http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/27/shelbys-amazing-aero-ev-0-to-60-in-2-5-seconds-10-minute-rech/

http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/19/wrist-band-portable-battery-charges-your-phone-electrifies-your/

Can you let us know what you think constitutes “MID mode” in this context?

Any ideas as to why no one (AFAIK) has developed a “battery saving mode” that would switch to EGPRS (or equivalent) from 3G for “normal” internet activity.

I mean for anyone into the automotive scene knows of such features like tiptronic (and now a long list of others), where you can essentially use it as a manual car (which is what our devices are now when it comes to wireless it’s either ON or OFF) but even in these modes on these cars the car WILL shift under certain conditions. In a similar fashion I feel it would be great if these phones, MIDs or what not with WWAN services would be able to switch between 3G and EGPRS automatically, so as to use the slower less battery consuming option for everything except when you really “need” 3G.

Same here, except some devices I buy to “play with/try out” almost knowing before hand it won’t make me settle for it, on the other hand the Sidekicks and the iPhone I kind of knew I will keep, and despite limitations I very much like the 80% or so of things I can do that I want to do while being totally mobile.

>There seems to be no single fit all solution as one thing must be sacrefised >for another.

I believe there is for the vast majority, meaning smart phones of various sorts serve the majority of people just fine, that’s why you don’t see the “masses” on this site. However those who ARE/VISIT here are looking for more than what your typical smart phone can offer, I for one want FULL OS at least with me, the dream would be to have a device that can be in idle all day (meaning having online communication running and ready to go instantly, not in 30secs or anything like that but in a matter of “time it takes for screen backlight to turn on”

>For longer trips etc I would say the Wind/Aigo (for the odd email here and >there and surfing) for large scale office work I would jump to an oqo >(assuming the +2 is any cop) as the keyboard is VERY usable I found. easier >than the everun.

Somewhat similar for me except the netbook (EEE) serves me as the “full” computing device when on an actual trip, then with remote access to my main setup, the Aigo (or OQO) is the FULL OS device while on the go “for the day” locally. I would really prefer to have what I use the Netbook for in the MID too, but with the dawn of these sub $500 Netbooks, one can “allow” for that “extra” device, that’s also why I am in a way pushing more on the UMID vs. OQO, since I know I won’t be using the UMID/OQO for hours and hours on the go, just because it CAN’T at this time, so however I turn it I will have to use my smart phone devices. So I might as well have something like the UMID where I would worry less about it being damaged (due to cost) and I prefer the clamshell design. For instance I was at CES, and I just put on a video on the UMID and it was just sitting on the counter, whereas an OQO design I would need to hold it or have additional stuff to hold it up as a stand.

>With pdas the most essential item is power. I can live with the compromises >I make on ‘full internet’ and slower rendering as long as it does the things >I want all day.

So even working on EGPRS vs 3G is ok then?
That’s how I feel at least

>Perhaps if apple got there figure out and made an apple mid (Archos 5g size >Iphone with the full internet) then that would go some way to being >‘perfect.’

I agree a lot as if it had full Apple OS one could actually use any MS OS also, but again the flip side of this at this point is look at the iPhone 3G’s battery time and you can see that there’s not going to be any MID/UMPC anytime soon that can handle a full day. However the UMID design of very EEE-like battery makes me think I could actually maybe “live with” an UMID with the added weight and size of a solution like this (EEE):
http://www.slashgear.com/gallery/data_files/7/4/Eee_PC_901_extended_battery_2.jpg

or give me an additional std battery charging solution like this for the UMID that I can keep in my car or something:
http://www.mobilecomputermag.co.uk/images/stories/news/2008/06/eee-charger.jpg

But frankly if I could squeeze say 4-5 hours out of ONE battery on the UMID with 3G/Wifi running with something like shown ON that EEE above, I’d be very tempted. For me the adding extended battery on the OQO not only adds weight but it makes the size “grow” in a direction I am just not happy with!

Just let me know if you’re talking about 3G only? or?
What services/activity would “qualify” my device as MID use?

Ironically I look at my iPhone as somewhat of an MID but not my Sidekick, still I am at least 75% of my online time (while mobile) on my Sidekick, in fact sometimes despite it being slightly slower to pull up a website I prefer the SK to the iPhone just because it’s easier to navigate and do things from buttons than from a 3.5″ screen when on the go.

But I do constantly read/reply (to) emails(and I mean constantly, if theres 30 mins with no emails I can be quite sure there’s something wrong somewhere in the pipeline ). Browse various sites, depending upon why but also interact on them, like post here, reply to communication over some website (for business reasons), communicate over SMS constantly with family and friends in a number of countries and continents (like 3-4), AIM/MSN/Yahoo messengers are ALWAYS on, and I get live info whenever anyone logs in/out (both visually and audibly) and I do interact quite a lot over these.

Now recently (as I bought some BT devices) I started using my SK with BT and listen to a number of podcasts that way, this is something new for me, I used to do that only on my iPhone before but the lack of BT in conjunction with the “not so easy” navigation when on-the-go and frankly I don’t need a large screen for audio only content. The iPhone comes in handy for video content, some websites where I have to use certain security keyword entry where the SK browser for some reason just won’t show those characters. Also on the iPhone I use a few programs and services like weather, Google maps (with non-GPS location) and iSilo (for certain eBook/encyclopedia usage), which the SK either can’t provide me with or won’t do it as conveniently.

So what/how do you use your GPS service? Meaning how does your battery work out?

My summary is that I don’t see anyone arguing that they can use their smartphones as all-day MIDs. Oh, let me rephrase; I dont see anyone arguing that they can use a device (mid, smartphohne or UMPC) as an all-day MID.

Stale battery tech is killing us. I wish someone big would expose it and get some crowd action going to move things forward.

Steve.

I will be pushing my phone down to the smallest device I can and focusing it on voice and internet-connected cal, contacts, email, widgets, cam, radio, rss and GPS but not Full web. i’ll do that on something like an Aigo and then add something like a T91 for a three-way mix. My main target is to get all three for under $1000. Should be possible especially when devices like the Benq MID are 299 Euro.

Steve.

Steve.