If the latest rumours are true, the divide between the different compartments of your technological lifestyle may soon be disappearing. Sure with technologies like Bluetooth you can wirelessly connect almost anything to almost anything else; but Samsung is trying something new when it comes to mobile integration. No, its not 3D mobile phones (although those are certainly in the works), it’s Android TV!

While this project has yet to be confirmed, analyst conjecture has tech giant Samsung developing a line of televisions that incorporates the mobile operating system. The reason behind the integration is almost certainly twofold: First, it will allow Samsung to streamline user’s web browsing experience on their television, and second–a lesson that Samsung surely learned from Apple–it will help potential Android mobile users to become accustomed to the OS, something that will certainly help users when deciding which tablet or mobile device to buy.

But before you think Samsung has come up with a great idea, with Google on the march with its own Web TV, set to launch in American later this year, Sony developing its own brand of web-connected TVs, and Apple already defining the future of television, Samsung has clearly been beaten out of the starting gate, leaving it to play catch-up in a market it has long dominated.

There is little question that the television market is in a state of turmoil. With new advancements in visual entertainment technology developing faster than most companies can keep up, it’s difficult to know which avenues to commit funding to and which ones to avoid.

With choices like 3D TV, Internet enabled TV, and now the introduction of mobile operating systems into the mix, most companies, like Samsung, are looking to hedge their bets and develop at least something for every new genre and technological advancement. What this means is that very soon Samsung won’t be the only name in television looking to incorporate Android or another mobile OS into its TV line-up.

But beyond dabbling in every new technological pie, introducing Android to its television line-up has a much simpler reason behind it: market share. With the likes of Sony, Google, and Apple already looking to redefine what television technology looks like, Samsung needs to be proactive to retain its dominance in that particular tech market.

The question remains, however, will consumers flock to televisions employing their favourite mobile operating systems? They would if that internet-connected TV was synced with their favourite tablet device and mobile phone to seamlessly run the same apps, and since that’s what Apple is currently setting up, its little surprise the rest of the market is getting on board.

Welcome to the future of Television.

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Samsung Galaxy Tab

In the technological world tablets are nothing more than consumption devices; bits of technology that no one needs but ones that soon no one will be able to live without. The purpose of such devices is clearly to improve people’s mobility and connectivity to the world at large, offering people accelerated access to their mobile existence without being tethered to the home or office. Or in simpler terms, tablet devices offer users the ability to consume information whenever and wherever they want.

For tablet manufacturers looking to unseat Apple’s incumbent iPad, the hope is that users can be lured towards alternative devices on the basis that their competing products offer enhanced consumption abilities; that is, offering users more access to multimedia data and more usability than the iPad. For Samsung, it means the Galaxy Tab.

If Samsung doesn’t already know, trying to compete with Apple’s marketing campaign is a veritable David vs. Goliath battle, with Goliath repeatedly stomping the diminutive David into the ground. That being said, Samsung is taking a different approach to marketing its tablet: Appeal to the average tech consumer’s logic and reason; a move that Samsung thinks is sure to spell success for the Galaxy Tab.

Oh poor Samsung, how little you understand the American psyche. 

As tablet devices set to compete with the iPad go, there’s little doubt that the Samsung Galaxy Tab isn’t well enough equipped for the job. Sporting Android v2.2 (Froyo) along with a speedy ARM Cortex A8 1.0 Ghz processor, seven hours of movie watching battery life, decent rear and front facing cameras, a multitouch screen, and built-in support for Flash 10.1, its clear to me that Samsung had one thing in mind with the Galaxy Tab, to be everything the iPad isn’t (Click here to see side-by-side comparison).

Further, take all those features and wrap them in a compact package—dimensions: 7.5 by 4.7 by 0.5 inches—with a weight almost half that of the iPad (13 ounces vs. 24 ounces for the iPad) and Samsung has probably done everything it needs to do to manufacture the perfect opposite of the iPad. Now all the company has to do is make people want one.

In the end, that will be the Achilles heel of all tablet manufacturers. Sure the likes of Samsung, Microsoft, Blackberry, and Cisco will be able to develop tablets that rival the iPad, but that still doesn’t guarantee that users will purchase them. The draw of a device like the Galaxy or the iPad is not measured in its features, but in its ethos—the spirit/feeling/lifestyle it communicates.

The fact that no one currently needs a tablet device means that people purchase them largely without the use of logic or rationality; they purchase them based on feelings and emotions. The question remains then, has Samsung done enough to appeal to the emotion-driven consumer-oriented American psyche? Seeing as I’ve never heard of the Galaxy Tab until today, probably not.

