Saturday, October 19, 2002

ZDNet -> Toshiba Pocket PC e740  -> " With its Pocket PC e740, Toshiba becomes the first handheld maker to deliver a device with Intel's XScale processor as well as built-in Wi-Fi (802.11b) connectivity. (The European version of the e740 has integrated Bluetooth instead.) This device is packed with all sorts of other good features, including replaceable batteries and an ATI graphics chip. But despite its 400MHz processor, the e740 doesn't perform significantly faster than previous Pocket PCs.  " 7:23:02 AM  comment []     ZDNet ->  Philips Streamium MC-i200 -> " If you're looking for a small stereo system that can play streamed and downloaded audio, the Streamium MC-i200 is a great choice. Since this is the first device of its kind, we expected a little roughness around the edges but came away impressed by the unit's slick operation. Philips deserves credit for successfully implementing a new concept that will surely be imitated. Considering that it pulls double duty as a complete microsystem and a full-featured DAR, the Streamium's $399 list price is quite reasonable. " 7:09:58 AM  comment []       Werblog -> " Letter  from Congressman Markey of Massachusetts to FCC Chairman Powell encouraging the FCC to make available more unlicensed spectrum. This is similar to the open letter I sent to the FCC last year. " 5:23:50 AM  comment []       CNET News.com -> Photo companies focus on wireless. " A lot of people are intimidated by using a PC to edit photos," said spokesman Murray Dennis. "We let them do the basic stuff in their living room, without spending $499 for Photoshop, without needing a PhD in computer science." This is a great feature as long as long as we don't sacrifice quality.  As the article states, these days many people do carry cell phones versus carry digital cameras.  The next question is where/how do they send/store the photos? memory card? home server? weblog? 5:17:26 AM  comment []       InfoWorld: Top News -> RealOne Player to ship with NEC PDAs. -> " The RealOne Player for Pocket PC allows users to play RealAudio and RealVideo files stored on their handhelds, as well as streaming audio and video. " When I first saw this announcement I was concerned because I didn't see any mention of stored file feature which is needed since you won't be always connected to the network with your PocketPC.  Be interesting to see how the stored files feature is implemented as in the past it was not easy to store the streams for latter playback.   In my opinion streaming is less inportant with the PocketPC, at least at this time. 5:07:58 AM  comment []     PocketPCHow2 Log -> PCWorld.com - Windows PCs Find a Place in the Car -> " Clarion's Cadias, the company says it stands for Car Digital Assistant, offers all of these functions and other basic systems such as an AM/FM radio, a CD player, MP3 and WMA digital audio players, and adds communications options into the mix.  E-mail and Internet access are both possible through the system once a network connection is present. This can be done in several ways: either through a cable to a cellular telephone, via a USB connection to advanced handsets such as those for NTT DoCoMo's third-generation mobile service or via a communications card or modem plugged into a PC Card slot on the front of the Cadias. " With the Cadias going on sale in Japan on December 1 at $2,730,  the unit is priced well above the price point to give it any large market share in US.  With PocketPCs beginning to drop below that mark now (below $500)  it looks like this device or category of devices is about 2-5 years away.  This product is in to much flux right now to pluck this kind of money down on.  We will just have to mount our PocketPCs to our dashboards and adapt them to our existing car stereos for now. 5:06:46 AM  comment []     The Scobleizer Weblog -> " Interesting weblog conversation about innovation in the PocketPC space. I doubt you'll see all that much innovation anymore and agree with some of the comments. Why? Well with Dell coming into the market at $199 and $299 the market is seeing extreme price pressure. Most people think computer manufacturers make gobs of money. Not true. In fact, the reverse is true. Anyway, things are progressing even as the industry enters a price war (Dell is selling our PDA now for almost what it cost them to buy it from us). Screens are getting better. Wireless is getting added. Processor speed is going up. Ain't Moore's law grand? Hey, for $360 now you can get a really nice PDA that used to cost $549 just six months ago. Not bad! " I agree and disagree.  Dell entering the market marks that the hardware is starting to mature and is ready to be commoditized.  In order for shipment quantities to grow and sustain over time, innovation mostly driven by compelling application devopment in all sectors must take over from here.  In some vertical markets the innovation of the product has not even begun. 5:00:16 AM  comment []

© Copyright 2003 Harold Gilchrist. Last update: 2/19/2003; 6:08:36 PM. This theme is based on the SoundWaves (blue) Manila theme.