IE9: What's Missing?

I’ve been using Internet Explorer 9 beta for a few days, so I’ve put it to the everyday browser test. Hours and hours and many, many websites later I’ve come to enjoy browsing using IE9, but there are a few things that still bug me. It goes without saying that IE9 is still in beta, so many or all of these annoyances may be fixed before final release sometime in 2011. I realize that I’ve certainly missed some things and have probably been a bit picky on some others, but here is what comes to mind:


User Interface

For the most part, the IE9 interface is very well done. It does borrow from Chrome’s minimalistic look, no doubt, but they did make some improvements as well. One of my complaints has to do with the “one box”. This is the Chromesque search bar/address bar located at the top of your browser window. I’m the kind of user who opts to use his drop down on the address bar to jump to frequently used sites. This can be accomplished by saving them to favorites or using the “popular sites” page when opening a new tab, but I’m a creature of habit and I would like a url history list that’s greater than the last five websites I’ve visited.

The inconsistency and incorrect placement of the Home button is also a bit confusing. Why Microsoft has moved the Home button to the less-accessed right side of the browser window is beyond me, but when you’ve pinned a site to your taskbar, the favicon then becomes the home button, which has now disappeared from the right side of the window. I’d like to see the home button moved to where the favicon appears (to the left of the back button).


Browser Options

My other complaint has to do with the lack of options within the Options menu. While I get that Microsoft was looking to completely slim down the browser, IE9 is missing some essential options, especially those regarding the search history and popular sites page. I would consider myself somewhere between a casual browser user and a power user, but the lack of options to customize the different settings and pages in IE9 is quite baffling. Maybe I’m missing something, but I’ve been using the browser for days and I can’t find a way to customize many of the pages and options in IE9. There also needs to be an outcry for Microsoft to update the dated look of the Internet Options menu window.


Cross-Platform Compatibility

Even though the large majority of the world are Windows users, there are, at least, four or five people running OSX and other versions of Linux. Microsoft needs to capitalize on the market share to be had in Windows XP, OSX and Linux systems. I realize they have their reasons for dropping XP compatibility, but if Microsoft wants to retrieve market share lost by IE6, IE7 and IE8 they need to make it available to as many users as humanly possible.


Speed and Compatibility

There’s not too much to complain about in this department. The browser loads pages as fast as Chrome does on my machine and even faster in some situations. Being that Chrome is the speed benchmark, Microsoft has done well. The speed of IE9 is pleasantly surprising and continues to impress with help from the GPU.

I haven’t experienced too many compatibility issues with web pages, but they are out there and let’s be thankful that IE9 still includes the Compatibility button.


Conclusion

Overall, IE9 is a solid browser and if Safari, Firefox, Opera and Chrome users would use it without biased they would admit it as well. Sure, it has its shortcomings, but it’s still a beta version so that’s to be expected. Simply, if you are currently an Internet Explorer user, this upgrade is a no-brainer. If you use another browser and are aggressively-evangelistic in promoting it in forums and comment sections, then you’re probably going to find fault in IE9, no matter how good it is.

If you are a Windows Vista or Windows 7 user, you should download the beta and see how you enjoy it: Click Here

Is Wonka Telling You What To Buy?

As Willy Wonka opens the doors to his Chocolate Room in the original film adaptation of 'Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory', leading his visitors along the banks of a chocolate river, he sings a song about the power of imagination. “Come with me, and you’ll be, in a world of pure imagination,” he promises. “Take a look, and you’ll see, into your imagination.” If you feel like you’ve heard "Pure Imagination" recently, it’s probably because it’s playing in an AT&T commercial currently in heavy rotation. Previously, versions of the song have also popped up in ads for MasterCard and a Lenovo laptop. I asked myself why this song was so popular among advertisers.

I believe commercials that use the song to inspire a sense of childish wonder in viewers, and follow in Wonka’s footsteps by using that wonder to sell products. MasterCard released an ad in 2005 set to an upbeat, poppy cover of the song, in which a couple wanders around a candy store where cameras, iPods, and vacation options fill the bins instead of pralines and Gummy Bears. Willy Wonka’s fantastical dreams may have had commercial appeal (those golden tickets moved a lot of Wonka bars), but this ad and its soulless cover carry a slightly more sinister message: Your dreams are mere commodities.



Other ads have stayed truer to the song's lyrical mood. In 2007, Lenovo used the original version of the song to promote their “Thinkpad” laptop, in a commercial that demonstrates the computer's durability. Among other things, the laptop is slammed against a wall in an automobile crash test, batted back and forth by astronauts in an anti-gravity room, submerged in water, held up to the sun in a desert, and frozen in liquid nitrogen, all while Gene Wilder’s voice croons dreamily in the background. “What we’ll see, will defy, explanation,” he trills. Modern science does just that, and the ad suggests that a computer is the doorway to countless other marvels. The song helps transform the computer from a necessity into something as enchanting and enduring as an Everlasting Gobstopper.

Now back to AT&T's current ad, “Pure Imagination” plays in the background as the camera pans across a city, where buses and pedestrians share the streets with a rainbow train, a purple creature with three eyes, and other fantastical images, all in a style of child-like drawings. The conceit: Anything is possible with an AT&T phone, just like anything is possible in the world of a 5-year-old’s imagination. Of the three, this commercial is the truest to the Wonka ethos. It suggests that a smartphone, which is supposed to connect us to any person or piece of information at any time, enlarges the world for adults, just as daydreams do for children. It also promises adults an escape from the daily grind, a chance to experience again the sense of wonder we knew as children.

Of course, even the loveliest commercials are intended to make money by selling us things we probably don’t need; in AT&T's case, their service. Wonka was quite the salesman, too: He may have had the creativity of an inventor, but he also had the business-savvy of an entrepreneur, and his whimsical sweets made him a very rich man. Still, the people who use the Wonka legacy to market their products differ from the great man himself. For Willy Wonka, the ideas and inventions were the real thrill. The money was just the icing on the fizzy lifting drink.

iPhone 4: "Antenna of the Future"

Apple must really enjoy bending over and screwing their faithfuls!!

The latest iteration of Apple's iPhone smartphone has had various feature upgrades plus a redesign. The iPhone 4 now sports a flat, stainless steel band running all around its edge. The metal strip is used to make the handset more robust but also acts as part of the iPhone's antenna system. Steve Jobs explained its function during the official unveiling of iPhone 4 at WWDC earlier this month:

"This is part of some brilliant engineering which actually uses the stainless steel band as part of the antenna system," he said during the keynote. "One piece [of the band] is Bluetooth, wi-fi and GPS and the other is UMTS and GSM and so it's got these integrated antennas right in the structure of the phone."

