tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58055350526864424622024-03-13T04:21:43.216-07:00Mike's TechnoBabbleGotta babble about something... might as well be technology & gadgets!Mike Van Hornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14438873298118068442noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805535052686442462.post-85228202407864337232011-02-27T18:26:00.000-08:002011-02-27T18:26:51.681-08:00iWant: iPad2 Features<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-aJwGzda_z00/TWsHskMYlRI/AAAAAAAAAEE/cpvy_6i5Yqo/s1600/ipad2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-aJwGzda_z00/TWsHskMYlRI/AAAAAAAAAEE/cpvy_6i5Yqo/s1600/ipad2.jpg" /></a></div><br />
This week we're going to steer a little off track from the normal iWant format. Speculation is running rampant that Apple will be announcing their latest iPad iteration during a media event on March 2nd. Instead of telling you how desperately I want one, I'm looking to start a discussion. Stir the pot. Add some spice to this lil' ole' blog. I'll tell you what features I want in the new Apple iPad 2, but more importantly I want you to tell me what you want to see. From the crazy, to the practical, to the down-right genius- I want to hear your ideas. And who knows...maybe the folks in Cupertino are watching. A guy can dream, can't he? Without further adieu, here are the top five features that I'd like to see in the iPad 2. Sound off with your top 5 in the comments!<br />
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</b></u><br />
<u><b>Top 5 features that <i>iWant</i> to see in the iPad 2</b></u><br />
<ol><li><b>Front facing HD camera</b> - but add a little Apple magic to auto-enhance my mug when I'm Face Timing or Skyping</li>
<li><b>Adobe Flash Support</b> - yeah I know, not a chance. But after spending time with Flash 10.1 on the HTC Inspire 4G, I kind of want it in everything. True desk top browsing can't happen without it yet.</li>
<li><b>Better Exchange Email Support</b> - really need task sync support, an easier Global Address search, and invitation tracking for meetings/appointments.</li>
<li><b>A really cool keyboard accessory</b> - c'mon, you're Apple! Come up with sleek, mind-blowing keyboard accessory. Accessory manufacturers have had their chance and plenty of time!</li>
<li><b>4G...</b> iOS awesomeness with faster than ever page load times and crisper than ever streaming video...I'm in!!!</li>
</ol>Mike Van Hornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14438873298118068442noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805535052686442462.post-73387263467368493272011-02-27T18:00:00.000-08:002011-02-27T18:00:59.420-08:00Mike's TechReview: HTC Inspire 4G<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/--OlRE_4qW5s/TWsBMjp3h2I/AAAAAAAAAEA/AcHM8EuBwRg/s1600/inspire4g.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/--OlRE_4qW5s/TWsBMjp3h2I/AAAAAAAAAEA/AcHM8EuBwRg/s1600/inspire4g.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Alright sports fans... I was lucky enough to snag one of AT&T's newest SmartPhones, the android powered HTC Inspire 4G. I've been using the Inspire 4G for a little over a week so here's a hands-on review with my initial impressions; the good, the bad and yes, even the ugly.<br />
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<u><b>The Good:</b></u> <br />
<ul><li> Build quality</li>
<li>Killer 8MP camera</li>
<li>Finally Froyo</li>
<li>Snappy, 1 GHz processor</li>
</ul><u><b> The Bad:</b></u><br />
<ul><li>Where's the 4G?</li>
<li> A bit bulky</li>
<li>3.5 mm audio...on the bottom?</li>
</ul><u><b>The Ugly:</b></u><br />
<ul><li>No HTML email w/ Exchange 2003</li>
</ul>Hit the break for a recap and final impressions!<br />
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<a name='more'></a><u><b>Recap/Final Impressions </b></u><br />
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Overall, the goods far outweigh the bads with this one folks. The screen is amazing and the 4.3" size really works well. Whether typing in landscape mode or checking out a YouTube vid, the extra real estate on the screen is a pleasure and the resolution is pretty superb too. My first experience with Froyo (Android 2.2) at first seemed unremarkable, but upon reflection it's really pretty amazing. Froyo is much more stable than Eclair (2.1) with far fewer crashes and freezes. Google has also added some minor tweaks that just make sense namely their new Task Manager that lets you control just about any aspect of your phone in a click or two. I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that