Now who in their right mind would ever want to get stuck in traffic? Not me! However, I do have to admit that I did take the long way home more than a couple of times while testing StreetDeck. If you are searching for a way to integrate a UMPC into your ride, StreetDeck might be for you. There were some challenges in getting everything to work together, but once setup, it was reliable and functioned well. My major issue with StreetDeck was trying to compare performance on the Q1 running XP with the X60 running Vista Ultimate.  I should have never loaded it onto the X60 as this really un-fairly set my expectations. Oh well. Now I'm going to have to figure out how to mount the X60 in the Yukon. In the words of Jimmy Buffett, "Ain't Life Grand!"

The mounting system is key for any successful UMPC integration. Mounting the unit with suction mounts off the windshield just is not for me. I wanted a more "factory" install for both stability and looks. Enter ProClipUSA to the rescue. I can't say enough about how their mount system was just what I was looking for. The guys at ProClipUSA did everything possible to help make this install everything I had hoped for. Honestly, they made the difference for me as to making this a temporary install or a permanent one. Needless to say, stay tuned for an InkShow on the mount options they have.

Final note: Whenever incorporating ANY type of technology into an automobile, you must keep safety at the forefront of your conciseness. With a system like StreetDeck, it becomes very, VERY easy to become distracted and cause a serious accident. So please, please, please Be safe. Always! There are far to few geek's in the world. We can't afford to lose a one!

StreetDeck-Mobile Electronics Software

INKSHOW SUMMARY:

Likes: User interface is well designed and works well while driving. The Gesture system was an excellent way to control StreetDeck without really looking down at the unit. My only problem was memorizing them. The software was feature rich but had a few that I thought could be omitted.  Price; at $199 StreetDeck is priced just about right considering it's feature set. I would like however to see Vista supported. Navigation performed generally well with only a couple of lockups during testing on XP. I liked the NAV interface very much and the display options were unique and helpful.

Dislikes: Performance of some features such as the Internet Radio was a bit sluggish on the Q1 even with EVDO access. Compatible hardware such as the Parrot Bluetooth hands-free was limited and not well pointed out.

Issues: A few lock-ups related to the Microsoft MapPoint engine. GPS connection with Vista was problematic. Audio connection will me a major issue for most DIY'ers. No easy way to have system wake and hibernate when ignition was turned off. Trust me, watch this; it will eat a battery. Running in Vista was problematic with there being an unacceptable level of BSD's and lockups.

Equipment used for testing: GMC '05 Yukon Denali-XL, Samsung Q1-P running XP. GlobalSAT Bluetooth GPS. ProClipUSA mounting solutions. (4 Stars! watch for Future InkShow!). Verizon EVDO AirCard. Kyocera KR-1 EVDO Wireless Router.

STREETDECK FEATURE DETAILS:

View a video demo of StreetDeck (by StreetDeck)

Watch/download the High Res GBM InkShow

(29 minutes, 16mb, Windows Media streaming or direct download)

Features:

Internet Enhanced Navigation

• Internet Connected Navigation
  • Internet assisted point of interest search
    • Data available by Google or Microsoft Live Local
    • Real time location updates
    • Allows for word search such as sushi, Thai, laundry, car wash
  • Internet provided satellite routing photos

• Navigation (no Internet required)
  • Navigation for non-connected use
  • Supports 2D and simulated 3D view
  • Will use cached satellite imagery if available
  • Gesture based address entry

Internet Enhanced Mobile Entertainment

• Internet Entertainment
  • Yahoo! LAUNCHcast provides hundreds of Internet radio stations
• Multiple Media Sources
  • Gesture and voice controlled IPOD Integration
  • UPNP device compatible
  • CD-ROM, USB, removable media auto detection
• Games and External Applications
• StreetDeck Media Sync for Internet and Wi-Fi Networks

Gesture, Touch, and Voice Control

• Gesture support for eyes on the road use

  

   

• Touch and Gesture Controlled PodCast Delivery

   

• Touch and Gesture Controlled Media and Entertainment
  • Touch screen and gestures control media
  • Supports additional monitors for automotive environments

And many more...

Check out StreetDeck's website or Order StreetDeck software and accessories from MP3Car.com

Check out Pro Clip USA for all your in-vehicle mounting needs

All GottaBeMobile.com InkShows are sponsored by:

At GottaBeMobile.com, we primarily focus on Tablet PCs and UMPCs, and the accessories that naturally build-up around those devices. On occasion, though, we branch out a little to bring attention to other areas of technology we are enjoying.

When AblePlanet contacted me and asked if I was interested in reviewing their Clear Harmony Linx Audio Noise Canceling headphones, I jumped at the opportunity. I own a pair of on-the-ear Bose QuietComfort 3 headphones (QC3), and was looking forward to experiencing some other high quality headphones, especially some over-the-ear headphones.

