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Thursday, February 14, 2008

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The Lines Continue To Blur With Small Mobile Devices

We’ve talked in the past about the blurring lines (and horrible branding) when it comes to mobile devices like MIDs, UMPCs, and the like. It looks like those blurry lines are going to continue to become even more fuzzy from the Personal Media Player (PMP) sector. Electronista is reporting that Archos is readying a new PMP that includes 3G connectivity that allows access to the web using the Opera browser.

Some have already called the iPhone (yours truly included) the first MID, and some are really enjoying using the iPod Touch in the same way, when WiFi is available, (again, that’s the case here.) So media players as web browsers is nothing really new. I am increasingly thinking that the blurry lines defining these devices is largely irrelevant as far as the consumer is concerned. And it seems that those making and marketing these devices feel the same. Given that the focus for UMPC and MID development centers on consuming media and web browsing, as long as the consumer is getting what they need from a small device does it really matter?

Of course the question will come down to marketing. It always does.

Thoughts?

Tags: Archos, MID, UMPC

Editorials | Warner Crocker | Mobile Internet Devices | Entertainment | Ultra Mobile PC

2/14/2008 5:47 AM MST

The Lines Continue To Blur With Small Mobile Devices Comments [3] | Digg This | del.icio.us | Citations

Thursday, February 14, 2008 6:39:09 AM (Mountain Standard Time, UTC-07:00)

I'd call the Nokia Internet Tablet the first MID. Sure, it's limited to wifi, but it is still a mobile device designed for surfing the net.

Sumocat

Thursday, February 14, 2008 4:35:32 PM (Mountain Standard Time, UTC-07:00)

i would not call it limited to wifi. with bluetooth and a non-crippled phone (got to love being european) one can access the net anywhere there is a mobile phone signal.

sure, it requires the use of two devices, but i would say that its way more future-proof then building into the device itself.

what worries me tho, is that the iphone have a buttload of mindshare right now. specialized webpages just for it anyone? thats made to look like its a built in app no less?

im willing to bet that we will not see anything similar for any other device out there...

turn_self_off

Friday, February 15, 2008 6:27:09 PM (Mountain Standard Time, UTC-07:00)

Mr. Crocker,
We're still not quite there with Convergence tech. As I'm sure you're aware parallel tech has been developing for quite some time that will revolutionize the Handhelds. We've already had Bluetooth, Wifi, 802.11n, Satallite GPS, Cell tower GPS, 3G, Edge, Mobile video, music, and camera converged. But, (in my opinion) there are three areas that need a lot of work to fully compliment the needs of the mobile user. That of Interactivity, Useability, and Connectivity. To do this we need tech that won't be comercialized for a while:

1) CONNECTIVITY: All Satellite connectivity all of the time. All of these wireless standards are fighting for connectivity dominance all because we don't have a unified method of staying online all the time. They need satellite connections with tower/fiber redundancy. This has to be able to allow everything from basic calls to online MMORGs.

2) USEABILITY: People's needs vary more than there are digits in Pi. They need to be able to have full color pull out flexible screens (development already being funded by DARPA I believe), can offer options as much as any current digital SLR, Dispense with the querty keyboard, have a VR Goggle interface, and a Next generation battery/processor to run it all (or alternate means to keep charging it). All of this has to be intiuitive to use. Probably, by voice command. Most of this is already in the commerical market or under development. Let me give you one example...digital books. You need a pull out screen roughly the size of a regular book with two pages. Optical sensor should allow you to flip pages, or use voice commands (for the handicapped). As an aside, Toshiba at one point had a patent out for a laptop with two screens but I'm not sure what happened with that. Or, if you wish privacy in what you're doing put on the VR headset.

3)Interactivity: Ok this one is pretty obvious but tell me trail on with my senseless banter...
First of all you want the wireless capability to run anything and everything electronic you own. Remote control for your entertainment system. Plug it in to start and drive your car to a destination. Dim the lights, order a beer, etc etc...I could use a beer right now. Most of this I imagine should be run by voice command. Plug it into your game console hook up your VR headset and play to your hearts content.

Now my thoughts here are not representative of my full comments I wish to make (as I would bore you to tears) but, I think you get the idea of what people want, and where the technology is going. However, what I never see in these conversations is one thing. Will our Society adapt apropriate to this fast pace in tech development? I've already seen peoples' social capabilties greatly reduce because of this immersion factor. It makes me question if we really want to travel in this direction for the sake of all of us.

Cheers,
-B

Beoir

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