MobileViews Blog

Archos is a funny company. I remember seeing a number of mobile multimedia devices from them years ago. But, I’ve never seen any of the many Android tablet models they announce year after year. Here’s another one I’ll probably never see. At $130 it may be the least expensive Ice Cream Sandwich based tablet available. And, you get an Alvin and the Chipmunks theme too.

Child Pad

Its specs look pretty good for a $130 device. They exceed the more expensive Kindle Fire and Nook Color.

7-inch display
800×480 pixel resolution
WiFi
380 grams
1GB system memory
4GB flash memory
microSD slot
Front facing camera with microphone

The first Windows Phone devices released in the fall of 2010 had hardware limitations imposed by Microsoft. Thus, the entire first generation of devices lacked components that were common even back then. Among the hardware missing from the reference design and the devices based on it is a gyroscope. This component has become increasingly important in games and motion based activities. Microsoft’s design shortsightedness has come back to bite it less than two years after the first Windows Phone devices were released. Its own recently released PhotoSynth panoramic camera app for Windows Phone (first released for the iPhone) won’t work correctly with the entire first generation of Windows Phone devices.

Gee… Thanks, Microsoft, for not future proofing your smartphones!

Forty-four (44) apps were updated for my iPhone or iPad in the past week. Here’s a summary of the updated apps that I found interesting.
Continue Reading »

I’ve been working on a review for an iPad app this weekend. I saw this Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover for iPad 2 and New iPad and thought it would not only add to the review itself but make it a bit more fun.

The cover is thin as advertised in its name and doesn’t add much weight to the iPad. Its keyboard is narrow (constrained by the iPad’s length). But, the keys have travel and tactile feedback. I really appreciate the fact that it has a real on/off switch that doesn’t make you guess if the Bluetooth is actually on or off.

It has a retail price of $100. But, I found it for $80 at a local Costco store.
Continue Reading »

The combination of a one-day sale and an apparent pent-up demand for a niche vertical program category (programmer’s editor) has placed the freshly released Diet Coda for iPad app at #8 in Apple’s list of top selling iPad apps hours after its release.

I bought my copy and tried it out with my web server (SFTP/SSH). Initial verdict? Wow! Keep an eye out over the next few days for my full review of the app in BYTE.

While searching for some information tonight, I ran across an article I wrote for O’Reilly Media’s MacDevCenter way back on October 25, 2005.

When will Apple re-enter the PDA Market?

Palm OS had just been sold to Japan’s Access. And, I wrote that I hoped Apple would re-enter the PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) market it had created (pre-Jobs) with the Newton. In the article I wrote:
Continue Reading »

Gulp. This product has been sitting in my review queue for way too long. And, it is a good one: The Griffin GuitarConnect Pro. This $79.99 product lets you connect an electric guitar to an iPhone or iPad using a standard 1/4-inch guitar cable. Even better, it works great with GarageBand. So, GarageBand for iOS users don’t have to learn to use a new app. How does it compare to the iRig? Stay tuned.

Thirty-five (35) apps for my iPhone or iPad were updated in the past week. Here’s a summary of the updates that I found interesting.
Continue Reading »

Here’s another one in the review queue.

Wicked WI2150 Jaw Breaker with Mic Earbud

These earbuds list for $29.99 but is available on Amazon for a mere $15.25. Note that it has a microphone. So, you can use it with your phone. I’m having a problem coming to a conclusion about these earbuds though my current opinion is favorable. More later…

The SLINGSHOT is a Kickstarter project that claims to: Stabilizes smartphone video . . . and more! The testimonials would have you believe this thing works magic and is priced at merely $14. And, to their credit, this product is actually shipping. The PR firm working with the developer asked if I would like to review one. So, I’ve been playing with it for about two weeks. But, I’m still not convinced it works (despite testimonials on its Kickstarter page that indicates I’m wrong). Will play with it another week or so before writing my conclusion.

GigaOm reported on the first music app from iPhone music creation app pioneer Smule.

Music app maker Smule finally gives Android some love

It references an interview discussion I had with Smule CTO Ge Wang last year (December 2011) in which he said that Smule had not released Android apps because of the platform’s audio latency problems. However, as GigaOm’s article rightly notes: Smule started with Songify because the app doesn’t have the realtime audio needs that other Smule apps do. But she said that Smule has come up with a work-around for Android’s latency problem that will be deployed in Magic Piano.
Continue Reading »

OK. I admit it. I am woefully behind in reviewing a bunch of mobile accessories and hardware. It is embarrassing and, unfortunately, rude to the nice PR people who provided these items. So, the least I can do is let people who stumble upon this blog know what is in my review queue.

First up? Two products from Energizers new USB Chargers series. The first is the Energizer Dual Wall Universal USB Charger with an unusual list price of $28.56 but available for less than $12 from Amazon. The second is the Energizer 10 Watt USB Wall Charger and Cable with a list price of $24.99 but available from Amazon for less than $18. Both models have folding prongs making them potentially useful travel chargers. More later on this pair of gadget chargers.