flash | Kris Smith has read these articles about "flash" | www.croncast.com Kris Smith http://www.croncast.com/keyg/flash This is the keyword feed for "flash" from my read items in Google Reader. If you would like to search or subscribe to category/keyword rss feeds for items that I have shared with Google Reader visit http://www.croncast.com/c4_reading.php en-us Copyright for these items belong to their original publishers. No Croncast, Kris, Betsy, Comedy, Parenting, Funny, Palegroove, Croncast, eBay, Goodwill This is the keyword feed for "flash" from my read items in Google Reader. This is the keyword feed for "flash" from my read items in Google Reader. http://www.croncast.com/images/croncast_itunes.jpg flash | Kris Smith has read these articles about "flash" | www.croncast.com http://www.croncast.com/keyg/flash This is the keyword feed for "flash" from my read items in Google Reader. If you would like to search or subscribe to category/keyword rss feeds for items that I have shared with Google Reader visit http://www.croncast.com/c4_reading.php Croncast - Kris and Betsy Smith info@palegroove.com http://www.croncast.com Palegroove It's Time for a Palm Pilot Tablet http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/jkOnTheRun/~3/RPsUiD79DCg/ Shared item I admit I have been neglecting my lonely Palm Pre the past few days. I have no shortage of phones around here and until picking it up earlier today, I haven't been giving the Pre much thought. While I was using the Pre, my thoughts centered around the trouble that Palm is having due to low sales numbers. I also was struck once again with how good webOS is from a user's standpoint. The interface is great, and it would be a big loss to see Palm (and webOS) go away. Then it hit me right between the eyes wouldn't webOS be fantastic on a 7-inch slate?

While it seems that tablet-mania has us all in its grip, the more I thought of a slate running webOS the more excited I got about it. The graphical touch interface is already outstanding, but imagine it on a 7-inch display. The multitasking of webOS would enter new ground on such a screen. It would not only be a productive environment to use, it would actually be fun. If you ask me, Palm could use a little fun these days.

I am picturing a thin slate with a 7-inch screen even a tad bigger would be OK. The great PIM apps on webOS would be stellar if optimized for the larger display. Palm wouldn't have to add functionality, or even change the way they utilized touch, just optimize the display. The webOS browser is already quite good; It would only be better on a larger screen.

I believe Palm could produce this slate, given its history with device design and production. It should follow the Apple model and make sure all existing webOS apps work on the tablet, and provide incentives to developers who optimize existing apps for the bigger screen. Maybe even make a deal with Amazon to get a solid app to work with Amazon MP3. There are many ways for Palm to go with this slate, almost all of them good.

Palm could produce a Wi-Fi model of the slate, but also a Sprint 3G/4G model. This would compete with the iPad, and with the Sprint data network make a bold statement. I can see Palm making a tremendous splash with such a device, no matter what happens with its phone line. Having given this a lot of thought, I can only see an upside for beleaguered Palm with this. Given the tight integration webOS already has with Google services, this tablet would give Android tablets serious competition.

The only question I have about this tablet venture for Palm is what to call the product. There's the obvious Palm Pad, but I think they need something clever to make a splash. How about the Palm Pilot? Raise the original product name that made the company famous, and get people talking.

Related research on GigaOM Pro (sub req'd):

How To Clean Up the Mobile OS Mess



Tags: palm webos slate tablet gurus ]]>I admit I have been neglecting my lonely Palm Pre the past few days. I have no shortage of phones around here and until picking it up earlier today, I haven't been giving the Pre much thought. While I was using the Pre, my thoughts centered around the trouble that Palm is having due to low sales numbers. I also was struck once again with how good webOS is from a user's standpoint. The interface is great, and it would be a big loss to see Palm (and webOS) go away. Then it hit me right between the eyes wouldn't webOS be fantastic on a 7-inch slate?

While it seems that tablet-mania has us all in its grip, the more I thought of a slate running webOS the more excited I got about it. The graphical touch interface is already outstanding, but imagine it on a 7-inch display. The multitasking of webOS would enter new ground on such a screen. It would not only be a productive environment to use, it would actually be fun. If you ask me, Palm could use a little fun these days.

I am picturing a thin slate with a 7-inch screen even a tad bigger would be OK. The great PIM apps on webOS would be stellar if optimized for the larger display. Palm wouldn't have to add functionality, or even change the way they utilized touch, just optimize the display. The webOS browser is already quite good; It would only be better on a larger screen.

I believe Palm could produce this slate, given its history with device design and production. It should follow the Apple model and make sure all existing webOS apps work on the tablet, and provide incentives to developers who optimize existing apps for the bigger screen. Maybe even make a deal with Amazon to get a solid app to work with Amazon MP3. There are many ways for Palm to go with this slate, almost all of them good.

Palm could produce a Wi-Fi model of the slate, but also a Sprint 3G/4G model. This would compete with the iPad, and with the Sprint data network make a bold statement. I can see Palm making a tremendous splash with such a device, no matter what happens with its phone line. Having given this a lot of thought, I can only see an upside for beleaguered Palm with this. Given the tight integration webOS already has with Google services, this tablet would give Android tablets serious competition.

The only question I have about this tablet venture for Palm is what to call the product. There's the obvious Palm Pad, but I think they need something clever to make a splash. How about the Palm Pilot? Raise the original product name that made the company famous, and get people talking.

Related research on GigaOM Pro (sub req'd):

How To Clean Up the Mobile OS Mess



Tags: palm webos slate tablet gurus ]]> Thu, 18 Mar 2010 21:00:00 -0400 tag:croncast.com,6130 AppleInsider | NPR, WSJ plan Flash-free Web sites for Apple iPad http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/10/03/16/npr_wsj_plan_flash_free_web_sites_for_apple_ipad.html Shared item NPR, WSJ plan Flash-free Web sites for Apple iPad

By Katie Marsal

Published: 03:50 PM EST

In addition to new App Store software, National Public Radio and The Wall Street Journal also plan to create specific versions of their Web sites completely devoid of Adobe Flash for iPad users.

This week Peter Kafka with MediaMemo revealed that both NPR and the Journal will convert at least some portions of their Web site to load properly on the iPad. The custom-built sites will feature the same content and run concurrently with the traditional and iPhone/mobile-friendly versions of each Web site.

"Visitors to the newspaper's front page will see an iPad-specific, Flash-free page," Kafka said of the Journal's iPad Web site. "But those who click deeper into the site will eventually find pages that haven't been converted."

The news comes weeks after Virgin America revealed it dropped Flash content from its new Web site in order to allow users with iPhones to check in for flights.

But the Journal and NPR are both also creating App Store software specifically for the iPad, suggesting that content providers are taking a multi-pronged approach to Apple's forthcoming multimedia device. Kinsey Wilson, head of digital media for NPR, declined to give Kafka an advance look at the organization's forthcoming iPad application or Web site, but did provide a hint as to what the experience could be like.

"Wilson says that while iPhone apps are a 'very intentional experience' --you load the thing up and seek out specific content -- he thinks the iPad will be a 'lean back device,'" Kafka wrote. "That's traditionally the distinction multimedia types use to differentiate between a computer and a TV. Intriguing."

The exclusion of Adobe Flash from the iPad and subsequent comments attributed to Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, in which he allegedly called the Web standard a "CPU hog," have led to a considerable amount of debate over its merits and shortcomings.

Contributing to the conversation in January was Google, which added support for rival format HTML5 to the most popular video destination on the Internet, YouTube. The beta opt-in program is available only for browsers that support both HTML5 and H.264 video encoding. Apple, too, has placed its support behind HTML5.

For more on why Apple isn't likely to add support for Flash in the iPhone OS, read AppleInsider's three-part Flash Wars series.


Tags: ipad flash web apple site ]]>NPR, WSJ plan Flash-free Web sites for Apple iPad

By Katie Marsal

Published: 03:50 PM EST

In addition to new App Store software, National Public Radio and The Wall Street Journal also plan to create specific versions of their Web sites completely devoid of Adobe Flash for iPad users.

This week Peter Kafka with MediaMemo revealed that both NPR and the Journal will convert at least some portions of their Web site to load properly on the iPad. The custom-built sites will feature the same content and run concurrently with the traditional and iPhone/mobile-friendly versions of each Web site.

"Visitors to the newspaper's front page will see an iPad-specific, Flash-free page," Kafka said of the Journal's iPad Web site. "But those who click deeper into the site will eventually find pages that haven't been converted."

The news comes weeks after Virgin America revealed it dropped Flash content from its new Web site in order to allow users with iPhones to check in for flights.

But the Journal and NPR are both also creating App Store software specifically for the iPad, suggesting that content providers are taking a multi-pronged approach to Apple's forthcoming multimedia device. Kinsey Wilson, head of digital media for NPR, declined to give Kafka an advance look at the organization's forthcoming iPad application or Web site, but did provide a hint as to what the experience could be like.

"Wilson says that while iPhone apps are a 'very intentional experience' --you load the thing up and seek out specific content -- he thinks the iPad will be a 'lean back device,'" Kafka wrote. "That's traditionally the distinction multimedia types use to differentiate between a computer and a TV. Intriguing."

The exclusion of Adobe Flash from the iPad and subsequent comments attributed to Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, in which he allegedly called the Web standard a "CPU hog," have led to a considerable amount of debate over its merits and shortcomings.

Contributing to the conversation in January was Google, which added support for rival format HTML5 to the most popular video destination on the Internet, YouTube. The beta opt-in program is available only for browsers that support both HTML5 and H.264 video encoding. Apple, too, has placed its support behind HTML5.

For more on why Apple isn't likely to add support for Flash in the iPhone OS, read AppleInsider's three-part Flash Wars series.


Tags: ipad flash web apple site ]]> Tue, 16 Mar 2010 23:58:28 -0400 tag:croncast.com,6125 A Writer's Getaway http://natalierompella.blogspot.com/2010/03/writers-getaway.html Shared item
What I needed was a chance to read my work-in-progress novel without interruptions. With a baby, that's next to impossible. Usually I read a couple of chapters and then don't get a chance to look at it again for a couple of days. By then, it's hard to remember little details of consistency: (What day of the week was the last chapter? Was X in this version or my last draft? Did I use Y expression already?) Staying in a hotel where I could concentrate seemed perfect.

I left on a Friday night and returned on Sunday. It was just the right amount of time to get through a middle grade novel. I would highly recommend doing this, even if you live alone. Being in a different environment can be inspiring, not to mention being excuse-free of reasons not to write (the laundry's piling up, let me just mop the floor, then, I'll write, I haven't made bread from scratch in a while, etc.).

To save you some time, I've written up a list of what to bring, besides your basic packing stuff:

Writing Related
  • notebook paperBe optimistic: bring lots.

  • a clipboard or other hard surface if you like to work on the bed instead of a desk like I do.

  • different colored pensI found it useful to write all the changes I wasn't sure I wanted to make in a different color pen. That way, if I changed my mind, I could easily find those particular changes and remove them.

  • Post-It notesGood to bookmark pages when you flip back and forth between sections.

  • different colored highlightersI learned a terrific exercise by attending a conference by Darcy Pattison. You shrink your manuscript to a font small enough to fit your entire manuscript onto 32 pages (play with the margins and single space). You then use different colored highlighters to highlight whatever you want to examine for flow in your novel. You then lay out your novel on the floor and can see the entire thing in one look.

  • laptop computer (Note: ask ahead of time whether the hotel AND YOUR SPECIFIC ROOM have wireless. My room must have been just on the cusp of wireless coverage. I got a good 30 min. of online time and that's it. (It ended up being a good thing, as I didn't have access to time-sucking Facebook).

  • keyboard, mouse, etc.It was worth it to me to have a mouse instead of using the touchpad of the laptop. I was fine with the mini-keyboard of the laptop, but if you're not, keep that in mind. Nothing's worse than having time to type and being uncomfortable.

  • printerYes, you heard me correctly. I purchased a small HP printer from Walmart for $35 (color and black ink included). It was SO WORTH having with me. Sometimes I redo a page so extensively, I need to edit it a couple of times. It was helpful to be able to print it and write on a clean copy.

  • printer paper

  • flash driveIf you don't bring a printer, you still may want to print. By bringing a flash drive, you can print in the hotel's business center (or, you can always email yourself your manuscript and open it that way).

  • scissorsin case you want to cut your story apart to lay out

  • stapler or hole punchI keep my novel in a binder. After I printed some new pages, I wished I was able to stick them in my binder.

  • synopsisIf you change your novel, you may want to update this as well

  • other drafts of the novelI know I ended up referring to old copies of my novel for parts I had deleted from the most current version.

Non-writing Related

  • snacksLots. Now's not the time to worry about calories. Okay, I'm rationalizing the fact that I brought a jumbo bag of M & Ms, Red Vines, and Sun Chips, but let's just refer to these foods as fuel for creativity.

  • meal-ish FoodsI regret that I didn't pack anything that could count as a meal. Because my hotel had a HUGE children's chess tournament going on, the parking lot was packed. In an effort to not lose my great parking space, I refused to leave the hotel. That meant I had to eat at the restaurants at the hotel. Saturday morning, I spent $4 on a cup of Dannon yogurt and a microscopic box of Cheerios. I should have brought a couple granola bars, an apple, a box of raisins, etc.

  • coolerAgain, for bringing your own food. My room didn't have a refrigerator. If it had, I could have packed my own yogurt for under a dollar (can you tell I'm still bummed my yogurt cost $2.50?)

  • water

  • hand soapAm I the only one that can't stand how hotels still provide a bar soap instead of having a pump by the sink? I bring my own instead of using the slimy bar. A tip for any hotel stay.

  • ipod and headphones, workout clothes, etc.It was nice to take a break on the treadmill for a bit to clear my head. It also helped to work off about 4 M & Ms.

  • swimsuitA hotel with a pool was a must for me. I forced myself to make it to a certain page before I could take a swim break though.


Tags: hotel novel writing different etc ]]>
What I needed was a chance to read my work-in-progress novel without interruptions. With a baby, that's next to impossible. Usually I read a couple of chapters and then don't get a chance to look at it again for a couple of days. By then, it's hard to remember little details of consistency: (What day of the week was the last chapter? Was X in this version or my last draft? Did I use Y expression already?) Staying in a hotel where I could concentrate seemed perfect.

I left on a Friday night and returned on Sunday. It was just the right amount of time to get through a middle grade novel. I would highly recommend doing this, even if you live alone. Being in a different environment can be inspiring, not to mention being excuse-free of reasons not to write (the laundry's piling up, let me just mop the floor, then, I'll write, I haven't made bread from scratch in a while, etc.).

To save you some time, I've written up a list of what to bring, besides your basic packing stuff:

Writing Related
  • notebook paperBe optimistic: bring lots.

  • a clipboard or other hard surface if you like to work on the bed instead of a desk like I do.

  • different colored pensI found it useful to write all the changes I wasn't sure I wanted to make in a different color pen. That way, if I changed my mind, I could easily find those particular changes and remove them.

  • Post-It notesGood to bookmark pages when you flip back and forth between sections.

  • different colored highlightersI learned a terrific exercise by attending a conference by Darcy Pattison. You shrink your manuscript to a font small enough to fit your entire manuscript onto 32 pages (play with the margins and single space). You then use different colored highlighters to highlight whatever you want to examine for flow in your novel. You then lay out your novel on the floor and can see the entire thing in one look.

  • laptop computer (Note: ask ahead of time whether the hotel AND YOUR SPECIFIC ROOM have wireless. My room must have been just on the cusp of wireless coverage. I got a good 30 min. of online time and that's it. (It ended up being a good thing, as I didn't have access to time-sucking Facebook).

  • keyboard, mouse, etc.It was worth it to me to have a mouse instead of using the touchpad of the laptop. I was fine with the mini-keyboard of the laptop, but if you're not, keep that in mind. Nothing's worse than having time to type and being uncomfortable.

  • printerYes, you heard me correctly. I purchased a small HP printer from Walmart for $35 (color and black ink included). It was SO WORTH having with me. Sometimes I redo a page so extensively, I need to edit it a couple of times. It was helpful to be able to print it and write on a clean copy.

  • printer paper

  • flash driveIf you don't bring a printer, you still may want to print. By bringing a flash drive, you can print in the hotel's business center (or, you can always email yourself your manuscript and open it that way).

  • scissorsin case you want to cut your story apart to lay out

  • stapler or hole punchI keep my novel in a binder. After I printed some new pages, I wished I was able to stick them in my binder.

  • synopsisIf you change your novel, you may want to update this as well

  • other drafts of the novelI know I ended up referring to old copies of my novel for parts I had deleted from the most current version.

