Roger Kemp's Net » Tech

Motorola gadget consolidation

Roger — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 08:38:24 +0000

Never tought I’d see this coming from Motorola, but Engadget has a nice little hands-on piece, showing the Motorola Atrix 4G, HD multimedia dock, and laptop dock. This is coming close to what I refer to as gadget consolidation (they, Engadget refer to it as Continues Client). They have several options, both hradware and software based. I see it as a hardware based solution, where one device will act as PC / TV / Phone / Media Center / PA etc. And Motorola is heading in the right direction. I think Apple is heading in that direction as well, but they are taking their time, ironing out the kinks to make it perfect, both on the front end (hardware and software) as the back end (infrastructure, media). And that last part is I think where Motorola is lacking (no real app or media distribution platform), while the front-end isn’t really a given yet either… Wonder what Google thinks of their implementation…

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Great CG work is the kind you don’t notice

Roger — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 08:39:09 +0000

I love the HBO show “Boardwalk Empire” and before the first episode aired, I saw a small documentary on the official site about the sound stage and the fact that they actually built a large part of the boardwalk. I didn’t know what else was thrown into the mix to make it look so authentic. And that’s good CG, the kind of computer generated scenery and effects that you don’t notice but add so much. Below is a reel from Brainstorm Digital, the company responsible for the CG work on Boardwalk Empire, that shows how much was actually bits and bytes.

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New Bubble – New Ideas

Roger — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 11:41:20 +0000

Now the WSJ has picked up the Bubble 2.0 meme as well it’s time to move on and start figuring out what to actually build. I’ve been meeting some interesting people lately, both on and offline and I think it’s time to drop the features and pick up the application. Use the features of a platform to create new applications. With API’s of course. Too many of these new apps that come out are basically features that should have been implemented in Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin in the first place. So for those apps, it’s only a matter of time before social platforms pick up their idea and implement it themselves (see Twittercounter and Twitter Analytics as the latest example). What I’d like to do is come up with new apps that combine features and data available through platform API’s and present/mashup/use it to fulfill a user’s custom needs. We’re working on that…

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Regurgitated features instead of new ideas.

Roger — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 12:54:29 +0000

Today Facebook will announce its “gMail killer”. At least that’s what the rumor mill is claiming. Or should I call it echo chamber? Seems Silicon Valley is losing sight of the ball and is just lapping up the press releases and events, waiting for Twitter, Facebook or Google (or spin off) to announce “the next big fat feature”. That’s what’s wrong with the picture these days. It’s not about ideas that will change the world anymore, it’s about features added to an existing idea that will hopefully keep the masses happy. Or at least keep the hipster in-crowd happy. Or as with the latest PR blitz (@Path) keep the investors happy (by providing some “used to be part of Facebook” buzz). It’s all so similar to what was happening in the late 90′s. But now it’s not IPO’s, it’s who’s financing who and who will be bought by who. Product and/or idea doesn’t matter all that much, as long as there’s a healthy buzz so money can change hands swiftly and with a healthy profit. Can you say “Bubble”? If you can, say “Pop”. In the mean time, I hope to hear from the real innovators out there, announcing the next big ideas without the big events. Just a good product or service that catches on, fills a real need or solves a real problem.

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Google everywhere – The Google Car

Roger — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 15:51:53 +0000

Google controling your TV, your phone, your tablet and now also your car. The news of the Google car isn’t that surprising to me. I’ve been thinking about the idea of a computer driven networked car for a long time. Especially since I’ve been back in the Netherlands, which seems to grind to a halt every day during rush hour. A network of computer driven cars and networked road systems, constantly aware of all traffic would make traffic jams seem so quant. Each car would know where it and all the other cars are going (navigation systems where the first step towards this system), at what speed, and what the traffic up ahead is going to do. Merging, exiting, making turns, passing will all be known way ahead of time by all participating traffic and the network will calculate the best speed and timing of all actions to get you to your destination in the most efficient way, not only for you, but also for all the other networked travelers.

Traffic jams will be a thing of the past, as will most traffic accidents. The benefits are obvious. And with a gradual introduction, even the most staunch American driver might relinquish control over his or her vehicle.

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Google TV Microsofts Apple TV

Roger — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 10:16:51 +0000

Google TV is generating some great embedded CE support with a bunch of CE companies announcing embedding Google TV and android into their TV systems, hot on the heels of the Apple TV announcement of last week. You can see Google taking the role of Microsoft in this case (supplying the “OS” and not worrying about the hardware) and Apple, well, Apple is just Apple, wanting to control the whole aspect, both software and hardware. I wonder if Apple’s attitude will keep it relegated to the “niche high margin Apple cult market”, while Google pulls a Microsoft and takes over the CE market?

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Plex signs deal with LG

Roger — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 15:42:14 +0000

Right on the heels of the new Apple TV announcement, Plex, the Mac Media Center software of choice, today announced it inked a deal with LG to have their software embedded in future LG HDTV’s and Bluray players. Having it embedded in HDTV’s is what I have been waiting for, no need for another box and just control it through your Plex iPhone app. Wonder if Apple is developing their own line of HDTV’s…

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Apple Sauce

Roger — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 18:04:14 +0000

With today’s Apple event, I’d like to come back to some of my older posts about gadget consolidation. It’s interesting to see Apple’s latest update on its hobby; Apple TV. This is a logical next step in gadget consolidation, but we’re not there yet. That will be the day when my iPhone will take care of streaming my content to my stereo and TV, without the need for another box (even if it’s this small and a cheap $99.00). But with Apple TV streaming content from a small, convenient box we’re that much closer to where I’d like media distribution to be. Can’t wait to see what Apple TV II – iOS 5 will be like.

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More developments towards gadget consolidation

Roger — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 13:48:48 +0000

A new Apple patent points towards using your iPod (and I think iPhone) as recording and playing device for TV media. Basically creating a great portable DVR. This falls nicely in line with my Gadget Consolidation thoughts. Just add streaming to the mix and we’re halfway there.

Apple Patent Shows iPods Capable Of Receiving and Recording Live TV (Gizmodo)

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Nexus One launched

Roger — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 21:11:17 +0000

Google launched it’s first Google branded phone today, the Nexus One. It looks like a great product and should be the start of the next generation of smart phones. One feature that I can see setting this phone apart from other smart phones is its voice feature (see video below). They’ve implemented this very nicely and it should be a valuable addition to making this and future smartphones a truly smart and multifunctional tool. As always, I’m looking forward to Apple’s answer at the end of the month (the iSlate?) and their next generation iPhone later this year.

More Nexus One Videos
Nexus One Official Site

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