I was reading an interesting article on Zune Insider entitled an interesting take on zune that brought up the argument of whether people were simply buying the Zune because it was the anti-ipod.  That made me think about why I actually chose the Zune and if I would buy it again now that I have used it for a while.

Initial Purchase
I initially bought the Zune for a couple of reasons.  The first was that I thought the device looked extremely promising.  It had a great minimalistic design and the form-factor was perfect.  It reminded me a lot of the old Nano with a huge screen.  I also was sold on the Zune Originals.  I thought that the engraved art was a nice touch and it was really something that made the device more than just a PMP.  It became a little piece of art—albeit highly commercialized art.  The third reason was that I really did like the main selection screen that utilizes the big font.  It stood out and really separated itself from the competition.  When I saw the interface walk-throughs, it looked like it was well thought out and extremely solid.

Follow-up
So, I have owned the device for awhile now, and I am really happy with the purchase. The interface, for me, is perfect.  Everything is where you need it, when you need it.  If you are playing a playlist and want to shuffle, you simply hit the main button and select that option.  Also, the interface really maximizes the display of album art.  It takes up the full screen when you are playing a track.  I didn’t really realize how cool this was until I was listening to Girl Talk the other day and saw the fire in grass cover standing out against the device. In terms of design, I admit that I thought it was a little plain when I first opened the package, but I really think that this is what has given it a lot of staying power for me.  Like a mullet, the front is pure business.  It has nothing but what you need (including a really nice glass screen).  But, with the Zune Originals art, it is a party in the back.  It really is a nice compromise.

Overall, I have had a great experience with the device.  And, if I had to do it again (knowing what I know now) I would buy the Zune again.

If you follow me on twitter at all, you will know that I recently purchased a Nintendo Wii. I have been a long time Nintendo fan. In my adult life, I have owned every console they have produced. And, I have been a big fan of all of them. But, that streak may soon come to an end. Because to this point, the Wii has been the most disappointing console I have owned. And honestly, it has absolutely nothing to do with the system itself.

I am disappointed because I cannot purchase games for the system—specifically, Wii Fit and Mario Kart. I can understand production issues with the console itself. Consoles often are challenging to produce because they are new and technologically complex.  However, production issues with games is not acceptable. The Mario Kart game consists of a DVD disc and a cheap plastic accessory. These items are not new and not technically challenging to produce. The Wii Fit is just as disappointing.  While it is a little more complex to produce than Mario Kart, the game has been out for almost 5 months with continued stock problems.

As to why stock is low, I really do not care. I do not make any concessions for the declining dollar theory as to why supply is low.  I understand currency differences might make it less profitable to sell games in the US.  But, this is not an excuse.  I would guess that fans of the console are more than willing to pay a few extra dollars if necessary to cover the difference.  And, I am not sure that Nintendo would be willing to make a few extra dollars now to risk future profits due to lost sales from disgruntled fans.

So, as a result of these shortages, if you are thinking about purchasing a Nintendo Wii, my recommendation is don’t purchase the system until Nintendo fixes all the stock problems.  If you think it is frustrating trying to find a Wii in stock now, then think about how frustrating it is going to be trying to find games to play.  And, if you are reading this and work at Nintendo, I recommend that you fix the stock problems soon.  Because if these problems continue, I will not be purchasing the next console Nintendo produces.

I believe that I speak for a lot of Nintendo customers, when I say
Wii are disappointed.

The last couple weeks in technology have been extremely boring. Sure, the Dell Hybrid was announced, but that was about it. It looks like Engadget, Gizmodo, and Techcrunch are in a battle to manufacture news about the iPhone to boost page views. But, personally, I am not interested. It is a cool device, but it is not for me.

