7 things ultrabooks need next
From one perspective, ultrabooks and the MacBook Air are the most exciting laptops to come around the pike in a long while. From another perspective, they're the sort of laptops that provide the least amount of computing value for the dollar, and are precisely the sort of fancy gadgets that cash-strapped holiday buyers will skip for better deals. After all, computers are commodity devices, right?Well, yes and no. The iPad and the Kindle Fire have quickly shown that stylish, fun devices can quickly trump beefy specs, although in both cases they're relatively affordable buys. A friend of mine who recently e-mailed me summarizes the ultrabook situation perfectly:"From my Luddite perspective, it's completely invigorated the laptop market for consumers just when everyone was beginning to crank out the same old 5-pound, 15.6-inch, DVD/Webcam, dual-core whatever machine." Related storiesThe problem with ultrabooks, thus farUltrabooks to MacBook Air: Time to step up your gameThe ultrabook dilemmaHe argued that the size and weight of these laptops are far more important than performance, gaining a family acceptance factor that trumps an ability, for instance, to play PC games with higher-end graphics.I've had a hard time recommending ultrabooks for everyone, though. While they're getting awfully close to being the "laptop for everybody" that Apple's MacBook Air is currently gunning to be, a few key improvements still need to happen in 2012. As we look ahead to the Consumer Electronics Show, where new laptop announcements are a common occurrence (stunningly enough, CES is less than six weeks away), this is what I hope happens to make ultrabooks more relevant.1. More storage. This is key. Solid-state drive (SSD) storage has been hovering in the 128GB range for what seems like years. User storage needs are increasing; photo file sizes and smartphone video files are getting larger, music libraries are expanding, and we're collecting apps and games like baseball cards. Cloud storage helps alleviate some of these concerns, but nothing substitutes for ample local storage. Case in point: my iTunes library has exceeded my hard-drive space, so I ported it to a NAS drive. It technically works, but file access using iTunes is much slower and has made sync times for my iPhone and iPad tremendously long. I'm not asking for a terabyte, but getting up to the 256GB to 512GB range would make my opinion of MacBook Airs and ultrabooks shift from "consider" to "must-buy." In the meantime, hybrid drives incorporating less-expensive, larger-size magnetic hard drives and smaller-size SSDs could work, like we saw in the Acer Aspire S3. I'd love if a smarter, more versatile home "media cube" server could help me with my storage woes, too, but sadly, such a product doesn't seem to exist yet.2. Better battery life. What? How can I say this when ultrabooks and the MacBook Air already are better than average? While that may be true, our expectations for battery life keep increasing. iPads and other tablets have ushered in a new age of longer-life devices. It's completely unfair to compare these with full-fledged laptops, but if someone's considering buying an ultrabook or an iPad and weighs in battery life, that could factor into a decision in the other direction. I'd expect, with ever-more-efficient processors and improvements in standby time, that batteries could take another small leap forward.3. More ports. Yes, the port real estate on most of these slimmed-down laptops is limited at best, but we've seen some odd solutions on a few of the ultrabooks that have come through CNET. Plug-in dongles for Ethernet? No SD card slot? Come on. There are only a few essential ports you need on a laptop: HDMI, USB 2.0/3.0, SD card slot, Ethernet. Get all of those in. It shouldn't be hard.4. Lower prices. The current sticker price of $800 to more than $1,000 for an ultrabook is pricey territory compared with the values available elsewhere, such as sub-$500 11-inch AMD Fusion-powered ultraportables. For the same price, you can get a completely full-featured laptop with absolutely no compromises...except size. I'm not asking for the impossible--margins are apparently already close as is--but $600 to $700 seems like the ideal price for an entry-level ultrabook.5. Better cloud-based software. Ultrabooks are banking on people power-using the cloud for their needs, but the cloud thus far has been a hit-and-miss assortment of services as far as I'm concerned. Apple has pushed the Mac App Store as a way of providing an easy-to-redownload way of installing disc-free software, but it's not a universal solution for Mac users. The more I can download my apps, media, and games as needed and archive my other tools in the cloud, the more I'd consider an ultrabook to be a perfect solution. Plenty of solutions exist, but none of them is well integrated to each other, forcing customers to make awkward choices and possibly find their software and media fragmented.6. Bolder designs. We've laughed at the idea of laptops that swivel their screens around to turn into tablets, but in the case of ultrabooks, the time might be coming to revisit the idea. Recent Windows 7 tablets have been impressive--see the Samsung Series 7 Slate--and the thin SSD-equipped chassis of an ultrabook would make for a far less bulky convertible tablet. It might take until the launch of Windows 8 for this idea to make sense, but with the growth in tablet use, why not consider it, as long as it doesn't compromise the laptop's design as...well, as a laptop?7. Docking solutions, or better Thunderbolt peripherals. The potential for Thunderbolt is great--high-speed storage, monitors, even off-board graphics like that on the Sony Vaio Z. Docks already exist or are in development, but there's never been a better time to create solutions for transforming a small laptop into a more full-featured device.Anything I missed? Have you been considering an ultrabook (MacBook Air included)? Share below.
