Fortune's tech blogger, Philip Elmer-DeWitt has a pretty good post recapping Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer's comments on the tablet market, dominated right now by Apple's iPad.

Microsoft has been in the tablet game for years, but was never able to bring the product into the mainstream. Apple has done it in a matter of months. Which is why Ballmer's comments during Microsoft's annual meeting with financial analysts are interesting and kinda fun to read.

(Note: I'm not a Microsoft hater; it just makes for intriguing news to see a CEO scrambling to make his company look relevant in a hot consumer space, the tablet market.)

My favorite quote from Balmer:

"We've got everything on our side if we do things really right." (emphasis mine)

That's a big if, Steve. Microsoft got Windows 7 right, though (and it's selling like hotcakes) so I'm not gonna count you guys out in the tablet market. But it seems like, by now, Apple will likely have a year's lead in the tablet marketplace.

Will we see a Windows-based tablet by the end of the year? I hope so.

Posted by Gus Sentementes at 8:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Big Ideas, Gadgets
        

If you haven't heard, the Baltimore region is sorta known for its video/computer gaming industry. There are several companies around the area -- such as Firaxis and Breakaway -- that have been creating video games for years.

And if you didn't know, the "godfather of computer gaming" is right here in the Baltimore area: Sid Meier, cofounder of Firaxis and Microprose. He'll be delivering the opening remarks tonight (6 p.m.) at a free event at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, called: "Gaming: A serious business in Maryland." (You should RSVP, though, if you wish to attend.)

After Meier's talk, there'll be a panel discussion with industry experts on the history and future of game development.

A state report released today in anticipation of the event tonight shows that the digital media (which includes software games) is a $5.6 billion annual industry in Maryland.

Posted by Gus Sentementes at 9:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Events (Baltimore area)
        

Uncle Sam wants you – in a cybersecurity job.

The U.S. Department of Labor awarded the Anne Arundel Workforce Development Corp. a $4.9 million grant to work with local community colleges and private industry to fill hundreds of expected openings in cybersecurity jobs across the region over the next several years, officials announced Monday.

Government agencies in Maryland need highly trained workers to take positions in network security and information assurance, but that demand is just as great in the private sector, officials said.

Private government contractors and companies – such as banks, health care companies and technology firms – want to hire workers who know how to protect computer networks from intrusion, officials said.

At a news conference in Annapolis, Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski, a Democrat who is running for re-election this fall, said Maryland is the “epicenter” of cybersecurity, thanks to the presence of several government installations, including the National Security Agency at Fort Meade.

“Our nation’s main line of defense is right here in Maryland,” said Mikulski, who spoke at ARINC Inc., a communications technology firm in Annapolis. “We are the epicenter of cybersecurity in America.”

The growth of technology jobs in Maryland has been a bright spot in the state’s economy. The number of workers in computer systems and related services climbed to 64,900 last month in the state -- nearly 5,000 more jobs than in June 2009, according to federal statistics.

The DOL grant is part of a $125 million nationwide pool of funding that the federal agency awarded this summer for community-based job training programs in high-growth and high-demand industries. Students will be able to pursue different cybersecurity-related tracks, for certification, at community colleges in Anne Arundel, Carroll and Howard counties.

The $4.9 million grant will be spread over three years, and about $2 million of the funds will be dedicated to tuition assistance, officials said. Courses can include “advanced cyber forensics” and “tactical perimeter defense.” The rest of the funding will go toward curriculum development, technology needs, support and marketing, officials said.

The work force development corporation will give special consideration to workers who have been recently laid off and to military veterans.
Vice Admiral Bernard “Barry” McCullough III, commander of the U.S. Fleet Cyber Command at

Fort Meade, said the threat posed to the country in cyber space was “very real and growing,” while talented individuals to protect against the threat are hard to find.

“People with the right knowledge to successfully protect our networks are not in abundance,” said McCullough.

Posted by Gus Sentementes at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: *NEWS*, Government Tech
        

I'm having a hard time picturing this tech set-up. What kind of video camera was this guy using in order to pull this off? And was he shooting in HD?

Via The Los Angeles Times:

A Carpinteria man has been arrested for allegedly spying on a woman with a video camera secretly tucked into a copy of "Chicken Soup for the Soul.’"

