From Engadget:

the interface appears to be pen-based and centered around drawing and writing, with built-in handwriting recognition and a corresponding web site that allows access to everything entered into the device in a blog-like format complete with comments

This is a fantastic idea. I’d imagine the same thing is possible with an iPhone or iPad via an “app”. However the lack of pen support makes the idea of the iPad replacing my moleskine rather unappealing.

I could do without the page-flipping, but I really like the ability to zoom out to go to a page at a macro-level. I’m also digging the positioning here that this thing is geared toward creatives who sketch, collect mood-art and ultimately create things. I could see myself benefiting from a device like this for sure…

I do like the keyboard concept where other keys/layouts are stored off-screen in 2-d space. Though the “sliding-nav” paradigm is certainly derivative of the original iPod, you can’t blame anyone for using it. After all, Apple didn’t invent “left” and “right”.

Porter Airlines Is Amazing, originally uploaded by victor.brunetti.

This seems to be a sniffer issue that they have now resolved for the iPhone. Wheew!

This morning I noticed Google changed there iPhone reader to something that looks like it was designed for a clam-shell ca. 1999. WTF?

Google’s Old Mobile Reader (Left) and Google’s New Mobile Reader (Right)

I really loved the sophistication of their old mobile reader – you could browse folders and really do anything that the full-featured version could do. It also used consistent UI paradigms between the mobile and full versions. I also appreciated the integration of that top blue bar (not shown in demo shot, but trust me, it was there) with the rest of their mobile offering. I can’t stress enough how disappointing this revision is.

Maybe their going to save the good version for their android phones, which would be a shame because I’d then have to choose between tight music integration (iPhone) and fantastic & integrated mobile web content delivery.

Someone bring the old mobile reader back!

Audi just developed an iPhone App promoting the new A4. Its top-scrolling driving game they claim they brought the game to market in 2 weeks from concept to completion. It shows. The experience feels cheap and runs counter to the actual driving experience of an Audi A4, which is amazing (disclaimer: I LOVE Audi/VW and have owned VWs all my life). This is a great example where a company’s appetite is larger than it’s capability. They get points for a forward-thinking and innovative spirit by taking advantage of new media channels to promote their wares, but they lose points for not delivering on their brand-promise within that experience. Not all leading-edge development is inherently good – the experience must match the savvy the platform offers as well as the core values of the brand. This game clearly doesn’t. It’s a great example of the failure of “doing it for the sake of doing” being the wrong approach. Check it out in the app store – its free.

Looks like there’s another Twitter-like contender out there called BrightKite. I just received a private invitation (as an aside, I hate that crap – enough of this exclusivity, in-crowd, 8th grade schoolyard nonsense) and created a profile. There is automatic Twitter integration which is nice, and I love how you can see locations, posts and people on a map of the area you last checked in from. I’ll write more as I play with it more.

Sorry for the blurry pic, but the new Google news on the iPhone is hot. I’m not a youtube fan but I love the idea of associating relevant videos with dynamic topics. I also like the new design – it’s cleaner and easier on the eyes. All you iPhone-ers out there go check it out.