Chromebook - Pixel - Can it shake Apple?

I think it will definitely put pressure on Apple about medium / long term future and hopefully make them work harder for next set of innovations on their Mac Book Pro/Air line of laptops. At present personally I only see Google's pride in this release of Pixel. I am sure they will find some niche buyers for sure but it is not going to make any dent in market yet. It may inspire Samsung and other Korean/Japanese manufacturers who are investing their time in Chromebook. Hope to see more practical chromebooks from Samsung in near future..

Now coming back specifically to Chromebook reviews.. I agree that its price to performance ratio is yet to catch up with MBA/MBP. Personally, I would be inspired or let us say willing to entertain the idea of buying Pixel if it's price was in $700-800 range. Though, I have to admit that these do have clean look and great appeal.. kind of inspired by Mac Book Air and may be Legendary Thinkpad..

Regarding other limitations such as non availability of Skype and other applications... I am very hopeful that they will go away in matter of time. I am sure that most of applications will start running in browser (or Cloud) if they already don't. In worse case we have cloud based virtual desktops already there, which will take care of these emergencies and exceptions..

I think that Chromebook could be excellent choice for Enterprise customers. If Google can find some partners who can offer Virtual Desktop (VDI) kind of service on Chromebook and if they fix/add/enhance their VPN/Tunnel connectivity.. this device could be great choice for enterprise customers who don't want to keep any data on local disk but want to give seamless experience and connectivity to their employees. Since this device is built from scratch for this type of activity, it could be great option for such enterprise customers. If google can natively fix and divide personal and enterprise traffic and let personal traffic go to their google drive and enterprise traffic tunneled to enterprise Data Center they can potentially make killing in this segment.

It already comes with three years of 1 TB Google Drive which is ideal for enterprise leasing terms. In-fact Google itself can offer VDI type of service in their own Data Center or create hybrid cloud for enterprise customers they can make significant dent in this market... and this is huge market and generally with higher margin than direct consumer market. If they can do this.. then it can be a big threat to Apple who is making bigger inroads in Enterprise Laptop market right now.. as it is more or less fashion statement to carry Mac in office...

So Google just need to do minor tweaking in their offering and they will be ready for prime time with Pixel and it can become next fashion statement..

I am not really worried about connectivity or even LTE upgrade for Chromebook.. In fact I can't understand.. why anybody even buys 4G/LTE enabled Tablets  or even Chromebooks.. All the folks who will buy these things typically have smartphones and almost all smartphones including iPhone has this feature of hotspot. Essentially, this feature turns your smartphone as wi-fi access point and you can piggy back on Cellular data to provide connectivity to your other devices. Anyhow.. that is not main point.. main point is that we are almost ready for such cloud based devices..

Welcome to another round of upgrades or device refreshes!!!

Google’s Chromebook Pixel is pricey, limited

Intended as a flagship for its Chrome operating system, Google’s new Chromebook Pixel feels too much like overkill.

Chrome OS was conceived of as a simple and inexpensive computing platform.

The software is built around a Web browser and cloudbased applications; everything you do on a Chrome device is done through a browser window.

Previous Chromebooks were basic and inexpensive. They generally lacked the latest processors and didn’t come with any high-end features.

By contrast, offering premium features is the Pixel’s reason for being. It’s purpose is to show that Chrome doesn’t have to be relegated to low-end machines and to inspire Google’s partners to expand the range of their Chromebook offerings. Google representatives said the Pixel is their attempt to create a Chromebook that the boss would be proud to take home. 

In terms of design, the Google folks have achieved their goal. The Pixel is thinner and lighter than Apple’s comparable Mac-Book Pro, but feels just as sturdy. Like the Apple laptops, the Pixel’s case is made from aluminum, not from the plastic found on the less-expensive Chromebooks. The Pixel has sharper edges and is much more rectangular than the MacBook Pros, which gives it a sleek, modern look. 

The Pixel takes another page from Apple by including a high-resolution screen similar to Apple’s “Retina” display. 

In fact, the Pixel’s screen is even higher resolution than those in Apple’s new MacBook Pros. It’s beautiful and bright, making text and pictures super-sharp. 

But Google has also looked beyond Apple for inspiration. The Pixel features a touch screen like those found in many of the latest Windows laptops. 

And it includes a powerful Intel Core i5 processor, which is standard fare on Apple and Windows-based notebooks, but is unique for a Chromebook. 

The processor makes a difference. While the Samsung Chromebook I recently tested felt sluggish, the Pixel is snappy and responsive, instantly resuming from sleep and quickly switching among tabbed Web pages. The Pixel also offers some uncommon features. One model includes an LTE radio, which provides a fast Internet connection when you aren’t near a Wi-Fi hotspot. That model also includes a limited amount of monthly broadband access from Verizon for two years. All models of the Pixel come with 1 terabyte of space on the Google Drive cloud storage service for free for three years. That’s a bargain, because Google typically charges $50 a month for that much space. 

But despite all of its bells and whistles, the Pixel is still a Chromebook and suffers the same limitations as the others. 

Because Chrome is designed to run Web-based apps, the operating system lacks many popular PC applications. You won’t find Skype, for example, or Photoshop or many high-end video games. And if you need to use special software for work or to connect to a device in your house, you can almost be certain that software won’t be available for Chrome. 

