Windows Phone 7 Devices: Expandable Memory

By DustinPosted on

NeoWin has done some digging and found some pages on HTC’s store that list memory expansions, in the form of MicroSD cards, for the Windows Phone 7 platform. Although it may just be one device, it does seem to lend credibility to the fact that some devices will have expandable memory. This is extremely good news, not for those with iPhone that doesn’t have any slots, but for those of us with Android powered phones that love the extra memory. They will keep us updated, and I would love to know the outcome.

Up until now, most of the reports have said “no”, which to users of any other smart phone (excluding the iPhone) seems a little odd. Many of the devices announce so far have been announce with only 8GB of memory, with a few having 16GB options. Compare that to the iPhone 4, which comes in 16GB and 32GB variants (with rumours that a 64GB version might come), or an Android device with expandable memory, and you’re left wondering why Windows Phone 7 devices are stuck at 8GB.

TGDaily Spews Anti-Microsoft Drivel

By DustinPosted on

TGDaily, known as a tech site with some good articles and commentary, has a new staff writer that has been going off on Microsoft using false information, as well as a very biased opinion. The first article wasn’t too bad, full of mis-information and very biased towards Apple. Their last article was basically sending insults to anyone who commented regarding their factual discrepancies, or expressed their opinion on the article. Very bad journalism, in my opinion. Microsoft isn’t perfect, and I can name 10 things that I don’t like about it. However, everything I can name I can put facts behind it, rather than calling my opinion a fact. We’ll see how this plays out. For a good laugh, check it out. Is this guy for real?!

But we are also shocked at the sudden reappearance of the Microsoft fanboi, whom the industry has long classified as a dying, if not extinct species.

Still, you have to give the Redmond worshippers credit.

Obviously, it isn’t easy defending a mercenary corporation whose primary claim to fame is a malware ridden, sub-par OS known as Windows.

UPDATE: TGDaily validated the posts, and endorses them. They do offer anyone to offer a counter point. However, it’s going to be extremely difficult to counter with the Author in question. I will be writing a piece today to counter his “thoughts”, and I will be sure to backup all of my facts with actual data.

Why is Google So Upset With Microsoft

By DustinPosted on

I’ve always found it poor form to put down the competition (even with Microsoft) without telling the consumer what you can do for them. Google has been dissing Microsoft, their phone, their OS, but with little to back it up. How can they put down the phone OS when Microsoft has been putting out phone OS’s with Windows Mobile before Google even had  an Android thought? I’m thinking that Windows Phone 7 is a much bigger competitor than both Apple and Google first imagined.

Clearly Micorosoft is a hugely profitable company with a great many products and product areas that directly bring revenue into the company.  Apple is the same with a great many product areas from servers to MP3 players that again bring in revenue.  They may not have as many product lines as Microsoft or the same market share but they’re doing extremely well.

Nintendo Entertainment System: 25 Years Old

By DustinPosted on

How many still have their old Nintendo Entertainment System? I know I do. Years of memories from this system, and I can still say I enjoy playing some of the games to this day (although, using an emulator). Tomorrow, October 18th, marks the 25th birthday of the United States release of the immortal NES. What memories do you have of this awesome system (other than seeing it and then buying a Sega Master System?).

On October 18, 1985, Nintendo of America officially debuted the U.S. version of its first-ever home videogame console, the Nintendo Entertainment System. It was an overhauled version of the company’s Family Computer, which had parlayed its rocky launch in Japan into a nationwide phenomenon in short order. The arrival of the NES was a stealthy attempt to defibrillate an American home gaming market that had lain dormant for nearly two years. In time, the success of the NES made Nintendo a powerhouse and confirmed that gaming was a legitimate medium rather than a passing fad.

Competitors Say MS Security Essentials is Not Enough

By DustinPosted on

Microsoft’s main competitors, notably ESET, Symantec and Avast, have claimed that Microsoft’s Security Essentials is not enough protection for small businesses. Microsoft recently changed their EULA to allow small businesses with under 10 PC’s to run MSE for free. I have used to extensively, and the protection is better than a lot of others, including paid anti-virus software. Not to mention it uses less resources.