"It's never been done before and it's really cool engineering," Jobs added. Really Mr. Jobs?

However some users of the new iPhone have noticed that network reception appears to drop off when the device is held in certain ways. I mistakenly believed Apple put their products through extensive testing before throwing it out to the masses, yet there's always either a signal/reception (iPhone 3G, iPhone 4) or Wi-Fi (iPad) issue.

You may argue that all new devices have their glitches, and you would be correct as well. So why call Apple out on their glitch? Simple, Apple is arrogant about their devices and blame the consumer for user-error!

When confronted about the antenna issue on the new iPhone 4, Steve Jobs had this to say:

"Gripping any mobile phone will result in some attenuation of its antenna performance, with certain places being worse than others depending on the placement of the antennas. This is a fact of life for every wireless phone. If you ever experience this on your iPhone 4, avoid gripping it in the lower left corner in a way that covers both sides of the black strip in the metal band, or simply use one of many available cases."

An iPhone 4 user by the name of Aram emailed Jobs:

Hi, Mr. Jobs,

I love my new iPhone 4 (nice work) but when I put my hand on the steel bands I lose all reception, It also appears to be a common issue. Any plans to fix this?

Thanks,
Aram

The kid actually got a response from good ole Steve Jobs, but the poor bastard won't be getting any kind of fix. Steve's reply?

"Just avoid holding it in that way."

If you're planning on getting the iPhone 4, better add that $29 rubber case so the phone is usable, at least as usable as a phone can be on AT&T.

Interesting fact: Go to www.bing.com and type in "iPhone" and see the suggested choices that pop under, the top two are iPhone 4 Problems and iPhone 4 cases, respectively.

Apple's FaceTime Worth the Time?

FaceTime is going to fizzle and pop.

In case you missed it, FaceTime offers Skype-like video calling via the iPhone 4's front-facing camera. It's not entirely Skype-like, though; for now, FaceTime works only over Wi-Fi networks, not 3G.



I admit that video calling sounds cool on paper. But you know what? I'm not interested. And I suspect that after the novelty wears off, few people will spend any long-term face time with FaceTime. Here's why:

1. It's physically uncomfortable. Holding an iPhone at arm's length for more than a few seconds is really uncomfortable. Go ahead, try it now. Hold your phone out in front of your face for, say, 30 seconds. Oh, and keep it really steady so the "camera" doesn't shake too much. Are you having fun?

2. Video calls are awkward. I've done my share of Skype-ing, and it's always weird. After you get past that initial "wave hello" and inevitable discussions about the quality of the audio and video ("How do I look at your end? I can hear you OK, but the video's kind of choppy"), you're left with the awkwardness of trying to communicate in a totally foreign, largely unintuitive way. Maybe we'll all get accustomed to this form of communication over time; however, for the moment, I can think of only a few occasions when I'd really want two-way video calling. (Obviously seeing faraway family members is a big draw.)

3. The Wi-Fi requirement. Currently, FaceTime doesn't support making video calls over 3G, which means that I'm limited to holding video calls at my home (where I already have a Webcam and a much bigger screen, thanks) or at a public hot spot, where I'm going to feel even more awkward about holding my iPhone in front of my face and talking to it. According to Apple, FaceTime won't support 3G this year, which is strange given that Fring, Skype, and other VoIP apps offer it.

What do you think? Is it too soon to pass judgment on FaceTime? Will I end up eating my words? Or will Steve Jobs' "one more thing" ultimate amount to one bore thing?

Is Windows 7 Tablet Ready?

Since Apple has successfully entered the tablet market with their iPad, Microsoft is now having to play catch-up and come out with a killer device. With HP scrapping their Windows 7 tablet, ASUS has stepped up to the plate!!

Taking bucket loads of style influence from the fruity Californian's, the ASUS EP121 Eee Pad will house a 12in screen and has a dual-core CULV Intel CPU whirring away under its hood, allowing for up to 10 hours of battery life. It will also run Windows 7 and support Adobe Flash so immediately trumps the iPad in the productivity stakes. Moreover, with connections for USB and HDMI and an SD slot, the Eee Pad will be much more versatile as well.

As well as the normal connections, there's also a dock connection, though unlike the iPad it's on the 'long' edge so it will be in landscape format when docked. The dock itself will be available in two versions: desktop and notebook, a concept that Asus calls 'multi-mode'. The premise is rather neat. The desktop version comes with a seperate keyboard and a simple stand for the screen to sit in while the notebook version integrates the keyboard with a stand that you can then fold shut for portability.

For those who would rather enjoy a smaller tablet, ASUS has come up with another product, the Eee Pad EP101TC. It runs Windows Embedded Compact 7 with a custom interface slapped over the top of it. There isn't many bells and whistles with this device, but ASUS mentions some cloud computing services that will be available.

Pricing and availability for the Eee Pad hasn't been announced, but you're looking at a price range of $399 to $499 and most likely early 2011 for a release.

Below is a short clip thanks to the guys at Engadget showing off the notebook docking version for the 12-inch Eee Pad and a glimpse at a still beta-mode buggy version of the 10-inch Eee Pad running Windows Embedded Compact 7.

Windows Is Too Complicated?

I was recently watching/listening to an Apple podcast where about four “Mac enthusiast“ were waxing eloquent about how great Apple was and how they can do no wrong and about how the iPad is going to change the world and the way we do things. I’ll not get into any of those things because they are neither here nor there, but one of the contributors on this particular podcast went on and on about how great the iPad is because of its simplistic interface (or iPhone OS). He then made the statement (and I paraphrase) that IT departments have heavily invested in Windows-based systems so as to “trap” the average worker in this complex infrastructure known as Windows. Basically, we’ve all been duped. All ninety-three plus percent of us Windows users have been systematically fox-holed into a convoluted subsystem of a difficult-to-learn OS and now we cannot get out because we are obviously trapped by those who wish to keep us there.

I hope this person realized how ridiculous this claim actually was after they had said it. The Windows OS is a massive mountain of code and does contain folders within folders of things that wouldn’t pertain to the average user, but the beauty of the Windows interface, especially Windows 7’s, is that all of this code and folder systems are overlaid with an intuitive, simple UI. If you don’t believe me, ask a friend or neighbor of yours who has a child that routinely gets on Windows-based computers themselves. Children can open the appropriate menus and programs and navigate to their favorite PBS Kids website. If a four or five year old kid can use Windows with ease, certainly the average workers and consumers of the world should be able to do the same without feeling trapped.