The 30-year-old woman found the camera trained on her bed through a hole cut near the inspirational volume’s spine.

Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s detectives arrested Donald Lee Bedford, 54, Thursday and seized computers and other items from his home.

They also found recordings in the camera of the woman and her boyfriend "in various states of undress,’’ according to a Sheriff’s Department spokesman.

Bedford is a friend of one of the victim's relatives, authorities said.

Posted by Gus Sentementes at 11:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: *NEWS*, Gadgets
        

iPad, watch out. India has developed what is heralded as the world's cheapest touch screen computing device.

It costs about $35.

The goal is to get the device into the hands of students in India, and to drop the price eventually to $10. It runs on the Linux operating system, and features a touch screen, Web browser, video conferencing capability and even an option for running on solar energy.

Check out a report by Reuters on the gadget.

Posted by Gus Sentementes at 9:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: *NEWS*, Gadgets
        

The guys behind Right Side Capital Management believe the early seed stage of funding for technology startup companies is very inefficient.

Kevin Dick and David Lambert, two of the three founders of Right Side of San Francisco, were in Baltimore today to pitch their investment fund to some of the city's most eager startup entrepreneurs at the Emerging Technologies Center in Canton.

They're traveling all over the country with their pitch, talking to both startups and larger investors and technology companies who are excited about getting access to a pipeline of new little companies that they could perhaps invest in.

Here's what I gathered is Right Side's vision and strategy:

1) Any tech startup can apply to their group for funding.

2) Each company investment will be in the $50,000 to $1 million range, with the median around $250,000.

3) They'll give the entrepreneur a decision (yay or nay) in two weeks -- so no waiting for months on end for an answer.

4) They'll value your company and you'll get notice of their investment, which is pretty much non-negotiable.

5) They'll standardize all the legal stuff, to drive down deal costs by about 70 percent -- which means more money in the startup's pocket.

6) They'll like to see a good, competent team with at least some solid operational experience.

7) They'll take a preferred equity position in your company, usually no more than 30 percent, but won't sit on your board.

8) Oh, and they want to invest in 100 to 150 startups a year, which is ambitious. But for their investment model to work, they have to go for that scale.

Basically, the reality for most early startups is that they are little more than an idea on paper, or perhaps a little more.

Such individuals and companies are looking for an infusion of capital to hire a couple of people and get to work on an early version of their product.

Another reality, on the investment side, is that angel investors and venture capital firms may only do a handful of deals a year.

But Right Side is looking to do more with more -- the more they diversify their investments, the greater the chance they'll get decent returns for their investors when the company you started sells for a couple million a few years from now.

Yet, Dick and Lambert expect 50 percent of their investments to be duds. It's the other 50 percent that they hope to make a killing on.

What do you think? If you're an entpreneur with an idea for a new business, what more information would you want to know about Right Side?

Posted by Gus Sentementes at 2:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Entrepreneurs & Risk Takers, Startups
        

Check out Gus' story in today's Sun on recent mergers and acquisitions in the Baltimore tech scene.

Two technology firms in the Baltimore area merged with out-of-state competitors last week, part of a trend that analysts hope will mean more deals after corporate financing had been crimped by the recession.

In one of the deals, eMagination, among the largest and oldest Internet development companies in the city, was acquired by a Massachusetts company for $4.3 million. And Owings Mills-based AirVersent Inc., a company that makes supply chain software, merged with a Pennsylvania company but didn’t release financial details of the deal.

The acquisitions came on the heels of other Maryland technology companies turning to Wall Street to raise money through initial public offerings.

While no one is predicting a return to headier days, industry analysts are forecasting an uptick in technology deals. PricewaterhouseCoopers predicted earlier this year that mergers and acquisitions in the tech sector would increase compared to last year.

More technology companies also are expected to turn to IPOs this year, meaning that investors in early stage companies stand a chance of recouping their investment and potentially funneling more money into new projects, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers.

“I’m definitely seeing an improvement in activity,” said Rick Kohr, chief executive of Evergreen Capital LLC, a corporate finance advisory firm in Columbia. “But everybody is more methodical than they might have been in 2007 or 2006.”

