Looks like my buddy’s dorm room back in the day.
The Motion Online did a great recap of some seriously old-school gaming systems. Check it out.
Photo from masnick.com
It would be cool to see what your gaming setup looks like today…just to compare. Maybe shoot it in black and white for effect, and share with us on Facebook.
More Just For Fun.
Why our data is always our responsibility.
That is what I posted a few weeks back in reference to an article written about how cloud storage providers believe users are responsible for their data, and how of users believe the cloud provider is responsible…from a security perspective. The Ponemon Institute has published 2 reports called the Security of Cloud Computing Providers Study (sponsored by CA). The first being in December 2010, and the 2nd in April 2011. When asked who is responsible for ensuring the security of cloud resources by cloud providers:
One would think that with the growth of the cloud, security would be a value-add cloud providers would seek to help differentiate themselves. This is far from the case. The Ponemon Study cites that only 19% of cloud providers in the US believe security is a competitive advantage, while only 18% in Europe believe so. It goes one step further. When asked if IT leaders at cloud providers are concerned about the security of the cloud services provided to customers, only 23% of US providers and 35% of European providers are concerned.
What a huge difference between IT leaders of on-premise data centers and cloud data centers. According to a new study released by IDG Enterprise, 83% of IT Managers said the ability to meet security requirements topped the list of important factors when evaluating data center technology vendors. In fact, when asked what their most pressing concern is, 35% of IT managers indicated data center security was the top concern – #1 on the list.
Why the difference in priorities?
Think about the cloud data center and how it’s designed, and what it’s designed for. Cloud providers aim to minimize complexity of their data center. The goal being to provide increased agility through providing compute resources on demand. Security by no means is simple. If there is one challenge facing data center IT managers, it’s the complexity associated with security. It only makes sense, that such complexity be stripped from cloud providers’ offering. But does it really?
I think security has its place in the cloud, and solutions exist today that can eliminate some of the complexity – especially when it comes to data security. As such technology matures and technology suppliers simplify security (without sacrificing strength), it’s only a matter of time before this finger pointing comes to an end, and security is viewed as a differentiating factor in the cloud data center.
Who is responsible for your data in the cloud?
Related Posts:
Why our data is always our responsibility
Cloud security gets the ultimate test
Check out this State of the Data Center infographic by Emerson. I’m a sucker for statistics, who isn’t right?
What is staggering about this particular infographic is that the data, for the most part, is pre-cloud. Sure, the cloud has been around prior to 2011, but not at a scale that we will be facing in the next 10 years. So, for argument sake, go with me on this one. Assume that the cloud will make up 90% of everything we do by 2021…
When you think about the future of computing, the cloud without a doubt will play a big role, if not the biggest. What is mind blowing is the fact that the data center numbers today are huge c/o this infographic. Just imagine what they will look like in 10 years.
Just some Friday fun…
I don’t know about you, but I just look at this and get frustrated…they ever hear of color coding? (not that it would help any here) “Hey, it’s the yellow cable…follow that one.”
Image from: http://royal.pingdom.com/2008/01/09/the-worst-cable-mess-ever/
Check out more cabling nightmares here.
Image by IDG
Don’t we all do this? Scan email subject lines and weed out emails not worth reading. One that made the cut was titled:
“Latest Global iPad Trends: Are Tablets Replacing Laptops?”
So, naturally I opened it considering all of the buzz around the consumerization of IT, laptops, Ultrabooks, tablets, especially coming off a week at CES. What I found was an IDG whitepaper download called “iPad for Business Survey 2010“. I downloaded it. Not only is this whitepaper visually attractive with the use of infographics, charts, color-coding, etc., but it was packed with some interesting findings when it comes to the iPad relative to business usage.
A recent survey of US consumers indicated that 60% of iPads never leave the home, and 70% of usage occurs in the living room. Based on IDG’s findings, the usage model is drastically different for IT decision-makers. For example:
Such a heavy at work or mobile usage begs the question…for what are they using their iPad for?
Like most tablet users, IT decision-makers primarily use their iPad for content consumption (75%). What’s more interesting is that only 29% say they “always” connect to a wireless network when using their iPad. This indicates that much of the content being consumed is time-shifted. In other words, saved offline to the storage on the device. This discovery poses an even greater opportunity for wireless storage devices like the Seagate GoFlex Satellite drive.
