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Monday, 7 October 2013

Celebrating 40,000 Pageviews

Posted on 15:31 by Unknown
The blog is now 10 months old.

We have a new #1 most viewed post at 6,000 pageviews:
Arm vs Intel Benchmarks

#2 has 5,500 pageviews:
How to Live with Windows 8

#3 has 900 pageviews:
Alternatives to Microsoft Office

#4 has 690 pageviews:
Are Google (or Any Cloud-based) Products Trustworthy?

#5 has 680 pageviews:
Why Ultrabooks Do Not Sell Well and the Future of Laptops

#6 has 670 pageviews:
Microsoft's Best Buy-based Windows Stores - Impending Spectacular Failure

There are 327 posts.

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Added Z3740 (Bay Trail at 1.3ghz) Benchmark

Posted on 10:08 by Unknown
This is the processor in the new Asus T100.
There is only one benchmark value in Geekbench at this time, but it seems reasonable enough.
As always visit Arm vs Intel Benchmarks to see the chart (you can always access this via the Resources section at the top right of the page).

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Sunday, 6 October 2013

Non-Android Linux and Open Source News

Posted on 18:03 by Unknown
I use MongoDB as my main database in my business. I really do not like SQL, MongoDB is easy to use. It is amazingly small. Our main server is an atom-based 4"x3"x1" box with a 16gb ssd and an external 2TB USB drive. It has 1gb of memory. Mongodb is so efficient that we've seen no need to get a bigger server, even though several other functions are on that system too.
MongoDB Leads Big Data With $150 M Infusion, Attracts Partners IBM, Microsoft And Saleforce.com - Forbes

Wow, a Firefox OS box!
VIA APC $79 computer can now run Firefox OS (or Boot 2 Gecko) - Liliputing

Free Software Foundation celebrates 30th birthday - Stallman looks back | TechEye

The author of this list has really good taste in what he chose:
10 open-source alternatives for small business software | PCWorld

French National Police Switch 37,000 Desktop PCs to Linux | Wired Enterprise | Wired.com

Analysis: Can SteamOS drag the PC game industry over to Linux? | Ars Technica

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Arm and Intel News

Posted on 13:16 by Unknown
While I've seen a few investing sites talking Intel up this week, but they've mostly taken it on the chin. Bay Trail is great and I'm sure it will make some very interesting inexpensive Windows laptops and hybrids, but its ability to make inroads into the tablet world remains to be seen. It's good, but the momentum is on the ARM-side. Intel has to be better than ARM to overcome that.

This next doesn't surprise me... what surprised me is that Lenovo dabbled with Intel on phones at all.
Intel dumped by Lenovo phone project - Playing it safe with Qualcomm | TechEye

Applied Micro is "the most likely immediate threat to Intel". These are server oriented chips based off ARM, but with enhancements.
Intel faces threat from tiny Sunnyvale upstart - SiliconValley.com

Well, it's good to see Intel facing yet more reality...
Intel labels Ultrabooks a "Failure" | SemiAccurate

While Apple used it's own design for the A7, there is reason to believe the Cortex A5X will perform similarly (indeed probably better, especially when handling 32-bit code). A lot has been learned since AMD designed the "Intel" x86-64 standard. Apparently there are some significant efficiencies in handling the new ARM 64-bit instruction set. This article talks about it from Apple's perspective, but it likely applies to servers as well.
Intel Corporation (INTC): Intel: Apple's A7 Chip Reveals Dangerous Trend - Seeking Alpha

I'd really love to know Bay Trail vs Haswell vs ARM real pricing... but the companies involved are infuriating when it comes to trying to find such information.
Intel ships low-power Core i3 Haswell chips for tablets, notebooks - Liliputing

Allwinner unveils Allwinner A80 Octa processor - Liliputing

The videos are worth watching (especially the second one).
ARM demoes a Cortex-powered future (videos)


Developer Boards and Mini-Devices


Today's SoC's really have to come on a board before you can use them. This new section of this regular post will cover this area of devices.

Cubietruck dev board with Allwinner A20 dual-core CPU now available for $89 - Liliputing

This looks really nice, my next server may be based off this one:
$139 Intel NUC with Bay Trail chip on the way - Liliputing

Arduino boards to run full Linux thanks to TI’s new ARM-based chipTechie News

Intel supplies open-source Galileo computer with Quark chip, targets DIY crowd - Computerworld

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Android Device News

Posted on 10:13 by Unknown
As I said last time, this post is done on a monthly basis and contains those devices that I find unusual or important. It is FAR from exhaustive. Small developer oriented boards are moving to ARM and Intel News as the SoCs generally need to be delivered on a board... in other words, they are now a "chip".


