Think Different switch back to the Mac from Windows

I worked at Apple from 1985 to 1992.  The Mac was introduced in 1985 and 1991 Apple shipped System 7. I spent much of time working on Mac OS 6.0.x and System 7 was years of being immersed in Mac development.  When I moved to Microsoft to work on Win3.1 my coworkers and I spent much of time using Macs as we were working TrueType and the vast majority of tools where on the Mac.

Even though many of my friends used Macs I didn't take the time to switch.  But, yesterday I switched to a 3rd generation MacBook Air and the Lion OS.

Switching from Windows to Mac is an interesting experience for me as it is bringing back a bunch of memories working on OS design.

The main reason I switched to the Mac were:

1. I needed a more powerful content creation laptop.  My Lenovo X200T was good, but not a good performer.  The MacBook Air i5 processor is much better with Sandy Bridge and SSD.
2. My main tools are Blogging, Photo Imaging, e-mail, Word, Excel and Powerpoint, so moving to the Mac is not a problem.
3. The Lenovo was light, but the MacBook Air is hard to beat for weight.

The funny thing is when I started using the Mac again, it brought back a bunch of memories of working at Apple and the way I used to work.  It's kind of old, 20 year old neurons were reconnecting on how the Mac has different priorities.

I have written a few blog entries with MarsEdit.  Downloaded photos from my Canon 7D.  Installed Office, Aperture, Lightroom as well.

I was much faster writing with Windows Live Writer, but it's only my  second day switching back to the Mac after almost 19 years.

AWS launches US Government Region - GovCloud

AWS announced GovCloud a new AWS region specifically designed for the US gov't users.

AWS GovCloud (US)

AWS GovCloud is an AWS Region designed to allow U.S. government agencies and contractors to move more sensitive workloads into the cloud by addressing their specific regulatory and compliance requirements. Previously, government agencies with data subject to compliance regulations such as the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), which governs how organizations manage and store defense-related data, were unable to process and store data in the cloud that the federal government mandated be accessible only by U.S. persons.

Part of what AWS has done is isolate the Region to have only US citizens.

Because AWS GovCloud is physically and logically accessible by U.S. persons only, government agencies can now manage more heavily regulated data in AWS while remaining compliant with strict federal requirements. The new Region offers the same high level of security as other AWS Regions and supports existing AWS security controls and certifications such as FISMA, SAS-70, ISO 27001, FIPS 140-2 compliant end points, and PCI DSS Level 1. AWS also provides an environment that enables agencies to comply with HIPAA regulations.

How many patents does Google gain by acquiring Motorola Mobility? 24,500 granted and pending

A good question to ask is how many patents does Google get from Motorola Mobility?

The press release announcing Motorola Mobility is here.

Motorola Mobility is comprised of two industry-leading global technology businesses. The Mobile Devices business is an innovative provider of smartphone devices designed to fit every lifestyle. In 2010, the Mobile Devices business launched 23 smartphones globally, including the highly successful family of DROID™ by Motorola devices as well as BRAVO™, DEFY™, FLIPSIDE™, MILESTONE™ and others. The Home business is one of the largest providers of digital set-top boxes and end-to-end video solutions. Motorola Mobility will leverage the capabilities of both the Mobile Devices and Home businesses to deliver innovative smartphones, tablets, set-tops and other converged devices – as well as content delivery and management, and interactive cloud-based services to consumers in the home and on the go.

And the same press release says what the patent portfolio is.

“With more than 20,000 employees globally, 24,500 patents granted and pending, and a highly recognizable brand, we are able to deliver cutting-edge devices with differentiated software experiences. In addition, we will continue to work aggressively to capitalize on the next generation of converged devices and experiences to provide consumers with more intuitive and personalized services,” Jha added.

Google buys Motorola Mobility, can you imagine the future integration of SW, HW, and data centers?

Google's official blog post announces Google's acquisition of Motorola Mobility.

Supercharging Android: Google to Acquire Motorola Mobility

8/15/2011 04:35:00 AM

Since its launch in November 2007, Android has not only dramatically increased consumer choice but also improved the entire mobile experience for users. Today, more than 150 million Android devices have been activated worldwide—with over 550,000 devices now lit up every day—through a network of about 39 manufacturers and 231 carriers in 123 countries. Given Android’s phenomenal success, we are always looking for new ways to supercharge the Android ecosystem. That is why I am so excited today to announce that we have agreed toacquire Motorola.

Motorola has more than Smartphones.

Motorola is also a market leader in the home devices and video solutions business. With the transition to Internet Protocol, we are excited to work together with Motorola and the industry to support our partners and cooperate with them to accelerate innovation in this space.

And Google gets Motorola's mobile patents.

We recently explained how companies including Microsoft and Apple are banding together in anti-competitive patent attacks on Android. The U.S. Department of Justice had to intervene in the results of one recent patent auction to “protect competition and innovation in the open source software community” and it is currently looking into the results of the Nortel auction. Our acquisition of Motorola will increase competition by strengthening Google’s patent portfolio, which will enable us to better protect Android from anti-competitive threats from Microsoft, Apple and other companies.

