In case you hadn’t noticed, the Apple iPhone has already had a significant impact on the mobile industry, and the new SonyEriccson Xperia X1 is a clear example of that. This sexy, sleek, curvy device to the left is a touchscreen beast, for sure, but it also hides a full QWERTY keyboard. The other interesting aspect of this handset is that its SonyErricson’s first handset which runs Windows Mobile, in this case WinMo 6. I have a problem with that, but we’ll just have to see.

For specs, the X1 features a 3.2MP camera with a dorky “Camera Light” instead of a flash, a 3″ 800×480 touch display, and optical joystick (?), Bluetooth, unspecified WLAP, an FM radio, integrated Java, aGPS functionality, and a gaggle of WinMo applications. It also comes with something Sony likely developed for it called XPERIA Panels, which is likely the interface you can sorta see above. SonyErricson says it will be available worldwide by mid-2008, but didn’t offer pricing. It will work on GSM/GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA, and HSUPA networks and will ship in black and silver.

written by Tyler Regas

If you’ve been convinced that no mobile browser would ever equal the quality of the web on your full-blown desktop OS, you may be disillusioned of that idea real soon. At DEMO 2008, a special event held ever year to promote the concepts and technologies the show promoters believe to be super hot, SkyFire announced its new mobile browser of the same name. The idea here is that SkyFire will offer exactly the same web on your mobile phone as you get on your desktop. Free. I have a few problems with that. First, how can anyone create a workable business model built around a free product which has no discernible source of revenue. Second, I can’t imagine how useful an unmodified web will benefit mobile users where small screens rule the roost.

The first round of private beta testing goes to Windows Mobile 5 and 6 devices which have full keyboards. They also state that Symbian devices will be supported soon. There’s a video presentation on YouTube and a complete explanation of the software at the site. Good luck, guys!

written by Tyler Regas

I just got off the phone with an IBM press representative at the Lotusphere show in Orlando, Florida and he was able to confirm for me that IBM has been showing vendors and partners technologies which will optimize IBM technologies for Apple products. While he was unable to go into greater detail, its clear that IBM is working on some kind of Lotus-related products for Apple. Whether that’s actually the iPhone or just a Leopard-tweaked Lotus Notes 8.0.1 client for Mac OS X is unknown at this time. He was able to confirm that IBM isn’t done making announcements just yet, either. More details to come.

written by Tyler Regas

I’m not normally surprised by odd behavior as I am often willing to partake in it myself a little too often, but when I came across Crumpler’s MacWorld Expo press release today I was thrown for a loop. Crumpler, you see, makes bags for laptops, electronics, camera gear, and Messenger bags. They are at MacWorld to announce some new bags in The Squirrel line, namely the IT Apprentice, Winston Fleece, Software Engineer, Reginald Transfer, and Harry Hoard models. Hunh? A look at their website is even more confusing. Here’s the description from their Moderate Embarassment model:

Oh dear, oh deary me, oh yes, oh no, okay – you need to put that thing away, yes, hmmm, it’s soooo ugly – You carried that for nine months, baby? Ooohh…

I’ll just put it this way… When you load the site (and I caution you to think about this before doing so) there is a red button and a chain. Push the red button and the site is splattered by what must be feces. Pull the chain to get a flushing sound and the “feces” goes away. There’s really nothing untoward about the site, really. Its just very, very, very weird.

written by Tyler Regas

At the MacWorld Expo today, iDictate spin-off QuickTate has announced a new speech-to-text service which will convert voicemail messages into text which are then delivered to their mobile phones or desktop computers. It can also translate into English or Spanish. The service is currently in beta, though they appear to be taking on testers who apply now.

written by Tyler Regas

Sure, I’m cheap. These are from the Apple site, but hey. I’ve got nothing better to do right now other than geek out on the latest Apple gadge. Here’s a tease. More on the next page.

Continue reading »

written by Tyler Regas

Ok, here are the details so far. Jobs has officially announced an ultraportable MacBook called the MacBook Air, just as predicted. Unlike any other ultraportable, however, the Air is sick mad woot. 0.76″ thick on the fat end and 0.16″ thick on the thin end and weighing only 3 pounds. Jobs pulled the damn thing out of a manila envelope! 13.3″ LED backlit display. Backlit version of the keyboard from the MacBook. iSight camera. Multitouch gesture trackpad. 1.6GHz to 1.8GHz Core 2 Duo CPU. 80GB 1.8″ hard drives, with an optional 64GB SSD. 2GBs of RAM, 802.11n, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, one USB 2.0 port, Micro DVI, headphone jack, Magsafe port, and an optional USB SuperDrive for US$99. Available in two weeks.

US$1,799. As many pictures as I can manage as soon as possible. WOW!

written by Tyler Regas

If by something in the air, Jobs means that there will be a lot of bits moving wirelessly, then the banners are accurate. First up is the iPhone and iPod Touch updates. Among a range of other things, you can now customize your home screen and Google Maps now features the ability to locate you. It uses cell tower triangulation and Skyhook’s Wi-Fi access point positioning technology to pin you down. Neat. What’s not neat is that iPod Touch users will have to pay US$20 for the privilege. Feh.

Then there’s Time Capsule again. The 500GB model is US$299 while the 1TB model is US$499. Pretty slick indeed.

iTunes movie rentals will be from all major studios. The films will become available 30 days after DVD release and be available to watch for 24 hours. Older movies will be US$2.99 while first release films will be US$3.99. You can also watch them on anything that can run or work with iTunes.

Apple TV also gets an update, which Jobs is calling Take 2. I’m not sure if that’s some kind of official name or what. The update now gets the ability to stream SD or HD with 5.1 surround directly to the Apple TV unit. No more compy required.

written by Tyler Regas

Ok, just thought I’d not that Steve Jobs is on the stage at the Moscone Center right now. He’s currently talking iPhone. Before that he announced a new convergence product, the Time Capsule. its an integrated AirPort Extreme and wireless Time Machine backup server. It comes in 500GB and 1TB versions. Pretty slick, but way too nerdy to be the “One more thing…” More to come…

written by Tyler Regas