Severe Thunderstorms down Instagram, Pinterest

Thanks to Mother Nature two of my favorite  web sites went down today.

Severe thunderstorms in North Virginia caused an outage to the Amazon's Elastic Compute Cloud, which took down Instagram, Pinterest, Netflix and other cloud based sites.  

Although the sites have a local hub here in Asia, it appears that all services are still routed to North America. Hence, this problem. 

I tried loading some pictures on Instagram and either I waited for eternity for the site to come up or I just got pieces of it.  Netizens expressed their frustrations on Twitter and and the affected companies also took to social networking sites to send their messages that they're having some technical problems and were fixing it.  

It's not the first time that Amazon's cloud server was affected by outages due to weather. Many tech experts are beginning to worry that this may lead some industries to have second thoughts on embracing the cloud technology.

Micrsoft Unveils the Surface

Microsoft recently announced its own tablet called the Surface.  It is a 10-inch tablet that comes with a touch screen.  The Surface will come in two flavors - one with an ARM processor that will run on Windows RT, and the other powered by Intel's Ivy Bridge chip running on Windows 8.

Another difference between the two machines is their thickness and weight.  The Windows RT Surface comes in at 9.3 mm thin and weighs 676 grams.  The Windows 8 Pro version is a bit heftier at 13.5 mm and 903 grams.  Microsoft touts the casing as a product of a unique approach and calls it the VaporMg (pronounced as Vapor Mag) which resulted to the thinner form factor of both machines.  It also enabled the inclusion of a kickstand to its design.

And yes, it has a 3 mm touch cover that clicks in on the spine of the Surface.  Microsoft took a swipe at Apple by saying that the pressure sensitive technology on the touch cover allows a user to touch type faster than on an on-screen keyboard.  The user can also add a thin click on cover that will make typing more natural.

It's not even out in the market yet but there already those who give this new gadget the death sentence.  One of them is even a Microsoft partner: an Acer executive declared that the Surface will be a total flop.  Online analysts believe that this must have stemmed from the fact that the company will now directly compete with its hardware manufacturing partners.

We'll find out about that once the machine hits the market.  For now, Microsoft has not even announced when the Surface will, umm, surface in the market and at how much.

(all images from microsoft.com/surface)

Sony Officially Joins the Tablet War, Announces Market Launch of Sony Tablet S & P

Sony announced yesterday the market launch of not one but two Sony Tablet™ devices: the Sony Tablet S and Sony Tablet P devices that come with unique design and content that make for an engaging entertainment experiences.

First to be available by next month is the curvy Sony Tablet S device with a 9.4-inch touchscreen display optimized for rich media entertainment. It comes with a powerful NVIDIA® Tegra™ 2 mobile processor and weighs in at just about 1.33 lbs.

What makes it different from all the available devices in the market is its unique asymmetric design which resembles a folded magazine. According to Sony, this makes it comfortable to use even for hours shifts the device's weight closer to your palm, making it feel lighter and more comfortable while reading an e-book or watching a video. The screen is sloped when placed on a flat surface, enhancing visibility and making typing more comfortable. The built-in Wi-Fi® compatibility means Internet connectivity virtually anywhere there's a hotspot. 

 You can place the Sony Tablet S device on a specialized charging cradle (sold separately) which converts the device into a digital photo frame, a digital clock that displays customizable information or chumby with access to over 1,500 fun and entertaining apps.

Coming out later this year, the Sony Tablet P device is ideal for mobile communication and entertainment. With its innovative folding design, two 5.5-inch displays and weight at about 0.83 lbs., it can easily fit into a pocket, purse or backpack. It features the same NVIDIA® Tegra™ 2 mobile processor and is both Wi-Fi compatible and 4G capable for Internet connectivity on the go. 

A specialized software allows the device's dual screens to be used for different functions simultaneously such as playing video on one screen while using the other as a controller or reading email on one screen while using the other as a virtual keyboard. The displays can also be combined to form a single large screen for Internet browsing and more. By holding the device vertically, you can also read eBooks much in the same manner you would a physical book.

Both devices run on Android, Android 3.1 on Sony Tablet S devices and Sony Tablet P devices will be equipped with Android 3.2 by the time they ship. This could be a factor for some because the number of available Android Apps is still limited. Sony, however, included the Reader software and access to the Reader™ Store and its more than 2.5 million titles of bestsellers, new releases, classics, magazines and more.

You can also connect these devices to other Sony products like the PlayStation and Sony Bravia TV sets to play media content.  These devices can also work as remote controls for your TV sets.

