CES Watch 2011
January 4th, 2011, 2:15pm by JakeSo another CES is upon, and while no big announcements are expected from Apple, Google or HPalm, there are still bound to be thousands of items introduced, and a few big hits. First one that caught my eye is this Samsung WiFi P&S camera, with the novel feature being that you can use your Android phone as a viewfinder! Kelvin also spotted a camera item, the Eye-Fi Direct mode, which lets your phone talk direct with your camera as well. Let’s keep updating the best of C.E.S. here so we can look back in a few years and laugh at our prognosticating skills.
January 4th, 2011 at 3:13 pm
As I just tweeted, we got a new Eye Fi Pro X2 card yesterday, so we’ll be getting that Direct Mode feature later this year, supposedly. We got the card for a couple of reasons — the main one was that we needed a high-speed SD card for recording movies on our point-and-shoot camera, and the older card would choke on trying to record. Other benefits are that the new card supports 802.11n (faster transfers off the card) and ad-hoc networking (uploading via my phone acting as a wifi hotspot).
In reading the comments on the engadget article that was linked above — is it really true that Android devices can’t see ad-hoc wifi networks? So if I set one up using my iPhone and MyWi, an Android phone couldn’t connect to it? Except for the Eye Fi case, I don’t think this is a terrible thing (when does an iPhone ever have coverage when an Android phone doesn’t?), but why would Android not support this?
January 4th, 2011 at 3:48 pm
I dunno… Early webOS didn’t support ad-hoc wifi either. Where it’s actually useful is when you use a laptop to share an ethernet connection (I think that works as ad-hoc for both Windows and Mac). We did that in Hong Kong before we got a wifi router to get our iPod and Pre online when we had no cell coverage.
Going forward, though, I’m sure most mobile hotsot software is going to broadcast in infrastructure mode rather than ad-hoc mode though (like the ones on webOS, built into Android, and mobile hotspot devices).
January 4th, 2011 at 4:40 pm
So what’s with the EVO Shift 4G that Sprint just announced? How is it different than the Epic 4G they already have? You want to cover all the bases with different form factors, but you don’t have to cover the same base more than once. Sprint really seems to love the slide-out landscape keyboard (their announced Windows Phone 7 device is the same form factor).
January 5th, 2011 at 1:54 am
OK, I like this one. Fujifilm has announced a waterproof, GPS-enabled pocket camera. Just what I’ve been waiting for for Catalina Marathon. Heck, and other events too!
January 5th, 2011 at 4:03 pm
How come you need a water proof camera for Catalina? For the boat ride? Anyway, Motorola just showed off the Atrix 4G, a high-end Android phone (dual core processor!) with a laptop dock that borrows heavily from the Celia Redfly (and to a lesser extent, Foleo) concept. That idea has always seemed like a loser to me.
January 5th, 2011 at 6:18 pm
Here’s a first look at Honeycomb, Android built for a tablet. Have to say, it looks awesome– desktop widgets, multiple desktops/spaces, a tabbed browser that looks intriguingly like Chrome, and vector-based Google Maps. If rumors are correct, Honeycomb tablets will need dual core processors, putting them on par hardware-wise with the iPad2 we all know is coming. If you’re an iPad user, does any of it make you envious? If you’re a PalmPad fanboy, what’s do you like better about your device of choice? Discuss!
January 5th, 2011 at 8:59 pm
Well, 2 years ago webOS would’ve been the best tablet OS, Bar None (with apologies to William Floyd). A year ago, it would’ve been running neck & neck with the iPad. Now, it’s clear that a simple port would leave it well short of the interfaces soon to be used in upcoming device launches. So HP better bring their “A” game if they really want to move product. A straight port of webOS is about what the Tab, iPad & Playbook have today. Honeycomb looks to be a pretty substantial upgrade, and I expect similar from Apple.
Clock’s ticking Palm. Let’s see what you got!
