The long-awaited BlackBerry OS 2.0 for the PlayBook was released today by RIM.  This software version is definitely a cut above the older version as it provides a lot of new features PlayBook users have been clamoring for.

One feature is a unified inbox.  You can find all your messages in one place, rather than having to jump from app to app.  Although the use is optional I think most people will use it to read and write all their tweets, Facebook newsfeeds and messages along with their LinkedIn updates.

The Social Integration of OS 2.0 works quite well.  The Calendar gets populated with dates from your social networks with the information available wherever you need it to be.

The Contact Cards are automatically updated as information in your social networks changes.  For instance, if someone changes their phone number in his or her social network, you should see that number updated in your contact list.

The BlackBerry Bridge app sets up a Bluetooth connection between your BlackBerry handset and the PlayBook.  Document availability between the handset and tablet make it possible for you to display and edit handset docs on the PlayBook.  Also, a new remote-control function allows you to use your BlackBerry handset as a keyboard for the PlayBook.

RIM’s Senior VP of Mobile Computing, David Smith commented on the new OS: “Building on the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet’s proven web browsing, multimedia and multitasking strengths, the new BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 introduces a range of new communications and productivity enhancements as well as expanded app and content support.”

Many other features are revealed in RIM’s press release.

Even though the iPad does not have a keyboard, there are Bluetooth keyboards available for serious document creation.  So it makes sense that Microsoft developed a new version of its Office Suite that has been optimized for Apple’s iPad.

Rumor has it that the Office app is a Metro-styled app more in line with their Metro apps soon to be released with Windows 8.  So far, those who have managed to get their hands on it have said the big three apps (Word, Excel and PowerPoint) are indeed in the Metro style and allow you to edit the docs both in online and offline modes.

I would bet that the MS Office iPad App would be quite pricy, as their PC software packages run well into the hundreds of dollars.  Will they be able to compete with Apple’s iWork apps that cost around a sawbuck ($10)?  I doubt it.

That said, if Apple approves Microsoft’s Office for iPad, I have no doubt that it will sell well whatever the price.  After all, the business community seems to be hooked on Microsoft’s Office products.

As a side note, it has been reported that Microsoft has no plans, at this particular point in time anyway, to develop the Metro Office for the Android platform.

The present NOOK Color Tablet is priced at $249.  With the Kindle Fire selling on Amazon today for $199, people are choosing to save $50 and buy the Fire instead.

So Barnes & Noble took their NOOK, which has 16 GB of storage and made an 8 GB version.  This should allow them to lower the price to meet or even beat the price of the Kindle Fire.

In fact, an 8GB NOOK Color is now available on Walmart’s web site for $198.86.  The web site also says there is limited stock.  The stores received deliveries of the NOOK Color 8GB between the 18^th and today by truck.

The unveiling of the Nook 8GB Tablet will happen at one minute past midnight on Wednesday at Walmart.  At least the cash registers have that item’s UPC code blocked until then.

Since most stores close at 10 pm with a few closing at midnight, you will have to wait until 7 am Wednesday morning when they open to be one of the first to get your hands on one.

You can also search Broadband Expert for more information on the NOOK.

The Jacksonville, Florida area had close to 300 network upgrades in 2011.  Two new cellular broadband sites were activated.

Around 150 sites had new high-speed fiber backhauls added.  This made it possible for the HSPA+ upgrades at these sites achieve what AT&T considers 4G speeds.

More than 150 carriers, which are additional frequency layers, were added to wireless sites.  These carriers allow a greater number of connections to be handled simultaneously at each site.

VP and GM of AT&T, Rich Guidotti said in a press release “Our goal is to deliver a network experience that mobilizes everything for customers. The ongoing investment we’re making in Jacksonville is designed to increase coverage and reliability, and to provide advanced services to our customers.”

Across the country in 2011, AT&T performed more than 150,000 wireless broadband network enhancements and expansions.  That was triple the improvements they did in 2010.