I’m 24 years old and have been using computers since the DOS days. My first real heavy computer experience was with Windows 3.1. I found a way to somehow delete the CD rom drivers and took weeks to figure out how to get them reinstalled. I went almost two years never knowing my old 3.1 machine had a soundcard until I accidentally installed the sound drivers by sheer coincidence. I was one of the few who naively installed Windows 95 using the countless 3.5 floppy disks instead of the single CD method (Please insert floppy disk #13). Those were days of complex and difficult-to-understand PC’s. We’ve come so far it’s almost amusing to look back at how different things were.

In today’s PC age, everything is done for you. Most peripherals are installed automatically and if not, a Google/Bing search can do wonders. Wizards have taken the place of just about any difficult task, making it just a “click next” away. The taskbar, menu and window arrangements have been done and redone many times to get everything just right. Most things are a few mouse clicks less than they used to be. Windows has come a long way and now has developed into a mature OS, which is also easy-to-use.

Here are the facts: Windows PC’s are no more difficult to operate than any other OS out there and may be even easier depending on who you ask. There isn’t some secret conspiracy by IT guys to keep us, like sheep, chained to a Windows PC for the rest of our lives. The great thing about Windows PC’s are that the complex behind-the-scenes stuff is there for those with the experience, know-how and nerves, but for those who don’t want all the “complex stuff”, you have a start button, start menu, icons and a taskbar that combines everything in Windows 7, it doesn’t get much simpler than that.


How a PC-Mac conversation might go:

Convo 1:
Mac: Hi Windows what are you doing?
Windows: Just playing some games.
Mac: Oh, what games?
Windows: All of them. :) )

Convo 2:
Mac: Oh? Is that all?
Windows: No, I'm taking a five minute break, while a download is being installed. And my word document is printing on three printers, of which one is located at my house, and the other two at work. What are you doing?
Mac: Oh, just flipping through my photos, listening to some music, playing with Time Machine, watching the icons on my dock get bigger and smaller with the cursor, you know.
Windows: Sounds great! Oh, I've got to go. My download is finished, the word document has been printed, I need to move some files to three separate folders, and my advance movie editor program is finished loading a few files.

Convo 3:
Mac: Hey Windows did you see the video I just did on iMovie?
PC: Not now… I’m busy.
Mac: Busy? Doing what?
PC: Please! Please let me focus.
PC: 10, 25, 40.68, 86,…
Mac: Are you suffering from the swine flu virus?
PC: …100 times 10 to the power of 6.
Mac: 100 million?! PC, are you running out of memory???
PC: Nope, I was just counting the number of satisfied Windows 7 customers.

iPhone 4G Debacle

If you haven't been keeping up with the technology news lately, Gizmodo is currently embroiled in a rapidly evolving legal probe involving Apple, California police, as well as media rights and ethics advocates over the blog site's acquisition and examination of a reputed iPhone 4G prototype apparently lost by an Apple employee in a bar in Redwood City, Calif. But Gizmodo is loudly defending its innocence and its journalistic ethics in the face of what could become a painful and expensive legal contest.

Technology blog Gizmodo is in a difficult position. The site's editor, Jason Chen, recently had his home searched and electronics equipment seized to see if he committed a crime at any point over the past few weeks when he paid $5,000 for a lost iPhone 4G.

Chen says he's innocent, and Gizmodo's legal counsel has publicly said that Chen was acting well within journalistic standards. The legal counsel says he cannot be charged with any crime for acquiring the iPhone 4G.

But determining exactly what happened and whether laws or journalistic ethics were violated might be more difficult than it seems on face value. Gizmodo has been forthright about its contention that it acted within its rights as a news service in sharing information about the Apple iPhone prototype with the public. If its account is true, it appears that Gizmodo tried to perform journalistic due diligence before it started the process of acquiring the iPhone 4G and posting details about the device on its site.

That doesn't mean that Gizmodo was necessarily entirely right in this scenario. It doesn't mean that law enforcement has made the right moves either. It seems that there is adequate blame to go around. And it's incumbent upon us as the spectators to be as informed as possible before we pass judgment.

So, here are 10 key facts to know about the whole Gizmodo iPhone 4G debacle:


1. An Apple employee lost it.
Although some have said that Apple secretly leaked the iPhone 4G to Gizmodo, it reportedly didn't happen that way. An Apple employee (Gray Powell) lost the iPhone 4G in a bar, which was eventually recovered by another patron (reportedly: Brian Hogan). After unsuccessful attempts at getting the iPhone back into Apple's hands, the person offered it up to Gizmodo. According to Gizmodo, the person held onto the iPhone for weeks before giving it to the tech blog. That's an important factor in all of this. Considering the person tried to give the device back to Apple, some fault might need to be placed on the hardware company for not performing its own due diligence.

2. Gizmodo chucks out $5,000
Gizmodo reported recently that it paid $5,000 for the lost iPhone. That figure might not mean much to some, but under California law, that puts the transaction into felony territory. Definitely not a good thing for Gizmodo. But it also speaks to whether or not Gizmodo should have paid for the product and if it acted ethically by doing so. It's difficult to say what any publication or editor would do in a similar situation, but I would have shelled out $10,000 if needed.

3. Apple had ample time to recover it
As I mentioned earlier, Apple had about three weeks to find and retrieve the lost iPhone, according to Gizmodo. The tech blog said that Hogan, who recovered the iPhone from the bar, attempted to contact the company to no avail. Rather than hold on to it, Hogan decided to sell it off for a handsome sum. It makes sense. But it also begs the question of whether or not Apple truly cares. Steve Jobs has a proven track record of being secretive and unbending in his distaste for those who leak company secrets. If he was really that upset about what was lost, wouldn't he have attempted to more proactively seek it out?

4. No telling if the iPhone 4G truly exists
Try as it might to say that the phone it found is in fact the iPhone 4G, Gizmodo, like the rest of us, cannot confirm it. Apple has yet to say whether or not the lost device was actually the new version of the iPhone, and it's entirely possible that the device is one of many prototypes the company is working on. As appealing as it might be to seemingly look at the next version of the iPhone that Apple doesn't want us to see, there's no way to know if it's what we'll be using in the coming months. Gizmodo did recover an iPhone prototype, but not necessarily the iPhone 4G.

