Any success Apple has is the result of slick marketing, rather than the newest technology. But now, Apple is a laggard and is being overtaken by more nimble companies.

Apple has an “innovation problem,” according to Forbes.

Apple Doesn't innovate.

Reblogged from TechCrunch:

Reblogged from 101 Books:

Reblogged from TechCrunch:

Over Christmas 2012 I bought the upgrade version to Windows 8, which I’m completely eligible to and fact which was anyhow checked during the procedure when buying this upgrade.

For sure I did what you always should do and opted for a fresh install on my virtual machine (the downloaded iso-file showed this option during the installation process). This worked out without any issues, installation was fast, I didn’t meet any challenges, and activation of my new operating system went smart and fast. I have to say that I’m impressed how easy the process worked through, especially as I installed this copy on a VMware, running on my Macbook Air.

However 4 weeks later I had sadly to find out that my license key is invalid according to Microsoft and that the company is making the fantastic recommendation to re-install either Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7 first and only afterwards Windows 8. Only under those circumstances my copy will end up to be compliant to their licensing model, and the now installed Windows8 will in short stop working. So they were really suggesting to throw away a well running Windows 8 copy, after having installed software for over a month? Pure madness!

I don’t find this acceptable. Why can’t they just ask to type in a valid product key of the former product you own. Do they really think that any of their customer wants to kill a running system, only to go through the installation process of 2 operating systems plus software?

No doubts, that this will take you 5 to 7 hours of your lifetime. In the best case your system will run as before, with the only benefit of no  de-activation after 30 days. Thank you Microsoft!

After some research I found a solution to avoid the suggested, complete re-installation process of your operating system. Please follow the below advice to re-activate your running Windows 8 copy:

Run the Windows_Registry as an administrator in the command prompt
Find the following key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup\OOBE
Change the value for 'MediaBootInstall' from 1 to 0
Open an elevated command prompt (run as admin)
Run the following command: slmgr -rearm
Reboot

I’m not sure if this change is legal or not, but honestly I don’t care too much. I have again to say that I am owning all licences and I’m illegible for the upgrade. I just don’t understand why I should go through the hassle of installing first a predecessor of Windows 8.

Cloud Computing und Cloud Services werden häufig als Synonym gesehen, obwohl es einer klaren Abgrenzung bedarf. “Cloud Services” kann ich in der Theorie auch ohne dahinter liegendem “Cloud Computing” anbieten, und umgekehrt kann man mit “Cloud Computing” eventuell seine interne IT effizienter gestalten, ist aber durch diese Art der IT Provisionierung nicht zwingend ein Anbieter von “Cloud Services”.

Verwirrt? Das ist nachvollziehbar, vor allem da beide Begriffe in den meisten Publikationen durcheinander geworfen werden.

“Cloud Computing” ist eine Art wie man Informations Technologie zur Verfügung stellt. Anstatt Software auf einem oder einem Serververbund zur Verfügung zu stellen, hat man im Idealfall die Infrastruktur und Plattformen so standardisiert, virtualisiert und abstrahiert, dass man sich für die Provisionierung der Software keine Gedanken mehr über die notwendige Hardware und Betriebssysteme machen muss. Was heisst das nun? Im Wesentlichen nur, dass die Ressourcen im Rechenzentrum virtualisiert sind und sich dynamisch anpassen, dass ich mir weniger(!) Gedanken machen muss, wie das Zusammenspiel dieser Basiskomponenten konzeptiert ist. Für Sharepoint z.b. brauche ich Speicherplatz und Windows Server Power. Diese wird meiner Software automatisiert und dynamisch (zumindest in der Theorie) zur Verfügung gestellt. Aber natürlich läuft das alles nicht so einfach wie es uns renommierte Hersteller verkaufen. Natürlich muss ich mich immer noch mit dem Leiter des Rechenzentrums abstimmen, damit er vorhersagen kann, wie viele Ressourcen durch mein Projekt zur Verfügung gestellt werden müssen.

“Cloud Services” ist ein Begriff der den Zusatz Cloud nicht verdient. Als Benutzer möchte ich einen Service, entweder kostenlos oder mit Zusatzkomponenten für ein messbares Entgelt (pay-per-use). Logischer Weise interessiert es mich als Endbenutzer nicht ob das ein “Cloud” Service ist oder nicht. Es interessiert mich auch überhaupt nicht, wie die Technologie hinter diesen Services aussieht. Ich möchte eine Dienstleistung, eine faire Abrechnung und die Vorzüge nutzen um mein Geschäft zu betreiben. Nehmen wir flickr.com, dropbox.com, oder salesforce.com. Als zahlender Benutzer bin ich nur daran interessiert, dass meine Vertragsbedingungen erfüllt werden und ausgeliefert werden. Ich möchte Bilder hochladen, Daten austauschen oder CRM Funktionalität benutzen. Dabei ist es mir als Endbenutzer völlig egal, wie diese Services technologisch von den Anbietern angeboten werden.

Natürlich hilft Cloud Computing den Anbietern von Cloud Services ihre Dienste kostengünstig anzubieten. Die meisten dieser Services wären wahrscheinlich nicht ohne Cloud Computing zu realisieren, aber aus der Perspektive des Benutzers ist Cloud Computing eine Methode wie Services zur Verfügung gestellt werden und demzufolge komplett irrelevant.