The President of AT&T Florida, Marshall Criser, lll, said “Florida is a great place to do business. With fierce internal competition for capital, AT&T’s strong and sustained investment in our Florida wireline and wireless networks demonstrates our confidence that Florida’s elected leaders have created an economic environment that rewards investment with incredible opportunity to succeed.”

In fact, I wrote about the time Google informed me that I was running Google Latitude which reported my location to them via an unsolicited email that.  I had knowingly, with both eyes open, opted into sharing my location information with them.

Today, I received another email from Google titled “Google Location History Privacy Reminder”.  They told me “This is a reminder that you have enabled Google Location History on your Google account. Only you can view this information, and you can delete it when you choose to do so,” and there was a red box with white lettering that said “View My Location History.”

If you haven’t guessed my next action already, I clicked on the box, logged into my Google account and up popped today’s location history in the form of a map and a timeline.

This shows the path I took this morning when I walked the dog right after I first crawled out of bed.  I have blacked out all the road names and the names of the places (mostly restaurants and stores). This is cool!

I think I will keep it enabled.  That way if I get accused of a crime, I’ll be able to prove my innocence by showing the police where I really was.

Now, if you think Google is invading your privacy, you can opt out and then you will not be able to get these cool maps.  I can also offer you some additional advice: 1) Turn off Latitude and opt out or 2) keep it on and just don’t carry the phone with you if you commit a crime.

I’m keeping it active so I can show my doctor that I really am walking a lot and getting a whole bunch of exercise.  I have included the email below for your viewing pleasure.

The most popular date being voiced is March 8^th when the FBI is rumored to pull the plug on the Internet.  In reality, if you are without Internet access on March 8^th, it is your own fault.

Last November, The FBI helped shut down a web hijacking operation.  The hijackers/hackers wrote viruses that changed the DNS settings in people’s computers.

When these infected computers try to access the Internet, they will be relayed to other web sites that were set up to present ads and send spam.  Interestingly, the anti-virus sites’ DNS entries are also sent to rogue sites, so once infected, you will not be able to connect to any site to clean the virus. On top of all this, the viruses disable the anti-virus software and prevent security updates from being loaded.

In December, the FBI set up measures that pulled the plug on the rogue servers being used by the hijackers’ viruses and set up their own servers that mitigated the effect of the viruses.  The FBI could only do this for 120 days, which ends on March 8^th.

If you have not disinfected your devices from the DNSChanger family of viruses, you will have problems connecting to the Internet.  But don’t blame the FBI, as you have had three months to disinfect your systems.

The DNSChanger Working Group was set up to help people to combat this virus.  To check your system, just click the DCWG’s checkup link.  This site walks even the novice through how to check your system.

For you experts out there, check your DNS settings for the following:

If your DNS settings contain any of these numbers, you are most likely infected.

If you discover you are infected, you can also click here to get instructions on disinfecting your system of the DNSChanger virus.

For more information, go to the DNSChanger Working Group’s web site.

For a quick and dirty check, go to one of these web sites: dns-ok.us, dns-ok.de, dns-ok.fi or dns-ok.ax.  If the site pulls up a green background your are probably OK, but I would recommend checking your DNS entries, anyway.

EPIC (the Electronic Privacy Information Center) filed suit against the FTC demanding that the FTC investigate Google and the changes to their privacy policy.  You may remember that Google recently signed an agreement with the FTC not to change the information it already uses on users without getting their consent.

It looks like Google is keeping to their word.  They have even gone to the extent of sending out reminders to let users know what information they are agreeing to share.

The FTC gave their answer and sent EPIC packing.  The FTC believes EPIC has no legal standing to file the lawsuit.

The FTC explained their reasoning in a statement “We are asking the court to dismiss the case because parties such as EPIC are barred by law from interfering with the proper investigation and enforcement of F.T.C. orders.”  In other words, the FTC decides on who they choose to investigate and even asking them to take a look at a situation you think needs further examination is “interfering” with the government agency.

Google aggregates your information from all the Google applications you use, such as G+, Latitude, YouTube and Google Search.

I’m sure that the FTC will probably check on Google from time to time, but you had better not try and tell them what to do!

