It's on the users needs...

For the looks of it, laptops and tablets will live along each other for quite some time. The smartphone being our constant companion when using a laptop or a tablet is not really that practical, or we aren't near them.

The desktop computer will become a niche product, mainly used when mobility isn't necessary or it better fits the users computer needs. For most people, it would make a lot more sense to have a laptop or a tablet as their main computer.

The choice between a laptop or a tablet, will be based mainly on what it's going to be used for. Each form factor has its strengths and weaknesses, laptops being more adept for working and tablets for consuming. So, which one you should get depends on what you intend to use it for.

Yet, the smartphone will be the second companion for our primary device. Smartphones give us the practicability to be able to take them with us all the time, but the screen size isn't the best one to use for prolonged periods of size or as we would use a laptop or a tablet. I see the smartphone mostly playing a support role, yet vital since it gives us a gateway to discovery when we we can't access a computer.

While most people have a use for a smartphone, the choice between a laptop and a tablet will be dependent on what we are need from our primary computer. So, the discussion of trying to argue for laptops or tablets  is mute. All depends on each user, and what needs it has for their main computer.

My next smartphone will run on open source software..

Even though my experience so far with a BlackBerry device, specifically with the Bold 9650, has been quiet good I still targeting for an Android powered smartphone.

The main reason for me to do so, is that I want as many of my electronic devices run open source software. On my laptop I'm running Ubuntu 13.04, after a couple of months using Linux Mint 14. As such, I want and prefer to run an OS that's open source as Android.

If the timing is right, I'd consider making the jump to an Ubuntu Touch powered smartphone or one using Firefox OS. Both, as Android, are open sourced and are based on Linux. Yet, due to the fact that I already use Ubuntu, an Ubuntu Touch powered smartphone would have a clear advantage for me. It would allow me to better integrate my mobile experience with the one I've on my desktop.

As I said, all is about timing. So, it seems like Android will be the winner on that account, since Android is already available while Ubuntu Touch and Firefox OS aren't at the time. But, in many ways my choice among the three would be one of taste, given that all three OS's are open source and that's the kind of software I want running my smartphone.

Where tech has brought us, and where it will take us...

The power of current microprocessors it's quite impressive, both in their processing capabilities and how small they have become. In many ways, microprocessors are fundamental to our way of life and it seems that they'll become ever more important.

Almost everything we use has a microprocessor in order to function, and most of our communication technology relies on them to what we expect them to do. Many of our devices are gaining more capabilities, allowing to decrease the number of devices we need to have in order to do things in our daily lives.

Not only that, those devices are actually becoming are becoming smaller as time goes by. Mobile phones are among the most obvious beneficiaries of the smaller form factor and addition of capabilities. We can not only use them to make calls, but to take pictures and videos. We even can listen to the radio and to our music on them, doing the things that we would have needed several devices to do. Not to mention, than in some cases those devices weren't exactly mobile at all.

The world current technology has help build was unimaginable a few decades ago, and where it might lead us is equally hard to predict. That's why need to keep an eye so technology is at the service of humanity at large, not at the service of a few.

It is possible, if we view technology as a common good and keep that way. It's in the interest of the majority that all technology is developed in an open way, on open standards. Where we all have access to whatever technology we need to use, while making equally easy to share any modifications we made it to make it work better to the purpose we gave to it.

Technology should be democratized, and put at the reach of everyone to use and modify as needed. Openness and transparent development should be the norm with all technology, and we need to fight to make and keep it like that.

Bring people together...

One of the things that brought the Internet, is the ability to create communities around common interests with people with who otherwise it would be next to impossible to do so. It has given the power to the people to have a greater control over the products and services they consume, to the sharing of whatever they want with the others.

The Internet empowers people, it's the tool that allows to take greater control not only of what we consume, how we consume and to share it with other to whom we think it would be relevant. It also allows us to generate content, and to share it with others in order to make them aware of our concerns and our hopes. In many ways we are becomes less of a passive audience, and more of active participants of what's going on beyond of what going on at our immediate surroundings.

