My name is Mark Sumimoto; I am Sumocat. I dabble in all areas of mobile computing, but my focus is Windows-based Tablet PCs and pen input. They’ve been part of my arsenal since 2004, and I’m proud to have pioneered the field of ink blogging, earning a spot as a Microsoft MVP for Touch and Tablets in the process. My current tools include a Fujitsu Lifebook T900, TEGA v2, and iPhone 4. Email me: sumocat [at] notebooks.com
The NDA has lifted, and the reviews of the Palm Pre are in. jkOnTheRun has a full roundup. Very positive across the board, and after skimming through them, I don’t think there are any surprises here. Everything works pretty much as previously discussed. Interface is engaging. Sync grabs everything. The card metaphor for multi-tasking works [...]
A video at metacafe has made the rounds through the DIY blogs that demonstrates how to make your own stylus for the iPod touch, which presumably would work on other capacitive touchscreens, as we’ve seen Rob do on the HP tx2 with the Pogo Stylus. It’s an impressive trick, but if you know how capacitive [...]
ASUS gave their Eee PC T91 convertible netbook/tablet an official launch at Computex this week. Press release is up on their site. Nothing we haven’t seen before in a CES preview, hands-on review and video demo, except for the marketing direction: The Eee PCâ„¢ T91′s unique software applications, collectively known as TouchSuite, allow users to [...]
N-trig, currently the only company offering multi-touch screens for Tablet PCs, is demonstrating some innovative new technology at SID (Society for Information Display) Display Week 2009. The hot items? The company is introducing several new innovations including a battery-powered pen, a number of Windows 7-compatible software applications, and a concept design model of a DuoSense [...]
Instructables has a basic rundown of what to do to keep your notebook running clean and, as a result, running cool. Yep, dust can clog your cooling system and collect in places to trap in heat, so a cleaner system is indeed a cooler one. Since there are so many designs to cover, they just [...]
ASUS dropped a message of innovative and seamless design at Computex 2009. They’re showing off the new Eee PC Seashell, UX30 notebook, and a display with an interesting stand. They also reaffirmed their partnerships with Intel and Microsoft, just in case anyone was wondering whether we would see Atom-powered Eee PCs running Windows 7 soon [...]
Tegra may be NVIDIA’s hot product of ultra-mobiles and portables, but it’s not their only mobile computing offering at Computex. They’re showcasing a number of ION-based products, including several notebooks. Also, the desktops they’re highlighting include machines from well-known netbook vendors Asus, Acer, and MSI, so you can assume they must be looking at offering [...]
NVIDIA’s press release on their new Tegra line of computer-on-a-chip processors seemed to me a bit dry for the exciting functionality they were promising. However, I see they were just holding back to give their partners a chance to show their stuff. First up is Mobinnova with their élan netbook. Check out these highlights first, [...]
I’ve long promoted specialized interfaces as must-haves for ultra-mobile devices, particularly anything with a screen 7″ or smaller. The variations on shape and size mean one-size cannot fit all. Thus, I’m glad to see Xandros leading the charge in this area, actively promoting their customized, integrated software for MIDs and Netbooks. Constant-connectivity, fast booting, and [...]
Evernote has an announcement that they’ve summed up with one word: HUGE. I guess that means there’s no point in reading further, but if you’re interested, there’s a lot more detail to follow: The past few weeks can be summed up in one word: HUGE. First, we launched our single most requested version: Evernote for [...]
Today seems to be the day for new display news. The Flexible Display Center at Arizona State University (the fightin’ aardvarks! …or cacti …or something. I don’t know college sports) has announced a breakthrough that brings flexible OLED (organic light emitting diode) screens closer to mass market. Something to do with a whole bunch of [...]
In the forum, Segalsegal shares with us an article from CNET dreaming up “Fantasy Features of an Apple Tablet“. Some of the suggestions, like affordability and making it thin and light, are not so much fantastical as practical (although some would argue the former). Still, the ideas match up with my previously published idea of [...]
Despite Jeff Bezos’ claim that color wouldn’t be coming to the Amazon Kindle anytime soon, a report from AP is that a new deal could make it happen by the end of 2010.
In their latest “Hive Mind” feature, Lifehacker has put the spotlight on the five best netbooks as nominated by the readers. No huge surprises on the list. The usual suspects, Asus Eee, Acer Aspire, and MSI Wind, are all there. The HP Mini, another one I expected to see, is missing, but it’s a short [...]
With all the new OS-based mobile device application stores popping up lately, it’s easy to forget that carrier-based app stores are still around. I admit they slipped my mind until I flipped through today’s paper and stumbled upon the Verizon Wireless flyer advertising their phone apps (my wife and I enjoy the quaint tradition of [...]
Back from the Blue Ridge, and my first order of business (after the usual first order of business) is to determine the best way to bookmark my current location on my iPhone. The Google Maps app is great when you’re trying to find a place you can name, but not so great when you don’t [...]
