“Tech Companies” collection
Follow the innovations and strategic directions of the giants that define our digital world, including Apple, Microsoft, Google, and more. This section offers an expert look at the product ecosystems and corporate shifts of the world’s leading technology brands.
HTD Tech Briefs
View all →April 16, 2008
BART Ticket Kiosks Running Windows 2000 Professional?
Today I tried to add some money to a BART ticket and came across an interesting screen. I guess they had just been servicing the ticket machines and they were "rebooting." What I saw really surprised me. First, they are running on a Windows platform. Second, they are running not on Vista, nor Windows 2003 Server...not even Windows XP, but…
Read more →March 18, 2008
Fix-It: iPhone Bookmark Sync errors
Been a while since I did a post so here is a quick one...an iPhone Fix-it. I'm on firmware 1.1.4 on a Jailbroken iPhone and recently started getting some errors when trying to sync my device. As iTunes was synching and hit the bookmarks section, I continually received the following error message: "iTunes could not sync bookmarks to the iPhone…
Read more →February 29, 2008
Finally Jailbroke my 1.1.4 Firmware iPhone
I know, I know. I said that I was going to wait and see what happens with the iPhone and the SDK (due out very soon). And, I really really like how well the iPhone just works as an un-modded phone. I actually think that I could have waited to see what happens. But the intrigue got to me, especially…
Read more →February 26, 2008
DD-WRT + OpenVPN + LaCie Ethernet Disk Mini Home Edition = Listen to my Home Music at Work!
To write this all up would probably take way too much time. But for a while I have been trying to find the ultimate solution for listening to my iTunes library where ever I am. There are obviously other combinations of this that would work, but this is the latest iteration that I have come up with that I'm happy…
Read more →February 4, 2008
Review: DLO TransDock Deluxe
I had the pleasure of testing out DLO's TransDock Deluxe this past weekend. DLO (which, appropriately, stands for "Digital Lifestyle Outfitters") was the second vendor from my MacWorld 2008 Tour that provided product to review, with Griffin Technology being the first. That simple fact alone earned it an extra notch on the "good rating stick." Also included with my reviewer's…
Read more →January 28, 2008
iPhone: Jailbreaking of Firmware 1.1.3 – not for me, yet!
I'm usually an early adopter of these types of changes. This time I'm taking a different approach of "wait and see." I have read through the instructions (ranging from the early release of NateTrue's fix to the more "official" version from the iPhone Dev team) and have visualized the process. There are lots of sites that discuss the changes. From…
Read more →January 18, 2008
MacWorld Expo 2008 – DAY TWO – Comments and Observations
Well, I went back for more today, Friday, the last day of the Expo. Traffic was definitely lower (which was nice) but you could see that some of the exhibitors were getting glazed looks on their faces and there was a general lack of energy out there. It didn't seem that people had packed up and left but many key…
Read more →January 16, 2008
MacWorld Expo 2008 – Comments and Observations
I spent a few hours yesterday at MacWorld 2008 and wanted to quickly post some information about what I saw and who I talked to. Obviously, the hype is around the new MacBook Air. I must admit, it is a beautiful machine. However, it is probably a better device for someone who already has a Mac and simply wants something…
Read more →January 16, 2008
iPhone: Upgrade to Firmware 1.1.3 Observations
Last night I took the plunge and decided that I wanted to have the latest and greatest firmware from Apple. The Google Maps location feature, the Web Clips on the springboard and the ability to re-arrange icons really grabbed me. But this post is not about that. Since I was coming from a Jailbroken 1.1.2 iPhone with 3rd Party Apps…
Read more →January 2, 2008
iPhone: Firmware 1.1.3, 2008 predictions and my 3rd party apps
Just a quick post for all of you iPhone fans. It's the start of 2008 and there is, I predict, a lot in store for the iPhone. We will see the release of the iPhone SDK which is a definite. Also, there have been reports (from Gear Live) of a new firmware coming out (more about that in a bit).…
Read more →December 11, 2007
New Job: Technology Evangelist for ServePath
It has been a few weeks since my last post and quite a lot has happened with my professional career. First through, apologies to my regular readers for not having posted anything as of late. Hopefully I can return to this soon. However, for those interested, the company that I have joined, ServePath, has chosen me to help them navigate…
Read more →November 20, 2007
Tracking: PowerBook 15″ Recalled Battery Replacements Defective?
I have been researching and starting to track an issue that has come to my attention regarding the replacement batteries that Powerbook G4 15" users received after the Replacement Program went into effect. I have recently acquired a 2.5 year old Powerbook G4 15" that has a replacement battery. The battery, received earlier this year through the Replacement Program, is…
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