As companies merge and are acquired, investors can free up investment capital and use it to fund new companies, said Matthew Gorra, a law partner in DLA Piper’s corporate and securities group. And news of just a few deals can trigger a herd mentality and a deal spree.

Companies start to look at mergers and acquisitions as a necessity to keep pace with their competition, he said. Other companies may see the economy improving and want to jump at the chance to acquire a complementary company as an opportunity for quick growth.

“There were a lot of people trying to wait it out last year,” Gorra said. “This year, people are more willing to make investments.”

With credit markets still relatively tight, small and young companies are struggling to finance their growth and might have investors who are looking for a return on their investment — thus the pressure to merge or be acquired, industry observers said.

On the IPO front, SafeNet Inc. of Belcamp, which specializes in cybersecurity, recently disclosed plans for a stock sale and hopes to raise $300 million. Bridgeline Digital Inc. of Woburn, Mass., bought eMagination last week. eMagination builds websites and electronic commerce programs for commercial and government customers and reported sales of $5.4 million over the past year. Bridgeline promoted the deal as a way to expand its client base into the government sector.

Airclic Inc. of Trevose, Pa., a suburb of Philadelphia, merged with AirVersent Inc. of Owings Mills in a deal that creates a profitable company with revenue of $22 million a year, executives said.

Rick Pontin, Airclic’s chief executive, said the two private companies, both of which specialize in software that helps firms manage mobile workforces, didn’t overlap in terms of customers and they were starting to see more demand for their services.

“There are a lot of mergers and acquisitions when markets are about to come back,” Pontin said. “People are thinking about how they can grow the business.”

Posted by Liz Hacken at 12:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

A very interesting and comprehensive look at our growing national security and intelligence apparatus by the Washington Post today.

The story tries to wrap its arms around the huge industry that has become "Top Secret America." There's nothing truly explosive in the story (aside from the main point that maybe our intel apparatus is too big for its own good), but it's one of the first pieces of mainstream journalism to look at the big picture and what it means for our national security. Plus, it's chock full of interesting data points.

There are many companies in Maryland that do top secret work for the federal government -- you can find them in a database that the Post put together.

For instance, there are 372 Maryland companies and government organizations in the state that are involved in top secret work with the government.

Posted by Gus Sentementes at 10:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: *NEWS*, Big Ideas, Government Tech
        

If you're coming to Artscape in Baltimore this weekend, don't forget to check out the new Betascape part of this huge festival.

They'll be celebrating all things geeky and techy at Betascape, which will be at the MICA Brown Center (1301 W. Mt. Royal Ave.)

A full rundown of Betascape events and exhibits is available at the official Betascape Website. And if you're hitting the streets of Artscape with your cellphone, you may want to follow Betascape on Twitter.

Oh, and here's a photo feed of pics taken at Betascape.

Posted by Gus Sentementes at 2:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Events (Baltimore area)
        

At Apple's iPhone 4 press conference today in Cupertino, Calif., Steve Jobs declared that iPhone 4 owners will receive a free case for their handsets in what is widely regarded as a cheap fix to the antenna problems that have surfaced with a tiny percentage of users, according to the AP and other news sources.

Jobs said the company has sold 3 million iPhone 4's in three weeks, with a complaint rate of only .55 percent.

iPhone 4 owners will have a choice of an official Apple bumper case, but the company can't make enough of them, so it will allow consumers to buy cases by other manufacturers and receive a refund from Apple.

Apple will make a Website available for the cases late next week.

Tune in to GDGT or Engadget for their live blogs. (BaltTech, unfortunately, wasn't invited to the event... :-( Whattup, Steve Jobs?!)

Posted by Gus Sentementes at 1:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: *NEWS*, Gadgets, Smartphones
        

There was a 3.6-magnitude earthquake somewhere around Gaithersburg in Montgomery County, shortly after 5 a.m. this morning.

Interested in what's being said on Twitter about it?

* Here are results from a search for "earthquake md."

* And here are search results for "earthquake maryland."

