The Best way to Track a Storm - Google Crisis Map

Google Crisis Map has become my destination to having visibility into natural disasters around the world. In near real-time you can see Hurricanes, Tornadoes, Typhoons,  High wind advisories, Flooding, Mud Slides, Forest Fires,  Snow warnings, and Earthquakes.
For the recent Typhoon in the Philippines, Google Crisis provided details regarding

Evacuation Centers, Hospitals and Health Facilities, Command Posts and Vital Infra, Police Precinct/Station, Communication Centers, Relief Centers, Airports, and "Areas of calamity".

 Google also offers the ability to search for people during a disaster using its People Finder and they provide links to organizations involved in the relief effort at http://www.google.org/crisisresponse/2013-yolanda/index.html.

I take a peek at Google Crisis a few times a week and I am amazed by the number of natural events that occur worldwide, which would go without notice. Here is a screen grab of what is going on in our back yard.

A really nice feature are the global cams, which allow you to take a live peek at the weather in different locations.

Who are the Most Followed Athletes on Twitter?

Leveraging social to keep in touch with your fans is must for star athletes in all sports. Here is a breakdown and analysis of how athletes across sports stacked up when it comes to their popularity on twitter. It's pretty clear that soccer and basketball players dominate the top 100 positions.
But soccer is a true global passion - Ronaldo has more than twice the numbers of followers than Lebron James, and Kaka has 7 million more followers than him.
These ranks from Twittercounter.com don't tell the entire story - keep in mind that these are all-time totals, so recent popularity isn't factored into these ranks, which is why older athletes dominate this list.

 15 Cristiano Ronaldo - 22,222,552 followers // 1,589 tweets

21  Kaka - 17,173,078 followers // 3,043 tweets

 64 LeBron James @KingJames - 10,176,460 followers // 3,659 tweets


 87 @NBA - 8,484,017 followers  //54,646 tweets

 94 SHAQ- 7,747,974 followers // 6,873 tweets


 95 Ronaldinho Gaúcho - 7,730,954 followers // 1,590 tweets


102 Wayne Rooney - 7,438,271 followers // 1,363 tweets


109 Gerard Piqué - 7,192,888 followers  //  1,556 Tweets

110 Andrés Iniesta  - 7,302,216 followers // 618 tweet

Should Journalists Learn How to Code?

I came across a piece on Niemanlab.org, where the question was being asked, as a result of other article discussions. Having been involved on the technology side of the media industry (most of it in journalism),  I feel this is the wrong question to ask. It has been my experience that many young journalist lack basic computer skills, which I find absolutely amazing. So forget coding, I recommend learning how to use the basic editorial tools used to publish content (articles, blogs, videos) to the  internet. Students should learn how advertising models work, they should understand web analytics , and how to develop a personal digital brand across many content types. These skills will only enhance a journalists value to a media organization.
The flip-side of this discuss is whether or not developers should learn  business - to which I say YES! The best technologist understand the objectives of their organization and they leverage technology to help the organization succeed.  
Begin well-rounded is something that needs to be encouraged and reinforced in college students. The simple fact is no matter what field of study you pursue, technology will be a significant part of your work life.

New iPad Set to Arrive Today

While there are now a lot choices for consumers looking for a tablet - there is only one choice for Apple loyalists, whatever the new version of the iPad is. Rumor has it that Apple will be releasing  remodeled versions of Apple's standard-sized iPad with a 10-inch display screen and the iPad Mini with a nearly 8-inch screen.Expect the new iPad's to come with the same biometric scanner as the iPhone 5s, which will allow users to use their thumb print as their password. I don't expect the product pricing to change, so $99 and $329 respectively.

New iPhones & iOS 7 Set to Arrive

After months of speculating about a new iPhone, Apple sent invites to the media for a September 10 event to announce "something". Analyst suspect that Apple will unveil a new iPhone 5s and a low-cost model "c" - both sporting iOS 7. 

I am always a bit skeptical - Apple may decide to hold separate events and use September 10 to unveil a new iPad or a retina MacBook. 

The event begins at 10:00am Pacific time on September 10. 

Can Google Eliminate Traffic?

Probably not right now, but it can prevent you from sitting in traffic. 

