Is the Cloud for real?

My family and I, along with many other Mac enthusiasts, spent some time yesterday absorbing all the news from the Apple World Wide Developer's Conference in San Francisco. The most compelling was of course Apple CEO Steve Jobs unveiling the company's new iCloud service.

We've all been trained over the past 20 years to: "Save your stuff!" over and over again so your computer doesn't lose anything. It's going to take a little while to get used to the ability of Apple's apps to automatically save documents for you without having to think about it. And it will be even more amazing to see those same documents magically appear on your iPhone and/or iPad.

Don't plan on Microsoft's Office suite doing any of this any time soon...our office has been working on weaning itself off of Microsoft and moving towards Apple's iWork, not without some bumps in the road. But the iCloud service should make this transition a no brainer.

To be able to create documents, store images and music across your 'i' devices will be a revolutionary step towards freeing us from our desktops. I can't wait.

Virtual worlds boost healthier lifestyles?

I think most of us would consider ourselves big fans of technology. Smart phones, the internet, not to mention the internet on our smart phones, Facebook, Twitter.....the list goes on forever.

And although many people equate heavy gadget use with laziness, developers have tried to help people get in better shape through the use of technology. The Nintendo Wii was an innovative thing that got people moving and off the couch.

Since the Wii, there have been greater developments in activity-related technologies. So far these advancements have had positive impacts on helping people get in better shape and adding more physical activity to daily lives.

Researchers at Indiana University conducted a study to measure weightloss results from going to virtual gyms. The participants were split into two groups: one that physically worked out, and one that virtually worked out. They partnered with Second Life, an online world where people can interact with others. Both groups had specified amounts of time they needed to spend at the gym -- whether online or in real life. Over a 12-week period both groups lost similar amounts of weight, according to the researchers. And what is even more puzzling is that virtual-gym users seemed to have more behavioral changes towards healthier lifestyles.

I don't doubt the results of the study, but I hope that people don't take this news and go overboard on their reliance on technology. While the experience of being at a virtual gym may promote healthier eating habits, the person is also still sitting at a computer. I know very well that lives can become stressful and busy, but it is important to make time for activities. And with all the advancements in technology, people can combine physical activity with the virtual world -- heck, why not go to the virtual gym while up walking or at the real-world gym?

Video Post: Employment benefits include insurance, 401K and...an iPad?

Companies are buying up ipads and other tablets for their employees, or plan to in the near future. However, a recent report shows that those companies don't exactly have a plan for how to use for them. So is this just a case of technology for the sake of technology? Steve discusses this and more in today's Daily Axioms video post.

Intel Steps Up Competition with Mac

Intel announced at this year's Computex trade show their new product that will blur the lines between Windows products and Microsoft products. The new Ultrabook is meant to be a cross between Apple's MacBook Air and iPad.

ASUS's UX21 will be the premier Ultrabook laptop, scheduled for release during the 2011 holiday season. At its thickest point the laptop will measure .67 inches and weighs in at only 2.4 pounds. This first version will run on Intel's Sandy Bridge Core i5 and i7 processors. Two future versions are already in the making as well, and each time will run on newer and faster processors. The second version, planned to hit stores in the first half of 2012, will use Intel's new Ivy Bridge processor.

This new technology is 37% faster than current technology, based on its 22-nm processing that can support 3D transistors. According to an article posted on PCWorld.com, the new chips use half the energy as 2D supporters. Not much information is available for the third wave of Ultrabooks, but it is reported that they will use an even more innovative Intel Core processor, Haswell, and will be released in 2013.

The dwindling market for Netbooks has forced Intel to create an all-new product for the computer world. The Ultrabook will attract consumers that enjoy the convenience of a smaller and lighter laptop, but need the fast responses of high-end technology. As someone who has been considering switching from being a PC to a Mac user, this product may get me to stick with Windows. Finally something light, small, and fast is combined in one Windows product!

Google Wallet: The Next Big Thing?

There once was a time when people scoffed at the idea of purchasing things with the swipe of a tiny, rectangular plastic card. People didn’t have to actually carry any money, there was never any change back, and the process seemed too cryptic to really take hold. It would never work.

Well, we all know that isn’t the case anymore. Visa, Mastercard, American Express, the list goes on and on for that tiny, plastic magic-money-swiping card. And now we have another fight for the next best payment system, lead by none other than Google (Surprised?).

This week Google announced a new mobile payment service, Google Wallet. It is an Android app that “makes your phone your wallet.” It stores virtual versions of your existing plastic cards on your phone. Using Near Field Communication, Google Wallet is able to transfer your card information to the register, when tapped to the appropriate register or payment terminal.

So much critical information stored on your phone sounds a little un-nerving to me, especially when I think of all the “I lost my phone, need your number” events I get on Facebook. However, Google reassures us that it is safer than a traditional wallet because you set up a Google Wallet PIN that must be entered before making a purchase. Osama Bedier, Google's vice president of payments, assures that the mobile payments system is more secure than credit and debit cards with magnetic stripes, and that Google Wallet is designed to enable safe, secure payments.

Google said Thursday that it's launching a trial of its payment system in San Francisco and New York in cooperation with MasterCard and Citibank. It is opening it up to consumers in the summer. It then plans to expand across the country.

Google Wallet isn’t the first to dream up a new payment system that combines phones, retailers and banks, and it won’t be long until other cellphone companies and Visa launch their own competition. But the question remains: will Google Wallet be able to tap out on top?