Dell Chromebook 11 used in a classroom setting (credit : Dell.com)
Dell has announced new Chromebooks, laptops running Google OS. Read Dell’s press release ; the price of the 11″ laptop is expected to sell below $300 US and will be available in the 1Q 2014.
Meanwhile Microsoft has embarked on an aggressive marketing campaign against Chromebooks. Within the past 2 weeks, it has released two ads: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wAgB5J1gSQ
and one featuring persons from the TV show “Pawn Stars”
Google has announced a new version of Google Sheets, a browser based spreadsheet and one of the Google Drive Office applications, available to any Google user.
support for larger spreadsheets, millions of rows and columns
faster scrolling, loading and calculations even for larger spreadsheets
Improved formula editing with formula help and examples displayed as you type
offline access with Google Chrome. With Google Chrome, you can edit spreadsheets offline and when you have internet connectivity, Google will synchronize the changes to the online version.
I have fond memories of playing Doom for many hours. Doom was uploaded by id Software to a FTP server and BBS on December 10, 1993.
Twenty years ago!
It wasn’t the first person shooter (id has created and launched Wolfenstein 3D earlier), but Doom took it up a notch with great graphics.
From the Wikipedia article:
“Doom’s primary distinguishing feature at the time of its release was its relatively realistic 3D graphics. The advance from id Software’s previous game Wolfenstein 3D was enabled by several new features in the Doom engine, including height differences (all rooms in Wolfenstein 3D have the same height), non-perpendicular walls (all walls in Wolfenstein 3D run along a rectangular grid), full texture mapping of all surfaces (in Wolfenstein 3D, floors and ceilings are flat colors) and varying light levels and custom palettes (all areas in Wolfenstein 3D are fully lit at the same brightness). The latter contributed to Doom’s visual authenticity, atmosphere and gameplay, as the use of darkness to frighten or confuse the player was nearly unheard of in games released prior to Doom; palette modifications were used to enhance effects such as berserk.
In contrast to the static levels of Wolfenstein 3D, those in Doom are highly dynamic: platforms can lower and rise, floors can rise sequentially to form staircases, and bridges can rise and fall. The lifelike environment was enhanced further by the stereo sound system, which made it possible to roughly determine the direction and distance of a sound effect. The player is kept on guard by the grunts and growls of monsters, and receives occasional clues to finding secret areas in the form of sounds of hidden doors opening remotely. As in Wolfenstein 3D, enemies can also become aware of the player’s presence by hearing distant gunshots.”
The sound effects and music was also great for PCs with soundcards for their PCs (mine was a Soundblaster Pro) and really contributed to the atmosphere.
As a shareware game, id Software made the first 10 levels of the game free, allowing the game to be downloaded and shared on BBSes (the TTCS ‘s own BBS, Infoline also had the version). You then had to pay for the other 20 levels, which id would mail to you on 3.5″ floppies once payment was received.
Also amazing at the time, was the multiplayer component, I used a serial cable between two PCs at the time and had great fun.
“Microsoft Trinidad and Tobago has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Ministry of Tertiary Education and Skills Training (MTEST).
The MOU is expected to enhance MTEST’s customer service delivery through the use of information and communication technology (ICT).
Microsoft TT and MTEST signed the MOU recently at the launch of Microsoft’s CityNext which focuses on using innovation and technology for the positive development of cities. Frances Correia, Country Manager of Microsoft TT and Mariana Castro, General Manager of Latin America New Markets for Microsoft, signed on behalf of the company. Signing on behalf of MTEST was Acting Permanent Secretary Angela Sinaswee-Gervais.”
You may not realise it, but App developers also offer discounts on CyberMonday, not just online retailers. Gizmodo has a list of the best App deals for iOS and Android for today.
The Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT) has published for comment a Draft Consumer Rights and Obligations Policy. This is the fourth version of the policy incorporating changes prompted by comments received by TATT.
From the document:
“This Draft Consumer Rights and Obligations Policy seeks to make recommendations that would safeguard the interests of consumers in the telecommunications and broadcasting sectors. The final policy should ensure that consumers have a right to the following:
Access to essential telecommunications and broadcast services;
Access to the information required to make informed consumption decisions;
Personal privacy which is respected and protected;
Minimum standards for consumer-related service quality;
Protection from unfair and anti-competitive business practices;
Effective and efficient complaint recognition, handling and resolution;
Information which creates an awareness of relevant consumer obligations.”
“Microsoft looks ready to kill off Windows RT, its version of Windows devised for chips based on ARMs architecture, judging by remarks by senior executive Julie Larson-Green.Larson-Green, who is executive vice-president of Devices and Studios at Microsoft, said that the aim of Windows RT was “our first go at creating that more closed, turnkey experience [that Apple has on the iPad]…” but that Microsoft now has three mobile operating systems: “We have the Windows Phone OS. We have Windows RT and we have full Windows. Were not going to have three.”
On November 2013, the Trinidad and Tobago Cabinet approved the National Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Plan 2014-2018, called “smarTT” after the consultations in 2012
The full meeting schedule can be viewed at http://buenosaires48.icann.org/en/schedule-full. Each meeting on http://buenosaires48.icann.org/en/schedule-full has a link to aseparate meeting page (for example, the ALAC and Regional Leadership Working Session 1 meeting at http://buenosaires48.icann.org/en/schedule/sun-alac-regional) has remote participation details and the agenda that allows anyone with a broadband connection to attend the live sessions and participate.
Note that the times of meetings are listed in the local time in Buenos Aires, Argentina which is UTC/GMT -3 hours. This means that the time in Buenos Aires is 1 hour ahead of the time in Trinidad and Tobago. This means that a time of 4pm local time in Buenos Aires is 3pm in Trinidad and Tobago
The Trinidad and Tobago Computer Society (TTCS) is involved in ICANN At-Large. At-Large is the name for the community of individual Internet users who participate in the policy development work of ICANN. Currently, the vice chair of TTCS, Dev Anand Teelucksingh serves on the At-Large Advisory Committee (ALAC) which provides advice on ICANN activities as it relates to the interests of the individual internet end users. The agendas of all the At-Large meetings can be found at https://community.icann.org/x/nFl-Ag
There are several meetings during the ICANN 48 Buenos Aires meeting with a significant focus on Latin American and the Caribbean.
