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Aug 25 2010

The Dell Aero (Phone) Finally Lands with a Thud, But Why?

Category: tech opinion,tech reviews — jmacofearth @ 1:29 pm

Let's get something straight right off the bat, I have no idea why Dell, with their legendary support problems, is entering the phone market at all. As we used to say at Dell, "It's way above my pay grade."

Why Dell is releasing a phone with an outdated version of Android defies the principles of technology and consumer marketing. And the head of Dell's consumer division should know better, he's one of the masterminds behind the Motorola Razr. So much for that.

Even our local paper, Dell is based in Round Rock, a suburb of Austin, is scratching their heads about Dell's lack of pomp and circumstance around the release of the Aero. They're calling their Android 1.5 (1.6 is shipping from Google) a "superset" of features and "highly customized." Yeah, get back to us on how that's going over. But can the in-need-of-an-upgrade OS be the reason Dell is being so low key about the Aero?

It seems the phone has some nice features. It's pretty sleek looking. It's coming at ya from ATT (who have a few other Android phones in the mix) or un-locked for $200. ($100 with ATT contract.) A sharp 3.5-inch 640 x 360 display. But even Engadget could only find a paragraph of worthy commentary. They pretty much refer you back to Dell's press release. And on a quick trip to Dell.com I can't even find the Aero mentioned. I'm sure it's in here somewhere, but where to look?

That's the Streak in the background there. And see, I think above you will see part of the problem. "Mobile Phones & Devices" is the header for the Aero and "other stuff." They couldn't put PHONE. (grin) Well, let's see what's on that Mobile Phones & Devices page.

You see, above Dell is starting to look a bit like Best Buy. Anything and everything can be ordered off the Dell.com website. Even what looks to be a Blackberry phone. Would you buy your Blackberry and Carrier plan from DELL? I don't get it. In trying to be a one-stop-shop for EVERYTHING, Dell is getting better at very little. They even had to add in Netbooks and Laptops on this page to fill out the form. But there's a page for those "devices."

Well, I say Welcome Aero and Welcome Dell to the wonderful world of mobile phones. I hope your margin on the phone is a lot. Cause you are going to bleed deeply if you have to support it at $100 and $300 respectively.

@jmacofearth
permalink: http://bit.ly/Dell_Aero

Engadget Micro-Review of the Dell Aero (phone)

From Dell's Press Release yesterday: "Dell Creates Freedom, Style and Performance to Explore Life's Biggest Moments on New 3.5-Inch Android Smartphone"

Tags: aero phone, android 1.5, android 1.6, android from dell, android phone, dell branding, dell does phones, dell phone, Dell's Aero, Dell's Brand Problems, Dell's support problems, is Dell becoming Best Buy?

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Aug 11 2010

Apple's iPhone 4 Response Blows Competition Away

Category: executive learnings,tech opinion,tech reviews,trust & reputation — jmacofearth @ 10:53 pm

Imagine that Nokia or RIM have introduced a new revolutionary phone. And then imagine the phone has problems. Maybe it's battery life, maybe it's calls dropped, maybe it's software functionality. What do you imagine the response will be if your phone is a Dell? With the lowest customer care rating of any tech company, do you expect your going to get a replacement phone or a free solution? Fat chance.

steve jobs does the iPhone 4 press announcement

Well, if you've been following the MSM's "antennagate" story about the horrible problems with Apple's new iPhone 4, you might expect that Apple would respond defensively. Another miss. Watching Steve Jobs deliver the service event of the year presentation to quell the MSM rumors of "just how bad it is" stories about the iPhone 4, you can see why people think he's tech's number one ambassador.

What Apple has done is offer 3 million free cases, or bumpers. To all buyers of the iPhone4 both past and future up until September 30th.

It's like the battery overheating problem all over again. While manufacturers from Dell to Sony were blaming the battery manufacturers, Apple just said, send us your batteries we'll replace them.

To take a page from Apple's play book is expensive. The idea of giving away a free case would not sit well in most executive board rooms. But Apple is an elite company and few can follow in their path.

I take my hat off to Apple's swift and thorough response. While I am still calling and txting on my Blackberry, I'm looking forward to the end of the ATT exclusive so I can get my hands on an iPhone4 of my own. With case!