Non-writing Related

  • snacksLots. Now's not the time to worry about calories. Okay, I'm rationalizing the fact that I brought a jumbo bag of M & Ms, Red Vines, and Sun Chips, but let's just refer to these foods as fuel for creativity.

  • meal-ish FoodsI regret that I didn't pack anything that could count as a meal. Because my hotel had a HUGE children's chess tournament going on, the parking lot was packed. In an effort to not lose my great parking space, I refused to leave the hotel. That meant I had to eat at the restaurants at the hotel. Saturday morning, I spent $4 on a cup of Dannon yogurt and a microscopic box of Cheerios. I should have brought a couple granola bars, an apple, a box of raisins, etc.

  • coolerAgain, for bringing your own food. My room didn't have a refrigerator. If it had, I could have packed my own yogurt for under a dollar (can you tell I'm still bummed my yogurt cost $2.50?)

  • water

  • hand soapAm I the only one that can't stand how hotels still provide a bar soap instead of having a pump by the sink? I bring my own instead of using the slimy bar. A tip for any hotel stay.

  • ipod and headphones, workout clothes, etc.It was nice to take a break on the treadmill for a bit to clear my head. It also helped to work off about 4 M & Ms.

  • swimsuitA hotel with a pool was a must for me. I forced myself to make it to a certain page before I could take a swim break though.


Tags: hotel novel writing different etc ]]> Mon, 15 Mar 2010 20:34:00 -0400 tag:croncast.com,6123 VIDEO: Great Demo on Leadership and Tipping Points http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/typepad/rzYD/~3/GeFnXbz8tFU/video-great-demo-on-leadership-and-tipping-points.html Shared item

Make sure you turn on the audio for the commentary.



Tags: turn audio commentary sure points ]]>

Make sure you turn on the audio for the commentary.



Tags: turn audio commentary sure points ]]> Fri, 05 Mar 2010 19:02:09 -0500 tag:croncast.com,6117 Windows Phone 7 http://chris.pirillo.com/windows-phone-7/ Shared item Windows Phone 7 is a post from Chris Pirillo


Add to iTunes | Add to YouTube | Add to Google | RSS Feed

First, if you have any questions for the Windows Phone 7 Series team, I'd be more than happy to ask on your behalf (as I do live around the corner from Redmond's campus and will be meeting with the team again at some point in the future). Post a comment and/or video response.

I was invited to a behind the scenes look at elements of the Windows Phone 7 Series developer platform. At Mobile World Congress (covered earlier in this channel), Microsoft provided a first look at Windows Phone 7 Series and I'm pleased to offer you the opportunity to see a live demonstration up close.

Yes, I got to play with the phone, too. It works as advertised even as a prototype. Unfortunately, we could not adjust the brightness settings in this particular device. The Metro interface is a bucket of win in my book.

Charlie Kindel partner group program manager, Windows Phone App Platform & Developer Experience was hosting an intimate reception this evening in San Francisco. I wasn't able to make it, but Microsoft arranged a somewhat more private meeting with Greg Sullivan from the Windows Phone team a little closer to home.

I met Greg a few years ago through the Longhorn Labs project (back when Microsoft Windows team leads worked actively with their most vocal community supporters). I'm not sure if I can reveal any more device details at this point, but suffice it to say

I want one.



Tags: lt gt li pirillo href ]]>Windows Phone 7 is a post from Chris Pirillo


Add to iTunes | Add to YouTube | Add to Google | RSS Feed

First, if you have any questions for the Windows Phone 7 Series team, I'd be more than happy to ask on your behalf (as I do live around the corner from Redmond's campus and will be meeting with the team again at some point in the future). Post a comment and/or video response.

I was invited to a behind the scenes look at elements of the Windows Phone 7 Series developer platform. At Mobile World Congress (covered earlier in this channel), Microsoft provided a first look at Windows Phone 7 Series and I'm pleased to offer you the opportunity to see a live demonstration up close.

Yes, I got to play with the phone, too. It works as advertised even as a prototype. Unfortunately, we could not adjust the brightness settings in this particular device. The Metro interface is a bucket of win in my book.

Charlie Kindel partner group program manager, Windows Phone App Platform & Developer Experience was hosting an intimate reception this evening in San Francisco. I wasn't able to make it, but Microsoft arranged a somewhat more private meeting with Greg Sullivan from the Windows Phone team a little closer to home.

I met Greg a few years ago through the Longhorn Labs project (back when Microsoft Windows team leads worked actively with their most vocal community supporters). I'm not sure if I can reveal any more device details at this point, but suffice it to say

I want one.



Tags: lt gt li pirillo href ]]> Sat, 06 Mar 2010 07:33:07 -0500 tag:croncast.com,6105 How To Get 7 Home Screens on Google's Nexus One http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/jkOnTheRun/~3/7fc8JEe0t7I/ Shared item While nosing around the web for some Android research, I came across a piece of software called Open Home. Mashable included it in a top Android application roundup this past weekend, but the software has existed for a while. The application takes the place of your default Android home screen, which is what you see when hitting the dedicated Home button. Technically, the button runs Launcher but for all intents and purposes, most people call it Home. The Open Home software adds a bunch of usability features, but I also noticed that it provides me with seven home screens on the Nexus One.

Although Open Home is an $3.99 app, I'd really call it a platform. With it, you can skin or customize your Android interface, add Live Folders, shortcuts and such. And there's tons of custom skins, fonts, icon packs for sale in the Android Market to enhance it. There's even an experimental 3D cube interface in the latest version as you swipe to other home screens, the screen rotates like a cube. I haven't dropped the $3.99 just yet, but I did install Open Home Lite, which is free. It wasn't until after installation that I realized the software adds two extra home screens to the Nexus One. I don't have enough apps and shortcuts to fill up seven screens just yet, but I'm heading in that direction, so the extra space will come in handy. Each of the screens can hold a custom descriptive title as well check this old but relevant video to see how one user categorized the screens on his HTC Magic.

Aside from the extra home screens, Open Home adds dedicated search on the left and an interesting little slideout drawer on the right side of the screen. Simply tap and swipe the star to pull out the drawer. I'm thinking of placing the most used apps in the little drawer so that they're available from any of the seven screens. And I don't even have to give up my Live Wallpapers since Open Home supports them on my handset. Perhaps one of the best features of all Open Home allows for home screen rotation to landscape mode, something I wish Android would support natively.

I'll be playing some more with the free, lite version of Open Home, but I'm already inclined to drop the $3.99 it's a small price to pay for two extra home screens and customization features.

Loading
NextPrevious
Picture 1 of 5
lordsmiffwozere2

Images courtesy of Better Android Apps

Related research on GigaOM Pro (sub req'd):

Google's Mobile Strategy: Understanding the Nexus One




Tags: home screens open android screen ]]>While nosing around the web for some Android research, I came across a piece of software called Open Home. Mashable included it in a top Android application roundup this past weekend, but the software has existed for a while. The application takes the place of your default Android home screen, which is what you see when hitting the dedicated Home button. Technically, the button runs Launcher but for all intents and purposes, most people call it Home. The Open Home software adds a bunch of usability features, but I also noticed that it provides me with seven home screens on the Nexus One.

Although Open Home is an $3.99 app, I'd really call it a platform. With it, you can skin or customize your Android interface, add Live Folders, shortcuts and such. And there's tons of custom skins, fonts, icon packs for sale in the Android Market to enhance it. There's even an experimental 3D cube interface in the latest version as you swipe to other home screens, the screen rotates like a cube. I haven't dropped the $3.99 just yet, but I did install Open Home Lite, which is free. It wasn't until after installation that I realized the software adds two extra home screens to the Nexus One. I don't have enough apps and shortcuts to fill up seven screens just yet, but I'm heading in that direction, so the extra space will come in handy. Each of the screens can hold a custom descriptive title as well check this old but relevant video to see how one user categorized the screens on his HTC Magic.

Aside from the extra home screens, Open Home adds dedicated search on the left and an interesting little slideout drawer on the right side of the screen. Simply tap and swipe the star to pull out the drawer. I'm thinking of placing the most used apps in the little drawer so that they're available from any of the seven screens. And I don't even have to give up my Live Wallpapers since Open Home supports them on my handset. Perhaps one of the best features of all Open Home allows for home screen rotation to landscape mode, something I wish Android would support natively.

I'll be playing some more with the free, lite version of Open Home, but I'm already inclined to drop the $3.99 it's a small price to pay for two extra home screens and customization features.

Loading
NextPrevious
Picture 1 of 5
lordsmiffwozere2

Images courtesy of Better Android Apps

Related research on GigaOM Pro (sub req'd):

Google's Mobile Strategy: Understanding the Nexus One




Tags: home screens open android screen ]]> Tue, 02 Mar 2010 12:40:59 -0500 tag:croncast.com,6096 One in Six iPhone Owners Intend to Buy an iPad http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/magicaltablet/~3/OWKLZ-JWMsw/ Shared item

iPad Purchase Intent - AdMob January 2010AdMob, the hotly contested mobile advertising company that was eventually acquired by Google in November 2009, published its monthly mobile metrics report. In addition to the report, they included survey results of existing iPhone users about their fondness for the iPad.

One in six iPhone owners intend to purchase an iPad much lower than Palm owners (one in nine) and even lower still for owners of Android phones (one in seventeen). Does this mean that Stevie J. is right that there is a need for a device in between a laptop and a smarthphone or are we iPhone owners just a bunch of fanboys/girls?

Probably a little of both.

Regardless, it does indicate that there is a preliminary market for the iPad that numbers in the millions of units.

Are you going to buy an iPad? What kind of phone do you own?

[Press Release] [AdMob Blog]

Disclosure: http://dsclzr.us/0

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Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

One in Six iPhone Owners Intend to Buy an iPad is a post from: The Magical Tablet

Share/Bookmark



Tags: mobile ipad iphone owners advertising ]]>

iPad Purchase Intent - AdMob January 2010AdMob, the hotly contested mobile advertising company that was eventually acquired by Google in November 2009, published its monthly mobile metrics report. In addition to the report, they included survey results of existing iPhone users about their fondness for the iPad.

One in six iPhone owners intend to purchase an iPad much lower than Palm owners (one in nine) and even lower still for owners of Android phones (one in seventeen). Does this mean that Stevie J. is right that there is a need for a device in between a laptop and a smarthphone or are we iPhone owners just a bunch of fanboys/girls?

Probably a little of both.

Regardless, it does indicate that there is a preliminary market for the iPad that numbers in the millions of units.

Are you going to buy an iPad? What kind of phone do you own?

[Press Release] [AdMob Blog]

Disclosure: http://dsclzr.us/0

Related articles by Zemanta

Related articles by Zemanta
Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

One in Six iPhone Owners Intend to Buy an iPad is a post from: The Magical Tablet

Share/Bookmark



Tags: mobile ipad iphone owners advertising ]]> Thu, 25 Feb 2010 21:25:52 -0500 tag:croncast.com,6079 Desire: HTC's Follow-Up to Nexus One http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Mashable/~3/8Q09Hxg9wuE/ Shared item

As expected, HTC has unleashed a slew of Android smartphones here at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, and I have to admit they're looking really good.

While not exactly groundbreaking, HTC Desire is the top-notch phone that competes primarily with Google's Nexus One (also made by HTC), as it has similar looks and pretty much the same specifications.

Here's a quick overview: It's an Android 2.1 phone with a 1 GHz Snapdragon CPU, 512MB or ROM and 576 MB of RAM memory, a 5 megapixel camera (with flash and autofocus), GPS, and the usual connectivity options: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3G. It also has a beautiful AMOLED 3.7 inch screen (multi-touch is supported) with 480800 pixel resolution.

What makes it different from the Nexus One is the lack of trackball, and HTC's Sense UI, so the choice between the two will be strictly a matter of personal preference. I will update this post with some hands-on experiences as soon as I lay my hands on it.

*Update: After trying out the HTC Desire, I'm definitely a bit disappointed with the speed of the device. It's fast, but it's not exactly flying. This is not due to the hardware, though; HTC's Sense UI is faster and more fluid on the new HTC HD Mini, which is based on 600 MHz CPU and Windows Mobile 6.5. However, as far as Androids go, HTC Desire is still on top of the food chain, partly due to HTC's Sense UI, which is getting better and more flexible with each new iteration.

Tags: android, Desire, htc, Mobile 2.0, trending



Tags: htc desire mobile android ui ]]>

As expected, HTC has unleashed a slew of Android smartphones here at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, and I have to admit they're looking really good.

While not exactly groundbreaking, HTC Desire is the top-notch phone that competes primarily with Google's Nexus One (also made by HTC), as it has similar looks and pretty much the same specifications.

Here's a quick overview: It's an Android 2.1 phone with a 1 GHz Snapdragon CPU, 512MB or ROM and 576 MB of RAM memory, a 5 megapixel camera (with flash and autofocus), GPS, and the usual connectivity options: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3G. It also has a beautiful AMOLED 3.7 inch screen (multi-touch is supported) with 480800 pixel resolution.

What makes it different from the Nexus One is the lack of trackball, and HTC's Sense UI, so the choice between the two will be strictly a matter of personal preference. I will update this post with some hands-on experiences as soon as I lay my hands on it.

*Update: After trying out the HTC Desire, I'm definitely a bit disappointed with the speed of the device. It's fast, but it's not exactly flying. This is not due to the hardware, though; HTC's Sense UI is faster and more fluid on the new HTC HD Mini, which is based on 600 MHz CPU and Windows Mobile 6.5. However, as far as Androids go, HTC Desire is still on top of the food chain, partly due to HTC's Sense UI, which is getting better and more flexible with each new iteration.

Tags: android, Desire, htc, Mobile 2.0, trending



Tags: htc desire mobile android ui ]]> Tue, 16 Feb 2010 10:47:04 -0500 tag:croncast.com,6070 Digital Natives, Web Videos & Product Placement (Video) http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/1TimStreet/~3/RSATVa83Pt4/ Shared item post thumbnail

Last week I ran into Brad Murphy, the Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) / Vice President of Sales for Revision3, the television network for the Internet generation at a Placement Scout product placement event at Tesla Motors in Santa Monica. Well, OK I didn't really run into Brad, I told him and a few other web video producers about the event because I thought it would be a good chance for us to get our shows in front of brands that might benefit from the special engaged audiences that web videos have.

Brad told me that he was glad to come and interact with brands and that it was an opportunity for him ( and for me for that matter) to get a one on one conversation going as to how we could get some of the brands that attended the event to integrate their products and services into web series.

Now it's hard for realyl big brands to get their heads around the value of web video series right now but several mid-size companies are starting to see how they can benefit from getting their product or service in front of their targeted demographic while making it part of the conversation.

In my video interview with Brad he talks about how the Revision3 audience is made up of what he calls, Digital Natives people who don't watch regular television, are looking for content on-demand whether it's text based content, video content or communicating through social media to find that content. It's an audience that hyper-connected.

Brad also goes on to talk about the live events that Revision3 does with their shows. (Something I'm hoping to do more of with my shows.)

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]



Tags: brad web video content brands ]]>post thumbnail

Last week I ran into Brad Murphy, the Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) / Vice President of Sales for Revision3, the television network for the Internet generation at a Placement Scout product placement event at Tesla Motors in Santa Monica. Well, OK I didn't really run into Brad, I told him and a few other web video producers about the event because I thought it would be a good chance for us to get our shows in front of brands that might benefit from the special engaged audiences that web videos have.

Brad told me that he was glad to come and interact with brands and that it was an opportunity for him ( and for me for that matter) to get a one on one conversation going as to how we could get some of the brands that attended the event to integrate their products and services into web series.

Now it's hard for realyl big brands to get their heads around the value of web video series right now but several mid-size companies are starting to see how they can benefit from getting their product or service in front of their targeted demographic while making it part of the conversation.

In my video interview with Brad he talks about how the Revision3 audience is made up of what he calls, Digital Natives people who don't watch regular television, are looking for content on-demand whether it's text based content, video content or communicating through social media to find that content. It's an audience that hyper-connected.

Brad also goes on to talk about the live events that Revision3 does with their shows. (Something I'm hoping to do more of with my shows.)

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]



Tags: brad web video content brands ]]> Tue, 16 Feb 2010 07:26:27 -0500 tag:croncast.com,6059 Desire: HTC's Answer to Nexus One http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Mashable/~3/8Q09Hxg9wuE/ Shared item

As expected, HTC has unleashed a slew of Android smartphones here at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, and I have to admit they're looking really good.

While not exactly groundbreaking, HTC Desire is the top notch phone that competes primarily with Google's Nexus One (also made by HTC), as it has similar looks and pretty much the same specifications.

