Netbook 2.0

The biggest news in the netbook realm is that Acer has gained quite a bit of ground with their Aspire netbooks and that netbook sales are eating up shares in the laptops world at the expensive of their bigger but more capable brethren. More than that, it's killing margins and revenue growth at HP and Dell.

It's beginning to look like a downward spiral at this point. But some are beginning to come out to the market with a different take on netbooks. We'll come to this point in a bit.

First, please read Onxo's previous post on what happened to the promises of netbook. SSD. Long battery life. Instant-on.

Now, let's come back. Netbooks are evolving as they should. Technology evolves. But they're evolving into bigger netbooks. More power requirements. Faster chips (though you wouldn't know it). It's become a laptop again but without the optical drive. But they carry a higher price. Still, it's a netbook wanting to do more.

Eventually, the margins and revenues on that will suffer as well. Netbook makers are fooling themselves. They need netbooks in their line but they all need products that differentiate themselves from the rest.

Sony has the Viao P and, well, Apple has nothing. But neither companies want to have anything to do with netbooks. For the pack of PC makers, someone needs to get started on netbook 2.0 so that they can break out of this shell they're in. It's killing them. I mean that literally.

"24" Commercial From Japan

Nothing about mobile life or gadget in this post but I was looking for the old Japanese pencil cases that I had when I was a kid and I came across this Japanese commercial with Jack Bauer from Fox's "24".

It's a commercial for Calorie Mate...whatever that is.

Friday Mobile Movie

Onxo hadn't done a Friday movie in a while. So, we're getting back into it. Here's a nice clip about what happens when you give cute fury animals a mobile phone.

Enjoy.



Have a great weekend.

First saw this on Crunchgear.

PSP 2 - Standalone Gaming Device or PSPhone?

Now that Microsoft has indicated Zune will find its way into Windows Mobile devices, will Sony do something similar with PSP? To jump start their status in the smartphone and gaming market? Two birds with one stone?

Alright, PSP is not the same as Zune. PSP is doing well. Zune is, well...Zuned. Microsoft really has nothing to lose but much to gain if Windows Mobile 7 gains wide adoption and allows Microsoft to regain a position it once held at as the top smartphone platform. And Zune maybe just what Redmond hope will do that. Tie together are Xbox, Zune, and Windows Mobile.

For Sony, they are looking at this differently. PSP is a relatively successful gaming platform. Thus, the risks are greater. If Zune doesn't work out in WM 7, Microsoft takes it out. It's already tarnished as a media device. No big deal.

However, do it wrong, PSP get Zuned and Sony gains nothing in the smartphone market.

So, what to except from PSP 2? I've read and heard a lot of rumors but nothing is concrete. Sony is most definitely working on the PSP successor. They started on it even before PSP was finished. You know that. I know that. It's the nature of business. However, one might wonder if the gaming success (real or not is up for debate) of Apple's mobile platform changed things in Japan a bit.

Perhaps before the iPhone came out, PSP 2 was suppose to be another standalone gaming device. HD screen. More powerful graphics. New designs. It was like the same thing for WM7, just another incremental upgrade and anything touching involves a stylus. But that all changed in the couple of years.

The battlefield was clear and defined and all the players knew each other well before Apple joined the game. Sony and Nintendo locked in a chess match in the portable gaming market while WM, Blackberry, Symbian, and Palm fought it out in the smartphone market. Apple sort of pulled the two markets together and changed the rules with a true mobile computing platform.

I'm gonna go out on a limp and say that Sony will leave things as it is. PSP 2 will be a standalone device with an app store of its own while gain some mobile computing functions. The question is why will we see it?

What do you think?

Quick Mobile Updates

Some updates you'll want to be aware of in mobility this morning.

Yesterday, over at On Apple, we went into ATT's 2011 rollout of LTE.  It's like 18 months later than we expected.  Maybe it has to do with all those funds transferred to Apple.  Who knows.  But now, Verizon has gone ahead and said that they'll have rollouts in 2010, maybe a full hear ahead of rival ATT.  

