Today smartphones have replaced most of the devices that we had with us a while ago. Take MP3 Players for example, they are slowly being replaced by smartphones. The declining sales of iPod shows that people don’t need a seperate device to listen to music.

The evolution of computer will become much slower…
The game of computer interface and multimedia contribution were changed with the introduction of iPhone back in 2007. If you don’t believe me have a look at how the iPhone looks like and compare that to how the other phones look like in the year 2007. There is no deny that phones that we’re seeing today have becoming more and more like the iPhone. With Steve Jobs gone; the evolution of computer might become affected.

The world is going mobile…
Things that were supposedly only capable of being produced only on Desktop Computers are slowly becoming available to mobile devices. With more mobile phone websites being made by web developers to fulfil the needs of mobile users, there’s no doubt that desktops are ‘soon to be gone‘. Developers are getting more support towards the creation of mobile compatible website and apps. Today, the number of web development tools to create free mobile website are increasing rapidly and becoming popular amongst the webmasters. Just think about it, let’s say if the iPad is capable of manipulating photos like the desktop could with Photoshop; will you still be using Photoshop on the desktop? Nope. Mobile devices are becoming more and more powerful every year and we are getting closer to see full version of Photoshop being available right on your iPhone!

Cloud Gets Personal…
The major problem with cloud computing today is ‘privacy’ concerns. The fact is clear that nobody in the world would want to trust Apple, Microsoft, or Google to keep all their private data in those cloud servers. In the next five years, we will see personal server or such device that will allow you to create your own cloud services that is stored somewhere in your garage or the attic.

What do you think computers will look like in the next five years from now? Will there still be desktops in the computer labs?

“Ready when you are?” Okay Google, we’ll see you in 10 years.

The internet giant company, Google, has announced the Chromebook (Google’s notebook with their very own operating system). Chromebook is the Google attempt to take on Apple’s Macbooks and Microsoft Windows-based PCs.

Defining Chromebook
What exactly is a Chromebook? Pretty much it is a laptop without built-in internal storage since all the data are being stored in the Cloud server. It runs 100% web applications like YouTube, Facebook and most of the stuff you can normally do on any other Personal Computer with various form factors. Is it an innovation? Kind of. Is it a new thing? No.

Nothing but the web. You can access the internet via Wifi and 3G, it works almost flawlessly except what if you don’t have an internet access? Simple, It won’t work then… =)

The Problem
I believe in the revolution of the Internet. It is a technology that is already big and it is going to grow even bigger. However, today’s internet is not perfect yet. There may not be viruses on Web Server, but there are security issues. Saving your work and files on the Cloud server also means that you have to live by sharing your personal data with Google. Over 95% of the PC applications are made available for Windows and Mac (or for god sake Linux). Sure Google Chromebook has Angry Birds, but if I really want Angry Birds, I’d get an iPad.

It is not a laptop, not a tablet. It’s almost like a tablet except that it has a full physical keyboard, no touchscreen and no internal storage.

Not to mention that the Chromebook is $300. You can get a full working Windows-based PCs with that much. When the internet is fast and secure, maybe that will be time for Google Chrome, but as for now I’m going to say ‘No’ to Google’s notebook.

Check out the introduction here:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVqe8ieqz10

Check out the demo here:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANMrzw7JFzA

Here is the first look on the next generation of Microsoft Operating System:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p92QfWOw88I

What’s good and What’s bad?
I know that it is probably still just too early to make a comment on Windows 8 but based on the video we can see Microsoft’s approach on Operating System (OS) technology. What they are doing is simply unifying Tablet OS and PC OS. This is not a wrong approach but it is simply not the best approach that we can expect.

It is pretty much like putting Mac OS X into the iPad

The one big problem about Microsoft is that it will die when the PC era dies. In my opinion this could be the main reason why they are unifying Windows 8 by making it compatible all across devices from a laptop to various form factors of tablets.

What do you think about the new Windows 8? Will you buy it?

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtvloPFYocw

Most people who have switched over to a Mac often tell other people how great a Mac really is and how much it is superior to any other PCs. However there are certain things that you should look out for before getting that brand new Mac. Apple Mac is a great machine, but you have to get ready to make a few changes. If you don’t like these changes then Mac might not be suitable for you.

No More Games
Sure, there are some games that are made for Mac. However, the experience is not the same. This might change in the future with ‘Mac App Store’ but for now the most you could download from ‘Mac App Store’ is Angry Birds.

If There’s No Alternative. You Might Not Like It
Not all applications available on Windows are made available for Mac. For example, I was having trouble trying to find a decent alternative application of Pinnacle Studio for Mac. There’s iMovie, but I don’t like iMovie very much because I was so used to Pinnacle Studio.

Dual-Boot Is Not For Everyone
You can install Windows on a Mac but not everyone would like the idea of having to choose an operating system every time they boot up the computer. Windows is not made for Mac; the experience of using it wouldn’t be the same.

The World is Windows
With Mac slowly gaining its Market share in the desktop computing market, Windows is still the most popular Operating System in the world. Over 80% of PC owners are using Windows OS. If you’re thinking about switching over to a Mac get ready to face compatibility issues here and there.

It is very simple, what you’re going to do is just print out this Manual and place it on top of a printer. It can be the one in your library, or computer lab etc. (this prank works best if you’ve got a Canon branded Printer)

I’ve enabled the full view mood. You can click on the image below and it will show the full view where you view the image in full size or you can even save it to your PC. (Touch and Hold if you’re using Apple iDevices)

Another thing is that this won’t just work on the first of April, it will work for the whole month of April! Have Fun!

Half of being smart is knowing what you are dumb about. – Solomon Short

Still gotta put it on your lap? Try Laptop mat, cushion or cooling pad.

