Andres Valera

My Dream Gadget

Let’s start as the famous speech from MLKJ (with all my respect);

I have a dream that my four little gadgets (Razr V3, PSP Slim, Ipod Nano, TomTom One) will one day live together into one device.

I’ve been looking for a while for one single gadget to replace my mobile phone, portable gaming console, MP3 player and my GPS, but since my last hope was the iPhone 3G, and is really far from meet my humble expectations I decided to write this post with the requirements for what I think will be the next All-in-one gadget.

From my point of view the next big thing it’s not about the hardware, it’s all about the software and the ability to allow third parties to develop software and accessories.

Here is my wish list.

HARDWARE
• 3MP Camera.
• Webcam for video conference.
• GPS (with turn by turn directions).
• 3G, Wi-Fi & Bluetooth connectivity.
• Touch screen.
• Expandable media port.
• Built in microphone.
• Speakers
• The battery must be exchangeable.

The hardware list it’s nothing out of the common in several gadgets, indeed most of this items are available in the new iPhone or PSP.

SOFTWARE
• Open OS: A standard platform is the key of success.

• Media player: the media player must be as versatile as the XBMC or at least reproduce the most common audio & video formats + divx

• Skype: Since I moved to Canada I use Skype for at least 45 minutes/day sometimes for work and others to keep in touch with my family and friends. In my opinion this is the best video conferencing software out there.

Also this gadget must allow users to make Skype calls over the 3G network, I know many phone companies will not agree with it, but c’mon, we are paying for the data plan, so let us used as we like to.

• Google Maps / Live Maps Integration: besides the basic GPS features as search for address, turn by turn direction, point of interests, etc, it must have a crumb trail feature, allowing you to activate it to keep track of your route. Also there must be a geo tagging feature, that allows to keep track of the latitude and longitude of the place where we took any picture.

• Gmail/Yahoo/AOL email client integration: Let’s say a REAL email push service.

• Standard default apps: Notepad, calculator, contacts

• Flash player.

• Internet browser: A portable Firefox will be great.

**These two items are part of my PSP/Sony fanboy requirements, if Sony decides to build something like this**

• Gaming capabilities: The PSP has really good games like GTA and Fifa, but the problem is the UMD disk format. It takes too much space in the console and the mechanical disk spinning consumes a lot of battery.

• PS3 control: It will be good that the device works also as a PS3 control.

ACCESSORIES
I think that part of the iPod revolution success, besides the iPod design itself, it’s the large amount of accessories out there, most of them made by third parties. So in addition to the basics accessories that should come with the device as wall charger, standard usb cable to charge via usb and earphones, there also should be available:

• Cradle station: This station will allow to charge the device and also should have a good pair of speakers.

• Car mount: For the GPS functions while driving.

• Bluetooth headset: In case of receiving a phone call while using the GPS on the car or if the device is in the cradle.

• Keyboard: I know that some of you may think that a keyboard accessory is useless having a touch screen, but even after testing the iPhone writing a few emails and I still think a keyboard is a good accessory.

Let me know what you think about My Dream Gadget

PS: The picture is from Mat Brady post “Introducing… the iWish”