I went ahead and said 3G, which will be speed up by that time will like help ATT blunt any defections but still, it's no wonder why Verizon has such loyal followings.  If not for the iPhone, I don't know where ATT will be today.  

Verizon will be using the 700Mhz spectrum they outbid everyone else for.  Remember back that for a while, we all thought (and hoped) that Google would make a serious run for it.  

Now, recall that the FCC stipulated the network must be open?  Let's see what that really means in wirelessspeak.  Remember, the wireless overlords want to protect us by being our gatekeepers.

Now some lighter news for mobile gaming.  DSi coming to the US on April 4th!  Not excited? Well, it's cost a recession digging $170!  Here's what more fitting in these tough economic times:  the initial colors will be in black and blue.  How's that for irony?

Over at On Android, I applauded the months of free apps on the Android Market.  But I wonder what'll happen to those apps once the marketplace for paid apps goes live.  Will G1 owners like myself wake up to have our apps tell us that we've got one more week of free use or else?

Link:

• CNet - Verizon 4G
• CNet - Nintendo

Netbooks - What Happened To Instant On? Give Us A Real Netbook

One of the best advertised features of the netbooks when the EEE PC came out was the promise of fast startup or instant on and long battery life.

Well, so far, I have not seen anything close to anything like it.  The promises of solid state drives and startups haven't been what we were promised.

In fact, things have gone in reverse.  To drive prices down, cheap and older motherboards have been used like Intel's 950 chipset.  Standard drives became the normal as netbook makers realized people are using their netbooks as laptop or desktop replacements.  In fact, battery life have  been dismal and the native Linux OS were inefficient and largely replaced with the aged but true Windows XP.  If not XP or Linux, then its OS X.

I think it's time someone come out with a real netbook.  One that boots up in seconds.  One that offers long battery life because it uses fast efficient SSD drives and a power management that allows for all day use instead of the 2-3 hours or the 5 hours of battery life only because of 6-cell batteries.  

Make it a real netbook.  Get rid of the video out.  Do we really need HD playback?  A netbook should be not replacing any regular computers.  If it's a task or job needs a regular laptop, get a real desktop.

I suppose today's state of netbooks maybe largely due to the sagging global economy.  But at the same time, increasing netbook sales have failed to augment regular computer sales but instead contribute to shrinking revenues and markets.

It is a wonder why Sony's Viao P costs closer to $1000? Apple has not come out with their answer to the netbook?  It's quite simple.  There is no answer to the netbook as it exists today.  But there are some qualities that netbook makers should consider for what we originally though netbooks would bring to mobility:

• Light.  3lbs are fine but there are subnotes in that range.  The Macbook Air quickly comes to mind.  Two pounds would be ideal.  2.5 is acceptable if it means a bigger battery.
• Fast.  E-mails.  Surfing the web.  IM.  Standard office or social tasks that make up much of daily digital communication.
• Wireless.  3G.  Wi-Fi.  Wireless USB.  No cords.  Even wireless charging.  Evidently, the technology is there.  Ask Palm about charging the Pre.
• Long runtime.  I don't want to go overboard here.  I'm not talking about days.  I can dream but I dare not make such a request.  But make it run for a day.  Certainly, that isn't too much to ask.  

Are such conditions unreasonable to ask or difficult to meet for the likes of Apple, Sony, or an innovative and hungry startup?  Maybe there's a reason why netbooks are so cheap.  It's a good thing.   However, it doesn't mean we should accept the state of mobility as it is today.

Note:  When asked about Apple's answer to the netbook, Jobs jokingly (or maybe he wasn't) answered the iphone was Apple's answer to the netbook.  No, it's not.  But close.  Recent days, it's been blogged to death that Apple has "ideas" about the netbook market.  I wonder if Jobs hinted at Apple's plans but no one was really listening?

