Microsoft buying skype

Microsoft purchased Skype. The thing with Skype is what made it popular was the free VOIP and video chat it offered to it's end users. It was neat and cost effective to the end user. As far as having a pay for service option, why would someone really do that. People pay for cell phones for this reason. And as advanced hand held technology is, they'll soon be cell phones that will support this feature and be another option in there plans from there providers. The only way this will be profitable would be advertising and keeping the service free. If not, there's always mumble, a free open source VOIP program that needs a little configuration. It doesn't use PSTN, rather the IP protocol and cannot make internet to lane line calls but it's good to connect with your friends and chat all you wish without paying a cent. As far as Google and Mac's are concerned, there users will most likely stay with there service unless microsoft comes up with an idea that will cause them to go to skype. I say market the Skype network to cell phone service providers as an extra feature to new phones with web cams. This will actually maximize profits and create a new trend to the Skype network.

Tablet computing

I see the world of electronic digital devices switching from analog devices such as Hard disc drives, to solid state devices such as non-volatile or flash memory. Tablet computing is taking advantage of this and it is an interesting concept to distribute media across a network to the end user. The device is mobile with no cords attached which makes it available to take with you anywhere you go. They're WI-FI capable, touch panel display, and the cosmetic design that will catch your eye. There data crunching speeds may not be up to par with desktop models such as computer gaming, but I do see them making leaps to produce this in the near future. Soon playing Crysis 2 in full 1920x1080 on a hand held device with all the eye candy creating features with full support from Direct x and Open GL will be the new fad. I myself would love to see solid state memory become the new secondary storage media in computers. The read and write speeds are much faster then standard seek times on Hard disc drives, and apps load ten times faster. Plus your storage device may not become as fragmented as a hard drive would become the more you read, write, and delete from it. The Bottom line for me though is this, I believe that tablet computing will follow hand in hand with desktop and laptop computing by making new leads in development for digital devices and what they are capable of actually doing. Would I want a laptop with a de-tachable touch panel screen to take along with me anywhere I go? Heck yea, who wouldn't? THE SCREEN COMES OFF!!!!!. I say the next big thing is to develop longer lasting batteries that actually have two times the half-life then the ones we have now.