Welcome to PDA 24/7

User Forum
Need help or just want to chat?

Software Store
Discounts & Special Offers every day

Hardware Store
From PDAs to Memory Cards- we have the lot!

Reviews
Impartial reviews on hardware, software & accessories

Search
Can't find what you are looking for?

WindowsMobile247
The world of Windows Mobile done the 247 way

MoreMobile247
From the iPhone to Symbian- it's all here

March 2008 News Posts

Su	M	Tu	W	Th	F	Sa
F24	F25	F26	F27	F28	F29	1
2	3	4	5	6	7	8
9	10	11	12	13	14	15
16	17	18	19	20	21	22
23	24	25	26	27	28	29
30	31	F19	F20	F21	F22	F23

Home

NAVIGATION

Search WM247
Palm247
MoreMobile247
Email Us!
News Archive
Mobile Edition
Forum
Outspoken Blog
PDA247 Shop
Gavin's Gadgets
RSS Feed
About

REVIEWS

All Reviews

LINKS

Software Developers
News and Forums
Software and Downloads
eBooks etc...
Specialists

08/05/2005 Interview with Bob R- top mobileread writer.

1/ Bob, tell us how you got involved with mobileread and what your background is regarding mobile technology?
I got involved with MobileRead by first becoming a pda fanatic. I think that's the way we get involved with a lot of things. I couldn't have been more fascinated with Palm devices, and loved the whole idea of using mine more effectively. I quickly crossed that line from time saving device to time-consuming hobby. Eventually I discovered some sites on the web. The first pda sites I followed were Palm Addicts (still my favorite Palm site) and Brighthand. Then over time, I discovered many more great sites like PDA 24/7. We are very fortunate in the Palm and Pocket PC worlds to have a large number of resources and many generous and kind people. You soon find that, amazingly, the competition is friendly among web sites. Everyone wants to help each other out, and it's a lot of fun that way. I discovered MobileRead because of my interest in iSiloX and web clipping. The iSiloX site referenced the Web Channel Collection at MobileRead, which is a collection of content clipping definitions that have already been set up for various web sites. I love to read, and one of the great things about a pda is that you can clip what you want to read, and then read it whenever you are waiting for a haircut or at the doctor's office. I spent some time mining MobileRead for more information, and I was hooked. They posted a request for editors on the front page last summer, and the rest is history. I'm delighted to be a part of the MobileRead team. It's a great bunch of guys and gals with similar interests, which means I gravitate to the site just about every chance I get. It's especially fun when the news is really flowing. As far as my mobile computing background, I guess everything started out with a TI-56 programmable calculator and one of those Radio Shack handheld computers made by Sharp with a one line display and probably about 4K memory to store BASIC programs. I loved both of those. There's something nice about the old devices, even if they aren't powerful enough to be practical for computing. Based on a magazine article, I even learned how to write machine code for that handheld computer and wrote a cross assembler for it in one day. Programming was a lot easier back then when you didn't have to worry about GUI interfaces and n-tier computing!
2/ Do you use a PDA and if so, which one and why?
I cannot imagine life without a pda. My current device is a Toshiba e405 Pocket PC. I got a refurbished one from Woot, which is a fun experience in itself! While I've always been a Palm user, I was very disappointed by Sony's withdrawal from the market, and my feeling that the PalmOne devices were just not very exciting. I love to play with new devices. In fact, if I could justify the time and money, I'd buy one of those clamshell Zaurus Linux pdas. Not practical at all, but I'm drawn to that sort of thing. So, anyway, with the lull in Palm devices, I decided it was the perfect time to see if a Pocket PC was any good for me. I got a cheap one, but not so cheap after all the accessories and software, of course. Figured I could go back to my Clie if I didn't like it. The transition was not easy, but once I got things set up the way I like them I found it met my needs better than Palms. Don't have the slightest idea what my next pda will be, but I'm watching and waiting for something that strikes my fancy. I'm very glad to see the T5, the new Treo, and the rumored new LifeDrive. Things are picking up again now, but I sure wish I could get a nice clamshell device that fits in my pocket!
3/ What excites you most about mobileread?
Well, first and foremost it's the information. The editors and community members are pretty awesome in their technical knowledge and ability. And there are a lot of others that who have a lot to contribute also, just because they are enthusiastic. Everyone gets along politely and we get to learn so much on a daily basis. You just can't get that mix of information about mobile computing anywhere else. Next most exciting thing about MobileRead has got to be Alex Turcic, the owner, admin, and mastermind of the site. He lends his own special touch to everything on the site, and he's got one of those personalities that just inspires you. He's a natural leader, and it's been a real pleasure to work with him. I also have to admit that there's something satisfying about being able to write on a topic that is so interesting, and be able to reach so many readers. I know my style and thoughts may not please everyone, but I make an effort to either provide interesting news or tips, or a slightly new perspective on something. The internet is a truly wonderful communication tool.
4/ What's the best song you have heard and the beast book you have read?
