http://geektrio.net Whats happening in the world of technology? Thu, 20 Jun 2013 02:34:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 Geek Trio Geek Trio Whats happening in the world of Technology 3 Geeks with a roundtable style podcast Technology, IT, Mac, Windows, Linux No Geek Trio admin@geektrio.net http://geektrio.net/?p=16832 http://geektrio.net/?p=16832#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:45:21 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=16832 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16832 0 Geek TrioMore cable channels have come to Apple's set top box.Apple released an update to the AppleTV earlier today. This package adds five new channels to the device, among them are HBO Go and WatchESPN. The others include Crunchyroll, Qello, and SkyNews. The HBO addition was rumored earlier this year. Both the HBO Go and WatchESPN apps have been available on the iOS platform for some time. Now they join Hulu Plus and the rest of the AppleTV channel lineup. http://geektrio.net/?p=16821 http://geektrio.net/?p=16821#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:08:30 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=16821 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16821 0 Geek TrioYou will soon be able to build your own Curiosity rover out of Legos.NASA launched the Curiosity rover on November 26, 2011. In August of 2012, the rover landed or Mars and the public got their first pictures of the red planet. Since then, Curiosity has since been finding all kinds of cool stuff, despite some memory problems earlier this year. Now, Lego is releasing a kit that allows fans to build their own Mars rover. The pricing and release date have not been finalized, but the kit is expected to hit store shelves before the 2013 holiday season. http://geektrio.net/?p=16807 http://geektrio.net/?p=16807#comments Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:33:17 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=16807 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16807 0 Geek TrioHuawei has unveiled the new super thin Ascend P6 phone.Earlier today Huawei made a new product announcement. Their latest smartphone, the Ascend P6, claims the title of "world's thinnest smartphone." This new handset sports a 4.7" screen, a 1.5 GHz processor, and runs Android 4.2.2. It is a mere 6.18 millimeters thick ( a full 3 mm thinner than the LG Optimus L9). Wow! Unfortunately, the phone is not currently slated for the US market. It goes on sale in China and Western Eurpoe later this year. http://geektrio.net/?p=16815 http://geektrio.net/?p=16815#comments Mon, 17 Jun 2013 12:00:35 +0000 Mike http://geektrio.net/?p=16815 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16815 1 Geek TrioOne of the most famous detectives ever.Sherlock Holmes is a fictional detective created by author and physician Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. A London-based "consulting detective" whose abilities border on the fantastic, Holmes is famous for his astute logical reasoning, his ability to adopt almost any disguise, and his use of forensic science skills to solve difficult cases. Doyle said that the character of Sherlock Holmes was inspired by Dr. Joseph Bell, for whom Doyle had worked as a clerk at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. Like Holmes, Bell was noted for drawing large conclusions from the smallest observations. However, some years later Bell wrote in a letter to Conan Doyle: "you are yourself Sherlock Holmes and well you know it." Sir Henry Littlejohn, lecturer on Forensic Medicine and Public Health at the Royal College of Surgeons, is also cited as a source for Holmes. Littlejohn served as Police Surgeon and Medical Officer of Health of Edinburgh, providing for Doyle a link between medical investigation and the detection of crime. The most "observant" man ever, now Geek of the Week. My personal favorite incarnation is the one played by Benedict Cummerbatch on Sherlock. Check it out, great show. http://geektrio.net/?p=16793 http://geektrio.net/?p=16793#comments Fri, 14 Jun 2013 15:37:06 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=16793 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16793 0 Geek TrioA group is lobbying for mandatory kill switches in smartphones.A group of law enforcement officials and consumer advocates is lobbying to the cell phone industry. Their initiative... all smartphones must contain a "kill switch" that will render the phone inoperable if reported lost or stolen. The logic, known as Secure Our Smartphones or SOS, is simple... if a phone is rendered useless once it is stolen, nobody will want to steal one. The SOS group claims this technology is available now, but has not been implemented by the manufacturers. Over the past several years, cell phone theft has been on the rise. Due to all the information stored on smartphones, this presents not only a monetary risk, but also a privacy risk. Last year, a young woman in Missouri was shot and killed over her smartphone. This was a terribly sad event that shocked many Americans. Two teens were later charged in the murder. The woman's family has been avidly involved in the lobbying. They want mandatory kill switches in smartphones as early as next year. The industry opposes this legislation. Their opposition is presumably related to the profits they receive when individuals lose their phones and have to purchase a replacement. Sad huh? http://geektrio.net/?p=16787 http://geektrio.net/?p=16787#comments Fri, 14 Jun 2013 13:32:59 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=16787 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16787 0 Geek TrioOffice has finally made it's way to the iPhone.Earlier this year, Microsoft released Office 365 Home Premium. While the software would run on both Macs and PCs interchangeably, there was no iOS compatibility... until today. Microsoft Office is now available on the iPhone. The package is downloadable through Apple's App Store, but an Office 365 subscription is necessary to activate the software. There is still no iPad compatibility and Microsoft made no mention of if or when the productivity suite would arrive on the iPad. http://geektrio.net/?p=16776 http://geektrio.net/?p=16776#comments Thu, 13 Jun 2013 13:34:10 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=16776 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16776 0 Geek TrioA list of the premier Windows 8 notebooks.I recently came across this article over on www.pocket-lint.com. The author rates the top 7 laptops in reference to Windows 8. The results are below, but please refer to the article for the full review. I was surprised that an Apple laptop made the top 7. Acer Aspire S7 HP Envy X2 Lenovo Idea Pad Yoga 13 Apple MacBook Pro Microsoft Surface Pro Dell XPS 12 Sony Vaio Pro 13 http://geektrio.net/?p=16766 http://geektrio.net/?p=16766#comments Wed, 12 Jun 2013 16:19:21 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=16766 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16766 0 Geek TrioPart insect and part machine... the RoboRoach.When I first saw this, I though... that can't be real... but it is! The RoboRoach allows you to control a living insect from your smartphone. The electronic sensors interact with the cockroach's antenna to "fool" the bug into thinking it is about to run into something. Using this theory, you can force the critter to move left or right using a simple iOS or Android app. The Kickstarter page defines this product as the world's first commercially available cyborg. The kit includes everything you need... except the roach. It's literally a living robot. Creepy! http://geektrio.net/?p=16759 http://geektrio.net/?p=16759#comments Wed, 12 Jun 2013 01:36:57 +0000 Admin http://geektrio.net/?p=16759 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16759 0 Geek TrioEpisode #75. The WWDC 2013 wrap up.In this episode, we discuss the releases from WWDC 2013. This episode was sponsored by Twelve South. Download Episode 75 http://geektrio.net/?p=16747 http://geektrio.net/?p=16747#comments Tue, 11 Jun 2013 05:58:19 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=16747 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16747 1 Geek TrioThe big gaming expo starts today.After yesterday's WWDC announcements, the tech world is abuzz with Apple scuttlebutt... but don't get too focused on iOS just yet. Today marks the start another massive conference just a bit further down the California coast... the 2013 E3 Expo. This is the biggest event of the year for gamers and other entertainment-related technology companies. The rumor mills expect the Sony PS4 and Microsoft Xbox One to be big news of the show. Nintendo is also supposed to tell everyone about the future of the Wii. Additionally, EA and Ubisoft are supposed to be releasing gaming hardware, and tons of companies will be unveiling new game titles. It's definitely a big week for gamers. http://geektrio.net/?p=16724 http://geektrio.net/?p=16724#comments Tue, 11 Jun 2013 00:52:46 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=16724 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16724 2 Geek TrioApple made a slew of announcements during this morning's keynote.Earlier today, Tim Cook stepped on stage and kicked off Apple's WWDC 2013. The week-long developer conference is now underway and, compared to previous years, today's keynote speech was quite impressive. Cook revealed some numbers and general stats, but quickly got "down and dirty" releasing a slew of new Apple products. New versions of both Mac OS X and iOS were demonstrated before the record-sized crowd. New hardware and software were introduced during the event. Some of the rumors turned out to be true, but others caught everyone completely by surprise. This keynote reminded me a lot of the pre-2007 keynotes. It's one of the better Apple events in recent years. And now... with not further ado... let's see what they released. :) Mac OS X Mavericks The next version of Mac OS X (v 10.9) will do away with the linage of cat names. It will be called Mac OS X Mavericks and it will be available this fall. Apple claims they added a lot of power users features including Finder tabs, tags, and multiple display support just to name a few. Needless to say, the interface looks very polished. iOS 7 Apple's flagship mobile operating system has been completely redesigned for version 7. The interface, look, and feel have all been updated with major changes to all the integrated apps (messages, maps, notifications, etc). Even Siri got some desirable updates. This OS looks really promising. It will run on iPhone 4 and later as well as iPad 2 and later. Mac Pro (shown above) Perhaps the least expected and most welcomed release was the new Mac Pro. This system is radically different from it's predecessors and is 100% made in the USA. The new Mac Pro is small, cylindrical, black, and fast!!! It does away with expansion cards and optical drive bays, but has graphics power to spare. No release date or price was announced. Macbook Air Apple's flagship ultrabook got some updates as well. Most were minor, but the big difference is the battery life. Due to Intel's new energy efficient processors, this baby now lasts up to 12 hours! All the new Macbook Airs will also support the 802.11AC WiFi standard. Unlike iOS 7, Mac OS X Mavericks, and the Mac Pro, these are in stores today. iWork for iCloud Many analyst have speculated about the future of iWork. While several thought it would go the way of the do do, it actually went the way of iCloud... literally. The productivity suite will now be browser-based to allow the same interface from both Windows and Mac. This looks like some serious competition for Google Docs. iTunes Radio As the rumor mills predicted, Apple did release a new radio service called iTunes Radio. The natural evolution of iTunes Match, this service allows you to have all your music on all your devices. Part iTunes and part Pandora, it looks like a really good design that is extremely flexible. I'm anxious to hear more about this service when it arrives this fall. Airport Since Apple updated the Macbook Pro to be 802.11AC compliant, they also needed to update the Airport line of WiFi products. The new series does away with the "pancake" style in favor of a "tower" form factor. Apple claims the new Airport is up to 3 times faster than its predecessor. Like the MacBook Air, these are available for purchase immediately. http://geektrio.net/?p=16706 http://geektrio.net/?p=16706#comments Mon, 10 Jun 2013 12:14:05 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=16706 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16706 0 