Been a year......

It's been a year since I have posted anything on this blog.

With the new year around the corner and Christmas in a few days.  Any new hardware in your lives? For 2018 I have upgraded to the iPhone XS Max, a newer Dell Optiplex 7050 slimline desktop with 16GB RAM, first SSD: 512GB, second SSD: 256GB.

Lenovo shows off flexible tablet/phone at Lenovo Tech World 2017

Now, we're getting somewhere.

https://mspoweruser.com/lenovo-shows-off-flexible-tabletphone-lenovo-tech-world-2017/

At 85, Bob Lutz still speaks what’s on his mind

At 85, Bob Lutz still speaks what’s on his mind:

Q: What’s your take on Elon Musk and Tesla?

A: I don’t know why it is that otherwise intelligent people can’t see what’s going on there. They lose money on every car, they have a constant cash drain, and yet everybody talks as if this is the most miraculous automobile company of all time.

Couldn't agree more.

Some new PCs running Windows 7 and 8.1 won't receive further updates

From a support standpoint, I am glad of this policy from Microsoft. Back when I was doing PC/LAN Support I would at times have to install an old version of Windows on a new PC. Pure headache for drivers, chipset firmware and such to get say Windows 2000, WinXP or even Vista to run on a new pc. I believe we started to create VM's for this scenario.




Some new PCs running Windows 7 and 8.1 won't receive further updates:

The desktop PC is finally cool - The Verge

Good review. And yes, many people still need and use a desktop pc.



The desktop PC is finally cool - The Verge:



'via Blog this'

Dell XPS 15 (2017) First Impressions - Thurrott.com

Good review if you're looking to upgrade/replace your current laptop.



Dell XPS 15 (2017) First Impressions - Thurrott.com:



'via Blog this'

Developers and creative pros are blasting Apple’s new MacBook Pro

Reminder: The current Mac Pro page brags about the performance with Aperture, a program that Apple retired 2+ years ago

The 2016 MacBook Pro ships with RAM and processor specs that are nearly identical to the 2010 model. Deja vu?
RAM:
At least it feels like that, because the MacBook Pro has had options of up to 16 GB of RAM since 2010. The only difference now is that you pay for the update.
Processors:
The MacBook Pro had options with 2.4 gigahertz dual-core processors back in 2010. Anything new in 2016? Not really, well… nope.

Blake Lowry of Pixel Rants notes:

Now Microsoft showed off it’s new computing device, precisely aimed at artists, designers, and photographers. Their new Surface Studio is the holy grail for for creatives, like myself. I’ve long wanted a computer to completely replace a drafting or drawing table. The Surface Studio is a no compromise machine for people that are setting out to create things. From it’s massive 28″ touch screen, low angle adjustment. palm rejection, high color output, over 4k screen, and insane specs, it’s gives you everything a creative wants. Oh, not to forget about the cool input the Dial allows.
The new MacBook Pro, by contrast, looks to be targeting consumers and prosumers as opposed to full-on professionals. I can’t think of an excuse an artist would make to choose a MacBook Pro over a Surface Studio, well except price and portability, and even then there’s a really good argument to be made about the new Surface Book. But we’re talking about no-compromise tools for professionals. I envision art departments with rows of the Studio. Just walk up to it like a drawing table and get busy. It’s a remarkable time to be a creative.

Apparently April 2016 was a big month for Win 3.1

http://netmarketshare.com/report.aspx?qprid=11&qpaf=&qpcustom=Windows+3.1&qpcustomb=0

Smirk/Irony Story: Tim Cook CEO of Apple gets grief for blurry Super Bowl photo

Tim Cook CEO of Apple gets grief for blurry Super Bowl photo

http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2016/02/08/tim-cook-blurry-photo/80002162/

Thoughts on a visit to an Apple Store and a Microsoft Store

Preface: I’m a Microsoft guy.

My experience this past Saturday: Went to the Microsoft Store at the Somerset Mall – Troy, MI.  Went to the Apple Store. Very different atmospheres. One is like a rock concert(Apple) and the other is like walking into K-Mart(MSFT).  Spent hands on time with the SP4 and Surface Book.  It would take time for me to get use to the Surface Book Laptop. It's literally a heavy cold piece of metal.  Very sturdy and cool. But it's very different.  It's more of a just a block of steel than even a MacBook Pro.  I don't think I could shell out $2K for it compared to the Dell Latitude I just bought. It is a very high end machine. No doubt, and it is totally aimed at the high end MacBooks in the same price range... and the Lenovo X1 laptop too for example. and MSFT knows it's aiming for a niche market with this... no doubt about that.   And that's all it'll be too and again MSFT knows it. Now the SP4... sad... 2 of the display models were fracked up and non-responsive. I re booted one, still was fracked.  Not good. I found one that was running.  Played with it for about 10 minutes. Again, I'd have to get use to the smaller overall size.  If I traveled and moved around a lot, 100%.  But still.... for the $1,800 price tag... I still think a conventional laptop is more ... trying to think of the word...useable...

