Sunday, December 30, 2007

The lies behind the firmware update promise

They try to sell more promising firmware updates, but the fact is that they dedicate their efforts to create new products rather than improving the software in already existing devices.

I own a Kiss DP-1100. I like it because it supports a lot of codecs, subtitles and it has a lot of other interesting features. But it is buggy: with some codecs it is impossible to rewind or fast forward a video without a crash (which leads to a hard reset of the device).

Linksys, current owner of Kiss Technologies, is doing the same with their Wi-Fi Access Points. Except for the excelent WRT54GL (that I am going to get from my workpal Diego), many other APs suffer from different bugs or do not support interesting features that some other devices within the same class (from the same maker or from different ones -like MDS) do support. For example, my WRT300N. Thanks to initiatives like OpenWRT that bring freedom to the user.

Quite similar things happen to mobile phones. While some S60 3rd edition phones like N73 receive several upgrades (the most recent one incorporating support for A2DP), while some others like my N80 don't.

This does not only apply to firmware, also to external applications. Why dows Mail For Exchange work on many E-Series and N-Series and not in my N80?

This is not serious at all. Device makers suck!

Saturday, December 29, 2007

Asus EEE

Asus EEE is a wonderful toy. But it lacks from some interesting features to win the choice of a Nokia N810 (touchscreen). Many people say that both of them should come with 3G connection, so you can really have an all-in-one portable device. Well, it is true that they both allow you to connect to a cellular network via Bluetooth or USB, but it is not the same.

So some people are trying to improve it by replacing its original screen with a touchscreen:



And, then, why not to add a 3G interface?


Pointui Home

Being introduced as the ultimate iPhone-like user interface for Windows Mobile, Pointui Home promises a lot. Here you have two videos:





Minus two days and counting.

Oh, and it's FREE.

Samsung does not seem to be doing it bad

Nice video showing the UI in new Samsung phones.


Saturday, December 15, 2007

Nokia N810

It is pitiful when gadget makers create so much expectation about a product and there is no availability at all. This is what happens in Spain and in the majority of countries in the world with the Nokia N810.

Christmas season, a nice gadget, people wanting it so badly and no chance to get it.

:-(

Monday, December 10, 2007

Iberia and Quality of Service

I had to travel last week to Brussels and the flight from Asturias to the administrative capital of the European Union departed with a delay of one hour. Before the week ended, I received an e-mail from Iberia offering some points in my Iberia Plus card.

It would be better that flights depart at the scheduled time, but it is nice that they care about their customers somehow when that does not happen.