When I replaced my Nokia N95 late last year, I was sorely disappointed to find that two of my favorite apps were not available on my then new Motorola Droid. Hearing word that one of the developers had no plans to offer their app on the Android market almost caused me to pass on the Droid and the Android OS completely – no joke. But I figured it was only a matter of time. So for months I toted around my Nokia N95 in addition to my Droid just so I had access to these apps. But alas! Those days are over now that both apps are now available on phones running Android 2.1. The apps I’m talking about are the Skyfire browser and Sling Player.
Skyfire
There are a bunch of different mobile web browsers out there but Skyfire browser does something that no other browser can do on a mobile phone and that’s play Flash content. With many popular websites these days you often get a dumbed down mobile version. I don’t know about you, but this totally annoys me. More often then not, there’s always something missing (content or function) that I desire from the original site. Part of the reason is that these sites are data intensive but the other reason is they incorporate flash which doesn’t work on other mobile browsers. With Skyfire, I can have nearly the same browser experience I have when I’m on my desktop or laptop computer. But what makes this browser sweet is the ability to watch video. Not that big of a deal if the video is YouTube content (you can simply use a YouTube app) but it’s awesome if you want to watch content from some of my favorite sites like ESPN and Hulu. (Update: Hulu seems to be blocking Skyfire servers at this time) I’m still testing it and haven’t decided to completely ditch the original browser that came with my phone making Skyfire my default browser, but so far I haven’t found a reason not to.
Skyfire has been available for Symbian for a while but just launched in April for Android 2.1. Until 2.2 comes out Skyfire has got to be THE browser to use. Of course, it’s not available for iPhones (although I hear they have developed the app should Apple allow it into their app store). www.skyfire.com
SlingPlayer Mobile
SlingPlayer on my laptop was cool. SlingPlayer on a mobile phone is genius and to me more useful. The ability to watch TV or control my Tivo anywhere I have a 3G or Wifi connection is a great advancement in tech and a game changer. Yes, I have Tivo and can just as well record something and watch it later when I get home, but how about having access to instant replay or insight from an announcer while at a sporting event? Having this at the Giants game (on the free AT&T Wifi) is killer and enhances the experience. Also how many times have you been stuck with your friends in a car after hitting the slopes in Tahoe trying to make it back to your cabin or home in time to watch a NFL playoff game? Or when you’re away from home traveling on business? That’s when you can really appreciate it, especially if you’re phone has an A/V output (like the N95 or the soon to be released Droid X) that you can plug into the hotel TV. Traveling internationally you’ll probably want to use a Wifi connection for economic reasons. SlingPlayer Mobile is game changing because I’m no longer in a hurry or feel the need to stay or get anywhere with a TV. I’m still playing around with it on my Droid but so far I must say it is very well done in the way of function and UI – way better than I expected. I’m off to the Giants vs. Redsox game on Friday to give it the true test.
SlingPlayer Mobile has long been available for Symbian, Blackberry, and Palm OS and more recently iPhone. And now, the much anticipated app for Android 2.1 just released. The app costs $29.99 but that’s cheap considering you will now have a portable TV. Of course you do need to buy hardware and connect it at home first (I recommend the Slingbox SOLO if you’re going to watch primarily on your mobile) http://www.slingmedia.com/go/slingplayer-mobile
As of today, I no longer miss my N95 (with the exception of its camera) as now I have everything I need and more on my Droid.
It’s been 2 years since I ditched my Palm Treo and opened the box to my new Nokia N95. I must say the N95 served me very well in my travels. My international travels, in fact, were the reason I chose it over the iphone. The ability to swap a sim card was a must and the N95 was already a popular and proven device in Europe among other countries. Even as the iPhone rapidly grew in popularity with so many cool apps somehow I was only slightly envious (mostly of the touch screen and browser). I found the iPhone still did not do a lot of things the N95 could (or at least well). iPhone was still was far behind in its hardware and utilizing more advance tech like great streaming apps like Slingbox, Qik, Kyte, Flixwagon. As a traveler, these apps were my crack that made me a fan of the Symbian OS and my N95. And not just the apps but the hardware. The camera on the N95 embarrasses the iPhone with a Carl Zeiss lens, 5mp, flash, and a button to press to take the shot. It’s standard camera app with a UI and settings similar to that of a point-and-shoot digital camera, pressing the button partially to focus and then fully to take the shot at that instant, the camera’s feature and function was not an afterthought as it is on iPhone and most other mobile phones. The proof obviously is in the shot quality – still and video (and audio). My friends with iphones were always amazed with the pictures and audio/video quality of my recordings. While it’s not totally on par with a good point and shoot, I have on occasion considered leaving my Canon behind when traveling.
