Gregarius » BetaNews.Com » novembre 5, 2013

BetaNews.Com (16 non lus)

Digg wants to go viral, introduces video

Publié: novembre 5, 2013, 11:52pm CET par Alan Buckingham

Digg once ranked as a top site on the web when it came to finding the latest and biggest stories. Things went a bit downhill in recent times, but the company has been working on a phoenix-like resurrection, pulling itself from the ashes. The social news site has launched its Google Reader-replacement, in the form of Digg Reader, fresh on the heels of the shuttering of the once-popular RSS web app.

Now Digg goes all-in on video, stating "we're proud to announce that we've launched Digg Video, a section of Digg solely dedicated to collecting and promoting the best and most interesting video content on the Internet. It’s the Digg you already know and love, just in video form".

The company cites the high use of the 'video' tag as a driving force behind this decision, in fact telling us it received more use than any other tag. The team jokingly, we hope, states that "apparently the world is even more bored at work than we knew".

For now, the update is for the web only, but a promise of the feature on both Android and iOS has been made. Digg was also emphatic about thanking users for its recent resurgence. It may never knock off Reddit, but competition and choice matter more to the audience.
Microsoft is at it again! New campaign targets Google's email scanning

Publié: novembre 5, 2013, 6:41pm CET par Mark Wilson

Microsoft is no stranger to trying to stick the knife into the competition, and the company's latest campaign, Keep Your Email Private, is no different. This is not just an ad campaign, but rather an entire microsite that has been set up to demonstrate how much better Outlook.com is than Gmail. The reason? There is only really one put forward for consideration -- Google's scanning of emails.

This in itself is nothing new. We have known for a long time that Google scans the content of emails with a view to delivering targeted ads. It’s not something that everyone is happy with, but we know all about it, and if you don’t like it, you're free to move away from Gmail. But Microsoft is now exploiting this fact in a bid to attract people to Outlook.com.

Unlike Gmail, Outlook.com keeps your privacy private. You won’t see ads based on keywords from your personal email. Your email is nobody else's business. But Google makes it their business. Even if you’re not a Gmail user, Google still goes through your personal email sent to Gmail and uses the content to sell ads.

There is a little '"infomercial" in which Microsoft explains how Gmail's scanning works -- except it doesn't really make it clear that the scanning is anonymized and private data is not revealed to any third party.

Microsoft explains Google's email scanning:

There are lots of statistics quoted about how much people dislike the idea of email scanning ([keepyouremailprivate.com]) as well as the ubiquitous petition which visitors are invited to use to voice their disapproval.

There's also a suitably amusing advert to help drive home the idea of personal privacy.

Are these tactics underhanded, or has Google left itself open to this sort of criticism? What's your view?
Google+ makes my world smaller

Publié: novembre 5, 2013, 6:20pm CET par Joe Wilcox

Four months ago, I embarked on a grand adventure. I boarded train Google+ and departed from station RSS. I left behind Feedly and my list of carefully curated subscriptions. Google Reader's demise set this new travel plan into motion. The search and information giant's social network would be my major -- really only -- source of news. Hey, other people rely on Twitter! I put Plus first.

I live the Google lifestyle, as many of us do everyday, but more than most people, by using Androids and Chromebook Pixel as my computing devices. But strange thing happened during my travels. Rather than find a broad, eclectic group of people, I increasingly encountered Google fanboys, which I am not. Rather than expand my horizons, Google+ shrinks them.

Google+ has changed much since I joined two summers ago. The network is larger (close to 400 million active monthly users) and more people are members than realize because of Google Account (If you don't use Plus, have a look -- you may be surprised to find yourself joined but idle). I also see the social network as increasingly less diverse, although participation in more Communities might remedy some of that.

Ten days ago, Ian Betteridge made the observation that had brewed in my brain but didn't percolate into thoughtful realization: "One thing that is impossible not to notice on Google+: There's a very distinct skew towards big Google fans in commenting. It doesn't matter which tech site's page you look at, the (in my view, tedious) 'fanboy' mentality is hotter here than on any other social network".

