Category: Technology

Kenny Sahr

Have you ever considered using your Google Drive account to store and play music? Google Drive surprised me when I decided to upload my music collection to the cloud.

After uploading all my photos and documents, I still had over 90GB to spare (thanks to the 100GB bonus that came with my new Chromebook). Then it hit me – why not upload my music video clip and favorite songs collection to Google Drive?!

I have a collection of just over 200 music videos that I have burned onto a few DVDs. Why not watch them on YouTube, you ask? Mine are in better quality and by being organized, I’m just a click away from watching Paul Simon’s You Can Call Me Al video. Otherwise, I would waste too much time on YouTube’s search results page.

Google Drive automatically streams videos! It handles almost every format with ease – mp4, mpeg1, mpeg2, vob (raw dvd files), flv (Flash video). The only file extension Google Drive won’t play is .ts – which is another dvd format and I’m sure it’s just a matter of time before my .ts files play as well.

Streaming Music on Google Drive

In addition to my digital clip collection, I have a few hundred “desert island songs” that I’ve put together over the past 15 years from my cd collection. Yes, some people still buy and listen to real cds. Besides the usual classic rock and jazz, it is comprised of two iTunes compilations, a bunch of radio shows (detective TV and movie themes), my favorite James Bond songs (Moonraker, You Only Live Twice and Diamonds Are Forever) and other musical gems.

Google Drive can’t play wav or mp3 files on its own. Just download the free Music Player and you’re good to go. Music Player works with mp3, wav, aac, ogg, webm and supports playlists. It even plays hi-res 24bit/96kHz wav files – something that even my Samsung 5.1 surround sound stereo can’t do. You haven’t lived until you’ve heard the theme song of the 1985 Chevy Chase movie Fletch in 24 bit!

Store Over 5,000 mp3 Files!

Every Google cloud user currently gets 15GB for free. Your 15GB counts toward your Gmail, Google Drive and everything else in the Google universe. If you keep your email attachments to a minimum, Gmail won’t take up more than 20-50MB as it automatically deletes emails in your trash box every 30 days.

How many songs can you store on your free Google Drive account? The average 3 minute 128k mp3 takes up 3MB. 15GB divided by 3MB is 5,120 songs! For an audiophile like me, I can store 512 wav files (which are typically 10 times the size of an mp3) on a free Google Drive account.

Impressive and convenient. Storing and playing music isn’t one of Google Drive’s top 10 goals, but it does an excellent job. As soon as I get home, I’m going to upload my collection of vinyl rips!

Kenny Sahr

The Chromebook has Microsoft scared. Have you seen their latest Scroogled commercial? I saw it during a recent trip to Florida. The Scroogled site is witty. Every fan of advertising should check it out. Goliath has become David. If only the rest of Microsoft’s marketing was so cool! I look forward to seeing Google’s response to this.

Until recently, the battle of the laptops revolved around Microsoft and Apple. Because of the nature of Apple’s quality products, the fight took place at the high end. Apple never intended for their laptops to be an “everyman’s tool.”

The Chromebook – Microsoft battle royale takes place at the low end of the market. Chromebooks typically sell for $199 – $299. According to Amazon, the bestselling lower end Windows based laptops go for $300 – $800.

Chromebook Designers – Listen Up!

I bought an Acer C720 Chromebook last month and love it. I have a Windows desktop at home, but use it a lot less now that I have the Chromebook. It’s nice to have a laptop that actually fits on my lap and weighs less than a gold filled suitcase. My Chromebook is perfect for web browsing and writing – 95% of my needs. But it is missing a few things..

  • My Chromebook can’t burn cds and dvds. I burn backups a few times a month. I absolutely need the ability to plug in a USB dvd burner.
  • I don’t print a lot of documents, but wish I could “plug and print” on my Chromebook.
  • If the Chromebook wants to level the playing field with Microsoft, Google will need a cloud version of “plug and play.” We need to be able to plug in any USB device and run it. Drivers should be located in a new Chromebook Driver Cloud.
  • My Acer Chromebook doesn’t allow USB charging; I need to plug it into the wall. I wish I could charge it the same way I charge my smartphone and tablet.
  • I use two Google personas – personal and work. On my desktop PC, I am able to log into both at once; not so on my Chromebook. It’s annoying to have to logout and in when I want to check my work email. I’m sure there will be a workaround for this.