Already, three Facebook groups have been started:

* I was alive for the 2010 baby earthquake in DC/Maryland. http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/I-was-alive-for-the-2010-baby-earthquake-in-DCMaryland/137517799604915?ref=search

* I witnessed the earthquake in Maryland 7/16/2010

* I survived the Maryland Earthquake of 2010.

Posted by Gus Sentementes at 8:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Apple's iPhone 4 has gotten a big black eye -- most recently from Consumer Reports -- for its antenna reception issue when users hold it a certain way toward the bottom of the phone.

After a couple weeks of avoiding the issue, it appears -- appears -- that Apple may be ready to address it head on in a press conference tomorrow (Friday, July 16).

Many think the company will announce that it will give away free bumper cases to people who buy the phone.

I'm not so sure. I'm speculating -- feel free to join me in the comments below -- that they're gonna do a recall, and either fix customers' existing phones or give them a modified new one in the near future.

If it was all about new bumpers, why would Apple give the world a two-day notice of a press conference? No, I think they're preparing for something more involved. They realize their reputation as a luxury brand is at stake here, and they can't have the entire tech press and consumer electronics industry taking potshots at the iPhone, which is their franchise, flagship product at the moment.

Free bumpers don't address the underlying issue that the phone seems to have a basic, underlying hardware flaw.

(BTW, an Irish betting company says the odds are that Apple will recall the iPhone 4.)

So, what do you think will happen tomorrow at Apple's press conference? Vote below and sound off in the comments.

Posted by Gus Sentementes at 9:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (10)
Categories: *NEWS*
        

Watch the video of Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake talking about how and why she uses online social media:

Video production by Storyfarm New Media (www.sfnewmedia.com) and KO Digital (www.kopublicaffairs.com).

Posted by Gus Sentementes at 3:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Big Ideas
        

Google yesterday announced a dedicated Website for its Google for Communities fiber optic project -- the one where the company will pick one or more lucky communities to install a next-generation ultra-high-speed fiber optic network.

As you may know (from reading this blog, I hope), Baltimore and other Maryland jurisdictions -- and another 1,100 or so communities across the country -- put in official applications to compete for the project. Google expects to announce a winner by the end of the year.

Here are the Maryland communities/jurisdictions that applied:

Baltimore (Website: http://www.bmorefiber.com/)

Bowie

Charles County

College Park

Gaithersburg

Garrett County

Harford County

La Plata

Montgomery County

Oxford

Piney Orchard

Poolesville

Prince George's County

Rock Hall

Rockville

St. Mary's County

Sykesville
Frederick

Posted by Gus Sentementes at 8:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: *NEWS*
        

Joke:

What do the iPhone 4 and Mel Gibson have in common?

They both get into trouble with phone calls.

Posted by Gus Sentementes at 1:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

In the last month or so, three Maryland tech companies have filed to go, or went, public, with SafeNet Inc. -- the formerly troubled Harford County company -- being the latest yesterday.

Last month, BroadSoft Inc., a Gaithersburg company that sells Internet voice technology services to businesses, went public with a $67.5 million offering. KEYW Corp., a Hanover-based cyber security firm, also last month filed plans for a $100 million initial public offering.

If you've followed tech news in Maryland the last few years, you may remember SafeNet getting caught up in a stock options scandal back in 2006-07. They're largely past that now. Here's the full story:

SafeNet files $300 million public stock offering
Belcamp firm once embroiled in a stock options scandal is ready to return to Wall Street

By Gus G. Sentementes, The Baltimore Sun

Just a few years ago, SafeNet Inc., a Harford County technology firm, was wracked by a stock options scandal that sent its former chief financial officer to prison, tanked its stock price and eventually led to investors' taking the company private.

But on Monday, Belcamp-based SafeNet announced that it is ready to hit Wall Street again. The company disclosed in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission its plans to go public in a $300 million stock offering — one of the biggest IPOs by a Maryland company in years.

"SafeNet's business has undergone a transformation," said Donna St. Germain, a SafeNet spokeswoman. "By returning to the public markets, we can continue to build on that success."

The public stock offering signals a turnaround of fortune for SafeNet, whose former top executives faced criminal and civil probes beginning in 2006 for the backdating of stock options to inflate their value. During that period, the company was one of dozens of technology firms that were scrutinized by federal investigators for the way they handled stock options for executives.

