Palm, and HP

When I first heard about the forthcoming "merger" between HP and Palm, I was afraid that one of the better products on the market was at it's end.

Not so.

Apparently HP has intentions of using the futuristic operating system with their forth-coming mobile devices.  This is music to my ears.

Only recently (at the thought of writing an application for the webOS platform) have I discovered how great the product is.  WebOS truly represents the future in Operating System Technology.  It incorporates open technologies, that may truly allow developers to easily write cross platform applications (not far from how the web operates today - except web apps will run "outside of the sandbox").

Just imagine - if you will - a web-based application that uses local libraries, graphics, styles, and hardware to accomplish it's purpose.  The end result would be a web-based application that runs VERY fast, natively, and on a device that grants developers direct access to hardware resources.  That, in concert with data pulled from the cloud would be a very powerful combination.

All Palm needs to do, is a better job at communicating it's systems capabilities to developers, and users - something that HP can help with.

Poor Palm Pre

I just finished reading an interview with Jon Rubinstein posted here.  Is it just me that finds this story incredibly interesting?  I guess it's safe to say that it probably is just me (it certainly feels like it).

There is quite a bit of buzz surrounding Palm - people saying that Palm needs to be sold.  This interview clears up quite a bit of muddy water for me.  I understand that executives are slave to shareholders, but the webOS is the FIRST RIGHT thing palm has done in a long while.  I think it will take a lot of work for the company to rebound (which I believe it will - they are ahead of the game from a feature's perspective).  I really do think that Jon Rubinstein knows what he is dealing with.  The device hasn't even been on the market for a year.

Who needs 150,000 apps?  I agree with him completely regarding Apple's "Long Tail." 

I love seeing companies being "turned around."  During the process, nobody has faith in the executives, and once the about-face is complete - they're quite often regaled as heroes. 

Last month, I purchased the Pixi for my wife, and she hasn't looked back.  The plan available with Sprint makes a device like this almost priceless.

If/when Palm is at scale (Jon's words), the perspective changes.  I'm eager to see what happens, not owing to the fact I'm a Palm proponent (a different conversation for a different day).  I would love Palm to come out on top with this innovation (webOS).

I love my Pre...

Home Automation - Security

Last week I was meeting with a local contractor; a provider of the home automation system Control 4.  In order to expand our capabilities as a company I've been wanting to combine forces with a local dealer.

One of my pre-dominant fears of such a union is that an association with another company could affect our branding in an adverse way.  Maybe the products aren't what they should be.  Maybe the products are, but can I be assured that their implementation will be good enough to put our own name by it?

After looking at other companies, I think we're making the right choice for partnership.  Control4 stuff is way cool; and integrated with an alarm system, surveillance cameras, heating and air conditioning, home theater, even the sprinkling system - it's a surprisingly affordable must have.

When re-modeling my basement, I zoned the lighting to eventually fit into a system like this.  I installed a projector, wanting to simulate an actual theater.  With the change of a few light switches, and a Control4 interface, this system WILL BE a theater.

This is the direction of home building for the future - Smarter Homes.

VNC on the Palm Pre

I've been waiting for a brilliant mind to create a VNC app for the Palm Pre for some time.  It needs a connection manager, and controls for taking snap shots.

Of course the ideal solution would be for logmein to build the application (I know, it wouldn't be VNC based, but I could really use an encrypted remote solution of some kind).

I was certain somebody would write this within the first month after the product release; but alas, no carrot.

I'm not sure if there are limitations built into the device preventing it, but I've used VNC apps for iPhone OS which work really well.

Somebody please build it - I would pay good money (relatively) for that app.

IP-based hardware communication

I recently finished writing a specification for an installation that we've been getting ready for a customer.  They've decided that they want to install IP cameras in their facility.

It is quickly becoming the latest shiny silver object for hardware developers.  In my profession, the push for IP implementation is really taking hold; in some cases, it's somewhat disconcerting.  I understand that there is a huge convenience factor for devices that are geared to use existing infrastructure in order to communicate with servers. But to place mission critical devices (such as alarm communicators, cameras in day-care facilities, etc.) on networks that are subject to SO MANY variables isn't wise.

