09:06 AM by TadW in Miscellaneous | Lounge

If you head on over to The Pirate Bay (no direct links here), you'll notice that their (clickable) logo has been changed.

Whatever you think of them, you gotta admit, they have guts! Just yesterday the IFPI (International Federation of the Phonographic Industry) issued a press release accusing The Pirate Bay of distributing a leaked copy of the seventh Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

The Pirate Bay, an international engine of illegal file-sharing, is accused of facilitating the distribution of pre-release copies of the latest Harry Potter novel, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, in a move that has been criticised by publishers Bloomsbury. Author J.K. Rowling has previously asked people to respect her embargos and described those who ruin others enjoyment as "sad individuals."

It remains to be seen what J.K. Rowling and her publishers Bloomsbury and Scholastic will do to stop people from spreading the e-copy that got supposedly pirated. Threatening innocent blogs is certainly not going to help anyone.

Related: Harry Potter 6 e-book already being pirated!

12:45 PM by NatCh in Archive | Handhelds and Smartphones

Does anyone want a portable computer without a battery? That's the question to which Samsung is hoping the answer is "yes" with their announcement of the new G25.

It's a foldable form factor, just like a notebook, but it lacks a battery of any kind. They seem to be targeting folks who want a movable computer but don't really need to be "mobile." Students moving back and forth to school come to mind, or perhaps those who don't want to maintain a second computer at the house in the Hamptons.

I can also see this appealing to those who are a bit intimidated by full-blown PCs as it's a good deal less physically imposing, but has a full sized keyboard, a 19" widescreen display, and a cozy 320GB hard drive. As was observed elsewhere, the lack of a battery ought to make it pretty lightweight. All that for under $1,100 -- not too shabby.

So what do you think? Is this a good idea, or Samsungs next entry into CNet TV's Top Five Biggest Flops?

Source I4U News, via Sci-Fi's Tech Blog.

12:23 PM by NatCh in Archive | Handhelds and Smartphones

In an extremely ironic twist of fate, the wireless network at Duke University has been overwhelmed and crashed by an invasion of Apple iPhones.

Apparently, the iPhones are making massive numbers of MAC address requests (18,000 IP addresses per second or about 10Mbps in bandwidth), and the system can't cope, with as many as 30 nodes at a time reporting themselves “out of service” for 10~15 minutes per incident. During which time, the nodes are completely unresponsive to anything the network techs can do. They're guessing that it may be an issue with the way the iPhones request the MAC addresses -- if they don't get an answer, they just ask again, and again, and ....

They're not too concerned just yet, as they're between semesters, so they've got a bit of time to resolve the problem, and are working with Cisco and Apple to that end. But if it's not resolved by the time the fall semester starts ... they seem to feel that would qualify as a "Bad Thing."

Source article available here.

05:30 PM by mobilemonte in Miscellaneous | Lounge

It is the strangest thing. The iPod and podcasting have proven that users will gladly overcome complex routines in order to take their entertainment with them when they are on the go. Some of us transfer MP3 files from the PC and enjoy music. Others subscribe to podcasts. Both usages requires a user to actively connect a media device to a PC and transfer content – an action which I personally find technically challenging. Yet people do it. Over 100,000,000 iPods have been sold so far.

On the other hand, the cellular industry has repeatedly tried to get us to use data entertainment services on our phones. Internet became Mobile Internet. Television became Mobile TV. Despite the investment of billions of dollars in data networks, spectrum, devices and marketing campaigns, users have not adopted these services.

Can the mobile phone compete with the iPod as the user's device of choice? For example, can podcasting become a service enjoyed on mobile phones? Clearly, podcasting is very suitable for the mobile phone. First, it is an “on-the-go” experience. Second, audio content is not effected by the handset’s small screen. Third, mobile phones already support video and high-quality audio. Four, content can be delivery directly to the handset with superb user experience.

If podcasting on the mobile fails, the mobile industry will have difficulty explaining why. Indeed, one may argue that such a failure is final proof that the phone is simply not a media devices, and that convergence is just hype.

This series of articles analyzes the critical issues that must be addressed if mobile podcasting is to succeed and prove that the phone has worth as a media device. In this first article, we now address fundamental user issues:

First, is there a clear scenario where users will consume podcasts/content on the mobile phone? The answer is yes. If the service is user friendly, compelling and affordable, people will do what many already do on with iPod. Many of us have clearly definable windows of dead time where we are a captive audience, such as while commuting to and from work. Also, enjoying audio content can be done in parellel to other activities.

Second, will people use their phones for media consumption? The experts say yes. "So the split where the phone world and this Windows PC world have been two separate worlds - that's changing utterly," says Bill Gates. "You'll have the PC and then you'll have your mobile phone. And the mobile phone and that PC will be working together in a rich way."

