Surface Pro
My unibody MacBook (late 2008), my companion of two years on the road is getting a little tired, slightly unstable and if I’m honest a little heavy to carry around every day. However, it not dead yet which means I have a while to make my decision on its replacement.
For the first time in a while I can probably justify spending up to £1200 on a replacement, as I want it to last for 3-5 years on the road. Obviously I am more than happy to pay vastly less than this, in fact I tend to buy second hand equipment more often than not so if I am going to spend a huge chunk of cash I want it to be for a product that exceeds my needs.
I spend a lot of time humping my laptop around, developer relations and event management is truly a mobile occupation, with co working spaces often replacing offices. The nomadic lifestyle also means that I need to carry a whole bunch of stuff in addition to a laptop and charger. In fact a response to a question on what makes a great developer evangelist in this post on developer evangelism I detail the contents of my bag excluding my laptop:
- Decent messenger bag or backpack that is waterproof (or at least water resistant) – I recommend Crumpler, you can’t risk your laptop getting wet.
- Pens & paper – quick notes or for sketching out hack ideas (YMMV)
- Charging cables for major phones – you will be using your phone a hell of a lot, so have these hand, having other cables is useful if someone you are demoing to is running low on charge.
- Screen wipes – no one wants to view your demo on a greasy screen
- Travel sized toothbrush, toothpaste – a godsend at overnight hacks
- Sleep mask – sleep where and when you can, I grabbed two of these from an overnight flight and never leave home without them
- Business cards – I use Moo Mini cards as they take up less space
- Swag – stickers, badges etc
All that stuff means that the total weight of my bag is probably about four to five kilograms, which by no means excessive – after all I see some people happily carrying 15 and 17 inch laptops and kit, but after a day on the run it can get wearing. Clearly, I need a lighter device but it still needs to have decent specifications, oh and a battery life of over two hours would be super.
Easily solved, get a MacBook Air – 13 Inch, i7 cpu and 7 hours battery life!
Whilst that is pretty much the defacto choice (and a good one), there are two things holding me back:
1) Its just so boring, OSX does not seem to be the major focus for Apple anymore (the hamfisted iCloud integration into core applications is one example) but with OSX making such a small part of Apple’s revenue can you really blame them for taking their foot off the gas?
Don’t get me wrong, OSX is still a great operating system (even in its slightly buggy Mountain Lion form) but it just feels like its missing something. I think its to do with Apples design philosophy, that in making these beautifully created devices Apple has hit upon what it probably feels the perfect interface for both desktop and mobile platforms and now seeks to refine those designs, the epitome of evolution rather than revolution. Which is fine, but give a person the same thing every time and eventually, no matter how good it is they will probably tire of it.
2) I want more out my laptop, or more to the point I want a tablet but I don’t want a consumption device or another piece of technology in my bag. I hate having to carry multiple devices, they add weight and they need charging, two things that I either want to remove or not have to worry about. My perfect setup would be to have a larger smartphone (e.g. a Galaxy Note II) and a hybrid laptop. That way I would have a decent sized phone in situations where a laptop/tablet were not suitable, and a tablet/hardware keyboard when I needed to do long form stuff. However until recently that hasn’t been possible due to the fact that most hybrids run Android and that does not meet my needs as of yet.
Which is why I’ve stuck with laptops for now.
However, the Surface Pro has been sticking in my mind a lot recently and I think its because I think it may offer a chance at my ideal setup. Lets look at the specifications:
- i5 processor
- 4GB ram
- 128GB flash storage (with a further 64GB possible via memory cards
- 10.6 inch screen
- 1kg weight
- Wacom Stylus
- 5 hour battery life
- Usb 3.0
All fairly standard Ultrabook/Macbook Air specifications, housed within a tablet body, albeit with a battery life closer to the 11 inch MacBook air than the 13, but longer than my current steed by a good margin.
Which is why its so damn tempting, because it can run desktop apps like steam, or visual studio as well as your standard consumption/light creation apps as any other tablet. The question you might ask is, “even though you can run heavy weight apps on the Surface Pro, would you want to?”.
Its a good question and not easy to answer as I’ve never had a tablet with the features of the Surface Pro. If I’m on the train or the tube, I’m not likely to be editing files in photoshop but connect that tablet to a bigger screen and you have yourself a full fat pc. Need a mouse? Plug it in. Its the same with my other accessories like a full sized keyboard or external hardrive, it all works because its running Windows 8.
