Gadgets 4 Men!

 Powered by Max Banner Ads 

Google Cuts Price of Online Storage by 800%…Apple Updates Genius Bar Reservation System…Gold-Dipped PS3 Slim: The Hot Holiday Gift (in Donald Trump’s House)…Sanyo’s “Stick Booster” Looks and Sounds Far Dirtier Than It Is…

Google Cuts Price of Online Storage by 800%

You know how sometimes the new version of a product will offer 50% more, for the same price? And how you think that’s such a great deal? Well, Google just stomped all over your puny 50% upgrade by bumping their online storage to a ridiculous extent. Now you get twice the amount of storage for a quarter of the old price. That’s right, that’s eight times more for the same amount of money. For those that are having trouble with math, that means the storage now costs $5 a year for 20GB of space, and you can buy up to 16TB at that rate. If you’re looking to store stuff in the cloud, this is a pretty killer deal. [Google]

Apple Updates Genius Bar Reservation System

Apple’s Genius Bar is a pretty good system, although the first time I went they told me to arrive 15 minutes before my appointment, like the fact that their 6-week-old, $1500 product spontaneously broke was somehow my fault and not something for which they should accommodate my schedule. They’re tech support guys, not doctors, right? ANYWAY, they’ve redesigned their online reservation system, and while I have screenshots of the new version, I never cared enough about the system to be able to notice what’s different. It’s in Remainders for pretty obvious reasons, I think. [Thanks, Grant!]

Gold-Dipped PS3 Slim: The Hot Holiday Gift (in Donald Trump’s House)

The dudes at Computer Choppers have dipped a PS3 Slim in 24kt gold (along with two controllers) and will be selling them for an undisclosed price in a limited run of 5. To the only person reading this: Hey, Mr. Trump! More photos and price will be coming soon, so if you just toss me your email I’ll be sure to let you know when you can finally get the current-gen gaming console to match your skyscraper. [Geeky Gadgets]

Sanyo’s “Stick Booster” Looks and Sounds Far Dirtier Than It Is

Sanyo’s “Stick Booster” name sounds like the kind of product you hear about in spam emails, and it looks mostly like a vibrator. But it’s actually a pretty nice-looking gadget charger, once you realize what it’s for, taking two AA batteries (rechargeables, of course; it’s in Sanyo’s green initiative line) and offering a USB port to charge your phone, camera, or whatever for about 90 minutes. It’s available now for about $35. It winds up here in Remainders because it’s definitely not the first AA-USB charger we’ve seen, although it might be the prettiest. [CrunchGear]

Technorati Tags: 15 Minutes, Amount Of Money, Apple Updates, Appointment, Choppers, Donald Trump, Dudes, Eight Times, Extent, Genius, Google, Hey Mr, Holiday Gift, Killer Deal, Online Reservation, Ps3, Reservation System, Sanyo, System Gold, Undisclosed Price

Today, as soon as Google showed off its beta GPS navigator, the stocks of Garmin, TomTom and other companies in that industry fell into the toilet. It’s hard to compete with free Google apps, but that’s not why they’re screwed…

TomTom owns Tele Atlas, who drives the roads of the world in order to make maps, and until recently was a major map provider for Google. Nokia owns the only major competitor, Navteq, who has also provided maps for Google. Look at Google Maps now, though, and you’ll see that the entire US bears just one single copyright: Google’s.

Street View wasn’t just a neat way to get imagery to accompany the data already found in Google Maps. As it happens, it was a way to drive the same roads that were already in Google Maps, tracing them with Google’s own road teams, and—through efficiency and brute force—do away with those costly map licenses. Google has mapped the US, and will surely map the rest of the world soon enough.

This is just a timely example of Google’s monstrous growth, and the destruction it causes. Any business that trades in data or packages it for public consumption may one day face the same issues. It’s not just whether or not to compete with the behemoth, but even whether or not to go into business with it. In either case, there is a chance of being destroyed.

Garmin might have a long-standing relationship with Navteq, but they don’t own any maps. How can they compete with a free Google app when they still have to pay? (Worse, Garmin is still stuck in the hardware business, where profits are extra thin.) TomTom owns the maps, but charges $100 for their own app because they also make money licensing maps to car makers, competing GPS makers and web services—like Google. Before, Google was a fat revenue source for TomTom; now Google is a sprightly competitor.