Photo c/o TechNewsWorld

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While many recognized the shrewdness of Hewlett-Packard’s (HP) move earlier this year to acquire the struggling mobile upstart Palm, few it seemed, truly recognized the brilliance of HP’s timing and business sense. Combined with earlier acquisitions, the purchase of Palm instantly gave HP the resources and technology to compete in the cutthroat mobile market, with the added bonus that HP scooped up its own innovative and intuitive mobile operating system with Palm’s popular, albeit under-utilized, webOS.

At the time I had lamented that it would probably take years for HP to successfully revitalize and incorporate Palm’s resources like the webOS, which is why I was so surprised today when I heard that HP is set to release a beta version of webOS v2.0 to a select number of application developers.

But even though the beta version adds several new features to the once semi-popular mobile OS, the fact remains that Palm has never had success selling devices running on webOS, which begs the question, will HP fair much better?

One of the key questions I had during the HP’s epic takeover of Palm was how would the computer giant utilize Palm’s resources to carve out its own niche in a very competitive mobile market? Sure HP had acquired almost all the tools it needed to become your one-stop tech and telecom solution, but would it know how to use them right? With this latest update for the webOS, I’m at least heartened by the fact that HP is still on track with its mobile plan.

To be fair, while there were many complaints regarding Palm’s lacklustre line-up of devices, its inability to properly use its resource like webOS, and its disappointing lack of quality usable mobile applications, the brilliance and usability of webOS was never really questioned.

The fact of the matter remains, however, that we have yet to see anything out of HP’s newly revamped mobile department that we can really judge; so its really difficult to tell what HP is actually going to do with Palm’s mobile OS, but if the specs of this newest update tell us anything, its that HP is looking to make a splash with its revamped OS.

With this latest update HP has offered application developers updated multitasking capabilities, revamped search tools, and various other synchronization and development goodies. Although it still employs the same familiar ‘cards’ system that was the centrepiece of all previous webOS iterations, even this feature has been updated and advanced to a point where it may be able to compete with the likes of Apple and company.

Further, HP has worked at correcting the disappointing lack of interesting apps for the webOS by allowing developers to build C or C++ plug-ins for apps built in other languages (HTML, JavaScript, or CSS). While this may mean little to those non-technophiles out there, the simple fact is, this feature will allow developers to import applications from other platforms, greatly improving the quality of apps available on Palm phones.

In the end, I doubt HP is releasing this new webOS as a way of bolstering sales for Palm’s struggling line-up, so in addition I would guess that a new line of webOS phones will most likely be available in the new year, and with that, HP will undoubtedly become a force to be reckoned with in the mobile market.

Stage Two of Google's VoIP Plan

At the end of last week the big news in the tech and telecom worlds was that Google had integrated its fledgling Google Voice technology into its wildly popular Gmail email service. News out today reveals that Google’s new VoIP service carried over 1 million Gmail calls in its first day of service alone, that’s about 1 in every 3000 calls placed in America on that day.

Although this says little towards the possibility of any real long-term success for Google’s new phone service, the fact that even I—a tech blogger who has surpringly little time for the newest gadgets and gizmos—used the Gmail phone service twice on Friday should speak volumes to not only the service’s clarity and functionality, but also its ease of use. It took little more than installing the Google Voice plugin and putting on my headset and I was back doing what I hadn’t done in quite awhile…making phone calls.

It didn’t take long, however, for Google to initiate its next plan towards controlling how people communicate; a plan, should it succeed, that will likely see the end of payphone service across the nation.

Even with the initial success of its calling service, it looks like Google has already initiated a large scale plan to create awareness for its new free VoIP calling service. The search engine giant has stated its intention to install retro phone booths at universities and airports across the country in a nationwide effort to develop awareness of its free calling service.

If this sort of advertising campaign pays off, look for Google to expand its free service to other public events, essentially killing off the last vestiges of nationwide payphone services–a phone service, granted, that’s already in its death throes.

But before we start singing Google’s praises for finally making the antiquated art of making regular phone calls absolutely free, I have a feeling this honeymoon period won’t last forever. Sure Google says its intention is to keep its domestic calling service absolutely free—so long as the amount users spend on international calls is able to cover the domestic costs—if the Gmail phone service continues to grow in popularity look for Google to find some way to make money off of it.

Despite my perpetual suspicions about Apple trying to control the world with its draconian mobile policies, its bully tactics, and its white-washed vision of our technological future, I tend to think Google is more likely the front-runner for global supremacy. The reason being, Google just seems so innocent, so willing to help, which makes it a perfect wolf in sheep’s clothing.

