End User

Wii Gets Netflix Streaming This Spring, iPhone on the Horizon

Seeing as there is a dry, sunny day unfurling right outside my window, Spring can't be far away, and with it the long rumored Netflix Instant Streaming functionality creeps ever closer to Wii owners, and yes, by owners I mean me.

Truth be told, this functionality is far more than a rumor. It was in fact confirmed on the Netflix Blog back in January. Also, of course Netflix streaming is nothing new, having been available for a good long while via computer and a pretty wide array of devices, including Wii competitors Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. The question has got to be though, why did this take so long? After all, with literally millions of Wiis having been sold across a very mainstream demographic in less than four years, Nintendo's device would seem the perfect hardware target. It might be that Netflix was bound by exclusivity agreements in these earlier deals, or perhaps it is that Nintendo didn't see video functionality as worth its time, considering the Wii's modest processing power, the overall limited number of titles available via the service and/or that they would not have total control. Along with possibly a little arrogance on Nintendo's part, all of these are fairly valid possibilities. What is certain though is that a large number of Netflix subscribers use the streaming service, not to replace the mail-based primary Netflix service, but as a supplement to it. Myself, I have an Xbox 360 in one room and a PS3 in another, both set up for streaming. Like the PS3, Wii owners will need a free Netflix-supplied disc that must be inserted into the drive in order to stream content. (A Netflix unlimited account of any level and a broadband connection are also required) The disc-in method is much more clumsy than those utilized by the other devices, which either were manufactured with Netflix streaming in mind or were patched with a software updates. Using the PS3 as an example, it is doubtless true that the disc method both adds a little noise to the viewing experience and uses more energy. The Wii is very energy efficient and pretty quiet though, so there should be few issues. In addition, perhaps Nintendo will get a clue and add a Netflix channel to its Wii functionality, which could eliminate the need for a disc down the road. Until then a disc will do fine.

On a side note, and perhaps something of an indicator as to why Nintendo adopted a "better late than never" attitude towards Netflix functionality, Netflix continues to forge ahead in the realm of streaming content. They recently further consolidated their relationship with Internet video content delivery specialist Akamai. Reportedly Netflix will receive a substantial per/gigabyte streamed discount in the deal, which underlines the assumption that Netflix will continue to extend its reach in the realm of content streaming. This is further seen in rumors that a deal with Apple for content deliver via the iPhone (Wi-Fi) may be in the making. If Netflix is not already at the top of the streaming heap, this would certainly get them there. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a few episodes of Spartacus: Blood and Sand to catch up on via my Instant queue.

--Tom Milnes 

LG's GD910 Watch Phone Moves Ahead After FCC Approval

It could end up being the reason that people like myself who have not worn a watch since mickey Mouse was in fashion might strap the habit on again, or it could just be another fad gadget, but LG's GD910 watch phone has gotten FCC approval. A prototype was widely seen at CES 2009, and I believe that the device was referenced at earlier trade shows. The GD910 is a Dick Tracy like phone/media device built into a standard digital wrist watch design. Official specs are yet to be seen, but what has been released is as follows:

• Tempered glass, and high-quality metal casing construction
• 1.43" diagonal face measurement, by about .5" thickness
• LG's flash interface featuring touch-screen input
• Voice recognition, and text to speech so it can "read out" text messages
• Bluetooth connectivity
• Three side-mounted buttons
• A speakerphone
• A full-blown MP3 music player
• Water resistant design
• 7.2 Mbps 3G HSDPA compatibility, enabling high-speed data transmission and video calls using the built-in camera

It's guessed in various places that the phone will be compatible with local GSM networks, and perhaps be aligned with AT&T in the US market (only a guess) based on the HSDPA 3G technology utilized. Again specifics are a good ways off, so these last points are speculation. Yet, assuming that the phone actually releases, regardless of who the carrier is, the GD910 will definitely kick geek chic up a notch or two. In case you missed all the hoopla at CES 2009, check out the quick CNET video below for details on the GD910. 

--Tom Milnes

AT&T to Sell Netbooks Linked to Data Plans

So, how do you know when a trend has really made it? When it hits the mainstream, hits it hard hoping to make a quick buck before consumers realize that they are being ripped off. Coincidentally, striking enough customers in this way can also kill a trend. We may be seeing a little bit of both in AT&T's announcement that "In the coming days" it will start selling Dell Mini 10, Acer Aspire One and Lenovo S10 Netbooks at their brick and mortar stores and online.

