Microsoft ditches ARM for Intel with new $499 Surface 3, its latest iPad competitor

Microsoft ditches ARM for Intel with new $499 Surface 3, its latest iPad competitor: "The Surface 3 also supports the same Microsoft-built Pen introduced with the Pro 3 model, allowing users to quickly take notes and gain additional features with the tablet-laptop hybrid.

The base $499 model will come with 64 gigabytes of storage when it launches on May 5, but the Type Cover and Pen are sold separately, priced at $130 and $50 respectively."

I think they could give away the razor (Surface) to sell the blades (Office). Given that they made Excel, can't someone at the company do the math?

Reviewers say Samsung's Galaxy S6 tops Android heap, but S6 Edge is solution in search of problem

Reviewers say Samsung's Galaxy S6 tops Android heap, but S6 Edge is solution in search of problem: "Performance from Samsung's octo-core Exynos 7420 was found to be 'wicked,' easily besting the multi-core benchmark scores of its competitors, though Apple's A8 did gain a slight advantage in single-core benchmarks. Segan believes this to be a bigger problem for Qualcomm than anyone else, as the company's Snapdragon 810 only 'looks like a good choice as long as Qualcomm doesn't have any real high-end competition.'"

Wicked is an interesting choice of words here. I remember visiting Microsoft in the early 90s and seeing the NCR 8-core machines that were running pre-release versions of Windows NT. They were the size of a standard refrigerator.

How-To: Decode Apple’s Tech Specs pages before buying a new Mac, Part 2 | 9to5Mac

How-To: Decode Apple’s Tech Specs pages before buying a new Mac, Part 2 | 9to5Mac: "All iMacs include FaceTime HD. Mac minis and Mac Pros don’t have built-in screens or cameras. If you’re looking for a camera to add to these Macs, I’m a big fan of Logitech models such as this one, which can deliver better-than-FaceTime HD quality."

As much as I like Logitech cameras, I've never found the picture quality to be on-par with Apple webcams. I believe it is due to hardware image processing that the Apple cameras do, either in the driver or in the ROM. By image processing I mean color correction, denoting, etc.

Rumor: Apple to launch three iPhone models in 2015 including new 4" handset

Rumor: Apple to launch three iPhone models in 2015 including new 4" handset
The latest out of East Asia claims Apple has plans to release a total of three new iPhone models during its annual refresh cycle in the second half of the year, one of which will incorporate a 4-inch display

You heard it here third!

Game of Thrones' George R. R. Martin doesn't need no stinking word processor to tell him how to spell 'Targaryen' | VentureBeat | Media | by Daniel Terdiman

Game of Thrones' George R. R. Martin doesn't need no stinking word processor to tell him how to spell 'Targaryen' | VentureBeat | Media | by Daniel Terdiman: "Last night, appearing at the red carpet premiere here of Season 5 of Game of Thrones, Martin enthusiastically doubled down on his love for the 1980s-era word processor.

‘Until they come up with something better, which they haven’t,’ Martin told VentureBeat, he’ll keep on using WordStar 4.0."

I'm sure someone will write an novel on an iPad. It will be filled with spelling and grammatical errors suggested by the system. Are we advancing?

Google News buries news of Google's FTC investigation under Daniel Lyons fluff [updated with response]

Google News buries news of Google's FTC investigation under Daniel Lyons fluff [updated with response]: "..the FTC accidentally leaked the never-released details of its staff investigation to journalists as part of an unrelated freedom of information request, it has erupted into an embarrassing spectacle for Google."

Let us not forget that the entire American media apparatus is essentially a propaganda machine aimed at disseminating the (dis)information that is most beneficial to a financial elite. That those "news" outlets are owned by essentially one corporate voice that selectively reports that which is in the corporation's self-interest.

And that many bloggers are corporate sycophants who would do anything to drive traffic and readership to their blogs or suck a big dick for free review hardware or for a ticket to an Apple PR event. A bastion of journalistic integrity you are not!

The 147 Companies That Control Everything - Forbes: "Three systems theorists at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich have taken a database listing 37 million companies and investors worldwide and analyzed all 43,060 transnational corporations and share ownerships linking them."