Here's a quick overview: it's an Android 2.1 phone with a 1 GHz Snapdragon CPU, 512MB or ROM and 576 MB of RAM memory, a 5 megapixel camera (with flash and autofocus), GPS, and the usual connectivity options: WiFi, Bluetooth, 3G. It also has a beautiful AMOLED 3.7 inch screen (multitouch is supported) with 480800 pixel resolution.

What makes it different from the Nexus One is the lack of trackball, and HTC's Sense UI, so the choice between the two will be strictly matter of personal preference. I will update this post with some hands-on experiences as soon as I lay my hands on it.

*Update: after trying out the HTC Desire I'm definitely a bit disappointed with the speed of the device. It's fast, but it's not exactly flying. This is not due to hardware, though; HTC's Sense UI is faster and more fluid on the new HTC HD Mini, which is based on 600 MHz CPU and Windows Mobile 6.5. However, as far as Androids go, HTC Desire is still on top of the food chain, partly due to HTC's Sense UI, which is getting better and more flexible with each new iteration.

Tags: android, Desire, htc, Mobile 2.0, trending



Tags: htc desire android ui sense ]]>

As expected, HTC has unleashed a slew of Android smartphones here at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, and I have to admit they're looking really good.

While not exactly groundbreaking, HTC Desire is the top notch phone that competes primarily with Google's Nexus One (also made by HTC), as it has similar looks and pretty much the same specifications.

Here's a quick overview: it's an Android 2.1 phone with a 1 GHz Snapdragon CPU, 512MB or ROM and 576 MB of RAM memory, a 5 megapixel camera (with flash and autofocus), GPS, and the usual connectivity options: WiFi, Bluetooth, 3G. It also has a beautiful AMOLED 3.7 inch screen (multitouch is supported) with 480800 pixel resolution.

What makes it different from the Nexus One is the lack of trackball, and HTC's Sense UI, so the choice between the two will be strictly matter of personal preference. I will update this post with some hands-on experiences as soon as I lay my hands on it.

*Update: after trying out the HTC Desire I'm definitely a bit disappointed with the speed of the device. It's fast, but it's not exactly flying. This is not due to hardware, though; HTC's Sense UI is faster and more fluid on the new HTC HD Mini, which is based on 600 MHz CPU and Windows Mobile 6.5. However, as far as Androids go, HTC Desire is still on top of the food chain, partly due to HTC's Sense UI, which is getting better and more flexible with each new iteration.

Tags: android, Desire, htc, Mobile 2.0, trending



Tags: htc desire android ui sense ]]> Tue, 16 Feb 2010 10:47:04 -0500 tag:croncast.com,6065 Will You JooJoo? http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/magicaltablet/~3/hHhZrnL392E/ Shared item

JooJoo TabletWhile the saga between TechCrunch and Fusion Garage continues, the latter company is moving forward with the launch of the controversial web tablet, now called JooJoo. While it's not the magical tablet that inspired this blog (In African, the word joujou' means magical device.') Fusion Garage thinks they've got a winner on their hands.

For the same $499 that Apple intends to charge for an entry-level iPad with 140,000 available apps, Fusion Garage will provide you with a browser-based tablet without any capability to run and install local applications. It also lacks a 3G wireless option of any kind, relying solely on WiFi.

But what does the JooJoo have that iPad doesn't?

For starters, a 12.1 inch LCD touch screen in a widescreen aspect ration that we're more accustomed to seeing these days. And you can use all of that screen to render full HD quality video but only from your favorite video sites since the device has only 4 GB of SSD storage not nearly enough to store HD content of any real duration. It has the front-facing camera for videoconferencing that so many people feel is lacking in iPad as well as a USB port, though what one might do with that port is still unknown. As for the software, it's a Linux variant running a Webkit browser that will support both Adobe Flash 10.1 and Java.

So, do they have a winning device?

They may have had one before the iPad announcement, but not now not at that price point and limited functionality, anyway.

You can pre-order the JooJoo now which is expected to ship in 8 to 10 weeks though the site has indicated that time horizon for some time. If you're considering a JooJoo you may want to contact them for an update on a ship date, though the latest word from company executives is late Februrary.

Will you JooJoo?

[JooJoo]

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Will You JooJoo? is a post from: The Magical Tablet

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Tags: joojoo tablet garage fusion ipad ]]>

JooJoo TabletWhile the saga between TechCrunch and Fusion Garage continues, the latter company is moving forward with the launch of the controversial web tablet, now called JooJoo. While it's not the magical tablet that inspired this blog (In African, the word joujou' means magical device.') Fusion Garage thinks they've got a winner on their hands.

For the same $499 that Apple intends to charge for an entry-level iPad with 140,000 available apps, Fusion Garage will provide you with a browser-based tablet without any capability to run and install local applications. It also lacks a 3G wireless option of any kind, relying solely on WiFi.

But what does the JooJoo have that iPad doesn't?

For starters, a 12.1 inch LCD touch screen in a widescreen aspect ration that we're more accustomed to seeing these days. And you can use all of that screen to render full HD quality video but only from your favorite video sites since the device has only 4 GB of SSD storage not nearly enough to store HD content of any real duration. It has the front-facing camera for videoconferencing that so many people feel is lacking in iPad as well as a USB port, though what one might do with that port is still unknown. As for the software, it's a Linux variant running a Webkit browser that will support both Adobe Flash 10.1 and Java.

So, do they have a winning device?

They may have had one before the iPad announcement, but not now not at that price point and limited functionality, anyway.

You can pre-order the JooJoo now which is expected to ship in 8 to 10 weeks though the site has indicated that time horizon for some time. If you're considering a JooJoo you may want to contact them for an update on a ship date, though the latest word from company executives is late Februrary.

Will you JooJoo?

[JooJoo]

Related articles by Zemanta
Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Will You JooJoo? is a post from: The Magical Tablet

Share/Bookmark



Tags: joojoo tablet garage fusion ipad ]]> Mon, 15 Feb 2010 23:09:02 -0500 tag:croncast.com,6068 Dell Mini 5 Android tablet shows off in Spain http://www.liliputing.com/2010/02/dell-mini-5-android-tablet-shows-off-in-spain.html Shared item

The Dell Mini 5 tablet looks like an oversized smartphone, and kind of acts like one too. It has a 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor (which is the same CPU powering the Google Nexus One phone), and runs the Google Android operating system. But it's 4.8 inch display is larger than any screen you'll find on a cellphone anytime soon, making the Mini 5 much more attractive for surfing the web, watching video, or playing games. You can also make phone calls and surf the web over 3G or WiFi.

Final details on pricing, regional availability, wireless broadband partners, and a launch date aren't available yet. But Dell is showing off the Mini 5 tablet at Mobile World Congress in Spain this week, and letting a few details drop. Right now, for instance, the demo unit is running Android 1.6, but it's likely that by the time it's available to the public the tablet will sport a newer version of the OS, possibly 2.0, 2.1, or something even newer. Adobe Flash support is also on its way.

The user interface seems very snappy and the Mini 5 can run all Android Market applications as well as some custom Dell software. As far as hardware, you've got a capacitive multitouch display, haptic feedback, and a 5MP webcam with

The folks at SlashGear got to spend some hands-on time with the tablet, and you can check out their video after the break.

Post from: Liliputing

Dell Mini 5 Android tablet shows off in Spain



Tags: mini tablet android dell spain ]]>

The Dell Mini 5 tablet looks like an oversized smartphone, and kind of acts like one too. It has a 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor (which is the same CPU powering the Google Nexus One phone), and runs the Google Android operating system. But it's 4.8 inch display is larger than any screen you'll find on a cellphone anytime soon, making the Mini 5 much more attractive for surfing the web, watching video, or playing games. You can also make phone calls and surf the web over 3G or WiFi.

Final details on pricing, regional availability, wireless broadband partners, and a launch date aren't available yet. But Dell is showing off the Mini 5 tablet at Mobile World Congress in Spain this week, and letting a few details drop. Right now, for instance, the demo unit is running Android 1.6, but it's likely that by the time it's available to the public the tablet will sport a newer version of the OS, possibly 2.0, 2.1, or something even newer. Adobe Flash support is also on its way.

The user interface seems very snappy and the Mini 5 can run all Android Market applications as well as some custom Dell software. As far as hardware, you've got a capacitive multitouch display, haptic feedback, and a 5MP webcam with

The folks at SlashGear got to spend some hands-on time with the tablet, and you can check out their video after the break.

Post from: Liliputing

Dell Mini 5 Android tablet shows off in Spain



Tags: mini tablet android dell spain ]]> Mon, 15 Feb 2010 23:45:22 -0500 tag:croncast.com,6033 Pen-shaking centrifuge http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2010/02/pen-shaking_centerfuge.html Shared item

Matthias Wandel made this rather tongue-in-cheek invention to help him shake pens.

Using my gear template generator program, I was able to establish that a three-tooth lantern against a mating cycloid shaped gear should just barely work smoothly. I wanted a high gear ratio for my pen centrifuge, so this was a good place to a gear with such a small number of teeth.

I wasn't completely sure how well it would work, so I made a test gear. Not wanting to waste too much plywood, I only made a segment of a larger gear. The little gear has three "pins", which are actually small 3/8" (10 mm) ball bearings. There's no rubbing on this gear!

Thanks, Gabriel!

Read more | Permalink | Comments | Read more articles in DIY Projects | Digg this!

Tags: gear read pen work centrifuge ]]>

Matthias Wandel made this rather tongue-in-cheek invention to help him shake pens.

Using my gear template generator program, I was able to establish that a three-tooth lantern against a mating cycloid shaped gear should just barely work smoothly. I wanted a high gear ratio for my pen centrifuge, so this was a good place to a gear with such a small number of teeth.

I wasn't completely sure how well it would work, so I made a test gear. Not wanting to waste too much plywood, I only made a segment of a larger gear. The little gear has three "pins", which are actually small 3/8" (10 mm) ball bearings. There's no rubbing on this gear!

Thanks, Gabriel!

Read more | Permalink | Comments | Read more articles in DIY Projects | Digg this!

Tags: gear read pen work centrifuge ]]> Sun, 14 Feb 2010 01:00:00 -0500 tag:croncast.com,6028 Pen-shaking centerfuge http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2010/02/pen-shaking_centerfuge.html Shared item

Matthias Wandel made this rather tongue-in-cheek invention to help him shake pens.

Using my gear template generator program, I was able to establish that a three-tooth lantern against a mating cycloid shaped gear should just barely work smoothly. I wanted a high gear ratio for my pen centrifuge, so this was a good place to a gear with such a small number of teeth.

I wasn't completely sure how well it would work, so I made a test gear. Not wanting to waste too much plywood, I only made a segment of a larger gear. The little gear has three "pins", which are actually small 3/8" (10 mm) ball bearings. There's no rubbing on this gear!

Thanks, Gabriel!

Read more | Permalink | Comments | Read more articles in DIY Projects | Digg this!

Tags: gear small work read pen ]]>

Matthias Wandel made this rather tongue-in-cheek invention to help him shake pens.

Using my gear template generator program, I was able to establish that a three-tooth lantern against a mating cycloid shaped gear should just barely work smoothly. I wanted a high gear ratio for my pen centrifuge, so this was a good place to a gear with such a small number of teeth.

I wasn't completely sure how well it would work, so I made a test gear. Not wanting to waste too much plywood, I only made a segment of a larger gear. The little gear has three "pins", which are actually small 3/8" (10 mm) ball bearings. There's no rubbing on this gear!

Thanks, Gabriel!

Read more | Permalink | Comments | Read more articles in DIY Projects | Digg this!

Tags: gear small work read pen ]]> Sun, 14 Feb 2010 01:00:00 -0500 tag:croncast.com,6024 Motorola Droid's next update to be Android 2.1, includes multitouch browser http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/08/motorola-droids-next-update-to-be-android-2-1-includes-multito/ Shared item We've just gotten the inside line on the next Droid update that's making the rounds through Verizon's testing department from one of our trusted sources, and overall, it looks like this should take users 95 percent of the way to curing pangs of Nexus One envy. Here's what we've got:
  • It's based on Android 2.1. The build currently being circulated is identified as 2.1 version 1, mirroring the update just pushed to the Nexus One last week.
  • Google Goggles is now pre-installed (no matter how unhelpful it may be).
  • The browser's now multitouch enabled, just like Google Maps 3.4. Huzzah! No Flash, but then again, we weren't really expecting that.
  • Interestingly, the home screen's still got the same look as 2.0.1, meaning it doesn't adopt the Nexus One's rotating 3D grid of app icons -- it's still got the pull-up drawer tab at the bottom.
  • No active wallpapers. Bummer!
  • The news and weather widgets introduced on the Nexus One are included. Maybe certain capabilities of 2.1 are going to be restricted to devices with minimum performance benchmarks?
There's no word on timing, and for all our source knows, this build could still very well fail testing -- goodness knows it's happened with plenty of pre-production firmwares in Verizon's past. We'll keep our ear to the ground and you do the same.

Motorola Droid's next update to be Android 2.1, includes multitouch browser originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 09:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Tags: update nexus browser multitouch droid ]]>We've just gotten the inside line on the next Droid update that's making the rounds through Verizon's testing department from one of our trusted sources, and overall, it looks like this should take users 95 percent of the way to curing pangs of Nexus One envy. Here's what we've got:
  • It's based on Android 2.1. The build currently being circulated is identified as 2.1 version 1, mirroring the update just pushed to the Nexus One last week.
  • Google Goggles is now pre-installed (no matter how unhelpful it may be).
  • The browser's now multitouch enabled, just like Google Maps 3.4. Huzzah! No Flash, but then again, we weren't really expecting that.
  • Interestingly, the home screen's still got the same look as 2.0.1, meaning it doesn't adopt the Nexus One's rotating 3D grid of app icons -- it's still got the pull-up drawer tab at the bottom.
  • No active wallpapers. Bummer!
  • The news and weather widgets introduced on the Nexus One are included. Maybe certain capabilities of 2.1 are going to be restricted to devices with minimum performance benchmarks?
There's no word on timing, and for all our source knows, this build could still very well fail testing -- goodness knows it's happened with plenty of pre-production firmwares in Verizon's past. We'll keep our ear to the ground and you do the same.

Motorola Droid's next update to be Android 2.1, includes multitouch browser originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 09:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Tags: update nexus browser multitouch droid ]]> Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:05:00 -0500 tag:croncast.com,5998 Charlie Rose Talks with Walt Mossberg, David Carr and Mike Arrington About iPad http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/magicaltablet/~3/zQwEFTkc9Xk/ Shared item

Charlie Rose Talks with Walt Mossberg, David Carr and Mike Arrington About iPad is a post from: Magical Tablet

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Tags: charlie mike arrington ipad david ]]>

Charlie Rose Talks with Walt Mossberg, David Carr and Mike Arrington About iPad is a post from: Magical Tablet

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Tags: charlie mike arrington ipad david ]]> Sat, 06 Feb 2010 22:47:07 -0500 tag:croncast.com,5972 Steve Jobs Is Not Happy With Google, Adobe http://feeds.mashable.com/~r/Mashable/~3/goPF_8ynl4M/ Shared item

What a time we're living in. You can't even make fun of your competitors at your own company meeting without your words leaking out to the internet.

Apparently, this has happened to Steve Jobs, who lashed out at Google and Adobe at Apple's Town Hall company meeting held at their One Infinite Loop headquarters. Speaking to Apple employees, Steve Jobs voiced his expression with buggy Flash, lazy Adobe, and Google's fakery in the don't be evil department.

Although these words have not been (and will never be) officially confirmed, multiple anonymous people from the audience confirmed their authenticity to Wired.

Here's a couple of Steve's (inexact) quotes from the meeting: Adobe is lazy. Apple does not support Flash because it is so buggy. Whenever a Mac crashes more often than not it's because of Flash. No one will be using Flash. The world is moving to HTML5.

When it comes to Google, Jobs is mad at them for trying to kill the iPhone. We did not enter the search business, he said. They entered the phone business. Make no mistake: they want to kill the iPhone. We won't let them.

Finally, his most interesting quote is about Google's don't be evil mantra. According to Daring Fireball, Jobs simply said: it's a load of crap.

Yes, I think we can safely say we were right when we said that a) the iPad and the iPhone aren't getting full Flash support anytime soon, and b) Google is now Apple's greatest enemy.

Reviews: Google

Tags: adobe, apple, Flash, Google, steve jobs, trending



Tags: google jobs flash steve apple ]]>

What a time we're living in. You can't even make fun of your competitors at your own company meeting without your words leaking out to the internet.

Apparently, this has happened to Steve Jobs, who lashed out at Google and Adobe at Apple's Town Hall company meeting held at their One Infinite Loop headquarters. Speaking to Apple employees, Steve Jobs voiced his expression with buggy Flash, lazy Adobe, and Google's fakery in the don't be evil department.

