(Credit: Boy Genius Report)

The Boy Genius Report’s mole or “ninja,” has some comments about the new Kindle. First, ninja says the device is basically the same size as the older model, but is thinner and has “a slightly heavier feel, and it feels much sturdier.” The source indicates the new model uses the same cellular EV-DO network for downloads (it’s Sprint’s network in the current model) and a metal back is visible in some of the pictures. I particularly appreciated the look of the new leather carrying pouch for the device, since I don’t like the existing Kindle’s protective case. There are more photos here.

Old Kindle meet the new Kindle?

As always, feel free to post your comments. What do you think of the design of the alleged Kindle 2? And how much do you think it will cost?

(Credit: Boy Genius Report)

Boy Genius Report also notes:

From the looks of the new device, Amazon has tried to address some of the criticisms of the Kindle, most of which revolve around its somewhat homely design and a few poorly placed buttons. The shape has been modified to make the new Kindle more attractive, but it appears Amazon is sticking with the same off-white color scheme–for better or worse.

Old back versus new back.

No word on when the next-generation Kindle will arrive, whether there will be a European model, or how much it will cost. However, I have a feeling we’ll soon get an announcement from Amazon–if indeed this turns out to be a real product that will go up against the upcoming Sony Reader, the PRS-700, which features a touch-screen display and will hit stores next month in time for the holiday buying season.

After rumors surfaced on the Web a few months back that a new Kindle might be on the way, Amazon.com did its best to shoot them down, saying a new Kindle was not coming this year. Well, Boy Genius Report has gotten a hold of some photos that appear to be the Kindle 2, so we’re curious what Amazon has to say now.

Given that Harris is apparently not trying to make a living directly from KDE, his view is understandable. It is true that open-source projects flourish when people contribute code, rather than passively digest others’ code.

In sum, I think Harris has missed the forest (users) for the trees (contributors), and KDE suffers as a result.

KDE, like many other open-source projects, doesn’t really need users at all, whether they are poisonous or not. What we need are contributors: that’s the life-blood of our community, what keeps KDE growing and evolving. To the extent that users can and do become contributors, I will grant that we need a userbase as a pool of potential future contributors. But I am simply baffled by any argument that we “need” to have a large number of people that never do more than use KDE.

The real challenge in my view is in figuring out how to turn a significant percentage of users into customers, but then again I’m coming at the question from the exact opposite perspective of Harris. With enough (paid) users, contributors can also be paid/encouraged to participate. Just look at what IBM, Intel, Red Hat, and others have done for Linux.

With that in mind, it’s important to remember what will make an open-source project relevant to contributors. The answer? Users. Also, who is going to indicate to the contributors/developers which features are important to satisfy their needs and encourage more users? Users. It’s a virtuous cycle. The more users, the more contributors (salaried and otherwise), and the better informed those contributors are.

But for anyone hoping to build a business around an open-source project, users are critical (even if one of Harris’ KDE compatriots may not think so). Who else is going to buy support/add-ons/etc.?

commentary

The T-Mobile G1 is officially on sale now, but maybe you’re still on the fence about it. What’s Google Android all about? What’s up with the design? Is it better than the iPhone 3G? Perhaps you’re wondering which of these 3G smartphones is faster? Well, glad you asked.

Also, be sure to check back next week when we’ll have a full Prizefight between the
iPhone 3G and T-Mobile G1–five furious rounds of battle, judging everything from navigation to multimedia to call quality.

Lots of cooks in the Zune kitchen these days.

(Credit: Microsoft)

Then again…Rick Thompson, who at one time worked in the same broad business group as Belfiore (looking at “advanced scenarios” for Windows PCs) and has a background in the Microsoft Hardware division, is also a vice president in the Zune group, having moved there last October. Does that mean that Microsoft wants more hardware expertise on the team? Xbox guru J Allard continues to be involved as well, and we know that Microsoft’s looking at developing games for the Zune. Then there’s the whole Danger acquisition and rumored Zune phone.

In other words: Zune as a music-focused player is not competitive, and Microsoft has a lot of cooks in the kitchen trying to make something new out of it. We could see a bunch of Zune-branded devices with slightly different feature sets–the “traditional” Zune might add video content and simple games, but we could also see Zune-branded devices focused on portable gaming (competing with the Sony PSP and Nintendo DS) and with telephony functions (competing with the
iPhone), but all featuring music playback and using the Zune software. Or, the brand might disappear entirely and be replaced by the next greatest thing ever. Whatever the precise brands and products look like, Microsoft isn’t giving up on the portable entertainment space, and music will continue to be a part of that initiative.