More than ever, people can have an impact on what happens not only on their community, but on events that are ongoing on other parts of the world. We can actually share with people from distant places, and have a real chance to develop strong communities with lasting relationships among the members.

At the local level, it forces all players to be more transparent on their actions. It makes it harder to hide things, since people can easily spot and share with others what's going on. Local governments and businesses are having a harder time hiding from their communities wrong doings, while making it easier for people to organize actions to prevent or punish any wrong doing.

It's no longer inconceivable that people can actually regain power, it has become a question of when will enough people gain consciousnesses of this fact and start acting on it.

The time for the people to govern themselves is close at hand, it just requires us to make it happen as soon as we can.

20 years of World Wide Web...

Today the World Web marks its 20th anniversary, and there is no way to understate its importance to the world as we know it.

The main reason the World Wide Web has achieved such importance, is its free open nature. Everyone can build upon it since it's open to all, and use it freely according to their needs or interests. If wasn't free and open, we wouldn't have the Internet as we know it today.

This is why we should keep it like this, if we want to be able to keep using as we have been doing it so far. The World Wide Web has become the common forum where ideas can be discussed and information is shared among all the interested. It's where we come to find information just about anything, or to share what we love with others.

In many ways, the World Wide Web has allowed the world to become a smaller place by allowing people to connect with others in distant places in any way better fits them. It has become pivotal for many to be able to keep in touch with loved one who are far away.

We should reflect on the importance of keeping the World Wide Web free and open, since this way it's truly and most valuable to all of us. It's imperative to keep it as a common good of humanity, one where we all can use is equally.

Give users the power...

Users right to hack the devices, and the software that runs in them, shouldn't be questioned at an level. It should be a given than users have the right do any modification they want to any device they lawfully bought, and even to share how they did such hack.

If there should be a limit, is that users should not profit with those hacks without compensating the original vendor. Even though the people who do the hacking can expect some sort of compensation for the time they invested making a hack useful, there should be a clear limit on how that compensation is made. Yet, users should be allowed to share with others within some reasonable limits.

Those limits shouldn't make it impossible for users to actually hack their devices, just how they are allowed to share the information about how to do a hack and how they can expect to be compensated for the time and effort put into doing so.

The most important thing is that users must remain on what goes on their devices, not the companies that make the devices we buy. Even if some users never hack their devices, there is no reason why their right to so away. While is true that most people will not hack in any way or form their devices, but they need to be able to do so if the need makes it a necessary at any point in time.

Yes, some instances of hacking are illegal and should be prosecuted. It's important to keep in mind that most hacking is quite harmless, and done just for the fun of learning something new. This kind of hacking has the potential to be most beneficial, since it can discover problems or come with new and better ways to do things.

We need to have clear rules that keep all hacking beneficial and practical for society at large. It's a case where the interests of the majority must be uphold over what a minority wants.

BlackBerry vs Android vs Firefox OS...

As I keep using the BlackBerry Bold I got, the more I'm liking the experience, yet I'm still quite interested on an Android smartphone. When time comes to get a replacement, it will be decided by my ability to use an Android device for some time in order to directly compare it with the BlackBerry I'm using.

So far, the biggest issue I've with the BlackBerry Bold is the optical trackpad, I just don't seem to be able to get used to it. So, it seems that a touchscreen device seems a better option for me.

With this in mind, it seems that if I decide to stay with Blackberry it would be with the Z10, which is an touchscreen base smartphone.

Yet, I'd like to keep all my devices running open sourced software, as such Android is still a strong contender. And if the Firefox OS hits the market on time for consideration, it's also a strong contender.

The choice it's still some mounts away, so there is some time to do some testing.

Using the BlackBerry Bold...

I've been using a BlackBerry Bold for the four days, and even it's got the Blackberry 6 OS which is dated, I found that it's quite enjoyable to use. The only thing is that bothers me a bit, is that the software is closed source and I'd prefer to use FOSS.

Yet, I'm quite taken with both the software and the hardware. I just find that they work quite well, just with a bit of a lag because of the age of the device. I don't mind it much, since the lag is not that long and I see the device as something that I intend to use just while I save enough to get a new one.

