I am going to take a slightly different approach to this one.  We’ll start with my ten second, Twitter review of the Pixi:

Wow!  Palm’s sophomore WebOS device is just impossibly thin.  It works great, though I will say the screen and keyboard both suffered from the small size.

OK, for those of you who were compulsive enough to count, I know that was 154 characters, but you get the point.

I termed this one a quick look, rather than a full review because it is not going to be as in depth a look at the Pixi as I normally take with device reviews.  The reason for that is that the operating system and functionality is virtually identical to its predecessor, the Palm Pre (you can check out all of those parts, here).  So, if we wanted to delve deeper into the device, it would really just sound like a redux of the Palm Pre review.  So, rather than do that, I thought we could take a quick look around the hardware,and then talk about some of the primary differences between the Pixi and the Pre.  Aside from the impossibly thin design, we’ll look at the screen, keyboard, processor, and a few other areas.  So, I will just step aside here and let you dive right into the review.

I absolutely loved the design of this phone.  It feels better in my hand than any phone I have used.  Unfortunately, my infatuation was short lived, quickly fading by the time I started using the phone.  Like the Palm Pre, I found the Pixi to be absolutely revolutionary in its design, but fell flat in execution.

There are essentially three functional components to this phone: the screen, the keyboard, and the gesture area in the middle.  The gesture area works great.  Like the Palm Pre, it allows you to swipe your finger in order to navigate through the Pixi’s interface.  Where the Pre used three circular zones to achieve this effect, the Pixi refines this concept into a single horizontal strip.  Not much to look at when it is not in use, but it will light up when you swipe to confirm the action.  I thought this worked much better than the Pre, and had far fewer “misses” when I was attempting to swipe.  Additionally, the center button on the Pre has been replaced with an upswipe gesture.  It took me a few tries to get used to this change, but it worked just fine.

The second element here is the keyboard.  The layout of the keyboard is the exact same four row keyboard as the Pre (right).  Unlike the Pre, which felt pretty spacious, the Pixi keyboard (left) just feels cramped, with keys that are roughly half the width of those on the Pixi.  These tiny keys make it extremely difficult to type accurately on the Pixi.  This is obviously a real problem for a device like this, which is designed to be a complete communication tool.

Likewise, while the screen is bright and crisp, it is tiny.  At just 2.6 inches (320×400 pixels), it is by far the smallest screen I have ever used on a PDA or smartphone (by comparison, the Pre is 3.2 inches, and 320×480 pixels.).  This makes watching video nearly impossible, and really outs a crimp on usability generally.  The tiny screen affects the entire user interface.  By way of comparison:

Here is the screen next to the Palm Pre.  You can plainly see the difference in the size of the two screens, and how this can affect usability. 

Most importantly, though, is the ability to read email and surf the Internet.  While it is not impossible to perform these tasks, you can see in the above images that it will require considerably more zooming and scrolling that the Palm Pre.

After using both of these devices, I can tell you that any screen smaller than that on the Pre is far too small for this interface.  And at roughly half the screen size, the Pixi is finished before it even starts.

Now, I had heard from numerous sources that the terrible lag made this one almost unusable.  I have to say that this was not my experience at all.  Mind you, I downloaded the WebOS 1.3.2 upgrade, which was supposed to solve this issue, and I have to say that it seems to have worked.  I compared the Pixi directly with the Palm Pre, opening the same apps side by side, and noticed two interesting results.  First, in almost every test, the Pixi loaded the apps significantly faster than the Pre.  Second, while the Pre stopped loading apps after 8-10 cards were opened, the Pixi just kept right on going.  I opened almost every app on the device without complaint or slowing down.  Now that is multitasking, which even left the Palm Pre well in its dust.  Likewise, I found that many of the apps on the Pixi loaded and ran faster and smoother than their Palm Pre counterparts. 

One other noticeable omission on this one, though, is the lack of Wi-fi, which was available in the Palm Pre.  To be honest, this does not really bother me much since I rarely use Wi-fi with my phone.  I know a lot of you do, however, so be aware that Palm, for whatever reason, chose to revert to their old ways and release this one with no Wi-fi access.

I have to say that I liked the Pixi a lot more than I expected.  When I first saw it, my initial impression was that Palm had followed a tired design with the front facing keyboard, and tales of terrible lags left me more than a bit anxious about testing this one.  What I found, however, was an impossibly thin device, with what should be a familiar design with its front facing keyboard.  I did feel that this design suffered, almost fatally, from Palm’s effort to cram it into this tiny package.  The result was a too small screen on top of a cramped keyboard.  I really liked this latest implementation of WebOS, and I was surprised to find that it ran even better than WebOS on the Palm Pre.  As with the Palm Pre, however, my real problem with this device was the less than stellar implementation of the device.   It almost pains me to see what should be the best mobile operating system available today fall flat again and again due to implementation and execution problems. 

