Posts by Brett Brennan 1

Palm politely cuts Pre tether

It's the videos of course

As many posters have already pointed out, there is a lot of flash that gets downloaded by "normal" users on full computers. And much of the really "heavy" flash are entertainment downloads - like TV shows, movie clips, etc.

Mobile companies, on the other hand, have pay-for services that provide many of the same feeds you can get for free on a full browser computer. They really want to defend that source of revenue, as this is one of the few competitive revenue streams they have. Blocking Flash and limiting tethering are the only options to preventing erosion to this revenue stream.

Personally I'd pay the extra tariff for full tethering ability: it's just too nice to have when sitting in boring meetings with my tablet PC. On the other hand, my Pre browser is pretty darn good, arguably equal to or just behind the iPhone for general WEB surfing. Especially if you have the WiFi enabled and are in a fast hot spot.

Alas, it *IS* a phone after all, and I can live without tethering for now. I am confident, however, that this feature will be allowed in the future. This seems to be the hot topic at the Sprint stores from customers looking to buy the Pre, and Palm is quite aware that this is also at the top of the list of the new owners. With Apple/AT&T still restricting tether on iPhones, and Sprint offering unlimited tether with most of their other devices, this issues still has plenty of time to play out.

BTW, it seems that the OTHER hot topic at Palm on the Pre is the problems associated with pairing to several built-in auto hands-free systems (Lexus, BMW, Accura, Honda have been mentioned). This is probably higher on the list than tether right now.

Also, just in passing, the Pre is missing an OBEX profile, severely limiting the utility of Bluetooth for sync and file exchange. It does (allegedly) have a PAN profile...working on how to tap that myself...

Samsung shines a light on first solar cellphone

Got the picture here

Put two square meters of solar panel on the roof, use it to charge up a couple of golf cart batteries and then run these through an DC-AC converter to power my Touchstone for my Pre. Best of all worlds, that!

In all seriousness, this concept phone is just a gimmick. Now, if they created a thin, flat completely sealed laminate phone with nothing but the most basic functions and screen (remember, an unilluminated LCD screen can be powered by a small capacitor for HOURS) so that something like 4 hours of sun is a complete charge for the phone and you'd get maybe 2 hours of talk out of it, THEN you'd have a useful emergency tool. THAT would become a "must-have" in EVERY survival kit or camping pack.

OK, I'll get my coat an leave before someone starts hitting me with the logic stick...

Tube Deluxe 3.1

Newtonian Psychics

It is interesting that this application surfaces on the iPhone today. While not London, back in the early 1990's there was an interactive application for the Apple Newton that provided the same type of information for Washington, DC here in the Colonies. Got me to many a meeting on time back then. Wish they'd have made one for Paris too.

Could we get like a steampunk icon for "Grandpa remembers when..."?

Imagine! Government to legislate against badness

King Canute comes to mind...

Enough said. Poverty is a relative concept: here in the US our most impoverished street person lives like a king compared to a Somalian worker. Make it what ever you want: you can't beat the Bell Curve...