The Pre-Digital Era: Germany’s (Musical) Rebirth.

Posted on April 14, 2012 by John

Before computers; Smartphones; programming; applications; GarageBand; Deejays; and canned background dance-tracks with 4-on-the-floor beats… there was Kraftwerk (and a host of others)… a band that was one of the true pioneers of a genre of music that influenced a wide-range of artists be it New Wave; Synth, and, yes; even early Rap (as well  as a myriad of software that is ubiquitous with making more contemporary Pop Music than it is almost possible to catalog).

(Source) NPR: http://goo.gl/hjDbL

(Source) BBC Four / Spilt Milk: http://goo.gl/B668X

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Folks; Captain Speaking…

Posted on April 13, 2012 by John

Boeing; yes, that’s correct, the maker of commercial / military hardware (including satellites) is rumored to be releasing a Smartphone of their own later this year… which begs the question: is leaching the U.S. Government over bloated (and, many times, largely inefficient / wasteful) military hardware simply not enough? Apparently not…

(Source) Tech Crunch: http://goo.gl/xJnDQ

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Triskaidekaphobia.

Posted on April 13, 2012 by John

Happy Friday the 13th!

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14% TO 17%…

Posted on April 12, 2012 by John

A study released today predicts that Smartphone sales will hit 1 billion in 2014.
Towards that end, depending on how one does the math that breaks down to between 14 and (just under) 17% of the entire planet’s population purchasing one (which does not take into account those that are sold / in-use prior to said date!)

(Source) Mashable: http://goo.gl/D8PFE

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School’s Out.

Posted on April 11, 2012 by John

‘Groups for Schools’ is either Facebook’s attempt at going back to their roots and/or a late entrant into how Social Networking (e.g., the use of technology is influencing a shift … some have gone as far as saying, ‘revolutionizing… the field of Education).

Whatever the case may be; with programs such as MAT@USC and the University of California’s system-wide initiative of pushing the boundaries of traditional ‘brick-and-mortar’ thinking into the virtual classroom setting… one would hope that this is a welcome development for making Higher Education more accessible period.

(Source) PC Magazine: http://goo.gl/HKcVB

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Who’s Next?

Posted on April 10, 2012 by John

With the bombshell that Facebook dropped yesterday; is Path and/or Twitter next up to be purchased by the likes of Google or Microsoft (a company that spent $1 Billion on AOL patents on the same day… ‘news’ that was completely overshadowed and almost an afterthought at best).

Unlike the classic album that’s stood the test of time; Facebook’s purchase recalls the AOL / Time-Warner merger (and the supposed new-era of the media that it ushered in). Clearly, time will tell; however, that’s a phenomenal amount of money for acquiring any given firm (especially a Start-up whose growing legions of fans have largely been turned off by the deal).

(Source) NY Times: http://goo.gl/AW0Fs

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A One Billion Dollar Start-up?

Posted on April 9, 2012 by John

With Instagram being purchased by Facebook; a) either there’s something more afoot than the firm’s picture-sharing ability; and/or b) P.T. Barnum’s quote is befitting!

Perhaps it is a combination of these two factors and/or others not known / mentioned at this juncture? Whatever the case may be, that’s a vast amount of money and stock to pay for a Start-up… particularly right before an IPO.

(Source) WSJ: http://goo.gl/FyC1Q

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Nothing’s Off-limits.

Posted on April 8, 2012 by John

Ideal; yes. However, just think if the energy and talent that’s focused on hacking were actually turned towards positives endeavors… how many computing issues could be addressed and/or resolved?

(Source) BBC: http://goo.gl/6U4it

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An ‘About-Face.’

Posted on April 7, 2012 by John

AT&T’s 180-degree (policy) turnaround now allows unlocked iPhones on their network… Perhaps the simple reality that the FCC actually did their job regarding vetoing the (proposed) AT&T / T-Mobile merger is actually paying a dividend for the consumer (what a breakthrough / concept!)

(Source) Digital Trends: http://goo.gl/YlIGd

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The Losses Keep Piling Up…

Posted on April 7, 2012 by John

Another legend is gone but much the same: their spirit (hopefully) lives on…

(Source) LA Times: http://goo.gl/tj07g

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