This may sound a bit dramatic and I suppose it is since Verizon and Sprint are doing more or less the same thing, but the fact of the matter is that buying into the bait and switch built into the sale of Netbooks in this way will get you ripped off. In the case of AT&T the three models will all sell for $200, which is a little over a $100 savings on what you would pay via standard retail, but just as with a cellphone plan you must also buy into a two-year data contract. The two on offer will run you either $40/mon for 200MB/mon of bandwidth, or $60/mon for 5GB/mon. The latter plan sounds a lot more realistic, but still light if users do even a fair amount of downloading and/or visit graphic heavy sites. Regardless, the long and short of this is that those coming in at the tail end of the Netbook boom, and make no mistake this is who is targeted here, should be wary and adopt a Web savvy approach. Saving a $100 or so dollars upfront is not a good deal if over two years you are paying $1,000 to $1,500 for the data plan. To me this sort of arrangement just comes across as way too similar to the pay structure those of us who were chugging across the Internet on dial-up in the 1990s were stuck with. The difference is that in those days often times there was no way around this, but today if you are caught up in this you may be a sucker. If you need to be online all the time whwn away from home, do what you will, but if not do yourself a favor. If you are in the market for a Netbook, pay the best retail price possible and hit the plethora of hotspots available everywhere. You'll be glad you did and perhaps the lack of dollars flowing into the coffers of the wireless carriers will force them to offer customers decent options instead of going for the quick buck.

--Tom Milnes

Regarding Bill Gates' Comments Connecting Natal to Windows

Not that those of us who sit for hours in front of our PCs every day, tapping out a living via the likes of Excel, Word, etc. are necessarily waiting with baited breath to hear details on what Bill Gates meant in recent days regarding how Project Natal might relate to PCs use, but it certainly is an interesting topic. For any who are not up on Natal, it is the code name for the Xbox 360's upcoming gesture and motion based control functionality. The technology is based around a peripheral, somewhat reminiscent of the PlayStation Eye, and perhaps could be seen as an answer to the Wii Remote as well. Yet Natal, at least on the surface seems to take things to the next level, which may be where Gates is going with this. The whole idea behind motion control is really a visual, so for a quick overview of Natal check out the video directly below:

So, obviously this, if successful, will be great for gaming, but what would the connection be to PC use? According to Bill Gates:

"...a cool example of that, that you'll see... in a little over a year, is this (depth) camera thing." He continued on to say that it would have uses for "media consumption as a whole," as well as "meetings, and collaboration, and communication." Later adding with regards to the various Microsoft teams involved that "Both the Xbox guys and the Windows guys latched onto that and now even since they latched onto it the idea of how it can be used in the office is getting much more concrete, and is pretty exciting."

So, again, what are we talking about here? To me it sounds like leverage of a component of a successful Microsoft technology, Xbox 360, to aid one that was far less well received; that being Surface. If this is accurate forget about a $5-10k that is out of touch in so many ways. How about a peripheral for $100 that turns your standard PC into a touch screen device, just without the physical contact. Hmmm? Returning to an earlier quip, as cool as this sounds I don't see too many spreadsheet laden office drones working on 14-17" screens giving up the mouse/hotkey method for this, but big screen media center document management and "Minority Report" on-screen magic? Sure why not. Forgot what that looked like? Microsoft's endeavors aside, it looks like that fiction is nearly reality. Take a look at a video below of Toshiba's Spatial Motion Interface as a reminder. Useful? Who knows, but with Gates talking about this sort of thing it may be more likely than not to be cluttering up your desk sometime soon.

--Tom Milnes

Signs of Improvement in the Q2 PC Sales Numbers?

Statistics can always be manipulated to highlight whatever an individual party is selling, but when it comes to the PC sales market, which overall has been hard hit by the economic downturn, the second quarter of 2009 ended up as not quite as bad as predicted, which has got to seen as a good thing. Don't get me wrong, the industry is still very much in a slump. It's just that according to estimates by IDC Worldwide, instead of being down a forecasted 6.3% worldwide at the end of Q2, it was only down 3.1%. Huzzah!

