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Neil Berman
Today in 2015: The Big Three rule the smartphone market
This article is a fictional work of my overactive imagination depicting how the smartphone market might appear in 2015. Don’t count on it turning out this way…
Ah, how time flies! It feels like only a few months ago that Microsoft announced Windows Phone 7 Series and fans lined around the block for Apple’s iPhone Evolution, yet five whole years have passed since then. During these telling years the smartphone market has truly evolved. Vertical platform integration, wider corporate adoption and growth in the tablet market have been kind to Microsoft, Apple and Google at the expense of the RIM, Nokia and Palm.
With the benefit of hindsight it should have seemed obvious that as vertical platform integration improved, the smartphone market would come to resemble what used to be called the desktop computing market. In the last five years the Microsoft, Google and Apple smartphone platforms developed such successful …continue reading
theONbutton’s Flash HD video test: Without hardware acceleration Apple offers Windows a win by default
Flash has gained huge amounts of column inches in 2010. This is mostly because of Apple’s current stance of not including it on the iPad while claiming at the same time that the iPad will be the best way to experience the Web. Many commentators have disagreed with this statement because Flash is integral to so much online multimedia content. As we previously explained part of Apple’s contention is that Flash is too processor intensive, which we agree with, and the company is pushing for HTML5 to be more widely adopted as an alternative. Meanwhile as we also previously explained, Adobe is taking steps to use graphics hardware to accelerate Flash HD video decoding, which promises to allow smooth playback of content on computers with supported graphics cards. The problem for Apple users is that due to the ongoing sparring between Apple and Adobe …continue reading
Google goes green and adds bicycle directions to Google Maps
To our cyclist readers, have you ever been frustrated by mapping software which directs you to major routes so you can get to your destination as quickly as possible? Well I would imagine the problem with cycling major routes happens when the quickest way to the destination ends up being in the back of an ambulance. Cyclists like cycle routes and Google is going to try to help them out. Google Maps now features bicycle directions for several major US cities including New York and San Francisco, so give it a whirl and see if it can help you find a safer route home.
Neil Berman
What might the Apple Mac Mini HDMI rumors mean for the HTPC market?
There was an interesting rumor surfing the interwebs last week that Apple might add HDMI to the Mac Mini. Apple, which has so far spurned HDMI in its computers in favor of the newer Display Port and Mini Display Port connectors, has not had an HTPC contender in its line-up apart from the non-live-TV-capable Apple TV. So what? Well if the Mac Mini HDMI rumors are true, I think this could mean more for Apple and the living room HTPC market than may initially be apparent, and the reason comes back to the iPad …continue reading
iPad 3G firmware unlock by design would benefit both AT&T and Apple
While other cellphone carriers have been encouraging customers towards smartphones with data intensive use-cases, such as ski-lift surfing, AT&T has been under fire over its data network. The carrier, which recently caused waves by saying it would focus on educating some customers to reduce their data usage, has now said it does not expect widespread 3G adoption of Apple’s forthcoming iPad …continue reading
ThinkFlood RedEye Mini might be the coolest universal remote control ever
If you’ve been toying with the idea of universal remote control to replace the growing mass of blasters on your coffee table, your days of procrastinating may be coming to an end. ThinkFlood has announced its RedEye Mini, which is a scaled down affordable version of its RedEye WiFi remote control for the iPod Touch and iPhone. Instead of relying on WiFi like its more expensive older brother, the RedEye Mini opts for a traditional infrared connected directly to the iPod/iPhone, making it more portable and easier to instantly setup.
We think the RedEye Mini might just do to high-end universal remote controllers what free navigation on Android 2.0 did to the GPS market, i.e. set them on a path towards extinction. After all, if you’re in the market for a $150 universal remote, I’d say there’s a decent chance you have an iPod Touch or iPhone. So at less than $50, the RedEye Mini is an exciting proposition. Heck it might even be worth buying a dedicated iPod Touch for this, just so you can tell your pals all about your new remote control which just happens to surf the web, store your music collection and get you email. The RedEye Mini will be available later in the Spring.