That lack of applications means you simply can’t do as much with a Chromebook as you can with a Mac or Windows PC. If you’re spending only $250 for a basic Chromebook, that shortcoming is acceptable. 

But it’s not when you’re spending $1,300, which is the starting price of the Pixel. For that money, you can get a very nice Windows machine or Apple’s MacBook Air. 

And some of the Pixel’s embellishments that help to drive up its price seem unnecessary. The touch screen in particular seems to have little use. 

Google hasn’t redesigned Chrome’s interface to take advantage of the touch screen. And unlike some of the new Windows notebooks, the Pixel’s screen doesn’t detach or fold back on itself, so you can’t use the device like a tablet. 

While the screen is wonderful, it has one huge drawback: it drains the device’s battery. Google says users should see up to five hours of battery life from the Pixel. That’s already less than you’d get on many of the latest Mac or Windows laptops. But in my testing, the battery life wasn’t even as good as advertised; I got around 4  1 ⁄ 2 hours of use at best. So while I understand Google’s impulse and appreciate the Pixel’s design and display, I’m not convinced that anyone yet needs a premium Chromebook. 

Contact Troy Wolverton at 408-840-4285 or twolverton@mercurynews. 

com. Follow him at www.mercurynews.com/troywolverton or Twitter. com/troywolv. 

We definitely need another really viable Mobile OS

even though it is late entrant to market.. I am sure it will perform great.. Pie is big enough and there will be tons of enthusiasts who would like to use Firefox phones..

Looking forward to this new Firefox OS as good alternative to iOS and Android.. I hope they will be able to package it in the middle taking ease of use from iOS and openness and flexibility from Android OS.

After really bad performance from MS and other mobile phone developers, I hope that this will emerge as really nice alternative to Android and iOS.

Mozilla to release Firefox phones

By Peter Svensson

Associated Press

BARCELONA, Spain — Mozilla, the nonprofit foundation behind the Firefox Web browser, is getting into phones. But it’s not stopping at Web browsers — it’s launching an entire phone operating system.

The Mountain View foundation said Sunday that phones running Firefox OS will appear this summer, starting in Brazil, Colombia, Hungary, Mexico, Montenegro, Poland, Serbia, Spain and Venezuela. The Firefox OS will land in a crowded environment, where many small operating systems are trying to become the “third ecosystem,” alongside Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android. Together, those two account for 91 percent of smartphone sales, according to research firm IDC.Mozilla Foundation has an ally in phone companies, who are interested in seeing an alternative to Apple and Google, particularly one coming from a nonprofit foundation. Eighteen phone companies around the world have committed to supporting Firefox phones, Mozilla said. They include Sprint Nextel in the U.S., Telecom Italia, America Movil of Mexico and Deutsche Telekom of Germany. DT is the parent of T-Mobile USA, but plans to sell Firefox phones first in Poland. Sprint didn’t say when it would release a Firefox phone in the U.S.

Phone makers that plan to make Firefox phones include Huawei and ZTE of China and LG of Korea. All the phones will run on chips supplied by San Diegobased Qualcomm.

Can this save Yahoo? NO TELECOMMUTING!!

This call by Yahoo CEO Marissa started fierce discussions on merits of WF-Office or WF-Home.. In my view, it depends... It depends on the group.. it depends on the phase of work you are in.. it depends on your personal condition.. it shouldn't be either one way or highway.. We are all adults and should be capable to decide about it..

Though, I also agree that in general, working in the office is better for collaborative type of work. If there is collaboration needed, then there is no way you can replace face to face discussions or meetings with any kind of tool.

At the same time, depending on phase of work, you may need some un-interrupted space to work and focus.. There is tons of value in that as well.. Depending on your personality and kind of work you are doing, you may simply produce thousand times better quality work when you are left alone.

Finally, flexibility.. that is key issue.. Telecommuting is important tool which allows you to be flexible and helps you balance personal and professional life. In case you have to pick up or drop your kid and it is 15 min job from your home, but if you have to come all the way from work and spend hours in traffic to do it.. then you are better off with WFH. That is one corner case.. but then there are multiple corner cases like this..

Overall, I am in favor of working in the office even though it does creates problems like traffic and lost commute time etc.. In offices, you meet more people face to face and definitely will have better ideas or refinement in your own ideas by simple act of discussing it casually.. Our current economy is all about intellectually brilliant ideas.. and in that case, it is always One + One is Eleven.. mostly.. and this mostly makes me say that there has to be flexibility..

Finally, I am also big fan for great and free lunch at cafeterias.. Honestly.. think about it.. how much it could cost.. may be $10 or $20 for best of best meal served there.. How much is hourly rate in technology.. anything between 50-100 or even more.. If this great lunch saves you even 30 minutes (instead of going out for lunch) this is more than break even... I can't understand why some corporations can't figure this simple math..

Lastly (Finally.. Finally), I am dead against these shut downs or forced vacations.. to save some few penny.. bloody hell.. if you want to save money then close company for entire money.. won't it be better.. in that case you will save all the money on salary and office space and utilities.. and what not.. Amount of productivity loss due to forced shut downs actually sends your company even closer to death spiral..


Cheers!!! enjoy this article..

NO TELECOMMUTING

Yahoo CEO calls workers back to office

Order stirs an impassioned debate over a long-standing perk in valley

By Brandon Bailey

bbailey@mercurynews.com 

Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer’s decision to order telecommuting employees back to the office has sparked a passionate debate over the increasingly common practice of working from home.