It's not like one sees Samsung advertisements displayed on the Apple home page. I mean, really. If you don't like Google, simply use another URL for your search. Now try using an alternative source of water for your home.

I don't know what all the fuss is about, I search with altavista.com and infoseek.com

Google testing new Fiber TV ad-targeting method based on viewing history | 9to5Google

Google testing new Fiber TV ad-targeting method based on viewing history | 9to5Google: "Google has revealed that it is rolling out a new ad delivery process to its Fiber TV service in Kansas City. The company says the new ad-targeting process is similar to what it already does on mobile devices. Normally, television ads are sold based on entire markets, not the individual user. With this new ad-targeting method, however, local Kansas City advertisers will be able to target specific users with their advertisements."

'Scuse me while we reinvent traditional TV advertising. After all, you sat on your hands for 50 years expecting it never to evolve.

More information from FTC investigation reveals details of Google’s unfair search result tactics | 9to5Google

More information from FTC investigation reveals details of Google’s unfair search result tactics | 9to5Google: "The Wall Street Journal today published a report highlighting an investigation done by the Federal Trade Commission that began in early 2013. The investigation centered around how Google skewed search results in an effort to promote its own services over competitors. Google, according to the FTC report, was accused of boosting its services for shopping, travel, and local businesses."

This is kind of ridiculous because if you don't like Google's results, you can search on Yahoo! Bing or (let's travel back in time together), AltaVista.com, Infoseek.com, or HotBot.

Personally, I tend to filter out Google's own product offerings from my Google searches BECAUSE I ALREADY KNOW ABOUT THEM.

Can't wait for the cranky old white men that run Washington to reconvene with Saint Peter in Heaven (or with Beelzebub in purgatory).

Don't like Facebook? Join myspace.

YouTube’s new interactive “Cards” arrive for all on desktop & mobile to improve annotations | 9to5Google

YouTube’s new interactive “Cards” arrive for all on desktop & mobile to improve annotations | 9to5Google: "YouTube is today rolling out a new Cards feature today that allows creators to add interactive, Google Now-like pop ups on videos. YouTube first showed off the feature in preview mode back in June but is today opening it to all on both mobile and desktop. "

YouTube is the future of video and I'm so glad it's in the hands of Google and not any number of other evil ogliarchs that I can think of.

9to5Mac: Apple iPhone, Mac and iPad News Breaking All Day

9to5Mac: Apple iPhone, Mac and iPad News Breaking All Day
I am now experiencing this myself, and it makes browsing on the iPhone unusable. Browsing to websites such as Reddit and Reuters and others now automatically open the App Store. In many cases, there is no way for me to read the actual content on the pages. You can see this happen in the video above.

This behaviour is the genius brainchild of a web "programmer" aka social media marketer aka the best way to get you to buy something is to shove it in your face. SMELL MY FINGER!

New movie set photos show Michael Fassbender as NeXT-era Steve Jobs

New movie set photos show Michael Fassbender as NeXT-era Steve Jobs: "One image posted on Instagram shows a mock poster for the NeXT Computer, with actor Michael Fassbender posing as Jobs. NeXT was founded by Jobs after he was forced out of Apple in the mid-80s, suggesting that the Opera House shoot involves the computer's 1988 unveiling."

Life imitates art?

Gibney’s Steve Jobs documentary coming to theaters as Apple’s Eddy Cue calls it mean spirited and inaccurate | 9to5Mac

Gibney’s Steve Jobs documentary coming to theaters as Apple’s Eddy Cue calls it mean spirited and inaccurate | 9to5Mac: "The Man in the Machine includes interviews with a number of former Apple employees including Jon Rubinstein, Bob Belleville and Daniel Kottke, as well as Jobs’ ex-girlfriend Chrisann Brennan, and even video footage from a 2008 SEC deposition given by Jobs himself. Early reviews have described the documentary as ‘a riveting and important corrective to the myths Jobs helped to propagate,’ and ‘unsparing portrait of Steve Jobs [that] will prove extremely displeasing to devotees.’"

Hmmmm… but does it matter?

