Gadgetress

Apps, Tech & Modern Stuff *IN BETA*

June 17, 2013
by Gadgetress
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The unexpected rebirth of the desktop PC

The new Apple Mac Pro: Coming Fall 2013

The new Apple Mac Pro: Coming Fall 2013

Did you know that sales of desktop PCs are selling at around the same rate they were five years ago? Desktop sales actually surged in 2010 and 2011, according to Mercury Research. But, yes, they have been declining ever since. I did some digging into this phenomena because I just read one too many stories about the death of the PC.

Two other events also prompted my latest story for TheStreet: New fourth-generation Intel Core chips (announced earlier this month) and the newly announced & completely re-invented Mac Pro from Apple. Will Apple reinvigorate the desktop computer?

Read the story:

May 24, 2013
by Gadgetress
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About 50 percent of U.S. still doesn’t have a smartphone

Pantech’s Flex simplified the smartphone’s home screen to appeal to first timers.

I’ve tried and tested many, many mobile apps. And I’ve written several round ups.

But at some point this year, I wondered how many people care about mobile apps and smartphones? It always surprises me when a friend pulls out a non-smartphone. And I know more than a few people who do so and could care less about mobile apps. How many people really do have a smartphone?

I tackled this topic in my latest stories for TheStreet.com. The answer: A growing number for sure. Some estimate smartphone users are at less than 50 percent of the nation’s population. Others put it over 50 percent. One analyst even told me that even when smartphones are prolific, about 25 percent of the population won’t have or want one. Of course, that figure includes children who probably shouldn’t have one. And seniors who don’t want to bother with the higher fees, the complexity and being connected all the time.

But smartphones are where we are headed. In the first quarter this year, smartphones out shipped cellphones for the first time, according to market researcher IDC. While some believe there will always be a flip phone or feature phone available, the smartphone’s cost and service fees are coming down. Maybe someday soon, owning a smartphone will be cheaper than owning a cellphone.

Read the stories at TheStreet (published 5/24/2013):

May 13, 2013
by Gadgetress
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Stagnant Disruptors — What happened to these tech trendsetters?

As a nod to TechCrunch’s Disrupt series, I got to thinking about tech companies that changed my life but then slunk away (and, yes, I know there’s already a backlash against the word).

TiVo, Vonage, Movable Type and others all came to mind. We once lived with them and depended on them daily. Now, they’re … not gone, surprise! Well, some of you may be surprised that all three are still around. You may not interact with them anymore but these companies ended up finding some sort of sustainable business route. They may not be changing the world anymore and more often, they are following trends set by others. Nothing too exciting out of them these days, but they’re still plugging along.

This is an update on what happened to these companies and a few other major names of the last decade or so. Some I mourn, most I just want to give a huge nudge and say, “You did it before, change my life again!”

Read the story at TheStreet. As an added bonus, a second story offers a quick glance at companies who changed our lives before and continue to change them today.

May 6, 2013
by Gadgetress
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Guess what? People are still buying PCs!

Happy girl on a PC (desktop, no less!)Everyone who reads my latest set of stories for TheStreet, will likely be someone who still uses a computer  everyday. Or at least every few days. Or maybe once a week?

PCs may not (arguably) be the go-to device to check email or Facebook likes every hour. But we still need them, we still use them and we still buy them. While tablets are obviously extremely popular (the same readers probably have either an iPad, Kindle or Nook), what we do there is often different from what we do on a PC. I, for one, read a lot of magazines and books on my Kindle Fire. I don’t remember ever reading books or magazines on my laptop.

I hate surfing the web on my iPad or Kindle though. Some sites just don’t load properly on the smaller screens. And I can’t imagine living without browser tabs so I can easily move from open page to open page. Using a virtual keyboard will always come in second if a real keyboard is available. Typing stories on my smartphone? That would be unproductive.

While there are many wonderful, useful apps, tablets and smartphones as they exist today won’t replace my laptop (and aging desktop). Maybe my kid won’t know what a laptop is when she hits high school in 10 years but for now, laptops continue to be the go-to device for productivity.

Dell XPS12 Ultrabook

Tempting… Dell XPS12 Ultrabook

If you are in the market for a new one, don’t count out the reinvented convertibles, which are laptops whose keyboard flips behind the screen to offer a nice, slim touchscreen tablet (remember earlier generations, circa 2007?).

There also apparently is still growth in the desktop market with sleek all-in-one PCs like the iMac and so many other PC imitators.  A few new things to look for in upcoming months: fourth-generation Intel Core chips, out by July; a possible service-pack update to Windows 8; and higher-resolution screens.

Read the stories, both published on TheStreet.com on May 3, 2013:

April 22, 2013
by Gadgetress
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Field Study faves for a modern Spring

The new issue of Modern in Denver is out! Actually, it’s been out for a month. I’m just now getting around to posting this.

With this issue, I’m now the Projects Editor with the goal of helping increase the publication’s readership. I decided to take on this task because I’m always stunned (and delighted) to see how many articles, great photos and inspiring design are packed in each issue. Plus, if you knew the behind-the-scenes story like I do, you’d find out that there is a very, very small staff that puts this out, plus the daily updates online, the local events and, well, getting advertisers to support the mag.

If you don’t know much about the magazine or you want to subscribe, check it out online. Of course, you can always email me too with questions, ideas, pitches or request a sample issue.

But back to the Spring issue. I once again tackled “Field Study,” our usual round-up of nicely designed products. My favorites: Peel light from Naoki Ono and Yuuki Yamamoto, The Belmont from Revolution Design and The Ledge from Urbancase. But take a look yourself: Modern In Denver: Field Study Spring 2013.

The Belmont by Revolution Design

Pick it up at your local (Denver-area) shops:  Tattered Cover Bookstores, Barnes and Noble Bookstores, Select Whole Foods Markets, Select Sprouts Markets, Select Vitamin Cottage Stores, Mod Livin, Mod Mood, Mid Mod Mall, Denver Art Museum, I Heart Denver Store, Kirkland Museum. Or subscribe online. Thanks!

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