CABLE VERSUS DSL – WHICH FREEWAY IS FASTER?

Last week, I moved my family into our new home in Jefferson City. One of the first things that a tech geek like me had to do was decide on which high speed internet service provider would be the best choice in terms of price and bandwidth offered. My choices were Mediacom Cable Internet service and Century Link DSL service.

It was a tough decision, and I wish it were more clear-cut than it was. But after analyzing the pros and cons of both styles of broadband internet services, one company edged out the other.

In my previous house, my only option was a 1.5mb DSL service. It was horribly inadequate and rarely ran above 0.8mb in speed. But at my new home location, the fastest speed of DSL service was available. I could opt for 10mb service at $39 a month with one line, or even go for the new 20mb bonded line option at only $69 per month. Century Link’s main selling point was the fact that their broadband is not shared among a group of people in a neighborhood, as is the case with Mediacom’s cable internet service. The rated speed that is advertised is the speed you will get alone. This was a big plus. The only negative aspect I could see with the DSL option was the fact that 10mb could be approaching the limit of maximum future speed due to the smaller size of the phone lines which carry the signal.

Mediacom was offering a 12mb service bundled with extended cable for $59 per month, and $79 per month after the first year. This was an attractive price. But once again, the Internet is shared across a group of people in the neighborhood. With everyone using the Internet at the same time, speeds could be lowered depending on how much bandwidth was being downloaded. But the plus side of this was the fact that Mediacom’s highest rating was 2mb faster than the DSL package for one phone line, plus the company plans to raise the top speed to 15mb this fall at no additional charge.

This was a tough decision, but what tips the scale to the favor of the winner boils down to the greater upside potential of cable Internet access. Let’s face it… the “big fat wire” with the copper middle has more throughput potential than the thin telephone line. We are much closer to the maximum amount of data we can cram through existing infrastructure (all things being kept equal) for telephone lines than we are for cable wire.

Something else worth mentioning, the bandwidth speed draw down during peak times for a cable modem is not nearly as bad as what the phone company wants you to believe. As you can see from the picture above, my speed during a peak time today (around 7pm) was 8.3mb. At other times, I run at speeds 11 to 12mb. So clearly this is not a major issue.

I am absolutely excited to have my cable Internet access back again, and I will probably stick with it because it meets my needs. What are your main uses of your high speed Internet access, and which type of service do you subscribe to? What are the pros and cons that affected your decision, and how satisfied are you with the customer service you have received? Sound off below!

Carlton Flowers
Techno Geek

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TOSHIBA LIBRETTO W100 SET TO HIT MARKET IN AUGUST 2010

Is there anyone paying attention to what has transpired over the past few moths with the disappearance of the Microsoft Courier concept tablet device, and the mysterious appearance of the Toshiba Libretto W100? I find this to be very suspicious!

For months on end, we were teased by the prospect of the breakthrough Microsoft Courier (see my previous post and video) with its dual touch screens and proprietary Microsoft touch screen interface that was based on the Surface project. After much hullabaloo, Microsoft announced that they were dropping the project and postponing its introduction indefinitely. This was very distressing news to me.

I had my heart set on this device. This represented the only tablet concept that I would chose over the Apple iPad. I loved the idea of the dual screens, and all of the extras that you don’t get with an iPad. I also loved the concept of the “tuck” feature, whereas a user can transfer pictures and images from two different applications running on either screen by dragging and tucking that image into the fold. Some of the gestures featured on the Courier device, which come from the Surface, are not offered on even the iPad.The operating system was to feature Windows 7. It would have USB, a camera, a micro SD slot, and Adobe Flash capability, which represents a big draw to me as a PC user. All of these features had my mouth watering, and my piggy bank savings were growing in anticipation of an early 2011 release.

