Operating Systems

Palm & WebOS 1.4 – We’re Getting There

Posted by Andrew at 7:35 AM on March 1, 2010

Late last week Palm pushed out an upgrade to its WebOS operating system for the Palm Pre and Pixi phones, taking them to version 1.4. In the past few weeks, Palm has taken a fair amount of flak, primarily from analysts but also from users. Its performance in Europe hasn’t exactly been stellar though it seems to have done well enough in Germany and even the US numbers weren’t as good as expected.

However, with WebOS 1.4 I feel the phone and the platform is really getting somewhere and Palm is starting to get it right.

First of all 1.4 was pretty much released simultaneously to all phone users. Previously, there were weeks between the CDMA version coming out and then the GSM version being released. As a GSM owner, nothing irked more than a new version coming out on CDMA and everyone talking about features you couldn’t yet have.

Secondly, not only are bugs being fixed, but new features are being added. For example, in addition to video recording, there is now video editing on the phone. Brilliant for taking videos of the kids, removing the rubbish parts and forwarding to the grandparents. I played around with the video recording over the weekend and it’s surprisingly good.

Thirdly, the WebOS is ready for Flash, which is coming Real Soon Now via a download from the AppCatalog. And by the way, the browser scores 92/100 on the Acid 3 test.

Fourth, the AppCatalog is filling up nicely (albeit there still aren’t paid apps in Europe yet either. That’s coming RSN too.) I’ve got to the point where I’m only waiting on two apps to be released before I can leave the legacy PalmOS apps behind and one of these is already available in the US. The other – DataViz’s Documents To Go - is hotly anticipated by many Pre and Pixi owners.

Fifth, Palm Synergy might be Palm’s unique selling point tying on-line calendars, contacts and email back to the phone and merging them seamlessly, but it’s also encouraged others to think similarly. For example, RSS readers that sync with Google Reader (Feeds Free), finance apps that link with an online version (ClearCheckBook), info organisation (Evernote), task tracking (Outline Tracker) and so on. I love being able to do stuff when I’m out and about on my phone and then have access to exactly the same information when I sit down at my desk.

Finally, multitasking. WebOS has always had this but the ability to have more than one app open at a time is the only way to go. Right now, I have Tasks, Feeds Free (an RSS reader), Tweed (a Twitter client), DrPodder (a podcatcher), Email, Videos and Outline Tracker, all open at once.

For awhile there, I was really kind of “take-it-or-leave-it” about Palm and WebOS. I’d felt a little let down that the features and programs I’d been used to on my Treo 680 just weren’t there. With the release of 1.4, I’m feeling better about the Pre and what it can do for me. We’re getting there.

Tags: Palm, Palm Pre, smartphone, webos

Posted in Operating Systems

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Capacitive Touch Screens – A Step Backwards?

Posted by Andrew at 9:58 AM on February 3, 2010

Ever since I bought my first PDA (a Palm III) back in the late 90s, I’ve used the kind of touchscreen which needs you to give it a slight press, typically with stylus but a finger will work just fine too. Apparently these are resistive touchscreens and work by having two thin transparent parallel sheets which are brought together by the press.

Newer mobile phones such as Apple’s iPhone, the Palm Pre, Google’s Nexus One, use capacitive touchscreens which use distortions in electrostatic fields to detect fingers on the surface of the screen. Frankly, I think they’re a step backwards.

Why? One – you can really only use your finger. Things like styluses don’t work anymore and, two – the accuracy or resolution is really poor. Let’s be honest, your finger isn’t exactly the most precise pointing device. My finger tends to block out the very thing I’m trying to tap on.

The last time I did any finger writing, I was probably about 5 years old. I then learnt how to hold a pen and write block letters, graduating to joined-up script when I was seven or eight. Finally, after a couple of decades in adulthood, it’s back to finger painting on a 3″ screen. Does anyone else think this is wrong?

