美媒盘点2012年十大科技败笔(二)
日期:2012-12-19 10:20

(单词翻译:单击)

6.Biggest Rip-Off Award: Shared Data Plans
6. 最“敲竹杠”奖:数据共享套餐
In June, Verizon unveiled its new Share Everything plans, which allow customers to pay a flat fee for each device, plus a single charge for shared monthly data, which ranges from 1GB to 10GB. The plan includes unlimited voice minutes and text messages and makes you pay for them, whether you need them or not. As a result, a 2GB data plan costs $100 on the new plan while 2GB with a limited number of minutes and texts cost $70 on the old plan。
今年6月,韦里孙公司公布了新制定的“分享一切”套餐,允许用户为每个设备支付固定费率,同时每月为各设备共享的数据流量单独付费,数据流量从1GB到10GB不等。套餐内通话和短信虽然上不封顶,但不管是否需要,消费者都要为这些服务付费。结果,按照新套餐,一项2G数据套餐要花100美元,而根据原来的限时计划,2G数据流量套餐仅花70美元。
7.Reach-Around Award: Acer Aspire S5 Ultrabook
7. “使用不便”奖:宏碁Aspire S5超级本
The Aspire S5 was the thinnest Ultrabook around when it debuted, but to achieve such a svelte profile, Acer incorporated a drop-down door to access the Ultrabook’s ports. Even worse, the ports are in the back, making it uncomfortable to reach around to plug in a USB cable。
Aspire S5以“世界最薄的超级本”的身份首次亮相。为了得到这样的“苗条”身材,宏碁公司采用了下拉式接口设计。但糟糕的是,接口位于机身后部,插入USB等设备时有所不便。
8.Broken Promises Award: BB10
8. “违背诺言”奖:黑莓10
BlackBerry 10 has become somewhat of a punchline in the tech industry, with the release of RIM’s new OS continually delayed at a time when the straggling smartphone-maker should be trying anything to keep up with its Android and iPhone competitors. After a brief demonstration of BlackBerry 10 at BlackBerry World in May, RIM pushed back the operating system’s release until Q1 of 2013, and soon after slashed 5,000 jobs。
从某种程度上说,黑莓10已经成为科技行业的笑柄。目前,已经落伍的移动通信研究公司应该竭尽全力,追赶竞争对手安卓和iPhone,但这家智能手机制造商却一再推迟发布新操作系统。今年5月在“黑莓世界”简短介绍了“黑莓10”后,该公司将操作系统的发布推迟到2013年第一季度,随后又削减了五千个工作岗位。
Although there are some features in BB10 that look promising, many BlackBerry loyalists have already jumped ship. We'll find out in January if RIM has a shot at a better 2013.
尽管黑莓10也有令人期待的新特色,但很多黑莓手机的拥趸已经改用其他手机。我们静待明年1月,看该公司是否将在明年有所起色。
9.Bait-and-Switch Award: Microsoft Surface
9. “诱饵调包”奖:微软Surface平板电脑
When commercials for the Microsoft Surface started airing, viewers were enthralled by the device's Touch Cover。
当微软Surface平板电脑的广告开始播出时,这款电脑的Touch Cover键盘保护罩吸引了观众的眼球。
One would assume that if Microsoft was putting the Touch Cover into its Surface commercials, it would come with the Surface, right? Wrong. Turns out the Touch Cover is a separate purchase, and shoppers would have to invest an additional $119 for the accessory。
有人也许会认为,如果微软把Touch Cover放在Surface平板电脑的广告里,那么Touch Cover会和Surface一起出售,对吗?错了。Touch Cover需要单独购买,另外再加119美元才能得到。
10.Bad Idea Award: Google Nexus Q
10. “坏主意”奖:谷歌NexusQ
Google's Nexus Q could have easily made our list of most overpriced gadgets of all-time . . . if it had actually come out. First shown and given to attendees at Google I/O 2012, the Nexus Q is a set-top box in the shape of an orb that streams either music or movies to your home theater from Google Play and Google Play only。
如果正式面世,谷歌的Nexus Q很有可能成为史上定价最为过高的设备之一。在2012谷歌开发者年会上,NexusQ初次亮相,并被分发给参会者。Nexus Q是一种球形机顶盒,能从谷歌在线商店(只能从谷歌商店)传输音乐或电影到你的家庭影院。
While a $50 Roku box, a $100 Apple TV or a $99 Google TV box offers a variety of content services and even apps, the $299 Nexus Q didn't even have Netflix. Once you got over its unique design, the Nexus Q's main feature was allowing multiple users to add to the same playlist, something that was sure to create plenty of arguments among family members with different tastes. To Google's credit, the company quickly realized it had a dud on its hands, stopped accepting new orders and gave free units to anyone who had preordered。
50美元的Roku机顶盒、100美元的苹果电视机顶盒或者99美元的谷歌电视机顶盒都能提供各种内容服务甚至应用程序,但299美元的Nexus Q甚至无法使用Netflix视频网站的服务。一旦你搞清了它的独特设计,那么Nexus Q的主要特点就是能让多位用户添加一份播放列表,这当然会使不同品味的家庭成员间产生争吵。值得称道的是,谷歌公司迅速发现了这一产品毫无用处,停止接受新订单,并对预订者给予免费。

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重点单词
  • devicen. 装置,设计,策略,设备
  • demonstrationn. 示范,实证,表达,集会
  • multipleadj. 许多,多种多样的 n. 倍数,并联
  • uniqueadj. 独一无二的,独特的,稀罕的
  • minutesn. 会议记录,(复数)分钟
  • nexusn. 连系,联络,关系,网络,节,段,连杆,连接
  • accessoryadj. 附属的(副的,辅助的) n. 附件,同谋
  • creditn. 信用,荣誉,贷款,学分,赞扬,赊欠,贷方 (复)c
  • releasen. 释放,让渡,发行 vt. 释放,让与,准予发表,发
  • unlimitedadj. 无限的,不受控制的,无条件的