Palm’s new OS

Posted on December 23, 2008 by Mark Urbin

Palm has been working on a new OS for the past four years, code named Nova.  The rumor is that it will be released at the Consumer Electronics Show in early 2009.

A Palm executive makes an interesting observation in BusinessWeek, “The next 10 years is all about the transition from notebooks to mobile computing.”

Palm’s strategy is to not go over the business market (dominated by Blackberry devices) or the high end “strong mobile media experience” (where the iPhone rules), but the “fat middle of the market” of users who want a mobile Internet device/Phone, but don’t need/want to watch movies on a tiny screen.

It sounds like a good plan, except for one fly in the ointment.  That is the same market space Google is going after with their Android OS.

Filed under: cell phone tech, Gadget, Google, Palm, Smart Phone | Tagged: , , , | 4 Comments »

Keeping Palm in the game

Posted on December 22, 2008 by Mark Urbin

Palm, the PDA inovator, now considered a “smarphone” company, has received $100 Million investment.  It’s from the venture-capital firm Elevation Partners.

Palm’s Centro smart phone has done well, but they need something to compete with the iPhone and the upcoming gPhones.

Filed under: Palm, PDA, Smart Phone | Tagged: , , | 1 Comment »

Digital Picture Frames

Posted on December 17, 2008 by Mark Urbin

One of the hot items this Christmas is digital picture frames.  I’ve been looking at various models, bought several and returned a couple.  

First, what not to buy. Omnitech digital picture frames.  Omnitech is a Staples brand name.  Don’t let the low price suck you in like it did me.  The quality is absolute dreck!  Very low resolution pictures.  Here is a tip, if the resolution of the screen isn’t printed on the box somewhere, it’s probably safe to assume that it sucks.

I found two models that I’m happy with.  The first is an HP 10.4″ model.  The resolution is 800×600, it has a remote, support for music files, movies, CF/SD cards…all the usual stuff.  A bit pricy, Amazon has it for $165, but then you are paying for the brand name and the perceived level of quality. It will show your digital photographs off quite nicely though.  It also has different colored mats that can be swapped out to match your room’s color scheme.

The other model I like is the Smartparts OptiPix Pro 10.4″ digital picture frame, which Amazon has for $99.99.  According to data on the box, the resolution is 640×480.  I’ve got it set next to the 800×600 HP, loaded with same pictures, and I can’t see $65 worth of difference between them. 

Bottom line, if you want a decent digital picture frame, be prepared to spend at least $100, and while it’s probably safe going with a well know brand name like HP, it may not be the best buy available.

Filed under: Gadget, Photography | Tagged: , , , | Leave a comment »

Biofuel from Coffee grounds

Posted on December 8, 2008 by Mark Urbin

Amazing stuff coffee. In addtion to it’s other amazing properties, including being good for the roses, the grounds can be used to produce biofuel.

The estimates are the coffee ground biodiesel industry could generate as much as $8,000,000 in profits annually using waste from Starbucks stores here in the United States  alone.  Ok, probably less given falling crude oil prices, but I’m still a big fan of any domestic fuel souces. 

To add to the overall awesomeness of coffee, at the end of the biodiesel extraction and conversion process, the leftover grounds can be turned into fuel pellets for wood stoves and boilers.

Not only does coffee keep you moving, it can keep your car moving and heats your home!

Filed under: alternate energy, biofuel, Energy | Tagged: , , , | 6 Comments »

Lithium-Battery tech improving

Posted on December 5, 2008 by Mark Urbin

One of the big advantages of Lithium Batteries over nickel metal hydride is that there is more room for improvement with the Lithium models. 

A team in South Korea has “developed a nanoporous silicon electrode that could at least double the charge capacity of a lithium battery–essentially doubling the range of an electric vehicle. And unlike previously reported silicon anodes, the one created by Cho’s team can charge and discharge rapidly.”

The charging part is important.  Current plug in cars have eight hour plus charge times when plugged into standard current.

Filed under: alternate fuel cars | Tagged: , | Leave a comment »

Wind Power tech

Posted on December 1, 2008 by Mark Urbin

The MIT Tech Journal has the story of a new wind turbine design that could generate electricity at half the cost of conventional turbines.

The Wilbraham, MA based company is still in the VC funding development phase.

Filed under: alternate energy | Tagged: , | 1 Comment »

Tesla and the bailout

Posted on November 30, 2008 by Mark Urbin

A “technology writer” at the NY Times attacks Tesla Motors, taking more from their editorial page than the tech pages should, at least IMNSHO.

Jason Calacanis disagrees also and has written a rebuttal article.

He makes a few strong points:

Yes Randy, the first version of technology tends to be expensive.
Personal computers used to cost $5,000, flat-panel TVs were $10,000
and–gasp–the first decade’s worth of solar panels were not worth the
price. You’re a *technology* journalist at the New York Times. You
understand all too well that expensive technology becomes commodity
technology within 10 to 20 years of its inception.

Personal computers now start at $200. Of course the first version of
an all-electric sports car is going to be expensive.

…

What’s the problem here exactly? You’re saying that America could have
a brand new startup car company that produces an affordable car that
goes an absurd range just 10 years from now? The cost is a $400
million dollar loan? You’re problem with this is what?

Read the whole thing.  Jason makes a strong case against a weakly written article.  A fairly obviously politically biased article too boot.   Randall Stross is yet another example of why the NY Times star (and stock) is falling so far, so fast.  My advice, forget Stross. Get Boston Globe tech reporter Hiawatha Bray out there to test drive the Tesla Roadster.  You’ll get an honest tech review instead of politically motivated hit piece.

Filed under: alternate fuel cars | Tagged: , , , , | 1 Comment »

About those jetpacks

Posted on November 28, 2008 by Mark Urbin

I recently posted about flying cars and the question of where our 21st Century Jet Packs where.

I seems there are several Jet Pack companies out there, including Jet Pack, International, Tecnologia Aeroespacial Mexicana of Mexico, New Zealand’s Martin Jetpack and Thunderbolt Aerosystems, based in San Jose, CA. 

Their products aren’t cheap, the low end ones run about $100,000 with the end end models cost in the $250,000 range. 

Most of their Jet Packs are actually Rocket packs and only can carry about a minute of fuel. So flight ranges are limited.  The Martin JetPack actually uses ducted fans, and claims a 30 minute (at 60 mph) range.  it is a bit big and still in the “barely off the ground” phase from what I can tell.

Filed under: Gadget | Tagged: , , , | 1 Comment »

A Weed-Powered Passenger Jet

Posted on November 21, 2008 by Mark Urbin

No! Not that weed, jatropha, a plant that is not a food crop and can be grown in marginal agricultural land.

Air New Zealand is planning on flying a Boeing 747 with a mixture of equal parts biofuel made from jatropha  and conventional fuel running in one of the engines.

Unlike many other biofuels, UOP’s jatropha jet fuel can replace conventional fuel without requiring changes to existing engines. Indeed, by several measures, the fuel is better than conventional jet fuel. It has a lower freezing point and can be exposed to higher temperatures onboard a plane without degrading. It also contains slightly more energy than conventional jet fuel, so a plane powered by jatropha could travel farther. 

Filed under: biofuel, biotech | Tagged: , , | 1 Comment »

The Fate of NASA

Posted on November 20, 2008 by Mark Urbin

Key budgeting decisions have to be made by the incoming administration about NASA no later than April 30, 2009.

The ability to get into orbit is vitial for multiple reasons, including National Defense, technology, economics, weather predictions, and the standing of the United States in the international community.

Filed under: Space | Tagged: , | Leave a comment »

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