On Wednesday, Research In Motion will launch its bid to save itself with the redesigned from the ground up BlackBerry. I’ll be at the launch event and I will judge the new hardware and software on their merits, still I have to admit that I am cheering for a BlackBerry comeback. Apple reinvented the smartphone … Continue reading Cheering for BlackBerry
Yesterday Apple released their earnings for the fourth quarter of 2012. It is important to note that Apple had 14 weeks, as compared to the normal 13 weeks, in their year ago fourth quarter. In order to equalize results, all comparisons will be done on a week to week, rather than on a quarter to … Continue reading Miscellaneous Musings On Apple’s Earnings And The Future Of Personal Computing
I wanted to share some of my thoughts regarding RIM prior to them having their press event next week. I know there are many who have the opinion that RIM has been circling the drain for some time now and have counted out any rebound chances the company has. While I agree that the hills … Continue reading Why RIM Is Not Dead Yet
I didn’t expect much in the way of OS, phone, or tablet announcements at CES this year, if only because all the key platform drivers stayed home. Apple never attends trade shows, preferring to host its own events. Amazon follows Apple’s lead. Google takes over Mobile World Congress each year, but does not attend CES. … Continue reading CES 2013: Plenty of Innovation – You Just Needed to Know Where to Look
An odd notion that hardware no longer matters has lately taken hold in the world of tech commentary. For example, in a well-argued piece explaining his decision not to attend the Consumer Electronics Show, Buzzfeed’s Matt Buchanan writes: [S]oftware and services have become the soul of consumer technology. Hardware (seriously doesn’t the word “electronics” in the … Continue reading Why Hardware, and CES, Still Matter
With all the news coming out of CES this week, I couldn’t help but be struck by the lack of “buzz” surrounding Microsoft’s Windows 8 tablets. Microsoft and its partners just introduced a slew of new hardware and software products, but the response at CES has been muted, at best. In fact, it seems to … Continue reading Where’s The Windows 8 “Buzz”?
Even before CES 2013 officially began, NVIDIA announced a new product that rocked the gaming world. NVIDIA announced Project SHIELD, an NVIDIA-branded mobile gaming device that connects different world of gaming, across modes, displays and content. My first visual impression of SHIELD when I saw it was that it looked like a high end portable … Continue reading NVIDIA’s Project SHIELD Connects Disparate Gaming Worlds
As an analyst I continually come across data. Much of it is often conflicting and discerning what is an accurate reflection of the market is not always easy. Such data has come out today that I think is fascinating due to its suggestions either way if true. Venture Beat published an article referencing an Accenture … Continue reading Conflicting Data
This will be my 10th year moderating a Super Session at CES called “Big Thinkers, Disruptive Technologies.” Anyone going to CES can attend any Super Session’s as these are the only major conference sessions open to all attendees. http://cesweb.org/Conference-Program/SuperSessions.aspx Each year I get to look at a whole host of technologies that are considered disruptive … Continue reading Big Thinkers, Disruptive Technologies at CES
Prediction is very difficult, especially about the future. ~ Niels Bohr, Danish physicist (1885 – 1962) Trend #1: Two Seperate And Incompatible Types Of User Interfaces Personal computing will be divided into two types of user interfaces: 1) Touch; and 2) Pixel-specific (surface-required) Touch will require the use of only a finger for user input … Continue reading 4 Technology Trends, 5 Technology Predictions
One great thing about a tech industry in transition is that manufacturers amp up the amount and breadth of the products they announce. 2012 was a transition year for PCs, smartphones, and tablets, and there were so very many great options to choose from. My selection criteria for my favorite, significant products was simple: I … Continue reading A Few of My Favorite and Significant Products of 2012
The theme for my 2013 predictions is going vertical. The writing on the wall has been seen for some time now and I believe 2013 is the year we will see it officially come to fruition. There is absolutely no denying the success of Apple’s vertical model. In a mature consumer market, being vertical is … Continue reading Technology Predictions for 2013 – The Year of Going Vertical
