January 2015

Mobile PC Newsletter September

Saturday, January 17, 2015

The latest Edition of Redmonds Mobile PC Newsletter is up - September Edition. This time with TechEd Australia 2006 as the feature piece:

They actually used a photo of me - I requested they use the one of Frank Arrigo

Gartner thinks Tablet is mature finally

Gartner Organization has always provided insights into Technology and its effects on life, and lifestyle. This time Leslie Fiering comes out blazing with her interpretation of Tablet PC, and it’s not all bad, wow! This is a rarity for Gartner and worth listening to.

I found this article via the ever resourceful Rob Bushway and thought it was worth pointing to. Sit back and listen to this Podcast as it walks through TabletPC, in the eyes of a Gartner vice President.

How to Upgrade Q1 Ultra to 2GB RAM

*UPDATE 26th April 2008* Please note that the RAM slot on the latest Q1U released, i.e. the Q1UP is located under the motherboard. The good news is that it is accessible but you need to be willing to pull the entire machine apart. The bad news is that most will not want to do this as you need a high level of technical knowledge to do this. So it is important to note that this video does not apply to the Q1UP. Even if you follow the instructions and pull the case off, you will not be able to get to the RAM easily. *

In favour of a more reliable tutorial than pictures alone I have decided to post a video on “how to” upgrade the RAM on your shiny new Samsung Q1 Ultra. For those of you that own a Q1 Ultra it will make sense for you to perform this upgrade as it will enhance the user experience significantly. For those of you that do not own a Q1 Ultra it may pay to learn a few tricks for next time you decide to perform this upgrade. And for those of you that have never performed an upgrade yourself…go for it! It’s fun!

Since getting the Q1 Ultra in Australia I noticed that the RAM upgrade to 2GB improved the following:

Faster boot time
Faster shut down time
Fast Application launch time
Faster data transfer times
Better multitasking abilities

Let me know if this videos helps and what improvements you find, after the upgrade, if any?

Download your own copy of the Video

View it on MyYouTube.com

Investing in Your Child’s Future

I am frequently very interested in the technology and ideas that go into devices used by children. That’s not to say that I feel a child should spend 24/7 plugged into an electronic device. But, in an economy that stresses connectivity and mobility more and more in its workers, children need to start learning how these devices work and what they offer much earlier in life.

So, what then would be the greatest tech investment for a child? For a long time, the answer would have been a new computer. Where you put that computer and what you allow your child to do on it are personal decisions, but having at least one desktop accessible in the home for surfing the Internet, writing homework assignments and maintaining contact with family and friends is a must.

But, more and more, the trend is turning away from having the newest desktop or laptop technologies in front of our children and more towards mobile devices. There are a few reasons for this.

First, children can more directly relate to a touchscreen mobile device. They can carry it and instead of using a keyboard and mouse – slightly abstract concepts for inputting data – they can use their finger, something most children excel at.

For all these reasons and more, it makes sense to start a child off with a tablet computer to acclimate themselves to the Internet, email, and other mobile systems that they will be using for the rest of their lives. More than that, there are apps that make a tablet computer even more effective for things like learning mathematics and reading, or simply for reading picture books.

Of course, for those not interested in spending hundreds of dollars to watch their child play with a Galaxy Tab box or drop a Xoom on the floor, there are companies developing less expensive, more durable tablets for children. Unfortunately, these devices tend to dumb things down a bit. We have a habit of making assumptions about just how little our children can understand when using a tablet. In most cases, they can get a lot more out of the devices if we’re willing to provide open access to more advanced operating systems.

I’d be interested to see a company start developing Android tablets for children that are specialized in terms of durable hardware but not dumbed down to the point of inoperability for anyone over the age of 6 or 7. Imagine a child growing up with a tablet that can adjust and adapt with them, showcasing new features and unlocking new opportunities as they learn in school. These are the skills they will need in the decades to come – it makes sense that we should be laying the groundwork as early as possible.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t endorse turning a child away from outdoor activities or team sports as pass times – everything should be done in moderation. But, access and mobility early in life will give children the edge they need as they age to be better at nearly everything they put their minds too.

It’s rude not to point

Friday, January 16, 2015

Tegatech Australia, and Hugo Ortega of the UberTablet Blog, focus on expanding Tablet PC as a concept and as an experience. Combined, the two serve as a proactive platform for evangelizing Tablet PC to a world not often exposed. As a blog the UberTablet blog stretches the conventional boundaries of expression in the Tablet space; as a business Tegatech Australia is Australia’s only Tablet specific Distributor. Often the two come together to affect our lives in a very real manner, the following report being a good example of that.