The Palm Pixi is available from Sprint for $99 with a two year contract.

What I Liked:

• Great design
• Skinny, skinny, skinny
• Redesigned gesture area was much more effective
• Noticeably reduced lag time compared to the Palm Pre

What Needs Improvement:

• Device is way too small
• Cramped keyboard
• Tiny screen
• No Wi-fi

If you are always afraid to end the juice of your mobile devices, the new ZAGGsparq battery pack will let you sleep soundly.

The ZAGGsparq is a new arrive at ZAGG and offers you the ability to charge your USB powered devices on the go. This pack features 2 USB ports to charge two devices at once while plugged, and a set of 4  LEDs to check the remaining power.

From the ZAGGsparq web page:

ZAGGsparq Features

• Portable power: More than a simple extended battery, ZAGGsparq carries multiple charges for any personal electronic device with you – including up to four recharges for a power-hungry Apple iPhone™
• On-the-go convenience: ZAGGsparq fits easily in a pocket or bag, the perfect size for travelers and businesspeople
• Very compatible: ZAGGsparq works with any USB charged device, including cell phones, handheld gaming systems, digital cameras, and laptops (adapters for mini-USB to USB sold separately)
• Charge multiple devices: ZAGGsparq provides two USB ports for charging mobile devices when plugged into a standard outlet

Description

The constant risk of low batteries is a significant concern for gadget users, in particular when traveling. ZAGG Inc, the makers of the invisibleSHIELD™, has developed an exciting solution to that problem. The convenient size and portable power of the amazing ZAGGsparq means gadget lovers will never again have to worry about low batteries.

The ZAGGsparq plugs into a standard outlet and provides two USB ports for charging mobile devices. Then, unplug the ZAGGsparq and it carries multiple charges for any personal electronic device that can be powered by a USB plug – up to four complete recharges for a power-hungry Apple iPhone®. Perfect for everything from cell phones to hand-held gaming systems, from digital cameras to laptops; dead batteries and expensive spares will be a thing of the past.

The small size of the ZAGGsparq makes it perfect for slipping into pockets and bags, and the convenience of carrying universal USB power on-the-go makes it an indispensable electronics accessory. Perfect for travelers, businesspeople, and anyone else who makes extensive use of their devices.

Specs

• 6,000 mAh Lithium Polymer
• Has the power to charge an iPhone up to four times
• 4 yellow lights indicate power level, 25%-50%-75%-100%
• Has the ability to charge multiple USB devices simultaneously
• Fixed output: 2x 1000mA @ 5V
• Power Source: AC 100-240 v/50/60 Hz
• Physical Size 3.5 x 3.5 x 1 inches
• Weight .54 lbs.

The ZAGGsparq is now offered at an introductory price of $99.99 which will allow you to save $30 from the full $129.99 price.

Skooba Design has a new blog and want you to give it a look. This will give you the chance to deserve a 50% off a top-selling laptop bag and more.

The game is as follows: visit the new blog and find the hidden discount code. Then you will have a 50% and free shipping on five premium laptop bags. And this is just to start.

From the press release:

FIND THE HIDDEN CODE IN OUR BLOG, GET 50% OFF A TOP-SELLING LAPTOP BAG, PLUS FREE SHIPPING!

SIGN UP ON OUR BLOG, AND GET AN ADDITIONAL DISCOUNT COUPON FOR 30% OFF A SECOND ORDER!

We want you to check out our new blog (www.skoobablog.com) and hopefully participate with your own comments on the many fun and interesting topics we’ll be discussing. So, we’ve hidden a discount code somewhere on the blog. Find it, and you’ll get 50% off any of these 5 best-selling products at www.skoobadesign.com through the end of this year, PLUS free UPS ground shipping):

• Checkthrough® Brief
• Checkthrough® Messenger
• NEW Checkthrough® Backpack
• NEW Checkthrough® Roller
• NEW Netbook Messenger

Just go to www.skoobablog.com and find the 5 digit code hidden there—it could be in a post, it could be in a photo. Then order any of the items above at www.skoobadesign.com, plug the 5 digit code in the coupon/discount box, click “update,” and there’s your steal… half price and free shipping on our very hottest products for the holidays. Code expires 12/11/09.

BONUS: While you are on our blog searching, sign up as a blog member (upper right corner), and you’ll get *another* special code. Everyone who signs up between now and Next Tuesday (December 8th) will get an e-mail on Wednesday, with a discount code good for 30% off any order of $50 or more at skoobadesign.com. Give it to a friend, or use it for a future order (discounts may not be combined, but this bonus code is good for a year).

We hope you’ll check out our blog and grab these great deals, and wish you the happiest of holidays.

Well, I would go for the new Checkthrough Backpack, if only I could find that code!!

The new Checkthrough Backpack

According to Tech Crunch, the London-based Global Web Index suggests that streaming curbs piracy.  According to their research, the amount of teens who commit copyright infringement from P2P sources and the such have dropped as more legal streaming sources have become available. 

