New Uber-Compact Computer

We received this information from PC World and found it very interesting.

First we saw the Raspberry Pi and the Cotton Candy devices emerge; then, almost exactly a month ago I wrote about the Mele A1000, a small ARM device that sells with Android but can be configured to run Ubuntu Linux as well.
                     
The latest to appear? None other than the MK802 micro-PC, a USB-sized device priced at $74 that runs Android 4.0 and Linux.
                     
This is turning into a veritable smorgasbord of choices, and I believe it's just the beginning of a real revolution in computing.
                     
1080p HDMI Video Output
                     
Featuring a single-core 1.5GHz AllWinner A10 Cortex A8 ARM processor, Android 4.0, 512MB of DDR3 high-capacity memory, and WiFi connectivity, the MK802 is now available on Aliexpress for $74 including free shipping to the United States via China Post.
With a MALI400 graphics processing unit, the device from Chinese brand rikomagic features 4GB Flash storage, a microSD slot, and two USB ports: one full-sized and one micro, according to CNXSoft. Video output is via 1080p HDMI--an HDMI cable needs to be added separately--and users can tap either an Android virtual keyboard or add a wireless mouse and keyboard.                      
Perhaps best of all is that users can run Ubuntu, Debian, or another Linux distribution of their choice via microSD card.
                     
A New Category of PCs
                     
It's true that this device is more expensive than the $35 Raspberry Pi, but it's also cheaper than the $199 Cotton Candy. It's very comparable to the $70 Mele 1000.
                     
The bottom line, though, is that this is yet another choice for those seeking a low-cost computing option, and once again it's powered by ARM and Linux--both the Android variety and more traditional forms, if so desired.

Mobile Phone Sales

The sales numbers are in for phone sales in Q1 of 2012. Not surprisingly Android and the iFruit company were one and two in sales. What is a bit surprising is how quickly they are running away from the rest of the players. Between them they have over 80% of the market, 59% for Android and 23% for iFruit.  Last year they only had 54% of the market so you can see how fast they’ve grown.

The also rans are Symbian (6.8 percent), RIM Blackberry (6.4 percent), Linux (2.3 percent) and MSFT Windows 7/Mobile (2.2 percent) coming in dead last. As you can see, none of them has a significant share of the market.

The Facebook IPO

I hope everyone who read my blog piece concerning the Facebook IPO heeded my advice. If you recall, I was VERY skeptical about the IPO and warned readers to avoid it completely. It looks like what I predicted was spot on, the stock is now down to $32 a share from the IPO price of $38 and all of the people who invested their hard earned money have lost a bundle.

Where will it go from here? I'm not sure but I doubt if it will be the next Google or iFruit company. Facebook just doesn't have a business model that inspires investors to jump on.

Frankly, and I'm far from a stock market expert, I think Facebook should have offered half the number of shares they did and priced it in the low $20's creating a high demand that would have driven the price higher. Of course, all of the Facebook insiders wouldn't have reaped the rewards they raked in in those first few minutes making them all very rich. Greed wins out over good business sense once again.

Netbooks Are Still Alive!!

I read this brief piece on Digitimes and thought it was worth passing on:

Acer and Asustek Computer, seeing as most other vendors have quit the netbook market and netbook shipments are becoming more stable, plans to launch new netbook models with Intel's upgraded Atom processors, which are set to appear at the end of the third quarter, according to sources from notebook players.

Intel plans to release upgraded version of Atom N2600 and N2800 at the end of the third quarter and will add new function design to improve performance and in addition to Windows 8-based model, the two vendors also plan to launch Tizen-based netbooks around the same time.

Although the netbook segment is losing demand in mainstream markets, but demand still remains strong in emerging markets and the sources believe that netbook will still be able to maintain a stable shipment proportion in the notebook market.

Currently, Acer and Asustek are able to ship more than 3.5 million netbooks each year.

New VIA APC Android PC

VIA Technologies announced a new Android PC system. Here’s the announcement:

VIA Technologies, Inc, a leading innovator of power efficient computing platforms, today unveiled the $49 APC Android PC system.

Powered by a WonderMedia ARM processor, APC integrates memory, storage, and a full set of consumer I/O features in a small footprint Neo-ITX motherboard that can be connected to a TV or monitor. The system also features a custom build of Android that has been optimized for keyboard and mouse input, and comes with a browser and a selection of preinstalled apps.

"APC brings the familiarity and convenience of Android to the PC at a US$49 price point that will open up exciting new markets and applications," said Richard Brown, VP of Marketing, VIA Technologies, Inc. "Like a bicycle for your mind, APC will enable more people than ever before to explore the vast online universe."

APC is based on the new Neo-ITX form factor measuring just 17cm x 8.5cm and can be housed in any standard Mini-ITX or microATX chassis, providing enthusiasts with unrivaled flexibility to create new mods and DIY projects as well as ensuring rapid time to market for system integrators and OEMs utilizing the platform.

APC consumes only 4 watts when operating at idle power and 13.5 watts at maximum load. This is ten times less than a standard PC system and ensures significant power savings in large scale deployments.

APC Features
APC combines an optimized version of Android with a rich hardware package to deliver the best of the internet to users. With the inclusion of hardware acceleration for the most demanding video formats, the APC delivers stunning HD quality multimedia, either streamed from sites such as YouTube or stored locally and delivers a great gaming experience on a large screen monitor or TV.

Pricing and Availability
Priced at just US$49, APC will be ship in July 2012. For more details, please visit www.apc.io.

New Pentax dSLR!!

We received this announcement and it’s HOT!!                            
                   
Introducing the fully weather sealed PENTAX K-30.
                   
Thanks to the K-30, for the first time in a long time location doesn't matter. Whether it's a sandy day at the beach or a trek into the wet rainforests of Belize, the K-30 is the ideal DSLR camera to capture your memories regardless of your location or the elements you face. Its 16 megapixel sensor and full 1080P HD video capabilities coupled with a fully weather sealed, dustproof and coldproof, ergonomic body, give you the flexibility and comfortability to shoot what you want, when you want and where you want.                        
                       

• 16 MP CMOS sensor
• 1080p HD video
• Advanced auto focus and image stabilization
• 100% FOV viewfinder

       

               

Digital Camera Flash Problems

One of the perpetual problems we’ve run into when we review cameras is the anemic flash units built into them. The reason for the weak flash units is obvious: they are designed to fit into the camera and aren’t meant to provide studio quality lighting. They are just meant to give you additional light for snapshots and nothing more.

We’ll be doing a LOT of traveling over the next few months. As a matter of fact, we’ll be on the road more than we’ll be in the office until late July. While we’re away we still need to work and we have several digital camera products to test on the road. While putting together a travel kit we noticed how bad the flash units are on all of the cameras we want to take with us.

We tested the few external flash units we have acquired over the years and none of them seem to be a solution to our potential problems. The main problem we’re worried about is a side trip to attend my niece’s wedding. How can I take good enough picture of the beautiful bride and her lucky husband?

We’ll work on the problem and let everyone know what we decide to do.