I never actually experienced 4G data speeds, even though the Inspire is capable. I'm told that it's coming soon in my area, so I'll have to reserve judgment...3G is okay, but heck the phone has 4G in the name so it should be smoking fast,right? The awesome camera and the solid feel of the phone nearly make me forget about the lack of the extra "G", but silly placement of the audio jack and the sheer weigh remind me that I'm missing a lil' somethin' somethin'... At the end of the day, this phone rates about a 7 out of 10, but could be a stron 8.5 if 4G is as fast as advertised. Going to post some hands on video soon...y'all come back now.Mike Van Hornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14438873298118068442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805535052686442462.post-90768251304236034462011-02-06T12:42:00.000-08:002011-02-06T12:45:20.905-08:00Mike's Tech Take: AT&T vs. Verizon iPhone 4<style>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt;">It’s one of the most heated debates in the technosphere right now, so I figured that I’d weigh in with my opinions on AT&T's iPhone 4 vs. Verizon’s version which launches in stores on February 10<sup>th</sup>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt;">If you’re a current or prospective iPhone user, the choice to buy AT&T or Verizon’s iPhone 4 comes down decisions in a few key areas, in my opinion. Hit the break to find out what they are!<a name='more'></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt;">Key Decision Factors - AT&T vs. Verizon iPhone 4</span></div><ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt;">Network/Call Quality</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt;"> - Who works best in your area? Verizon has the best rep, but all carriers have strong/weak areas. Ask around!</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt;">Simultaneous Voice/Data</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt;"> - Do you want to be able to browse & email while you're talking on the phone? If so, choose AT&T b/c Verizon's network doesn't allow this.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt;">Data Speed</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt;"> - Is speed important? Both iPhone 4's will run on 3G networks, but AT&T is regarded as the speed king. If you're willing to give up speed for reliability, Verizon might be your choice.</span></li>
</ul><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt;">While there may be other compelling reasons to choose one carrier over another, these are the three most important in my opinion. At the end of the day, choice is good for the consumer, so we all should win now that iPhone 4 has more than one home in the U.S. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt;">Feel free to sound off in the comment section with YOUR thoughts!!! </span></div></div>Mike Van Hornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14438873298118068442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805535052686442462.post-6471801456473151122011-02-06T12:04:00.000-08:002011-02-06T12:06:42.532-08:00iWant: snakebyte™ Premium Bluetooth Remote<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR9ICDx4PSc/TU79ttz-JxI/AAAAAAAAADk/WCbhxJgSx14/s1600/gI_59023_remote_frontBlue_300dpi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cR9ICDx4PSc/TU79ttz-JxI/AAAAAAAAADk/WCbhxJgSx14/s1600/gI_59023_remote_frontBlue_300dpi.jpg" /></a></div><style>
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<div class="MsoNormal">Okay, so this week’s iWant item is something that looks like it will cure one of my techno diseases… Toomanyremote-itis. This disease affects many technophiles around the world, particularly those who use Sony’s Playstation 3 as a DVD/BlueRay/media hub like I do. The problem is simple – most gadgets’ remotes use IR technology, but the PS3 uses Bluetooth. That said, universal remotes like Logitech’s Harmony 880 can control just about everything in your home that uses IR…but not your Playstation 3. No matter what I’ve tried in the past I’ve always ended up with too many remotes, too many “power” buttons to press, and too many batteries to replace. Other side effects of Toomanyremote-itis include having to provide an instruction manual entitled “How to watch a DVD” to anyone looking to do so in my home, including my wife.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Friends… I think the suffering is over. More details after the break!!!<br />
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<a name='more'></a><br />