Although these words have not been (and will never be) officially confirmed, multiple anonymous people from the audience confirmed their authenticity to Wired.

Here's a couple of Steve's (inexact) quotes from the meeting: Adobe is lazy. Apple does not support Flash because it is so buggy. Whenever a Mac crashes more often than not it's because of Flash. No one will be using Flash. The world is moving to HTML5.

When it comes to Google, Jobs is mad at them for trying to kill the iPhone. We did not enter the search business, he said. They entered the phone business. Make no mistake: they want to kill the iPhone. We won't let them.

Finally, his most interesting quote is about Google's don't be evil mantra. According to Daring Fireball, Jobs simply said: it's a load of crap.

Yes, I think we can safely say we were right when we said that a) the iPad and the iPhone aren't getting full Flash support anytime soon, and b) Google is now Apple's greatest enemy.

Reviews: Google

Tags: adobe, apple, Flash, Google, steve jobs, trending



Tags: google jobs flash steve apple ]]> Mon, 01 Feb 2010 09:23:21 -0500 tag:croncast.com,5958 Samsung X120 unboxing video http://eeepc.net/samsung-x120-unboxing-video/ Shared item
Samsung seems to be popular this week for unboxing videos this week. We follow on from the N220 unboxed to the X120. Like the N220, the X120 is currently not shipping in America.

The Samsung X120 falls in the CULV category as it features the Intel CULV processor. The X120 features an 11.6 inch display and a full sized keyboard. The left and right mouse buttons are located either side of the trackpad, which for some may hinder the use of the built in mouse, especially if you're used to the right and left buttons being located under the trackpad. The guys over at Netbook News received the X120 and have posted an unboxing video along with first impressions design wise. Like the other Samsung netbooks, the accessories include a neoprene sleeve to protect the netbook, however it's noted that no manual is included, not even a quick start guide. The X120 also has the trademark chrome border. Looking at the underneath, it appears that the HDD and RAM are easily accessible for those who wish to upgrade either. You can view the full unboxing and first impressions video after the jump.

via

A post from the Asus Eee PC blog.

Samsung X120 unboxing video



Tags: x unboxing samsung video features ]]>
Samsung seems to be popular this week for unboxing videos this week. We follow on from the N220 unboxed to the X120. Like the N220, the X120 is currently not shipping in America.

The Samsung X120 falls in the CULV category as it features the Intel CULV processor. The X120 features an 11.6 inch display and a full sized keyboard. The left and right mouse buttons are located either side of the trackpad, which for some may hinder the use of the built in mouse, especially if you're used to the right and left buttons being located under the trackpad. The guys over at Netbook News received the X120 and have posted an unboxing video along with first impressions design wise. Like the other Samsung netbooks, the accessories include a neoprene sleeve to protect the netbook, however it's noted that no manual is included, not even a quick start guide. The X120 also has the trademark chrome border. Looking at the underneath, it appears that the HDD and RAM are easily accessible for those who wish to upgrade either. You can view the full unboxing and first impressions video after the jump.

via

A post from the Asus Eee PC blog.

Samsung X120 unboxing video



Tags: x unboxing samsung video features ]]> Sun, 31 Jan 2010 15:53:03 -0500 tag:croncast.com,5954 ExoPC Tablet Looks Familiar, But Similarities End There [Tablets] http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/Qx56wt5uNNM/exopc-tablet-looks-familiar-but-similarities-end-there Shared item The comparisons to another recently revealed tablet are unavoidable, but believe you me the similarities end with the aesthetics. Inside there's Windows 7, flash support and multitouch. In fact, the more apt comparison is probably "netbook," as you can see:

There's the Atom N270 processor, running at 1.6Ghz, for example. And then there's the 2GB of memory and solid state 32GB drive. Lastly, the replaceable battery on this 8.9-in. multitouch tablet is clocked at a mere four hours, which doesn't seem that great (saving grace being that is replaceable).

Pricing is set at $599 when it launches in March. Impatient types can buy a non-multitouch prototype for $780 right now. [ExoPC via Engadget]





Tags: multitouch tablet exopc replaceable end ]]>The comparisons to another recently revealed tablet are unavoidable, but believe you me the similarities end with the aesthetics. Inside there's Windows 7, flash support and multitouch. In fact, the more apt comparison is probably "netbook," as you can see:

There's the Atom N270 processor, running at 1.6Ghz, for example. And then there's the 2GB of memory and solid state 32GB drive. Lastly, the replaceable battery on this 8.9-in. multitouch tablet is clocked at a mere four hours, which doesn't seem that great (saving grace being that is replaceable).

Pricing is set at $599 when it launches in March. Impatient types can buy a non-multitouch prototype for $780 right now. [ExoPC via Engadget]





Tags: multitouch tablet exopc replaceable end ]]> Sun, 31 Jan 2010 20:00:00 -0500 tag:croncast.com,5955 Hivision PWS700CA Android-powered laptop gets reviewed http://eeepc.net/hivision-pws700ca-android-powered-laptop-gets-reviewed/ Shared item The Hivision PWS700CA is one of the best Android-powered devices that you've never heard of. For some reason, it's being called a laptop by some people, but with its 7-inch 800480 screen 720p screen I think it's closer to being a netbook than its full-sized counterparts. Instead of using Intel's new Atom processors, it utilizes a Rockchip RK2808 600mhz ARM926 processor, which appears to be adequate in powering it and its operating system: Android. The best part about this is that the Hivision PWS700CA may be sold for as low as $100 as ARMdevices.net speculates. That would surely bring down the price of a lot of other competing products, provided that the Hivision PWS700CA maintains its level of usability and ease of use shown in the video right after the break.



Via ARMdevices

A post from the Asus Eee PC blog.

Hivision PWS700CA Android-powered laptop gets reviewed



Tags: ca pws hivision android powered ]]>The Hivision PWS700CA is one of the best Android-powered devices that you've never heard of. For some reason, it's being called a laptop by some people, but with its 7-inch 800480 screen 720p screen I think it's closer to being a netbook than its full-sized counterparts. Instead of using Intel's new Atom processors, it utilizes a Rockchip RK2808 600mhz ARM926 processor, which appears to be adequate in powering it and its operating system: Android. The best part about this is that the Hivision PWS700CA may be sold for as low as $100 as ARMdevices.net speculates. That would surely bring down the price of a lot of other competing products, provided that the Hivision PWS700CA maintains its level of usability and ease of use shown in the video right after the break.



Via ARMdevices

A post from the Asus Eee PC blog.

Hivision PWS700CA Android-powered laptop gets reviewed



Tags: ca pws hivision android powered ]]> Sat, 30 Jan 2010 22:46:45 -0500 tag:croncast.com,5948 Sitting Down with the Apple iPad http://www.coolhunting.com/archives/2010/01/sitting_down_wi.php Shared item As you undoubtedly already know, Apple unveiled its wildly-anticipated iPad yesterday in San Francisco. I attended the event and had plenty of time to play with and talk about the device afterward.

iPad-launch-stage.jpg

For his keynote presentation, Steve Jobs shared the stage with a vintage Le Corbusier chair and small Saarinen table. Beyond the aesthetic compatibility of mid-century furniture and Apple design, what makes the detail notable is that in past years Steve always delivered Apple keynotes standing. Here, each time he went to demo an aspect of the iPad, the CEO sat downa subtle shift that speaks volumes about how this new device might fit in to our lives.

Not meant to replace computers used on desks or the phone that goes with you everywhere, it's an in-between device. The gadget's design makes it perfect to use in the living room, on an airplane or during morning commutes (as Apple illustrated in this video).

hardware-01-20100127.jpg

At first glance, the wide, black bezel surrounding the iPad's screen perplexed me; it seemed to be a step backwards from my long-standing belief that the evolution of screen technology is full-bleed. Upon using the device, however, it became clear that that the edge necessarily gives you a place to grip it without accidentally touching the on-screen interface. It turned out that the 9.7 inch, 1024x768 pixel screen looks so gorgeous that I quickly forgot about this concern all together, instead immersing myself in content.

CHv5-on-iPad.jpg

For all intents and purposes, this 1.0 version of the iPad is a large iPod Touch, a development that lends the new device familiarity and ease-of-use. The iBook store and touch versions of iWork applications are a welcomed addition and the ability to run iPhone applications out-of-the-box is more necessity than benefit.

Pictures and videos really show off the beauty of the device's screen and benefits of its connectivity; the redesigned version of Apple's media apps are perfectly tailored to the postures and situations where we'll be using our iPads. And the touch-keyboard really does work well.

What I'm most excited about, however, is simply web browsing. While the lack of Flash presents an issue, sites built for modern computer-based browsers fit, look and perform beautifully on the iPad. Especially thrilling, was previewing how beautiful the upcoming Cool Hunting redesign looks on the device. (Pictured at right.)



Tags: device ipad apple screen touch ]]>As you undoubtedly already know, Apple unveiled its wildly-anticipated iPad yesterday in San Francisco. I attended the event and had plenty of time to play with and talk about the device afterward.

iPad-launch-stage.jpg

For his keynote presentation, Steve Jobs shared the stage with a vintage Le Corbusier chair and small Saarinen table. Beyond the aesthetic compatibility of mid-century furniture and Apple design, what makes the detail notable is that in past years Steve always delivered Apple keynotes standing. Here, each time he went to demo an aspect of the iPad, the CEO sat downa subtle shift that speaks volumes about how this new device might fit in to our lives.

Not meant to replace computers used on desks or the phone that goes with you everywhere, it's an in-between device. The gadget's design makes it perfect to use in the living room, on an airplane or during morning commutes (as Apple illustrated in this video).

hardware-01-20100127.jpg

At first glance, the wide, black bezel surrounding the iPad's screen perplexed me; it seemed to be a step backwards from my long-standing belief that the evolution of screen technology is full-bleed. Upon using the device, however, it became clear that that the edge necessarily gives you a place to grip it without accidentally touching the on-screen interface. It turned out that the 9.7 inch, 1024x768 pixel screen looks so gorgeous that I quickly forgot about this concern all together, instead immersing myself in content.

CHv5-on-iPad.jpg

For all intents and purposes, this 1.0 version of the iPad is a large iPod Touch, a development that lends the new device familiarity and ease-of-use. The iBook store and touch versions of iWork applications are a welcomed addition and the ability to run iPhone applications out-of-the-box is more necessity than benefit.

Pictures and videos really show off the beauty of the device's screen and benefits of its connectivity; the redesigned version of Apple's media apps are perfectly tailored to the postures and situations where we'll be using our iPads. And the touch-keyboard really does work well.

What I'm most excited about, however, is simply web browsing. While the lack of Flash presents an issue, sites built for modern computer-based browsers fit, look and perform beautifully on the iPad. Especially thrilling, was previewing how beautiful the upcoming Cool Hunting redesign looks on the device. (Pictured at right.)



Tags: device ipad apple screen touch ]]> Thu, 28 Jan 2010 17:42:34 -0500 tag:croncast.com,5946 VeriFone's Square Competitor Hits The App Store. Hands On With The Hardware. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/IM-xTBnSc7U/ Shared item As we noted back in December, VeriFone wasn't just going to sit back and let Square, the new startup by Twitter creator Jack Dorsey, dominate the iPhone/iPod touch payment space. Unfortunately, their announcement of PAYware Mobile looked rushed (and Photoshopped), and Dorsey himself didn't seem too worried. Since then though, VeriFone was nice enough to send us the hardware they are going to use to accept payments on the iPhone it's very real.

Today, the other key part of the equation has just gone live in the App Store, the PAYware Mobile app. This free application, when paired with the hardware, allows you to use your iPhone to easily accept credit card payments, just as Square does. Still, as Dorsey noted in the original video we took with him (second video below), Square is being aimed at a broader market of people who may not have merchant accounts but still wish to be able to accept payments. Also, while VeriFone's hardware is clearly better designed for use with the actual iPhone, Square's method of using the headphone jack is so that it will be able to be used with other mobile devices eventually (Square is currently working on an Android app, for example). VeriFone promises support for other platforms as well, but this particular hardware unit will only work with an iPhone 3G or iPhone 3GS.

VeriFone also clearly believes its solution is the safer bet for merchants thanks to its secure payment gateway. Truth be told, running transactions on this device does feel a bit safer than Square's, but there are also a range of confusing options. And setting the thing up is kind of a pain. You're also paying for this extra security. VeriFone's solution has a $49 activation fee, along with a monthly fee of $15 on top of the 17 cents you're paying on each transaction. Square gives its hardware and accounts away for free, but plans to take a small percentage of each transaction. This will be an interesting battle to watch.

Watch a quick demo of VeriFone PAYware Mobile in the video below. You can order the hardware here. And you can find the app in the App Store here.



Tags: verifone square hardware app iphone ]]>As we noted back in December, VeriFone wasn't just going to sit back and let Square, the new startup by Twitter creator Jack Dorsey, dominate the iPhone/iPod touch payment space. Unfortunately, their announcement of PAYware Mobile looked rushed (and Photoshopped), and Dorsey himself didn't seem too worried. Since then though, VeriFone was nice enough to send us the hardware they are going to use to accept payments on the iPhone it's very real.

Today, the other key part of the equation has just gone live in the App Store, the PAYware Mobile app. This free application, when paired with the hardware, allows you to use your iPhone to easily accept credit card payments, just as Square does. Still, as Dorsey noted in the original video we took with him (second video below), Square is being aimed at a broader market of people who may not have merchant accounts but still wish to be able to accept payments. Also, while VeriFone's hardware is clearly better designed for use with the actual iPhone, Square's method of using the headphone jack is so that it will be able to be used with other mobile devices eventually (Square is currently working on an Android app, for example). VeriFone promises support for other platforms as well, but this particular hardware unit will only work with an iPhone 3G or iPhone 3GS.

VeriFone also clearly believes its solution is the safer bet for merchants thanks to its secure payment gateway. Truth be told, running transactions on this device does feel a bit safer than Square's, but there are also a range of confusing options. And setting the thing up is kind of a pain. You're also paying for this extra security. VeriFone's solution has a $49 activation fee, along with a monthly fee of $15 on top of the 17 cents you're paying on each transaction. Square gives its hardware and accounts away for free, but plans to take a small percentage of each transaction. This will be an interesting battle to watch.

Watch a quick demo of VeriFone PAYware Mobile in the video below. You can order the hardware here. And you can find the app in the App Store here.



Tags: verifone square hardware app iphone ]]> Fri, 29 Jan 2010 01:10:43 -0500 tag:croncast.com,5926 Talking the IPad, Kids, Making Money and Video http://blogmaverick.com/2010/01/28/talking-the-ipad-kids-making-money-and-video/ Shared item

I cant wait to get my hands on the IPad. Its going to be a HUGE hit.

You can book it right now that it will be the product that kids of this generation grow up with and look back on with affection just like we did with the first video games. Video games changed how we grew up. The IPad will change how kids grow up.

Apple was brilliant in how they cultivated apps for the IPhone and Touch. With so many apps for kids, any parent with young kids and either of these 2 devices will tell you that their kids use and love them. In fact, it was this very reason that I helped create Puzzle Palace for the IPhone. It allows my kids to take the pictures they take and turn them into puzzles. My 3 year old loves it.

The IPad will take this to the next level. I recognize that its very expensive for most families right now. Hopefully that will change over time. If it does, you can bet every home with kids will have an IPad. And the first person to create the kidproof covering will make money as well (Hint to entrepreneurs) On the flipside, the minute these devices hit critical mass in families, the DVD market for kids, who watch the same movie over and over will end as we know it. Download Scooby Do one time and the need to hassle with all those DVDs for the kids at home or on trips becomes a distant memory. A relic of an older generation.

Thats big.

Whats also big is the exclusion of flash. The reason is obvious. No flash. Far less streaming over 3G. Less streaming over 3G means less bandwidth consumed. Less bandwidth consumed means ATT can offer a GREAT price on the 3G data service. I personally have never had problems with the ATT Network. The limits on 3G streaming probably means I wont going forward either. Thats a good thing.

Its big that there is no USB port. As a content producer thats not a good thing. It means that Apple wants to force us through ITunes to sell content. It will be the path of least resistance for consumers to add content to the IPad and a HUGE source of revenue for Apple. Im sure there will be work around alternatives, but they wont be able to match the simplicity of the ITunes Store.

Outside the Apple Universe, the company that should be licking its chops is Dish Network. Their SlingBox product just became a grand slam. I absolutely LOVE the sling box app I run on my IPod Touch to watch NBA League Pass games, HDNet in a hotel room and other shows that I record on my DVR. I cant wait to put it on the IPad and its big screen.