David Wallace, a friend of Hugo Ortega, and a C4 Quadriplegic, runs the lifekludger blog:

life=life; kludge=workaround

unforseen custom uses of general purpose stuff

The UberTablet blog recently helped get David his first opportunity to experience Tablet PC; the subsequent review is a unique insight into those living with a disability, yet it is much more than that. As David opens up his home to us you will find yourself inspired and motivated. He is an IT enthusiast, a fighter, and someone who should be linked to by all of us. His [ability] to turn his passion into function serves as an inspirational resource to this little blog.

Sahara Slate PC review by David Wallace.

Snipping:

"This issue of feedback is one I’ve never heard anyone talk about and one that anyone with all their senses working would not necessarily think about however it’s one I come up against in many areas of my life, not just computers."

Samsung Q1 has a place in Australia

Ever since receiving the Samsung Q1 it’s been difficult to find its place amongst my artillery of devices. Given that the time has come to let go of the device it makes it a real shame that I have only just found where its most comfortable...under my TV.

At home we have access to over 6 different Tablet PCs. The arrival of the Samsung Q1 meant that we had to get to know it and therefore find its place in the scheme of things. Not only is the Q1 awkward to email from but reading can be a chore too. What we found was that as portable media player the device really was an enjoyable adjunct to our lifestyle. One asset that the Q1 holds is the wonderful set of speakers. This means that turning her on and streaming radio stations from around the world really is quite functional. With iTunes installed we can stream music from our NAS server and send the sound to our room of choice too. Because it looks so good we couldn’t help but provide it a very prominent home, and therefore part of our tools of entertainment.

[video review coming soon]

What a pretty site...oh! the tulips look good too!

Talking UMPC in South Sydney

As part of my Australian Tablet Guy duties – most self inflicted – I have been invited to talk to a unique conglomerate called The Shire IT Cluster. By unique I merely mean that they are proactive; they are enthusiastic; and they are motivated enough to be part of the solution, and not the problem. In this day I find laziness has become a popular way to describe ones ambition in life and quite frankly it drives me crazy. Here’s how this group describes themselves:

The Sutherland Shire It Cluster is a network of professionals, practitioners, trainers, educators, product & service providers, representing the broad spectrum of the IT and ICT sector who have formed a collaboration to meet the ICT needs of southern Sydney.

So as an FYI, I will be speaker #2 on March 2nd 2007 at 8:25am. If you are interested in attending, and live locally, you can download the Agenda for the upcoming meeting here and then download the map of the location, i.e. Lecture Room, University of Wollongong Campus, Loftus TAFE. If the "demo gods" allow we will have Phil Jones of The Logical Interface perform a demonstration using a UMPC (probably one of mine) and a Dino-Lite microscope.

For those of you anywhere else in the globe – I’ll blog about it! For those of you in Australia that are planning on coming make sure you let me know so I stay for coffee and talk Tablet with you.

If the weather permits I’m planning on taking a motorbike down there as the coastal ride will be nice in the morning.

Blogging from Seoul

Flying into Incheon International Airport I had a sense of uncertainty, and a little apprehension. There is so little known about North Korea that I must have naively assumed South Korea is somewhat similar. The truth could not be more different however. With legions of building lining the streets, towering and competing in beauty and glamour the city travels as far as the eye can see, and then further again.

I left Sydney at 9am local time and because I had a full day of travel ahead I chose to pack a Viliv X70 as my preferred in-flight entertainment. Since the last six flights I’ve done overseas have all been on the Airbus A380 I was definitely concerned about being back on a Boeing 777, with simplified seating and entertainment. Turns out I wasn’t wrong so the Viliv and a handful of DVDs came very handy!

My preferred in-flight entertainment, C/O Viliv X70!

Upon arriving in Korea I caught the number 4 bus all the way to my hotel and was greeted in the lobby by one of the readers of this blog. This was an awesome way to arrive in a new country and something really worth mentioning. Not only is Stan a mobile gadget lover (with a Samsung Q1U-SSD, a Viliv VANT, Samsung N10 and ASUS T10 in his backpack!!) but he is also a gentleman. Without hesitation he waited an hour for me in the lobby and then drove me across town to a very traditional Korean banquet. The food, the conversation and my first taste of Korea will truly be unforgettable.

Yes, theyre all plates of food! SOOOOO GOOOD!!!!