But lo and behold, the announcement came forth in late winter of 2010 that Microsoft was abandoning the project for no apparent reason. I was surprised that they would allow Apple, who surpassed them this year in market capitalization, to take center stage and dominate the new tablet market. To my shock, the new Toshiba Libretto W100 dual screen tablet concept was first reported in June of this year. It has striking similarity to the Courier tablet.

Even more surprising, they are planning on an August 2010 release. It has the same display dimensions and basic features of the Courier, all but the pointer device, and even runs on Microsoft Windows 7. Has anyone caught this but me? Are you as surprised as I am that the Courier, which was not due to enter the market until 2011, would come popping back on the scene, somewhat reincarnated, as the Toshiba Libretto? Is this the same device as the Courier, only more of a realistic production version and not vaporware concept?

I’d love to hear your comments if you know more about this than me. I’d also like to know your reaction, if you have been following the whole Microsoft Courier developments. The entry price of this device is supposed to be $1,099, and depending on features, could sell for $1400 on the higher end. This device, in my opinion, would be more useful to me as a heavy PC user who does not want to purchase a laptop or netbook. What are your thoughts? Comment below!

Carlton Flowers
Gadget Geek Supreme

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CHECKING THE WEATHER – 2010 STYLE

This is how you check the weather forecast using an iPad. Thanks to my pal Jason Piper for demonstrating on his new iPad! Enjoy!

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PRE-ORDERS FOR ARCHOS 7 HIT AMAZON

Archos 7 Home Tablet is available for pre-order through Amazon for only $199.

This looks like a pretty cool Android tablet concept, and the price actually surprises me! This device is hard not to consider at such a low price.

I’m not sure what they are offering as far as screen resolution, but I would bet that this is a Flash-enabled device with a USB port, headphone jack, and memory card slot.

Archos plans on bigger versions of their device, which will be released soon after the 7. Looking at the video of the device on the Engadget website, I was not quite as moved as I was when testing out the iPad, but what the heck… it’s cheap, portable internet access. Someone will find use for it, I suppose!

What are your thoughts about this device?

Carlton Flowers
Gadget Geek

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GOOGLE/HTC ANDROID-BASED TABLET LURKS IN THE SHADOWS OF VAPOR-WARE LAND

It amazes me that no company has stepped up to the plate to release a true iPad competitive device. I just don’t get it. Sure, we have the useless “Joo-Joo” (doo-doo, poo-poo, whatever) device, which was supposed to be the “Crunch Pad”. But what use is this over-sized tablet device when you can’t run any software on it? None. And yes, there are a couple of ugly holdover devices from the mid-2000’s that have been on the market ever since, but they are either busted ugly, way to bulky, or simply small laptops missing the keyboards.

In my opinion, the secret Google Android-based tablet device has the potential to tap the market that Apple has primed more than any other company. Google showed us that they can seriously contend, quickly, when they jumped into the smart phone market with the Nexus One device. There were rumors floating about that Google had intentions to release a device built by HTC, running on the Android operating system, sometime during the first half of 2010. But reports came forth early in 2010 that for some strange reason, they abandoned their plans and put a “who-knows-when” release date on their product.

With all of the Android applications coming onto the scene lately, I am inclined to believe that Android application development could become the next hot thing. I don’t see them overtaking Apple, but they certainly could start to pile up a considerable number of applications for their operating system. The philosophical difference between Google and Apple is quite attractive, in my opinion. If I had to choose between “open source” and “closed proprietary system”, I would probably have to go with the open-source system.

However, I must admit, I am an avid iPhone owner/user. This smacks in the face of my programming and computer-building past. I learned BASIC programming on a TRS-80 (for those of you old enough to remember), then moved on to a Commodore-64. Next, I learned the Macintosh “GUI” system and stayed with Apple until I learned how to install Windows 3.1 onto old 286 computers in order to sell them. That led to a 10-year stint as a computer system builder, expert-level troubleshooter, software nerd, and programming novice. All of this doesn’t add up to the type of person who buys an iPhone. So why did I jump on the iPhone bandwaggon? Because it’s the best smart phone on the market bar none.

