Nokia 770 Internet Tablet

I was talking a co-worker recently about portable web browsers and he told me about the Nokia 770 Internet Tablet. I have been using my Sony PSP as an internet tablet since Sony released the 2.0 firmware upgrade in August 2005. It is actually a decent WiFi device as a portable web browser. I use it almost everyday as a browser than as a game machine. Well, looks like other companies have been catching on to the internet tablet concept. Nokia's new device is designed specifically as a WiFi tablet. Here are f ew more articles about the device, "Nokia unviels Linux based 770 Internet Tablet", "Nokia Launches Linux Based 770 Net Appliance".

Based on the published specs, the Nokia 770 is slightly smaller than the PSP however has better resolution (800x600 x 64k colors) touch screen LCD and is running on top of a Linux operating system called Internet Tablet 2005 software edition. It has 128 MB RAM, supports WiFi 802.11b/g, Bluetooth 1.2, and much more. It will only be available online in selected countries. I am not sure if the USA is one of the selected countries.

Internet tablets are definitely the trend of the future. Some of the usability features I like about using my Sony PSP as an internet tablet is that I can hold it while laying down on the couch with ease. Try that with a notebook computer that weigh 2-8 lbs. Your arms would tire quickly. The dimensions of the PSP are near ideal for a ultra portable web browser. The Nokia 770 looks interesting. I am sure there will be more of these devices on the market in the next year.

For now, looks like Nokia will be releasing this thing sometime in the next few months, "Nokia 770 Internet tablet delayed" (10/05/2005).

Transparent Aluminum, Science Fiction becoming Science Fact

This one surprised me. Star Trek is getting here sooner than anticipated. Over at Slashdot there's a posting "Transparent Aluminum a Reality" about how the U.S. Air Force has been working on transparent aluminum (aluminum oxynitride - ALONtm) as a replacement for traditional multi-layered glass. The original Air Force article, "Air Force testing new transparent armor", has more detail about this new material. So in times of war, the best of technology comes out of the labs and garages.

I wonder if we'll ever see this as a commercial product in the next 20-years. If it is being researched for military purposes, then probably not. It is still progress in the materials research domain that is quite impressive.

What is Sony LocationFree Technology

After updating my Sony PSP with the latest 2.50 firmware last night, I was curious about the LocationFree Player that is now included. Doing more research I found out that this is Sony's digital hub for portable multimedia entertainment devices that was released this year. Here's the 09/08/2005 CEDIA press release, SONY UNLEASHES PORTABLE ENTERTAINMENT WITH NEW LOCATIONFREE PRODUCTS, that provides a decent overview of what LocationFree is. I am impressed. Here is the original LocationFree concept press release from the JAN2004 CES show.

LocationFree Player Pak which lists for $350 in the US, contains the base station and software to allow your PC to work as a LocationFree Player. I am not sure if it works with Linux and Mac. I am still researching this.

Some of the really cool features of the LocationFree base station:

• Integrated dynamic DNS so external DNS is not required.


• Access all your content from anywhere on the internet.


• Remote control over WLAN or internet


• Works with PSP, PCs, and LocationFree 12" LCD TV.


• Uses MPEG4 compression.

This is something to watch in the next year. If Sony gets this right with the PSP and Playstation 3, then looks like they may be back on top of the innovation curve for consumer electronics and cool gadgets.

Sony PSP 2.50 Firmware Update and LocationFree Technology

Sony just released the PSP 2.50 Firmware update. I just used the Network Update feature and updated my PSP. Since the 2.00 Firmware update, I've been using my PSP as a portable internet browser with much success. In the new firmware update, Sony has added a feature called LocationFree Player.

You can watch TV or videos on your PSP™ system by using the LocationFree™ Player. To watch TV or videos at home, you must have a LocationFree™ Base Station (a Sony product sold separately). To watch away from home, you must have a LocationFree™ Base Station (a Sony product sold separately) and access to the Internet using a wireless LAN. For details, visit LocationFree BaseStation. Based on what I've read, the Sony PSP now has turned into a portable remote control, streaming video device. Is this cool or what? Now I get a LocationFree base station.

RLS, Solution Looking For A Problem

If you haven't heard about Restless Leg Syndrome or RLS, then join the club. Neither have I until I saw a few pharmaceutical commercials on cable TV about a new product that addresses RLS. I can't remember the name of the product however I did remember the name of the syndrome.

It looks as if the drug companies have created a solution looking for a problem. I thought this was a joke, however I looked on the web and found the RLS web site. The 'four simple questions about RLS' has got to be a joke. I can answer yes to all four of the broad questions, so does that mean I might have RLS? This reminds me of another syndrome, ADD, that appears to have been fabricated by the pharmecetical companies so that Ritalin and other related drugs had a market to support.

It would be a shame to see RLS become a major cash cow for the drug companies just as ADD and Ritalin have infected 15-20% of our drugged child population. One solution to hyperactive children used to be more running around and playing outside. I know, I was a relatively hyperactive child for which my parents just let me play outside, sports and other physical things for which our modern obese children no longer do.