What a year 2012 has been. From some of the most exciting and historical product launches, wild and ill-concieved acquisitions, ugly court battles, and more, has made this year one worth reflecting upon. One thing is certain and agreed upon by the Tech.pinions columnists, that we are entering one of the most–if not the most–innovative … Continue reading Reflecting On 2012
Happy Friday to anyone working today–or not working–and poking around the inter webs. Although it’s the Friday before the holiday break, some interesting data came out from the Kantar Worldpanel today that I thought I would highlight. Kantar’s latest smartphone sales data is showing that despite the increased competition, Apple has actually grown its smartphone … Continue reading Despite Competition, Apple’s US Market Share Gains
Every year, tech sites put together holiday gift guides recommending the best products on the market. That’s great, but do you really need another gift guide that reinforces what we already know at Tech.pinions, that it’s going to be a very Apple holiday season? Besides, you bought those gifts already. This gift guide is for … Continue reading Avi Greengart’s Last Minute Non-Obvious Holiday Gift Guide 2012
On December 16, 2012, Morgan Stanley issued the results of a consumer survey. We surveyed 1,010 US adults between November 26 and December 3 2012. The sample is representative of US individuals (18+) by gender, age, income and geographic regions. Conclusions based on total sample have a maximum margin of error of +/- 2.5% at … Continue reading A Deep Dive Into The Morgan Stanley Holiday Quarter Survey
After 15 years of making predictions, with a track record that would have made you rich if you’d bet on them, I’ve been away from the practice for a couple of years. But as the regulars at Tech.pinions have agreed to end the year with a set of predictions each, I’m back at the game. … Continue reading The Shape of 2013: Predictions for the Year Ahead
I have used the iPhone since the 3G as my primary phone and have enjoyed my experience very much. It was, quite frankly, ahead of its time in almost every conceivable way. It “felt” better, had more apps, better apps, great camera and a built-in iPod. Better in every way until now. I am strongly … Continue reading Leaving the iPhone
Each year, about this time, I put out a list of predictions for the coming year. I have been doing this for 23 years and over that time have I have had a reasonable level of success with these predictions. I have had some spectacular failed predictions too, like the year I said Microsoft would … Continue reading My Tech Industry Predictions for 2013
Google’s failure to understand that a tablet is something other than a really big phone is becoming one of the great mysteries of the technology world. The Android tablet business has been crippled by a lack of dedicated tablet apps, a situation that Google has done almost nothing to correct. Now Google has confirmed my … Continue reading Maps for iOS: What Does Google Have Against Tablets?
Marco Arment on Google Maps: What this timing (of Google Maps) really shows is how much Google needs to be on iOS. They’re primarily in the business of reaching as many people as possible so they can build up as much data and advertise to as many bodies as possible. Android is an insurance policy … Continue reading Google’s Directionless Map Strategy
There has been a lot of discussion here lately, both in posts such as Why IT buyers are Excited About Convertibles and Hybrids and Microsoft Surface: How Relevant Are Legacy Apps and Hardware? about the failings and the potential of Windows 8. So inspired by these posts, and even more so by readers’ comments on them, here is a … Continue reading How To Make Windows 8 Great
[dc]W[/dc]hen Steve Jobs introduced the iPad in 2010, he went to great pains to emphasize that the iPad was mainly for content and media consumption. Interestingly, he never even suggested that it could also be used for any form of productivity. But in a subtle way, he did push its role in productivity. That came … Continue reading Why IT buyers are Excited About Convertibles and Hybrids
This week, highly respected web and technolgy analyst, Mary Meeker, released her end of the year 2012 report on internet trends. The slide deck is 88 slides long and is highly recommended. You can view it here. As I reviewed Ms. Meeker’s slides, some thoughts on Microsoft’s current prediciment and future prospects jumped out at … Continue reading Why The Wheels Are Falling Off Microsoft
Two of the apps that changed the way I work are Evernote and Sugarsync. Evernote allowed me to go paperless and Sugarsync allowed me to have access to all my data accessible by any device. Both of the apps have very robust Windows 7, OSX, Android and iOS capability. Robustness stops, though, at Windows 8, … Continue reading Evernote and Sugarsync: Headed in Reverse Windows 8 Gear
