& Technology Bytes: April 2008 Archives

« March 2008 | Main | May 2008 »

April 2008 Archives

April 10, 2008

April 2008 FYI

I just wanted to clear the air in case there was anyone else out there who thought that the press release we sent out last Monday was real. It was, in fact, an April Fool's Joke. It is a quasi-tradition among Internet sites (especially technology-based sites - and really especially among sites that cover Apple) to post an April Fool's article.

What I find flattering is that many of you thought that I have the visibility to be recognized by Bill Gates and Steve Jobs. Maybe one day soon, but not yet! Still, I thank you anyway!

But for your reading enjoyment, here are some April Fools web sites:

http://mail.google.com/mail/help/customtime/index.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_1,_2008
http://www.squidoo.com/aprilfool2008

Posted by Marcel Brown on April 10, 2008 8:25 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Tech Toy of the Month: Nike + iPod

nike_ipod.jpgThis interesting tech toy has been out for quite a while, but many people have never heard of it. It is fairly unique in the world of tech toys, in that it combines "real" exercise and technology (when I say "real" exercise I mean not the kind of exercise you get from playing video games - not that there's anything wrong with that). Basically, the Nike + iPod consists of a small wireless device that fits in your shoe and an adapter that you connect to your iPod Nano. Nike makes a shoe that has a special "pocket" to fit the wireless device into, but there are ways to make other shoes work as well. When you go on a run with the wireless device in your shoe and the adapter connected to your iPod Nano, the Nano is able to keep track of many statistics, such as the time you've been running, the distance you've run, calories you've burned, or the current pace you're on.

By itself, those features are can very useful. However, the integration features of Nike + iPod make things very interesting. You can sync your workout information with iTunes on your Mac or PC, which then in turn can sync with a site called Nikeplus.com. Using Nikeplus.com, you can do things such as compare stats of all your workouts, set goals, and see your personal bests. Finally, if you are so inclined, you can choose to share your stats with others, or see the stats that others have shared. You can then set up competitions with other people, which is an interesting way to push you to work out harder. There are also some other features such as combining custom music for your run, which you can read about at http://www.apple.com/ipod/nike/.

The Nike + iPod is a very interesting combination of technologies that create a very unique product and service. I think this is an example of the first of a new wave of products that we'll likely see be introduced over the next several years. The ability to easily capture, track, and analyze all kinds of personal data will likely change our lives in ways that we haven't even begun to understand yet. If you are a runner, I suggest you check out the Nike + iPod. At only $29.00, you could totally transform the way you keep track of your exercise.

Contact me if you have any questions regarding this technology or any other!

Posted by Marcel Brown on April 10, 2008 11:41 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Q: Should I set up a wired or wireless network for my small or home office?

Tech Q & A
- Submitted by Dr. Clinton Frye, Frye Chiropractic & Laser Center

A: In any particular real-world situation, many factors will weigh into this decision. But for sake of simplicity, let's assume that you could feasibly do either a wired or wireless network. When set up properly, either a wired or wireless network should perform well for the majority of things that most people do on a network, especially when using the Internet. So really there's no reason you couldn't do both. However, if you are using a particular software to run your business, you should check with the developer of that application to see if they support the use of a wireless network.

Many programs, especially those that had their roots before wireless networks, depend on a very reliable network to work well. While wireless technology can be very reliable, wireless networks can suffer from interference. This interference can cause varying interruptions in network service. Most of the time, a user may never notice. However, particularly sensitive applications may not work well even with very minor interruptions. Again, you must consult your software's developer to verify their recommendations. Ideally, you should do this before you purchase the software.

In some situations, wireless networking is a critical necessity. If this is your situation, you should seek out software that was designed to work over less reliable connections. The good news is that more and more developers are realizing that they need to design their software to work over "unreliable" networks such as the Internet. As they design their software to do this, the ability to use wireless networks for business software improves. As well, wireless technology continues to evolve. Newer devices are much better at managing interference and preventing network interruptions.

With all that being said, however, if it is feasible to wire your business, I suggest you do so, especially if you are starting a new business or moving to a new space. It is much easier to pre-wire a building during build-out or construction than to wait until you've moved in. By having your business wired, you have the flexibility to implement a wired network if desired. As the speed of wired networks improve, your business may one day need to take advantage of faster networking speeds. One tip: make sure you wire using "Category 6" cabling. This newer type of cabling (as compared to Category 5 or 5e) supports Gigabit Ethernet, which is up to 10 times as fast as the most common type of network today. Already, many new computers come with Gigabit networking built-in, so Gigabit networks may become more common sooner than later.

Have your tech question answered right here! Submit your question right away before someone else does!

Posted by Marcel Brown on April 10, 2008 11:27 AM | | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

March 2008 FYI - New Section!

This new section will tell you some fun information that we come across in the tech world.

This first one goes out to all you ladies out there. According to Cosmo, the best place for women to meet men - an Apple store. It was on Yahoo's main page. (Thanks for the heads up Melissa DeLassus)

Now I am no expert, but whatever gets you into an Apple store is fine with me. Upon further investigation on this intriguing topic, we found another article you might be interested in. There is the info. Do what you want with it and enjoy!

http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/hughes/23977/
http://www.wired.com/techbiz/media/news/2006/08/71515

Posted by Marcel Brown on April 10, 2008 11:21 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Is HDTV Making you Blu?

Marcel BrownAs the market prepares for the inevitable HDTV blitz this year and next, one very important consideration consumers should be aware of is the choice of a high definition disc player. Many people are not aware that their standard DVD player is not a high definition device. While the picture quality of a DVD player should be better on a HDTV than a standard definition (SD) TV, it is actually possible for the picture quality of a DVD player to look fairly poor on an HDTV. This is especially true when using older DVD players or HDTVs. While most newer HDTVs have technology that improves the picture quality of SD sources, many people will notice that their old DVD player doesn't look as good as a true HD source. So to get the most out of your new HDTV, you should consider an HD disc player.

