Wednesday, March 15, 2006

UMPC ?

Ultra Mobile PC ... well it's a cool buzz
But if we take a closer look, not cpu or memory but ultra mobile capability : 3 cell battery, 3 hours or 1h45 of Dvd playing time.... hum hum, Gang of New York if not UMPC compliant :) Between 700g and 1Kg .... no comment.
It's not a Ultra Mobile ; just Mobile ... but you have to come home every evening :)
There's full of stuff, webcam, gps, mp3 player, divx player, Bluetooth, Wifi, touch screen... well, ok it's a bigger palm with less battery capability. It's a small TabletPC with less battery ! :)
Microsoft and/or Intel bet for an extra ball for Tablet ... why not.

Well if it's not for mobility, it can be use where ?

Early adopters of this "new" technology will certainly enjoy this ... stuff, but not for mobility capability but form factor and for his touch screen. A good place for UMPC is .. at Home, as a mobile tablet PC to control and use Home.Net architecture. In the kitchen with a receipt software, in the dining room as a picture frame. Price target is between $500 and $1000, even if we take the lower bound of $500, it's still a bit expensive.

UMPC is like a USB Christmas Tree... "Cool, funny but not that at home"

Wednesday, March 08, 2006

EyeToy Kinetic Review

Small review of Eye Toy Kinetic Fitness for PS2.

Eye Toy Kinetic is a little bit more that a simple fitness game. First of all, it's really addictive and fun but it's also a good alternative to outdoor activity when it's rain ;) Indoor cycling or stuff like that are boring ; with Kinetic, indoor training became really fun.

You can find good exercises in every 4 zone, but Combat and Mind&Body are a good to do some small exercises twice a week in summer. In winter, a personal coach can prepare you a daily programs scheduled on 6 week. This point was interesting to keep a tonic body, in low physical activity months.

It's not a perfect game, because Eye Toy camera is not perfect, and some exercise increase your stress instead of decrease it. You are also quite ridiculous in front of your TV screen, moving legs and arms but .. who care ? :)

Finally ; yes, it's work very well.

It's not a "smart home" software but it could be a piece of the puzzle.