MOBODOJO

Okay, Engadget. Lets have it out, right here and now. You’re irritating me with all of this chatter about the Palm Foleo. I’m really peeved that Palm made one of the worst decisions of its life by canceling one of the greatest new form factors to emerge in a long time. If the UMPC were an actual market, the Foleo would be a UMPC killer. So, if you, too, want to feel bad about Palm’s ill-fated choice to dump the Foleo and truly understand why it was such a mistake, then read this.

PS: If you get the impression that I’m emotional about this, you’re right. This was slated to be the one cross-over device which would have really spanned the gap which laptops simply cannot fill unless they weight too much and phones just don’t grasp. I’m very fond of my MacBook Pro and the Nokia N95 8GB which I’m testing right now is a fantastic phone, but either one is too much or the other isn’t enough. Aiiiyyyeeeeeeee! Foleo, you will be missed!!

If you’re looking to learn how to play the piano or just to get a cheap (as in inexpensive) MIDI keyboard which works on Windows or Mac OS X, then eMedia has the gizmo for you. At US$149, this 49-key interface seems like a good deal, and eMedia claims that the keys feel like a real piano. Not bad, if true.

I’m into the idea of a stylus that actually works, especially one that doesn’t scratch my screen (Casio BE-300! Arggghhhhh!!!!), but one with a synthetic Ruby tip which costs €24,00? I get the idea that its not porous, so it can’t trap grit which can scratch your display, and it looks like its set in a nice metal grip, so I’m sure it has decent weight and balance, but what in the hell is “Swissness“!!?? Honestly, its in the list of “Advantages”. How could I possibly make that up.

Okay. I’m not sure what they’re thinking, that Nokia, but they can’t possibly believe that Jobs & Co. would be galled into joining Nokia’s OVI media portal project just because they do it in public. Understand here that I’m not against the idea. I would be thrilled by the prospect that Apple would open up its DRM and widen the field. Sure, Apple would lose UI control of 3rd party DMPs, but it would gain a significantly stronger grasp on the DMP market as well as a vastly improved “Feel Good” factor. It would be like Microsoft’s PlaysForSure initiative, except it would work.

The Dojo is taking a very brief break for the holidays, after which we will return with more of what we do. While we do not celebrate anything in particular (aside from my daughter’s birthday) for the holiday season, we do celebrate family, love, hope, and peace. All of us at The Dojo with these things upon you and yours no matter what corner of the planet you happen to live.

Sincerely,

Tyler Regas
Editor-in-Chief

Yet another week to rack up on the ol’ scoreboard, and we have 10 more days before the New Year. That means we only have this and one more Weekly Roundup to file for 2007. Wow, and what a year its been! Apple’s kicking ass, Microsoft’s blowing chunks, and the Linux camp is starting to make a dent in the fears of administrators. I’m sure 2008 will also be a hoot, if any of the recent rumors can hold any water.

First up, Apple Insider has rolled out a claimed exclusive (how anything can be exclusive these days, I have no idea) regarding the strong possibility that Apple is jumping into the ultra-portable space. Via claimed close-knit ties to credible sources and whatnot, Apple is apparently eyeing the “Silverthorne” chip, a 45nm ULV processor which Intel has developed for Ultra-mobile Computers and MIDs, or Mobile Intertube Devices.

Now for last-minute stoopid gift idears: A Hello Kitty! USB mini aquarium. A Snoopy themed 15″ laptop for a mere US$2,799, and it comes especially underpowered! Have a dog that poops in the house? Well, now you can avoid having to pick it up and make yourself a local pariah for one low cost. DesignMobel has a new iPod dock, and no, soft is not slang for cool. Finally, season’s wipings! This dock is decidedly smaller and far less tasteful.

UnWiredView got the drop on Nokia via this USPTO entry for what looks like a new gaming device. If its anything at all like what the illustrations are showing, even without the dorky looking and almost completely implausible handles, it will be very cool. We just have to wait to actually hear anything official about it. Feh.