“But you don’t have to get your stylus out each time now to tap on the screen. It’s so much more convenient”. But the problem in the past was not the screen – it was the user interface. It expected more precise pointing than a finger. On PalmOS I could very easily start applications with my finger and choose from dropdown menus but editing Excel cells was too challenging. If you had a modern phone OS with a resistive screen it would work just fine. And you could have the best of both worlds; finger pointing for basic operation and the stylus for fine work.

“But you can scroll through lists with a flick”. Yes, you can and it’s great, but I find that too often I select an item instead of scrolling and it’s incredibly irritating when you’ve just dropped an email into completely the wrong folder. Could we please just have scroll bars back?

“But what about multi-touch? That’s only available on a capacitive screen.” True enough, but this is a phone not Microsoft Surface. I don’t even find the gestures that easy to do one-handed so I’m quite happy to give up multi-touch.

I have tried the Pogostick stylus but it’s not much better. I still end up stabbing at the screen rather than gently tapping, the resolution or accuracy is no better and the stylus head is pretty big. HTC appear to be bringing out a capacitive stylus but it’s not yet available in the UK and it’s quite expensive.

My point is that a capacitive screen would be fine on a larger screen, where there’s greater room for bigger buttons and multi-touch with two hands would bring benefts. But on a small 3″ phone screen, I needed better accuracy, not worse and I’m fully on-board for a hybrid of finger pointing for dialling and quick selection, but with the finer control of a stylus to select text, edit cells and generally be productive. A resistive screen can provide this far better than a capacitive screen as far as I can tell.

I think we’ve been sold a dummy.

Tags: smartphone

Posted in Android, Apple, Operating Systems, iPhone

3 Comments

IDC Predicts Big Change in IT and Telecoms

Posted by Andrew at 4:37 AM on December 8, 2009

The analysts over at IDC reckon that 2010 is going to be a year of “recovery and transformation”. On the recovery side, they’re expecting global IT spending to increase by 3.2%, returning to 2008 levels but a large chunk of this spending is going to occur in the emerging markets of Brazil, Russia, India and China.

But more interestingly, the transformation part is going to be increased adoption of cloud services and the arrival of “enterprise-grade cloud services” and complementary application platforms. IDC thinks this will be the most important development for the next 20 years particularly when linked in with the growth in mobile devices.

Regarding mobile, IDC sees these competing with PCs as user’s main devices, with over 1 billion mobile devices, fuelled by increasing adoption of smartphones and Apple’s iPad tablet. They predict over 300,000 iPhone apps and 5x growth in Android apps. Interestingly, they also predict “apps stores” for netbooks, which I think has already been evidenced by moves from Intel.

Other predictions include “socialytic” apps which mashup business apps with social networks, further reductions in CO2 through IT solutions and more mergers, acquisitions and partnerships.

Personally, I think the cloud services linked to mobile devices is right on the money. I’ve recently started using a Palm Pre and it links to several on-line services including Google, Yahoo, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Evernote. Looking at just Google, there are connections to Mail, Calendar, Contacts, Reader and I’m expecting Tasks, Documents and Notebook to be available before long. So I’m already living in the cloud and I love it.

The whole press release is over at IDC.

Tags: Android, Apple, cloud storage, google, iPhone, Mobile, Palm, Palm Pre, Twitter, Yahoo

Posted in Android, Apple, Operating Systems, Social Media, Twitter, gmail, google, iPhone

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Why Should I Get Excited About a Google Operating System?

Posted by susabelle at 7:42 AM on July 11, 2009

I, along with every other geek this week, have invariably heard about the new operating system to be produced by Google. I have read multiple articles and really haven’t formed an opinion one way or the other about whether it will be good or not.

My real concern is about the ability of any operating system to truly overtake Windows as a standard. As much as we hate Windows and complain about the things that don’t work or get broken, the fact is, Windows is a known commodity, and the majority of users we will work with will be Windows-literate. Changing how they think, and operate, a computer, is a daunting task, and not one I will undertake lightly. [Yes, I am deliberately and knowingly leaving out the Mac discussion for this article.]

