The Devices
I’ve been thinking again (a lot) about the ideal mobile microblogging device. Taking my previous thoughts about what the best mobile microblogging device could be like and my original Carrypad definition from 2006 I’ve updated the list to include the fresh faces on the scene. Rather than split the devices into ‘classes’ as I did last time, I’m just listing what I think are the best choices based on my current knowledge. ALL MIDS AND UMPCS HAVE DROPPED OUT OF THE LIST based on the poor quality of software and the lack of important accessories like GPS, Camera, compass and accelerometer that drive the leading-edge creative mobile microblogging applications.
‘UMPCPortal lists Smartphones as leading Mobile Devices’ I can see the headline now! In this segment of new, creative, mobile social applications, smartphones are leading and there’s no argument in my opinion. Even the important ‘Tweetdeck’ advantage for UMPCs and MIDs? Is gone. Tweetdeck is now available on the iPhone as are a number of other very rich microblogging apps. Desktop software can’t keep up with the pace of development on smartphone platforms in this market.
Here’s my list of top mobile microblogging devices (in no particular order)
Continued on next page…
My list of top Mobile Microblogging devices. Intel not inside. See which one I bought. http://cli.gs/udvPL
RT @chippy: My list of top Mobile Microblogging devices. Intel not inside. See which one I bought. http://cli.gs/udvPL
Technically, recently(today in fact) released firefox 3.5 should allow a gps enabled device to share its position data with a correctly enabled page…
I thought FF3.5 would only use Google Location Service and not a local GPS device. Happy to be wrong because it will be a great step forward for geo-enabled web apps.
hrmf, seems i was wrong about the gps thing, tho i could have sworn thats how its been presented in the past…
Ugh, as i poke at it, i find contradictory data.
Best i can tell is that it defaults to the google service, but should also be able to make use of a GPS device, if so found (or something).
I think the idea is to allow a plugin to access GPS data and feed to FF3.5 but I agree, there’s some contradictory info out there.
Yep, thats the impression im left with to…
Odd that they could not include a bit of code that could maybe read a com port and collect gps data…
May be offtopic, but new FF 3.5 is SO FAST! I’m realy impressed..
Chippy check toshiba k01 it is tg01(you mistyped it LG01) but with slideout keyboard with capacitive touchscreen should come early next year so it may suggest that it will be released with wm7 all at 16mm. Considering that tg01 has USB host option k01 should have too only video out(miniHDMI or DVI) is something that should be included in k01 to make it the best ultraportable.
You should keep an eye on this one!
Wishmaster. Thanks for that. Correction made. k01 now on the watchlist!
Steve
nice assay again, chippy. you show again that the market, means the user decides which way to go, the street to chose and not a company . at least not if she is not willing to kep in close contact with the custoners and to respect their opinin and wishes.
water finds always its own way downhill – if hindered it will force it
just forgot to mention the new mobiles that are capable to act as pda, smartphone, camera (still and motion), gps, modem, digital TV/radio, video/music player, usb data storage device (using mini sd cards) … just got such one, didn’t cost me more than 200 bucks. the ideal companion to my netbook.
I’m really happy with my new 32GB iPhone 3G S.
It’s probably not the best device when it comes to productivity, due to the lack of a physical keyboard.
However, for everything else it is absolutely perfect (at least for me).
Cheers,
suchus
I really think Apple could reach out to a new sector if they did hardware keyboard on a device. I doubt they will do it though. Shame.
Chippy, you are on the right track, to find a device for microblogging. My similar interest could be called Micro-Business. Imagine the same device with PTab spreadsheet, and maybe someday a mobile OpenOffice.
Intel has a quickly shrinking window to make Moorestown comparable. There is no doubt they will get the hardware done. Moblin sounds interesting, but unless they get a large base of software, it will go slow. Moorestown doesn’t run Windows initally, it seems.
You made a great choice on a device. Now that Apple has gone Cortex, the others will have to follow shortly. HTC is rushing to sell Touch Pro 2 before they will look slow to the rest. Concerning the devices without keyboards, a BT one seams a workable solution.
I see you did not alter this site’s name. I am glad you covered this subject. Still cannot find a good name for these Unique Mobile Phone Computers.
Of course it could stand for
Ultimate Mobile Portal Creator
For a door either to the cloud or to blogging sites etc. I sampling a Kohjinsha SX4 with built in 3G, 3MP camera and 1.3 Webcam. Just need GPS and I’ll have everthing on Chippy’s list – once the software comes for Geologging….
Unique Mobile Personal Communicators? ;-)
Vakeros, I just don’t see the location based software coming to the ‘desktop’ OS soon. It’s funny, like the smartphone arena always lags on FIE, the desktop is going to always be behind on advanced mobile services like this.
Steve.
@Ken Neal. as far as winmobile is concernd exists a full office suite (ms compatible) – softmaker office (text, spreadsheet, database, powerpoint)
I think windows mobile is the next OS generation, though its not quite there.
Until WM7 or WM8 a dual OS solution like “Snapvue” on th HTC Shift is the way to go.
Mobile device really need to get rid of the booting process. They need to get more serious software too.
By incororating a dual OS solution you get both until a newer Windows Mobile will be able to replace the Desktop OS`s…
A dual OS will remain due to legacy apps. whether it is possible to be dealt with in virtual windows as Win7 is meant to be doing for XP and previous OSes.
If WM7 ticks all the right boxes that they are talking about, then you might see it spread to bigger devices. With the power of ARM processors increasing, you can already run Virtual OSes on a smartphone (though limited to older ones), with the release of Win7 and WM7 it might be possible to run both on one chip. With one of them virtualised. The problem with Snapvue is it requires a separate chip – thus increasing cost and complexity.