Beyond this factoid, a few other things can be gleamed from the numbers. Looking just at the domestic market we can see that as compared to last year, the players are the same, only that Apple was overtaken by Acer and Toshiba, dropping from number three to number five overall, losing about one percentage point in marketshare. The caveat here is that these numbers are debated by industry watchers. Another point is that Dell's woes continue, as they dropped nearly six percent marketshare, now barely holding off HP for the top spot. So, where did all those percentage points go? Into XP stuffed Netbooks, and thus into the coffers of Acer and Toshiba. If this trend continues you have to wonder what the numbers for the rest of the fiscal year will look like, especially with Windows 7 on the horizon. We shall see.

   

--Tom Milnes

Wireless USB Solution of Atlona's AT-HDAIR Misses the Mark

Although HDMI is more common than ever on laptops, if you are working on a base model more than a year or so old you may very likely be SOL when it comes to options for exporting video content to your HDTV (DVI excluded). Sure, there is almost always the VGA port option, if you can rig an audio workaround, but as anyone who has tried to stream video to their TV in this way, say through Hulu or Netflix knows, VGA cables also have resolution limitations that will keep you from getting wide-screen image quality. With this in mind things seemed to be looking up with the announcement a while a go of Atlona's AT-ADAIR.

A wireless USB device that hooks into your laptop via USB and transmits a signal to a base that then can input into your TV via HDMI (or VGA), for $200 it sounds like a fair solution, but then came the Engadget hands-on review. Sad to say, it looks like there are some deal-breaking flaws here. According to the review, which is borne out in the video below, the wireless video transmitted is pretty choppy and much more importantly, the connection does NOT support audio. (this last point is called out of the Atlona site) That's right, no audio. Apparently Atlona is working on a solution to this, but you would think with the world crazy for streaming video that they would have made this a priority in this product. Unfortunately that was not the case, and so unless you were looking to use the AT-HDAIR for something like PowerPoint displaying or silent movies, you might want to hold off on laying down any cash.

For more details, click on the image below and scroll to the bottom of the page. There you can see the Engadget video review.

--Tom Milnes

Prices Slashed on Peek Email Devices but Not Monthly Fees

With so many other options out there it's hard to say how many people, even under the most favorable of terms, are interested in having a separate handheld device exclusively for email and perhaps texting. The folks over at Peek are going to find out though, which is a good thing since that's what their business is all about.

Recently they dropped the price of their two models, the Peek "Pronto" and the Peek "Classic" to $19.95 and $59.95; down from their previous price tags of $49.95 and $79.95 respectively. Sounds like a pretty good deal on paper, especially for the classic, but we all know that the profit margin in wireless oriented businesses is built around subscriptions. Unfortunately for Peek, one of their major marketing tenets is that no are contracts needed. This sounds good too, but always means that you will be paying more on a month-to-month basis. In the case of Peek, historically this has meant $20/month. They recently attempted to get more people on board by offering a lifetime subscription to the service that included a device, for $300. Now if you were interested, that really was a good deal. Too bad the offer was limited to a single day. That day has past, but if the new low prices on the models are enough to pique your interest, you are willing to carry another device and you are willing to pay upfront for the long haul, then you can get a $16/mon rate in three-month increments, or $15/mon for a year. It goes against the whole "no contract needed" ideal, but if it works for you or someone in your circle who only emails and/or texts then it might be something to look into. Here is a breakdown of the two versions of hardware on offer (Outlook Web access and unlimited texting apparently only available on the Pronto):

--Tom Milnes

PSP Go is Looking to be About a Lot More than Games

True, the new generation of PlayStation Portable (PSP) hardware, the PSP Go, scheduled for release in October '09 won't have telephony functionality, aside from Skype, which will ensure that its niche will almost certainly remain limited to gamers, but by all indications it is being positioned to be even more download friendly than was expected, which can't hurt in broadening its popularity.