I am my family’s de facto technical adviser and repair-woman. When I get a call from my mother in Florida, I have to try to walk her through a fix or software setting via the phone. She has used Windows the last 8 years. My dad, who lives about an hour away, and his wife, both use Windows machines. I have two brothers who also live within a few hours, who use Windows machines. Needless to say, I’ve gotten really good at talking them through minor issues over the phone. They understand most of the processes they are being asked to do, and can muddle their way through with my instructions.

I cannot imagine teaching any of these people how to use Linux. One of the reasons I’ve not personally embraced it is because of all the “tinkering” that must be done to make changes, get programs to work properly, have all of your features available, etc. Linux is not intuitive, and intensely harder to manage overall because of the hands-on adjustments you have to make to it. And that’s okay for a geek, but not so good for the everyday user who just wants to sit down and surf the ‘net, type an email, or manipulate a photo or two from their digital cameras.

So when I look at Google’s offer of an operating system, I am more or less shrugging my shoulders and thinking “big deal.” Another thing to learn, that may or may not be any easier to navigate and support than another free operating system already available (Linux). I don’t see wide-spread acceptance of any new operating system at this point, despite the foibles and flaws of Windows. At this point in the game, it is a little late to be putting Windows back in the barn and getting people to convert to something completely different.

Of course, I could be wrong. It would be nice to think I’m wrong. But it’s got to be more than “hey look, it’s FREE” to get me to look twice. Because for all intents and purposes, Windows is free too, because it comes already installed on most new computers. I know it’s not technically free, but the perception is that it’s free. So Google’s new operating system has got to be bang-up better than what we already have to even have a chance of cracking the market and becoming a Windows killer.

And I have yet to see the app come along that can completely submerse Windows or other Microsoft software from majority use. The fact remains that most businesses and home computers are loaded with Windows and Microsoft Office and Microsoft Internet Explorer, and that the majority of people are using those products in their daily lives.

Google’s got a very tough row to hoe with this one.

Posted in Operating Systems, Opinion

3 Comments

Four Things the Mac OS Does to Confuse a Windows User

Posted by fogview at 10:43 PM on May 31, 2009

First off I will say that I love the Mac OS and I love the Windows OS. (How about that for staying neutral?) Listeners to my Fogview Podcast know I switched to the Mac about six months ago when my main Windows XP computer died. I had an iMac that I was using for video editing and my photography work so I started using that for my daily work. I know there are a lot of Mac fan-boys out there but I’m not one of them. A computer is a computer and each type has it’s advantages and disadvantages. I enjoy using and learning about the Mac OS but I still do a lot of my work on my new Windows Vista machine.

I found that the Mac has it share of “spinning beach balls” just like Windows has it hourglass when the CPU is overloaded and can’t do one more thing. I have programs crash on the Mac just like they crash on Windows. I don’t have to worry about viruses and spyware on the Mac like I do on Windows, but I know that could change in the future.

Mac_example What I would like to mention is the four things that still confuse me as a newbie “Mac switcher.”

Closing a window on the Mac doesn’t close the program.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve clicked the close window icon and realize later that the program is still running. Most Window programs go away when they are closed.
The program menu bar is at the top of the screen instead of at the top of the window. This is related to the first item because if I close a program’s window (i.e. iTunes), I now see another program underneath it but I’m still in the program I thought I closed. If I try to access the menu for the program that I see on the screen, I will be accessing the menu for the program I thought I closed. (See the screen shot on the right for an example of what I’m talking about: iTunes menu and Aperture window)
Control = Alt and Alt = Command keys
Yes, the keys are switched, at least for how I normally think of them in Windows. For example, I press Ctrl-C to copy in Windows, and Command-C in Mac. Alt-tab to switch programs in Windows and Command-tab in Mac. (The last two are not switched, which only adds to the confusion.)
Home and End act like Page Up and Page Down instead of begin/end
If I’m typing something in Windows, the Home/End keys will move the cursor to the begin/end of the line I’m typing. On the Mac it generally shifts the content of the window up and down on the screen and doesn’t change the cursor location. (I realize that each program can use the Home/End keys as they see fit, but in the Windows world these keys always seem to work the way I expect — or at least the way I’ve come to expect of them.)

