Computer Support Blog

There is a somewhat ugly trend in the tech sector right now where the corporate philosophy seems to be “be everything to everyone.”  The behemoths of the tech sector – Apple, Google, Microsoft, etc. – are each struggling to capture the market share of virtually every division and idea within the tech sector.  When one company branches into mobile OS development, the others leap into mobile OS development and start developing their own search engines.  The result is that consumers are forced to ally themselves with one company’s many product lines or scatter their allegiance on a product by product basis, often ending up with incompatible technologies causing additional headaches.  One of the latest fronts is online mapping programs.  Looking to shore up their position in the market, Google is launching improvements to Google Maps in advance of Apple unveiling its new mapping service. Read more »

Despite how many functions Apple adds to each new incarnation of the iPhone and iPad, many people do not use Apple products exclusively.  Professional photographers, for example, have resisted Apple’s attempt to replace their professional photographic equipment with the camera that comes on the iPhone 4S.  Even so, there are a number of convenient applications on the iPhone and iPad that might make you want to connect your Apple mobile computing device with another electronic device you have.  The Cirago USB Synch/Charge Kit now makes connecting Apple and non-Apple devices both possible and easy! Read more »

Environmentalism is becoming chic again and the technology sector is adapting remarkably quickly to the trend.  In fact, with technology improving and making access to educational tools easier, computer and electronics manufacturers must adapt to environmentalist policies or be left behind.  Apple is, unsurprisingly, the computer company leading the charge toward more transparent environmental policy.  While most of Apple’s manufacturing is done in China, a country with little regard to reducing the carbon footprint of companies there, independent auditors have found that even the Chinese facilities are better complying with Apple’s requests to reduce carbon emissions. Read more »

It is easy to suspect that the more popular digital music becomes, the more people will load up their MP3 players and discover that they have created pretty massive collections of music.  As people come to the realization that they have spent a lot of money on digital music, one suspects they will want to continue going through their musical library more and more.  When you do that, you are equally likely to enjoy all that you have accumulated and eliminate mediocre tracks from your collection before refilling your MP3 player.  Given that there are only so many hours in the day to enjoy these massive music libraries, accessories that allow you to play music you know and love where traditionally you have had a radio are becoming more and more popular.  For those who have Apple iPods, the XtremeMac Luna Voyager II Alarm Clock Radio is becoming an increasingly popular device for exactly that reason! Read more »

The marketing and statistics company Barclay’s has released its new CIO survey results, which explore how businesses are investing in technology.  Unsurprisingly, one of the emerging technologies that businesses are investing in more and more are tablet computers.  As the dominant manufacturer in the tablet computer market with its iPad, Apple Computers is witnessing a potential windfall from businesses buying iPads.  However, businesses investing heavily in iPads have the potential to be bad news for both Apple and businesses that invest in them.  Some of the looming issues for Apple include: Read more »

Apple Computers is now the largest, most cash-rich company on Earth.  While hitting that apex is usually a cause for celebration – and Apple executives and stockholders have been celebrating, most notably by announcing a stock dividend – those who take a longer view of the company’s trajectory see the milestone as a potentially troublesome one for the company.  For sure, when you reach the top the only way to go is down, but the real problem Apple faces is not with pessimists; it is with the company’s own image.  Unfortunately for Apple Computers, Apple’s exceptionally successful publicity machine that helped the company rise to the top of the corporate food chain is now working against the computer and technology company. Read more »

Good journalism requires sources.  Reporting a story requires facts, verification from authorities and precise language.  In the tech sector, however, virtually every otherwise ethical and authoritative journalist throws out the book when it comes to reporting on Apple products.  Apparently, speculation on Apple’s next major release allows journalists to become absolutely sloppy and report loads of information which they later retract.  Read more »

Whether you use a desktop, laptop, tablet or smartphone, you probably use iTunes. iTunes is available on PCs, Macs, and iOS (though not Android) and millions of people use iTunes to download, sort, and play music on their devices every day. The iTunes store also provides access to videos and apps as well. It has not, however, had an overhaul since 2009. Read more »

In case you have not yet encountered it, Apple Computers currently has a product available called the Apple TV. Despite what you might think from the product’s name, it is not a physical television.  Instead, Apple TV is a media-streaming device that connects to a television. Apple released the first incarnation of Apple TV in 2007.  The current iteration of Apple TV was released by Apple Computers in 2010 and is more popular and much smaller. Since then, the design and basic capabilities of the Apple TV device have stayed the same, with only incremental updates over the last two years.

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Apple’s new device is not the iPad 3, iPad HD, or The New iPad. “iPad” is its whole name, even though this is the third model in what may prove to be a long line of devices. With such a universally-recognized device, it sometimes helps to re-establish brand awareness and market dominance.  By calling it simply “iPad,” Apple reminds consumers that they were the first and definitive tablet computer manufacturer.  That type of nod to the market power of the iPad could not have been done with a name like third-generation iPad, iPad 3, or iPad HD.

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