2010 has had a bit of a rocky start. Apple’s iPad isn’t even for sale yet and everybody hates it. Google Buzz has ignited such a privacy firestorm that many claim it’s the worst product launch the big G has had in 12 years. Ouch. Microsoft continues on its trend of choosing the worst possible product names, this time with Windows Phone 7 Series. Awful name, but good product – we hope.
I thought it time to note some of the better things that are coming.
From the Why Didn’t Someone Think Of This Sooner Dept.
Sometimes it’s the simplest ideas that make the most sense. The idea this time is a standard power outlet with USB power ports adjacent to it. Imagine for a moment if the power sockets on the walls of your house had USB ports there too. Pretty great idea, isn’t it? Yes, it is. Why isn’t it available yet? The UL needs to approve it first. I’m sure they will.
Why this is good: Because it’s just so darn convenient.
From the I Hate USB 2.0 Because It’s So Slow Dept.
The USB 3.0 hub exists.. in Japan (of course). It has four ports and doesn’t look like much, but it will eat your USB 2.0 hub for breakfast and then some. We want this. Now.
Why this is good: Because it means USB 3.0 will be coming stateside soon. Very soon.
From the Let’s Make Our PCs Fruity For No Good Reason Dept.
For some people, this is an interesting project, that being how to build a PC that looks like a Mac Pro. All instructions listed on that link. Marvel at how unimpressed your friends will be by having a clone box that looks like a Mac Pro but isn’t.
I’d personally be more impressed if somebody built a Cray Supercomputer clone. Why? It has benches. With cushions. Design it right and it can probably make ice cubes, too.
Why this is good: Gives PC fanboys yet another reason to waste money on something other than the genuine article.
From the This Tablet Goes To 11 Dept.
There are tablets, and then there are Toughbook H1 Field tablets. This tablet is not the one you bring home to mother. It’s meant to be knocked around, kicked, dropped, and still come back for more. 64GB SSD, GPS and even an RFID reader. Available for the estimated tidy sum of just under $3,400.
Why this is good: Because it’s good to know there are still companies that make genuinely good computers for field use.
From the Let’s All Tell That Fruity Company To Go Stuff It Dept.
Here’s an interesting one for you. Twenty-four mobile operators have formed the Wholesale Applications Community. Which 24, you may ask? América Móvil, AT&T, Bharti Airtel, China Mobile, China Unicom, Deutsche Telekom, KT, mobilkom austria group, MTN Group, NTT DoCoMo, Orange, Orascom Telecom, Softbank Mobile, Telecom Italia, Telefónica, Telenor Group, TeliaSonera, SingTel, SK Telecom, Sprint, Verizon Wireless, VimpelCom, Vodafone and Wind.
Why this is good: When companies get together to create a universal standard, in this case being a mobile app standard, that’s awesome. This is better than good. It’s fantastic. It means that developers can create apps that can potentially work on 3 billion phones. Big Corporate ticks us off sometimes, but not this time. If a mobile app made by a developer can work anywhere in the world on any phone from a defined standard, everybody wins.
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The USB charger/ 120 VAC outlets is a neat thing, but I’m not sure if mixing low voltage DC sources with 120 VAC meets national electrical codes and standards.
It doesn’t currently, hence the reason Underwriters Laboratories is currently working on a safe solution so that we all don’t get our USB devices (and ourselves) electrocuted to bits when plugging them in to the wall.
Consider however we already have chargers that plug into the wall that have a USB port on the other end, so having it directly integrated it into a standard wall socket shouldn’t be too much of a stretch.
I agree that this would be handy. However, I’m confused on how they would implement the current-limiting portion of the circuit. 5V DC limited to 1A, for example might not be enough to charge one device while frying another.
Its a dumb idea running 120 AC around the inside of a computer case. If you need 120 AC then get it from the same wall outlet that powers the computer. Have people become so lazy they cant plug a power cord into a wall outlet 6 feet away?
The same people who are bitching about the Apple Tablet will never buy it anyway. The people who will buy it are the ones who are not bitching. Does every new Apple product have to satisfy the geeks who are pissed because they can’t play under the hood? Does every new Apple product have to make everyone happy?
I may be wrong, but I don’t think PC fanboys want anything remotely resembling a Mac.