The first indicator of this new and improved Web-enabled tenet is the long-known fact that Sony would dump their UMD media standard with this release. They've yet to say specifically how/if loyal PSP user will be able to access their game and movie library with the new hardware, but I can't imagine downloads are not part of the equation. More to the point though are a couple of bits of info that recently came to light. The first, is that Sony will be releasing a 32GB Duo stick in the near future. As someone who has been using a 4GB stick pretty comfortably for a while for downloading game demos, and storing music and movies converted to MPG-4 format for watching in the always cramped nooks and crannies of coach flights, 32GB sounds huge, especially when you consider that the PSP Go will come with 16GB of built in memory. The other bit of pertinent news is Sony's plan for what are being called "snackable" game and app downloads. That there will be small, inexpensive games designed to get people in the habit of downloading using the PSP is a given, but apparently 50+ studios are in the process of building out the Apps portion of the equation, with special attention paid to non-game content, which will be sold in a separate area of PlayStation store. If this sounds a lot like Apple's App store, that's because that's pretty much what it will eventually be. So, we'll we see the emergence of yet another "iPhone killer?" Of course not, since the PSP Go will have no telephone capabilities. Now if it did, that might have been another thing entirely. Sony, Sony, Sony. You are so good at dealing yourself out of the game, aren't you.

The PSP Go is set tentatively to launch October 1. If you are a gamer, definitely check it out if you haven't already. And if you are just curious, you might want to do the same as well. See you in coach.

--Tom Milnes

Interesting Read: Conceptual Laptop Designs Possible by 2015

Seeing as the lifespan of a laptop is probably less that five years, most computer shoppers are understandably focused on the here and now when it comes to computer technology, but as exciting as that here and now is, an online PC World article I came across today has me temporarily tossing aside any and all modern marvels in favor of the promises of future designs.

Of course when I say temporarily, that's exactly what I mean. Although designs and features covered in the noted article are perhaps only 5-6 years away, that's a good long while off yet. But still, some of the works in progress, like the Italian-designed Canova to the right, are pretty mouth-watering. As for features like tiny processors with at least six computational cores, standard memory modules coming in terabyte increments, new light outer materials designed to repair themselves with the addition of a little heat, brighter more efficient OLED screens, innovative power options, etc, etc., if they actually come about they are going to blow what we have out of the water. Anyway, in the meantime don't let the impending toys of the future stop you from picking up the latest upgrade that you know that you want need today. Just be sure to give the article a quick read and see what you may have to look forward to once the dinosaur that you are tapping away on right now goes extinct. 

--Tom Milnes

Mitsubishi HDTVs to Come With Free Vudu Boxes This Summer

Not that too many of us necessarily need another pay-per-view movie option, but if you are in the market, especially for Hi-Def content, and you happen to also need a new HDTV, you might want to take a look at what Mitsubishi has on offer since you could end up getting a free Vudu box and a bunch of free movies bundled with it.

The promotion has yet to be noted on either the Mitsubishi, or Vudu sites, but according to Twice.com, and picked up by Engadget and Gizmodo, the promo is available beginning today, July 16 through August 10th, on any Mitsubishi HDTV sold through an authorized retailer. Let the buyer beware on this last point. As for the details of the offer though, it is pretty straight forward. It looks to include a standard Vudu box and a $50 service credit good for content on the system. More or less $200 worth of free stuff. Again, if you are in the market for a HDTV and are happy with what you see in the Mitsubishi line, you had best check out an authorized dealer on this.

--Tom Milnes

As of v.8.2.1 No More iTunes for Your Palm Pre, for Now

It's not like there was ever much doubt that Apple would follow through on what was a pretty clear threat last month to limit the Palm Pre's iTunes access, or that Palm knew the move was coming, which it just what happened with the iTunes 8.2.1 update. Such is the way of things in the market I guess, but still it seems kind of silly.

I'm no anti-trust attorney, but I'm willing to bet that it is Apple's right to do whatever they want with their software app. I'm also willing to bet that the right people over at Palm have had various pieces of code queued up for a good long while and are now re-working those into a patch as I tap away in order to get their Pre users back iTunes functionality ASAP. Pity the poor Pre users who actually use iTunes in that they are caught up in this cat-and-mouse affair. I suppose it could be said that they just could have gone with an iPhone if they are so inclined, but Apple could have also have just belittled the Pre as a device lacking support. Oops, I suppose that is what they just did. Still, as long as their own devices continue to sell like hotcakes it seems like Apple wouldn't care that much who was spending money at the iTunes store, just as long as money was being spent.

Regardless, looks Apple gave the Pre a little less than a month before they pulled the iTunes plug. Any guesses on how long it is before the Palm Pre patch releases to get them back on? Something tells me that it will be significantly less than a month. As amusing as the old cat and mouse treatment can be, if I were in the Palm Pre boat I'd be looking more and more at other content options, because they surely are looking at you too.