Geek TrioThe inventor of the Roomba.Filling in for Ron this week... Helen Greiner is the inventor of the Roomba robotic vacuum. She co-founded iRobot in 1990 along with Colin Angle and Rodney Brooks. The company aimed to create practical robots for commercial and military markets. At first, iRobot was not a household name. However, in 2002, Greiner created the Roomba. This was the first iRobot product to gain a lot of success in a consumer market. To date, over 6 million Roombas have been sold worldwide. After several successful years as Chairman of iRobot, Greiner stepped down in 2008 to pursue other opportunities. Her friend and co-founder Angle is the current CEO of iRobot. Today, Greiner is the CEO of CyPhyWorks, a robotics company that works closely with the US military. She is also a Trustee of the Museum of Science, she holds a spot on the Computer Science Advisory Board of Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and she is a Director of the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA). Greiner has received many awards, including a Pioneer Award from the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), the Anita Borg Institute Women of Vision Award for Innovation, and many many more. Now this talented lady can add GOTW to that list of accomplishments. http://geektrio.net/?p=16699 http://geektrio.net/?p=16699#comments Fri, 07 Jun 2013 20:01:11 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=16699 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16699 0 Geek TrioIt looks like BBM may be going cross-platform.Yesterday, tech site everywhere were reporting that Blackberry Messenger (BBM) was coming to Android and iOS later this month. Then, by the end of the day, they were reporting it was not happening. Reportedly, the original rumor stated BBM would be available on June 27. RIM refuted this claim saying "the date was inaccurate." However, they did support the idea that BBM is going cross-platform. So, it appears BBM is coming to iOS and Android... we just don't know when. ;) http://geektrio.net/?p=16693 http://geektrio.net/?p=16693#comments Thu, 06 Jun 2013 21:28:55 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=16693 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16693 1 Geek TrioWWDC starts next week... here are the latest rumors.Apple's Worldwide Developer conference kicks off next week in San Francisco. Tickets to the event went on sale in April and sold out in a matter of minutes. With any event this popular, rumor mills churn into overdrive when the even draws neigh. This year is no exception... the rumors are circulating throughout cyberspace. The rumors that stand out are: new Macbook Pros, iPad updates, and iOS 7. Another report that has got a surprising amount of traction is the iRadio. Supposedly, Apple recently closed a deal with Warner Brothers for radio content. Many speculate this will result in a new service known as iRadio. Hmmm. What do you think is coming at WWDC 2013? http://geektrio.net/?p=16684 http://geektrio.net/?p=16684#comments Thu, 06 Jun 2013 13:46:30 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=16684 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16684 0 Geek TrioThe next revision of Thunderbolt is coming soon.In February of 2011, Apple updated the Macbook Pro line to include a new peripheral technology from Intel known as Thunderbolt. Since then, all the Apple computers have been updated to include this technology. Though we heard rumors that PC manufacturers would start including Thunderbolt ports in 2012, there has been only marginal adoption outside the Apple community. Now, Intel has announced the next revision of the popular data port know as Thunderbolt 2 (originally codenamed Falcon Ridge). This new standard will be out later this year and will double the current Thunderbolt transfer rates. Holy crap! http://geektrio.net/?p=16675 http://geektrio.net/?p=16675#comments Wed, 05 Jun 2013 13:59:32 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=16675 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16675 0 Geek TrioFujitsu has unveiled a new ultrabook with 11 hours of battery life.Fujitsu just revealed their latest Ultrabook, the Lifebook UH90/L. This super-thin 14" laptop is powered by Intel's latest mobile processor, the Core i5 4200U (code-named Haswell). According to Fujitsu, the laptop's battery will last up to 11 hours thanks to this new CPU. The 3200 x 1800 pixel screen is not only incredibly sharp, it is also touch-enabled (for use with Windows 8's tile interface). The rest of the specs include 500 GB of on-board hybrid storage, 4 GB of RAM, integrated WiFi, Bluetooth, SD card slot, and HDMI port. Fujitsu claims this is the world's thinnest notebook computer. Of course, Acer made that claim last year when the S5 came out. In any case, the Lifebook UH90/L goes on sale in Japan later this month. There is no US release date of of yet, but the US price is expected to be around $1900. Oh yeah... did I mention it is really red? ;) http://geektrio.net/?p=16663 http://geektrio.net/?p=16663#comments Tue, 04 Jun 2013 15:31:34 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=16663 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16663 0 Geek TrioIBM is purchasing a cloud services company to compete with Amazon.IBM recently announced plans to acquire SoftLayer, a software company that specializes in cloud-based offerings. The $2,000,000,000 deal will give IBM a new division focusing solely on cloud services. Reportedly, IBM made this move to better compete with Amazon in this market. Erich Clementi of IBM said publicly, "With SoftLayer, IBM will accelerate the build-out of our public cloud infrastructure to give clients the broadest choice of cloud offerings to drive business innovation." What do you think? Can IBM compete with Amazon? http://geektrio.net/?p=16645 http://geektrio.net/?p=16645#comments Mon, 03 Jun 2013 14:33:30 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=16645 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16645 0 Geek TrioOne of the greatest classical composers of all time.Ludwig van Beethoven is one of the most famous classical composers and pianists of all time. Throughout his distinguished career, this music geek wrote 9 symphonies, 5 piano concertos, 32 sonatas, 16 string quartets, and several other less known pieces. During his career, German-born Beethoven studied and composed the majority of his music in Vienna, Austria. He ventured there in 1787 in search of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Beethoven longed to study with the great Mozart (a former GOTW), but the two never met face to face. By the early 1790's, Beethoven had established himself in Vienna by performing as a virtuoso pianist, but was playing works from other composers instead of the ones he wrote. It was not until the end of 1790's that he began performing his own music. Beethoven's first symphony made a public debut in 1800. Around this same time, Beethoven began to have partial hearing loss. This ailment would shadow him over the next couple decades making his social interactions quite difficult. Miraculously, his hearing impairment never affected his ability to produce music, and actually improved his skills as an author. Today, Beethoven's works are revered throughout the world. His career is said to be broken into three periods: early, middle, and late. The early period includes everything written before 1802. The middle period starts in 1803, ending around 1814. Finally, his late period started in 1815 and lasted until his death in 1827. Toward the end of his life, Beethoven was ill and his compositions became more infrequent. He died on March 26, 1827, at the age of 56. He was buried in Vienna (the grave site is shown above) and thousands of visitors still flock to the grave site each year to pay homage to the great composer. The house where Beethoven was born in Bonn, Germany is now a museum dedicated to him and his achievements. Few music geeks have reached the status of Ludwig van Beethoven and his influences will be heard for years to come. Now, we posthumously award this great composer GOTW status. http://geektrio.net/?p=16633 http://geektrio.net/?p=16633#comments Thu, 30 May 2013 19:45:36 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=16633 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16633 0 Geek TrioThe next version of Windows will ship to developers next month.Developers will get their first glimpse of Windows 8.1 (previously called Windows Blue) at next month's BUILD conference. The event will take place in San Francisco's Moscone Center, the same venue that hosts WWDC, Google I/O, and the RSA conference. During the keynote on June 26, Microsoft will release the developer preview of Windows 8.1. Reportedly, the new version will include a Start button (but not a Start menu). Microsoft also added the ability to boot directly into the desktop, opposed to the standard tile view. There are a heap of expected enhancements for the tile interface as well. Will these changes help Windows 8 succeed? Time will tell. http://geektrio.net/?p=16621 http://geektrio.net/?p=16621#comments Thu, 30 May 2013 05:20:13 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=16621 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16621 0 Geek TrioAccording to IDC, tablets sales will exceed laptop sales by the end of 2013.Just under a year ago, Forrester Research predicted tablet sales will surpass notebook sales by 2016. Now, IDC has released a report claiming it will happen much sooner than that. The latest number predict tablets will pass notebook sales by the end of this year, and surpass all PC sales by the end of 2014. While this is just speculation, it is a huge contradiction to Thorsten Heins' statement about tablets made earlier this year. Hmmm. http://geektrio.net/?p=16592 http://geektrio.net/?p=16592#comments Wed, 29 May 2013 15:02:03 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=16592 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16592 0 Geek TrioAccording a study, iPhone users spend more time on their phones.According to a recent study conducted by Experian, iOS users spend more time on their phone each day compared to Android users. According to their research, the average Android user spends approximately 49 minutes per day on their phone. However, the found the average iPhone user spends quite a bit more time using their phone, about 1 hour and 15 minutes. The graph below shows the breakdown of text, talk, gaming, etc. This is an interesting trend. Do you think iPhone users actually use there phone more? http://geektrio.net/?p=16606 http://geektrio.net/?p=16606#comments Wed, 29 May 2013 03:46:39 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=16606 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16606 0 Geek TrioUh oh. This may be a huge privacy concern.Ever since Google released Glass to developers last month, the Internet has been abuzz with privacy concerns. One of the major debates involves it's ability to take pictures, record video, and do facial recognition. Google mad a public announcement that Glass will not support facial recognition, at least not in the initial release. However, Lambda Labs has invented their own facial recognition software for Glass and is planning to make it available when the retail version ships. Yikes! I can see this being a privacy nightmare. http://geektrio.net/?p=16587 http://geektrio.net/?p=16587#comments Mon, 27 May 2013 15:34:59 +0000 Mike http://geektrio.net/?p=16587 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16587 0 Geek TrioA special Memorial Day GOTW. In honor of Memorial Day, and remembering the members of our Armed Forces that have gone before us, I am choosing a Soldier. Major Walter Reed, M.D. was a U.S. Army physician who in 1901 led the team that postulated and confirmed the theory that yellow fever is transmitted by a particular mosquito species, rather than by direct contact. This insight gave impetus to the new fields of epidemiology and biomedicine, and most immediately allowed the resumption and completion of work on the Panama Canal (1904–1914) by the United States. Reed's breakthrough in yellow fever research is widely considered a milestone in biomedicine, opening new vistas of research and humanitarianism. He has many DoD facilities named for him including the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, a hospital complex that treats our wounded Warriors as well as others and the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, the organization for which I work. So on this day when we remember the fallen, our Geek of the Week is a worthy addition to the