So, what technology am I looking forward to?  Here is a brief list…

1. Windows Mobile 7—I have been really impressed by everything that has been coming out of Microsoft’s design department lately—Window Vista’s Aero interface, Xbox’s UI, and the Zune OS.  So, I have really been looking forward to a WM7 announcement.  The first leaked screenshots look promising.  They suggest a more Vista-like design aesthetic.  I hope the company continues to move in this direction.  I would also like to see the company borrow heavily from the Zune UI.  This is one of the best small screen UI’s on the market.  I would also like to see Microsoft throw some weight around and incorporate the Zune Marketplace, Xbox360, and Windows Media Center integration.  The coup de grâce for me would be to see it launched in the US over a number of devices including the beautiful HTC Touch Diamond.  Now, lets hope the Microsoft doesn’t drag its feet for another year getting the update out (ala Vista).

2. Android—Continuing on the Mobile phone topic, the second piece of technology that I am looking forward to is Android.  Unlike WM7, I am less excited about the interface for Android.  The first screens look pretty boring.  However, the beauty behind the Android technology is not its design, but its openness.  Android has an unpredented level of openness.  This will provide developers and designers with a lot of freedom for configuring the UI.  I think this will create a “homebrew” market of sorts for interfaces in which you can configure your interface to match your personal tastes.  And, with almost no restrictions placed on developers, I think we will see the majority of innovative applications be introduced with this device.  In terms of devices, it looks like the HTC Dream will be the first to market.  But, we can expect a number of form factors in the coming years.  However, like WM7, we are still waiting to see the first devices utilizing the OS.  Hopefully, we will see Android phones sooner than later.

3. XBox360 Dashboard Update—The new dashboard has been announced and it is looking really good.  And, the addition of Netflix has made the XBox360 the premier multimedia platform for your TV.  A big win for Microsoft would be to fully integrate Vista, Zune, 360, and WM7 into a single integrated platform.  Tight integration would mean being able to access the Zune marketplace, transfer Netflix rentals, and access your XBox360 stats (and possibly games in the future) from all devices.  This might seem a bit far fetched, but I think this integration is a must for Microsoft to keep up with the Jones.

4. Wii MotionPlus—As a new Wii owner, I am especially looking forward to the Wii Motion Plus.  This add-on promises to bring full 1:1 motion between the controller and the screen.  This will enable a number of new experiences on the console.  If done right, I think that this will allow publishers to create fully immersive gaming environments.  Now, lets hope that Nintendo can take care of their supply chain issues and actually get the accessory and games into the hands of its eagerly awaiting public.

5. Mini Laptops- I am currently in the market for a laptop.  But for me, a laptop is an extension of a desktop.  I want something small that I can use to surf the Internet while watching TV.  But, I also want it to be fully capable, just in case, I want to lug it to school to take notes or give a presentation.  The two products I am most interested are the HP Mini-note and the Dell Mini.  These are both little laptops that seem up to par.  My ideal device would have a 9″ screen, a 2 hour battery life, be able to run Vista Aero with no performance degredation, and be around $700-900.

So, those are the top 5 technology products that I am looking forward to through the end of this year.  What are you looking forward to?

With the announcement of the iPhone 2, I have once again got the bug to go out and purchase a new piece of technology.  With that said, I consider myself a pretty rationale person, so I wanted to do a quick cost-benefit analysis of the purchase decision.  As such, I broke my thoughts on the decision into three major considerations: (1) the value of the new technology - 3G, (2) the two year contract with AT&T, and (3) the opportunity costs of purchasing the phone.  With these considerations in mind, I did a quick cost-benefit analysis and came up with a decision (at the end, of course).

1.  3G - When the first iPhone came out, the decision to buy was pretty easy.  The EDGE network was too slow, and, whenever I am around WIFI, I have access to a computer - home, work, school, etc.  So, the most significant feature of the iPhone - access to the Internet - was completely useless.  3G makes the iPhone really appetizing for me.  It would fill in any gaps that I currently have in Internet access with a tool that provides adequate access to the Internet (although, the iPhone still does not fully support Flash, Silverlight, or any streaming audio format).  But, I have lingering doubts that with 4G (LTE and WiMax) right around the corner, 3G will be slow in comparison to whats around next year.  This leads me to my next major consideration - the two year contract.

