Recent Comments:
Yamaha's yAired-equipped MCR-140 micro stereo wirelessly talks to iPods and subwoofers {Engadget}
Nov 13th 2009 10:23AM Having lived in the USA for 10 years and observed the comments made by Engadget writers, it is obvious that there is a major difference between the European and American perception of style. Even today, US mobile phones (such as the push to talk models) are ugly and lack any finesse in design (iPhone excepted), their cars are appallingly constructed and lack the style of French, Italian or British models - possibly why their makers are collapsing into chapter 11? And here we have a fantastic example of very non Japanese industrial design from Yahama - and Engadget call it ugly! If this is ugly, then what is sexy? As it happens, Yamaha have consistently produced some very pleasing and 'timeless' designs - very different from the me to products of most Japanese AV firms.
ICD confirms Vega tablet, includes Android 2.0, Tegra processor, our hearts {Engadget}
Nov 13th 2009 8:45AM Docking system looks like the one on my conceptual (Apple) tablet:
http://visionaforethought.wordpress.com/2009/08/23/if-apple-dont-launch-a-tablet-equal-or-better-than-this/
(Mine lacks finesse, being conceptual only of course.)
Apple's patent application for pen-based computer remembers fingers can't write {Engadget}
Nov 12th 2009 6:54AM Write on Stevie!
Nokia N900 ad suggests a history of mental illness {Engadget}
Nov 10th 2009 11:11AM The brilliance of this ad is lost to the dumb the wrong side of the Atlantic who just 'don't get it'. Too much dumbed down reality TV in your lives? Sad.
New DROID ads show off Android, will make a man out of you {Engadget}
Nov 9th 2009 1:49PM Kind of makes one feel embarassed to own (or in my case, consider owning) an iPhone. Brilliant ads. Last one is not really bashing the iPhone, but more any fashion phone with those blingy extras.
Cellphone inventor says they've become 'too complicated,' rock-n-roll too loud {Engadget}
Nov 6th 2009 8:36AM Ah, the 8210, lovely and small - and you could use the infra red to tether to a PowerBook! That was when Orange (UK) offered:
1. Replacement insurance on every phone (I went through about six 8210s). A guy on a motorbike would turnup with a box and a new phone. Simply gave him the old one.
2. No knobling of the OS to make tethering harder.
Ah, way back then...
2001 to be exact.
:)
Cellphone inventor says they've become 'too complicated,' rock-n-roll too loud {Engadget}
Nov 6th 2009 4:24AM In defense of Dr. Cooper, although I cannot prove it (I was not at the conference) I am convinced he is being misquoted. He may well be referring to the fact most phones are too fiddly for the elderly and/or those with poor eye sight. And he is right. And he has already done something about it. Google 'Jitterbug'.
a) Every device uses a different operating paradigm to others (consider Android - every phone has it's own UI!), so the minute you switch devices, you have to learn all over. And if we can leave being rude to them aside, people in their prime of life find it harder to re-learn any process. Consider your own relatives.
b) Performing even basic functions on most phones requires several steps and the only reason young people manage is because they learn the process out of pure desperate need to communicate. (Sending a text message from a Samsung used to be a multistep nightmare! It's taken them years to simplify the process.) Wait until you're 40+ and you'll find learning hard - your brain will be occupied with all the 'baggage' of life, just as one collects more physical stuff with age. But you'll be wiser. :)
c) The VCR is an example of how complex tech put people off. The VCR did not succeed because it allowed us to record TV programs, it succeeded because of the rental market. 1. Insert cassette. 2. Hit PLAY. 3. Watch! On the other hand, could you change the clock from a flashing 12:00 in order to use the machine to record a program? If so, you were in the minority. And the DVR was born.
d) Now, with regards to all in one devices, with the exception of the Pre, Dr. Cooper is correct here too. They do not yet tightly integrate the experience or offer the instantaneous ease of use of separate devices. Phone camera shutter releases are often tiny little buttons with little tactile feedback, and then, the shutter release is 3 or 4 times slower to activate than a stand alone camera. This makes 'Kodak' moments difficult to capture - such as Grand kids looking cute. Music players and radios are often burried in a layer of icons or folders. (The Sony Ericsson K800i - best phone ever made? - has a PLAY button hidden on the top left - something few probably notice, but it is very useful for starting the radio or music player. Only downside is the button is a bit small, but it makes a difference. These little things count!) Apple dealt nicely with this issue on the iPhone/iPod Touch by upgrading the OS such that double clicking the (only) button brings up a mini playback control. BACK - PLAY/PAUSE - NEXT. Next issue for them to tackle is the camera.
NVIDIA confirms Intel chipsets won't support USB 3.0 until 2011 {Engadget}
Nov 4th 2009 11:25AM LightPeak all the way please. Let's get moving and spend less time fiddling with our cables and more time being productivity.
How many man hours lost to waiting for yet another DVI-X to connector Y adapter? Etc.
Litl Easel Webbook now official, unbelievably overpriced {Engadget}
Nov 4th 2009 8:52AM One problem: iPod Touch. And it fits in your pocket. And it plays games, and music, and video. And is (touch) push button easy too.
This is a lovely product, well engineered, well conceived from a web OS angle, but makes the wrong assumptions about consumers, who are extremely sophisticated today. The lack of a touch screen goes against the tide and means the Litl's prime market, children and the elderly will be missing out on the most intuitive method with which to interact with a visual display based device. Not to mention artists who would have loved to curl up on the sofa and sketch. Too Litl, too much$, too late.
Motorola DROID's built-in apps don't have multitouch support, third-party stuff is another story {Engadget}
Nov 4th 2009 5:44AM It's time for Engadget readers who don't already know this to be informed of the fact (and this applies to most industries) that phone vendors often share suppliers and/or IP (intellectual property) and a little deal making is done behind closed doors. Not quite a cartel, but it is why we have yet to experience the ultimate device. (The Nokia N95 8G probably came close being it does most of what it does well - camera, fast processor, great satnav, games etc.) Anyway, ignoring the obvious overlap between Google and Apple (maps, Android etc), Samsung make the processor in the iPhone and the LCDs in some other Apple products. And LG come into the picture somewhere too.
So, you can imagine that in their negotiations and supply deals, things like this will be agreed: "Dear Samsung, you're providing our processors and win either way, so please avoid too many iPhone like features in your handsets. Enjoy your low to mid range demographic sales, and we'll hit the high end/more affluent. Regards, Apple" (In reality, those who grow out of Samsung's friendly touch screen phones will probably upgrade to an iPhone later in life.) Re Android, a similar agreement will be in place, perhaps for a limited time. So, expect multitouch to appear on Android at some time in the future, with no legal action from Apple.
Just a guess, but the only way for a company to make the ultimate do it all device is to produce (not buy in) most of the components and own the IP. LG and Nokia are the only two companies who can do this, Nokia own their OS, mapping company etc, while LG also make displays and have shown remarkable ability to innovate with some of their handsets. Nokia own the most IP and have the best licensed technology (Carl Zeiss lenses for example) and if they put their minds to it, could create the ultimate handset. To do this, they need a very good UI designer to overhaul whatever OS they choose to gamble the future of the company on.
Anyway, re the excellent DROID, there are other ways to zoom in on objects than just Apple like two finger multitouch. Developers need to think creatively!
