Speculation on the Microsoft Office for iPad
Rumor

post from Daring Fireball on 22 February 2012 11:03:31 PM. © Daring Fireball

MG Siegler, on the kind of weird non-denial denial from Microsoft regarding The Daily’s report that they’re nearing completion of a version of Office for the iPad:

But what if we all missed something obvious going on here? Whatif Microsoft was being so cagey — and maybe even disingenuous —for a very real reason? What if they don?t want to spoil a verybig surprise set for a certain Apple event taking place in acouple weeks? [?]
It?s very clear at this point that Apple and Microsoft both hateGoogle far more than they hate one another. And both sides seemwilling to do whatever it takes to destroy Android. What ifMicrosoft is planning to do Office for tablets as an exclusive forthe iPad (until the Windows 8 tablets come out, of course), whiletotally shafting Android?

I agree that would be a pretty big deal. And I can see why Microsoft would agree to it. If they’re going to do Office for iPad, and they’re near completion, why not accept a spot in Apple’s iPad 3 announcement keynote to promote it?

But what would be in it for Apple to offer such a spot to Microsoft? You can argue that the iPad with Office available is an even more attractive platform/device than the iPad as it stands today, sans Office. But why share the spotlight with Microsoft? Apple doesn’t need to. The only other tablet computer with any traction in the market is the Kindle Fire — and the Fire is not competing at all in the business productivity market that Office for iPad would target. Android tablets don’t need to be shot down — they still haven’t gotten off the ground. Why give credence and attention to Microsoft in a market where so far Microsoft has had no success?

I’m not saying it’s impossible, but if Microsoft does get a demo slot on stage during the iPad 3 keynote, Microsoft would be getting much more out of it than Apple.

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Read The Full Article:
http://parislemon.com/post/18086955827/what-if-office-for-ipad-edition

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Seth Weintraub on Googles HUD Glasses

post from Daring Fireball on 22 February 2012 11:03:31 PM. © Daring Fireball

Seth Weintraub had the scoop on Google’s purported HUD glasses a few weeks ago:

The heads up display (HUD) is only for one eye and on the side. Itis not transparent nor does it have dual 3D configurations, aspreviously speculated.
One really cool bit: The navigation system currently used is ahead tilting-to scroll and click. We are told it is very quick tolearn and once the user is adept at navigation, it becomes secondnature and almost indistinguishable to outside users.

The one-eye-only thing seems weird to me. Actually, the whole thing seems weird to me, but I’m trying hard to keep an open mind about this.

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Read The Full Article:
http://9to5google.com/2012/02/06/hud-google-glasses-are-real-and-they-are-coming-
soon/

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Screens 2.0

post from Daring Fireball on 22 February 2012 11:03:31 PM. © Daring Fireball

Very nice update to my favorite remote desktop software for Mac and iOS. I rely on Screens for accessing my primary Mac from my iPhone, iPad, and other Macs. I recommend it wholeheartedly.

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Read The Full Article:
http://edovia.com/en/screens.html

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Photo Slideshow Director HD for iPad Version 3.0
Released

post from prMac on 22 February 2012 09:17:00 PM. © prMac

Socusoft has updated its iPad app Photo Slideshow Director HD to version 3.0. New photo editing function has been added to the new version. Now you can apply effects, crop, rotate, enhance photo, adjust brightness, sharpness, remove red eyes, etc. with the built-in photo editor. With just a few taps, you can crop, rotate and flip the photo in slideshow, adjust the brightness, saturation and contrast, apply beautiful stylistic effects to photos, remove red eyes, add text on photos and more.

Read The Full Article:
http://prmac.com/release-id-38632.htm

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Googlighting

post from Daring Fireball on 22 February 2012 09:03:38 PM. © Daring Fireball

Oh, Microsoft, you’re so adorably awkward.

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Read The Full Article:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4EbCkotKPU

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NYT: Google to Sell Heads-Up Display Glasses by
Years End

post from Daring Fireball on 22 February 2012 09:03:38 PM. © Daring Fireball

Nick Bilton:

People who constantly reach into a pocket to check a smartphonefor bits of information will soon have another option: a pair ofGoogle-made glasses that will be able to stream information to thewearer?s eyeballs in real time.
According to several Google employees familiar with the projectwho asked not to be named, the glasses will go on sale to thepublic by the end of the year. These people said they areexpected ?to cost around the price of current smartphones,? or$250 to $600.

My first thought was to laugh, but, hey, at this point, let’s give Google the benefit of the doubt and hope these things are actually useful and cool. We’re not going to be tapping on 3 to 5 inch pieces of glass for the entire future of mobile computing. Something’s got to come next. Maybe heads-up displays are next.

Here’s what gets me about Bilton’s report:

Everyone I spoke with who was familiar with the project repeatedlysaid that Google was not thinking about potential business modelswith the new glasses. Instead, they said, Google sees the projectas an experiment that anyone will be able to join. If consumerstake to the glasses when they are released later this year, thenGoogle will explore possible revenue streams.

If they’re planning to sell them for “$250 to $600”, isn’t that a good business model? Why is it simply accepted without debate that companies like Amazon and Google won’t turn a profit from hardware but have to find profits only through advertising or selling content? Surely Apple isn’t the only company that can turn a nice profit selling $600 gadgets.

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Read The Full Article:
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/21/google-to-sell-terminator-style-glasses-
by-years-end/

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How to Remove Your Google Search History Before
Googles New Privacy Policy Takes Effect

post from Daring Fireball on 22 February 2012 09:03:38 PM. © Daring Fireball

Easy and painless.

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Read The Full Article:
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2012/02/how-remove-your-google-search-history-googl
es-new-privacy-policy-takes-effect

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Heavy Hangs the Bandwidth That Torrents the Crown

Andy Ihnatko:

The Oatmeal made an unintentional point that was just asimportant as the first, however:
The single least-attractive attribute of many of the people whodownload content illegally is their smug sense of entitlement.

Agreed completely.

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Read The Full Article:
http://ihnatko.com/2012/02/20/heavy-hangs-the-bandwidth-that-torrents-the-crown/

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HP Reports First Quarter 2012 Results

HP:

HP today announced financial results for its first fiscal quarterended January 31, 2012. For the quarter, net revenue of $30.0billion was down 7% from the prior-year period, and down 8% whenadjusted for the effects of currency.

Net earnings — profit — are down 44 percent year-over-year. The PC business is not looking good:

Personal Systems Group (PSG) revenue declined 15% year over yearwith a 5.2% operating margin. Commercial client revenue declined7%, Consumer client revenue declined 25% and Workstations revenuewas flat. Total units were down 18%, with a 19% decline in desktopunits and an 18% decline in notebook units.

Seems like a trend.

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Read The Full Article:
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/hp-reports-first-quarter-2012-results-2012-02-22

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