5. Apple finally got it back
After the news broke that Gizmodo had acquired the iPhone and it discussed its features, Apple's legal counsel sent a memo to Gizmodo requesting the device back. The tech blog used that request as proof that it was in fact an authentic Apple product. Upon receiving the iPhone, Apple has said nothing about the device and has yet to confirm it was really the iPhone 4G. Nonetheless, the iPhone is back in Apple's hands, and we won't learn anymore about it until Apple finally confirms its existence.

6. Chen could be charged with a felony
Until Apple recovered the iPhone, it was all fun and games for Gizmodo and those who wanted to learn more about the new iPhone. But it quickly turned serious when reports started surfacing claiming Chen could be charged with a felony because of the way he acquired the device. Since then, his home has been searched and computers and other electronics have been seized by local police in an attempt to determine if a crime was actually committed. For his part, Chen says he's innocent. But whether or not the district attorney agrees remains to be seen.

7. Chen could be covered under media shield laws
Chen might have a valid defense if he is in fact charged with a crime. Gizmodo's chief legal counsel sent a letter to local police, saying that Chen is a journalist and thus, under California (and federal) law, a warrant cannot be issued to search his home and seize property that could have been used for the purposes of a news story. Court decisions in the past provide Gizmodo and Chen with the precedent they need to show that online journalists are, in fact, covered under the same protections as traditional journalists. Assuming the district attorney interprets the laws the same way Gizmodo's legal counsel does, Chen might not be charged with a crime.

8. Apple stays mum
As the drama continues at Gizmodo, Cupertino has been silent. Jobs, his execs and even his PR team have been tight-lipped on whether or not they have any opinion about what's happening to Chen or Gizmodo. It's rather typical from Apple. The company has imposed its will by acquiring the lost iPhone, and now that its work is done, it has decided to say nothing about the issues Gizmodo is facing. Depending on where the law enforcement effort goes, though, at least one Apple employee—Gary Powell—might need to chime in.

9. Gizmodo maintains it's journalistic standards
Some journalists have contended that Chen's decision to buy the iPhone for $5,000 breaks journalistic ethics and standards that have been in place for years. They contend that from an ethical perspective, Chen shouldn't have paid for the story and instead should have reported on the news that the iPhone was lost. Gizmodo and Chen don't agree. They contend that they were doing what they were supposed to do: inform the public on Apple's upcoming products. Either side of the debate can make a valid argument, but it's tough to say which is right.

10. It should blow over
In the end, the chances of Chen being charged with a crime and Apple taking issue with Gizmodo seem relatively slight. Gizmodo could potentially have its trump card, thanks to journalistic protection. And Apple, realizing that Gizmodo was only doing its job, likely won't press the issue more than it already has. In a couple weeks, Gizmodo's ordeal with the iPhone 4G will blow over and the story will be just another interesting saga to discuss in end-of-the-year roundups by tech sites. But it's certainly fun to watch while it lasts.

Obama finally "Right"

When I first saw the headline, "Obama expands offshore drilling" last week, I said to myself, "this has got to be an April Fools joke!"

But it wasn't. Sure enough, in one fell swoop, the president has apparently reversed decades of so-called national energy policy by opening up vast areas of "East Coast waters and other protected areas in Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico to drilling...widening the politically explosive hunt for more homegrown oil and gas."

Not I said "apparently." The details of this seemingly seismic shift in national energy and national security remain to be sorted out. Nevertheless, it marks a bold initiative that could gradually move our oil addicted nation towards some degree of oil independence. If it strengthens our economy and our national security, that would of course be a good thing.

President Obama's announcement, made in a speech at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, drew immediate wrath from militant environmentalists supporters, who perceive him as backpedaling on an issue near and dear to their hearts. For example, his "support for exploratory drilling in the Chuckchi and Beaufort seas north of Alaska" outraged the Center for Biological Diversity.

Calling it a "threat to polar bears," the organization's spokesperson bitterly complained this this is "Short of sending Sarah Palin back to Alaska to personally club polar bears to death, The Obama Administration could not have come up with a more efficient extinction plan for the polar bear." Hyperbole aside, that was a predictable response, given the source.

Meanwhile, President Obama's proposed drilling plan received some support from leading Republicans. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said, "It was a step in the right direction." Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of S.C., who has been a critical negotiator with the White House on national energy policy, said he listened "with great interest" to what the president had to say.

I'm no energy expert...but then again, neither is President Obama. Still, I think his stab at a new oil strategy has some merit. Sure, his detractors across the political and ideological spectrum will pummel him for being "politically motivated." They'll say he has one eye on the congressional elections this year and the other on the presidential election of 2012.

What else is new? Show me a politician who is not politically motivated, and I'll show you an oxymoron. If political motivation can steer us toward a more viable national energy policy that strengthens our overall national security, then hell, drill on.

HP All-In: Betting on Microsoft and Intel

We are now just a couple weeks until Apple releases its highly contentious iPad and you can rest assured that Apple fans have been preordering like crazy and there will almost certainly be lines at the Apple stores in early April for the “Mega iPhone”.

While Apple is putting its eggs in the basket of the smartphone model of a basic OS tied to an app store, HP is looking to storm the market with a tablet that can run a full version of Windows 7 with the ability to run media and normal Windows applications. Analyst, Bob O’Donnell of IDC views the HP approach as safe, “In some ways, Windows and Intel is a safe bet…You have things that are important for people like Adobe Flash, and a lot of other things that people are used to. The question is how do people use them: like a big smart phone or a totally different way. That remains to be seen.”

One thing the iPad does have going for it is a slim design and decent battery life, which Apple claims. This is achieved by using a modified version of the iPhone OS and Apple’s own battery and processor technology. The question is: Can HP imitate the battery life for a full-featured OS and keep the device at a size so that is commensurate to the iPad? It sure wouldn’t hurt to use NVidia’s Tegra processor, which is already powering Microsoft’s Zune HD platform.

Here’s what we think we know about the HP tablet so far:

Price: Between $399 and $500

Availability: This Summer (around June)

Processor: Atom-like processor

Flash Support: Yes

USB: Yes

Webcam: Yes

Memory Card Reader: Yes

Multitasking: Yes

Operating System: Windows 7

Another question is if we can even compare the two devices? On one hand we have a device that is slimmed to take advantage of the app store and multimedia and on the other hand we have a device that is geared to take advantage of a full OS. Which method will work? It will essentially come down to what the tablet user actually uses their device for. If the tablet user is nothing more than an extreme iPhone user, the iPad will be champ. If the tablet user needs more from the device by way of applications and multitasking, the Windows 7 device will win. Then again, there is not necessarily one kind of user out there, so we may see a similar-looking device, but with two very different audiences.