Criticism from some workers, especially working parents, portrayed Mayer as abandoning a modern, enlightened approach that helps employees juggle conflicting demands.

Supporters said she may have reason to shake things up at the once-vaunted Internet company, which earned a reputation in recent years for falling behind in both innovation and competition.

The firestorm ignited Friday when Yahoo’s human resources chief sent a memo announcing that all employees will be asked to work in company offices starting in June. The memo quickly leaked to a prominent tech news blog, All Things D. 

It’s an issue that resonates sharply in Silicon Valley, where companies like Google, Cisco and others make Web-based software, videoconferencing systems and other high-tech tools that can help workers be productive at home. Yet some of Yahoo’s biggest competitors, including Google and Facebook, have spent heavily to design work spaces that encourage in-person collaboration, while providing free meals and other amenities that make it easier for employees to spend long hours at the office. 

‘Time together’ 

When people ask how many Google employees telecommute, Chief Financial Officer Patrick Pichette told an Australian tech audience last week, he replies, “As few as possible.” Pichette explained, according to an account in the Sydney Morning Herald, that Google wants workers to talk informally over meals or coffee. “There is something magical about spending the time together, about noodling on ideas, about asking at the computer, ‘What do you think of this?’ ” Google and Facebook allow employees to work from home, relying on the judgment of employees and their managers, according to sources at both companies, which declined to comment on Yahoo’s policies. But both companies have said they see a benefit in the creative sparks that come with random meetings in corridors or cafeterias. When Facebook moved into the former headquarters of Sun Microsystems, it remodeled the buildings to create open clusters of desks, as well as “living spaces” with couches and kitchen equipment, where workers can talk shop and trade ideas. Google has similar features in its buildings. And both Facebook and Google are famous for offering all kinds of free treats, from gourmet meals to massages and yoga sessions, for workers on their respective campuses. 

Yahoo appears to be seeking the same kind of synergy. “We need to be working side by side,” Yahoo human resources chief Jackie Reses wrote in her memo last week. 

Reses cited the importance of “decisions and insights” that can arise from impromptu meetings. But in what some view as an indication that Yahoo’s new boss isn’t satisfied with telecommuters’ performance, Reses added that “speed and quality are often sacrificed when we work from home.” 

A Yahoo spokeswoman declined to comment, so it’s unclear how many workers will be affected, but the company has not disputed the memo’s authenticity. 

Mayer, a former Google executive, has previously taken steps to improve work conditions at Yahoo, giving employees new smartphones and providing free meals, among other amenities. But critics said the Reses memo seemed hamhanded and oppressive. 

“A desperate move by a desperate company that has trouble trusting their employees,” Stewart Bauman, who works in tech but not at Yahoo, wrote in a post on the Mercury News Facebook page. 

Others said they saw hypocrisy by Mayer, who is both a new mother and a wealthy CEO — and who used her own funds to install a nursery next to her office, according to All Things D, which noted that other employees don’t have that option. 

Experts warned the memo could backfire. “The question is whether this move will result in an exodus among the company’s top talent,” John Challenger, CEO of the outplacement firm Challenger Gray & Christmas, said in an email noting that “many Silicon Valley tech firms are battling each other to attract and retain the best talent.” 

A matter of skill level 

Surveys show telecommuting is increasing across the United States and elsewhere. In a paper published last week, Stanford economics professor Nicholas Bloom described a recent nine-month study of a Chinese online travel firm, CTrip, which found call-center employees were more productive and performed at a higher level when allowed to work from home. But Bloom drew a distinction between call-center workers and higher-skilled professionals, such as executives or software developers. He said the latter can benefit from the flexibility of working at home but also from collaboration in the office. 

“It’s typical for high-end employees to work from home one or two days a week,” he said. “They get time away to think and time to be creative and to have a work-life balance. But it’s not helpful to have them permanently absent from the workplace.” 

Contact Brandon Bailey at 408-920-5022; follow him at Twitter.com/ BrandonBailey. 

“The question is whether this move will result in an exodus among the company’s top talent.” 

— John Challenger, CEO, Challenger Gray & Christmas 

Story of Best Home Entertainment System and Bad CBS!!!

In general, I am happy with Dish's DVR. Even though with older models, May be, I am used to it.. Even though with older models, I am fairly happy. This new system seems to be even better than the current model I have...

Though there may be some issues with them on pricing and other customer support side.. but still much better experience than many other cable service providers..

Best part of Dish is that they keep innovating and they try to use technology for better user experience of their customers. I enjoy their sling adapter based remote viewing any how.. This Auto Advertisement skipping feature is another example.. which CBS is really offended about. I am sure CBS executives will soon learn their lessons and won't be able to force their will on customers. I love CBS shows, but at the same time, they need to understand, unless they make their content so compelling that I am forced to watch moment it is broadcast-ed.. I should have free choice of skipping or playing their content which ever way I like..

If CBS things, that their shows are so great.. then may be they should ask Dish and all other service providers to some how enhance their DVR to stop recording CBS shows.. They know very well what a backlash they will get from not only Service providers but also from Customers.. Basically, there is no way they can enforce their will on the content which is broadcast-ed and more or less becomes my property. Well at least in terms of ways of viewing it.. People will find other easier ways to skip their commercials. Which could be even more brutal for CBS..

