Hoshnasi

Realign you’re thought process on devices.

I was following Gizmodo this morning on the kindle 2 launch.  They now have a “Hands on” up so check it out.
The kindle is an interesting device.  Its pretty polarizing actually.  For as many people you hear that are interested in it, there are twice as many or more that hate it -an opinion that may or  may not be founded on actually ever looking at eInk in person.

It does have a market though.  Back in August sales numbers were posted, TechCrunch ran an article on it.  So we have a device that to many seems pointless and over-priced yet is selling well and continuing to get people to fill it with books.  Whats going on here?  Do we have a bunch of dopes with cash to burn or are the nay-sayers missing something.  While I’m sure there were plenty with cash to burn, I’m going to say its that people don’t see the vision of these types of products.

People have likened the kindle to the original iPod.  A device that at its inception really just held and played a ton of audio.  Audiophiles scoffed at the iPod for its mp3 quality (remeber that?) and others chastized its very high price, I’m not possitive but it was upwards of $350.00-$400.00.  Is this a sound comparison to the kindle?  Sure, at its very essense the kindle is a device that simulates paper, carries a ton of books and is expensive.

Gadget debates form around the integration into everyday life.  There seems to be a trend though.  Get as many functions into as few devices as possible.  For many this could be an iPhone.  But for people nuts about photography,  The iPhone is not of quality of device they require and  they end of up carrying maybe a different phone (with better camera) or a sepperate camera.  For gamers and dependending on the games they play the iPhone could be fine.  However on the majority.  Most will want a defined platform well integrated for game play.  So a Nintendo DS or Sony PSP gets carried around.  For workers on the go, now we’re talking laptops and that in itself is a whole other arguement that brings in weight, size, heat and the all important money to power ratio as things get smaller.

Whats this have to do with the kindle?  Well for readers, the iPhone is not a good solution.  It is a solution, given that other factors are important, but the tiny screen and battery life is NOT helping an serious reader.  The kindle 2, while obviously a second device to lug around has a MASSIVE battery life, two weeks on a charge and what I think is as close to paper as we can get in terms of a screen.

The question is “Am I as a reader better served with the kindle and the experience it provides then that of a iPhone, laptop or PDA?”  The reasons are yours of course, but it is important to consider these things as a whole.

I personally think the kindle and kindle 2 are innovative products that for people who have a passion for reading is an easy buy.  For those readers who also get the newspaper, are avid blog readers and us email it moves closer to a no brainier.  I myself fall into the “wants to be passionate about reading wagon”.  I have so many things all pulling for my time I can’t decide if the kindle would make reading an easier thing to fit in throughout my day, or a really expensive novelty.  That is not selling the product short, its meerly pointing out how it would fit into my life.

This weekend I find myself in Sacramento.  Which is great because I get to see my Grandmother and Granfather.  I also get to hang out with a cousin and uncle I rarely see.

 The problem is I am packing light, just my iPhone.  The other problem is the computer time I get is after many have gone to bed. 

 Naturally I started to think of mobloging for the iPhone (nevermind there is no wifi).  Still the thought has entered my mind about being able to access my Wordpress blog and add entries with pictures taken from the iPhone or from the library.  This is easy enough if I had a 3g iPhone or 2.0 software, Wordpress has an app.  More details on this app are available here.

However, I’m ghetto with my first gen iPhone and 1.1.4 running on T-Mobile.  So, I’m off to find some new means to accomplish mobile blogging.  Initial google searches have been fruit-less.  Next step I’m going to go off the beaten installer update path and find some of those fringe apps.  Scary things that many iPhone users avoid.  Mainly because they suck.

 With me luck, I’ll post my findings.

This is a short lived opportunity for sure and I’m letting everyone know a little late, but there is still money to be had.

Currently AT&T are selling the 8 ($249.00) and 16 ($349.00) GB iPhone on the refurb site.  Right now you are limited to one, but that doesn’t stop you from pick more up via craigslist.  Once you have acquired a bunch.  Unlock using the ZiPhone tool.

 PROFIT!!! (As long as you make it international shipping, for peeps in Transylvania)

I made this yesturday after a Dr. Appointment.

WWDC is coming around the bend June 9th. Get your cash ready to plop down on the new 3G iPhone. When WWDC rolls around I’ll be watching my buddy HLash’s Twitter closely. He’ll be live micro blogging the whole thing for us

Also, I’m back and working both HoshNasi and Twitter, check me out.

The internets are telling me that readers of my site want one thing and one thing alone. That is 802.1x support for their iPhones and iPod Touch. As I mentioned before I’m waiting the SDK, then I’ll try my hand at getting it to work. Until then, please Digg my story. Hit up the petition and finally, email Steve. Thats right get out there and handle it guys!

When the announcement at MacWorld came that the iPod Touch would be receiving a software update I went out to find a cheap one on eBay.  Fast forward a week and I have in my hot little hands a Touch.  Its really quite nice.  I like the size the most I think.

Next on my list is to get the SDK.  Should be fun to make something for this nicely integrated device.