But I digress… hang with me, I will bring all of this full-circle! On the computer end of things, I want to tinker. I want to modify. I want to create. I want to break it down and build it back up again. I don’t want a system that does all the thinking for me. That is why I am attracted to the idea of an Android-based system, even more so than a Windows-7 based system. Heck, I’d even be happy trying out a Chrome-based system. And Google is in a prime position to tap into the market of people who are just like ME.

My question is, how long will it be before Google and possibly HTC come out of hiding, and share with us a projected date for a tablet based on Android? How many fence-sitters will grow impatient and purchase an iPad because they are sick of waiting for a contender? How many people will grow wary of the whole tablet craze, and opt to purchase a high-powered laptop computer before we see their flagship tablet product come to fruition from vapor-ware land?

Post your thoughts!

Carlton Flowers
Impatient Techno-Geek
(photo credit to www.gizmodo.com)

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FORMAL BLOG POSTING VERSUS “GOING NATURAL”

I’ve been reading up on blog posting style. This weekend, I read a post on someone’s blog that basically said you should blog like you talk instead of being too formal. So that is what this post is going to be about, and it is not going to be written in my perfected polished style with proper diction and grammar!

The reason I’m considering this idea is due to the fact that I have hit the proverbial brick wall on blogging. I’ve been at this thing for about 18 months now, and my original goal was to pump out one quality article a week. That turned into one a month. Then I started unloading stuff that I normally make people pay for, and all it has gotten me is frustration, writer’s block, and a lack of income. So instead of trying to make the most blogalicious business blog with all of the finest most well-thought-out business advice and information, I think I’m just going to shoot my mouth off about the things I like, an not worry one bit about how polished and professional it ends up looking!

I started blogging to market myself as a keynote speaker and seminar trainer. I’ve been doing that for about 15 years, and figured this would be a great way to get the word out. I then took a huge liking to Twitter and social media marketing, and decided to change my whole focus as a speaker and trainer to marketing with social media. 18 months and thousands of hours of research later, I have not profited a dime. Sure, I sold 2 or 3 seminar products, and I did have a smashing Twitter Turbo seminar in St. Charles, but I had planned on touring the country on a monthly basis and really taking the training thing to the hilt.

What I have come to find out is that there really isn’t a huge demand for this as of yet. I have an outstanding product for businesses and professionals who want to annihilate the competition using social media, and it saves them countless hours in learning to do so. But the number of people out there who even have the appreciation to understand how good this information is, well, that’s a very small percentage. So what has this got to do with blogging in a natural voice? Well, I’ll tell you…

Up until now, I wanted to make each and every blog post a work of art. I wanted it to have the voice and tone of something you would find in Business Week, or the Wall Street Journal (am I flattering myself?). I didn’t want to let a single post slip through that did not keep me looking 100% professional, for fear that it could hurt my consulting prospects. But being that picky has gotten me nowhere fast. In order for a blog to really do some damage, you need to be posting daily, or at least 2 to 3 per week. And the content has to be top notch. Well that can be exhausting! The question you begin to ask yourself is, “how long am I going to do this free of charge with no feedback?”

I can’t afford to continue doing that. But at the same time, I am a firm believer in the “Go Giver” philosophy (read the book by Bob Burg & John David Mann). If you don’t pay your dues by giving to the community, you can’t expect to extract money from it any time soon. This is a law, not just a rule. So how does this reconcile itself with my issue? I think I have figured that out.

You have to give, blog, write, shoot videos, and do audios about something you LOVE. If it is not something you truly love, you will burn out. I thought I loved the whole idea of social media marketing, but it’s not my passion (I can’t believe I’m actually saying that). My passion is custom automobiles, electronics, gadgets, art, singing, public speaking, entertaining, music, and family. Those are the things that I need to be blogging about! But how in the world will I be able to create a blog that has any consistency when my passions are so widespread? The idea that came into my mind was this: Use social media marketing to promote and advance these areas of my life, and start to build a resume!

