Verizon and AT&T are trying to get Netflix to pay for the bandwidth its subscribers use on their networks. Netflix shot a response at the carriers by stating it is giving iPhone customers the ability of turning off the cellular access to Netflix completely and just rely on Wi-Fi to deliver their Netflix. However with more and more people not on unlimited data plans anymore, streaming any high quality video would most likely put you over your limited data plan. So it looks like there is a big issue with these companies asking Netflix to pay for the bandwidth when people are most likely paying for overages due to high quality video. So why would these carriers be so greedy?
There is an iPhone video leak of what the four inch front panel will look like on the new iPhone. The panel shows a 16:9 inch style screen and body. Now there are these Japanese bloggers at Macotakara who have acquired the front panel and they compared with a current iPhone. If this is what the next iPhone screen will be it is truly significantly bigger and it will be interesting to see it live on the iPhone 5. Take a look at this video above to see who big this screen will most likely be.
As reported yesterday they have finally released the Windows 8 preview and the guys at the verge did a nice little review of this preview which you can watch above. The one thing I have to say about the Windows 8 model is that it looks a lot like the console on Xbox live. So for anyone who uses the Xbox Live interface will be very familiar with how this actually works. So take a look at the video and tell us what you think about the Windows 8 preview.
If you have been reading my blogs lately you will know that HP is doing some major cutbacks, well it looks like the team that did the webOS HTML5-based application framework that debuted in the HP TouchPad, which was a big failure if you don?t recall. Well they have gone to Google, and right now non one truly knows what will be done. Most think it will be something to do with Android most likely. Although some people are not leaving the team but it looks like the majority, including the team leader Matt McNulty. HP will not be trashing the WebOS projects but this does hurt them greatly.
Apple has made a big change to the app store for the Mac App Store and iTunes, they have added an editor?s choice and free app of the week selection. Right now some of the editor?s choice selections are Facebook Camera which I wrote about a few days ago, Extreme Skater, Sketchbook Ink, and Air Mail. As of right now the free app of the week is Cut the Rope: Experiments for a limited time. This new set up is mainly to battle Amazon which is already giving out apps and also some at a heavy discount if not free. Now you will see promotional pricing and major discounts on the iOS and Mac apps and these will be left to the publisher?s discretion. The question for this really comes down to if some developer decides to do this plan, will there be a change on the split between the developer and Apple or will it be the same split?
It was reported that CEO of Microsoft Steve Ballmer has an 80 inch tablet in his office. It is a touch enabled screen and it hangs on his wall. This is what was reported by Microsoft VP Frank Shaw.
“It’s his whiteboard, his email machine,” Shaw said, “and it’s a device we’re going to sell.”
Now there was an 80 inch Microsoft Sharp Aquos Board touch screen that was unveiled at the CES in Las Vegas but this isn?t what he has on his wall. The one on Ballmers wall is made by a different company but begs the question why isn?t he using the Aquos one? Shaw also added that this sizable tablet is not made for consumers but is made for businesses but feels down the road it will be affordable for the private user.
Windows 8 will see a consumer release preview in June, with an expected public launch later this year. No date or launch window has been set for the 80-inch tablet, or indeed confirmation that an 80-inch tablet is in fact still a tablet at all.
Facebook is introducing a new mobile app called Facebook camera. This will allow you to see all of your friends pictures in one place. You will also be able to put multiple pictures in a post at one time for easier uploads.
This nice new picture app is available right now for the iPhone is should be coming to the Android soon. This is an interesting new app which will make uploading pictures easier. I can’t play with this app yet since I have an android phone but I have a few friends with an iPhone so I am sure I will play around with it soon.
With massive problems under its belt HP has said they have cut 27,000 jobs which is about 8% of its workforce. However the cuts will not be put into place until October 2014 so there will be ample time to find new jobs. This is work is a multiyear restructuring process that will make the company more efficient and innovative.
?We are making progress in our multi-year effort to make HP simpler, more efficient and better for customers, employees, and shareholders,? said Meg Whitman, HP chief executive. ?This quarter we exceeded our previously provided outlook and are executing against our strategy, but we still have a lot of work to do.?
The problems with HP have been growing for years now. This is just another big step in restructuring the corporate look of the company. This includes the removal of the CEO. Now HP just has to figure out where it is headed. They failed horribly at the tablet game and decided to keep the mobile PC division, they are still doing well at printers from the looks of it but that won?t keep them afloat forever. My take is HP needs to not just reinvent themselves but change their name in the PC game and keep the HP brand to just printers. Kind of what Dell did when they bought Alienware, they made that brand their gaming platform. Maybe HP needs to do this.
In all of the craziness that was the Facebook IPO, Microsoft quietly launched their own social networking site called so.cl and no that is not a typo. It is pronounced social however. This site is not suppose to be a direct competitor some have speculated. This network is a combo of social and searching. This has been called more of a social experiment and when a person logs in they are given a bunch of news topics and suggestions. One of the big features is bookmarklet let which gives you the ability to share things with others just like in Facebook where you like something or pinterest where you pin something to your wall. Probably the most interesting feature is the video share which looks a lot like Google + party though you can share videos you found with people. This sounds like it is a nice little mix of things taken from other social networks but don’t you think social networking is getting a bit to crowded?
Apple?s new iPhone which people are calling the iPhone 5 will have at least a 4 inch screen. Many iphone users have been clamoring for a bigger screen in iPhones since the 4 and now it looks as if they will be getting their wish. Wall Street Journal is reporting that Apple has ordered at least a 4 inch screen from Asia suppliers and those are reported to go into production in June. LG, Sharp, and Japan Display to manufacture these new displays. iMore?s Rene Richie was also hearing that Apple will cap the iPhone at 4 inches so for those who thought maybe we would have a 4.5 inch screen your most likely out of luck. So are you excited for a bigger iPhone? Are you worried that other changes may be made to the iPhone outside of the screen change. There is still speculation that the iphone might actually have a different docking connection which will mean all of your Apple products will not be able to connect to the same type of charger for those of you who have an iPad and decide to get the iPhone 5.