But until the day that Android-powered robots kick in my door, I’m going to keep enjoying the fully integrated online communication experience that Google provides, and hopefully make a few calls on those retro style phone booths.

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Despite the fact that news of 3D video communications and holographic projection technology is currently dominating the blogosphere, Google has decided to take a different approach in its effort to become your one-stop tech and telecom solution by reaching into the past and securing a place in…the phone business.

In an effort to compete not only with the likes of Skype and other VoIP operators but also with Microsoft Hotmail and other email providers, Google is set to release an expansion for their popular Gmail service, allowing users to make phone calls to regular telephone landlines across the continent absolutely free.

While neither the offering of VoIP calling services or email services are particularly revolutionary, it looks like Google will be the first major company to combine the two in an fully integrated fashion, just one more step for Google towards controlling your Internet experience.

But beyond the likes of Skype and Microsoft, a greater threat to Internet communication dominance stands in Google’s way, and it happens to be a little website called Facebook.

There’s little question that Facebook constitutes the entirety of many people’s Internet experience. They log in, chat with friends, give pointless status updates, look at pictures, and log out. The problem for Google is that its long-term goal is simple: it wants to control everyone’s Internet experience. But with social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter dominating people’s Internet viewing, there’s little time—and little reason—for people to spend more time with Google’s services.

That’s where integrating Google Voice into Gmail comes in. If there’s one service that has been an unprecedented success for Google, it is Gmail. Although the long-term fate of Google Buzz, the search engine giant’s answer to Twitter and Facebook, still hangs in the balance, having a Skype-like VoIP option will, in my opinion, certainly sweeten the deal.

In fact, if there was anything that might enhance the attractiveness of using Google Buzz as one’s social networking solution, it’s that the button right underneath it can make free phone calls anywhere in North America.

The fact that Google Voice is fully integrated in Gmail means that you can easily send or receive calls in Gmail and have Google Voice use your contact book to store and access phone numbers. Further, the fact that this service works just like a normal phone—you hit the button “Call Phone” and dial a number—means that it will come as great news to all those who suffer through poor cell reception in their home or workplace.

There is one particular feature, however, that really caught my attention. It turns out that with Google Voice, even if you’re talking to someone from Gmail, you can seamlessly switch the call over to your mobile phone, without the hassle of having to drop the call and reconnect.

While it remains to be seen whether or not users will be attracted to Google’s one stop social networking and communication hub, the fact that Google has made placing a VoIP phone call literally as easy as checking your email means that the gauntlet has been thrown down to VoIP, email, and social networking providers.

Now its time to see who else steps up their game.

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I stood in Best Buy just staring, transfixed by the small tablet device sitting on the counter in front of me. While I no doubt attracted some quizzical glances from the other store patrons, the simple fact was, I couldn’t move… nor did I want to.

Before me sat the iPad, Apple’s wildly successful tablet device; its luminous touchscreen beckoning me with its technological Siren song, tempting me to indulge myself in what I could only describe as nothing but an impulse item. Should I buy it? The only problem was, as I had experienced during every visit to Future Shop, Best Buy, or the Apple store over the past three months, I didn’t need it…at least that’s what I told myself.

Although every trip into a gadget store invariably since its release had led me straight to the iPad section, I continued to leave empty-handed, a veritable cacophony of excuses ringing through my brain: Why do I need an iPad? What can the iPad do that my iPhone can’t? Am I really going to use it?

But this trip was different. As I stood staring at the innovative device the excuses seemed to fade away and I could feel myself succumbing to the temptation.

The iPad was finally mine.

Although initially I struggled to figure out what I would do with the iPad that I couldn’t already do with my iPhone, it didn’t take me long to find out. It was shortly after cracking open the case and syncing the iPad to my Mac that I found myself not only enjoying my pictures, videos, and songs, but writing this blog post on the iPad, something I could never do, at least not very easily, on the iPhone.

It didn’t take me long to come to realization that the likes of Microsoft, Google, RIM and Nokia are in deep trouble, as the attraction of the iPad goes far deeper than just its specs, features, or uses. More than just a computer manufacturer Apple has become a master at selling not only innovative products but a lifestyle, mindset, and feelings as well. Simply put, Apple has single-handedly revolutionized the technology industry.

But feelings aside, there’s no doubt in my mind that the iPad delivers. More than simply a novelty device, the iPad is a miniature computer, music player, TV, newspaper, and entertainment system, all wrapped in a sleek and sophisticated package. Not to mention the fact that it boots of in seconds—no waiting!—isn’t bogged down with virus checks, and best of all (if it works anything like my iPhone), no crashing.