Google Glass and Competitors


My gut tells me that glasses as an always worn consumer platform is likely to fail - at best it is likely to be a fad. (Note, I only mean this statement for the next couple of years... with significant changes in battery life, weight, resolution, etc. it could change, though I still have doubts.) On the other hand, glasses as a specialized device for a specific use is already common. As the price for the technology falls, surely one will see it show up in gaming.

This company has shipped 50,000 devices (aimed at sports), uses Android:
Uh-oh Google Glassholes: Sugar daddy Intel strokes HUD goggles upstart • The Register

Ion Glasses Are a Stylish Alternative to Google Glass [VIDEO]

The Glass Development Kit Launch Will Finally Allow Glass To Live Up To Its Potential

Google announces U.S. Glass tour, starting with Durham on October 5th


Smart Watches


Nissan enters wearable tech market with Nismo Concept smartwatch- The Inquirer

Really, the only watch announced so far that I actually am intested in seeing:
Qualcomm Toq battery lasts for days, works well in bright light

I have real concerns about a smart phone tied to one place right against your body. Cell phone radiation is a known problem if you have prolonged exposure close up to one area:
A.I smartwatch is also a standalone Android smartphone (video)


Tablets and Phones


This next article is a good overview of "cheap" tablets now available. I include it because its the first review I've seen that includes a "white box" tablet in the set of tablets covered (the Hisense Sero 7 Pro). In many ways it is competitive with the iPad mini (which is now hopelessly behind most branded, Android 7 and 8 inch tablets).
Best Cheap Android Tablets (September 2013)

This tablet will be sold rebranded by NVIDIA partners:
NVIDIA unveils the Tegra Note (reference platform for Tegra 4 tablets) - Liliputing

HP really getting into Android:
HP Slates 7-HD, 7-Extreme, 8-Pro and 10-HD Cover Full Android Spectrum | Ubergizmo

This is a serious, decent smartphone for $189. Should be perfect for Junior High kids, so your world won't end when they squish it!
Kogan introduces $189 Agora quad-core smartphone - Liliputing

Amazon's not my favorite place for things Android, but for some users it seems to be a good place:
Review: The Kindle Fire HDX Is the Amazon-centric Tablet Finally Done Right | TIME.com

Looks like Android's going to have the 2013 holiday season to itself (well, technically Windows is there too... but will anyone notice?):
Reuters: Retina iPad mini may not launch in 2013 due to supply constraints


Other


Not Android, but I think the start of new competition for Android tablets. Not thrilled about pricing, but interesting none the less:
Hands-on: HP Spectre 13 x2 - first fanless detachable Haswell notebook

GameStick $79 Android game console hits the FCC, launching in October - Liliputing

Yet another use of Android in an unusual way:
RCA Internet Music System is a stereo powered by an Android tablet - Liliputing

Look back at older posts, I've been saying that custom hardware was just around the corner:
Now even supermarket chains are making cheap Android tablets | Ars Technica

Why, or why Samsung, did you make this only work with Samsung phones?
Samsung launches $299 HomeSync Android-powered media center - Liliputing

See, see, see... yet another way to get your own custom hardware:
Oracle introduces a DIY tablet, the DukePad - Android Authority

Spike Kickstarter Project Puts Accurate Laser Measurement Hardware Right On Your Smartphone | TechCrunch

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Thursday, 3 October 2013

Strange, Possibly Humorous News

Posted on 22:02 by Unknown
Another case of where the impossible sounding title is exactly what the article is about:
Any Animal That Touches This Lethal Lake Turns to Stone

Vending Machine Dispensing Google Android Gaming Apps Launches in Japan - International Business Times

Yes, you too can have a light saber... well, not exactly:
Scientists Catch Up With Jedi in Understanding Light | Science | TechNewsWorld


Lot's of Apple Strangeness Again


iOS 7 design sparks new Japanese porn craze - Pocket-lint

Steve Jobs' childhood home could become protected historical site

Samsung sends spies to uncover Apple's iPhone line phenom | Mobile - CNET News

Sorry, iOS 7 does not make your iPhone waterproof | Digital Trends

Terra Motors' electric scooter is a $4,500 iPhone accessory | The Verge

New Book Erects Photographic Shrine to Apple - WSJ.com

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Tuesday, 1 October 2013

Bill Gates Asked to Step Down as Microsoft Chairman

Posted on 19:22 by Unknown
Reuters reports that 3 of the top 20 Microsoft investors are pushing for Bill Gates to resign as chairman.
The three investors are concerned that Gates' presence on the board effectively blocks the adoption of new strategies and would limit the power of a new chief executive to make substantial changes. In particular, they point to Gates' role on the special committee searching for Ballmer's successor.
Exclusive: Time for Gates to go, some top Microsoft investors tell board | Reuters

The article says there is no sign that Gates will actually be forced out, but it surely is a sign of serious trouble at Microsoft.

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