Apple Competitors Tries to Catch Up At World Mobile Congress

Fortune provided a summary of what Apple's competitors are doing to help overcome Apple's innovative lead in the mobile market.  Whether you think this lead is perceived or real, most mobile warriors will agree that anything mobile these days will be compared to what Apple is doing with the iPhone or be compared to the iPhone.

The market falls largely into three segments: 

• folks who will buy anything Apple
• folks who will buy anything but Apple - but likes the iPhone, just not Apple
• folks who want a good mobile device

With the above said, it stands to reason that while there are innovations going on outside of Cupertino (shocking, eh?), Apple seems to have the pole position these days.  You don't see many posts or articles on Storm killer now, do you?

So, at Barcelona, many mobile providers and device makers used the Mobile World Congress to lay out their strategies:

• Nokia:  with their Ovi store, they will create social-centric applications that leverage their huge installed base.  Media will be part of their emphasis.  Also, Skype will come pre-installed on many Nokia phones in the 3rd quarter.
• Android Marketplace:  Google started accepting paid apps this week but since the debut of the G1, it was all free apps only.  Users were subjected to beta status (my opinion that is widely shared by many users).  There was a belated update a couple of weeks ago but until we see what apps are available, we can't give a proper opinion at this time.  Also, Google will allow users to ask for their money back within 24 hours of buying an app if they are not satisfied.  However, if you want the money back, you'll need to get it from the developers.  And you will have to use Google Checkout.  In a way, it's a free for all so that will be interesting to watch.
• Palm Pre: very little information at this time.  It'll be difficult for Palm to differentiate itself from what its users are used to now.  It's like there won't be one but multiple store fronts for users to choose from.  Music will come from Amazon.
• Symbian: This is an interesting one.  With Nokia coming out with Ovi, will Symbian apps be folded into the Ovi store?  How about 3rd stores like Pocketgear that has largely supported Symbian effort?  
• Blackberry Applications Center: very little is known about it at this time.  Despite all the attention the iPhone is getting, RIM sells more units than Apple and that's a good thing for RIM.  By virtue of its installed base in the smartphone market, they're still the ones to beat.  And should RIM come out with a creative store, watch out.
• Microsoft: been in this business for years.  Apple made the app store easier to use but Microsoft has just as many apps as the iPhone's app store.  Can't wait to see the two go at it.I'm talking about iPHone 3.0 and windows Mobile 7.

While the Fortune article largely forgotten about T-Mobile and the other mobile providers, I haven't.  Yeah, our gatekeepers.  It's difficult to say what the dynamics and relationships they will have with device makers and the customers.  In the past, the wireless providers ruled the market.  

They say jump, and we ask whether it's a cliff or bridge they want us to jump off of.  Today, that has changed.  A year ago, no phone maker would think about creating their own app stores and services separately from the providers.  So until these app stores actually open and the services in effect, we can't say how much weight the wireless providers will have in selling their own apps and services.

My hope is one in which each platform will have multiple stores to choose from.  Of course, that'll never be the case with the iPhone.  

I believe we're just seeing the beginning of another jump in mobile computing and services.  Once all the stores are out there, mobile warriors will likely witness another leap in innovation for app distribution, communications, and services.  There's always be a leader others are trying to catch up to.

Via Fortune, Macrumors

Mobile Warriors Feeding The Pig

From time to time, Onxo has offered mobile tips.  Batteries, security, you name it.  Just search "tip" and you'll find a couple of useful ones.

But now, we'll also offer tips for your wallet if we come across anything that'll help mobile warriors keep their gears and services.  And hopefully, we'll also get a tip or two from our readers.

Tonight, I'm sitting here working on some diagrams for work watching Babylon 5 on Hulu.  One of the commercials was the "feed the pig" one where this lady and the pig was laughing about her happy retirement.  

Anyway, I checked out their site.  Interesting.  Offers very few things that I don't already know.  But as I got thought their tips, much of it hinges on one thing.

Self-control.  