A month ago I finally decided it was time to upgrade. My N95 was pretty beaten up now having gone through 11 countries, many drops, moisture (my sweaty jersey pocket!), hard resets, re-installs, and replacement batteries. When the phone started restarting every time it experienced a slight bump (even from opening and closing the slider!) I decided it was time to get a new device. For a techie like myself two years with the same phone was certainly too long. Surely there were devices far more advanced to be had.
I previously passed on the N96, not only because my N95 was still fairly new, but the rumors and promise of the N97 with touchscreen and fill QWERTY had me waiting. But it was with great disappointment to find the much hyped N97 had fallen short in delivering anything significantly better (if better at all) than the N95 to compete with the iphone’s superb multi-touch screen capabilities even with a full keyboard. It seems like yesterday, but it was a year ago at CES when I first handled one under the close supervision at the Nokia booth. While their Ovi app market has grown, it hasn’t really hasn’t gained the developers and momentum I thought it would. It had left me hungry for more.
Once again, I was considering an iphone purchase but didn’t know if I could stand another year on AT&T. Beyond the network I knew there had to be a smarter device out there that could rival the usability Apple is so well known for. Google and it’s Android OS had emerged but the devices were something left to be desired. That is until the Motorola Droid came out.
So you know how this post is supposed to end, so here it is… When I picked up the Droid, I couldn’t get past the amazing 854×480 (WVGA) screen. As a big user of Google services (gmail, maps, gtalk, picasa, voice) I looked forward to the seamless integration of my contacts and data. The fact that I would be back on Verizon was a huge plus despite not being able to swap sim cards for travel. I realized most of my usage this year would be domestic in the US. Verizon is unbelievable better than AT&T when it comes to coverage despite AT&T and Luke Wilson’s best efforts to communicate otherwise. And it’s not just coverage, but availability. Going against the iPhone grain has allowed me network availability at concerts and venues with crowds infested with iPhone users.
While my friend at Google offered no help whatsoever (and certainly did not influence my decision) I took the leap and jumped on the much hyped Motorola Droid. So far, not bad. I say that from a very techie perspective. Using it as a phone actually takes getting used to. The fact that there are no physical buttons to control the phone (other than volume) and makes it a bit frustrating to use. But like other smartphones, you usually don’t buy for its phone function but for everything else it does and is capable of doing. I’m primarily talking about the Android OS. Google, while they always seem to release products forever in beta and therefore very buggy, you can’t deny the juggernaut and the innovation and the fact that they’ll be around for a while. Whereas Apple limits app developers to certain parts of the iPhone OS, Google provides little restrictions for developers of Android apps. This strategy could result in more developers and potentially apps with greater capability. The flipside is there will be a lot of buggy apps to weed through and ones that could potentially crash your phone.
I have accepted the fact that my Droid or any future Android phone I purchase may not work as perfect as an iPhone, but I’m willing to work through minor pains to have the latest tech, innovations, and apps without restrictions of use or service. I like the potential of the Android OS and the growth of their app market. I will certainly be following it closely now that I’m invested. So for now, no iPhone for me. I’m a Droid – at least for 2010.
