Pre: Needs Redesign?

I think this picture from Engadget says it all. It's from their post from a Sprint store that started selling both Palm and Sprint's savior, Pre.

I'm going to reserve judgment until I get a chance to visit a Sprint store and hold one in my hand but if nearly every review out there indicates problem with the hardware, basically the cheap feel of the case, and wholesale complaint about the keyboard, I'm going to go on the limb here and say that an iPhone or traditional Palm PDA form factor is in the works. I've read a couple of posts about a WebOS Centro as well.

As you know, Palm is now loaded with a bunch of former Apple executives and engineers. Maybe the Pre's design is what the iPhone could have been and Jobs simply dismissed it. Now, the Pre's design is a push of of those ideas that Apple rejected.

Now, only the WWDC. Maybe we'll see something about the iPhone. Maybe we won't. I still very happy with the iPhone and all that it can do. It's still much better than anything out there though the Pre's iPhone features have made it a very close competitor. We'll see if Apple (or Jobs) put some more distance between the iPhone platform and its competitors.

On the whole though, Palm's Pre design may need work especially when Blackberry folks are trashing the keyboard and more people are beginning to come around to the excellent virtual keyboard on the iPhone. In trying to make the Pre small and easy to fit into the user's pocket, Palm might have created a design error. We'll know in the coming days whether this is nearly as big an issue for users as it was for reviewers.

Pre Reviewed But Walt Says Wait Until You See iPhone 3.0

Walt Mossberg does indeed know that Pre (going on sale this Saturday) is being pit against the current iPhone and it has a lot of folks excited. But next week, Apple may finally show us if there is anything else in iPhone 3.0 that they've kept from the public. There's been a lot of speculations about unannounced features and hardware additions.

Walt seems to believe that Apple will be surprising us at the WWDC or whenever new iPhones are announced. In fact, he seems to believe that claim strongly. Over on Onxo, we've summarize the current reviews (most came online in the last few minutes) and the Pre is probably the device most people will look to if the iPhone doesn't exist. So just in case you're wondering, based on the reviews, the Pre is pretty good but the iPhone is still the go-to mobile device.

Here's are some perceived advantages the Pre may have over the iPhone: physical keyboard, WebOS, background apps, Synergy, removable battery. Now, I did say "perceived". I rather like the iPhone's intuitive and smart virtual keyboard. I wouldn't mind having a removable battery on the iPhone though.

As for the other perceived advantages, well, it's a matter of personal preference and we still don't know if the iPhone 3.0 will address those issues - I'm particularly looking forward to the search function. And I don't want to go into the advantages the current iPhone over Pre and its other competitors. You know what they are. No need to go into that. Too many to address (and most of them may be subjective).

We'll know next week or the coming weeks what how Apple intend to answer the Pre.

Via AllThingsD, Engadget

"Not Quite HD" Zune HD Means Great News For iPod Touch Fans

Please indulge me while I get into what the Zune HD is. Zune HD is Microsoft's stunning answer to the iPod Touch with a well built body, interface, and OLED screen. There is not much more go to on at this time as a lot of information are still lacking and demos are limited to a special few (Gizmodo has a video).

A few points about the "first" impressions from Gizmodo as mentioned in Appleinsider's post.  I'm looking at my iPod Touch here and I don't see how the Zune HD has a better looking form than than the Touch.  Far from it.  First of the all, the Touch body is has nice curves, no screws, and quite responsive.  The Zune HD as it is now has screws, thicker body, and it's got that original aweful brown hue.

First of all, let's get this out of the way. HD for the Zune HD doesn't mean the video is HD quality.  It's got HD radio.  Done.  Let's move on.

Now, this is the first looks anyone has is very subjective and Microsoft showed them only what they wanted the blogger to report.  Admittedly, Microsoft said this is not an iPod Touch competitor.  Why?  Because it doesn't have an real mobile OS.  Think of it more as the iPod Classic with a screen like the Touch and a browser.

I have a theory on Zune HD.  We know it's dying and Redmond is looking to come up with an answer to the iPhone and the mobile market in general.  Windows Mobile 7 is still 6-9 months off.  Advances with Zune was made in the last year for integration with WM hardware.  A prototype was made and a marketing guy said, "hey, let's sell this prototype until WM with Zune support is out in 2010" and Zune HD was born.  Essentially, this explains why Zune HD is a media player with no real OS.  Plays video, music (HD radio), IE from WM 6.5.  Won't do more.

