bruceb news

Think you’re keeping up with the tech industry? Here are two recent reports that took me by surprise.

Android is crushing everything in its path. In the first quarter of 2013, Android smartphones had a 75% market share. Apple’s iOS came in at a distant second place, with 17% market share.

Two hundred million smartphones were shipped in the first quarter, up almost 60% from the first quarter of 2012, according to the IDC report.

Remember when you thought the iPhone was dominating the smartphone world? It was never really true (Apple gets the lion’s share of the profits but never had more than half the market share) and now it’s old news. […] continued

Previously:
The Difference Between A Microsoft Account And An Office 365 Account
Understanding Skydrive, Part 1: Skydrive vs. Skydrive Pro

Skydrive lets you store files online and access them from anywhere, including PCs, Macs, and mobile devices. There are some good reasons to begin using it as the primary location for saving all of your files and pictures.

SKYDRIVE WEB SITE

Go to http://skydrive.live.com.

If you’re not signed in already, then sign in with your Microsoft account.

You will likely see some folders – by default, there are folders for Documents, Pictures, and Public. If not, create Documents and Pictures folders by clicking Create / Folder. […] continued

If you have a new Android phone running the latest version of Android (“Jelly Bean,” Android versions 4.1 or 4.2), you can turn on Google Now, one of the most interesting and forward-looking smartphone apps available on any platform.

I don’t have a Jelly Bean phone, so I’m relying on news reports, blogs, and comments by knowledgeable tech journalists. My impression is that Google Now is useful but still limited and unpolished. That’s okay. You can still learn quite a lot from it about how companies hope to keep you in their ecosystems and what data mining might do for you in the future. […] continued

An email arrived tonight from Verizon announcing that 4G LTE service has officially arrived in Santa Rosa and nearby areas in Sonoma County. Verizon actually turned on LTE up here about a month ago; I noticed the LTE indicator lighting up on my Verizon devices and loyal correspondents left comments about it on my earlier article about 4G.

Here’s the Verizon coverage map this evening, showing pretty broad availability across the central part of Sonoma County. At my home west of Sebastopol, I’ve got just as weak a signal as before, but the two-bar data connection delivers LTE speed.

I haven’t heard any updates about AT&T. […] continued

Windows 8 is a term that will be used to refer to several different things. It is the next operating system for Windows computers, but you’ll also see the name used loosely to describe a tablet operating system, a phone operating system, the environment for apps that run on those different platforms, and the design aesthetic that Microsoft is using for the operating systems, for apps, and for its online services.

Let’s start to unravel it. There’s a lot of information here and it’s at the heart of what you need to know about Windows 8. Get some coffee and dig in! […] continued

In order to understand why Microsoft has created Windows 8, you have to look at the long-term, fundamental change in the way the world uses technology.

We are in the middle of a massive structural shift from computers to phones and tablets. Mobile devices, not desktop computers, are the future of general-purpose computing.

If Microsoft had not embarked on a major shift in its core business, it would have seen its business flatten and then begin a long decline. All the evidence you need is in an article in this week’s Time magazine about the future of computing.

The headline is: “Apple vs. […] continued

Good news! Batteries are improving rapidly. It might be hard to believe on the days when the low battery alert flashes too soon but the improvements are quite real and there is reason to hope that things will keep getting better.

Our lives are ruled by batteries. The collection of rechargers in the suitcase is more important than anything else you pack for a trip. The shift to mobile devices is increasing the pressure on battery manufacturers to improve existing technology and hurry up with breakthrough technology.

They’re making significant progress. This infographic claims to show a comparison of battery technology over the years, standardized on a Lenovo Ultrabook. […] continued

Get some popcorn, keep a grip on your wallet, and settle down. The action is about to begin.

There are big changes coming up in the world of mobile devices, and the thrilling conclusion will affect your computers as well when Microsoft officially releases Windows 8.

Here’s a look at what lies ahead.

WINDOWS PHONE 8

On September 5, Microsoft and Nokia will hold a press conference in New York to unveil Windows Phone 8. Other manufacturers are also making Windows 8 phones but Nokia gets the spotlight because it has partnered the most closely with Microsoft on their development (and Nokia needs the boost). […] continued

Verizon and AT&T are both offering new share plans that allow all of the family devices to share unlimited calls, unlimited texting, and a pool of data that can be used by up to 10 devices – smartphones, tablets, and PCs. If you already have a number of devices with individual data plans, one of the share plans might save you some money, and it makes it tempting to get more broadband devices in the future.

(Verizon’s plan is available now. AT&T’s plan will be available on August 23.)

For the last few years the cost of a data plan has been an annoying consideration with each new device. […] continued

Let’s gather up all the things that are on the verge of changes large and small. It covers just about every category.

The common thread is that not one of them is ready now.

Everything is in play. Anything that you buy now will seem like a poor decision in hindsight within a short time.

I’ve written about all of these things before but it’s interesting to put it all in one place.

DEVICE CHOICES

The biggest change is right in front of you all the time now. It’s the dawning realization that not everyone needs a computer. A computer is a massively overpowered and overcomplicated device for people who want to browse web sites, check Facebook, read email, and watch TV shows – and that’s all the technology that a lot of people need. […] continued