Tomorrow I am meeting with Vili, UMID and a partner from France. I better get some sleep!

UX50 SWMUG JK and me

Hugo Ortega takes ~~the pill~~ a closer look
When my mate James Kendrick recently "unboxed" a UX50 Sony Vaio I was glued to my screen. His unwrapping of the device and capturing of the event was so enigmatic that I almost felt like I was there. Well done James, it’s a must view!

On this occasion and like several others the Sydney Windows Mobile User Group (SWMUG) has once again captured my imagination. As part of my monthly Tablet Talk I had arrived with the EO UMPC and Samsung Q1 under my arms. My intention was to show some really cool software (Ill post more on that later) but it was another guest that caught my attention!

Admittedly it was JK that first planted the seed, and now SWMUG with the fertilizer (to be precise Andrew of the C1 Group). Andrew and I have been friends for a little while and we want to get further acquainted if it weren’t for all the "other things" we have to do every day. Tonight however as part of his monthly Gadget Guy talk at SWMUG Andrew chose to bring along a Sony Vaio UX50 - cool. (dubbed VGNUX17GP in Australia)

4.5" of joy
Like James, I found it to be super cool, refined, sexy, sleek, dynamic and appealing. As it finally got to the back of the room (a section normally hosted by Dr. Neil and I as we banter our childish taunts at guest speakers) I couldnt help but be impressed. It is a refined device and definitely can capture the imagination of almost any UberGeek. With its relatively cramped QWERTY keyboard the UX50 still manages to remain very productive.

One neat feature about the keyboard is the way the final vertical rows of keys curl up around the edges, therefore providing a very comfortable and ergonomic feel. The only drawback about the keyboard was its lack of distinguishable keypads, i.e. rounded edges or indents between each key. This caused me to often miss-hit keys and often fly passed an intended letter or command button - still cool though.

The next hot feature was the crispness of the screen. You could literally see everything on the device as you would on a regular screen. At native 1024x600 it really wasn’t a strain or a struggle to work with the screen. Obviously coming from the UMPC space I thought that the 4" screen would be a complete let down, but not here, no way.

The other compelling feature, and if you watch my UMPC reviews youll know what I mean, was the input buttons and joysticks. It seemed to almost mimic the EP V7110 setup with its left click, right click and joystick to help manipulate the mouse. Watching it do the rounds I realized that all these methods of input (and as Ive often described on this blog) made for a very intuitive and almost seamless feel. If you didn’t use your finger, you had the joystick; and if you didn’t use the joystick you had the click buttons!

All in all my 10 minutes with the device left me drooling and rather enamored. We even called up the pen features and played around with the inking capabilities of which I had no complaints. Although it does not ship with Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition it still managed to capture my heart. Sony Australia - if you want me to ~~own one~~ review one, just let me know???

Right USB for UMPC

The one thing I hated most about USB cables since laptops, and more recently mobile PCs were invented, was the need for such long bits of cable at the connector side. I have looked and looked for a solution to turn the cable at right angles but never felt happy with what I saw or found…until now that is.

Recently I found the “Wapy Gender” USB kit. Now I know the name is awful but the product is to die for. There are two in a pack (left and right) and both rotate their little USB port clockwise and anticlockwise. What this means is that the options are endless for mounting USB devices now and the cables can be neatly removed away from the perpendicular eye saw we are so accustom to!

SWEET!!!

Samsung Eo and I SWMUG

photos: Jon Harsem

So last night I carried out my monthly "Tablet Guy" duties with the Sydney Windows Mobile User Group. For anyone that hasnt attended the group...you should. For those of you that cant, well for you its important that you know two things about SWMUG, lots of geeks, and lots of Pizza (oh, and lots of geeks).

photos: Jon Harsem

Last night there was a guy from Vodafone Australia (sorry forgot the name) who probably wishes he hadn’t come. Between Dr. Neil and I, we managed to intimidate the socks off him and perhaps think twice about coming near a Microsoft User Groups again. It was more in jest than anything else but what do you expect when “data bundles” and “content management” were what he put forward as topics. We also had the enigmatic engineer/salesperson (in his own words) Stephen Gray from Seratec. In he’s eyes Seratec could do no wrong and provide no harm; I decided to see him again for coffee as anyone this optimistic should surely be a hoot to spend time with! At half time the “real geeks” left the room and joined James Mccutcheon from J3 Technology on a quest into some really cool coding stuff; I stayed for Vodafone Guy and Stephen, oh well!