If I were to put all my chips onto the table, I would go for the HP Slate due to the addition of USB and Flash Support. But as we all know, Apple knows how to market a product; the question is, can HP?

Windows Phone 7

Devices running the new Windows Phone 7 Series software won't hit store shelves until later this year, but Microsoft recently offered a peek into the upcoming OS at its MIX10 conference. The latest version of Microsoft's mobile platform promise a radical shift, with a new focus on social networking, the Web, and gaming (Xbox Live).

Metrics firm comScore recently reported that, of the 42.7 million smartphone users in the United States, Windows Mobile user adoption had dropped by four points from 19.7 percent to 15.7 percent between October 2009 and January 2010. During that same period, Apple gained just 0.3 percent to maintain its 25 percent marketshare, while Google's Android grew by 4.3 percent to take 7.1 percent of the U.S. market. RIM's Blackberry devices are still the most popular in the U.S., with about 43 percent of smartphone users.

The new Windows OS has several features designed to combat those shrinking numbers. For example, the Windows Phone 7 experience will be tightly integrated with other Microsoft products including Xbox; a new version of Microsoft Office for mobile devices that includes both OneNote and SharePoint Workspaces; and Windows Live Web-based services like Hotmail and Windows Live.

Microsoft will also place a greater focus on hardware by forcing manufacturers to ship Windows Phone 7 devices with just three physical buttons: Home, Search and Back. Device makers will also be prevented from changing the Windows Phone 7 user interface, and all handsets must have capacitive touch and multitouch capabilities. This makes it easier for users to switch to other Windows Phone 7 series phones without another learning curve.

Microsoft's announcements during MIX10 were targeted at third-party app developers. Microsoft's talks revealed even more about how Windows Phone 7 users will interact with their phones. So, here's what's going on with Windows Phone 7:

Windows Mobile Apps now with Apple-type goodness

Apps for Windows Phone 7 will be able to take advantage of some of the same frameworks that iPhone Apps can; including an accelerometer for motion control, location-based services (GPS), multitouch, camera and microphone, and push notification.

Push Notification? Shit!!

Microsoft has taken a few ideas from the iPhone playbook with Windows Phone 7, and lack of multitasking is one of them. Just like the iPhone, Microsoft's OS will only allow third-party applications to run one at a time (with the exception of Microsoft's core Windows Phone 7 apps, called hubs). Instead, it will offer push notification, which lets a server send information to a mobile application, like an instant messenger or e-mail program, as opposed to having the app run in the background and then regularly call the server for updates.

Microsoft has left the door open for multitasking to come to Windows Phone 7 Series in the future, but for now the company is too concerned about extending Windows Phone 7 battery life to allow it.

Marketplace

Windows Phone 7 owners will get their Windows Phone applications from a new Windows Phone Marketplace, not surprising. The new store will be the only channel to get apps onto your Windows Phone, and Microsoft, like Apple, will have to approve all apps before they become available in the Marketplace.

One interesting addition is that Microsoft's Marketplace will feature a 'try before you buy' option. There aren't many details on how it'll work, but blogs are reporting the length of the trial will be left up to the developer.

Apps, apps, and more apps

Just like any other mobile platform post iPhone, the success of Windows Phone 7 comes down to the apps. Microsoft says many familiar mobile applications will be coming, including the Associated Press, Foursquare, Seesmic, Sling Media, Shazam and more.

So, what do you think? Is Windows Phone 7 Series too late to the mobile party or entered the race just in time to still compete?

What iDon't.....iDo: Google Android

Multitasking

• Unlike the iPhone, Android devices like the Nexus One by HTC can multitask and run background processes.

Google Integration

• As you'd expect from an operating system by Google, Android offers seamless integration with a variety of Google services including Gmail, Google Talk, Google Maps, Google Goggles, YouTube, Google Calendar, Google Maps, and Google Search. Sure, the iPhone integrates with some of these services too, but Android does it better.

Widgets and Desktop

• Android offers more freedom with icon customization on the home screen. You can add shortcuts at will and organize related services into folders. Widgets for Facebook, Twitter, news, and weather also surface a range of information at the top level. What's more, you can access connectivity options like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi right on the home screen.

Android Market

• Though the Android Market may have fewer apps than the iTunes App Store, Google does not take a heavy hand in removing apps that it doesn't like. While Apple continues to proactively remove or deny apps for various reasons, Google offers developers much more freedom.

PC syncing and memory

• Unlike the iPhone, Android handsets offer removable memory cards and true PC syncing that doesn't require you to go through the bottleneck of iTunes.

Browser

• The basic Android browser is just as easy to use and feature-rich as iPhone's Safari browser, particularly on those handsets that have full multitouch. Don't like the standard Android browser? Don't worry, because you also can use another option like Opera. And what about Flash Lite? You won't find that on the iPhone.

More Carriers

• You can't swing a dead cat without hitting an iPhone user who's unhappy with AT&T. With Android, however, you can choose Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon Wireless. And if you prefer AT&T, you always can choose the Motorola Backflip (not that you should).

Range of Devices

• The iPhone is a well-designed device, but you're stuck with that hardware if you want what is inside. With Android you can choose from a broad range of handsets that come in a variety of shapes and sizes. And if you prefer a real keyboard, then Android is your bet.

Open OS

• Android allows people to really customize and change handsets to their liking. Similarly, developers can add to the OS and enrich the larger Android community through their own design and feature enhancements. And speaking of personalization, most Android phones offer more camera editing features.

Removal Battery

• You won't have to ship your phone away to get the battery changed, thanks to a removable battery. And when you buy the new battery, you don't have to pay someone else to change it.

Thanks to Kent German of CNET for the '10 Ways Android beats the iPhone'

Apple's Bad Nightmare

After reading about Apple's wide-ranging lawsuit filed Monday against HTC, I'm beginning to think that Apple may very well fear the rise of Google. And an indirect legal assault on the eminent provider of Android-powered devices is easier, cheaper, and less risky than a direct attack on Google itself.


What does Apple have to lose?

On the one hand, it's pretty laughable to think that Apple would be afraid of anybody. In less than three years, the iPhone has redefined the smartphone market. Whereas we used to view smartphones as basic phones with web and e-mail capability, the iPhone expanded our thinking tremendously. Today's smartphones are full-on application platforms that are rewriting what we can get done while we're on the go. Apple's been at the forefront of this transition, and its continued growth on all fronts -- sales, revenue, and platform expansion, among other metrics -- should be enough to inspire confidence in Cupertino that it can easily weather any potential challenger.