The Next Round in the Chromebook – Microsoft Battle

If nothing else, the low end laptop war has awakened the folks at Microsoft. The website and commercials are a nice start, but it’s not enough. I won’t be surprised if Microsoft lowers prices on their entry level products. Expect price reductions on the basic versions of Windows and Office.

And the Winner is – You!

You, the consumers, are the winner of the Chromebook – Microsoft battle. The best thing for all of us that can happen is that neither side wins by knockout. This will push Microsoft to lower prices and finally deal with a worthy competitor on the lower end of the market. For three decades, Microsoft ruled the PC market with almost no serious competition. It is going to be fun see how a post-Gates & Ballmer Microsoft fights back.

Until now, Google was hitting Microsoft around the edges. The recent success of the Chromebook is a body blow that Microsoft will not ignore. Hold tight, the laptop market is going to get very interesting as 2014 progresses!

Kenny Sahr

Why own one mobile device when you can own three? There are two models for mobile device ownership. The first is the One Device Lifestyle. Most of my friends at Nubo go by this. Almost everyone here owns a smartphone that sports a 5 inch screen. A recent NY Times article made the case for the marriage of the smartphone and the tablet (“phablet”).

Have you ever seen someone talk on a phablet? They look like aliens from Star Trek. Only a few years ago, engaging in an animated conversation with earbuds in your ears surrounded by strangers was weird; today it is the norm (even if it’s not my style). There is a strong case to be made for owning one large smartphone/phablet. In this article, I will make the case for owning 3 mobile devices.

I Love My Tablet

I use my tablet a lot more than my smartphone. I love reading CD reviews on AllMusic.com before I fall asleep. When I listen to music in the family room, it’s nice to open a casual game on my tablet and do two passive things at once. I can’t focus on a Stan Getz saxophone solo while whacking zombies or dragons on my PlayStation 3.

When I ride the train, it is a lot easier to read the news on my 10 inch Galaxy Tab than on a smartphone. Sometimes I get in a few games of backgammon or a few clicks on Paradise Island. The screen size makes a huge difference and I see my life as “Before Tablet” and “After Tablet.”

The Smartphone Compromise

My smartphone, on the other hand, is less important to me. It is essentially a phone with a few apps. I like the GPS “where is my bus” type apps that we have here in Israel. When I have time to kill, I open my CNN app and read the news. But I don’t want a huge smartphone that barely fits in my pocket. In fact, I like being able to forget about it most of the day.

I own a Galaxy S1 Mini and plan on upgrading to an S4 Mini once the price hits the $300 range this summer. My S1 Mini lacks a quality screen by today’s standards, but it quietly hibernates in my pocket when I’m not using it. My socks are worth more; who’s gonna steal it?

My Third Device

For a third device, I recommend a cheap laptop or Chromebook. I bought the Acer C720 Chromebook this month. Why? My Chromebook lets me go online and write from a cafe or on the couch at home. When I am inspired to write at home, I have to run to my PC. For $199-$299, a Chromebook is the perfect third device.

A Chromebook may not have a touch screen (though some do), but make no mistake – Chromebooks are mobile devices. With 11.6 inch screens and weighing 1.25 kilos (2.76 pounds), Chromebooks allow mobility for very little cost. Unless you really need it, skip the expensive and heavy laptop which you will hesitate to take with you.

The 3 Device Bottom Line

A $350 tablet plus a $300 smartphone followed by a $199 Chromebook will cost about the same as a $500-$900 killer smartphone. But you don’t have to buy all 3 at once. Today, my smartphone is nearing the end of its lifecycle. My 10 inch Galaxy Tab 1 is two years away from retirement. A Chromebook or internet-focused laptop should last for years.

If you go with the 3 device lifestyle, you can plan on buying a new device every year and a half to two years. Skip the hardcore smartphone and gain the advantage of a 10 inch tablet and a lightweight laptop.

This article was written on an Acer C720 Chromebook.