Data found showed that:

streaming video online has unequivocally turned mainstream with almost two thirds (64%) of Internet users watching video clips, almost a third (31%) watching full length TV and video programming and 13% sharing videos. 27% of UK Internet users have downloaded free TV shows/films to their desktops. The research showed that the most active internet users – those who spend more than three hours a day online – are the most likely to download illegal content, either through a P2P network or unauthorized file sharing websites.

Free, is not the only reason why people want things.  Availability to quench the immediate gimmies is also a factor in obtaining digital goods as some countries have advanced releases of titles whether it be games, music, or video.  People will get at it in what fashion they can and tend to use P2P when there is no other alternative.

Tom Smith, Managing Director of Trendstream says:

“Thanks to the rise of online services such as Spotify, Hulu, iPlayer and of course YouTube, the environment has been created where you can stream almost all the content you would ever want. If everything I want is available on demand, the concept of ownership is diminished. I no longer need to have it on my hard drive. I just play what I want when I want. This is not only a threat to traditional packaged sales of music, TV and film, it will also kill off piracy. Why pirate when you can stream?”

As long as there is availability, people probably won’t pirate if it’s available freely.  But what if like TV programming things cycle and people want to watch it again?  What if someone used screen capture?  Is that the same as my using a VCR to tape a show that is being aired?  That’s one of the few reasons why people may pirate even with streaming being available. 

To reach its conclusions, Global Web Index interviewed 16,000 web users in 16 markets for a first wave. The survey was carried out online between July 6 and the August 7 of this year: 2000 internet users were interviewed in the US and the UK, 1000 users in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, China and Canada and 750 users took part in the survey in The Netherlands, Russia, Mexico, Brazil, India, South Korea , Australia, Japan. GWI plans a second wave this and next month.

Internet streaming TV and radio is definitely here to stay.  It’s just a matter of what content will be available, and the costs of advertising, bandwidth, and maintenance of servers.  With digital convergence of TV, voice, internet, and cell phones, difference  between physical medium matters not, but what does matter is the data or content that is going over the physical medium.  With that in mind, streaming will be the new entertainment.  Why force people to watch shows at certain times?  Let the people choose, put in the advertising, and people will always come back to satisfy their entertainment needs.

You think you deserve a new BlackBerry or Samsung Solstice and are in desperate need of AT&T? Take note of this limited (and unknown!!) time offer.

Image courtesy of AT&T

Obviously, you will have to sign for a two years agreement, as stated in AT&T press release:

AT&T is putting the holiday shopping sled into high gear with two great promotions available on the nation’s fastest 3G network. Beginning Friday, Dec. 4, AT&T customers can get any new BlackBerry^® smartphone, including the new BlackBerry^® Bold™ 9700, at 50 percent off after mail-in rebate and two-year agreement. In addition, AT&T is offering the Samsung Solstice™, a compact touch screen phone, for free after a mail-in rebate. Both offers require a new two-year agreement and are only available for a limited time. The offers are available both online and in AT&T retail locations.

Half Price BlackBerry Smartphones
BlackBerry smartphones, a leading choice for consumers and mobile professionals alike are ideal for anyone that wants to keep in touch with friends, family and coworkers. Customers may choose from the following BlackBerry smartphones in the AT&T portfolio:

• BlackBerry^® Bold™ 9700
• BlackBerry^® Bold™ 9000
• BlackBerry^® Curve™ 8900
• BlackBerry^® Curve™ 8520
• BlackBerry^® Curve™ 8320
• BlackBerry^® Curve™ 8310

AT&T was the first U.S. carrier to offer BlackBerry service, and offers the best selection of smartphones. Plus, twice as many smartphone customers have chosen AT&T as any other carrier.

Free Samsung Solstice
The Samsung Solstice™ is available for free after mail-in rebate. (After $50 mail-in rebate AT&T Promotion Card with minimum $20 data or messaging package purchase and two-year service agreement.) The device features a full 3.0 touch screen; a virtual, landscape QWERTY keyboard; and Samsung’s unique TouchWiz™ user interface, which includes one-touch access to frequently used applications and social networks through new widgets for Facebook, MySpace and Yahoo! oneSearch™. The Solstice also provides customers with access to mobile broadband from the nation’s fastest 3G network, AT&T Navigator and AT&T Mobile Music with Napster Mobile® and eMusic^TM Mobile. Featuring multiple messaging options such as Mobile Email, IM and MMS and equipped with a 2.0 megapixel camera with camcorder, the Samsung Solstice is perfect for capturing those spontaneous holiday moments.

Noticeably the new BlackBerry Bold 9700 is included in the 50% off offer, while the Samsung Solstice is given away for free after mail-in rebate.

There is no explicit time limit to the offer, but I would expect this to end soon.

Via: Boy Genius Report