Sure there are some things missing from my iPad experience. At the moment it doesn’t multitask very well, as toggling between apps or copying things from my browser to my notepad (for this very blog) isn’t very easy…at least not yet. I suspect future iterations of the iPad will allow for a seamless window toggle experience much like what one currently gets with Safari.

Further, the iPad lacks an Explorer or Finder feature, something that I personally use all the time to find documents, nor does it seem to have a proper directory or file management system. Again, annoying in the short term, but something easily remedied down the road. The fact that there is the added disappointment that you can’t seem to tether a keyboard to device without cracking it first means, at the very least, that Apple has a few things to work on.

Beyond that, while I haven’t tried loading my desktop phone SIP client onto this device yet, I’m planning on doing that next week and I’ll be sure to let you know how that goes.

But with all that said, Apple has really got things right. They own the device, they own the hardware, and most importantly, they own the OS. While it’s true that Android is an amazing OS in its own right; that RIM has pinpointed how to make a successful email-centric business device, and that Microsoft knows had to make products that employ Blue Screens of Death, Apple not only produces quality products, they know how to create an experience.

For me, the iPad is a one-stop full entertainment, App store, and business device with usable productivity software, and the reason it is able to do all this is because Apple has complete control over the process and thus better control of the overall quality, something Apple’s rivals don’t have.

So while Microsoft, Google, RIM etc… are all busy trying to dethrone the iPad, Apple is, in the meantime, no doubt busy trying to figure out how to stay ahead.

Despite the prevailing cultural mindset, the future of 3D video technology is certainly not limited to TV entertainment, as companies like Cisco, the world’s largest supplier of IP networking solutions, are looking to utilize the coming advancements in video technology to change not only the way people are entertained, but how they communicate.

Although 3D communications technology is still in the not-so-distant future for business IP systems, it is, for Cisco CEO John Chambers, an inevitability; just a matter of time. It wasn’t too long ago, Chambers notes in an CNET interview with Marguerite Reardon, that voice technology was a standalone service, and now in a matter of years it has become just another application filling Cisco’s IP network solutions, and the same shift in video technology is sure to follow.

But with the age of 3D communications—and Star Trek-like holography technology waiting in line just behind that—the question remains, is the global Internet communication network ready to handle the incredible amount of bandwidth 3D video communication gobbles up? In its current state, absolutely not!

As the communications and IP networking industries continue to push for exponential advancements in communications technology it puts significant demands on broadband networks provided by the likes of Verizon, AT&T, and others, and simply put, no network—in North America at least—is ready for the traffic 3D traffic will generate.

The fact is that regular standard definition television broadcasts consume considerable amounts of bandwidth already, far more than other types of traffic like voice or text; with high-definition television consuming exponentially more. With the advent of 3D entertainment and communications technology the amount of bandwidth consumed by the futuristic service would cripple any current network, and with the fact that 3D tech is probably only a few years away from widespread public consumption means that American broadband providers have little time to catch up.

The problem may be compounded by the likes of Cisco CEO Chambers already looking beyond 3D to futuristic holography technology, something that seems more at home in a Star Trek script than the office. Sure it’s nice to dream, but the Internet as we know it needs a complete overhaul before any of these services can come to fruition.

So before we get ahead of ourselves, perhaps Chambers should slow down the dreaming just a little. Sure 3D communications tech is on the horizon, but I struggle to imagine a conference room full of high-powered business people donning stylish 3D glasses to watch their CEO pop out of a screen on the wall. But maybe that’s just me.

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With both Verizon and AT&T doing away with their unlimited wireless data plans in favour of pricey tiered data options, both companies may be surprised by just how popular Virgin Mobile’s latest strategy turns out to be, as the latter is set to unleash its own version of the unlimited data plan upon the world, with the added bonus of no contracts to sign.

Although Virgin is still a relatively minor player in the world of wireless broadband, having to use Sprint’s network to carry its mobile data traffic, this move is both aggressive and well-timed, as it’s sure to challenge the big mobile players who have all but scrapped their own unlimited data plans.

But aggressive wireless promotions aside, does Virgin Mobile—and Sprint’s wireless network—offer enough to draw consumers away from the incumbent market leaders for good, or will this deal only be a abnormal blip on Virgin’s quarterly report?

There’s little doubt that many will initially be attracted to Virgin for the simple fact that it’s cheap, as comparable unlimited plans from other wireless carriers have, at the best of times, cost around $60 per month, and that included getting chained to a two year minimum contract.