rolls. http://geektrio.net/?p=16415 http://geektrio.net/?p=16415#comments Mon, 27 May 2013 12:01:58 +0000 Admin http://geektrio.net/?p=16415 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16415 1 Geek TrioIt's the day we remember the geeks who have gone before us.This is the day of the year when we all take a moment to remember our dear departed friends and family. The Geek Trio would like to take a moment to wish all of our readers and listeners a Happy Memorial Day. Enjoy the day off work. -The Geeks http://geektrio.net/?p=16574 http://geektrio.net/?p=16574#comments Sat, 25 May 2013 04:12:10 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=16574 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16574 0 Geek TrioCheck out the new BookBook cases from TwelveSouth.Personally, I have never been a fan of laptop cases. I see a lot of people who have them and most of them time, I think they ruin the looks of the laptop. In fact, I've been known to go on rants about why I hate laptop cases. I mean, why would you walk around with a ugly plastic covering on your laptop? Are you worried about resale value? Cuz a five year old laptop with scratches has pretty much the same resale value as a 5 year old laptop without scratches. Are you trying to preserve that scratch-free metal casing? Hmmm. In any case, that all changed recently when I saw a new line of Apple product cases from TwelveSouth. The original BookBook case (shown below) is designed for the MacBook Pro. It is a cases that looks like a encyclopedia. Essentially, it changes your Macbook into an actual book... ascetically that is. The case has faux pages around the outside and a realistic looking binding. It utilizes a zip closure and the pulls on the zipper are designed to look like bookmarks. They put a lot of thought into this one. I can't really find a flaw with it. This case is really discrete, you could easily hide a laptop on a bookshelf, or desk. Nobody would suspect anything if you left it laying on a table. It really looks like a book. I'm not the only one that likes these case. By customer request, they also make versions to fit the Macbook Air (see main photo above), as well as the iPad and iPad mini. They even make a version for the iPhone (shown below) if you are so inclined. Granted, the iPhone version is slightly more conspicuous because it doesn't have the faux pages. This idea is so cool, it makes me want to go out and buy a new 15" Macbook Pro just so I can buy the case. Well... let's face it... I wanted to buy the Macbook Pro anyway. ;) http://geektrio.net/?p=16560 http://geektrio.net/?p=16560#comments Thu, 23 May 2013 14:06:18 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=16560 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16560 0 Geek TrioYou'll be able to see three planets starting tonight.Starting tonight Mercury, Venus, and Jupiter will all be visible in the West-Northwest sky. The three planets will be visible for the next week or so. Experts say the best time to see them is about 30-45 minutes after sunset. Go outside, look Northwest and try to spot 3 bright stars near the horizon. This is a rare celestial event. Three planets will not be visible again until 2026. The sketches above show the approximate positions of the planets over the weekend. http://geektrio.net/?p=16546 http://geektrio.net/?p=16546#comments Wed, 22 May 2013 13:32:18 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=16546 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16546 0 Geek TrioThe ThinkPad 2 is a tablet targeted at business customers.Lenovo recently unveiled the new ThinkPad 2 tablet. Drastically different from it's predecessor, which ran Android, this is a Windows 8 powered tablet that is said to be "business class." The specs are as follows: 1.8 GHz Z processor, 64 GB internal storage, dual cameras, integrated stylus, and full-size USB & HDMI ports. While these things alone may not make the tablet appeal to businesses, the device ships with a suite of business-centric apps installed. This list includes: Microsoft Office, Evernote, Skitch, Symantec Security, Kindle, Skype, and several others. Both Microsoft and Lenovo hope this will help with Windows 8's slow adoption by enterprises. Time will tell. http://geektrio.net/?p=16538 http://geektrio.net/?p=16538#comments Wed, 22 May 2013 11:08:28 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=16538 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16538 0 Geek TrioMicrosoft's next generation gaming system is coming.For months, people have speculated about Microsoft's next gaming console. Most believed it would be called the Xbox 720, and everyone suspected it would arrive in late May. The date was correct, but everyone was wrong about the name. Yesterday, Microsoft publicly demonstrated the all new Xbox One at a special event held in Redmond. The console goes beyond traditional gaming and acts more as a home entertainment center. The Xbox One is integrated with the Kinect controller which facilitates hand and body gestures being used to control the system. Skype is fully integrated, as are several Internet TV channels. On to the geekier side of things, this new Xbox is powered by an 8 core AMD processor. It features 8 GB of RAM, 500 GB of storage, and an internal BluRay drive. Wireless 802.11n and Bluetooth connectivity are also integrated. There's no doubt this new console has a lot of potential, but there is still no word as to the price point. A formal release date has not been announced, but Microsoft claims the Xbox One will ship later this year. http://geektrio.net/?p=16526 http://geektrio.net/?p=16526#comments Tue, 21 May 2013 13:54:21 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=16526 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16526 1 Geek TrioA senate report indicates Apple owes billions of dollars in back taxes.Yesterday, the US Senate formally unveiled a report that claims Apple is guilty of billion of dollars in tax evasion. Reportedly, the company has three subsidiaries based in Ireland that claimed billions of dollars in revenue over the last several years, yet paid only miniscule taxes. Former presidential candidate John McCain was quoted as saying, "Apple should not be shifting its profits overseas to avoid the payment of U.S. tax, purposefully depriving the American people of revenue.” Apple insists that these allegations are false claiming they have always paid the appropriate taxes for income earned in the US. Last year, Apple paid over $6 billion is US taxes and is expected to pay around $7 billion in 2013. Apple CEO Tim Cook, along with CFO Peter Oppenheimer, will testify before the Senate at a hearing taking place today. http://geektrio.net/?p=16502 http://geektrio.net/?p=16502#comments Mon, 20 May 2013 21:22:00 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=16502 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16502 0 Geek TrioEsha Khare created a new way to charge mobile batteries.A California teenager is now $50,000 richer thanks to a new type of battery charger she invented. Esha Khare, 18, showcased the technology last week at the Science & Engineering Fair in Phoenix, AZ. Her superconductor design has the ability to charge the average cell phone battery in approximately 20 seconds. Khare has already been accepted to Harvard upon graduation, and has reportedly received a job offer from Google. Wow! http://geektrio.net/?p=16509 http://geektrio.net/?p=16509#comments Mon, 20 May 2013 13:28:37 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=16509 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16509 3 Geek TrioThis beautiful lady is the CEO of Game Insight International.Filling in for Ron this week... Alisa Chumachenko is the CEO of Game Insight International (GII), a Russian software company. This winsome lady started her gaming career as a secretary at Astrum (now a competitor of GII). Needless to say, she had a sense for business, and was not challenged with clerical work. She quickly climbed the ranks at Astrum and became the VP of Marketing. Determined to succeed, she founded GII in 2010. Since then, Chumachenko has churned out top selling mobile gaming titles like Mystery Manor, Enchanted Realm, Dragon Eternity, and Paradise Island. Reportedly, the walls of her office are decorated with sketches of gaming characters, and she personally plays every game the company releases. GII is on Bloomberg's list of technology companies to watch, with an IPO expected in 2014. Needless to say, this digital diva is more than worthy of GOTW status. http://geektrio.net/?p=16354 http://geektrio.net/?p=16354#comments Sat, 18 May 2013 16:53:52 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=16354 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16354 0 Geek TrioRecording studios do not cost what they used to.Many of you know, I am an amateur musician and home recording enthusiast. Over the years, I have bought and sold many guitars, keyboards, recording interfaces, speakers, effects, amplifiers, and other music gear. Through trail and error, I have assembled a home studio that works really well. Though I probably spent several thousand dollars buying, selling, and swapping gear, I realized my current setup totals only $3000. This is a surprisingly small amount considering how much a similar setup would have cost a decade ago. I decide to share my findings, so others can learn from them. I hope this article helps other music geeks in their own studio building endeavors. When building a studio, the most important thing is to ask yourself what you actually want to achieve. These requirements will be different for everybody, and your needs will have a great impact on which gear you choose. In my case, here were my needs: Low latency recording Multi-track recording (up to 8 channels) with mic, line, instrument levels Fader-based control surface for tactile mixing (up to 8 channels) High quality reference monitors and headphones for mixing Ability to easily mute speakers while mixing with headphones (and vice-versa) A compact MIDI keyboard controller (one that does not take up much desk space) Software instruments for use with the MIDI keyboard controller Ability to record a direct signal for electric instruments (e.g. bass guitar) Digital amp modeling for guitar/bass recording Ability to record vocals and acoustic instruments Ability to record instrument amplifiers Ability to add (or program) drum loops Digital effects processor for compression, reverb, delay, etc. Additionally, these requirements were "nice to have" but not essential: S/PDIF input on recording interface Ability to chain interfaces for later expansion to 16 or 24 track Ability to create multiple output mixes for later expansion Ability to bypass/mute subwoofer while mixing Again, these requirements will vary from person to person, but I think mine are pretty typical for most musicians. Keep in mind, I also bough some of these things used, and I shopped around on the Internet, so my investment may be less than what's listed. If you shop around, you may be able to build this same studio for closer to $2200. I used major online music retailers (like Musician's Fried, Guitar Center, and Sweetwater) to compile these prices. So, with no further ado, here is the gear I chose... Apple iMac 21.5" ($1300): This is the heart of it all. My iMac is actually a couple of years old (it's the 2.5 GHz Core i5 model), but the new ones will work just as well. Every iMac ships with GarageBand pre-installed and that is what I use for my Digital Audio Workstation (DAW). It is important to ensure your iMac has a Firewire port. Unfortunately, Apple removed this feature on the latest revision of iMacs, so you may need a FireWire to Thunderbolt converter (not factored into this price of the iMac). I upgraded my iMac to 16 GB RAM, but the newer models come with 8 GB stock. This should be sufficient. Apple GarageBand (FREE): The best thing about GarageBand is its FREE with every Mac. However, there a lot of other good things about GarageBand. The included loops and samples are great for adding drums to your tracks. The included software instruments make it easy to add piano, organ, strings, brass, and even drums to your tracks using a MIDI keyboard. The digital effects are also very impressive. It's true that GarageBand has some limitations, but for the price you cannot beat it. I have used this program since version 1.0 and I've seen it mature a lot. The current version is on par with several commercial DAWs on the market. Presonus FireStudio Project ($400): Next to the iMac and DAW, this is the most important piece of gear in the studio. The Presonus FireStudio Project provides 24-bit digital audio input and output. It has 8 input XLR/ .25" ports on the front. The first two are Mic/Instrument level while the remaining six are Mic/Line level. There are additional inputs and outputs on the rear of the unit, including S/PDIF. The FireStudio Project connects to the iMac via FireWire 400 providing less latency than USB interfaces. Depending on which iMac you have, you may need a FireWire 400 to 800 cable, or a Firewire to Thunderbolt converter (not factored into the price of the interface). KRK Rokit 5 Monitors ($300/pair): I spent a lot of time listening to different monitors before I ended up with the KRK Rokit 5s. There are many good monitors on the market, but I really liked the sound of the KRKs. I find them to be very transparent and accurate. This makes mixing easier. I went back and forth between the Rokit 5 and Rokit 6 several times, but in the end I went with the 5's. The smaller footprint gives more desk space and the difference is virtually undetectable once you add the KRK 10S subwoofer.These monitors accept RCA, 1/4" TRS. and XLR inputs. KRK 10S Subwoofer ($400): This is another key piece of mix monitoring. The KRK Rokit 5 monitors do a great job of reproducing kick drum and bass guitar frequencies, but they do strain a little when doing really deep keyboard pads or overdriven bass drum sounds. This is where the KRK 10S comes in. The crossover point is adjustable, as is the output level. Getting these tuned to your room will take a bit of trail and error.  