Been thinking about trying this ever since I saw it at Late to the Party (http://jezlyn.wordpress.com/). If you're reading this on the blog, you can see the Snap Preview Anywhere (http://www.snap.com/) window pop-up when you hover over a link, including my Links in Ink (http://sumocat.blogspot.com/search?q=%22links+in+ink%22). As you can see, it works like a charm. Tell me what you think.
I've been pushing the theory that inking on tablets will see real movement in Asia, including India, because of the use of character-based languages. Well, I may have fulfilled my own prophecy by inspiring the "first 'Hindi Ink Blog post'"! (http://nuktachini.debashish.com/214)
[HINDI IN INK! (http://nuktachini.debashish.com/214) Check out the images!]
Actually, I don't know if I really kicked it off. After all, I can't read the language, but I don't see a screen grab of anyone else's blog. What's really exciting are all the comments and links to other blogs spreading the idea forward. Might be hard since I can't read the language, but I'm going to try to follow it and see how far it goes.
You may have noticed I rolled out a new blog template on Sunday. It's been about six months since the last major revision (http://sumocat.blogspot.com/2006/08/minimalist-template-redesign.html), so I figured it was due. Also, I've been using black and red as the theme colors on my tablet, using the Zune theme as well as other tweaks. Figured it was past time my blog reflected this.
Actually, I'd been contemplating a similar look for a while, but Internet Explorer did not support the transparent elements until version 7. Probably looks pretty bad in IE6 or older. If that's what you're using, please upgrade to 7 (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/downloads/ie/getitnow.mspx), or better yet, switch to Firefox (http://sumocat.blogspot.com/search?q=firefox), which also better handles my Links in Ink (http://sumocat.blogspot.com/search?q=%22links+in+ink%22).
The obsessively animate folks over at GottatBeMobile.com (http://www.gottabemobile.com/) have got the scoop on the new Tablet PC from Motion Computing (http://www.motioncomputing.com/), and it is absolutely hot.
Motion really upped the ante with their new LE1700 (http://www.gottabemobile.com/GottaBeMobilecomVideoReviewOfTheLE1700TabletPC.aspx). Easily the most advanced slate to date with options for a dual touch digitizer, 1400 x 1050 resolution, integrated mobile broadband, and Core 2 Duo Processor. A lot of wish lists have been answered with this release.
But all that power comes at the expected cost of battery life. Word is the standard battery clocks in under two hours (http://www.gottabemobile.com/AnsweringSomeQuestionsOnTheLE1700.aspx) of normal use running Vista on the Core 2 Duo. That's a serious soft spot for what would otherwise be a very mobile computer.
Still, it's an impressive device. Very much worth a looksee. Check out the video review InkShow at GBM (http://www.gottabemobile.com/GottaBeMobilecomVideoReviewOfTheLE1700TabletPC.aspx) for details.
It seems like only yesterday I wrote about saving inked notes to my iPod Nano (http://sumocat.blogspot.com/2007/03/my-portable-note-template.html). In fact, if you're reading this off the home page (http://sumocat.blogspot.com/), archive page (http://sumocat.blogspot.com/2007_03_01_archive.html) or search for "iPod Nano" page (http://sumocat.blogspot.com/search?q=iPod+Nano), you can see it literally was yesterday (http://sumocat.blogspot.com/2007/03/my-portable-note-template.html).
Well, after reviewing the events of yesterday, I realize I accidentally found a considerably easier way to port my ink notes to a pocketable device. Here's the "kick myself in the head" part: I did it yesterday to show you what the ink on the iPod looks like.
So I may or may not be doing that iPod note thing too often. I do carry the 'pod regularly (it is my only worn piece of tech) and the image is very crisp even at that small size. But it is quicker to snap a photo than plug in a sync cord, and the screen on my camera is larger than the Nano's. On the other hand, having my notes on the Nano is so much cooler... Screw it, I'll just do whatever makes more sense at the time and be grateful that I've got the options.
Been using my iPod Nano to carry notes around, simple things like shopping lists. Just write and snip to my pod photo folder. Takes a few seconds to sync. Finally sized a template for it.
Say what you will about Bill Gates, but you have to admit he understood his competition (and he has $80 billion to prove it). But Steve Ballmer (http://tinyurl.com/2vcpd5)? Perhaps not so much.
He recently criticized Google for still being one type of business, "search and advertising", while Microsoft has re-invented itself many times and now offers much more than desktop operating systems. He acknowledged their acquisition of YouTube was a step toward something new, but that it was still related to their core business. Of course, by that rationale, Microsoft's first re-inventive move was the XBox, since everything else they offer is Windows-related.
That aside, is Ballmer really that oblivious to the directions in which Google is expanding? They launched free wifi in San Francisco. They're actively pursuing the office productivity market. Images from Google Earth are shown every night on the major newscasts. C'mon Ballmer, it's one thing to downplay the competition, it's another to gloss right over all their major activity.
Most of us will need to wait for the cost to come down before installing such a system, but a prototype solar-hydrogen home power system is up and running in rural New Jersey. Mike Strizki, a civil engineer, is living entirely off the grid thanks to a solar energy system that not only powers his house but also converts excess energy into hydrogen that supplies his electricity at night, He also uses the hydrogen in his fuel-cell car.
While I think hydrogen might have missed its window (I'm already looking forward to nanotech batteries and capacitors), I love that he's put the concept into action here in the States. It's a great proof-of-concept and another step forward in our quest to harness the greatest energy source in the solar system.
It took a couple of months, but I'm seeing more of the mainstream analysts are starting to recognize the iPhone's (http://www.apple.com/iphone/) target audience: iPod owners. Simply put, if you carry an iPod and a mobile phone and wish you had both in one device, the iPhone is designed for you.
Not sure why that's so hard to comprehend. It's an iPod with phone and data connectivity. That makes it comparable to a smartphone, but it's embarrassing how many analysts are completely overlooking the iPod aspect. Even the brainiacs at Forbes (http://tinyurl.com/3bsc4u) fail to mention the existing iPod/mobile phone user market (they also don't seem to understand the technical reasons behind the Cingular exclusivity).
C'mon people, you gotta think a little more deeply on this one and look beyond the smartphone market. Figure out how many iPod/phone users want a converged device and then maybe I'll take your analyses seriously.
In case you weren't aware, be aware that it is Brain Awareness Week (http://www.sfn.org/baw/)! The week is marked by events to increase public awareness of the brain. Ironically, the brain is that grey mass in your skull that enables awareness, so if you weren't aware that you had a brain, the blame would be laid on your brain.
Between the "Hero" Giuliani and the "Maverick" McCain, there may not be enough "star power" in the GOP Presidential field, at least according to former Senator Fred Thompson (http://tinyurl.com/26sb45), who is perhaps best-known as the pragmatic conservative D.A. in the Law and Order (http://www.nbc.com/Law_&_Order/) TV franchise. Thus, he's considering a run at the White House to rectify the matter, or to take advantage of the weak competition.