2.  Two Year Contract - The second generation iPhone requires a 2 year contract through AT&T.  This contract will lock you into guaranteed rates of $30-45/month (depending on plan) for data on top of the existing voice plan.  This would result in phone bills of between $70-90/month depending on the voice plan you choose.  This contract is great for AT&T, but not so great for consumers.  Essentially, it locks you into paying premium prices for 24 months for a 3G technology that is almost guaranteed to be obsolete within 12 months.

3.  Oppotunity Costs - So, what are the opportunity costs if I decide to go with the iPhone?  I currently pay $5/month for text messaging.  The iPhone would increase my current contract by a minimum of $25/month.  Over 24 months (and factoring in a nearly risk-free return of 3% from ING), the contract alone would cost me $618 more.  Also, when signing a two year contract you automatically forgo the right to shop for better contract and possible future rates.  This is a huge opportunity cost, especially, considering how fast technology changes.

Cost Benefit Analysis - So, the costs in the case are pretty substantial.  The additional costs of the iPhone over the next two years would be at least $818 (purchase price + additional contract), while removing my ability to negotiate for better contracts over that period of time.  The major benefit - 3G data access - would fill any gaps when I currently do not have access to the Internet.  But, at the same time, it does not appear that the Safari browser will provide a “complete” internet experience.  For me the GPS and apps are quite trivial and will not factor into my decision.   As a result, I do not think the iPhone will provide enough benefit to be worth the opportunity costs, and as of today, I will not be purchasing the product.  But, of course, that could change when I see all my friends with one.  Sometimes, you just have to be a little irrational.

Update:  Gizmodo just put up an article on the true price of an Apple iPhone 2. What really amazes me is the apparent increase in the price of broadband from year-to-year—especially if you factor in cable and broadband Internet. Is it just me or does is the price of broadband rising? Economies of scale and scope suggest that the opposite should be happening. Which begs the question:  is the current price of broadband a reflection of true economics or is it the result of monopolies?

Rarely, I am instantly wowed by a technology.  But, it happened last night when I saw the videos for NVidia’s Tegra platform.  The videos showed a device the size of an iPhone outputting 720p video to a TV via HDMI.  The possibilities for such a device are endless.  If you could couple this with wireless HDMI, 4G, and a big solid state hard drive, you could have the ultimate multimedia device.  Check it out for yourself.  Via Engadget.

I am currently in the process of switching my image hosting from my current host to the Amazon S3 service.  I wanted a cheap solution that could offset any potential bandwidth costs associated with high traffic.  I thought the best way to do this was to use my current host for HTML requests and use a more robust hosting solution for larger media requests.  After reading the Coding Horror post, I decided to go with Amazon S3.

I found that along with the cheap cost of using S3, there are also some potential secondary benefits. (1) I can centralize media hosting from multiple sites in one location and (2) my site becomes more portable if I want to change hosts in the future.  The real power here is in using a CNAME in the DNS to point a subdomain to the Amazon service.  It allows me to point media.matthewsmith.com and media.futureexample.com to the same place.  If I want to change hosts, I just update the DNS and I am back in business.

When considering Amazon S3, I also looked at potential alternatives such as Flickr and Google App Engine.  I wasn’t sure if Flickr had any major bandwidth limitations and comments in the Coding Horror article suggested that there might be problems with the TOC.  Google App Engine was just too new at the time and it seemed to be for larger scale apps versus simple image hosting.  As a result, Amazon S3 was a good fit.

If you are interested in doing something similar, there are some tools out there to make using S3 a little easier.  I used the Bucket Explorer trial to get things setup.  I am going to use my full 30 days before deciding to shell out $30.  There is also a Firefox Plug-in and Wordpress Plug-in for S3.  But, I have yet to try either.

Overall, my experience wth S3 has been pretty good.  I put some test images up and they seemed to load fast.  The 3rd party tools make uploading a breeze.  And, Amazon’s tools to monitor cost are well designed and self-explanatory.  So, so far so good.  I will continue to post any positive or negative issues with the service.