Worm in the Apple iPad

Despite the iPad not yet being officially released in our little ‘pore yet, apparently Singaporeans are one of the most iPad-crazy countries in the world, judging by data from auction website eBay. (see here)

Image via CrunchBase

Apple said that it will release the iPad in July for another nine markets, including Singapore, however, after much fanfare, to tell you the truth (though I still love the iPhone) Im getting sick of the whole Apple = gawd routine.

Lets check in on the grass roots indicator on iPad:

Technometry friend who has played with the Ipad says: no expandable storage, no go.
Work colleague who has also got her hands on them says; just like a big iphone, – can play Angry Birds on bigger screen, but thats about it

Did a search on features that suck on the iphone, and all that came up were marketing articles that touted that the iphone was actually the best thing since sliced bread.

Till I play with one, I gonna be very skeptical, just like I am about the whole Apple 4g lost phone scenario.

Nexus One – Want or Need?

Image via CrunchBase

Googles new phone, which is touted as the next iPhone killer seems to be just another solid smartphone entry into the market.

Image via CrunchBase

Googles name seems to have inspired a few oh’s and ah’s about matters, and you can see the tour of the phone here;

http://www.google.com/googlephone/tour/

Summarising and plagiarising from CNet, the main features of the Nexus One are; Excellent voice command features, good camera, ok media player, apps loaded in a flash, navigation is ok, plus the usuals: calculator, a full duplex speakerphone, a compass, a text-to-speech feature, A2DP stereo Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, text and multimedia messaging, and the full slate of Google applications like Google Voice, Google Talk, and Google Maps. .see;

http://asia.cnet.com/reviews/mobilephones/0,39051200,45181460p,00.htm

which,  features the important bit of information that The Nexus One is also available to online buyers in Hong Kong and Singapore.

The Nexus One, – just a phone, and not an experience, yet. Nexus One – a WANT.

Although , if you’re looking for a bit of humour, a fatal flaw is touted by one source [sic]

http://www.esarcasm.com/10031/esarcasm-uncovers-fatal-flaw-in-nexus-one-phones/ i

The Webby Awards list

The 10 most most influential Internet moments of the decade:

- Craigslist online classified site expands outside San Francisco (2000)
- the launch of Google AdWords (2000)
- the launch of online encyclopedia Wikipedia (2001)
- the shutdown of file-sharing site Napster (2001)
- Google’s initial public offering (2004)
- the online video revolution led by YouTube (2006)
- Facebook opens to non-college students and Twitter launches (2006)
- Apple’s iPhone debuts (2007)
- the use of the Internet in the US presidential campaign (2008)
- the use of Twitter during the Iranian election protests (2009)

Do with this what you will!

One interesting point – hoping technometry gets on this list sometime…!

Ring Ring! Any Phone Recommendations?

Image by djwudi via Flickr

Im in the market for a new phone. Not that the current one has outlived its uses, but I have that yearning. That craving for a new gadget. It gets stuck in your gut and festers until that purchase is finally made. Its a cherry pit in your craw. So what am I not looking for?

Im not looking for a phone which doesnt have wi fi. Come on, data plans are good now days but nothing beats free and relatively convenient.

Im not looking for a phone that looks and feels toy like. I want heft and sophistication. I want a sturdy build and classic lines.

I’m ambivalent about whether the phone should have a touch interface. Both have nice features which shouldnt be discounted. Touch interfaces are more of an “experience”, – traditional interfaces tend to be quicker to access and call up menus (the difference between tap pause wait tap and tap tap tap)

The Web browser has to display the internet well. So far, I’ve only seen the iPhone do this successfully. Am looking forward to the LG BL40 and seeing how that displays. Though I am a bit worried about the size, as a phone does have to fit into a conventional pocket easily. If it can slide into a jean pocket, then its passed the test.

Price of course is a consideration. But I’m willing to spend for that coveted gadget. Not a luxury phone, but more likely a cost in the ball park figure of a smart phone.

Your recommendations are most welcome!

Palm Pre; Release in Asia – STILL ZILCH.

Well, I can only speak for myself, but I’m kinda sick about how Apple and the iPhone are dominating.

Apple products are innovative, but the consumer benefits best when there are two top shelf competitors going at it. But my pleas for the Palm Pre as a suitable counter balance seem to be lagging further and further behind as the release date in Asia for our first glimpse of the Pre in Singapore are still lost in the murky midst.

Image by zoovroo via Flickr

Once again I took to hounding the USA PR reps for Palm. The email to them proceeded along the following lines, – pardon the “sucking up”…

**************************************

Hi [..........],

Thanks for your replies.

A lot of people are anxious to know when the Palm Pre is being launched in Asia/Singapore.

Any idea of a time frame? Every day delayed is another iPhone customer gained!

As mentioned previously, we use to have the old early palms with stylus when we were in our early 20’s.…would be interesting to see just how far palm has come!

Thanks again,

The reply from the Palm chap was as follows;

**************************************

Hi Clifford,

Unfortunately, I can’t even estimate at a time frame. I’m sure you understand.

-[..........]

**************************************

Well, I understand kinda.

Of course Mr PR Palm chap aint going to leak precious release details to a little nobody like me. However, his response sounded a tad smug? evasive? condescending?

Technometry readers, I promised to continue hounding him. The hounding will continue.

More recent Palm news, is the launch in the US of the next Palm Smartphone called the Pixi. Link to cNet here.

Its mentioned to be unlikely to make it over to Asia. I’m relieved….why? It doesnt have wi fi (which should be mandatory) and any phone called the Pixi doesnt sound too smart or executive or masculine. One for the ladies?