Mobile

The year 2008 saw that Linux has the potential to take on Windows on the netbook market. The smaller brother of the notebook, netbooks is now the craze. Because of it’s size it has the potential of creating a whole new meaning to portable computers. As technology like SSD gets wide acceptance, prices of these devices will inevitably find its way into netbooks. Low power CPUs and improvements in battery technology will also make these netbooks a “all in a day’s work/school” gadget.

Linux’s smaller footprint, more robust architecture, openness and cost effectivity makes it a perfect match for the netbook. The growing acceptance and awareness of the ordinary consumer will contribute to it’s increasing market share. But it looks like that’s not the only thing that will contribute greatly to the acceptance of Linux.

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Scientists at UCLA has hacked / modified an ordinary off-the-shelf cellular phone so that it can be used to detect certain diseases like HIV and malaria. This breakthrough is good news specially for less financially abled countries that couldn’t afford to shell out hundreds of thousands of dollars to buy the current medical equipment. Another advantage of the device is that it can be used to detect diseases in matter of hours as opposed to having to wait for days using current technology. It can even be used in far flung places because of the portability of the ordinary cell phone.

UCLA researcher Dr. Aydogan Ozcan’s device uses the camera sensor of a cell phone, filtered lighting and specially developed software to analyze the cell’s distinctive qualities to detect diseases.

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Smart has introduced another innovative product with its new Plug N Talk device for Filipinos abroad wanting to call their families and friends in the Philippines who has either a landline or mobile phone number. By using the device and an Internet connection, a Filipino abroad can easily call a Philippine phone number at local rates of only Php 6.50 per minute. You can even send text messages at only Php 1.00 per message.

I currently don’t have any relatives abroad who doesn’t have an Internet connection so I would think that most Filipinos abroad would have an Internet connection. If you are a Filipino abroad who has an unlimited Internet connection and is currently spending approximately more than 13 US cents per minute when calling the Philippines on top of your unlimited Internet charges then Smart’s Plug N Talk product may be the device for you.

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With the mixed opinions on how well the T-mobile G1 Android based mobile phone performed against the Apple iPhone, it looks like Nokia is sending a loud message — “Watch and learn boys!”

I really love the idea of having an open mobile platform such as Android because of the freedom and possibilities it gives to mobile phone owners but I guess I will have to wait a while before the mobile platform will mature. Apple with its exquisite engineering prowess has always led the world in creating great engineering worksmanships like the iPod, Macbook and the iPhone.

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I visited the Sun cellular web site to re-check their mobile broadband offer. It looks like Sun is really determined to capture a sizeable portion of the market. They have made some changes to their current pricing — the Plan 1999 is now Plan 999. Yup for 999 pesos a month, you can have mobile broadband of up to 2Mbps. And that includes a 350 a month unlimited voice and SMS postpaid mobile phone bundled in.

What used to be Plan 999 is now only 799. And is now also burstable up to 2Mbps (hmmm wonder if anyone is really able to reach this speed). It’s unlimited and mobile broadband!

If you don’t like to be locked in, you just pay a one time charge of 2,500 pesos and pay a monthly of 799 — maybe they should just make this prepaid instead of postpaid.

If you are one of the early subscribers to Sun Cellular’s Plan 1999, wonder what would happen?

HP has introduced a new line of netbooks with competitive pricing of as low as US$379. The HP Mini 1000 line of netbooks will be using Intel’s Atom processor instead of a VIA processor (used in HP mini-note 2133). You now have the option of getting an HP netbook which has an SSD installed (8GB or 16GB).

Memory configurations are 512MB, 1GB and 2GB plus the usual USB ports, wifi and webcam. The display comes in 8.9 or 10.2 inches at 1024 x 600. It would have been nice to have the option to order it with a 1280×768 10.2 inch display. The new HP netbook line can be pre-installed with Ubuntu that sports HP’s unique MIE interface (why create a unique HP interface?). For the gals, you’ll like the stylish Vivienne Tam Edition that will be available in mid-December in the US.

Hi HP, I’d like a 10.2-inch 1280×768 display, aluminum black body, 1.3 megapixel webcam, 2GB, wifi, HSDPA, 20GB SSD, SDHC slot and Ubuntu Intrepid (for that mobile broadband support) if you please. Thanks.

Over the past couple of days I’ve been reading about the higher than normal return rate of Linux netbooks. Being a Ubuntu user, I was curious as to the reason why that would happen. I believe that Ubuntu (eerrr, Linux) is a better operating system than Windows XP and much better than Windows Vista but why are they opting for Windows?

It seems that it all stemmed from the reason that most of those who bought the Linux netbook was expecting something that would look similar to Windows in terms of interface. Being a Windows user myself, here’s some of my thoughts about the situation on what I’ve been seeing in the currently available NetBooks.

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The Android open mobile platform OS has been released! If you want to setup an environment you have two options — use Linux or use Mac OS. The good news is if you will be using Linux, Google recommends and uses Ubuntu (good thing I’m already using Ubuntu Linux!). To get the source code go to source.android.com.

Instant messaging on mobile phones is getting more and more popular with the continuing focus of mobile network providers to encourage people to use their cell phones to connect to the Internet. I have checked out some of the available instant messaging software applications that you can install on your mobile phone so that you can communicate with your online buddies, friends and family.

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Skype, a VOIP and instant messaging application, has just released J2ME versions of their software application for several mobile phones. Skype for your mobile is currently under beta and available for several Nokia, Samsung, Motorola and Sony Ericsson mobile phones. I’ve downloaded and tried it on my Nokia phone.

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