I any how skip all the advertisements when watching my recorded shows. What is wrong with Auto Skipper? If Dish won't do it, some one else will come with mechanism or process to put it in place. In any case, their are very few years left to watching our shows we watch today. CBS should be thankful to Dish to extend that period by making life of their customers better, who also happen to be CBS customers..

Let us see.. where this all goes.. Nevertheless, I am looking for upgrade from Dish soon..

Dish’s Hopper with Sling steals the show

Its commerical-jumping DVR went from ‘Best of CES’ toamess for CBS

As always, there were several stunning, very large TVs with five figure prices, but I always try and focus my efforts on finding things that the average consumer can afford and enjoy.

By far the biggest story of the show this year also involves one of the neatest products. Dish unveiled their Hopper with Sling, a whole-house DVR system that allows you to view your DVR recordings and live TV on your mobile device from anywhere with an Internet connection. It also features PrimeTime Anytime, to simultaneously record all the PrimeTime programming on all the major networks, AutoHop, which automatically skips commercials, TruVolume to keep volume from blasting during commercials, a Dish Explorer app that links your iPad to the Hopper, and a host of other features that make it the industry’s class-leading DVR. You can see it at www.dish.com.

The editors of huge technology website CNet were as impressed as I was and nominated the Dish Hopper with Sling as a “Best of CES” candidate. The nomination is an award in and of itself and Dish personnel were on their way to accept it when executives at CNet’s corporate owner, CBS, told CNet’s editors to disqualify Dish Hopper with Sling and give the award to someone else. CBS does not approve of the commercial-skipping feature and is involved in litigation to ban it.

CNet protested in the name of editorial and journalistic independence, but ultimately backed down and issued a statement on its website. Resignations from CNet occurred as a result of CBS’ heavy-handedness and it was later leaked out and confirmed that the Dish Hopper with Sling was not only a “Best of CES” candidate, it had actually won the “Best of Show” award as the best product introduced at CES this year. The end result has been a lot of good publicity for Dish, a perceived loss of credibility for CNet through no fault of its own, and a lot of bad publicity for CBS as it has endured universal journalistic scorn from many news outlets. What I find most frustrating is the media companies fight new technology to keep it from being introduced and when they eventually lose the fight they reap immense profits from it afterward. They fought the home VCR all the way to the Supreme Court and after they lost they made billions selling home movies on VHS and later on DVD. They fought and sued over online music until finally making billions from the iTunes music store and other downloading services.

They don’t always lose, though they usually do. If you have ever wondered why it has become so hard to record programming and store the recordings on tape or disc you can thank the media companies. It would be child’s play to design satellite and cable boxes with FireWire connections to Blu-ray recorders so subscribers could easily save their full-quality recordings on disc. This is the standard in many parts of the world such as Japan, where Blu-ray recording is ubiquitous. This standard was originally proposed for North America as well but the media companies would not allow it.

Next week I will have more neat stuff from the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show! Contact Don Lindich at www.soundadviceblog. com and use the “submit question” link on that site.

SOUND ADVICE

DON LINDICH

Isn't it Blind Development?

After having experienced somewhat similar pollution in Delhi during my visit last year on thanks-giving time.. I can totally empathize with Beijing residents. Even though it was probably ten times less than what is being reported in Beijing now a days..

I totally call it blind development.. There is no point in developing that fast when you make day to day life of your own citizens under such a enormous health risk. What is this development for? to make quality of life better.. isn't it?? What is the point of having all the modern amenities if you can' live or breath to enjoy them..

There is no easy solution to this problem.. As this article from CNN mentions.. Los Angels had gone thru it starting in 1950s.. however, I am sure, if California hadn't fixed it, our Hollywood would have moved to some other state or may be some other country by now..

not only that, it is question of how we approach and handle such situation.  We are mostly blind, if this could be fixed any time soon by Chinese government... I remember that they have instilled multiple temporary measures during Beijing Olympics. Even then there were multiple complaints from Athletes about air quality. At that time I used to think that these Athletes are coming up with excuses.. however.. it seems that there were genuine concerns.. and may be they were temporarily fixed or tried to be fixed but in reality they weren't fixed...

Hope that Chinese government will come up some concrete and long term plan to take care of such situation rather than trying to cover it up or simply restoring to temporary measures..

http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/14/world/asia/china-smog-blanket/index.html

LinkedIn membership surpasses 200 million

This number may seem really small as compared to Billion+ of FB.. but there is one very clear difference.. Business Model.. and consequently revenue generation as well.

LinkedIn is

• default site for professional networking
• default site for head hunters who pay small monthly subscription fees to get access to so called premium features
• default site for job seekers who are more or less willing to pay small amount as monthly subscription for premium services offered by linkedIn

Further..

• There are lot of amazing communities around variety of professions
• Mobile app works like charm.. in-fact I feel it is somewhat better than to go thru their full desktop/browser based portal
• Though I do like their summary of professional news on their portal. Which obviously is way to the mark based on your professional career as they have pretty good profile of yours.. 

There is no overhead of managing huge amount of image or videos or millions and billions of updates/likes as FB has to handle.. Which should result in really low cost of ownership or operations for linkedin as compared to FaceBook..

