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Switched On: The Peek of popularity
Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology. Last week's Switched On delved into Celio's REDFLY, an austere smartphone accessory designed for enterprise users who manage their digital lives on their smartphones. REDFLY has faced scrutiny from the geek elite who have noted that, for about the same price as a REDFLY, one can get an independently functioning netbook that does so much more. A similar argument has also been levied at Peek, a wireless e-mail appliance that delivers only a part of what most smartphones can do. But the two products could hardly be more different. Whereas REDFLY is a smartphone companion, Peek is a smartphone alternative featuring a slim design and a commitment to simplicity that borders on obsession. For example, Peek, like many modern smartphones, will attempt to guess your mail server information by your e-mail address. But if your e-mail address stumps it, there is no way to enter a server name or IP address manually. This omission is intentional, according to Peek, which didn't want consumers to have to find out technical settings. Instead, customers are directed to contact the company's support line where a customer service representative will set up the account for them. The approach is in lockstep with the device's target market -- busy and less technical consumers, particularly young mothers, who find themselves increasingly dependent on e-mail and don't want the complexity of a smartphone or the high cost of running one on a 3G network. Peek provides an alternative to a growing movement within the cellular industry to force minimal data plans on advanced phones. And for consumers who find carrier stores less than inviting, Peek is sold at Target, and it works.
Peek email-only handheld already discounted $20
The Peek email-only handheld got a peculiar amount of praise given how, shall we say, non-multifaceted is it, but even being atop Time's "Gadget Of The Year" poll couldn't save it from an imminent price cut. Yes friends -- nary two months after this here device began shipping, its creator is already knocking a Jackson off of the purchase price. Sure, the site says "limited time only," but as with Celio's REDFLY, we have all ideas the sticker will be sinking lower before it shoots back up. Monthly service is still situated at $19.95 per month, but you can snag yours now in Black Cherry, Charcoal Gray or Aqua Blue for the low, low price of $79.95.[Via Gadling]
Peek's email device tops voting for Time's gadget of the year, not that it matters
We're not going to jump up on our "new media" pedestal and claim that Time Magazine is irrelevant or anything, but man, stick to what you know. Time's gadget of the year list includes some commendable choices to be certain -- but seriously, not a single industry re-defining netbook, multi-million selling iPhone 3G, or 1080p-capable EOS 5D Mark II DSLR in a top 10 list of 2008 gadgets? Puhlease. Seems that voting is still open -- while you can't change the list you can certainly have your say as to whether Peek's eMail-only handheld should be voted above T-Mobile's Android-powered G1 (by a margin of more than 5 to 1) as the best gadget of 2008.[Thanks, Horatio]
Peek email-only handheld now available for pre-order, in stores Monday
Man, the Peek email-only handheld must really be, uh, piquing people's interest -- it just went up for pre-orders and two of the three colors are already backordered a week. The $100 device should also be showing up in Targets nationwide Monday, so if you're as curious as we are they'll be easy to impulse purchase in person as well. Too bad that you're locked into that $19.95/mo data plan as your only option, though -- if we could somehow use our existing data plan or even pay a flat fee upfront for lifetime service we'd be way more likely to snag one. Anyone else picking one up?[Via Silicon Alley Insider]
Peek email-only handheld gets reviewed
For some reason, we're quite taken with the Peek email-only handheld, and Gadling's followup review of the love-it-or-hate-it device mostly reinforces that positive impression. The squared-off, Ideo-designed unit did its one task admirably well, sending and receiving emails using T-Mobile's network with only slight delay, and the OS is minimal and easy to use. Sure, at $99 and $20/mo it's still way too expensive for the typical gadget nerd who's already packing a phone data plan and maybe a data card as well, but if you're trying to keep things on the prepaid tip or looking to get a Luddite friend or relative on the mobile email bandwagon, the Peek is certainly worth a second, uh, peek.
Freak Peek sneak peek leaks, piques curiosity
For many of us, the mere thought of toting yet another device in our pocket, purse, or belt holster is truly disgusting, particularly when said device resembles a primitive BlackBerry hewn from solid stone and does literally nothing but send and receive email for twenty bucks a month. For others, though, the Peek might be just what the doctor ordered. Laptop Magazine took a quick look at the $100 email-only brick, declaring it "dead simple" to use -- a good thing, considering its target demo -- and finding its expansive soft-touch keyboard easy on the fingers. As ugly as it might be, it'll be easy enough to hide; Laptop says users will have no issues tucking it into a pocket, owing in no small part to the fact that it's a full 30 percent thinner than the iPhone 3G. Still, we're going to like 'em ten times better when they're hacked to run Android, Doom, Maemo, or pretty much anything else that ends in "ux." Update: Gadling's got a hands-on with the Peek as well and expects to post a full review in the next few days. Have a... peek, why don't you?
Peek: the handheld that does e-mail, and only e-mail
Ready for some excitement in the form of watching a startup squirm as it waits for its product to gain traction? Take a glance at Peek, which is churning out a dedicated handheld that handles e-mail, a few chain forwards, and more e-mails when you're done with that. At first glance, one may consider such a one-trick-pony quite ridiculous, but it's hard to say what will end up catching on these days. The biggest problem facing Peek is the pricing: it'll be $99.95 up front when it lands in Target next month, plus $19.95 per month to send unlimited e-mails over T-Mobile's network. Of course, if anyone figures out how to load Opera Mini up here, the Bulls-eye Shop won't be able to keep the shelves stocked.[Via Silicon Alley Insider]
