Category Archives: Technology

Random thoughts on subjects of technology.

An interesting take on acquisitions

Jake Lodwick at Pandodaily

Bit by bit, the youthful energy that created so much value was siphoned off. Whereas we’d once been free to work on whatever seemed interesting, we now found ourselves in vaguely defined middle-management roles, sitting through pointless meetings where older doofuses who didn’t understand the Web challenged our intuitions and trivialized our ambitions.

It’s always interesting to peek behind the curtain of startups and their acquisitions. Obviously I’m not in a place where I can agree or disagree with what he has to say but he makes a compelling argument.

(via: TightWind)

The discovery of Stuxnet

Have you heard of Stuxnet? I hadn’t until today and it’s a fascinating story.

First, let’s learn how researchers found Stuxnet in the first place. This 2011 Wired article does a great job of explaining it.

Months earlier, in June 2009, someone had silently unleashed a sophisticated and destructive digital worm that had been slithering its way through computers in Iran with just one aim — to sabotage the country’s uranium enrichment program and prevent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad from building a nuclear weapon.

The original Stuxnet discovery was version 1.001 and it remained the oldest on record until yesterday when Symantec published details of version 0.5. This older version predates the original discovery by almost 2 years.

Symantec’s data is spread out across multiple blog posts so you may prefer Wired’s breakdown of the discovery.

The new variant appears to have been released in 2007, two years earlier than other variants of the code were released, indicating that Stuxnet was active much earlier than previously known. A command-and-control server used with the malware was registered even earlier than this, on Nov. 3, 2005.

All of the information from Symantec’s blog and Wired’s article can also be found in Symantec’s Stuxnet 0.5: The Missing Link(PDF) whitepaper.

Finally, I recommend this article at ieee.org which has more detail on the history of Stuxnet. (via Macdrifter)

Now you know about Stuxnet, I hope you’re as intrigued and frightened as I am.

Learning as you go

Matt Alexander wrote a fantastic piece to celebrate the 1 year anniversary of his site, One Thirty Seven.

12 months gone, over 800 articles written, more than 30 podcasts recorded, and too many new friends to count.

With one lesson for each month, here’s some of the most fundamental things I’ve gotten wrong, observed, and learned over the past year.

It’s a very long article detailing twelve things he’s learned in the past year, one entry for each month. I highly recommend you read it, there is a wealth of knowledge inside.

Google announces the Nexus 4

The Google announcement may have been cancelled due to Hurricane Sandy but that didn’t stop them from showing us the goods. Personally I was hoping the event would happen just to see their retort to Apple’s dig on the Nexus 7 from last week’s iPad Mini unveil. Oh well, I’m sure the jabs will continue in future events.

Google announced both a phone and a tablet but I really only care about the phone. They’re calling it the Nexus 4 and The Verge has a preview. It’s made by LG and I’ve never known anyone to own an LG smartphone so I know next to nothing about their products. Unknown quality aside, on paper this thing is a beast. Here are a few things I consider important:

  • 4.7″ screen (1280×768 @ 320ppi)
  • Quad core Snapdragon S4 CPU @ 1.5GHz
  • 2GB RAM
  • 8GB or 16GB storage
  • Wireless charging
  • Android 4.2

I left out the obvious stuff, of course it has NFC, WiFi, and Bluetooth although as with the Nexus phones before it, there’s no SD card slot.

The screen has almost the same ppi as the iPhone so I bet it looks fantastic. LG is also laminating their display to the glass (again, like Apple) which might not be something you notice consciously but you do notice it.

I’m still not clear why we need a quad core CPU in our phones but I’m guessing this Snapdragon is up to the task of pretty much anything you can throw at it. The 2GB of RAM is generous and will likely help extend the life of this device. I suppose no one will complain if it has too much power, better than too little.

I don’t understand why phone manufacturers are offering 8GB options in 2012, it seems like we all have more than enough media to fill that and then some. I suspect it might be needed to hit the price point but it would be nice if 16GB were the floor. I have no proof but I like to think the cost of 8GB vs 16GB chips are fairly negligible in bulk. Of course, the big push toward cloud storage might make 8GB more than enough in the next year or so.

I still consider wireless charging to be a gimmick but I’ve never owned a device that used it. Plugging my phone in at night isn’t a chore and all the wireless solutions I’ve seen still require a mat or dock that takes up space on your desk or night stand. Since I’ve never actually used it, I’ll reserve my judgement until I have. It’s a neat selling point no matter what.