Am I right?  It's about self-control.  Living within your means no matter how Steve Jobs' reality distortion field comes through your laptop screen and makes you want to have the next Apple gear or how nice and greatly improved the Blackberry Curve are or Windows Mobile 6.5 may rock.  DSi is coming.  You want it but do you really need it?

That's what it's all about.  Remember that.  Here are a couple of links I've found.  I'll continue to update them and hopefully it'll help us through these though times together.

• Feed The Pig
  
• ABC News:  High Tech, Low Cost -  how to save up to $5000.  Well, not quite.  But a good read.
• Free Wi-Fi:  Don't pay for it at Starbucks or Borders.  Go online and see what other places offer it for free.  Dave the Mobile Warrior recently visited a local Vons and found that he could access the Internet there through an access point on his iPhone.

Mobile warriors, appreciate any other tips you can share with the rest of us.

Mobile World Congress Update

The Mobile World Congress is getting started.  

There were a few updates as of this morning but we'll summarize here and make you go to Mobile Digerati for updates and news from Barcelona and elsewhere.

So far, Microsoft has made the biggest splash with previews of Windows Mobile 6.5.  Still, WM7 is what everyone's interested in.  But at least a ".5" may afford Redmond the time to hold on a bit longer until WM7 with Zune comes out, hopefully, in late 2009.  

Not making a splash is Android so far.  

Anyway, please visit Mobile Digerati for news on all things mobile.

Waiting In Line - Make Sure You've Got Your Smartphone

These days, I don't mind waiting in line.  In fact while I went shopping today for food (it's a shame to have the frig on 24-7 but nothing in it) and I got the opportunity to catch up on some podcasts and scanned news headlines from a RSS reader.

I remember only a couple of years ago, I made sure I had my Palm Zire 72 with me so I can read my ebooks.  And before that, I'd bring a book.  Hey, waiting in line means anywhere from 5-10 minutes.  Specially on a Sunday afternoon like today and with rain coming in southern Cal, lots of people were out to stock up for the next couple of days.  

And given my innate skill at picking the wrong line to get into, my wait at markets, banks, or Disneyland are usually longer.  But now, I don't care so much since I'm almost never in a hurry to get anyway after work or on a Sunday afternoon.

I listened to a science podcast and scanned the most recent news headlines.  All the while, I was getting tweets updates as well.  

Interestingly, I have never seen anyone else do the same thing I've been doing while in line.  I've seen a lot of folks talking on their phones while in line.  

Perhaps I'm the only one but I am sure there are more of my fellow mobile warriors out there who do the same thing.  

Any more creative ways to make the best of your mobile devices and time?  On behalf of everyone, I love to hear from you.

Tethering with iPhone and T-Mobile G1

Gizmodo has some simply looking instructions on how to tether your iPhone or G1 to your PC laptop or Macbook.

It looks simple enough and in emergency situations, this can be a life saver.

Of course in due time, ATT and T-Mobile are likely to come out with tethering plans that may make this unnecessary.  However, being the cheap bastards that we are and the shape the economy, this might be something interesting to consider.

I've got ATT DSL so I can access ATT's hotspots at Starbucks but I found myself out of luck whenever I visit Borders because they use T-Mobile's wi-fi service.

Anyway, this should be pretty use for all mobile warriors.

Via Gizmodo

Note:  I wonder if someone will simply this even further.

Google Docs Now Editable On Mobile Devices

Google has finally made editing spreadsheets on mobile browsers (no word processing yet).

According to the Google Doc blog, it was only a year ago they've made docs viewable on browsers. Now, they're making editing available for spreadsheets.

My fellow mobile warriors, I've been complaining about Google's lack of attention for mobile blogging but this shows that they're making an effort at bring computing normally reserved for regular computers to mobile devices. 

Now, it appears this is only available for webkit-based browsers because they mentioned the iPhone, iPod Touch, G1, and Nokia's S60.

Links:

• Google Doc Blog
• Just Another iPhone Blog

Note:  Like I said, this looks like it's for only webkit-based browsers.  You would think that editing docs in word processors should be easier.  I suppose that's not the case.  Really really wish Google would bring over to G1 or the iPhone a native blogger app.