Now, on to how this is great for iPod fans.  I don't expect Apple to totally revamp the iPod Touch in light of the Zune HD news. Apple has charted a course for its mobile hardware years ahead. If anything, plans might be accelerated. Features that we probably won't see until the 4th or 5th generation iPod Touch might make it into the upcoming iPod Touch in the fall.  At the end of the day, I doubt Cupertino is worried one bit.

As usual, I love competition because we mobile warriors win out in the end.  New features. Bigger storage. Lower prices. So fear not, Apple fans.  Apple needs to be challenged but Jobs and company created this segment of the mobile market.  I don't know what the 3rd gen iPod Touch will have.  Apple's got lots of tricks (innovations) it can pull out when the time is right.

Tons of iPod Touch rumors flying around and I have to say that they all sound plausible.  And even if only half of them turn out to be true, we're in for another very iPod shopping season this winter.

Source: Appleinsider, Engadget Impression, Gizmodo

Note:  Sony has it on their Walkman video play and Microsoft will have it on their Zune "HD" and Apple will put OLED on the iPod Touch.  It's all about product cycles and timing.  

Hulu Desktop for the Mac Available Now

Did you know this?

Hulu made available today their desktop application for Mac and Windows computers to watch video directly without going through the browsers.

Here's the link to get it: Hulu Desktop. Downloading as I'm writing this. Here's a short FAQ I took from their site about this:

How is Hulu Desktop different from Hulu.com?
Hulu Desktop runs directly on your computer and does not require a web browser. It provides an alternate way to browse and view content from the Hulu Library.

Is the same content on Hulu.com available on Hulu Desktop?
Generally speaking the Hulu library on Hulu.com will be available through Hulu Desktop. While our goal is to have the same content library available on through all of our distribution channels, we work together with our partners to determine availability of their content on these various channels.

Do I need and account to use Hulu Desktop?
No account is required to use Hulu Desktop, just download and enjoy.

Can I access my profile and queue from Hulu Desktop?
Yes, you may login to Hulu Desktop and access your queue, history, subscriptions, playback quality and closed captioning preferences. Your profile details, privacy settings and friends are not accessible from Hulu Desktop.

Which remote controls work with Hulu Desktop?
Hulu Desktop will work with Apple and Windows Media Center remotes. Remotes that are compatible with Windows XP and Vista can be purchases at most electronics retailers.

What devices support Hulu Desktop?
Hulu Desktop is currently only available for Mac and Windows PCs. Hulu Desktop is not supported on Linux or on consumer electronic devices

Why does Hulu Desktop require me to install Flash?
Hulu Desktop is built on Flash, and thus requires it to be installed to function properly. You will only be prompted to install Flash if you do not have it on your computer, or if you have an older version.

Please click on the link below for:

• Streaming Issues: http://www.hulu.com/support/streaming
• Audio: http://www.hulu.com/support/audio
• Full Screen Issues: http://www.hulu.com/support/video_settings
• IP Filtering (not in U.S. error message): http://www.hulu.com/support/geofilter

Why do I have to update Hulu Desktop to keep using it? Why can't I continue to use an older version?
Using the latest version of Hulu Desktop will ensure that it will always work. As we make changes over time, older versions of desktop may not be compatible with these versions.

Note: Not exactly a wireless piece of information but there have been chatters about Hulu for the iPhone. Hope that's true and hope it comes to other smartphones and mobile platforms.

Friday Mobile Movie

Hello again. It's that time of the week where we watch our Friday movie clip thing. Again, this tradition started while I was in college, when movie tickets were $3.50 for a matinee and Fox in Westwood, California was (is) one of the better theaters to watch movies.

This week's movie is ABC's upcoming series, V. I've been waiting for this for a long time. It's here. It's looking awesome and I hope V and sci-fi fans will flock to this show and support in next season.

Have a great weekend!

Jobs To iPhone Fans "No Rebate"

It's obvious how much Palm loading up with ex-Apple execs and engineers has irked the people currently occupying the halls of Cupertino that is Apple's headquarter. What's not known is just how much Jobs and Co. is willing to let that slip out into the public.

Outside of thinly veiled patent threats surrounding the Pre, there really hasn't been much said about the issue.

Now, most bloggers (and Wall Street analysts with these blogs) believe that Jobs will officially return to work from his medical leave by introducing the next generation of new iPhones. No one knows if it'll be at the WWDC in early June or at a special planned media event.

