The Tech Pundit

In case you were thinking giant Google was slowing down on its ploy for world dominaiton, you couldn’t be more wrong.   Google employees are some of the happiest on the planet.  After all they have some of the best work conditions on earth: Free meals, think tank rooms with aquariums, bring your dog/cat to work, play foozball while you write code and call it working.  I don’t know about you but I just work all day.   Well something about this formula is working for google because their employees keep coming up with fresh new Ideas.  Today I am going to talk abot the brand spanking new Google Maps Navigation.

Google Maps is already awesome.  I use them regularly in my iPhone.  I have given up my Tom Tom and use my phone exclusively for navigation.  The Tom Tom is actually a better interface but,  google has more features, including: never downloading maps, live traffic, and the ability to search for “Best buy” or “Outback” and the address come up with the phone number.  The only thing that has really been missing are turn by turn directions.   This feature is offered by my carriers, phones and devices but, heres the kicker….Google is going to offer it for free!

The platform is currently only availbale ont the Android 2.0 platform.  I guess this is an opportunity for google to keep this one close to the vest for now.  Maybe later for us iPhone users.  Google hase made the interface  extremely robust with features and very user friendly.  My biggest question is, could this put portable navigation devices out of business?  As Smartphones/Pocket Computers  become more and more powerful this is definately something the GPS manufacturers will have consider in their business model. 

TP

(music) “it’s been a long time, I shouldn’t have left you.”  I have been away for almost two months now. Life has thrown some curve balls but I am ready to get back in the saddle.

So much has been happening and going on, have you been keeping up? Well worry no more I am back to put you back in the know. I have continued to quench my thirst for the latest and the greatest and I am back to share my findings with you.

So put your reading glasses back on and get ready for the next dose of medicine from the tech pundit.

TP

-Grand Theft Auto on the iPhone:  GTA China Town Wars is coming you your iPhone this fall.  Apple has already approved the game for the app store.  This addition to the iPhone gaming platform should really extend even further the phones spectrum of abilities.  At some point this device is becoming more of a computer, gaming system, jukebox, day planner, social networking device, and 1001 other things…….and by the way, it makes calls to.  GTA will be a great addition to the arsenal.  Its maker Rockstar is pretty tight lipped at this point but I have faith this installment in the iPhone gaming library will be a great addition.  cnet

-Facebook 3.0 and 3.1 are available now on the iPhone.  Let me be the first to say this thing has some MAJOR updates.  It is almost as close as being on your computer.  The previous version has serious limitations but, the new version boasts a big list of additions.  One of my favorites is the new photo interface.  The new interface give you complete control of your photo’s.  One missing feature however is push notification.  Here’s a comprehensive list.     boy genius report

• See your upcoming Events and RSVP
• See your friends’ birthdays
• See Pages and post updates and photos to Pages you administer
• Write Notes and read your friends’ Notes
• Upload videos from an iPhone 3GS
• Upload photos to any album
• Complete photo management (create albums, delete albums, delete photos, delete photo tags)
• Change your Profile Picture
• Zoom into photos
• Like posts and photos
• See the same News Feed as the Facebook website
• Visit links in a built-in web browser
• See all of your friends’ friends and Pages
• See mutual friends
• Easily search for people and Pages
• Make friend requests
• Become a fan of Pages
• Quickly call or text your friends
• Create shortcuts to your favorite friends and Pages
• Friends sorted by first or last name according to your settings
• Chat friends sorted alphabetically

-HTC touch pro 2 is said to be coming to Sprint on September 8.  I have said before if I didn’t have an iPhone this is the device I would have.  I think this is a good move on Sprint’s part.  Since no one knows if and when Sprint will be getting the iPhone this may be a formidable competitor.  Windows Mobile 7 has a big hurdle to jump with its upcoming app store and the HTC is poised to be the device that is ready for the transition.  softsailor

-The video game war continues.  Xbox is dropping its price at target as early as next week.  60gb pro system $250 and 120gb elite 300.  Sony is making price cuts on its new slimmed down PS3.  Xbox who still holds a strong lead over Sony in the war is determined to stay in the lead with this price cut.

-Tivo profits are continuing to sink among stiff competition.  TiVo has an answer though, Sue the bastards.  TiVo is now suing AT&T and Verizon over patent infringement.  They were successful over Dish Network with a 103 judgment.  Companies have been trying to work around TiVo’s patents for years and they have been failing.  We will see if TiVo can prevail again.  cnet

-Blackberry Bold gets visual voice mail.  AT&T is rolling out Visual Voice Mail in update v4.6.0.508.  I don’t know what all those numbers mean but, for Bold users is means no more calling in to get voice messages.  This feature is like gold.  The iPhone introduced this feature and I could never go back.  The update even give the option to add new contacts right from the VM client…..Sweeeet! engadget

-God…….I mean Google is watching you.  What else is new.  The information behemoth continues to gather information even when we don’t know they are.  Their latest trick is telling you how traffic is……Everywhere.  The have done a great job on the highways but they are moving to the side streets.  How will they get this info you ask, From YOU!  When you are using Google maps on your cell phone and you allow Google to “use your current location” they are using that data to show current traffic status.  This feature can be turned off but,  if off, your Google maps won’t work anymore.  cnet

-Apple tablet this thing just looks cool.  And from what the buzz says Steve Jobs thinks so too.  So much in fact that he has made it his little baby.  Steve has put almost all his focus on this new device.  He is taking a real hands on approach to this one.  From development to marketing.  Pictured here next to an iPhone gives you an idea of the size (concept). MAN, that is one sexy device.   Rumor speculates the device will hit stores as early as this fall or possible early 2010.  Price point should be 700-900 bucks.   Look out E book readers, the big dog is sniffing around your yard. wired

-Madden for the iPhone is on its way.  EA sports plans to have the iPhone edition ready by September 10.  EA did a great job with Tiger Woods for the iPhone so we will see if their latest addition looks and plays as we.