Oh, and I need a waterproof camera in case it rains. Bound to happen someday, and those will be the best pics yet. Little heavy at 6 ounces, but what I’m used to at this point.
January 10th, 2011 at 5:04 pm
So CES wrapped over the weekend, and it seems to me that the 4 biggest stories were:
1) Honeycomb tablets coming
2) LTE handsets coming
3) Verizon is announcing something tomorrow
4) HP is announcing something next month.
Did I miss anything? Should we discuss the Verizon announcement? Obviously, an iPhone, but will it have LTE? Will it be priced the same as AT&T’s? Will it be white? Will it be one of the first CDMA phones to suport simultaneous voice-and-data? Will it be a true world hpone (with a GSM mode)?
I think I’ve covered all the prevailing theories that are at all likely. People talk about a dual core processor or a major re-design, but if there were major changes, Apple would want to announce it. On the other hand, does Apple care that some will think a run-of-the-mill iPhone 4 will seem outdated compared to the dual-core LTE handsets that just got unveiled?
January 10th, 2011 at 5:13 pm
Same iPhone 4, dual CDMA/ GSM. Any color you want, as long as it’s black.
January 10th, 2011 at 5:57 pm
If I had to guess, I’d say, white iPhone 4, dual CDMA/GSM, support for simultaneous voice-and-data over 3G, $300 (instead of $200). Facetime supported over 3G, and they use it to chat with Steve Jobs at the end of the presser. Available in a week (a week before the Pre2, which is soft-launched without any fanfare).
January 10th, 2011 at 8:32 pm
$300 sounds right, only the higher-end model so it’s price comparable.
February 3rd, 2011 at 1:37 pm
You’ve got to be kidding me. AT&T just priced the Atrix laptop dock at $500. Copy the Foleo and don’t bother releasing it…
February 3rd, 2011 at 5:26 pm
that’s a pretty major epic fail. At least Palm had the excuse of releasing it in the pre-netbook age.
now, a webOS netbook (no phone required), I’d buy that… 6 days.
February 3rd, 2011 at 6:52 pm
Even more ridiculous is that you can buy the Atrix-laptop dock bundle for $500 as long as you also commit to their tethering plan (in addition to the normal 2 year contract w/ data). So get $200 off the dock for a tethering plan commitment. But the people who have this faux laptop combination are EXACTLY the people who have no need for a tethering plan. For what? Your REAL laptop? Your iPad?
Obviously, AT&T was worried that this device combination would cannibalize their hotspot business, so this is what they came up with.
February 18th, 2011 at 2:18 pm
Did I say something disparaging about the HTC Shift 4G? I take it back. It’s a pretty nice phone. There are some things that webOS does better, and vice versa, but overall, I’d say they just about equal in terms of UI usability. In terms of performance and apps, there’s no contest. Android is much snappier, and the battery life has been phenomenal. I like it from a utilitarian perspective, but I do think i’m not as excited about it as much as I was with the Pre or Iwould be with say a windows 7 phone.
February 18th, 2011 at 2:58 pm
Hmmm… how do you like the landscape slider? I know you’ve always been a fan of the portrait keyboard, slider or otherwise.
Feel free to defer your answer until you post your full review.
February 18th, 2011 at 3:07 pm
it’s the best landscape slider I’ve ever used. the spacing is still inefficient, but the feel of the keys is better than the pre in my opinion.
February 18th, 2011 at 6:54 pm
The best landscape slider I’ve ever tried was definitely, unequivocally the Sidekick. Big, but really easy to type.
Will try to get to a Sprint Store in the next few days & see if they’ll hook me up w/ a “new” Pre. There’s no chance they’ll try to stick me with an Android phone, is there?
February 18th, 2011 at 7:57 pm
My warranty claim was denied because Palm used a defective moisture strip that gave a false positive. Hopefully, you will be luckier. Otherwise, you have the option of making an insurance claim that should get you a replacement for $100 deductible. Yes, Sprint should still have refurb Pre’s (that’s what I was told).