I Want This Concept Liquidmetal iPhone 5

Source:  iDownload Blog

Gimme, gimme, gimme!!!

I want this concept iPhone 5 as envisioned by Antoine Brieux, a French designer. 

So far, the device looks quite like what I described as how Apple could give us a bigger than the current 3.5" Retina Display without doing too much to make the next iPhone's body bigger, thus, harder to use with one hand.

In may difference from what I described and this concept iPhone is the home button is gone.  The screen itself is the home button.  How that'll work UI-wise, I can't say I have a good idea for.  However, given that multi-touch gesture on the iPad that allows the user to swipe between apps and for the multi-tasking panel at the bottom, Apple can certainly go that route.

Yeah, I want this iPhone!  Recently, I told a friend of mine that she should go ahead and get the 4S because I don't think the body of the device will change too much.  Boy, if Apple does unveil the next iPhone with a form factor even remotely close to this, someone's gonna be very pissed off at me...

RIM Delivers Blackberry 10 But Still Needs To Execute And Show What Its Mobile Vision Is

RIM showed off its newest but yet to be released Blackberry 10 OS today.  So far, all signs points to things stabilizing in the short-term for RIM if the Canadian mobile giant can deliver as promised.  However, how long before things start crashing down again?  Don’t get me wrong.  We want RIM to succeed but it’s not as simple as coming up with a mobile device that is on par with the current mobile trend-settings like Android.  Look at how long it took for the Playbook to get features like e-mail?  And even then, the Playbook has not managed to make any kind of inroad in the tablet market.

Let’s say RIM manages to deliver on what’s promised – a new Blackberry handset running the latest and greatest OS with some very impressive features, what then?  It would not only have to show that it can keep up with the big boys but RIM has to show what it has planned beyond that.to give supporters what is beyond mobile.

For a while, RIM might be able to do at best is hold onto its corporate market a bit longer.  However, in a world where more workers are given a choice of Android devices, Blackberries, and iPhones, it goes beyond just mobile.

Apple has built an ecosystem that few can rival.  Perhaps, the closest to come to the iTunes ecosystem is Amazon with its Kindle ecosystem.  Google and Microsoft are at least trying to replicate this system for their own respective mobile and desktop operating systems.  What does RIM have beyond what was once a promising tablet and a shrinking mobile market share?

Let’s look at some of RIM’s competitors.  RIM doesn’t have the reach of the likes of even Samsung or Sony – both with media boxes and HDTV.  Even Sony has its Playstation brand and media empire.   And being able to reach into the living is a must for mobile players.

What about the big three?  Google has already advanced Android on many HDTVs.  Microsoft is banking that windows 8 as well as its loyal Xbox market will give it an advantage.  Apple’s Apple TV strategy is still a hobby and there are a lot of signs that its’ ready to let go of that label and take the whole iTunes system up to a whole new level.  And I haven’t even gotten into rumored Apple-branded HDTV yet.

And what of RIM’s cloud stategy?

Cleary, in addition to developing and releasing Blackberry 10 devices on time, RIM has to show that it can keep up with its competitors.  It has to find partners to provide media like video, music, and ebooks.  It has to find a way into the lives of its customers and make itself an indispensable part of their lives and not just provide a means for mobile communication.

The following video demo of the BB10 keyboard shows that RIM can in fact innovate.  The problem isn’t necessarily that.  It’s execution and vision.  So far, both remains lacking.

New Dark Knight Rises Trailer!

Just got this in my inbox from WB.  Said it's a new trailer for the sure super hit, The Dark Knight Rises.

Definitely the must see movie of the summer. Sorry, Avengers is awesome looking but Batman is where the story's at - pain, sweat, and, of course...Vengeance!

I've already watched the trailer 3 times before I realized I haven't shared them with you yet.  I'll be watching this in 3D on IMAX.  Hopefully at an Arclight theater without kids yapping and texting (or kicking the back of my seat).

Speculation: Apple to Operate Own Wireless Service?

Source:  Boy Genius Report.


We know that Apple had contemplated creating its own wireless network through a bunch of WiFi hotspots that obviously did not happen.  Perhaps some day, we might see that happen with White Spaces.  Until then, the best opportunity for Apple to become a wireless provider is as a mobile virtual network operator, or MVNO.  


Billed as an "industry expert",  Whitey Bluestein said Apple has the resource to make this happen.  However, he doesn't say how Apple will go about making this happen, if it's even on Tim Cook's plate at the moment.  He doesn't suggest that Apple will operate as a MVNO either.


As much as I like the speculation, I'm going to call this one now:  not going to happen.  If there is actually rumblings about this, it's more likely Apple-generated to get the carriers to fall back in line regarding any shift in subsidies.  And it would make sense for carriers to give into Apple's subsidy demands and kowtow to Cupertino out west than to have Apple become a potentially scary competitor overnight.


If anyone does make this happen, I would guess it's Google. Regardless of if it's Apple or Google starting their own network, it will likely start off as MVNO and gradually supplemented with White Spaces networks in densely populated cities.

Samsung: Hard Choices Ahead But Right Strategy Could Mean Mobile Supremacy

Samsung has distanced itself from Nokia to become the biggest handset seller in the world.  It has also managed to topple Apple in smartphone units shipped (there is controversy between the units shipped analysts estimate for Samsung and Apple’s reported iPhones sold).  Now that we have an new undisputed leader in mobile, what is Samsung’s next move?  Has Samsung’s dominance in the Android market meant the threat created by Google’s Motorola purchase diminished?  The threat being that Google could try to rein in control of how Android is deployed.

