Multimedia, Video

Netflix….Price shifts?

The popular video streaming service Netflix has made some announcements that might cause backlash from their large subscription base.

Rising prices and plan changes.

Netflix has had combined services that packaged unlimited streaming with 1, 2 or 3 DVDs out at a time.  Unfortunately, myself as well as other subscribers have received notices of an inherit price increase due to the separation of the streaming and DVD delivery services.  Honestly, a one dollar price change wouldn’t have been that bad; however, when the total price of your plan could potentially rise by five dollars, there will be some raised eyebrows.  For this reason, as of yesterday I chose the streaming only option, which happened to be the main service that I used anyway.  The DVDs that I did get sent would get watched and then proceed to sit on my DVD shelf for around a month, so this option was second nature for me.

But what about the other users?  Will everyone follow the same path I chose?  Netflix has a great service, but when a price spike comes along from nowhere you can expect nothing more than to see consumers raging.

Bottom line: I didn’t get mad or upset.  In addition, I didn’t call Netflix customer service demanding answers.  I simply subscribed to Hulu Plus, now I will have the largest streaming library of greatness coming straight to my TV.  Netflix is still an excellent service with an unmatched library of instant-stream options at an unbelievable price, ditching it now would be a mistake, especially since they are expanding with help from NBC Universal.

Operating Systems, Technology

Apple = Scared of Competition

Every day it seems like Apple Co. is pushing for a ban on this and taking legal action on that!  Why?  Well, since Apple already has a laughable 12% in the PC market, no wonder they are fighting for their slumping mobile market because it is the ONLY place where they can keep up(and lately they’ve been doing a terrible job at THAT as well).

When the Apple iPhone was first released there was a tremendous amount of early adopters, while everyone else hopped on the bandwagon post App-Store.  For the next few years Apple dominated the mobile scheme, Windows Mobile was terrible and lacked features while it seemed Apple had finally found their niche.  However, what is a market without competition?  Nothing.  Microsoft competes with Apple and Linux on the desktop side of things, while Apple would now compete with the rising Android OS.  Android had several things on it’s side though:

  • Built on Linux
  • Not limited to one carrier
  • Not limited to one device
  • Advanced multi-tasking

Apple could boast on none of these things, except for the fact that they had cute little apps.  Android continued to surge and has taken over the mobile market, currently holding the top spot in the US.  How could this be so?  Every carrier has their flagship Android devices, while Apple just ported the iPhone to Verizon(a better network, that should’ve had the device in the beginning since AT&T proved incapable of maintaining).

In addition to the iPhone, Apple released it’s big brother, the iPad.  The happened to be the EXACT same device with a larger screen that you couldn’t talk on.  It rose to popularity;however, the competition rose to the occasion and created equally and in some cases more powerful devices to compete.  So, why can’t Apple handle competition in the market?

Bottom line:  Apple wants to succeed in something, so why not start pushing everyone, who makes a superior product, to the wolves if they get frightened?

Operating Systems, Technology

So, you’re still using XP?

Windows XP was truly a remarkable operating system from Microsoft.  Not only did it completely demolish previous versions in terms of usability, stability and performance.  This system was also very secure.

However, it is 2011; Windows 7 is out (Windows 8 is brewing).  Windows Vista was a bust with poor usability, slow start-up times and a decent interface.  Windows 7 changed it all.

When Vista was released I bought a brand new Acer Aspire laptop and the operating system came preloaded.  However, it was slow to start; but at least it was pretty right?  Many people I knew actually still had Windows XP on their machines because of its unrivaled security and stability.  However, the advent of Windows 7 changed all of the minds of those that thought Microsoft couldn’t create another great operating system.  On the other hand, for the company that revolutionized the way that we use personal computers, you should’ve expected them to bring a clean, polished system after the demise of Vista(similarly to how XP was received after Windows ME was put on the back-burner).

So, XP user do not fret, this is not Vista nor is it ME.  As a user who switched back from Ubuntu Linux, I was blown away by the beautiful design, ease of use, secure functionality and sheer speed of this system.

Bottom line:  Secure, stable and easy.  Windows XP is dated(granted still good) and a refresh of your OS and possibility your hardware could be great for your productivity.

Software, Technology

Image editing, Adobe or Open-Source?

Adobe Creative Suites, this collection….more than any other could deserve the title: The most powerful suite of programs offered by a company.

However, this certainly is not the only way that you can go.  With prices ranging from $1300-2600, there certainly are other options available to rival the most popular parts of the suite, Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator are two key programs that are included in the suite.

GIMP – This is probably the most successful open-source piece of image editing software, from it’s robust list of features to it’s ability to correct anything, this software is a must have.  It may lack the sheer power of Photoshop;however, this doesn’t stop this non-resource hog from being able to fully substitute for Photoshop.

Inkscape – Think Adobe Illustrator had a twin and it’s twin is cooler.  This sleek program stylistically looks very similar to Illustrator and tools-wise this program does not disappoint.  Inkscape boasts a very easy to use interface that you can learn within the first 10 minutes of using it.  In addition, if you have used any design program before this application will be cinch to learn and push out some unique pieces of art. Add Inkscape and GIMP on any system and you’ll have a powerful one-two punch for image manipulation.

Social Networking

Google+, Future of social networking?

We all remember Google’s first attempt at creating a social networking scheme, Google Buzz; yet, it failed to catch on because it was mainly a simple add-on to GMail.  Now we meet Google+, which actually looks interesting.

Unlike Facebook, Google+ seems to be building that community aspect that would make you feel more connected.  Similar to how Facebook USED to be.  A marketing strategy that they are using is this invite service, which is oddly similar to how GMail first rolled-out.

Only time will tell if this network will even compete with Facebook and/or Twitter.

Tech for the masses, meant to empower, educate and inform by Dexter Johnson.