Category Archives: Consumer Electronics

Windows 8

Posted on June 2, 2011 by

Microsoft have given the first public demo of the user interface that will be included in the next version of Windows, currently known as Windows 8. At the D9 conference yesterday, Windows and Windows Live President Steven Sinofsky brought Corporate … Continue reading →

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Dutch Windows Phone 7 Delay

Posted on April 14, 2011 by

As I’ve blogged before, even though you can buy a Windows Phone 7 handset from mobile operators here in the Netherlands, there are at least a couple of things to be aware of: The phones do not yet support the … Continue reading →

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Windows Home Server 2011 Online Help

Posted on April 8, 2011 by

While I’m deciding whether I should bother upgrading from my current Windows Home Server system to Microsoft’s brand spanking new Windows Home Server 2011, I thought that I should take a look at the online help system for WHS 2011. … Continue reading →

Posted in Computers and Internet, Consumer Electronics | Tagged | 11 Comments

Inching Closer?

Posted on April 6, 2011 by

Back in January, I wrote about the fact that even though the Zune Marketplace was operational here in the Netherlands, it wasn’t offering any Apps for Windows Phone 7. The only thing that the Marketplace was offering here was videos … Continue reading →

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A Damp Squib Splutters Into Life

Posted on March 29, 2011 by

I see that Windows Home Server 2011 has been released to manufacturing. So it should be available on the market in April/May. I’m sorry, but I can only raise a faint cheer about this product. It doesn’t strike me as … Continue reading →

Posted in Computers and Internet, Consumer Electronics | Tagged | 3 Comments

I Don’t Believe It!

Posted on March 5, 2011 by

I’m channelling Victor Meldrew again today. And the cause of my frustration is once again the forthcoming Windows Home Server 2011. I wasn’t too impressed with some of the backup features I found when I looked at them a few … Continue reading →

Posted in Computers and Internet, Consumer Electronics | Tagged | 13 Comments

Backups in Windows Home Server 2011

Posted on February 28, 2011 by

I wrote yesterday that I’d decided to kick the tyres of the Release Candidate of Windows Home Server 2011. Today, I thought I’d take a look at how server backups are handled in WHS 2011. First, a bit of background. … Continue reading →

Posted in Computers and Internet, Consumer Electronics | Tagged | 57 Comments

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back?

Posted on February 27, 2011 by

Yes, this is yet another grumbling post about how the current Windows Home Server team just don’t seem to understand what the word “Home” means in the name of the product. I decided that I’d take a closer look at … Continue reading →

Posted in Computers and Internet, Consumer Electronics | Tagged | 1 Comment

Soldiering On

Posted on February 22, 2011 by

I see that Paul Thurrott, in an article published on his Supersite for Windows, has done a U-turn and is now betting on Windows Home Server 2011. Back in October 2010, when he was first told by the current WHS … Continue reading →

Posted in Computers and Internet, Consumer Electronics | Tagged | 5 Comments

Being Economical with the Truth

Posted on February 15, 2011 by

I know I’ve said it before, but I do loathe and detest marketing-speak. The last time my distaste was directed at Google; this time it’s Microsoft’s turn. This year’s Mobile World Congress is currently underway in Barcelona. So naturally, Microsoft … Continue reading →

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In Praise of the Dumbphone

Posted on February 11, 2011 by

The leaking of Stephen Elop’s memo to his troops at Nokia has certainly focused the attention of business and technical analysts on the company. However, in all the excitement, Francis Sedgemore has picked up on something that he thinks is … Continue reading →

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Making a Silk Purse out of a Sow’s Ear – Not

Posted on February 3, 2011 by

Oh dearie me, Microsoft has just unleashed the Release Candidate of Windows Home Server 2011 upon the world. And as they had promised, they have surgically removed the one unique selling point that WHS version 1 had – the drive … Continue reading →

Posted in Computers and Internet, Consumer Electronics | Tagged | 4 Comments

A Tale of Two Markets

Posted on February 3, 2011 by

Following on from the previous post on Android 3.0 (Honeycomb), I see that Google also announced, and have opened, a web presence for Android applications: the Android Market. I found it quite instructive to compare using Google’s Android Market with … Continue reading →

Posted in Computers and Internet, Consumer Electronics | 2 Comments

Honeycomb Looks Sweet

Posted on February 3, 2011 by

Google presented the latest version of their Android operating system yesterday, which is codenamed Honeycomb. The presentation has been posted on YouTube.   I must admit that there were some nice touches in the User Interface of Android 3.0, particularly … Continue reading →

Posted in Computers and Internet, Consumer Electronics | 1 Comment

Microsoft’s Marketplace Mess

Posted on January 23, 2011 by

Following on from the last post about Windows Phone 7 and the shortcomings of its Marketplace infrastructure, here’s some information about the different types of services offered by the Marketplace around the globe. As you can see, it’s a bit … Continue reading →

Posted in Consumer Electronics | 4 Comments

Review of Windows Phone 7

Posted on January 22, 2011 by

There’s an excellent in-depth review of Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7 over at MobileTechWorld. Well worth checking out if you’re interested to read a clear-eyed view of WP7. I note also that the reviewer has pointed out the problem that Microsoft … Continue reading →

Posted in Consumer Electronics | 3 Comments

Microsoft’s Marketplace Merry-go-round

Posted on December 15, 2010 by

My mobile phone is an ancient (in mobile phone terms) Nokia 6310i. I bought it for myself back in 2002. It still functions perfectly well as a phone, but in these days of Smartphones, it’s positively primitive. Thus far, I’ve … Continue reading →

Posted in Computers and Internet, Consumer Electronics | 9 Comments

The iPad is Not a PC

Posted on August 4, 2010 by

Peter Bright has a very good article in Ars Technica on why Steve Ballmer and Microsoft still don’t understand why the iPad has been so successful. After all, Microsoft’s partners have been trying to sell Tablet PCs running Microsoft operating … Continue reading →

Posted in Computers and Internet, Consumer Electronics | 2 Comments

Kindling My Interest

Posted on July 29, 2010 by

I see that Amazon have announced the next generation of the Kindle eBook reader, and its availability in the UK. I must admit that I am somewhat tempted by the Wi-Fi model at £109. Reading the pro and con comments … Continue reading →

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