However, once you get it dailed-in, the sound is amazing. What's more... the 10S has a footswitch bypass if you want to hear the mix without the sub. This is an expensive piece of gear, but worth every penny. Trust me! Roland A-300Pro MIDI controller ($300): I think the only thing is the studio that took more time to select than the monitors was the MIDI controller. I wanted something that didn't take up a lot of desk space, but allowed for tactile mixing and had more than 25 keys. I found that all the 25 key controllers had a lack of faders, and the 49 key controller were just too big for my desk. Eventually, I came across the A300-Pro from Roland. With 32 keys, it's the perfect size, but still allows for full fader/knob/button tactile controls.  Using the GarageBand control surface plug in, I do almost everything from the A300-Pro without having to ever touch the iMac's keyboard. This is one of the coolest pieces of gear in the studio! Shure SM57 Microphone ($100): I once heard somebody say, "if you have a recording studio and you don't have a Shure SM57 laying around, it's not a real studio." While this may not be 100% true, it is a fact that the SM57 is one of the most popular dynamic microphone in the world. It does a great job on instrument amplifiers and acoustic instruments. It also does a fair job on vocals. Granted, there are better instrument mics on the market, but you have to spend a lot more than $100 to get something significantly better. This mic is pure bang for the buck. Audio Technica AT2020 Microphone ($100): Everyone's first recording microphone should be an SM57, but a close second is the Audio Technica AT-2020. This large diaphragm condenser microphone is versatile like the SM57, but has superior vocal response. There are many people who swear by using both an SM57 and an AT2020 for acoustic guitar. The combination is spectacular! There are many condenser mics on the market with better quality sound than the AT2020, but they cost far more than $100. For the price, you won't find a better vocal microphone! Period. Audio Technica ATH-M45 White Headphones ($60): Headphones are critical for tracking acoustic instruments and vocals. I did a lot of research here too. I found that the Audio Technica ATH-M45 (black) headphones were some of my favorites in the $100 price range. Again, you can spend a lot more, but I thought this model offered a good mix of features, quality, and price. When I was about ready to buy a pair, I realized they had a limited edition white version that was only $60. As far as I can tell, the white model is identical, except for the finish (and the lower price). Pick up a pair before they're gone! Cables (approximately $40): Now that you have all your hardware, you're ready to hook everything up. Be smart when you buy cables. Shop around. Often times, merchants will throw in free cables with monitors or microphones to get you to buy from them. Take advantage of this. Check the included accessories on each item. For instance, the Presonus FireStudio Project includes a 6' FireWire cable in the box. Likewise, the Roland A-300Pro includes a 6' USB cable. Always measure the distances in your workspace. Don't pay for a 15' XLR cable if you only need 3'. Always buy cables online or from a store that specializes in cables. Do not buy them from the major merchants if you can help it. The big stores tend to mark up the small items like cables and picks. Check all your jacks. The FireStudio Project only has 1/4" TRS outputs. The KRK 10S has both 1/4" TRS and XLR inputs. However, the output from the 10S is XLR only. So, you'll need two 1/4" TRS cables and two XLR cables for this setup. You can also find cables with TRS on one end and XLR on the other. These may be useful. In addition to the speaker cables, you'll need an XLR cable to hook up your microphone(s). Again, shop around. Many merchants throw this in for free. If you follow all these guidelines, you should be able to get all the cables you need for $40 or so. If you add all of these items together ($1300 + FREE + $400 + $300 + $400 + $300 + $100 + $100 + $60 + $40), it comes out to $3000 exactly. While your actual investment may change based on the gear you choose, it's clear that anyone can assemble an impressive home studio for a few thousand dollars. My how the times have changed. ;) Do you have a similar home studio you created with a similar investment? I'd love to hear about it. Post a comment below. http://geektrio.net/?p=16469 http://geektrio.net/?p=16469#comments Fri, 17 May 2013 14:04:29 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=16469 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16469 0 Geek TrioFour members of the hacking group were sentenced.The hacking group LulzSec went on a rampage back in 2011. They hacked websites belonging to Fox, The US Senate, PBS, Sony, the CIA, and many more. The group claimed to be ethical hackers, but after being busted in 2012 (when their leader cooperated with the FBI), it was clear the UK legal system did not see it that way. These young men were facing some serious penalties. Yesterday, four members of the group were sentenced in a British court of law. Ryan Ackroyd, 26, Ryan Cleary, 21, Jake Davis, 20, and Mustafa Al-Bassam, 18 were all given prison sentences. Clockwise from top left: Ackroyd, Cleary, Davis, and Al-Bassam Ackroyd will go to jail for 30 months, Cleary for 32 months, and Davis for 48 months. Al-Bassam was given a 20-month suspended sentence. Reportedly, his penalties were lessened because he was under 18 at the time of the incidents. Some feel this punishment was too severe, while others think it was not strict enough. Regardless, let this be a reminder to everyone... hacking is illegal! http://geektrio.net/?p=16455 http://geektrio.net/?p=16455#comments Thu, 16 May 2013 19:08:45 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=16455 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16455 0 Geek TrioGoogle is now a PayPal competitor.About two years ago, Google unveiled the Mobile Wallet. At this year's I/O Conference, the search giant did something very unexpected. Google has now integrated Google Wallet in Gmail. This new feature allows users to send money via email, much like PayPal. The video below explains it in more detail. http://geektrio.net/?p=16442 http://geektrio.net/?p=16442#comments Thu, 16 May 2013 06:01:48 +0000 Admin http://geektrio.net/?p=16442 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16442 0 Geek TrioEpisode #74. RIM on tablets, Google I/O, and budget smartphones.In this episode, we discuss RIM's view on tablets, Google's I/O Conference, and budget smartphones like the Blackberry Q5. This episode is sponsored by Steve & Steve. Download Episode 74 http://geektrio.net/?p=16431 http://geektrio.net/?p=16431#comments Thu, 16 May 2013 03:23:58 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=16431 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16431 1 Geek TrioGoogle is getting into the music business.Earlier today at the I/O Conference, Google unveiled a new music service known as All Access. The service will cost $10 per month, but those who sign up before June 30 can get a rate of $8 per month. Intended to compete with Spotify, All Access is expected to be popular. Reportedly, Apple was planning to release a similar service this year, but it appears Google has beat them to the punch. http://geektrio.net/?p=16426 http://geektrio.net/?p=16426#comments Tue, 14 May 2013 18:25:13 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=16426 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16426 0 Geek TrioThere is an affordable touchscreen BlackBerry coming.Blackberry, formerly RIM, released details about a new smartphone earlier today. The new Blackberry Q5 is a budget-minded touchscreen handset with a full QWERTY keyboard. Blackberry CEO Thorsten Heins said the phone is targeted at emerging markets. Though little details were given, it is clear the phone will arrive in July. The initial markets will be Europe, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. http://geektrio.net/?p=16403 http://geektrio.net/?p=16403#comments Tue, 14 May 2013 14:14:12 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=16403 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16403 0 Geek TrioNVidia's new handheld gaming device is coming.NVidia is unveiling a new handheld gaming system known as the Shield. This Android-powered device features a 5" pop-up screen and is powered by the Tegra 4 processor. With 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of on-board storage, the Shield rivals most Android 7" tablets. The device will be available for pre-order on May 20. The initial cost is $349. The units are not expected to ship in late June. http://geektrio.net/?p=16394 http://geektrio.net/?p=16394#comments Tue, 14 May 2013 13:44:19 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=16394 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16394 1 Geek TrioGoogle's developer conference starts tomorrow.Google's 2013 I/O Conference kicks off tomorrow in San Francisco, California's Moscone Center. The 3-day developer conference covers technologies like Android, Chrome, Google+, YouTube, Google Wallet, and more.  In addition to classes and peer sessions, Google is expected to unveil some new products during the conference. Last year, they released Project Glass during I/O. New Nexus tablets are expected but a lot of people think Google may have a smartwatch on the back burner. We'll all know this week. :) http://geektrio.net/?p=16332 http://geektrio.net/?p=16332#comments Mon, 13 May 2013 12:41:32 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=16332 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16332 0 Geek TrioThe founding editor of Lifehacker.Many geeks know the popular website LifeHacker.com, but fewer realize this site was founded by a tech-savvy woman, Gina Trapani. As a high-schooler, Trapani had an interest in writing and began writing for an youth magazine.  