Like with cable and the telephone, the saturation point appears to be 85-90%. So market saturation will probably be a marketplace 2x or 2.5x what it is now. Then, consumers will replace them either because they no longer are capable of doing what they need to do, break, or the consumer just wants the latest or greatest. Large number, but it is not even close to being a plateauing market.
Category Archives: Tech News
Social Networks respect privacy and afford more consumer protection than banks and retailers?
When considering how financial institutions make money and conduct themselves, there are a number of reasons they may not be perceived as trustworthy stewards of private information.
When making decisions about credit-worthiness, some financial institutions have been rumored to hold impulse purchase decisions against their customers. For example, if you use your credit card to buy gas, snacks at a gas station, or other small miscellaneous purchases, this could be viewed as being stressed financially. Banks could then use this knowledge as reason to not approve an APR on a credit card or an interest rate on a loan that otherwise would be justified. You may be deemed unable to make the qualifying payments.
However, the murkiest factor in determining whether banks and retailers rank less than social networks is how they share information with 3rd parties. Many retailers have rewards programs written in legalese that does not clearly state that information will be shared with 3rd parties. Others may share and not even divulge this information to their customers.
It is important to keep in mind though that this does not mean that your institution is not respecting your privacy or behaving in a manner that is antagonistic to the consumer. Read documents carefully and be vigilant.
Windows Phone shipments to rival iPhone by 2017
The problem will announcements and reports like this is that a lot of things can change in a hurry in the realm of tech. New disruptive technologies can be introduced. User tastes can change (quickly, see Blackberry or Symbion). So, what the prognosticators say is not always reliable. What can really be taken away from this is that the Windows Phone OS is becoming a more viable platform. It is gaining market share and increasing the size of its library steadily. The Windows Phone OS is now a real alternative for people who are not sure if they want an iPhone, Android, or Blackberry.
Will it actually rival the iPhone? Windows Phone OS is targeting the many users who are still using a feature phone. Plus, by working with hardware partners, Microsoft has helped lower the starting retail price (see Nokia Lumia phones starting out at $150 with no contract at T-Mobile). Price and value at a lower price will definitely get the attention of those on a budget or who do not feel the need to have the de facto standard (iPhone). In addition, first time smartphone users who could not get an iPhone now have a choice.
Thunderbolt: 20 Gbps transfer speed
Intel showcases Thunderbolt. With this data transfer rate, theoretically, large file transfers will seem almost instantaneous.
What does Halo announcement mean to Windows Phone users
Prior to Windows Phone 8, Windows Phone 7 was based on CE or compact edition. Developers had to work with only Silverlight, XAML, XNA game engine, C#, or web scripts. Native development was not as strong as it was with other competing platforms because it was not as easy to port apps over by reusing C/C++ code.
This changed when Microsoft engineers decided to base Phone 8 OS kernel on the Windows 8 kernel. More powerful apps were now possible. Cross platform compatibility was also now possible. Developers still use the other technologies, but now game developers can more easily reuse native code to power impressive game experiences. Also, the added horsepower takes away some of the limitations placed on developers.
If you have a Windows phone, have fun playing Halo!
How best to preserve digital knowledge? Vinton Cerf may have the answer.
Vinton Cerf, along with Robert Kahn, helped innovate and introduce the IP/TCP protocol critical to the structure of the Internet.
Now working on a variety of issues and challenging tech problems, Mr. Cerf has been involved in the development of new protocols that may yet lead to networks that link planetary bodies, moons, and satellites to networks on Earth.
Now, he is involved in discussions about the threat of lost technology (operating systems, applications no longer being available to the general public) causing humanity to lose the ability to read data. With all of the breakthroughs and new ideas generated, it would be a shame if we forget what we have learned or what others have worked so hard to understand. Whether it is the cloud and virtualized systems, or some other solution, this problem should receive real consideration.
Halo arrives on Windows Phone in July
The changes Microsoft has made to challenge Android and iOS in gaming appears to be bearing fruit. With Support for technologies like Unity, Havok, and UDK, developers do not have to develop code twice. They can import their C++ or C code and then work in the SDK to finish adapting the game to the platform.
Also, by introducing a kernel based on Windows 8, more powerful game experiences are now possible. This brings us to the new title in the Halo franchise. Would this have been possible if Microsoft had stuck with an OS based on CE (Compact Edition) rather than the desktop OS?
http://www.pcworld.com/article/2040748/halo-infiltrates-windows-8-mobile-devices-in-july.html
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Amazon set to expand fan fiction
Two foxes team up: Foxconn and Firefox
Foxconn and Mozilla Foundation (Firefox) are reportedly collaborating on producing a Firefox Tablet.