The concept behind the Surface Pro is compelling, it appears to offers a glimpse at a alternative mobile future, one where the only computing device is a tablet that’s offers a wider feature set than others – time will tell if its the right call.
I will be looking forward to the reviews, but as I said, my MacBook still has some life in it.
Quick blog: Low cost iPhone?
A new year and an old rumour once again rears its head, no not that 2013 is the year of Linux on the desktop, that Apple will finally release a low cost iPhone. Its a risky move for Apple, as they rarely (if ever) attack the low end markets with their products.
But I wonder, what if?
From my point of view, if they release a iPhone mini/nano in the $150-300 price point in all iPhone regions, then its game over for most manufacturers as we know them. LG, HTC, Sony, et al all have mobile products that haven’t found traction with the consumer and have no real answer to a low cost iPhone.
The question is, would they cede the mobile market to Apple and go elsewhere? If the main market is no longer accessible would we see them return with targeted niche products?
Interesting.
Getting Started with FirefoxOS
FirefoxOS is a new mobile platform, one with the aim to connect the next billion users and give them a great mobile experience.
But you don’t have to wait until a product is launched to try it out or start to develop for it, you can do that right now!
R2D2B2G (catchy name right?) is a Firefox add on that makes getting FirefoxOS up and running on your Mac, Linux or Windows machine really easy!
All you have to do is download the latest version of the simulator from here then install it via the Add Ons menu in Firefox!
Once you’ve installed the add on, navigate to Tools> Developer Tools > FirefoxOS Simulator
Click the Simulator button and congratulations you have a working FirefoxOS simulator!
If you want to find out more, I’m running a meetup at the end of the month where we’ll have FirefoxOS experts on hand to help out and show you how to create apps for FirefoxOS!
Screw social week, this week is all about HTML5!
Firefox OS, a HTML5 mobile platform done right
There’s been a lot of talk about Social media week and it looks to host a great series of talks and workshops on Social media and how to get the best out it.
However, I’m more interested in the HTML5 events taking place this week!
We kick things off at tonights Mobile Monday London which is discussing the age old topic of HTML5 VS Native, which has been done to death – so for it raise its head once again must mean that we have something new to talk about.
Although that may be covering old ground, Wednesdays event is all new as it the first ever FirefoxOS meetup! It will introduce developers to this new exciting platform, how to create content for it and have a chat with likeminded individuals.
Last but not least, we have Bruce Lawson talking about how to better design mobile web, having seen Bruce talk before, I have no doubt that it should be good fun 🙂
So, one week three events and a lot of stuff to talk about! Busy times!
A trip down memory lane
This week I’ve waved farewell to my friend and aid of the last year and half, my Sony Eriksson Xperia Play.
It’s treated me well, inspite of the treatment I’ve dished out to it. No matter the surface it has collided with, the Xperia Play has always managed to survive where other phones have cracked (literally).
I also firmly believe that it deserves a successor, as you simply cannot beat hardware gaming controls.
I’ve talked before on why I think Sony should drop its faltering PSVITA console line and make a push in the mobile gaming sphere.
Sadly Sony appear to disagree with me on that as they have no plans to release an updated device anytime soon.
So I found myself perusing eBay last week and accidentally put a bid on a HP Pre 3. At £99 I thought there was no chance of winning, or so I thought.
Much to my joy/chagrin I did indeed win the auction and so once again I was back in the webOS fold.
And you know what? I didn’t realise how much I missed the platform, sure it has it foibles (battery life is still as comical as ever) but the Pre 3 hardware is solid and the keyboard rocks.
Obviously the big question is apps, but I’ve found every one that I need including Spotify, Evernote, WordPress and WhatsApp. Mobile web has also developed significantly in the year and a half since I left webOS meaning that for new stuff like ADN I’m spoilt for choice (hello dabr!)
I know most will think me mad for paying good money for old rope, but if it all goes wrong the flagship phones from all major players will still be there.
Its also nice to be using something different, after all this was only on sale in the UK for one day!
September Mobile madness
September.
One of the most cherished months of the year, as it presents clear skies and the last of the warm weather for the year.
It also seems to be the month where every mobile provider reveals their new hardware, on the cards so far:
5/9: Motorola
The current rumour going is that they are to announce an ‘edge to edge’ screen (think no bezel on the side) that will no doubt be attached to superlatives such as ‘engrossing’. My hope is that Motoblur (Motorola’s Android UI layer) is further improved, perhaps further in line with Google’s Android HIG.