And finally, if i was just out of school and fluent in all things Wi Fi , networking and wireless, I would immediately go door to door offering to fine tune your home's wireless network. With new HDTVs coming out with Wi FI, the IPad, SlingBox, Netflix Streaming and other applications consuming tons of bandwidth in the home, it is an ABSOLUTE certainty that 99pct of home networks can be improved and perform significantly better. Be that kid in your neighborhood that comes in and fine tunes everyone's wi fi in their home for 50 or 100 bucks (or more if you live in a fancy part of town) and you will make some good money.

ShareThis



Tags: kids ipad home big streaming ]]>

I cant wait to get my hands on the IPad. Its going to be a HUGE hit.

You can book it right now that it will be the product that kids of this generation grow up with and look back on with affection just like we did with the first video games. Video games changed how we grew up. The IPad will change how kids grow up.

Apple was brilliant in how they cultivated apps for the IPhone and Touch. With so many apps for kids, any parent with young kids and either of these 2 devices will tell you that their kids use and love them. In fact, it was this very reason that I helped create Puzzle Palace for the IPhone. It allows my kids to take the pictures they take and turn them into puzzles. My 3 year old loves it.

The IPad will take this to the next level. I recognize that its very expensive for most families right now. Hopefully that will change over time. If it does, you can bet every home with kids will have an IPad. And the first person to create the kidproof covering will make money as well (Hint to entrepreneurs) On the flipside, the minute these devices hit critical mass in families, the DVD market for kids, who watch the same movie over and over will end as we know it. Download Scooby Do one time and the need to hassle with all those DVDs for the kids at home or on trips becomes a distant memory. A relic of an older generation.

Thats big.

Whats also big is the exclusion of flash. The reason is obvious. No flash. Far less streaming over 3G. Less streaming over 3G means less bandwidth consumed. Less bandwidth consumed means ATT can offer a GREAT price on the 3G data service. I personally have never had problems with the ATT Network. The limits on 3G streaming probably means I wont going forward either. Thats a good thing.

Its big that there is no USB port. As a content producer thats not a good thing. It means that Apple wants to force us through ITunes to sell content. It will be the path of least resistance for consumers to add content to the IPad and a HUGE source of revenue for Apple. Im sure there will be work around alternatives, but they wont be able to match the simplicity of the ITunes Store.

Outside the Apple Universe, the company that should be licking its chops is Dish Network. Their SlingBox product just became a grand slam. I absolutely LOVE the sling box app I run on my IPod Touch to watch NBA League Pass games, HDNet in a hotel room and other shows that I record on my DVR. I cant wait to put it on the IPad and its big screen.

And finally, if i was just out of school and fluent in all things Wi Fi , networking and wireless, I would immediately go door to door offering to fine tune your home's wireless network. With new HDTVs coming out with Wi FI, the IPad, SlingBox, Netflix Streaming and other applications consuming tons of bandwidth in the home, it is an ABSOLUTE certainty that 99pct of home networks can be improved and perform significantly better. Be that kid in your neighborhood that comes in and fine tunes everyone's wi fi in their home for 50 or 100 bucks (or more if you live in a fancy part of town) and you will make some good money.

ShareThis



Tags: kids ipad home big streaming ]]> Fri, 29 Jan 2010 00:34:23 -0500 tag:croncast.com,5930 The Anti-Hype: Why Apple's iPad Disappoints http://mashable.com/2010/01/27/apple-ipad-downsides/ Shared item

The iPad is not the transformational device so many Apple enthusiasts were hoping for. It won't turn all the content industries upside down, it won't be your primary computing device, and it's not even a bigger, better iPhone.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs introduced the iPad as a device to fill the gap between smartphones like the iPhone and high-end laptops like the MacBook and MacBook Pro. He said there needs to be a middle device, but it needs to be better than the alternatives at what it does. Netbooks currently fill the void, but according to Jobs, netbooks aren't better at anything. He and his colleagues at Apple believe that the iPad is.

Apple's website and promotional video call the iPad magical. We're told the iPad is the best way to experience the web, email, photos, and videos. Hands down. But it's not it's not even close. It's mighty cool, it's super convenient, and it's very sexy, but it's not even better than a netbook at some of those things.

This isn't the middle device folks have been waiting for because and I'm using Steve Jobs's own criteria here it's not better at anything than any other device on the market. It's a step in that direction, but the day hasn't come yet. Here are just a few of the ways the iPad isn't as magical as Apple claims.

It's Not the Best Way to Browse the Web

Steve Jobs said it needs to be a better web device than the alternatives. The Apple website says it's the best way to experience the web. Some variation of that phrase is repeated several times in the promotional video Apple has released. But it's just not true.

It might be one of the best ways to browse the web on a mobile device, but laptop and desktop computers even netbooks are still better. Most current websites were designed to be experienced on those devices with a mouse and a keyboard. Maybe the mouse isn't necessary, but you don't have to pop up a software keyboard to type in URLs on a netbook or laptop. Even if you lug around the keyboard dock, it will be a tad awkward moving between the keys and the screen to interact. You're sacrificing some usability for simplicity on the iPad.

Most importantly, the iPad's browser does not support Adobe Flash, the foundation of rich media on the web today. Adobe is planning to make it possible for Flash developers to develop apps, but it won't work on the web.

I'll admit that the decision not to support Flash is a logical one if you start at the right premises; Flash is responsible for countless reported crashes on Macs, and Apple can't control it to ensure quality of experience. Apple is banking on a transition to HTML5 and CSS 3 for rich web content. While that transition has already begun, it hasn't fully happened yet. Until it does, it's ridiculous to call this device the best way to experience the web when one of the most ubiquitous and essential web technologies is not supported.

It's an Unprecedented Win for Closed Computing

Many of the software restrictions that drive people mad when they're using the iPhone are going to be just as frustrating on the iPad. All the device's content apps, songs, TV shows, movies, books, you name it can only be processed through Apple's iTunes Store.

You won't be able to drag and drop or share files with other computers like you can with your laptop on your home network. You won't be able to download a program or music file from the web and play it on the spot. You won't be able to use any application that doesn't meet Apple's strict approval guidelines. It's closed computing at its most extreme.

Unfortunately we've come to expect that from our smartphones. For a larger device that's supposed to replace your netbook as a complete portable computing solution, though, this is almost unprecedented at least from a device that's likely to have a great deal of influence on the market and on the design of future devices. That's bad news no matter how you spin it.

It's Not Really a Competitive eReader

The Kindle owns the eReader landscape right now, and the greatest expectation for the iPad was that it would bury the Kindle. While the iPad's reader interface is indisputably sweet-looking and the list of participating publishers is promising, there are several ways it just won't beat the Kindle.

The most important issue is the price. The Kindle costs $260; so do Barnes & Noble's Nook and the comparable Sony Reader. The Kindle even comes bundled with free 3G network access, though it admittedly can't do anywhere near as much with it as the iPad can.

But if you are considering the iPad primarily as a reader, that price difference is a big problem. Also a big problem: The lack of an e-ink display. E-ink doesn't wash your face in eye-strain-inducing light like the displays on the iPhone, the iPad, and laptop computers do. It's meant to be a soft experience, just like reading a book. Without e-ink, you might not be able to tolerate spending four straight hours reading Stephen King's latest on a regular display, cool IPS tech aside.

Finally, as impressive as 10 hours of battery life is for a multi-purpose device like the iPad, the Kindle can run in reading mode for a week without recharging longer if Wi-Fi is disabled. Because it's trying to do everything, the iPad isn't the best at anything.

It's Not Worth It If You Have a Smartphone and Laptop

If the iPad isn't a good option as a middle device, it ought to at least be attractive to power users and enthusiasts who already have other devices. Unfortunately, it's not.

It's not significantly better at anything than either your iPhone or your MacBook. It can't be used as your daily workhorse computer on the go, because just like the iPhone's OS 3.1.2 the iPad's OS 3.2 doesn't multitask. And if you already have an iPhone, you can do basic information gathering, mapping, and so on while you're on the go without spending an additional $29.99 per month for 3G service.

Further, your laptop or netbook very likely has a web cam for video conferencing, and your cell phone probably has a camera (or even video camera) for capturing images. The iPad has neither.

Since the interface is graceful and satisfying, you might want to buy it as an extra device just for the experience, but at between $499 $829, that's not practical for most consumers.

The Anti-Hype

The iPad isn't going to be a phenomenon with either netbook users or power users. It's not better than existing devices at anything, and it's too expensive for most people to use it as a secondary device. I might have said something different if the rumors that the iPad would be all about a new push in the content marketplace were true, but that didn't happen. Instead, we got a cool toy.

[img credit: FSF, Yutaka Tsutano]

Tags: apple, Apple Tablet, ereader, ipad, Kindle, Opinion



Tags: ipad device apple web better ]]>

The iPad is not the transformational device so many Apple enthusiasts were hoping for. It won't turn all the content industries upside down, it won't be your primary computing device, and it's not even a bigger, better iPhone.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs introduced the iPad as a device to fill the gap between smartphones like the iPhone and high-end laptops like the MacBook and MacBook Pro. He said there needs to be a middle device, but it needs to be better than the alternatives at what it does. Netbooks currently fill the void, but according to Jobs, netbooks aren't better at anything. He and his colleagues at Apple believe that the iPad is.

Apple's website and promotional video call the iPad magical. We're told the iPad is the best way to experience the web, email, photos, and videos. Hands down. But it's not it's not even close. It's mighty cool, it's super convenient, and it's very sexy, but it's not even better than a netbook at some of those things.

This isn't the middle device folks have been waiting for because and I'm using Steve Jobs's own criteria here it's not better at anything than any other device on the market. It's a step in that direction, but the day hasn't come yet. Here are just a few of the ways the iPad isn't as magical as Apple claims.

It's Not the Best Way to Browse the Web

Steve Jobs said it needs to be a better web device than the alternatives. The Apple website says it's the best way to experience the web. Some variation of that phrase is repeated several times in the promotional video Apple has released. But it's just not true.

It might be one of the best ways to browse the web on a mobile device, but laptop and desktop computers even netbooks are still better. Most current websites were designed to be experienced on those devices with a mouse and a keyboard. Maybe the mouse isn't necessary, but you don't have to pop up a software keyboard to type in URLs on a netbook or laptop. Even if you lug around the keyboard dock, it will be a tad awkward moving between the keys and the screen to interact. You're sacrificing some usability for simplicity on the iPad.

Most importantly, the iPad's browser does not support Adobe Flash, the foundation of rich media on the web today. Adobe is planning to make it possible for Flash developers to develop apps, but it won't work on the web.

I'll admit that the decision not to support Flash is a logical one if you start at the right premises; Flash is responsible for countless reported crashes on Macs, and Apple can't control it to ensure quality of experience. Apple is banking on a transition to HTML5 and CSS 3 for rich web content. While that transition has already begun, it hasn't fully happened yet. Until it does, it's ridiculous to call this device the best way to experience the web when one of the most ubiquitous and essential web technologies is not supported.

It's an Unprecedented Win for Closed Computing

Many of the software restrictions that drive people mad when they're using the iPhone are going to be just as frustrating on the iPad. All the device's content apps, songs, TV shows, movies, books, you name it can only be processed through Apple's iTunes Store.

You won't be able to drag and drop or share files with other computers like you can with your laptop on your home network. You won't be able to download a program or music file from the web and play it on the spot. You won't be able to use any application that doesn't meet Apple's strict approval guidelines. It's closed computing at its most extreme.

Unfortunately we've come to expect that from our smartphones. For a larger device that's supposed to replace your netbook as a complete portable computing solution, though, this is almost unprecedented at least from a device that's likely to have a great deal of influence on the market and on the design of future devices. That's bad news no matter how you spin it.

It's Not Really a Competitive eReader

The Kindle owns the eReader landscape right now, and the greatest expectation for the iPad was that it would bury the Kindle. While the iPad's reader interface is indisputably sweet-looking and the list of participating publishers is promising, there are several ways it just won't beat the Kindle.

The most important issue is the price. The Kindle costs $260; so do Barnes & Noble's Nook and the comparable Sony Reader. The Kindle even comes bundled with free 3G network access, though it admittedly can't do anywhere near as much with it as the iPad can.

But if you are considering the iPad primarily as a reader, that price difference is a big problem. Also a big problem: The lack of an e-ink display. E-ink doesn't wash your face in eye-strain-inducing light like the displays on the iPhone, the iPad, and laptop computers do. It's meant to be a soft experience, just like reading a book. Without e-ink, you might not be able to tolerate spending four straight hours reading Stephen King's latest on a regular display, cool IPS tech aside.

Finally, as impressive as 10 hours of battery life is for a multi-purpose device like the iPad, the Kindle can run in reading mode for a week without recharging longer if Wi-Fi is disabled. Because it's trying to do everything, the iPad isn't the best at anything.

It's Not Worth It If You Have a Smartphone and Laptop

If the iPad isn't a good option as a middle device, it ought to at least be attractive to power users and enthusiasts who already have other devices. Unfortunately, it's not.

It's not significantly better at anything than either your iPhone or your MacBook. It can't be used as your daily workhorse computer on the go, because just like the iPhone's OS 3.1.2 the iPad's OS 3.2 doesn't multitask. And if you already have an iPhone, you can do basic information gathering, mapping, and so on while you're on the go without spending an additional $29.99 per month for 3G service.

Further, your laptop or netbook very likely has a web cam for video conferencing, and your cell phone probably has a camera (or even video camera) for capturing images. The iPad has neither.

Since the interface is graceful and satisfying, you might want to buy it as an extra device just for the experience, but at between $499 $829, that's not practical for most consumers.

The Anti-Hype

The iPad isn't going to be a phenomenon with either netbook users or power users. It's not better than existing devices at anything, and it's too expensive for most people to use it as a secondary device. I might have said something different if the rumors that the iPad would be all about a new push in the content marketplace were true, but that didn't happen. Instead, we got a cool toy.

[img credit: FSF, Yutaka Tsutano]

Tags: apple, Apple Tablet, ereader, ipad, Kindle, Opinion



Tags: ipad device apple web better ]]> Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:59:51 -0500 tag:croncast.com,5921 iPad Has Custom 1GHz Apple A4 Chip http://www.i4u.com/article30342.html Shared item Apple just unveiled that the Apple iPad is powered by their own CPU. The 1GHz Apple A4 chip. The display of the iPad is a 9.7-inch IPS Display. Storage capacity ranges up to 64GB flash. The iPad has Wifi 802.11n and there will be 3G iPad devices. ...



Tags: ipad apple chip a display ]]>Apple just unveiled that the Apple iPad is powered by their own CPU. The 1GHz Apple A4 chip. The display of the iPad is a 9.7-inch IPS Display. Storage capacity ranges up to 64GB flash. The iPad has Wifi 802.11n and there will be 3G iPad devices. ...



Tags: ipad apple chip a display ]]> Wed, 27 Jan 2010 18:34:11 -0500 tag:croncast.com,5911 Apple's iPad keeping Adobe Flash away from your couch http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/27/apples-ipad-keeping-adobe-flash-away-from-your-couch/ Shared item Apple's freshly announced iPad is a lot of things to a lot of people, but it appears that it's not going to be the device that proves the appropriateness of Adobe Flash for enjoying rich media device on a mobile device. Better luck next time, Adobe!

Developing... check out our ongoing Apple keynote coverage in the liveblog!

Apple's iPad keeping Adobe Flash away from your couch originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Jan 2010 13:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Tags: adobe apple flash device ipad ]]> Apple's freshly announced iPad is a lot of things to a lot of people, but it appears that it's not going to be the device that proves the appropriateness of Adobe Flash for enjoying rich media device on a mobile device. Better luck next time, Adobe!

Developing... check out our ongoing Apple keynote coverage in the liveblog!

Apple's iPad keeping Adobe Flash away from your couch originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Jan 2010 13:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Tags: adobe apple flash device ipad ]]> Wed, 27 Jan 2010 18:44:00 -0500 tag:croncast.com,5913 Apple's iPad keeping Adobe Flash away from your couch? http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/27/apples-ipad-keeping-adobe-flash-away-from-your-couch/ Shared item Apple's freshly announced iPad is a lot of things to a lot of people, but it appears that it's not going to be the device that proves the appropriateness of Adobe Flash for enjoying rich media device on a mobile device. Better luck next time, Adobe!

Developing... check out our ongoing Apple keynote coverage in the liveblog!

Apple's iPad keeping Adobe Flash away from your couch? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Jan 2010 13:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tags: adobe apple flash device ipad ]]> Apple's freshly announced iPad is a lot of things to a lot of people, but it appears that it's not going to be the device that proves the appropriateness of Adobe Flash for enjoying rich media device on a mobile device. Better luck next time, Adobe!

