Palm Pre's Upcoming Failure (And How They Can Avoid It)

Unless you are apart of the alternate reality know as the geek-a-sphere, then you probably have not heard about the upcoming Palm Pre, exclusive to Sprint.

While this device rivals the iPhone in several ways (one of them being multitasking), this device is doomed to fail--although through no fault of it's own (with one exception).



Dude, where's my App?

After being inspired by jailbreaking hackers, Apple launched an app store which everyone from Google Android to Blackberry copied.

To my knowledge, Apple has over 30,000 apps while Android has a few thousand (note: I have no clue what Blackberry's numbers are).

If Palm Pre launches without some App momentum behind them, they may not attract many users because their too busy coveting Stanza, Ocarina or Joost which are on the iPhone (but may not be elsewhere).

Solution: Palm Pre needs to entice the iPhone developer community in order to attract the masses by the thousands.

With many iDevelopers in an uproar against Apple over a delay of payment, now would be the perfect time to "steal away" developers from Steve Jobs.

My suggestion? Offer the first 10,000 developers 100% commission for the first month of operation, and extend that offer for another month for those who end up in the top 10.





Compare yourself, with thyself

When Sprint launched the Instinct, one of their first mistakes was comparing themselves against the iPhone. Not only did Apple receive free advertising, but it showed just how clear the screen was.

Palm (and Sprint) should let the pundits compare and contrast the phones, and not marketing execs (unless they want a public backlash).

Palm and Sprint are doing a great job of this this far, although I fear desperation for attention might kick in ruining everything (especially with WWDC rolling around in June).

Solution: Highlight your phone, wait for the Apple mania to pass (give it two weeks) before proceeding to the next idea below.





Palm Pre What?

While many people have heard of Palm--at least in the corporate world--very few in the mainstream have heard of Palm Pre.

Let's face it, everyone has heard about the iPhone. I know plenty of kids (8 years or younger) who know exactly what an iPhone is and (sadly) think nothing can compare to it.

Suggestion: Since neither Palm or Sprint can match Apple's market share (at least immediately), my suggestion is they introduce the world to the Palm Pre via talk shows like Oprah and Ellen.

They should focus on why the Palm Pre is "Oprah/Ellen friendly," and then give one to every member of the audience (with 6 months free service).

This would generate headlines beyond the realm of geek, and help establish Palm as a serious iConpetitor.





Conclusion: You are probaly wondering why I, an iFanatic would seek Palm and Sprint's success, instead of their demise.

Truth be told while I probably would never exchange my iPhone for a Palm Pre (at least without seriously testing the Pre), I do want a strong rival to appear against Apple, instead of these half baked attempts by the Blackberry Storm (who needs a UI design for their phone) and Google Android (who has a software hardware dissconnect on the HTC).

Palm is currently my best hope that a serious iRival will emerge which will not only save both companies from financial ruin (that would be Palm and Sprint), but it would spare me the agony of hearing "Hi, I'm an iPhone--and hi, I'm an Android Phone" in the not so distant future.

--Posted via iPhone

I'm Officially Ending My Yahoo Boycott (Starting Today)

Ever since Yahoo sold it's soul the mighty Yuan a few years back by illegally handing user information over to the Chinese authority (which resulted in this poor guy being tortured) I decided to boycott all things Yahoo.

While this may seem trivial to Google fanboys (and girls), this meant that I had to give up some very useful services, like Del.icio.us, Flickr and Jumpcut.

Even though Jerry Yang eventually apologized, I still didn't feel like placing my info upon their servers until I felt like the company actually cared about keeping it's users happy than about how many bearocratic rear ends they kissed.

After reading about Yahoo's current spout with Belgium over user privacy (in which they are protecting the user rights of a few douchbags) I have decided to end my boycott by opening a new Flickr, Delicious and Jumpcut account, as well as unblock Yahoo ads online.

I may even join Yahoo Publisher, although for now I am quite satisfied with Google AdSense. :-)


-- Post From My iPhone

Dear Hamas, This Is Why I Hate You

Its not the fact that they are firing missiles into cities or support the destruction of Israel. That alone would make me upset.

But when you drag kids into a war zone, you lose not only all of my sympathy, but gain my utter hatred.

Kids need to be PROTECTED!!! The fact that they are now trying to use kids as human shields speaks volumes as to their depravity.

Even Hezbollah (an organization who I also have no love for) does not (to my knowledge) drag kids into the middle of a combat zone.

And if you think I am upset about this going on, what do you think Obama, or Hillary are going to do when they find out about this?

