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The announcement that Ikea will launch a TV range shows what is so wrong and right with the industry. It’s a cliché to say that the TV is more than a gadget but also a piece of furniture, but Ikea has really proved it.

The TV will be available in a variety of screen sizes, with a base unit incorporating a receiver module and disk player. As several screen sizes are available, it is likely that the screen part is a dumb HDMI monitor. Reportedly, TCL will be manufacturing the electronics.

That highlights what is wrong with the industry. While some consumers are likely to think twice before buying an Ikea TV, concerned about the quality of the image or other performance attributes, Ikea is offering a five year guarantee, which at least addresses reliability concerns. But any consumer encountering a Japanese name on the set would have felt instantly reassured and bought in even more confidence. So why was this opportunity missed by the Japanese? Without doubt, Ikea drives a hard bargain, but the inability to compete on cost (even with brand equity adding value) is surely important. So either Japanese setmakers couldn’t compete, or ignored the built-in furniture opportunity even though some of the Ikea TV furniture costs as much as a 32” TV!

]]> http://svenontech.com/2012/03/28/in-stat-shows-mobile-market-to-rule-chip-consumption/feed/ 0 http://svenontech.com/2012/03/26/will-the-new-ipad-with-lte-force-carriers-to-better-plans/ http://svenontech.com/2012/03/26/will-the-new-ipad-with-lte-force-carriers-to-better-plans/#comments Mon, 26 Mar 2012 22:03:37 +0000 Sven Rafferty http://svenontech.com/?p=10027

Now that LTE has landed onto the iPad, true broadband has finally arrived to the most popular tablet on the market. It didn’t take long, however, for many to find out that the new Retina display could also be a negative feature to the new lightening fast third-generation iPad. With the new high-definition screen came the ability to view HD video. More detail means more bytes which means less time. The Wall Street Journal reported that Brandon Wells picked up his iPad on a Friday and proceeded to stream March Madness the next day. In just two hours, he had reached the limit of his plan. Wells $30 plan gave him 2GB of data. To continue watching on his iPad without the aide of Wi-Fi, Wells would have to paid an additional $10 per 1 GB. Naturally Verizon refused to comment on Wells quick evaporation of his broadband allotment but suggested he simply pay for a more expensive plan that would have given a little more than two hours of additional viewing pleasure. It also suggested he use Wi-Fi when possible. What’s the point of LTE then?

Jason Perlow over at ZDNet touches on this new problem and reminds his readers that he warned of this very issue a year ago in late 2010. Perlow points out that when Netflix supports HD with its pending updated app, things will only become worse. He does a very good job of explaining the issue at hand and why the new iPad eats up so much more data than the previous versions.

While Android tablets and smartphones have been riding the LTE wave for over six months on the Verizon network, their small numbers in sales have put little stress on Big Red or much attention to those running out of broadband quickly. Further, Android tablets do not have any HD content to pull out of the cloud as does the iPad. But now, everything’s about to change.

Apple sold an astonishing 3 million iPads opening weekend. That’s 1 million iPads a day. Essentially, Apple sold more third-generation iPads in a few hours than all Android tablets sold in 2010. This sets the stage for a large pool of LTE users who will first become unpleasantly surprised like Wells and then brew up some anger. The majority of users will opt for the $30 per month plan and may up to the $50 plan to garner some more streaming time. Unfortunately, this will only give users a bit more than twice of what they originally had and without changing their viewing habits, this will not even get them past a weekend without running out “time”. Overage fees will surely take a, um, byte out of many pocket books and its sure to stir up some frustration.

Personally, I think the most interesting development from all of this is how Verizon basically bragged about how LTE would allow it to do data better for less when it began rolling out LTE in early 2010. Why? Because 3G networks and its predecessors were designed for voice, not data. With “4G”, things would be much better due to the fact that it was made specifically for data. Yet little change in cost of plans or amount of data – if any – were seen. Instead Verizon and AT&Ts greed and oligopoly give them full reign to continue in this fashion.