Possibly the best feature is Android 4.2 which as Google describes it, is a “flavor” of Jelly Bean. I have to wonder how much emphasis would have been placed on this iteration of Android had the event taken place. The Verge has a sneak peak at the new version and it seems like a nice bump from the Jelly Bean we were introduced to a couple months ago. Most notable is the introduction of user accounts on tablets, how many of us have been clamoring for that? It also appears they stole some of Swype’s thunder with the new keyboard. How Apple-like!

Did you notice something’s missing? Two somethings really, there’s no CDMA or LTE options for this phone. In fact, we’re transported back to 2010 where, like the Nexus One, this phone is only available from Google and the only carrier mentioned is T-Mobile. Naturally, this has caused an uproar from the internet community, no LTE? What is this, 2011?

I’m sure Google didn’t want to release a Nexus phone without LTE, especially since the Galaxy Nexus had it so why the step backwards? I can’t help but think the blame falls on Verizon’s shoulders. The Verizon Galaxy Nexus roll was full of problems, mainly caused by the carrier’s want to control it. In fact, if you have the unlocked GSM version, you were running Jelly Bean long before VZW users. That’s not what Google had in mind for the Nexus line.

Sadly, the time for Google to strong-arm their way into the carriers is long gone. Unlike Apple who offered AT&T exclusivity then used that to leverage all kinds of power over them and subsequently VZW and Sprint, Google seemed to let VZW walk all over them. Now they have no choice but to slink back to the Play store and sell the phone themselves.

To some people, this is a deal breaker due to poor quality GSM signal. As I understand it, AT&T is useless in New York and certain areas of California but here in the Detroit Metro area, AT&T is fast enough to be useful at any time of day. It’s not LTE quality but it’s almost always usable by which I mean at least 2MB/s. If it came down to it, I’m not sure I would let the lack of LTE stop me from buying this phone and I most certainly understand what Google is up against.

I saved the best part for last: the price. As with previous Nexus devices, Google is eating some of the cost in the interest of getting it into our hands. The only official carrier deal available is with T-Mobile where the Nexus 4 can be had for the standard $199 with 2 year contract. For those of us on AT&T or who don’t want to deal with contracts, the 8GB version will cost you $299 while the 16GB will run $349. These prices are a far cry from the normal $600 range most smartphones retail for.

I’ll admit I’m intrigued by this LG Nexus, especially because it’s not a Samsung product. I was hoping for a Nexus device by Motorola but it looks like that might not happen until next year if Google allows it at all. While LG is a relative unknown entity in the smartphone race, they might have a winner here.

One last note before I wrap this up, I didn’t feel like getting too in-depth with the looks because it’s a pretty boring looking phone, the only real personality it has is the weird sparkly glass back and I’m not even sure that’s all that exciting.

Marketing is tricky

Last night Microsoft rolled out the first television ad for the Surface and to the surprise of no one, failed to tell us anything useful. I guess if you pay attention you learn it has a kickstand and a snap on keyboard thingy.

Take a look.

This is new territory for Microsoft, they’re manufacturing their own tablet hardware specifically for the Windows 8 operating system that releases later this month. Why not focus on the new touch friendly OS or brag about how great the keyboard cover is? The opportunities seem endless, it’s a completely new product and they should have a lot of great things to tell us.

For instance, Microsoft says the Surface RT will ship with a preview edition of Office 2013, why not highlight that? Imagine the effectiveness of an ad campaign that focused on the power of Windows 8 and Office 2013 on a tablet. This may not resonate with us nerds but we’re out-numbered by the millions of people who work in Office every day. I’m not an expert but I have to think a smartly run campaign on this subject alone would sell a lot of these things.

Instead we got a dance video. Microsoft, you haven’t changed.

Is this where we’re at?

Are you angry that Apple is calling their new device the iPhone 5? If so, you need a vacation.

Today my Twitter and RSS feeds are bursting with discussion about the name of an unreleased smart phone.

A name.

Is there nothing else to talk about? Are we so desensitized to how amazing these devices have become that we’re writing 300 word blog posts about a naming convention?

Advertising to a captive audience

I’m catching up on “V” on the ABC app for the iPad and guess what I can’t do? I can’t flip to another app while the commercials are on like I would on my PC. That seems like a rather strong reason for the other networks to get their own apps out, or at least push Hulu and Fancast to get free & subscription apps on this device.

Can’t change the channel, can’t move off the screen, the worst I can do is put the iPad down or mute it which isn’t worth the hassle for 30 seconds. I’m captive to their persuasive advertising!