The end result is this… I think I would feel much better about my social media marketing advice if I were to speak from experience. If I can say, here’s a couple of businesses that I grew and built by using social media marketing techniques, and here is how you can do that too, I’d be in my groove. There are so many people trying to become marketing experts who have never owned a brick-and-mortar business, and they come a dime a dozen. I am a former business owner (I had 3 stores) and I am about to jump back into the business arena again. This time, I will use social media to promote my business.

In the mean time, I could be blogging about anything and everything that excites me, instead of making perfect well-thought-out polished blog posts once every month or two about social media marketing. It’s going to be hard for me to do this, and I’ll need encouragement. But if enough people tell me, “go off the cuff and tell it like it is, Carlton!” then I’m going to do it! Once I have a few success stories to share, then maybe it will be time to start making “serious” posts again. Until then, this blog could become much more entertaining…

;o)

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IPAD, IPHONE 4.0, ADOBE, & JAILBREAKING

In today’s video update, I want to talk about the iPad, iPhone 4.0, the ongoing battle between Adobe and Apple over Flash and the banning of Flash development tools on Apple devices, plus jailbreaking the iPhone. I really want to hear some of your input, both for and against, on the topic of jailbreaking an iPhone 3Gs with the current operating system. I don’t know whether or not it is truly beneficial since this could possibly lock you out of future operating system updates from Apple. I lean towards not jailbreaking, but I could be swayed to do this if the benefits far outweigh the risks. Chime in!

Carlton Flowers

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APPLE CLOSES DOOR ON ADOBE IN RECENT SHOCKING MOVE

If you have been keeping up on tech news, you would know that we are in the midst of a very ugly battle between Apple, Inc. and Adobe, the creator of the Flash programming platform. Recently, Apple handed down a new rule that iPhone and iPad applications must be “originally written” in C/C++/Objective-C. That means that developers cannot use the Adobe Flash software platform to create iPhone or iPad applications.

This is a bold and aggressive move on the part of Apple Inc. that tells us they want to remain 100% in control of their ecosystem. It slams the door in the face of the company who is responsible for two of Apple’s most popular software products that run on the Macintosh system, Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop.

Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple Inc., stated, “intermediate layers between the platform and the developer ultimately produces sub-standard apps and hinders the progress of the platform” in response to criticism of the company’s decision to not only ban Flash on its devices, but even as a tool for creating applications. Many of the developers using Flash claim to have spent thousands of hours on applications that will now be dead in the water with this ruling.

Adobe officials and many other critics of Apple claim that this move stifles creativity, and exercises unfair control over developers. But what is more important is the fact that this is a major step backwards for any type of settlement or collaboration to be reached between Adobe and Apple.

Rumors circulated in late 2009 that Apple was considering allowing Flashed-based applications for the iPhone while still preventing Flash to run in the Internet browser. But when Steve Jobs first presented the iPad to the public in March, we plainly saw during the demonstration that there was no plan to allow Flash to even run on the device. It was later stated, rather firmly, that Apple would not allow Adobe Flash to run on its new Internet device.

While HTML5 appears to be the next generation of video encoding for the web, Apple’s bold move may help to speed the process of encouraging website designers to make the transition from Flash to HTML5. But this process could take several years, and we can’t assume that Adobe will discontinue making improvements on its Flash product which could entice developers to continue using it.

What this all boils down to is the fact that the consumer will bear the brunt of this battle as two separate formats will continue to be developed for Internet content. Those in the market for smart phones and tablet devices will have to decide whether or not they want the best operating system and applications or ability to enjoy flash content on the net.

For now, consumers who desire having one standard platform to enjoy web content may not get their wish until the tech giants decide to settle their grudges. It’s either this, or wait until a new contender enters the market that knocks Apple off of it’s device dominance roost.