Whenever or wherever the new iPhones are unveiled, I can totally hear what Steve Jobs is going to say about the prices.

"We have three models. $99. $199. And $299. (PAUSE) And no rebates required," to thunderous applause and laughter. (I don't know if there will be a $99 model. However, given how aggressive Apple wants to grow the iPhone platform, I wouldn't rule it out.)

Note: I wonder if his return will also be marked by declaring what a fine job Tim Cook has done in Jobs' absence and that Tim should keep the CEO title on a permanent basis while Jobs run the show from being the curtain. Sort of a Medvedev-Putin thing.

Slingplayer on EDGE (T-Mobile's T-Zone)

It's done.  Slingplayer is now working with T-Mobile's T-Zone.

But as you probably guessed, it didn't work right out of the box...ah...download.  It took some tweaking, frantic calls to Dave the mobile warrior, and persistence to get it finally working.

It simply irks me that in this day and age we are limited by terms dedicated by self-professed wireless overlords who are fine with milking what they can from us with public spectrum.  But that's another issue.  The main issue is that I refuse to abide by those terms.  And I whole-heartedly encourage my fellow mobile warriors to put ATT on notice.  In your own manners.

Now, back to Slingplayer.  I'm putting together a video that I'll have on youtube tonight or tomorrow showing Slingplayer for the iPhone working on the wireless network.  You'll notice it's on T-Mobile and not ATT.  Well, others have gotten Slingplayer to work on ATT's 3G network.

Quality.  How is it?  Well, it works well enough.  The quality, I don't know if you'll be able to see it on the video later today, is adequate for EDGE-like speed.  There a lot of buffer.  A few times, it would buffer every 30 seconds, while other times, I had streaming without any issue.

It's my belief that had ATT not crippled Slingplayer, it is conceivable that Sling would have made efforts for wireless streaming.  Now, that's less likely to be the case.

Oh, and it works fantastically over Wi-Fi.  No buffering at all.

I got Slingplayer working on the iPod Touch a day after it appeared in the App Store.  Piece of cake.  Five stars out of five.  Getting SP to work on the 2G iPhone required that I update the underlying OS to 2.2.1 (it was at 2.2).

My Mac Mini was kept at OS X 10.5.5 and iTunes was version 7.  After downloading iPhone 2.2.1 and the latest QuickPWN (2.2.5) tool, I updated the iPhone and proceeded with the QuickPWN application.  That was when I ran into trouble.  During the process, I was met with the Steve Jobs cartoon and an error message from iTunes.  For those who have unlocked or jail-broken iPhones, some of you might know what I'm talking about.

Luckily, Dave the mobile warrior advised that I download iTunes 8 (latest version) and repeat the process.  It took a while to repeat the process.  Longer than I anticipated.  Eventually, iPhone 2.2.1 was installed on the 2G iPhone without incident.  I quickPWNed it.  After making sure that it worked as advertised, I synced the iPhone including Slingplayer.

Why QuickPWN?  It's to unlocking the iPhone to work with T-Mobile.  Just as important is to install VOIP3G that tricks the iPhone into believing that when it access the Internet, it is going through Wi-Fi when in fact it's going through EDGE (3G access for the 3G iPhone).  But I had issues with it so I downloaded another variant.  I think I used Tricker 3G.  I don't have access to the iPhone as I'm writing this entry but it's a simple enough matter to search for "3G" on Cydia.

After syncing ("synching" is also correct, BTW), I met up with a couple of college friends to watch Star Trek.  It was pretty good.  A bit rushed in my opinion.  It was really made to recruit a new generation of Trekies.  Sorry. Back to the Slingplayer on the iPhone.

Next step was setting up Slingplayer with my account information.  After going through the setup (very simple), the video started to stream.  Love it!

And the added benefit to this is that Skype calling is also enabled.  I had a few calls domestically and no one had any idea that I was call them via EDGE.

So, would I recommended going through this?  Well, that's entirely up to you.  Personally, it was more the rebel in me than anything else.  I just hate being screwed over and I'm sure a lot of you feel the same.  I'm sure there is an enterprising attorney out there now looking to see if ATT violated anti-competitive laws (word on the street is that while ATT is truly concerned about 3G overload, they are also paving way to offer their own TV service) and the FCC looking into this matter.

If you do give this a try, love to hear what you think of the quality.