Skin Damage May Occur

Some of the PC users have reported bumpy skin on their laps, no itch or anything. The heat from laptop could burn and damage your skin.

Toasted Skin Syndrome

It might sound ridiculous but it does exist. This condition arises when people rest a hot laptop on their skin (laps) for a long period of time. In one case, a young boy developed sponge-patterned skin discoloration on his laps due to the long usage of laptop; after playing computer games for hours long.

You can Google it if you’d like to see some images, I’m not gonna put them on here, this ain’t no Health Blog!.

The reason why Macbook is advertised as Notebook and not Laptop

Apple recommends their customers to use Macbook on a desk or other flat surface. There’s a warning in the Macbook’s manual recommending users not to put Macbooks on their laps, and not surprisingly the word ‘laptop’ does not appear in the manual.

If you got a laptop, just remember that it still should be placed on the desk, never on your lap.

How do you guys use your laptop?

I don’t have speakers, I used to have Sonic Gear Evo 5, but I hated the aluminum design, once the two aluminums are pushed there is no way to get them back to the right shape and you will ended up having speakers that work but spoiled. Today, someone sent me a message through Nadzrul.Contact asking me what do I think about X-Mini Happy Speakers.

To be honest, I haven’t heard about it until just now that I googled it and found this:

Now… those are really tiny speakers, and by looking at it I can tell that those two look pretty awesome. Unlike the other speakers I found on the road yesterday

It is the way to go, the all-in-one design with impressive sound system and a built-in MP3 player. It comes with an SD card slot and an SD-to-microSD adapter. The line-in cable on the bottom simplifies the way of attaching other audio sources; it is super-easy to attach your iPod, iPhone, iPad or that $9 MP3 player you’ve just gotten from China.

This is a-must-have portable speaker system, it fits in your travel bag or stays perfectly on your fancy desktop table. People might not even notice where that amazing sound could come from as soon as you turn up the volume. According to the reviewers, these speakers are the best portable speakers could ever be found on the market today.

I’ll be making a video review if the company decided if I should give it a shot, as for now, by looking at the design and features: The X-Mini Happy Speakers are portable speakers that actually worth buying; and it could be capable of replacing those big speakers on your computer table.

I saw a small-foot!

Yeah, it is a ‘big foot like’ creature, I named it small-foot as soon as I’ve discovered it and I got to tell you; discovering it has made my day. I was running to get a camera and accidentally hit my Xbox; it fell and now it is broken. =[

Dang!

Pretty sad; but to be honest; I’m glad that it happened. I have realized that my current workstation needs some serious upgrades. For once, most of the stuff is considerably out-dated. Another fact is that it is not healthy; having 32 inch LCD TV right in front of the bed has turned out to be a bad idea. Whenever some of my friends came over and had a look at my workstation, they would say “This is sick!” I guess they are right, this is sick, not healthy and this got to change!

Nadzrul's Workstation 2008-2010

2010-20xx Workstation

The "Next" Tools

The whole thing is going to be moved to a small studio next to a Green Screen set.

Location is very important, placing a workstation right in front of your bed could increase productivity (no kidding). I’ve spent a lot of times creating marvelous and extraordinary artworks with my current workstation but this has to change.

Another thing that I’d like to tell you is: I am switching to a Mac within next month!

I’ll be posting another post with my new workstation soon! Ciao for now!

I have been familiar with Alienware Computing System but I’ve never actually owned one because of the price. It is probably the best and coolest PC brand in the world. Technically if you hate Apple Macs, you have the reason to love Alienware. All Alienware branded PCs come with high-end computer hardwares which what makes it a powerful gaming system or a great companion for your 3D graphics works. You can check out all of their cool computing devices at their official website Alienware.com

What I’d really like to talk about today is this latest netbook called “Alienware M11x”. It is cheaper comparing to all the previous Alienwares; which gives me a reason to get one. The netbook comes with HD 720p display; it is lower end of High Definition display but certainly not bad for a netbook. I’ve been told that the gaming experience is tremendous! (well it is Alienware – gaming computer)

Another feature that makes me really wants to get one would be the sim card slot. It has this sim card slot that allows you to put simcard in it! (..obviously) Basically you would take out the sim card from your Apple iPhone and place it in your Alienware system. This allows you to use the network from your iPhone, and access 3G internet connection.

Personalization is another cool thing about Alienware. You can customize your Alienware’s Avatar, the back cover, software and more when purchasing the netbook online which is exactly what I’m going to do. Pretty much I don’t really have a choice since there are no offline retailers here in where-I-live.

What do you people think; should I get this Alienware or wait for the over-rated iPad?

Brandon Watson (he’s not in the photo, I just had to put Ballmer there since he is funnier) the director of product management in Microsoft’s Developer Platform said that “It is a humorous world in how Microsoft is much more open than Apple. With Microsoft’s platforms, developers can build whatever they want, and target a broad array of devices using the same skill set”

Many developers of iPhone apps which the iPad uses are not earning money, developing applications for Apple’s devices is costly as the iPhone Operating System uses Objective C language rather than Microsoft’s .NET platform. (I beg to differ with this iPhone App Development e Book) Apple in addition has alienated some developers that make software for its product by controlling the App Store. Last year in 2009, Apple did not approve Google’s Voice App for no reason at all.

Microsoft wasn’t the only company who criticized iPad, Nokia and Nintendo took the shots as well. Nokia was furious when Steve Jobs claimed that Apple was the the largest Mobile Company (“this was a false statement” claimed Mark Squires Head of Social Media at Nokia) Nintendo President, Satoru Iwata, said he feels the iPad is just an oversized iPod Touch and he wasn’t impressed.