Let me begin by stating that I am not an audio junkie. I like a good pair of headphones, but I don't get in to nit-picking every high and low in music. I tend to prefer over-the-ear and on-the-ear headphones over the more portable in-the-ear headphones. My office has six servers that generate a lot of low-level noise, so noise canceling is important to me. I also enjoy some good noise-canceling headphones when I travel by air. It is amazing how much jet noise a good pair of headphones can filter out. Unfortunately, I have not had the opportunity to travel while evaluating the Clear Harmony headphones, so I won't be able to comment on the whole airplane experience.

Here are some specs on the Clear Harmony headphones that AblePlanet sent me:

• 18 decibels of active noise cancellation - AblePlanet claims this is the highest of any noise cancellation headphone on the market
• Operates as normal headphones when noise cancellation is turned off or when batteries run out
• Uses two AAA batteries for noise-canceling
• Full-size ear cups which fold flat for storage in a nice travel case 
• Padded headband
• Frequency response: 20-20,000Hz
• Sensitivity at 1KHz: 115dB (Off); 121dB (On)
• Detachable cord; length is 5'
• In-line volume control

Overall, I have not been able to tell any discernable difference between the Bose QC3 headphones and the AblePlanet Clear Harmony headphones in music quality - both of them sound awesome. In addition, the Clear Harmony headphones filtered out the low-level server noise in my office very well, along with allowing me to pick up the higher frequencies like people's voices, my cell-phone, etc. However, there are some advantages that the Clear Harmony headphones have over my Bose QC3's which are causing me to choose the Clear Harmony headphones when I travel or listen to music in my office. 

Batteries

My Bose QC3 headphones uses 1 rechargeable battery, which can cause problems when you are out somewhere without access to a power supply, you forget to charge the battery, or you forget the charger like I often do.  Without a charged battery, the QC3's are useless - you can't listen to music nor get any noise-canceling benefit. In contrast, the Clear Harmony headphones utilize 2 AAA batteries for the noise canceling feature, but can still be used to listen to music without batteries. It is worth noting that the Bose QC2 headphones, the Clear Harmony's direct competitor, uses a single AAA battery, but I don't know if they can be used when that battery goes dead or not.

Case in point, when I go camping, I like to listen to classical music while I settle in for the night. When I went camping this past weekend, I brought my Zune and both pair of headphones with me. I put my Bose QC3's on and within 5 minutes, my battery died. Yep - I forgot to charge the battery before I left. Fortunately, I had the Clear Harmony's with me. I had been listening to them so much in my office, that the AAA batteries in them soon died, too. However, I was able to keep listening to my music throughout the weekend with no problem.

A bit of a humorous DRM side-track here: I hadn't synced my Zune in about a month, which overlapped with my 3 month Zune MusicPass. So, when I went to play my Zune over the weekend, none of my music would play since the subscription had timed out on the device. Frustrated, I went to the van and got my wife's iPod, which contained all of our ripped CD's. I was back in classical music heaven. Ahh, the joys of DRM.

Back on track....

Volume dial

The Clear Harmony headphones have an in-line volume adjustment. If you are like me, finding the volume dial on the computer or on a media player can get a bit clumsy sometimes, especially when you need to quickly turn the music down. With the in-line volume control, I can quickly adjust the music without much fuss at all.

Conclusion

Little things like the in-line volume control and the fact that the headphones can operate with or without batteries begin to add-up to a great experience. With a comparable listening experience, a competitive price, and the advantages that I outlined above, if I were buying a pair of high quality noise-canceling headphones today, I would give AblePlanet's Clear Harmony headphones the first look.

The Clear Harmony headphones are competitively priced with other high quality over-the-ear headphones at $299, and can be purchased here.

Long time coming and this is certainly coming from interesting quarters. Vista users who play their music on the iPod have known (or at least I hope they’ve known) of an existing compatibility. The problem manifests if you choose to disconnect your iPod using the Task Tray’s Safely Remove Hardware icon to disconnect your iPod. In some cases it has actually turned iPods into a useless brick.

Apple released a sorta kinda update awhile back, but still recommended that Vista users not use that method to remove their iPod, instead using the eject button in iTunes to remove their iPod. In fact, I read somewhere (can’t find the link anymore) that somoene suggested to just disconnect the cables without issuing a software eject of any kind.) At the time of that release, Apple said it was up to Microsoft to fix the issue.

Well, today on the Windows Vista Team Blog, comes word of an update from Microsoft to fix the issue.

Here’s what Nick White says on the Team blog:

Today we're publishing at the Microsoft Download Center a recommended final compatibility update for users of Windows Vista and the Apple iPod; this same update will be automatically available via Windows Update on Tuesday 22 May.  The release is for users worldwide and works with the latest version of Apple iTunes to correct an issue that caused some iPods to become corrupted when ejecting them using Windows Explorer or the "Safely Remove Hardware" function in the System Tray.

The long and short of it is this:  Apple and Windows have partnered together to ensure a great experience in using Windows Vista with iTunes and the iPod, and both companies recommend you download this update.