With the experience, with what I've been reading about the new BlackBerry's OS and the Z10 I'm starting to considering them as a serious buy for me. I've enjoying the whole experience with both the software and the hardware, I'm just able to set the phone just as I want it with relative ease.

Now the only two serious contenders I've in mind for my next smartphone is the BlackBerry Z10, and a Nexus device. A distant 3rd would be a Firefox phone, but since I haven't seen one or had a serious experience with it I'm not quite sure about it.

The one thing that would make the BlackBerry 10 and the Z10 the winning combination for me, would be if BlackBerry would make the BlackBerry 10 open source.

The protection of data...

What needs to be protected should be data contained by software, not the software itself. After all, keeping data safe is important to keeping our privacy.

Accessing the internal working of software should be allowed, in a way such action should taken from granted. The study, modification, and redistribution of a piece of software should be something that can be done by any user who wished to do so.

On the other hand, such actions on data shouldn't be allowed. Software and data should be separate things, and data should be protected by default. All data belongs to the original user, as such only that user has the authority on how the data it produces can be used and by who it can be used in what manner.

Individuals have the right to legally own their data, and shouldn't lose that ownership under any circumstance at all. Only permissions are granted on certain parts of our data to a given party, and those permissions can be revoked at the time on which the individual chooses. There is no reason why a third party to use our data without our express permission to do so.

There is a need to have harsh punishments on people who use any data of an individual, for whatever purpose, without the consent of the owner of the data.

Also, data from public entities shouldn't be equated with that of private individuals. Public entities, like governments and companies, should be more readily available than that of private individuals. Even so, there should be clear guidelines on who, when and why a particular piece of data from these entities is shared or made public.

We need to make sure that our data is what the most protected valuable on our modern society.

Women in science and tech...

Like in every other area in human activity, we need women to active in every way on tech and science if we want them to be in good shape. Any woman that wants to come into these areas should be able to do so, on equal terms with her male counter parts.

The fact that women that have a talent for science or tech, are not actively encouraged is both sad and disturbing. We need them to come, actively contribute if we want to advance as a society. Their contributions are as valuable as any one a male can make, and not allowing them to do so has a negative impact not only on a personal level. It also negatively affects society at large, because at the very least we can suffer a minor set back.

Both science and tech need to be stop being viewed as men's turf. It's the turf of any one that wants to work in it, regardless of their gender. What should be taken into account, is the quality of their work and research.

Until both women and men can actually be equally respected on the world of science and tech, there will be a thorn on my side making be aware than we aren't doing enough to make this a better world. There is no reason why women that select to come to science and tech, can't expect to be treated with respect and have the same expectations to be taken into account like men do.

Women have great things to contribute, they have the right to be allowed to do so. Not allowing them to come freely, and do so, we risk the better future we all want to build.

Remain curious...

It's sad to see how curiosity is killed, and replaced with the inability to question the what happens around us. Some just do what they are told, never really thinking about what they are doing and why they are doing it.

Others don't even dare to do even that, they even see any kind of questioning as an act of disloyalty. The idea of an individual thinking by himself, or herself, it's an aberration and something that must be avoided at all costs. There is no higher need than to live a life where they are told what to think and do by those they view as superior to them, they are sheep.

Curiosity is a virtue, one that should be fostered and allowed to grow. There is no age in life where curiosity should be avoided, since it leads us to meet and surpass new challenges.

By doing so, it allows great discoveries that make our lives richer fuller. What's better, the benefits are not only for the individual that followed his curiosity to it's satisfaction. It benefits the community where the individual lives, because the results can be shared with others without losing any of the value they posses. Quite the contrary, sharing those results actually add to the value they already carry by allowing others to use them or to add more to the results.

Humans by nature are curious, and have the need to fulfill that curiosity. Instead of taking it out at young age, we need to hone and sharpen it so it can be a valuable tool for both the individual and society. What we need is to teach how to question all what we see, so we can get to the relevant parts while we leave out all the noise out.

There is no sin in asking, but only a great sadness of not fulfilling ourselves in learning something new.