Yes! That's it! My recent experience with the network's changing character: The "Plus" is mostly about Google. I responded: "Obsession here with new rumored products like Nexus 5 reveals just how pervasive is fanboyism". Five days later, the search and information giant enhanced the service's photo features. Posted responses -- way too many of them -- wrinkled my knickers. I posted: "Ian Betteridge is right about Plus feeling more and more like a Google fanboy club. That's my clear takeaway to today's Google Plus update news. Can Plusers gush any louder and ignore everything else more?"

Perhaps I need to broaden my Circles. But I think there is simpler, more obvious conclusion: Plus attracts Google geeks -- and why not? The social network tightly ties to other major Google products and services and attracts users living the created lifestyle. I was naive not expecting the social network to tip towards fanboys rather than expand beyond them.

Most of the news I see or majority of the comments I get are about Google. Look for shared public posts about much of anything else than Google and what do you see? If I or others post about, say, Apple or Microsoft there is little response or, when there is comments tend to be negative to these competitors while praising most things Google.

My Plus experiment is a minus. I am now in process of a major pullback from Google+. I won't leave the network but will dramatically increase participation in others and expand from where I get news. My experiment started with a question hypothesis: Can a social network be the major source of news? For me, the answer is "No" with respect to Google+, mainly because of the fanboy invasion.

I'm not ready to return to Feedly or even use Flipboard. I will monitor Reddit, Tumblr, Twitter and other social networks, watching the feeds there for news. Being a journalist, social media as an alternative or replacement for finding general breaking news is an important exploration. But rather than ride the one train, I now figuratively purchase tickets for others.

I am not a Google fanboy, and I don't seek a community that reinforces what I might already believe. I want to make my world bigger. Perhaps that's too much to ask of any social network -- most certainly Google+.

Photo Credit: ponsulak/Shutterstock
TeamViewer 9 Beta improves security, adds new business and user-friendly features

Publié: novembre 5, 2013, 6:00pm CET par Mihaita Bamburic

Today, TeamViewer announces a new beta version of its popular remote control software for Windows, Mac and Linux PCs. The latest release, named TeamViewer 9 Beta, introduces new features aimed at businesses, developers and end-users as well as security improvements.

The most noteworthy security addition in TeamViewer 9 Beta is two-factor authentication. It allows users to add an extra layer of protection to their accounts by using security codes, that can be sent to their mobile devices and, alternatively, generated by dedicated mobile apps. On Macs, TeamViewer 9 also adds the option to increase the password strength in QuickSupport.

"TeamViewer has always been focused on remote support functionality", says the company's head of product management Kornelius Brunner. "With TeamViewer 9, we are going back to the roots and offering even better features for support teams in companies large and small".

Service Queue is a new TeamViewer 9 Beta feature aimed at IT staffs, that provides the option to assign, manage and share requests for immediate support. Users who join remote support sessions can now use a unique code, that is created specifically for that session, instead of having to exchange a username and password. The unique code can be distributed as a link.

The software adds the option to save customized customer modules with the company's branding (for Host, QuickJoin or QuickSupport) in the TeamViewer Management Console. The modules can be tailored, as needed, to a customer, group or support provider. The customers will receive the latest TeamViewer version, following any modifications.

TeamViewer 9 Beta introduces tab support. This allows users to open multiple remote control sessions and view multiple displays in a single window. Tabs can flash, indicating new activity.

Wake-on-LAN is now supported, allowing users to trigger a remote wake of the PCs they wish to control. The feature only works between devices connected to the same local network.

In TeamViewer 9 Beta users can take advantage of a univeral clipboard, which allows them to copy and paste content from their current device to a remotely-controlled one (files, folders, text and tables are supported). The formatting is carried over.

Using an FTP server, the software allows users to send files to devices and contacts without initiating remote control sessions. This offers an alternative to cloud-based storage services in such instances.

Specifically for Mac users, TeamViewer 9 Beta also adds the file box for quick sharing while using the software and the option to add a disclaimer when creating customized QuickSupport modules, which users have to accept before launching the software.

TeamViewer 9 Beta informs users of any new notifications in the Computers & Contacts area. The notifications include alerts for TeamViewer monitoring, ITBrain, new service cases, new contact requests and service cases assigned to the user.