So what can be done? Regulation could occur as is the knee-jerk reaction from public out cry. There could be a consumer revolt causing a campaign of users to come together and force change from the carriers. The third and least likely answer would be competition. Between T-Mobile and Sprint on near extinction, it’s only a matter of time for AT&T to figure out how to acquire one of them the second time around with Verizon getting the left over. The other alternative is to simply not purchase an LTE version of the iPad but with Wi-Fi not as widespread as cellular connections, that choice isn’t a good one.

I think we will see pressure from services such as Netflix, Google (YouTube), and other providers that will be effected on its bottom line. It may be a few years before real pressure occurs but with the new iPad, this time table may be sped up. We’ve already seen big names such as Netflix’s CEO Reed Hastings make complaint about data caps which is just the beginning. More will become vocal in the coming years if not months. Really, it will be these people that will be our advocates for more broadband on our iPads and other devices for less cost.

Intel is on the move in promoting its Apple MacBook Air fighter the Ultrabook. Forget about the Netbook that it tried to fashion onto the world a few years ago with the underpowered Atom CPU. Now Intel means business. In a new twist of marketing, Intel has release two videos, one shown above and one here on YouTube, tempting the public with an Ultrabook. The one SvenOnTech has furnished is a great demonstration in what people will do for free stuff while also testing ones pride level. In truth, it is a comical look at how we all handle what appears to be a simple challenge.

The linked video is another lab test of psychology in the real world where an Ultrabook is housed in a glass cubed display. Just below the glass plate is a hammer. You know, one of those hammers one commonly finds by a fire extinguisher that is accompanied by a note “Break in case of fire”? Intel sure has burned a fire within on this one. Will those that walk by break it? Will they take they Ultrabook? Do they battle their inner self as to the fact they could be stealing? Watch to find out.

Apple personally invited select members of the press to announce its new iPad which it called “awesome” and “revolutionary”. At the conclusion of the 90-minute Apple love fest, it was obvious from many tech blogs and traditional outlets that the Kool-Aid had been liberally consumed with posts of something amazing. I wasn’t fooled.

Let’s take a look at what was really updated in the next-generation iPad. The CPU was bumped from the A5 to the A5X which includes a quad-core graphics processor. The camera was upgraded to 5-megapixel with an ƒ/2.4 aperture and a five-element lens. The Retina display with 2048-by-1536-pixel resolution was added which now supports 1080p video. Bluetooth 4.0 technology and a microphone were also added. If you’d like, you can also now opt for “4G” LTE. So it’s obvious, let’s list this:

• A5X with quad-core graphics
• 5-megapixel with an ƒ/2.4 aperture and a five-element lens
• Retina display with 2048-by-1536-pixel resolution
• Bluetooth 4.0
• LTE

In contrast to the Droid offering from ASUS, Toshiba, and Samsung, Apple has not set a wide distance between it and the competition. Certainly, the Retina display is impressive, I will not discount it, but revolutionary? Maybe two years ago with the release of the original iPad or even possibly last year but not this year. No, I think the word Apple missed was expected.

Speaking of expected, LTE showed up and Apple’s PR machine tried to spin that by stating it supported more networks than any other device in the world. To a world that only knows one new one, um, LTE, that claim means little. No, I think the proper word needed here was tardy.

Well, what about the camera you ask? 5-megapixel. ASUS’ announced Transformer Pad Infinity 700 will sport 8-megapixel, LED flash, HD video, and f2.2 aperture. Let’s see, that is 3-megapixels better, some light for dark situations, and a wee bit more light to let into that lens. Even Toshiba’s Excite X10 LE matches the new iPad plus an LED flash. Heck, Apple even beat itself with the iPhone 4S optics. Let’s see, the word Apple needed to describe the camera was…lackluster.

One would point out the quad-core system-on-a-chip graphics A5X and it’s stellar performance for video games. The demos given were striking to say the least and I would agree. The graphics are stunning and even breathtaking at times but in light of Apple’s amazing and dazzling marketing skills in whole, again, it’s not profound enough to warrant the show given it. My choice word here is overblown.

That leaves Bluetooth 4 and ironically it’s my favorite feature. I have been completely dismayed by previous incarnations of Bluetooth and Apple’s implementation of it. Since purchasing my iPhone 4S, Apple has finally nailed it. Connections are precise and consistent. Audio quality is dramatically improved in both sonic and clearness. In short, Bluetooth 4 rocks and only the iPad has it for tablets. Is that far-reaching? No but impressive just the same. My selection here is well-done.