--Tom Milnes

Office 2010 is Surprisingly Coming with Free Web Bits

Maybe it's the continued, or at least the assumed continued popularity of Netbooks and more importantly the fact of the use of Web-enabled devices for business purposes. Maybe it's Google's entry into the OS market with Chrome, as well as its and Sun's head start in the Web apps business. Maybe its just another sign of Microsoft's intent to stake a major claim to a cloud computing future. Whatever it is, the folks over in Redmond are in the process of shifting some well-established gears regarding cash cow Microsoft Office.

As part of an otherwise standard PR announcement at the Worldwide Partner Conference touting the changes being built into Microsoft Office 2010, due out next June, it was also noted that Web editions of Word, Excel, Powerpoint and OneNote, will be available to anyone with a Windows LIVE account. Of course, you can also buy the full suite if you really want to. It's hard to say how many personal users will actually do that since as usual, when faced with an Office update, the current version continues to work fine. Corporate users, now that is a different story since many of these will upgrade to the full version just as a matter of course, yet they will have access to Web versions of tools as well. But we are talking vital work tools like spreadsheets, word processing and good old .ppt here. Again, although accepting the rise of hardware with lessened processing power, who in their right mind would want to store work docs in an anonymous Microsoft data center, and only have access to them via the Internet? Pretty much nobody who could avoid it. So, as part of a full install, users can choose to have Microsoft host data or they can keep it on their own servers, and even have access to hybrids configurations. Sounds like an okay deal for companies willing to pay for it, others comfortable with Web storage of their docs and casual users who want to do a spell check I suppose. Either way the reality is that Microsoft is willing to leverage a prominent tool in its arsenal to get at the markets growing in the clouds down the road. So, is the competition worried? Google was first to market and doubtless knew this challenge was coming, so apparently not. According to a statement released on Monday, and making the rounds online,

"We welcome Microsoft's movement to the cloud," continuing, "Choice is good for users, and their direction further validates that the future of computing is in the cloud."

There you have it. A mainstream war for the clouds is on, with the included joint agenga of the combatants as a whole of instilling a sense of confidence in the consumer at-large that virtual storage is safe and the place your data should be. I don't know about the later point, but barring compatibility issues between documents and the continued layering of accessible and cheap Wi-Fi networks at every turn, Microsoft may have a dog in the fight for the clouds at least. Like I said, Office 2010 is scheduled for a June 2010 release with Web versions of some of its components compatible with Internet Explorer, Firefox and Apple's Safari. Hopefully there will also be no major hurdles accessing these from popular handhelds.

--Tom Milnes

Taking a Shot at Extending a Wi-Fi Signal for Almost Nothing

Who wouldn't take a shot at getting something for nothing, or at least in this case something for next to nothing, when it comes to the pile high tech toys we all have strewn around our houses. With that in mind here goes...

In an age when it increasingly seems that a gadget is only as good as its embedded wireless functionality, how can one not obsess over their home network's wireless coverage? Myself, I've been stuck with a free, but sub par wireless router in the basement for a few years and so my personal brand of obsession has been going on for, well let's see now, that would be a few years. Sure, I could bite the bullet and invest in a new router, get the old one out of the basement and/or look into one of the many wireless extender options out there, but any of these would cost money now wouldn't they. Then the other day I came across the video below that looked like it might be a short-term answer. It's from a two-year-old Life Hacker post, containing a video that claims that in minutes you can dramatically boost your wireless signal by creating your own parabolic reflector antenna for your router out of paper and aluminum foil. Quite the claim. I can attest to the fact that it does only take a few minutes to make the antenna, although it only made a modest improvement in my signal, and only in a limited part of my house. True enough, more often than not you get what you paid for, which in this case was nothing, but my skills with glue sticks and construction paper are not what they used to be. If you have some time to kill and/or want to put your kid to work check out the video below. You might even get a better wireless signal. Myself, it looks like I'm extender bound.

--Tom Milnes

ASUS to Release a Disney Themed Netbook in July

In case there is anyone out there who isn't yet aware, kiddies today love them some technology. By kiddies, I don't mean you and me, but instead the Hannah Montana crowd. Of course, they also love Play-Doh too, but there is no way--at least I hope there's not--that any parent is going to pay $350 for that, so hence we shall soon have the Disney Netpal.