photos: Jon Harsem

Earlier that evening I arrived at the Microsoft building with a real sense of accomplishment and excitement. Not only had I arrived with the only eo Ultra Mobile PC currently in Australia but on this occasion I also had the only Samsung Q1 too. Now if youve ever heard me "Talk Tablet" youll know that sometimes I find it hard to stop; on this occasion with both the eo and the Q1 in my pocket it was always going to be special.

photos: Jon Harsem
Although my chat was brief and somewhat interrupted by our uberly time-protective leader, Roger Lawrence, I did manage to squeeze in a brief history of UMPC, an Aussie roundup of the UMPC success and failure and the future...imagine if Roger actually gave me three minutes instead of two! What was interesting after the close of the evening was the enthusiasm surrounding these devices. I still cant work out if its largely due to the viral marketing campaign that pervades the blogosphere, or due somehow to reality.

What I know is this: "umpc remains a form factor that seems to hit-the-spot in the corporate arena. Not so much for it Tablet qualities but mostly for its size/computing ratio. Its success will revolve around getting it on the internet and its demise, as we all know, will revolve around the battery life. If the device carried 6 hours battery life and had a PCMCIA slot then the device would surely hit-the-spot we all want it to hit. For know between software developers, and enterprise mobility teams, it seems as though were all trying to understand just where does UMPC lie in our arsenal of devices. Only time will tell.

photos: Jon Harsem
Stay tuned as I bring to you more thoughts, reviews, pics and videos on these magical devices.

UMPC second allocation 20 sold out

Tegatech Australia today confirmed that the first allocation of EO Ultra Mobile PC has been a complete sell out in Australia and New Zealand. Whats more interesting is the fact that their website now states that 20% of the second allocation is sold out too - and there hasnt been a delivery made to date!

WOW! I dont know about you but it sure looks like UMPC has a place in the market, and the market has a real story to tell...

Tablet Kiosk recently ate some humble pie and admitted defeat by announcing an unscheduled delay in EO deliveries (Tegatech Australia followed suit). While it must have been hard to face, the reality is that we must praise Tablet Kiosk for being so translucent with their business practices. Well done boys!

from the Tegatech Australia site (Ultra Mobile PC product page):

~~ETA in Australia is end of April 2006. Units will be allocated on a priority basis to orders placed, and paid for, as of now 29th March 2006.~~

[UPDATE 13th April 2006 10:30am] First allocation of eo is sold out (in black) and we have 7 only left (in white). Second allocation is now ON SALE and due for delivery in Australia on the 19th of May 2006.

[UPDATE 28th April 2006 17:28] First allocation of eo is now completely sold out. Second allocation is now ON SALE and is already 20% sold out. Due to final retooling the first allocation is due for delivery in mid to late May 2006 and second allocation early June 2006.

What Tablet PCs Mean to Mobile Providers

For the better part of a decade, mobile phone carriers have made money by enticing users into long term contracts in exchange for subsidized pricing on cutting edge technology. At first it was all mobile phones, then smart phones, and in recent years the burgeoning netbook computer market.

So, it’s no surprise that many mobile carriers are concerned about the recent trend in computing – with iPad sales having a direct impact on netbooks, devices that are traditional sold as a third or even fourth computing option.

If it wasn’t so frustrating to see the tablet space completely dominated by the iPad (for now), it might be amusing to see the flip flopping done by netbook manufacturers like MSI and Acer, who at first were okay with the growth in the tablet market, but now are seeing it affect demand for their products.

Just yesterday, reports surfaced that Acer is concerned about the telecom demand for Tablet PCs. In the last two years especially, netbooks have been a primary way of selling the MiFi and mobile Internet packages which can equal or even exceed the monthly fees charged for just telephone service. Those fees represented the largest single growth opportunity for the telecoms.

But, the iPad has cut into that tremendously. We may never know how much the iPad has actually cannibalized those sales (estimates range from the extreme of Best Buy CEO Brian Dunn claiming 50% of netbook/notebook sales were being devoured, to more reasonable estimates of 15% from industry research groups), but we do know that the rush is on to tap into that market and no industry has a more vested interest than the telecoms who are intent on offering Internet access for mobile devices with their 3G and recently developed 4G/WiMax networks.

What’s interesting in all this is the fact that, in truth, there are not that many devices yet on the platter for telecom release. The Samsung Galaxy Tab is finally hitting store shelves in a few weeks, and Acer plans to have their Tablet PC available by the end of November, but even Acer is foregoing Android in its first batch in favour Windows– not a bad trade off, but not the ideal solution for consumer devices either.