One fact will always remain - IP data transmission will only ever be as reliable as the infrastructure on which data transmission occurs.

MacBook questions answered...

Is it even worth the extra money for the MacBook Pro?

These notebooks have been on the market for a while now, but it's only recently that I noticed the latest specifications for the new MacBook.  They are almost identical to the specifications of the bottom-most MacBook Pro (the MacBook has a larger hard drive off the shelf - huh).

I've always been a huge fan of the white plastic composite traditionally used for the MacBook (before that, the iBook).  It does scratch up a bit after usage, but with the lovely products from Zagg you can keep that MB looking fine for much longer (I purchase invisibleSHIELDs for all of my notebooks - PC's included).

I have a MB Pro 17, and it's a great machine.  If I were in the market for a smaller notebook - for portability, I think that the normal MacBook takes it.  The base configuration of the MacBook Pro 13 costs $200 dollars more.  It certainly can be built up more, but if you're going for the base configuration don't waste the $200.

I'm glad they've kept that line of notebooks available; I've only ever purchased the regular MacBook for my wife.

Well done Apple.

The iTunes app store - as we know it

I think the song that Steve Jobs quoted at the introduction for the Macintosh was "The Times They Are A-Changin" by Bob Dylan.

I think that change is coming, again; most likely not good news for the under-par iPhone app developer.


With the touted "over 140,000" apps available on the iTunes app store, it's nearly impossible to choose the specific app for your needs (without actually knowing the name).  Seriously, do a search for doodle apps and try to sift through the results.  


In order for Apple to keep the hold they have on the app store market, they'll need to do a better job regulating the apps that are posted to the store.  I know there's already a regulatory process for putting apps on the store, but the library has become so large and full of choices, the content isn't easily browsed.


Sure they have recommended apps, and other categories to browse, but really....  How many farting apps are there up there?  Choose your flavor (pun intended).


I foresee Apple being far more discriminant with the applications that are posted to the store in the not-to-distant future.


Of course, this is all speculation; but when iPhone development becomes common curriculum in 1st grade, how many apps will appear then?

Palm Web OS 1.4

Last week I updated my Palm Pre to the latest version of Palm's Web OS - Version 1.4.

This is an impressive update for an already impressive Operating System.  I really think that other phone manufacturers need to pay attention to this device - especially since Palm released the phone to Verizon.

One of the key enhancements of the update is the addition of Video Capture.  Video capture really does add a new dimension to this device; and the quality of the capture - for a phone - is pretty good.

I hope those guys at Palm continue to feed this product.  I understand they "bet the farm" on this operating system; and people have been hard on it's level of success, but it's a very good device.  Normally devices that are great make their way to the front if companies can establish consistency with their products.  When I switch back to Apple's interface (iphone OS), there are several UI features that I miss; most notably, multi-tasking.

I've really enjoyed my Pre, and it would be a sad thing to me if Palm decided to stop development on this product.

Patent Craze

I'm not sure where this whole Apple Patent thing is going, but I don't like it.  After reading the actual patents held, it does appear as though they have something here (as much as I hate to say it).

My whole problem with this is that the country has become "Patent Hungry."  Things are out of control here.

Is this going to turn into an all out brawl for who invented what?  As far as I can remember, Palm released the first touch capable device - what about their claim to touch based devices.  I know Palm didn't invent multi-touch and implement it the way Apple did (which is also debatable), but the concept of a touch based device... maybe they weren't patent hungry enough.

I CAN say that action like this DOES sour my opinion toward Apple.  I understand the importance of defending your authenticity, but... really?  Until this past year, nobody's even come CLOSE to Apple in this space - and then they keep innovating; why look back?

Is this a wound that's too close for comfort for Mr. Steve Jobs?  Didn't he know people would mimic him?

Apple, why not take the "Pro-Active" approach here?

Windows 7 Phone Series... Finally

When I first heard about the Windows 7 Phone Series, I was hopeful.  I really love my Zune, and I was hoping for some kind of integration with a phone platform (I was even willing to make Windows Mobile my primary phone platform if it only had Zune integration).

