I've been puttering around on the net trying to find this decive I once saw, but I can't seem to locate it now. It got me thinking about what features in these gadgets I'm really looking for.
MP3 Player
I'm one of those strange people that doesn't care to lug around my entire music collection (or any sizeable portion thereof) in a box the size of a deck of cards. It's just not convenient to carry an extra device brick when I usually have my phone with me already.
On the other hand, I've had a USB memory device attached to my keychain since Christmas, and it's been the second most indispensable gadget I own during that time.
What I really want is a device that has these features:
- Plays MP3 audio files. I don't need to play WMA, OGG, or any other weird format. I convert all of my files (even the iTunes stuff) to MP3, so that I don't have to worry about incompatibility anywhere.
- Has a backlit LCD display. I want to know what song is playing and have an interface to see what song I might like to play next.
- Has easy controls. My iRiver player is small and cool, but the controls are strangely difficult to operate. If I push the joystick right, the selection should go right, dangit! Easy play and mode buttons along with a hold switch would be sweet.
- Plays FM radio. I enjoy this feature of the iRiver player because it lets me tune into the TVs at the gym.
- Transmits FM Radio. This isn't the same as the last feature. This feature would allow the MP3 player to transmit its signal via regular FM radio so that I can tune in MP3s while driving my car.
- Records from microphone, FM, or the line-in jack. I have several megabytes of recorded classroom lectures that were very valuable to studying. Recording from FM isn't really required, but my iRiver does it, so I wouldn't want to lose that functionality. Same goes for the line-in, which I've never used, but it'll be the one thing that I'll miss the most, I'm sure.
- Internal memory. My iRiver player has 256 MB of memory. I'm not sure how much I would need in this player, probably edging more toward 1 GB, which will make sense after you see the next couple features.
- Retractable USB port. I don't want my USB port exposed to the elements, nor do I want a removble cover. I want to peel back a little rubber stopper, then flip a switch that pops the conector out of the exposed hole.
- USB rechargable battery. While the USB port is plugged into the computer, it should charge the internal battery, which should not be user-serviceable. I should not have to use a separate charger to charge the battery.
- Drive letter access. Without special firmware, the iRiver player I have requires the use of proprietary software to put the music files into the player. It also cannot hold files other than audio. I want to be able to use this device as a portable drive.
- SD port. This is the biggie, and what makes it mostly different from what I've been able to find on the market. I want to use this device as an SD reader. Every device I have uses SD now, and if I'm not at home with a USB cable, I'm often lacking a reader. This would solve that.
- Keychain sized. All of this should fit into a case that is only slightly thicker and longer (but not wider) than my Lexar Secure JumpDrive.
- Rectangular. The container should be rectangular, with square straight edges, not weird rounded lines and pointless rubber grips. What the heck?
Cell Phone
Dave finally got a cell phone to replace his old piece of crap. He amused me as he ran down the list of things that the new phone did that his old phone didn't because most phones these days do all of that stuff. I kept saying, "my phone does that," which really didn't convey my point (since my phone is, like, uber-phone) that he's been missing out on all of the cool stuff that everyone else has.
Anyhow, it's become obvious to me that although the simple PDA was more available (in terms of carrying retail stores and choices) than the simple cell phone, the convergence had to happen the other way. People needed to realize that carrying around a block of technology could help them out in a way that they had no other option for previously.
Put more clearly, people didn't need to replace their address books with a PDA because they already had working address books. People were not replacing anything by carrying around a cell phone - it allwed them to do something they couldn't do before. So the thought that followed naturally was, Why should I carry around this beat old address book, when my phone could do it, and I have nothing to replace that with?
I remember my first brick-like cell phone that looked like some telephone repairman's equipment. I had to carry it around in a bag, and it had a fancy LED (not LCD) screen for typing in the numbers. I have it around the house somewhere, I think, and if I happen upon it I should post a picture. I've come a long way with this Kyocera 7135, although it's still pretty huge in comparison even to Dave's new cell phone.