With the federal probe behind it and having posted three years of revenue growth, SafeNet hopes to garner a piece of the federal government's multi-billion dollar spending on cybersecurity. The company, which is still unprofitable, notes in its SEC filing that "cyber attacks on the federal government have increased in volume and sophistication" and that "such attacks could be catastrophic to national security, defense, financial systems and critical infrastructure."

The company makes cybersecurity products for complex data networks and sees opportunities in both government and commercial markets, St. Germain said. Industry also has stepped up spending to protect digital assets and unauthorized breaches of information networks, notes SafeNet, which counts Johnson & Johnson and Citigroup among its clients.

In its filing Monday, SafeNet cited several market research reports that estimate various information technology security markets are poised for steady growth over the next three years. One study found that federal spending on cybersecurity applications would increase from $8.3 billion this year to $11.7 billion in 2014.

Continue reading "IPOs in Maryland: SafeNet the latest" »

Posted by Gus Sentementes at 11:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: *NEWS*
        

It may be easier than ever to appease your inner geek in Baltimore these days.

In Baltimore now, you could find a Web or technology-related event, group or happy hour to visit virtually every week.

In my time covering the Baltimore technology scene, I’ve seen a bunch of events sprout in the area, offering chances to rub elbows with entrepreneurs, brainy people, marketing and creative types and even potential investors. This year, the city’s annual Artscape event, a festive mix of creative arts, design and music from July 16 to July 18, will feature a technology section called Betascape.

“In the last three years, there’s been an explosion of events,” said Daniel Waldman, president of Evolve Communications and programming director for the Baltimore Social Media Club.

Below you’ll find a descriptive list of some of these groups and events happening throughout Baltimore. Clip this column out for your refrigerator and let’s see how many events or groups catch your fancy.

• Baltimore Social Media Club: This group, which brings together fans and practitioners of online social media in marketing and communications, just had its first happy hour event last week with 50+ people. Next event: July 23. Baltimoresmc.com

• Baltimore Node (Hackerspace): Interested in experimenting with, and creating, new gadgets with the camaraderie of other enthusiasts? The Node, in Baltimore’s Station North Arts District at 120 W. North Ave., is open for membership. Bring your ideas and projects – or let the Node inspire you. Baltimorenode.org.

• Bmore on Rails: For hard-core Website programmers, check out the friendly members of Baltimore’s Ruby on Rails Web development community. They meet weekly – for happy hours and technical sessions – to help improve their skills. Bmoreonrails.org.

• CrowdPitch Baltimore: Got a business idea but need some money and guidance? Make your pitch at CrowdPitch Baltimore, an event sponsored by a group called FundingUniverse. It’s a social, but competitive event for eager entrepreneurs looking to win cash and free services. Next event: Sept. 29. Details: http://bit.ly/a5pWPM

• Ignite Baltimore: A few times a year, there’s an Ignite Baltimore event – a place where smart speakers give rapid-fire, five-minute slideshow presentations on eclectic topics. It’s a good place to stimulate your brain and meet Baltimoreans. Hundreds usually attend. Next event: Sept. 30. IgniteBaltimore.com.

• Innovate Baltimore: Pure happy hour and networking fun for techies, marketing and communications types, entrepreneurs and start-up workaholics, every month. The last session in June had 150+ people. InnovateBaltimore.com.

Posted by Gus Sentementes at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Events (Baltimore area)
        

Baltimore is one of the lucky areas of the country that has access to Sprint's new 4G network. And the first smart phone to tap into that network is the Sprint HTC EVO.

But the Wall Street Journal reported yesterday that Sprint and HTC have fallen behind in the phone's production, leading to widespread shortages.

About 300,000 of the EVO phones have been sold. And I'm sure a few thousand or more were sold in the Baltimore area.

So, if you're an EVO owner in the Baltimore area and you're using 4G, please drop a note in the comments of this post to let us know how your phone and the 4G network are performing.

Posted by Gus Sentementes at 9:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (8)
Categories: Smartphones
        

In yesterday's Sunday Business cover story, I looked at the state of Baltimore's biotech industry, and compared it to its larger cousin to the south, in Montgomery County. Take a read.