Right now, I think anything that helps spread tablet computing into the mass market is a good thing, provided that the devices being produced are not rushed just to meet telecom demand. I’m not insinuating that Acer’s first tablet outing will be a poor one, but it feels like they’re a little late out of the gate and I hope it doesn’t sour consumes on the potential of more powerful tablet PCs.

There is room for growth throughout the tablet market, and while there is some room to worry that Apple will continue to dominate the fledgling market, cooler heads and more powerful devices will hopefully prevail – telecom companies will get their contracts and users will have their mobile devices. The question now is how ill provide them.

The Wait for Honeycomb

One thing has always remained constant in the tablet marketplace – we’re waiting. For years we waited for tablets to hit the mass market, and then we waited for a competitor to arrive that would do the format justice (beyond the watered down experience offered by the iPad). It appears that 2011 will be the year that we finally stop waiting and finally get the avalanche of tablet products that push the industry forward at a breakneck speed.

And probably the biggest wait right now for both us and a large number of manufacturers out there is the one for Honeycomb – Google’s long awaited tablet-ready Android iteration. Yes, there are Android tablets on the market, but in a market struggling to catch up to the 7 figure head start of Apple, a true tablet-focused option is necessary. With some tweaks, both Froyo and Gingerbread can get the job done, but Honeycomb is poised to be the OS of choice for many soon to be released tablets.

Far from being a secret, Honeycomb is simply on hold with an as-of-yet unannounced release date. We do know, however, that there are a handful of new devices on the slate for the next 6 months that will show off the new OS. The biggest profile of these is set to be the Motorola Xoom (as trademark applications recently revealed the name to be), and possibly a second device from the electronics giant to follow shortly after. However, it is not the only device we’re waiting on. Toshiba has announced its own Honeycomb tablet (yet unnamed) powered by the Tegra 2 and apparently only waiting for the Honeycomb release from Google.

Right now, we don’t really know how these devices will turn out (though Motorola’s recent Droid successes point toward a solid entry into the field and many are still leery of Toshiba’s failure in the catastrophic Folio tablet release). However, with CES only a few days away, the odds are that we’ll see significantly more devices hitting the rounds as manufacturers announce a huge number of devices waiting on Google’s newest OS.

But, for this to truly be the year of the tablet, we need to see other companies step up big as well. Already, we’re waiting carefully for Microsoft’s big announcement in their CES keynote. Last year’s lacklustre tablet showing was disappointing, but Ballmer and co. are promising a new line-up of Windows 7 options, and some people are hoping for a little more beyond that. Then there are the newcomers including a handful of new Meego tablets propagating the industry, RIM’s Playbook, and dozens of technical advancements including Intel’s new SSD solutions, the new APU processor from AMD and our first looks at Pixel Qi displays. And while we won’t see it at CES, we can’t forget the elephant in the room – the iPad 2, likely to be shown off at the end of the month in an Apple only event in California.

The next four weeks look to be a huge boon for an industry segment that finally got off the ground in 2010. So, while we’ve been waiting for a while, it looks like we’re finally about to see something truly impressive. Stay tuned in the days to come for my thoughts on all the news out of CES in Las Vegas.

Im a MAC and Im a TABLET PC

So we’ve all seen several variations of the “I’m a Mac” and “I’m a PC” advertisements going around. What you haven’t seen is the Tablet PC version which obviously appealed to my senses and if you’re a Tablet PC enthusiast will appeal to your senses too.

Enjoy

here (GottaBe Team), here (Sumocat), and here:

Steve Ballmer and HTC Shift

Its interesting how "The Shift" is being evangelized by Microsoft seniors now. It must tick a lot of boxes to have Steve Ballmer show it off on a recent television interview in Germany. Here is a great video posted by JKKMobile and here is more information from Chippy regarding the interview.

This confirms for me a couple of things:

The Shift is thinner than expected (well spotted ELO)
The tilt on the keyboard is solid which means the screen will not rattle when you touch-type
It seems to have a bright screen - given the amount of fluorescent lights used in a Television studio the screen still seemed pretty well lit

What it does not confirm:

Cost
Cost
Cost
Cost
Pen features
Touch Features

Overall it looks the biz! Great job Chippy and JKK!