But with a stingy $40 price for unlimited data traffic, two glaring issues about this Virgin deal remain unanswered: First, while this deal seems great, at these prices how long will Virgin be able to maintain this promotion? The answer, not long at all, so expect your fees to increase once Virgin has attracted its quota of new customers.

Second, can Sprint’s wireless network be trusted to not only provide users with the same service they get with Verizon, or will Sprint’s network—which experiences relatively light mobile traffic—crumble under the pressure? Should either of these options occur, look for a mass exodus of disgruntled Virgin customers.

Beyond the network issues, however, is the fact that Virgin Mobile has offered such a great deal with relatively few attractive phones available on their network. With only a relatively small selection of smartphones available, what would users actually want to use on the Virgin network? It is because Virgin has little to offer beyond this amazing data plan that I have to think that any business it brings in will only be a flash in the pan; here today, gone tomorrow.

That being said, if you’re tired of having your pocket picked multiple times for the access to the same data network by the likes of Verizon and AT&T, then perhaps Virgin Mobile’s new affordable unlimited contract-free data plan is for you….at least for now.

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What better way to crush Apple’s iPad than turning to the technology currently used in the US Army’s Crusher Tank? In a report released by Bloomberg yesterday, the latest news around Research in Motion (RIM) is that the company has ditched the Blackberry OS 6 for its new tablet offering, tentatively named the ‘Blackpad,’ in favour of something different.

Instead, the report states, RIM is turning to QNX Software Systems, a company RIM acquired for a cool $200 million back in April, to develop a completely new operating system for the Blackpad as it gets set to enter the market later this year. For its part, QNX specializes in infotainment technology used primarily in luxury automobiles like BMW and Porsche; with its technology also seeing diversified use in weapons systems, cardiac monitoring systems and nuclear energy plants across the continent.

But will harnessing the mighty power of the Crusher tank be enough to make the BlackPad a success? It really all depends on the technological focus of the device.

The choice for RIM is simple: Produce a business-oriented tablet device that provides its already vast base of enterprise users a simple and straightforward communications and business development platform and enjoy almost the same success but none of the hype of Apple’s iPad; or produce a consumer-oriented infotainment device that looks to do exactly what the iPad does and watch it crash and burn like the RIM’s Storm and Torch smartphones before it.

Despite the fact that the Waterloo-based company is keeping relatively tight-lipped about its whole tablet endeavour, for me the fact that the company is willing to break OS ties with its popular Blackberry devices means that at least it’s putting some thought into this project. But even with this unusual amount of foresight, if the recent tepid sales of the Torch have shown us anything, it’s that even when RIM tries to innovate, it just ends up producing a poor copy of what’s already on the market…and no one wants that.

Further, there has long been speculation that the BlackPad will be produced as a companion device for the Blackberry smartphone, as the tablet itself seems to have no direct 3G connectivity, with tethering being the only option (when WiFi is not available). Even with these newest reports it seems that these rumours persist, and that’s not good if RIM wants anyone, anywhere, to adopt the BlackPad as their go-to tablet device.

But enough with that, let’s get back to the OS for a second. Regardless of how the tablet performs I’m glad RIM is making this switch. While the company’s official line of reasoning seems to be that the Blackberry OS 6 comes with far too much antiquated legacy software code from older OS versions, the fact that RIM is willing to attempt to breathe new life into its devices by trying new things means that maybe, just maybe, this company is capable of true innovation.

However, with many tech pundits the world over already consigning the BlackPad to the nether regions of tech purgatory, perhaps even a revamped OS isn’t enough to change RIM’s fortunes.

Photo c/o TechCrunch

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There’s a new Playstation Portable (PSP) commercial (click here to view) that has hit the airwaves, one touting the gaming strengths of Sony Ericsson’s portable device over the iPhone. Over what!? You heard me right, the iPhone. At first glance one might wonder why Sony would take this angle in an ad, pitting two devices of completely different tech genres against each other. It just doesn’t make sense.

Now imagine that Sony Ericsson was set to unveil its latest creation, a mobile smartphone gaming platform sporting Android 3.0 and capable of running PSP and PSX games. In this dream world, suddenly a commercial boasting the dominance of the gaming abilities of Sony’s mobile products doesn’t seem so crazy after all.

Now stop dreaming. 

If you’re a gaming fan, this is, simply put, the phone you’ve been waiting for…probably.

While no one can deny that to this point gaming on the Android has been anything but mind blowing thus far, it really looks like all that is about it change. The strange thing is, however, that Sony Ericsson, a company known more for its gaming prowess and less for its mobile dominance, has yet to produce anything recently in the cutthroat smartphone market. Further, we haven’t even see Sony produce anything that runs any of the recent Android v2 upgrades.