If you've never heard of Google Maps or Waze , you've probably spent a lot time asking for directions. Google has married the best of Waze and its maps to create the ultimate crowd sourced resource for traffic Information about car accidents, traffic.  The information will come from the 50 million global users of Waze, the social-mapping app that Google bought in June for $1.1 billion. I have been a huge fan for a while and I use Waze over my cars builtin navigation. In my opinion Waze should be the standard. The police alerts are great and a usually spot on.  If you don't have it - download it. 

Tesla's Stock Electrifies Shareholders

It's not a secret, I love the Tesla Model S. I have been seeing them pop up everywhere and I want one.
I wasn't surprised to hear the Tesla's stock soared 13% after reporting a profit. The company has sold 5,000 Models S's in Q3 and estimates 21,000 for the year. Analyst expect to see the numbers double in a year, as demand increases for the electric luxury vehicles. This will be assisted as better financing deals are provided and charging stations (w/ battery swap ) appear.
Next year, Tesla plans to introduced the falcon-winged  Model X, an SUV with a 5.0 second zero to 60 time. Need I say more.

Also see: http://mediamixmaster.blogspot.com/2012/12/my-top-10-list-for-2012-good-and-bad.html

Amazon Founder Acquires Washington Post

I just saw the headline. And Yes I hear that this is a deal being made by Bezos  and not on behalf of Amazon.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/washington-post-to-be-sold-to-jeff-bezos/2013/08/05/ca537c9e-fe0c-11e2-9711-3708310f6f4d_story.html

Jeff Bezos is said to be paying $250 Million in cash for the historic newspaper. Also included in the deal, El Tiempo Latino, Kaplan, Express newspaper, Southern Maryland Newspapers, Fairfax County Times, Greater Washington Publishing,Cable ONE , Slate magazine, ,The Gazette Newspapers, TheRoot.com, Foreign Policy, Post–Newsweek Stations - I think that's all of them.

Microsoft's Product Slide Continues

Microsoft launched the Surface table in October of 2012 and it has been an uphill battle ever since. The company managed to almost spend $1bn in advertising expenses to promote Windows 8 and the Surface. This is amazing if you consider that they only generated $853m in Surface revenue for all of fiscal 2013.
In reviewing Microsoft's 10k, I found some interesting notes.

From Microsoft's 10k

We will continue to invest in new software and hardware products, services, and technologies, such as the Microsoft-designed and manufactured Surface launched in October 2012. Investments in new technology are speculative. Commercial success depends on many factors, including innovativeness, developer support, and effective distribution and marketing. If customers do not perceive our latest offerings as providing significant new functionality or other value, they may reduce their purchases of new software products or upgrades, unfavorably impacting revenue. We may not achieve significant revenue from new product, service, and distribution channel investments for a number of years, if at all. Moreover, new products and services may not be profitable, and even if they are profitable, operating margins for some new products and businesses will not be as high as the margins we have experienced historically.

And this sums it up. Launching new products to remain competitive in the consumer market can be costly, especially if you describe your approach as speculative.

iWatch Launch Set for 2014?

According to the Financial Times, Apple is in the process of hiring “aggressively” for the iWatch project. Yes, all sign are pointing towards a wearable Apple device. Unfortunately, according to teh report it is more than a year away. I have been hearing about iWatch for at least 6-months. It seems strange that it would take Apple so long to produce a wearable device, especially because of the competition they face in other areas. Small companies like Pebble are selling wearable mobile  phone companion watches - that sync with the iPhone or Andriod phones. The quick success of Pebble
illustrates that there is a market for wearable mobile devices. Apple's design reputation is second to none - but it is unusual to see them arrive late to the party --- they usually create the device category.
As a sidebar, I really hope that I can get an iWatch from Rolex., yes an iRolex!

 

Moto X May Make Motorola Relevant Again

With an expected $500 Million dollar marketing campaign to announce its arrival and Eric Schmidt public unveiling - does Motorola have a contender to fight back Apple and Samsung?
The Moto X is expected to hit the street at $199 with a contract. According to the rumor mill, it will boast  the latest version of Android (4.2.2) -NFC, 4G LTE MIMO dual antenna,  Bluetooth 4.0 + EDR, 802.11ac Wi-Fi and a 720p OLED display.
Maybe Motorola is back and relevant again.

