Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Got An N800? Get Real

Nokia and Real bring Rhapsody to the N800 Internet Tablet, making good on one more of a few promises of integrating commercial software and services with the quite flexible open source platform. Just point your N800 towards Nokia's Tableteer page for more details.

Sources: Internet Tablet Talk | Engadget

Monday, March 26, 2007

Motion In The Helio Ocean

Today Helio introduced the Ocean, the world's first dual-slider combining a traditional numeric keypad and a separate full QWERTY keyboard in a single device. Given the unique sliding operation of the phone, one might come to the conclusion that this thing must be a brick, but you'd be wrong.


Measuring in at a mere 4.33 x 2.2 x .86 inches, it's smaller than a Sidekick 3 and slightly thinner than even the Sony Mylo. Coming this spring at $295 (MRSP), along with a ton of great features, this might be the device that sets the bar a little higher for the future of mobile. Check out the links below for more details on the awesome amount of features Helio is packing into this thing.

Sources: SlashGear | Mobiledia | infoSync World | Engadget | MobileBurn

UPDATE: Enter to win an Ocean + 12 of service here.

Friday, March 23, 2007

Online Video Circus

Now that we have more information on the News Corp./NBC Universal joint venture, video service... thing, there's been some doubt to it's success even before it's had a chance to get a name. And though the critics are a bit hasty in their analysis of the deal, you have to admit that it doesn't exactly scream "rock solid" execution either. Google's calling it "Clown Co.", which at the moment, is sticking like crazy glue in the minds of the cynical. I guess it's Google's way of saying "the show must go on." :)


Thursday, March 22, 2007

2008: Year Of The WiMAX Internet Tablets

From the Nokia press release:
In addition to supplying Sprint Nextel with WiMAX network infrastructure, Nokia will also develop WiMAX-enabled mobile devices, including multimedia computers and Internet tablets, which are expected to be available in 2008.
Let's hope we get a sneak peek of some of the new mobile WiMAX tech at CTIA Wireless next week. Exciting stuff just around the corner.

Sources: Ring Nokia | ThoughtFix

Monday, March 19, 2007

Flipping The Google "Switch"

I've been using many of the Google services for a long time now. Some of which went by other names before they were acquired by Google (i.e. Writely and YouTube). Everything from Gmail to Adsense to Blogger to Calendar. But these are all the same in that they are just intangible services and software. Of course hardware is nothing new to Google either with its search appliances, but only on an enterprise level. If the rumors are true though, that could all change very soon.

There are a few questions that have been raised in my mind about this yet-to-be revealed device. I'll also use my "fuzzy" logic once again to come up with what I think makes sense for how Google would answer these questions.

[1] Why a mobile phone? Why not? Aside from the "because we can" answer Google is more likely to have, their current suite of web applications are practically begging to be formally assembled in a more organized fashion on a mobile device. And with full control over the hardware, Google can more easily "shape" the way all things Google work on mobile devices.

[2] How much more than a phone will this thing be? One has to only look at the plethora of services offered by the Internet giant to see that there's a ton of potential features Google could cram into a mobile device. I'm betting we'll see this phone come with many of the features that have made Internet Tablets like Nokia's 770 and N800 what they are today. Also, in order to create demand for such a device, they'll likely keep the price low by using some form of mobile advertising that is yet to be seen. Two birds, one stone.

[3] What's this "really" about? Could be a shot at Apple's iPhone. Could be their head start into the realm of mobile advertising. It could even just be Google's way to reach as many new users for reaching ever more towards their monumental goal of "organizing the world's information and making it universally accessible and useful." Whatever the case may be, there are a lot more reasons for Google to have it's own phone than not.

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

The Lenovo Tapes

I've never dropped my laptop (knocks on wood) or needed to project my persona to slip out on the boss, but many a time have I needed that "liquid protection system". These are very cool concepts to say the least.