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Tomorrow's Cell Phones
bart_scriv writes "Businessweek looks at the future of the cell phone, starting with some existing button-free prototypes and moving on to more outlandish and whimsical designs. From the article: 'New technologies drive many of the new designs. One example: Synaptics ClearPad, a new type of touch screen that will become commercially available later this year. Unlike today's touch screens, which aren't entirely transparent and often not very sensitive — we've all had to endlessly tap one with a stylus to get a response — ClearPad is clear, so it can be used as a sensitive overlay to a cell-phone display. Another innovation likely to change the cell-phone's appearance: flexible displays. An electronic ink screen prototype, developed by Koninklijke Philips Electronics and startup E-Ink, is thin and flexible like paper so it can be worn wrapped around a cell phone. Users can unwrap it to view a map on a larger screen. Eventually, the display could be used to watch video.'"
Wish Status: granted
http://www.kidswireless.com/phones/Firefly/
there is no need to sign your posts. this isn't usenet. your username is right there above your post. stop it.
They already exist:
Firefly for Cingular
Can't get the long URL links to work right.
-dave
/., where "Apple and Google provide Iran with nukes" will be refuted with "But Microsoft is a convicted monopolist"
I currently carry two cell phones (one is work, one is personal), often an iPod. I have my gmail setup to notify me on my cell via text messaging if I receive email from close friends and family. I can check my email with Opera, or even with POP3. As well, I like to blog. I like to snap pictures of the odd thing that I might not see everyday, but I don't want to carry a big camera around. I'm a gamer too.
Enter the Nokia 6682, a cell phone that is a year old and only recently was introduced in North America. (Can't wait for the N80! WOO!) This is my personal cell, and if my work let me forward the work cell phone, I would take all calls on my personal phone. Functionality with Outlook is seamless with Nokia's software.
Bluetooth lets my phone talk to my laptop with no cables. It automatically syncs my tasks and dates, and has a POP3 client. It automatically uploads new pictures and vidoe taken. It runs the S60 platform so I can install anything, from push email technology that mimics Blackberry to emulators. I have NES, SNES and Gameboy emulators installed, as well as Wolfenstein 3D (Doom for S60 is available, but requires 4MB of RAM, 6682 has 2MB for RAM, 10MB of local memory and replacable 64MB MMCmobile chip). It will soon have a 2GB stick in it, effectively replacing my iPod. I keep my pictures of family and friends in it. The camera is 1.3MP, and pictures are good enough to post on a blog. Nokia has released LifeBlog that lets me post directly to my blog (livejournal) with zero effort. Moblogging is second nature to this thing. I've got news for you; this thing picks up teenage girls by itself. The fucked up part is that no one is marketing it with the functionality actually explored. Maybe if the wireless providers marketed wireless bluetooth headphones with the phone as a full iPod replacement, there might be more interest.
If you're used to a brick or flip phone that just takes calls, sure, all you're going to want is a replacement. Wait until you've really played with a convergence device before you pass judgement on something you don't understand.
Neutiquam erro