Billed as the "safe, easy and fun" way to get your 6 to 12-year-old kids online, the Netpal comes in two flavors Magic Blue and Princess Pink and will feature a variety of Disney specific options including customizable Disney desktops, Disney Mix for music, Disney Pix for photo customization and organization and the Disney Magic gadget tray. Kid-proofing features include a liquid-proof keyboard and ShockShield data protection guards for when this box gets dropped, and oh, it will be dropped. This is a real Netbook, so there are also a few features that parents will want to know about including, 40+ robust parental control options, an 8.9-inch LCD display, Wi-Fi capabilities, Windows XP Home and browser and email filters designed to allow limit and monitor kid's usage. So, if are a parent apt to introduce your child to technology at an early age and are willing to do it to the tune of $350, look for the Disney Netpal in late July 09.

Who knows, if this sort of thing catches on, maybe soon enough we'll be seeing character camouflaged flash drives in Happy Meals as well. Now that would be cool and creepy at the same time. See the specs are below and the full press release here.

Complete Specs

• OS: Genuine Windows® XP Home
• Display: 8.9” LED-backlit WSVGA screen (1024x600)
• CPU: Intel® ATOM N270
• WLAN: 802.11 b/g/n
• RAM: DDR2 SO-DIMM 1GB
• Storage: 160GB HDD
• Interface: 1 x VGA port (D-sub 15-pin for external monitor); 3 x USB 2.0 ports; 1 x LAN RJ-45;
  2 x audio jacks: Headphone / Mic-in
• Camera: 0.3 M Pixel
• Reader: MMC and SD (SDHC supported)
• Audio: Hi-definition audio CODEC; Built-in stereo speakers; Analog Mic
• Battery: 4200mAh Polymer, 5hrs
• weight: 1.2kg with battery
• Casing colors: Princess Pink, Magic Blue

--Tom Milnes

Apple Puts the Kibosh on the Palm Pre’s iTunes Synch

The Palm Pre has been riding fairly high on a wave of publicity since its launch just a few weeks ago, so much so that Apple seems to have decided that it might be prudent to take a little wind out of the smartphone's sails by announcing that, although the new device's claim to be able to seamlessly synch with Apple's iTunes store may be true at the moment, that may not be the case for very much longer. Sound a little draconian? Sure enough, but business is business and anyway, this move is built into Apple's existing company line, which says that,

"Apple does not provide support for, or test for compatibility with, non-Apple digital media players and, because software changes over time, newer versions of Apple's iTunes software may no longer provide syncing functionality with non-Apple digital media players."

So, be forewarned new and potential Palm Pre owners. Apple is a jealous guardian of its markets. If you were hoping to be able to download music and movies to your heart's content via iTunes, think again, or at least do it quickly. No doubt Palm will be ratcheting up its plans for its own apps store for the Pre, the App Catalog, but that's a good way off and there's pretty much no chance that it will feature anything to match the entertainment media of iTunes. So, although it is definitely premature to write off the Palm Pre, it is probably not too early to remove its equally premature mantle of iPhone killer.

--Tom Milnes

Norhtec's $199 Gecko EduBook to Run on 8 AA Batteries

Yo, a Netbook that runs on AA batteries, what a concept, well maybe. News was floating around last month that Norhtec was working on the Gecko EduBook, a Netbook primarily designed for kids or at least pre-high school educational purposes, that would do just that by means of an internal modular design and its efficient Xcore86 chip which contains all the processing guts necessary on a single small motherboard that only uses 1.2 watts. Oh yeah, the other main point in this is that the box was to sell for $200. Well, the video below shows that this is more or less true all true. Check out the key specs below:

• Processor -- Fanless Xcore 86 (Vortex86MX SoC) clocked at 1.0GHz
• OS -- Windows XP, Ubuntu Linux
• Memory -- 256MB, 512MB, or 1Gb of DDR2 RAM, soldered on CPU module
• Display -- 8.9-inch LED backlit display with 1024 x 600 resolution
• Storage -- 1 internal SD, 1 external SD, optional 2.5 inch IDE hard disk
• Networking -- 10/100 Ethernet port
• Other I/O:
  • 4 x USB 2.0 (3 external, 1 internal)
  • VGA
  • Audio -- line in and line out
• Expansion -- SD slot, or 2.5 inch IDE hard disk
• Battery -- Accepts 8 NiMH AA cells, or lithium-ion battery packs, with run times approximately four or six hours, respectively
• AC Power -- Standard power cord instead of AC adapter