As some may have been aware, until very recently a "format war" existed between two competing high definition disc formats. One format was named HD-DVD, the other named Blu-Ray. In January, the Blu-Ray format gained the exclusive support of all 6 major movie studios, effectively becoming the successor to DVD. By February all HD-DVD manufacturers cancelled further production and by now, retailers have cleared or are clearing their inventories of HD-DVD players and movies. Therefore, if you are looking for a high definition disc player, make sure you are shopping for Blu-Ray and not HD-DVD.

While Blu-Ray does not use the term "DVD", all Blu-Ray players do in fact have backward compatibility with current DVD discs. And most Blu-Ray players will "upconvert" the resolution of DVD discs to look better on HDTVs. So while your old DVD movies won't look as good as a true HD Blu-Ray movie, you will at least be able to watch your current DVD collection with a Blu-Ray player and your movies should look better than on your old TV.

Also, don't confuse the cancellation of HD-DVD with the current DVD format. The current DVD format is still alive and well and will continue to be produced for quite some time in the future. Really the only thing HD-DVD and DVD have in common are the letters DVD. So don't worry that you won't be able to rent or purchase movies for your current DVD player.

Now the first question most people will have is, "which Blu-Ray player should I get?" As Blu-Ray is still a very young standard, only one generation of players have been produced. As manufacturers are readying to release a second generation of players, currently the common advice is to wait for the second generation of players. However, my answer may surprise you. If you'd like to get a good quality Blu-Ray player, yet still have some assurance that the player will have some upgradability to newer features of the second generation players, consider the Sony Playstation 3.

Yes, the Playstation 3 is a video game machine, however all Playstation 3 units can play Blu-Ray movies. Since Sony was one of the original supporters of the Blu-Ray format, it is no coincidence they did this. Already, Sony has updated the software of the Playstation 3 a few times, and each time they did, they have improved some aspect of the Blu-Ray feature. The real kicker is that the Playstation 3 is about the same price as a normal Blu-Ray player. So for about $400, you can purchase a Playstation 3 and be able to play games as well as play Blu-Ray discs. Prices are not expected to drop soon on Blu-Ray players, especially now that the HD-DVD format is no longer competing. In fact, it appears prices have actually risen on Blu-Ray players since since the format war ended, yet the price on the Playstation 3 has not changed.

If you have any questions about HDTV, please feel free to contact me.

Posted by Marcel Brown on April 10, 2008 11:18 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

April 1, 2008

Bill Gates, Steve Jobs Name Marcel Brown Head of New Technology Initiative

Marcel BrownApril 1, 2008 - At a joint press conference this morning, Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, and Steve Jobs, founder of Apple, announced Marcel Brown as the head of the new Technology Harmony Alliance, a co-operative initiative developed by the two well-known icons of the technology industry. As stated this morning, the Technology Harmony Alliance's goal is to bring harmony to the disparate world of technology and its many users. Marcel Brown is the founder of Marcel Brown Technology Services, a company dedicated to offering quality technology service to small business and individuals.

"It should come as a shock to no one that we picked Marcel to head the Alliance. Throughout his life, he has always been willing and able to help anyone in need of technology help, regardless of platform or type of technology", stated Jobs. Gates added, "Certainly his reputation as 'The Most Trusted Name in Technology' made this decision a no-brainer." Asked to respond, Brown stated, "It is an honor to be recognized in this way. I will continue to do my best to ensure that all technology users can work in harmony with their chosen technology, as well as recommend the best technology for their needs."

Also announced this morning was the location of the headquarters of the Alliance. According to Gates, "It only made sense to locate the headquarters of our bold new initiative at The Tech Spot. We know of no other place where computer users of all types will be able to feel welcome, whether Windows, Macintosh, or even Unix. There will even be an area in the store just for children, known as The Kid Spot. I mean, whomever is doing the marketing there is a genius!"

Jobs quickly added, "The Tech Spot will showcase the ability of Apple Macintosh computers to run not only the world's most advanced operating system, Mac OS X, but also Windows as well as Unix operating systems. Combine this with the unparalleled expertise of Marcel Brown Technology Services on all these technology platforms, and well ... honestly, I'm geeking out about it." Gates then responded, "Well, you've always have been a pretty big geek," at which point Jobs shot back, "Have you taken a look in the mirror lately?" Gates then appeared to make a motion to pick up his chair at which point security officials stepped in, bringing the press conference to a quick ending. Speculation arose, however it was later confirmed that Jerry Springer was not in attendance.

Also in attendance at this morning's press conference was Tux the Penguin, the quasi-official mascot of the Linux operating system. When asked to comment, Tux gave no response, which was not surprising, as it is a well-known fact that penguins can't talk, no matter what certain movies with dancing penguins may portray.

For more information about the Technology Harmony Alliance, visit http://www.technologyharmonyalliance.org. For more information about Marcel Brown Technology Service and The Tech Spot, e-mail thetechspot@marcelbrown.com or call 618-580-6256.

Posted by Marcel Brown on April 1, 2008 3:58 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (1)

RSS Feed / Subscription

Subscribe to this blog's feed
[What is this?]

Search


About April 2008

This page contains all entries posted to Technology Bytes in April 2008. They are listed from oldest to newest.

March 2008 is the previous archive.

May 2008 is the next archive.

Many more can be found on the main index page or by looking through the archives.

Creative Commons License
This weblog is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
Powered by
Movable Type Personal 4.12