Congrats To Obama (Note From The Opposition)

Whether you love him, hate him or just feel apathetic towards him, Obama just became our nations first African American president.

Even though I did not vote for him (although my Dad likes to point out that he did), I want to congratulate the O-team for a successful victory, and encourage everyone--regardless of how you feel about Obama--to work together to help rebuild our nation.

While I will not agree on everything Obama does (regarding his tax plan, foreign policy, etc.), I will not turn into a wingnut/moonbat over him becoming President (something that occurred when Bush reigned).

So for the future, let us set aside our differences (which are many) and work to rebuild our country. After all, we are all Americans, and to paraphrase what one man once said, lets put our country first.

Why McCain Or Obama May Be Screwed The First Four Years

If you believe that McCain or Obama is going to fulfill any of their promises, you may be in for a surprise over the next four years.

Uploaded by www.cellspin.net

Dude! Verizon CEO Is Pissed (About The iPhone)

Is it me, or can you sense the jealousy in his response?

(C | NET) The head of the telecom giant seemed a bit irritated about Apple's march into the mobile phone industry when he answered a question posed by the Financial Times about Apple's chances of reaching the mass market with the iPhone 3G by saying, "There goes the conspiracy again. You're declaring them a winner before they've earned it on the field."

Seidenberg's main contention seems to be that the iPhone isn't a success because it has such a small share of the overall mobile phone market, which is sort of like arguing that GM is more successful than Ferrari because they sell more cars. While it's true that Apple has a long way to go before it dominates the U.S. mobile phone industry to the degree that Verizon does, it's only been a year.

Someone sounds a little upset against Apple. Later on, when talking about Verizon's "plan" against Apple he ends the article by saying:

"Steve Jobs eventually will get old...I like our chances," Seidenberg told the FT.

Sheesh! Talk about bitter! Instead of providing snarky remarks, why doesn't Seidenberg actually team up with an awesome smart phone--you know like HTC Touch Diamond or even convince LG to make another phone (as their Voyager was a let down).

And he wonders why people like me left Verizon for AT&T/Cingular (hint: it had nothing to do with customer service).

For all the iPhone wonders/doubters/apple haters out there, you will not be disappointed with this phone. After using it for about three months (note: has it been this long?) I can not honestly figure out how I used a cell phone before without full access to the internet, a real music player/organizer and visual voicemail.

Not to mention the fact that I can customize it with almost 2,000 web apps! (soon to be downloadable!)

So unless you live in Canada I would highly recommend this phone to everyone! Well, except for Seidenberg that is.

Good News From Iraq?

Wow, this is something you don't hear everyday...at least on TV.

(McClatchy Washington Bureau) BAGHDAD — Followers of rebel cleric Muqtada al Sadr agreed late Friday to allow Iraqi security forces to enter all of Baghdad's Sadr City and to arrest anyone found with heavy weapons in a surprising capitulation that seemed likely to be hailed as a major victory for Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki.

In return, Sadr's Mahdi Army supporters won the Iraqi government's agreement not to arrest Mahdi Army members without warrants, unless they were in possession of "medium and heavy weaponry."

The agreement would end six weeks of fighting in the vast Shiite Muslim area that's home to more than 2 million residents and would mark the first time that the area would be under government control since Saddam Hussein was toppled in 2003. On Friday, 15 people were killed and 112 were injured in fighting, officials at the neighborhoods two major hospitals said.

The more Iraqi's can take control of their country, the sooner American forces (or rather at least the bulk of them) can return home.

I know many of my friends want the US to pull out immediately, regardless, but that is in my honest opinion insane.

Whether for better or worse, we liberated/invaded that country (depending on your point of view) and we "Fathered" its democracy. It is our responsibility to see this nation succeed, the same way we have helped Israel, Japan and Germany.

Anything less is pretty much unacceptable, and at best cowardly.

(hat tip: Hot Air)

Nothing Is What It Seems...

I really enjoyed this video as it basically presented a topic every politician (and their mother) talks about, but what everyone has problems overcoming.

Enlightening, isn't it?

Why I Love Middle Eastern Women...

Whether they're Jewish, Arabian, Druze or anyone else I left out, one thing about middle eastern women (or rather middle eastern people in general) is that they are passionate, no matter what they believe.

Here is a "secularist" (who use to be Muslim) giving her spin on liberty, Islam and the political way.

Hat Tip: IsraelReporter.com, via YouTube)

And don't forget to watch her previous video.