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In the sun with the Cool-er ebook reader
Yes, it may be raining today, but last weekend we tried out the Cool-er ebook reader in the blazing Surrey sun to see how it performed. As you can see fairly convincingly from the pictures, the E-ink Vizplex display technology is pretty impressive compared to real paper, and perfectly readable in bright full-on sunlight.
Why the Cool-er e-book caused excitement at PCW Towers
For some years now mobile handset manufacturers have been packing more and more features into devices patently too small to cope well with them (particularly in the matter of text input), while PC manufacturers have been selling what they called portable machines that would be more accurately described as luggable. More recently the two industries have been converging towards a format that is both small and light enough to carry in a jacket pocket or handbag and yet has the computing power and connectivity of a desktop.
This evolution of what will surely be the iconic platform of the early 21st century still has years to run but we are at last beginning to get the technology that will allow it to happen, notably powerful frugal processors and systems-on-a-chip (SoCs). These have already given us ultra-portable netbooks and over the next few months we should see the release of a number of devices in a still smaller category Intel has called the Mobile Internet Devices, or MIDs.
Vendors including Intel have tended to talk down the capabilities of these true portables, fearful both of undercutting the value of their own larger machines and of raising people's expectations too far. But remember that even a low-powered device with a relatively slow Wifi link can use harness full PC power by acting as a front-end for a machine on the network. And very-low-drain SoCs, whether ARM or Intel based, are perfectly capable of running office apps.
The constraints are thus more ergonomic than technological. But while people may end up using these pocketable devices as workhorses, particularly if the input problem is cracked (which is a subject in itself), the exact way they will be used is almost impossible to predict.
One certainty is that they will act as a content delivery platform, more usable than today's iPhone and iPod Touch. This will be a major cultural change, creating incidentally a new communications medium with elements of the website, newspapers, magazines and TV. Computing, arguably, is at the start of the most important transition since low-cost mainframe power hit the desktop.
These musings explain why the arrival at PCW Towers of a new low-cost e-book reader called the Cool-er caused a lot of excitement. It is the first machine we have seen in what might be called a sub-netbook format. It is similar in functions, interface and technology to the current generation of e-book readers (see my review) but as you can see from the picture at the start of this blog it is truly pocketable. And, at £189, it's also much more affordable than the competition.
I compared it with a small, rather battered paperback that was the closest I could find to the size of the Cool-er. The paperback was slightly thicker but lighter (110g compared to 180g). The Cool-er was only marginally heavier than my HP 914 smartphone (158g) and appreciably lighter than my Panasonic DMC T-23 compact camera (258g). So it fits well within my personal definition of a true portable, which is something light enough to carry by choice rather than necessity.
E-book readers are the easiest category to fit this format because their bistable displays use power only when changing state. This means batteries can be smaller and last longer, and no heavy cooling is required. And the Cool-er has no wireless, which would save a little weight.
But it shows what is possible: an electronic notebook the size of a paper one. Time will tell whether this will become the dominant size for ultra-mobiles, even the dominant computing platform. For sure it raises the question of what the smallest practical size for a working platform is.
UI designers hate lefties
Using a smartphone over the weekend led me to realise that I am completely handicapped when it comes to using computers and gadgets. The problem? Being left-handed.
During a meeting with Logitech last week, I was treated to seeing the company's latest gaming mouse, taken through a demonstration of how different functions could be assigned to its myriad of buttons, which as a gaming addict, I could really make good use of. However, the reality is that I can't use any of these mice, as I hold the mouse in my left hand, which means my thumb doesn't hover over the extra buttons. If I want to use them, I need to clumsily press my little finger on the button, which is not only unnatural, it could lead to some form of RSI.
I've learnt to accept that premium mice are all designed for right-handers. After all, only ten per cent of people are left-handed, so no peripheral company bothers with what they see as a tiny market. I counter that many other lefties also desire a mouse that works for them, and since none exist, the first company to release a quality left-handed mouse could get a lot of sales.
