Wireless Muse: Reiter's Wireless Internet Weblog

Expensive keyboard-based MIDs likely to fail

I really hate to be negative about the new crop of MIDs (Mobile Internet Devices) that are designed to fit in your pocket (a big pocket) or a small purse or carrying case because I’d love them to succeed. 

I’d love to find a carry-around-all-the-time device for browsing the Web and entering text for long blog posts and documents, but I don’t think the current crop of MIDs are likely to succeed.  And the devices now being displayed at CeBIT in Hanover, Germany aren’t changing my mind, even though they certainly have value.

I discussed MIDs in one of my weekly CMP “Internet Evolution” columns.  I said MIDs probably will be squeezed out of the market on one end by smartphones that are incorporating many more features and on the other end by new extremely lightweight and inexpensive subnotebook computers.

The Gigabyte M528 unveiled

The Gigabyte M528, by the Taiwanese company Gigabyte is, unfortunately, a prime example of a device that’s poised to fail.  The UMPC Portal and jkkmobile conducted an interview with a Gigabyte representative who demonstrated the device at CeBIT (see below).

On the surface, it seems as if it would be a huge success because for such a small, portable device it’s packed with features.  The slider form factor offers a physical keyboard and a touch screen.  It incorporates HSDPA, WiFi and Bluetooth for connectivity and GPS.

The M528 uses the Ubuntu operating system and the new Intel Centrino Atom microprocessor that’s designed to maximize battery life and provide snappy performance for these types of devices.  The M528 operates at 800 MHz with 512 MB of RAM and a 4 GB SSD (Solid State Drive) for storage.

The device uses a beta version of Ubuntu Mobile.  It also includes a three megapixel camera with auto-focus on the back and a low resolution camera for video calls on the front.  In addition, it incorporates an SD card slot and two USB ports.

What’s the problem?

It seems like a great do-everything device.  However, there at least two major problems.

1.  The slide-out keyboard looks awful.  I have not tried it, but I have used several MID keyboards that are of a similar size.  They are all too small for touch typing, too shallow for much keyboard feel and too large to work as a “thumb” keyboard, the way the Research in Motion BlackBerry devices function, for example.

In other words, all these MIDs with slide-out keyboards are adding weight, bulk and expense without offering a good keyboard experience.  They might as well just use a virtual keyboard on the touch display where the keys would actually be larger than on the physical keyboard.  (Some MIDs do offer just the on-screen virtual keyboards.)

2.  The prices for many of these MIDs are ridiculous.  The tentative price for the M528 is 700 euros ($1,064).  Certainly the M528 crams a great deal of functionality into a small device, and you have to pay for miniaturization.

But more than a thousand dollars?  That’s insane.  It’s a non-starter.

Reducing the cost?

Too be fair, the Gigabyte spokeswoman who was interviewed in the video said it was just the initial price, that could be changed based on market conditions.  Also, there are two other price considerations:

1.  700 euros includes the European VAT, so perhaps it would cost only, say, 550 euros or 600 euros without the tax

2.  The M528 functions as a cellular phone, so if cellular operators sell it, the price could be subsidized.  However, like the HTC Advantage, using the M528 as a phone is rather awkward, although a Bluetooth headset certainly would facilitate calling.

Two great tech bloggers, James Kendrick of jkOntheRun and Matt Miller of The Mobile Gadgeteer, love the Advantage.  But they afford these type of devices -- and many more -- as well as being uber gadget lovers.  They are not mainstream or even modest tech users.

Keyboard's advantages

The folks at UMPC Portal/jkkmobile really like the M528.  In their podcast, they say it's their favorite device at CeBIT, although they admit it's just the first day of the show!

They like the rubberized-like keyboard that has raised keys to facilitate typing.  They say the keyboard is much better than Nokia's N810 Internet Tablet (see below), that I discussed in a previous weblog article where I used it during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

The M528 looks similar to the N810, with a slide-out keyboard and touch screen, although it's more powerful in many ways.  The UMPC/jkkmobile guys say the M528 will "kill" the N810 because of the former's superior capabilities.