The two devices also feature front and rear facing cameras that allow for video recording and capturing still images. The devices also support micro USB interface and SD card. A range of optional accessories includes a cradle, AC adapter, LCD screen protector, carrying case and USB adaptor cable for Sony Tablet S devices, and a rechargeable battery pack, AC adapter, LCD screen protector, carrying case and detachable panels for Sony Tablet P devices. A Bluetooth keyboard is also available for both models.

(images from sony.com)

Steve Jobs resigns as Apple CEO

from apple.com

The biggest news of the day in the techworld is the resignation of Steve Jobs as Chief Executive Officer of Apple.  Tim Cook who has heretofore served as Chief Operating Officer has been elected as Jobs's replacement.  Don't be sad though, Apple fans. Steve will stay on with the company as its "Chairman of the Board, director and Apple employee."

In his resignation letter addressed to the Apple Board of Directors and Apple Community, Jobs wrote "I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple’s CEO, I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come."  

The online community believes that it has something to do with his health.  Jobs filed a medical leave of absence in January this year but has made an appearance at the WWDC in June to introduce the upcoming iCloud service.  He was also present during the event to introduce the iPad2 earlier this year.  In 2004, he took a 6-month leave of absence and underwent a liver transplant.

Although the shares of the company dived by as much as 7 percent after the announcement, industry analysts believe that the company will continue to dominate the IT industry under the helm of Tim Cook who has been considered heir apparent as Apple's top man.

Under Jobs stewardship, Apple released some of the most innovative products in the industry.  These include the iconic iPod and its companion application, iTunes which revolutionize the way we listen to and buy our music; the iPhone which raised the bar on what a smartphone should be; and of course the iPad, which still in unrivaled in the tablet industry.

Many IT experts also believe that the company will go ahead with Steve's plans for the company's hardware and software projects.  The iPhone 5 is scheduled to be released next month and the next generation iPad is expected to come out in 2012.  The iCloud service and the next iteration of the iOS is also due to debut this fall.

Steve's resignation letter is available here.

PLDT myDSL’s Internet to Sawa TRANSFORMS my Internet experience from boring to AWESOME!

There was a time when Internet browsing meant waiting for a long time before the website I am visiting fully loads.  With the advent of PLDT DSL, the entire Internet experience changed with webpages loading faster than saying, well, Internet.

Now, PLDT myDSL is set to take an extra ordinary transformation for their users through PLDT myDSL Internet to Sawa starting this month.  Plan 3000 subscribers will get a free and unlimited speed boost of up to 5Mbps from their previous 3Mbps.   Everyone can now surf, stream, download and play games online up to sawa!

To complement this new online experience, PLDT myDSL subscribers will also get free WatchPad with more exclusive content plus one year of free PLDT to PLDT NDD calls.  If doesn't transform your life, I don't what will!

It's like my transformation from just another blogger to a Nuffnanger.  While I used to be limited to writing about everyday stuff, after joining Nuffnang I got more stuff to write about.  What more, I get to meet lots of interesting fellow bloggers who share the same passion to share things to the world.

If you want to transform your online life and surf all you want at awesome speeds, head over to and visit www.myworldmydsl.com for more information or call 171 to confirm your subscripstion today!

iCloud: The Future in the Mac Friendly Skies

Along with the announcement of the coming MacOS X Lion last Monday, Apple announced its new service called iCloud, which is coming in Fall this year (around September).

The Mac community has been abuzzed with speculations about this new offering for months before the WWDC.  It was finally introduced by Steve Jobs himself at last Monday's event.

In his address, Jobs explained that ten years ago, their big idea was to make the PC/Mac the center of users' digital life where music, videos and photos are stored.  But all's that changed now because of the new devices that could also store and play music, video and photos.

So Apple's new big idea is to make the PC/Mac as just another device and put all media files in the cloud they named iCloud.  But this cloud is not just a harddisk in the sky, as Steve pointed out. iCloud automatically uploads, stores and pushes your contents to all of your devices. It is also completely integrated to all apps so everything happens automatically and there's nothing to learn.  As Steve puts it, "It just works."

Jobs said that they at Apple love iCloud so much that they're giving the service to their clients for free!  Everyone is given a 5GB space in the iCloud where you can store your Contacts, Mail, Calendar and yes, even your Documents.  No need to bring a USB drive to bring your Keynote presentation or Pages papers.

Of course everything you buy from the AppStore, iBookstore and iTunes store are automatically uploaded to your iCloud.  What more, your apps, books and music are not counted against your free space as long as they remain in their respective stores.