The Best Protective Cases for Your Kindle

For Christmas I purchased a Kindle Fire for my 7-year-old. I knew that my first accessory was going to be a protective case and it had to be a good one. I wanted to make sure that the Kindle could survive a few tumbles, drops and falls. I purchased the Fisher Price Kid-Tough Apptivity Case for Kindle Fire, which has worked nicely. After 6 months of abuse it has held up, but it is starting to look worn. So its time to get a new protective case. The good news is that the selection of protective cases has improved and the prices have dropped. Here were my choices.


i-Blason ArmorBox Kido Series Light Weight Super Protection Convertible Stand Cover Case for Apple Amazon Kindle Fire HD 7 Inch Tablet Kids Friendly. This protector sports a sturdy case with a handle for easy carrying, especially for little hands. At $14.99, it's also inexpensive.


OtterBox Defender Series Protective Case for Kindle Fire HD 7", Pink/Papaya (with built-in screen protection). A good looking case, but it comes with a hefty price tag ($69.95)


Bobj Rugged Case for Kindle Fire HD 7 - BobjGear protective cover - Gotcha Green $21.95


Devicewear Station: Protective Drop Resistant Heavy Duty Case for Kindle Fire HD 7" (Black) -$26.95.  This is the heavy-weight in the group and at a great price.


Gumdrop Cases Drop Tech Series Protective Case Cover for Kindle Fire, Blue - With Screen Protection (does not fit Kindle Fire HD) $49.95


Fintie (Blue) Casebot Kiddie Series Light Weight Shock Proof Handle Case for Kids Specially made for Kindle Fire HD 7 (will only fit Kindle Fire HD 7") - Multi Color Options $9.95. No sure how well this one may hold up, but at under $10 its worth a look.

After reviewing all of the contenders, I purchased the Devicewear Station: Protective Drop Resistant Heavy Duty Case for Kindle Fire HD 7" (Black) -$26.95.  

iPhone 5 Release this Monday?

Tim Cook will take center stage at the WWDC on Monday (1pm est) and the rumor mill suspects that he will unveil details about the next Apple iPhone and iOS 7. Don't hold your breath for a "cheap" iPhone - if there is anything folks should know is that Apple will not release a less expensive version - they will simply lower the price of the previous model. So expect to see the iPhone 5 on sale - or they maybe be given away for free.
Security is all of the buzz when it comes to the iPhone 5 - the will scan your finger print the allow access - so long 4-digit code. Other rumored features - larger screen - Gaze detection -better camera - larger storage options, but no SD slot - NFC - Smart bezel..

Concept

Patent

The Banning of Google Glass

Casinos in Las Vegas, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Conneticut and Ohio have banned the use of Google Glass in any of their casinos. Atlantic City was the latest to issue the ban on Monday based on a memo from  the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, which said,

"If these eyeglasses were worn during a poker game, they could be used to broadcast a patron's hand to a confederate or otherwise be used in a collusive manner"
"Even if the glasses had not been used for cheating ... their presence at a gaming table would lead to the perception that something untoward could be occurring, thereby undermining public confidence in the integrity of gaming," wrote David Rebuck, the division's director wrote in  his memo to the NJ casinos.

As I wrote earlier, the ban on Google Glass may extend into other areas, like, Sporting events, office buildings, shops, meetings, concerts, airplanes, Malls/Dept. Stores, schools/universities, banks, airports, hospitals, government buildings, roller coasters (Hershey Park -Thing) - I am not sure how I missed casinos. 

Read more on Google Glass:

http://mediamixmaster.blogspot.com/2013/04/your-glasses-have-arrived-now-check_24.html

Find Your Next Job in the Article Comments

Zynga (NASDAQ: ZNGA - Jun 4 9:07am ET $2.99)
announced yesterday that it will be laying off 520 people, 18% of its workforce in an effort to save $70-80 million. Industry experts wonder how long the once popular can survive. But in reading articles about the layoffs I noticed an interesting thing in the comments section of each post. The comments are usually filled with comments from the terminated employees, and it can give you a closer  glimpse into what is happening at that company. But stuck between the employee comments were job postings from other software companies.So a word to job seekers, read the article comments.

http://techcrunch.com/2013/06/03/zynga-global-layoffs/


More on Zynga:

http://mediamixmaster.blogspot.com/2012/06/social-media-bubble.html

http://mediamixmaster.blogspot.com/2011/07/zynga-files-for-ipo-of-up-to-1-billion.html

http://mediamixmaster.blogspot.com/2011/11/zynga-quick-rise-may-bring-about-its.html

http://mediamixmaster.blogspot.com/2012/04/zynga-stock-continues-to-slide.html

Is Bigger Really Better for Tablets?