Carlton Flowers
Marketing Strategist

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2010 COULD GET INTERESTING AS THE TABLET MARKET UNFOLDS

The first potentially game-changing device in the portable computing market is almost here with the launch of the Apple iPad on April 3rd, 2010. This single event is going to open up the doors to a tablet explosion similar to what we saw with the netbook craze.

It is interesting to see that Apple decided to take the closed, proprietary approach with the iPad instead of creating a device with industry standard connectivity and features. The biggest and boldest move was Steve Jobs’ decision to disable Adobe Flash support for the device, on the grounds that Flash causes system crashes and hogs too much of device processor resources. He believes that Flash video will soon be replaced by the newer open source format called “HTML5”.

Time will tell if this decision works out to be a smart move or not. But in the meantime, Apple stands on their claim that the iPad will deliver a “better Internet experience” as a device perfectly designed as a halfway point in between a laptop and a smart phone.

Delivering on this bold promise could be difficult considering that 75% of video content on the web is based on the Adobe Flash platform. But as Apple has successfully delivered in the past with the industry leading iPhone, they could possibly deliver on this promise by creating enough proprietary content within their ecosystem for the iPad.

One thing is for certain, however. It matters not whether the iPad breaks into the market with tremendous success or a resounding thud. I truly believe that Apple has just ignited the spark to what will become the tablet explosion of late 2010. There will be so many variations, concepts, sizes and feature combinations, everyone will be able to find the portable device to suit their needs.

The netbook’s popularity grew quickly and created a strong new niche, but we just didn’t see the variation and creativity that we will see with the tablet boom. Most of the netbooks that entered the market were basically the same with variations in display size, operating systems, memory, and extras.

Soon, consumers will be able to decide whether or not they want to remain within the safety of the controlled Apple environment, continue with the familiarity and popularity of the Windows 7 environment, or venture out into new areas that include Chrome, Linux and Android.

The bottom line… it look like there will be a tablet available within the next year that suits anyone’s fancy. It will be exciting to watch to say the least!

Carlton Flowers
Marketing Strategist, Gadget Geek

For great tips, ideas, and strategies on marketing and advertising for your business, visit my blog at http://www.carltonzone.com.

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APPLE BRINGS BREAKTHROUGH DEVICE FOR A “BETTER INTERNET EXPERIENCE”

For the past several months, I have paid special attention to each and every video that has been released on the topic of the breakthrough internet device, the Apple iPad. Steve Jobs and company have put in several years worth of work developing a paradigm-shifting portable computing device that breaks all the rules of traditional PCs and laptops. The iPad, due to be released on April 3, 2010, will be the first device to tap the “tablet” computing market.

Billed as the perfect halfway product between a smart phone and a laptop, the iPad delivers a “better internet experience” by filtering out all substandard Adobe Flash based video content. Users don’t have to worry about 75% of all video content on the web, nor will they have to be bothered by the plethora of flash-based games and applications. iPad saves the day, and saves the user countless wasted hours of viewing and enjoyment.

The Apple development team has also insured that the iPad will force its users into a better internet experience by removing the bother of picture taking. We all know how many countless millions of hours that people waste uploading pictures to social media sites like Facebook and Flickr. Take that away, and you are left to a highly focused experience on worthwhile websites that count.

The developers also kept in mind that people are bothered by overly-technical devices that have too many plugs and slots. Instead of worrying about reading the instructions to several different peripherals and trying to figure out how to connect them, this streamlined device has made it easy for you by simply eliminating those confusing little plug-in thingies. Users can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that they won’t have to figure out how to connect a keyboard, add an “SD Memory” card, or plug in a web cam. But for the advanced users and hackers that do understand the higher-level hardware functionality, they can purchase an extra cord for only $30 to take advantage of their superior peripheral understanding.

iPad is almost here. The excitement is at a high point. In a matter of days, we’ll be able to transition from dreaming to actually taking part in that “better internet experience”.

Carlton Flowers
Marketing Strategist

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