(Cloud) Services sind die Bereitstellung von Diensten (kostenlos oder nach Nutzen zu bezahlend), bei denen ich mich als Nutzer nur auf die Funktionen konzentrieren muss, letztlich ist es für den Anwender aber unwichtig, was es technologisch bedarf  um eben diese Dienste robust zur Verfügung zu stellen.

Usually updates are published latest one week after the sources appeared on kernel.org.

Below is the latest Debian Kernel Upgrade 3.8.4 - You have to download the file, unzip it and install via the console by executing:

dpkg -i filename.deb

[wpfilebase tag="file" id=32/]

All kernels can be found in the download section.

Upon user request we are adding (starting with release 3.7.3) a separate download of the kernel headers. Since February 2013 we changed the download files as such that with release 3.7.3 they do include the header files. With Kernel release 3.8.x all kernel files including sources will be included.

It has to be noted that all kernels are compiled for AMD64 1&1 Servers. The kernels might work on a different platform but most likely they won’t. You need in this case to get different kernels or compile a kernel by your own.

Having always the latest kernel for Debian AMD64 Server installed will significantly increase the security of your system and performance.

Please post a comment in case you are encountering any issues with our kernels or if you are requesting further information.

‘Now Microsoft ‘actively investigates’ Surface slab jailbreak tool’

It seems that it is only a question of time until closed systems are unsealed. At my knowledge so far every device could be jailbroken sooner, or later.

It will be interesting to see how Micrsoft will address this issue now in the future. The Surface Pro seems to be delayed by a few weeks, and it will be exciting how MS will try to patch Windows RT as such that this known jailbreak will not work any longer.

Related articles

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• Now Microsoft ‘actively investigates’ Surface slab jailbreak tool

But quite fast I faced time consuming issues. More importantly, a complete clash of my highly sophisticated digital world with the brutal analogue reality of the good old days.

The money will be refunded through a check for deposit only. Phew, how does this work again? I can scan the check, I can run an OCR, but what do I need again to do to get this piece of paper into my digital banking experience? Starting a quick research, Google is your friend, isn’t it? Yes, true I need to either go to my bank … Gosh, I forgot I’m living in Germany. Caramba, Siesta day for banks, they close at 1 pm on Saturdays.

But isn’t there a big subsidiary of my bank downtown? Would be handy to combine the necessary trip instantly with a decent investment of the unexpected gain. Argh, closing at 4 pm on Saturdays! I could shop for an additional 4 hours – sad news.

I finally remember that I can send the check by mail to my bank, I think this was back to 1995 when I did it last time. Excellent! But wait, I need to fill out a special form! Slowly I remember the good old days and sadly enough I have certainty that I chucked those forms away at our second to last move!

No problem, let’s log into online banking and download this form. Phew, you can only order them – at least for free, but at least 50 of them – through phone banking. You can send in the check without that form, but they will charge you an extra 8 EUR. Finally something new, I believe that was less than 16 DM in the last Millenium, I even believe it was a free service of my bank, reason why I never went to the branch to exactly avoid filling in that boring form . On a side note: 50 of those forms would be more than I need until the end of my days. Phone banking? I’m registered, but what was the PIN again? I used this service perhaps 2 to 3 times when mobile online computing was still a mess. What shall I say, I had(!) 3 attempts … Now my phone banking account is securely blocked. I’m feeling cozily about the increased private security! Let’s keep motivated! It’s a good day by the end!

I spent 1 hour, but at least I learned that ideally I should reach out to my bank within 30 days to be sure to get the money.

Now let’s apply for a day of vacation. I can do that online. It is a roundabout way though, but at least a digital one … And yes! I scanned this check and archived it digitally. I’m not easily giving up! Call me  stubborn.

Related articles

• Advantages of an Online Bank Account
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The other day a friend of mine was asking me if I could not be so kind to develop him a small an simple tool to easily to a few screenshots from time to time.

Here come the good news: On OS X you don’t need a special software for doing screenshots. OS X has some special key shortcuts natively embedded which make it absolutely convenient to easily take screenshots:

Command-Shift-3: Take a screenshot of the screen, and save it as a file on the desktop
Command-Shift-4, then select an area: Take a screenshot of an area and save it as a file on the desktop
Command-Shift-4, then space, then click a window: Take a screenshot of a window and save it as a file on the desktop
Command-Control-Shift-3: Take a screenshot of the screen, and save it to the clipboard
Command-Control-Shift-4, then select an area: Take a screenshot of an area and save it to the clipboard
Command-Control-Shift-4, then space, then click a window: Take a screenshot of a window and save it to the clipboard

Paid software is basically only needed for enhanced features, for instance if you want to record a movie, sound, etc. But for standard functionality like quickly taking a screenshot of a windows or a part of a screen the native functionality is by far enough doesn’t request any further tools.
Please have a look into the following guide “Taking Screenshots in Mac OS X” to get some advanced hints how to use the embedded functionality.

Which screenshot software is the best on OS X. SnapzProX from Ambrosia Software is probably one of the best tools out of many, but mainly oversized for the average end users in regards to functionality. Mac OS X comes natively with a few key shortcuts which will do the job for you.

Related articles

• How to take a remote screenshot in OS X
• Ambrosia Software Releases Snapz Pro X 2.5.0