Swype Ditches Beta Tags, Lands in Google Play | News & Opinion | PCMag.com

Saw this today in the news

After a lengthy beta phase, the Swype virtual keyboard has finally made its way to the Google Play store for Android devices.

I tried Swype a couple of years ago and was very impressed with it.  It was always dead on.  However, I’ve moved on to SwiftKey.  Their prediction capabilities are unparalleled   After a reboot of my Samsung Galaxy Note II, its default keyboard with its “predictions” are there and I always give it a try.  But, I always, and quickly, fire back up SwiftKey – it’s just that much better.

Swype Ditches Beta Tags, Lands in Google Play | News & Opinion | PCMag.com.

Instant On and Where Microsoft Windows Missed The Boat

Well, where they missed at least one boat.

Every morning I grab some on-line device.  My Samsung Galaxy Note II; my HP DV4 Windows 7 Machine, or my wife’s Chromebook. This morning, all three were right in reach, including my Windows computer as I left it on the couch the night before.  (Usually it’s in my office, because it needed charging).  What did I grab?  I went right for the Chromebook.

The Chromebook is like my phone.  It’s instant on – it’s ready to go.  Windows?  Well, Windows 7 is sure better than the past when it comes to booting and resuming, but, it’s just not the same.  I love grabbing a device and being ready to go with what’s on my brain right at that moment; not “kill the excitement” waiting for the Windows World to come to life.

At some point I want to write a manifesto about how Microsoft really got it wrong with Windows 8.  However, here is one main point – Microsoft should have focused more on making Windows 7 better, like making it instant on, as opposed to radically changing it.

Google Reader Going Away and Alternatives

I was surprised by Google’s decision to discontinue Google Reader.  I have used it for a long time and figured it must be the same for many others.  But, Google must have the data to say it’s time for it to go.

This has put me in the hunt for something different.  So, right now, it looks like the alternative is Feedly.  I haven’t dived deep into it yet, so, I appreciated Feedly taking the initiative to woo Reader users like me with this post.  Hope it helps others.

Tips for Google Reader users migrating to feedly | Building Feedly.