She also had an aptitude for software development and spent several post-college years developing code for a living. In 2005, she started a blog called LifeHacker. She was the site's sole contributor at first, but quickly gained popularity. She ran the site until 2009, when she stepped down as editor. Since then, she has published 3 books, taken on a developer role with Expert Labs, became a co-host on the This Week In Google podcast (on the TWiT network), and created the InBeta podcast. She also hosts her own blog site called SmarterWare. Needless to say, this tech maven is one busy gal. Now she add GOTW status to her list of accomplishments. ;) http://geektrio.net/?p=16344 http://geektrio.net/?p=16344#comments Fri, 10 May 2013 14:14:04 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=16344 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16344 0 Geek TrioThere will be no more Windows machines aboard the space station.The United Space Alliance recently announced they are transitioning all computers aboard the International Space Station (ISS) from Windows XP to Debian Linux. According to a spokesperson from the Alliance, Windows has now officially been banned on the space station. In the coming months, all the of laptops aboard ISS will have Debian 6 installed, and all the programs used by the astronauts will be ported to run on the Linux platform. http://geektrio.net/?p=16326 http://geektrio.net/?p=16326#comments Thu, 09 May 2013 19:26:05 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=16326 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16326 0 Geek TrioThe first solar eclipse of 2013 happens today.Later today, the first solar eclipse of 2013 will take place. Unfortunately, it will not be visible from the continental United States. Hawaiians and Australians should have a great view starting around 5:30 PM EST today. If you're not in these places, but really want to see it, you can tune in here to watch live coverage. http://geektrio.net/?p=16318 http://geektrio.net/?p=16318#comments Wed, 08 May 2013 16:21:50 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=16318 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16318 0 Geek TrioT-Mobile customers are enjoying the new iPhone offering.The iPhone 5 came to T-Mobile on April 12. There was some industry disagreement as to whether or not this would be a good move for T-Mobile. After less than a month of being on sale, T-Mobile reported over 500,000 units sold. Many stores claimed they had lines out of the door on April 12 indicating there is still plenty of demand for Apple's smartphone. Go figure. ;) http://geektrio.net/?p=16310 http://geektrio.net/?p=16310#comments Wed, 08 May 2013 14:04:24 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=16310 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16310 0 Geek TrioYouTube will soon be offering a video subscription service.According to recent tech news, YouTube will begin offering subscription channels in the coming weeks. Details are still a bit fuzzy, the rate is expected to be around $1.99 per channel per week. This move makes YouTube a competitor with Netflix and Hulu and will undoubtedly bring more content to the website. http://geektrio.net/?p=16303 http://geektrio.net/?p=16303#comments Wed, 08 May 2013 13:00:18 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=16303 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16303 0 Geek TrioAndroid users will soon be able to use Microsoft Office.There's no doubt Microsoft Office is the "800 lb. gorilla" when it comes to productivity software. Last year, Microsoft revamped their offerings bringing the majority of their suite online. Though the software giant stated originally they would only support Windows operating systems, they eventually caved and added iOS compatibility. Today, Microsoft has announced Android device support is coming. Though an official date has not been released, user's of Google's mobile operating system will soon be able to have full Office Web App support using the Chrome browser. http://geektrio.net/?p=16288 http://geektrio.net/?p=16288#comments Tue, 07 May 2013 18:21:37 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=16288 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16288 0 Geek TrioCray is now offering a smaller version of their famed supercomputers.Cray is known for their massive supercomputers like the XK7. These monsters are extremely powerful, but take up a lot of space and cost $10-20 million. They've seen a decent market with government agencies and scientific institutions, but have never been widely adopted by the business or consumer markets. Now the supercomputer vendor has a new offering, the Cray XC-30AC (shown above). This mini supercomputer sports many of the features of it's bigger cousins, but is air cooled (compared to the liquid cooling systems on the larger models). Additionally, it has a lower starting price of $500,000 (configurable up to $3 million). Cray hopes this model will be popular with Fortune 1000 companies. http://geektrio.net/?p=16283 http://geektrio.net/?p=16283#comments Tue, 07 May 2013 00:22:48 +0000 Mike http://geektrio.net/?p=16283 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16283 1 Geek TrioThe most amazing street chalk artist!Julian Beever is an English chalk artist who has been creating trompe-l'œil chalk drawings on pavement surfaces since the mid-1990s. He uses a projection technique called anamorphosis to create the illusion of three dimensions when viewed from the correct angle. It is often possible to position a person within the image as if they were interacting with the scene. The results are absolutely amazing. Check out his website here. I can look at these things for hours. I think he is well deserving of Geek of the Week honors. http://geektrio.net/?p=16273 http://geektrio.net/?p=16273#comments Fri, 03 May 2013 19:58:24 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=16273 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16273 0 Geek TrioThis is a very cool idea.A new idea known as Spark Core is currently posted on Kickstarter. This new device continues in the realm of open source hardware. It is basically a WiFi chip that is arduino-compatible. This would be a simple and cheap way to create WiFi enabled devices for a million different purposes. The possibilities are literally endless... everything from a WiFi RC car, to a Twitter refrigerator magnet, to a solar-powered security camera (shown above) could be possible using this device. So far, the project has raised over $89,000 on Kickstarter. http://geektrio.net/?p=16261 http://geektrio.net/?p=16261#comments Thu, 02 May 2013 13:18:32 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=16261 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16261 0 Geek TrioWindows 7 and Windows XP still lead the pack.In February of this year, we reported Windows 8 had reached an underwhelming 2.26% market share for desktop operating systems. Now, at the end of April, the same statistics show Windows 8 has progressed to 3.84% of this market. While these number are definitely an improvement, they also shows Windows 8 has not caught on like Microsoft had hoped. Twelve year-old Windows XP still carries 38.31% of this market, and 2009's Windows 7 leads the pack with a whopping 44.72%. Even Windows Vista, largely regarded as the worst operating system in recent history, has more users. Vista claims 4.75% of the same market. http://geektrio.net/?p=16254 http://geektrio.net/?p=16254#comments Wed, 01 May 2013 19:53:57 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=16254 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16254 0 Geek TrioDreamWorks is shelling out 33 million for a YouTube channel.DreamWorks studios announced a somewhat strange acquisition earlier today. The animated movie maker has purchased AwesomenessTV for $33,000,000. While DreamWorks acquiring a popular teen TV channel doesn't seem all that strange, there is a catch... AwesomenessTV is a YouTube channel. That's right. This is not a traditional TV channel, it's simply a placeholder on YouTube. Wow! Who said you couldn't make money off YouTube videos? http://geektrio.net/?p=16242 http://geektrio.net/?p=16242#comments Wed, 01 May 2013 14:54:53 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=16242 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16242 0 Geek TrioThe new T-Mobile USA stock starts trading today.In late 2012, T-Mobile announced the acquisition of MetroPCS. This move was essentially a merger between the #4 and #5 cellular providers in the US. After several months of paperwork, they finally worked out all the details. The new stock, T-Mobile USA, begins trading today. It will be interesting to see how this merger affects the top 3 providers, Sprint, Verizon, and AT&T. Can T-Mobile overcome Sprint? http://geektrio.net/?p=16231 http://geektrio.net/?p=16231#comments Tue, 30 Apr 2013 19:40:43 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=16231 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16231 1 Geek TrioThorsten Heins claims tablets are not the way of the future.In a recent interview, RIM (now dubbed BlackBerry Inc) CEO Thorsten Heins stated the tablet market is not a good business model. He claims touchscreen tablet devices, like the Apple iPad and BlackBerry PlayBook, will be obsolete in 5 years. However, he expects mobile phones to keep gaining popularity. Ironically (or perhaps not), the new BlackBerry Q10 handset is slated for release in late May. Hmmm. While some of Heins' rationale makes sense, it's hard to ignore the numbers that show iPad sales grew almost 65% last year. Though RIM's tablet did not sell well, Apple would probably disagree with him. Are tablets really doomed? What do you think? http://geektrio.net/?p=16221 http://geektrio.net/?p=16221#comments Tue, 30 Apr 2013 18:35:26 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=16221 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16221 0 Geek TrioMicrosoft has integrated Skype into their online mail service.Microsoft purchased Skype about 2 year ago. Since then, they've brought the VOIP app to the Windows Phone platform, and integrated it into Facebook. Now for the next big thing... Microsoft is integrating Skype into Outlook.com. This new service is already being tested in the UK and should arrive in the US soon. This addition allows users to communicate via Skype, right from their Outlook.com inbox. Watch the video below to see it in action. http://geektrio.net/?p=16206 http://geektrio.net/?p=16206#comments Tue, 30 Apr 2013 07:59:18 +0000 Ron http://geektrio.net/?p=16206 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16206 1 Geek TrioThis week's geek is the host of GeekBeat.This week's geek is the host of the  popular geek-centric podcast GeekBeat, Cali Lewis. During 2007, this geek girl was featured in a GoDaddy commercial and that kick-started her career. She quickly became an Internet sensation after releasing the iCali podcast, inspired by her iPhone, in 2007. By 2009, she was hosting GeekBrief on the Mevio network (shown above). This show led to GeekBeat, the show she currently hosts four times each week. She also hosts My Mobile Life and co-hosts Wealth Nation. As a podcasting sensation (and a super cute chick), the Geek Trio is proud to add Cali Lewis to our list of celebrated geeks. Lewis, circa 2010 http://geektrio.net/?p=16198 http://geektrio.net/?p=16198#comments Mon, 29 Apr 2013 20:53:16 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=16198 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16198 0 Geek TrioThe government wants more access to social media sites.A US government task force has drafted a bill that will grant law enforcement agencies more access to Facebook and other social media sites. Essentially, they want to be able to monitor social network activity if individuals are suspects in criminal activities. Needless to say, this legislation brings up a host of privacy concerns. http://geektrio.net/?p=16190 http://geektrio.net/?p=16190#comments Mon, 29 Apr 2013 18:50:16 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=16190 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16190 0 Geek TrioSpace Ship Two has passed yet another milestone test.For the past couple years now, we've been following the progress of Virgin Altalntic's Space Ship Two commercial aircraft. Back in 2010, the vessel made it's first solo flight. In 2011, another milestone was passed when the spacecraft was able to use it's tail section during a test flight. Today, Virgin Galactic took one step closer to space tourism when they conducted yet another landmark test. The aircraft has now successfully flown using it's rocket engine. http://geektrio.net/?p=16160 http://geektrio.net/?p=16160#comments Fri, 26 Apr 2013 05:40:32 +0000 Admin http://geektrio.net/?p=16160 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16160 0 Geek TrioEpisode #73. Quarterly results a'plenty, Google Glass ships, and WWDC is coming.In this episode, we discuss recent quarterly results from Apple & Nintendo, Google Glass for developers, and WWDC 2013. This episode is sponsored by Mobee Technology. Download Episode 73 http://geektrio.net/?p=16174 http://geektrio.net/?p=16174#comments Thu, 25 Apr 2013 14:16:23 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=16174 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16174 0 Geek TrioMicrosoft's latest mobile OS is working out well in the tablet market.According to recent numbers from Security Analytics, Windows 8 has reached 7.5% of the  global tablet market. Apple retains the number 1 spot with 48.2% and Android tablets are in second place with 43.4%. Needless to say, Windows is a distant third. However, Windows 8 powered tablets have only been shipping for a short time. They have certainly made a lot of headway in a short time. It will be interesting to see if these