Australia gets all Samsung Q1 flavors

Four more Q1 flavours in Australia

Earlier today I received word from within the guts of the Tegatech den that Australia now has access to all the Q1 Flavours! This is awesome, not only does Australia and New Zealand now have stock of VIA’s Q1B (with 5hrs battery on standard battery) but I have been told the SSD (Solid State Disk) is here too [as seen on JKonTheRun].

Now this news may not even raise a splash in the Northern Hemisphere, but Downunder in Australia and New Zealand this is enough to make a grown man go weak at the knees. ITs A BIG DEAL TO US OK! Looking under the UMPC section on the Tegatech Australia website I can clearly see that the Samsung stable now includes:

Samsung Q1B Ultra Mobile PC
Samsung Q1 Ultra Mobile PC

Samsung Q1P Ultra Mobile PC [Windows XP]

Samsung Q1P Ultra Mobile PC [Windows Vista]

Samsung Q1P Ultra Mobile PC Solid State Disk (SSD)

I can’t sleep!

UMPC Available in Australia Finally

Thursday, January 15, 2015

Tegatech Australia is pleased to announce that the first roll out of Ultra Mobile PC in Australia has gone through without a glitch. Unlike the rest of the globe, Australia chose to not receive faulty devices (battery issues) and experienced delays while waiting for healthy EOs to deliver.

As you can see by these photos, deliveries that fell part of the first allocations also received the Tablet Kiosk ~~apology~~ touch, i.e. tee-shirts and free simple stands. While it is still very early to deem UMPC a success in Australia, especially when you consider that the first buyers are those on the bleeding edge of this thing, what I can disclose it that every single delivery was greeted with the same reaction..."well worth the wait!"

UMPC made it to Western Australia (perth), Melbourne, South Australia (Adelaide), Queensland, The Government (several sectors), Education, Home Automation, 2/4 Major Banks, several finance institutions and more...

How People Use Tablets Now and Soon

One of the number one factors that holds many people back from buying a tablet is the big question of why. They want to know what a tablet PC will offer that a netbook or laptop could not. And while I personally believe that a Tablet PC can offer all of what a netbook or laptop offer and more, I have been thinking lately about what specific features of a more traditional keyboard based machine users might miss in the conversion to a mobile touchscreen.

For example, the flexibility of the keyboard – touchscreen keyboards are hit or miss. Some work far better than others, but across the board, it depends on the screen and the software behind the screen. Devices like the TegaV2 use EyesBoard to provide a tremendous amount of flexibility in how they function, while other devices have their own proprietary keyboards that are regularly being updated.

Another big issue is touch screen input. Right now, a lot of software developers are still thinking in terms of how to provide input that is adapted from existing software. Business users think “Word and Excel are hard to use on a Tablet” largely because the interface is adapted for touch use, not build around it.

In time, I hope to see more native touch applications that rethink the most intuitive way to enter data. Where keyboard shortcuts and mouse input make the biggest difference in traditional apps, what about multi-gesture inputs or voice input for a tablet? These are the types of problems I think software developers will turn their attention to as tablets increasingly become a viable part of the computing market.

Right now, though, a lot of companies are bridging the gap with hardware solutions. Apple has their Keyboard Dock for the iPad and many devices come with styluses or outside attachments for more traditional input.

For a long time (before the iPad or Galaxy Tab came along), tablets were often hybrid devices, converting from touch screen to standard keyboard input. While most devices have strayed from that in favour of the sleek, attractive body of the iPad and Android devices, some companies are still eager to push the boundaries of convertible devices. The Inspiron Duo from Dell is a great example of a netbook/tablet hybrid that doesn’t result in excess bulk, though it remains to be seen how the device will function in real world circumstances (i.e. weight and profile).

Already, we are seeing processors, screen technology, games, and the future of not a few manufacturers building off the tablet trend. That makes it very interesting to see where we might be headed with the development of new software and even new hardware that makes a tablet PC more intuitive and downright easier to use.

I use a tablet every day for much of my computing; how long until it’s possible for even the most traditional users to follow suit?

Nova Mobility SunPad Rugged UMPC

Not often a product range associated with The UberTablet Blog, Rugged UMPC ar a new force to be reckoned with. Because I had the video camera out and a Nova SunPad in my hand, it would be unfair of me not to put it on camera and let it shine - quite literally.

With the brightest outdoor viewable screen in the industry, and rugged qualities which make Panasonic nervous, the Nov SunPad is worth considering if you are a business or a specialist looking for that tough edge!

Enjoy.

