My local TV providers - YouTube and Apple!

A the D5 conference last week, Steve Jobs announced that AppleTV will soon release a plug-in to view YouTube videos on your AppleTV. My first thoughts were - big deal, who really cares. If I wasn't ready to plunk down $300-400 for a device that can play iTunes videos, adding little Johnny and Jane's foibles wasn't going to make an iota of difference.

But then today, the Boy Genius Report announced that YouTube is going to begin offering local TV. As I read this, I thought back to a post I made here, more than 3 years ago!

I can now buy an Apple TV, take it anywhere, and it has content on it, and can also access local TV! Its only a matter of time before people start to realize this, and as local TV becomes more available on line.

The Palm Foleo - and why don't like it.

Just a few short minutes ago, Palm's Jeff Hawkins announced the company's new Foleo - a mobile companion, if you will. Granted it's still early, but I just don't get it. In a video on the company's site in which Hawkins describes the vision of the Foleo, he states "It's not just an accessory". Personally, I can't see how it is anything more than just that.

As far as I can tell, the folio is simply a wireless keyboard and monitor for your smart phone (Palm or otherwise). Even if it works with 90% of the PDAs and SmartPhones out there (think iPhone, BlackBerry), I can't see it being successful, and here are the reasons why:

• It's Not Innovative - 4 years ago, I saw a presentation by microsoft illustrating how a PDA would go from someone's home, to their car, to their office. In the home, the PDA information was broadcast on the screen. In the car, voicemail playback was initiated, and information popped-up on an in-dash display. In the office, the PDA synced up with a Keyboard and a 3-screen wraparound LCD. I can already get bluetooth keyboards for most PDAs - Windows Mobile and Blackberry alike - how long do you think it will be before a group of PDA manufacturers come out with a device the size of a USB dongle that can connect to my PDA and allow me to use any standard Keyboard or Monitor of my choosing?
• Where does it fit in? - I'm not sure who this device is for. Is it for the corporate user who needs a bigger screen and keyboard, but doesn't want to lug a full laptop? There are so many thin and lights on the market today, that I can't imagine that group being large enough. While many users the world over can get buy with just e-mail attachements and web browsing, I can't see them dumping PCs for what is tantamount to an overpriced display and keyboard.
• Too easy to copy - Patented or not, within 6 months there will be taiwan knockoffs of this, and they'll work with Blackberries and iPhones.
  

I wish Palm well, but this doesn't seem like it will ressurect Palm from the dead.

If Michael Dell isn't using Vista why should I?

Someone slashdotted a page from the Dell website that identifies the computers that Michael Dell uses (http://www.dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/corp/biographies/en/msd_computers?c=us&l=en&s=corp) . Interestingly enough, not a one of them is using Windows Vista? What does that say when the founder of one of the world's largest PC companies isn't using Microsoft's latest?

He is also using Ubuntu on one of his machines too.

I wonder if Bill Gates is using Vista, or if he is waiting for the first couple of service packs like everyone else.

The bizarre and macabre world of Skype Phones

Okay, so I wasn't too kind to Skype's new Prime feature yesterday, however, I am a big fan of Skype overall. I have now replaced my 'landline replacement' phone service at home with Skype (I am still using an Ol' Skool POTS line for most calls), and I have found the quality to be pretty darn good. Recently, I have been coming across a wide swath of Skype Phones and devices, and they range from the normal to the quite eccentric. While Skype's own Gear Blog seems to provide good insight and reviews on the latest and greatest products for Skype, I thought I would take a specific look at some of the more 'portable' gadgets for Skype, since many of us Skype users travel with our laptops and use Skype to call home from whereever we are at the moment. Obviously, we all like to travel light, so here are some interesting, if not weird options:

1. The Sony USB Mouse Phone (above Right), if you normally lug a mouse with you on the road, this option is essentially a mouse the folds open into a phone. This is very stealthy looking device, and it very sexy and functional in the classic sony style, but it begs the one question: Let's say I'm on the Skype Call, how do I use my computer?

Next up is the Panasonic Skype Router phone. Panasonic followed the lead of others like D-Link and Linksys and created a travel router. These small form factor routers are designed for travelers to create a hotspot out of your hotel room's wired connection. This one also comes with a Skype Phone as well (however, it is unclear to me if this is a true wi-fi skype phone than can be used with any open hotspot, or if it will only work with this hotspot). Again, an interesting concept, complete with a leather travel case, but do you really want to shlep this around on business trips, when you can by the Belkin or Netgear phones for less?



Finally, the Kensington's PC Card phone rounds out this interesting trio. Essentially, this is a bluetooth Skype Handset. No LCD, nothing fancy, just your average bluetooth headset but in a handset form factor. But here is the kicker - it fits into a PC card slot and charges itself off of your computer's battery - I smell a winner.

If by chance you make skype gadgets, and you want me to review one, please feel free to contact me :)

The good and the bad of Skype Prime

Last week Skype announced Skype Prime. In a nutshell, Skype prime allows individuals to run their own pay-per-use or pay-per-minute VoIP services. I have not tried this service yet, but I can already realize how this is both a great and potentially bad thing:

What makes it great? It makes it very simple for you to offer premium phone services to the Skype community. You could offer tech support or homework help for $0.50 a minute or you could offer a daily joke for a $1 a call. Or, you can charge certain people more money to call you so that they don't call you every 3 seconds. While not necessarily good, although not necessarily bad, I wouldn't be surprised if this turns into a huge porn venue (heck, you can charge for video calls, I would be surprised if someone didn't start such as service already). But then there are the downsides.

Imagine if you will that you initiate a call legitimately to a 'Prime' provider and you accept their fees, but then feel you didn't get what you were promised? Or you agreed to a high per-minute rate and felt that they were prolonging the call? What is your medium for dispute? How are both buyer and seller protected? (funny, doesn't this sound a lot like eBay issues?)

Worse than that, I am sure that it won't be long before folks find illegitimate ways to profit from this. For example, a malicious user could theoretically force you to download a skype Plug-in that randomly calls a 'prime' service and eats away your credits. They wouldn't even have to rob you blind - they could extract 10 or 20 cents from a few hundred thousand people and still make some serious cash. Or, they could offer prime services in some obscure currency that masks the real rate and makes the service seem cheaper. In the former case, it would cause skype to change the rules and permissions for writing extras, thereby eliminating some of those skype extras that are legitimate.

While I think that this has a lot of potential on the upside, the downside of it is really scary, and I hope the Beta Period Helps Skype figure out how to address some of the security concerns.