If a unique supply of data was the only thing keeping TomTom and others on the Google chuck wagon, who will be next to fall off?

I was always afraid of spiders growing up, not because of the eight legs or the umpteen eyes, but because of the way they kill their prey. They get them in a nice convenient position, then they use their venom to hollow out their victim’s insides, until they’re just dead-eyed shells. To be killed in such a manner is my worst nightmare; perhaps I should ask TomTom how it feels.

I am a fan of Google products, and a daily user of them. This is not an attack of Google’s business practices, but an explanation of the sort of destructive innovation that has made them so huge so fast. (It’s also a warning to consider carefully any entities that gets this strong, especially if you plan on going into business with one.) Though predecessors like Microsoft experienced similar explosive growth, and grew a similar sudden global dependence, we’ve never seen the likes of Google. The GPS business isn’t the only one that will be consumed by its mighty maw before it’s had its run.

We’ve already seen the devaluation of the office apps that make Microsoft rich; we’ve already seen how Google’s experiences with Apple and others helped it create telecommunications platforms (both mobile with Android and completely virtual with Google Voice) that threaten its former partners’ existence; we’ve already seen how Google converts photos, videos, news wire stories and other former commodities into freebies by smashing the false notion of scarcity that “service” providers had literally banked on.

So who is next? What other hallowed brands will go the way of Garmin and TomTom? Corbis and Getty? Reuters and AP? Warner and Disney?

This is a tale already told, bound to be told again, but the fundamentals are worth studying—even if we use Google Docs spreadsheets to do it. I have never spoken with a spider, but I am certain they’re not evil, despite what fantasy lore tells us. They’re just doing what comes naturally, and doing a hell of a job.

Technorati Tags: Behemoth, Brute Force, Car Makers, Chuck Wagon, Competitor, Efficiency, Free Apps, Google, Google Apps, Google Maps, Gps Garmin, Hardware Business, Imagery, Mdash, Navteq, Public Consumption, Rest Of The World, Revenue Source, Street View, Tele Atlas

 Powered by Max Banner Ads 

More evidence that standalone GPS units will soon be as obsolete as MiniDiscs. Garmin’s nuvi 1860 (which looks to be released in early September at IFA) has a full-fledged browser and a camera.

According to Engadget, the nuvi 1860 has more characteristics of a smartphone or MID than a GPS unit. It will run a Linux OS that has a Web browser (including YouTube support) and will have multimedia, email, and Internet radio applications.

It apparently has Wi-Fi, but no word on an EDGE or cellular connections like the nuvi 1690 that is also due out around the same time. The 4.8 inch device also has a 3 megapixel camera which can be used for geotagging. Oh and it does all that navigation stuff too: lane assist, traffic receiver, text-to-speech directions.

The smaller 4.3-inch nuvi 1690 is reported to retail for $499.99 (not including the connected services) and is now confirmed to use its EDGE connection for weather, flight statuses, gas prices, traffic and Google-powered searches. [Engadget]

Technorati Tags: Cellular Connections, Early September, Email Applications, Garmin Nuvi, Gas Prices, Google, Gps Unit, Gps Units, Ifa, Internet Radio, Linux Os, Megapixel Camera, Multimedia Applications, Multimedia Email, Radio Applications, Smartphone, Statuses, Text To Speech, Weather Flight, Web Browser

More evidence that standalone GPS units will soon be as obsolete as MiniDiscs. Garmin’s nuvi 1860 (which looks to be released in early September at IFA) has a full-fledged browser and a camera.

According to Engadget, the nuvi 1860 has more characteristics of a smartphone or MID than a GPS unit. It will run a Linux OS that has a Web browser (including YouTube support) and will have multimedia, email, and Internet radio applications.

It apparently has Wi-Fi, but no word on an EDGE or cellular connections like the nuvi 1690 that is also due out around the same time. The 4.8 inch device also has a 3 megapixel camera which can be used for geotagging. Oh and it does all that navigation stuff too: lane assist, traffic receiver, text-to-speech directions.

The smaller 4.3-inch nuvi 1690 is reported to retail for $499.99 (not including the connected services) and is now confirmed to use its EDGE connection for weather, flight statuses, gas prices, traffic and Google-powered searches. [Engadget]

Technorati Tags: Cellular Connections, Early September, Email Applications, Garmin Nuvi, Gas Prices, Google, Gps Unit, Gps Units, Ifa, Internet Radio, Linux Os, Megapixel Camera, Multimedia Applications, Multimedia Email, Radio Applications, Smartphone, Statuses, Text To Speech, Weather Flight, Web Browser

 Powered by Max Banner Ads 

More evidence that standalone GPS units will soon be as obsolete as MiniDiscs. Garmin’s nuvi 1860 (which looks to be released in early September at IFA) has a full-fledged browser and a camera.