All of us carry our phones with us everywhere. We like our phones. Phones are getting smarter, with better user experience. The iPod is great, if you have one. Most do not. An iPod also means carrying around two devices. I do not. Given a compelling user experience and fair and clear pricing, many will gladly listen to great audio content during dead-time.

Third, will people pay for a mobile podcast service? After all, most content (including podcasts) is free on the web, with the perception being that content (even if pirated) should remain free.

Whether people will pay for a mobile service depends of factors such as easy of use, content quality, and price. True, Podcasts are available free on-line. But I personally would pay a small premium to receive unique Brand content on my mobile phone rather than buy an iPod and have to bother with transferring podcasts from my computer every day. Sure.

Finally, as will be discussed in the following articles, there is one more critical factor on which the success of mobile podcasting depends. Mobile operator involvement. Issues of easy of use, compelling content and price are all under the operator's control. Major mobile operators are designing and will soon launch podcast applications with great client expereince. As to content, Vodafone, T-Mobile and Orange are closing deals with Brand new media – the recent announcements of Vodafone with YouTube and My Space to name a few. As to price, operators control the cost of data on their networks. Adopting clear flat monthly fees for mobile podcasting services is mandatory to attract the mass-market user.

Will operators commit to mobile podcasting? They must. The success of the iPod is a strategic threat to them for several reasons: (a) If iPod becomes the user's mobile media device of choice, the phone will remain only a voice-only device. (b) iPhone will allow Apple to work one operator against another, such as by entering into an exclusivity deal with Vodafone at the exclusion of others - see Apple and ATT in the US. (c) Once iPod goes WIFI, the operator is out of the loop altogether.

Monte Silver
World Podcast Forum

07:00 AM by Alexander Turcic in Miscellaneous | Week in Review

If you missed our frontpage news at any point this week, here is the best way to catch up:

E-books - News

• Whatever came of the Blackmask/Conde Nast Saga?
• James Kendrick finds MobiPocket delightful
• How DRM becomes law - a look at the back room dealings
• Fujitsu e-paper used to guide hospital patients

E-books - Elsewhere on the Net

• Comment at Engadget and you might win an E Ink watch

E-books - Reading Software

• Microsoft Reader has been optimized for Origami

E-book Devices - iRex iLiad

• iLiad Firmware 2.10.2 released
• "Reflash from CF" for the iLiad released!

E-book Devices - Future E-Book Devices

• Video of HP's e-book reader prototype

Mobile Devices - Handhelds and Smartphones

• Free Linux phones being given to Qtopia developers

Mobile Devices - Others

• Polymorphic device "Connext" redefines convergence

Miscellaneous - Lounge

• Reading e-books together with a friend or significant other

02:49 PM by Alexander Turcic in E-Book General | News

OK, let's see... it can be gigantic, it can be fuzzy and it can be in color. Of course the talk is about Fujitsu's cholesteric e-paper, and according to latest reports, you may find it soon in one or the other hospital in Tokyo.

Fujitsu Ltd. presented a reference model of a [400x160] terminal to guide outpatient with electronic paper at the International Modern Hospital Show 2007 at Tokyo Big Sight from July 11 to 13, 2007. ... The e-paper display shows how to reach the doctor's room and how many are waiting ahead of the patient, among other information. When the patient's turn comes, the doctor summons the patient using the terminal.

The company plans to launch the e-paper terminal commercially in 2008, for a price of around 30,000 Yen (~ US $245) (per unit I assume).

02:18 PM by Alexander Turcic in Archive | Handhelds and Smartphones

We're normally suspicious of "convergence", but here we got a concept that's truly stunning. James Zhang created Connext, a polymorphic handheld device that configures itself depending on what the user wants at any given time. From Yanko Design:

Connext is an all-in-one, flexible smart device that can morph its form to fit the application that it assumes. Combining OLED touch-screen technology with E-paper flexibility, this device can switch to become a mobile phone, computer, multimedia player, watch, physical avatar etc. - virtually and physically.

I wish I had more to say about this but I don't. Sometimes words just aren't needed. Just sit back, relax, and realize that the world is a wonderful place.

[via gadgettastic.com]

09:42 AM by Adam B. in iRex | iRex Developer's Corner

iRex has released the developer version of the reflash tool here. It is available to select developers upon request. A version for the general public is to follow soon.

The developer version allows for the following.

• Reflash the Kernel, initrd, and applications individually
• Format and reflash everything
• Boot an alternate kernel from the CF card

This is great news for all iLiad owners and developers.