We've all heard about the NSA and intelligence community spying on US citizens and foreign diplomats. I'm not faulting the agencies for doing their jobs. Yet, the extent of the intelligence gathering is quite alarming. The trust is gone and can NEVER be restored.
As an IT Manager at a startup biotech company, I recently had an experience that is directly related to this entire FUBAR with the NSA. A partner company located in Europe specifically refused to use a cloud service located in the USA, and instead recommended a European based provider.
I had hear about this type of fallout of the spying allegations, and I expected to hear about lost revenue for the top tier cloud service providers in the USA. But, I never expected to have a partner company refuse the USA based cloud provider service. It is happening... this is not a joke.
Not only has the NSA lost the trust of its own citizens, it has also caused an economic loss to US companies. This is a fact.
I do not want to argue the fact that "we are safer" or "we've saved lives". I'll concede that... but certainly the NSA and intelligence community needs to re-examine their tactics.
Friday, December 20, 2013
CyanogenMod on my Google Galaxy Nexus (Verizon), so long Google...
Well, I can say that I was extremely frustrated with Google's decision to abandon me and other early adopters of their Nexus line of products. The Nexus line was promoted as "THE ANDROID" platform that would receive the latest updates. Staying ahead of the curve is imperative for IT industry employees, and that is exactly why I (and others) bought the Nexus phone.
So Google announced that they'd no longer be providing updates for the Nexus phone (notably the most recent update called Kit Kat Android 4.4), and they also somehow snuck in a new policy of only 18 months of updates for Google phones. This is absurd.
After wrestling with poor battery life in my Nexus phone in Android 4.2 and no upgrade in sight, I finally decided to go the way of a custom ROM... an alternative Android called CyanogenMod.
CyanogenMod is free, works flawlessly, and has a beta Android 4.4 version in the works. I highly recommend it to anyone who has been frustrated with Google.
So Google announced that they'd no longer be providing updates for the Nexus phone (notably the most recent update called Kit Kat Android 4.4), and they also somehow snuck in a new policy of only 18 months of updates for Google phones. This is absurd.
After wrestling with poor battery life in my Nexus phone in Android 4.2 and no upgrade in sight, I finally decided to go the way of a custom ROM... an alternative Android called CyanogenMod.
CyanogenMod is free, works flawlessly, and has a beta Android 4.4 version in the works. I highly recommend it to anyone who has been frustrated with Google.
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Google Nexus no 4.4 - problem, mistake, bug, fail, not working, Android, KitKat, 4.4, - screwing the customer
Though I consider myself technology agnostic... From time to time, I have strong opinions regarding technology. Today Google announced that their Google Galaxy Nexus phone (the one I specifically bought for stock Android updates) will not receive the Android KitKat 4.4 update.
Additional information on their Nexus website states that the phone is now out of the 18 month support for updates. This basically goes against the entire original marketing strategy of the phone and the keynote discussions from Google I/O when they announce the Nexus product line.
I'm livid. And others are pissed off at Google as well. Check the threads here - http://productforums.google.com/forum/#!categories/nexus/other-discussions/galaxy-nexus
I see the Google Nexus update to Android 4.4 KitKat (or lack thereof) as a major letdown and failure of Google to adhere to their credo "don't be evil". They have essentially cut off an entire community of their strongest advocates.
As an IT Manager and career IT professional, it is disheartening for me to feel taken advantage of in this manner. From this point forward 10/31/13, I will strongly reconsider making choices that involve Google.
UPDATE: There is Change.org petition for this issue - http://www.change.org/petitions/google-update-the-galaxy-nexus-with-android-4-4-kitkat
Additional information on their Nexus website states that the phone is now out of the 18 month support for updates. This basically goes against the entire original marketing strategy of the phone and the keynote discussions from Google I/O when they announce the Nexus product line.
I'm livid. And others are pissed off at Google as well. Check the threads here - http://productforums.google.com/forum/#!categories/nexus/other-discussions/galaxy-nexus
I see the Google Nexus update to Android 4.4 KitKat (or lack thereof) as a major letdown and failure of Google to adhere to their credo "don't be evil". They have essentially cut off an entire community of their strongest advocates.
As an IT Manager and career IT professional, it is disheartening for me to feel taken advantage of in this manner. From this point forward 10/31/13, I will strongly reconsider making choices that involve Google.
UPDATE: There is Change.org petition for this issue - http://www.change.org/petitions/google-update-the-galaxy-nexus-with-android-4-4-kitkat
Thursday, April 25, 2013
This is kind of a big deal
Microsoft Office is a cash cow. It is amazing how much people fear alternatives to a program that is mature, almost mundane, and so familiar. The idea of abandoning MS Office for OpenOffice, LibreOffice, Google Docs or any another solution is virtually unthinkable to the masses.
