into its new Maps app. There are numerous third-party apps on iOS that offer turn-by-turn navigation, but having a baked-in version is slowly becoming the standard. Nokia has offered this option with its smartphones for some time, and Google added the capability for Android handsets in 2009.

The new Maps app will also include local information for more than 100 million businesses worldwide at launch, as well as integrated Yelp reviews. Apple first integrated Yelp information into the iPhone with the introduction of Siri on the iPhone 4S.

Similar to the recently announced Google Maps overhaul, Apple's maps in iOS will be getting photo-realistic 3D flyovers for major urban areas across the world. However, Google's 3D flyovers are actual images, while Apple appears to be using detailed and lifelike computer-generated models.

The Not-So-New Stuff

As mentioned earlier, Apple will be offering local information for more than 100 million businesses worldwide. Maps for iOS already offers local information, but we'll have to wait for the final product to see if the new Maps app matches up to the current Google-powered local listings.

Apple is also making a big deal about Siri integration with the new Maps app. The thing is, Siri wasalready integrated with Maps--allowing users to say things such as "show me the nearest coffee shop," and see their results on a map. In iOS 6, however, when users ask Siri for directions to a coffee shop the Maps app will also be able to supply turn-by-turn navigation, instead of just directions. Google added voice command navigation in Google Maps for Android in 2010.

The End of the Road

Apple didn't come right out and say this, but it's a good bet that Google's Street View feature will be gone in iOS 6. Maps will also be losing walking and transit directions, but Apple said during the WWDC keynote that it plans to incorporate third-party solutions into the Maps app for metro transit information.

Connect with mario wisdom (@wismario17) on Twitter and with Today@PCWorld, http://wisetechinfo.blogspot.com/ for the latest tech news and analysis.

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Apple iOS 6 vs. Android vs. Windows Phone (Comparison Chart)

2012-06-13T01:32:00.000-07:00

Apple's World Wide Developer Conference (WWDC) kicked off today with the unveiling of iOS 6 for the iPhone and iPad. Apple is promising over 200 new features in the latest version of its mobile operating system, but only a few of them were highlighted in the keynote.

June is an exciting month for smartphone fanatics as Microsoft is expected to unveil the next generation of Windows Phone at an event next Wednesday, June 20 while Google is expected to reveal its plans for the next version of Android, codenamed "Jellybean."

While some of the features Apple announced today already exist on competing platforms, Apple is putting its own twist on these updates. For example, Siri, Apple's voice-activated virtual assistant, is even smarter now with support for sports, movies, and restaurants. Siri can also directly launch apps, but you still can't control these third-party apps with your voice.

Apple is also breaking up with Google Maps and launching its own Maps application with iOS 6. It includes local business information, Yelp integration, real-time traffic updates, and turn-by-turn navigation. Naturally, Apple has also added Siri integration to maps so you can ask questions along your journey such as, "Are we there yet?" or "Where's the next gas station?" Apple has also added a 3D/fly-over mode to its Maps application, which shows you detailed 3D models of buildings and landmarks.

These updates certainly give Microsoft and Android something to chew on. While both competing platforms offer voice-command support, those features are crude in comparison to Siri's artificial intelligence and natural dictation. Microsoft's Bing Maps could definitely use a revamp in the next version of Windows Phone as its turn-by-turn directions feature is quite clunky (you must tap your phone at each turn).

We'll be revisiting this comparison later this month as Microsoft and Google roll out new versions of their respective mobile platforms.

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The new iPhone 4S

2012-06-12T22:26:00.002-07:00

Siri on iPhone 4S lets you use your voice to send messages, schedule meetings, place phone calls, and more. Ask Siri to do things just by talking the way you talk. Siri understands what you say, knows what you mean, and even talks back. Siri is so easy to use and does so much, you’ll keep finding more and more ways to use it.

It understands what you say.

Talk to Siri as you would to a person. Say something like “Tell my wife I’m running late.” “Remind me to call the vet.” “Any good burger joints around here?” Siri does what you say, finds the information you need, then answers you. It’s like you’re having a conversation with your iPhone.

It knows what you mean.