What Baltimore's biotech industry needs: an 'anchor'
Young biotech startups hope to grow into major players, fueled by state tax credits and research from Johns Hopkins and University of Maryland

By Gus G. Sentementes, The Baltimore Sun

July 11, 2010

Baltimore's biotechnology industry has made strides. Two biotech parks by the Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland now anchor the east and west sides of the city. A few dozen biotech startups have made their home here.

But Baltimore's nascent biotech industry doesn't yet have a breakout company — a darling of venture capitalists and Wall Street that has grown past the risky and unprofitable startup phase to achieve a steady stream of revenue and products in the pipeline.

A company like MedImmune in Montgomery County, which produces an H1N1 flu virus vaccine, among others.

"There's no giant here, but it would be nice to have one," Aris Melissaratos said about Baltimore. He's a special adviser for enterprise development at Hopkins and a former head of the state Department of Business and Economic Development. "Every company that starts up strives to do that. Very few succeed."

The future of Baltimore's biotechnology industry remains to be seen. Industry observers put the city up to two decades behind the biotech hub that has taken root along the Interstate 270 corridor in Montgomery.

While Baltimore's bioparks are still being built, Montgomery planners are moving forward on a $10 billion "science city" with 17.5 million square feet for research and development. That county has more than 250 of the state's 380 bioscience companies, with such heavy hitters as MedImmune and Human Genome Sciences. Baltimore has about 40 biotech companies.

But Baltimore has scored some wins recently, by landing the new headquarters of the Lieber Institute for Brain Development, with its $100 million endowment, at the Hopkins Science + Technology Park. And the University of Maryland BioPark is planning a third building for young biotech companies.

Another indicator of how well Baltimore is faring in the intrastate biotech race is an annual Maryland tax credit that lets investors recoup half their investment — up to $250,000 — in a biotech company. Over the past year, 14 Maryland companies were able to attract investors who tapped the credit. Five were based in the Baltimore area.

The companies, by virtue of being savvy enough to attract investors in a tough economy, are some of the bright spots in the industry — and potential future breakouts.

In biotech, success can beget success. MedImmune, which was bought by AstraZeneca International in 2007 for more than $15 billion, has spurred new companies to locate nearby, to do business with it or tap into its talent. The company employs 1,400 in Gaithersburg, and several hundred more at a manufacturing facility in Frederick.

Continue reading "Biotech: Baltimore needs its own MedImmune?" »

Posted by Gus Sentementes at 8:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Big Ideas, BioTech, East Coast, Entrepreneurs & Risk Takers, University Tech
        

I'm not a big and tall guy. I live in a modest house (a rowhouse, for those familiar with Baltimore architecture), and prefer it to a McMansion. Though I love grilling, I own a moderately-sized gas grill -- not the kind where you could cook ribs for 50 people all at once. I drive a small Subaru, which is smart for city driving and parking, and could never see myself driving something like a Ford F-150.

You get the picture?

Small, or at least modestly and moderately sized, is part of my lifestyle. That's why Motorola's Droid X probably isn't the phone for me. But for many people who like the living-large lifestyle, this phone is definitely something you'll want to play with when it debuts July 15.

Offering a large phone like this makes sense for Verizon, which also offers the HTC Incredible, a phone more similarly sized to the iPhone, and the earlier Motorola Droid model, which has a pullout keyboard. The Droid X is for the crowd that loves their gadgets big and beefy.

It may not be a blockbuster seller, but it will find its devoted niche of followers. Like all Android phones, there are the usual features that people are accustomed to, such as a replaceable battery, an SD expansion card slot, and tight integration with Google, Gmail, Google Maps and social media apps.

Here is the full feature set for the Droid X from Verizon/Motorola.

I wouldn't describe myself as a power user of smart phones, or an expert reviewer of them. But I have played with enough iPhones and Droids and Palms to get a feel for what I personally and instinctively like and don't like about the phones.

For the Droid X, the pluses (updated warning: I do make comparisons to the iPhone 4, for comparison's sake):

* It has a gorgeous 4.3 inch screen, one that dwarfs the iPhone's 3.5 inch screen, by comparison.

