Search results matching tags 'Tech Watch' and 'Gadgets'

New Zune Line-up Announced

Matt — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 05:26:19 GMT

So the new Zune device line-up has been announced and is set to releases for the holiday season. An 80GB hard-drive based model and 8GB and 4GB ultra-portable flash memory models are said to include the same basic feature line-up.

Zune, using Zune Marketplace, will be able to download, share and play music minus the digital rights management software (DRM). Other new features of note include updated touch controls, Wi-Fi sync and recorded TV content. The Zune 80GB is said to be 1/3 the size with a 3.2 inch screen.

But here's the big news!

The Zune v.1 (yes - the old 30GB one) is getting the new Wi-Fi syncing, it's getting the updated sharing features, the new codecs, podcasts, and the new Windows Media Center TV on the go. Hell - yes!! This is a compelling story...

Technorati tags: Gadgets, Tech Watch, Zune

The current social networking landscape

Matt — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 05:10:22 GMT

So Social networking apps and services are maturing and proliferating at the speed of light. The new kid on the block, from Kevin Rose of Digg fame, Pownce has some promising features and for an alpha product is getting some great press (billed the "next" Twitter killer). As in the early days of Gmail Pownce is providing new accounts by invite only right now and as a result you find craziness like invites being bid on at eBay. I'd hold on this - Pownce is no Gmail.

Thanks to Tim, though, I've been checking out Pownce tonight and I'm initially impressed with features like file sharing, links, and shared event calendars: none of which Twitter provides - "yet". Pownce also has a simpler reply and directed post implementation and larger message size. The Twitter implementation, however, still provides something that's key in my mind to this type of networking - the ability to post via text message (mobile integration). There's something to be said about micro-posting while at an event, some landmark or simply while not at a computer. I'll be interested to see how the Pownce-Facebook application and Twitter mashups will play in proliferation: integrated experience is important.

Hold the presses

With facebook's implementation of mobile text posting recently and with facebook clients emerging (nothing too exciting yet) Pownce and Twitter may already be "running on fumes". I'd be interested to hear what others opinions are on this.

The Mothership's Live groups (Messenger, Hotmail, Groups and Spaces) need to take note. It's crazy to me how disjointed these offerings still are. It'd take me a lot (no a lot) to give up on Live Messenger but I'd really like it to be my one client for IM, micro-posting (public and targeted), contacts, calendars and an access point into things like facebook status, pokes, ya-da-ya-da...

It'll be interesting to see how the social networking landscape looks in 6 months/year.

Pownce Invites

So I have 6 Pownce invites - if you want one contact me. I'll send them to the first 6 that request them: if you don't get a reply/invite assume they're gone. Please do comment to this post if you'd like but (heads-up) I won't be monitoring comments for the invite requests.

Technorati tags: Digg, Gadgets, Pownce, Social Networking, Tech Watch, Windows Live

Song Identification - Very Cool

Matt — Tue, 22 May 2007 07:59:23 GMT

So I'm watching TV while catching up, from a weekend in LA, on some reading and I had to rewind the DVR for this one. The commercial started out in a narrative of a "music hunter that prowls the streets" (paraphrasing). The guy in the commercial stops in front of a shop were a creepy guy stands watching, seemingly, for potential suckers and a small boom box is playing a song that catches the guys attention. He raises his phone and clicks a button. A second later he looks at the phone and in its display reads - "Song ID: Song Identified": with the songs name.

Oh - that's frick'n cool!

The commercial was for one of Verizon's V Cast phones. However, after some quick, and very light, research I find that the technology isn't brand new (no big surprise - coming out of Verizon) or limited to any provider for that matter. Take a look at the Verizon feature and here's a good post on the subject where the writer describes the possible technology behind the Verizon implementation as well as some alternatives for non-Verizon customers, like me.

Technorati tags: Tech Watch, Gadgets