On the other hand, it's not too much of a stretch to conclude that Apple has the most to lose if someone else comes along and threatens to steal some of its thunder. While initial efforts to bring Android-based devices to the market were less than impressive (the Android G1 was about as desirable as a Ford Pinto, and early versions of Android only hinted at the new operating system's potential), Google has since found its groove. Many of the hottest new designs out there are now powered by Android, and the Android Market has staked out a strong second-place in the online app storefront wars.

Which largely explains why it took Apple almost a year-and-a-half after HTC launched its first Android-powered device, to move ahead with its lawsuit. It makes little sense to burn legal resources if the target in question isn't threatening to slice into your market share and revenue. This is probably one of the only small comforts, for instance, that Palm has left: It's too inconsequential at this point to become a target of Apple's wrath.

Apple's brutal history:

Apple has learned the hard way that ownership of intellectual property is critical to its survival. This is especially true in the tech world, where intellectual property is so often intangible, and IP ownership can be so difficult to define. When you fail to leverage control, you run the risk of being leapfrogged.

That lesson has led Apple down a familiar path, even when that path has led nowhere before. Apple's futile attempts long ago to squash Microsoft Windows continue to guide the company's strategy today. Had Apple succeeded back then in asserting its ownership of key elements of the GUI, today's OS landscape might look vastly different.

Apple clearly hopes that by playing tough with mobile competitors, it'll set itself up for one of two outcomes: Either it will ink licensing deals with virtually any handheld vendor it chooses to pursue, and in doing so guarantee itself a long-term source of revenue; or in the absence of a partnership or legal victory, its litigation-happy strategies will cast enough of a chill over the industry that competitors are afraid to push too hard unless they find themselves in Apple's crosshairs.

It's this second potential outcome that should give pause to anyone with even a passing interest in the evolution of mobile technology. While Apple has every right to pursue its interests in court to ensure that competitors don't profit from its earlier investments, consumers have a similar right to an openly competitive market where players don't have to negotiate legal minefields before bringing new products and services to the market. And left unchecked, Apple's campaign (first Nokia, now HTC) to assert its ownership of every shred of IP related to the iPhone, could slow down the pace of innovation.

If Apple wins, how much incentive will remain for competitors and would-be competitors to throw themselves into the market? Even if it doesn't win, the message has been sent: If you know the lion is out there, you'll likely just stay home.

Google's time?

Google isn't staying home anytime soon. The internet-search giant has too much invested in its efforts to grow and expand its level of control over the mobile platforms through which its services are delivered. But unlike Apple and RIM's Blackberry, Google isn't in this fight alone. Aside from its own Nexus One phone (ironically, a product of HTC) it isn't a primary handset vendor.

No one really knows how Google will respond to this flanking attack, or if it will even respond at all. But it's clear that Apple's campaign against HTC isn't about HTC at all. Rather, it's targeting key vendors whose size and influence will prompt other competitors to take notice...and take cover. There'll be more lawsuits, and resources on both sides that should have gone into developing and marketing innovative products will instead be directed toward funding court costs and lawyers' fees.

Once upon a time, Apple portrayed itself as David to Microsoft's Goliath as it battled the ultimately dominant force from Redmond. A generation later, the world's attention has shifted from PCs and laptops to mobile devices, and Apple now finds itself in the role of Goliath. It knows full well that dominance isn't permanent, and anything that can be done to slow down new entrants should indeed be done. Tension, after all, is a great driver of increased performance. But at this level and crucial moment in the history of the mobile market, it runs the risk of slamming the industry it helped define into neutral, driving lesser-endowed players running for the hills.

In that respect, Apple really shouldn't be living in fear of HTC, Nokia, or any other potential competitor. The real fear belongs to consumers!

Skype gives AT&T and iPhone the Middle Finger: Joins Verizon

Things are heating up around the recently announced deal between Verizon and Skype. If you haven't heard, the two firms have signed up an agreement that you can use Skype on Verizon's smartphones. Apparently Skype and Verizon have signed an exclusive three year deal. The benefits to Verizon customers include:

• The ability to make and receive unlimited Skype-to-Skype voice calls to any Skype user around the globe
• The ability to call international phone numbers at competitive Skype Out calling rates
• The ability to send and receive instant messages to other Skype users
• Remain always connected with the ability to see friends’ online presence.

Skype Mobile will initially be available for the Motorola Droid, HTC Droid Eris, BlackBerry Curve (8530), Storm (9530), Storm2 (9550), and Tour (9630.)

Unfortunately for iPhone users, this exclusive deal may affect Skype’s upcoming 3G enabled version of its iPhone application. The latest version of the application is ready to be released but is apparently delayed due to “concerns with AT&T's network”. I believe that's Verizon speak for “we want Skype 3G only on our smartphones and are pressuring Skype to shelve it.”

Here is the Official Press Release.

You’re Lying!! Windows 7 More Secure Than Snow Leopard?

Remember those “I’m a Mac” ads that were floating around the web and on just about every commercial break, or so it seemed? Well, there is a reason you do not see those ads anymore…and it’s called Windows 7. Many are going to find out what most of us already know and that is that Windows 7 is extremely secure and safe. Some even say that Windows 7 is more secure than Snow Leopard. At least that’s what Pwn2Own organizer, Aaron Portnoy, says.

Aaron believes that Safari running on Snow Leopard will be the first and simplest egg to crack in the hacking contest, “…Snow Leopard…isn’t on the same level as Windows 7.”

It’s worth noting that last years loser was also the Mac because of the security holes in Safari, which took only five seconds to commandeer an iMac and only two minutes the previous year.

Of course there are some who believe that Mac is just as secure as Windows 7. Another researcher, who also hacked a Mac via Safari, believes that the Mac is on par with Windows 7’s security, but still believes that Safari is far behind Internet Explorer when it comes to protection (phishing and scams).

Many will say that Windows PC’s are less secure because of the amount of viruses and malware usually associated with Windows PC’s, but that doesn’t take into account the level of security those people use on their PC’s. It’s common sense that a larger market share equals more attacks.

This years hacking contest is just around the corner (March 24). We’ll soon find out which Operating System and browser can withstand a hackers attacks and how long they can hold off.