I think from stock performance basis I would be much more longer on LinkedIn as compared to FB. Though as of now I don't own either of them nor I have any plans in near future...


Let me know your thoughts..

LinkedIn membership surpasses 200 million

By Jeremy C. Owens

jowens@mercurynews.com 

MOUNTAIN VIEW — Professional networking service LinkedIn announced Wednesday that its membership rolls now surpass 200 million people, as international expansion has helped the company double its user base in less than two years. The new tally is “an important and exciting milestone for the company,” Deep Nishar, senior vice president for products and user experience at LinkedIn, wrote in a blog post.

“This milestone is more than just a metric — it’s a reminder of the global footprint and the scale of impact our network has each day,” Nishar wrote.

LinkedIn passed 100 million users in March 2011, and has focused on other countries to grow that number, adding 13 new languages in the interim. Now offering its service in 19 different languages, LinkedIn says that more than 64 percent of its users live outside the United States.

India has proved to be the best source for growth, as the country’s 18 million LinkedIn user base ranks second behind the 74 million in the United States, the Mountain View company said Wednesday.

Turkey and Colombia have provided the fastest year-over-year growth for membership, while China and Brazil have experienced the greatest rise in mobile usage of the social network, LinkedIn reported.

The total members LinkedIn claims seems to rank it fourth among U.S.based social networks, behind Silicon Valley cohorts Facebook and Twitter. Comparisons are not simple because the sites use different standards and can release information sparingly, but Facebook is known to have more than a billion users, making it the largest social network.

Happy New 2013!!

Wish you all a very Happy New Year!!!

Hope this 2013 brings peace, joy and prosperity to everyone!!

Starting this year with great news clip from my beloved California..

http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_22300614/rains-promise-seen-deep-sierra-snow-pack

California was suffering from drought for last 3-4 years which was causing restricted water supply to farms and orchards. However, this year started with great bang and above average rainfall in all areas. More importantly, snow storms in Sierra caused super great snow level which are already enough to support up to 40% of California's water supply. This is just beginning of wet season. Hope that by the end of season we will have more than enough rain/snow to not only take care of this season, but also build some extra reserves for future seasons..

This should definitely help spur local economy come back to its feet even faster. We in tech world are doing best to grow California economy any how.. Little support from mother nature is always more than welcome!!!

Lastly, you should expect many more skiing pictures from us ;-)

Once again a very Happy New Year to everyone!!!

SNOW PILES UP

Winter’s wet start bodes well for season

By Lisa M. Krieger

lkrieger@mercurynews.com 

December’s storms have boosted the spirits of California’s water watchers, with the season’s first Sierra Nevada water survey revealing a snowpack deeper and wetter than normal.

The ritual trek along Highway 50 near Lake Tahoe to survey the state’s water outlook revealed more than four feet of soggy snow, with moisture 34 percent above average.

That compares with last year’s depth of 0.14 inches — scarcely more than a few scattered patches.

“We are doing great — off to an excellent start,” said Ted Thomas of the state’s Department of Water Resources. Last year was dry, except for late spring showers.

---

RICH PEDRONCELLI/ASSOCIATED PRESS

Frank Gehrke, chief of snow surveys for the Department of Water Resources, gets up after tumbling in the snow Wednesday.

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The crucial reading means the state will be able to deliver at least 40 percent of the supply requested by state water project members this year — and it expects to give more, as — and if — winter storms accrue. 

The measurements are particularly important because California is entering a fourth year of drought. 

The gusting Pacific storms nudged San Jose’s cumulative seasonal rainfall to 7.19 inches, a big splash beyond last year’s 1.55-inch total. So far, Concord has had 9.64 inches; Livermore, 8.29 inches, and Oakland, 10.63 inches. This time last year, none of those cities had more than two inches. 

The next week or two are expected to be dry, with temperatures ranging from the low 30s to low 60s, said Austin Cross of the National Weather Service in Monterey. He couldn’t predict whether dry skies will persist through January. 

That’s no cause for concern — it fits a pattern of a midwinter dry spells alternating with rains, Cross said. Fresno farmers rejoiced while keeping a close eye on thermometers. On Wednesday night, to prevent freezing delicate oranges, huge fans blew air through the orchards and warm groundwater poured through irrigation channels. 

“This is fantastic news,” said Fresno County Farm Bureau director Ryan Jacobsen, who views the snowy Sierra from his office. “The San Joaquin Valley is considered a desert. We would not be in existence if not for the snowpack above us.” 

Welcome signs of winter are everywhere in the Bay Area. White-blossomed milkmaids and manzanita shrubs are blooming along Mount Diablo’s Mitchell Canyon and Donner Canyon areas. And three beloved waterfalls are cascading down the flanks on the Clayton side of the mountain, visible to hikers on the Falls Trail, said naturalist Leslie Contreras. 

Wednesday’s clear winter skies gave Diablo’s visitors views all the way to Mount Shasta, Mount Lassen, the Sierra and the Farallon Islands. 

Fungus fans are thrilled by the appearance of mushrooms, delicious when they’re not killing you. Our coastal mountains are home to more than 1,000 species, which start bursting through the soil two to three weeks after the first rains. 

“Rains are heaven sent,” said mycologist Phil Carpenter, “prime minister” of the Fungus Federation of Santa Cruz, who is busy preparing for the annual Jan. 11-13 Fungus Fair. “This is our time to glory.” 

