4 posts tagged “gadget fetish”

I know, I know. The Sanyo Xacti camcorder/digicam series keeps getting mixed reviews ((especially the HD ones)), but I really like the Xacti pistole grip design and the company keeps churning out small improvements...

http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/05/sanyos-xacti-hd1010-1080i-camcorder-shoots-300fps-slow-mo/

Reminds me of the Asus eee. Whenever I'm ready  to finally buy the small laptop, a newer, better, faster, cooler model is announced...

http://www.blogeee.net/2008/06/03/premiere-video-du-eeepc-901-en-quasi-direct-du-computex/

Osborne effect reloaded ;) ?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osborne_effect

Guess I will keep the MacBook for now...and wait what Apple announces next week. Maybe an iPhone will do instead of an eee notebook in addition of the MacBook. Good rumor roundup about WWDC 2008 here...

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-9959884-37.html?tag=bl

I'm not looking forward to the 3G iPhone, seriously. Everyone knows it's coming one day since SJ announced the original iPhone back in January 2007. However, these three devices ((or rather new device categories)) could be interesting...

1) iPad ((aka Newton 2.0 / Palmtop, the current iPod touch is getting into that device category))

2) Apple Ultraportable ((the MacBook Air is getting there, but still too large in my view))

3) iBook 2.0 ((Apple's answer to the Amazon Kindle, a simple eBook reader, unrelated to the original iBook laptops))

Some people might argue that category 1) and 3) could be merged into one device over time, but low-voltage display technologies ((EInk etc.)) aren't ready yet for moving content or colour output, at least not at an affordable price.

Apple might bring out either 1) and/or 3) at WWDC 20008 in June. I guess it's rather device 1), but that's just a guess. However, recent rumors make this more likely. See eg. ...

http://www.macrumors.com/2008/05/14/intel-confirms-atom-based-larger-iphone-mini-tablet/

and before...

http://www.macrumors.com/2008/05/11/3g-iphone-in-may-another-device-at-wwdc/

Another take on a potential eBook from Apple can be found here...

http://blogd.com/wp/index.php/archives/3667

The Apple ((multitouch)) pad rumors have obviously been around for some time as well...

http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/26/is-apple-working-on-a-multi-touch-based-newton-successor/

PS: Note I didn't use the word "tablet" for devices 1) ir 3) because I think this name is linked to the rather unsuccessful MS tablet PC product category. Also, Apple's devices, especially device 1) will most likely have a smaller form factor than MS tablet PCs.

Which iPod are you ? The iPod nano fatty or the new iPod Touch ((I blogged about this before in Gadget Fetish)) ?

A few days ago, I wasn't sure whether the upcoming iPod Touch included WiFi...it does, so I chose the iPod Touch ((and not the new Nano)) to be included into the Gadget fetish top three...

http://www.apple.com/ipodtouch/

But the iPod Touch is missing one more last thing ((because of those damned telco contracts)): A microphone. A Wifi-enabled iPhone Touch with Skype and/or iChat ((and in a few years WiMAX enabled)). In short, a VOIP iPod.
Once the evil telco contracts expire in 23 5 years ((Apple has probably signed these in blood with AT&T)), a microphone and WiFi/WiMax telephony will be a match in heaven...*plop*.

Stop dreaming :)

PS: For a more complete review of subtle and not so subtle differences between the iPod Touch and the original iPhone, go here: http://www.iphoneatlas.com/2007/09/05/differences-between-the-iphone-and-ipod-touch/

For interesting implications for Podcasters and indy musicians, go here:
http://www.christopherspenn.com/2007/09/05/the-ipod-nano-and-ipod-touch-implications-for-podcasting-and-podsafe-music/

((iSquint and Handbrake support video encoding in the new iPod Touch format 480-by-320-pixel since it's the same as on the iPhone. Remember that this is higher than Sonys' full PSP resolution at 480-by272-pixel...))

PPS: Oh, iPhone sales numbers dropped off in the last few weeks, so Apple lowered the price. But Steve Jobs is a master of PR disguise, few journalists will mention this in today's reports, but Wall Street noticed...the new price looks more acceptable and will help the iPhone through the end of 2007. Others think this is business as usual in the phone business and sales are doing great...

"Investors think something is wrong with demand, but we felt even before the price cut that Apple was going to make or even exceed its targets," said Gene Munster, an analyst at Piper Jaffray. "In the short term, it will cost them some profits, but there's an even better tradeoff."

Price cuts for cellphones - even high-end ones - aren't unusual. Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.'s (005930.SE) popular Blackjack smartphone and Motorola Inc.'s (MOT) Razr both saw rapid cuts, and Razr now is essentially given away with a new contract.

Nokia Corp.'s (NOK) high-end N95 has been able to maintain its high price because of its strong brand and presence in Europe, illustrating the challenges Apple faces when it enters that market. But a price cut now will help the company as it pushes the iPhone overseas. Baker said it will be interesting to see how the other handset makers react to the price change.

Source: http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/djf500/200709051654DOWJONESDJONLINE000989_FORTUNE5.htm

This is a follow-up to this post (( http://bladerunner.vox.com/library/post/gadget-fetish-top-three.html )).

This month's top three...

1 ) Sanyo Xacti HD1000 camera. Sanyo kept trying hard with their Sanyo Xacti series of digicams/still cameras. I think they finally got it right. The usual suspects seem to agree that Sanyo ((detailed reviews on low-light performance and image stabilization pending...)) might have a winner this time...

http://www.akihabaranews.com/en/news-14680-Xacti+DMX-HD1000%2C+Sanyo+is+BACK+%21+YEAH+%21.html

http://www.dannychoo.com/blog_entry/eng/1080/DMX-HD1000/

((It's not about the anime, it's about the Sanyo press conference. Focus ; ))

Sanyo had a lot of bad luck lately and I'm rooting for good sales because the entire Xacti line is under-appreciated compared to competitors with bigger marketing budgets.

2) Apple's fat new iPods, to be revealed September 5, 2007. I don't like the Nano successor ((form factor)) that much, but the new iPods will follow the iPhone's success. Chrismukkah 2007 sales will be off the charts, again.

((Apple.com; fat juicy details to be revealed September 5, 2007))

3) Rolly music robot. For the spoiled rich kids everyone missing their beloved AIBO canines, the Sony Rolly is here ((soon)). I wonder how this skunkworks robot operation survived all the recent corporate restructuring inside Sony ((remember Sony both axed the AIBO and the QRIO lines and it was recently rumored that the entire Sony robot division was about to be sold to Toyota)). When I first heard about the Rolly, I thought it was a well-fabricated prank...

http://www.ubergizmo.com/15/archives/2007/08/sony_rolly_walkman_in_the_works.html

But it's apparently really real...

http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/31/sonys-rolly-revealed/

We can go where we want to
The night is young and so am i
And we can dress real neat
From out hats to our feet
Then surprise them with a big trick ride

Men Sony Engineers At Work. Let's roll. However, is this a product to be actually sold in numbers or another 'Why ? Just because we can...' Sony engineering marvel like the AIBO. I would like to know more about retail prices and durability before making a judgement. An easy prediction: It will probably meet more success in Japan than abroad.