On my way to the Blue Ridge for our semi-regular visit with the mountain kin. Thought I’d take the opportunity to 1) offer a grease-free and mobile counterpoint to Warner’s recent breakfast post, 2) try out the WordPress app on my iPhone, and 3) create an excuse to have a fruit smoothie.
By now, you’ve seen the news of the bundle of multi-touch applications for Windows 7 called Touch Pack and watched Rob’s concise and enlightening InkShow demo. If not, what are you waiting for? Five minutes for a glimpse of the future. I think it’s worth it just to watch Rob try to nudge delicate paper [...]
In what I can only compare to a steel-toed kick to the groin, per a report from Reuters, Lowell McAdam of Verizon said this in a webcast: “Over the next six months or so you will see devices like Palm Pre and a second generation Storm,” on the Verizon Wireless network, McAdam told a webcast. [...]
At All Things Digital, Walt Mossberg broached the topic of tablets with Jim Lazaridis, the CEO of RIM, maker of the BlackBerry. Not encouraging. Thoughts about tablet computers? Lazaridis doesn’t seem interested. He notes that we’ve seen offshoot products like these before. ““Offshoot products trying to fill gaps that maybe don’t need to be filled.†[...]
The hot topic of conversation lately seems to be the app stores that are popping up for mobile devices. Matthew Miller, on his Smartphones and Cell Phones blog, has a rundown of the terms and conditions at four mobile app marketplaces, which is an important factor to consider in your purchasing, though I’m sure many [...]
Word out of Ars Technica is Canonical, the commercial sponsor of Ubuntu, is developing a method to run mobile-type Android apps on desktop-type Ubuntu, as well as other flavors of Linux. Sounds great for anyone with an Android phone and Linux PC, which is a pretty narrow sliver of the population, but I think the [...]
Lifehacker has assembled a list of 10 DIY projects to tackle on your day off. Most are tech-related, all are pretty cool. Likely to be of particular interest to GBM readers are a hack to create an all-in-one desktop out of a notebook and monitor, turning an old laptop into a wall-mounted computer, how to [...]
The wife and I are back home after a brief nature walk, which we made a bit briefer than planned after being beseiged by mosquitoes. In retrospect, we should have gone heavier on the repellent, but we were thick in the woods and swarmed by blood-sucking insects by the time we figured that out. Nothing [...]
Hardly the easiest DIY project I’ve seen, but I give this guy credit for assembling his own tablet computer using a Macbook and Intuos Wacom tablet, which he calls an iTab. Apparently Wei of weistudio has been planning and building this thing for little more than two years and now has a polished product which [...]
Leo from ritescript announced on the forum last night that an upgrade for ritePen 3.1 was released. It’s a minor bump-up, but it’s important because it addresses issues encountered and reported by GBM forum members. I upgraded last night, and it definitely works smoother for me. Really have to admire the ritePen guys for being [...]
… and why doesn’t he have a real name? Hi all. Sumocat here, newest contributor to GottaBeMobile.com. Actually, I’ve been contributing since the beginning via comments and the forum, but now I’m officially on the team, ready to join the world of professional blogging. Almost.
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Sprint HTC EVO 4G LTE Review: A Worthy Successor to the Original (Video)
When Sprint had debuted the original WiMax-capable HTC EVO 4G nearly two years ago, it was an instant hit on the Now network. Not only was the HTC EVO 4G the first 4G smartphone in the world taking advantage of Sprint’s then speedy WiMax network, but it brought some new features and pizzazz to the [...]
Last year Toshiba waded into the Android tablet market with the Thrive, a 10.1-inch slate that served as the company’s response to what they deemed missing in the then current crop. Thus, it had several full-size ports, a rugged-ish exterior, and a thick chassis to accommodate both. Though a decent tablet, the Thrive didn’t generate [...]
Samsung Shows That It Is a Software Company
As exciting as it has been to talk, postulate, and speculate about the Galaxy S III’s hardware and specs before the third-generation Galaxy flagship smartphone was announced on May 3rd in London, once the device was announced one thing became apparent: Samsung is now a software company. That doesn’t mean that Samsung is shying away [...]
Autumn Dynasty Review: A Great RTS for the iPad
With its large touchscreen, the iPad seems like the perfect platform for Real Time Strategy games, and Autumn Dynasty proves it, mostly. Autumn Dynasty is an RTS iPad game with art that looks like tradition Chinese painting. The story involves quelling a rebellion while solving a mystery of shady noblemen. The story though, just serves [...]
Griffin GuitarConnect Pro Review: Record Your Jams with Ease
The Griffin GuitarConnect Pro interfaces with your Guitar and your iPad or iPhone so you can record your music easily using apps like Apple’s GarageBand. My son Daniel, who’s learning to play guitar, helped me test it out and he loved it. When he gets as good as Jimi Hendrix, I’m sure he’ll steal my [...]
Google Search App iPhone and iPad Update Looks Beautiful (Video)
Google just delivered a beautiful update to the company’s Google Search app for the iPhone and iPad The Google Search app for iPhone and iPad replaced Safari as my browser of choice, earning a spot in the iPhone and iPad dock. It’s faster and offers a beautiful new full screen image search which looks awesome on the [...]
