Henk van de Goor's Bloggers@large

I have about a year to go before my current mobile subscription ends and I will be able to pick out a new phone. People that know me (or read my blog), know that I am a big gadget lover. Many have asked why I do not own an Apple iPhone. I currently own a T-Mobile MDA Vario IV (HTC Touch Pro) running Windows Mobile 6.1 Pro. Well, quite simply: Apple is just too trendy, too expensive and too closed-source to me. But mostly the first part: everyone already owns an iPhone or iPod. And most of their owners have all turned into "iSheep" (well done Apple). It's like there are no other devices left. It's like everyone drives a Ford Focus or something: boring!

Anyway: my next phone is definitely going to be an Android powered phone. Currently I am quite impressed with the Motorola Droid. It's will be launched in the US in November (6th if I am informed correctly) and it features the new Android 2.0 and the new Google Maps (beta).

The phone has very nice design and big screen! I love the Android/Motorola take on the phone interface. Motorola is also known for building sturdy phones. My take overall: very cool. Don't know if it's going to be sold in Europe or not.

But back to Google Maps. The new version was launched this week and it was a bombshell for all current GPS manufacturers. TomTom stocks dropped 33% (!) in two days (by the way: that's a Dutch company). Garmin and other manufacturers stocks have dropped as well. Why? Well, quite simply: Google Maps is for free!

Now, in the video below, you can see what the fuzz is about. Google Maps now (finally) offers step by step instructions. Before you just had to guess where you went. No spoken instructions (yet?), but nevertheless a big step forward. It also has spoken directions (haven't heard it yet, though). There are other very nice features as well. I would say; just watch the video.

Now, one questions remains: is this really going to be a TomTom killer? No, I don't think so. At least not in it's current form. And I will tell you why.

Google Maps depends on you being online and having a data connection on your phone. The other GPS devices have build-in maps. Now, you might argue: "hey, most people have a phone subscription with data anyway, so what's the problem?" Well, quite simply put: within your own country/area there is no problem. But have you ever gotten a bill for data-transmissions while you where roaming? Right: that really chapped your *ss didn't it?

So using Google Maps while you are abroad is not really an option. Not to mention that data connectivity isn't really available everywhere or fast enough. I have first hand experience with that myself. I tried (the old) Google Maps and while driving it just can't get the data downloaded fast enough to keep up.

Only when Google Maps offers some kind of pre-loading of maps or something like it, they will really wipe-out the competition. For now, I think that all the big telecom companies are laughing all the way to the bank; thanks to Google Maps.



More Droid goodness:

Ok, so So I bought a nice Asus Eee PC 900 last month. After tinkering around a while with the Xandros Linux distribution that came with it, I decided to install the Eeebuntu Netbook Remix RC1 on it. It looks very nice but still I didn't feel I got what I wanted from it. So about a week ago I decided to install good old Windows XP on it. And as much as I would love to run Linux on my Eee PC I have to admit that XP is just so much easier and and offers 100% more compatibility. It runs all essential apps that I need and - most important - I can encrypt both SSD's (solid state disk) with TrueCypt, so I know for sure that there is no privacy problem if I ever lose my Eee PC or it get's stolen.

So I have installed a ton of apps on it and my precious Eee PC has become the ultimate portable tool: much like my Swiss pocketknife.

After all that, there was one thing if found my Eee PC lacked: nice, spiffy backgrounds aka wallpapers for my desktop! As I found out quickly, the usual backgrounds do not render well on the tiny 1024x600 pixel screen. A pity, because I have a ton of nice backgrounds for the PC on my web album.

Therefor I decided that I would do something back for the Eee community and spend some hours this weekend (it was raining cats and dogs anyway), resizing some of my own desktop background favorites especially for the Eee PC 900.

So if you want some nice, cool backgrounds, head over to my free Eee PC 900 desktop background library library and start downloading the goodies! As of today there are 224 backgrounds available (and growing!), like the one that comes with this article.

So enjoy!

Ps: if you like me to include some of your own home-made wallpapers, just e-mail them to me (including the information you like me to include) at: eeepc[at]vandegoor.com.

Just picked it up 30 minutes ago! Can't believe I got it already: they said that it might take 2-3 months, but here it is: my own Asus Eee PC 900 (the improved Eee PC by Asus).

Man I love gadgets... And if there is one place to satisfy your needs there is just one webaddress you need to remember: ThinkGeek: stuff for smart masses! They have been around as long as I can remember (started out pretty early) and they have the coolest gadgets around. As I wrote several times, a good gadget is basically something useless but it just has a "cool" factor that makes you want it. ThinkGeek was one of the first online stores, and now there are dozen like it where you can buy the same stuff.

So what sets ThinkGeek apart from the rest? Well, their mailings and their product descriptions! They are so much fun to read! Pure Geek poetry. Not to mention those cool "customer action shots" with nerds and geeks from all over the globe.

Like these:

Yoggie Gatekeeper Pro (Linux-based security in your pocket)
The Intertubes are ripe with evil. You can smell it. Crouching there, in the dark recesses of zeroes and ones, waiting for a fresh unpatched computer to poke its nubile head out into the word. Bang! Another poor netizen gets 'sploited, turning it into a zombie, or worse - his data is entirely compromised, and somebody's buying a new TV with your credit card… bad...

That cracks me up!

How about this one, describing the Star Wars Force FX Lightsabers:

The Jedi Negotiation Tool Available In A Galaxy Near You
This isn't a toy for your six year old cousin (he probably doesn't even know what planet Wookies live on). This is an official reproduction of real Lightsabers from Star Wars. "Real lightsabers?", you might be thinking, "Star Wars isn't real!". Tell that to the masses who dress up every day as Darth Vader and Princess Leia across the globe, tell that to the folks who build droid replicas in their garages, study Sith history, and practice their Huttese. Star Wars is very real. And these working lightsabers make that extremely apparent.
(...)
ThinkGeek is not responsible should any customers who purchase this Lightsaber turn to the dark side. Nor are we responsible should you not contain sufficient Midochlorians in your blood system to engage the force without reckless abandon.

And last, but not least:

Titanium Spork
The Spork of the Gods

Every mythic hero normally has an equally mythic weapon. Zeus had his thunderbolts. Thor had his hammer, Mjolnir. King Arthur had his Excalibur. Frodo and Bilbo had their Sting. Rhydderch Hael had his Dyrnwyn. King Kong had his bananas…you get the idea. It's time for you to join the ranks of the heroes and heroines of lore as you wield your own legendary weapon in your battle against a very powerful foe: hunger.

The Titanium Spork is ready for the challenge. Titanium is known for its great strength, corrosion resistance, and light weight, which makes this spork a valuable asset around feeding time. Imagine how much more food you could shovel in at your local buffet if you didn't have to worry about the strain of picking up a heavy fork or spoon. Your food consumption can become the stuff of legends. Even just holding the Titanium Spork in your hand, you can feel its power. It is perhaps the greatest gastronomic invention since lickable wallpaper. Hunger, beware - your end is near!

So if you need a cool gift for that ubergeek nephew or kid, just head over to ThinkGeek. I guarrantee that you will not regret it ;-)

(ps: In case you cant come up with a Bday gift, here is my ThinkGeek Wishlist

Beware: the digital "Wigger":