iPad 2 Disappointing? I don't think so...

I’ve seen several pundits criticizing the iPad 2 saying it is only a small improvement over the original iPad. Competitors surely aren’t thinking so - including most who are only now managing to get their first version out. As usual the pundits err largely in looking at this Apple product as a standalone “device” forgetting (intentionally, I have to think at this point) that Apple products are part of a system, are very well built and run (generally) superior software with more diverse and useful applications. And in the iPad/tablet category Apple, for once, is not the high priced product. In fact it is on the lower end considering the screen size.

The fact of the matter is the iPad 2 delivers on key features prospective users wanted. I’m finally willing to buy an iPad and know a number of others who feel the iPad 2 has pushed over the crest and will now buy as well. There will be a buying frenzy come the 11th. My only complaint right now is I can’t simply pre-order and expect one to show up. Read the below article on one competitor’s surprisingly frank comments.

Samsung Exec Says Aspects Of Galaxy Tab ‘Inadequate’

View from my 21st floor room

A great sidecar!

A little Heine

New MacBook Pro Performance Show Massive Improvement

Pretty impressive - bottom line is the slowest new MacBook Pro is as fast as the fastest model of the previous generation. Photogs should be in heaven with this one.

New MacBook Pro Benchmarks Show Massive Improvement

TGIF!

Wife is cooking up a batch of egg rolls

Take THAT Microsoft - Apple simplifies life again...

While each new version of Windows seems to increase segmentation and proliferate confusion over what is included (do you want Home Basic, Home Premium, Ultimate, …) Apple has just taken the awesome step of making the Sever version of Mac OS X available for free starting with the Lion release. Given the fact nearly every home has a network of computers to be managed, and information to share, this is great news. Until now the server features cost an additional $500.

Lion Server to be bundled with Mac OS X Lion

Just Ordered: BookArc for Air

I just ordered one of these stands for my MacBook Air. I’ve heard great things about them and and sure think it looks cool. Hopefully I won’t be disappointed :-)

BookArc for Air

Texting & driving? His first meal at a Sonic

Warming up

Apple Passes HP to Become #1 Mobile PC Maker

Not bad for a “niche” player, eh?

Apple Passes HP with iPad Sales to Become #1 Mobile PC Maker.

AT&T: The app store, any app store, is bad for you

I’ve seen AT&T say and do some clueless things but this has to take the cake… Clearly he’s just jealous because he doesn’t get a of the app transactions. Without platform apps all we get is a bunch of “meh” web “applications” tailored to the least common denominator amongst device capabilities. Virtually none of the cool stuff the iPhone brought us (and now Android) would be possible in Randall’s platform-ignorant World…

AT&T CEO says App Store is bad for consumers.

Alternate Sunset II

Wow, look who's in love with the iPhone?

And all it took was Verizon…

Guess Who’s in Love Again?: Tech News and Analysis

Sunset on an alternate world

HP to Acquire Vertica: Information Analysis

In a relatively small (based on price) acquisition HP takes a big step technologically in the analysis of very large scale data.

HP to Acquire Vertica: Customers Can Analyze Massive Amounts of Big Data at Speed and Scale

iPhone Security Vulnerability - passwords revealed

This is a good read. If someone grabs your iPhone, jailbreaks it, and then follows a few steps they can grab passwords for things like email accounts, VPNs, WiFi networks, etc. Not cool and a fundamental flaw in iOS. Your average iPhone thief won’t go down this path but still disturbing…

iPhone Attack Reveals Passwords in Six Minutes

He’s not that into it…

It’s a dog’s life

National biometric pub list use 'explodes' - Security - News

I’ve encountered ID scanners in the US a number of times but, from what I understand, those weren’t tied to a national database and since they weren’t biometric could easily be circumvented with a well-made fake ID. Leave it to the Aussies to take it to the next level.

National biometric pub list use ‘explodes’ - Security - News

Ice Day -Texas Trash Mix

From the Gloom & Doom Dept - Deficit Outlook Darkens - WSJ.com

We cannot afford to “invest” in more feel-good programs. It’s time for significant spending reductions - taxation cannot fix the deficit. Attempted use of that single tool will result in an economic death spiral in America.

I agree taxation changes are needed and some of those should include very targeted increases. But our corporate tax rate must be reduced and the notion of ending the mortgage interest deduction killed immediately since a housing recovery is essential to the country’s fiscal well-being. The Republicans need to show proper concern for the people of this country and the Democrats need to stop buying votes while bankrupting the country. Obama’s “investment” SOTU speech reminded me of an unpopular rich kid trying to use daddy’s money to buy some friends.

Deficit Outlook Darkens - WSJ.com.

And in the worst kept secret dept - LinkedIn announces IPO

They filed their registration statement today. And the LinkedIn-ites rejoiced :-) This IPO will be watched very closely by a lot of folks with a vested interest - i.e. employees of other private social media firms. If the LinkedIn IPO goes well it will set up the others for huge gains. If for some reason this IPO bombs…

LinkedIn files for IPO IPO Report - MarketWatch.

In the News-to-Me Dept: SSD data recovery is trickier...

DriveSavers is the gold standard for hard drive recovery. Apparently there is a twist in recovering data from the increasingly popular SSD (solid state drives). According to the vendor nearly all SSD are encrypted. They don’t explicitly state the MacBook Air SSDs are but I’m going to assume so since they were making this comment at MacWorld this week…

Macworld 2011: DriveSavers talks about SSD recovery.