Developing... check out our ongoing Apple keynote coverage in the liveblog!

Apple's iPad keeping Adobe Flash away from your couch? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Jan 2010 13:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tags: adobe apple flash device ipad ]]> Wed, 27 Jan 2010 18:44:00 -0500 tag:croncast.com,5900 TWiL 43 Video Please Come to Boston http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bagandbaggage/~3/NBRhhTc2Ul8/twil-43-video-please-come-to-boston.html Shared item

Video archives for TWiL are available at blip.tv and ODTV. Also, TWiL is on Twitter and Facebook, if you're so inclined.



Tags: twil facebook video inclined week ]]>

Video archives for TWiL are available at blip.tv and ODTV. Also, TWiL is on Twitter and Facebook, if you're so inclined.



Tags: twil facebook video inclined week ]]> Mon, 18 Jan 2010 15:57:29 -0500 tag:croncast.com,5866 Our CES 2010 Top Picks http://www.techstartups.com/2010/01/12/ces-2010-top-picks/ Shared item ces_general_top_picks

By Senior Editor Kris Smith (@croncast)

The world was shown a lot of new electronic products this year at CES.

This is a list of the top 5 products that are actually usable or will be in the near future when they are released.

These are what we wish we could pick up at the store today.

Enjoy the videos as well.

5. Sprint Overdrive

This is MiFi on steroids with 3G and 4G coverage. This beast is ready today. However, it is limited to certain cities and metro areas in the states. See if you're on the list and if you are, drop that cable company or DSL provider like they're hot.

This video was embedded using the YouTuber plugin by Roy Tanck. Adobe Flash Player is required to view the video.

4. MSI Android slate

This was the closest I found to a slate that was responsive and accurate even for a dude with fat fingers. Maybe the others aren't up to production mode yet but they lacked the same experience, until the MSI would freeze.

This video was embedded using the YouTuber plugin by Roy Tanck. Adobe Flash Player is required to view the video.

3. Vizio wifi TV's

This iteration of 3D is a huge fail. Like bad movies this should have seen limited release or straight to DVD, if you know what I mean. What is awesome are the Vizio wifi TV's that will be hitting the shelves. They've embraced almost every type of TV widget that can be made and I would expect to see some brilliant hacks coming our way.

This video was embedded using the YouTuber plugin by Roy Tanck. Adobe Flash Player is required to view the video.

2. Asus T101MT

There isn't a whole lot to say that I haven't said already. This is going to be a great, usable device that I wish was running Mac OS. I used a Toshiba tablet PC back in 2006 for my job and loved it. This size would be incredibly useful and mobile.

This video was embedded using the YouTuber plugin by Roy Tanck. Adobe Flash Player is required to view the video.

1. Intel Infoscape

Only exists for trade show purposes but will soon be finding its way into other displays. Look out hotels, shopping malls and people with money to burn.

This video was embedded using the YouTuber plugin by Roy Tanck. Adobe Flash Player is required to view the video.

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Tags: video tablet ces tanck roy ]]>ces_general_top_picks

By Senior Editor Kris Smith (@croncast)

The world was shown a lot of new electronic products this year at CES.

This is a list of the top 5 products that are actually usable or will be in the near future when they are released.

These are what we wish we could pick up at the store today.

Enjoy the videos as well.

5. Sprint Overdrive

This is MiFi on steroids with 3G and 4G coverage. This beast is ready today. However, it is limited to certain cities and metro areas in the states. See if you're on the list and if you are, drop that cable company or DSL provider like they're hot.

This video was embedded using the YouTuber plugin by Roy Tanck. Adobe Flash Player is required to view the video.

4. MSI Android slate

This was the closest I found to a slate that was responsive and accurate even for a dude with fat fingers. Maybe the others aren't up to production mode yet but they lacked the same experience, until the MSI would freeze.

This video was embedded using the YouTuber plugin by Roy Tanck. Adobe Flash Player is required to view the video.

3. Vizio wifi TV's

This iteration of 3D is a huge fail. Like bad movies this should have seen limited release or straight to DVD, if you know what I mean. What is awesome are the Vizio wifi TV's that will be hitting the shelves. They've embraced almost every type of TV widget that can be made and I would expect to see some brilliant hacks coming our way.

This video was embedded using the YouTuber plugin by Roy Tanck. Adobe Flash Player is required to view the video.

2. Asus T101MT

There isn't a whole lot to say that I haven't said already. This is going to be a great, usable device that I wish was running Mac OS. I used a Toshiba tablet PC back in 2006 for my job and loved it. This size would be incredibly useful and mobile.

This video was embedded using the YouTuber plugin by Roy Tanck. Adobe Flash Player is required to view the video.

1. Intel Infoscape

Only exists for trade show purposes but will soon be finding its way into other displays. Look out hotels, shopping malls and people with money to burn.

This video was embedded using the YouTuber plugin by Roy Tanck. Adobe Flash Player is required to view the video.

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Tags: video tablet ces tanck roy ]]> Tue, 12 Jan 2010 23:08:59 -0500 tag:croncast.com,5845 Tech Podcast Network from CES http://www.techstartups.com/2010/01/12/tech-podcast-network-from-ces/ Shared item By Senior Editor Kris Smith (@croncast)

Picture 52The Tech Podcast Network team, about 7 of them, canvased CES 2010 shooting video from open to close every day.

The video below is a highlight that they shot on Saturday with Ted from RED.

If you would like to see more information about it and hear straight from Ted about the Scarlet this is the video for you.

There was a ton of video shot at CES this year from all the press and attendees. To sift through all of it would be impossible. I chose to share this from the Tech Podcast Network team because of their dogged dedication to sharing as much of the show as possible.

Sharing a coffee with them in them in the blogger lounge (which was much more comfortable and less packed than the press room) was an opportunity to pick their brains for the next booths to hit up.

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Tags: ces video podcast tech network ]]>By Senior Editor Kris Smith (@croncast)

Picture 52The Tech Podcast Network team, about 7 of them, canvased CES 2010 shooting video from open to close every day.

The video below is a highlight that they shot on Saturday with Ted from RED.

If you would like to see more information about it and hear straight from Ted about the Scarlet this is the video for you.

There was a ton of video shot at CES this year from all the press and attendees. To sift through all of it would be impossible. I chose to share this from the Tech Podcast Network team because of their dogged dedication to sharing as much of the show as possible.

Sharing a coffee with them in them in the blogger lounge (which was much more comfortable and less packed than the press room) was an opportunity to pick their brains for the next booths to hit up.

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Tags: ces video podcast tech network ]]> Tue, 12 Jan 2010 16:24:36 -0500 tag:croncast.com,5848 Nokia N900 Cheap at $489 from Dell http://www.techstartups.com/2009/12/04/nokia-n900-cheap-at-489/ Shared item By Senior Editor Kris Smith (@croncast)

nokia-n900-maemo-dell-cheapI'm not one to post often about gadgets or their pricing. But this is a really good deal for a pre-order phone from Nokia that can fill the iPhone void for AT&T haters.

I've had my eye on the N900 since the N97 arrived and fell flat on its screen. I've seen prices go below $500 for the device unlocked on Amazon but they are not back up over $700. Dell has the Nokia N900 for $489 until Dec. 10th.

That at price comes from a 10% discount (not an affiliate link) on the $599 price tag and a $50 mail-in-rebate. The phone specs and video after the jump.

Nokia is calling this thing an internet tablet, but that is going to be short lived, I hope. The rumor mill is producing much talk of larger devices that should start arriving in the next few months. I'll post on this later. The N900 is really a smart phone (with out of the box tethering!).

Let's roll this is what this Nokia smartphone is packing:

  • Up to 32 GB internal storage
  • Total available application memory up to 1 GB (256 MB RAM, 768 MB virtual memory)
  • Supported protocols: Mail for Exchange, IMAP, POP3, SMTP
  • SMS and instant messages organized as conversations
  • Multiple number, email and Instant Messaging details per contact, contacts with images
  • Integrated hands-free stereo speakers
  • Logging of dialed, received and missed calls
  • Ring tones: .wav, .mp3, .AAC, .eAAC, .wma
  • Wi-Fi networking (802.11b/g) with WEP, WPA, WPA2 security; designed for continuous TCP/IP connectivity
  • Capability to serve as data modem via USB connection
  • Music playback file formats: .mp3, .wma, .aac, .m4a, .wav
  • Video playback file formats: .mp4, .avi, .wmv, .3gp; codecs: H.264, MPEG-4, Xvid, WMV, H.263
  • Video streaming: H.264, MPEG-4, Xvid, WMV, H.263 in .avi, .mp4, .wmv, .asf and .3gp containers
  • TV out (NTSC/PAL) with Nokia Video Connectivity Cable (CA-75U, included)
  • FM radio (requires headset to be attached) and FM transmitter

This video was embedded using the YouTuber plugin by Roy Tanck. Adobe Flash Player is required to view the video.

As for size this thing weighs 6.38 ounces and measures 4.37 x 2.35 x 0.77 inches. Which comes in 1.5 ounces heavier than an iPhone. Height and width differences are negligible but depth is not at a difference of at a skosh over a quarter of an inch.

For this price and the ability to shoot video, tether, take photos with a Flash and carry it as an FM boombox on your shoulder as you walk down the street it is a no brainer if you've got the loot.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: http://cmp.ly/0

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Tags: nokia n video dell h ]]>By Senior Editor Kris Smith (@croncast)

nokia-n900-maemo-dell-cheapI'm not one to post often about gadgets or their pricing. But this is a really good deal for a pre-order phone from Nokia that can fill the iPhone void for AT&T haters.

I've had my eye on the N900 since the N97 arrived and fell flat on its screen. I've seen prices go below $500 for the device unlocked on Amazon but they are not back up over $700. Dell has the Nokia N900 for $489 until Dec. 10th.

That at price comes from a 10% discount (not an affiliate link) on the $599 price tag and a $50 mail-in-rebate. The phone specs and video after the jump.

Nokia is calling this thing an internet tablet, but that is going to be short lived, I hope. The rumor mill is producing much talk of larger devices that should start arriving in the next few months. I'll post on this later. The N900 is really a smart phone (with out of the box tethering!).

Let's roll this is what this Nokia smartphone is packing:

  • Up to 32 GB internal storage
  • Total available application memory up to 1 GB (256 MB RAM, 768 MB virtual memory)
  • Supported protocols: Mail for Exchange, IMAP, POP3, SMTP
  • SMS and instant messages organized as conversations
  • Multiple number, email and Instant Messaging details per contact, contacts with images
  • Integrated hands-free stereo speakers
  • Logging of dialed, received and missed calls
  • Ring tones: .wav, .mp3, .AAC, .eAAC, .wma
  • Wi-Fi networking (802.11b/g) with WEP, WPA, WPA2 security; designed for continuous TCP/IP connectivity
  • Capability to serve as data modem via USB connection
  • Music playback file formats: .mp3, .wma, .aac, .m4a, .wav
  • Video playback file formats: .mp4, .avi, .wmv, .3gp; codecs: H.264, MPEG-4, Xvid, WMV, H.263
  • Video streaming: H.264, MPEG-4, Xvid, WMV, H.263 in .avi, .mp4, .wmv, .asf and .3gp containers
  • TV out (NTSC/PAL) with Nokia Video Connectivity Cable (CA-75U, included)
  • FM radio (requires headset to be attached) and FM transmitter

This video was embedded using the YouTuber plugin by Roy Tanck. Adobe Flash Player is required to view the video.

As for size this thing weighs 6.38 ounces and measures 4.37 x 2.35 x 0.77 inches. Which comes in 1.5 ounces heavier than an iPhone. Height and width differences are negligible but depth is not at a difference of at a skosh over a quarter of an inch.

For this price and the ability to shoot video, tether, take photos with a Flash and carry it as an FM boombox on your shoulder as you walk down the street it is a no brainer if you've got the loot.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: http://cmp.ly/0

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Tags: nokia n video dell h ]]> Fri, 04 Dec 2009 23:09:54 -0500 tag:croncast.com,5802 I Want An Awesome Phone http://www.techstartups.com/2009/11/23/i-want-an-awesome-phone/ Shared item By Senior Editor Kris Smith (@croncast)

pochenkaThis can be distilled down to a handful of features that are the foundation for an awesome phone. The iPhone, Droid, Pre and Imagio, to mention a few are great phones. But not a single one of them is awesome.

With the exception of the iPhone, if you pick up a phone today in any carrier store it will magically transport you back to the innovations of 2005 for mobile phones. If the device doesn't fall into that category it will surely fall into one of the other two: your nana's phone or an iPhone knockoff.

I would settle for an iPhone knockoff if it had additional features that would bring it toward the peak of awesomeness. They are either crippled by carrier software modifications or suffer from form factors that leave the user scratching their heads and hating the phone.

With all of that said, I wanted to take this opportunity to just say that I want an awesome phone. What means awesome to me may be not so awesome in your world. So be it. Below is what a phone in 2009 heading into 2010 needs in my book.

  1. Connectivity 4g capable, 3g legacy, wifi, bluetooth, IR
  2. Camera 8 MP min, flash, top side trigger, HD video
  3. Keyboard onscreen, external QWERTY (centered on the device), bluetooth full-size keyboard
  4. Software Android or Windows Mobile
  5. Size 12.7 MM larger on all sides than the iPhone

There is not one device on the market with all more thank 3 of these 5 items available. As a user of many a smartphone it seems strange that a device with the capabilities hasn't been made yet. I would settle for an awesome camera that had 3g and keyboard capabilities but those don't exist either.

I want to see some awesome people! Where are the game changing products of 2009 and 2010? They seem to be missing in action.

What would you put into a phone to make it awesome, not just great?

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: http://cmp.ly/0

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Tags: awesome phone iphone g device ]]>By Senior Editor Kris Smith (@croncast)

pochenkaThis can be distilled down to a handful of features that are the foundation for an awesome phone. The iPhone, Droid, Pre and Imagio, to mention a few are great phones. But not a single one of them is awesome.

With the exception of the iPhone, if you pick up a phone today in any carrier store it will magically transport you back to the innovations of 2005 for mobile phones. If the device doesn't fall into that category it will surely fall into one of the other two: your nana's phone or an iPhone knockoff.

I would settle for an iPhone knockoff if it had additional features that would bring it toward the peak of awesomeness. They are either crippled by carrier software modifications or suffer from form factors that leave the user scratching their heads and hating the phone.

With all of that said, I wanted to take this opportunity to just say that I want an awesome phone. What means awesome to me may be not so awesome in your world. So be it. Below is what a phone in 2009 heading into 2010 needs in my book.

  1. Connectivity 4g capable, 3g legacy, wifi, bluetooth, IR
  2. Camera 8 MP min, flash, top side trigger, HD video
  3. Keyboard onscreen, external QWERTY (centered on the device), bluetooth full-size keyboard
  4. Software Android or Windows Mobile
  5. Size 12.7 MM larger on all sides than the iPhone

There is not one device on the market with all more thank 3 of these 5 items available. As a user of many a smartphone it seems strange that a device with the capabilities hasn't been made yet. I would settle for an awesome camera that had 3g and keyboard capabilities but those don't exist either.

I want to see some awesome people! Where are the game changing products of 2009 and 2010? They seem to be missing in action.

What would you put into a phone to make it awesome, not just great?

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: http://cmp.ly/0

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Tags: awesome phone iphone g device ]]> Mon, 23 Nov 2009 23:12:59 -0500 tag:croncast.com,5778 4iThumbs: Because You Really Want Your iPhone To Be A BlackBerry http://www.techstartups.com/2009/11/25/4ithumbs-because-you-really-want-your-iphone-to-be-a-blackberry/ Shared item By Staff Writer John Federico (@gadgetboy)
4iThumbs
I commend all the innovation that comes from the iPhone accessories community. Usually, these are creative entrepreneurs looking to fill a need that millions (or even just thousands) of iPhone owners may have.

But I'm not sure this is one of them.

Engadget points us today to 4iThumbs, a clear iPhone screen overlay that, in addition to providing screen protection, has tiny bumps where the on-screen keyboard appears allowing for tactile feedback from the device while typing.

As a general rule of thumb (pun intended), BlackBerry folks tend to have an increased tendency toward messaging so perhaps accessories like these will help those people switch to the iPhone without having to get used to the on-screen keyboard?

While I don't have the answer, I can't imagine actually using this. What about all of the swiping and tapping that occurs in applications that don't require a keyboard? I would think that the little nubbins would get in the way.

If you're really considering one of these things, maybe you should buy a BlackBerry, k?

If you have one, tell us how you like it in the comments. Video after the break.

This video was embedded using the YouTuber plugin by Roy Tanck. Adobe Flash Player is required to view the video.