Now just imagine the delicious irony of using this on an iPod Touch to control Windows Media Center…
Neil Berman
Today is Windows 7 RC shutdown day
If you’re one of those smart people running Windows 7 RC then take note; today is the day your PC will start shutting down every two hours. On June 1 that install will become completely unusable, so do what you need to do now to get your all-important files off that computer and buy a upgrade full version/new PC/new Mac/whatevs. Perhaps you’ve been so impressed by Windows 7 RC that it’s reignited your love for the PC, perhaps you got a free flight to Tokyo because Windows 7 was your idea (link is to my personal fave), or maybe you were just in it for the free ride and you’re now reading this on your new MacBook. Hey we don’t care what you choose, we’re not platform snobs, we just love good technology. Whatever you do though, do it soon; the clock is a’tickin, your files are a’fearin and the economy is a’beggin for your hard-earned money…
Correction: there is no upgrade path from RC to retail, it’s a full version clean install or nothing.
Neil Berman
Plantronics BackBeat 903 Review
What’s under review: Plantronics BackBeat 903 Stereo Bluetooth Headset, MSRP $99.95, current street price approx $60-90
What we like: Excellent sound quality; lightweight and comfortable to wear for extended periods even with glasses; easy to learn controls
What we’d like to change: Can be fiddly to put on intially; we would prefer separate track skip and volume controls
Our verdict: An excellent contender; the BackBeat 903 should be high up on the shortlist of anyone looking for an in-ear stereo Bluetooth headset
Our full review follows the video summary:
Plantronics has plenty of history in the Bluetooth market, including several stereo headsets in its Pulsar 260/590 ranges and the recent Voyager 855 hybrid design. Plantronics upped the ante in when it paired up (Bluetooth pun intended) with its subsidiary Altec Lansing to release the BackBeat 903 and 906 models. The BackBeat 903 was subsequently named as a CES Innovations Design and Engineering Awards Honoree in November. While we had only listened to the BackBeat in noisy environments previously, Plantronics was kind enough to send us a BackBeat 903 so we could spend some quality time getting more acquainted. Continue reading our full Plantronics BackBeat 903 review…
Flash 10.1 Beta 3 brings GPU acceleration to GMA500 netbooks
The MSI X320 will benefit from the GMA500 support
There’s a funny dynamic going on in the world of Flash which, let’s remember is used by almost the whole world. On the one hand the likes of Apple are trying to encourage the world away from Flash because it is a processor hog and towards HTML5 instead. While on the other hand Adobe is demonstrably working to make Flash HD video run better on lesser hardware by enabling …continue reading
PMA 2010 News
PMA means new cameras
In our ongoing quest for perfection in photography we look towards PMA 2010 this week, which is the annual industry show for photo and video professionals. This is traditionally the time of year for news, product announcements and 
new releases in the phot and video market. Our PMA picks so far are Sony’s presentation of its new waterproof DSC-TX5 in a block of ice, the new Samsung TL500 with its f/1.8 lens and the first hands-on look at the Fujifilm HS10 which sports a 30x optical zoom with manual focus.
PMA means making a wish list
On our PMA wish list is a compact digital camera with DSLR photo quality, 1080p video and an external microphone input. Something like the Fuji F200EXR meeting the Kodak Zi8 with an added helping of the Panasonic LX3 for maximum tweakability. Perhaps an impossible device a few years ago but hopefully a real one either this year or next.
PMA mean bargains on outgoing cameras
It’s also a good time for consumers to seek out good deals on outgoing models such as our favorite compact superzoom, the Panasonic ZS3. We recently spotted the ZS3 for as low as $220, which is way down from Panasonic’s MSRP of $399. So go out there and find a bargain, the economy still needs your help!
Neil Berman
Tekinca episode 5: The state of the smartphone union
In this week’s Teknica we provide analysis on the smartphone market, as it exits one of the most significant Mobile World Congress show’s of recent times.
Neil Berman
Nokia store New York
If you live in the USA, a Nokia cellphone can be hard to find. That’s because Nokia phones and American cellphone carriers don’t go together as naturally as, say, Nokia phones and European carriers. So if you’re a Nokia fanboy in America you’ll definitely want to head over to the company’s flagship store off Fifth Avenue in New York City. But hey, this ol’ country is vast and it sure is cold in New York these days. So to save you travelling all the way here, or perhaps from just leaving your warm shoe-box of an NYC apartment, here’s a walkthrough of the store in glorious HD.