Impact:  It's too early for this to have an impact on mobile warriors.  The new functions are appreciated and while Google's docs are pretty advanced, I'm not sure a lot of folks use it.  I'm not sure a lot of mobile folks will start using it.  I'll try it and let you know how it is.  Really looking forward to it.

Remembering My First Laptop

Gather around. Let me tell you about my first laptop. Now, I've gone through a few already. More than my share. I'm a total softie when it comes to tech and mobile gadgets.

In the mid-90s, we had Gamboys, Sega's Gamegear, and, for PDA, well, it was a Casio equivalent of a Dayrunner. Had them all. Oh, right. I had a pager too.

The first laptop I've ever seen was a Powerbook 190 that my boss would dangled in from of us. After he got to know me better, he let me manage his city in Simcity when he's away on his three hour lunch break. I was a biochem student at UCLA at the time.

After saving up for a while summer, I decided I want a laptop but I couldn't afford a Powerbook so I had looked and looked and in a computer magazine, I found an ad for a new company called Midwest Micro. Now, I don't remember the price of the laptop I saw but it was a Pentium 75Mhz with dual-scan screen. I knew that was the laptop I wanted.

The next day, I called them up and ordered it. While my roommate was still chugging along on his workhorse 286, I was gonna get a Pentium. Not a just any Pentium. A Pentium laptop!

The wait is agonizing. I'm sure all of you have gone through similar waits so you know exactly what I'm talking about. So, one day, I went home after a long day at the lab my roommate was at his PC clicking away. Since he didn't say anything I decided it didn't arrive. Finally, he couldn't contain himself. It's here, he said!

The two of us through through the box to get at the laptop. A Midwest Micro Pentium 75Mhz laptop. I turned it on. Power. That was good. I think it was running Windows. Not Windows 95.

There was no Internet at the time but we played with it and my roommate loaded it up with software from the, ahem, bulletin boards we'd access via his blazing fast US Robotics 2400 baud modem.

Then the battery indicator told us the battery needed to be charged. I went back to the box to get the AC adapter.

There wasn't one.

Anyway, I forgot what happened next but I ended up returning the laptop. In a span of two weeks, I went through a Toshiba, Epson, and a third one whose brand I didn't recognize. One caught on fire, another just never turned on, and the last one, though cheap, had stability issues.

At the end of the day, I decided I had saved enough over the summer and I could eat at the $1 sandwich place for the rest of winter quarter to make up for the rest so I went to the student store and took home a Powerbook 520.

I've gone through a Dell, Viao, Powerbook 1400, Powerbook G4, XO, and Pavilion.

Today, I'm on the unibody Macbook. Since moving from the Powerbook G4 to it, I've gotten much more productive. It's fast, powerful, and versatile since I can switch to Windows when I absolutely have to. But I'll never for the Midwest Micro laptop.

Kindle 2: WhisperSync for Mobiles

Competition. Competition. Competition.

That's what I see when Kindle books from Amazon becomes available on mobile communication platforms other than Amazon's Kindle.

Gizmodo and Alley Insider have some details about Whispersync that didn't quite make a big splash in the live blogs. You can visit them to see if you gather anything from this. So far, from what I can tell, Amazon is looking to distribute as much Kindle material as possible.

Here's where I can kind of guess what is going on behind the scene. Amazon is likely negotiating with the different platforms and trying to figure out how to bring Kindle-like services to say the Blackberry, Android, and the iPhone. They'll likely have a better time of it with Windows Mobile. Maybe even Palm.