An Apple a Day Keeps Adobe Flash Away

The bickering between Apple and Adobe over why Apple's iPhone and its new iPad don't run Adobe's Flash software is, excuse my language, a pain in the ass.

Apple's Steve Jobs says Flash is buggy and accuses Adobe of being lazy. Kevin Lynch, Adobe's chief technology officer, denies that and accuses Apple of trying to control what iPhone and iPad users can do with their devices.

Jobs thinks Flash is on its way out. And Kevin Lynch says, not so fast!

It seems to me that Apple and Adobe need each other. Even if they didn't, the millions of consumers who own iPhones and iPod touches or who plan to buy an iPad need them to work things out. Because we're the ones who are going to lose out if they don't.

Adobe's Flash is a program that delivers multimedia content such as games, videos and advertisements. Adobe says the majority of top Web sites include Flash content and that 75 percent of the video on the Web is delivered using Flash.

Flash has mostly been a PC experience, because Flash players either haven't been available on smartphones or weren't powerful enough to access much of the Flash content on the Web.

Until now, the lack of Flash on the iPhone hasn't been that big of a deal. When the iPhone debuted in 2007, the browsing experience was better than other mobile phones that it was hard to complain that it didn't support Flash. And because other smartphones also lacked Flash support, iPhone users didn't feel they were missing something.

I believe that's about to change. Through an initiative called the Open Screen Project, Adobe is revamping Flash to allow consumers to access almost all the multimedia content they can get on a PC by using their smartphone.

By the end of June, Adobe expects to have Flash version 10.1 available for a wide range of smartphones, including Palm's webOS phones, BlackBerrys and devices running Android and Windows Mobile. The only major smartphone operating system missing from the list is Apple's iPhone OS.

iPhone users may not have worried much that their phones can't simultaneously run more than one app like other smartphones [Android and Palm's WebOS]. But they soon may be unhappy that their phone can't access the videos and games that other phones will be able to.

iPad owners may be even more annoyed. One thing people will want to do with Apple's new tablet is access Web content, mainly since that was the reason for marketing. But if they can't watch a video on Hulu or play a game on Facebook, they may regret having bought an iPad instead of a netbook for $150 less.

While Apple enjoys a huge lead in applications available for the iPhone, Flash support could help its competitors level the playing field. With Flash, those devices could offer more games, videos and other content not available on the iPhone.

Jobs' view of Apple not needing to support Flash because it's on the way out is premature. While a new version of the language used to code Web pages does include Flash-like multimedia capabilities [HTML5], the standard for doing that is still being hashed out. With only a fraction of Web surfers using browsers that can translate the new language, few Web publishers are using them yet.

So Apple needs to support Flash in the iPhone OS — or risk losing customers to other platforms that do.

But most of all, iPhone OS users need Apple to quit smoking the crackpipe, because consumers will be missing out until they do.

Making Green for Going Green: Global Warming

With the "drastic changes" in temperature that we've been experiencing as of late; many more people are discussing the "effects" of Global Warming. Is Global Warming real or just a way for Al Gore and his partners to make money? If you're one of those that believe Global Warming is real and we [humans] are the root cause of it, please read forward.

• Making a profit

Former Vice President Al Gore stands to personally benefit from proposals he advocates to ward off Global Warming. Government solutions, such as Cap and Trade may very well put billions in his pocket. If Al Gore gets his way and governments undertake drastic measures to counter the fear of Global Warming, then Al Gore will be a filthy-rich man indeed.

“Do you think there is something wrong with being active in business in this country?” Gore told the New York Times, “I am proud of it. I am proud of it.”

Of course he's proud of it, flying around the globe crying out 'the world is getting warmer' and ends up reaping millions and millions; that's a feat to spark envy in Bernie Madoff. Is Gore advocating policies like Cap and Trade that are necessary for human survival on the planet, as he claims, or is he advocating polices that stand to enrich him personally at yours and my expense? Isn't it alright for us to question Gore's enthusiasm about Global Warming in light of the financial windfall coming his way?

Sure it is, but you're not going to see it in the mainstream media. Critics will be dismissed as “right-winged fanatics.” That's because Global Warming is the "revealed truth" and “settled science.” I'm still trying to figure out what the hell “settled science” even means.

Instead we are being told to concentrate solely on his message and ignore the fact that Gore will become very wealthy if his proposals are enacted into law.

• Senior "Global Warming" Scientist admits he was wrong?

Professor Phil Jones has openly admitted that global warming is not as “statistically significant” as currently believed. Jones, whose data is crucial to global warming research, admitted in a BBC interview on Saturday (2-13-10) about many “mistakes” he has suppressed for 15 years.

His record keeping is "not as good as it should be." Much of the data that supports the famous “hockey stick graphs,” used by advocates of the global warming theory, has been lost. And get this, his colleagues say the reason he has refused to open up about his research in recent years is because there isn’t any.

Jones also admitted that over the past 15 years, very little global warming has taken place. In actuality, the difference in global warming rates within the last 150 years is barely noticeable. Professor Jones also states that today's shift in climate temperatures may not be related to man-made activity! According to Jones, between 800 and 1300 A.D., temperatures were actually warmer than they are now. Back then it was known as the “Medieval Warm Period.”

• Al Gore being sued over "Global Warming"?

John Coleman, founder of the Weather Channel debates the truth of Global Warming.




If you believe in Global Warming or not, the facts are right in front of you. You just have to go out and seek it without relying on the mainstream media. Planet Earth goes through different weather cycles; that's how our climate works!!

Apple iPad - Huge Disappointment

For months we've been hearing rumors about a tablet coming from Apple, and today we finally got our answer!!


Apple iPad

The Apple iPad?? Wait, did they just call that thing an iPad? Very unoriginal!! When the rumor-mill was buzzing about what it may be called; iSlate seemed the most appealing. I was like 'nice, sounds like a product that seems interesting!' But naming it the iPad is so blah that even a CNBC anchor had a go at it. "The iPad reminds me of Feminine Products."

Features

• Half-inch thick and weighs just 1.5 pounds, with a 9.7-inch capacitive touchscreen IPS LCD display
• Custom 1GHz Apple "A4" chip
• "10 hours" battery life
• 16, 32, 64GB sizes
• Speaker/Microphone
• 802.11n WiFi (optional 3G)
• Bluetooth
  
• Runs iPhone Apps

It is very disappointing they left out the following in the iPad:

• No multitasking
• No camera
• No video
• No Flash support!! (I thought this was an "internet" device)
• No USB slots?
• No removable battery
  

With a fast processor in the "A4", it's surprising to see that multitasking wasn't added into the unit. And with Apple's impressive iChat software, a camera/video would be a no-brainer. Maybe when the next version comes out (knowing Apple, probably next year), they'll slowly add features that should have been standard so they can nickle and dime you further.