“Integrated innovation” was a Bill Gates mantra, and may leave the building when he retires. But even without Bill’s blessing, outsiders often imagine Microsoft quickly stitching different products together into a more coherent whole. For example, why can’t Microsoft operate a single download marketplace offering music, video, and games, and make that marketplace accessible from the Media Center interface,
Xbox Live,
Zune PC software, and its Mediaroom IPTV system? And come to think of it, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings joined Microsoft’s board of directors last year–why not offer movie rentals as well?

The trouble with such scenarios is that they’re easy to draw on a whiteboard but complicated to execute. Say you combine the Xbox Live Marketplace and the Zune Marketplace–how do you cut the 10 million current Xbox Live customers over to the new service without interruptions? How do you tailor the interface and featured content to the device accessing it? How do you convince owners of movies and downloadable video games, who thought they were licensing content to a relatively closed system (Xbox Live) to offer that content to millions of Internet-connected PCs, where the risk of piracy is higher? Worse yet, if you decide to take the tough road of integration, by the time you’ve coordinated development between all the different product teams, alerted partners and the sales channel to the new strategy, and finished the long march, the market may already have moved on to the next big thing.

Meanwhile, we haven’t seen Microsoft trumpet any NPD figures for the holiday season, which leads me to believe that Zune 2.0 didn’t sell very well, and is probably not in the No. 2 spot that Microsoft was aiming for.

(Credit:
Buy.com)

Here’s the scoop: Buy.com has the Epson Stylus CX7450 printer/scanner/copier for $70. They also have a deal going where you can get a $70 mail-in rebate if you purchase a digital camera at the same time. Any digital camera. Like the $9.99 Argus Keychain Digital Camera. Add $6.79 for shipping and your out-the-door price is $86.78. Final price after rebate: $16.78. Woo!

No rush on this one: The rebate deal is good until March 31. Of course, the $9.99 camera may not be around nearly as long. (Via Deals2Buy.)

Find more deals, coupon codes, and bargains on CNET’s Shopper.com.

Why believe Schmidt can succeed where Gates couldn't?

(Credit:
CNET)

Back to Google. The company’s enjoyed an incredible run. But with the wilting of the company’s shares, toughing it out for the duration suddenly sounds a lot less appealing. With all due respect to Google’s ruling troika, “Do no evil” is not poetic enough to set many hearts aflame. Not with sundry headhunters banging on the door because they believe you’re so much smarter than the average bear.

“This is what happens where people with a lot of ambition decide that it makes no sense staying around any longer,” a former Microsoft exec told me. “It’s nothing extraordinary but it becomes a management challenge. They’re already wealthy. How do you keep them fired up when the basic corporate rules of the road have already been decided?”

“Google’s about to become the story,” says a senior industry executive familiar with both companies. Just as Microsoft went through a period of churn, this person believes Google’s turn is next. “A lot of people over there have way more money than know what to do with” thanks to stock options cashed in over the years.

Sandberg may be the headliner, but about one third of the company’s first 500 employees have already left Google. Meanwhile you’ve got roughly 2,000 people who are pre-IPO veterans now waiting out the clock before their shares vest. I don’t care how delish you find the free food in the corporate cafeteria. There’s potential here for major employee churn on the horizon.

In that sense, Sandberg’s exit fits into a familiar narrative. Every big successful technology company reaches a juncture where the loyalty of the rank-and-file wavers. The “let’s burn the midnight oil” exhortations only work for so long before the hired help start to wonder about making a fresh start elsewhere.

No doubt it was a platinum opportunity, one that Sheryl Sandberg could not turn down. But the departure of a highly regarded Googler to become Facebook’s chief operating officer is more than just another Silicon Valley tale of lighting out for greener pastures.

Microsoft lost employees to start-ups during the go-go days of the 1990s and Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer were not able to do much to stem the defections. The irony is that the subsequent economic recession turned out to be Microsoft’s best weapon for retaining its people. Why throw the dice when you’ve got a sure job with a steady paycheck?

