T-Mobile G1 with Android OS

Over the past few weeks or so, one of the biggest tech news that came out was the launch of T-Mobile G1. Of course, the big attraction for the tech community wasn't the handset, but it was the Android OS in that mobile phone.

Again, I'll have to bitch about the fact that here in Singapore, we don't get to experience the look and feel of the device. I can only "sense" it via pictures and videos on the Internet. My immediate reaction was, "geez, that looks pretty ordinary". But after watching the videos posted by Google engineers, well it certainly looks promising indeed.

Check this out:


My personal opinion is that the Android will take off, and make a sizable dent in the mobile phone OS market. Why? I'm just inferring from current trends.

1. Convergence of functionality into a mobile phone
We used to have a separate MP3 players, a digital camera, a mobile phone, a folded map, PDA, etc etc. Now, we have everything onto 1 device, that is the mobile phone. Advancement in technology has brought us much convenience (in small and sexy packages no less). Seems that the mobile phone is our window to the world, and we can't really live without it. This consumer demand benefits not only Google or Apple, but the entire mobile phone industry. This brings me to point number 2.

2. Increased demand for personalization and customization
If I am so reliant on the mobile phone, I would want applications on it to work for me. An iPhone/GPhone guitar tuner application will be useful for me, a classical guitarist, but probably not for somebody who can't differentiate a "do" from a "re". In other words, I would want things to be personalized. One notable example is the Firefox browser. In contrast to Internet Explorer, you can choose from thousands of addons and install them into Firefox to suit your lifestyle. This, I feel, is the secret sauce to their success. If Android is as "open" as they claim to be, together with a critical mass of independent developers, the possibilities are endless.

The final factor on why I think Android will be a success is that fact that unlike the iPhone, the OS will be compatible across manufacturers. Now, Google has LG, HTC, Samsung and Motorola into the "Alliance". Perhaps in the future it can get other manufacturers such as Nokia and Sony Ericsson on board. What does this mean? If I had previously used a Motorola phone with an Android OS, I can switch to a Samsung phone with the same Android OS, and have more of less the same usage experience. All my personalized settings and applications are still there. No need for convoluted porting processes or lengthy conversions. I assume this is what the Alliance is for. Otherwise, then what?

I can't wait to get my hands on an Android powered phone. But hey, I also want an iPhone. Google, or Apple? Whatever it is, it's great for us consumers.

4 Mums Origami Stroller

I saw this video via a post on CrunchGear and man, I was simply amazed.



Well, I don't have any kids, but I did brought my niece and nephew out while they were toddlers. Parents out there will definitely agree with me that folding and unfolding these prams can really be a handful.

As mentioned by Matt Burns in his post, "The best part is that the mechanism’s power comes from a small generator that recharges with every 300 feet instead of utilizing pricey batteries."

Wow. I'm all for renewables because over the long run, not only does it saves money (over batteries), but it saves the environment as well. The US$650 price tag is not exciting to me though.

Golf + Technology makes me happy

If situation permits, I would never turn down a game of golf. I love the wide open spaces and the lush greenery. Whether you have an excellent game, or one where your ball slices into the jungle 90% of the time, you do forget your troubles back in the office or home.

When I see technology marrying with golf, wow, double whammy. Gets my blood pumping to the right places....that is the brain. Problem is, I've always read about them, but never had the chance to actually use them. Nifty golf gadgets are hard to find here in South East Asia. Just take the uPro for example. This device, well, on paper, is way cool.
From the product page, it does the more obvious job of gauging distances to the greens from your position, as well as location of hazards, bunkers and what-have-yous. What is more interesting is that, it even provides "a video flyover that allows the user to see the layout of the hole from an aerial perspective". Awesome!

And for the more pro-level golfers, there is SmartView, where "users are always shown pertinent information based on their current location on the course. Three different views allow the user to plan out the perfect shot." Hmm. For Mr-scores-100+ (that's me), it's practically useless because my balls seldom land where I'm aiming.

Anyway, I'd be really interested to bring a device like this to the course, and see how accurate it can be. Or, you can use it to irritate your caddy by pointing out how inaccurate his distance gauging is. I like the fact that there are no subscription fees attached to it. It's a purchase once, get-all-the-updates-and-courses-for-life kind of package. But the unit costs US$400. Not very techmiserish if you ask me.

If you guys are still interested, do check out uPro's website here

Yes, Google has taken over my desktop

Internet browsing to many people is simply a functional chore. You get an Internet connection, launch Internet Explorer, and the proverbial"world is at your fingertips".

Along comes Firefox, boasting of a more secured and customized browsing experience. Mozilla developed a browser that sparked an innovation war between itself and Microsoft, getting around 25% of the Internet browser market in the process. Of course there are other players in the field such as Apple an its Safari browser and Opera.

4 browsers, all free, each satisfying its legions of fans. Excellent!

Then Google decided to join in the fun and introduced Chrome. The reviews have been mostly positive, lauding its speed, minimalistic nature, the Omnibar and the Incognito feature - surfing for porn has never been more discreet!

What really got me thinking is the fact that Google has taken over my desktop. The OS has become somewhat irrelevant.

Say, I'm running a small business. I will typically:

- Log into my Gmail

- Check my Google calendar for upcoming appointments

- Use Google Document to write my business proposals and prepare my presentations

- Use the spreadsheet to sort out my finances

- Take a break by logging into Google-owned Youtube and watching online videos

- Keep my friends updated of my life via Google's Blogger

- Research further into my competitor's products and trends using none other than Google's search engine

- Advertise online using Google's adwords and adsense

- And so on and so forth. You get my drift.

All done via Google Chrome! Which is probably programmed to streamline all of Google's applications and services. For some weird reason, my gmail loads incompletely in Firefox, making me hit the F5 everytime I log in. Chrome on the other hand, loads my gmail in an instant. Hmm...

Anyway, give it a shot and see what you think. Most importantly, it's absolutely free!

Download it here

A typical work day at ....

iPhone = My object of desire

Hola! The TechMiser is back!

One piece of gadgetry that really caught my interest is none other the iPhone. I'm not a big Apple fan, but I do love a well designed piece of equipment that makes the user feel great. Pound for pound, according to my geeky friend, iPhone loses out to its competitors like Samsung's Omnia or the HTC Diamond. The camera has less megapixels, screen resolution, the size is bigger, it's heavier, there are a lot more applications for the Windows Mobile platform, content is more varied, and so on and so forth.

However, the thing that really stood out for me is the fact that, the iPhone is simply much more sexy. I've tried to navigate around the menus of the Omnia and the Diamond, but they are just uninspiring. Those 2 that I've mentioned have great looking industrial designs, but it's ruined by the Windows Mobile-based interface. In addition, the accelerometer and true multi-touch interface will inspire plenty of creative applications and of course, they will be available easily via the iPhone application store. And, web browsing is the best I've ever experience on a mobile phone. It's sexy, and it's intuitive.

Now, the thing is to actually own one of these sexy beasts. Being techmiser, I'll wait for prices to go down even further.