John Tokash

Entries from January 2007

2 N800s in a Dual Screen Configuration

January 31, 2007 · 2 Comments

Here are some ideas as to how such a configuration would work. Please add your thoughts.

What are we talking about?

Two Nokia N800 Internet Tablets fastened together. The hinge would connect the bottom edge of the first one to the top edge of the second one. The hinge would allow the two devices to be ‘closed’ by folding them back to back. Ideally, the hinge would also allow the devices to be folded screen to screen. The hinge would also be set up to allow for a flat position with the two being two screens tall. Finally, a slightly angled position would also be supported with the top device lightly tilted ‘in’.

How would this be useful?

  • Use the bottom device as a keyboard for the top device.
  • Use the top device for watching movies and the bottom device for reading the imdb entry about the movie.
  • Use the top device for ReaderMini.com and the bottom device email.
  • Applications could be written to take advantage of the screens as though they were one. The application could communicate with the ’secondary display’ via bluetooth, usb or wifi.
  • Use the top device for GPS / directions and the bottom for a browser.
  • Use the top for video chat and the bottom for a movie/browser, etc.

Categories: Nokia · UMPC

Windows Vista is not ready for UMPCs? “The OW starts NOW!”

January 29, 2007 · 1 Comment

ThoughtFix has an excellent recap of the situation that current UMPC customers are facing in terms of upgrading to Vista. I have to agree with him on most points, especially the ‘You don’t need it’ statement. I’ve just come back to Vista after a multi-month XP vacation and I really enjoy it - on my laptop. But there’s no compelling reason (yet) to upgrade an XP UMPC to Vista.

That being said, I’ll be interested to see some solid tests (on UMPCs) of ReadyBoost, Indexed Search and the new Vista battery life improvements. Also, on my laptop, I find hibernate in Vista to be much, much faster than XP, so I assume the same would be true for UMPCs.

Categories: UMPC

Nokia n800 Tutorials - Sync it with iTunes and Google Calendar

January 25, 2007 · 1 Comment

Jonathan Greene has a couple great how-tos up for my favorite Internet Tablet.

Getting Google Calendar on Your Nokia Tablet

Sync Smart Playlists in iTunes with your Nokia Tablet

Meanwhile, ThougtFix has a video demo of Windows XP Tablet Edition running on the Nokia 770. ;-)

Categories: Gadgets · Nokia

10 free passes to the 2007 Small Business Summit and some travel money?!

January 25, 2007 · No Comments

Justin is a keynote speaker at the Small Business Summit in New York City and he wants to bring along the first 10 people that email him. Sounds like a great time!

Also, I’ll pay the entry fee ($149) for the first ten of you who email me describing your business and why you’d like to attend. If you don’t live in the New York area I’ll kick in $200 towards your travel expenses as well.

Categories: Homestead

ReaderMini.com .9.3 - New Feature: Flag for Followup

January 19, 2007 · 3 Comments

This was a very easy change to make, but one I’ve been wanting to make for a long time.

Changes in Release .9.3 - 1/19/07

  • New Feature! Items can now be flagged for followup. To view items flagged this way, click the View Items for Followup button in the feed list. In Google Reader, scroll to the bottom of your feed list and click on the ‘followup’ label.

Categories: RSS · ReaderMini

Four Great Nokia Concept Videos

January 19, 2007 · 4 Comments

RingNokia pointed the way to these excellent videos. I’ve reordered them, here, to show my favorite first and my least favorite last. The other two are a toss up. Keep in mind that these videos were shown at a Nokia conference months before the iPhone was revealed. Also check out this new multitouch video.

Direct link to video

Direct link to video

Direct link to video

Direct link to video

Categories: Nokia

Two Great iPhone Articles

January 19, 2007 · No Comments

AskTog. Andy Ihnatko.

Categories: Apple

Dexpot or TopDesk? Dexpot or TopDesk? Hmm….

January 18, 2007 · 1 Comment

I’ve always been a pretty big fan of TopDesk, especially when they brought a flip3d-like window chooser to Windows XP.

ThoughtFix just created a video of Dexpot, though, and I think I might be ready to convert! Dexpot has window choosers like TopDesk, but it also has a virtual desktop system built in!

Very interesting!

Categories: Microsoft

MobileCrunch on the N800

January 18, 2007 · No Comments

So, while we were buying N800s at CompUSA and blogging about them left and right, this guy already had one for weeks but was embargoed? OUCH.

I won’t be able to give it a thorough read until tonight, but Oliver’s review looks very complete. I definitely agree with him that a software upgrade to make communicating between nearby Internet Tablets would be great. And, also on his list, I’d love to see a portrait-mode switch for the display.

For another comprehensive review, check out ThoughtFix’s.

Categories: Gadgets · Nokia

ReaderMini.com in the news!

January 18, 2007 · 7 Comments

Looks like people have been trying ReaderMini and have some great feedback.

Adam Pash of LifeHacker welcomes the improvement ReaderMini is over the official Google Reader Mobile app, Jason Clarke of DownloadSquad says it works great in Opera on Pocket PCs, Kevin Tofel of JKOnTheRun likes ReaderMini’s footprint on the 7 inch UMPC screen size.

Meanwhile, there is plenty of constructive criticism, too. ReaderMini requires Ajax, so PocketIE apparently doesn’t work. It doesn’t work on the SideKick 3 either. On my todo list is making a version that looks like ReaderMini.com does now, but requires no Javascript. That’s a lot of work, though, so if you really want it, leave me feedback here.

Categories: Gadgets · Nokia · RSS · ReaderMini