Beyond that, producing a hybrid mobile device has never been successful, as if there’s one thing the mobile market has demonstrated time and again, a jack of all trades is a king of none, and no one wants a phone that does multiple thing poorly. So the question becomes, will Sony Ericsson have any success at producing such a hybrid device?

Tentatively, I would have to say yes.I can’t think of many other companies that have the same gaming chops and mobile experience as Sony Ericsson, but the real success of the device will hinge solely on its ability to compete as a smartphone.

Don’t forget, Sony Ericsson has already released its diminutive PSP Go, a handheld gaming platform that has a QWERTY-style D-pad and PSP controls that pop out of the bottom of the device, so we already know what the user interface and gameplay experience will be like.

But it’s a completely different question as to whether or not Sony Ericsson can, as the rumours have it, produce a top spec smartphone; one that rivals the market leaders in terms of speed, functionality, and user interface. If Sony Ericsson can do this, it may have a mobile bonanza on its hands. If it can’t, well it’ll just have another mobile gaming platform that only kids want to buy. Now hold on while I text this to my grandma.

Photo c/o Engadget

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Many of you have probably heard of the MagicJack, the shady little device that helps users skimp on their phone bills–and if you haven’t heard of it, perhaps you need to spend a little more time watching infomercials. But the news this week is that the company behind MagicJack, VocalTec, has gone one step further and eliminated all phone charges made to both regular and mobile phones with their newest VoIP service, MagicTalk.

Over the past few years services like Skype have become immensely popular. Offering free PC-to-PC calling, these VoIP services have become the norm for many in the telecommunications world. The downside was that using services such as Skype on your mobile device ate up precious minutes, and using it to call a landline had a fee associated with it. However, now that VocalTec has found a way to eliminate all charges, these popular VoIP services seem rather paltry in comparison.

Further, with the additional report that VocalTec’s latest service will be available within the week for Windows and Mac computers, with versions for all the popular mobile operating systems set to follow in early Fall, it seems that the only companies left making money off phone calls are the Internet service providers, which begs the question, is this the end of telecommunications as we know it?  

I doubt it. Telecom companies are much too shrewd to let a little thing like free calling from both your home and mobile phones stop them from making money. If services like the MagicJack become incredibly popular, you will inevitably see a significant spike in the basic cost of having a landline in your home, and should you choose to abolish it in favour of a mobile device, you’ll be sure to see a decrease in contract minutes associated with a significant increase in your contract fees.

But for the moment, folks, lets enjoy the fact that a company like VocalTec has taken VoIP one step further and given us unlimited talk time on our home phone, a move that is sure to save people a great deal of money…in the short term at least.

So how does a company like VocalTec pull this off? How do they make money? Being a phone company, VocalTec’s chief source of income, strangely enough, is other phone companies, whom the company charges for calls placed to Magictalk numbers. Further, if you’re looking for a cheap solution to placing calls overseas, think again, as there will be fees [most likely significant ones] associated with any calls to numbers abroad.

While the company provides you with a free MagicTalk phone number, the last downside—and there had to be a few—is that they’ll have to pay to retain your old number. But with that said, for those always on the lookout for ways to save money, the MagicTalk may just be the telecom solution you’ve been looking for.

Affordable, versatile, and highly functional, one thing is clear; VocalTec has laid down the gauntlet for the likes of Skype and advanced the cause of VoIP across the continent. Not bad.

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The ExoPC Slate

In Eastern Canada, on the shores of the mighty St. Lawrence River, sits the small city of Rimouski, Quebec. Once the hockey home of superstar Sidney Crosby, it won’t be long before Rimouski will be known for something else; producing one of the first Windows 7 tablet devices, the ExoPC Slate.

In response to a story I wrote titled, The Tablet Flood Descends Upon Us, I received an email informing me that I had forgotten about a key entry in the race; the diminutive ExoPC Slate. I say diminutive not because the tablet itself is small, but that this relatively miniscule Quebec-based company of the same name has seemingly pulled off what many major manufacturers are struggling to get right; how to market an innovative and intuitive Windows 7 tablet.

Though its original release date has been pushed back a number of times, with news that the ExoPC Slate is going to hit store shelves in early September, this surprisingly innovative tablet will be one of the first to run Microsoft’s Windows 7, and if Apple’s success with the iPad has shown us anything, it’s that being first counts for a lot.

With every new bit of tablet or mobile technology being touted as a possible iPad or iPhone killer these days, I truly think those titles have been robbed of all meaning. In fact, while I have yet to ban the words from my blog posts, I tend to employ them tongue-in-cheek, meaning that before I seriously apply that moniker to any device, it’s going to have to prove itself first.