Much better alternatives

I’m sorry, but these type of devices aren’t going to fly, except for a small percentage of geeks and early adopters with disposable income.  Success is not dependent upon cramming in as many features as possible! 

The majority of people who want wireless connectivity combined with Internet and multimedia functionality will use a feature-rich cellular phone -- that is easier to use as a phone than the M528 -- and smaller, and every month brings more phone models.

Or, people who are willing to carry a larger device could use one of the new subnotebook computers, such as the current Asus Eee PC 701 with its 7–inch screen or the Asus 900 with an 8.9–inch screen that’s slated for availability in a few months (see below).  The Asus 700 line costs from $300 to $550.

Interestingly, jkkmobile says his favorite UMPC device is the Asus 900.

Asus 900 competitors

The Asus 900 will be joined by several competitors, such as the $400 Everex Cloudbook, that’s now available at Wal-Mart, and the HP 2133 (see below) that looks as if if could be a terrific machine.  The 2133 will weigh about 2.5 pounds and cost about $600, although there likely will be a few models at different price points.

I think there’s an Asus Eee PC or an HP 2133 in my future!  Either one would be great for carrying around when I’m wandering around hundreds of exhibit booths at computer and wireless conferences or just going to lunch where I might want to type a blog post or do some consulting work.

(This South Korea-only Samsung Anycall SPH-P9200, with WiMAX, HSDA and WiFi looks great, too, although I'd need to test that fold-out full QWERTY keyboard (see below).  No word on price.

These extremely lightweight subnotebook computers, such as the Asus and HP along with even smaller cellular phones, such as the Apple iPhone, will be the “MIDs” of the future -- not devices like the M528 or N810.

Forbes examines wireless Internet trends

Forbes has published an interesting article about the future of wireless Internet and I agree with the predictions.  (A “thank you” to Paul Whyte, a Fulbright Scholar, who alerted me to the article in his comment on my “Thinkernet” column examining the MacBook Air’s ramifications for wired versus wireless access; see left.)

The article notes that wireless Internet’s future will include:  Cellular phones with larger screens, touch screens, better Web browsers, more intuitive Web navigation on the phone and better integration of the browser with applications and searching.

One of my many pet peeves about today’s cellular phones — even the Apple iPhone — is the Web browser.  The iPhone’s browser is probably the best of the lot, certainly the best cellular browsing device when you consider the relatively large, high resolution screen.

Cautiously optimistic about browsers

But no cellular browser can display every Web format, and many cellular operators won’t allow browser plug-ins, such as Flash. 

I am cautiously optimistic that 2008 will be a better year for browsers, especially if Verizon Wireless’ “open” network fosters the introduction of more cellular phones with WiFi that can download any type of audio and video format without being restricted by cellular network prohibitions.

Will Sony's electronic book reader get wireless soon?

Robert Scoble, who just joined Fast Company to develop online videos, is interviewing attendees at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland and might have gotten something of a small scoop regarding the future of the Sony electronic book reader (see below).

This morning at the WEF, Robert was interviewing two well known technology journalists, David Kirkpatrick of Fortune and John Markoff of The New York Times.  Robert has been conducting many interviews of WEF attendees and streaming the videos live on the Qik video hosting site.  Based on a question from someone viewing the interview live on Qik, Robert asked the journalists what they thought about Amazon’s ebook reader, the Kindle (see top left).

Kirkpatrick said (see top) he had spoken this morning to Howard Stringer, the chairman and CEO of Sony Corp. of America, and Stringer was “jealous” that Amazon had introduced the Kindle with free wireless.  The Kindle incorporates a 1xEV-DO modem from Sprint, as I discussed in my “Thinkernet” column examining the ramifications of the ebook reader.

Kirkpatrick also said Stringer told him wireless for the Sony ebook reader is “not too far in the future.”  Kirkpatrick didn’t elaborate.  So, will the next Sony reader incorporate cellular (or even WiFi)?