5/9 Nokia
The phone maker from Espoo has really taken a pounding over the last year, dumping Symbian, Meego, Maemo has cost them market share and revenue. It needs to show some fantastic devices that grab both the industry, consumer and carrier mindsets like no other.
6/9 Amazon
The Kindle fire was a small success, estimated at 5 million sold in the USA, it was a fairly decent first attempt at a tablet and the high quality Android tablet to compete on price. It was hamstrung by a lack of international presence and a poor OS as a starting point (Android 2.2 Froyo). I am hoping that the devices (I am aiming for two) revealed offer competitive specifications, a fair price and is available in more than just the USA. The main thorn in Amazon’s side? The Google Nexus 7, which at £159 is a quality device from a known brand at a great price. All statements that we used when the Fire launched last year. One thing is clear – Amazon will need to show something more than just price to maintain interest in its tablet line.
12/9
Apple
Want to know why everyone is suddenly announcing hardware in the first week of September? Look no further than the undisputed king of the revenue ring, Apple. Next week they will be unveiling their latest iPhone and perhaps a new iPad Mini (though the iPad might be revealed at another event this month), with a rumoured 4 inch screen, micro dock connector and slimmer profile, the next iPhone is all about refining the concept of what Apple think is the best phone.
19/9 HTC
2011 was a Tumultuous year for HTC, from massive profits to disastrous losses, 2012 offered a new vision focussing on core handsets tried to stem the tide but failed to ignite consumer demand. Choosing to anounce in the same week as Apple is a risky move, anything unveiled could get drowned in the coverage of the next iDevice. Personally I hope that they continue the unique design philosophy set out by the One series of phones combined with a new streamlined Sense UI. As the only way they can succeed in this crowded market is by showing users a distinct reason to invest.
Regardless of what platform you support, the next few weeks will offer something for everyone.
I love September.
Facebook phone
So the rumour mill has cranked into gear once again and spat out its latest juicy morsel, that Facebook is partnering with HTC to release a phone.
The question isn’t why they are doing it, but why has it taken this long?
I suspect they were playing the long game, watching to see how Amazon would fair with its Kindle Fire. Although they are two completely different segments (in this case tablet vs phone), they have one thing in common – the operating system.
As apparently like Amazon Facebook are planning to use a customised version of Android to power their device, the question is which version will be used at the foundation. Amazon used Android 2.2 aka Froyo which was an improvement on past versions but hardly set the world on fire, one hopes that both Facebook and Amazon make the leap to using Ice cream sandwich.
Regardless this puts a pin in a lot of peoples dreams that Facebook would use a HTML5 base for their mobile platform, of course the reasons for these hopes were never actually confirmed and the basis of them (project Spartan) seems to have disappeared.
With WebOS in purgatory, I guess all hope is on FirefoxOS to realise the web platform dream.
Of course this could be exactly what it was at the start, a rumour.
Time will tell.
HP to Google, where now for Enyo if the team has just left the building?
I am a big WebOS fan and had big hopes for the revival of the platform when Palm was acquired by HP then Leo Apotheker decided to take a different path and shut down the WebOS hardware division.
What followed that announcement was a mess, that clearly demonstrated how few people knew of the decision before Leo announced it. Still they made the best of a bad situation creating two projects OpenWebOS and Enyo.
Enyo was the language that WebOS 3.0 was built on is a really nice language to use, by converting it into a JS Framework meant that it didn’t require you to use WebOS and thus actually get used by developers. Things had been progressing well, a range of small scale events and quick releases meant that I had high hopes for it.
Until today, when I heard that a large portion of the team have just been hired by Google, most likely to work on ChromeOS.
So where now for Enyo? Probably no where good, especially if they fall foul of the restructuring effort taking place at HP which is looking to fire 27,000 people.
So long WebOS and Enyo, I dont see how they can continue to bleed talent and expect the projects to succeed.
I would expect that ChromeOS is now one to watch.
Diet Coda
Laptops more often than not are heavier than tablets, that bugs me.
More to the point as tablets evolve, so to do they tasks that can be achieved on them but so far that has not really included development.
Diet Coda looks to change this, as its designed to help web developers on the go and provide a suitable environment to “make quick fixes on the go”. I loved Ares (Palm’s online webeditor) and feel that apps like Diet Coda can help tablets go beyond consumption and become the devices that we know them to be.
It makes me want to get an iPad, as I don’t hold out much hope that it will be coming to Android.
Go check it out now at http://panic.com/dietcoda/
Palm Ares
Palm was a early pioneer in the online web development environment
If not now, then when? 