So while I’ll refrain from laying that heavy burden on the ExoPC Slate, for anyone waiting for a serious Windows 7 tablet with an iPad like interface and netbook capabilities, you may want to remember the name ExoPC.

While its screen may look like a digital rendition of the classic game Connect Four, this slate employs a unique and intuitive user interface overtop of its Windows 7 OS. Each of the circles on the 11.6 inch touchscreen can be customized to contain different programs, shortcuts, or websites, with added controls along the device‘s periphery. Although several reviews have found that the screen is laden with poor viewing angles, the fact that it is as responsive to touch as the ubiquitous iPad means that for those looking for an iPad alternative, a worthy candidate has finally arrived.

That being said, while there will be some that absolutely fall in love with the user interface, there will be many—like me—that aren’t as thrilled to see a screen absolutely filled with buttons.

In the end, the truth is that for the ExoPC Slate to seriously compete with the iPad, it really needs to be flawless, and for me this tablet simply doesn’t cut it. Although I freely admit that its user interface is one of the most intuitive skins I’ve ever seen for Windows 7 and its netbook like capabilities will make it appealing for those looking for a simple, mobile computing device, as I’ve always said, for a new tablet device to succeed it’ll have to either be cheaper than the iPad, perform better than the iPad, or contain more features than the iPad, and the simple fact is, the ExoPC Slate doesn’t do any of these things.

With a price tag of $599 (placing it between the iPad 16GB and GB models), a user interface that you’ll either love or hate, and the fact that early reviews have been mixed, means that while the ExoPC may experience some initial success, its legacy may be as an example for how future Windows 7 tablets should perform; simply a step in the right direction.

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Written by: Matt Klassen. www.digitcom.ca >. Follow TheTelecomBlog.com > by: RSS >, Twitter >, Identi.ca >, or Friendfeed >

While it won’t get you anywhere near the Dagobah system and lacks the necessary skills to fix your X-Wing, if you’re looking for a phone that marries your love of Star Wars with the latest and greatest smartphone technology, than the limited edition R2-D2 Motorola Droid 2 phone set for an early Fall release on the Verizon network may just be the phone for you.

Despite the fact that this may be the geekiest thing I’ve seen since I began tech/telecom blogging, I’m ashamed to say… I want one. I want one not just because it’s got this Lego looking R2-D2 veneer, but because the Droid 2 may, in fact, be the best Android phone released to date, and I, for one, am impressed.

Sure I could get the Droid 2 [released yesterday] without the limited edition R2-D2 styling, but what would be the fun in that?

Along with RIM’s latest mobile device, the Blackberry Torch, the Motorola Droid 2 has been designed specifically to take on the iPhone, luring potential dissatisfied Apple customers to the more open, friendlier waters of the Android world. The only problem for both these phones is, they’re not really selling.

When the iPhone launched in June the tech world was shocked by the public response, as independent research firms estimated over 2 million people lined up on release day to try to snatch up the newest gadget from Apple. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m sure both these phones will do just fine when it comes to sales, but for anything to be an iPhone killer I would think that they would need to rival the iPhone on the basis of sheer popularity alone, otherwise how could they ever hope to topple the most popular phone in America? Now I doubt Motorola or Verizon’s answer to this dilemma is the R2-D2 version, but it can’t hurt.

But beyond that, things seem to get even more difficult for the Droid 2, as the high powered smartphone is competing against its own siblings for smartphone dominance. For the Droid 2 to achieve any real success it will need to supplant both the Droid X and the Droid Incredible for the top spot on Verizon’s Android roster, and with those phones ranking among in the top 5 most popular Android phones of the year, that’s a tough task in itself.

Further, with the fact that the Droid 2 shares some striking similarities with its Droid X brother, one might wonder if any of these phones will ever see a fraction of the success of the iPhone. But this just points to the real problem with attempting to manufacture an iPhone killer, they are so many candidates out there that the market is diluted with choice, and none of them are selling like Apple’s baby.

So instead of gauging the success of the Droid 2 with how it competes with the iPhone [unless the phone comes with a secret arc laser feature suitable for shooting small aliens and rival smartphones], let’s judge it based solely on its own merits, and the truth is, there is no other phone out there that will communicate your love for Star Wars as smoothly and easily as the Droid 2…and isn’t that really all that matters?

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What’s that in the sky? It’s not a smartphone; it’s not a tablet…wait a minute, what the heck is that thing? Don’t worry folks, it’s nothing to be alarmed about, it’s just the Dell Streak, and I would wager that if you do see it flying through the sky, it’s because someone has thrown it out their window in a fit of anger and frustration.