I suddenly want to go to Disneyland.

Tired of the iPad yet?

Lately  you’ve probably been inundated with iPad news, reviews, comments, hatred, etc. Allow me to toss a few more words onto the pile.

When the tech blogs started reporting that Apple was making a tablet, I had very high hopes. Then Steve showed us what the iPad would be, and I lost my enthusiasm; now I own one. Yes, it’s been a roller coaster ride.

After reading so much criticism of the iPad’s shortcomings, I feel compelled to quickly cover the most common complaints as I feel they affect me.

  • “It’s just a giant iPod touch” - No, actually it’s not but I doubt I can change your mind. Sure, it shares an OS with the iPod/iPhone but there are plenty of iPad specific changes that make for a different experience. If you don’t understand how much of a night-and-day difference this amount of screen resolution brings to the table, I fear you’re a lost cause.
  • “It doesn’t multitask!” – True, but it’s not that noticeable during normal use. Sure, I’d love to stream Pandora while surfing the web but for now, I don’t find it much of a hinderance in my day-to-day usage.
  • “It’s heavy.” – I would describe it as solid but not heavy. Besides, who wants to pay $500 for a flimsy lightweight device? Sure it’s not something you can hold onto for long with one hand but if they made it lighter, the battery size would suffer and you’d be complaining about that instead.
  • “This won’t replace my laptop.” - You’re probably correct unless you only use your laptop to check Facebook and Twitter. The iPad can take over a big chunk of what you use a notebook for, but it definitely won’t replace it.
  • “There’s no Flash support!” - Correct but I really don’t miss it that much. Would I like to watch Hulu from the comfort of the iPad? Yes! However, I’m sure they’ll eventually start using HTML5 and all shall be right in the world.
  • “This is just a fad” – They said the same thing about the iPhone. Nevermind that tablets in bulkier form have been around for years. Plus, with HP and Dell working on their own tablets, I think we’re about to see an explosion of choices for the anti Apple folk. I’m definitely interested in seeing what an Android tablet can do.

That’s probably enough of that. Want to know what the iPad does well? Plain and simple, it’s a fantastic multimedia & Internet machine. If you want to surf the web, use Twitter, read RSS feeds, stream a Netflix movie, read an ebook, or play some games, this device is an excellent choice. It’s the last thing I have in my hands before bed, and the first thing I reach for when I wake up.

In case you were wondering, the battery life is just as amazing as every review claims it to be. Even after streaming Netflix for hours on end, you’ll still have enough battery life to make it through the day. And yes, the screen is fantastic as well.

So, do you need an iPad? Absolutely not. Will it change your life? I doubt it. Let’s face it, you probably don’t need half of the gadgets you own. With the iPad, you get a fun, versatile device that will only get better as the OS matures and app developers turn their focus toward the larger HD screen.

If you’re hung up on the highly publicized shortcomings, just imagine the monstrosity Apple would have created if they tried to please everyone.  My iPad sits on my desk between my Macbook and my Asus netbook and I don’t think any of the 3 are going anywhere soon. For the time being, I do find myself reaching for the iPad more than the other 2 options; I guess we’ll see how that pans out in the coming weeks.

Hello desktop, it’s been a while.

I can hardly remember the last time I owned a desktop computer. I’d have to guess it was at least 4 years ago if not more. This weekend, I purchased what I thought would end up being a replacement for an aging Dell Poweredge 1300 that I use for a home server. Instead, it has morphed into a desktop computer that I’m very much loving.

Until now, my main computing machine was my Macbook. I love that computer, OS X has something that no other OS seems to capture. And while I’m infatuated with that machine, this new kid on the block has stolen my attention. It’s nothing fancy yet when using Ubuntu, it’s quite the snappy machine. I was saving up some money for a shotgun but I spent $100 on this computer and decided to spend the other $120 on a nice monitor. Now I have a 22″ Acer LCD sitting on my desk!

At the moment I’m running Ubuntu 9.04. It’s my OS of choice when not using OS X and it is working beautifully! There’s a few little complaints that I’ve found along the way but for the most part, I’m very happy with this computer. So happy, in fact, that I haven’t fired the Mac up for much this weekend. Poor beautiful laptop, it’s probably feeling lonely and ignored!

All that’s left is to get 2 power splitters (I have 2 SATA drives that need power) and maybe bump it up to 4gb of ram, and I’ll be a happy camper for a while.