Up and Coming

There hasn't been a lot to report in the month of January.  We've been busy with tech support work, and haven't really had the time to do much else.  Though we are currently working up a six lecture, month by month course we'll be teaching at the South Shore Mall on computer basics.  Other than that, Not much else is going on.

So, just hang in there with us, and hopefully we'll have something new to talk about in February.

Another New Year, We're Still Here

So here we are in 2013, and it is officially the fourth year of Digital Fruit's operation.  Last year was bumpy, but we weathered through it fine.  With a record number of computers worked on, the Digital Fruit Small Business Conference, and work on launching a record label, we've had one heck of a year.

Even though the blog got kind of neglected, (sorry), things are moving onward and upward.  We will be having another Digital Fruit Small Business Conference, and our first video games should be available this year.  We have more office space too, so there is some room for the tech support area to grow as well.

So drop us a line and say hi, come check out our projects, or let us help you with your computer problems.  This is our fourth year, and we're still here.

Mintduino

I never thought I would have so much fun with a 20 MHz processor and 32 KB of ram.  I mean honestly, those sound like specs from 1970, and yet the Arduino micro controller system operates on just that.  I have been picking up pieces of the Arduino for almost a year now, but I found something the other day that really got me going with this whole micro-computer thing.  At Radio Shack they have mint tin kits from Make:, and by far the coolest one is the Mintduino.

The Mintduino is an Arduino based micro controller in a mint tin.  Its a DIY kit with a solder less breadboard and almost all of the pieces you need to make your own Arduino.  And the coolest thing to me is that the whole thing runs off of a single nine volt battery.  It doesn't come with the USB connector, but I found you can buy it from Make:'s website for fifteen bucks.

I know it sounds terribly geeky of me, but it is totally awesome that you can now buy a web server in a mint tin.  That's amazing.  Till next time catch you on the flip side.

Another Patch Tuesday

So, another Microsoft patch Tuesday is coming, and this time there are several critical errors being fixed.  Nineteen errors in all will be repaired, a few of which will affect the brand new Windows 8.

It worries me that a product that just rolled off the shelf in the last couple of weeks could already have known critical security flaws.  Honestly, to be releasing the patch so soon means that they knew about these security flaws before the product launched.

So, if you've spent the money already and bought a new Windows computer or Surface tablet, make sure you patch.

Ubuntu 12.10

Fast becoming one of my favorite things to go online each October, the latest update to my favorite operating system is here.  While not the long term support release, I find that the best new features for Ubuntu come out in the fall.

So as I sit here in front of my computer, waiting for it to download some 2056 new files, which seems like it will take a couple of hours, I'm excited to see what updates will be there.  Some will seem cool, but almost never get used, like the ability to shop from Amazon.com right from the dash.  Others will probably get used every day with out even being noticed, like some of the UI upgrades I've read about.

So, to finish off this little blurb today, I would like to prompt people, if they haven't tried out Ubuntu yet, head to Ubuntu.com and download 12.10, and give the LiveCD a chance.  Who knows, you might just enjoy it too.

The Final Countdown

Yes, I know, cheesy title, but it really does seem fitting.  With the soon-to-drop Windows 8, and all the commotion over the decline of the personal computer, there is a certain feeling in the air like this is the end of desktop computing.  Everything about Windows 8 looks and feels like it beings on a tablet.  And Microsoft is very excited about there new Surface tablet/laptop.

So, with the industry acting like 2012 really is the end of the world as we know it, will this be the last Windows desktop release?  I don't think think so, personally.  To me it seems like the industry is just catching up with itself.  If anyone would take the time to slow down and think about it, computers have only been a mainstream gadget for about 17 years now.  In terms of product life, that may seem like forever, but that means not even one whole generation has grown up with computers being a constant and prevalent part of there lives.

And to top all that off, we are dead set in the middle of a recession. Everyone is looking at how to cut costs.  I think this is just a temporary stumbling block in a long future of computer use.  So many industries and people depend on PCs, even should Windows 8 fail, things will recover.

It Might Be Time

I don't know how this might affect everyone else, and as the business Digital Fruit we might see some potential for this, but with the new 'feature' on Facebook where you can pay seven dollars and get your post put to the top of everyone's news feed, I'm almost wondering if this might be the point at which Facebook users draw the line and say enough.

It just creeps of the feeling that Facebook is desperately scraping to get money.  The whole idea that your annoying rich family member or work associate can just pay a nominal fee and you are forced into seeing all of their stuff before getting to read everybody else's is just repugnant.

But as I said, it may not seem all bad to everyone.  Small businesses could really use the ability to try and draw the potential customer in against all the larger companies.  It also opens up avenues for things like campaigns  and activist groups to spread there word more effective.  So, who knows.