Of all the differences I mentioned, #4 is the one thing I have not been able to get use too. I’m always trying to use the Home/End keys on the Mac to move my cursor around when editing text (I admit that I make lots of typing mistakes). I try to use it when entering URLs into the browser, Google search strings, emails I’m composing, and blogs entries (like this one), and I’m always surprised at the results. I would love for a Mac user to tell me what keys will do a similar thing on the Mac.

Learning to use a Mac has been a fun thing and helps to keep my brain engaged. I picked up a great book that helped answer the question of “How do I do that on the Mac.” It’s called “Switching to the Mac, The Missing Manual” by David Pogue. I highly recommend it if you’re thinking about switching too.

I’m not a Mac expert but I will write more in the future about my experience navigating in a Mac world from a Windows map. Stay tuned.

73’s, Tom

Tags: fogview, mac, osx, switcher, Windows

Posted in Operating Systems, Windows, mac, osx, vista

3 Comments

HP OS to Counter Vista.

Posted by susabelle at 9:55 AM on September 13, 2008

It was reported earlier this week that HP is thinking of making it’s own flavor of Operating System for their computers. They have been apparently having a hard time trying to get HP machines work well with Vista. According to Business Week, they have a team that simply builds fixes and updates that can and will circumvent certain aspects of Vista.

The new OS would be based off the Open Source Linux OS. HP’s “Customer Experience” group was created to look into what people want in a computer. The group has only put the new OS in a thought process right now.

It’s great that we are looking into ways to move away from Windows. Even though Linux is an answer, there is still a lot of work that needs to dominate the market. All within moving around an Open Source license agreement.

The reality is there can be too many flavors of Linux out there now. HP Linux would be great for HP users, yet will HP Linux be installable on a Dell? What happens if you move from one machine to another – Who would even support that?

The reality is we want Open Source, but whatever we add to it, we want that system to become “Mine” rather than “Ours”. Of course HP doesn’t want to see HP Linux on a Dell, nor does it want to make their code Open Source so Dell can copy off it. Still, what made Windows a viable option was that it’s base system could be installed – and supported – on almost every machine.

Ubuntu has been pretty good in turning that thought around. We still have all these different “Subprojects” like Kubuntu, Xubuntu and Edubuntu. There is also a Mediabuntu – as a media server. Sugar is the OLPC – turned Open GUI project by ex OLPC President Walter Bender.

On the flip side, you do have different versions of Vista – Home, Business, Ultimate, for example. 32 bit and 64 bit versions. All of them supportable by Microsoft.

Apple Mac is the only one that seems to have 1 flavor of each version. Apple works off a Unix core and runs POSIX – compliant code. There is no 32 bit version of Leopard – it’s all 64 bit. If HP Linux is to learn off anything, it should be how Apple does it.

The best thing for HP would be to spin off the OS unit. Make it a project that has a 5 year startup Business Plan attached so HP doesn’t get cold feet and close it down if people don’t latch on right away. It can then be made a multi-computer Operating System that everyone could use – whether on HP, Lenovo or Dell.

If HP moves forward with this, we’ll see another front in the “Windows Free World”. HP will have an uphill battle with it though – Not only because of Microsoft and Apple, but the other Linux variants that are freely installable on different types of systems. It will definitely be a large project for HP to undertake.

Posted in Operating Systems

Comments 1 Comment

Virtual PC 2007 SP1 now out.

Posted by susabelle at 7:02 PM on May 20, 2008

If you have Vista, or installed XP SP3, you might have seen some quirkiness
out of Microsoft Virtual PC 2007. To counter, Microsoft has released a Service
Pack for this Virtual environment. The Download is for x86 and x64 and are
available

here. Release Notes are found

here.

