Pocketables

Website load times on ARM Cortex A8-powered mobile devices

While assessing my mobile gadget collection the other day, I realized that four of my devices are powered by CPUs with ARM Cortex A8 cores. For nearly eight months, my non-Android Archos 5 IMT (600MHz TI OMAP 3430) had bragging rights as the only Cortex A8 handheld in the house, so I didn't notice that it lost its prestigious title when the iPhone 3GS (600MHz Samsung S5PC100) waltzed in this past summer, the Sharp NetWalker (800MHz Freescale i.MX515) moved in last month, and the Archos 5 Android tablet (800MHz TI OMAP 3440) arrived a few weeks ago.

I've been very preoccupied with matters unrelated to portable gadgets for most of the year (and I usually don't pay much attention to internal components anyway), so the realization that a single Cortex A8 device turned into four Cortex A8 devices when I wasn't looking was a little alarming. The only thing to do, then, was to pit the units against one another for a round of website load time tests.

Rethinking the fate of 7-inch devices on Pocketables

Although there have certainly been exceptions, I've generally tried to maintain and follow a self-imposed "7-inch rule" here on Pocketables. What this has meant is that any device with a screen size larger than 7 inches was, for the most part, not welcome here.

The name of this site has always been more figurative than literal and the only reason 7-inchers were even included in the first place was that I started Pocketables during the Origami UMPC era in 2006. I had just decided to buy the Sony Vaio UX180P instead of the Samsung Q1 and the other 7-inch slates that defined the UMPC category back then, so as the site evolved, the 7-inch rule quietly fell into place. It made sense to me at the time, as netbooks were non-existent and 7-inch computers were considered quite tiny and highly portable, but lately I've been having second thoughts.

Windows Mobile 6.5 takes center stage for now

After months of leaked screenshots and rumors, Microsoft officially opened the curtain and lit the stage for Windows Mobile 6.5 (aka Windows phone) today. While the new operating system is supposedly just a stop-gap until Windows Mobile 7 comes out next year, there are some welcome improvements and changes that show Microsoft is not ceding the mobile market to Google and Apple just yet.

Along with some new devices that were launched concurrently with WinMo 6.5, the battle in the smartphone arena is really starting to get interesting, and the line that separates these handsets from MIDs continues to blur even further.

My WiMAX test fails miserably

Over this past weekend, I was attending a work-related convention in Las Vegas, which just so happens to be one of the cities offering WiMAX service from Clear (formerly Clearwire). Since I normally visit Sin City a few times a year, I had purchased a used Nokia N810 WiMAX Edition a few months back so I could test the new wireless service there. My thinking was that I could purchase a one-day pass for the listed price of $10, then have the convenience of 4G broadband while I was wandering about trying to find the best place to lose my money.

Even though this is Vegas we're talking about, let me just say it was a good thing I didn't gamble on smooth WiMAX connectivity. What I found was far different than what I expected, and I was so glad my Sprint MiFi came along on the trip.

There's nothing HD about the Zune HD

This guest article was submitted by Ben L.

I tend to be a serious HD junkie. I like my media in HD, and I like my displays to have HD resolutions. I even keep the same movies on my computer in 480p, 720p, and 1080p. More than anything, I love it when HD content is set up and displayed correctly so that it can be viewed the way that it was meant to be.

Sadly, some companies use the "HD" term as a buzz word to mislead consumers (perfect example here). In that regard, I have an issue with the Microsoft Zune HD that Jenn and Chris recently reviewed.

Before we jump in, I'd like to mention that I wouldn’t be writing this if the Zune HD wasn’t attempting to be a MID. But since it's got a web browser, an app store, and the whole shebang, I can't help myself.

Viliv S7 unboxing and size comparisons

Since I reboxed the Zune HD earlier today, it's only fair that I do a proper unboxing of the other gadget that found its way to Pocketables HQ this afternoon: the Atom-based Viliv S7 convertible UMPC. I also rounded up a few of my other mini computers to put the S7's size into some context and took some photos of the nice leather case that Viliv threw into the box as well. Take a look at the 30+ pictures below and check back later for my full review.

Surprise us this week, Apple

Every September for the past several years, Apple has used this month to refresh the iPod line. This year is no different, as in two days they will hold their "rock and roll" event, with most people expecting a new camera-equipped iPod nano and iPod touch.

Of course, there have been the rampant rumors about an iTablet device, basically a larger version of the touch, for what seems like forever now. Based on the excitement seen all over the web, the time seems right for Apple to jump in and revolutionize the tablet market that has never quite taken off for mainstream consumers, much like they did with the smartphone market over two years ago.

What is your ideal mobile internet device?

With Nokia World, IFA, Apple and Archos events, IDF, and the Zune HD's release all happening within days/weeks of each other, there's definitely no shortage of new product announcements this month. And with so many of these products being launched in the mobile computing/internet space, we'll soon have more options to consider in our never-ending search for the perfect device.

All of us here share a common interest (portable tech), but our individual needs are obviously unique to our personal preferences and requirements. That's why while some people can't wait to buy the Nokia N900, others are lamenting its screen size, keyboard, and/or phone functions. And even though the Archos 5 Android tablet's exact specs are still a bit hazy, early feedback is already rather mixed.

New gadgets always elicit a range of reactions, as nothing can please everyone, but with two of the "main" new products not being what I personally expected or necessarily wanted, I'm kind of bracing myself for what we'll see in the coming weeks. I won't say that I'm disappointed by the N900 and Android Archos, but neither is what I was hoping for. And of course, this begs the question posed in the title of this post: What is your ideal mobile internet device?

Now Flash needs to hurry and join the party

This guest article was submitted by Chris King.

Looking at the graphic to the left and reading the title at the top, it would be easy to assume that this article is about a certain comic book character. But don't worry, it has to do with a different type of Flash, the kind that doesn't have a cool looking figurine toy to go along with it. Maybe in the near future, Adobe Flash can achieve performance that can be illustrated by a lightning bolt logo, but it's not there yet.

With the official announcement finally escaping from Nokia's tight grip yesterday, the N900 became an actual product, not just a mystery device depicted in spyshots. But the real mystery is if this will finally be the non-Intel MID that crashes the gates to the Adobe Flash castle. After many years of hope arriving with the promises of each new device, we are left wondering what the delay is, all the while enjoying the full spectrum of Flash goodies on our more powerful Windows-based computers.

After being disappointed too many times to remember, could Nokia actually be ready to break the cycle and deliver the perfect device?

How streaming music and video are changing our habits

This guest article was submitted by Chris King.

About ten years ago, music lovers were suddenly presented with a new and exciting way to listen to music on the go. After many years of portable radios, cassette players, and CD players, the music industry was changed forever with the introduction of the first portable MP3 players. These tiny players, such as the Diamond Rio 300, had no mechanical parts so battery life was incredible compared to their lumbering predecessors. And by using the new compressed file format, they could store hours and hours of music in memory instead of physical media.

Now in 2009, it seems like the iPod and its kind have been around forever. Storage capacities have grown large enough to be measured in gigabytes, rechargeable batteries are now used, and color touchscreens have given us added features like video and web browsers. But even with this new abundance of storage capacity, another shift is taking place because an increasing number of people are using online streaming services. With internet access available pretty much at any time, the role of the MP3 and video-capable portable player is changing, and it should be an interesting next few years.

In this article, I'll go over some of the options out there, with comments on how I take advantage of the different services and why I really don't keep music and video stored locally on my devices anymore.