Despite the genius moniker, it lacked adequate wireless broadband support.  Now, that has been solved, thanks to AT&T.

Today, February 17^th, AT&T announced the activation of a wireless broadband network covering a 100-mile stretch of U.S. Highway 36 in northwest Missouri.  Some of the cities along this route are Brookfield, Cameron, Chillicothe and St. Joseph.  Residents and travelers in sections of the counties of Caldwell, Clinton, DeKalb, Linn, Livingston and St. Joseph will now get enhanced broadband services.

The VP and GM for AT&T’s Greater Midwest Region, Nancy Garvey issued a statement: “AT&T’s mobile broadband network provides several important advantages for customers, including the ability to talk and surf at the same time. Now customers along the vital Highway 36 corridor will have better coverage and more reliable service.”

This will be good for tourism and the executive director of the St. Joseph Convention & Visitors Bureau, Marci Bennett, agrees that this broadband expansion will benefit the economy.  Marci said “We consider Missouri 36 ‘The Way of American Genius’ because of its historic ties to some of the most brilliant leaders and entrepreneurs in our nation’s history. AT&T’s investment in cutting-edge mobile broadband technology can only enhance the connection we are highlighting between the past and future economy of this part of Missouri.”

Well, it could be refused if the FCC disallows the purchase, but that seems unlikely.  Plateau Telecommunications is owned by E.N.M.R. Telephone Cooperative and the sale is expected to be approved sometime in the middle of this year.

Included in the purchase are the customers, spectrum bands for the Cellular, PCS AWS, and GSM operations in the southeastern New Mexico marketplace.  All the operations will be brought under the Verizon Wireless name.  The spectrum licenses are of particular value.

A total rural area of 26,100 square miles populated by 259,000 people will be covered.  Wireless infrastructure in Eddy, Chaves and Lea counties are part of the purchase.  Additionally, the wireless communications network in part of Lincoln County is included.

The President of Verizon Wireless’ Southwest Region, Brian Danfield said in the press release “We look forward to expanding our presence and coverage in rural New Mexico and in welcoming Plateau Wireless’ customers to the nation’s most reliable network.”

We need to watch out for unusual happenings with Verizon Wireless’ networks in that area since the city of Roswell, New Mexico is included.

How nice it would be to pull systems right out of the manufacturer’s boxes, set them on the classroom desks and plug them in to power and a network cable.  No loading software or configuring required – just plop the students in front of them and have them enjoy a safe and clean Windows 7 desktop.  You don’t even have to worry when a different student takes over the computer as there is no need to clean up the computer and remove all the games or other things that creep into a classroom computer.

Wyse Technology is known throughout the world as a leader on cloud computing and they have the answer for you: a cloud-based classroom computer lab.  If you need to update software or load a new program for 300 student desktops, it is a simple one-time installation.

Wyse Technology has partnered with Microsoft to offer a very cost-effective and scalable solution for complete computer labs.  They take Wyse E class zero diskless client computers along with a Windows MultiPoint Server 2011 setup and use their software to set up a complete cloud-based ICT (Information and Communications Technology) laboratory.  The only computer hardware skills the teacher has to know is how to plug it in and operate the power switch; that’s it!

In addition, other devices like tablets and and other mobile devices can also be used.  Just load the Wyse PocketCloud and the students can access it from their tablet at home.  This can make long-distance learning easier on students who happen to be out sick; they can still keep up with the class and homework.

The President and CEO of Wyse Technology, Tarkan Maner commented in a press release: “We’re extremely proud of how Wyse has worked with Microsoft to widen access to the benefits of digital classrooms for millions of students in places where school ICT was often unheard of. This collaboration enables us and our partners to offer affordable solutions for educators who want to provide a fantastic online learning experience within tight budgets.”

Microsoft also provided a quote from their VP of Worldwide Education, Anthony Salcito: “Working with Wyse will help us deliver cost effective access to Windows 7 desktops to classrooms around the world. Together we have evolved a solution that will enable our sales organisations [sic] and channel partners to meet the demand for affordable e-learning in some of the fastest growing educational ICT markets globally.”