Why?
Figure 2 by IDG
Because iPad users likelihood of purchasing media like newspapers, books, CDs, and DVDs declines drastically. Not shocking considering these forms of media have been in decline for years, as digital versions of the same material have increased as has the average capacity shipped for hard drive suppliers like Seagate which recorded the highest ever average capacity at 653 Gigabytes. Contributing to this record number are not only desktop and mobile hard drives, but even more so, enterprise class drives that top out at 3 Terabytes today. Where a good number of these drives end up is in the cloud, and though many IT decision-makers consume time-shifted content (as stated above), a vast majority still use the iPad to connect to the cloud (Figure 2).
I highly suggest downloading this whitepaper. It’s an easy read, and there are some really interesting findings broken out by region, connection, and user satisfaction in addition to usage models.
Getting back to the subject line of the email.
Are tablets replacing laptops? Not completely. Only 16% say the iPad has “completely” replaced their laptop, while 54% say “partially”. The numbers differ from one region to the next with South America having the greatest complete replacement percentage at 27%.
Just like most answers when it comes to IT…it all depends.
Are you an iPad / Tablet user? How much has it replaced your laptop?
Related Posts:
CES 2012: Ultrabooks, Tablets, and Storage?
The invisible second economy (for servers and storage)
Is the tablet craze coming to an end already?
Images by IDG Connect
In case you have not seen the new Seagate Satellite drive with Verzon Wireless 4G connectivity (announced at CES last week), check out this concept video by Legit Reviews from CES.
It’s like having your own 500GB personal, mobile, cloud server wherever you go.
How do you begin to sum up…
…in as few words as possible?
Just look at the words. Strolling through the aisles and aisles of exhibitors, I could not help but recognize themes unfold from simply the signage displayed, and the demos given. Everywhere I turned, and everyone I spoke with, I saw and heard the same 5 buzzwords over an over again. Leading me to come to the conclusion that CES could be summed up as…
The mobile, smart, connected, digital, content show.
1. Mobile
From mainstays like smartphones and tablets to newcomer Ultrabooks, mobility was the hottest topic at CES for the 2nd year in a row. If it wasn’t specifically one of the above, it was storage, applications, cases, bags, adapters, power sources, gaming, you name it…all in the name of a more powerful mobile entertainment and work experience. It’s hard to believe we are just scratching the suface when it comes to mobility. Could we even get any more mobile than we are today? Better believe it.
2. Smart
What would innovation be if not more intelligent? Everything from the smart home automation to the products that make homes smarter like self-learning thermostats, appliances, televisions, set-top boxes, surveillance, and home controls rallied around the dream we all have of more energy efficient, economical, and enjoyable dwelling. But it didn’t stop in the home. Automobiles got into the mix with smarter, more fuel efficient, and feature rich designs. It’s about time that being the smartest kid in the class is cool.
3. Connected
What’s the point of having intelligence and being able to move around at will without still being “connected”? Connectivity was all the rage as products promised the same “connectedness” whether you were at home, on the road, or visiting your favorite (or least favorite) destination. 4G LTE, Wi-Fi Direct, standard Wi-Fi, WHDI, WirelessHD, WiGig, MHL, SlimPort/MYDP…it seems if there’s a will, there’s a way. The beauty is that at the times we don’t want to be connected, we can (and sometime should) disconnect, for our own sanity.
4. Digital
Every storage suppliers favorite word because undoubtedly, everywhere you see or hear the word, you almost always think data, and data needs storage. This begs the question: when is digital just assumed? I mean, how much worth does the word have anymore? Isn’t everything these days digital in one form or another? If it isn’t, do we even want it? Sure, their will always be a place for analog nostalgia, but when it comes to innovation in the consumer electronics space, if it’s not digital, is it really innovative? The word is officially mainstreamed, so let’s drop it as a value prop. (Just a small rant mixed in for fun)
5. Content
Everybody’s favorite word, because it’s the one thing we all want. In this more mobile, smarter, more connected, digital world we live, it really is all about the content. We demand more ways to consume it (Smartphones, Tablets, Ultrabooks, PCs, TVs, Game consoles, etc.), richer ways to enjoy it (HD, 3D), easier ways to access it (the cloud, wireless storage), smarter ways to use it (home appliances, automobiles, home automation ), and greater ways to share it with friends and family (social media). I guess content really is king.
