Computers are penetrating more and more in our everyday lives and becoming a necessity. Tablet Pc’s are bridging the gap between smart phone devices and heavier bulkier laptops. Operating system is coming to the web with Google Chrome on Cloud, changing the desktop dynamics with a cost effective and portable solution.

Touching the Human Emotions !

The most intriguing question amidst all this is knowing what lies ahead of us. Not a year or two years from now, but 40 years ahead? As difficult as it may be to predict, when Americans were asked this question in a telephonic survey by The Pew Research Center, it showed, “81 percent think that computer science will have progressed to the point where a computer will probably or definitely be able to carry on a conversation indistinguishable from that of a human being”

A pretty believable idea considering the technology around us is evolving at the speed of light. Intel at its Annual Research Day at the end of this month will also be indicating the progress in the same direction. Its spotlighting technology that reads readers gesture and responds to the thoughts. The event is to be held at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California.

When computers start reading our minds and talking back to us, that popular saying on books will be modified to ‘computers are our best friends’.

Technorati Tags: future technology, human emotions known to computers, next generation computers

Bing's music to the ears !

Microsoft’s aggressive attempts to revive their search engine by changing its name from MSN search to Live and then finally to Bing and positioning it as a decision engine has taken a new entertaining step.

This Tuesday, the company announced a new way to search the entertainment stuff where you can play games, watch your favorite soap operas and other TV content, stream music and shows, all without a second click, right on the Bing domain itself. This will perhaps make Bing look more like a web portal than a search engine page, while making the navigation much smoother for the average user who gets lost in the information explosion that comes with every search query that is made.

This new feature includes services from Zune catalog too, where each of several million songs on Zune can be played once for free and 30-second previews available thereafter.

It is noteworthy that presently 7% of all Bing searches (which accounts to 1.5 billion queries per month) are entertainment-related queries. This percentage is more likely to go up now with the introduction of this feature. Though Bing is still far from capturing Google’s number one position as far as search goes, this is surely a step in the right direction.

Technorati Tags: Bing, entertainment search, Google, music search

The multitasking guru pays the price in the end!

Less than twenty four hours to the announcement of the fourth version of iPhone, with a highlight on its most sought after ‘multitasking’ feature, a New York Times story shockingly reveals how multitasking is affecting our everyday lives. Not in a good way that is.

In a series of articles by the New York Times, called ‘Your Brain on Computers’, the very first story is covered on a Silicon Valley entrepreneur, Kord Campbell who is breathing eating living computers and gadgets 24 hours of his life. And when the most important deal of his career comes knocking at his inbox, offering over a million dollars to buy his Internet start up, he misses this email to multitasking. Not so surprising, when you are surrounded by information flood and juggling between one screen to another all the time.

So what’s really wrong with multitasking? Don’t we all listen to the radio while driving our car, check the pending voice messages, and take a sip of mocha every now and then.

Though our brains are well conditioned to doing multiple things at one time and it’s rather difficult to do just one thing and only one thing at a time, truth is that we really can’t process more than two or three things at a given time. More things on our to-do list and we have to switch between tasks, to keep our concentration levels in check and take regular breaks in between.

Or we might end up missing our one time million dollar chance of  life. The choice is ours.

Technorati Tags: computer hazards, iPhone multitasking, multitasking

Are we ready for a computer virus attack on us ?

We are all aware of virus attacks on our computers but imagine a time when these same viruses start attacking human beings on our planet. No, that’s not a plot for some upcoming sci-fi movie, though if this article meets a discerning Hollywood director’s eyes, it might eventually be made into one.

Cybernetic Intelligence Research Group at Reading University UK has been working on such a possibility and dangers of virus infected implanted chips in human body for a long time and now their research scientist Dr Mark Gasson has literally infected himself with a computer virus. As per the story covered by BBC, Dr Gasson has surgically implanted a miniscule radio frequency identity (RFID) chip infected by malware into his hand. His experiment is to demonstrate how RFID might be electronically infected in the future and what potential security risks it carries.

This chip also allows Dr. Gasson to gain access through security doors and to activate his cell phone. While RFID is widely used in medical surgeries and procedures, it’s noteworthy that this same technology has been used for years in simple applications like paying for drinks in many upscale nightclubs.

Computer experts have described this experiment as a bizarre exercise in scaremongering, still the risks associated with such body implants cannot be ignored and should be weighed against the benefits of such implants, especially as we project implanted technology to become more and more popular in the coming years.