As the EduBook name relates, Norhtec is aiming at bulk school orders with this model. In the video the speaker says that they are shopping the model around to "developing markets" and according to Engadget are offering $150-160/unit pricing on bulk orders, and according to other sources for as little as $110 assuming a bare bones configuration running Linux. That still sounds like it might be a little pricey for the developing world, but maybe not for the daughter or son of a rich kid here in the States or elsewhere. Now, for all us adult spoiled rich kids in the first world, although I like the more inexpensive replacement option of the AA NiMH batteries, I can't really see going with this model over one of the more powerful standard Netbooks available, at least not for $200. It is good to see some differentiation between models in the market though. Also, with a focus on this inexpensive pricepoint it's intriguing to read, via the Engadget posting, that Norhtec may have a Nettop in the works. If they came out with a decent one of these that was equally inexpensive, modular and had HDMI, well that might get them some attention outside the school yard.

Check out the video below for details on both the Gecko EduBook and the Xcore86 chipset. (video is a little choppy in places)

--Tom Milnes

PC Sellers to Offer Varying Windows 7 Upgrade Offers

The official launch of Windows 7 is still 4+ months away, but Microsoft and the PC makers, vendors and sellers that owe their livelihood to a healthy PC market today are not remaining idle. According to a PC World posting today, beginning June 26th vendors and sellers will embark on a program designed to lure potential buyers of new PCs who might be holding off on making a purchases until Windows 7 is released in October, into brick and mortars and online stores sooner with a coupon program that will allow for a subsidized downloadable upgrade with disc to follow, to Windows 7 at launch. But as always, there is a catch or two.

The first of these is a no-brainer. The upgrades will only apply to new laptops and desktops packaged with Vista Home Premium, Vista Ultimate or Vista Business purchased between June 26 and launch. No upgrades from XP since from a new purchase standpoint, this is primarily the realm of Netbooks. No, the main caveat here is that the cost of the update will definitely vary. According to the PC World piece, vendors and sellers will be paying Microsoft between $9-$15 for each PC upgraded and it is entirely up to them as to how much they pass on to customers. Hopefully at its worst this additional amount would be no more than that $9-15 range, so don't be a sucker and bite when the $50 upgrade option flashes on to the screen when you are customizing your box.

The good news for consumers is that, again according to PC World, at least a few PC makers--three unnamed Tiwanese outfits to be exact--plan to eat the cost and offer the upgrade free of charge with purchase. Microsoft's final plans for the overall program have yet to be announced, so the three initial firms remain anonymous, but I bet we might be able to venture a few guesses, say Acer, Asustek, Gigabyte Technology, Micro-Star (MSI), etc...Historically I've tended to think Netbook when I've thought of Tiawan, but this fall could mark a change in that assumption. We'll see. Regardless if you are in the market for a new PC or OS for that matter, Windows 7 releases October 22 and could play a part in any purchase decisions you have. Keep an eye open for news.

--Tom Milnes

Free Microsoft Antivirus Software Heading to Beta Soon

Pretty much every PC owner knows and relishes that 1-3 month period after they've laid down their cash and first fired up their new computer during which they can surf the Web with more or less impunity. The reason? Something for free, that near standard introductory antivirus offer, care of McAfee, Symantec, et. al. But over the long run, there just isn't any free lunch. Or is there?

Last November Microsoft announced that it would be dropping its less than well-received OneCare antivirus subscription service, with an eye towards replacing the for purchase software with the free Morro antivirus product. Yup, free stuff. And although the service won't launch until late 2009, and there is no telling at this point how comprehensive the software will be, there would also not seem to be an expiration date attached to this freebie. I know that an antivirus subscription is only $30-40, but nothing sells like something that doesn't cost. Although I'm sure that the Internet security segment of the software industry is less than happy about this development, they knew it was coming and there is one bright spot from their perspective. Because of Microsoft's well-know entanglements in anti-trust litigation, they will not be bundling Morro with PCs. Consumers will have to download it. That's a pretty small victory, but a victory nonetheless I suppose. Regardless, look for Microsoft servers to be very busy come beta time.