This video was embedded using the YouTuber plugin by Roy Tanck. Adobe Flash Player is required to view the video.
DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: http://cmp.ly/0

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Tags: iphone screen video keyboard blackberry ]]>By Staff Writer John Federico (@gadgetboy)
4iThumbs
I commend all the innovation that comes from the iPhone accessories community. Usually, these are creative entrepreneurs looking to fill a need that millions (or even just thousands) of iPhone owners may have.

But I'm not sure this is one of them.

Engadget points us today to 4iThumbs, a clear iPhone screen overlay that, in addition to providing screen protection, has tiny bumps where the on-screen keyboard appears allowing for tactile feedback from the device while typing.

As a general rule of thumb (pun intended), BlackBerry folks tend to have an increased tendency toward messaging so perhaps accessories like these will help those people switch to the iPhone without having to get used to the on-screen keyboard?

While I don't have the answer, I can't imagine actually using this. What about all of the swiping and tapping that occurs in applications that don't require a keyboard? I would think that the little nubbins would get in the way.

If you're really considering one of these things, maybe you should buy a BlackBerry, k?

If you have one, tell us how you like it in the comments. Video after the break.

This video was embedded using the YouTuber plugin by Roy Tanck. Adobe Flash Player is required to view the video.

This video was embedded using the YouTuber plugin by Roy Tanck. Adobe Flash Player is required to view the video.
DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: http://cmp.ly/0

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4iThumbs: Because You Really Want Your iPhone To Be A BlackBerry is a post from: TechStartups.com



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Tags: iphone screen video keyboard blackberry ]]> Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:06:03 -0500 tag:croncast.com,5771 "Jersey Shore," MTV Reality Show, Should Be Canceled Says Italian-American Group (VIDEO) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/24/jersey-shore-mtv-reality-_n_369580.html Shared item FAIRFIELD, N.J. (Associated Press) - A national Italian-American organization based in New Jersey says an MTV reality show that depicts Italian-American beachgoers as the "hottest, tannest, craziest Guidos" is offensive and should be scrapped before it airs.

UNICO National said Tuesday that "Jersey Shore" relies on crude stereotypes and highlights cursing, bad behavior and violence in depicting renters at a New Jersey beach house.

An MTV promo says the participants "keep their hair high, their muscles juiced and their fists pumping all summer long!"

UNICO President Andre DiMino calls the show "trash television."

It's scheduled to debut Dec. 3.

MTV did not immediately return a telephone message seeking comment.

WATCH:


More on Reality TV



Tags: mtv jersey american italian reality ]]>FAIRFIELD, N.J. (Associated Press) - A national Italian-American organization based in New Jersey says an MTV reality show that depicts Italian-American beachgoers as the "hottest, tannest, craziest Guidos" is offensive and should be scrapped before it airs.

UNICO National said Tuesday that "Jersey Shore" relies on crude stereotypes and highlights cursing, bad behavior and violence in depicting renters at a New Jersey beach house.

An MTV promo says the participants "keep their hair high, their muscles juiced and their fists pumping all summer long!"

UNICO President Andre DiMino calls the show "trash television."

It's scheduled to debut Dec. 3.

MTV did not immediately return a telephone message seeking comment.

WATCH:


More on Reality TV



Tags: mtv jersey american italian reality ]]> Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:16:07 -0500 tag:croncast.com,5767 Man Arrested for Not Tweeting? http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Mashable/~3/Wfzi5Mn6AMo/ Shared item

In a bizarre case involving teen YouTube sensation Justin Bieber and a riotous crowd of his fans, a record exec from Island Def Jam Records was arrested Friday for, among other things, failing to Tweet when told to by authorities.

When the Beiber event at Roosevelt Field mall became unruly (video below), police appealed to the artist's label to send a Tweet telling the crowd to leave. When that allegedly didn't happen, police arrested James Roppo, a senior vice president of Island Def Jam Records, for endangering the welfare of a minor and obstructing government administration.

An Associated Press feed reads:

Police arrested a vice president from Bieber's record label, Island Def Jam Records, saying he wasn't cooperating with attempts to disperse the crowd. James Roppo, 44, of Hoboken, N.J., was charged with a series of misdemeanours, including endangering the welfare of children and obstructing governmental administration.

We asked for his help in getting the crowd to go away by sending out a Twitter message, said Nassau County Police Det. Lt. Kevin Smith. By not cooperating with us, we feel he put lives in danger and the public at risk.

The report doesn't put the police in a good light, especially considering that Bieber's feed does contain Tweets asking the crowd to leave.

But all may not be as it seems: contrary to the AP reports, the NY Daily News implies that the arrest was for sending out updates that Bieber was signing autographs even after the crowd had dispersed.

Roppo is pleading not guilty to the charges.

[via MediaMemo]

Reviews: Twitter

Tags: twitter



Tags: crowd police bieber arrested island ]]>

In a bizarre case involving teen YouTube sensation Justin Bieber and a riotous crowd of his fans, a record exec from Island Def Jam Records was arrested Friday for, among other things, failing to Tweet when told to by authorities.

When the Beiber event at Roosevelt Field mall became unruly (video below), police appealed to the artist's label to send a Tweet telling the crowd to leave. When that allegedly didn't happen, police arrested James Roppo, a senior vice president of Island Def Jam Records, for endangering the welfare of a minor and obstructing government administration.

An Associated Press feed reads:

Police arrested a vice president from Bieber's record label, Island Def Jam Records, saying he wasn't cooperating with attempts to disperse the crowd. James Roppo, 44, of Hoboken, N.J., was charged with a series of misdemeanours, including endangering the welfare of children and obstructing governmental administration.

We asked for his help in getting the crowd to go away by sending out a Twitter message, said Nassau County Police Det. Lt. Kevin Smith. By not cooperating with us, we feel he put lives in danger and the public at risk.

The report doesn't put the police in a good light, especially considering that Bieber's feed does contain Tweets asking the crowd to leave.

But all may not be as it seems: contrary to the AP reports, the NY Daily News implies that the arrest was for sending out updates that Bieber was signing autographs even after the crowd had dispersed.

Roppo is pleading not guilty to the charges.

[via MediaMemo]

Reviews: Twitter

Tags: twitter



Tags: crowd police bieber arrested island ]]> Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:00:29 -0500 tag:croncast.com,5758 In-house SEO Tips From A Master http://www.techstartups.com/2009/11/12/in-house-seo-tips-from-a-master/ Shared item By Guest Author, Topher Kohan (@topheratl)

topher_kohanAs the in-house SEO coordinator for CNN.com and the rest of Turner's news properties (including CNN Money, CNN International and iReport), he has overseen a 17 percent increase in traffic from search year to year and oversaw one of the single largest search traffic days in the site's history with the 2008 presidential election.

Editor's Note: We asked Topher to write this for Tech Startups because his work is impressive. SEO's of all types can benefit from his experience.

Now that the new CNN.com has been live for a while, I can sit back and say, yes, the SEO effort worked!

With that in my pocket, I wanted to walk you all through the path that I took to have as SEO-friendly a site as possible when it went live October 24.

Got involved with the process as soon as I could

They brought me in, and I inserted myself as much as I could during the wireframe stage. This was great, and I was able to ask a lot of questions about what items were on the page and what they would show the user.

cnn_mainAfter the wireframes, the next thing in front of me was the series of mockups that evolved into the final comps for the site. This was even better than the wireframes because I was given a real idea of the modules and items on the page, and then I could ask some tough questions about the technologies we would be using to build it out. I was able to have some really great conversations with them about the use of Flash and Ajax and the up / down side of using them in each case.

Finally, I was looking at the HTML reviews and was able to see the real world the code we were using and catch the little things that might be forgotten.

Do not forget about the little things

This was huge for me to be able to see the real-world code in HTML review and also final templates before launch.

This is the time I found all the little things that I might have overlooked or that were removed from the code in the final stages. I was not able to get it all in there at this point, but if it was just a mistake, this was the place to catch it.

Win the war, not the battle

Yes, things that I wrote about in the SEO requirements did not make it to the live version of the site. Yes, I wish they would have, but in the end, it is all about winning the overall war, so don't fret. Keep your eye on the big picture.

The ends justify the means

In the end, the big picture is to get more traffic to your site from search, and that is my goal at CNN. I wanted to have the new site give the editorial team and me a good chance to optimize it to get as much search traffic as possible.

This is not the end of the road

Now that the site is live, I cannot give up. I need to keep on with the things that did not get in by launch day. Remember also that SEO is not a stand-still kind of world, so there is always something new to try to get done on the site.

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Tags: seo cnn site house topher ]]>By Guest Author, Topher Kohan (@topheratl)

topher_kohanAs the in-house SEO coordinator for CNN.com and the rest of Turner's news properties (including CNN Money, CNN International and iReport), he has overseen a 17 percent increase in traffic from search year to year and oversaw one of the single largest search traffic days in the site's history with the 2008 presidential election.

Editor's Note: We asked Topher to write this for Tech Startups because his work is impressive. SEO's of all types can benefit from his experience.

Now that the new CNN.com has been live for a while, I can sit back and say, yes, the SEO effort worked!

With that in my pocket, I wanted to walk you all through the path that I took to have as SEO-friendly a site as possible when it went live October 24.

Got involved with the process as soon as I could

They brought me in, and I inserted myself as much as I could during the wireframe stage. This was great, and I was able to ask a lot of questions about what items were on the page and what they would show the user.

cnn_mainAfter the wireframes, the next thing in front of me was the series of mockups that evolved into the final comps for the site. This was even better than the wireframes because I was given a real idea of the modules and items on the page, and then I could ask some tough questions about the technologies we would be using to build it out. I was able to have some really great conversations with them about the use of Flash and Ajax and the up / down side of using them in each case.

Finally, I was looking at the HTML reviews and was able to see the real world the code we were using and catch the little things that might be forgotten.

Do not forget about the little things

This was huge for me to be able to see the real-world code in HTML review and also final templates before launch.

This is the time I found all the little things that I might have overlooked or that were removed from the code in the final stages. I was not able to get it all in there at this point, but if it was just a mistake, this was the place to catch it.

Win the war, not the battle

Yes, things that I wrote about in the SEO requirements did not make it to the live version of the site. Yes, I wish they would have, but in the end, it is all about winning the overall war, so don't fret. Keep your eye on the big picture.

The ends justify the means

In the end, the big picture is to get more traffic to your site from search, and that is my goal at CNN. I wanted to have the new site give the editorial team and me a good chance to optimize it to get as much search traffic as possible.

This is not the end of the road

Now that the site is live, I cannot give up. I need to keep on with the things that did not get in by launch day. Remember also that SEO is not a stand-still kind of world, so there is always something new to try to get done on the site.

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Tags: seo cnn site house topher ]]> Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:59:23 -0500 tag:croncast.com,5714 DREAMING OF FOXY BOXING! http://www.everythingisterrible.com/2009/11/eit-gets-foxy.html Shared item


Tags: dreaming boxing foxy everythingisterrible video ]]>


Tags: dreaming boxing foxy everythingisterrible video ]]> Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:01:00 -0500 tag:croncast.com,5702 Start Mocking with Mockingbird http://www.techstartups.com/2009/11/04/start-mocking-with-mockingbird/ Shared item By Senior Editor Kris Smith (@croncast)

Picture 17In an offer to tie it all together and bring a close to the day, I present to you Mockingbird. A bird named application that is about as simple as it can get.

It is self-billed (can't help it) as wireframes on the fly. And as far as desktop software in the browser goes, this is a model to follow.

Mockingbird is a welcome entry to an already crowded field of online wireframing applications. What sets Mockingbird apart is that the interface isn't built in Flash. It has been built in the open source framework Cappuccino.

What also sets this application apart from the field is the intuitive user experience that they deliver. The moment I hit their site I clicked on Try it now' to get knee deep in what I expected to be a cluttered interface. I honestly expected it to be complex and operate like mind mapping software a favorite for wireframe developers to emulate.

I was pleasantly surprised with a couple of things. Once the interface loaded without asking me to install any plug-ins. Not a common feature for interactive applications that aren't native Flash. Cappuccino is to thank for this with its integrated Objective-J language. The second surprise was that it ran amazingly smoothly. It was as responsive as a desktop application with no lag time. Maybe I shouldn't say surprised by the smoothness and call it what it is . . . amazing.

Beyond the features to create mockups and link between pages, users have the ability to share their work. The current offerings are by link and iframe embed code. I would look to this in the future to allow users to send emails right from this portion of the interface.

The team behind this application have kept it simple. I imagine that the backend of Mockingbird is about as complex as applications come, and they have managed to distill down to the ideal combination of features and usability.

Mockingbird knocked my socks off in another way too they are blogging with posterous. Which, of course, bills itself as the dead simple place to post everything. I guess birds of a feather do flock together.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: http://cmp.ly/0

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Tags: mockingbird application interface cappuccino wireframe ]]>By Senior Editor Kris Smith (@croncast)

Picture 17In an offer to tie it all together and bring a close to the day, I present to you Mockingbird. A bird named application that is about as simple as it can get.

It is self-billed (can't help it) as wireframes on the fly. And as far as desktop software in the browser goes, this is a model to follow.

Mockingbird is a welcome entry to an already crowded field of online wireframing applications. What sets Mockingbird apart is that the interface isn't built in Flash. It has been built in the open source framework Cappuccino.

What also sets this application apart from the field is the intuitive user experience that they deliver. The moment I hit their site I clicked on Try it now' to get knee deep in what I expected to be a cluttered interface. I honestly expected it to be complex and operate like mind mapping software a favorite for wireframe developers to emulate.

I was pleasantly surprised with a couple of things. Once the interface loaded without asking me to install any plug-ins. Not a common feature for interactive applications that aren't native Flash. Cappuccino is to thank for this with its integrated Objective-J language. The second surprise was that it ran amazingly smoothly. It was as responsive as a desktop application with no lag time. Maybe I shouldn't say surprised by the smoothness and call it what it is . . . amazing.

Beyond the features to create mockups and link between pages, users have the ability to share their work. The current offerings are by link and iframe embed code. I would look to this in the future to allow users to send emails right from this portion of the interface.

The team behind this application have kept it simple. I imagine that the backend of Mockingbird is about as complex as applications come, and they have managed to distill down to the ideal combination of features and usability.

Mockingbird knocked my socks off in another way too they are blogging with posterous. Which, of course, bills itself as the dead simple place to post everything. I guess birds of a feather do flock together.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: http://cmp.ly/0

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Tags: mockingbird application interface cappuccino wireframe ]]> Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:36:31 -0500 tag:croncast.com,5693 Mobile Media Maker Arsenals http://www.techstartups.com/2009/11/04/mobile-media-maker-arsenals/ Shared item By Senior Editor Kris Smith (@croncast)

medias

With the imminent release of the Motorola Droid I am more excited about mobile media production than I have been for nearly two years. Sure, I rock the iPhone but have you ever tried to do work on one?

What you see above was my solution about 18 months ago to subvert my dependence on using my iPhone to create and deliver media to the internet without having to take my computer with me or find wifi.

This solution worked great. From left to right is the MicroSD card, MS Pro Duo adapter, SD adapter, USB stick that holds all 3 and a Verizon SMT 5800 with slide out QWERTY. The Verizon phone was able to handle the 8GB MicroSD card like a champ and access any media that placed on it. Since the phone was running WM I could actually work on documents without having to get a third party app. I digress.

I was able to take this posse of electronic goodies with me in my pocket and 10 megapixel camera in my hand to get great shots and put them up on Flickr. Sure it would be easier if the camera on the phone was higher quality but it wasn't an option then and still isn't today in a design that lends itself to mobile media production of all types.

Images and videos need context . . . that context comes from metadata beyond geo location, timestamp or anything else beyond EXIF data. The ability to enter that efficiently with a slide out QWERTY is unmatched by touch devices.

I have gadget crush on the Droid and I've never even put my hands on one. The biggest reason is that I want to be able to have the control over what type of media I am able to produce when on the go without much restriction. The ability to replicate the solution at the top of this post with a device that also shoots video and has a 5 mp camera with flash is exciting.

If I were building a startup today I would be looking at aggregating all of this mobile media in a clean interface and partnering with as many carriers and mobile blogging sites. As these devices hit the street and more newbs hook it up with simply what's on deck there will tons of filtering that needs to be done to make it useful.

What is your ideal mobile media maker arsenal? Keep in mind that it must have ability to get your content online.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: http://cmp.ly/0

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Tags: media mobile verizon droid phone ]]>By Senior Editor Kris Smith (@croncast)

medias

With the imminent release of the Motorola Droid I am more excited about mobile media production than I have been for nearly two years. Sure, I rock the iPhone but have you ever tried to do work on one?