Technorati Tags: computer virus attack, Human Implanted Chips, Mark Gasson

Dynamics in the PC world have entirely shifted this year, and much dramatically so, thanks to the launch of Apple’s iPad and its instant success.

It’s well spotted that electronics and computers are on an ever changing orbit and newer technologies are introduced almost every day, yet iPad seems to have heralded a new era in itself. Instantly after the iPad’s launch we hear news coming from all directions on various PC makers jumping and flooding the tablet market with better, faster and thinner tablets.

iPad Competitors: In a Snapshot

It’s time we reviewed the most important iPad alternatives/competitors and what value add they bring to the market.

• Intel’s Tablet: Its main highlights are USB, SATA and a cheaper memory solution. This dual core tablet also allows printing.
• BlackBerry Cobalt /BlackPad: At 8.9 inches this is a much smaller and thinner tablet. Though everything remains a rumor until we get an official confirmation from RIM, it’s projected only as a BlackBerry companion device.
• Notion Ink’s ADAM: This device can support 20 hour battery life, 1080p high definition video on its 10″ screen and also features a 3.2mp 180 degree rotating camera.
• JooJoo: Featuring only one physical button and a 12.1″ touch screen, the device boasts the fastest startup in the world, connecting to the internet in a mere 9 seconds.
• Lenova Skylight: This smart book has no touch screen but a full size key board, 10 hour battery life and weighs 2 lbs.
• Dell Streak: The Streak will run Android and will feature both front and rear facing cameras. It will also have USB ports and two microSD slots
• ICD Vega: Produced by Innovative Converged Devices, the Vega features a large, 15.6″ touch screen with 32 GB of internal SD storage, a removable charging dock/stand and the ability to play on-demand Web TV.
• Verioogle Tablet: Verizon also confirmed this Wednesday that they are working on Android powered tablet with Google but specs so far are left to our wild guesses.

While it puts constant pressure on top industry players to keep innovating themselves, consumers rejoice every time we see a paradigm shift in the industry. Rightly as they say, consumer is the real king.

Technorati Tags: Apple's iPad, BlackBerry Cobalt, BlackPad, Google tablet, iPad Alternative, iPad competitor, JooJoo, Notion Ink's Adam, tablet

In just a matter of month Apple’s iPad has captured the buzz all over. Over a million geeks have laid their hands on it. Your friends are going gaga over it. Every third person you meet is seriously considering buying one. Media is revving it up with nice reviews.

And you are just sitting and watching. Not that you are amongst those selected few born to hate Apple’s products. In fact you love the iPad. You have been to Apple store at least once to check it out. You are the first one amongst friends and relatives to know all about the interesting apps; even the latest ClamCase that can turn an iPad into a laptop.

But let’s just face it. Not all of us can afford a $$$ toy to play with. So we are here to tell you what to tell your friends, your girlfriend, and most importantly; your heart, why you don’t want to buy an iPad. At least not at the moment.

• You want to wait for the second generation iPad. First gen is for suckers who are ready for immature hardware and software. Remember first iPod?

• You already have a smart phone and a laptop; so iPad is redundant for you.

• You’d rather buy a Netbook for half the price and get the same job done.

• You can’t even watch ESPN, HULU etc as it does not support Flash.

• You can’t do multi-tasking: not in third party apps.

• You love taking photos and video conferencing with friends and oops! It doesn’t even have a camera.

Resist the temptation. There is no app for that yet.

Technorati Tags: Apple, avoid iPad, iPad, no flash, reasons not to buy, tablet

The Magical Bloom Box

Though this seems to deviate from regular stuff that is posted here, it still needs to be mentioned due to its implications on computer world. We are talking about Bloom Box, a fuel cell like device invented by K R Sridhar of Bloom Energy is expected to get rid of all our energy woes in coming decade. What makes this magical device is the fact that a single Bloom Box can power an American home for life, without any maintenance. What makes this fuel-cell more attractive is the fact that it will not produce any pollutants while it produces energy. All it will need is small amount of air and fuel (natural gas or solar energy) to run and will produce just water as by product.