Pricing

The Pricing of the iPad was the most surprising thing announced during the press conference. It starts at $499 for 16GB, 32GB for $599, and $699 64GB. Adding 3G costs a $130 per model, so the most expensive model (64GB / 3G) is $829. The WiFi-only model will ship in 60 days, and the 3G models will come in 90.

The 3G version runs on AT&T and comes with new data plans: 250MB for $14.99 and an unlimited plan for $29.99 a month contract-free. Activations are handled on the iPad, so you can activate and cancel whenever you want. Every iPad is unlocked and comes with a GSM "micro-SIM," so you can use it abroad, but there aren't any international deals in place right now. Steve Jobs says they'll be back "this summer" with news on that front.







WiFi-only vs 3G

If you're one of the ones suckered into buying the product, I would save my $130 plus monthly payments and opt for the WiFi-only model. Since the Apple iPad 3G is only on AT&T's network, you're going to get spotty 3G coverage. There are plenty of WiFi hotspots these days to accommodate a WiFi-only device. If you're on the road and needing to use the internet, you most likely have a phone to do your surfing, or if you must use the new iPad; you can easily pull into a McDonald's parking lot and use their WiFi.


iBooks

The Apple iPad will also have a new e-reader app called iBooks. From the looks of the app, it seems very fitting, especially for the size of the iPad; which is about the exact size of the Amazon Kindle DX. It will also have its own iBooks Store. Apple has teamed up with some top publishers to bring their books to the iPad; Penguin, Macmillion, Simon & Shuster... and more.




The iPad is very competitively priced, and a smart move on Apple's part. But is it worth it? I think not!! Lack of USB ports, multitasking, camera and Flash support make it a tough sell as a PC or Macbook replacement.

Sadly, the iPad was a huge disappointment. Is the iPad a revolutionary product? Not even close. Apple will make its share of profits from the product, but it's not a game-changer. Maybe we'll be more satisfied with the Apple iPad 2?

[UPDATED] Verizon Wireless to K.O. AT&T?

I've been a Verizon Wireless customer for nearly 7 years now. The one major complaint from many devoted Verizon customers was the lack of phones. Every 'cool' phone introduced was passed up and signed to another carrier or "dumbed" down to Verizon. If a carrier was selling 'Phone A', then Verizon got 'Phone A' a few months later calling it 'Phone B', but lacked Wi-Fi or any other usable feature.

When the iPhone was first introduced January 9th, 2007, it created a frenzy in the tech world. Even today, 3 years from the introduction, the iPhone is still the phone to beat. Many phones have attempted and failed, and only a mere few have attempted and stood next to it. but not a single phone has yet surpassed the iPhone, except for the iPhone 3G and then the iPhone 3G S.

Any phone that had a real fighting chance against the iPhone was either brought to Sprint or T-Mobile. Verizon assumed that their coverage and service would speak for itself and the type of phone didn't matter.

But Verizon seems to be a different company today than it was in 2007, both more open-minded and shall I say, even "cool"? Even though Verizon has the largest 3G coverage and the most subscribers of any carrier, they needed to do more, and now they have!!

The past few months, Verizon has beefed up their phone line-up. Samsung Omnia II, Blackberry Storm 2, HTC Droid Eris, and the Motorola Droid. The Motorola Droid is the closest phone to rival the iPhone. But with the lack of apps on a newly developed Google Android OS, it still falls a little short.

As I'm sure you all have seen, Verizon and AT&T have been at each others throat lately with ads slamming each other. The fight isn't over yet, but it may be over soon. On January 27, Apple may introduce the iPhone 4G for Verizon debuting in June 2010, with an iPhone 4G LTE coming in 2011. Now if the rumor holds to be true, it would be a massive blow to AT&T since the only thing keeping the company afloat is the bragging rights of having the iPhone exclusively.

The #1 Network to carry the #1 Phone? I think so!!

[UPDATE] It seems as though Apple decided to keep today's (1-27-10) press conference only to debut the Apple iPad. Hopefully we'll hear news about a new 4G iPhone for different carriers (Sprint, T-Mobile, & Verizon) at Macworld in February. Stay tuned.

Future of NBC Late-Night in the Air

Conan O'Brien refused NBC's plan to move "The Tonight Show" to a 12:05 am slot to accommodate Jay Leno's return back to late-night.

In a statement O'Brien released Tuesday titled "People of Earth", he states:

"...that delaying the Tonight Show into the next day to accommodate another comedy program will seriously damage what I consider to be the greatest franchise in the history of broadcasting. The Tonight Show at 12:05 simply isn't the Tonight Show. Also, if I accept this move I will be knocking the Late Night show, which I inherited from David Letterman and passed on to Jimmy Fallon, out of its long-held time slot. That would hurt the other NBC franchise that I love, and it would be unfair to Jimmyy....It was my mistaken belief that, like my predecessor, I would have the benefit of some time...But sadly, we were never given that chance. After only seven months, with my 'Tonight Show' in its infancy, NBC has decided to react to their terrible difficulties in prime-time by making a change in their long-established late night schedule."

O'Brien is expected to cash in approximately $30 million if he is either replaced on "The Tonight Show" or canceled; but if the show merely moves time slots from 11:35 pm to 12:05 am, his salary stays intact.

Leno's move back into late-night would not only affect O'Brien, but both Jimmy Fallon and Carson Daly as well. If Leno comes on at 11:35 pm with "The Jay Leno Show", "The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien" would shift to 12:05 am making "The Late Show with Jimmy Fallon" shift to a 1:05 am slot, leaving Carson Daly's program canceled.

Other late-night hosts have also chimed in on the entire NBC late-night debacle. Both David Letterman and Jimmy Kimmel have taken Conan O'Brien's side while targeting Jay Leno as the cause.






So now we come to the fate of Conan O'Brien. Should he stay on NBC and negotiate a deal or should he leave NBC and go to rumored Fox who currently does not have a late-night show? I believe Conan should kick NBC where it hurts by taking the $30 million and moving to Fox. There is a challenge of moving to another network of course, but with the predicament NBC and Jay Leno have thrown onto him, I don't see how this could be any worse.

I wish Conan the best of luck in whatever he decides to do with his career, because this Conan fan will either stick with him on NBC or follow him to wherever the road leads.