What you see above was my solution about 18 months ago to subvert my dependence on using my iPhone to create and deliver media to the internet without having to take my computer with me or find wifi.

This solution worked great. From left to right is the MicroSD card, MS Pro Duo adapter, SD adapter, USB stick that holds all 3 and a Verizon SMT 5800 with slide out QWERTY. The Verizon phone was able to handle the 8GB MicroSD card like a champ and access any media that placed on it. Since the phone was running WM I could actually work on documents without having to get a third party app. I digress.

I was able to take this posse of electronic goodies with me in my pocket and 10 megapixel camera in my hand to get great shots and put them up on Flickr. Sure it would be easier if the camera on the phone was higher quality but it wasn't an option then and still isn't today in a design that lends itself to mobile media production of all types.

Images and videos need context . . . that context comes from metadata beyond geo location, timestamp or anything else beyond EXIF data. The ability to enter that efficiently with a slide out QWERTY is unmatched by touch devices.

I have gadget crush on the Droid and I've never even put my hands on one. The biggest reason is that I want to be able to have the control over what type of media I am able to produce when on the go without much restriction. The ability to replicate the solution at the top of this post with a device that also shoots video and has a 5 mp camera with flash is exciting.

If I were building a startup today I would be looking at aggregating all of this mobile media in a clean interface and partnering with as many carriers and mobile blogging sites. As these devices hit the street and more newbs hook it up with simply what's on deck there will tons of filtering that needs to be done to make it useful.

What is your ideal mobile media maker arsenal? Keep in mind that it must have ability to get your content online.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: http://cmp.ly/0

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Tags: media mobile verizon droid phone ]]> Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:54:35 -0500 tag:croncast.com,5699 StyleCaster Is Your SoHo Connection http://www.techstartups.com/2009/10/24/stylecaster-your-soho-connection/ Shared item By Senior Editor Kris Smith

Picture 36Can't make it to SoHo anytime soon or in this lifetime? Then you should head over to StyleCaster to get a sense of what ambitious, smart fashion is walking the streets of NYC South of Houston. New York is teeming with this apparel and footwear clacking away to catch a cab.

StyleCaster is most definitely a Big Apple property, which is only to its benefit as they grow their site. The city is a fashion and media capital.

With the new boom of startup activity on the East Coast they find themselves in a great position to gain users, make partnerships (both tech savvy and with traditional media) and to be in the epicenter of the next fashion trends. Think what Portfolio.com used to be, but for fashion.

Fashion sites often suffer from a lack of depth, see content, or lack of tech to make them accessible. They often rely heavily on motion graphics in Flash and a business model based on revenue from affiliate sales. Not StyleCaster. They have mixed all the ingredients and a some other special sauce to create a complete user experience.

It would be hard to write this review if I didn't break their site down from the beginning. StyleCaster is three distinct properties that have been plied together with one smaller cousin: Fashion Recommendations, Social Network, News/Blog and Shopping (the smaller cousin).

Fashion Recommendations

sc_logoThis is the core value proposition for StyleCaster. They deliver a tailored interface for weather and season with 360 degree model views.

Earlier this summer they took this concept and created an iPhone app that was just as robust as their site. The experience that they are able to deliver with their Daily Looks section should make retailers jealous. They have merged seamless cross-selling with the common sense that your friend might recommend and item to you.

Social Network

Everyone wants on this bandwagon for many reasons and the number one being to get funded. I'm not sure if this is what got StyleCaster $4 million but this is how it is done right, in case you were wondering.

They first look to a larger network, in this case Facebook, and integrate with their API through Connect. Second, they take this data and create an onsite profile each registrant. Third, and final in this process of hooking user into their community, they make it drop dead simple to engage with other users based on contributor types, cities, at random and a 15 minutes of fame section. A simple horizontal navigation that tracks users onsite fashionista moves.

News/Blog

Fashion Recommendations might be the awesome wow factor that you need to attract the fashion forward and a Social Network to get users connected and spending time on your site but the most impressive feature of this site isn't really a feature. The Newsroom and Blog sections of StyleCaster are destinations for an insiders perspective on fashion. This is where the magic of this site is made.

This is content that matches the ambition and smarts of the fashion they follow . . . delivers and then some. My only gripe is that the IA and taxonomy is lacking lacking and it can be difficult to find much of the great content that is buried in the site.

StyleCaster's headlines can be seen on other fashion/celeb sites around the net but smart money would probably say that there are more partnerships in the works to deliver full content. I'm not smart money, so I can't say for sure.

Shopping

Well, what would a fashion site be without shopping? I called this the one smaller cousin' and I mean it. Simply put, the focus of this site is obviously to build a company and a brand based on high quality content, technology and a great user experience. It wasn't built with shopping at its core. And that is awesome! There is a solid enough foundation in place that if StyleCaster went down this road they would find success but not as much as they will find by having all of other components in place.

I've gushed quite a bit here over what is just another startup. They are just another startup that needs to prove itself in the marketplace. I believe they will. And even if they don't, this business, with any one of the three aforementioned sections would make any entrepreneur very happy with the traffic they could bring. Kudos to the team that are making this happen. They're getting done the right way.

It wouldn't be right to do a post about a fashion startup without some snark, now would it?

If you have ever wanted to release that inner hater, head to The Daily Looks section and spin them tall skinny models round and round until your petty little heart is content. Not that I did or would want to do this.

Tip if you do: Play house music to make it a party. Remember, you can't do this in SoHo!

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: http://cmp.ly/0

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Tags: fashion stylecaster site content soho ]]>By Senior Editor Kris Smith

Picture 36Can't make it to SoHo anytime soon or in this lifetime? Then you should head over to StyleCaster to get a sense of what ambitious, smart fashion is walking the streets of NYC South of Houston. New York is teeming with this apparel and footwear clacking away to catch a cab.

StyleCaster is most definitely a Big Apple property, which is only to its benefit as they grow their site. The city is a fashion and media capital.

With the new boom of startup activity on the East Coast they find themselves in a great position to gain users, make partnerships (both tech savvy and with traditional media) and to be in the epicenter of the next fashion trends. Think what Portfolio.com used to be, but for fashion.

Fashion sites often suffer from a lack of depth, see content, or lack of tech to make them accessible. They often rely heavily on motion graphics in Flash and a business model based on revenue from affiliate sales. Not StyleCaster. They have mixed all the ingredients and a some other special sauce to create a complete user experience.

It would be hard to write this review if I didn't break their site down from the beginning. StyleCaster is three distinct properties that have been plied together with one smaller cousin: Fashion Recommendations, Social Network, News/Blog and Shopping (the smaller cousin).

Fashion Recommendations

sc_logoThis is the core value proposition for StyleCaster. They deliver a tailored interface for weather and season with 360 degree model views.

Earlier this summer they took this concept and created an iPhone app that was just as robust as their site. The experience that they are able to deliver with their Daily Looks section should make retailers jealous. They have merged seamless cross-selling with the common sense that your friend might recommend and item to you.

Social Network

Everyone wants on this bandwagon for many reasons and the number one being to get funded. I'm not sure if this is what got StyleCaster $4 million but this is how it is done right, in case you were wondering.

They first look to a larger network, in this case Facebook, and integrate with their API through Connect. Second, they take this data and create an onsite profile each registrant. Third, and final in this process of hooking user into their community, they make it drop dead simple to engage with other users based on contributor types, cities, at random and a 15 minutes of fame section. A simple horizontal navigation that tracks users onsite fashionista moves.

News/Blog

Fashion Recommendations might be the awesome wow factor that you need to attract the fashion forward and a Social Network to get users connected and spending time on your site but the most impressive feature of this site isn't really a feature. The Newsroom and Blog sections of StyleCaster are destinations for an insiders perspective on fashion. This is where the magic of this site is made.

This is content that matches the ambition and smarts of the fashion they follow . . . delivers and then some. My only gripe is that the IA and taxonomy is lacking lacking and it can be difficult to find much of the great content that is buried in the site.

StyleCaster's headlines can be seen on other fashion/celeb sites around the net but smart money would probably say that there are more partnerships in the works to deliver full content. I'm not smart money, so I can't say for sure.

Shopping

Well, what would a fashion site be without shopping? I called this the one smaller cousin' and I mean it. Simply put, the focus of this site is obviously to build a company and a brand based on high quality content, technology and a great user experience. It wasn't built with shopping at its core. And that is awesome! There is a solid enough foundation in place that if StyleCaster went down this road they would find success but not as much as they will find by having all of other components in place.

I've gushed quite a bit here over what is just another startup. They are just another startup that needs to prove itself in the marketplace. I believe they will. And even if they don't, this business, with any one of the three aforementioned sections would make any entrepreneur very happy with the traffic they could bring. Kudos to the team that are making this happen. They're getting done the right way.

It wouldn't be right to do a post about a fashion startup without some snark, now would it?

If you have ever wanted to release that inner hater, head to The Daily Looks section and spin them tall skinny models round and round until your petty little heart is content. Not that I did or would want to do this.

Tip if you do: Play house music to make it a party. Remember, you can't do this in SoHo!

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: http://cmp.ly/0

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Tags: fashion stylecaster site content soho ]]> Sun, 25 Oct 2009 03:21:17 -0400 tag:croncast.com,5666 A Dramatic Demonstration of the Power of Mental Frames http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bG7EFhMw8w&feature=autoshare Shared item tamihania's YouTube Activity
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I favorited a YouTube video: A dramatic and shocking demonstration of how your brain gets fooled to see something that is not there because of your biases, prejudices and expectations.


dramatic demonstration fooled brain prejudices

Tags: dramatic demonstration youtube fooled brain ]]>tamihania's YouTube Activity
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I favorited a YouTube video: A dramatic and shocking demonstration of how your brain gets fooled to see something that is not there because of your biases, prejudices and expectations.


dramatic demonstration fooled brain prejudices

Tags: dramatic demonstration youtube fooled brain ]]> Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:16:35 -0400 tag:croncast.com,5633 Oliver Sachs MD - Original air date July 1986 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQPI0BIkOkE&feature=autoshare Shared item tamihania's YouTube Activity
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I favorited a YouTube video: Oliver Sacks was born in 1933 in London, England (both of his parents were physicians) and earned his medical degree at Queen's College, Oxford. In the early 1960s, he moved to the United States and completed an internship in San Francisco and a residency in neurology at UCLA. Since 1965, he has lived in New York, where he is clinical professor of neurology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, adjunct professor of neurology at the NYU School of Medicine and consultant neurologist to the Little Sisters of the Poor. In 1966 Dr. Sacks began working as a consulting neurologist for Beth Abraham Hospital, a chronic care facility in the Bronx where he encountered an extraordinary group of patients, many of whom had spent decades in strange, frozen states, like human statues, unable to initiate movement. He recognized these patients as survivors of the great pandemic of sleepy sickness that had swept the world from 1916 to 1927, and treated them with a then-experimental drug, L-dopa, which enabled them to come back to life. They became the subjects of his second book, Awakenings (1973), which later inspired a play by Harold Pinter ("A Kind of Alaska ") and the Oscar-nominated Hollywood movie, "Awakenings," with Robert De Niro and Robin Williams. Dr. Sacks is perhaps best known for his 1985 collection of case histories from the far borderlands of neurological experience, The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat , in which he describes patients struggling to live with conditions ranging from Tourette's Syndrome to autism, parkinsonism, musical hallucination, phantom limb syndrome, schizophrenia, retardation and Alzheimer's disease. (This book later inspired a dramatic work by Peter Brook, "L'Homme Qui. . . .) As a physician and a writer, Oliver Sacks is concerned above all with the ways in which individuals survive and adapt to different neurological diseases and conditions, and what this experience can tell us about the human brain and mind. His books exploring these themes have been bestsellers around the world and are used widely in universities in courses on neuroscience, writing, ethics, philosophy and sociology. They have served as the inspiration for artists working in forms as varied as poetry, essay, documentary, drama, painting, dance, cinema and fiction. In 1989, Dr. Sacks received a Guggenheim Fellowship for his work on what he calls the "neuroanthropology" of Tourette's syndrome, a condition marked by involuntary tics and utterances, and how its symptoms can be perceived differently in different cultures. His nine books, which also include Migraine (1970), A Leg to Stand On (1984) , Seeing Voices: A Journey into the World of the Deaf (1990), An Anthropologist on Mars (1995), and The Island of the Colorblind (1996), have received numerous awards and have sold several million copies worldwide in 22 languages. His most recent books are Oaxaca Journal (2002) and Uncle Tungsten: Memories of a Chemical Boyhood (2001). He is a regular contributor to The New Yorker and The New York Review of Books , as well as various medical journals, and he is an honorary fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the New York Academy of Sciences, and Queen's College. The New York Times has referred to Dr. Sacks as "the poet laureate of medicine," and in 2002 he was awarded the Lewis Thomas Prize by Rockefeller University, which recognizes the scientist as poet. Dr. Sacks has been awarded honorary doctorates from Georgetown University, Tufts University, the College of Staten Island, New York Medical College, the Medical College of Pennsylvania, Bard College, Queen's University (Ontario), and the University of Turin


sacks college university dr york

Tags: college sacks university york dr ]]>tamihania's YouTube Activity
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I favorited a YouTube video: Oliver Sacks was born in 1933 in London, England (both of his parents were physicians) and earned his medical degree at Queen's College, Oxford. In the early 1960s, he moved to the United States and completed an internship in San Francisco and a residency in neurology at UCLA. Since 1965, he has lived in New York, where he is clinical professor of neurology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, adjunct professor of neurology at the NYU School of Medicine and consultant neurologist to the Little Sisters of the Poor. In 1966 Dr. Sacks began working as a consulting neurologist for Beth Abraham Hospital, a chronic care facility in the Bronx where he encountered an extraordinary group of patients, many of whom had spent decades in strange, frozen states, like human statues, unable to initiate movement. He recognized these patients as survivors of the great pandemic of sleepy sickness that had swept the world from 1916 to 1927, and treated them with a then-experimental drug, L-dopa, which enabled them to come back to life. They became the subjects of his second book, Awakenings (1973), which later inspired a play by Harold Pinter ("A Kind of Alaska ") and the Oscar-nominated Hollywood movie, "Awakenings," with Robert De Niro and Robin Williams. Dr. Sacks is perhaps best known for his 1985 collection of case histories from the far borderlands of neurological experience, The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat , in which he describes patients struggling to live with conditions ranging from Tourette's Syndrome to autism, parkinsonism, musical hallucination, phantom limb syndrome, schizophrenia, retardation and Alzheimer's disease. (This book later inspired a dramatic work by Peter Brook, "L'Homme Qui. . . .) As a physician and a writer, Oliver Sacks is concerned above all with the ways in which individuals survive and adapt to different neurological diseases and conditions, and what this experience can tell us about the human brain and mind. His books exploring these themes have been bestsellers around the world and are used widely in universities in courses on neuroscience, writing, ethics, philosophy and sociology. They have served as the inspiration for artists working in forms as varied as poetry, essay, documentary, drama, painting, dance, cinema and fiction. In 1989, Dr. Sacks received a Guggenheim Fellowship for his work on what he calls the "neuroanthropology" of Tourette's syndrome, a condition marked by involuntary tics and utterances, and how its symptoms can be perceived differently in different cultures. His nine books, which also include Migraine (1970), A Leg to Stand On (1984) , Seeing Voices: A Journey into the World of the Deaf (1990), An Anthropologist on Mars (1995), and The Island of the Colorblind (1996), have received numerous awards and have sold several million copies worldwide in 22 languages. His most recent books are Oaxaca Journal (2002) and Uncle Tungsten: Memories of a Chemical Boyhood (2001). He is a regular contributor to The New Yorker and The New York Review of Books , as well as various medical journals, and he is an honorary fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the New York Academy of Sciences, and Queen's College. The New York Times has referred to Dr. Sacks as "the poet laureate of medicine," and in 2002 he was awarded the Lewis Thomas Prize by Rockefeller University, which recognizes the scientist as poet. Dr. Sacks has been awarded honorary doctorates from Georgetown University, Tufts University, the College of Staten Island, New York Medical College, the Medical College of Pennsylvania, Bard College, Queen's University (Ontario), and the University of Turin


sacks college university dr york

Tags: college sacks university york dr ]]> Wed, 30 Sep 2009 09:56:11 -0400 tag:croncast.com,5632 Ask Matt: Which Email Client? http://ma.tt/2009/09/ask-matt-which-email-client/ Shared item Matt Mullenweg
First shared by - RickKlau
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Video using VideoPress and filmed/edited by Michael Pick.

Going to set up a new form for these.



filmed edited michael pick videopress

Tags: filmed videopress michael edited pick ]]>Matt Mul