In the past decades, people can only imagine doing almost everything with their cell phones. Using mobile phones with a tap of the finger only existed in the realm of dreams and connecting to wireless Internet was just wishful thinking. Many companies have attempted to translate these things into reality, but only a few have succeeded. First, there is Apple. And now, there is Samsung – Apple’s toughest competition.

Unlike Apple which have been confined to the iPod, iTunes, Mac and iPad, Samsung has become a major player in the mobile market and the white goods as well. The big question now is this: is Samsung geared up to become the next Apple?

Of course, a gamut of different reactions will come up. Some experts claim that as long as the company competes against itself, Samsung will not succeed in creating an encompassing and compelling environment. The release of numerous iterations of the same laptop concept, the repeated and unnecessary television updates and selling so many cell phone models are just some of the critiques being thrown at Samsung. Others say that the company is “mercenary” because it drives its own products into obsolescence. It does not have control, consistency and thought on its product lines.

On the other hand, Samsung garners praises because of its leading status when it comes to television unit and cell phone sales. In 2011, Samsung was able to sell around 60 million units of their mobile device—a feat that nobody can deny. These skyrocketing sales can be attributed to that “mercenary” quality of the company because it is fine to use anybody’s operating system as long as they put the Samsung phones into boxes and the customers buy those phones.

Aside from being the biggest TV and phone manufacturer, Samsung also rolls out some washing machines, tablets, and software. Samsung’s triumph is not certain as the tech market is fluid. Apple and other companies can still find their way to topple down Samsung in the next few years.

Apple is set to outsource their manufacture, which means that they won’t be able to compete on price especially in cases when they are purchasing panels from Samsung. However, extending support, limiting product release cycles and developing an ecosystem of complimentary software and media are the things Samsung has opted to avoid and will continue to ignore. There is no definite answer to the posed question, but one thing is for sure—Samsung possesses a winning model but it has to pave its own path and not just aspire to become the next Apple.

Solid –state drives (SSD) provide faster transfer and quieter operation than hard-disk drives. Since it has no moving parts, an SSD is also less fragile. SSD is increasingly becoming popular in ultraportable laptops because of its light weight.

Experts recommend the shift to SSD because of the many benefits that you can get from using it. If you are planning to make the big switch to SSD, here are some useful tips that can help you install your SSD properly.

Before you decide to upgrade, identify first whether an SSD is perfect for your needs. If your computer runs on Windows XP, the upgrade is not worth it. Search for the laptop models that are SSD-compatible to spare yourself from doing the mistake.

Installing a SSD to Your Laptop – The Steps

• If your laptop is compatible with an SSD, you are ready to install the upgrade. Removing the existing hard drive will vary among different laptop models.
• Check your computer’s manual to know how the drive is connected. This way, you will know the proper method of removing the old hard drive.
• Before replacing the boot drive, make sure to create a backup of the existing hard disk onto the SSD.
• When the drive is ready to install, shut down your laptop or computer and unplug it.
• Turn the gadget upside down and remove its battery to ensure that all power leading to the motherboard and all the components attached to it is switched off.
• Have yourself grounded by touching anything that is metal each time before you touch the device or buy a grounding wrist strap from your local electronics store.
• Check the mounting arrangement of your laptop. A plate or some straps that connect to the frame and to the mounting holes are the most common. In side-mounted drives, the mounting just slip in or out with a push or tug. Segregate the screws according to location and sizes.
• Once you have removed the old drive, reverse all the steps and install the SSD.
• Replace the battery and put the device into its upright position.
• Boot up the laptop. If there is nothing unusual that you hear, see or smell, the upgrade is okay.
• Allow it to boot and load drivers that it needs. If needed, reboot the laptop.

The steps provided above are only meant for those who wish to install an SSD to their laptops. So if you want to install an SSD in a desktop system, make sure to acquire a drive bay adapter. This is required to be able to perform the upgrade.

In the past few years, people all around the world have witnessed a number of great technological innovations. Since there is no other way but forward in the field of technology, we are sure to expect many more advancements this coming year. Brace yourself as we enumerate all the exciting technology trends worthy to watch out for this 2012.

• The mobile usage will increase - Mobile usage is set to offer a new set of data gathering possibilities via location awareness, tracking software and quick responses. Mobile commerce will also continue to grow as businesses capitalize on it.
• The Cloud will continue to rise – This year it is expected that web data storage will grow in popularity and will likely to the storage of choice for many.
• Platforms integration - Different media will be used to effectively engage in market research.
• All things will become portable - A plethora of gadgets such as tablets, smartphones and ultrabooks will continue to flood and dominate the market.
• Touch capabilities of gadgets will be ubiquitous - In the recent years, the touch-screen interfaces have revolutionized how millions of users interact with technology. Since there will be more touch interface devices in the market this year, expect ubiquitous presence of these amazing gadgetry.
• The concept of Augmented Reality (AR) will go mainstream - AR is no longer confined to science fiction. Tablets and smartphones are set to deliver a daily dose of augmented reality this year.
• Thick will be the new “thin”- Portable computing usage along with the AppStore Model will be bringing locally installed apps back in style.
• The use of voice will become more rampant - Touch capability is a great improvement but voice-based interactions are the way to go to free our hands.
• The Cloud will become the new norm - This year, cloud computing will no longer be an “edge market” because it will be widely adopted by huge businesses and even public sector organizations.
• The issue on location-based privacy will finally be addressed - During the past two years, location-based services were on the hot seat because privacy based on location generated a number of problems. Good news is that companies will adopt safer location-based privacy policies this year.
• 2012 is the year for “The Big Data”- There will be around 40% increase in data that needs to be managed and so the technology industry will start adapting the enterprise-ready high scale NoSQL products.
• Twitter will continue to become more useful and powerful - The social networking site’s use will be accelerated for a number of various uses.