The Archives
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05.29.07The Smartphone, and Why it Will Never Be KingI hear a lot of talk from people about the fact that the traditional 'dumb phone' will eventually be deleted from the market in favor of smartphones. While this is a valid point of view, I don't entirely agree. Sure, smartphone hardware and software are getting cheaper and easier for manufacturers to produce, but I think there will always be a place for non-smartphone devices in the market. Simplicity is key here - not everyone needs the full features of a smartphone, and while that remains true non-smartphones will always be produced, regardless of how cheap it becomes to make smartphones. I ...
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02.11.07Organizational RediscoveryI recently rediscovered a tool that has been around longer than any piece of technology that I own, but that I completely forgot about. I am normally the early adopter, the person pushing for new gadgets that change your life, but this is something decidedly low-tech. Despite this, using it has changed my life. The tool: the simple notebook. That's right, I went to the shops and purchased a nice suede covered notebook, and have been using it for everything. Jotting down small to-do lists, ideas for different projects, notes on the day's meetings, directions on how to get to places ...
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09.17.06Handsets for Users with Special NeedsAn issue was raised with me the other day about mobile phones for users with special needs, such as people with vision problems, hearing problems, and other such challenges. James Kendrick touches on the subject a little, but the solutions that he found are a little, well, poor. What I want to see is better integration into the phone's firmware of tools to help disabled people. While this may not necessarily be practical for regular 'dumb' phones, I imagine it wouldn't prove to be such a problem with smartphones. Not knowing people that face these kind of challenges personally, I can only ...
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08.10.06Smartphones in JapanI was interviewed today by a PR firm that handles Japanese carrier NTT DoCoMo, one of the largest and most technologically advanced network operators in the world, and one of the questions asked raised a very interesting point to me. NTT DoCoMo is rolling out two smartphones, a Blackberry and the HTC Z, and I was asked what impact this will make on the marketplace. Going against initial assumptions that the very technology happy country that is Japan would jump on advanced devices like smartphones, previous releases, based mainly on Nokia's S60 UI, have not done well at all. This is ...
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06.05.06Nokia E61 ReviewOne handset that I have been very eager to get my grubby mitts on is the Nokia E61. This is Nokia's first bar-style handset with a QWERTY keypad, and has a spec sheet that certainly aims to impress. Lucky me, the UPS man showed up on my doorstep this morning with a package containing a shiny new E61, click on to read my initial impressions/review, and post any questions you may have in the comments. Continue Reading...