* It seems to have a resilient battery that will take you through a day or so of steady use before needing a recharge.

* The touchscreen interface is more responsive, I think, than Motorola's earlier Droid model.

* It doesn't have a keyboard, which allows the phone to be thinner and lighter.

* Android is getting more mature, but still isn't quite as slick and elegantly simple as the iPhone interface. That said, I like the Youtube app, which allows you to record and upload video while you're in the app -- the iPhone can't do that. Google Voice search works very well, as do Google Maps. So if you're a big user of voice commands and Google maps, and really want to use this phone as your main GPS unit, it could be for you.

* HD video and 8 megapixel camera takes good pictures, though it appears in my informal tests that the iPhone 4 seems to handle lower light situations better, offering better contrasting and less automatic lightening. The picture of the Droid X, above, was taken with an iPhone 4, while the photo of the iPhone 4 was taken with the Droid X. Notice the differences?

* Social media integration: if you like getting your Facebook and Twitter all in one place, Android and the Droid X is for you. The phone automatically populates your Contacts with your Facebook friends, something that the iPhone doesn't yet do (though it's rumored to be coming.)

* Outputs: For the uber-geeks among you, there are two jacks: one for USB and another for HDMI output.

* In the future (supposedly later this summer), the Droid X will get a Flash update, enabling it to play Flash-based videos. This would be a huge step forward for mobile devices, if it can play such video with stability and speed, and without seriously sapping the battery.

* The network: Good call strength for Verizon in Baltimore. I walked all over the inside of the Baltimore Sun building (a huge brick building) while talking to my wife without a hitch.

* The Android Marketplace (app store) is growing (at 50K+ apps) and is starting to feel robust. (But it needs more games.)

The minuses:

* For some people, the phone will probably be just too big. Personally, I like phones I can slip comfortably into my shirt pocket. But the bigger you are, the bigger shirt pocket you may have, I suppose.

* No front-facing camera, which is quickly becoming the standard now on new phones, i.e. the iPhone and the Sprint EVO, as video chat starts to hit the marketplace.

* In my view: Android phones have too many physical buttons that complicate the user experience -- in the Droid X's case, five at the bottom of the phone, including the camera button. For instance, when you're browsing the Web on the phone, you touch the touch screen to scroll through text and to hit the links, but if you want to page back, you have to touch the physical button with the left facing arrow at the bottom of the phone. I think having a dedicated camera button is not a bad idea, except for where it's positioned -- it's too easy to accidentally depress the button while gripping the phone.

* Visual voicemail bummer: you have to pay $2.99 a month extra for this feature, whereas its standard on the iPhone/AT&T.

* The network: On Verizon's network, you can't browse the Web while on a call with the Droid X. You also can't take and email a photograph while on a call. (The iPhone and AT&T's network offers this capability.)

* Build quality: Sorry Motorola, but your plasticky-feeling (but metal) design can't compare to the iPhone 4, with its steel and glass beauty. That phone feels like a pricey, luxury gadget. Yours, by comparison, feels less inspiring and covet-worthy.

Overall, I'm sure there'll be a market for the Droid X, especially among the big and tall crowd who love their gadgets big. For everyone else, you should look at Verizon's HTC Incredible.

 P.S. Oh, and one more thing, when I grip the Droid X firmly at the bottom with two hands (who naturally holds a phone that way, btw?), I notice that it drops anywhere from one to three bars. Seriously.

Posted by Gus Sentementes at 10:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (32)
Categories: *NEWS*
        

It's good to see Baltimore companies getting deep into iPad development.

Baltimore's R2integrated led the development of Forbes' Investment Guide Plus iPad app, which is now available for free in Apple's App Store.

R2i worked closely with another Baltimore firm, Mindgrub Technologies, to build the app for Forbes.

Any other Baltimore firms out there building iPad apps?

Posted by Gus Sentementes at 10:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Apps
        

Alright all you deal hunters out there, you should know that Twitter today went live with its @EarlyBird account.

Twitter, through @EarlyBird, is about exclusive offers for "special time-bound deals, sneak-peeks, and events."