Other harbingers of the season, banana slugs, have emerged from their summer hiding spots — finally able to travel along moist routes. 

Chinook salmon are swimming up Mount Tamalpais’ Marsh Creek for the first time in 60 years, weary after spawning and a long journey from the ocean. 

“December was very kind and generous to California’s rivers and streams,” said Steve Rothert, California director American Rivers. 

Early rains are also important for steelhead trout, said environmentalist Matt Stoeker, who monitors the Peninsula’s San Francisquito Creek. “Having a heavy flow in December means fish are able to get out of the Bay and upstream to spawn.” 

Migratory birds are arriving in the Bay, a critical stop along the Pacific Flyway. 

Stunning white snow geese, visiting from the Arctic, were in a flock of Canada geese at the Sunnyvale Baylands Park. Other avian winter visitors include red-breasted nuthatch near Mount Madonna and pine siskins feeding on redwood cones atop tall trees along Highway 152. In the Central Valley, vast flocks of sandhill cranes and tundra swans have gathered. 

But water-lovers are trying to temper their enthusiasm in a still-young winter. 

“We still have a lot of season left to go,” said Jacobsen. “We’re really encouraged, but the rains have to continue for it to be a true success.” Contact Lisa M. Krieger at 650-492-4098. 

We don't need tears Mr. Obama

Buck stops at you Mr. President..

As our leader and President of world's most powerful nation I expect you to act.. instead wiping tears.. everyone is sad here.. We understand that human being inside you is sad.. but as President.. we expect actions.. and concrete actions.. not just tears or simple talk..

First desired action is really simple and everyone knows about it. It is time to amend second amendment... At least contain it.. I know it is tall order but is doable.. At least we need to put some restrictions in place..

In case, we can't amend this second amendment.. then I would expect you to create deterrent for such folks. Start with Armed Policeman in the school campus. So this law enforcement official can contain such incidences.. I know it will be a hell a lot boring job for this official.. but it is not that it can't be done..

For selection of such personnel, I am totally fine with complete profiling.. As such, we can't say anything about human brain.. but for such job which involves protecting young and innocent children, I would like all the available scientific resources to be applied to profile so that these officials shouldn't become insane and become attacker themselves.

If we can't even do this due to our frail budgetary situation and fiscal cliff type of challenges.. Then, please make voucher system as a default option so that I can use my own tax dollars to educate my kids in private schools of my choice.. which hopefully may be safer or I can make them safer without have to deal with red tape.. worse come worse.. if something happens there.. I will not have regret or you to blame to..

I am sure you may also have many good ideas.. However, here key is execution of these ideas.. These type of events are becoming almost quarterly news.. It does reflect on our society and values in general. We also need to ponder and think about this aspect.. what is happening to our values and why there is such a decline..We are suppose to make progress as time goes by.. isn't it.. Is there anything missing in our education system or some other media or news organization which is causing significant increase in such heinous events..

I don't know if it is just me or others are also noticing.. I some how feel that there is significant increase in number of news / reports on extreme religious, racism, nationalism and all sorts of profiling.. I think here media needs to be more cautious and responsible.. instead of providing all kinds of data and news on such they can easily provide news or data to unite all of us.. Why can't all the news be simply based on the fact that we all belong to human race.. which needs to evolve and become better and become more and more unified rather than get divided on petty issues like small groups.. Don't know if I am making any sense or not.. but somehow I feel that we as human need to unite and look for one simple common factor that everyone belongs to human race..

http://www.mercurynews.com/nation-world/ci_22193995/tearful-obama-calls-meaningful-action-after-connecticut-shooting

Is it really a Triumphant Return or Forced Return?

Before I begin on my main topic.. I am really happy that Google map is back. I hope Apple will update iOS so that we can use Google map as default map on iPhone. I was/am totally fine with Apple maps in US. However, during my India trip, I did felt pain. As most of you know, I still enjoy and love driving in India (it is just much more thrilling to drive in India..).. So during my last trip I borrowed my Sister-in-law's car and was on my own. As I was in Delhi / Noida after a while, I did needed navigation system. Asking "paan wala" was beneath my reputation.. I had my International roaming data plan and was confident with iPhone.. However, Apple maps royally screwed me over there.. It simply didn't worked. I could only get some overview out of it but no navigation or real good help.. Chrome/Google maps on safari were mostly non functional.. So bottom line.. I am really happy to have it back..

Having said that.. I still feel that it was Apple map which forced Google to update their mapping feature.. otherwise there was no way they were going to add turn-by-turn navigation. It was literally competing with their Android's base feature. Whatever we say about Apple maps.. it did forced them to update and helped us all by making Google Maps on iOS much better then what it used to be. Moreover, in US, I really like Apple maps.. it is totally fine with me while driving... I tested it and liked much better..

It will be good lift for Google. still I feel that we will see its usage on iPhone much less than before. While you are browsing or searching in safari and you get some address.. if you click on that address it is going to open native Apple maps only.. unless you copy that address or go back to Google maps application and search it again there.. you are not going to get Google maps.. same is true with address book.. if you click on saved address it will still open Apple maps.. Unless.. Apple makes some setting updates and integrates with Google maps as it has integrated with Facebook and Twitter.. Let us see..