So will RLS be another solution in a pill that would otherwise be resolved by a non-drug solution like getting more exercise? Time will tell on this one. I plan to keep an eye on this and see how it turns out over the next several years.

JAXA launches successful supersonic jet test

JAXA successfully tested their supersonic jet passenger liner in the Australian Outback today (10/10/2005). "Successful Supersonic Jet Launch". This was the 2nd attempt after the 2002 failure. At this rate, it may look that a supersonic Concorde 2.0 may be flying again within the next 10 years. The new jet will able to fly from Tokyo to New York in under six hours.

Top Ten Impossible Inventions That Work

Here's a good reference to impossible technologies that work however ("Top 10 Impossible Inventions That Work", we have yet to see. I have read a few books about Nikolai Tesla and everything mentioned in this article I have read about in those books. Ther is even solutions to the hydrogen economy problem that are too simple to believe.

Seven Technologies That Changes Everything in 2005

You would never guess what is #1 on the list published at Business 2.0.com. I won't mention it here again but it surprised me since I share the same viewpoint of the #1 thing that changes everything in 2005. I don't think anyone saw this coming in 2005. It just sort of happened and changed everything.

One of the technologies that I was not aware of are High-definition Radio. One of my favorite topics of late, fuel cells, is in this list for the emerging micro fuel-cell technologies that are already in prototype phases by major consumer electronics companies. I can't wait to have my notebook computer, PDA, mobile phone, digital multimedia devices all running off of micro fuel cells in the coming years. I thought we would already be using this stuff in 2005. Now it looks like the within the next few years we should start seeing micro fuel cell powered devices.

DARPA "Grand Challenge" results

History was made this week when 3 of the 23 robotic vehicles "DARPA contestants make robotic history" completed the 132-mile race funded by the DARPA Grand Challenge. The Stanford Univerity entry won the race. DARPA sponsored and funded the $2 million prize race. The race is based on Pentagon goal of using fully automated logistics vehicles in approximately 30% of military vehicles by 2015.

Recall that DARPA funded what is known today as the internet in the 1960s. The goal back then was to create a 'survivable computer network'.

Dawn of the Diamond Age

There is this new process called chemical vapor deposition (CVD) that allows the practical creation of man-made diamonds. It has been researched and perfected by a company called Apollo Diamond (started by a former Bell Labs scientist). "Man-made diamonds with potential". So why is this important? Aside from man-made gemstones, this will allow a new age of semiconductors based on diamond wafers instead of silicon. Diamonds are the hardest, great conducting, and best heat dissipating material known today. Being able to manufacture these will be the start of a new age of technology similar to what steel did for the Industrial Age and silicon did for the digital age.

An unplanned side effect of this new technique was the creation of gem stone diamonds that are almost identical to mined diamonds. At any rate, using these manufactured diamonds will permit 3D storage in crystal structures. This would allow a future digital multimedia device (i.e. iPod) to store 10,000 movies instead of 10,000 songs. Another use would be design of very high powered lasers (industrial and military), and ultra fast computers with none of the heating problems of todays silicon based circuit boards. This could be the dawn of a new age based on diamonds.

Blu-ray (Sony) vs. Microsoft over future DVD technology

Microsoft is spreading itself pretty thin these days. Just last week they stopped negotiating with the music companies because they could not bully the record companies around for better terms of digital music. Now, it looks as if the tide is turning from HD-DVD towards Blu-ray after Microsoft starting its FUD (fear, uncertainty, and doubt) campaign against Blu-ray and Sony. That may have back fired and now it looks as if Paramount and Time-Warner are have now decided to back Blu-ray after Microsoft's behavior in the past week. "Dagger Drawn over DVDs", "Warner-Bros gives Blu-ray green light?". Even Toshiba is now changing its position with Microsft about its HD-DVD format after Sony made some big gains with its Blu-ray technology and signing up 11 of the 12 major movie content providers.

In addition to Microsoft's aggressive announcements concerning XBox 360 this past few weeks, it appears that the old FUD machine that Microsoft has successfully used in the past no longer has its luster. The rest of the business world now understands the tactics Microsoft uses to get its way in yielding its power. We'll see in the next 6-12 months how the hi-definition format war unfolds.

Hybrid automobiles going mainstream

My outlook and belief that hybrid automobiles is the future for the next 10-20 years appears to have been on the mark based on the "Hybrid Envy" article. Looks like Toyota and Honda have quite a head start in the hybrid vehicle technology arena. Honda just release their 3rd generation hybrid with the new Civic. I am still waiting for a hybrid Pilot, Odyssey, MDX and Ridgeline from Honda. Toyota is also increasing their hybrid product offerings in the Highlander and Camry models this fall.

As for fuel cells, well that is a whole different problem and possible solution for the world in 20-30 years from now. The largest problem is the lack of a hydrogen infrastructure issue in our current world economy.

Palm now does Windows (another one bites the dust)

Every company that I have seen do business with Microsoft after competing with them for years tends to go under in about 2-years following that point. (WebTV, Central Point, Fox Software, Connectix, etc..) Exceptions in this case is Sybase and Citrix. At any rate, I think Palm and their new Windows based Treo phone is the start of a dangerous relationship for Palm. Let's wait for 2-years and see if Palm is still in business in 2008.