You can already try this service in beta.  If you are an iTunes user like me,  if you buy something from the store, you can make your other devices to download your purchase automatically at no extra cost.  Just go to the settings of your iPad or iPhone and make them automatically download your purchases.      Yes, it just works!

For Those Who Want It Small, Here's the LaCie MosKeyto

While browsing the Internet for new gadgets, I came upon an article on an interesting product from LaCie called MosKeyto, an ultra-small USB storage device.  It caught my interest because I like small gadgets and this one is is so small that one photo shows it as hardly noticeable when plugged in a USB port of a computer.  Reading it's specs however, I found out that it may be tiny in size but big in capacities from 4GB to as much as 16GB!

 

LaCie promises that you can keep this plugged in and it will not harm your computer.  It is also compatible with both Windows and Mac operating systems.  

I think I will look for one of these in the local stores if it is already available. Amazon.com offers it starting at US$15.33 for the 4GB unit,  US$23.43 for 8GB and US$48.18 for the 16GB model.

(photos from lacie.com)

Kindle for Mac Now Available

After being labeled as "Coming Soon" for months, Amazon finally released its Kindle application for Mac this week.  It is a free download from the Amazon.com site.

The application has the same functionality as the PC version and only runs in Intel Macs and requires Mac OS X Leopard or Snow Leopard.  Download took less than 10 minutes and just like any Mac OS X application, the user must drag dmg file unto the Applications folder.

Kimdle for Mac OS X has the same functionality of its PC sibling.  The user can change the size of fonts for easier viewing.  However, it also does not give the user the ability to right down notes and annotations.  I hope this will be one of the features amazon.com promised to include in its future release.

My favorite feature of course is the Whispernet which synchronizes all Kindle applications across platforms.  When I downloaded and opened one of my books, I was immediately brought to the page I was reading on my Kindle for PC application.

I don't know if Amazon.com timed the release of this software just before the iPad becomes available in the market.  The iPad of course has the iBooks e-book reader application which has a more appealing GUI than the Kindle.  However, iBookstore won't be available here in the Philippines so I would be sticking with both Kindle for PC and Mac OS X for now.  Or until my Kindle arrives.

The X-Mini II : Big Sound in a Small Package

I just bought a second generation X-Mini Capsule Speaker for my MacMini today.  I wasn't too  happy with the sound output of my Mac Mini so I checked the Internet  to see what speakers would go with it.  I was intrigued with the X-Mini's promise of "sound beyond size" so I thought of giving it a try.  It's good that it's available locally.

I was skeptical when I first saw the X-mini.  It was too small and I thought that with that size, it wont be able  to deliver sound any better than the built-in speakers of my Mac Mini or even those on a laptop. But when the sales clerk tried it on a Macbook,  I was pretty surprised by the volume and the vibrant sound that was not at all metallic. 

It also performs well with my Mini.  The sound is loud enough to fill my room while the bass is quite decent considering the size of the speaker. Sound distortion only occurs when volume is set way too high but still, it is not grating.   However, the sound produced by the speaker is not stereo but only monoaural.  Perhaps this is why the makers of this gadget decided to include a feature called buddy jack.  Two or more X-Mini capsules can be interconnected through this jack to make it a chain of speakers, thus extending the sound.

The speaker has a short connecting cable that can be neatly folded into the base.  It also has a USB connecting cable for charging the internal rechargeable battery and for the sound jack of any device.  The manufacturer claims that the speaker coulld run up to 7 hours when used on a portable device like the iPod or a laptop computer. I haven't tried using it for that much time but maybe I would next weekend. I am just a bit worried with the cables because they look a bit flimsy.  Hopefully it would withstand the heavy use I subject most of my gadgets to.

Overall, I am happy with this X-Mini in terms of the sound it produces.  It's size and design are quite impressive too.  It even comes with a pouch which makes this tiny wonder a great companion for my portable gadgets.

Isolation

Our office was like an isolated island this day. We didn't have Internet connection the whole day. We were cut off from our email, our contacts, and out sources of data.

We were used to just calling our contacts and asking them to send the data we needed through email. But today, we were back to asking one of our clerks to leave the office and pick up the data. Talk about going back to basics.

While waiting for the ICT guys to get back our connection, my co-workers and I contemplated on our helplessness without an Internet connection. Some say that we have become too dependent on the technology that we are now slaves to it.

As usual, I disagreed. We are merely taking advantage of the technology because it is available and it makes our job easier. We may be dependent on it but we could, if needed be, always use the old ways.

Our day at the office ended and the connection was still out. The tech guys told us that the server conked out and it will take until tomorrow till they can get it running.

By the way, the messenger hasn't returned yet when we left the office.