Following the release of Windows 8.1 and OS X 10.9 Mavericks, TeamViewer 9 Beta features optimizations to ensure it runs well on the two new operating systems. The remote control software is also optimized for touch input, thanks to a new user interface and Computers & Contacts look, and video transfers, which work faster according to the company.

TeamViewer launched its public API, which allow developers to integrate the remote-control software into an existing infrastructure. It's primarily aimed at business customers, and comes in response to customer feedback.

"The release of the API is a major milestone for our company", says Brunner. "In the past we've received dozens of emails from users asking if they can integrate TeamViewer as remote support software into their environments. We can finally provide outside developers with access to create sessions from their software and integrate with the data they manage within the TeamViewer infrastructure".

There are two API features: the Reporting API and the User Management API. The former allows to fetch reporting data from the TeamViewer Management Console while the latter allows the syncing of user data between an existing user management system and TeamViewer.

TeamViewer 9 Beta is available to download from TeamViewer's Download page.
.NET Version Detector adds support for .NET 4.5.1

Publié: novembre 5, 2013, 5:19pm CET par Mike Williams

If programs aren’t running as expected on a PC then checking whatever .NET versions are installed is often a good idea. So it’s a pity that Microsoft doesn’t provide a quick and easy way to do this, instead forcing users to navigate through multiple Registry keys (not so helpful when you’re trying to remotely troubleshoot problems with a PC novice).

Fortunately there are plenty of more straightforward alternatives around, and one of the more capable, ASoft’s portable .NET Version Detector, has just been upgraded to version 14.

The main addition this time is support for detecting .NET 4.5.1, as included with Windows 8.1. Just run the program and any installed .NET versions will be listed at the end of a text report. If you’re asking someone else to check their own PC, they can click Copy to send the report to the clipboard, before pasting it into a message to you.

The program also provides links to the various download pages for each .NET version, as well as the relevant SDK (we’re less convinced about the usefulness of the latter, but hey, it’s there if you need it).

Maybe you just need to check something in the .NET folder itself? Check the logo to the left of an installed version and Explorer will open in the appropriate place.

And, conveniently, there’s also a straightforward command line option which allows you to capture these .NET versions from a script. There are no complex switches to worry about, just provide a report name -- dotnet.exe c:\dotnet.txt -- and it’ll be generated for you.

.NET Version Detector could be improved further in plenty of ways, mostly by reducing its cluttered interface. The program’s core task is relatively basic, yet for some reason it still requires a table, a text box, three colored panes, seven .NET logos, thirteen buttons and a menu bar. There’s surely plenty of scope for simplifying all this? Maybe next time.
BitTorrent Sync surpasses one million users, celebrates with major update

Publié: novembre 5, 2013, 4:56pm CET par Alan Buckingham

Way back in January, BitTorrent released its sync app, though it was early days, and the organization wished to keep testing to a private level. Since then, there has been steady progress, including making a beta version available to the masses. Now it seems the service reaches critical mass with today's news.

The company starts its announcement with news that Sync has surpassed one million users, along with more than 30 petabytes of data synced so far. The company points, in part, to the recent security climate as one of the reasons for its popularity. "BitTorrent Sync is a beta project in cloud-free syncing. Our goal is to build a sharing tool that lets you move big files, and big ideas, freely. Without surveillance. Without speed limits. And without size caps. Your data belongs to you. Sync is designed to keep your stuff yours; with you and your team, wherever you are", the announcement states.

But the news goes beyond the numbers and vague references to NSA activity. Version 1.2 is rolling out and, while still a beta, it promises a number of improvements. For starters, a speed boost claims to have been clocked at 90 MB/s, which doubles the previous version of the app. Beyond that, BitTorrent also unveils an iOS feature set -- "You can now send and sync files in other apps using Sync, and save media from your Sync folders direct to your camera roll", the company says.

Finally, BitTorrent is also rolling out a developer API, claiming "the new API will allow developers to create distributed social media, communications, and enterprise apps on top of the platform. It’s designed to work across major operating systems; including Windows, Mac, and Linux".

BitTorrent Sync arrived just in time to fill the seat that had previously been occupied, at least in my home, by Live Mesh. The app has done a more than adequate job of filling in for the service Microsoft decided to kill off. This update promises more good things to come.