There may be hope since the PalmOS software was acquired by a Japanese company recently. I still use my Sony Clie daily.

IBM, Java, and AJAX research

I didn't want to post the same content in 2 blogs here's a link to my software engineering blog concerning the same topic.

Sony PSP observations after a few days as a portable web browser

After using my Sony PSP as a portable browser, I thought I'd share a few observations. The built-in browser is quite nice and intuitive. Sony provides a good help screen just like they do in their games that is graphical and intuitive. I always wanted to be able to lay down my family room or on the couch while watching cable TV or a DVD and surf the web. I used to do this with a notebook computer which required a laptop desk, portable stand or an end table. I could never get comfortable with a notebook computer. With the PSP, it is small enough where you can actually get comfortable and then hold the PSP in your hands for browsing the internet.

Now don't get me wrong, the PSP is not a good replacement for a notebook computer. However as a ultra portable web browsing device, it is exactly what I was looking for when I bought it on the first day release in the USA last in March 2005. I actually got one around 7:30am at my local Best Buy. I highly recommend anyone who in addition to an awesome portable gaming device wants/needs a ultra portable web browser that a large enough screen to actually be useful go out a buy a PSP. It's definitely worth it.

Sony PSP as a portable web browser

I finally got around to start using my Sony PSP as portable web browser after installing the PSP 2.0 update (released 19Aug2005) a few weeks ago. I was having problems initially last month and just figured I would try it out later. Well it turned out that the wifi on/off switch on the left side of the PSP is by default set to the off position. After turning this switch on and configuring the PSP for my secured home WLAN and it works great! My first impression after using it last night for an hour or so is that this is a damn good portable browser. Much better than the mobile phones with their tiny screens. I tried that a few years ago and unsubscribed to the web enabled phone service I had with Sprint. The large PSP screen actually makes this a useable portable web browsing device. The coolest part is that the PSP is a awesome portable gaming and movie/music gadget.

Compressed air powered cars

Here are more interesting articles about using air or compressed air to power vehicle engines of the future if the oil companies allow it.

http://www.rednova.com/news/stories/3/2004/08/26/story002.html
http://www.engineer.ucla.edu/stories/2003/hybrid.htm
http://www.driversdrive.com/cgi-bin/ddblog.pl?ddblog=66414051
http://www.delphion.com/details?pn=US04370857__

The first few articles I remember reading in 1999-2000 predicting that within a few years we would have commercially viable compressed air cars. Well, that never happened and we now pay $3 per gallon for gas today,Sep2005, in the USA.

Toshiba fuel cell powered MP3 players

Here's yet another Slashdot article about a methanol based fuel-cell MP3 that Toshiba is planning to demo this year. No mention of when we'll be able to buy these types of devices in the USA. Looks like the Japanese consumer electronics companies will be the ones that will make fuel cell devices practical for the rest of us.

Hydrogen Generating module for your car

I just read this interesting article about a hydrogen electrolysis device that will either A.) change the world a bit B.) is a hoax C.) over hyped. At any rate, if all goes as planned, we'll know in about 6-12 months according to the article.

ADHD and pharmaceutical companies

I just read an Associated Press article stating that more American adults are taking drugs for Adult Deficiency Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD also known as Adult ADD. The data was collected by Medco Health Solutions . The article states that between 2000 and 2004, use of drugs for ADHD doubled for adults age 20 to 44 and rose 56% among children. ADHD symptoms include impulsivity, disorganization, procrastination and hyperactivity. This looks to me like it is a artificial increase due to increased pharmaceutcal marketing, managed care (HMO,etc) pressure on doctors to spend less time with patients, and the subtle influencing of doctors to over prescribe for convenience. I like what Carlos Mencia (the comedian in "Mind of Mencia" on the Comedy Channel) says about ADHD, "if it did not exist when I was a kid, than it's not a real disease." This part of his routine talking about ADD and ADHD.

All this seems to be a bit suspicous at a time when marketing by the drug companies is at unprecedented highs and the American society's drive for more "convenience in a pill" to solve just about every health and mental problem are colliding. I don't see much written about what causes ADHD or ADD. The statistics keep working in favor of more drugs which means "cha ching" for the drug companies. Do you see a problem with these facts? I do. This is the exact argument against ritalin, the ADD drug for kids. I would never put my kids on ritalin. Have you seen kids on ritalin. Talk about zombies. They are well behaved becaused they are in a drug induced state of calm.

I plan to do more research about ADD and ADHD just to see what information is currently available about these controversial disorders. I believe there is a small legitimate percentage of people who have ADD or ADHD however, not in the numbers that the drug companies would like everyone to believe. In the article there is now nearly 1.5 million Americans 20 years old or older using these drugs. It looks to me like the "consumer convenience drugs" is now big business.

Impulsivity, disorganization, procrastination and hyperactivity are symptoms of most adults lives to some degree or another. I think there are non-drug solutions to these symptoms including self control, organization, planning, and exercise just to name a few off the top of my head.