Bottom line.. if Google had played nicely.. we would still have them as native mapping service in iPhone. At least I think so..

TRIUMPHANT RETURN

Google Maps app back on iPhone

Service provides lift for Apple, big gain for search giant

By Brandon Bailey

bbailey@mercurynews.com 

Eager iPhone owners rushed to download Google’s new Maps app, driving it to the top of the most-popular list in the iTunes store Thursday and marking a triumphant return for one of Apple’s biggest rivals. The new app, which became available in the iTunes store Wednesday night, may be a short-term boon for Apple if its release helps soothe the many complaints that Apple has heard from iPhone users over the last six months — ever since Apple replaced an earlier Google Maps application with Apple’s own flawed mapping service on the most recent version of its signature smartphone.

But analysts said the upgraded Maps app is also a powerful tool for Google, as the Mountain View Internet giant seeks to cultivate a profitable relationship with millions of smartphone owners who have chosen Apple’s iPhone over competing devices that run on Google’s Android operating software. “Thank you, Google!” read the first of more than 12,000 mostly favorable reviews that iPhone users posted after downloading the new app Thursday. 

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ASSOCIATED PRESS

The new Google Maps app, which became available as a download Wednesday, is shown on an iPad.

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Even so, Cupertino-based Apple will undoubtedly keep working to improve its own mapping technology as it battles Google for supremacy in the mobile computing market. More than half of all smartphones used in the United States are Android devices, while slightly more than a third are iPhones, according to the research firm comScore. 

Analysts say location based services are increasingly important for both tech giants, as more people access the Internet on mobile devices. But Apple’s homegrown maps service was widely criticized for offering buggy responses and inaccurate information, in contrast with the mapping technology that Google has developed and refined over more than a decade. 

“If anything, this puts more pressure on Apple to sort out their own maps,” said Carolina Milanesi, a consumer technology analyst with Gartner. “Maps are a key part of the future of mobility. They can’t just throw in the towel now.” 

Google doesn’t charge consumers to use its Maps app. But Milanesi said data from the app provides Google with valuable insights into its users’ interests and travels. It also could help Google introduce them to other services and ultimately show them paid advertising. 

Unlike Google’s old Maps app for iPhones, the new version invites users to log in with their Google Gmail account, which would help Google exchange more information with them. While the login is optional, Milanesi said she expects many people will use it. 

Google also announced it will release a software development kit that independent app builders can use to incorporate Google’s mapping technology into other mobile services. 

Google’s old mapping service was extremely popular with independent developers who build apps for the iPhone and iPad, said Nolan Wright, co-founder of Appcelerator, a Mountain View firm that makes software used by app builders. The IDC research firm reported over the summer that 80 percent of all mobile software applications have features that are keyed to the user’s location. 

Wright cautioned that “it remains to be seen” whether developers will embrace the new Google app for Apple’s IS platform. Apple’s own maps are still the default service on iPhones and iPads, which means users must take the extra step of downloading Google Maps if they want to use it. Wright said some developers may be cautious about using Google’s maps until they see how many people use it. 

Apple also has an advantage over Google because Apple’s maps are embedded into Apple’s operating system, which means other Apple services such as Siri will use Apple maps by default, said Charles Golvin, a mobile-technology expert at Forrester. 

Golvin said that means Google’s new app still won’t provide “as fluid an experience” when compared with the Apple service, or even the old Google app, which was the default service on iPhones until it was replaced. On the other hand, Google’s new app includes popular features, such as turn-by-turn directions, that Google has long offered on Android phones but were not part of Google’s old app for iPhones. 

Apple has apologized for the flaws in its maps and replaced an executive who oversaw the project. But Golvin said “the maps problem continues to be a black eye for Apple. It remains to be seen whether Apple’s customers will return to using Apple’s maps once they address all the problems there.” 

Investors seemed to agree with Golvin’s assessment that the new iPhone app is “a win for Google.” Google’s stock rose $5.14, or 0.7 percent, to close at $702.70 Thursday. Apple’s stock fell $9.31, or 1.7 percent, to close at $529.69. 

Contact Brandon Bailey at 408-920-5022; follow him at Twitter.com/ BrandonBailey. 

Really.. $50 for cup of Elephant's poop!!!

I am sure if $50 is small change for you.. then you would definitely like great cup of Bistro.. buttttt.... really.. how can anyone drink something when they know for sure that it is coming out and is processed by Elephant's stomach and is hand picked from its shit..

However noble the purpose may be.. saving elephants from extinction.. or whatever.. I would rather donate money for their up keeping rather than drinking something coming out from their shit..

Now.. there could be lot of scientific study behind these exotic poopy coffees.. I am sure they might be better than chemically processed for the taste enhancement.. however, few concerns.. Feeding coffee beans to elephant is said to be safe and tested by zoologists.. however, it is not natural food for elephants and we don't know for sure how it is going to impact them in long term. I hope that it doesn't become that popular that economics of this exotic poop coffee makes every elephant on planet earth a coffee machine.. As long as their is small set of elephants working on this coffee gig I am fine.. but otherwise I will be really concerned about elephants in general..

Enjoy your morning Coffee!!!

PACHYDERM BARISTAS

From ‘ew’ to pricey brew

Business booms when 20 elephants do their business in Thailand

By Jocelyn Gecker

Associated Press

GOLDEN TRIANGLE, Thailand — In the lush hills of northern Thailand, a herd of 20 elephants is excreting some of the world’s most expensive coffee.