Recently my friend Michelle sent me the trailer of a new romantic comedy movie, Up In The Air, where George Clooney stars as a business traveler obsessed with accumulating mileage and points on airlines and travel loyalty programs to obtain status and rewards. This is totally her. And so are some of her colleagues that worked for the same global consulting firm. Since leaving her company in July she’s been traveling a lot less. With the year coming to a close, she realized she was coming up short in securing the high level status with some of her programs. How important is status to her? This Thanksgiving she flew from New York(JFK) to Vietnam(SGN) so she could retain the holy grail of status on United Airlines, aka “1K.” While she did fully take advantage of her travel to Vietnam as a tourist, her destination choice was influenced by the total mileage (nearly 20,ooo miles round trip), and of course the fare in relationship to the distance. What’s more is she was credited with twice the mileage she actually traveled due to the double elite qualifying mile promotion. As it turns out, several other frequent fliers friends that did the same thing.
After posting a Facebook status update contemplating one last flight for the year, these friends who are so high on elite status were all over me, trying to convince me I had to have it as well. Because I had been traveling quite a bit this year I decided to look into it. Unfortunately, two of my big trips this year were on rewards miles which obviously don’t count towards accumulating miles. In addition, as more of a leisure traveler, the only thing I had been loyal to was my hard earned dollar, more or less choosing the airlines with the cheapest fares. As I had suspected, I had spread my travel among the airlines leaving me short on every loyalty program. I was closest to achieving Elite status on United Airlines, however still needed a good 9,000 miles to make Premier. From SF, that’s a trip to London and back. But then Michelle reminded me of United’s end of the year double bonus miles promotion. With American also running the same promo, you received double mileage (or segment) credit for travel completed by December 15th. The only secret to this, as with all United’s mileage promo’s, is that you have to go to their website and register for the promotion BEFORE you book your flight. And that is regardless if you’re an existing member. It’s not automatic.
So now all of a sudden a flight from SFO to JFK and back was going to yield over 10,0oo miles! After I found a flight for $230 including tax, it became a no brainer to book especially with plenty of things to do and people to see in NY. Last week I completed this quick trip and I now officially have Premier status on United through 2010.
Last week, I had thoughts about trying to level up to Premier Exec after another friend, Lisa (also with 1K status) exposed me to the art of mileage running. But that seemed to extreme to me and it was too late to employ the tactics. Most mileage runners fly in and out of destinations and make multiple stops just to accumulate miles. If I’m spending money on a flight, I’m stopping over and enjoying the destination. I considered a simple flight to London and back, which would have done it, but despite the reasonable fare I decided the cost would still have outweighed the benefits. I figured I would stand at Premier and spend my money on xmas gifts and gadgets. Maybe next year Premier Exec or 1K!
As of this post, if you’re thinking about making a last ditch mileage run, this is the last day to travel and accumulate double bonus miles! Good luck!
The buzz today is all about Fring and its video calling capability on the iPhone. With this update, many people are discovering Fring for the first time. The app has actually been around for over a year (at least that’s how long I’ve been using it). I originally loaded it on my Nokia N95 as I was looking for an app that would allow me to have to Skype on my phone (since Skype didn’t, or wasn’t going to offer it). I can honestly say this one of my favorite and most used apps on my phone. And it keeps getting better. Besides, Skype, it gives me the ability to connect with friends over Yahoo IM, Google Talk, Facebook, and Twitter over IM all in one application and do voice calls as well. That makes it a must have for anyone traveling in foreign countries, concerned about minutes or using up all their credit with their cellular provider. If you’ve got a WiFi connection, you can talk to your friends on Google Talk or Skype for as long as you want - free.
[Attention Motorola Droid users stuck on Verizon, here's your solution! Better yet, if you have an iPod Touch, you now have a VOIP phone!]
Domestically within your network cell providers coverage, Fring can also be used to talk to your friends in other countries without incurring long distance charges. Yes, you can do this from Skype on your desktop, but it’s more fun and handy to use on the go.
The quality and reliability is what you would expect and similar to a VOIP phone. Just last November when I was in Buenos Aires my friend Paul had a T-Mobile VOIP phone to make calls back home. I guess that’s now obsolete!
So what about the video calling? Fring just released versions with video call capabilities, first with for Symbian 9, a beta version launched last week and today for iPhone/iPod Touch. With the iPhone/iPod Touch you only get one way video (incoming). This makes sense considering on the iPhone/iPod Touch the camera faces outward! With Symbian phones (i.e. Nokia N95, N97) you have both a inward facing camera in addition to your outward facing camera and can do two way video.