When I first heard about this device, I didn't believe it.  I wondered if someone out there was playing a great prank (Microsoft made no apparent mention of it on their site).  After researching a bit, I discovered the rumors were in-fact true.

I have one word... Awesome.

Not only did they incorporate Zune, they use a similar UI to that of the Zune HD.  Anyone who's used a Zune HD consistently will understand that this is very exciting news.

I do have a few fears about it all.  First, I hope the update schedule on this device isn't as slow as it's been on the Zune platform.  Second, I hope this isn't an announcement for a device that'll be released in 2012.  Third, I hope hardware vendors DON'T incorporate their OWN UI to run on top of this one.  Fourth, Internet Explorer???  Really???  Why not use a webkit based browser... oh wait... this is a Microsoft device.  I will say that in the demo, IE's performance actually did look pretty good.

I'm excited for this platform to be available, let's just hope the hardware production quality is on-par with that of the Zune HD.

Tablet hype - re-visited

I still feel like I'm missing something here.

All incredulity aside, I still don't see this selling as well as other people do. I was disappointed in the device's feature-set. Don't get me wrong, I didn't at all believe some of the rumors that were floating around out there regarding TV tuners, and built in cameras. I never expected the Apple tablet to be THAT capable - at least in it's initial iteration.

The OS was the disappointment for me. This device seems as though the hardware engineers put in all the work, and the software engineers - well, the OS software engineers slept. Even though the individual applications look absolutely beautiful (contacts, calendar, etc.), the OS is lack-luster. Apple didn't do anything to give ME a good reason to buy one. They stuck an iphone on an air compressor, and blew it up... It looks different, but it's not.

Tablet hype

Am I missing something here? There seems to be so much hype around the forthcoming Apple tablet, I already DON'T want one. I may pick one up, but I won't be sold as easily as I was for say, the Mac Book Air (whose market by the way is already being taken by the netbook/mini PC notebook products). Maybe Apple feels they can take some of this market by creating a tablet. If this device lands in the $500, to $800 range, the ROI (or lack thereof) may be more disappointing than the incredulous mac fan-boys would like to think.

In order to really catch attention, the price-point for what promises to be a larger iphone will need to be more in the net-book class price range. I'm sure it won't be, but I think the only people that'll buy something like this, are the blogger/media personnel (I don't see my self consistent enough to be classified as a blogger) that have been screaming for one since Steve Jobs came back to Apple. Don't get me wrong here, but people likethis tend to think that EVERYBODY feels the same way they do; or more importantly, WORKS the same way they do.

Sync Problems

I really don't like the idea of having all of my media in 5 different places throughout the house.
This past year something very cool happened on Microsoft's Xbox platform - it introduced Netflix into the UI.  Very cool stuff if you haven't tried it.  Any of the content available from within the web interface of Netflix to "Watch Instantly" could be viewed on the Xbox.

While watching SEVERAL class B movies and shows I wouldn't normally watch, we have moved to this type of entertainment almost exclusively.

There were only two missing pieces to this puzzle.  First, I wanted to be able to watch content purchased on the same platform.  Second, I wanted to have the ability to record and watch content that was sent over-the-air - or live TV.

Media Center answers those problems - very well.

Microsoft's streaming solution seems better than Apple's.  I hated waiting for things to sync back and forth between the Apple TV and the server in the office, and it's very frustrating having to go downstairs in your underwear to reset iTunes because the Apple TV didn't connect to the server properly.  Live TV streamed over the network is also a bonus; forget about running coax to every room in the house, it only needs to be run to the media center's tuner cards.

Good move Microsoft!

The new Zune HD represents the best when considering an entertainment device.  I purchased one the first month they were released, and I must say that I'm impressed.

I've owned an ipod touch for the past couple of years, and I believe this device to be much better.
If you're an app. addict, the Zune HD doesn't quite have the eco-system you'll find with the Apple line of devices, but itis getting there.

I love the subscription music service - if Apple were to transition their service to a subscription service, they would run away with the market - once again.  As it stands now, the Zune marketplace seems to have the most polished finish for the subscription model - and I must say, the software is far better than any other out there.