How Apple Watch setup and app downloads work | VentureBeat | Gadgets | by Mark Sullivan

How Apple Watch setup and app downloads work | VentureBeat | Gadgets | by Mark Sullivan
I perused the Apple developer pages, talked to Apple, talked to some WatchKit developers, and downloaded the Watch app in iOS 8.2. After doing that stuff, here’s the picture I have so far.

He perused them so you don't have to...

Google launches new online ‘Google Store’ marketplace to sell its devices | 9to5Google

Google launches new online ‘Google Store’ marketplace to sell its devices | 9to5Google: "Google has today launched the Google Store, a new marketplace separate from the Play Store that will let customers browse devices and products that were ‘made with Google.’ You’ll find the wide variety of products you’ve come to shop for in the Play Store, including Chromebooks, Nexus devices, Android Wear smartwatches, and Nest smart thermostats among many others…"

I think Google has become the nerdy science fair winner and Apple is now the varsity prom queen. I'm having a moment of illiteracy.

Review: Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera offers pro features at a consumer price

Review: Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera offers pro features at a consumer price: "From iPhone to mid-level DSLR cameras, the video production world has many options for the amateur and prosumer videographer. Blackmagic's Pocket Cinema Camera offers users a next step into the pro video world, along with pro video challenges. "

It's that old black magic!

WSJ footnote suggests 12-inch MacBook Air could be announced by Apple as early as Monday | 9to5Mac

WSJ footnote suggests 12-inch MacBook Air could be announced by Apple as early as Monday | 9to5Mac: "Tucked away at the bottom of the WSJ’s report on the often-postponed iPad Pro was a single sentence that, if correct, suggests that Apple could announce the 12-inch MacBook Air as early as Monday."

One form factor, two operating systems.

How-To: Boost your Mac’s speed and prolong its useful life with easy RAM upgrades | 9to5Mac

How-To: Boost your Mac’s speed and prolong its useful life with easy RAM upgrades | 9to5Mac
As I’ve spotlighted over the past month, the best way to dramatically speed up an older Mac is to replace its old hard drive with a new solid state drive (SSD). The process is super-easy on MacBooks and Mac Pros, surprisingly manageable on iMacs, and challenging on Mac minis, yielding 3X to 5X speed boosts. But there’s another option that can speed things up with relatively little effort or expertise: upgrading your Mac’s RAM.

Another great little upgrade your Mac article.

Apple Surpassed Samsung as World's Largest Smartphone Maker in Fourth Quarter - Mac Rumors

Apple Surpassed Samsung as World's Largest Smartphone Maker in Fourth Quarter - Mac Rumors: "The latest numbers from research firm Gartner reveal that Apple surpassed Samsung in worldwide smartphone sales during the fourth quarter of 2014 to become the world's largest smartphone maker. Samsung lost the top spot to Apple for the first time since 2011. "

Marketshare news is so hard to interpret.

Lenovo unveils a camera-phone hybrid, a smartphone, and a pocket projector | VentureBeat | Mobile | by Mark Sullivan

Lenovo unveils a camera-phone hybrid, a smartphone, and a pocket projector | VentureBeat | Mobile | by Mark Sullivan: "Pocket Projector Finally, Lenovo let fly with a new mini projector here in Barcelona today. The Lenovo Pocket Projector snaps onto any compatible Android device and super-sizes movies, photos, or business presentations, Lenovo said. The thing will project images up to 110 inches in size on any surface in low-light conditions. It has a 50-lumen light source, and automatically corrects for distortion. It also has a couple of speakers built in for sound. The Lenovo Pocket Projector will be available this month, starting at $199 USD."

This is extra super cool!

Apple hanging billboards on skyscrapers and buildings around the world to showcase iPhone 6 photography | 9to5Mac

Apple hanging billboards on skyscrapers and buildings around the world to showcase iPhone 6 photography | 9to5Mac: "As part of its Shot on iPhone 6 campaign promoting iPhone photography, Apple is now hanging billboard advertisements around the world. The ads feature the photographs in full bleed with a simple ‘Shot on iPhone 6′ tagline. The posters are going up around the world, including some dramatic large billboards on the side of skyscrapers. Pictured above is one such poster (photo taken by Jimmy Grewal on Twitter) being setup on a skyscraper in Dubai."

Ah the joys of huge art. I bet you can see the pixels.