Apple’s MBA flopped throughout most of the intelligent gadget community, not because it is a horrible product, but because it just lacks everything the competition is coming out with.

But hey, someone had to go first and figure out the flaws for the rest of the notebooks to follow.  Thank you Apple for being innovative, but let’s thank the others for giving consumers what they want and need.

A sneak peek at Levono’s new ThinkPad X300, which also fits in a neat little envelope, but it also has more features than the MBA.  X300 is kind enough to include a removable battery [gasp!], three USB ports [never thought I would wish for more], WiFi, an integrated Ethernet jack and optional GPS/WWAN.

Link

Apple’s MacBook Air SUCKS
Toshiba, MacBook Air’s rival

I posted the video about the visual voicemail, so here is another of their commercials in the street with real people. This guy is thankful to have real Internet available on his iPhone. Luckily he can use it as a reference for anything while on-the-go.

Apple is coming out when a new generation of iPod.

The new iPod will have the same touch screen as the iPhone.
iPod Touch will come in two sizes; 8gb and 16gb.
Wi-Fi music store to download directly to your iPod.

iPod Touch Price: $299-$399  <– good deal compared to the iPhone.

Coincidentally the iPhone price is now $200 cheaper, the 8gb version is now only $399.
Other price drops include: regular iPod is now $249 for 80gb and $349 for the 160gb, iPod Nano now includes a video screen and for the 4gb it is only $149 and $199 for the 8gb.

Is it time to buy the iPhone?
–well it is cheaper…

Pure, unadulterated geek porn in this video clip. Almost 6 minutes of tech-talk from an Asian woman in a silk blouse.

Damn Cisco knows how to sell a product. With all the dirty thoughts aside, this is a kick ass product.

Mesh networks have been talked about and been in use for years. The first ones I remember hearing about started in rural areas since connection points are so hard.

Imagine the possibilities of this rugged device out in remote areas for people and machine connections.

Very cool. Thanks again to M2MHQ.com for the link.

This is a great story that 60 Minutes picked up on. Some really innovative thinking, exceptional design and for a very good cause.

Please take the time to read all the details on the site www.laptop.org.

Here are some highlights for you:

“It’s an education project, not a laptop project.” — Nicholas Negroponte

Hardware

The XO is a potent learning tool created expressly for the world’s poorest children, living in its most remote environments. The laptop was designed collaboratively by experts from both academia and industry, bringing to bear both extraordinary talent and many decades of collective field experience for every aspect of this nonprofit humanitarian project. The result is a unique harmony of form and function; a flexible, ultra-low-cost, power-efficient, responsive, and durable machine with which nations of the emerging world can leapfrog decades of development—immediately transforming the content and quality of their children’s learning.

Our goal: To provide children around the world with new opportunities to explore, experiment and express themselves.

Software

XO is built from free and open-source software. Our commitment to software freedom gives children the opportunity to use their laptop computers on their own terms. While we do not expect every child to become a programmer, we do not want any ceiling imposed on those children who choose to modify their machines. We are using open-document formats for much the same reason: transparency is empowering. The children—and their teachers—will have the freedom to reshape, reinvent, and reapply their software, hardware, and content.

Video from Yahoo/60 Minutes, worth watching.

It seems you can’t look anywhere without seeing the iPhone.

Sure it’s a kick ass design and the features are rich but it’s not the first time I have seen such a device.

Still hats off to the marketing machine behind Apple.

Trying not to post much here about the iPhone because you can hit 1000 sites about it.

I just couldn’t resist the SNL news clip and the ending comment about battery life.

Here is a clip from SNL tonight, Fred Armisen playing Steve Jobs talking about the new iPhone. 

Since you are here, check this out about the design of the iPhone:

iPhone & LG KE850 |

Here is another clip we posted with Fred playing Steve: Steve Jobs Leaks The Next iPod…On SNL

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This commercial for the Zune is a bit better than the last one we posted.

At least it gives the indication of the main differentiator; potential for the immediate sharing of music. Too much of the Zune marketing feels less like promoting a product than attempts at trying to be hip. I understand selling an emotional connection or a lifestyle over a physical ‘thing’ but you’ve got to get your audience to make the connection between that ‘thing’ and the image that they crave. Zune’s got so much potential. It might never be an ‘iPod killer’ but it could be a compelling piece of gadgetry if Microsoft can make it work like it should and then go after that ‘sharing’ niche as hard as they can.

See some other Zune posts here:

- Beam Your Beats

- Spinners

disclosure alert - I am employed by a company that does some Zune marketing. Personally, I have so little to do with the work that I can’t even tell you what it is.

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Hmmm, what does a video of someone’s dog with cheap sound effects have to do with Microsoft’s entry into portable audio hardware?

I reckon it’s an attempt to replicate the look-n-feel of user-generated content?

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At some point, zune needs to focus on what really makes them a “social” device, the sharing.

These are fun, hip little spots but they don’t highlight the difference well enough. No other device has this feature, which was obvious as I walked the halls of Best Buy today reading the “feature cards”.

Yes, I went to Best Buy today (buying a headset for my skype account - again) not for a zune but I did have a good look around at how the MP3/Media Players are displayed.

I was generally impressed with my options. The zune was being picked up by everyone, it’s the hot new device to check out so that’s expected but what really got my eye was some of the Samsung Music Players. They are tiny, 1-2 G with LCD and around $75-95 bucks and higher for the one pictured here.

Yes I got my VoIP headset replacement, I look like I’m taking orders at Burger King, but I was impressed with my handheld digital audio/video options.

It comes down to how you want to use the device and how flexible the device is with your file formats.

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I think today is the offical launch date of the new Microsoft zune.

Tons of information and content has been provided, including this video on zune.net. 

Pleasently surprised at the lack of Microsoft branding and overly complicated specifications.

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