Robert has been doing a great job of interviewing people from the WEF, and I wrote about it this morning in my mobile television weblog.

Effects of microblogging, politics and The New York Times

I live in one of the most political — perhaps the most political — areas in the world:  Washington, D.C.  I hate politics; I especially hate national politicians. 

All too many politicians are amoral or immoral.  They don’t have the morality of normal Americans and they don’t realize their failings or they know but they don’t care.  As Mark Twain said in Pudd’nhead Wilson, “It could probably be shown by facts and figures that there is no distinctly native American criminal class except Congress.”

What does this have to do with wireless data?  Microblogging.  More people are posting microblogs — short comments — from their cellular phones.  I wrote about the ramifications of microblogging in my latest weekly “Thinkernet” mobile communications column in CMP’s “Internet Evolution” (see below).

Today I see The New York Times published an article about microblogging in the current Presidential campaigns.

Amazon's Kindle electronic book reader has ramifications for mobile, newsletters

As a lover of reading and also technology (especially wireless), I have been eagerly following the launch of Amazon’s new $399 electronic book reader, Kindle (see below), and its associated services.

I’ve read all the information and watched the videos about the Kindle on Amazon’s site (Amazon has done a very nice job publicizing it) as well as reading many of the reviews online and videos (check out the video by James Kendrick and the videos here and here by Robert Scoble.)

I wrote an article about the Kindle and the future of electronic books that is slated to be published next Monday (November 26) for my “Thinkernet” columns on CMP’s “Internet Evolution” Web site.

The wireless advantage

One major distinguishing feature of the Kindle is its built-in 1xEV-DO modem on Sprint’s cellular network.  Amazon says a book is typically downloaded in less than a minute over EV-DO.

The EV-DO capability is “free” for Amazon services, such as accessing the company’s Web site and downloading publications.  The price is part of the cost of the Kindle.

However, the Kindle also incorporates a basic Web browser, and it’s not clear whether all EV-DO access will be free or whether Amazon will begin charging airtime fees for certain applications, such as browsing non-Amazon sites.

The new economics of journalism

I discuss the tremendous value of wireless in my upcoming “Thinkernet” column, including the ability of publications — newspapers, magazines and even weblogs — to be pushed automatically via cellular.  These pushed updates require monthly subscriptions.

So, to discuss another wireless tie-in:  The entire journalism community — newspapers, magazines, newsletters and radio and television stations — has been desperately trying to develop new business strategies as the result of the economics (or lack thereof) of the Internet.

Increasingly we’re seeing wireless-related newsletters and magazines reducing the number of pages, decreasing the frequency of publication, moving exclusively to the Web, becoming entirely advertiser-supported or ceasing publication.  Many paper-based newsletters that used to charge $500 per year and up are stopping publication or moving to an advertising-only model.

Exploring Kindle’s opportunities

I was thinking, what if the wireless newsletters that are now free, such as those from Fierce Markets, Unstrung and Tech Wire, would approach Amazon about offering their content for the Kindle?  Even if they charged a very minimal amount, say $1.99 a month, it could be a good marketing strategy.

There certainly is a convenience factor in automatically transmitting publications — just like a newspaper is delivered in the early morning — and Kindle users being able to pick up the device and begin reading immediately.

Of course, newsletters that still charged premium prices could charge subscription fees for Kindle.  The newsletter companies would be crazy, though, not to offer significant discounts for Kindle downloads.  Subscribers will expect it.

Gotchas

One possible “gotcha” is whether Amazon will begin charging users to access the links to articles included in these newsletters.  There are lots of links in many of the newsletters. 

Check out the “Wireless Connectivity” section for Kindle’s “License Agreement and Terms of Use.”  Amazon says, “Amazon provides wireless connectivity free of charge to you for certain content shopping and acquisition services on your Device.  You will be charged a fee for wireless connectivity for your use of other wireless services on your Device, such as Web browsing and downloading of personal files, should you elect to use those services.”

