Forecast for Education is iCloudy
Apple pulled Steve Jobs out of carbonite freezing this month to debut iCloud, Cupertino’s venture in the brave semi-new world of cloud storage. But at least one reviewer thinks higher education types won’t have much use for the iCloud.
Mindshift’s Audrey Watters writes that the lack of ability to sync across devices could be a sticking point for users who might have an android phone, use a Mac in a computer lab and then a PC at home. On top of that is the need to share information —files, projects, what have you– with others, not just keep it locked away for personal use.
“Google Docs and Dropbox, for example, have both seen widespread adoption in schools because of the ability to do just this — collaborate and share — without a restriction on device or operating system,” Watters writes. She speculates that Apple might have an iCloud for education offering in the wings, but we’ll have to see where that goes.
And, of course there’s this: the company iCloud Communications, surprise surprise, has an issue with the name of the service and wasted no time suing Apple.
Toshiba Tablet Tries to Not to Be An iPad
Next up in the line of Android tablets who want to challenge the iPad: the Toshiba Thrive. Based on early reviews, this one might have a shot at making a dent in the market because it has things the iPad doesn’t. Forbes’ Brian Caufield calls it the “anti-iPad” because it sacrifices thinness and weight to add features Apple’s tablet doesn’t, including an SD card reader, USB, mini-USB and HDMI ports. It’s cheaper than comparable iPads, too. Will it sell? We’ll soon find out. Pre-orders started June 13.
Closing the Speed Gap for Consumers?
It’s no secret that U.S. Internet speeds for residential service are well, pokey, when compared to other countries. Sonic.net, hopes to push the pedal down on Internet speeds by promoting a pilot program that will bring 1 Gbps service to homes in California for $69.99 a month. That’s a pretty sweet price, considering most ISPs offer 10 Mbps service for about half that cost.
Ars Technica’s Nate Anderson says Sonic’s offering may have some holes in its business model long term, but notes the company shows that there’s a lot of room –and probably demand– for a service like Google has been promising in its much hyped contest to build a truly high-speed network.