So why are we not letting it in the market and let everyone use it? Well, first this fuel cell device still is in testing phase and costs a whopping $700,000 to $800,000 a piece. Though the creator believes that once economies of scale come into play, it will cost around $3,000 allowing everyone to have one in their home. But does it really work? Companies like Google, Wal-Mart, Coca Cola, FedEx, Staples and eBay would be in a better position to answer this question as they have been using it for last one year. If eBay is to be believed, the company has already saved $1 million in energy costs since installation a year ago. Other companies have confirmed this and are happy for being the first to use Bloom Box from Bloom Energy. Hope this works well so that Mother Nature can heave a sigh of relief and we never need to carry multiple batteries to keep the laptop running. Instead, just carry a Bloom Box.

Technorati Tags: Bloom Box, Bloom Energy, Energy, Fuel Cell, SEO, SEO Press Release, Traditional Press Release

Google is leaving no stone unturned to maintain its leadership position as an internet giant. Instead of declaring a full-fledged war on its rivals, Google is adopting what are called as guerilla tactics. Google recently acquired reMail, an iPhone application company. What the application does is not at all important, what matters is the fact that as soon as Google purchased this company, all the ties that reMail had with Apple’s App Store were severed immediately. reMail will continue to provide support to the application till March 2010, however, after that the application will be available through Google only.

Clearly, Google is amassing arsenals for the next war, which is going to be fought on mobile handsets. First it was development of Android, and then it was launch of Android powered phones, and now this acquisition. Though Apple’s

Google's Apple

iPhone users will be disappointed, it is celebration time for Open Source users, which has much larger client base than App Store. Next on the shopping list of

Google is On2 Technologies, which again is a significant player in video streaming space. This again shows that Google has crafted a concise strategy to maintain its leadership position. Analysts may be worried over Google’s break-neck speed acquisition spree, but as long as the registers are ringing, does anyone really cares.

Technorati Tags: Apple, Google, iPhone, reMail

Adam Tablet PC - The iPad Killer

While the world was busy praising Apple’s iPad, a group of seven Indian’s was busy preparing the launch Adam, a tablet PC made by Notion Ink. The reasons for projecting this tablet PC as an iPad killer can be summarized as follows –

Thickness – Tablet PCs should be slick enough and Notion Ink’s Adam is just 11.6 mm thick. Apple’s iPad on the other hand measures 13.4 mm in thickness.

Battery Life – Adam can communicate and entertain you for more than 15 hours, whereas with iPad, you will have to content yourself with 9-10 hours.

Functionalities – Adam is literally full of gizmos that you need. AGPS, digital compass, speakers, 3 megapixel camera, microphone, Wi-Fi and 3G compatibility are strategically placed in this Notion Ink tablet PC. You might have to settle for less and shell out more for getting similar capabilities in iPad.

Screen – Adam’s screen uses Pixel Qi technology, which instead of relying on battery powered backlight, uses ambient or external light for better display results. It also uses far less battery than iPad’s touch-screen. Moreover, iPad cannot handle 1080p high-definition videos. Adam not only displays them with efficiency, but also has a jack for displaying them on other devices.

Price – Adam beats iPad in this department too. Notion Ink’s Adam will be priced somewhere between $325 to $450, whereas iPad can be bought $499 and upwards.

How both devices perform commercially cannot be determined beforehand, but one thing can be said, the market is already heating up.

Technorati Tags: Adam, iPad, iPad Killer, Notion Ink, tablet PC

Mobile Applications as SaaS?

Mobile applications market is already buzzing with activity. Mobile handsets are treading the same path that computers have taken, therefore, would it be wrong to assume that soon we will be having mobile applications as SaaS or software as a service? Though the term SaaS has been replaced by cloud computing, it still can be used in context of mobiles. Getting back to the theme of this article, the idea may seem absurd as of now, but could turn out be a treasure trove if executed properly.

Handset users usually download a mobile application, use it for sometime and then just forget about it. For example, are you still playing the same mobile game that you had downloaded say about six months ago. In all probability, you got bored with it in matter of days and forgot about it. You could have spent somewhere around $10 for that. Won’t SaaS make sense now? You download the game, play it for a week and forget about it. And you pay just $5 for that. Also, if the price is low, more people will happily pay for it. Now try to implement this business model in a market like India, which not only is the biggest mobile service market in the world, soon it will be the largest handset market of the world. Users there would welcome such a deal with open arms as the consumer in India is very price sensitive. The question is, if computers can, why mobiles cannot adopt the concept of SaaS when a market like India is yet to be tapped?

Technorati Tags: Mobile Applications, SaaS