Sony's eBook Reader Details

Sure, it's monochrome, with an attention-grabbing 4-scale gray display. But it IS an eBook reader, and while Panasonic may edge this unit (the PRS500) in color displays, the Sony version handles several file formats including rss feeds via built-in wifi, and is priced to move at $350-- the same price point as Panny's color job.

Of course, the "preferred" format for the Sony device is Sony's own BBeB. And we all know how familiar Sony is with Digital Rights Management (DRM) ... remember their rootkit solution on their CDs back in 2005?

So far, it looks like Panny may have a late-to-the- party -but-better-gadget edge, but until the content wars start and we see what the respective libraries look like, don't expect a particular eBook reader win the adoption wars.

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Panasonic Announces Another eBook Reader

OK, it's not like there's a dearth of devices, but it does make some sense that a "playa" in the handheld gadget gearhead garage band would join Sony in the space for an eBook reader.

Panny's device, cleverly named "Words Gear," has a major leg up on the other horses in this race, however-- COLOR! Their display is smallish, measuring about 5.6" diagonally, but it busts a move resolution-wise, sporting a very respectable 1024 x 600 resolution.

The whole device weighs in at a bestseller-ish .717 pounds, and takes up 4.13" x 1.1" x 6"-- roughly the size of a dog-eared paperback.

The screen, alas, is not touch-sensitive, though there is a touchy-feely area to the left (the, uh, "gutter" side, maybe?) of the screen.

Panasonic promises a Q1 2007 release at a price in the area of $340-- another advantage over the Clio or the Sony monochrome do-dads.

Cool, huh?

Read the full post here ...

Panasonic Announces Another eBook Reader

OK, it's not like there's a dearth of devices, but it does make some sense that a "playa" in the handheld gadget gearhead garage band would join Sony in the space for an eBook reader.

Panny's device, cleverly named "Words Gear," has a major leg up on the other horses in this race, however-- COLOR! Their display is smallish, measuring about 5.6" diagonally, but it busts a move resolution-wise, sporting a very respectable 1024 x 600 resolution.

The whole device weighs in at a bestseller-ish .717 pounds, and takes up 4.13" x 1.1" x 6"-- roughly the size of a dog-eared paperback.

The screen, alas, is not touch-sensitive, though there is a touchy-feely area to the left (the, uh, "gutter" side, maybe?) of the screen.

Panasonic promises a Q1 2007 release at a price in the area of $340-- another advantage over the Clio or the Sony monochrome do-dads.

Cool, huh?

Read the full post here ...

Distributed Computing Offers Alternative Path to 1:1

According to a story posted here by eSchool News-- a story which runs only slightly shy of being a press release-- there's a new alternative to attain 1:1 computing for US schools.

nComputing, a Korean company with operations around the world, has developed a hybrid hardware/software offering that allows the creation of up to 30 "thin client" terminals running from one server or computer. Delivering everything from data to power over cabled connections, the technology allows users to share centralized processing power and RAM, a solution that may take a performance hit on high-overhead applications like gaming, but according to the company, not on more routine school tasks like surfing the interwebs, word processing, e-mail, and basic productivity applications.

In the nComputing model, a monitor, keyboard, and mouse are hooked up to a small box that is cable-connected to a central computer. The "client" actually has no processor, RAM, or overhead of its' own. According to nComputing, costs for the boxes and software can be as low as $70 per seat, though it's likely that keyboards, monitors, and mice would not be included in that figure.

There was a demonstration of a thin-client setup at NECC; it might even have been nComputing. KSC/LSC actually played with the technology, putting it through some basic paces that might happen in a regular school setting. We surfed a little, ran a few web-based apps like Writely and Google Spreadsheets, picked up e-mail through gmail and Yahoo, and even watched a YouTube video. The video took a few minutes to load, but then played nearly flawlessly (*IF* you can call a YouTube video "flawless"). The concept, and at least the practical demo, seem to make a lot of sense.

nComputing says that most computers and their human users barely scratch the surface of chip/system capability for the most common tasks we use. Their theory is that several users can share those computing resources simultaneously and not take a significant performance hit. The clients don't even have software installed; it's all centralized on the single server or computer that's being shared. This makes for easy maintenance and updates, with lower costs to upgrade when the time comes, according to the company.

Whether or not distributed computing is "the next big thing," it's certainly an option to consider for institutional use, given the growing demand for 1:1 computing capability. Schools in Colorado and Idaho have already adopted nComputing solutions, and the company is counting on word of mouth to spread their success story around the nation and the world. But with the growing availability of web-based applications and productivity tools, it's a safe bet that distributed computing will at least get a second look from schools and organizations with high seat-count demands for low-overhead computing.

Cool, huh?

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Philadelphia Opens "School of the Future"

Built for $63 million, Philadelphia's new "School of the Future" is open for business. Developed in partnership between Philly and Micro$oft, the school is physically, pedagogically, and strategically innovative. The building is constructed to be "green," the homework and assessments are online, and the school's robust intranet will serve as a platform for student collaboration, teacher-parent communication, content delivery, and workspace.

Located in West Philadelphia, the school opened to 170 ninth-graders (95% of whom are black, 85% of whom come from low-income families) chosen by lottery from a field of 1500 applicants. There are/were no entrance exams, and the school is tuition-free. The lottery system, according to Philadelphia School District CEO Paul Vallas, means that the "experiment" inherent in cutting-edge education isn't "rigged" by selecting only "the best and the brightest."

Microsoft collaborated heavily with the Philadelphia board of education and school administrators, to develop a robust infrastructure that is designed to minimize paper and to maximize collaboration and information flow. Textbooks are eschewed in favor of interactive content, software, and multimedia assets. (You may recall Microsoft's failed foray into the education space with Microsoft Class Server, a "curriculum manager" that was built as a virtual learning management system.)

Microsoft has gone further with the School of the Future, envisioning a school without walls or limits, where research on the internets is par for the course, and where institutional partners such as the Philadelphia Zoo and the Museum of Art are as integrated with the school as the "food court" that replaces the traditional cafeteria.

Time will tell how well the School of the Future serves today's students, but it's a grand vision and a bold step. Whether it can shed some of the burdens on more traditional schools remains to be seen.

Cool, huh?

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