For the readers out there.  What web tools do you use?  I went to find some, but didn’t get very far.

I was reading over at MobileViews about the new Google docs support and he made a great point

“The number of sites and pace of development to support a less than one-year old platform astonishes me constantly. Where are the good looking and easy to use web pages for Windows Mobile?”

He is absolutely right. Companies are bending over backwards to get the iPhone or provide content like Google. Consumers are also clamoring to get the SDK so they can further enhance these devices. It is definitely NOT like how Windows Mobile is treated. Granted, WM6 is pretty open to developers and has a ton of ways to enhance features. Its just not the slick mobile machine that the iPhone and iPod touch have become.

Can’t wait till February for the SDK. I’m thinking of developing something for the iPhone myself.

Can anybody find me a device to love?

I currently have a T-Mobile Dash.

If I were to asked to provide a two sentence review I’d say. “Its an adequate phone that checks my email and handles a calender. It has a full keyboard which is nice, but Windows Mobile 6 can suck a fat one.”

What I need is some integration. I’m a picky consumer and cannot find a device that will suit me with my stringent requirements. I work in an 802.1x wifi environment on an exchange network with a PC. Most of my email comes encrypted. My personal life is handled via Gmail and Google calendar, which syncs with iCal at home on my Mac. I like smart phones, but by and large I’d say the keyboards and screens are too small -like on the dash- to really do any serious blogging. The last thing I would like is an operating system that doesn’t suck and that can support some Getting Things Done (GTD) applications. My fiance loves this and says since I’m an engineer I should be all over it. Frankly, its giving me a complex; I think I need to join the cool kids party.

I have looked at many phones. Blackberries for example have small screens and I don’t feel like paying extra for real-time email. The treo seems like a very feature rich gadget, but I’m not sure it’ll handle all the syncing I need to do and keep a charge for longer than a day of minimal phone usage, but heavy wifi for email. Plus its too big for my pocket. I have the same complaint with blackberries. Which is a porblem because I’ll never wear a phone holster either, so thats out.

Another option I thought about is picking up an old Apple Newton, they have a nice large screen and a vibrant 3rd party app pool to swim in.

The problem is it only supports WEP encrypted Wifi. So my work email, calendar and tasks are out. I’ve thought about using just a standard Ethernet but I always say to myself. If I am sitting at a desk with a broadband connection why don’t I just use my laptop or my work PC? Another problem is the resale on these things. The 2000 and 2100 often are more than $200.00 for a unit in decent condition. Regardless its still a cool device, that I wish had a predecessor.

I have a feeling where I am heading in this quest and its a dreary space. The land in between the phone and the laptop. The dreaded palmtop land. I’ve seen many attempt this journey and its doesn’t end well for most. The challenge is to find a suitable PDA type device that isn’t just a huge gimmick. The ground in this land is covered with devices that tried running some half-assed crippled version of the Windows and just couldn’t provide any functionality. Also here are people who cannot move away from an aging device because “There is no new device!”. Again referencing my fiance. She clung like a mountain climber to a life line to her Sony Clie. Ultimately, she gave in and bought a TMobile MDA, which for her fits the bill.I think the issue might be that there isn’t a big enough market for a power user device. Most people are fine use sidekicks, blackberries and Treos because they just need to access Facebook or Gmail. Those of us with business obligations, complicated email a need for wireless and a halfway decent input scheme that won’t leave me aching don’t really have a product. We have to make do with a device that solves 70% of our needs, which sucks.If you wish to chime in with any ideas look for me on the fringe of gadget society. Or just leave a comment here.

The Macbook Air is a sleek and portable bad-ass. Let me get that out of the way. I love the design, I think it will sell well. The problem is I can’t figure out WHO will buy it.

During lunch with the engineering brain trust I brought up the Macbook Air. The first line was shared among all five of us “That thing looks sweet!” To which I replied with a “Yeah! But who is the market?”
- Silence.

After checking out the Apple Store Compare sheet I was less sure of my original thought on “Who’s gonna buy this?”

-Budget conscious students are out. You can get more for $1099.00 in the standard Macbook to fill your needs.

-Performance minded professionals, artsy folk and engineers I think pretty much never got passed the “Cool form factor”. The Air comes standard with 2GB of Ram, which is nice, but a sluggish 1.6 GHz. Intel is standard. Paying the $300.00 upgrade to 1.8GHz. brings you right around the Macbook Pro area, which is a better deal with dedicated graphics for the Artsy type.

-Travel bound jetsetter, Starbucks Hipster, Business Hob knob, Gadget dude with tons of $$$ and Kevin Rose (Nothing but love Kevin). This I think is the market for the Air. The power is less important to these folks. If it can run then the power should be fine. These types require internet, communication and YouTube viewing. This should work just right for them. The slim size and low weight make it even prettier a package.

Now I am sure I missed a niche or two here. This is generally a light hearted post. I’ll wait to hear the views as they start rolling in from CNET, Giz and Engadget.

Kevin, let us know how you like the Air on the next Diggnation, ok?

What do the rest of you think about the Macbook Air?