CloudBook

AT&T followed in T-Mobile’s footsteps today by announcing that it would begin offering the Wi-Fi capable BlackBerry Curve 8320 ($264.99). The phone, which replaces the 8310, doesn’t support AT&T’s 3G network, can connect to over 17,000 AT&T Hot Spots throughout the United States.

At $149.99 with a 2-year contract, it’s a more affordable option than the $299.99 BlackBerry Bold.

While we do like the sapphire blue color scheme, we’re going to hold out for the rumored (and AT&T branded) Curve 8900 which will deliver a more feature-rich experience and operating system, as well as  a much sleeker design than the current generation of the BlackBerry Curve.

Proving that Apple isn’t the only cool kid in town when it comes to mobile apps, today RIM announced three big partnerships with Slacker, MySpace, and Microsoft (yes, Microsoft and BlackBerry are working together). Here’s the rundown on what to expect from these apps, in order of impact.

Slacker Application for Blackberry
The iPhone has Pandora. And now the BlackBerry has Slacker–or at least it will in October. This personal radio application will be free, and will allow users to listen to their favorite customized stations on the go. The big difference between this app and Pandora is that you don’t need a 3G connection to rock out. Just as with the Slacker Portable player, you music is cached on the device. You’ll be able to fine tune your stations by clicking on the Favorite and Ban icons.

Slacker Premium Radio customers ($7.50 per month when you sign up for one year) will get unlimited skips, the ability to keep any songs they hear, and the ability to request songs and have them automatically added to your stations. Assuming this service works over stereo Bluetooth, I could imagine many people using this service at home with more powerful wireless speakers, as well as in the car with a Bluetooth speakerphone or in-car Bluetooth system, thus obviating the need for a satellite radio subscription. We hope to go hands on with this app soon.

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David Liu, founder and CEO of gOS

With the recent release of gOS 3 Beta, we thought it was prime time to take a closer look at the company responsible for creating the OS that powered the ill-fated Everex Cloudbook, and the gorgeous (and Mac OS X Leopard-inspired) gOS Space. We chewed the fat with David Liu, gOS founder and CEO, about the operating systems’ new features, potential competition from Ubuntu Netbook Remix, the push for consumer adoption, and the future of Linux on the desktop.

LAPTOP: When did gOS originally launch?
David Liu: We call it g-O-S, but a lot of people do call it “gOS” [rhymes with “loss”]. It publically launched on November 1st, 2007. That’s when we came out with the Walmart PC with our partner Everex. We had another partner called Sylvania that did a similar unit to the Cloudbook, and now we’re working with different manufacturers in Taiwan. A lot of it is still focused on netbooks and internet appliance type of products.

Does gOS have a set release schedule or do you release whenever you can add something new to the mix?
What we try to do is make something new every 3 to 4 months. Our focus is totally on the consumer. Traditionally, a Linux company has a server product line and the consumer side is a sort of way to brand it and point back to the server where they actually make their money. Our team is a little bit smaller and just focused on the consumer. Every 3 to 4 months, we try to do an update and look around during in-between times to see what’s a really good fit for the particular hardware that we’re looking at.

A lot of the software that’s preloaded on lots of the distributions was created a while ago and was originally meant for workstations and standard-size computers. As we get into non-workstations and into netbooks and Internet appliances, the software needs to change and adapt to make the experience more real. We try to release more often and try to pick the best applications to fit the hardware.

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I stopped by the VIA booth at Computex today to see its menagerie of mini-notebooks. I had seen the newest version of the CloudBook Max behind glass at CTIA in April, but I was finally able to play around with the second-generation Everex mini-notebook this morning. So does it remove the bad taste in my mouth left by the original CloudBook? On the whole, yes.

As for hardware, the system feels a lot more sturdy. With a larger 8.9-inch footprint, the system gives you more real estate on the screen and keyboard. However, the trackpad is still extremely small. It is definitely smaller than on the Eee PC 701, but larger than the original’s finger-size pad located above the keyboard. I do not miss that odd thing.

The CloudBook Max on display was running Windows XP, which sure beats the gOS that was originally preloaded on the system. I have no complaints about the sizing of the windows on the 8.9-inch display; looks like they adjusted the OS for the system this time around!