I understand that there are many that have tried and tested methods of doing things, particularly with data and Excel. Yes, re-engineering some data exchanges and analysis would be a troublesome task. So, I agree that alternatives are not applicable to all.
Yet, for many, dropping MS Office is a possibility... and one that I think everyone should consider.
Today I read about the new Google Chrome extension that allows Office docs to be viewed in a browser. http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57581475-93/new-chrome-extension-can-open-office-docs/?part=rss&subj=news&tag=title
What does this mean? Well, what it signifies to me is that Google has a commitment to Office alternatives, i.e. Microsoft will eventually lose Office market share in a big way. I also take it to mean that Google Docs/Drive has MS Office in its cross-hairs.
In the future, the ubiquitous "Office" software will no longer be an installed application and $200 license fee paid to M$. Cloud "Office" will dominate. Yes, Microsoft's reduced price Home & Student Office allowing multiple installs was a welcome gesture. But, Microsoft should be even more proactive and lower their price in order to keep their business customers happy. Though, I doubt that will happen.
The downside for Microsoft when people jump ship is that those same people will realize that they don't really need Microsoft at all.
....just as unthinkable as not needing Office.
I understand that there are many that have tried and tested methods of doing things, particularly with data and Excel. Yes, re-engineering some data exchanges and analysis would be a troublesome task. So, I agree that alternatives are not applicable to all.
Yet, for many, dropping MS Office is a possibility... and one that I think everyone should consider.
Today I read about the new Google Chrome extension that allows Office docs to be viewed in a browser. http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57581475-93/new-chrome-extension-can-open-office-docs/?part=rss&subj=news&tag=title
What does this mean? Well, what it signifies to me is that Google has a commitment to Office alternatives, i.e. Microsoft will eventually lose Office market share in a big way. I also take it to mean that Google Docs/Drive has MS Office in its cross-hairs.
In the future, the ubiquitous "Office" software will no longer be an installed application and $200 license fee paid to M$. Cloud "Office" will dominate. Yes, Microsoft's reduced price Home & Student Office allowing multiple installs was a welcome gesture. But, Microsoft should be even more proactive and lower their price in order to keep their business customers happy. Though, I doubt that will happen.
The downside for Microsoft when people jump ship is that those same people will realize that they don't really need Microsoft at all.
....just as unthinkable as not needing Office.
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
It's been a while... Sync, sync'ing, and the cloud - BTSync, finally what I'm looking for
It has bee a while since I've posted on this blog, and I guess that is because I've been busy and distracted with other endeavors.
Well, the task of keeping data in sync across computers/devices has been a challenge that I find myself investigating better solutions every so often. From Dropbox to Cubby to Carbonite to SugarSync to home grown solutions or even a combo... nothing accomplished what I wanted. Maybe Cubby, until they eliminated the DirectSync feature from the beta/trial.
Hence, my search continued. I was excited when I read BitTorrent was going to release a private P2P sync client. I signed up for the alpha, and I just installed and tested sync between my work PC and home Mac. 500mb of videos (including the Harlem Shake) from this past weekend's Coachella music festival sync'd without issue.
Configuring folders and sync is simple. I hope BTSync finds a place/way to establish itself and become an indispensable open source tool. I'm really amazed that OS vendors have not integrated sync technology successfully. People do use the cloud, sure. But, everyone expects to have their data when and where they want it and for free/low cost. Why pay a cloud vendor for storage and bandwidth when you've already paid for it for your home computer?
Thumbs up for the BTSync alpha release so far.
Well, the task of keeping data in sync across computers/devices has been a challenge that I find myself investigating better solutions every so often. From Dropbox to Cubby to Carbonite to SugarSync to home grown solutions or even a combo... nothing accomplished what I wanted. Maybe Cubby, until they eliminated the DirectSync feature from the beta/trial.
Hence, my search continued. I was excited when I read BitTorrent was going to release a private P2P sync client. I signed up for the alpha, and I just installed and tested sync between my work PC and home Mac. 500mb of videos (including the Harlem Shake) from this past weekend's Coachella music festival sync'd without issue.
Configuring folders and sync is simple. I hope BTSync finds a place/way to establish itself and become an indispensable open source tool. I'm really amazed that OS vendors have not integrated sync technology successfully. People do use the cloud, sure. But, everyone expects to have their data when and where they want it and for free/low cost. Why pay a cloud vendor for storage and bandwidth when you've already paid for it for your home computer?
Thumbs up for the BTSync alpha release so far.
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