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Bluetooth / Social Software
An old idea (in Bluetooth circles) but a new and much-improved implementation - using Bluetooth to meet people with similar interests nearby . My take on this is that we're finally seeing applications that existed only in PowerPoint form four years ago, become real. Soft remotes, Bluetoth stereo headsets, and a few other categories are now beginning to roll out in volume. At last.
Wifi Wallpaper
BAE announced wireless wallpaper today. See here for details. An interesting tack to take - limiting the "leakage" from wireless networks so organisations can control it, while most of the industry is focused on more power, more range, more bandwith.
A few months ago, one of the cinemas in Dublin got intro trouble when it tried out some technology that blocked phone calls in the cinema during a screening. It turns out that this is illegal - you can't just jam the frequency allocated for ther GSM networks. However, the spectrum that most Wifi gear lives in is free for all - microwaves, Bluetooth and 802.11b and g. I think we'll see more products designed to either limit the reach of Wifi networks, or jam them entirely.
The Clie is dead, Could it take PalmSource with it?
Sony announced this week that it will stop selling new versions of the Clie PDA outside of its Japanese home market, where it has over 50% market share. This spells further trouble for PalmSource, from whom Sony licenses the PalmOS operating system for the devices, and in whom Sony has a 10% stake that it purchased a few years ago. PalmSource seems to be getting battered from all sides these days. Both Microsoft (with Windows Mobile) and IBM (with Linux on Zaurus) is putting a severe hurt on it in the mobile enterprise arena. Meanwhile, Nokia and Sony Ericsson are enticing traditional "professional" PDA users to their Symbian based SmartPhones. And phones in general are betting better at basic calendar, contacts, and "to do" functionality that used to be the PalmOS sweet spot.
Indeed, unless something dramatic happens for PalmSource in the next year or so, it's hard to see where the growth is going to be for the company.
As for the Clie's - they were interesting PDAs, and we had a soft spot for them. Sony's focus was always on the multimedia and gaming potential of the handhelds, which is why they were the first to ship with stereo headphones and built-in MP3 software, and the first with integrated cameras for both still and video imaging. We used them for demo'ing our Java/Bluetooth software, as they were always the coolest looking PDA around, obviously benefitting from Sony's consumer styling pedigree. Their wireless support for Bluetooth and 802.11 was also excellent.
However, outside their home market, their sales were disappointing, and indeed, sales of all PalmOS PDAs continue to struggle.
Finally - J2ME for PDAs
A set of Java 2 Micro Edition (J2ME) APIs tailored for PDA devices have been a _long_ time coming. The standardisation process seems to have been fraught with setbacks and politics. The need for these APIs has long existed - it didn't make sense to have the same restricted Java features available on a PDA as were available on a mobile phone. However, time has moved on and the new generation of smartphones has brought mobile phone capabilities almost in line with PDAs. So, either the new Java PDA APIs are timely and will have appeal beyond PDAs, or they're too late because PDAs are on the decline. You choose!
You can download the new spec from here - it's structured as J2ME Optional Packages - one for file access and one for Personal Information Management
Slashdot for Bluetooth
See here for what looks like an interesting Bluetooth blog site at MobileWhack.
Also, see this for a useful navigation feature
Apple "gets" wireless
Apple have done it again.
They were one of the first to bundle 802.11 with their laptops. They then led the charge for higher rate Wireless LAN with 802.11g support in both laptops and their Airport Access Point. They took Bluetooth to heart, and made it easy to iSync with PDAs and phones, and then shipped a nifty and elegant Bluetooth keyboard and mouse that "just work".
And now they've announced the Airport Express, with Airtunes, which makes it easier than ever to share your music wirelessly at home and play it through your regular audio system, and almost as an aside, is a nifty low-priced portable access point.
What next? A Bluetooth or 802.11 enabled iPod?