Neil Berman
BlueAnt Q1 review
The bluetooth headset market is crowded these days with top brands putting out some great designs. BlueAnt thinks it has something special to offer with the Q1, which won a CES 2010 Innovations Award and boasts voice control. We put it through its paces to see if it could talk us into setting it above the pack.
What’s in the BlueAnt Q1 box?
The Q1 comes in a smart display case, which BlueAnt ecologically mention can be re-purposed into a vase or other container. Nice touch. Inside the box is the headset, a brief guide, earhook, USB cable and charger.
The Q1 feels smart and solid with a brushed black metallic finish. It may not have the design exuberance of Aliph’s Jawbone, but it still looks sleek and expensive. Read our full review of the BlueAnt Q1…
Android gets Flash
The Apple Flash issue came to the fore recently when Steve Jobs announced the iPad and today Google dropped a flash bomb on Cupertino by adding Flash to Android.
As we and much of the world noted recently, the iPhone and subsequent Apple devices running its OS such as the iPod Touch and iPad do not support Flash. This means that they need special apps to access certain internet media content like YouTube videos and many websites just don’t work on those devices. Windows Phone 7, announced on Monday, will also initially ship without Flash support. Today however Google announced that Flash 10.1 will be available for Android, setting up the platform to offer a unique feature set in the smartphone market.
We know that Flash can be a resource hog on full power computers, sometimes causing Macs to crash, so I was curious to see how fluid the experience would be. So I was pleasantly surprised to find this demo of a Motorola Droid running Flash videos on YouTube in a browser perfectly, and even managing to switch from portrait to landscape without missing a beat. Can iPhone and Windows Phone 7 really afford to sit this one out?
Neil Berman
Windows Phone 7 Series analysis vs iPhone, Android & BlackBerry (update: now with video!)
Windows Phone has been struggling in recent years. In the face of an onslaught Apple, Google and RIM, many would say that the OS formerly known as Windows Mobile has not even been competing in the current marketplace. Rumors have been flying around about Microsoft starting from scratch with Windows Phone 7 Series and that’s exactly what they’ve done. And they’ve done it well. Continue reading our in-depth analysis…
Teknica episode 4: Windows 8 is going to be mind blowing
In this week’s Teknica we catch up on Mobile World Congress, get a glimpse into the energy around Windows 8 and find out how to check up on your internet speed with YouTube Speed Dashboard. Plus, we reveal the ultimate Apple fanboy accessory.
Neil Berman
YouTube Speed Dashboard tells you if you’re getting what you’re paying for
Google has been aiming to get us going full speed on the Internet and its latest initiative on YouTube is another part of that effort. YouTube Speed Dashboard analyzes your download speed over time and shows comparatives to other users of your ISP as well as cohabitants of your city, state, country and planet. It’s certainly interesting to see how download speed can fluctuate between different days, although we don’t know too much about how the analysis is being constructed. For example what happens if you don’t watch any YouTube videos on a given day; is that day recorded as zero MB/s or hopefully just discounted from the analysis? Judging by the chart above we clearly have no such worries as it looks like we watch plenty of content! So do our readers in fact, who just hit 40,000 views of our videos.
In any case it’s really cool to see how you’re doing, and gives you some firepower to use in a phone call to your ISP if you believe you’re being shortchanged. Check out your own results at YouTube Speed Dashboard.
Neil Berman
Skullcandy creates one-offs for NBA All-Stars
Skullcandy has come out with some tricked out cans in commemoration of Sunday’s NBA All Star game. The personalized headgear, which feature one-touch muting, left or right side cabling and a closed back design was handed to each player. So if you’re reading this wondering where to get a pair, you’re probably not in the game line-up. No word yet on whether these will go on general sale, but it sure would be cool to see them on the shelves of my local electronics emporium.
Neil Berman
Building a Windows Media Center HTPC
In January 2009 I started running the Windows 7 Beta followed later in the year by the Release Candidate on my trusty old Pentium 4 living room PC. In October to coincide with the Windows 7 launch I brought that computer into the modern age but decided to wait a few months to collect my thoughts before sharing the experience. Continue reading about building a Windows Media Center HTPC…
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Plantronics BackBeat 903 review
Flash Mac vs PC side-by-side comparison
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