That said, Symantec thinks Microsoft’s approach is poor. “While we applaud any vendor that heightens small business awareness around the need for computer security, it’s clear that today’s threats have moved beyond the capabilities of the product Microsoft is offering,” Symantec told Ars. “The perception that freeware vendors have created is that free, basic security is enough to protect customers from today’s online threats. The reality is that the number and sophistication of Web-based viruses and malicious code continues to rise, resulting in small businesses needing more than just a signature-based antivirus product to fully protect their critical information.”

Microsoft Not Buying Adobe

By DustinPosted on

According to sources, Microsoft is definitely NOT buying Adobe, confirming this rumor as just a rumor. Which would be good news, really, as Adobe and their bug ridden, bloated PDF Reader would be a horrible match with Windows. Updates already come too fast with Windows, they shouldn’t add 2 new daily updates with Adobe. And don’t get me started on their CPU hungry, slow, 32-bit Flash.

In any case, it is not a big surprise at this point if longtime rivals like Adobe and Microsoft (MSFT)–which makes a competing video technology called Silverlight to Adobe’s Flash–talk about trying to stop the explosive growth of Apple, especially in the mobile space.

7 Ways Windows Phone 7 Is Better

By DustinPosted on

Business Insider has a look and offers their opinion on why Windows Phone 7 is better than the iPhone. While I don’t really care for the iPhone, I do love Android, and both offer a lot of great features. The WP7 may be better for some, but the iPhone is still a strong competitor and to deny that would be stupid. I am sure that the iPhone is much better for a lot of people (a lot of Teenagers go for the Apple products over others, just because of the name).

Yes, but Microsoft’s making a point about Phone 7’s design, which lets you do more stuff without constantly navigating between apps. The best example is the People hub, shown here. This looks like a normal contact list, like the iPhone and every other smartphone has. But each contact’s image is automatically updated from their most recent Facebook image. Click on each one, and you get a wealth of options: you can make a call, send an e-mail or text, post on their wall, view pictures they’ve recently posted, and so on. Everything you want to do is based around that person, not locked up in different apps.

Windows Phone’s Given To AT&T Staff

By DustinPosted on

About 100 AT&T staff got a shiny new Windows Phone 7 device at an event in Minneapolis. Microsoft has been pushing it’s wares onto people to get people using it, and getting the word of mouth machine running strong. I am looking into trading in my Android powered phone for a good WP7 device. I’m just waiting for Microsoft, or others, to come out with the applications that I want.

Meanwhile, the company has spent about $400 million in an effort to market is new Phone 7 OS. Google and Apple are integrating phone functionality with e-mail and other software packages and are eating into business areas previously dominated by Microsoft. The company now aims to attract more customers to its software with the advertisement.

Aerofoil Battery Life Extender Software Updated

By DustinPosted on

Aerofoil has a new version out. If you run a laptop or netbook and want to extend your battery life, you can use this software to disable things when you are on battery power. Very useful for many people on the go!

Aerofoil extends Vista and Windows 7 notebook battery life by:

  • Allowing you to manually disable Aero Glass.
  • Optionally managing Aero Glass user interface.
  • Optionally managing sound muting.
  • Optionally managing your chosen power plans.
  • Optionally managing Windows Sidebar.
  • Optionally showing a quick hibernate button.
  • Changing icon colour to show whether on battery or AC.

    • Microsoft Kodu: Game Programming for Kids

    By DustinPosted on

    My son enjoys playing video games, but like myself at his age, he isn’t content is just playing them. He want’s to program his own. My argument for owning a TI/99A and Commodore 64 back in the day instead of an Atari and NES (although, I had both, along with a few others) is that if you didn’t like a game, you could try your hand at making a better one. I didn’t do too bad, and I really wish I would have stayed in programming, but stopped just after high school after learning the basics of C.

    Microsoft has had their Kodu programming system out for a while, and I have looked at it briefly. How To Geek has a nice writeup on how to get started in this simple to use game programming (very little code, if any, is needed) and design software. If you have kids that want to design games, this is a great place to start.

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