Intel® Software Network

Hi everyone,

This time I would like to talk about the one-hand navigation in a mobile Internet browser working on the Cell PC Platform. As you know from its description, the central ring of the control panel has a trackball. So, when you are holding the device in the right (left) hand, the only one thumb is used for navigation while you are working with both displays.

The central ring is working as a two-button mouse with a scrolling wheel: pressing the trackball - left-button click for cursor placing in the forms of the document window (main display) or selecting items in the context menu (second display); 'up and down arrows' - a scrolling wheel for browsing the content in the document window (main display) and navigating through the items of the context menu (second display); 'right arrow' - right-button click for showing the context menu on the second display with transferring the control to it and 'left arrow' invokes the keyboard on the second display.

For working in the document window of the mobile browser, single clicking the trackball allows to set the position in the text from where it can be selected by cursor movement, the next pressing of the trackball defines the borders of the selection; for text editing operations, single clicking the trackball is used for selection with the arrow keys in combination with control keys; double clicking the trackball is used for drag-and-drop operations and advanced editing.

And, for the whole picture, note that according to the concept of the Mobile Internet development based on the Cell PC Platform - the logo and sections of a mobile website are in the document window (main display) and the menu of the mobile website is on the second display (the full-screen ad banners are shown before the menu when you are opening a website (or the section of the website) - the same is for the contextual ads while the mobile search with displaying the results in the document window is performed).

Michael

The root of the problem is the availability of the 'Mobile Internet' services for everyone not only to corporate users that have notebooks and wireless connections. Why am I emphasizing the Mobile Internet services? It's the only way to develop all this stuff for the devices that everyone has - cell phones. Do you remember how Apple told about 'not watered down Internet' on an iPhone in their ads? And what is now? Facebook has developed a special version of their site for iPhone. Because fast and comfortable working with information is a key thing. And ability to work with it on the go without a need for carrying the notebook with you everywhere.

The current situation suits cell phone carriers because they don't have to worry about anything regarding ubiquitous connectivity for accessing to 'information' for everyone (just for corporate users) - people talk on their cell phones, text their SMSs (really, that's something from pagers' era - a message with 256 characters - and that's for modern technologies of exchanging the information with megabit speeds) and not even tend to send their photos via MMS. Just because there is no compelling 'Mobile Internet' services with rich graphics except those that are being developed for an iPhone.

There is no mass demand for them in relation to other cell phone models. And why? Cell phones are not intended for access to information by definition - the only good job for them is voice communications. Now it's already an old-fashioned category as pagers. Mobile content providers want to offer more than ringtones and games for subscribers around the world - music, video, TV, Mobile Internet.

A personal device has to be a business information tool first of all - a 'personal computer'. The market of telecom and IT services is in need of a unified hardware platform with a x86 architecture as Intel Moorestown (with WiMAX connectivity) for the Mobile Internet development. The fact is that this platform is significantly closer to cell phone factor (42x145 mm) than an iPhone (61x115 mm). And for maximum efficiency (provided by maximum screen area of two displays) and comfort of working with a device, I'm offering a device with a standard cell phone form factor - the Cell PC (53x103 mm). That's the base for the 'Mobile Internet' services offered for everyone. For ubiquitous access to information.

Michael

Motorola's Zander out after Razr deemed one-hit wonder

My offer for the cell phone inventor - Motorola Cell PC.


Regards,

Michael Molin

GeneTechnics Company

Hello everyone,

By tradition, everyone is making predictions at the end of the year. I guess that 2008 will be the year of 45 nm process and WiMAX as a 3G standard. Especially for mobile computers where the power efficiency gained by this processor technology will allow to implement my project that offers 1,5 times increasing of display area in comparison with Apple iPhone as the device of the past year.

I'm also hoping that Motorola and Nokia will offer something new and innovative in the coming year.

Happy Holidays,

Michael

To the point:

Google Gets Ready to Rumble With Microsoft by Steve Lohr and Miguel Helft

Funny, does anyone believe that Microsoft is not a real Internet giant? And that Google was not built on AltaVista and AllTheWeb with Yahoo's participation - the first Internet directory.

