Monthly Archives September 2013

Microsoft reverses course; releases Windows 8.1 RTM to developers

Microsoft reverses course; releases Windows 8.1 RTM to developers

September 14, 2013 | Comments Off on Microsoft reverses course; releases Windows 8.1 RTM to developers

By Mary Jo Foley for All About Microsoft | September 9, 2013 — 17:04 GMT (10:04 PDT)

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The Microsoft course reversals — such as the reintroduction of a Windows Start Button and the cancellation of the “Always On” requirement for Xbox One — are continuing.

The latest 180, announced by the company on September 9, is that MSDN/TechNet subscribers and volume licensees are going to be able to get their hands on the Windows 8.1 release to manufacturing (RTM) bits early, after all. In fact, Microsoft is making the RTM versions of Windows 8.1 and Windows 8.1 Pro available to those groups today, September 9, starting at 10 a.m. PST. Microsoft also will be releasing the RTM version of Windows Server 2012 R2 to MSDN/TechNet and volume licensees today.
The Windows 8.1 Enterprise SKU will be available to MSDN/TechNet and volume licensees before the end of September, officials said today. The RTM version of Windows 8.1 RT still isn’t going to be released early. (Windows 8.1 RT has leaked to the Web, however.) …


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Don't buy a new PC or Mac before you read this

Don't buy a new PC or Mac before you read this

September 14, 2013 | Comments Off on Don't buy a new PC or Mac before you read this

Is the laptop, desktop, or tablet you plan to buy stuck with a last-gen CPU? That may be a reason to wait — or a way to get a great deal. Here’s how to tell.

by Dan Ackerman  August 22, 2013 8:33 AM PDT
(Credit: CNET/Sarah Tew)
Editors’ note: This article was originally published June 27, 2013, and was updated August 22, 2013, to reflect that many more systems are now available with Intel’s latest processors, with still more to come later this year.
Before swiping your credit card on a new ultrabook, all-in-one, or convertible, you’re going to want to dive a little deeper into the spec sheets. That’s because the latest Intel CPU upgrade, introduced in June and code named Haswell (but officially known as “fourth-generation Core i series”) offers significant battery life improvements in the laptops we’ve tested so far. So, unlike the more ho-hum Intel updates we’ve seen in years past, there’s a real-world payoff in seeking out a Haswell-equipped laptop.
But, many popular laptops, such as the Lenovo Yoga 13 and Apple MacBook Pro with Retina Display, still use third-generation Intel CPUs, with no official upgrade plans yet announced. If better battery life isn’t a …


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Amtrack to Get WiFi in Michigan

Amtrack to Get WiFi in Michigan

September 14, 2013 | Comments Off on Amtrack to Get WiFi in Michigan

Thursday, August 29, 2013
LANSING – Rail passengers in Michigan will be the first in the Midwest to have access to a new cellular-connect WiFi service on Amtrak trains beginning in early 2014.The service is part of a contract approved by the Transportation Commission, and which will invest $1 million in the trains. An expected increase in ridership should help offset the cost through increased ticket revenues, officials said.Ridership on Michigan’s Amtrak trains, which connect a number of cities with Chicago, has been on the upswing in recent years, in part because of increasing fuel prices. A record 793,000 passengers traveled on Amtrak trains in Michigan in 2012.WiFi availability is a growing service on other travel systems, such as airlines.

The service will be through the Amtrak Connect, which could provide service to up to 50 percent of the passengers on a train. Already some 75 percent of Amtrak passengers can get service through the Enjoy the Ride service.

There will be some restrictions to ensure accessibility is not affected for other passengers. Video streaming, music downloads and other files larger than 10 megabytes will be prohibited, officials said.

  …


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Podcast September 14, 2013: TED Xcitement in Detroit

Podcast September 14, 2013: TED Xcitement in Detroit

September 14, 2013 | Comments Off on Podcast September 14, 2013: TED Xcitement in Detroit

In 1810, following a fire that all but destroyed the frontier city of Detroit, Fr. Gabriel Richard coined a phrase which became the city’s motto: Speramus meliora; resurget cineribus. We hope for better things; It shall rise from the ashes.

Show Notes:

TedX Detroit Logo

That same spirit drives TedX Detroit ,the gathering of “…the area’s leading creators, catalysts, entrepreneurs, artists, technologists, designers, scientists, thinkers and doers on Wednesday, October 2nd, 2013 to share what they are most passionate about – positive ideas for the world from Detroit.”

Cahrlie WollborgCharlie Wollborg, along with a few cool friends, helped bring the acclaimed TED conference to Michigan in the form of TEDxDetroit.

Valerie Sobczak, is the curator of TEDx Labs extra geeky gadget tech & art expo.

 

Techonomy.com Tuesday, Sept. 17, MacGregor Center, Wayne State University in Detroit.

MiTechNews Report

Mike BrennanWeekly feature with Mike Brennan, editor and publisher of MiTechNews.com, highlighting technology headlines from Michigan and around the world that impact of our state’s growing high tech sector. This MiTechNews report with Mike Brennan is brought to you by Mophie.Com, the maker of the iPhone juice pack, and the Engineering Society of Detroit, representing 16,000 engineers in Southeast Michigan. 

 

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iPhone 5S: Gold and Fingerprints

iPhone 5S: Gold and Fingerprints

September 10, 2013 | Comments Off on iPhone 5S: Gold and Fingerprints

ZDNet iPhone 5S Report

iPhone 5C Report

Apple launched its brightest and cheapest new iPhones in an uncharacteristically low key event Tuesday, Sept. 10.  The iPhone 5 S confirmed all the rumors about its increased innards and capabilities which were considerable: faster processor, separate chip for motion, gold back frame available and the big surprise: a fingerprint reader.  While the capabilities of the phone, including a lot of great new photo features, were significantly increased, the handset itself stays essentially the same size and feel as the current iPhone 5.