I want to call today and speak with the manager at the Microsoft store. It was a wreck in my opinion. I mean messy the display models were crooked for example sitting round, the one fat guy who talked me just mentioned "Those Surface Books are nice. one day I’ll have one" and then he just walked away. Sure I said I'm just looking... but still.  you’re a salesman and just walk away from me while I look at a $2,000 machine?  You walk into the Apple store 180-degree difference.

I will add as the day continues on my thoughts of this. Much more to add...

Update:
The Manager of the store and I have spoke.  Good conversation.....

After Silk Road Raid, the Dark Net Is 'Darker Than Ever

Do many of you even know any of this truly exists? Do you know about Bitcoins? It's a currency....even Microsoft is now accepting payment in the forms of Bitcoins.

http://motherboard.vice.com/read/after-silk-road-raid-the-dark-net-is-darker-than-ever

Sony hack fallout: What can the U.S. do against North Korea?

Interesting article:

Richard N. Haass @RichardHaass:
How to respond to ‪#‎NorthKorea‬: 1 idea: response in kind, ie, a cyber assault, that would target political, military pillars of the regime
How to respond to #NorthKorea? 2nd idea: raise salience/priority given to trying to bring about reunification of still divided peninsula

http://mashable.com/2014/12/20/sony-hack-north-korea/?utm_cid=mash-com-fb-main-link

SkyDrive is now OneDrive by Microsoft. Look at my new storage today!

WOO HOO

Patch Tuesday

My Patch Tuesday:

Facebook's new "Paper" app. Pretty interesting

Are you using it? Will you use it more than the actual FB iPhone app itself? I'm 50/50 as of now.

http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2014/02/the-quiet-upheaval-of-facebooks-new-iphone-app/283477/

Time (again) for Apple to grow up and join the Enterprise world of I.T.

Rant: HUGE difference between Apple and Microsoft: Apple releases 7.0.4 iOS today and these are the details we get: Apple has just released iOS version 7.0.4, an update for all devices running iOS 7. Unlike iOS 7.0.3, which fixed a fairly extensive list of small bugs three weeks ago, this patch addresses only one specific bug that would apparently cause "FaceTime calls to fail for some users." Other "bug fixes and improvements" are promised but not described in detail. Apple's support site doesn't actually feature any details on iOS 7.0.4 just yet, but we'll update this post if we discover any other fixes of note." Are you kidding me? "Other bug fixes..." ?? WTF are they! Apple fanatics can rant on Patch Tuesday, but at least I know when Windows patches are coming and exactly what the fraking update!!! Grow up Apple!

This, not the Windows desktop, is Windows.

Good/valid point by Paul Thurrott: RE: Surface 2. The very last sentence says it all. "... This, not the Windows desktop, is Windows..."

Why does Microsoft continue to invest in the ARM chipsets that don't run traditional Windows desktop applications? Why couldn't it have made a version of Surface 2 that runs on the Intel Atom "Bay Trail" processor instead?

The answer, as it turns out, is stra...ightforward. Microsoft could have done such a thing—goodness knows it's PC maker partners are stepping all over each other rushing such products to market as I write this—but is instead backing ARM in hardware for the same reason it's doing so in software with Windows RT: This, not the Windows desktop, is Windows.

Boot to classic desktop will be an option in Windows 8.1 "Blue" this fall.

I'm reading Microsoft is waking up and pushing out updates (performance and feature)to Windows and Office much faster. Like incremental updates every month I'm experiencing now with Win8 and Office 2013. That is a good thing. Now I read the big Win 8.1 "Blue" update this fall will allow Windows 8 to bypass the Metro Screen and boot direct into the classic desktop? Honestly Microsoft, who is running Redmond? You stood steadfast on this. Now you back track? Make the option for Win 8 Prof and Enterprise users only. Get Office 2013 full Metro Mode and say good bye to the desktop for direct boot. I find the same arguments by people on this who wanted their Program Manager back when Win95 came out. Hello Luddites, time to move on.

STAR TREK: THE VIDEO GAME -- Shatner vs. Gorn Trailer

LOL this is great

It's time for a rematch

http://www.startrek.com/article/shatner-the-gorn-together-again