numbers keep increasing over the next few quarters. http://geektrio.net/?p=16166 http://geektrio.net/?p=16166#comments Thu, 25 Apr 2013 13:22:39 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=16166 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16166 2 Geek TrioTickets to Apple's developer conference go on sale today.Apple announced the dates for WWDC 2013 yesterday. The iconic developer conference will take place at San Francisco's Moscone Center on June 10-14. Tickets go on sale at 10 AM PDT this morning. If you are planning on attending, you'll want to buy them immediately. Last year's conference sold out in two hours! http://geektrio.net/?p=16151 http://geektrio.net/?p=16151#comments Wed, 24 Apr 2013 16:54:33 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=16151 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16151 0 Geek TrioNintendo's numbers are not good.Nintendo posted their quarterly results earlier today and the numbers are not good. The company reported their second consecutive annual loss. Wii U was released in November and many hoped this product could turn things around for the failing gaming company. Earlier this year we heard reports that Wii U was not selling as expected. To date, Nintendo has sold 3.45 million units. This falls short of their goal of 4 million units (an adjustment from their original goal of 5.5 million). http://geektrio.net/?p=16144 http://geektrio.net/?p=16144#comments Wed, 24 Apr 2013 13:24:45 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=16144 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16144 1 Geek TrioApple latest numbers show an overall decrease, but strong mobile sales.Apple posted their Q2 results yesterday. The numbers show a 18% decrease compared to last year. However, they are still posting a strong profit of $9.5 billion (Q2 last year yielded $11.6 billion). The Mac maker sold 37.4 million iPhones and 19.5 million iPads during this last quarter. They also shipped 5.6 million iPods and nearly 4 million Macs. So, despite the lower overall number, sales are still strong. http://geektrio.net/?p=16135 http://geektrio.net/?p=16135#comments Tue, 23 Apr 2013 13:37:38 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=16135 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16135 0 Geek TrioWestern Digital's new spinning disk drives are only 5mm thick.Last year, Western Digital (WD) revealed they were working on a super thin 2.5" spinning disk drive. As the industry moves to solid state drives (SSDs), form factors are getting thinner and thinner, but the price is also increasing making these devices a luxury item. The new UltraSlim Blue line of WD hard drives offers a more budget-minded device with the size of an SSD (just 5mm thick), but the price more like a traditional drive. As of today, these devices are available for purchase. What's more? A 500 GB model will only set you back $89. For those of you who like the SSD technology at don't mind the increased cost, WD released a new UltraSlim Black line of hard drives as well. These devices have the same 5mm form factor but feature are not spinning disk. Either way, these drives are very light and compact. http://geektrio.net/?p=16131 http://geektrio.net/?p=16131#comments Tue, 23 Apr 2013 00:27:10 +0000 Mike http://geektrio.net/?p=16131 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16131 0 Geek TrioAn explosive Geek of the Week!Filling in for Kale this week since he covered for me last week... Alfred Nobel was a Swedish chemist, engineer, innovator, and armaments manufacturer. He was the inventor of dynamite. Nobel also owned Bofors, which he had redirected from its previous role as primarily an iron and steel producer to a major manufacturer of cannon and other armaments. Nobel held 350 different patents, dynamite being the most famous. He used his fortune to posthumously institute the Nobel Prizes. The synthetic element nobelium was named after him. Everyone knows the Nobel Prize that he established with his will, however the story behind it is interesting. In 1888 Alfred's brother Ludvig died while visiting Cannes and a French newspaper erroneously published Alfred's obituary. It condemned him for his invention of dynamite and is said to have brought about his decision to leave a better legacy after his death. The obituary stated Le marchand de la mort est mort ("The merchant of death is dead") and went on to say, "Dr. Alfred Nobel, who became rich by finding ways to kill more people faster than ever before, died yesterday." Alfred was disappointed with what he read and concerned with how he would be remembered. So he established the prize that is named for him. A great atonement for the items he invented and used to make his fortune. Alfred Nobel, inventor of dynamite, and founder of the Nobel Prize, now Geek of the Week. http://geektrio.net/?p=16122 http://geektrio.net/?p=16122#comments Fri, 19 Apr 2013 15:09:17 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=16122 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16122 0 Geek TrioWhen you talk to Siri, is Apple storing what you say?Apple unveiled Siri during the October 2011 release of the iPhone 4S. Since then manufacturers like Samsung have followed suit with their own Siri clones. Needless to say, Siri has been a popular feature of the iPhone, but it has also raised some privacy concerns. Does Apple store your voice snippets? And if they do, for how long? Earlier today, Apple revealed details around Siri's servers and how the data is stored. It turns out Apple does store the things you say for up to 2 years. However, they anonymize the data to ensure it has no personally identifiable information. So, its a mixed bag. The data is stored, but it is not tied to your identity in any way. Hmmm. I'm not sure if this is a good or a bad thing. http://geektrio.net/?p=16115 http://geektrio.net/?p=16115#comments Thu, 18 Apr 2013 18:13:22 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=16115 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16115 0 Geek TrioVerizon has posted some really good numbers.Mobile provider Verizon posted their Q1 results earlier today. The numbers show a $.68 increase per diluted share. Compare that to the same quarter last year, which yielded $.59, and that's a 15.3% increase. They also reported record margins, surpassing their previous best set in Q3 of 2012. In addition, their overall operating revenue increased 4.2% compared to last year's figures and they sold over 4 million phones. It's clear that Verizon is off to a good start in 2013. It will be interesting to see what comes next. http://geektrio.net/?p=16101 http://geektrio.net/?p=16101#comments Wed, 17 Apr 2013 18:40:44 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=16101 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16101 1 Geek TrioGoogle's augmented reality glasses are ready to ship.Just over a year ago, Google introduced the world to Project Glass, now dubbed Google Glass. More details about the product were revealed earlier this year, along with an announcement about support for prescription lenses. Today, Google made another statement about the glasses which included the full specs! They also confirmed that the devices are currently in production now, and participating developers will be receiving units very soon. With a $1500 price tag, it will be interesting to see how quickly the public adopts this technology. http://geektrio.net/?p=16094 http://geektrio.net/?p=16094#comments Wed, 17 Apr 2013 16:05:01 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=16094 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16094 0 Geek TrioBe sure to watch for the Lyrid meteors on Sunday night.Back in January, the Quadrantid meteor shower was visible on the East coast. This weekend, a similar event will take place, but should be easier to see. The Lyrid Meteor Showers will be visible starting tonight, through Monday evening. The shower is expected to peak on Sunday night or Monday morning and should be visible from the majority of the United States, weather permitting. http://geektrio.net/?p=16087 http://geektrio.net/?p=16087#comments Tue, 16 Apr 2013 20:23:02 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=16087 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16087 1 Geek TrioIs Apple partnering with Facebook?Facebook unveiled Facebook Home earlier this month. This software was developed to replace the standard Android home screen on several HTC and Samsung handsets. Some think it is a great idea, while others are skeptical. Evidently, Apple wants in on this action. Reportedly, Facebook and Apple are collaborating to bring the software to Apple iOS devices. Details are still fuzzy, but most analysts expect the iOS revision to be slightly different than the Android version. http://geektrio.net/?p=16076 http://geektrio.net/?p=16076#comments Mon, 15 Apr 2013 14:57:36 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=16076 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16076 0 Geek TrioIf the iWatch is coming... so is a Windows counterpart.Earlier this year, rumors of an Apple iWatch were on every tech news website. This spawned a series of other rumors from all the major hardware manufacturers. However, the Apple rumor is still getting some traction. Now, Microsoft may be entering this arena as well. InformationWeek claims there is strong evidence that Microsoft has been requesting 1.5" touchscreens from their suppliers. Obviously this screen would be too small for any type of tablet or phone. Could it be that Microsoft is ready to take on the iWatch before it has even arrived? http://geektrio.net/?p=16012 http://geektrio.net/?p=16012#comments Mon, 15 Apr 2013 11:08:52 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=16012 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16012 0 Geek TrioIts the dorky guy from Saved By The Bell.Filling in for Mike this week... Every sitcom has to have a token geek. Saved By the Bell was no exception. Their geeky character was none other than that eccentric science loving nerd known as Screech Powers. Powers, shown above with classmate Kelly Kapowski, is best friends with the show's protagonist, Zack Morris. He and Morris have been friends since elementary school and have a lot of respect for each other. In addition to being obsessed with Science and having a crush on fellow student Lisa Turtle, Powers shows his inner geek by building and programming a robot named Kevin. He also tends to dress in horrible outfits that only a true geek could love. Needless to say, Powers is the smartest kid in class and when they graduate from High School, he earns valedictorian. He gives up the title to one of his classmates (because he thinks it means more to her), who gives it back in front of everyone. This validates Powers inner geek. The show ends on a happy note with everyone heading to a fictional college and sharing the dorm. Ah, a true geek coming of age story. http://geektrio.net/?p=16063 http://geektrio.net/?p=16063#comments Sat, 13 Apr 2013 01:36:00 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=16063 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16063 0 Geek TrioTwitter is preparing a music app.Social media network Twitter is preparing a new music app, which is reportedly going to be released later this month. Details are still foggy, but it is expected to be compatible with smartphones and tablets. Music services seem to be popular right now, so this may be a good move for Twitter. Time will tell. http://geektrio.net/?p=16055 http://geektrio.net/?p=16055#comments Thu, 11 Apr 2013 17:08:14 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=16055 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16055 1 Geek TrioIDC is reporting a strong decline in PC sales.Since the introduction of the iPad (and other tablet devices), the computer industry has seen a slow decline in PC sales. Undoubtedly, more and more people are using smartphones and tablets to do tasks previously completed on a traditional computer. However, now IDC is claiming a big decline in PC sales. Their statistics show an overall decline from every major manufacturer and a 13.9% decrease for the industry as a whole. Ouch! http://geektrio.net/?p=16038 http://geektrio.net/?p=16038#comments Wed, 10 Apr 2013 17:19:25 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=16038 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16038 0 Geek TrioT-Mobile is allowing users to trade in older iPhones.Late last month, T-Mobile announced they would begin selling iPhones on April 12, this Friday. Needless to say, T-Mobile is excited to add this iconic handset to their lineup. They are so excited in fact, that