So I’m looking at the faster, 3rd Generation iPod Touch that has a faster microprocessor than the 2nd generation one I lost.  I can spend about $150 less for the 32GB version I bought just 18 months ago.

I can wait 6 months and see if the 4th Generation iPod Touch comes out this fall, and buy an even faster iPod Touch.

Or, I can switch to the Microsoft Zune HD or Kin.

Yes, you haven’t heard of these.  The Zune HD has a touch screen and many of the features of the iPod Touch.   The few that own it, love it.

I have the 1st generation Zune and it works well. It has a hard drive, and I’ve had no problems.  I don’t love the PC software, but I’ve heard that some others like it. 

The Kin, has 2 versions seen below.  The rectangle version below is called the Kin Two and the software for this one looks terrific.

If you go to the Kin website you can see an example of the website where it displays on a timeline text messages, photos, and basically everything you’ve received over some period of time.  It shows photos of the individuals, and the txt, and basically can be use to tell a story.  I thought it was innovative way that goes the next step to organizing your content.  Of course, this all uses USB for the charging interface.  With a data plan of $30 a month for 2 years, it’s 50 US$ for this one.

iPad Review

I’ve also spent some time with my Dad’s iPad.  I watched a Netflix movie on it, and it looked really pretty good.   I browsed the web.  I read some e-mail.  The kids loved it.  Overall, it really is a terrific casual device for working around the home.  I’d buy one if I had $500 bucks of disposable income.  No question.

A friend of mine said he has to upgrade to the 3G version of the iPad with a data plan when it becomes available because he can’t access the internet sites he wants (like Facebook) at work.  He will use the iPad at work, and give his “old” iPad to his sister.

Wish I had a brother with an iPad he was ready to discard.

A feature in Toshiba laptops allows you to charge your USB devices from USB ports even when your PC is asleep.  I thought this was pretty cool because with standard PCs, your laptop has to be on to charge your devices, on the Toshiba, your laptop can be off.

http://laptops.toshiba.com/research-center/technology-guides/esata-usb-port

I assume that you can draw down your laptop battery or be charging from the wall your laptop and allyour other devices, even when the laptop is off.   You probably know your PC has to be on for the USB to provide power normally.  This is such a simple idea, and I think it’s great.  I love this kind of Innovative thinking.

You will also see a mixed eSATA and USB port. I can’t tell how this works, but it looks like you both Physical connectors are in the same socket, but eSATA is flipped over so the 2 electrical PHYs fit in the same socket differently. So it’s really just 2 connectors in one.  Certainly if you are investing in eSATA it will work great.  You can get USB 3.0 now as an add-in card and use all your existing USB and new USB 3.0 products with that add-in card so you will have 2 options.

No matter what, this Toshiba laptop feature is pretty cool and will help reduce the number of adapters you need to bring on business trips.

(I stole this idea for a blog entry from a coworker).

There are 2 types of Taxis in China: The a) Beat-Up Taxis and b) Less Beat Up Taxis.

In this picture from a Less Beat Up Taxis, you’ll see an aftermarket stereo with a USB flash drive.

Keep in mind a couple of things.  These cabs are cheap to ride in, relative to a Tokyo, San Francisco, Paris, Munich, or London taxi.

This means the stereo has to be cheap & the flash drive is certainly cheap.

But more importantly, the cab driver has to have a PC at home & be able to transfer music (legal or less legal).

He has access, training, and motivation to use the technology.

Trivial to anyone reading this blog, but anyone who does IT support for their Parents PC will tell you it isn’t as trivial as it seems.

Both the PC and the USB technology is pervasive, understood, and easy-to-use.

This is Everyday USB in China.

If you buy a Ford or any number of cars, you know that you can get standard on those cars also, which says something too.

This is a GPS system with an integrated Digital Video Broadcast receiver so you can watch TV when you are driving and don’t need the GPS all the time.

There was no motion lock on this GPS when there was car movement, so you could navigate the menus, watch TV, enter a new destination all while the car is in motion.

I’m sure there was USB somewhere on the thing, but I didn’t get a close look.

Have a great week.  Rate me below this blog entry. Pretty please.