THE LA REPORT

tech check

SEAGATE, known for years as a pioneer in the disk drive arena, adds a small svelte ultra-portable 160GB external model to its stellar line of drives: the FreeAgent Go. Comes with software that lets you take your desktop environment and all of your files on the go. Impressive storage size and features in a very small footprint. No need to fuss with a dozen low-GB thumbdrives while traveling when this great device gives gobs more storage in only a slightly bigger size. Perfect companion for laptops.

APPLE is hands-down the hottest tech company of 2007 so far. Some joked that the hottest story at tech confab CES was Steve Jobs' Macworld announcement of the new iPhone. Reports are it will do all the main tasks we want: phone, digital music, personal Palm-like organizer, GPS. Apple also changed their name to "Apple Inc." -- the "Computer" part is gone from the name, showing they officially recognize they have morphed into a full fledged consumer electronics firm, 30 years after the company's birth. (But if you prefer to go back in time to the days of wonder when Apple was creating the original Mac, read the excellent O'Reilly book "REVOLUTION IN THE VALLEY".)

LG won top prize at CES 2007 for its triple threat DVD player (plays Blu Ray, HD DVD and CD discs). LG - Looking Good.

Digital Village (KPFK 90.7 fm every Sat 10-11am) reported that Warner Bros (who, back in 1929, changed film forever with its introduction of sound) is now shaking things up in the DVD medium, by announcing another new DVD format for consumers. This one may take over just like sound film did. Why? Because their Total HD hybrid disc reportedly combines Blu Ray and HD DVD onto a single disc. THD discs are designed to play on both Blu Ray and HD DVD players.

 

ZUNE has landed on iPod's shores, but will it win the war?   Microsoft's multipurpose MP3/photo/video/FMradio player debuted last November. Will it prove to be an iPod killer, where others have failed? Microsoft's deep pockets will help; they can afford a low price for a while to gain market share ($249 for 30 GB is a good price point).  The Zune unit (rhymes with Zappa kid Moon Unit) is also quite sleek and, although it would have been nice to see some innovation on looks (a non-techie could easily mistake it for an iPod), that very "visual similarity" to Apple's bestselling player will no doubt help sales and acceptance with the mass consumer. Plus, looks aside, there are some nice innovations here; The LA Report especially likes the ability to wirelessly zap tunes from Zune to Zune (songs can be transferred and then played up to 3 times in 3 days, but cannot be forwarded again once they are zapped, which no doubt was meant to prevent overforwarding -- but, alas, getting a huge viral buzz going via repeated zapping is prevented as well).   --Don Rose

 

Mobio Mashes Up Mobile Movie Content    Mobio Networks just announced Mobile Movie Times, the first mobile application that lets moviegoers find local movie details and buy tickets on their handsets in 3 clicks or less. The free service launch is in conjunction with Universal's Nov. 17 release of Let's Go To Prison. MMT takes the hassle out of watching the hottest new films, by mashing up Web services needed to get movie listings, reviews, maps and buy tix by phone. Users can quickly search, purchase and have tix waiting for them when they get to the theater. Mobile Movie Tickets is the first movie app that gives you the "tastiest bits of the Web" in 3 clicks or less - with minimal to no data entry required. "Most mobile services are clumsy and counterintuitive because they are not built to recognize the individual's personal preferences or location," said Ramneek Bhasin, Mobio Founder/CEO. "We have developed a highly personalized user experience that is tailored to the individual's tastes, demographic and geographic information. Unlike other mobile services, Mobile Movie Times feels like it knows the user." MMT is powered by a proprietary technology called Context Synchronized Start (XSS) that imbeds users' preferences, so when they launch the app, only pertinent info is displayed based on their profile. XSS also auto-delivers synchronized info based on relevant factors such as time of day and the user's location. Visit www.getmobio.com  to download Mobile Movie Times, or go to Mobio on MySpace: www.myspace.com/getmobio .

 

BLACKBERRY's PEARL debuted last fall, the hot phone announced at Pepcom's MobileFocus (co-located at the CTIA wireless show in LA). SAMSUNG, LG and MOTOROLA all showed off hot new phones as well, as did NOKIA, who impressed The LA Report with its E61 all-in-one model that seemed every bit the equal of Moto's Q. Also making news at MobileFocus: NAPSTER, announcing an alliance with SONY ERICSSON to allow access to Napster-sold songs via cell. PANASONIC showed three examples of its TOUGHBOOK series; we liked the sleekest and lightest version, which you can even hold open with one hand as you get stuff done touch-screen style with your right. Also at MobileFocus (as well as at the previous night's Showstoppers event): HANDMARK showcased great programs for your Blackberry (Tetris and Zagat Guides). Want to play against other football fans as you watch the big game? Then AIRPLAY LIVE FOOTBALL may be for you; at Showstoppers they showed how you guess via cell what the next play will be and get points for how close your guess was to reality. The hot trends noticed by The LA Report: Wi-Fi phones (may be an industry disrupter - in a good way), and a push toward more Unlocked Phones (making cellphones more like a truly-independent consumer electronics item - a purchase you think of like any mp3 player, for example). The LA Report felt that Showstoppers and Pepcom's MobileFocus were in many ways better than the "main show" that took place at the LA Convention Center -- a more relaxed and managable way for media to interact with vendors of the latest tech devices and services.

 

The DocuPen R700, and the new RC800 Pro Color DocuPen dual-software bundle, from Planon Systems. Thin and light, the DocuPen is an ultraportable scanner. Imagine: the ability to capture pages anywhere you go, and convert scanned documents into editable text. Don't leave home without it. More info: www.planon.com.

 

PLUSTEK OpticSlim M12 Plus - super portable sheetfed color scanner - amazing, sleek, light, useful (especially on business trips). USB driven (for power and to transmit data). Includes base stand and pouch. Scan to Word, PDF, OCR.

 

FREE FAXING: faxzero.com - yes, there is an Ad on the cover page, but it is FREE; maximum 3 pages per fax; maximum 2 faxes per day.

 

Tech tip: yes, you can have the best of both worlds - that is, CD quality and iTunes/iPod convenience. How? Choose the lossless option when digitizing your CD's into iTunes. No DRM hassles, and much better sound than MP3. 

 

Tech news compiled by Don Rose, Editor