I knew I would see Google people when I went to GigaOm Mobilize.  Glad I am going and decided to go to Mobilize instead of another data center conference.

Looking for how Mobile intersects with Data Center at GigaOm Mobilize Conference, Sept 26-27 SF

THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2011 AT 8:10AM

Going to a data center show I frequently find I spend more time networking than watching the presentations.  So to learn some new things I saw that GigaOm has aMobilize conference in SF, Sept 26-27 that I decided to attend.

Looking for how Mobile intersects with Data Center at GigaOm Mobilize Conference, Sept 26-27 SF

Going to a data center show I frequently find I spend more time networking than watching the presentations.  So to learn some new things I saw that GigaOm has a Mobilize conference in SF, Sept 26-27 that I decided to attend.

Here are a few talks that look interesting for a data center audience, and will keep my attention.

CAN INVISIBLE ALSO BE AMAZING? DESIGNING FLUID AND CONNECTED EXPERIENCES

Can we fall in love with things we cannot see? As the bond between mobility and the cloud increases, we will need to design invisible and seductive service experiences. Device-to-cloud interactions will yield new products that will adapt to device capabilities and context. But as bright and attractive as the future might look, we have to consider the ethics of money-making in this new age – who will own user data and is pushing advertising going to ruin user experience? This and more is covered by leading design firm, Fjord.

Speakers:Olof Schybergson - CEO, Fjord

...

TABLETS AND SMARTPHONES BY THE NUMBERS

The growing popularity of smartphones and tablets has opened up new opportunities for mobile content and apps – and raises critical questions, as well. Do different platforms and devices require different monetization strategies or does it depend on which demographic group you are trying to reach? How do different kinds of consumers respond to mobile ads? How much are consumers willing to pay for various types of content? How effective are mobile ads? These questions and more are revealed by audience research giant, The Nielsen Company.

Speakers:Jonathan Carson - CEO, Telecom, The Nielsen Company

...

BETWEEN THE CLOUD AND THE CONSUMER

There have been two major tectonic shifts in the communications services world - the shift to the cloud for technology infrastructure and the focus of the core business to be on innovating services. In the grey undefined area between the cloud and the consumer is middleware. Alcatel Lucent, industry giant and supplier of choice to the world's telcos, is laying down huge bets in this space. We talk with the company's leader as to why the industry's future for services innovation lays in the middle.

Moderated by:Chetan Sharma - President, Chetan Sharma Consulting and Analyst, GigaOM Pro
Speakers:Wim Sweldens - 2nd President, Wireless Product Division, Alcatel-Lucent

Iyad Tarazi - VP, Network Development, Sprint

...

ARCHITECTING FOR THE CONSUMERIZATION OF IT

There's a new force to be reckoned with: consumerization. The rise of mobile products like the iPhone, iPad and Android platforms, along with the accessibility of cloud computing services, is radically disrupting conventional IT infrastructures. Resistance may be futile, but as these advances turn the $20 billion/year security industry upside down, smart and agile enterprises stand to realize significant competitive advantages. This talk will delve deeper into the innovative responses demanded of IT departments.

Moderated by:Quentin Hardy - Silicon Valley Bureau Chief, Forbes
Speakers:Tom Gillis - VP and GM Security Technology Business Unit, Cisco

...

3 KEY PILLARS OF ENTERPRISE MOBILITY: APPLICATIONS, DATA AND PEOPLE

Virtualization and high powered smartphones are a match made in heaven for the Enterprise. Most of the arguments involving security and data integrity dissappear. We talk with the visionary CTO and thought leader at technology giant VMWare, about what he sees as being the real outcomes of virtualization on the handset and where VMWare will lead the industry next.

Moderated by:Om Malik - Founder, GigaOM
Speakers:Stephen Herrod - CTO, VMware

...

THE SHAPE OF (THE INTERNET OF) THINGS TO COME

The internet connected toaster never arrived, mercifully, but the continued success of the Kindle and some early internet connected objects points to larger consumer markets for the right product and the right applications. In the talk we hear from The leading thought leader in the In arena of "The Internet of Things"

Speakers:Mike Kuniavsky - CEO, ThingM

...

HOW DO WE CONNECT EVERYTHING TO EVERYONE, EVERYWHERE?

We are on the cusp of connecting everything to everything else. eReaders, tablets, netbooks, smart meters, smart cars you name it. But with high bandwidth comes high demands on the chipsets, batteries and the spectrum.Atheros pioneered some of the first chips in the wifi standard. Now they are betting it all onWe talk with their President about why they see WiFi as the way forward for everything being connected to everyone, everywhere and what else he sees being needed to make this grand vision a reality.

Moderated by:Stacey Higginbotham - Senior Writer, GigaOM
Speakers:Craig Barratt - President, Qualcomm Atheros