HP just announced the Rove 20, a 20-inch all-in one PC ( Windows 8) with a multi- touch display, which makes it more of a tablet. Not expected to be available until July, this $1,000 monster tablet may not appeal to many consumer who have come to enjoy a smaller form-factor.  Don't be surprised if these monsters of the Midway find a niche home. Microsoft just signed a deal with the NFL - they may make excellent playbooks. The double duty device has the potential to satisfy a number of features on any geeks must have list.

Google All Access

Radio without rules - Your personal library blended with your own.
As expect Google launches its own music service that will compete with the likes of Spotify and Pandora. Google actually has a better mouse trap. You can create your own music catalog and modify your library on the fly, either removing or adding from all access. The power of Google is most apparent in the Listen Now feature, which makes suggestions to the types of music you may want to hear and it will even create radio stations for you.
Google is offering All Access for  $9.99 a month , $7.99 if you sign-up before June 30th.

Tesla Model S - It's Ready to Go!

Sure Goldman Sachs may have downgraded Tesla to neutral - but Consumer Reports says its a BUY!
After testing the Tesla Model S,  Consumer Reports has awarded the stylish electric car an impressive 99 out of 100 score. This is the first electric vehicle to receive such a high score.

According to Jake Fisher, director of Automotive Testing for Consumer Reports, "The Tesla Model S is packed with technological innovation," -  "It accelerates, handles and brakes like a sports car, it has the ride and quietness of a luxury car and is far more energy efficient than the best hybrid cars."

I was lucky enough to take more than a few spins on the Consumer Reports test track in Connecticut a few years ago. It was awesome. I drifted the track in a G35 (traction control turned off) , a Mini Cooper, a Cadillac CTS, and a Mustang.  I image that the Tesla was a beast on the track.

And I want one!

Vibe Sold Again

Vibe,who set the standard in reporting about Urban Hip Hop, has been sold to SpinMedia. The sale included Vibe Magazine, Vibe.com, and Vibevixen.com - but a price was not disclosed. Based on SpinMedia's digital only approach, Vibe Magazine will be shut down, which is what happened to Spin. Apparently, their management team is still trying to  find a print model that makes sense.
Hopefully, they will keep Jermaine Hall at the helm.

Newspaper Reporter Voted Worst Job of 2013

So when you hear the words Worst Job - it's easy to image someone lifting garbage cans or pumping raw sewage out of drains, but those jobs have benefits, pay increases and unions to help.
According to Careercast.com, the worst job for 2013 is a Newspaper Reporter, which slight edged out Lumberjack for the top spot and finished ahead of Enlisted Military Personnel. Its amazing to think that jobs that have  life threatening risks rank higher than Newspaper Reporters.

For New Career Options: Click Here

Your Glasses Have Arrived, Now Check Them at the Door!

Google Glass will be making its way into the hands of a lucky 8,000 people, who won the right to be the first to consumers to purchase Google's latest invention. Being first has it's cool factor, but it also has a price. Google is charging the lucky few $1,500 for their "Glass". Along with its lofty price Google also has a strict policy on the selling/transferring  of "Glass".

Per Google: "You may not commercially resell any device, but you may give the device as a gift. Recipients of gifts may need to open and maintain a Google Wallet account in order to receive support from Google. These terms will also apply to any gift recipient."

The kicker,

"Unless otherwise authorized by Google, you may only purchase one device, and you may not resell, loan, transfer, or give your device to any other person. If you [do this] without Google’s authorization, Google reserves the right to deactivate the device, and neither you nor the unauthorized person using the device will be entitled to any refund, product support, or product warranty."