Siri not only understands what you say, it’s smart enough to know what you mean. So when you ask “Any good burger joints around here?” Siri will reply “I found a number of burger restaurants near you.” Then you can say “Hmm. How about tacos?” Siri remembers that you just asked about restaurants, so it will look for Mexican restaurants in the neighborhood. And Siri is proactive, so it will question you until it finds what you’re looking for.

It has so much to tell you.

When there’s something you need to do, just ask Siri to help you do it. Siri uses almost all the built-in apps on iPhone 4S. It writes and sends email messages and texts. It searches the web for anything you need to know. It plays the songs you want to hear. It gives you directions and shows you around. It places calls, schedules meetings, helps you remember, and wakes you up. In fact, ask Siri what it can do — it even speaks for itself.

iPhone 4S takes dictation.

Here’s another amazing way to get things done: just use your voice. Instead of typing, tap the microphone icon on the keyboard. Then say what you want to say and iPhone listens. Tap Done, and iPhone converts your words into text. Use dictation to write messages, take notes, search the web, and more. Dictation also works with third-party apps, so you can update your Facebook status, tweet, or write and send Instagrams.

The elusive BlackBerry (10) Dev Alpha Colt

2012-06-12T17:42:00.001-07:00

RIM made an unprecedented move earlier this week when it gave away pre-production BlackBerry 10 hardware to developers, but it was a smart one. In order to develop for a brand new operating system and help grow develop support for a new platform, you need to be able to test on real hardware. Since this isn’t the phone that RIM will launch in the fall, there’s no issue letting the public see the hardware, right? Well, there’s more to the story.The BlackBerry 10 Alpha unit is a device RIM has been testing internally for quite some time. In fact, our sources have confirmed that it’s the BlackBerry Colt handset that RIM originally planned to ship as its first BlackBerry 10 smartphone, which was later cancelled.

This is just another insight into how disorganized RIM is — looking at the phone, you can clearly see how much time, effort and money RIM put into it. It’s pre-production, but this is a phone that is set up for the company to ship. It’s manufactured very well, feels good, and has way too many details for this to just be something RIM made to give away to its developer base.

The display is beautiful, and the unit is literally a smaller Play-book. I have also been told that Mike Lazaridis and other RIM executives have been showing BlackBerry 10 off to partners using this exact device over the past few months — another sign that this was indeed in the running to be RIM’s first real touch-screen device.

We’ve just heard from a trusted source that the dummy device The Verge posted an image of earlier today is indeed a real BlackBerry, and it should in fact launch as the company’s first BBX-based smartphone. Our source told us that the BlackBerry Colt, the first QNX-based handset RIM had been working on that looked just like a smaller PlayBook, was scrapped in favor of the BlackBerry London. In terms of release timing, it’s looking like the London is slated to launch some time in the third...
We already reported that the BlackBerry Colt — the handset that was originally intended to be the Research In Motion’s first BlackBerry 10 smartphone — had been cancelled. Now, we have heard from multiple sources that the BlackBerry Milan that leaked last month was in fact was never a QNX smartphone, but a BlackBerry 7 device with a slightly different design identity. Regardless, the Milan has been cancelled as well. We’re told carriers balked at the idea of carrying a BlackBerry 7 phone so similar to the BlackBerry Torch at this point in time. The only phone RIM is working on bringing to market right now is the BlackBerry London. We have been told that RIM is currently shopping the London with carriers, and while it still looks very much like the image published by The Verge in November, there have been some slight design changes made. Lastly, we got word that when representatives from Porsche Design showed up to RIM’s headquarters to check out the progress the company was making on the designed by Porsche BlackBerry 9900-series phone for the first time, “it was a complete disaster.”

Speaking with PCMag recently, RIM’s vice president of developer relations and ecosystem development Alec Saunders said that the company’s early BBX-powered smartphones will not resemble the popular BlackBerry Bold form factor. The first BBX devices will instead look like smaller versions of the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet and will come equipped with screens sporting a 16:9 aspect ratio and a 1024 x 600-pixel resolution. Saunders also said the first BBX phones will support BlackBerry Enterprise.