According to Twitter:

"We partner with select advertisers and retweet offers that they have crafted only for the Twitter community. Our advertising partners determine the terms of the offer, including availability, amount, and price. As with other forms of advertising from Twitter, we are focused on bringing value to our users and will keep your interests in mind as we develop this program."

This is another way that Twitter is trying to make money -- by partnering with advertisers to promote "daily deals" through their platform. The "daily deal" model seems to be gaining popularity, as sites like Groupon and Woot, which was just bought by Amazon, have seen success with it.

Posted by Gus Sentementes at 9:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: *NEWS*
        

On July 24, Youtube wants you to shoot some video of a day in your life and then upload it to a dedicated Youtube channel called Life in a Day.

The project will feature Kevin Macdonald as director and Ridley Scott (yes, the Ridley Scott) as producer. They'll slice together the best video moments into an "experimental documentary film." And the film will be shown at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2011.

The project is ambitious but there's one problem. How can the filmmakers be sure that the footage that's getting uploaded was actually shot on July 24th?

Other than that, it's a good idea and a smart marketing ploy for Youtube, who will be channeling of millions of users to its Life in a Day site, which is sponsored by LG Electronics. Cha-ching.

Posted by Gus Sentementes at 9:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Big Ideas
        

Jason L. Baptiste, a startup entrepreneur, wrote a blog post last week that highlighted how well email newsletters are doing as a business. It reminded me of a story I wrote back in December, where I covered several such companies in the Baltimore-Washington area.

Here's the story I wrote:

An idea so old it's new
Specialized e-mail newsletters thrive in era of social media, news feeds
December 23, 2009
By: Gus G. Sentementes

Will Davis may prefer to get his news and information through slick new methods, such as online social networking sites and news feeds, but he still keeps one old-tech method coming to his inbox: the e-mail newsletter.

"I know if the information becomes one of 40 [news] feeds, it's less likely to cut through the clutter to me," said Davis, a 33-year-old Baltimore marketing professional who subscribes to two industry newsletters based in the Mid-Atlantic. "Because [newsletter] e-mails are a digest, you get all that information in one place."Several electronic industry newsletters with a journalistic bent have taken root from Baltimore to Washington over the past decade. They have hung on through the recession and at least some appear to be growing steadily. Meanwhile, other kinds of news outlets - from print to television to some online news outlets - have had to retrench, cutting employees and content as the advertising market has shrunk.

Digital media experts think that e-mail newsletters, which typically target niche audiences with news about their professions or interests, will remain a strong and viable business in the coming years, partly because a steady e-mail subscriber is generally regarded as more valuable to many advertisers than a less-predictable Web page visitor. Industry observers point to the sale of Daily Candy, a popular fashion, food and events newsletter, to Comcast last year for $125 million as a sign of the potential strength of newsletters.

"I think it's one of the best solutions going into 2010," said Amy Webb, who runs Webbmedia Group, a Baltimore-based digital media consulting firm that works with Fortune 500 companies.

"The newsletter, I would say, is making a comeback," Webb said. "The people having success with it are not the ones buying large distribution lists. ... The ones doing a good job are growing organically and producing superior content that fits a niche, which is what newspapers used to do until they became very generalized."

Continue reading "Email newsletters still going strong" »

Posted by Gus Sentementes at 10:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: *NEWS*
        

More competition for the traditional news media?

On Friday, California launched a news aggregator site that pulls together news and information from more than 200 state agency sources, according to Government Technology.

The site can be found at http://www.news.ca.gov.

I think the site is a good idea.It's bringing together 83 Twitter accounts, 40 YouTube channels and nearly 100 RSS feeds -- all into one Website stream.

Sometimes, people just want to learn some of the nuts and bolts of what's going on in their state, and shrinking news agencies are reporting less and less of the "run-of-the-mill" news, such as new programs and services. It won't replace quality, independent, investigative reporting that traditional news outlets specialize in, but kudos to California government for being serious about informing the people of its activities and offerings.

In Maryland, probably the most forward-thinking update we've seen to a state government website involves the Department of Business and Economic Development's site, ChooseMaryland.org. If you're interested in business in Maryland, you may want to bookmark it.

Posted by Gus Sentementes at 9:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: *NEWS*