Snakebyte unveiled a new universal remote at CES in January that is compatible with BOTH IR and Bluetooth devices. This means that when it hits the shelves in April, I’ll be able to use the snakebyte<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Lucida Grande";">™ </span></b>Premium Bluetooth Remote to control all the gadgets in my AV setup with ONE remote control! We’re talking remote control nirvana here, folks! This piece of new tech goodness can control your PS3 and up to 5 other AV components…all for only $49.99 via www.snakebyte-usa.com and other e-tailers . Here's the official press release.</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><style>
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Official Press Release</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/1/prweb8055354.htm">http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/1/prweb8055354.htm</a></div>Mike Van Hornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14438873298118068442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805535052686442462.post-75408595452791748572011-02-01T19:37:00.001-08:002011-02-01T19:37:58.829-08:00My Technorati Claim TokenMUYSFY3E2NGNMike Van Hornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14438873298118068442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805535052686442462.post-11348238584816464342011-01-23T10:41:00.000-08:002011-02-20T18:00:06.385-08:00iWant: Motorola Atrix 4G<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cR9ICDx4PSc/TTxvySEIcbI/AAAAAAAAADc/rm2AbKjpDZs/s1600/Motorola-Atrix-4G.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cR9ICDx4PSc/TTxvySEIcbI/AAAAAAAAADc/rm2AbKjpDZs/s320/Motorola-Atrix-4G.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Each week we'll feature an upcoming gadget that we're dying to get our hands on in a series we call iWant. This week we've selected Motorola's new SuperPhone (read: high powered SmartPhone), the ATRIX 4G. This little powerhouse is slated to drop sometime in 1Q11 on AT&T and made a splashy debut winning best of CES 2011. Key features include a dual-core processor, 1 GB RAM, front/rear facing cameras, qHD (high resolution) display, HD video capture/playback and lots more. With all that muscle on-board, its no wonder that Motorola is touting ATRIX 4G as the "world's most powerful smartphone." But folks, it doesn't stop there...equally as impressive are the accessory options for this beauty. My personal favorite is Laptop Dock, a slim netbook-like device that ATRIX 4G snaps into to provide a desktop class web browsing, multimedia, and productivity experience that rivals many laptops on the market. Videos and more ATRIX hotness after the jump. So whaddaya think? Want one? Sound off in the comment section below.</div><a name='more'></a><br />
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<a href="http://mediacenter.motorola.com/Press-Releases/Motorola-Mobility-and-AT-T-Announce-ATRIX-4G-the-Future-of-Mobile-Computing-353c.aspx">Motorola ATRIX 4G Press Release and Hands-On Video</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.motorola.com/Consumers/US-EN/Consumer-Product-and-Services/Mobile-Phones/Motorola-ATRIX-US-EN">Motorola ATRIX 4G Homepage</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/uWIe8wQBqS0?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Mike Van Hornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14438873298118068442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805535052686442462.post-57453778665695123162011-01-23T09:17:00.001-08:002011-01-23T09:26:12.877-08:00Mobile Babble: Poor Mac!!!<div class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cR9ICDx4PSc/TTxivEI0ZjI/AAAAAAAAACA/CMyqwEsBv1E/s1600/WP_000008-767728.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565431800227194418" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cR9ICDx4PSc/TTxivEI0ZjI/AAAAAAAAACA/CMyqwEsBv1E/s320/WP_000008-767728.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">My iMac 27 sitting on TV trays...blasphemy!!! Desk is under construction...<br />
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</div>Mike Van Hornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14438873298118068442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5805535052686442462.post-75527097638921803642011-01-23T09:02:00.001-08:002011-01-23T09:27:16.728-08:00Mobile Babble: Blog via SMSBlogger mobile rocks! Post by sending an SMS to 256447...pretty simple set up.Mike Van Hornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14438873298118068442noreply@blogger.com0