There are a few sticking points they have to work out first, which may explain why we didn't hear anything more today:

• Wireless providers. If you read Onxo in the past, you'll know how I love these guys, you know, the folks who want to be our gatekeepers. Protect us from the big bad Web. They'll want a couple of bucks from Amazon for if they want use their networks. Of course, Amazon might just say "screw it" and go Wi-Fi for mobile devices.
• Wireless platforms may be negotiating to get a piece of the pie too. Microsoft less likely so but, others, not sure yet. Apple might insist on it.
• Kindle is more than just ebooks. It offers subscriptions. Audiobooks too. This is where negotiating with Apple is hellish. Apple offers audiobooks through iTunes. Granted that the iPods and iPhones are Audible-compatible, don't think Apple will just let Amazon stick a Kindle app in the app store. There'll probably be stipulations on what Amazon can or cannot sell through a Kindle app.
• Android looks like a perfect fit for Amazon since its music store is already on the Android. I'm guess we'll see Kindle here first. Perhaps even on the Pre when it launches.
• NYT is already free but its a paid subscription on the Kindle? How will Amazon reconcile this and other paid materials that are normally free?

Anyway, we'll know soon enough. But I'm still hopefully Amazon will get clever with Kindle ebook subscriptions like Audible.

Via Gizmodo, Alley Insider

Kindle 2: It's Here!

Is this the Kindle revision you're waiting for? Same price. Same size. But 25% longer battery life?

Well, not quite. $360. That's still quite expensive for an one-trick dog or horse. Still, it has some improvements that will likely get some of those well-do-to folks off the fence and into getting one.

I'll say this though. If and when Amazon does make Kindle reading library available for the iPhone, Blackberries, Android, Windows, and others, I might get it after another price drop. I think I speak for a lot of mobile warriors that we do read despite what Steve Jobs say but a $350 dedicated reader just isn't something to get excited about.

Amazon, make it $99. Provide a discount like what you do with Audible.com when you sign up for a year's worth of books. Something along that line would get the Kindle sales pumping. Readers will like it. Publishers will love it. And you can reach that $2 billion revenue projection and help those Wall Street analysts who love shooting in the dark look good for once.

Think about it, Jeff.

For today's live blog, news, and analysis on the exciting unveiling of Kindle 2, please visit mobile digerati for aggregate of Kindle-related posts and today's other mobile news.

Crazy Thought: Amazon Should Bring Books To the iPhone, Android, Blackberry, and Others

And they should. They get the best deal as far as i can tell compared to Fictionwise where I get most of my ebooks. And though Fictionwise has done a lot to make sure that their prices are more competitive since Kindle has been out, it's still difficult to pay about 30% more for the same book as folks would on Amazon's Kindle.

And there's definitely a market for it. Now, iPhone users appreciate having eReader as an app and now Stanza has more to offer readers but having more competitors is always good for mobile warriors. And let's not forget that the iPhone is only a minority in the smartphone market (even though it's not a smartphone).

There is Android where Amazon is the default music seller. Let's not forget the millions and millions of Blackberries and Windows Mobile devices. Palm folks already discovered eReader and would also appreciate Kindle compatible reading materials.

Let's hope some folks over at Amazon will do some math on this and see that volume speaks, well, volumes. And Amazon should continue to innovate Kindle. A lot of the revenues from selling books on other mobile platforms can only add to the bottomline and maybe even help lower Kindle's retail prices and the search and development that went into it.

And if Amazon is afraid people will stop buying Kindle, let me tell you this. You've got a nice dedicated reader in Kindle with a bigger screen than smartphones and most mobile devices. In time you'll also be lowering the price point for Kindle. People will flock to it as long as you give mobile readers a reason to buy it.

Recession Watch

This isn't a mobile post but it's important to mobile folks just to the same. Heck, it's important to everyone.

News.com has posted an article about websites that filled regulatory voids to help people avoid scams. As you probably know by now, the Madoff Ponzi Scam has set off a wave (three other ones that I can name off the top of my head) other criminal scams as the recession hit and investors started asking questions - like can I have my money back.

It's quite simple, my fellow mobile warriors. If it's too good to be true, it always is. There is never a sure thing in an investment. There is always a certain level of risk. Otherwise, everyone would be doing it, right?