@jmacofearth
permalink: http://bit.ly/iphone4-jobs

Tags: apple, apple iphone, apple's playbook, apple's response, dell, dell phone, iphone, iphone 4, iphone4, steve jobs

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Aug 03 2010

Apple iPad vs. e-Readers Nook and Kindle: Do You Read?

Category: about me,iPad-iWay!,just for fun,lifestreaming,speed the web,tech opinion,tech reviews,tools — jmacofearth @ 3:56 pm

There is something satisfying about burning through the pages of a paperback book. You get to see how many pages you are wizzing through. And if the book is really good your anticipation of the beginning and ending is bittersweet. Maybe they will write a sequel, or another set in the same universe. This is how I always felt about Phillip K. Dick books. Enter the eReader opportunities. Hey a complete book for 5 – 10 bucks! That sounds like a deal to me. Let's see what the different products might offer.

For compact, lightweight and long battery life: the Nook and Kindle might be choices, IF… All you want to do is read eBooks or eMagazines. The Barnes and Noble Nook adds some color and what they are calling FREE WIFI for $149. The black and white Amazon Kindle is about the same. Both products are advertised at getting the WIFI, and the Kindle even adds a cellular variety for off-the-map places. BUT… Again, if you are happy with black and white and are satisfied with your WIFI providing only books, well you might consider looking on Craigslist or eBay for the first two. I doubt you will see discounted iPads until the next generation comes out sometime before Christmas 2010.

So I recently finished my first full book on the iPad. It was inside the Kindle software provided by WhisperSync, whoever they are. I was able to buy the book in the Kindle store as a Kindle. I'm not sure if Amazon notes that I am on an iPad or not. To them it is a sale either way. And for purists, perhaps the eInk is nicer to read from in a well-lit place. But the glow of my iPad display was refreshing and crisp. I still missed not being able to see the thickness of the pages left to go. It's like, not being able to see how much further you have to go. You can jump forward in the software and look how many pages, and the iBook software on the iPad tries to give you a good sense of where you are in the book, there is nothing like the smell of ink and paper and that satisfying thump when you toss the book off the bed at 2am having just finished a page burner.

Okay, you are going to have to pay more for an iPad. But what you are getting is a full-blown computer. A great web-browsing device. I halfway descent email reader and all the same books you can get on your kindle and more. Apple makes the FREE books from Project Gutenberg very easy to find.

I have read books in both the Kindle-emulator and in Apples iBook format and they are almost identical. Apple has a nice feature where you can tone down the bright white into a sepia-toned beige that is easier on the eyes. Like a somewhat aged paperback.

So I will confess today to buying two paperbacks from Amazon (piggy-backed on a different order) and one Kindle book to read on my iPad.

In conclusion: The iPad is not going to fit in your pocket or small purse. If you carry an iPad you are going to have to lug around more than either the Kindle or Nook. Much more. And sometimes the iPad feels heavy when you've been holding it a certain way to read in bed. So for that reason, you can take a Kindle on the plane, on vacation and probably not have to pack a powercord. But the chord is pretty tiny. And with the iPad you have GAMES, full-Web access, email… Did I mention GAMES? The iPad will play every game made for the iPhone except at 2X the size. (I think that's in the hundreds of thousands at this point.)

But seriously, if all you want is a good book and the simplest thing to read it on, the Nook or Kindle might be your choice. And if you forgot to pack enough to read, or if you get bored with what you brought any of the three can download a new book for about $10 bucks in about a minute. Or on the iBooks store on the iPad you can get thousands of great books for free. Think Emerson, Whitman, Joyce… All copyright free.

@jmacofearth
permalink: http://bit.ly/eReader-review

Tags: amazon, amazon kindle, apple, apple ipad, b+n, barnes and noble, battery life, comparison, ebooks, eInk, eReader, eReader comparison, free WIFI, iPad vs, ipad-iway, nook, paperback book, phillip k dick, well lit place

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Jul 31 2010

Nocturne App MicroReview: Computing Deep Into the Night

Category: tech reviews,tools — jmacofearth @ 8:18 am

Have you ever been in bed computing and your significant other (bed partner) is ready to go to sleep? If you've ever had complaints about the brightness of your monitor at night. Or finally, if you are computing in a completely dark room, sometimes just reducing the brightness of your crisp new laptop screen doesn't cut it. Check out Nocturne (free app from the makers of Quicksilver.)

By launching Nocturne you can completely invert the colors of your screen. What's bright is now dark. And it's surprisingly workable and probably saves a lot of power in the process.