How to convert video for the Zune
How to convert video for the Zune
Microsoft struggled through two rounds of Zune before hitting the nail on the head with the third generation of the MP3 player, but the company got at least one thing right from the start. Even the first pass offered a larger-than-average screen, clocking in at 3 inches diagonally, and the latest version packs a video-worthy 3.2-inch screen. Of course, getting video content was a bit of a challenge at first, but the Zune Marketplace continues to expand its catalog, which now offers TV shows from several major networks such as NBC and Comedy Central.However, that video content is going to cost you--about $2 per episode, to be exact--and the Marketplace currently does not offer movies to rent or buy (unlike iTunes). That's where this tutorial comes in: if you already have a collection of digital video content, this step-by-step guide will show you how to convert it for playback on the Zune. The software used in this how-to can convert from any of the following formats: MP4, 3GP, MPG, AVI, WMV, FLV, and SWF.Note: Unfortunately, ripping most commercial DVDs is currently illegal in the United States, as it requires circumventing the copyright protection found on the DVDs. For unprotected DVDs, try Handbrake.Cost: freeLevel: beginnerTime commitment: Varies, but figure on about 15 to 30 minutes per hour of video (unmonitored)System requirements: WindowsDownload and install FormatFactory Select format In the left column, under Video, select All to WMV. Adjust the output settings (optional)Click the Output Settings button. The default output is Medium Quality, which is 320x240 WMV. This is just right for portable use (also, it's a fairly standard format that may work with other players you may have). However, if you plan to use your Zune to output video to a TV, you may want to select High Quality or Custom and increase the resolution. (The Zune supports up to 720x480 at 30fps.)Add videoClick the Add File button, then navigate to the video you want to convert. (You may chose to add an entire folder by clicking the Add Folder button.) Repeat this for as many videos as you wish to queue up for conversion. After you've made your selections, click OK.Select output directoryThe FormatFactory default is to save your completed video files to My Documents > FF Output. If you want to select your own output directory, click Option. Then, under the Output Folder section, click Change and select the folder where you would like the files saved. (I use My Videos > Zune.) Now is also a good time to decide if you want the computer to shut down after conversion, a consideration for those who time the process to run overnight. Once your preferences are set, click Apply.Start conversion and monitor progressClick Start at the top of the window. You can monitor the conversion process in the middle of the main window.Set up Zune software If it isn't already, set the Zune Software to monitor the output folder for your videos. Go to Settings > Collection and click Add Folder under the videos section. You can then transfer the files to the Zune player.FormatFactor will also work for converting video to play back on various other portable devices, such as the Creative Zen and Sony Walkman.
Microsoft struggled through two rounds of Zune before hitting the nail on the head with the third generation of the MP3 player, but the company got at least one thing right from the start. Even the first pass offered a larger-than-average screen, clocking in at 3 inches diagonally, and the latest version packs a video-worthy 3.2-inch screen. Of course, getting video content was a bit of a challenge at first, but the Zune Marketplace continues to expand its catalog, which now offers TV shows from several major networks such as NBC and Comedy Central.However, that video content is going to cost you--about $2 per episode, to be exact--and the Marketplace currently does not offer movies to rent or buy (unlike iTunes). That's where this tutorial comes in: if you already have a collection of digital video content, this step-by-step guide will show you how to convert it for playback on the Zune. The software used in this how-to can convert from any of the following formats: MP4, 3GP, MPG, AVI, WMV, FLV, and SWF.Note: Unfortunately, ripping most commercial DVDs is currently illegal in the United States, as it requires circumventing the copyright protection found on the DVDs. For unprotected DVDs, try Handbrake.Cost: freeLevel: beginnerTime commitment: Varies, but figure on about 15 to 30 minutes per hour of video (unmonitored)System requirements: WindowsDownload and install FormatFactory Select format In the left column, under Video, select All to WMV. Adjust the output settings (optional)Click the Output Settings button. The default output is Medium Quality, which is 320x240 WMV. This is just right for portable use (also, it's a fairly standard format that may work with other players you may have). However, if you plan to use your Zune to output video to a TV, you may want to select High Quality or Custom and increase the resolution. (The Zune supports up to 720x480 at 30fps.)Add videoClick the Add File button, then navigate to the video you want to convert. (You may chose to add an entire folder by clicking the Add Folder button.) Repeat this for as many videos as you wish to queue up for conversion. After you've made your selections, click OK.Select output directoryThe FormatFactory default is to save your completed video files to My Documents > FF Output. If you want to select your own output directory, click Option. Then, under the Output Folder section, click Change and select the folder where you would like the files saved. (I use My Videos > Zune.) Now is also a good time to decide if you want the computer to shut down after conversion, a consideration for those who time the process to run overnight. Once your preferences are set, click Apply.Start conversion and monitor progressClick Start at the top of the window. You can monitor the conversion process in the middle of the main window.Set up Zune software If it isn't already, set the Zune Software to monitor the output folder for your videos. Go to Settings > Collection and click Add Folder under the videos section. You can then transfer the files to the Zune player.FormatFactor will also work for converting video to play back on various other portable devices, such as the Creative Zen and Sony Walkman.