It is easy to see the social benefit of new technologies. When Google announced Glass - I could see myself being witness to an accident - with the blink of my eye I could record precious evidence - with another blink I could call 911 and send them the GPS coordinates. 
The words, "I wish you could have seen it" - would no longer be used. Instead we would share our recordings - and say check this out. With every twist of your head you could begin to string together a real-time digital record of your day, heck your life. 
But like with most cool things - you can use them for good and you can use them from evil.

I read a piece from Rosa Golijan, where she explored privacy concerns surrounding Google Glass. Until then, I really hadn't considered the number of places where "Glass" may not be welcomed. As I thought about it my list grew. Sporting events, office buildings, shops, meetings, concerts, airplanes, Malls/Dept. Stores, schools/universities, banks, airports, hospitals, government buildings, roller coasters (Hershey Park -Thing),  and the list goes on. As cool as they are, Google Glass may not be very welcome. A number of Google Glass videos are available on YouTube - check them out.

Reading: http://mediamixmaster.blogspot.com/2012/12/my-top-10-list-for-2012-good-and-bad.html

Chinua Achebe, Nigerian Literary Titan, Dies at 82

Just saw this on the NY Times website.

" Chinua Achebe, the Nigerian writer who was one of Africa’s most widely read novelists and one of the continent’s towering men of letters, has died after a brief illness, his publisher and agent said in London on Friday. He was 82."

I had the opportunity to study African literature in college and was introduced to many great authors thanks to Dr . Suthernland. I remember the day she assigned "things fall apart" - this book and his other works appealed to the political scientist in me. 

The Future Time Inc. ?

In recent weeks, the rumors have been swirling. The death of the Crowd Jewel? Iowa, really?Layoffs? Firings? VC's?
It's not a secret that the Magazine industry has been struggling for a number of years and Time Inc. wasn't impervious to the market declines in advertising revenue. They, like every other publisher struggled to figure out how get consumers to pay for content.Younger consumers, who enjoyed the "FREE"-dom of the internet - who learned about the value of content from the likes of Napster, Megaupload and limewire.
 The split-off of Time Inc. magazines is a good thing for the publications and for the industry. If you remove the bureaucracy, take some risks, rethink the game plan and the players, and partner with the "enemy"  -- you can redefine the brand and re-create a profitable business model again. In a company as large as Time Inc., this is also a great opportunity to tidy up a bit in terms of management, staff, technology, vision and mission. With an estimated  $3 billion in annual revenue - I full expect to see the new company to make some aggressive moves in 2013 in terms of talent, partnerships, acquisitions and new products. Sure the deal with Meredith fell through - but once a few layers of the bureaucracy disappear there will be opportunities for other deals to emerge.

Least Expensive Way to Fix Your Cracked Samsung Galaxy S III Screen

Whether its a hairline crack or smashed the replacement process is the same. After my phone cracked, I immediately looked at every video on you tube, because I could fix it myself. After an hour or two, I determined that it would be a really bad idea. One Video highlighted that the LCD is fused to the gorilla glass, and separating the two is extremely difficult. Another video encouraged users to use a heat gun to pry the two pieces apart - but warned folks to be careful, because you could melt the plastic bezel. The video also claimed that you find a replacement LCD on eBay for $120 - not true. Everything I saw was $200 and up. Yet another reason not to do it yourself.
So, I looked for local phone "fixit" places in New York - and there are a lot of them. If you can't be without your phone for more that a few hours expect to pay $265 and up in CASH! -No Charge.
If you can stand to be without your phone for a few days (I know how tough it can be) you can send your phone to Samsung and get the LCD/Screen repaired for $178 -shipping included. You have to call their phone support -- details are as follows: 1-888-987-4357, Mon-Fri: 7 AM - 9 PM (CST), Sat: 9 AM - 6 PM (CST).

Google Heads Back To the Future

In my last post, I raised the question of whether our smartphone have become an extension of our bodies. Now let's look at how Google is taking things a step further with its latest products and my predictions for future products.

Google Glass - I am still confused about what it can and can't do. But these rather normal looking (and extremely cool) shades are a glimpse into the future - where all of our everyday accessories become a wearable part of our digital network. We will learn more about the devices features, like storage and prescriptions, as it gets closer to launch.

The rumor mill has also been buzzing about the Google watch. From the descriptions - its glass for your wrist.