Image credit: sheelamohanachandran2010/Shutterstock
LastPass gets a makeover, gains a cleaner, sleeker design

Publié: novembre 5, 2013, 1:15pm CET par Nick Peers

Online password manager LastPass has updated its range of browser-based extensions with the release of LastPass 3.0 for Windows, Mac and Linux. The manager, which supports all major web browsers, comes with a fresh new design and changes to the way users interact with web forms.

Also updated are the company’s premium-only mobile apps, LastPass 2.5.2 for Android, and LastPass for Windows 8, while LastPass 2.0.6 for iOS will be updated once it’s passed Apple’s store approval process.

Version 3.0 opens with a revamped design that also sees fundamental changes to the way the manager works. Previously users were alerted to fillable fields by a notification bar at the top of the web page, but this is now being phased out in favor of highlighting the fields themselves using icons.

When users click the field, a dynamic menu will appear that attempts to anticipate what the field type is as well as what it expects the user to do, whether it’s filling the field from their password vault, saving the site as a new login or generating a new secure password. Users can also access other LastPass tools from this dynamic menu.

The cleaner design extends to the main add-on itself, with a streamlined menu now offering a convenient search bar for quickly looking up information stored in the user’s vault. Similarly, the vault itself has also been redesigned to reflect the new look.

Those with premium accounts will find the Android app -- with iOS to follow pending Apple’s review -- has also been updated. The key change is the new "browser-forward" experience, which integrates the vault into the browser itself, making it easier and quicker to search and access both logins and profiles. Also simplified are the twin processes of adding new sites and generating new passwords.

Both mobile apps also gain a redesigned "holo" user interface, plus support multi-tabbed browsing and clickable icons for the first time.

Another new feature for premium users is Shared Family Folders, which allows one premium user to share user logins with up to five family members. Existing login information can simply be dragged into the shared folder, and other family members do not need to have a premium subscription to make use of it.

Other improvements include immediate syncing of passwords for all users, updated Windows 8 app and improved compatibility with Windows 8.1. There are also numerous improvements for Enterprise customers.

LastPass 3.0 for Windows, Mac and Linux, covering Internet Explorer, Chrome, Firefox, Safari and Opera, is available now as a free download. Those with premium subscriptions can also access LastPass for Android 2.5.2, LastPass for iOS 2.0.6 (new release due imminently) and LastPass for Windows 8.
Dear Sundar Pichai -- there's a petition demanding Android 4.4 on Galaxy Nexus

Publié: novembre 5, 2013, 1:07pm CET par Alan Buckingham

Samsung and Google jointly released the Galaxy Nexus just over two years ago, in October 2011. The handset is no longer shiny and new, but that doesn't mean there aren't still customers using the device -- it's still for sale at retail locations like Amazon. And Nexus owners could be considered the hardcore Android fans or, in other words, the very ones who know about, and want, version 4.4 of the mobile operating system.

However, Google sticks to a rigid 18-month lifespan for devices, and this means the Galaxy Nexus will not be updated to Android 4.4. Despite the perception that the search giant isn't known for changing its mind, a sampling of the handset's owners are attempting to petition the company to do exactly that.

The petition, which is currently on change.org, has garnered just under 14,000 signatures (as of this writing), and is just 1,000 signatures shy of reaching its goal.

"Google released the new Android 4.4 'Kitkat' today. Explaining the phone will consume even less RAM (Memory) than the previous versions, you might expect them to release it for the 'older' Galaxy Nexus phone which has 1 GB of RAM, which is twice as much as necessary to run the latest Android version", the petition starts out.

This seems a longshot, as Google does not have a history of changing its mind, at least when it comes to killing off products (the shuttering of Google Reader proved that, and there was a petition for that too). However, given the two-year lifecycle of US carrier contracts, the company may need to rethink its 18-month lifespan for support.
Dropbox gets Sold!

Publié: novembre 5, 2013, 12:35pm CET par Mark Wilson

Dropbox is a name that's usually associated with online storage where it finds itself pitted against the likes of Google Drive and Microsoft's SkyDrive. But now the company could be branching out in a new direction with the purchase of Sold, one of the simplest online selling services ever invented.

