Digital Media Bytes

A periodic roundup of good schtuff… from our other blogs. How Much Bandwidth for HDTV: Connected Home 2 Go DivX Considers Breaking Up Company: Davis Freeberg Choosing the AT&T 8525 over the iPhone: TechLore Motorola, the Software Company: Connected Home 2 Go

So Much for Portable Computing

I’ve switched over to a new work laptop, and it’s significantly bigger than my old laptop. Yes, bigger. I decided I wanted a large, wide-screen device since I stare at it virtually all day long. The trade-off, of course, is that my new laptop is harder to carry around. Should I get a UMPC for … Read more

Motorola Press Event in NYC

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As you probably know, I work for Motorola – but until recently have had very little to do with the mobile devices side of the business. So it’s not shocking that when I traveled up to NYC last week for our press event in NYC, I was in store for some surprises.

Sascha Segan (gimpy from a broken toe, but witty as ever) has already covered the new IDEN phones, and I only have one minor point to add. Don’t knock the rubberized phone backing until you try it. Love the grip.

moto-music-streaming.JPGOn the other hand, nobody has made much comment about the slew of Bluetooth accessories on display. When I say slew, I mean they almost equaled mobile phones in their proliferation. And, while the Bluetooth devices are first and foremost designed for wireless communication, their expanding functionality is quite interesting. Check out this little gadget to the right for streaming music from a PC, DAP or mobile phone to your mobile phone headphones. (It’s the piece moto-bluetooth-earphones.JPGplugged in to the bottom of the iPod -yes Motorola had an iPod on display) Sure, lots of devices do this kind of thing, but I love the idea of packaging this with your phone. Your earbuds theoretically go anywhere your phone does (i.e. everywhere), and if you take along the tiny little plug-in gadget, you can stream music wirelessly from virtually any device.

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Digital Media Bytes: Brad Linder Edition

A periodic roundup of relevant news… brought to us by Brad Linder. Upload Videos to YouTube with Verizon phones: Download Squad ABC launches HD online video player: TV Squad TiVo CEO Tom Rogers talks TiVo HD: TV Squad YouTube/CNN debate roundup: Brad Linder’s Digital Home

AT&T Launches Video Share Service

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With relatively little fanfare yesterday, AT&T launched their cell phone Video Share service in nearly 160 markets. Sure the iPhone has brought in a lot of buzz not to mention revenue for AT&T (more on AT&T earnings later), but in the long run, the launch of video sharing is a bigger deal.

Years ago I worked with Motorola on the launch of the ill-fated Ojo video phone. There are many reasons why Motorola discontinued the product, but for me, the Ojo still has an important place in my living room. My almost-two-year-old talks to her grandparents on it several times a week, and has almost since she was born.

One of these days, video phones will hit the mainstream, and AT&T has found a way to ease people into the idea. Text messaging and photo messaging are common now, and video on a cell phone is simply the next logical step. I even think that sending a video clip versus talking via live video is a smart way to start with the concept. People are vaguely uncomfortable about sharing themselves live on video (think Jane Jetson’s morning face mask), but taking a quick clip of something and sharing it is as comfortable as posting something on YouTube. And on a cell phone it’s much easier, immediate, and more relevant.

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Digital Media Bytes: Business Week Edition

The latest issue of Business Week (7/30) could be the best ever and was obviously tailored for geeks like me with a ton of relevant stories worth checking out. Annual IDEA Awards The Best Product Design of 2007. Samsung is Having a Sony Monent The Korean titan is showing signs of complacency — and results … Read more