Trumpeted as earthy in flavor and smooth on the palate, the exotic new brew is made from beans eaten by Thai elephants and plucked a day later from their dung. A gut reaction inside the elephant creates what its founder calls the coffee’s unique taste.

Stomach turning or oddly alluring, this is not just one of the world’s most unusual specialty coffees. At $500 a pound, it’s also among the world’s priciest.

For now, only the wealthy or well-traveled have access to the cuppa, which is called Black Ivory Coffee. It was launched last month at a few luxury hotels in remote corners of the world — first in northern Thailand, then the Maldives and now Abu Dhabi — with the price tag of about $50 a serving.

The Associated Press traveled to the coffee’s production site in the Golden Triangle, an area historically known for producing drugs more potent than coffee, to see the jumbo baristas at work. And to sip the finished product from a dainty demitasse.

In the misty mountains where Thailand meets Laos and Myanmar, the coffee’s creator cites biology and scientific research to answer the basic question: Why elephants?

“When an elephant eats coffee, its stomach acid breaks down the protein found in coffee, which is a key factor in bitterness,” said Blake Dinkin, who has spent $300,000 developing the coffee. “You end up with a cup that’s very smooth without the bitterness of regular coffee.” 

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APICHART WEERAWONG/ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOS

Blake Dinkin, founder of Black Ivory Coffee, holds a basket of coffee beans that will be mixed with other fruits and fed to elephants at camp for the animals in Chiang Mai province, northern Thailand.

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Pimnipa Petkla, 39, sifts through elephant dung for coffee beans. A gut reaction inside the elephant creates what is called the coffee’s unique taste. It’s also got a one-of-a-kind cost: $50 a serving.

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The result is similar to civet coffee, or kopi luwak, another exorbitantly expensive variety extracted from the excrement of the weasel-like civet. But the elephants’ massive stomach provides a bonus. 

Think of the elephant as the animal kingdom’s equivalent of a slow cooker. It takes 15 to 30 hours to digest the beans, which stew together with bananas, sugar cane and other ingredients in the elephant’s vegetarian diet to infuse unique earthy and fruity flavors, said the 42-year-old Canadian, who has a background in civet coffee. 

“My theory is that a natural fermentation process takes place in the elephant’s gut,” said Dinkin. “That fermentation imparts flavors you wouldn’t get from other coffees.” 

At the jungle retreat that is home to the herd, conservationists were initially skeptical about the idea. 

“My initial thought was about caffeine — won’t the elephants get wired on it or addicted to coffee?” said John Roberts, director of elephants at the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation, a refuge for rescued elephants. It now earns 8 percent of the coffee’s total sales, which go toward the herd’s health care. “As far as we can tell there is definitely no harm to the elephants.” 

Before presenting his proposal to the foundation, Dinkin said he worked with a Canadian-based veterinarian that ran blood tests on zoo elephants showing they don’t absorb any caffeine from eating raw coffee cherries. 

“I thought it was well worth a try because we’re looking for anything that can help elephants to make a living,” said Roberts, who estimates the cost of keeping each elephant is about $1,000 a month. 

As for the coffee’s inflated price, Dinkin half-joked that elephants are highly inefficient workers. It takes 72 pounds of raw coffee cherries to produce 2 pounds of Black Ivory coffee. The majority of beans get chewed up, broken or lost in tall grass after being excreted. 

And, his artisanal process is labor-intensive. He uses pure Arabica beans hand-picked by hilltribe women from a small mountain estate. Once the elephants do their business, the wives of elephant mahouts collect the dung, break it open and pick out the coffee. After a thorough washing, the coffee cherries are processed to extract the beans, which are then brought to a gourmet roaster in Bangkok. 

Inevitably, the elephant coffee has become the butt of jokes. Dinkin shared his favorites: Crap-accino. Good to the last dropping. Elephant poop coffee. 

As far away as Hollywood, even Jay Leno has taken cracks. 

“Here’s my question,” Leno quipped recently. “Who is the first person that saw a bunch of coffee beans and a pile of elephant dung and said, ‘You know, if I ground those up and drank it, I’ll bet that would be delicious.’?” 

Jokes aside, people are drinking it. Black Ivory’s maiden batch of 150 pounds has sold out. Dinkin hopes to crank out six times that amount in 2013, catering to customers he sees as relatively affluent, open-minded and adventurous with a desire to tell a good story. 

For now, the only places to get it are a few Anantara luxury resorts, including one at the Golden Triangle beside the elephant foundation. 

At sunset one recent evening in the hotel’s hilltop bar, an American couple sampled the brew. They said it surpassed their expectations. 

“I thought it would be repulsive,” said Ryan Nelson, 31, of Tampa, Fla. “But I loved it. It was something different. There’s definitely something wild about it that I can’t put a name on.”

His wife Asleigh, a biologist and coffee lover, called it a “fantastic product for an eco-conscious consumer,” since the coffee helps fund elephant conservation. 

But how does it taste? 

“Very interesting,” she said, choosing her words carefully. “Very novel.” “I don’t think I could afford it every day on my zookeeper’s salary,” she said. “But I’m certainly enjoying it sitting here overlooking the elephants, on vacation.”