At MIX10, Microsoft’s developer conference, in addition to Pandora, Sling and Xbox gaming, it looks like the new Windows Phone 7 platform may also host a Netflix streaming video app in their upcoming marketplace. Given Netflix’s previous integration of MS video and DRM technologies (Windows, Silverlight, Xbox), today’s demo shouldn’t come as any surprise. I only hope the shipping version is a bit easier on the eyes. Branding is important, but can we dial down the (Verizon) red? Actually, I have two more hopes. Additional, premium content. And an iPhone client.

There’s a ton of soulless marketing department Twitter accounts out there, so it’s refreshing to see some real dialog from project management. As Joe Ambeault offers under the Verizon @FiOSTV banner. And a few days back he essentially confirmed they intend to “certify” several off-the-shelf eSATA drives, such as the 1TB Western Digital solution, to expand DVR recording capacity. Maybe not as timely as customers would have liked, but now you know it’s in the works. A sampling of related tweets:

Nope, I didn’t pre-order the iPad yesterday. However, it’s highly likely we’ll purchase Apple’s netbook in the near future. Especially given the intense spousal pressure — my role as CTO of the Zatz household has been challenged. Yet I see no reason to float Apple loan without having even touched the device… and without addressing several open issues. Computerworld put together a list of 15 iPad mysteries, some now answered, but they failed to address my three biggies. Keeping in mind this will be a shared device.

1. Multiple User Accounts?
Will the iPad offer multiple user accounts? Melissa’s got her email, Facebook, and wallpaper; I’ve got mine. So it’d be nice if the iPad OS could accommodate us with global user accounts.

2. App Sharing?
Will we be able to share apps? Between devices. And between users (assuming multiple user accounts). We’ve got two iPhones, obviously hosting a number of apps, many pay. Is there a mechanism to duplicate or move them onto the iPad… without redownloading and repurchasing?

3. Network backups?
To position the iPad as something more robust than a supersized iPhone, and given a launch app like iWork and the camera kit, I’d think Apple needs to offer some sort of backup and sync mechanism. So will we have to periodically tether the iPad to a computer to backup apps and app data, as we do with the iPhone? Or will Time Capsule and MobileMe options be made available?

Unfortunately, I fear the answer to each question will come up negatory. Making this more a list of iPad shortcomings and iPad 4.0 OS feature requests. And I have one non-iPad bonus question: Will the keyboard dock also work with an iPhone? Technically, I see no reason why it wouldn’t. But from a business perspective, the lines between iPhone and iPad are already too blurry – so I could see them drawing this line in the sand.

In honor of GelaSkins new Marvel lineup, and my longstanding appreciation of their licensed artwork, I approached them about a giveaway. And, given this post, they’re obviously game.

I was previously a satisfied GelaSkins customer, sporting this 3M sticker on the back of my first gen iPhone for about a year. While the skin offered little protection, it definitely jazzed up my handset and prevented surface scuffs (which has been even more of a problem on the 3GS plastic back). GelaSkins also provides free phone wallpaper, and I helped myself to this whimsical beaut several months ago. Which is still in effect.

If you’d like a GelaSkin for your phone (iPhone, Blackberry, Nexus One, etc) or iPod, simply leave a comment letting us know which design (Marvel or otherwise) suits your fancy. We’ll randomly choose one winner to receive a coupon code in a few days.

Do we need another device to add to our smartphone and laptop arsenal? Maybe, maybe not, but there are now a gazillion gadgets trying to squeeze into that middle window. Chip-maker ARM predicts that more than 50 “tablet PC devices” will launch this year trying to ride the wave of the Apple iPad. Certainly there are small’ish tablet PCs on the market already, but the “middle” market has also been hit by the eBook tsunami, and new concept devices and even software are appearing from sources ranging from Microsoft to Time Inc.

I don’t really think tablet is the best descriptive term here because I’m not convinced most people will use a device like this primarily for writing or drawing. However, I do think there is a growing desire for something portable to read and otherwise consume stuff on. Not just books, but magazines, newspapers, movies, TV shows, etc. My smartphone does ok for catching up on RSS reading on a flight, but it’s not great. And if I take out my netbook, well I might as well just do work. On the other hand, I still find myself buying a magazine or a paperback to get through a long flight. And over lunch, or at home in the evenings, I’d love to be able to scan articles without opening my computer.

So here we are in the middle. We don’t know exactly what we need, but we think we want something. And for the rest of this year at least, gadget makers are going to give us a lot of options to fill that hole.

It’s apparently event film trailer week. Hot on the heels of Iron Man 2 we now have a new trailer for Tron Legacy that finally shows more than the light cycle stuff we’ve been seeing since SDCC last year. Let’s have a look…

I saw the original Tron in the theater at the ripe old age of 10. I certainly thought it was cool, but it didn’t have a giant effect on me. A few years later, however, I would get my first VCR as either a Christmas or birthday present. A day or two after we set it up, my mother took me up to the shopping center near our house, to the tiny, independently owned video store. She went through the laborious process one went through in those days to set up an account- I seem to recall that replacing a lost or damaged tape was quite a lot of money back then, and I think the DMV had simpler forms. I was then let loose on the store. I don’t remember if I rented anything else that day, but the one thing I do remember picking out is Tron.

I went home, put it in, and hit play. When it finished, I hit rewind, then play again. I did this at least a third and possibly a fourth time, that day. Obviously, the difference between 10 and 13 was significant.

Read the rest of this entry »

With the introduction of the TiVo Premiere ($300), it’s no surprise that they’re blowing out excess inventory of prior models. And Woot’s got a decent deal today on the Series3: $169.99 + $5 shipping.

It’s a refurbished unit, but the enclosure will still look better than your Premiere or TiVoHD… with that OLED front panel display. The S3 also includes the higher end Glo remote and provides the freedom to add an eSATA hard drive of your choosing for increased recording capacity. Unfortunately, the Series 3 consumes more power and will require two CableCARDs for dual tuning digital cable. Depending upon your provider, that could result in multiple phone calls and additional fees. Beyond your TiVo subscription, of course. The Premiere, hitting next month, features significantly faster hardware and a new UI. But it’s not yet known how the experience compares.

As for me, I’m hanging on to my original Series3, purchased after review. And intend to swap my TiVo HD for a Lifetimed Premiere when the time is right. Unless I blow it all up for a $1000 3-room Moxi bundle. Or Ceton Media Center solution. Hm.

Thanks for the tip, Jon!