From yours eyes to your feet, Google recently demonstrated a pair of talking sneakers. Farfetched, I don't think so. Who can forget Back to The Future, when Marty has his Nike's auto-lace and his jacket self-dries. While the Google talking shoe demo seemed lame and rather annoying --- It could be an awesome sign of things to come.

Like:
1) Sneakers that you can program to adjust to varies conditions. Running shoes that can increase air padding for longer runs or deflate for short races. Soles that can sense the temperature of the terrain and allow the shoe to let more air in.
Or Basketball shoes that provide support based on your weight and height.

2) Glasses that provide accident avoidance technologies while you drive, run or bike.

3) A watch that tracks all of your vital signs - it will know that you are sick before you do and notify your doctor to email your prescription to the pharmacy.

4) Google Home Appliance will be awesome - my refrigerator would track weather partners to determine that a storm is on the way and notify me to stock up on water and milk in the correct quantities, heck it may even auto order from Peapod, while finding all of the available coupons/discounts.

Is Your Smartphone a Part of Your Body?

I'm accused of being overly observant and my background as a social scientist doesn't help.  Coupled with the fact that I loved reading Freakonomics (& Super ...) and I work with data – so inevitably I've conducted hundreds of my own experiments (mostly in my head). The one I am having the most fun with is observing how people interact with their Smartphones.

So I have taken the liberty of classifying them ... 

1) Death-grippers - Their smartphones never leave their hands. Even when their phones are off they twirl and toss them around. It almost appears that their phones have become security blankets or an extension of their bodies. These are also the folks who most likely to be in love with their phones. Their phones have become more than a gateway to the internet - they have become a gateway to social interaction - even if they are standing in a room full of people.

2) Hide and Seekers (When in doubt pull it out!)- These folks don't hold their phones all of the time, they take time to put their phones away after using them. But if left with nothing to do (a few minutes on a subway ride) or a social challenging moment, they instinctively reach into their pocket and pull out their phone. They switch the phone on (obviously not answer a call in a subway tunnel) - glance at the time or scroll to a message - then away it goes. They unconsciously repeat this process over and over again.

3) As Needed - These folks only reach for the phone when they need it. Their phones connect them to their REAL lives - unlike 1 & 2, where their phones are their lives. In social settings their phones remain hidden - they tend to have more friends on social networks than 1 & 2's.

Take a look around - I am sure you can identify people you know who fit in to these groups.

Blackberry Down, As Home Depot Adopts iPhone

Blackberry is quickly becoming an artifact of the mobile revolution. Only two years ago they owned corporate marketplace - but now its starting to resemble Palm. Corporate customers are moving away  - with the most popular brands (like Home Depot) grabbing headlines and causing RIM's stock price to drop. As corporate IT  becomes more decentralized and employees are being asked to buy their own phones - people are opting to go with products that are more attractive to the individual consumer - iOS & Android products.

Google's Mapathon 2013 in India

I have written about Google Map Maker before, this cool software allows registered members to build and revise existing maps, add shortcuts or landmarks and favorite hangouts. Google's goal is to increase their map coverage (particularly local coverage) in India. To encourage people to join this crowd-sourcing effort - Google is giving away prizes.
The gifts include 10 Samsung Galaxy Note 800 tablets and 40 Samsung Galaxy SII smartphones, as well as gift vouchers and Mapathon T-shirts.

Schmidt tio Cash In on Google Stock

According to my buddy Steve Schaefer @ Forbes.com, Eric Schmidt plans to sell $2.5B chuck of Google stock. An SEC filing on Friday, indicating that the former Google chief executive officer is planning to sell 3.2 million of the 7.6 million share of Google that he owns. Even though Schmidt is selling 42% of his shares - Don't expect to see his role at Google decrease.
Take a look at Eric's Billionaire status

DNA: The Next Big Thing in Storage

Scientists at European Bioinformatics Institute (EBI) are using synthetic DNA to solve the worlds long-term data archival problem. With billions upon billions of bytes occupying hard drives and using electricity - scientist have narrowed their sights on DNA as a viable storage solution. DNA has the capacity for high-density information encoding, and its has longevity - think about it, we can extract DNA from the bones of prehistoric creatures, that pretty good storage performance (minus a hard drive and electricity). Consider this, DNA can encode roughly 2 Petabytes per gram, now that's serious storage.