The ground just shifted in the mobile entertainment world. EMI, one of the largest music companies has announced that it will now make its digital music content available at higher quality and also DRM free. Apple will be the first company to offer the DRM free music on its iTunes site. To get the DRM Free and higher quality tracks you’ll pay 30% higher per track, ($1.29 vs $.99) but entire albums will come in the new format at the same cost as they are now. $.99 versions will still be available and if you already have an EMI song or two in your collection you can upgrade them for $.30 a track. Here’s an excerpt from the EMI press release:

Eric Nicoli, CEO of EMI Group, said, "Our goal is to give consumers the best possible digital music experience. By providing DRM-free downloads, we aim to address the lack of interoperability which is frustrating for many music fans. We believe that offering consumers the opportunity to buy higher quality tracks and listen to them on the device or platform of their choice will boost sales of digital music.

DRM schemes have been the bane of many a mobile media users existence as they prevent interoperability between devices and it looked like the big music companies would never release their hold over the market even in the wake of various European government attempts to intervene on behalf of consumers. After Steve Jobs famously through down a gauntlet a short while ago, saying that Apple was ready if the music companies were to let DRM go, many, including myself, were skeptical. But EMI has shifted the ground that entertainment companies walk on with this news. It remains to be seen how this will shake out with the other big companies and with Microsoft, but for now, (actually in May when this kicks in) users who purchase music from the EMI catalog will be able to enjoy it on any device. Although Beatles fans are gearing up for the digital release of the Fab Four’s catalog, it looks as though those selections will be excluded at the moment.

Well, you knew it had to end sometime. Disappointing news out that The New York Times Reader service is out of Beta and in order to use the service you’ll need to plop down $165 a year (or $14.95 a month.) I like the software very much and have grown quite accustomed to it. But not so accustomed to it, that I will fork over that much of a subscription fee a year. The NY Times can certainly charge what they want for their content, but it is just too steep a price to continue enjoying the benefits of the great software for my pocket book.

To see what all the fuss is about, you might want to check out this Software InkShow on the New York Times Reader.

Maybe other publishers using the Windows Presentation Foundation will see a potential benefit in offering lower priced access to their content.

Via Frank LaVigne

  While perusing my feeds this morning, I came across this little item in a link from Tablet PC Talk.

This is not only cool, it is pretty possible with today's technology, at least most of the goals are anyway.  How about a Tablet PC that interfaces with your instrument, your sound boards, your speakers, the internet, other musicians via the internet, so on and so on.  Can you say, "Virtual Band"?  Wow. 

This project is a concept propject by a fellow named Nicolas Gonzalez Garrido, who has done some pretty cool concept designs on anything from a washing machine to instant coffee pills, but I have to admit, this SoundGate thing is pretty incredible in thought and design.  Here is his quick description:

 "SoundGate provides musicians with tools for a new rich experience in individual learning, tutor instruction and live playing. The optimal user-experience has been designed taking in account the needs of musicians. The Tablet facilitates the creative process by recording playing sessions, recognizing and transcribing music, prompting sheet music and lyrics, generating electronic accompanist sound and displaying onscreen timing and metronome."

This is certainly not enough information, so to take your education one step further,you MUST check out this video.

The design sketches are from 2005, but I found several references to current discussion, most notably at GadgetRoad and Bornrich.org, where I found the designer also crediting a few other folks for the project.  He lists the following: Alejandro Sanguinetti, Gustavo Fontana, Nicolás González Garrido, and Esteban Orlandi.

In addition to the Tablet PC, there is a "Music Stand", which would even include a Helionic projector to display the images of other band members, has a wireless foot pedal and an articulating arm.  The coolness goes on and on.

This is a very well thought out, very possible concept.  Don't just do a flyby on this story and think it does not apply to you.  There are a number of applications of this type of setup besides just the musician.  How about conference speakers?  Setup a few of these stands in a room and you have a live panel.  Education?  Now all the best professionals do not have to be in one place at one time, they can be in multiple places.  A professor in Middle Eastern Studies who lives in Korea, can now hold classes in any part of the world, and interact with multiple audiences.  This goes far beyond the teleconference or video conference in my mind.

I just think it is a great concept, and one that I hope ends up coming to fruition soon.

Be sure to check out the video!

Via: TabletPCTalk

Microsoft announced today that three more companies have taken advantage of the Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF), the advanced graphics technology that is a part of the Windows Vista OS. Associated Newspapers Ltd, Forbes Inc, and Hearst Corp are the publishing companies that join the New York Times in offering content in this digital format that combines the look and feel of traditional print with a digital interface that allows user interaction. The publications initially offered will be The Daily Mail (Associated Newspapers), the Forbes.com Reader, and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer (Hearst Corp.)

Using the New York Times Reader as a starting point (and indeed a Beta) Microsoft has built a publisher starter kit allowing other companies to similarly take advantage of the digital format.

Intriguingly last night I put the final touches on a Software Inkshow featuring The New York Times Reader, in which I commented that I would love to see more traditional print companies take advantage of this method of content delivery, but I speculated that if every publisher created their own unique app, it might prove cumbersome in the long run. The good news, I guess, is that we are seeing more companies interested in doing so. Time will tell, if my hesitation proves true or not.