Dr Neil Roodyn new Regional Director

Not only as a friend, but as an inspiration, Dr.Neil has again attained another milestone. From Frank Arrigos blog comes an amazingly pertinent announcement for Microsoft Australia - and all of us involved here:

Dr. Neil Roodyn announced as Microsoft Regional Director.

Snipping from Frank Arrigos Blog :

It gives me a great pleasure to announce we have a *new* Microsoft Regional Director for Australia -- Dr Neil Roodyn

We now have 3 excellent RDs downunder.

Adam Cogan
Dr Greg Low
Dr Neil

Welcome to the family Dr Neil !

[And yes, this is the same Dr. Neil from Dr. Neils Notes.]

In case you need more info...hws this from the Horses Mouth (so to speak)...

"Update: A number of people have been asking if this means I am no longer an MVP or if I am now employed by Microsoft. The answer is no. I am still a Windows Live Developer MVP and I am not what softies call an FTE (full time employee) or a Blue Badge. You can find out more about the Regional Director program here."

Hugo Ortega gets to New UPPC

*UPDATE 11th Sept 2006* Due to the beating my Server received recently I have posted a YouTube Version of this unboxing. It is of less quality and has been shortened slightly, so its your choice. *

YouTube Version Can be seen here

NEW UPPC has a late night unveiling!

OK, so almost a week ago I announced the arrival of a new device, to my Office. I tried to remain coy and somewhat mysterious by uploading a modest BlogPost titled “Hugo Ortega gets World Exclusive.”

Since that period I found out my Video Camera was broken, Australian Customs had my EO i7210 on hold and I had to travel Interstate; while also attending to my normal duties as entrepreneur and Dad too. What this inevitably translates into is tonight’s late evening VLOG coming to you from my dining room, and care of my brand new JVC GZ-MG505 (30GB HDD Camera), brought to me by new Sponsors of the UberTablet Videos, Camera Action (more on that later).

I have to apologise profusely in advance for the file size of these 25 minutes - they too are care of this new 3CCD camera! Sorry, sorry, sorry.

So without further ague let’s look at my attempt at a late night unboxing event. It’s not pretty but with a bit of luck you get some idea of just what this device might do/be/become, UberTablet Style!

Download: Download PLEASE RIGHT CLICK AND "SAVE TARGET AS"

(183MB, 25 minutes)

Artist: He is!

Show Notes: Its new!

Proud Sponsors of the UberTablet Videos

Touch Screen Sexy

With touch screens almost becoming ubiquitous it is not that surprising to see it hit the mainstream media too. Today, while on my travels in China I caught a story on “CNN in Asia” tracking the recent success of touch screen technology in gadgets today. Because of the relevance to the Tablet PC space I thought I’d post it for you as it came back on a rerun.

Recently I was having a conversation with Nicholas White regarding Ultra-Mobile PC and the role it plays in convergence. I explained that no longer do we hold Pen Based Computing as the primary intention of a Tablet PC but rather portability and mobility seem more common descriptions. With that in mind it seems that monikers and keywords associated with these devices are changing too.

What I am seeing is a real move from Ultra-Mobile PC being described in terms of “form factor” as opposed to “pen based computing.” It will become more common to hear things like PDAs and Mobile Phones described as Tablets than the traditional description of these devices today (…big call I know, but I believe true). Think about it, Tablet Edition is now embedded in Vista! When you think of Tablet PC, do you think of the pen anymore, or is it now just a small PC? I’m interested. If your new to these devices then perhaps all you know of Tablet PC is it’s a small handheld.

Touch Screen Sexy

Take a cordless drill to your Mobile PC

The Drill!

(so my SMA adapter fits in!)

Today was a bit of fun and again I wanted to make sure you were all a part of it. If there is one device I have a lot of experience with that is the Samsung Q1U; and if there are three things I really like upgrading on this machine they are as follows:

Upgrade the RAM to 2GB (its DDR2 SO-Dimm, 667MHz)
Install a mini PCI-express 3G modem (for HSDPA and GPS function)
Replace the spinning IDE drive with a SSD drive instead!

Given I was uprgading all three in one machine I thought Id share a photo or two. I know one of the most popular videos I did was "How to upgrade your Samsung Q1U to 2GB RAM" so I imagine this blog post will entice many DIY geeks out there.