That’s my take on CES this year. I wonder what the buzzwords will be in 2013.
Any guesses?
Check out all of the Seagate coverage from CES at Seagate.com/CES, or scan the list of blogs from CES, and once again, Thanks for following us…stay tuned for on-going reaction from the show.
Are you a gamer…check this out…everything from CNET People’s Choice Award winner: Razer Project Fiona for extreme tablet based gaming to the Razerblade gaming laptop which I blogged about here to a tour of Seagate’s own gaming booth at CES and a look at the new Momentus XT 750GB solid state hybrid drive in action.
Related blogs from CES, or visit Seagate.com/CES for even more.
I’ve never seen so many headphones in my life!
Walking the aisles of CES, it seemed you could not turn a corner without seeing headphones. Different colors, shapes, and sizes…you name it, CES had it. In fact, combing through the CES Daily magazine, I counted 14 ads for headphones from Monster, Sennheiser, Spider, Koss, Soul, and 9 others.
Big headphones are back in style, but these are the same ones we remember from the 1970s and 1980s. These pieces of headgear are packed with the latest innovations in audio. From 2.4GHz wireless connectivity from CES Innovations award winner Sennheiser to Koss Touch Control (KTC) which allows you to shuffle songs and adjust volume via a switch.
Even artists like Dr. Dre, Ludacris, and 50 Cent are in the headphone mix with their Beats by Dre, Soul by Ludacris, and SMS by 50 brands respectively. 50 Cent used CES to unleash his latest wireless Sync by 50 model. You have to wonder, with the number of players in the market, and the backing of artists like Dr. Dre, Ludacris, 50 Cent and others, if we are only at the beginning of what could be a huge market.
Think about the potential with technology like the cloud based music and Siri. Could you imagine wireless headphones that connect via 4G to Apple iCloud, Amazon Music, Pandora or Spotify? How about eliminating the need to use valuable storage space on your smartphone for music, and embed flash memory into the headphone itself? What if you could use voice recognition like Siri to command what songs to play?
There are rumors of an Apple TV, but what about Apple headphones? They already made white earbuds a cultural icon…What about big bulky white headphones with a connection to iCloud built in? iPhones obviously doesn’t work as a product name, but you know they could come up with something. Okay, it’s a HUGE stretch, but what isn’t is the fact that headphones are cool again, and will only get better.
Audiophiles – what more would you like to see in headgear?
Related blogs from CES, or visit Seagate.com/CES for even more.
Who hasn’t made the resolution to get into better shape, lose weight, or eat better at one point or another?
At CES’s Digital Health and Sport & Fitness Tech Zones, we saw tons of technology and innovation that makes getting on track and staying on track to a healthier life easier. And I think we are just starting to scratch the surface of this fast growing segment of consumer electronics. If square footage is any indication, the Digital Health and Sports & Fitness Tech Zones almost doubled in size from the 2011 show.
No doubt that the smart phone and tablet market have given rise to health and fitness in the CE space. Just about every major brand in healthcare and athletic apparel and equipment accompany their services and products with some sort of app. United Healthcare is one provider that had a very large presence at the show, with all sorts of tools and apps to track your health. They even incorporated gaming into the booth with 2 Fitness Gaming stages where attendees could really get their heart pumping.
But it’s not just traditional health and fitness companies getting into the digital health kick. Companies like Polk Audio and Sony are jumping into this market. The Polk Audio booth stood out to me because they had athletes jumping 40 feet in the air on a trampoline with Polk Audio UltraFit Sports headphones on, not missing a beat…pretty cool.
There are some new up an comers as well. Like iBike which is revolutionizing the cyclometer (a.k.a. bike computer) to not only track distance, speed, average speed, time, etc, but also power used. A built-in power meter that tracks how much you are generating on a ride…a metric for cyclists that in the past was expensive, but now is affordable using your iPhone.
Tons of other very cool tech gear for getting and staying in shape. The good news is that with so much interest in this growing market, you can bet if there is some tech you need to get going, stay on course, and measure results, there is most likely a solution available.
Good luck with that resolution…we are running out of excuses.
Even more from CES.