Michael

A new discussion on CSR@Intel blog:

A Few End-Of-The-Year CSR Predictions by Dave Stangis

Michael

Welcome to Intel@CES by Paul Otellini, Intel's CEO

"Intel believes that the Internet of tomorrow will better serve you — delivering the information you want, when you want it, how you want, wherever you are."

The Cyber Evolution begins. Silverthorne processor is a transition to it as well as iPhone and the Moorestown platform will be the step one in this direction as the old-fashioned PDA and cell phone's designs are left behind.

The history repeats itself as the iPhone is a reincarnation of Newton - Sony Clie NX, NZ and NR series as the successor of this PDA design is a real hint for a dual touch-screen display solution this time.

This solution is the quantum leap for the industry as the technologies are ready for it. The New World is ahead.

Michael

Windows Mobile 7 To Focus On Touch and Motion Gestures by Nathan Weinberg

"Designed to be used by a finger, without a stylus. Microsoft Research is researching the size of the average fingertip/tap size. Currently, they are working with the assumption of a 7.6×7.6 millimeter fingertip size. The goal is a device that can be used almost entirely one-handed with the thumb of the hand holding the device."

Right on. The Compact QWERTY Keyboard is a ergonomical keyboard for one-hand typing all languages - it has a full compliance with the US-International Keyboard layout - and surfing the Mobile Internet by navigating through the websites menus and mobile ads.

Interesting to remember my comment to BusinessWeek's article in November 2006:

Building a Better Computer by Catherine Holahan

The next generation of computers will be made by transfering the keyboard functions to a touchpad.

Michael

Intel launches sixteen new 45nm processors by Jon Stokes

"New laptop processors are great, but Intel is really hoping to stoke mobile mania this year with their forthcoming Menlow platform. Otellini narrowed down the timeframe slightly for the launch of Menlow's components—the Silverthorne CPU and the Poulsbo chipset—to "later in Q1," with the first Menlow-based devices from ASUS, Lenovo, Toshiba, BenQ, Quanta, and others appearing in the second quarter of this year. At that point, we're going to find out whether the "ultramobile PC" (UMPC) is a viable form factor or an awkward, in-between product that's too big to be a phone and too cramped to replace a laptop."

The same question to Intel which I asked to Jason Zhu in this thread half a year ago - What for? As I know from the recent post on ISN blogs, Jason Zhu "is moving back to China" and Jeff Moriarty is a Mobile Community Manager now. What for, Jeff?

According to ergonomics practice, there are only two optimal form factors for mobile devices - notebook with a full-size keyboard (for two-hands typing as meant by Christopher Sholes who invented QWERTY keyboard and Frank McGurrin who invented touch typing) and MotoRAZR which is 53 mm wide (for comfortable one-hand operations and maximum device's surface area (screen area) together).

The thousands of models from the first Pocket PCs/PDAs and then PDA phones/UMPCs with toyish keyboards that mimic the QWERTY keyboard were and are bound to fail because the QWERTY keyboard was created for ten fingers typing not just by two thumbs that requires at least Nokia e61 which is 70 mm wide. History repeats itself again. I'm realizing how many resources have been spent on that. Jon Stokes is right - laptops are great but why are the rest of mobile devices so ugly and having poor functionality now. Start thinking if you want to go ahead.

My goal was to create a keyboard for one-hand typing initially. "Luck comes to those who look after it." And Nature prompted the solution - a cellular geometry for maximally efficient use of surface area of the device. One half of it as it has a clamshell form factor. That's the Cell PC.

Michael

Hi everyone,

I'd like to tell the story of my project. As my profile shows I joined ISN in September 2005. My project started in March 2005 on SonyEricsson Developer World Forums. The purpose and driver was SE P910i. Here is the first threads of my project - P910i impressions and feedback and ABC Mobile Keypad. One of the first homepages of the project - ABC Keypad. Interesting to compare it with one project - Psion Organiser. In May 2005 I decided to fit the QWERTY layout into the matrix of keys - QWERTY Compact Keyboard. And in June 2006 I put it into the main configuration with a cellular geometry - A compact keyboard for an iPhone.

