Here’s something I wrote quickly a few days ago. Id love to discuss it so leave your comments below and all join in on Monday. This post is Auto-posted while I’m on holiday for a few days.
The N95 seems to be the device that has all the specs and yet cant quite return the results that users will be expecting. Its billed as a multimedia computer but I can see people getting frustrated about its limitations just weeks after its launch.
I generally don’t write about smartphones on UMPCPortal but the N95 is highlighting the reason why I chose the 2-device path for my mobile computing solution. Physical size, processing power and infant software are limiting what a smartphone is currently able to do. Ignore what the specs say. Theres a a world of difference between simple video editing and video production.
Take Matt Millers report for example. It mentions the issue of slow photo preview after taking a picture. Then there’s the GPS. Apparently it take a long time to get a lock. I guess its processing and software issues there too. There’s also the battery life issue. You need to charge it every day. This proves that processing requires energy and is the reason that x86 processors take 5W instead of 0.5W! Its simply not possible to reach the processing power required with today’s available technology and its why there was a huge gap in the market between smartphones and notebook PCs that is now being filled in quite nicely with x86-based ultra mobile developments. One day I have no doubt that smartphones will have the processing power to do these things but then you still have the physical problems of touchscreen size for applications and films. Its not quite good enough to put 800×480 on a 3″ screen. You need physical dimensions too! Think about screen PPI and video playback.
And the price? It costs the same as an Amtek T700 or Samsung Q1b. Miniaturization costs a lot of money!
The N95 is a marvelous bit of tech but I think its trying to take the smartphone into areas that it might not fit and this is where the ultra mobile PC comes in. My 2-device strategy is one that includes a basic UMTS phone (currently the Nokia 6280. Will soon be the Nokia E65) and a ultra mobile PC for the tasks I need processing power for. Video editing, complex JavaScript and AJAX web pages, advanced photo editing, audio playback with EQ and crossfading algorithms, advanced navigation and last but not least, hi bitrate video playback. Try watching a WMV HD 720 6mbps video on an N95!!!
Not everyone needs this much computing power I agree but for those that want to do it right, I think the 2-device strategy works well.