I guess I have to say that the Bible and the worship song "There is none like You" by Lenny LeBlanc are my favorites. While it's true, you get nervous saying anything like that because you hope people won't think you're a freak for being excited about your faith. Sometimes people assume anyone too enthusiastic about their faith is obnoxious. I prefer to believe that normal people can be inspired by their relationship with God also!
5/ Do you believe that the PDA market will grow, shrink or stay the same?
I believe it will grow. But it might take a few years. I know it's going against all the experts, and I don't really speak with any authority, but I strongly believe pdas still have a place, even in a world full of smartphones. It will be very interesting to see what the mobile market evolves into, because whether we call them pdas or not, you'll have something in your pocket doing the job, and doing it well. It's what people want, they just don't know it yet. And if pdas were simple to use, I think they'd be much more popular even at the current price points, which is relatively high. The real question and concern is whether smartphones are going to take over in the short run, leaving us with compromised convergence for a while, depending on voice and data communication controlled and billed by the mobile carriers. But I'm expecting that smartphones will be only one segment of the market. For example, handtop computing (which now includes WinXP devices like the OQO) will be the solution for those who need more compatibility with the desktop, or whatever the desktop evolves into. There will be another segment serving people that want a great portable game device, which will probably have features that overlap the other segments of mobile devices, like a built-in phone. But it will retain its distinct gaming form factor because certain aspects of design will always need to be tailored towards its primary function. Phones will never look just like gaming devices, but gaming devices may have phones in them and vice-versa. So with all that in mind, I think you can see why pdas have a great future. They are going to be a form factor different than what you want for a great phone, or a great gaming device. Pdas are all about quick and easy information management, portable content, and flexible computing choices. Most likely, future pdas will include ubiquitous connectivity, access to server applications and server data, eliminating much of the need for synching. You'll get the best screen you can fit into a pocket, and eventually we'll figure out how to do input or how to add a keyboard without much bulk. We may even see the power issues solved for good. And don't forget new sorts of application like holographic movies, or even medical scanning and tracking. In the long run, even if other kinds of devices are powerful and can do just about anything, the form factor will still be a distinguishing mark of the pda. So I believe it's here to stay. The market will grow when prices drop and we make them easy to use. They are too hard for the average consumer to understand and use, unless they just want elementary PIM functionality. I believe that's been underestimated as a barrier for adoption by a lot of market analysts, and when we get over the hump so the average consumer can do easily what devoted hobbyists are doing now, we'll see the market take off.
6/ Are converged devices the way forward?
Yes, absolutely. As I indicated, I think there are going to be many kinds of converged devices. In fact, most devices will probably be converged. The distinguishing quality is not going to be whether or not it's converged, but device categories are going to be distinguished by the primary function of the device. There will always be design compromises for a device with multiple purposes. So there will be devices that are primarily game platforms, but they are also phones and computers. There will be phones that can also play games and watch video. And there will be pdas, which will also do games and make calls.
7/ What are your favorite non technology web sites?
Well, that would have to be Google, even though it's just a tool to get to other information. I suppose www.foxsports.com and online newspapers are what I like best in terms of "destination" sites. I also occasionally find time to enjoy the daily ABC political news page called "The Note."
8/ ...and what are your favourite technology sites?
That's easy. Outside of mobile computing, it's Engadget and Slashdot.
9/ What's the best computer game you have ever played (on any platform)?
I'd have to say PGA golf. I don't know about the new versions, but I loved the versions that were sold around 1990 or so for Windows 3.1. I liked the original Duke Nukem also. I'd play it for hours. But most of the new games are just too complicated for me and I don't really play much other than solitaire.
10/ 3 reasons everyone should visit mobileread please:)
It's hard to list just three reasons why you should visit MobileRead, but I'll take a stab at it: - - Interesting and fun cutting edge news about ebooks, ereaders, web clipping, and mobile devices. - - The Web Clipping Collection (WCC) for iSilo - - Friendly and informative forum discussions, including participation by some top notch developers and book sellers. And more goodies like the online arcade! But believe me, we're only getting started. We're about ready to celebrate our first anniversary, and the site will surely continue to improve over time.
My thanks to Bob for one of 247's best interviews to date- if you want to know more about mobileread then please give them a visit. The site really is a top quality resource for mobile tech information.