Since the video versions are beta you won’t likely get an auto update on your phone (at least this was the case with mine). iPhone users can go to itunes while Symbian and other users will want to go to their mobile site.
Of note, I have also been using a similar app, Nimbuzz which up until this past week did everything Fring did. But unlike Fring, you can do group chats and conference calls. I actually like their UI better as it not only shows which IM your friends are using but a thumbnail pic of them as well. You won’t have the coolness factor of video, but definitely something to keep an eye on. Nimbuzz also has a desktop and web version which gives you other access options.
Fring is available for Android, Symbian, Windows Mobile, and iPhone/iPod Touch OS 3.0. Some features and functions are not available on all OS’s.
This is more of a follow up to my last post on eReaders. I just saw BarnesandNoble.com President William Lynch talk on CNBC following the announcement of their new eBook reader, Nook. The name “Nook” was chosen after consumer testing which Lynch explained rhymes with “book” and leverages a word that people are familiar with through reading Dr. Seuss. They were also able to secure Nook.com which for now, just points to BarnesandNoble.com’s Nook page.
A previously reported, the Nook comes with color touch screen navigation. This is just for the navigation and not the reading display itself. I suspect cost was a factor in making it full touch screen in addition to reducing potential problems with durability and repairs but also perhaps to avoid worsening the user experience with finger prints all over your reading surface.
It too has wireless 3G (through AT&T vs. Kindle’s Sprint) but also has WiFi which can be very handy for the traveler going outside the local or US coverage. With it you can walk into a Barnes & Nobles store, connect for free and receive special deals.
The battery life not only is reported to last 40% longer then the Kindle (14 days vs. 10 days) but the battery itself is replaceable – Great for those concerned about running out of battery while traveling or having your device become mobiley useless after a certain amount of charges (like my iPod mini)!
But the biggest differentiator, however, is Nook’s LendMe technology which allows users to lend their ebooks to friends for up to 14 days. During this time you’ve lent your ebook you won’t be able to access it (just like a paper book). This I believe makes the Nook a game changer. If you are like me and lag behind in reading New Releases and Best Sellers and just borrow them from your many friends who have read them and have it laying around their house, this is huge. And same for if you’re like my friend Michelle who reads over a 100 books a year and often visits the public library to check out books. I can see her ditching her Kindle as the Nook potentially becomes a much more useful eReader to her. It will be interesting to see how libraries and book clubs play into the new eBook eco-system.
As for me, I may become a eReader owner sooner than I thought. Stay tuned…
For a full comparison visit BarnesandNobles.com: Nook vs. Kindle
Nook is available for pre-order and priced at $259 (same as the Kindle US only version)
When Amazon.com first introduced the Kindle, I thought cool gadget but sadly it will become another undersold gadget and obsolete as the Apple Newton. Not only did I feel it was an expensive one trick pony but that you had to be a big reader of books to come close to justifying the cost. I questioned how could my experience be that much better (or better at all) over buying and reading a genuine paperback. I figured if I ever wanted to read an ebook, eventually I’d be able to on a mobile device I already own that like a netbook, ipod or smartphone. (Sure enough Barnes & Noble released an eReader app to download ebooks to your iPhone/iTouch, BlackBerry, PC and Mac, and Andoid according to the latest rumor).
I’ve since had the chance to experience the Kindle 2. It is no doubt a slick device. It’s paper-like screen quality is as easy on your eyes as they say. You have to see it to believe it. No mobile phone or netbook can match it – yet. It’s features and capabilities are greater than I originally thought and it’s easy enough for my mom to use. The portability and mobility of the Kindle provides no greater benefits than to the traveler. Amazon boasts the Kindle’s ability to carry your “entire library” and not having to pick and choose what you put in your carry-on. Great for someone who reads a lot, right? I decided to ask my friend Michelle who travels 2/3rds of the year and is the biggest bookworm I know (reading 100+ books/year!) what was important to her.
