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.