Best regards,

Michael

Bill Gates Bids CES Farewell by Jay Greene

Among so many events this week, historically this is the most important. Bill Gates said in his keynote:

"People are very interested in a simpler way of navigating"

I second that as well as a year ago his "connected experiences" concept helped me to define the Cell PC's idea - connected user interfaces.

And I'm glad that Bill Gates is staying a team leader in the direction I'm working:

Bill Gates: the exit interview by Ryan Block

"I love natural user interface and particularly the research groups to do that. I want to stay involved with that and make sure that when it's time to really put these things in the mainstream that Microsoft is jumping on it and taking that big risk."

And Intel-related news:

Bill was in the house by Bryan Rhoads

Michael

Samsung launches the Samsung SGH-F490 at CES Las Vegas

Pretty good - 115 x 53,5 x 11,8 mm, 3,2" display with 240 x 432 resolution - the main display of the Cell PC in reality.

And the second display of the Cell PC looks exactly as the display of Nokia N95 8GB - 99 x 53 x 21 mm.

Michael

Live from Macworld 2008: Steve Jobs keynote by Ryan Block

The most interesting part of the MacBook Air configuration - the type of the processor. iPhone's story repeats so I guess they have the same *new* Silverthorne processor. Are there other reasons of a new level of power efficiency which is demonstrated by iPhone and MacBook Air? You know, there are no miracles in the world. They use a new technology.

Here is some info and opinions:

Specially-Designed Intel Chips Used In MacBook Air Notebook

Why DIDN’T the MacBook Air get the new 45nm CPU? by George Ou

Apple's MacBook Air: Uncovering Intel's Custom CPU for Apple by Anand Lal Shimpi

Michael

An interesting article in BusinessWeek:

Advertising: Now a Conversation by Ted Shelton

My comment for the discussion here:

A personal ad screen as the second display instead of the keypad of a MotoRAZR-type mobile device is a key to future advertising. A personal interactive advertising platform. This ad screen is also a keyboard for entering data and a navigation tool which is showing websites menus. That's a standard platform of the future Mobile Internet - The Cell PC.

Also, some thoughtful analysis in the New York Times:

The Risk of Innovation: Will Anyone Embrace It? by G. Pascal Zachary

"Whether humans will embrace or resist an innovation is the billion-dollar question facing designers of novel products and services. Why do people adapt to some new technologies and not to others?"

Ergonomics - comfort and functionality. It's all about user experience.

The most important green: the green in my wallet by Gary Niekerk

Michael

Hi everyone,

This time I would like to invite you to join the discussion:

iPhone's First Year and Future

I started it to talk about the iPhone, Intel's prototype of Moorestown platform and the Cell PC.

Michael

And again about mobile advertising:

OMMA Mobile Conference Agenda

and a post of Steve Smith about it:

That’s A Really Bad Question

My comment:

The main misconception is that cell phones can be used for mobile marketing - people buy them just to talk about their own business with their family, friends and colleagues.

Mobile marketing could be only a derivative from the Mobile Internet that doesn’t exist now because there is no a standard fully-functional platform for working with the information. The ecosystem first and only then advertising as it was with the Internet for a desktop/notebook PC platform a decade ago.

Mobile advertising will be effective and not affecting peoples’ privacy only on a separate personal ad screen for showing full-screen banners/contextual ads - that’s the second display of the Cell PC which is also used as a keyboard, system interface and navigation tool for showing the menus of the Mobile Internet sites.

Michael

Fujitsu Delivers The F705i: The World’s Slimmest, Waterproof 3G Mobile Phone

I really like this rugged design. Some time ago I told about a waterproof cell phone with Mobile TV - Casio W52CA. I think it's very important for a mobile device to be reliable in any environment.

This also reminds me that the control panel of the Cell PC is compatible wth a numeric keypad to dial a number in case of rain, for example. The F1-F8 keys - 1-8; arrows up, down - 9,0; arrows left, right - *,#.