Recently the scientists at EBI, encoded Martin Luther King's 1963 "I have a dream" speech, along with all 154 of Shakespeare's sonnets, into a string of DNA - then they retrieved the data with 100% accuracy, using new error correction techniques, which did not previously exist.

 Some day DNA may provide the solution for our long-term data archival needs, but for now keep your hard drives spinning.

 

Atari Files for Bankruptcy

The Atari 2600 changed my life and the lives of children more than 30 years ago by bringing video games into our homes. I still remember my first game of Combat against my uncle, who purchased this game console on his way home from a business trip in Asia.  I still recall the moment when I "turned over" Asteroids - my friends cheered!
 The bankruptcy will allow Atari to split from its parent company and allow it to become independent company. Atari hopes to regain its profitable ways by developing games for mobile platforms, where it has seen some success over the last few years. I am pulling for them.
 If you miss the Atari Classics - take a look here!

Microsoft Surface Pro tablets Arriving Soon

Just in case you missed it, Microsoft announced that its first Surface Pros were rolling off the production line. So they should be available to consumers shortly. The Surface Pro will sport an Intel Core i5 processor, and will come in a 64GB version and 128GB version, pricing has not been announced for the US. According to analyst, Microsoft is expected to sell 2 million Surface Pros in 2013. Yes, for the whole year. Let's view this from another angle - Apple sells about twice that number of tablets a month. I posed the questions in a previous post, "Does Microsoft Still Matter?" -
IDC believes that Microsoft can gain 10% of the tablet market in 2013 - for their sake I hope its true. Windows 8 arrived as desktop and laptop sales plummeted - the surface arrived and no one lined up to buy it - the Surface Pro, well its Windows 7 compatible. I think I'll pass.

Google Guns Gets Shot Down!

Yesterday I read a post by WebProNews about Google Guns, a tank warfare game (reminiscent of Atari Combat). I was lucky and got to play the game, which allowed me to defend my neighborhood from an invading army of tanks with tanks of my own. I had tanks rolling through Central park & other great locations. It even suggested cool sites to battle on like the Tower of Pisa. To put it plainly, it was cool!
Unfortunately, before I could post it (which I should have done yesterday!) - Google shut it down for obvious branding reasons. The site now reads - Due to copyright issues this project no longer exists. 

The Best Tablet Covers for Kids

This Christmas everyone in my house wanted a tablet, so Santa delivered. But like most parents, I was concerned about the protecting these expensive gifts from their future owners. Luckily, I found some great options for protecting tablets from Kids.

My 7 year-old has a Kindle Fire and I purchased Fisher Price Kid-Tough Apptivity Case for Kindle Fire. At $29.99, it is far less expensive than other case and provided superior protection. The clam shell case locks the tablet safely inside its protective walls and provides a built-in screen protector. Even if your child is using your tablet you may want to consider this case. Its the right size for little ones to hold and it protects your screen from scratches/cracks. Funny enough, my mother-in-law saw the case and wants one for her kindle. It seems that the wide grip area is also helpful for Grandma as well.
Other options include:
i-Blason ArmorBox Kido Series For Amazon Kindle Fire , Dora the Explorer Universal Tray for the Kindle Fire, and the OtterBox Defender Series Protective Case for Kindle Fire.

There are also similar protectors for Apple's iPhone, iPad and iPod. The Fisher-Price Kid-Tough Apptivity Case, and the Fisher-Price Laugh and Learn Apptivity Case: iPad Edition.

 

Andrew Sullivan's Dish is Parting Ways With the DailyBeast

Sullivan's leap of faith is based on his loyal following of a million readers and the prospect that they will pay to access THEIR content. The Dish , will be available at andrewsullivan.com on February  1st. According to Sullivan, "There is no paywall. Just a freemium-based meter. We’ve tried to maximize what’s freely available, while monetizing those parts of the Dish where true Dishheads reside." "You’ll have a limited number of free read-ons a month, before we hit you up for $19.99." This combination  approach ties in the New York Times metered paywall and the Wall Street Journals  premium content model, which will ultimately lead you to a paywall.