big computing changes - tablets and all...

It's been quite a while since I posted last; a lot has happened.  Some of the more prominent things:

HP decided to closeout their line of the Web OS tablets, and Web OS Based phones.  Then, they decided to close their Personal Computing division; then they decided to keep producing Personal Computers (not to mention the major personnel changes).

Microsoft has thrown their hat into the tablet arena with the usual late-releasing products.  A brand spanking new version of Windows has been released, with it's face-lift and all.  New Office products are being released, following the line of the service-based model.

Apple has decided to go against it's founders instincts producing a 7-8 inch iPad, and a new longer iPhone.

Wow, and so much more!

I'm going to try to comment on all of these things in posts to come.  It can definitely be said that computing as we currently know it is undergoing a major paradigm shift.  Some of the changes are exciting, and some are just plain weird.

HP TouchPad Marketing Strategies

I'm not sure what HP is playing at by lowering its price for their new tablet, the TouchPad, but I'm not sure its the best idea to lower the prices (by $100).  The message it sends to the world may not be the one they'd like; that webOS is dying.  It is after all a brand new product.

I've been a webOS user for quite a while, and I must say that the experience is superior to that of iOS (I have both an iPhone, and iPad2). The performance on the touchpad versus the iPad isn't as great, but I suspect that it's in code optimization - on the core level.  The reason I come to this conclusion is that when in card view, the system performs in a very snappy manner, but once in any application, scrolling or dragging seem to be sluggish, indicating perhaps, that the core OS is written well, but the app platform (I suspect the browser) needs to be optimized.  This is of course speculation.  I don't see any reason the device can't be made to run more quickly, and I'm sure it will be.

I love the TouchPad, and I think it would be a shame for HP to succumb to the impatience that typically takes the blogosphere and inept news reviewer's hostage.  The market shift WON'T happen overnight.

Unlimited Data Usage - as we know it

Are data plans for mobile internet-based devices changing for the worse?  Heck, are plans from Internet Service Providers going to see change?

With more and more services switching to cloud based services, it's hard to imagine an ISP of any kind (mobile or not) limiting the amount of data for smart post-PC devices. 

Even though Netflix STILL isn't available for Android-based devices (who'd have thought it'd be available on Microsoft-based devices first... I guess with Silverlight...), the amount of data streamed for the average smart-phone user would easily exceed imposed data limits.  Do you ever use Pandora? YouTube?  MMS?  Of the few remaining mobile ISP's, ATT is the most ludicrous. The ISP responsible for introducing the heavily regailed iPad?!?  A device that almost REQUIRES data access (not to mention the outrageous pricing for their 2GB plans)?  I fear for T-Mobile users.

If I were Sprint, I'd be excited to think about the possibilities of seizing market share for those markets. 

Media is getting bigger.  Documents are getting bigger.  Operating systems are getting bigger.  Heck, even the Post-PC devices are getting bigger.  5 MegaPixel photos; the new Evo supports 1080 (full HD) video, I can't imagine how the greedy ISP's will be affected by the direction of the market.  Will they line their pockets with gold?  Will they lose customers to the unlimited providers (Sprint)?

Consumers will continue to purchase iPads and iPhones, but every time they hit their data usage limits, four letter words will fly. 

It's too bad a company can't develop a model similar to that of Google for phone/data usage.  Do you remember when you first were invited to Gmail?   "What?!?" "They're going to give me how much storage!?!" At the time, mailbox size WAS a factor; most Exchange based accounts (depending on the config) were limited to a mere 256MB, and Outlook's own datafile (.PST) was limited to 2GB.  Cripes, it's hard to believe how recently that was the case.

Get real ISP's!  As a business owner, I'm glad we decided to go with Sprint.  I don't have to do much thinking regarding usage.  As long as the bill looks good, I'm good.

Sprint Goes Windows

I guess that I was a bit off by stating that sprint decided to go with just the green robot...

I'm excited to see the new Windows Phone they'll be rolling out.

But...

Why are they married to their physical keyboards?!?! I can't figure it out. Do they think they have the physical keyboard niche? Guess what; I bet the majority of the cell phone market-space could care less (sounds of the executives at TMobile and ATT laughing in their sleeves to be inserted here). Apple is evidence of that. Granted, I'm sure there are people out there that like them, but what would a slide out keyboard look like on the iPhone? How would that affect the sales of the iPhone? I doubt they'd gain much MORE market share?

If it's the niche thing... spend MORE on rolling out 4G.  I understand there's a cost difference, but it seems as though there has been very little focus on the importance of 4G; which, to me seems ridiculous.  I have an Epic, but having 4G means almost nothing; even though I live in the city.

To demonstrate how significant the potential market-space for 4G is, look at the Apple iPad 2...  3G!??  Seriously!??  On a device that screams for high speed and portability!??  If I were a carrier, I'd want all of those eggs in my basket.

They must be afraid of bandwidth usage or something... I'm very confused.  It seems to me that Sprint has a chance to gain a significant market share.

Slave to the Green Robot

If the rumors are true, I'd like to shout from the roof tops "Sprint!  What are you thinking!"  They introduce the WebOS platform, don't wait to give it a chance to take hold in a dominated by Apple market, and then decide it was a waste?  I hope the rumors are incorrect.  I like the droid, but it feels so... yesterday.  Seriously, a back button 30 times to exit an app?  How about that awesome implementation of multi-tasking in Android.  Apple's implementation of multi-tasking may be a farce, but at least the device flow is better.

WebOS isn't the only great platform on the horizon.  Has anyone truly checked out Windows Phone?  Let me re-phrase; has anyone used Windows Phone, and switched back to their previously used platform?

HP's Release Schedule

I'm not sure why HP feels it's OK to announce a release so long before the devices actually hit the market, but you'd think they'd learn their lesson from Palm's 6 month PRE release.

The hardware announced really does look interesting, but I wonder if it will carry the same intrigue in June.  When you're blazing new trails, or creating a new market space (the iPad, iPhone rev.1, etc), it's OK to leave the audience in eager anticipation.  Palm/HP (or should I just say HP) is fighting an uphill battle.  Time is of the essence.