Green/Mobile: Kickstarter-Based Solar Charger Promises Results As If Plugged Into An Outlet

Source: Mashable.

A solar charger for mobile devices that doesn't suck.  Well, here we have it.  And I don't know it will suck or not but I think I'll be funding this Kickstarter project because it is the closest to the Holy Grail of mobile solar charging that I have ever seen

The SunVolt Solar Power Station charger offers the ability to charge devices via the sun (on a clear day) as quickly as if you had your mobile devices plugged into a regular old socket.  Obviously, others have promised similar performances but results have varied - generally from not working to very slow at best.




What I like to be able to do is to plug this also into a portable battery that I can use as an emergency when I don’t need to charge my devices at that moment. Obviously, having a backup battery would be very useless in many situations. Personally, I thought of a few right away: a wind or rain storm that knocked our our power last November, this past weekend, I was at a Hawaiian fair where electricity was hard to come by at times, and, of course, during a zombie war or vampire infestation when you fear treading out at night.

I suggest you head over and check it out at its Kickstarter page.  I'm looking at the $180 level so I can get two chargers.  And if this works as advertised, I'll get more later for family.

Samsung: Note Success Likely Mean More Successful Tab Penetration

Source:  Information Week, The Droid Guy.

I've seen plenty of promising iPad challengers come and go. If you're even a remotely interested observer of the tablet market or have walked to Staples or Office Depot here in the US and see dust collect on the selection of  Android tablets, you'll know what I'm talking about.

However, Samsung is persistent.  Very.  And with the Galaxy Note 10.1, losing the, perhaps cursed name, "Tab", it could see better success.  Android needs this.  Google needs this until it can come out with its own Nexus 10 to compete with the iPad.  And let's never forget that Surface is just ready to pounce on the tablet market.

The Galaxy Note has done well - to the tune of 10 million sold world-wide.  Perhaps, it could translate into success for the 10"1 version.

And just as this all starts, we're looking for Apple to assault the 7 to 8" tablet segment of the market in a few weeks.  As a mobile fan, we can't wait to see just how Apple, Samsung/Google, and Microsoft fight over for our hard earned money.

iPhone: 3D Mockup of What Next iPhone Should Look Like

Source:  Cult of Mac.

Here's a 3D mock-up of what the next iPhone could look like based on a lot of credible information coming out of very good sources, sources that are traditionally Apple's leaks.



If you're looking for something dramatically different from the iPhone 4 and 4S, you'll be disappointed.  Don't get me wrong, there's plenty to like about the new iPhone if it's anything like what we see in the video. Bigger screen, bigger battery life, improved insides like CPU and perhaps LTE.

It may even be thinner as well.

But from a fashion sense perspective, there is not the change from the iPhone 3GS to the iPhone 4 in terms of the form factor.  But hey, it's probably not gonna stop me from upgrading my iPhone 4 to what is sure to be another insanely great product from Apple.

Batman: Fan Flick Faces The Dark Knight Against Bane and Jokers (Yes, Plural!)

Source:  Blastr.

First, you can never get enough of Batman, especially the latest Dark Knight Rises.  Seriously, you just cannot.  So, some fans decided to take it upon themselves to make a short using action figures (fine...collectibles.  Happy?) and punched some a most excellent video.

See for yourself.  Actually, after watching this, I'm more enticed to want to go back out this weekend and watch DKR again.  You just can't get enough of it.

Did I already say they did a great job?!

Mobile: Square And Starbucks Team Up - Will Benefit Android and iPhone Users And Just Start Mobile Payment In General

Source:  Square.

Starbucks is going to be working with Square, you know those guys with the mobile payment reader, and even investment some large sum in the company.  Just what they'll be working on together is something that I am not too sure about just yet.

It's not like Starbucks needs Square's credit card reader because Starbucks already have those and even mobile apps for users to charge their drinks on.

However, Jack Dorsey, founder of Square, specifically mentioned that Starbucks will integrate a directory to allow local businesses with Square support to be listed.  Interesting and it remains to be seen just how effective this will be.

In fact, I had always thought of Square a company that builds the credit carder for the iOS devices.  However, I didn't know that they have an app for consumers as well.  Though I've never used it, I suspect it's a lot like Starbucks' own app or even more simple to use.

And judging the all the attention this is getting on Twitter and Google's search, I suspect this is a very big deal - could be the thing that dislodge the conundrum of mobile payment that Google Wallet and other mobile payments have not been able to get users to use.

And what's awesome is that whatever Square and Starbucks are planning, we should see this on most of the major platforms - namely, Android and iPhone.

Also, Starbucks' current payment system will still exist only that Square's own will be added on top of that.  Choices for consumers - what a grand innovative concept (being sarcastic here).

Still how does it work?  Mother Nature Network has a decent write-up.  I'll let you click through to it. What I like most about the Square app is the ability to leave a tip, something that is woefully lacking on Starbucks' own app.  And by using Square's app, you can get rewarded if the businesses you frequent offers them.

Man, I can't wait.

iPad Market In China: Android Second But Watch Out For Surface

Source:  Appleinsider.

So far, it looks like it's an Apple's iPad market in China.  In the last three months ending July with Apple only beginning to sell the iPad 3 in late July, the iPad has a 72% market share compared to everyone else with mainly Android tablets bringing up the rear.

It'll be interesting to see where Surface sits when it begins selling in China.  Windows is very popular there so it's possible that Microsoft could have a shot at second place down the line.

Regardless of what happens, the iPad isn't likely to have such a dominating share as other tablets with newer devices like cheap 7" versions hit the market.  However, the Chinese market is huge so there is plenty of pie for everyone.

The question is where devices like the Nexus 7 will fit into all this and if Google, Microsoft, and Lenovo can afford not to take some risks to gain sales quickly.  Let's see how Surface or a variant from an OEM does there against the Android tablets.

Mobile: Apple's Range of Products and Pricing Suck Up Demand From Mobile And Laptop Competitors

Tim Cook is a master of the supply chain as many attributed Apple's ability to move quickly to new technologies while managing to scale relatively quickly to meet demands and keeping its profit margins high.  But Apple's long-term strategy to provide mobile warriors with a wide selection of devices covering a a range of prices could be what will lead the company to eventually dominate the mobile market - and I'm talking about mobile devices like tablets as well as laptops.

Here's is some of why this could happen as discussed in this CNET post.  The gist is that Apple has the high-end covered with the Macbook Airs and the current price range of the ultrabooks of $800-900 occupied by the ultrabooks also sits the high-end iPads.

Obviously, ultrabook buyers will go with the Intel-based laptop because they need something that is more traditional than just the tablet but the iPad is increasingly gaining traction as a producitvity device.  And sales of Windows laptops are affected by the rising waves of iPad adoption at work, home, and school.

On the low end where $200 tablets remain unharassed by the iPad, it likely won't be when Apple does release a device to compete in that $200-$300 range.

Personally, I am quite content with my late-2010 Macbook Air and the only reason I'll have to upgrade in a couple of years is if OS X moves beyond what my little workhorse can handle or there are few features in new Macbooks that I absolutely need.  Oh, and longer battery life.

Until then, I'll likely look to upgrade my iPad and pass my old one onto some lucky relative.

So, it is becoming very clear that Apple has build a system of apps, media, and hardware that are so closely knitted together that once you get a foot in the door, you will find it hard to pull back.  And Apple has price things so perfectly that it provides for the need of a wider range of consumers while making it very hard for competitors to complete.