The bundled Web browser is accessed under the Kindle’s “Experimental” menu.  Perhaps if it moves from “Experimental” to “Commercial,” you’ll have to pay additional fees.

In addition, I don’t know what costs are involved in converting publications to the Kindle AZW format.

Regardless of the problems, the future (indeed, the present) of publications is digital.

Vox offers weblog templates with Nokia N93, N95, N800 themes

If you use Six Apart’s Vox for your weblog and you love Nokia’s N93 or N95 camera phones or Nokia’s N800 Internet Tablet, you might want to take a look at new Vox templates.

Nokia has created six templates — three designs, each in two colors — for the N800 (see below).

Nokia also has created Vox templates for the new N95 five megapixel camera phone (see below) and the 3.2 megapixel N93 camera phone (not shown).

Nokia has created a total of 16 templates for the three devices.  I don’t know if you may see the designs without being a Vox member, but the N800 templates are in “New” designs, and those templates plus the phone templates are in the “Photo-based” design section.

Nokia and Six Apart previously signed an agreement to work together to facilitate integration of weblogs (including Six Apart’s TypePad weblog service — that I use for mine) with Nokia phones with an emphasis on — surprise! — imaging.

I’m a fan of both TypePad and Nokia products.  (Disclosure:  I’m part of Nokia’s Blogger Relations program and Andy Abramson — VoIP guru and marketing/public relations expert — sends me many of the company’s hottest gadgets.)

Playing favorites

The N93 and the N95 are two of my favorite cellular phones.  The N95 (see below) is probably my all-time favorite….at least for now. 

The five megapixel resolution and 30–frames-per-second video capabilities combined with the phone’s excellent music (FM radio and MP3) and video capabilities make this the phone I’m more likely to take than any other — except for Research in Motion’s BlackBerry 8700g because of its full QWERTY keyboard.

I’m a keyboard guy (as I’ve previously ranted in this weblog) so I typically carry the 8700g as well as at least one feature-rich multimedia handset.  (I’m eagerly awaiting a rumored full QWERTY keyboard BlackBerry with a camera since I’m also very much a camera phone guy.)

N93 versus N95

The extra megapixels of the N95 are an advantage, especially because I love cropping photos.  I’m very big on tight cropping so when I chop away extraneous pixels a high resolution camera is very useful.

However, I’m also a big fan of optical zooms rather than virtually useless digital zooms.  That’s why I also like the N93 because of its 3x optical zoom.  It makes a significant difference to me when taking photos and I wish the N95 had an optical zoom.

(I’ll soon post photos and videos comparing the N93 with the N95.)

Speaking of Nokia devices and keyboards, I’m pondering whether to get the smaller, lighter folding Stowaway Bluetooth keyboard — that Andy uses — or the larger and heavier Stowaway that has an extra row of keys.  Interestingly, the small keyboard retails for $20 more.  Functionality versus portability.

The N800

Nokia sent me an N800 (see below) that doesn’t incorporate a phone but, instead is designed to work via WiFi or Bluetooth.  It very quickly finds and connects to my home WiFi router.  (The N95 has WiFi, too, but it’s sometimes flakey trying to locate available networks; it usually manages to find the network I want, though not always immediately.  The more I use phones with WiFi, the more I like cellular + WiFi)

The N800 has a large bright screen, two surprisingly powerful speakers, two SD card slots, a touch screen with on-screen keyboard, excellent audio (FM radio, Internet radio, MP3) and video viewing capabilities, good Web/RSS browsing/reading features, useful note-taking features and video calls with a pop-out low-resolution camera that I haven’t yet used.

Although it’s too large to fit in your pocket (unless you have the pockets of Captain Kangaroo), it’s certainly small and light enough to easily carry around.  The Linux-based device is something like a giant PDA, although Nokia executives would probably pale at the comparison!

Being a keyboard guy, I think the N800 will be much more useful to me once I get a folding Bluetooth keyboard.  I’d also love to find a case in which the N800 and keyboard fit snugly but without scratching each other.  All the cases I’ve seen either are too small or too large.