they've introduced an iPhone trade-in program. Basically, they're allowing AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint users to trade in their existing iPhones on a T-Mobile equivalent. It will be interesting to see how many people take advantage of this. http://geektrio.net/?p=16005 http://geektrio.net/?p=16005#comments Tue, 09 Apr 2013 13:02:51 +0000 Admin http://geektrio.net/?p=16005 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16005 0 Geek TrioEpisode #72. Ron goes to Windows, Facebook Home arrives, and a new XBox is coming.In this episode, we discuss Ron's transition to WP7, Facebook Home, and the upcoming XBox 720. This episode is sponsored by Spotify. Download Episode 72 http://geektrio.net/?p=15999 http://geektrio.net/?p=15999#comments Tue, 09 Apr 2013 00:44:25 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=15999 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=15999 0 Geek TrioMicrosoft's latest console will be here by Summer.Microsoft's latest and greatest gaming console, the XBox 720, will reportedly be released before Summer. CNet reports Microsoft will be holding a special event on May 21 to release the new system.Hopefully it will be more popular than Wii U. http://geektrio.net/?p=16020 http://geektrio.net/?p=16020#comments Mon, 08 Apr 2013 12:05:36 +0000 Ron http://geektrio.net/?p=16020 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=16020 0 Geek TrioGaming guru and creator of Diablo.This week's Geek of the Week is Diablo creator David Brevik. As noted in this week's podcast ,I'm a gamer playing for Team Windows playing an MMO currently in closed beta called Marvel Heroes (until it comes out for Mac of course :P ). David Brevik and the team at Gazillion are the creators of Marvel Heroes which will be released on June 4th. Brevik is also the creator of Diablo one of the most influential games in PC history. Now he can add GOTW to his list of accomplishments. http://geektrio.net/?p=15986 http://geektrio.net/?p=15986#comments Fri, 05 Apr 2013 12:49:05 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=15986 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=15986 1 Geek TrioThe rumored Facebook phone turns out to be an Android add-on.Social media empire Facebook unveiled Facebook Home earlier this week. For the last few years, there has been scuttlebutt of a Facebook-branded smartphone coming soon. Well it turns out these rumor were true... kinda. It is not really a handset, but an add-on for the Android operating system. Facebook Home replaces Android's current home screen with a new one that brings Facebook's features to the forefront on your mobile phone. The social media giant is partnering with HTC and AT&T to sell a $99 device which comes with Facebook Home pre-loaded. This phone is available for pre-order today and is expected to arrive on April 12. Facebook is also making the software available as an upgrade to several (but not all) existing Android devices. The list of compatible devices includes: HTC One X, HTC One X+, HTC One, Samsung Galaxy X3, Samsung Galaxy Note 2, and the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S4. The software download will also be available on April 12. While this idea may appeal to certain users who spend most of their time on Facebook, it also presents a host of privacy concerns. Do you really want Facebook having access to every aspect of your phone? http://geektrio.net/?p=15974 http://geektrio.net/?p=15974#comments Fri, 05 Apr 2013 02:34:49 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=15974 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=15974 0 Geek TrioThe Hubble telescope has captured an ancient supernova.The Hubble Space Telescope recently captured images of an exploding star. While this event, in and of itself, does not sound particularly interesting, UDS10Wil (nicknamed SN Wilson) is actually about 10,000,000,000 years old. Yes... you read correctly. This supernova is so far away, that it took billions of years to reach the Earth. This is considered the most distant star explosion ever captured. Wow! Tell me that doesn't mess with your mind. http://geektrio.net/?p=15948 http://geektrio.net/?p=15948#comments Thu, 04 Apr 2013 01:44:05 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=15948 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=15948 0 Geek Trio5 iPhone apps every musician must download.I am an iPhone owner, an amateur musician, and a home recording enthusiast. Recently, I came to the realization that there were 5 iPhone apps that have made life much much easier for me. The really odd thing is... I have only spent $8 total on these 5 apps. I decided to share my finding with the group. Here they are in no particular order. 1. BPM (FREE): When I write a song, I'm not thinking about the tempo. However, as soon as I want to record that song, I need a click track to keep everything in sync. If you've ever had to figure out a song's tempo by trail and error, you know how frustrating this process can be. Cheebow's BPM gives you the ability to tap out the tempo on the iPhone's screen. I absolutely love this app! 2. n-Track Tuner (FREE): Years ago, I used to keep a little Korg tuner in my backpack, because it seems like you constantly need one. The funny thing was every time I actually needed it, I didn't have my backpack nearby. N-Track Tuner fixes all that. Now I always have a tuner in my pocket. 3. GarageBand ($4.99): This is one of the greatest iPhone apps ever written. I used to keep a handful of different apps on my phone for drums, bass, guitar, etc., but Apple's GarageBand includes all these things, plus the ability to record songs. If you're bored and need to kill 5 minutes, or if you just want to get a musical idea documented while you're away from your computer, GarageBand is a win! 4. Shazam (FREE): If you're like me, you occasionally hear a song while you're shopping or out on the town and think, "I should cover this... but who sings it again?" Well... the Shazam app makes that process really easy. Launch the app, point it at the music source, and click "listen"... now you know. :) 5. Tabs ($2.99): Once you use Shazam to figure out the artist, you probably want to know the chord progression. Enter Tabs from UltimateGuitar.com! This handy little app searches the www.ultimate-guitar.com database to help you find chord progressions, tablature, and more. Using Shazam and Tabs, you can hear a song, find the artist, and find the chord progression... all within a minute or so. Now that's cool! Honorable Mention: Instant Audio Recorder Lite (FREE): A great alternative to Voice Memos. This little app lets you record anything and manage your recorded audio. Pretty cool! http://geektrio.net/?p=15938 http://geektrio.net/?p=15938#comments Tue, 02 Apr 2013 16:23:28 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=15938 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=15938 0 Geek TrioAre robots going to be the next big thing from Apple?I recently read an interesting article about Apple and robotics. Evidently, some folks believe Apple is quietly working on Mac-powered robots. The current rumors of the iWatch and iTV sounds feasible... but robots??? That seems like a big jump. However, Apple did recently hire John Morrell, a former robotics guru from Yale University. They also need something big to compete with Google's augmented reality glasses and self-driving cars. Hmmm. Could this be true? Are Apple robots coming? http://geektrio.net/?p=15912 http://geektrio.net/?p=15912#comments Mon, 01 Apr 2013 16:08:56 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=15912 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=15912 1 Geek TrioThe $25 desktop is now official!Talk of a $25 desktop from Raspberry Pi started back in 2011. Shortly after the $99 laptop became reality in 2009, the company promised to offer 2 low cost desktop PC systems. One would be a basic model (Model A) and would retail for $25, while the second model (Model B) would include a few more features and sell for $35. The first systems shipped in early 2012, but only in Model B format. So, they weren't truly $25 PCs, they were $35 PCs. Still, with their tiny PCs and homegrown Linux distro, Raspberry Pi was the buzz of the tech world. In February of this year, the first Model A's arrived in Europe and $25 desktop became reality. However, US customers have been left out in the cold... until today. As of this morning, the first Raspberry Pi Model B's are now shipping in the US. Woo hoo! Let the modding begin. :) http://geektrio.net/?p=15901 http://geektrio.net/?p=15901#comments Mon, 01 Apr 2013 12:21:31 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=15901 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=15901 0 Geek TrioThe host of This Week In Science and Dr. Kiki's Science Hour.Kristen Sanford, better known as Doctor Kiki, is a California native with a PhD in Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Physiology from the UC Davis. After working as a researcher for several years, Sanford decided Science Communications was here calling and she went on to host two very popular podcasts, This Week In Science (TWIS) and Dr. Kiki's Science Hour. The former program started in 1999 and is still on the air. It was originally a traditional radio show, but as podcasting became popular, it transitioned into the online format. Today, the show is hosted by the This Week in Tech (TWiT) network. TWIS started a spin off program, Dr. Kiki's Science Hour, in 2009. Sanford also makes appearances on Geek Tech Today and The Science Chat from time to time. When she's not podcasting, Sanford enjoys hula hooping and practicing Tae Kwon Do. She currently resides in San Francisco, and aims to host a show where geeks can get their fill, but normal people don't feel out of place. Obviously, she's done a pretty good job so far. Sanford has received numerous awards and commendations from Science organizations all over the world. Now she can add GOTW to her list of accomplishments. http://geektrio.net/?p=15896 http://geektrio.net/?p=15896#comments Sat, 30 Mar 2013 15:53:45 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=15896 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=15896 0 Geek Trio7" Windows 8 tablets and readers may be around the corner.About this time last year, Microsoft made an announcement about Windows 8 being a unified ecosystem for all types of devices. They claimed it would power everything from desktops to e-readers. Then, in May of last year, Microsoft announced a partnership with Barnes & Nobel and rumors of a Windows-powered Nook were everywhere. Now, some additional details are being released that indicate a 7" Windows 8 tablet may be coming soon. Is this meant to compete with the iPad... or is it a Windows-powered e-Reader? http://geektrio.net/?p=15879 http://geektrio.net/?p=15879#comments Thu, 28 Mar 2013 21:11:25 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=15879 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=15879 0 Geek TrioRIM posted a $98,000,000 profit this quarter!Earlier today, RIM revealed their latest quarterly results. Surprisingly, the company that posted a $114,000,000 net loss last December is now reporting a $98,000,000 profit. Much of this is attributed to the Blackberry 10 operating system and Z10 smartphone, which were released in January. Obviously, this was a huge move in the right direction for RIM. http://geektrio.net/?p=15869 http://geektrio.net/?p=15869#comments Wed, 27 Mar 2013 22:30:11 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=15869 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=15869 0 Geek TrioThe Solar Impulse has passed another milestone test.Almost 2 years ago, we published a story about the Solar Impulse spending 26 hours in the air. Now this solar-powered vehicle is making headlines once again as it has passed another milestone. The Solar Impulse has proven itself of being able to fly in the dark. Using some amazing technology, the plane has the ability to charge it's batteries during the day, so it can fly at night... without any fuel. The latest prototype, shown above, has solar panels on the wings and tail sections. Its carbon fiber construction and stripped down cockpit keep the weight low while the huge wingspan provides plenty of lift. The next challenge for the single passenger aircraft is to fly completely around the world in a single flight. This trip will take approximately 5 days. Can you imagine flying for 5 days with no fuel? Amazing! http://geektrio.net/?p=15851 http://geektrio.net/?p=15851#comments Tue, 26 Mar 2013 17:33:19 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=15851 