Sold existed as an iOS and Android app and the idea was that a user uploaded a photo and brief description and everything else was taken care of by Sold -- no worrying about determining the best price or calculating postage. Or as Sold put it "doing all the dirty work for" users. There are no details about what will happen to Sold now that it has been, er, sold, but for now the site has been effectively shut down.

A statement on the Sold website reads: "As of today, our service will no longer be accepting new items".

The statement goes on to say:

We decided that the move to Dropbox couldn’t be better -- their roadmap includes exciting new experiences which align perfectly with our ethos of creating products that positively affect people. Going forward, the Sold team will continue working together to build these experiences, shaping the future of Dropbox for their 200M strong user base. It’s an opportunity too good to pass up.

At this stage it is not clear whether Sold will relaunch under a different guise, will be absorbed into Dropbox, or whether it will just vanish. But whatever happens, Dropbox has gained itself an interesting service or a number of new additions to its staff. Either that or it has just shut down the competition because of a future venture.

Image credit: Mmaxer/Shutterstock
Scanning emails to target ads is not cricket says UK public

Publié: novembre 5, 2013, 12:11pm CET par Ian Barker

From technology that watches you in the supermarket, to social networking’s attempts to make the ads we see more relevant, the advertising industry is becoming cleverer at getting its message in front of the right people.

But is scanning emails, as Gmail does, a step too far? A survey commissioned by Outlook.com in the UK has found that 84 percent of people disapprove of email service providers scanning messages in order to target online adverts.

The study, carried out by independent research company GfK, also finds that 64 percent of UK residents were unaware of any email provider scanning messages to target them with ads. A massive 93 percent agreed that they should have the ability to opt out of having their messages scanned for this purpose.

Annie Weber, Executive Vice President of GfK's Public Affairs & Corporate Communications division says, "The polling indicates that overall many British residents are unfamiliar or uncomfortable with the idea of email service providers scanning words in emails for the purpose of targeting advertising. At a time when digital privacy is increasingly concerning the public, this survey suggests that service providers need to work hard to ensure email users understand the specifics of how their personal content is being used, and the underlying reasons for these practices which will result in a more informed and educated user".

Are you concerned about your mail provider scanning your messages to show you more relevant adverts? Or is that low on the scale of your online privacy worries? After all, it's hardly a new practice. Let me know via the comments.

Image credit: Amir Kaljikovic/Shutterstock
Google launches new Hangouts-inspired assistance service, Helpouts

Publié: novembre 5, 2013, 11:58am CET par Mark Wilson

As promised back in August, Google launches Helpouts, an online video help service based on the idea of Hangouts. Or as Google puts it, "real help from real people in real time". There are numerous online help repositories -- Yahoo Answers et al -- but the thinking behind Helpouts is to make things live and instantaneous.

If you have a sudden yearning to make a soufflé, forget hunting through score of recipes sites for the best method, get someone to show you step by step.

It's kind of like having your mum, dad, best friend, knowledgeable uncle and local handyman on tap whenever you need them. Of course, this all comes at a price. Those offering help are able to charge for their services, while anyone looking for help can browse through the experts and make a choice based on price, the ratings of other users and availability.

Hangouts is very much a two-way street. If you are an expert in any given field, you can offer your help to the online community. And of course there is the opportunity to make a little money. You have the option of charging by the hour (which conjures up some interesting images) or per session, and everything is taken care of through Google Wallet. There is potential for Helpouts to be used to offer one-off help sessions as and when required, or ongoing lessons.

The beauty of Helpouts is its simplicity. It is a wonderfully simple idea -- using a webcam to show someone how to do something seems blindingly obvious -- but this is the first time it has really been implemented in such a way as to be accessible and workable. It's early days at the moment, and there are a limited number of categories of help, but this will expand over time. To help instill confidence, there is a full money back guarantee for anyone who is not completely happy with their experience.

There are already some well-known names involved -- Weight Watchers, Sephira and Rosetta Stone to name but three -- but anyone is free to offer their help, and charge for it. If you fancy earning some cash by sharing your knowledge, head over to the signup page.

Check out the video to get an idea of what Google thinks you could be using the service for.

