Why Apple TV Matters

Ok, so you have heard about the new Apple TV. About how it can stream iTunes, Netflix and how it will save the planet from the evil Cable TV overlords who want nothing but to squeeze every last nickel out of  recession-weary viewers. You also may have heard how the new updated Apple TV came up short of expectations in that there were no apps, no support for component out, and unlike the previous generation Apple TV you can’t purchase, you can only rent. Underneath all of the hype, beyond the excitement and after the Steve Jobs reality distortion field has faded, one question still remains; why? Why is the Apple TV anything to get excited about at all? Don’t we already have several streaming media boxes to choose from? Yes, there are other similar devices out there but the Apple TV brings something extra and I am about to tell you why that might just make all the difference.

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About That New Look & Why 2010 will Rock Tech

Ok, I know. I have been neglecting this blog for far too long. But that’s all about to change starting right now with a whole new look for Daily Techno-Babble! The old look was sooo last decade and with so much having changed it was way past due for a complete redesign. So, in with the new, out with the old and I hope you all approve!

Now that we are looking to the future let’s talk about what 2010 holds for the world of tech. Well, there is this new gadget from Apple called the iPad, virtualization is still changing data centers everywhere and social media has (and still is) redefining where things are at with online services. All of these things are great but that’s not why I am personally excited about the upcoming year in technology. Nope. I see something else setting a new standard, and it only begins with devices like the iPad/iPhone and the upcoming Dell and Lenovo tablets. I call it “frictionless computing” and you are going to be hearing much more about it before 2010 is over. Trust me.

Ditching Cable TV Service – One Year Later

Let me just get right to the point and say that ditching the $75+ per month Cable TV service over one year ago and going solely with online video offerings was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Seriously. I don’t miss the crappy reality shows, nor do I miss the jamming of commercials at the end of a movie or “special event” and I sure don’t miss the $75-100 price tag. If you are on the fence about losing the ridiculously high cable bill every month then read on and learn how not only did I save money but I actually got access to a greater selection of programming directly online through iTunes, Amazon, and several other popular streaming media services.

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How SoundExchange is Killing the Radio Star

Just in case you missed it, the latest from the internet radio scene has popular streaming audio service Pandora ready to bow out of the business thanks to a significant rate hike by SoundExchange. Although some claim that Pandora could improve it’s business model through more advertising the real issue at hand is the undeniable attack on streaming media services by SoundExchange. Just like the recent fuss over the throttling of bittorrent traffic by Comcast, this latest attack aims to accomplish one goal; the elimination of “new media” streaming content over the internet. Why you ask? Simple, these new business models are disruptive of traditional media and take control away from the middlemen companies such as SoundExchange and Comcast. Comcast wants to rid it’s own network of any potential competition to it’s own On Demand service while SoundExchange is using high fees to squeeze out competition to both traditional radio broadcasts and satellite services.

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World of Warcraft Account System Hacked?

Running WoW on Windows? Protect yourself now with Anti-Spyware software!

Over the last few months many users of the insanely popular MMORPG World of Warcraft have been reporting more and more incidences of game accounts being compromised at an alarming rate. Even closed accounts have not been spared, making these reports even more disturbing. The typical account hacking usually includes tales of high level characters being stripped of their valuable gear and guild vaults being emptied but typically don’t include any “real world” compromise of billing or other personally identifiable information. Until now. Within the last 24 hours I have been initiated through my own experience with a hacked WOW account into this less-than-gleeful club when persons unknown used a stolen credit card and now Blizzard Entertainment wants to make me pay, all on an account that was not even active when it was compromised! If you have been, or are currently a World of Warcraft subscriber I highly recommend that you remove ANY personal information from your account ASAP. Blizzard insists that 100% of accounts that have been compromised are a result of user’s not taking adequate security precautions but the evidence seems to be pointing towards another explanation.

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Virgin Media CEO Is A Complete Idiot

If recent comments by Virgin Media CEO as reported by several online media news sites are to be believed then it is disturbingly clear that Virgin’s CEO of Media is a complete idiot. Yup you read that right, an idiot. Clearly he he has no idea what he is talking about with the statement that Virgin (in the UK) would begin to punish public broadcasters (like the BBC) that don’t pay for access to faster bandwidth (required to support online streaming content) by relegating them to what he describes as internet “bus lanes”. Seriously, I honestly cannot believe someone could get to be this high up in a major media company in the year 2008 and make these kind of statements. Idiots like this are why internet users to pay attention to the whole net neutrality issue…or end up losing access to quality services simply because the local cable ISPs don’t like the competition.

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New Deals Make For A Wireless Future

As reported by Engadget (and others) the latest round of industry deals regarding the WiMAX wireless data standard is setting the stage for the next big internet access slugfest. Although WiMAX has yet to really get noticed by the general public there are clear indications that wireless data services such as this are going to be one of the big things this year and not for traditional reasons. Up till now most folks think of wireless as either cell phone data services, home cable or DSL connections (via WiFi 802.11a/b/g) or WiFi hotspot services but with both cable and cell phone providers joining forces this distinction is likely to blur somewhat in the near future. So what does this future look like? Read on….

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4 Reasons Why Microsoft Should Stop Worrying About Google

Lately it sure seems like Microsoft is pandering to the misguided notion that they need to counter Google in all markets to the point of total obsession. This has even gotten to the point where they are trying to buy Yahoo in a crazy attempt at forcing themselves into the online software market. They are clearly fixed on the this as being so critical to the company they are showing systemic signs of failing at their own core business. As any reader of this blog already knows I just love to pick on Microsoft for the complete pile of you-know-what that is Windows Vista but that’s not the only thing Microsoft is doing that is starting to get under my skin. This whole “Google” fixation has gone way to far. Here are four reasons why whey need to quit chasing the car and get back to peeing on the hydrants…

Technorati Tags: Apple, google, microsoft, yahoo, Vista, Windows

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HD-DVD Vs. Blueray and Why Nobody Really Cares Who Wins

After reading several interesting posts from the usual suspects regarding the recent studio defections from the HD-DVD camp to Sony’s Blueray format I started thinking about what this means for the average user and came to the quick conclusion that most folks don’t even care. Why? It really just boils down to a lack of demand for what many view as a luxury format that is very likely going to be quickly replaced with pure-play HD downloads over high speed internet connections. Average users just don’t care because DVD still offers high enough quality to satisfy them while HD-DVD or Blueray both look a whole lot like solutions looking for a problem.

Technorati Tags: blueray, HD-DVD, microsoft, DVD, sony

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6 Reasons Why Linux Beats Windows & Mac OSX Hands Down

I know what you are thinking. This guy just has to be nuts or on something really good. No I am not completely crazy and the six reasons Linux will win out over Mac OSX, Windows, and anything else out there are not completely whacked either. Of course Linux itself is not going to suddenly take over the OS world but there are clear signs already that it might just usurp Windows as the next de-facto desktop OS for both home and corporate users and even my beloved OSX might end up as road-kill in the process. So is this a good thing? Are we doomed? Maybe, but right now there are six reasons why you might want to be just a bit worried.

Technorati Tags: Apple, commentary, Mac, OSX, Windows

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