Installing the RAM is easy and the SSD a piece of cake too (just watch the orientation of the pins on the ribbon cable and be very gentle with the latches holding the ribbon cables in place). The SSD I used is GMonster 1.8" ZIF drive with built-in 64MB SDRAM by PhotoFast! It is super fast and one I recommend highly. The Modem I am using lately is the Huawei EM770W (but often I use the Sierra Wireless MC8790 too). The Huawei is the same one found in most Viliv S5 and X70 and has voice support (!!!), quad band 3G and GPS.

One important and still relatively unknown step is how to get best connectivity out of a newly installed modem (especially a hacked up version like this). I had to go through many antenna, and many setups to get this right but I can report that this way works well! All you need is a U.FL to SMA adapter (U.FL = little dicky bit which connects to modem main) and (SMA = the gold threaded part which the antenna screws onto). Youll soon learn however that the SMA part does not fit into most holes on a computer...thats where the Power Drill comes into play!!!

The external antenna I choose is a high band passive antenna which supports Quad Band and is absolutely the trick! Sticks out a little but man is it worth it when you get full strength most anywhere a phone does!

U.FL to SMA adapter and external 3G antenna

RAM upgraded, 128GB SSD drive and Huawei EM770W modem

Doing this stuff makes me realise how "un-fun" the iPad will be. With all its finished bits there is nothing left for us to explore or expand on! Well done Apple.

Another set of Notes from the Doctor audio

As many of you may know Ive been tied up with my new baby Daughter, Amber. Her arrival has been very exciting so regrettably blogging has falling a bit behind - promise Ill make up for it though.

Here is another session of Dr. NeilsNotes (with Hugo Ortega). This was recorded last week and worth a listen as we tackle active digitizer vs. passive/touch...and more.

Dr. Neils Notes 26

Welcome to Show 26Staring "UberTablet"

News - Hugo plays with ASUS devices
Dr. Neil off around the world again - DevConnections
Digitizers - touch, active, external:
What does it mean to the user?
What does it mean to the developer?
How should applications behave?

Happy Coding!

Any other topics you would like us to discuss?

This podcast was recorded on a Samsung Ultra Mobile PC with Castblaster

First look at Panasonic ToughBook CF C1 aka C1

Today I was lucky enough to play with one of the World’s first Panasonic CF-C1…and loved it! While I have enough been a fan of rugged computers for mainstream (or personal) use I do fully understand the “whys” around the technology and how it came about to exist. While the CF-C1 is not a pretty Tablet, I can suggest it is a robust and well executed effort. It definitely won’t appeal to people looking to buy a Lenovo Tablet, or a toy-ish ASUS T91, it will definitely fill a gap in the market as a tough (as the name implies) and reliable business tool!

Just like the time I had world’s first look at the Fujitsu P1610, and the world’s first look at the HTC Shift, and even Raon Digital VEGA (now Im showing my geek age!) on this occasion my time with the C1 (although not worlds first) was brief and secretive. In a veil of excitement the Panasonic representative came swooping into my home, turned, flipped, held, pointed, prodded and showcases the unit to me. After nearly an hour we debated its merits and everyone walked away contented! While by no stretch of the imagination would I call this a review, I would, based on nearly a decade of playing with these toys, post some quick thoughts.

Positive:

Felt extremely light – at 1.6kgs it’s not entirely a featherweight but the weight distribution felt great
The touchscreen (I believe capacitive) was very light and easy to use, while the Wacom digitizer exceptionally silky.
Tablet swivel hinge was extremely sturdy – like most ToughBook designs the swivel was over engineered IMHO but certainly justified on the CF-C1
Dual battery (hotswappable) bays are great – and at 5hrs per battery, totalling a predicted 10hrs, it certainly will turn heads
Price will be sub $3k AUD (equivalent to early US$2K before taxes) is reasonably for such a device

Negatives

Felt too light! Hard too believe Id say this, but I mean too light when compared to the image (and impression) the ToughBook brand carries. Almost didnt feel like a ToughBook.
Stylus bay very weak – obviously could be a result of the preproduction unit I played with but when I took the stylus out, and packed it away, there was a real air of “cheapness” around it. I’m sure that will be fixed.
As stated above, the swivel is over engineered, but I can see why it’s done that way
Styling leaves a lot to be desired, especially with the “orthopaedic-styled” palm rest on the underbelly of the unit, but once again “I get it”, it’s TOUGH!

Here are some pictures. Ask me anything you want. I believe it will be released officially in Australia on the first week of June with global locations following similar timelines. If you’re in business chasing a Tablet it may be worth a looks…especially if you work on a farm, drive a pickup, and chew tobacco! LOL!