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I wrote a few weeks ago about the potential that gOS Space had to improve the CloudBook experience. Unfortunately, my installation of gOS Space failed at the time. However, I received a comment on that post from David Lui, the father of the gOS operating system. He kindly offered to send me a gOS Space build made specifically for the CloudBook.

Today I got around to installing the sleek Linux OS on our battered CloudBook. I say this with a lot of joy: It hands-down improves the CloudBook experience. Like Jeff thought in his initial hands-on with gOS Space, the OS is really sleek and its rip-off OS X components are pretty damn cool.

Installation was a breeze and, unlike our original experience with the CloudBook, all the windows are properly sized for the screen.

The OS just makes the CloudBook look a lot nicer. The icons on the bottom of the screen become illuminated and rotate when moused over, and the starry desktop just gives the system a better aura.

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After reading Jeff’s post on the new gOS Space 2.9, I was psyched to try and port it over to the CloudBook. The operating system looked sick (as in awesome, not physically ill) on his desktop. The transparent dock on the bottom made the whole screen look sleek and the celestial wallpaper gave the system a more futuristic aura.

I figured if any system needed a refreshed gOS, it was the CloudBook (which came running gOS Rocket). Therein lay my mission: become the Joan of Arc of the CloudBook and get gOS Space to run on the ailing system.

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You’ve just filed your taxes and are now waiting for that $600 check from the government that’s miraculously going to improve the economy. Well, if you haven’t already allocated that money toward paying off your credit card or electric bill, what can you do with it? Some might encourage you to put it in an IRA, others might hide it in a mattress, but we say No! Spend it, and turn that trickle-down economy into a flood! We’re counting on you, Almighty American Consumer!

But what can you get for $600? There are plenty of companies entering the mini-notebook fray, but not all of them get the “low-cost” moniker. So let’s see how far those C-notes take you. Of course, money’s not the only determining factor here, but it’s interesting to see what a dollar gets you, computer-wise, these days.

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Despite the many, many flaws we encountered while using gOS on the CloudBook, this operating system, which relies heavily on Web-based applications, is, in theory, one that should be pretty kicking. So when news came across the wire a few days ago that Everex’ new, limited edition MyMiniPC packed a new version of gOS, we were instantly intrigued. Then, when we we took a gander at the screens, we nearly blew our collective morning beverages onto our monitors.

gOS Space 2.9 (a tweaked version of Ubuntu using Compiz-Fusion and GNOME) shamelessly takes a heavy, heavy cue from Apple’s Mac OS X Leopard. How heavy? Let’s see . . .

When we booted the OS, we were presented with a beautiful outer-space theme with stars twinkling in the background. Hmm.

Then, we noticed the reflective AWN dock that houses the system’s various open-source applications. Hmm.

Finally, we discovered that clicking on certain dock icons opens an elegant, arching fan of sub-icons. Oh my.

Okay, gOS is a little more than “inspired,” but it is without a doubt the most beautiful Linux distro that we’ve ever seen; icons become illuminated and rotate when moused over, and the starry, earth-orbit view desktop wallpaper is simply stunning. More importantly, gOS Space 2.9 offers a few decent features that help it stand on its own, particularly if you’re a fan of the MySpaces. Check out some of the deets after the jump.

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The Vu takes entertainment on the go to the next level. The 3-inch touchscreen on this sexy and lightweight device is the perfect canvas for the new AT&T Mobile TV service ($15 per month). Powered by MediaFLO technology, you can watch crystal-clear video on the go from such content providers as CNN and ESPN as well as movies from Sony Pictures Television.

The overall touch user interface is refreshingly simple, providing quick access to the Vu’s many features, including a 2-MP autofocus camera, instant messaging, an HTML browser, and eMusic downloads. At $100 less than the iPhone, the LG Vu is a compelling bang-for-your-buck multimedia device.

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We’ve given the Everex CloudBook a thorough once-over and, frankly, found it a rather subpar derivative of the Asus Eee PC, but we have to admit that the news that’s just crossed the wire is quite intriguing.

Today, Via Technologies announced that Everex has adopted the Via C7-M ULV processor for its new 2.2-pound CloudBook Max, a 9.4 x 6.8 x 1.0-inch mini-notebook sporting an integrated Mobile WiMAX solution for use with Sprint’s Xohm network.

But wait, there’s more. Lots more.

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