S60 + Convergence = UMPC ?
Just started, but with a very strong and elaborate first post: Jonny Bruha has just started “Thoughts on S60“.
In his first post - Some thoughts on convergence, in the light of Foleo (Foleo) - he uses as a starting point his current phone, the Nokia N95, to see what he actually seeks in convergence:
Is it even possible for a smartphone to replace all of your standalone devices? I look at things like my radar detector and the situation I just described. How would my N95 fare as a radar detector? Even if the software and hardware were able to coincide in the N95 to replace my radar detector, would I want to? That would just be another complication to using the device for other functions. I definitely couldn’t mount the device sideways and still expect to view the maps from the GPS simultaneously. So what can be done? I have a few ideas…
The idea of the Foleo is very similar to what I was thinking about as a model for convergence. To remedy my situation as described above, there should be a way to display a stand-alone screen of an application running in the background on my phone. If my car were equipped with a screen in the dash, I could set my phone to display GPS information on that screen at all times (over some form of Bluetooth or some other small, personal network) that would not disrupt whatever other application is currently being displayed on my phone’s screen. The screen in my dash nearly acts as a “shell” that would display whatever I request it to wirelessly. That way, I’d never miss any important GPS related information when I’m changing songs or replying to a text message and I’d still be able to focus on the road without having to do more glancing down than necessary.
If the mobile industry started focusing on these devices that act as no more than “shells” with basic or limited functionality, many different options could unfold.
I really like his train of thoughts… Yesterday I came across a short movie on Microsoft’s Surface (you can view it here) which could also be linked to this.
I think that, with today’s development in broadband high speed communications, it would not be too futuristic that in a few years, every person has his own content and data server in 1 spot, while he or she carries a tool just to display or use whatever is need at a certain moment.
I believe this is what is the goal of UMPC.
Anyhow, drifting off-topic, but I like this kind of conversation… 