JASON MARSHALL JOHNSON: January 2008 Archives

Well this is a bit of a surprise. Engadget is reporting that iRiver (amongst other numerous releases) will be shipping a 3 inch touchscreen phone to America in 2008. I can't decide if I am happy or not about this device's apparent release.

Here is a rundown of what the phone will be running under the hood:

--Linux Based interface
--4 Gigs of Flash memory
--Rhapsody music service integration
--2 megapixel camera with video capture technology
--GPS
--Mobile TV
--Adobe Flash Support

The iPhone can match the GPS solution with the apparent release of Google's My Location software (although it is not going to be extremely accurate for a while). The 2 megapixel camera is nice, but the iPhone can handle the video capture with a few nice programs (namely one from Monster) once jailbroken. I have never really seen a personal need for mobile tv, but it is a nice feature. Here is the one that has me steamed, Adobe Flash Support. Why in the world is the iPhone still not capable of handling Flash content? I sure hope that the upcoming SDK does something about this because I want my Flash content.

Video and information courtesy of Engadget

With Macworld 2008 fast approaching I'm going to take a misguided educated stab at predicting what we will see coming out of Steve Job's magical Keynote:

Safe Bets

--Gen 2 iPhone-- This one is a pretty safe bet in my opinion. I don't think that the new iPhone will be available the day of the Keynote. Best guess is that it will be out in the May, June time frame. I'm going to roll the dice and guess that Apple will be able to integrate 3G without too much battery loss, increase the capacity to at least 16GB of internal storage, and jack up the price to the $500 ceiling for the top model. Here's where it gets interesting. I think that Apple will be keeping the 8GB first Gen iPhone (with EDGE) around and lowering the price to $299. I don't think that they will drop the line when stock runs out of the older model either (not until next year). Think about it, if Apple wants to get a real hold in the Cell Phone market, wouldn't they want to have an entry level device and a Pro? Props go to me if the naming scheme goes to iPhone Extreme and iPhone Express.

--Mac Pro update-- Honestly, not one that gets me jazzed up because I simply can't afford one of these super towers. Processor update, Blu Ray support (burning?), New Design?

--Penryn Introduction-- I am fairly confident that Apple will start shipping most of their computing devices with the 45 nm Penryn processors for the new year.

Not Inconceivable(.....that means conceivable)

--Sub-Notebook Solution-- I'm not as sold on the whole UMPC idea that some people are claiming that Apple will roll out with, but the rumors are well documented regarding a Sub-Notebook. My take is that Apple will go with a 12 inch 'Macbook Mini' sans optical drive. Stretches include Solid State Drives (which are coming in droves over at CES) and colors other than white, black, and silver.

--iCar-- Ok, not a whole new car-line by Apple, but Macworld would be the perfect place to demo some upcoming integration with cars. VoiceOver Utility gets the nod (and a much needed face lift) as the weapon of choice for controlling your iPod and iPhone in your new Jeep or VW. Oh, and look for Google to get in on the party.

It is High, it is Far, it is.......a bit of a reach

--Merging of the Mac Mini and Apple TV-- Last night, Bill Gates took a nice little slap at Apple with his quip "This isn't a hobby, we take this seriously" regarding content distribution for TV and internet entertainment around the house. Apple needs to do something about the Apple TV, why not integrate Leopard and bundle the wireless keyboard/mighty mouse to boost sales? Problems include making the Apple TV idea cost too much for the users.

Ok, a month between posts is too long and CES has got me all fired up to chatter about gadgets so here is a quicky for you to take a peek at.

This little sucker is called the Aigo, an Intel based, Linux run UMPC. Apparently, Intel does not roll out Linux based products often, but this one looks to be a pretty neat device. Speculation Intel states that this device will rock Wi-Max along with its sexy touch screen, but the burning question is not "Will it Blend?" rather, "Does it have an Integrated Microphone so I can call people using Skype?"

I'm asking this for two reasons: One, there is no way I am going to drop upwards of $500 for a device that will be an addition to my current iPhone solution. Two, the iPod Touch can make phone calls over Skype with a little elbow-grease.

Now is it just me or does this Menlow based Intel offering look a whole lot like Nokia's N810?

Still, UMPC = U M Pretty Cool