Galaxy S III is a few weeks out and should begin its huge roll-out towards the end of May or early June.  Obviously, one would hope that the S3 will run Ice Cream Sandwich, the latest Android version.  However, the problem is that it has taken more than six months from the release of Android 4 to the release of the hottest line of Android device.  And Android 5 should be out four months or so after the S3 unveiling.  It is difficult for users to reconcile the timing discrepancy.  Even now, many Galaxy S II owners have not seen ICS deployed yet.

Maybe this is something that Google needs to deal with – either convinces its hardware partners to coincide their releases closer to new Android updates or Google needs to move Android releases to spring when most flagship devices are released by Samsung and HTC.

Samsung has a few choices to make in this regard.  After all, being the biggest Android supporter, despite the Korean firm’s wariness of the Google-Motorola merger, should be able to exert some pressure on Google in this regard.   Samsung also happens to be Google’s partner in developing the Galaxy Nexus.  Furthermore, there is rumors that Microsoft is looking to Samsung’s S3 hardware specs to release Windows 8 on.  Furthermore, Bada OS development continues despite finding not much success outside of certain Asian markets.

For now, going with Windows 8 and continuing to work on Bada continues to be hedges against what Google may ultimately decide to do with Android.  And Google needs Samsung now more than ever.  And it’s not like Samsung can really go else where.  Windows 8 is untested and and Bada’s market share is just a tad better than Windows Phone.  If anything, a Google-Samsung merger, however problematic, would have made more sense than the $12 billion Motorola buyout.

Still, Samsung is in a death match with Apple at this time. Both Apple and Samsung have executed their mobile strategies flawlessly at this time.  However, unlike Apple who owns its iOS and iTunes ecosystem, Samsung needs to make sure Google doesn’t falter in any way with Android development and its deployment plans doesn’t undercut Samsung’s mobile expansion.  You might say that the iPhone 4 to iPhone 4S and Samsung’s Galaxy S to Galaxy S II improvements were evolutionary incremental improvements.   2012-2013 Will be the year to watch to see if Samsung could finally put some distance between itself and its competitors, regardless of who they are.

First Episode of The Walking Dead Game Is Out - Choose Your Actions Wisely

Source:  Electronista.

The Walking Dead game is out.  In the first episode, you have many decisions to make that will be critical to your survival.  You play Lee, a convict who will lead a group to safety or becoming food for the walking dead.

This is like yesteryear's Choose Your Own Adventure books except you'll being playing this on your Mac or PC.  Mobile versions like those for the iPhone and iPad will be out later this summer.  Me?  Ain't gonna wait until then.  This is what I'll be playing this Friday!

Here's a video from the developer on the game dynamics.  First, the trailer.

Episode 1 Video:

Interview with Robert Kirkman, creator of The Walking Dead

I especially like the world that is being created here.  You're not focused on the comic and television main character, rick Grimes, a sheriff deputy who was hurt in the line of duty and woke up in a world overrun by the dead.

Here's an extensive video of the actual game play.  It's like watching an actual show.

Americans Elect Group Getting More Mainstream Attention

Source:  Americans Elect, Americans Elect (wiki), The Daily Beast.

Americans Select is a group that I've talked about briefly in the past.  So far, it's social media push has not been as extensive as I like.  I simply have not seen it trending in the way crying babies have on Youtube.  However, they are getting more mainstream media attention like The Daily Beast.  A quick search also shows there is a lot of interest in it.  And why now?  Our two-party system isn't working out the way we Americans like anymore.  And this model isn't just for Americans but for any other people around the world who wants more control who they select to lead their governments.

Americans Select will hold its first Internet Primary in less than a week.  We will be able to choose who we want to run as a third party candidate, as alternatives to President Barack Obama of the Democratic Party and Governor Mitt Romney of the Republican Party.

Forget whether you think the Americans Select candidate really have a shot at winning the White House or not.  This is a huge departure from the party-centric nomination processes that has dominated by special interests that have veered more and more to the extremes.

According to Washington Post, the group is half way through the process of getting its candidates on the ballots of all 50 states.

Perhaps, I am being too optimistic but America is where the impossible happens.  And picking up an application to run of political office is one of the easiest things to do in the United States.  Okay, running to becoming the next POTUS is degrees much more difficult but Americans are frustrated.

The Daily Beast post is an interview with Peter Ackerman, founder of Americans Select.  He's tired of Washington's dysfunction and he wants someone who is going to be able to speak for the vast major of Americans who want common sense solutions to solve our nation's problems.

Ackerman called Americans Select not a party but a "second process" that gives the people more control over they want in the White House and break the anticompetitive barriers erected by the two parties over decades.  In early American politics, a strong third party candidate was a very common thing.

Of course, getting on the ballots of all 50 states is the easy part.  The biggest fear for potential candidates and supporters of Americans Select is the two-party system.  They fear the awesome power they've amassed for more than a century.

Still, the momentum is on the side of those who are tired of the grid-lock and obstructionist politics the Democrats and Republicans are practicing.

So, if Facebook and Twitter can start and finish revolutions in North Africa, there is no reason why it cannot effect true political change in the United States.