I am sure by now everyone has seen or heard about the TechCrunch Internet Tablet – they’ve just updated the tablet and provided some great pictures and videos of the newest version.  You can view the pictures and videos:

http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/01/19/techcrunch-tablet-update-prototype-b/

As I was reading the article, and looking at the product there are a few things that they need to do to make it more attractive (physically) and to lower the cost.  I wouldn’t spend $299.00 on it since I could buy a cheap-o laptop for around that much or even a netbook or for $100.00 or so more a fully fuctioning netbook with more bells and whistles.

Things they should consider:

• Make it slimmer – cut out more plastic from the case.
• Drop the camera.  I’ve been using computers for around 20 years now and never really used the camera – perhaps I’m the wrong demographic, but if I’m surfing the web I don’t need a camera.
• Why is there a port for a monitor?  Get rid of it.

I don’t know if this will drop the price to the $200.00 mark – but it will go some ways to lower the price to bring it in at the $200.00 mark that they initially wanted to sell the product at.

Mohamed

Technorati Tags: techcrunch, techcrunch internet tablet

Do you remember Fantasy Island?  It was that late 70’s early 80’s show where tourists came to the paradise island to live out a fantasty.  But once a reality, so many wished that it never happened.

The start of the show, Ricardo Montalban passed away recently.  He had this to say about why the show was successful in a 1978 interview:

“What is appealing is the idea of attaining the unattainable and learning from it. Once you obtain a fantasy it becomes a reality, and that reality is not as exciting as your fantasy. Through the fantasies you learn to appreciate your own realities.”

Read the full story here: http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/090114/entertainment/obit_montalban.

So what does this have to do with making money?  Nothing, just a bit of nostalgia… and I liked the quote he gave in his 1978 interview.

Mohamed

Technorati Tags: fantasty island, mr. roarke, ricardo montalban

Here is a rheorical question for you – why does it take bad news for car manufacturers to innovate their products?

Now I know I’m a tech junkie – I love my gadgets, and simply can’t and won’t do without them so bear with me.

But seriously, car manufacturers have been turning out horrid, absolutely disgusting automobiles.  The interior esthetics are just so crappy!  They all use the same default analog dials – nothing has changed in probably 100 years!!!

Come on – it’s the 21st century; lets get with it!  There are so many tech enhancements out there that car manufacturers could have implemented some and really taken a lead and innovated above and beyond thereby introducing more people to technology.

Take for example BlueTooth integration.  You can’t honestly tell me that it costs $1,500 per vehicle to integrate BlueTooth into it!  Yet that’s what some manufacturers charge for this upgrade.  A BlueTooth headset is worth around $100.00 for something good.  Make this standard and you’d get more people making use of the technology that might actually make the roads a bit safer since it doesn’t appear that people are willing to give up their cell phones anytime soon.

And how about those ugly dashboards?!  Yes, I understand the need to keep them bulky – but can’t they atleast be made more attractive?  Maybe slimmed down a bit so that there is more space?

Here is an article from BusinessWeek about FORD trying to innovate – huh, it only took a downturn in the economy and the thought of bankruptcy and failure to innovate.  GET OUT OF YOUR FRIGGIN SHELLS!  http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/content/dec2008/id2008128_787972.htm

Shown above is a prototype dashboard concept for Fords slew of Green Vehicles that are due out by 2012.  They actually went to a real design firm to have a professional do work for them.  Now doesn’t that look better than the crap all manufacturers give us?

The Honda Insight Hybrid, to be release in 2010 takes design (in my opinion) a HUGE step further by redefining the cockpit of the vehicle making it look more appealing and futuristic.  While the exteriors are designed for aerodynamics so very little can (or should be done to detract from that goal) be touched, the interior is a little nicer – but why not look at other materials instead of carpet?

Here is the link to the Honda website – http://automobiles.honda.com/insight-hybrid/exterior-photos.aspx.

I can tell you, having lived in Edmonton, AB where we get LOTS of snow your carpet quickly gets wet and sloshy and most of all DIRTY.  Now living in BC where we get LOTS of rain, I’m in the same boat.  I’d love to get rid of the carpet and use some othe type of non-slip material that can be cleaned easily.  Yes the carpet is nice, but come on – in a car where the primary purpose is to get from A to B and which can have kids along with food in it – do you really need carpet?  You need DURABILITY.

But I’ve read about other concept cars, and the different types of interiors (specifically seating surfaces, and carpeting) where they’ve done away with the norm and used alternative materials for carpets – like bamboo!

Anyway – that’s my spiel…

Mo

Technorati Tags: concept cars, innovation, innovation in vehicle design, vehicle design