According to Engadget, the nuvi 1860 has more characteristics of a smartphone or MID than a GPS unit. It will run a Linux OS that has a Web browser (including YouTube support) and will have multimedia, email, and Internet radio applications.

It apparently has Wi-Fi, but no word on an EDGE or cellular connections like the nuvi 1690 that is also due out around the same time. The 4.8 inch device also has a 3 megapixel camera which can be used for geotagging. Oh and it does all that navigation stuff too: lane assist, traffic receiver, text-to-speech directions.

The smaller 4.3-inch nuvi 1690 is reported to retail for $499.99 (not including the connected services) and is now confirmed to use its EDGE connection for weather, flight statuses, gas prices, traffic and Google-powered searches. [Engadget]

Technorati Tags: Cellular Connections, Early September, Email Applications, Garmin Nuvi, Gas Prices, Google, Gps Unit, Gps Units, Ifa, Internet Radio, Linux Os, Megapixel Camera, Multimedia Applications, Multimedia Email, Radio Applications, Smartphone, Statuses, Text To Speech, Weather Flight, Web Browser

Apple is building a new data center facility in North Carolina. Nobody knows what is it for, but according to Data Center Knowledge editor Rich Miller, it will be one of the largest in the world:

Apple is planning about 500,000 square feet of data center space in a single building. That would place it among the largest data centers in the world.

Let’s put things in perpective: Apple’s current data center in Newark is a little over 100,000 square feet, while most data centers around the world don’t pass the 200,000 square feet mark. The new one, located near one of Google’s large facilities in Maiden, NC, will be a colossal 500,000 square feet. That’s a lot of computing nodes, and massive storage space.

The big question here is: Why? Is this designed to accomodate the iPhone family growth? Or is there a secret product and service plan that will require this gargantuan power and storage? New expanded content for new devices? Books? It can’t be only that.

Your guess are as good as Miller, myself, or anyone else’s, like with everything about Apple. Tell us your ideas in the comments.

Here is mine: According to the note I got in this bag of Cheetos, Apple is building a massive neural network to hold a duplicate of Steve Jobs’ brain, so he can run the company for ever and ever. Just don’t tell it to Jim Goldman. [Cult of Mac]

Technorati Tags: Brain, Center Knowledge, Center Space, Cheetos, Cult Of Mac, Google, Guess, Iphone, Jim Goldman, Knowledge Editor, Maiden Nc, Massive Data, Massive Storage, Neural Network, Newark, Rich Miller, Square Feet, Steve Jobs, Storage Space, World Apple

 Powered by Max Banner Ads 

Apple is building a new data center facility in North Carolina. Nobody knows what is it for, but according to Data Center Knowledge editor Rich Miller, it will be one of the largest in the world:

Apple is planning about 500,000 square feet of data center space in a single building. That would place it among the largest data centers in the world.

Let’s put things in perpective: Apple’s current data center in Newark is a little over 100,000 square feet, while most data centers around the world don’t pass the 200,000 square feet mark. The new one, located near one of Google’s large facilities in Maiden, NC, will be a colossal 500,000 square feet. That’s a lot of computing nodes, and massive storage space.

The big question here is: Why? Is this designed to accomodate the iPhone family growth? Or is there a secret product and service plan that will require this gargantuan power and storage? New expanded content for new devices? Books? It can’t be only that.

Your guess are as good as Miller, myself, or anyone else’s, like with everything about Apple. Tell us your ideas in the comments.

Here is mine: According to the note I got in this bag of Cheetos, Apple is building a massive neural network to hold a duplicate of Steve Jobs’ brain, so he can run the company for ever and ever. Just don’t tell it to Jim Goldman. [Cult of Mac]

Technorati Tags: Brain, Center Knowledge, Center Space, Cheetos, Cult Of Mac, Google, Guess, Iphone, Jim Goldman, Knowledge Editor, Maiden Nc, Massive Data, Massive Storage, Neural Network, Newark, Rich Miller, Square Feet, Steve Jobs, Storage Space, World Apple

Apple is building a new data center facility in North Carolina. Nobody knows what is it for, but according to Data Center Knowledge editor Rich Miller, it will be one of the largest in the world:

Apple is planning about 500,000 square feet of data center space in a single building. That would place it among the largest data centers in the world.