Several months ago when Dell unveiled what could be considered the mobile markets first hybrid smartphone/tablet device, the ears of the tech world perked up. In fact, many lauded this strange new device as innovative and revolutionary… but that was then.

Fast forward to today as the Streak is set for its nationwide release, and suddenly the tech world is singing a different tune; more along the lines of, why would anyone want to buy that thing?

While the initial attraction of the Streak was that it could conceivably offer the average tech user a workable hybrid solution between a smartphone and a tablet device, it is exactly this point, in my mind, that will see the Streak quickly fade from view.

The fact is, while the Streak does boast some of the upsides of both market genres—it has a large 5” multi-touch screen, sports an Android operating system, and has a speedy 1 GHz processor that is at least comparable to the popular market incumbents—it still is, when compared to any smartphone or tablet device, a disappointing—and not to mention, extremely dorky—effort.

For a device that is neither a decent smartphone or a particularly usable tablet device, what the Streak does have in all the major weaknesses of both mobile genres, and it has them in spades. This means, simply put, that it’s too small to be a tablet, way too big to a smartphone, it lacks the power or functionality of a tablet, and its operating system is disconcertingly antiquated— sporting the all but obsolete Android v1.6.

What this all adds up to is a device that has no conceivable use in the mobile market. It lacks the power needed to be a usable business device, it lacks the innovation to succeed in the tablet market, and since it obscures half your face while you talk on it, I would say it lacks the convenience of a mobile phone. Couple all that with a staggering price tag of $300 with a two year contract and it begs the question, what is Dell thinking?

If companies design devices that meet the expectations of the day, when that device hits the market months down the road they will find not only that it is no longer cutting edge, its probably not even relevant. For a device to succeed in today’s rapidly advancing mobile/tablet market, companies that want to market successful devices need to plan for the future. You want to compete with the iPad or iPhone? Don’t make something that does what they do today; make something that exceeds what they’ll be able to do in six (6) months or a year; that’s the only way.

So while we are taking this time to say ‘hello’ to the new Dell Streak, let’s not waste any more time on it and give it a ‘farewell’ as well. Thanks for coming Streak, don’t let the door hit you on the way out!

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Though it was only a few short months ago that the likes of Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard (HP) shelved their respective tablet projects, it looks like the race to compete with the iPad is on again, with product speculation surrounding almost every major player in the tech/telecom industry.

If this recent speculation proves true, however, it looks like most companies are taking the right approach to dethroning Apple’s dominant iPad; create a product that is easier to use, is more powerful, and does more than Apple’s incumbent market leader. The question remains, however, will any of these companies actually be able to pull it off?

RIM

Research in Motion has been in the news a great deal lately, as the company continues its media blitz surrounding its newest Blackberry Torch 9800. While the Waterloo based company clearly looks like its throwing all its eggs in the Torch basket, there is speculation that the company known for its inability to innovate is developing its own slate device, tentatively known as the “Blackpad.” While there is no solid information regarding RIM’s foray into tablet technology, insiders report it will be ready before Christmas.

Motorola/Verizon

I’m not quite sure if there’s been a tech company that Verizon hasn’t been connected to with regards to the production of the latest and greatest tablet device, but the latest news has the telecom giant partnered with Motorola, the maker of many of Verizon’s most popular Android smartphones.

The genius behind this tablet, however, is that it offers a different approach to the entire market in general, focusing more on providing a portable TV and communications centre rather than doing whatever it is that the iPad actually does. Early reports indicate that the tablet will be connected to Verizon’s FiOS TV service, offering users the ability to have premium digital cable on their tablet device. If Verizon manages to pull this off, it looks like it will have produced a worthy competitor not only for the iPad, but for NetFlix and Hulu Plus as well.

Dish/Slingbox

While this latest report regarding satellite TV provider Dish Network doesn’t officially qualify as a new tablet device, it certainly affects everyone who owns a mobile device (tablets included). It looks like Dish Network is set to offer its popular Slingbox service to all major mobile devices, including most major smartphones, tablets, and MP3 devices. The only catch though, you’ll need to own a Slingbox to utilize the service.

Although these stories make up the most important three of the week, with the added news that the likes of Cisco, Sony, Asus, Dell, Toshiba (to name a few) are preparing to release their own offerings as well, it is quickly shaping up to be the great tablet Christmas of 2010.

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Written by: Matt Klassen. www.digitcom.ca >. Follow TheTelecomBlog.com > by: RSS >, Twitter >, Identi.ca >, or Friendfeed >