03:12 AM by Stuart Young in Archive | Handhelds and Smartphones

MacNN report's that Apple and Lions Gate Studios have inked deal regarding the iTunes store to offer full-length movie downloads.

Steve Beeks, President of Lions Gate, said:

"In terms of iTunes movie downloads, I think most likely some time before the end of the year. We know when they are planning on launching, but since they have not announced it publicly, I do not think it is our place to say anything more about that. Calendar year."

The iTunes story does not currently offer full length movie content, with the exception of some longer length content via ShowTime. Take the above news in conjunction with all the current rumors about the mythical "True Video iPod" and maybe we might just see such a device by the end of the year. - I can almost see the headlines now that some clever Tech has figured out how to remove the DRM on iTunes movies.

Read the full Lions Gate story here.

10:12 PM by Bob Russell in Archive | Handhelds and Smartphones

InfoWorld is reporting that "... most mobile operators value [mobile Linux's] flexibility and are interested in new technologies, [mobile operator forum] panelists said, but there is less going on in the trenches of actual device and service rollout."

And they summed up their discussion with the following opening statement, "Linux has great potential in the mobile arena, but establishing it there will be a tall order, industry participants told a LinuxWorld Conference and Expo audience."

That's true that mobile operators are focused on meeting perceived customer demands, while gadget makers are more interested in whiz bang platforms. But if you have listened to any of the people setting the strategic direction for the new Linux platforms, it's pretty clear that they have much clearer heads this time around than in the past.

It's been made painfully obvious that the bulk of the customer base for a new Linux phone platform comes from so-called feature phones. And getting devices to market is a process that needs to get easier and faster. Basically, we are seeing a gradual move from basic phone functions to feature phones with additional features, including audio, video, web connectivity, email and more. That market is huge compared to the upscale smart phone. And strategy for new Linux platforms is not being driven by the cool technology these days either. It's based on creating a platform that is practical, adoptable and useful. No one dares fall into the infamous "Cobalt is ready, but nobody wants it" trap. It is a warning flag to any new platform developer that the waters are trecherous, and the buyer of a platform must want what you are providing. It's not trivial to sell a platform when there is a lot of competition.

While it may not seem like there's a lot of competition right now when you look at the devices on the market, all you have to do is look at the various groups working on new Linux mobile platforms to realize how competitive it is. And don't assume that Nokia is stuck with Symbian. I doubt that the Nokia 770 was only about an internet appliance. You can bet that they are testing the waters with regard to phones on Linux.

True, there are certainly a lot of issues still to be resolved. But they will be. I think that when we look back at it, we'll find that mobile Linux had a remarkably smooth ride, not a rocky road. But it will take time. And it will be quite a fight.

Fortunately, we're not going to see Linux for the sake of Linux. Everyone is warning that it's not going to be a hit just because it's Linux. I think they are preaching to the choir. No platform creator is that naive. And if they are, they won't last long. Instead, Linux is being adopted because current RTOS's (used for most basic phones) are too limited to handle the increasing set of features. PalmOS and Win Mobile both have a lot of growing to do. And Linux brings great promise and hope with regard to handling the increased demands for phone function and faster product cycles.

Linus is coming, and it's going to be exciting!

05:39 PM by Bob Russell in Archive | Handhelds and Smartphones

Flat screen technology is fit for all kinds of locations. We've heard high expectations for mobile devices, e-book readers, signage and many other uses. Even large television displays that can be created by simply "printing" the display on a flat surface.

Taking a slightly more futuristic view of the future, NTL Telewest has created a report which "is predicting the death of the traditional TV, with television screens occupying an entire wall by 2020, and people watching news reports on the side of a cereal packet."

Now, we need to take this with a grain of salt, of course. Not only is a 14 year prediction of technology in the future full of pitfalls, but NTL Telewest is also a cable company in the U.K., so they most certainly have a bias toward painting a pretty picture of TV's everywhere. It's the sort of perspective that would give a boost to cable-related investment and industry activity.

But before we completely dismiss the thought, one has to admit that cheap and thin flat electronics and displays are likely, as well as radio components and power technology. It could happen. But there are a lot of hurdles to overcome, not the least of which is any environmental or health issues associated with circuitry on cereal boxes.

One thing is for certain. Display and basic computing circuitry is on the verge of a revolution. We just don't know when or how, and we can only hope that power technology can keep up.

Via PvrWire.

08:23 AM by Alexander Turcic in iRex | iRex Developer's Corner

For the binary-obsessed, unquenchable Linux junky, there may be nothing more tantalizing than having access to the files of a Linux system. So are you interested in tinkering with yesterday's firmware upgrade for the iLiad? Then jump over here where you can find the userland files and the kernel image - both in virgin form before the upgrade was actually started.

06:45 AM by Stuart Young in E-Book General | Deals and Resources (No...

Looks like we may soon be seeing an influx of e-ink/e-paper devices. Digitimes.com is reporting that PVI (Prime View International) is about ready to ship e-paper en masse. PVI claims to have almost 30 clients including Sony Corp. Deliveries are due to begin in Q4 this year.

Read the original story here.

03:08 PM by Stuart Young in Miscellaneous | Lounge

News has been a bit slow the last couple of days. So I thought I get some get some good old fashioned reader participation going on. Unless your either been off-world or on a Desert Island since last week, you'll be aware the latest suspected security threat at Heathrow Airport. - Hand luggage had been practically banned, everything must be in the cargo hold. Which if you going on a long flight, means you had better pray the onboard movies are good. So my question to you mobilereaders, is how have you been effected by this?

I was flying back from Seattle to Heathrow the day after all this kicked off. My flight was delayed by 9 hours and the book I bought in the Terminal I had to leave behind. My iLiad was all wrapped up in a large piece of material (or so I thought) when I eventually got to London. My stuff had been searched again before being put on the plane, the iLiad was loose in among the cables from my laptop. Luckily for me it didn't have a scratch on it.

So dear reader, did you leave a copy of Harry Potter behind in some exotic airport? Were you gadgets jiggled around in a way you didn't like? (sounds wrong)

Vent your frustrations here.

02:47 PM by Stuart Young in Miscellaneous | Lounge

I could have done with one of these in Seattle airport last Friday. The nice security guard at the boarding gate, would not let me take my newly purchased copy of Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell on the plane He didn't see the funny said when I pointed out "these aren't the droids your looking for" .. However all is not lost, some enterprising folks over at Boing Boing have come up with the so called the "scarf-book". In a nut shell same crazy people - I mean law abiding citizens - said screw you to the book confiscators in our airports, and have been printing text onto iron-on transfer paper. An then fixing it to huge pieces of cloth, then Voila.. a scarf-book.

Original link via Boing Boing.

05:43 AM by Alexander Turcic in More E-Book Readers | Legacy E-Book Devices

Sure, it's not going to turn heads at your high-school reunion the way the iRex iLiad would, but Jon Udell found an interesting way how to convert his PowerBook into a practical e-book reader. He also posted a How-to Quicktime flick.

My concerns:

• Could it harm your harddisk if you flip your notebook up on its side?
• Could the LCD still produce clear images from the "wrong" viewing angle?

[via Gizmodo]