Let’s put things in perpective: Apple’s current data center in Newark is a little over 100,000 square feet, while most data centers around the world don’t pass the 200,000 square feet mark. The new one, located near one of Google’s large facilities in Maiden, NC, will be a colossal 500,000 square feet. That’s a lot of computing nodes, and massive storage space.

The big question here is: Why? Is this designed to accomodate the iPhone family growth? Or is there a secret product and service plan that will require this gargantuan power and storage? New expanded content for new devices? Books? It can’t be only that.

Your guess are as good as Miller, myself, or anyone else’s, like with everything about Apple. Tell us your ideas in the comments.

Here is mine: According to the note I got in this bag of Cheetos, Apple is building a massive neural network to hold a duplicate of Steve Jobs’ brain, so he can run the company for ever and ever. Just don’t tell it to Jim Goldman. [Cult of Mac]

Technorati Tags: Brain, Center Knowledge, Center Space, Cheetos, Cult Of Mac, Google, Guess, Iphone, Jim Goldman, Knowledge Editor, Maiden Nc, Massive Data, Massive Storage, Neural Network, Newark, Rich Miller, Square Feet, Steve Jobs, Storage Space, World Apple

 Powered by Max Banner Ads 

Apple is building a new data center facility in North Carolina. Nobody knows what is it for, but according to Data Center Knowledge editor Rich Miller, it will be one of the largest in the world:

Apple is planning about 500,000 square feet of data center space in a single building. That would place it among the largest data centers in the world.

Let’s put things in perpective: Apple’s current data center in Newark is a little over 100,000 square feet, while most data centers around the world don’t pass the 200,000 square feet mark. The new one, located near one of Google’s large facilities in Maiden, NC, will be a colossal 500,000 square feet. That’s a lot of computing nodes, and massive storage space.

The big question here is: Why? Is this designed to accomodate the iPhone family growth? Or is there a secret product and service plan that will require this gargantuan power and storage? New expanded content for new devices? Books? It can’t be only that.

Your guess are as good as Miller, myself, or anyone else’s, like with everything about Apple. Tell us your ideas in the comments.

Here is mine: According to the note I got in this bag of Cheetos, Apple is building a massive neural network to hold a duplicate of Steve Jobs’ brain, so he can run the company for ever and ever. Just don’t tell it to Jim Goldman. [Cult of Mac]

Technorati Tags: Brain, Center Knowledge, Center Space, Cheetos, Cult Of Mac, Google, Guess, Iphone, Jim Goldman, Knowledge Editor, Maiden Nc, Massive Data, Massive Storage, Neural Network, Newark, Rich Miller, Square Feet, Steve Jobs, Storage Space, World Apple

Apple is building a new data center facility in North Carolina. Nobody knows what is it for, but according to Data Center Knowledge editor Rich Miller, it will be one of the largest in the world:

Apple is planning about 500,000 square feet of data center space in a single building. That would place it among the largest data centers in the world.

Let’s put things in perpective: Apple’s current data center in Newark is a little over 100,000 square feet, while most data centers around the world don’t pass the 200,000 square feet mark. The new one, located near one of Google’s large facilities in Maiden, NC, will be a colossal 500,000 square feet. That’s a lot of computing nodes, and massive storage space.

The big question here is: Why? Is this designed to accomodate the iPhone family growth? Or is there a secret product and service plan that will require this gargantuan power and storage? New expanded content for new devices? Books? It can’t be only that.

Your guess are as good as Miller, myself, or anyone else’s, like with everything about Apple. Tell us your ideas in the comments.

Here is mine: According to the note I got in this bag of Cheetos, Apple is building a massive neural network to hold a duplicate of Steve Jobs’ brain, so he can run the company for ever and ever. Just don’t tell it to Jim Goldman. [Cult of Mac]

Technorati Tags: Brain, Center Knowledge, Center Space, Cheetos, Cult Of Mac, Google, Guess, Iphone, Jim Goldman, Knowledge Editor, Maiden Nc, Massive Data, Massive Storage, Neural Network, Newark, Rich Miller, Square Feet, Steve Jobs, Storage Space, World Apple