| | Finally - something good! For convenience on the road I began several years ago to buy eBooks to read on my vintage Palm IIIx. Small fonts are harder to read than on the Adobe and Microsoft PC desktop readers for us old folks, but not as squinty as I thought they were going to be. The next generation PDA models with the color screens were somewhat easier to read, as are the latest generation PDA's such as the Palm T|X. Now at the very end of 2007 we finally are on the verge of something really good. From the media side the eBook industry took a leap forward when Amazon.com announced the Amazon Shorts program, where short stories can be downloaded for forty-nine cents each. Not a big profit maker for the author, but a foot in the door. The stories come as PDF files, to be read on a computer or any device that reads Adobe's PDF format.   Earlier this year Sony released the Sony Reader, utilizing the e ink technology and the capability to store around 160 books in a lightweight and readable format. There has not been a ground swell of users clamoring for the reader. One downside is shared with very newly developed technology - high cost - and a distribution system not familiar to most consumers at their Connect web site.
Now comes the kicker - or rather the Kindle. Amazon.com And finally, the all round device that we are really looking for - that one device that replaces all the other bits of electronics stuffed in our pockets or dangling from our belts. The Smartphone industry, led in a sense by the Palm Treo devices, then the Apple iPod, has finally reached maturity with devices like the HTC Touch Cruise. 
The HTC Touch Cruise™ is sleek, stylish, and compact, but big on features and with an LCD screen size that gives you an excellent multimedia experience in a mobile device. Featuring HTC’s innovative TouchFLO™ interface, the Touch Cruise is extremely easy to use. Using ordinary finger gestures, you can quickly browse through e-mails, web pages, messages, music, and images, making navigation a breeze. Live HTC Home™ vibrantly displays important information, such as real-time weather updates and a large easy-to-view clock. A quick application launcher provides easy access to favorite programs. HTC Home™ also gives you quick access to ring tone settings making it easy to adjust device sounds and alerts on the fly. The dynamic 3D Touch Cube interface enables you to quickly call contacts, open applications, listen to music, and browse media files. Built-in GPS functionality and the included software enable you to find the fastest route to your direction, locate restaurants and services on the way, and never get lost. Avoid traffic and delays, and take detours to visit points of interest and local attractions. |
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