Image credit: iQoncept/Shutterstock
New tools from Adaptiva aim to streamline Windows XP migration

Publié: novembre 5, 2013, 11:10am CET par Ian Barker

Most people should know by now that Microsoft is ending support for Windows XP in April 2014. However, according to NetMarketShare's latest report, 31.24 percent of the PC market is still running the venerable OS.

For enterprises this raises serious security and compatibility issues not to mention the time and effort involved in migrating large numbers of systems. Solutions provider Adaptiva is offering an answer in the form of its OneSite Rapid OSD product to aid operating system deployment and cut the time and cost involved in moving to Windows 7 or 8.

Where traditional migration techniques need server resources on site and technicians to spend time at the desk, OneSite allows the process to be carried out without either.

It uses a number of tools to streamline the process, these include pre-staging of content so that files travel over the WAN only once, using predictive bandwidth to minimize impact on other traffic. On LANs multiple systems are allowed to download files simultaneously. When an OS image gets updated OneSite creates a small "diff" file rather than transfer the whole thing again, saving both bandwidth and time.

OS images are delivered using a peer-to-peer pre-boot execution environment (PXE) rather than relying on a single server. This allows for faster installs by choosing the best peer system to serve the image. The system also uses a virtual state migration point (SMP) to store all of the user settings and applications in a file that can easily be moved across a network and cached on other machines with spare disk space. It can aggregate unallocated space so as not to steal storage from users.

"Operating System migration involves an extreme amount of data and requires a way to manage the distribution and deployment of about 20-25+ gigabytes of data required for most companies," says Deepak Kumar, CTO and founder of Adaptiva. "Because OneSite is tightly integrated with Microsoft SCCM, it provides an elegant solution that automatically creates a Virtual SAN and Virtual SMP at every network location, making OS migration a much easier task. Our technologies drastically cut deployment times down to as quick as a single day -- once the image and task sequence have been created -- all without the need for consulting services".

You can find out more about OneSite and sign up for a trial version on the Adaptiva website.

Photo credit: JNT Visual/Shutterstock
Windows 8.1 'Back-up Media' disc available to buy soon

Publié: novembre 5, 2013, 9:40am CET par Wayne Williams

Although Microsoft made upgrading from Windows 8 to 8.1 easy and free, the process has to be done through the Microsoft Store. If you want an ISO version of the OS, and don’t have a TechNet or MSDN subscription, you need to engage in a little trickery, which is straightforward enough, but not ideal.

As someone who once bought a brand new Advent laptop with Vista on it, but without any discs I could use to reinstall or repair the OS in the event of trouble, I know how frustrating not having a physical (or digital) copy can be. Newegg is currently offering a "Windows 8.1 Back-up Media disc" for pre-order that could potentially save the day.

Exactly what the disc contains isn’t spelled out (a recovery disc/a full installable copy of the OS/both?), but you will need to have your own Windows 8.1 license key to use it. The disc doesn’t come with one, which is to be expected as the product retails for $14.99. It’s also being offered through AntaresPro for $19.98.

The Windows 8.1 Back-up Media disc is set to be released on the 15 November, so we should find out more about it before then. You can pre-order it from Newegg here.
Google+ Connected Classrooms -- children are denied proper field trips

Publié: novembre 5, 2013, 2:47am CET par Brian Fagioli

When I was a young man, I hated school. While sitting in the dreary classroom, I would often stare out the window and daydream about the huge world out there. However, there were times when I loved school -- on field trip days. On these days, we would board a big yellow school bus and travel to a magical place such as the Zoo or a Broadway show.

While the destination was important, the trip itself was too. You see, the entire thing was an experience; one that cannot be matched by a video or photograph. Sure, kids can watch a DVD about giraffes, but to see the animals in person and potentially feed them is something different entirely. Today, Google announces Google+ Connected Classrooms -- a way for children to go on virtual field trips with Google+. While this sounds like a great way to leverage technology, it can be argued that it is the beginning of the end for real field trips.