I've been moaning about this since I bought my first 'gaming mouse' but only recently have I noticed that other gadgets are designed with right-handed people in mind.
Mobile devices are a perfect example. I never realised that the reason I find smartphones rather clunky is that I'm simply not holding them correctly. On Windows Mobile 6.1, the Start Button is located in the top left of the screen. I usually hold the device in my left hand and then use my right hand to press the screen. In doing this, I am reaching across the device with my hand obscuring the screen. When I tried holding the device in my right hand, everything became much easier. I think the OS must have been made and tested by right-handed people who may not have realised the layout wouldnt be intuitive for everyone.
There must be plenty of other examples of products which have been designed with the assumption all its users will be right-handed, although for many of them, it isn't obvious there's a problem at all. It only becomes apparent to me when I use the device the correct way and find it much simpler to operate.
An introduction
As the newest member of staff here at Personal Computer World, I should introduce myself. My name is Orestis, and I'm the new Reviews Editor. On a day-to-day basis, I'll be in charge of our reviews and group tests, following on from the excellent job Nigel Whitfield has been doing.
I have a long background with computing, as I've been completely hooked ever since I first pressed the rubber keys of a Sinclair ZX Spectrum. There are few areas of computing I don't find interesting: programming languages, mobile devices, 3D games and operating systems are just some examples of what piques my interest.
New products and technologies are what has kept me interested for so long, and despite everyone's credit being slightly more crunchy this year than in the past, there's still a long list of exciting releases I am personally looking forward to in 2009.
As long as development remains on track at Microsoft's HQ in Redmond, Windows 7 should be on that list. Having tried the beta, I'm very much looking forward to using the final version of the OS. Regardless of the side you belong to in the Windows Vista versus Windows XP debate, few would doubt that Windows 7 has the potential to be greatly superior to its predecessor.
It will also be interesting to see if Intel can stick to its yearly 'tick-tock' update that was announced back in 2007. Last year's launch of Nehalem, better known as the Core i7 line of processors, constitutes a 'tick' as it was the company's first new microarchitecture since Core 2. This year, it should be followed by Westmere, the first 32nm processor line Intel has produced, which is a 'tock' according to their strategy. Intel has announced it's going to spend $7bn upgrading its fabrication plants to produce such astonishingly small transistors, which should offer better power efficiency and hopefully improved performance over the previous generation.
Although operating systems and processors are two of the most important components of a computing system, the technology launch I'm most looking forward to is USB 3, even though it will take a while before many devices support it. While USB 2 offers only 480 Mbits/sec of bandwidth, USB 3 bumps this to a whopping 5 Gbits/sec, and allows even more power-hungry devices to be powered solely via the Bus. With USB 3 in place, the speed of data transfers from external devices should no longer be bottlenecked by the speed of USB.
Admittedly Firewire 800 already exists, outperforms and is arguably superior to USB 2, but Firewire has never proved quite as popular as USB, which is found on a much wider range of computing gadgets and peripherals. I have come to depend on the inherent utility and ubiquitous nature of USB, whether it's USB powered 2.5 inch hard disks which I use to carry files around, USB chargers for my phone, or USB rechargeable batteries that i can use in anything from cameras to remote controls. As USB is a technology that affects nearly every part of my computing experience, a major update to its specification is big news.
It's more than likely we will still be enjoying the benefits of USB 3, even after both Windows 7 and 32nm processors have been superseded.
Vote for universal power adapters!
If you like Clive Akass' story about the universal power adapter below, why not let your voice be heard - Green Plug has a site where you can add your vote, just click on the image below. Just be sure to tell them that 'universal' includes Europe, though...
"Frameless" LCD panel unveiled
Nikkei's Tech-On blog reports that AU Optoelectronics of Taiwan has shown off a 'frameless' 2.2in LCD panel at the FPD International 2008 exhibition. The effect is created by placing a clever lens on top of the panel that refracts light near the edges, giving the illusion of a frameless display.
