The Professor's Notes

In episode 10 of “Real Tech for Real People” Tony Pittman and I talk about iPhone security problems (currently only a problem for jailbroken iPhones) as well as the move to “DVD/CD-less computers” and we ask the question “Do you use the DVD or CD player on your computer?”

That is really an interesting question.  Whether the desktop or a notebook/netbook computer, we were curious just how often those drives are used.  I use mine fairly regularly, but it is generally to create DVDs of the slideshows that I make for the HS Swim and Water Polo teams.  Other than that, the occasional file backup, and I too join the ranks of those who aren’t using them very often.

We also talked a bout about Windows 7 highlighting the 77 Windows 7 tips, and the challenges I had with the installation.  Of course, I had to later admit that some (um, most?) of the later problems were due to my failing to fully install one of the DDR3 memory sticks.

We had fun, and continue to enjoy talking about the technology that real people like to use.

We would love it if you would listen, and leave us feedback.

• Click here to listen.
• Click here to subscribe via iTunes.

Write us at:

Tony Pittman:  tony.pittman@gmail.com

Steve Brady: scmprofessor@gmail.com

Or call and leave us a voicemail at:

814-808-JOE1 (yes, we are both Joe Paterno fans.  Of course, Tony also played for Paterno!)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

I have been somewhat negligent in writing about our Real Tech for Real People podcast that I do with Tony Pittman every week.  I will try to recover here, and hit some of the highlights in the past few weeks.

Earlier this month we recorded Episode 9 of our podcast (listen here or download/subscribe through iTunes.)  The highlights of that week included a discussion of “Femtocell” technology, which essentially means installing a box in your home, connected to your internet (cable or FiOS) that creates a micro-cellphone tower in your own home.  It only transmits voice, but the ability to make cellphone calls in homes when you previously couldn’t get a strong (or any) signal is quite appealing.

We also discussed the new Apple line-up including the 27″ iMac and the Magic Mouse.

Finally, I shared my first “pick of the week” in this podcast.  I selected the Mophie Juice Pack Air.  This is a case that not only provides protection for the iPhone but by including a lithium ion battery doubles the battery life of your iPhone.

We talked about a number of other things, including Tony’s pick of the week.  So, check out the podcast, and let us know what you would like us to research and talk about!  Write us at:

Tony Pittman:  tony.pittman@gmail.com

Steve Brady: scmprofessor@gmail.com

Or call and leave us a voicemail at:

814-808-JOE1 (yes, we are both Joe Paterno fans.  Of course, Tony also played for Paterno!)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

The attentive reader of Kindle News knows that the Kindle (much like the Apple Mac) seems to imply hardware, or software, or both.  By this I mean we first heard about the Kindle as the digital ebook reader now known as the Kindle 1 (and then the Kindle 2 and Kindle DX)  Then Amazon announced the Kindle app for the iPhone, separating the Kindle reading experience from the Kindle hardware device.  That was recently followed by the release of the Kindle reader software for Windows PCs.  A Mac version is coming soon.

Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon, said essentially that the reading of Kindle books, and the hardware that we know as the Kindle are separate businesses.  In that article Bezos specifically described the competitive environment inside the Kindle world:

The device team has the job of making the most remarkable purpose-built reading device in the world,” Mr. Bezos said. “We are going to give the device team competition. We will make Kindle books, at the same $9.99 price points, available on the iPhone, and other mobile devices and other computing devices.

Jeff Bezos saw the need to create a competitive environment inside Amazon for the Kindle device design team.  As we all know, there are now more outside competitors, with the Barnes and Noble Nook making a strong run towards toppling the Kindle as the preferred eReader.  Many have called it “Kindle killing,” or a Kindle incinerator (cute play on words there) and suggest Nook will “eat Kindle’s lunch.”  All strong words, and so far most of the reviews seem to indicate the Nook lives up to the hype.

One interesting feature of the Nook is that it runs on the Google Android platform.  So what, you might ask?  Good question. Read the rest of this entry »

Amazon has announced a firmware update for the Kindle 2 and the Kindle DX that enhances battery life, provides native PDF support for the Kindle 2, and improves the PDF support of the DX.  You can read more about it from Amazon directly here.

The biggest downside?  That this doesn’t help the Kindle 1 owners at all.  Needless to say, those of us that weren’t convinced that the few features added to the Kindle 2 were worth the full purchase price for the upgrade are not too pleased with the lack of support (read the comments in the above link.)

On the other hand, perhaps this is a good reason to consider the Barnes and Noble Nook (if they can keep them in stock.)