John Biggs - Seeking Alpha 'John Biggs' Tag RSS Syndication from SeekingAlpha.com SeekingAlpha.com http://seekingalpha.com/author/john-biggs Amazon's Kindle DX: Hands-On Review http://seekingalpha.com/article/143008-amazon-s-kindle-dx-hands-on-review?source=feed 143008

Another month, another version of the Kindle. I’ve been using a Kindle since it was shaped like a very thin doorstop and I’m delighted each time I see a new version. The latest version is the DX, a monstrous 9-inch version of the smaller Kindle 2 that supports direct PDF reading without conversion.

]]> Sat, 13 Jun 2009 10:49:36 -0400 John Biggs John Biggs submits:

Another month, another version of the Kindle. I’ve been using a Kindle since it was shaped like a very thin doorstop and I’m delighted each time I see a new version. The latest version is the DX, a monstrous 9-inch version of the smaller Kindle 2 that supports direct PDF reading without conversion.


Complete Story »]]> AMZN NYT John Biggs Rumor of New, Free, Ad-Supported Microsoft Office http://seekingalpha.com/article/141633-rumor-of-new-free-ad-supported-microsoft-office?source=feed 141633 A secret tipster pointed us to a Credit Suisse report that posits that Microsoft (MSFT) is working hard on an ad-supported version of Microsoft Office. There will be two versions - one web-based and one for a desktop install - and both will have limited functionality compared to the full-bore suite.

The plan is to create a version that is immune to piracy. Nigeria, for example, has a 92% piracy rate while the US is at 20%. Creating a free version would allow schools and average folk to enjoy an Microsoft Works-like environment while ensuring a steady stream of real revenue from larger IT shops.

]]> Fri, 05 Jun 2009 14:56:37 -0400 John Biggs John Biggs submits:

A secret tipster pointed us to a Credit Suisse report that posits that Microsoft (MSFT) is working hard on an ad-supported version of Microsoft Office. There will be two versions - one web-based and one for a desktop install - and both will have limited functionality compared to the full-bore suite.

The plan is to create a version that is immune to piracy. Nigeria, for example, has a 92% piracy rate while the US is at 20%. Creating a free version would allow schools and average folk to enjoy an Microsoft Works-like environment while ensuring a steady stream of real revenue from larger IT shops.


Complete Story »]]> MSFT John Biggs Google's G1: A Paradigm Shift in Mobile Phones http://seekingalpha.com/article/96996-google-s-g1-a-paradigm-shift-in-mobile-phones?source=feed 96996

The G1 event has come and gone and it looks like we’re seeing an epic paradigm shift in the mobile space. iPhone started the ball rolling and Android is about the finish the job. The change? Phones are now officially computers and the expectation for most users is that they behave in the same way a powerful laptop or desktop PC would perform, albeit in a considerably more compact package.

]]> Tue, 23 Sep 2008 17:03:25 -0400 John Biggs John Biggs submits:

The G1 event has come and gone and it looks like we’re seeing an epic paradigm shift in the mobile space. iPhone started the ball rolling and Android is about the finish the job. The change? Phones are now officially computers and the expectation for most users is that they behave in the same way a powerful laptop or desktop PC would perform, albeit in a considerably more compact package.


Complete Story »]]> GOOG John Biggs AT&T's iPhone 3G Pricing: Bad, But Not That Bad http://seekingalpha.com/article/84096-at-t-s-iphone-3g-pricing-bad-but-not-that-bad?source=feed 84096 click to enlarge


New Zealand, land of LotR and high-priced data plans

Over at CG we’ve been watching the iPhone pricing plans whiz by, from the onerous Rogers tariff to Vodafone New Zealand’s $200 per month for 1 GB data plan. A lot of folks have been complaining about these prices but in light of these international plans, including nasty plans from Europe, AT&T’s (T) pricing isn’t that bad.

]]> Tue, 08 Jul 2008 06:37:35 -0400 John Biggs John Biggs submits:

click to enlarge


New Zealand, land of LotR and high-priced data plans

Over at CG we’ve been watching the iPhone pricing plans whiz by, from the onerous Rogers tariff to Vodafone New Zealand’s $200 per month for 1 GB data plan. A lot of folks have been complaining about these prices but in light of these international plans, including nasty plans from Europe, AT&T’s (T) pricing isn’t that bad.


Complete Story »]]> AAPL T John Biggs Google Talk for iPhone: It's Not What You Think http://seekingalpha.com/article/83745-google-talk-for-iphone-it-s-not-what-you-think?source=feed 83745  

Google (GOOG) has announced an iPhone version of Google Talk which is simply an iPhone-ized browser-formatted version of the Google’s text chat application. This means you can’t talk over the Interwebs but you can tap out halting messages to your friends on the iPhone’s screen and, thanks to Safari’s tendency to clear pages randomly, you probably won’t enjoy a sustained conversation.

]]> Thu, 03 Jul 2008 11:37:13 -0400 John Biggs John Biggs submits:

 

Google (GOOG) has announced an iPhone version of Google Talk which is simply an iPhone-ized browser-formatted version of the Google’s text chat application. This means you can’t talk over the Interwebs but you can tap out halting messages to your friends on the iPhone’s screen and, thanks to Safari’s tendency to clear pages randomly, you probably won’t enjoy a sustained conversation.


Complete Story »]]> AAPL GOOG John Biggs Apple Confirms: No Online iPhone 3G Sales, In-Store Activation Only http://seekingalpha.com/article/83690-apple-confirms-no-online-iphone-3g-sales-in-store-activation-only?source=feed 83690 Reader Steve has been chatting with Apple.com CSRs today - he’s already talked to two - and they’ve both confirmed my worst fears: you will not be able to order the IP3G online and it will only be available in stores and it will be activated in-store, provided you wish to purchase it at contract prices (i.e. $199).

What does this mean? It means getting an unlocked iPhone will be incrementally harder and considerably more expensive. Even if you pay for the phone and cancel your contract for a $175 fee, the phone will cost around $500, all told. While this is good news for Apple and AT&T - the unlocking imperative just got quite expensive - it’s bad news for folks who haven’t yet gotten iPhones in their respective countries and/or T-Mobile fans who don’t want to switch to AT&T.

]]> Thu, 03 Jul 2008 06:47:24 -0400 John Biggs John Biggs submits:

Reader Steve has been chatting with Apple.com CSRs today - he’s already talked to two - and they’ve both confirmed my worst fears: you will not be able to order the IP3G online and it will only be available in stores and it will be activated in-store, provided you wish to purchase it at contract prices (i.e. $199).

What does this mean? It means getting an unlocked iPhone will be incrementally harder and considerably more expensive. Even if you pay for the phone and cancel your contract for a $175 fee, the phone will cost around $500, all told. While this is good news for Apple and AT&T - the unlocking imperative just got quite expensive - it’s bad news for folks who haven’t yet gotten iPhones in their respective countries and/or T-Mobile fans who don’t want to switch to AT&T.


Complete Story »]]> AAPL T John Biggs