Microsoft is scheduled to stop selling OneCare on June 30 and all paid subscriptions will be honored. Morro will be compatible with Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7 operating systems and is designed to work hand in hand with the ongoing security improvements to Windows and IE. No definite date has been given for the start of the beta, but I'm sure that there will be enough hype for us all to know when it is available. Read more about Morro at the Microsoft press site.

--Tom Milnes

Sony's Considers PSPgo a Bridge to a True Download Only Device

There have been rumors for at least a year that Sony had a successor in the works to the PlayStation Portable (PSP). In true Sony fashion these were first vehemently denied, then dismissed with a wink, and finally confirmed. That confirmation came last week with the official announcement of the PSPgo at E3. In the end the device is looking a lot like both a fan-created mock up that made the rounds on the blogs late last year, as well as last year's Sony Mylo. (good catch on Gizmodo's part on that). Anyway, if Sony can save a few bucks on the design side by going the Mylo route then more power to them, especially since the PSPgo will list, at least initially, at $249. This could make it something of a hard sell in some quarters.   

The basic rundown of the device is that, as was predicted, it has dumped the UMD drive and will instead rely on a download only content model. We are talking games, movies, TV and almost certainly music here. With the new model's 16GB of memory and inexpensive external memory available, that shouldn't be a problem. What is though is the rumor that existing accessories might not be compatible, and much more importantly all the existing games and movies out there on UMD discs. Regarding the later, Sony has made statements that they are working toward having all of these available digitally at launch, but the rub is how not to turn off current PSP owners who have an existing library of games and movies. According to Sony they are working on a content transfer workaround that is a "short term good will program that would continue for years afterward." There are no concrete details yet on what that actually means, but we'll definitely hear more soon since the PSPgo is scheduled to launch in October of '09.

None of this is to say that Sony is completely abandoning the existing content model. According to an interview of John Koller, director of hardware marketing for Sony Computer Entertainment of America on Kotaku.com earlier in the week, Sony thinks,

"The PSPgo will be a good way to bridge to a next generation download only device," which will no doubt lean heavily on the PlayStation Network. He also added, "Our consumer research shows that many people still continue to prefer purchasing games on tangible disc-based media, and we'll continue to serve this segment of the market, while also providing digital content to the growing segment demanding this format."

This strategy of phasing out the original content model also helps Sony with their relations with retailers wary of losing a software market. They will need this help when it come to selling the new hardware. If Sony can propose a workable backwards compatibility solution, keep retailers from revolting and perhaps manage a price break not too far into the hardware life cycle, the PSPgo may do well and perhaps give iTunes a little more competition, especially considering the pull Sony has in the motion picture and recording industry and the reasonable assumption that Sony has considered the download only model for the PlayStation 3. Granted that's a whole lot of ifs, but assuming they happen don't be surprised to see credible rumors in 2010 of a new hardware version of the PSPgo that has touchscreen and telephone technology built in. If that happens, the game will definitely be on. For now though take a look at an overview of the PSPgo's specs, or see them in full here.

Key Specifications:

• Approx. 128 x 16.5 x 69 mm (width x height x depth)
• Weight: 5.6 ounces (including batter)
• CPU: 333MHz
• 64MB memory
• 3.8-inch display (480 x 272 resolution)
• Built-in stereo speakers and microphone
• 802.11b WiFi
• Bluetooth 2.0+EDR
• USB 2.0
• Memory Stick Micro slot
• Analog video out
• 16GB storage

--Tom Milnes

Gibbs the Unofficial Cell Phone Tsar of the Obama Administration

This is close to being old news, but on the off chance anyone hasn't seen this video yet, it is not to be missed, so I thought I'd toss this in...

So, remember all the talk during the presidential campaign last year about how tech savvy Obama's team was? The assumption for pretty much everyone listening at the time was that this was based on a comparison with Senator McCain's team. Little did we know though that there would be another contender within the Beltway that may be even further behind, the Washington Press Corp. But not to worry, the federal government is our friend. The members of the current administration are pledged among other things to lend a hand to those less in the know when it comes to the gizmos that fill our pockets and seem to take on a life of their own at the least opportune times. Don't believe me? Check out this video segment of a recent media briefing by White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs. Good man that Gibbs. Like I said, if I could I'd nominate Gibbs for the unofficial position cell phone Tsar.

Check out the video below. Who says C-SPAN isn't entertaining? 

--Tom Milnes