The summary of the findings here, if we are to be honest, is that the new iPad has no true innovation. It is a mere small step in improvement. I will not discount the screen, the graphics, and retained battery life, but I also will not join the silly dernier cri as it struts down the Milan runway.

Apple is well crafted down to who it chooses to cover these events. It leaves nothing to chance and does very well for itself by controlling everything. Unfortunately, the man behind the current will be revealed and many will remove the Apple Illusion Glasses from their nose and see clearly. I fear for Apple that it will carry on with this pace while Google does what Microsoft did to Apple in the 80s and pass right by it while – gasp shall I even write this? – Microsoft innovated. Sure, it copied the Mac but Microsoft did push the envelope while Apple kept patting itself on the back. Google, too, has copied Apple and it’s hungry. It has successfully overtaken the smartphone market and now it can concentrate on tablets. True innovation is coming.

Apple today announced its third-generation iPad which it simply calls, “the new iPad”. Putting heat on the competition, the new iPad will include the much anticipated Retina display. Apple boasts on its web page, “The Retina display on the new iPad features a 2048-by-1536 resolution, 44 percent greater color saturation, and an astounding 3.1 million pixels — in the same 9.7-inch space.” That is an improvement of 4 times over the iPad 2, which sticks around at the 16GB level with a $100 slashed from its price. Powering the Retina display will be the leaked news of the A5X quad-core CPU that is “twice as fast as the Tegra 3″ claimed Apple today in San Francisco. Added to the front display is a new iSight camera and on the rear a 5-megapixel one that incorporates the iPhone 4S ƒ/2.4 aperture and a five-element lens. This allows the new iPad to capture 1080p video. You can now upload that video on one of many carriers LTE network if you opt for the 4G $130 premium option. Siri sneaks into the new iPad but not by name. Dictation envelopes itself into the new iPad which Apple suggest you can now, “Write an email. Send a text. Search the web. Or create a note. And do it all with only your voice.”

Apple also updated the Apple TV, again much to expectations. Newly found is support for 1080p video. You will be able to view full HD quality videos from iCloud via the iTunes store as well as other sources. To celebrate the better resolution, a new look was also added with buttons in place of text to navigate between Netflix, MLB, NHL, iTunes, Settings, and so forth. There was no mention of this new interface making an appearance to existing Apple TVs.

Both the new iPad and Apple TV will be available on March 16th, my birthday if anyone’s interesting in gifting one for me, with pre-orders being taken today.

Briefly mentioned, as if a black sheep, was the iOS 5.1 update. Tim Cook only stated that Siri now understands Japanese and that it would be available today.

Microsoft's announcement that Windows 8 would soon be along to render Windows 7 obsolete was doubtlessly met with collective groans of frustration.

After spending considerable sums of money training employees to understand all the “enhancements” and “ease of use” improvements that Windows 7 provided over Window XP, many employers and IT managers felt that it was much too soon to deal with a new operating system.

One aspect of Windows 8 that does appear at first glance to be very positive will be the ease of using Cloud Storage as a way to securely back up files and documents without relying on on-site hardware, who everyone knows seems to be capable of crashing at the most inopportune time.

Another thing that looks very promising is the integration with mobile devices where the interface will be identical, making it very intuitive for users to switch between devices.

If beta tests of the new Windows operating system are any indication, however, it does seem to appear that Microsoft is poised to hit one out of the park that may influence PC users to forgive Microsoft for Windows ME and Vista.

It certainly does appear that cloud storage is the trend of the future, and Windows 8 will facilitate this trend toward making it easy for users to be mobile and productive without the necessity of accessing company servers in order to get the information they need in order to be productive and collaborate with other employees.

While there are certain to be bugs and other issues for early adopters of Windows 8, just as there have been with early releases of previous Windows operating systems, it seems as though Microsoft has gained valuable motivation from looking in the rear view mirror and seeing Apple getting closer and closer, which can only benefit PC users that need to get up to speed quickly without needing to reinvent the wheel with every new operating system.