-Apple HD TV: Rumors are circulating that Apple is about to continue their takeover of the world.  The own the MP3 market and are fast on their way to the Cell Phone market,  How about the Television market.  Seriously!  The are going to consider taking on giants like Sony, LG and Samsung.  If anyone has the cojones (which actually means drawers in Spanish.  Don’t tell Danny Devito) to do it apple does.  after dawn

-Soccer moms account for 30% of iPhone users.   Loosely defined as women with children.  First of all We tech guys think we are so cool and so in tune with our gadgets.  Now you are telling me Soccer Moms are hip to out toys too.  Will our gadgets go by the waste side like Facebook has for teens.  I don’t know but advertisers don’t care how they get their message out and they have found a new way to touch Soccer Moms,  through advertising on their iPhones.  So look out fellow techies,  their may be an onslaught of  shoe store , Target and Playland apps for Moms to find the best deals.

Cloud Computing surfaces yet again.  This thing is mushrooming like an atom bomb.  Microsoft OneApp is Microsoft’s latest business plan to help them shore up their shrinking dominance in the mobile operating system market.   Their position in 2004 was around 23%, that stronghold has fallen to nearly 12% (wikepedia).  This dominance has been chipped into by companies like RIM and Apple.

What is OneApp.  Well it puts a Lightweight icon app on your phone (about 150kb).  Once you tap the app it then takes you to a web bases application.  Even though lots of the current apps are web based applications they still have lots of content on the client (your phone).  Microsoft aims to change that by putting more information on the server or cloud and less on your device.

The big advantage to this,  It can run on multiple devices!  Since it is web based and not device based, developers can write one program and deliver it to multiple devices.  This method is currently done on web sights currently, such as Google.  When you go on to Google on your phone you go to Google mobile.  This makes for a better browsing experience on a mobile device.  This method will be similar to that except you will have an icon on your device.

OneApp is currently only available in South Africa but is scheduled to  be rolled out to more countries over the next year.  App developers will be given the dev kit at the end of this year.

Game on Apple!

-TP

-Microsoft Office prepares for your cell phone.  More cloud computing stuff here folks.  Microsoft has already said the newest version  will have some major clout integration, this piece is nothing new.  They are not touting however that there will also be a mobile version as well.  How bout being to take your Office documents and productivity with you EVERYWHERE you go on your cell phone.  This is exciting stuff.  the boy genius report

-RIM get ready to introduce Flash for future Blackberry devices.  If you don’t know what that means: you know all those sights that don’t work on your phone but work on your desktop.  They don’t work because your phone does not have a flash player.  This addition would be a great addition to phones.  The downside here is it probably won’t debut mid 2010.  Apple better get to work!  the boy genius report

-Roku player will soon get a new interface.  Since the Xbox 360 has introduced its new interface which allows you to manage your Netflix cue right from the device it has raised a brown over at Roku.  Roku was the first on the scene to allow you to watch Netflix movies on your TV and I presume they don’t want to be left behind.  The upcoming update will allow you to add movies and perhaps reorder them as well.  No date announced at this time.  after dawn

-You Tube looks like they want to put the squeeze on Hulu.  You Tube has partnered with Time Warner which included networks such as CNN, Cartoon Network and Adult Swim.  They will offer clips from these stations and share subsequent revenue.  This should be a good move for You Tube whose business model could use some help in revenue generating ideas.  You tube video traffic accounts for over 30% of all online traffic states Tech Crunch.  Now if they could just generate some revenue from all that traffic. Bloomberg

-Blockbuster to offer movies on Motorola phones.  My first question; does Motorola even sell a phone with a large enough screen to view a movie larger than a thumbnail.  Maybe they do but,  come on Blockbuster!  Is this really a marketing plan to compete with Netflix, I think not.  This is a neat trick but Not one that is going to increase your market share.  Cool: yes, game changing: no. Associated Press

-Verizon tests if first 4g towers in Boston and Seattle.  They have tested the product successfully and prepare to make it ready for the masses.  The complete roll out is scheduled for completion by 2013.  AT&T can’t even offer us MMS and Verizon is ready for 4G.  AT&T has got to stop the complacency of riding on the coat tales of Apple and Get their network working upgraded and running properly.  cnet

I have said this from day one and I still stand on this.  PS3 is not overpriced!  Xbox 360 simply has an ala cart package the tricks consumers into thinking it it less expensive.

This chart from PC World is one of the better comprehensive charts I have seen comparing the models.   With the PS3, what you get out of the box is far more comprehensive that the Xbox 360.  PS3’s price point is higher than the Xbox out of the gate but that is because the thing is ready to play when you get home and open the box.

Everyone complains about the PS3 price,  well what will the naysayers have to say now with the new price cut.  They should shut their pie holes after this reduction.  Sony is practical selling this thing as a Blue Light special.  The system is superior and now it even costs less.  I can’t wait to hear what the next complaints are going to be about the system.  Take a look at the chart.  You do the math buddy.