Before the Kindle she would often travel with stacks of books and often come back with a new ones. Surprisingly, the ability to carry more while lightening her load isn’t the real benefit for her. As a seasoned traveler, she’s an efficient packer. Like packing clothes, deciding which books to bring is never an issue. If she wanted to, she could bring all the books she could possibly read in most cases. And if it ever becomes a hassle, as she finishes books, she either gives them away (how many books to you read more than once?) or ships them home on the cheap (media rate) with work stuff (expense account!). The real benefit to her is the instant wireless delivery of books and content. Prior to the Kindle, if she wanted something new to read and couldn’t get to a bookstore before her flight, she was out of luck. The benefit Michelle derives from it can be summed up in a brief conversation she had recently with a literary professor and skeptic in adopting the idea of an eReader. The professor protested with her traditionalist view saying “I like books.” To which Michelle responded, “I like to read!” In essence, the Kindle helps her maximize her reading.
For me, the issue is not how many books to bring, but as someone who travels schlepping all sorts of gear, the question is if I bring one at all. It’s something I can do without if it comes down to space and weight. I’d rather pack food and other necessities, if not gadgets and gear! It’s no wonder why its taken me so long to finish that Ludlum book! Kindle’s footprint in my carry-on is minimalist enough to always tote. Dare I say I would actually read more and finish more books if I had a Kindle? I could certainly spare laptop battery not to mention the cost of inflight wifi reading download tech blogs among other things.
As far as costs, in this day in age where companies are cutting their own expenses on paper and ink and sending us our statements, marketing materials, etc. electronically, you’d think ebooks would be a cheaper option to buying a paperback. After all, you already have to shell out for an expensive medium just to read the ebooks. But buying a Kindle book offers only a slight price advantage over a paperback. (As of this post the savings is only $0.29 for a typical book like Dan Brown’s Angels & Demons) The biggest savings is with Best Sellers and New Releases that are normally out on shelves in hardcover. You’ll save $7 but you’re still paying $9.99 for the ebook. Doing the math, for a volume reader like Michelle, the cost of a Kindle can be recouped in 6 months if the preference was only to read the latest on hardbacks, but 12 years reading only paperbacks! True, some ebooks and content are free, but so is checking out books at the Public Library (where Michelle sources a lot of her books). To that respect, clearly you do not improve your economics in owning a Kindle. Let’s face it, it’s a luxury item for even the most avid reader. If you’re contemplating buying one, stop trying to justify the cost! No matter how you spin it, you can’t. Get one because of its cool, convenient, and efficient.
It’s important to note that Michelle still goes to the library when she’s home in SF and buys paperbacks if they’re cheaper to acquire (as surprisingly they are on occasion). So, she’s not a complete convert to ebooks. The other week I went with her to the local Book Fair and between us we must have picked up 30 used books costing us all but $1 each and among them – a copy of Angels & Demons! While I was forced under duress to go, admittedly, I had a fun browsing experience as I’m sure everyone else. Somehow I don’t think people are willing to give things like that up.
While I’m a gadget lover, I may have to wait it out until there’s a major price drop in both e-readers and e-books unless there’s some major gamer changing technology or feature that makes it a must have. I’m sure many other consumers will wait it out as well, however a few recent events I’m keeping an eye on just might be the tipping point for at least a few people…
The first is Amazon’s expected October 19th release of it’s new Kindle capable of International (outside the US) wireless downloads. This has been the a big knock on the Kindle and one of the main reasons why International travellers and obviously those living outside the US have been choosing the Sony instead. (Consumers will still pay a $1.99 fee per International download)
You wonder if Amazon rushed to announce and launch their newest Kindle knowing that Barnes & Noble would to be announcing it’s own eReader device as soon as next week. Already being billed as the “Kindle Killer” , the BN eReader is apparently built on Google Android OS with a touch screen and QWERTY keyboard. With their own eBook distribution, partnership with Google, and lower price point than the Kindle, Amazon had better stay on top of their game. Gizmodo seems to have the scoop on this with some “exclusive” photos.