News.com listed a couple of sites where you can visit for scams updates and maybe find out if you're a potential scam victim.

• Scam Victims United - I really like this one. It lists an easy to see menu of types of scams and each scam is explained to the visitor of how it works, how you can protect yourself, and resources for victims.
• Scam Warners - There's a forum for you to get into right off the top. It's when you click on "Useful Links" that you find a lot of resources.

Frankly, both sites go hand-in-hand, each offering varying levels of information and presentation. Both very useful. I hope everyone go and visit, not as victims, but to educate ourselves against scumbags. Given how vulnerable we all are in these tough times, there are those who would pray on us.

Via CNet News

More than Just 100Gbps, Korea Looks To Up Wireless Internet Too

Yesterday, we wrote about Korea's plan to increase broadband access to 1Gbps by 2012.  That was no the whole story.  Korea will be upgrading their wireless network to increase mobile Internet access from 1Mbps to 10Mbps.  Just like brandband access,  mobile access will increase ten times.

So, here are the highlights of what the Korean government, with the political will, is willing to do:

• $24.6 billion will be spent over the next 5 years for the IT upgrade.  This project will be undertaken by government and private concerns.
• 120,000 Jobs is estimated to be created.
  
• Mobile Internet access will increase to 10Mbps.
• Existing landlines will be automatically converted to VOIP.
• IPTV image clarity will increase 16 times.
• IPTV will allow ecommerce and educational applications.

Okay, so we better get cooking here in the US.  Heck, this goes for folks everywhere else in the world.  Mobility is the future.  IPTV, VOIP, or just mobile Internet, more and more folks are relying on the mobile devices to be more productive, stay in touch, and be untethered from their cubicles.

In the US, the House passed their version of stimulus pack while the Senate is expected to take up their own version of the stimulus this week.  We're not even close to getting this thing done.  There is money for telecom infrastructure but we won't know until the Senate pass their bill and reconcile their version with the House bill.  After House and Senate finalize the bill, it will go to the President for his signature.

Via:  Joon Gang Daily

Mobile Digerati

I will start providing periodic mobile updates that I feel are important to all mobile warriors.

Be it politics, economics, or just cool mobile developments and gadgets, I'll post them as I can but I've also posted a lot of posts, blogs, and articles I read throughout the week at Mobile Digerati that I think you might also be interested in reading as well.

I've also created a mobile gaming section.  I just know mobile gaming is going to be huge in 2009 despite the current economic conditions.  As I've posted a couple of days ago, 2009 will be very busy for mobile news.

South Korea To Get 1Gbps By 2012

As Gigaom pointed out, 1 Gbps is 200 times faster than the typical high end DSL or Cable Internet access speed at 5Mbps.  200 times.  Let's do this again, 200 TIMES!
Oh, did I mentioned I upgraded my DSL service to 3Mbps this weekend?  And before that I was hovering around 1Mbps?  That means by 2012, Koreans will outspeed me by 333 times.  Of course, they're ready getting 100Mbps.  So, they'll be growing their download speed by 10 times.

To put that in perspective, Verizon FIOS offers 50Mbps download.  ATT's U-verse offers a mere maximum speed of 18Mbps.  And it's not even available in most areas.

Now, a lot of folks, including myself, are doing just fine with what we've got.  I'm not a big downloader.  I do what everyone do:  watch Youtubes, e-mail, blog, surft the web.  3Mbps is good enough.  However, a peak down the road, a few years from now, more and more folks in the US will be relying in their Internet for video conferencing, VOIP, and watching televisions and videos.

Onxo has focused on mobile Internet but this is an issue we cannot ignore.  We've pushed for more broadband infrastructure expansions.  Government stimulus aside, the provider who is willing to invest through this downturn (and it's not going to last forever) will emerge with an huge speed advantage and reliablity over its competitors.

Maybe we don't need 1Gbps.  Yet.  Providers should get us to 50 or 100Mbps just to avoid looking bad to the rest of the world.

Via Gigaom