PC makers adding Android to the Windows mix is bad news for Microsoft

January 07, 2014 by David Johnson

It is one thing for you to get your chocolate in my peanut butter. After all, they are two great tastes that taste great together. But what happens when Windows and Android dance the Watusi? Who are the people clamoring for the Frankenstein notebook? Are these actually two great tastes? Do they actually taste great together, making a whole that is better than the sum of its parts? Because more manufacturers will be putting out these products this year, we are going to be finding out real soon.

What the $100 smartphone says about the state of iPhone competition

January 01, 2014 by David Johnson

2013 might well be known as the year that the race to the bottom really heated up. As in the sport of limbo, smartphone manufacturers see how low they can go with the price of their wares. Racing to the bottom is nothing new. It happens in every industry. I don't just want to note the fact that it happened, but also the reasons. And since it really is a race, we might even take a brief look at who is winning.

Everything is an iPhone

December 20, 2013 by David Johnson

Do you remember when Android first came out? Does anybody? The internet has a very short memory, So let this be a reminder; Android was actually in development before the iPhone was introduced. Here is something else you may have forgotten. Android was originally a clone of the Blackberry OS. At the time, the was no iOS to copy. Once the iPhone was unveiled, Google scrapped their Blackberry clone, and started making an iPhone clone.

My thoughts on the NSA, privacy, and human dignity in the modern age

December 17, 2013 by David Johnson

In case you've been wondering, of course I've been following the NSA story since the first Snowden leaks. I have simply chosen not to make a career of it as some blogs have done. For wall to wall coverage on everything related to the NSA, let me suggest theverge.com. It is my intention to keep this piece concise, with only a handful of points for you to consider.

Qualcomm Says "Apple kicked everybody in the balls" with their 64-bit A7

December 17, 2013 by David Johnson

Don't shoot the messenger. I'm not being tasteless for the sake of being tasteless. The bit of headline that caught your eye is a quote from a Qualcomm insider. In an unexpected fit of honesty, he said a lot of things. Apple turned the industry on its ear when they announced the iPhone 5s. The 64-bit A7 chip is a revolutionary advance that took the chip world by storm. While everyone took pains to publicly downplay the advance, privately, they were sweating blood. Here's a few examples:

Nokia 2520: more than the Surface, less than the iPad, much less

December 13, 2013 by David Johnson

This is not a review, just a few observations about the tablet based on reviews and press releases. I am never going to own this tablet, not even for 5 minutes. I wouldn't want to take a chance on losing the receipt. I do have a few observations about the product you might find interesting:

If you want to get your iThings by Christmas, you might want to order now

December 02, 2013 by David Johnson

Are you planning to stuff a few stockings with iPods, iPhones, or iPads? I could sure use a new iMac, hint, hint. Well. Here's the thing. Unlike Google, Amazon, and Microsoft, Apple will actually be selling boatloads of the most sought-after products to people all over the world. If you want to get yours in time, you might want to go ahead and place your order right now.

Microsoft teams up with the Pawn Stars for a new Scroogled ad, unable to get out of its own way

November 27, 2013 by David Johnson

Microsoft is no stranger to paid endorsements. They will happily hand over truckloads of money to any celebrity who will take it, and pretend to like their products. This time, it's the Pawn Stars. In a slight twist, the ad is not promoting any particular Microsoft product, but slams the Google Chromebook, and Google in general.

Of keyboards and tablets

November 23, 2013 by David Johnson

There is a reason the iPad does not come with a keyboard, and it may not be the reason you think. You will never see an iPad advertised with a keyboard, either, even though there are very good keyboards made for it. Apple even sells them in their retail stores. For the exact opposite reasons, you will never see a Windows tablet advertised without a keyboard. I am not aware of any that come with a keyboard out of the box. But Microsoft, Nokia, and others build keyboards for the tablets they offer.

Logitech POWERSHELL CONTROLLER + BATTERY iPhone game controller is out: Got game?

November 20, 2013 by David Johnson

The gaming press has been all abuzz over the just released, PlayStation 4, and the pending, Xbox One from Sony and Microsoft, respectively. Getting almost no attention is Apple's gaming initiative, now coming to fruition. This Summer, Apple revealed its secret plans to developers for official, third-party, game controller support. Today, Logitech has made good on that potential by releasing the POWERSHELL CONTROLLER + BATTERY: a game controller for the iPhone and iPod touch.

With a little time and talent, you and your iPad can make beautiful music together

November 19, 2013 by David Johnson

As a once, semiprofessional musician from back in the day, I wanted to see just what kind of music could be made using only an iPad. I haven't quite forgotten everything I once knew about music theory, so, I decided to sift through the App Store, and put it to the test. Read on to hear the results:

Microsoft's new billboard shows us why Numbers is a better choice than Excel

November 10, 2013 by David Johnson

Sam Francisco, among other places, is home to a new billboard from Microsoft, advertising, of all things, Excel. Actually, they are advertising the Surface and Surface 2. The selling point is that these devices come with Office, which comes with Excel. Trust me; it gets better.

Apple puts the "i" in business

October 18, 2013 by David Johnson

The i in business is small, and largely goes unnoticed. Yet, it wouldn't be "business" without it. That is the way it is with Apple in the enterprise. Apple is not the first company that comes to mind when thinking about the enterprise sector. Yet, the post-PC solution of choice among businesses is Apple.

Microsoft Targets the iPad mini in the Latest Attack Ad

August 09, 2013 by David Johnson

Microsoft just can't seem to get enough of advertising the iPad. In their clumsy attempts to poke fun at it, they just make themselves look even more pathetic.