Here are some things that I'll need for my next phone. Keep in mind that my requirements for this device aren't what I would say are the "ultimate" in phones, just what would be best for me.
- Phone features. It has to be able to make calls. Duh. I'm not well-versed on the different networks, and I don't really care as long as it can carry all of my features. I think Verizon is CDMA, which is the service I use now.
- Latest Palm OS. I'm a Palm junkie, and I have a lot of money invested (yeah, ok, it's more of an investment in time) in the Palm platform already with the 7135. I want not just the latest OS, but the latest processor so things move along more speedily.
- 320x320 screen. This had been killing me with my OS 3 & 4 devices for a while. Sony had been putting out these beautiful displays, and I get a crummy 160x160 screen. Well, that's nice, but I want more.
- Bluetooth. Like most people, I don't know why I want this. Perhaps to connect a wireless headset to my wireless phone. Perhaps to make connecting to my cell phone from my notebook a little easier than carting cords everywhere.
- SD slot. Yeah, everything must have an SD slot in it.
- No-flip design. I like the flip on the 7135, but it makes the overall phone very bulky. I think I like the idea of the newer Treos better. It it has some kind of pull-out feature like that one Tungsten Palm does, that would be cool to keep the unit small.
- Safety cover. I'm not sure how this would work, exactly, but one thing that bothers me about the exposed touch-screen on the phone is the potential for scratches. I would like some kind of protective cover that folds flush (specifically not like the ZVue or the old Palms with the covers that shot off at weird angles). A good example is the Zoomer cover, which flipped back and didn't get in the way. Important: The phone should still be usable with the cover on, which would be transparent and only cover the screen, not the keys.
- Letter keypad. Right now, I think I will miss graphitti, but I will probably get over it.
- Camera. I'm not picky about resolution, and would probably settle for a camera that could take good pictures at 640x480 rather than some multi-megapixel behemoth that takes crappy pictures that always look like there's not enough light. Notice- Good indoor low-light pictures.
- TV tuner. Ok, this is a silly feature, but just today I saw a phone that tunes broadcast TV and can record 12 minutes of it PVR-style, so it's possible.
One More Thing...
It's funny how many good ideas in the computer world don't bleed over into the real world. My current prime example are these stinking car door remotes.
Can't someone please standardize these things so that I can unlock my car or Berta's car using the same little key fob? These things are bigger than my JumpDrive and have less functionality, yet without them I can't operate certain key features of the car.
What I need is a device that can be programmed with secure keyless entry codes for any car. It should have a number of buttons so that it works with cars that have more features (like Berta's car has a "panic" button that mine doesn't have). An LCD display of the currently selected vehicle would be nice, along with a little scroll wheel thingie to select what car you want to operate.
At that rate, why not make doorknobs that respond to these signals, too. Then I wouldn't have to carry a house key, either. I could key it to my house and my mom's house (for when her cat needs care on vacation).
I could key it to work, too, which would so totally rock. No more standing in the rain while I lock the outside door- I could just run for my car and push the button from the comfort of the driver's seat.
More sophisticated locks could transmit signals back to the key fob telling whether the locking was successful, or even details about when the locks were last enabled or the security system status. All of this would be dependent on range between the lock and the digital key, but still useful.
This would even be a boon to luxury car companies, who could use well-worn public key encryption techniques in a proximity key to enable/disable cars, rather than crafting proprietary keys. I suppose that price is included as part of the package if you're driving a Ferarri, but for other cars (Lexus, Acura, etc.) they could standardize this part and offer it as a convenience feature for these folks who quite possibly own a second car.
This idea is so good, I might just go into business making them myself, and offering a service that replaces the locking mechanism on cars and homes so that it can use my new high-tech system.
Hey, add a USB port to my dream phone, and you could use the bluetooth feature to unlock your car or house, listen to MP3s through a stereo headset port, and store files on SD cards all using a single device. The only thing on my keyring then would be my gym membership tag and my Leatherman.
I wonder if the scanner at the gym would read a barcode on the screen of my Palm, and if Victorinox makes a swiss army phone.