The picture here shows two of the panels placed side-by-side.
Super Talent launches 64GB USB stick
Time was when a 1GB USB stick could cost you a major body part. How times have changed, with the latest 64GB Luxio models from Super Talent retailing (in the US only at present) at around $149 (currently £91, but increasing rapidly).
These premium drives come in a gift box with a custom leather carry case and a choice of wood-grain (pictured), black or silver finish.
Parrot brings NFC to the Party
NFC (near-field communications) could be a buzzword you'll soon be hearing a lot more of over the coming months, particularly in relation to Bluetooth 2.1 devices. Bluetooth 2.1 supports NFC, which is a short-range radio technology similar to that used in RFID tags and London's Oyster cards. It lets devices communicate up to about 10cm away, and in Bluetooth it can be used to remove the need for going through the tedious pairing process.
There are one or two NFC-capable phones on the market, such as Nokia's 6131 NFC, but to date NFC has been seen mainly as a way to let a phone become an 'electronic wallet', where you can simply touch your phone onto a till to pay for goods (or, if they're anything like Oyster cards, perhaps let any passing hacker clone them.)
But today we saw an even handier use for NFC at the British Motor Show, where Parrot was displaying a new version of its Party Bluetooth mini-speakers.
Due to launch later this year, the new Parrot Party is NFC-ready, which means if you have a suitable phone or MP3 player you'll be able to connect to the speakers simply by waving it near them.
Yes, we know you can set up Bluetooth to automatically connect to paired devices, but this removes the need for the initial pairing entirely, making it ideal for Bluetoothophobes.
Parrot says it will also have the same technology in some of its digital photo frames, so you'll be able to transfer photos at the swipe of a mobile.
Garmin's new Nuvi 500: navigate in rain, hail or shine
At the British Motor Show today, Garmin showed off its latest sat nav, the Nuvi 500 series (pictured left). This is Garmin's first attempt at a crossover model that can be configured for use by drivers, walkers, bikers (or scooterers) and boaters. Perhaps desinged with British summers in mind, it's waterproof and fuel-resistant (important for bikers, apparently) and comes with both car and bike mounts (see picture below) in the box.
The Nuvi 500 contains UK & ROI street maps, whereas the Nuvi 550 adds a full European map set. It will cost £299 when it goes on sale in September. Detailed topographic and marine charts aren't supplied as standard, although the street mapping does feature digital elevation mapping with shaded terrain contours.
Other features include Bluetooth, a removable battery and support for Wherigo adventure games and a Geocaching player.
Our cards already receive free satellite TV, Hauppauge tells Freesat
Freesat’s cryptic denunciation of TV-card vendor Hauppauge yesterday appeared to suggest that only approved kit will be able to receive BBC, ITV and other channels being broadcast in its name. But it seems that many of these channels are already being broadcast and are being received happily by existing satellite cards.
Are all the owners of these going to have to buy new equipment when the service starts officially? I am given to understand that the only content that will be broadcast by Freesat itself will be the electronic programming guide. Hauppauge says it does not wish to get involved in a slanging match with the organisation. But Yehia Oweiss, vice-president of sales for Hauppauge Europe, issued the following statement today:
"Hauppauge has been a European pioneer in the market for free-to-air receivers for PCs and laptops for over a decade, and has successfully serviced its customers with its award-winning products. Our customers have been enjoying a wide range of unencrypted free-to-air satellite and terrestrial channels in Europe for years, including BBC HD, for example.
"For encrypted services, our WinTV CI module enables the use of a CAM and viewing card to decode broadcasts. Our products are not endorsed by Freesat, nor would we wish to imply they are."
Meanwhile, Freesat has still not announced precisely when it will launch its services officially. If it were more open with its plans, and about what restrictions there are on receiving these 'free' services, some paid for out of our licence fees, people could make their own minds up about what equipment to buy - and would be far less likely to buy kit they may have to replace.