Barnes & Mobile? The BN eReader (courtesy of Gizmodo.com)
Finally, it looks like Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com will have some company in the eBook space with Google getting in on the action with it’s bookstore “Google Editions” set to launch in 2010. They expect to release about 500,000 titles and be eReader agnostic. This is good for Sony, Asus, and other companies cropping up with their own eReaders that don’t have their own eBook distribution.
Sony Digital Reader Touch Edition
All this competition is good news for the consumer. More innovation, better functionality, more options, and better pricing.
When I’m mobile, I more often watch shows from my Slingbox + TiVo. But there’s a lot of good video content and programming that I love to check out online as well. I’m a huge fan of cycling, triathlon and Olympic sports. So it’s without much question why I love Universal Sports. They cover so many of my sports races and events both on TV and online through their website. I also love to catch up on my favorite shows on Hulu.com. Great sites to watch on your computer but they’re totally unplayable on your mobile phone. Yes, you could download some sort of site specific app/widget for sites like YouTube but the “lite” experience leaves you unfulfilled.
Mobile phone browsers have limitations and for the sake of playing video, its the inability to work with Flash. So I can’t watch on my Nokia N95 what I can normally watch in a browser on my computer, right? Well, that’s the case with my phone’s pre-installed web browser and other mobile browsers like Opera and Firefox. But now there’s Skyfire.
Browsing UniversalSports.com with Skyfire
Skyfire’s mobile web browser is the closest I’ve come to the experience of a browser on a normal computer, albeit you’re viewing on a much smaller screen. My biggest gripe is I can’t login to my ESPN account as for some reason the drop down sign in doesn’t work, but other than that, I haven’t found too many limitations. It will still play the video on the site. And that’s all I want. Now I can watch Ironman live on UniversalSports.com while I’m on the roof deck of my friend’s house while watching the Fleet Week air show in SF! It works with Windows Mobile and Nokia Phones. Download and try it yourself: http://get.skyfire.com or directly from your mobile (yes, from the browser you’ll make obsolete): http://m.skyfire.com
As for iPhone users, unfortunately Skyfire is not available. But there is a pretty good solution out there, however not as simple (and I have not got this to work for some reason). Livebuster is not an app, but rather a site that processes and converts video from popular websites and allows you to play them through your Safari browser. It’s a multiple step process which involves registering for the service, clicking an activation button from your email, bookmarking and opening a special javascript that will enable you to play the flash video.
While they are working on support with a whole list of site (including Facebook), for now you’re limited to YouTube, metacafe, and MySpace, among a few other video sites. Unfortunately, UniversalSports.com is not on their list of sites they’re working on. So those at Ironman this weekend are out of luck.
, I thought cool gadget but sadly it will become another undersold gadget and obsolete as the 
. It is no doubt a slick device. It’s paper-like screen quality is as easy on your eyes as they say. You have to see it to believe it. No mobile phone or netbook can match it – yet. It’s features and capabilities are greater than I originally thought and it’s easy enough for my mom to use. The portability and mobility of the Kindle provides no greater benefits than to the traveler. Amazon boasts the Kindle’s ability to carry your “entire library” and not having to pick and choose what you put in your carry-on. Great for someone who reads a lot, right? I decided to ask my friend Michelle who travels 2/3rds of the year and is the biggest bookworm I know (reading 100+ books/year!) what was important to her.
) The biggest savings is with Best Sellers and New Releases that are normally out on shelves in hardcover. You’ll save $7 but you’re still paying $9.99 for the ebook. Doing the math, for a volume reader like Michelle, the cost of a Kindle can be recouped in 6 months if the preference was only to read the latest on hardbacks, but 12 years reading only paperbacks! True, some ebooks and content are free, but so is checking out books at the Public Library (where Michelle sources a lot of her books). To that respect, clearly you do not improve your economics in owning a Kindle. Let’s face it, it’s a luxury item for even the most avid reader. If you’re contemplating buying one, stop trying to justify the cost! No matter how you spin it, you can’t. Get one because of its cool, convenient, and efficient.
+ 
. But there’s a lot of good video content and programming that I love to check out online as well. I’m a huge fan of cycling, triathlon and Olympic sports. So it’s without much question why I love 