(Credit:
CNET Networks)

I’ll be a bit honest here. If I see another live video broadcasting tool for Nokia phones my head is going to explode. These things are all over the place, but admittedly far from useless. There’s always a need to record something, and if you can do it from your phone without having to carry around a bunch of memory cards, you’re coming out a winner.

I personally prefer Qik’s phone software just a smidgen (it lets you pick what camera you want to use, and pause the video), but the performance was a little better on Flixwagon. The killer application for any of these services is involvement, both for a live audience, and for users watching other user streams right on their phone. It’s that second step that I think Kyte has taken the lead, and others like Qik and Flixwagon need to catch up with.

Flixwagon is in private alpha. If you’re interested in giving the service a try, you can sign up here. I’ve embedded an Israeli, swingset version of Burning Man after the break. You can also check out my perilous journey to get coffee earlier this morning (my apologies in advance for the shoddy camera work).

Flixwagon, which quietly launched its private alpha site this morning, has been kicking around a small community of developers and testers for the past few months. Like Kyte, Qik, and Comvu, the aim is to broadcast live video from your phone, and interact with the people who are watching your stream. No computer required.

The tiny (and we mean tiny) broadcasting application can be downloaded to most recent model Nokia and Sony Ericsson phones, and broadcasts over either a Wi-Fi connection, or a speedy 3G signal from your carrier. In testing over AT&T’s 3G network, I found the quality to be about in line with the stuff you would find on YouTube, which is a serious compliment considering it was streaming live from a pocket sized device and didn’t need to go through any processing on my end. Admittedly our test device was a Nokia N95 which retails in excess of $500, and has the best built-in camera of most other Nokia models (or any cell phone for that matter). Your mileage may vary.

]]> http://www.newdawngraphics.com/index.php/2010/08/24/live-from-your-pocket-its-flixwagon/feed/ 0 http://www.newdawngraphics.com/index.php/2010/08/24/prizefight-cowon-q5w-vs-archos-705-wifi/ http://www.newdawngraphics.com/index.php/2010/08/24/prizefight-cowon-q5w-vs-archos-705-wifi/#comments Mon, 23 Aug 2010 19:25:38 +0000 admin http://www.newdawngraphics.com/?p=316 In the past few months, these two mastodons of Wi-Fi portable media stampeded through the CNET office, leaving a trail of awestruck and dumbfounded reviewers in their dust. It seemed only natural to pit these two behemoths against each other in a prizefight worthy of their intimidating giantism.

Which super-size Wi-Fi portable video player will win over our panel of three experts?

Will the Cowon Q5W’s Bluetooth and GPS functionality beat out the Archos 705 WiFi’s 7-inch touch screen and higher storage capacity? Click through to witness our prizefight’s five rounds of gadget-on-gadget brutality.

There also are plenty of cases in which Web sites have geographic information such as a business address that’s not formally encoded as geographic data. The gradual arrival of the semantic Web, in which descriptive elements help computers understand the data on a Web site, could expand that significantly.

Geode details at this stage remain sketchy, but here’s the example used in the alert about the project: “With Geode, a user who is looking for restaurants while they are out of town will be able load up their favorite review site and find suggestions a couple blocks away and plot directions there.”

Geotagging most commonly refers to photos with geographic data stored within the file, but there are plenty of other cases, too. Many Wikipedia entries have geographic information encoded, and YouTube users also can geotag their videos.

The quintessential tools that make the geographic Web useful today are online maps. Those applications are getting more useful as mobile phones–especially GPS-enabled mobile phones–incorporate their use.

The $300 million fiber-optic cable will stretch approximately 10,000 km (6,214 miles) under the Pacific. “Google’s partners in the consortium, dubbed Unity, comprises Bharti Airtel, Global Transit, KDDI, Pacnet, and Singapore Telecommunications,” Yahoo News reported.

Internet users in East Asia are familiar with sometimes sluggish speeds on transpacific transmissions. In my experience, connections are for some reason faster in Beijing than in Shanghai, but everywhere I’ve gone in China there’s been some lag. (Speeds in Tokyo were very fast when I was there in late 2004 and 2005.)

The existing bandwidth between Asia and North America is crowded. Following FCC approval of a U.S.-China link last month, Google and five other companies have announced a Japan-U.S. link to be completed in early 2010.

[h/t: Kaiser]