Logitech ClearChat USB headset

Logitech ClearChat comfort USB headset is a nice piece.  I really believe in usb headphones and headsets.  They sound amazing, free of hard drive noise, and other audio imperfections you get from the standard headphone jacks on a PC.  Using the USB socket ensures a purely digital stream that is crystal clear and enables cool things like playback controls and volume control from the headset itself via the USB-HID mechanism.  HID stands for human interface device and is a way to add control to the mix.  Keyboards and things like that use HID.  But audio devices that make use of HID opens up many new application possibilities.

I can think of ways to make this experience much better.  How about you?

I bet the World of Warcraft and Skype faithful know exactly what I am talking about.  How can we make the PC audio experience better?

Smartphone pie, XXL please

Good coverage on RIM today. In the wake of the iPhone launch hype, it is good to see folks showing some love to BlackBerry. While iPhone has buzzed the consumer consciousness regarding smartphones, BlackBerry for the better part of the last 5 years has been the only company genuinely delivering on the promise of smartphones. It's breakthrough integration with corporate email servers, and the multiple generations of tweaking their user interface has made the BlackBerry one of the most successful portable devices, ever.

IPhone mania is great and all, and I admit it's pretty awe inspiring. The fact that Apple pulled off such a hype campaign is a testament to their past successes in delivering great end-user experiences. But, their track record of making great connections with consumers' emotions also sets a very high bar for themselves. Which is to say that the iPhone, however pretty, better darn well deliver a killer user experience, or it will be nothing short of a letdown.  People seem to ignore the fact that Apple is not alone in this space. It's also not yet obvious how the iPhone's innovations will create any sustainable advantage in the smartphone market.  What are the apps that people truly believe Apple has revolutionized?  Here are my early judgements on the iPhone's wannabe killer apps.

Web Browsing? Still too small of a screen, and not much better than on other smartphones. EDGE isn't gonna knock anyone's socks off. No Flash. Verdict: While it looks prettier than other phone browsers, is web-lite ever a killer experience?

Email? Lack of corporate email integration is an issue. Soft keyboard is an annoyance. I suspect future iPhone models will have hard qwerty keys in the future -- their corporate HCI guys won't put up with software gee-whiz for long. Verdict: Not even close to killer. Lose the touchscreen keyboard, support exchange server, then we'll talk.

Maps? Hardly a killer app that justifies a smartphone. BlackBerry, LG, and Samsung are already ahead in terms of GPS integration, and so far, no location-based services have been implemented or deemed vital... And again, what can Apple deliver uniquely that Google/BlackBerry/MS can't? Verdict: Not killer... not yet at least.  Let's see more here.

Integrated iPod? I just don't buy it. My iPod is still a better device, right? I find it hard to believe that Apple thinks they can leverage their iPod platform to make a smartphone indespensible. These functions have not shown to benefit from any coupling in the past, and it isn't apparent why they should be combined going forward. Verdict: Not killer.

My opinions... time will tell.  But I don't think a bunch of "pretty neato" features cobbled together make a homerun device.  There has to be something that the iPhone does better than any other device.  Early reports do not signal this has happened.

Apple has educated a whole new swath of the market in a big way. So the iPhone is goodness for the whole smartphone market, enlarging the pie, not just taking a bigger a slice.

I had the feeling this was so, and recent articles confirm that RIM-themselves are thankful. Competition breeds innovation, and RIM, let's face it, is plenty poised to give Apple a run. They have a robust pipeline, reasonable costs, a loyal user-base (Stats say that less than 6% of iPhone buyers were previously BlackBerry users), and a focus on the enterprise user, which is where multi-purpose devices today deliver immense value.

RIM is moving forward from a position of strength, an affordable, capable platform with a bona fide killer app, and a relatively loyal captive market. Apple moves forward on reputation and software usability street-cred, which loyalists will love.  But can it alone revolutionize the segment and lead to market domination?

Whispers of RIMM shares headed to $300 don't seem that far fetched.

Engadget should read Alive Matters

Why wait for Dvorak to say something?

Engadget: "Will the iPhone be undone by its keyboard?"

Alive Matters: "Didn't I already suggest as much?"

Before I get too cocky... of course we'll have to wait and see... I doubt early fan-boys are going to say one negative thing about their long awaited devices... but give it 6 months or so.  It'll happen.

Photosynth: Mindblowing

Check out Photosynth. The MSR team just blew my mind in this video I saw.

One day, nowhere in the world will be un-explorable. The convergence of digital photography, global cartography, social networking, and webservices is previewed here.

Apple iPhone. My 2 cents.

Totally agree with Mats. Economics of mobiles is nothing to oversimplify. Apple has made a serious bet on this market, taken many technical risks, and will need every ounce of its mystique and reputation to make the iPhone a success.

Here are my predictions:

1. The iPhone will invite critics for its touch screen. While I suspect the gesture interface will be a revelation, I think it is wrought with two huge problems. Fingerprints and people-grease will make it look stank, and unsanitary. Secondly, the lack of tactile feedback for control inputs will impact usability negatively. Particularly when typing emails.


2. Battery life will suck for anyone who actually uses more than one of its core features. Can Apple tell us how much talk time we get if we listen to the iPod mode for an hour? Or if we watch one episode of Lost? Or if we just fiddle with the cool GUI and never give the backlight a rest? Prediction... users will not last a day if they use it as a primary device for any two of its applications.


3. People will pay. The price won't matter to the users who must have this device. AT&T (Cingular) customer service will be real problem though. The three years I used Cingular were the worst consumer experience years of my life. T-Mobile missed the boat... their service rocks, and they could have used the iPhone to generate new momentum for their market penetration in North America. I'm suprised Apple couldn't negotiate a better subsidy from them. Tisk, tisk.


4. My BlackBerry Pearl is too awesome. Why switch? Apple never told me this.