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|  | Google mobile musings
Monday, August 06, 2007
A couple of weeks ago I blogged that I thought the Zonbu design (small, silent, open source based, diskless computer) was a bit like what I always imagined Google might offer if they ever got into hardware. A report in the Wall Street Journal seems to suggest that Google are going mobile - in the more traditional sense."Google already has phones under development which could reach the US market within a year and is holding serious talks with both handset manufacturers and carriers to offer Google branded phones. The phones will be customized to feature Google products including search, email and new Google web browser developed specifically for mobile phones." The always-connected lifestyle is just around the corner, and everyone knows it. Apple's putting their first bid in with the iPhone. VIA and Intel are battling it out in the ultra mobile PC space. Now Google are investing millions in their own mobile phone and applications optimized for that interface. I still can't help but wonder how practical it is the browse the web with a screen the size that a mobile phone can offer. Even something simple like finding out a movie time is very difficult when you only have a few inches of screen. So I am left to wonder, will Google's mobile phone include a large screen? Perhaps a different design than what we've seen before? Will this be Google's first entry into the hardware side - offering a real product instead of an online service? Or will Google be working with major web-sites to ensure that there are Google-phone friendly versions of their sites? After all, every website is going to have to cater to the mobile market before long. |   |
| Checkpoint Charlie is at it again...
Friday, August 03, 2007
"Sarge was hanging out of the open door the way he always does before touchdown, with his feet planted inside the cabin and his one hand clutching the door railing, giving extra support in case his waist cable snapped. His supporting arm was fully extended and he was hanging out at almost 45 degrees. At one point the chopper banked so sharply that Sarge was hanging almost level with the ground, staring straight down. From the mad grin on his face I knew that he had to summon up every ounce of professionalism not to shout out a big “hoohaa” at full volume. I could not help but think of another insertion from decades before that went very, very wrong." Read on. | |
| sub-$US300 Systemax PCs now available
Friday, August 03, 2007
Not only are the Systemax PCs affordable to start off with, their energy efficiency is outstanding, providing ongoing savings on your energy bills."Based on the low power VIA pc2500 mainboard, the Systemax PC features the VIA C7-D processor, with a maximum power of just 20 watts, and the VIA CN700 digital media chipset with the VIA UniChrome Pro II integrated graphics processor. The Systemax PC bundles hardware and software and fully addresses the need to run high performance desktop applications while enabling US businesses, schools and homes to lower their electricity usage and therefore their power bills significantly." "The $299.99 SKU comes with Microsoft Windows XP Home, a 16x DVD ROM drive and a 90 day parts and labor warranty, and the second SKU with Microsoft Windows XP Professional provides a 52x32x52/16x combo drive and a one year parts and labor warranty for $399.99. They are available now from http://www.tigerdirect.com/, http://www.globalgoved.com/ and http://www.globalcomputer.com/" It's a great options for that second or third PC in the house - or for students on a budget. Read more of the official Press Release here. | |
| Hardware news
Friday, August 03, 2007
Maybe I'm out of the loop but when I think of PSU manufacturers, but the name GlacialPower does not come to mind. BenchmarkReviews.com's intro to their review of the GP-PS550BP Real Power 550W speaks pretty highly of them, however: "Some of the players in the power supply industry have made a big name for themselves with a product line full of sparkle, or ultra glamorous design. Others take a different approach and offer the best product they can design at the best price possible. GlacialPower is such a company, and Benchmark Reviews was fortunate enough to shine the light on their GP-PS550BP Real Power 550W Power Supply Unit with series of ripple and regulation tests." Maybe it's worth taking a look.Bit-tech.net meanwhile have grouped together five heatsinks form Asus, Scythe and Zerotherm. During the tests they find out about the different properties of metals: "Copper’s thermal conduction is better than aluminium’s, but its thermal radiation is worse than aluminium (meaning that it tends to be more reluctant at letting heat escape)." So which heatsink design won out? Find out here. The weekend is approaching and over at Tweaktown.com you can find out if the Zalman ZM-DS4F dual stereo headphones are good enough to cut out the distractions of children, wives, husbands or mothers. "The design itself is rather stylish, but nothing which really makes them stand out either, though some of you may see this as a good thing. The ZM-DS4Fs can be folded together for easy transportation and this makes them quite compact for when you want to use them on the go." | |
| Crazy modules contest
Thursday, August 02, 2007
The NanoBook reference design includes a spot next to the 7inch screen for a USB module. VoIP phone and GPS seem to be the most popular. But UltraMobileLife.com ran a competition to get some new ideas. Here's the list of what was suggested:- BlueTooth enabled Swiss Army knife, with additional Flash storage, flashlight, and fingerprint reader
- BlueTooth remote control
- BlueTooth Headset with charger
- High quality speakers
- USB hub
- Business card holder
- A Taser
- PDA running WM5
- Wireless Mouse
- System vitals monitor
- Webcam & Fingerprint reader
- MP3 Player dock
- Miniature tablet / notepad
And the winner is... | |
| How would you describe VIA?
Thursday, August 02, 2007
As you may or may not know, VIA's VP of Marketing, Richard Brown, keeps a blog. He wonders, "what is the perception of VIA in the market place? In our press releases and other marketing materials we strive to portray ourselves as “a leading innovator and developer of silicon chip technologies and PC platform solutions,” yet in many media reports I see us described mainly as a Taiwanese chip (or chipset) maker - with virtually no references at all to our low power x86 processor platforms where we have a leadership position in the market place. That is the way that the media portrays us, but I am wondering whether users of our products and other people interested in our company perceive us in the same way."How do you perceive VIA? Do you see VIA as an innovative design house of power efficient hardware, or as a Taiwanese chip maker constantly competing with Intel and AMD? Or do you see things from another angle? Let us know in the forums and also drop Richard a line. | |
| A new type of review
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
In the old days a computer hardware reviewer would receive a product, test for a few days, then write the review. UMPCs call for a new outlook on what is required by a reviewer. You really need to let the device become what ever it can be in your life, to be able to explore all of its possible functions. jkontherun.com have noticed that UltraMobility.blogspot.com are building up a collection of reviews, based on the ongoing use of the OQO model 02. So far the reviews have covered: form factor; pen navigation, handwriting and voice recognition; desktop and laptop replacement. "The author promises to continue the series with a look at different case options for the OQO. This is one of the best reviews I have seen in a long time, well done!" | |
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