The iPhone 5C was the colorful debutante at the ball dressed in hues ranging from yellow to pink and sporting available Apple rubber cases with remarkable colorful designs themselves. It had been hoped that Apple would use this phone made of cheaper materials as a way of breaking into the lucrative international markets like China, India and Brazil.  However it looks like Apple feels that they can still take the money and run; a policy which is leaving them in a distant second place to inexpensive but accessible Android phones by companies like Samsung.

  …


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Podcast 1335 Hour 2 Sept. 7, 2013: Answering Listener Questions

Podcast 1335 Hour 2 Sept. 7, 2013: Answering Listener Questions

September 9, 2013 | Comments Off on Podcast 1335 Hour 2 Sept. 7, 2013: Answering Listener Questions

Hour 2  Answering Listener Questions

Segment 1:

Guest experts Pepijn and Anne Bruienne share the story of an international romance on an IRC channel that led to their marriage.  Their son Jack (9) reveals his precocious passion for Minecraft and programming languages.

Segment 2:

Paul Sr.’s DVD/CD drive kept disappearing from his Vista computer every time that he would plug a USB thumb drive in.  Pepijn found the solution on a Microsoft Mr. Fixit solution at KB 314060.

Segment 3:

A listener from Inkster wanted to know where to recycle old computer equipment.  This led to a full discussion about the steps needed to do that and two recommendations for places that you can go to recycle:

  1. Global Electric Electronic Processing  Website about recycling in Michigan
  2. Global Tech Ministries: Charitable organization that takes used computers, refurbishes them for schools and missions in the US and overseas.

Segment 4:

A listener wanted to know if a 9 year old Gateway computer running XP SP2 could get a boost from putting a new SSD (Solid State Drive)  in it.  Could a 15 year old Tempest handle a new 12 cylinder V8?

Pepijn Bruienne is a certified Mac Developer as well …


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Podcast 1335 Hour 1 Sept. 7, 2013: Child Prodigy and Our Social Media Guru

Podcast 1335 Hour 1 Sept. 7, 2013: Child Prodigy and Our Social Media Guru

September 9, 2013 | Comments Off on Podcast 1335 Hour 1 Sept. 7, 2013: Child Prodigy and Our Social Media Guru

Show Notes: Hour 1

What did you want to be when you were 9 years old.  Our remarkable young guest, Jack Bruienne has set his sights on becoming the CEO of Apple by the time he’s 29! We wouldn’t put it past him.  Jack won a prize recently on the show by being able to name the order of three former Apple operating systems.  No coaching needed; Jack has partitioned his white MacBook to run all three! The Apple (pardon the pun) hasn’t fall far from the tree because Jack’s dad, Pepijn Bruienne helps manage thousands of Macs across the University of Michigan campus in Ann Arbor.  Mom, Anne Bruienne, is no slouch either; she’s a veteran eBay auctioneer from way back.

 Emily Hay, our Social Media Maven, updates us on some important networking opportunities coming up like Techonomy Detroit and help us sort out our tangled web of social media apps.  Should we be on LinkedIn, Google +,  Facebook or Tumblr…decisions, decisions. Emily’s company, HayThereSocialMedia is also collaborating on a program to improve teen driving safety called Show your school spirit on Instagram during Local 4 Friday Football Frenzy

Events: TedEx Detroit Wed. Oct. 2, 2013

MiTechNews

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Jack Bruienne: The Next Steve Jobs?

Jack Bruienne: The Next Steve Jobs?

September 7, 2013 | Comments Off on Jack Bruienne: The Next Steve Jobs?

Here is an outline of the topics and activities our 9 year old guest Jack Bruienne has involved himself with over the short course of his life so far.

• After having borrowed his Mom’s old Dell laptop to play educational games he “inherited” his first Apple iBook at age 3 from his grandmother who was buying a new MacBook.

• Early computer interests involved exploring maps on Google Maps (he knew names of streets around Ann Arbor and how to get places better than us pretty soon).

• Around age 5 when his iBook finally gave up the ghost he received a brand new MacBook for Christmas which was just in time because he “really needed an Intel-based Mac” to run Windows and newer Mac OS versions.

• At that time it became clear he had a very strong interest in Apple and everything they’ve done. With two heavy Mac users as parents that may seem logical but we consciously didn’t do a lot of pushing in any particular direction, he just followed his interests.

• There was more technology trickle-down as he took ownership of an old iPhone 3G and even older PowerMac and got up to speed …


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Samsung Galaxy Gear Smartwatch: Winner or Loser?

Samsung Galaxy Gear Smartwatch: Winner or Loser?

September 6, 2013 | Comments Off on Samsung Galaxy Gear Smartwatch: Winner or Loser?

Engadget Article

Is it the best thing since sliced bread or just another “almost” in the never-ending saga of smartwatch development?  Did Samsung steal some of Apple’s thunder for the new watch or shoot themselves in the foot with a very limited and expensive toy? …


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Could Nokia Purchase Lead to Microsoft Breakup?

Could Nokia Purchase Lead to Microsoft Breakup?

September 6, 2013 | Comments Off on Could Nokia Purchase Lead to Microsoft Breakup?

BigBreakUp

Mary Jo Foley, ZDNet

There is a sneaking suspicion that the recent purchase of Nokia smartphones by Microsoft may in fact lead to the breakup of the digital giant.  Steven Elop, CEO of Nokia, is an old Microsoftie coming back to lead the newly expanded Devices division and there are rumors that he might in fact be in line for the new CEO job.  But can the complex behemoth that is Microsoft be agile enough to survive in today’s tech atmosphere as a single unit or as a number of more agile units?  Stay tuned. …


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