WinPhone 7

MSFT and their hardware "partners" just announced the new phones that they will be introducing for the holiday buying season. For the US market the new phones will come from HTC, Samsung, LG and Dell. The phones will be used on AT&T and T-Mobile's systems.

Hmmmm, that's only a few phone makers and only two systems. No Verizon Wireless and no Sprint, not to mention the other mobile networks. I've always had my reservations about WinPh7 and it looks to me like a whole lot of major companies have reservations too.

Let's see how this shakes out a year from now.

Ubuntu 10.10

Good news for all real geeks. The wait is finally over. It's 10.10.10 and the new Ubuntu release is out. Its name says everything you need to know, Ubuntu Perfect Ten is a must-have.

Upgrade or download at: http://www.ubuntu.com/desktop/get-ubuntu/download

Download | Ubuntu

www.ubuntu.com

Click the big orange button to download the latest version of Ubuntu. You will need to create a CD or USB stick to install Ubuntu.

Thoughts on eBooks

I recently read an article that reported that there are now eBooks that are selling for higher prices than their print counterparts. It was an inevitable change and reflects the Law of Supply and Demand. If people are buying their books in eBook formats then it's where the money has to come from.

When I'm in the market for a book, or a video for that matter, I usually go to Amazon.com. Very often I'll buy a used copy and save big bucks. The text is all there and I save a lot of money.

When will I be able to buy an eBook that way? Most people don't realize that there is a major difference between BUYING a print book and LICENSING an eBook. When you spend your money to read an eBook you don't own squat. You can't let your brother-in-law read it when your done. You're the only one with a license.

We need to move to a business model that protects the rights of copyright holders but still allows flexibility for buyers.

Trade shows

One of the interesting aspects of attending Trade Shows every year is the products we are shown. We are wined and dined by vendors at press conferences and private events to dazzle us with their latest HOT, HOT products and services. Many of them of them never see the market at all.

If you look back over our trade show reviews from the past 20 years you'll find many projects that never made the cut. The other side of the coin is good products that are introduced and take a long time to mature. We now getting review products 10 months after we first saw it at CES. Good products can't be rushed. Crap shows up quickly.

Toasted skin syndrome

It had to happen sometime. Medical science has once again noticed the obvious. People who disregard the safety warnings that come with every laptop may be endangering themselves. The heat on the bottom of a laptop computer can cause "toasted skin syndrome". Well, DUH!!

Come on people! Who in their right mind would allow a hot piece of electronics to burn their legs? Probably the same idiots who have accidents because they text while driving. There are far too many stupid people out there.

If you want to use a laptop computer on your lap then use a Targus Chill Mat or a ThermaPAK Heat Shift Pad. They're cheap and provide excellent heat dispersion.

Mobile phones

Next week MSFT is expected to announce the debut of Win7 Phone products. If they are to succeed it will be an incredible uphill battle. With Android having 34% of the smartphone market, RIM's BlackBerry having 32% and iPhones 21% there isn't much room left for MSFT.

My prediction is that MSFT will continue to "innovate" by suing everyone they can while continuing to make inferior hardware and software.

MSFT has always made the least intuitive phone software and I have faith there new products will be just as bad.

Good reviewers

As an editor I have a perpetual problem: finding good reviewers! I have been blessed over the years. Our newsletter has had a steady flow of good to excellent reviewers that have managed to maintain our reputation in the tech industry.

Naturally we've had some duds, everyone does, but we continue to search for good writers who can do meaningful reviews. We're always looking for new talent and welcome suggestions from our followers.