Gadgetopolis » Electronics

Updating to Android 2.2 (Froyo) for the Impatient

George Thiruva — Sat, 22 May 2010 21:42:09 +0000

There’s been lots of buzz on Twitter, TechCrunch, Engadget and everywhere about Nexus One owners beginning to receive the much anticipated “Froyo” release of the Android operating system. Apparently, it’s on a very slow release schedule. For some users, it may take up to three weeks before they receive the update “over the air”. But [...]

Does the TiVo Premier Really Make the Invention of the DVR Look Like a Warmup?

George Thiruva — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 05:00:49 +0000

It’s been a long time in the making. Three and a half years after TiVo’s last major hardware introduction, TiVo finally announced something new today at their New York City unveiling. For much of the last month, TiVo watchers have been waiting to see what was coming after images of the press event invitation was [...]

The Sad History and (maybe) Bright Future of TiVo

George Thiruva — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 21:01:10 +0000

For a company that hasn't announced a new hardware platform in years, TiVo seems to be all abuzz in recent weeks.

It's been a long time since TiVo released a major new hardware product - about 3 1/2 years since the last major DVR release, the high definition Series3. Sure, they also released the TiVo HD and HD XL, but those were just variations on the Series3 with no significant new features.

Investors need something to cheer about. For pretty much the last three years, TiVo has been losing subscribers every quarter.

Fans like me were waiting for something new. I speculated on (or rather dreamed about) what might be coming prior to the start of CES. But TiVo disappointed us and announced nothing new at the big show.

But now TiVo looks like it's waking up from its hibernation and is ready to do something. Oh, but what? ...

Sony Shelves OLED TV: Tech Tradgedy in the Making or Learning Opportunity?

Robert Giambitaq — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 06:06:37 +0000

OK, I don't own a Sony OLED TV. And at today's prices and screen sizes I wasn't going to buy one! Apparently, I'm not alone. So Sony has decided to pull out of the OLED market.

But, with the way that this news came out, the announcement from Sony can only be interpreted as a black mark on OLED technology. That's too bad, since OLED was the hot topic at the Consumer Electronics Show for the previous two years. And if you've seen it, it's very clearly the best display technology out there - the technology of the future. There are only two reasons why OLED is not the technology of the present - cost and small display size.

But as is with much new technology, things are always expensive when you're on the cutting edge. LED and plasma is no longer cutting edge technology. LCD is now the mainstream. And to a certain extent, plasma is perceived of as the past.

Plasma and LCD each still hold on to their own benefits. LCD tends to be more energy efficient, inexpensive, and thinner. Plasma tends to offer a better contrast ratio, which many videophiles love.

But to the general market, it was very difficult to explain why OLED is worth a cost premium. Sony, failed to convey the message of OLED as a premium technology.

But more than that, Sony just screwed up. Present cost aside, OLED is better than both LCD and plasma technology.

OLED could (and should) still be the technology of the future. But what could Sony have done differently? And are there any opportunities for Sony's competitors? ...

Google/HTC’s Nexus One is only $49 (in a manner of speaking)

George Thiruva — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 01:59:01 +0000

Would you like to get the Google/HTC Nexus One Superphone for a cool $49?

What if I also threw in the unlocked version of the phone?

Now what if I also said you don't need to sign a two year contract?

And no - it's not stolen. Perfectly legit!

How is this possible? Let's do some math ...

Google’s Nexus One Sales Model Isn’t Quite the Barrier Buster

George Thiruva — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 04:53:03 +0000

In the days preceding the release of the Google Nexus One (a.k.a. The long awaited gPhone), the talk of the web was that Google was going to break down some sort of Berlin Wall in the way the phone was sold. Whereas most phones are sold by the wireless carriers in conjunction with a 2 Year jail sentence and are locked to that carrier, Google was (and did) sell the phone both direct to customers, unlocked to a carrier, and without the need to put handcuffs on.

Q. But did it really accomplish that result?

A. Sort of.

Q. Did it shake things up and change the way wireless phones are (and will be) sold?

A. Hopefully, but probably not.

Q. Did the company that pledges to "Do No Evil" really free customers from the tyranny of the wireless carrier oligopoly?

A. Doesn't seem that way.

Let's take a look at Google's cell phone math and see how things really turned out ...

Is Apple Leaving Money on the Table? Part One

George Thiruva — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 02:23:22 +0000

Given that Apple makes a fortune, am I serious about that headline? Yes! Really!

And I'm not talking about the Apple Tablet, iSlate, iPad or whatever is coming out on the 27th? I'm talking about tweaks Apple could make to its existing Mac product lines that could very easily juice profits up a little more. And Apple can do it with minimal additional R&D just by doing a couple of rather simple things.

In this part we'll take a lost profits with their Apple TV and Mac Mini products.

Let's check it out ...

Overlooked at CES: Femtocells – Marketing Opportunity Missed

George Thiruva — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 03:30:15 +0000

When I went to CES last week, I went with some colleagues and we went our separate ways. We expected to be able to call/text each other at later times to meet up for lunch and other events. Seems like a simple enough idea. But it was doomed to fail.

You might have heard about AT&T's CES meltdown. Well, it turns out all of my colleagues were using iPhones on AT&T. Apparently, AT&T's cell towers within proximity of the convention center were just overwhelmed. I didn't hear too many complaints from users of other networks.

But at least for those disgruntled AT&T customers, Femtocells could have saved the day ...

It’s App Overload at CES!

John Hong — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 19:17:13 +0000

The two big topics at CES this year seem 3D and Apps. But app-mania (really app platform mania) seems to be a faster spreading disease than swine flu. And it seems liket every CE manufacturer has now caught it. We're not just talking about apps on cell phones platforms like iPhone and Android. Samsung, Vizio, Boxee, Roku, and even the Ford Motor Company. The real trouble with all of these new app platforms is many of them are all new platforms - incompatible with iPhone/Android. Are these companies really thinking that they can all attract thousands of developer to write to their API just because they said the magic word?

It’s No-time TiVo!

George Thiruva — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 08:23:35 +0000

So, a couple of days ago, I surmised that TiVo wasn't going to announce anything of significant interest at CES. Turns out I was right and wrong. Not only have not announced anything cool, they basically didn't announce anything (unless you count this crap).