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=15851 0 Geek TrioThe iPhone is now available on T-Mobile.After years of waiting, T-Mobile announced the Apple iPhone is now available to their mobile subscribers. Earlier this month, the provider's contractless data plans were getting a lot of press. Lo and behold, the iPhone will be available with these new plans. However, since the contractless plans do away with the phone subsidies, the iPhone will cost you a few more clams, but this is still good news for T-Mobile users. The plans break down like this: The iPhone 5 will sell for $99.99 down, plus $20 a month for 24 months. The iPhone 4S will cost you $69.99 up front and $20 monthly for two years. The iPhone 4 will go for $14.99 down and a mere $15 a month. Keep in mind, this price does not include the service contract. That will cost you an additional $90 per month plus tax. Ouch! Still, this is good news for Apple who has now penetrated the top 4 cellular providers in the US. Go iPhone! http://geektrio.net/?p=15845 http://geektrio.net/?p=15845#comments Tue, 26 Mar 2013 14:49:59 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=15845 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=15845 0 Geek TrioApple has purchased an indoor mapping company.Apple has publicly announced the acquisition of the GPS mapping firm WifiSlam. Reportedly, the Mac maker paid $20 million for the upstart. WifiSlam is a 2 year old company that uses WiFi signals to detect the location of a user's mobile phone. Undoubtedly, this technology will be added to Apple's Maps application to help with indoor mapping. It will be interesting to see how this technology develops. http://geektrio.net/?p=15832 http://geektrio.net/?p=15832#comments Tue, 26 Mar 2013 04:23:29 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=15832 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=15832 1 Geek TrioYahoo! has purchased the search tool from it's 17 year old founder.Today, Yahoo! announced they purchased the popular mobile app Summly from it's 17 year old founder, Nick D'Aloisio. The application is designed to give users a quick and easy way to find they news on the Internet without all the scrolling and clicking that drives traditional websites. D'Aloisio, now a Yahoo! employee, created Summly when he was 15. He claims he thought of it while browsing news sites on a mobile phone. We live in a world of constant information and Summly aims to simplify how we find the stories that are important to us. It does this by presenting screenshots of stories in a customized format. It is a simple idea with endless possibilities. Yahoo! claims this technology will be visible in many of their products in the near future. As for D'Aloisio, he is now a very rich teenager with a great job. Yahoo! did not divulge the exact amount of the deal, but experts estimate it to be around $30,000,000. http://geektrio.net/?p=15824 http://geektrio.net/?p=15824#comments Mon, 25 Mar 2013 19:17:59 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=15824 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=15824 0 Geek TrioThe first American to orbit the Earth. Filling in for Mike this week... When you talk about famous astronauts, a handful come to mind. Arguably, three of the most famous are: Neil Armstong, Buzz Aldrin, and this week's GOTW, John Glenn. Glenn was a decorated Marine Corp pilot who flew 149 missions between World War II and The Korean War. He earned 6 Distinguished Crosses and an Air Medal for his services to the Marine Corp. In 1959, he and six others were chosen to be astronauts in the first US Space Program. In 1962, Glenn made history when he because the first American to orbit the Earth. After resigning from the Marine Corp in 1965 with the rank of Colonel, Glenn went on to make a career in politics. He became a US senator of Ohio in 1974, a position he held until 1999. Glenn during the Mercury Space Mission http://geektrio.net/?p=15816 http://geektrio.net/?p=15816#comments Fri, 22 Mar 2013 13:38:14 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=15816 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=15816 0 Geek TrioTwitter is now 7 years old.The popular social media site Twitter went online on March 21, 2006. Yesterday marked the company's 7th birthday. In commemoration of this event, Twitter posted the video below showing some of their greatest moments over the last 7 years. Enjoy. http://geektrio.net/?p=15805 http://geektrio.net/?p=15805#comments Thu, 21 Mar 2013 13:40:13 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=15805 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=15805 0 Geek TrioMicrosoft is killing WP8 in July of next year.Microsoft officially released Windows Phone 8 (WP8) in late 2012. While the adoption of the new smartphone OS has not been overwhelming, it did surpass Windows Phone 7 (WP7) earlier this year. Microsoft is pushing this new mobile platform hard and many cellular carriers are currently offering WP8-powered handsets. However, Microsoft recently made a somewhat baffling announcement. The Redmond-based software firm posted the end of support date for WP8 as July 8, 2014. Wait a minute... that's less than 2 years... but all the vendors are selling WP8 phones with 2 year contracts. So... in other words... your phone's OS will be unsupported by the time your contract ends. I guess this means Microsoft is going to offer an upgrade option for WP8 users to easily upgrade to Window Phone 9. That would be a logical conclusion. However, they did not do this when they moved from WP7 to WP8. Instead, they released WP7.8. Coincidentally, support for that operating systems also ends on July 8, 2014. Hmmm... that really makes you want to buy a Windows Phone doesn't it? http://geektrio.net/?p=15795 http://geektrio.net/?p=15795#comments Thu, 21 Mar 2013 13:06:10 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=15795 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=15795 0 Geek TrioThe iconic video sharing site is quite popular.YouTube.com went online in February of 2005. Their concept was simple. Give users a place to upload and share video content. However, nobody had any idea how popular this website would become. Over the past 8 years, YouTube has morphed into one of the most popular sites on the Internet. Earlier today, YouTube publicly announced they have exceeded 1,000,000,000 unique visitors per month. Wow! http://geektrio.net/?p=15778 http://geektrio.net/?p=15778#comments Wed, 20 Mar 2013 15:24:16 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=15778 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=15778 0 Geek TrioFor a mere $25,000, you can own one too.Once and a while a product comes along that is super cool, but impractical to all but a niche of folks. The NVidia GRID Virtual Computing Appliance (VCA) is definitely one of those products. This device is made for graphics professionals that need to render mass quantities of video data in the cloud. Is is essentially a cluster of video cards. Users can let GRID do their graphics processing while freeing up the CPU and GPU on their own machine. Essentially, it is a way to move graphics processing into the cloud. This appliance comes in two flavors: an 8 GPU, 192 GB RAM, 16 CPU model that supports 8 users, or a 16 GPU, 384 GB RAM, 32 CPU version which supports up to 16 users. The former model will set you back about $25,000. Ouch! It sure is a cool idea though. :) http://geektrio.net/?p=15770 http://geektrio.net/?p=15770#comments Wed, 20 Mar 2013 02:28:56 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=15770 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=15770 1 Geek TrioThe full details are now emerging.Earlier this year, T-Mobile made an announcement that unlimited contract-free data plans were coming in 2013. These plans are expected to arrive on March 24th. However, now that we're down to the final days before release, the details are emerging and they're not as great as originally touted. It turns out the unlimited talk/text/data option will cost subscribers $90 per month (plus taxes). Ouch! That's a lot of clams every month... but then again... you can switch/cancel at any time. http://geektrio.net/?p=15762 http://geektrio.net/?p=15762#comments Tue, 19 Mar 2013 02:27:30 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=15762 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=15762 0 Geek TrioThe host of the Colbert Report.Filling in for Ron this week... This week's featured geek is the guy who hosts the popular late night news parody known as The Colbert Report, Stephen Colbert. Most of you know him from the aforementioned show, but this actor, comedian, writer, and TV host got his his big break back in the late 1990's on the Comedy Central series featuring Amy Sedaris, Strangers With Candy. After that, Colbert went on to do appearances on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. He even hosted the show while Stewart was away taping Saturday Night Live. Around 2005, Comedy Central decided to give Colbert his own show, and The Colbert Report was born. He plays a right wing pundit, but his opinions are anything but conservative. His humor has gained popularity with geek audiences as well as mainstream fans. So... why is this talk show host being featured as a GOTW? Well... there is an exercise machine aboard the International Space Station known as the COLBERT (Combined Operational Load-Bearing External Resistance Treadmill). The NASA engineers named it after Colbert when he showed in an interest in ISS for one of his segments. Evidently, the engineers were big fans of the show. This treadmill (shown below) is used every day by the astronauts aboard ISS. If that's not GOTW worthy, I don't know what is. http://geektrio.net/?p=15754 http://geektrio.net/?p=15754#comments Fri, 15 Mar 2013 20:20:36 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=15754 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=15754 0 Geek TrioThe infamous God particle is all but confirmed.If you are a science geek, you've no doubt heard the recent news about the Higgs boson. Essentially, researchers believe the particle is real, but they still cannot be 100% sure. Still, they are confident the particle does exist. Scientists are always conservative when it comes to discoveries like this, but it sure is getting a lot of press. I understand the basic theory of the Higgs boson, but since I am not a physicist, I'll let one explain... watch the video below. http://geektrio.net/?p=15747 http://geektrio.net/?p=15747#comments Fri, 15 Mar 2013 18:05:24 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=15747 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=15747 0 Geek TrioBoot Camp now officially supports Windows 8.Earlier today, Apple released Mac OS X 10.8.3. The patch fixes several bugs and adds a handful of features. Among these features is official support for Windows 8 using Boot Camp. Look at that... Windows 8 is now official because you can run in on a Mac. :) http://geektrio.net/?p=15733 http://geektrio.net/?p=15733#comments Thu, 14 Mar 2013 20:15:16 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=15733 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=15733 1 Geek TrioGoogle's online RSS reader is going away.Earlier today, Google announced their online RSS aggregator, Google Reader, is going the way of the dodo. The search provider will continue to support the application until July 1, 2013. After that, Google Reader users will need to move their feeds to another feed aggregator. Luckily, they can use Google Takeout to easily move their feeds to a new reader. http://geektrio.net/?p=15642 http://geektrio.net/?p=15642#comments Thu, 14 Mar 2013 12:18:19 +0000 Admin http://geektrio.net/?p=15642 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=15642 0 Geek TrioToday is 3.14... Pi Day!Today is the annual day that commemorates everyone's favorite mathematical constant... Pi. The holiday was originally conceived in 1988 by Larry Shaw on San Francisco's Exploratorium Museum. Pi Day became official in 2009 and since then, geeks everywhere have celebrated by baking pies for Pi. HAPPY PI DAY! -The Geek Trio http://geektrio.net/?p=15724 http://geektrio.net/?p=15724#comments Wed, 13 Mar 2013 16:26:02 +0000 Kale http://geektrio.net/?p=15724 http://geektrio.net/?feed=rss2&p=15724 1 Geek TrioIt looks like people who wear glasses will not be left in the cold.Ever since Google revealed more details about Project Glass last month, the tech world has been abuzz with speculation. Yesterday, Google confirmed another rumor when they made a statement about the product having the ability to support prescription lenses. This is great news for folks who wear glasses.