It doesn’t solve all the issues – if you have tried to install Ubuntu 8.04 or
tried the hackintosh install disk, you were met with an error message saying:

An Unrecoverable processor error has been encountered. The virtual machine
will reset now.

There are ways around that issue. Sean Earp has documented how that can be
done and can be found

here. Of course, if you install an OS in Virtual PC, you must have a legally
licensed copy – it is considered another instance, and Apples’ EULA does not
allow it’s OS to be installed on non-Apple hardware. But does that mean if I
have a VPC on a Windows install on a Mac, then I can leagally install OSX on the
VPC?

An interesting conundrum. Nonetheless, VPC – although not as fully functional
like VMWare (it doesn’t support USB devices like flash drives) – still is a
great tool to have on an IT Specialists desktop. And best part is it’s free.

Posted in Microsoft, Operating Systems, Software

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Sun addendum

Posted by todd at 9:31 AM on September 14, 2007

It is possibly a blogging faux-pas to link to a blog entry on another site that links back to an entry on this site. Especially when I have written all 3 posts, but I expanded a little on my previous Sun post on BusinessGeek. I have gone more in depth into the Brand equity implications and a basic financial analysis of Sun’s ability to compete. If phrases like “Brand equity”, “Gross Margin” and “Cost of Sale” make you yawn reflexively, this article may not be your cup of tea.

The essential summary though, is that Sun are entering a market their company is not structurally able to handle. The only way they can compete is to cut costs, which will impact negatively on their only remaining key differentiator in the market, post sales service.

Tags: Sun

Posted in Microsoft, Operating Systems

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Vista Continued

Posted by geeknews at 1:33 PM on August 8, 2006

I am curious how many Windows users have worked with Vista already? I have been using it a little bit more now still trying to get a feel for it. I know the beta version I am running is not what I expected Vista to be after years and years and years since XP was released. Even if you are a big Windows user and are happy with what Microsoft is doing you have to be disappointed it has been so long since an upgrade. The technology world has changed greatly since XP was released. Look at the speed of the processors and the machines. Microsoft needs Windows to be successful. Their applications run terrible on any other platfrom. Its time that Windows users come out from behind the jelousy of Mac OS X and let Microsoft know that you want a better OS! The disappointing thing is Vista is not that OS. Its a little unsettling to know 60% of the source code needed to be re-written. I honestly did expect something more from Microsoft and was excited about running Vista. That was of course until I did run Vista.

While I might be a Mac user I still would not mind giving Windows praises and would even run it on my MacBook Pro, but not in the condition that it is in.

-mn
My Website

Posted in Operating Systems

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Vista hacked at Black Hat Also!

Posted by geeknews at 9:44 PM on August 6, 2006

Apple and Mac OS x was not the only operating system to get some attention at the Black hat conference, it seems that Windows Vista was hacked as well, this probably should come as no surprise, but considering the amount of time that Microsoft has put into securing this product. It is very discouraging [news.com]

Posted in Operating Systems

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OS X hack prompts genuine challenge

Posted by todd at 2:11 PM on March 7, 2006

Seems the Apple gang was a little pissy about the article running on ZDNet yesterday. A challenge has been put forth to hack a Mac Mini setup as a server. I am sure this box will be able to handle the thousands of attempts to hack it, (not) but it will be a interesting experiment, it’s amazing to watch the Apple community rally, anytime their is an assertion that the OS X is as not as secure as they believe. The question we have to ask is how will the react if the Mac Mini is breached, I know what their reaction will be if it isn’t!. [VnuNet.com]

Posted in Operating Systems

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VMware will release no cost Server Line

Posted by todd at 2:27 PM on February 7, 2006

For those of you techies out their that have never had the pleasure of working with VMware well the truly hardcore of you out their will be able to get a no cost version. I have had the pleasure or should I say the pain of working with VMware in the past. It is a very powerful platform and used heavily in the scientific circles, but very few applications will crunch numbers like VMware.

If your a VMware expert drop me a line and let me know what kind of projects you have worked on using VMware. [www.linux-watch.com]