7digital's DRM-free music store goes global
7digital's DRM-free music store goes global
The DRM-free 7digital download store is often discussed alongside iTunes, eMusic, and Amazon as a major player in the music download world. It was one of the first online stores to host EMI's DRM-free catalog and now offers more than 3million tracks, the majority of which are sans-DRM.Today it announced it's set to receive 4.25 million pounds of investor funding (about $8.44 million). The deal is expected to be finalized toward the end of next month. The U.S. is expected to receive a big fat intravenous injection of 7digital love as a result of this deal, meaning that the well-established iTunes and Amazon could be in for a tussle.This news is one of a string of interesting moves made by the U.K.-based firm. Last year it struck a deal with Last.fm--which itself is hitting the headlines again lately--that allows users of the popular music-streaming site to buy songs from 7digital within the Last.fm environment. Later in '07 it announced DRM-free songs were outselling DRMed versions at a rate of four to one--news that surprised no-one.We spoke today to 7digital's CEO Ben Drury regarding the company's announcement. He told us that the plan is to offer the same service in the U.S. as is currently available in the U.K., but that licences differing from region to region make offering identical services tricky.Amazon's recently struck deals with all four major labels for DRM-free downloads is something 7digital wasn't likely to ignore. When asked how the company intended to compete with Amazon in the U.S., Drury said the plan was of course to secure the same deals, and that they were "in talks" with the remaining major labels.Regarding Amazon's announcement to invade the U.K. with its roster of major label backing, he said, "We welcome [Amazon] into the U.K. marketplace" and that it "will help move [the DRM-free industry] forward."Finally, with more and more companies pedaling ahead in the mobile downloads market, Drury told us "we've been looking at the mobile market for four years now." Not surprisingly, he saw the previous lack of flat-rate mobile data plans as having been one of the main issues, but now they're becoming more common Drury expects 7digital to move into the mobile download arena.This is probably going to be one of the most exciting and productive years not just for digital music, but for DRM-free and wireless downloads of digital music, regardless of what device you choose to invest in. You should also expect lossless downloads, as we've previously predicted. Curiously 7digital has offered lossless downloads of Radiohead songs before, as did Russian rebels AllOfMP3.com on a vast range of titles. Excitement builds.(Source: Crave UK)
The DRM-free 7digital download store is often discussed alongside iTunes, eMusic, and Amazon as a major player in the music download world. It was one of the first online stores to host EMI's DRM-free catalog and now offers more than 3million tracks, the majority of which are sans-DRM.Today it announced it's set to receive 4.25 million pounds of investor funding (about $8.44 million). The deal is expected to be finalized toward the end of next month. The U.S. is expected to receive a big fat intravenous injection of 7digital love as a result of this deal, meaning that the well-established iTunes and Amazon could be in for a tussle.This news is one of a string of interesting moves made by the U.K.-based firm. Last year it struck a deal with Last.fm--which itself is hitting the headlines again lately--that allows users of the popular music-streaming site to buy songs from 7digital within the Last.fm environment. Later in '07 it announced DRM-free songs were outselling DRMed versions at a rate of four to one--news that surprised no-one.We spoke today to 7digital's CEO Ben Drury regarding the company's announcement. He told us that the plan is to offer the same service in the U.S. as is currently available in the U.K., but that licences differing from region to region make offering identical services tricky.Amazon's recently struck deals with all four major labels for DRM-free downloads is something 7digital wasn't likely to ignore. When asked how the company intended to compete with Amazon in the U.S., Drury said the plan was of course to secure the same deals, and that they were "in talks" with the remaining major labels.Regarding Amazon's announcement to invade the U.K. with its roster of major label backing, he said, "We welcome [Amazon] into the U.K. marketplace" and that it "will help move [the DRM-free industry] forward."Finally, with more and more companies pedaling ahead in the mobile downloads market, Drury told us "we've been looking at the mobile market for four years now." Not surprisingly, he saw the previous lack of flat-rate mobile data plans as having been one of the main issues, but now they're becoming more common Drury expects 7digital to move into the mobile download arena.This is probably going to be one of the most exciting and productive years not just for digital music, but for DRM-free and wireless downloads of digital music, regardless of what device you choose to invest in. You should also expect lossless downloads, as we've previously predicted. Curiously 7digital has offered lossless downloads of Radiohead songs before, as did Russian rebels AllOfMP3.com on a vast range of titles. Excitement builds.(Source: Crave UK)
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