Michael

Earnings: Motorola Handset Sales Down A Third In 2007, No Short Term Fix by James Quintana Pearce

There is, Greg - Motorola Cell PC.

Without a Hit Razr Sequel, Profit Drops for Motorola by Laura M. Holson

What Can Brown Do for Motorola? by Roger O. Crockett

The most important for Motorola - WiMAX technology which is the base of the future Mobile Internet - a global wireless network.

The personal and global wireless network by Darren Waters

"We need a ubiquitous, wireless broadband infrastructure. Eventually we will blanket the globe in wireless broadband connectivity," said Paul Otellini, Intel CEO.

This implies a unified hardware platform with a cell phone form factor - the Cell PC.

Michael

Motorola Does Not Need Another Hit Phone by James Quintana Pearce

>the mobile handset business is not hit-driven

False. Nokia N95 - has RAZR form factor, the latest Samsung F490 is the same 53 mm wide. It’s the optimal ergonomics for one-hand operations and maximum screen area together - the Golden Section for the industry.

These two phones are the reality of the Cell PC (53x103 mm) - the Samsung’s display is the main display, the Nokia’s display is the second display. It’s a ubiquitous form factor.

Michael

Many Are Already at Work on Fulfilling Gates’s Vision by John Markoff

Viva. Is anyone on the Earth thinking about the Mobile Internet? Billions of dollars are on the road.

The Mobile Internet.

Michael

February is coming - the month of the planned iPhone's SDK launch.

What's the sense if the iPhone as an Internet platform has 1,5 times less screen area for developers than a Motorola Cell PC (or rather - Microsoft Cell PC - if Greg Brown, Motorola CEO will sell its mobile devices division - press release - which is strange when they have this great opportunity).

We all have the same geometry of space to get the maximum functionality of a user interface. And ergonomics which is in favor of more compact devices to operate them.

Michael

Microsoft Swoops In on Yahoo by Catherine Holahah

Motorola: The End of an Error by Roger O. Crockett

Why not for Microsoft to enter the mobile handsets business as Apple did? It is known that Microsoft is now preparing Windows Mobile 7 which directly competes with iPhone's OS (and Google's Android).

As a matter of technical fact, these latter are worthy competitors only for Nokia's S60 because they are being developed for PDA phones which are an outdated category now considering that the advanced technologies bring the ergonomics of a cell phone and the PC functionality with the 1,5 times more screen area of the two connected user interfaces - the Cell PC.

Windows Mobile 7 could become the system platform to create a global wireless network - the Mobile Internet - exactly by launching a new optimized hardware platform based on WiMAX technology that is developed by Intel, Motorola and many other companies as members of WiMAX Forum. The platform that could have the unique functionality of the Cell PC which is based on Motorola RAZR form factor.

It's the same strategy for creating the Internet as it was in the times of Yahoo's launch. The standard network hardware and software platform with a new GUI using HTML. Now, wireless and HTML 5 with the standard practices of development for the platform.

The success of this strategy is in the alliance of Microsoft and Motorola. It's a chance that happens for both companies to compete with Apple and Google.

It's a global strategy and it says everything. We have what we have - the shiny but clumsy toys or cell computers.

And news from Google.

Sergey Brin’s iPhone Adventure in Davos by Saul Hassel

and a quote from the interview of Eric Schmidt, Google CEO:

"The iPhone is the first of a whole generation of products that will be much more search intensive," he said. "With those search opportunities comes ad monetization."

Really amazing. Where's Microsoft? Their Zunes are competing with iPods. That's good. Is that enough for a enterprise-level business leading on the market?

Microsoft is defining peoples' views about computing.

At the same time, Google is dominating on the search market just because people don't have to decide which search engine is the most objective and productive.

The Internet means Google for them.

Now, using zooming on iPhone people have to realize what the original website is and how to navigate through it.

The Mobile Internet is game-changing.

The goal is to give them smooth navigating without having to decide how to do it - just by using a navigational (advertising) screen. So, it's Microsoft's opportunity.

Michael