"Today we're launching a new initiative on Google+ called Connected Classrooms that enables students around the world to take 'virtual field trips' through Google+ Hangouts, visiting places they would otherwise never be able to explore. We're kicking things off today with field trips to the Seattle Aquarium, the Minnesota Zoo and the Solar Impulse hangar. Later, teachers can sign up to take their classrooms on virtual field trips hosted by organizations like National Geographic, Matilda the Musical, the Philadelphia Museum of Art and more than 20 other partners", says Lisa Jiang, Google+ Education Partnerships Lead.

She further says, "teachers are already using Google+ to make learning more relevant, collaborative and accessible -- from exploring a world-class art museum to staging a play to venturing into space. Connected Classrooms aims to make it easier for teachers to access exciting educational content to share with their students. In addition to the virtual field trips, teachers who visit the Connected Classrooms site will have the opportunity to join a Google+ Community with other educators to collaborate on field trips and share best practices for using digital tools in the classroom".

Google's intentions seem good and quite frankly, there are benefits to virtual field trips. After all, there are financial and geographical limitations on schools. For instance, a class in Brooklyn, NY cannot be expected to fly to Rome for a field trip. However, it is important to remember the importance of actual local field trips. Try as they might, Google will never replace that experience with any piece of technology.

Photo Credit: Goodluz/Shutterstock
Tablet market share Trends -- Q3 2013: branded Android vs. IPad

Publié: novembre 5, 2013, 1:21am CET par Sameer Singh

IDC recently announced their tablet shipment estimates for Q3 2013 that showed a 6 percent growth over the previous quarter. This growth was entirely driven by large, branded Android tablet vendors as iPad demand declined ahead of the product refresh. This left the Android platform with a 65 percent share of the overall market. Let's take a deeper look at these figures in context of tablet market tiers.

As I had explained previously, the tablet market can broadly be categorized into multiple tiers, based on usage patterns. Here's a look at IDC's data in context of market tiers:

In the chart above, tier 1 Android tablet vendors include Samsung, Asus, Lenovo and Acer, while all other Android vendors (incl. Amazon, white-box vendors, etc.) are listed under tier two and three. Based on this categorization, shipments from tier 1 Android vendors overtook the iPad in Q3 by gradually poaching price sensitive iPad customers (or potential iPad customers). These upmarket moves, combined with Apple's pricing decisions, led to a greater than expected decline in iPad shipments.

While iPad sales are likely to grow in the holiday quarter (first weekend sales should certainly be strong), the scale of that growth may be in question. In addition to this, tier 1 & tier 2 Android tablets are likely to see strong growth as well. Based on this, Q4 may well turn out to be a make or break quarter for the iPad.

This story was reposted with permission from tech-thoughts

Sameer Singh is an M&A professional and business strategy consultant focusing on the mobile technology sector. He is founder and editor of tech-thoughts.net.
Tablet market share Trends -- Q3 2013: branded Android vs iPad

Publié: novembre 5, 2013, 1:21am CET par Sameer Singh

IDC recently announced its tablet shipment estimates for Q3 2013 that showed a 6 percent growth over the previous quarter. This growth was entirely driven by large, branded Android tablet vendors as iPad demand declined ahead of the product refresh. This left the Android platform with a 65 percent share of the overall market. Let's take a deeper look at these figures in context of tablet market tiers.

As I had explained previously, the tablet market can broadly be categorized into multiple tiers, based on usage patterns. Here's a look at IDC's data in context of market tiers:

In the chart above, tier 1 Android tablet vendors include Samsung, Asus, Lenovo and Acer, while all other Android vendors (incl. Amazon, white-box vendors, etc.) are listed under tier two and three. Based on this categorization, shipments from tier 1 Android vendors overtook the iPad in Q3 by gradually poaching price sensitive iPad customers (or potential iPad customers). These upmarket moves, combined with Apple's pricing decisions, led to a greater than expected decline in iPad shipments.

While iPad sales are likely to grow in the holiday quarter (first weekend sales should certainly be strong), the scale of that growth may be in question. In addition to this, tier 1 & tier 2 Android tablets are likely to see strong growth as well. Based on this, Q4 may well turn out to be a make or break quarter for the iPad.

This story was reposted with permission from tech-thoughts

Sameer Singh is an M&A professional and business strategy consultant focusing on the mobile technology sector. He is founder and editor of tech-thoughts.net.