SOMEWHAT FRANK

Mobile Internet Device Showdown at Computex

Last week, thanks to the Intel Insider program, I journeyed to Taipei, Taiwan to attend Computex Taipei in my search for the perfect mobile Internet device or MID. In doing so I met up with Steve "Chippy" Paine from MID Moves and UMPC Portal and we explored the Intel mobility display at Computex. We look at a handful of mobile Internet devices all with the Intel Atom processor inside which included the Viliv S7, S5 and X70 EX, Clarion Mind, LLUON Mobbit, UMID mBook and Panasonic Toughbooks to determine which one we like the best.

My favorite MID that we highlight is probably the Viliv S7 (shown here) but I also like the UMID mBook and would love to do a head-to-head hands on comparison of just those two. But until then check out episode 80 on SOMEWHAT FRANK as we explore the mobile Internet devices of Computex Taipei 2009 (video above) and let me know which device you like the best.

MIDs Reviewed While Traveling to Computex Taipei

Today, l’m traveling to Computex Taipei, the world’s largest computer exhibition in Asia and second largest in the world just behind CeBit in Germany. I’m traveling 18 hours to Taipei from Washington, D.C. stopping just once in Tokyo, Japan before heading on to the island of Taiwan as part of the Intel Insider program (a brand ambassador program) that I have been a part of for a year now. I will be attending a number of the Intel events in Taipei as well as meeting the Asia Pacific Intel representatives as I look to assist them as they get their own version of the Intel Insiders program started in Asia. I am honored to be attending such an important global industry event, as it offers a super opportunity to see lots of new shiny gadgets and devices. It also affords me an opportunity to dust off my somewhat virgin passport, getting some International ink along with cultural growth.

Since I have a lot of time in transit, I decided to use some of it reviewing two new Mobile Internet Devices, or MIDs, which I recently received: the Yukyung Viliv S5 and the BenQ S6. In this article I will share my perspectives on the two mobile Internet devices.

Intel Sponsors "Geeks" The New Rock Stars

Intel launched an new video campaign yesterday (above) that celebrates what makes Intel different than a lot of other companies. Intel supports culture, personality, heroes and this new video titled "Sponsors of Tomorrow," exemplifies this point. As an Intel Insider brand ambassador, I am pleased to say that Intel has helped support my geekdom, curiosity and general pursuit of happiness. Intel has helped change the world for over 40 years and knowing what Intel is working on in the areas of health, environment and science I am sure that it will continue.

Visiting Intel Portland Today

Today as part of the Intel Insider program, a social media brand ambassador program, I am visiting Intel's Portland, Oregon microchip manufacturing facilities. I am excited to be in Portland for the first time and look forward to learning how they make chips. I will most likely be streaming some videos today and tomorrow via Qik and UStream.TV on my iPhone so be sure to check back (videos streams shown below). I will be using Brightkite, Flickr, Tumblr, Facebook and Twitter to keep you updated on how things are going.

SOMEWHAT FRANK on Qik:

Headed to find Intel HQ in Portland

Outside Intel FAB 20 with Intel Insiders

Clear WiMax Ride in Portland

Segway With WiMax

Intel Health Gadget

Intel My Wifi Demo Lab

Hopefully my iPhone will have enough juice to keep the content flowing all day long. Our day concludes at the Social Media Club Portland Tweetup event tonight with the rest of my Intel Insider pals, so if you are in the area come by and say hello!!!

Netbook vs. Notebook Faceoff

I recently got a chance demo a couple of very unique but different Dell PC's with Intel processors inside as I looked at the Dell Studio 15 notebook and the Dell mini 9 netbook. The Dell Studio is a heavy duty home studio laptop with a Blu-ray drive and is powered by the Intel Centrino 2 processor. The Dell mini is a shiny little netbook that sports the Intel Atom processor (Intel's smallest chip) inside. I carried the Dell mini on the road while in Austin, Texas at SXSW Interactive and loved its light weight size and capablities while on the go. Check our episode 75 on SOMEWHAT FRANK and I hightlight the two computers as they go head to head. Which would you chose if you had to pick between the two?

Search for Young Science Talent Lands In DC

Do you remember making a volcano for your high school science fair? I do. It was fun to the watch the volcano erupt but let's just be honest, it did not really push the scientific envelope.

A few weeks ago, I attended the Intel Science Talent Search (STS) as it wrapped up in Washington, DC and these kids blew my mind as they were actually solve really difficult problems. The 40 finalists are selected from a nationwide pool of thousands to attend the week-long Intel Science Talent Institute in Washington, D.C. Students had an opportunity to present their research projects to the general public and members of the scientific community at the National Academy of Sciences. Over $1 million is awarded annually to Intel STS participants and their schools. Awards range from $5,000 scholarship grants and laptop computers for all finalists to the grand prize of a $100,000 college scholarship. All of the 40 exhibitors got a chance to visit the White House to meet President Barack Obama. 

My CES 2009 Experience Recap

Last week, I previewed my trip to the Consumer Electronics Show as I had just touched down and was getting ready to experience my first CES. Well, I am back from CES and to be totally frank, all I can say is "Wow, that was a good time!" Unfortunately, it took me until today to decompress and get enough sleep to be able to spill details about all that I experienced last week at CES. First things first, a big thank you Intel for sponsoring my trip out to CES as an Intel Insider. It was an unbelievable experience.

So how did the party I co-hosted at CES on Thursday night go? I would have to say it was a success but you can see for yourself by checking out some of the photos taken by Brian Solis (this set of photos & photo below)

Wm. Marc Salsberry also took some super pictures (this set of photos & photo below).

We had the entire Sportsbook Bar & Grill at the Palazzo which was formerly the 40/40 Club owned by hip hop star Jay Z, so as you can imagine we felt like kings in the palace of a hip hop legend. It was pretty amazing and the attendees were top-notch. I never thought as a corn-fed Northern Illinois sixth grader attending a junior high sock hop wearing what I equated to MC Hammer "hammer pants" (which are rather baggy pants) that I would years later host a CES kickoff party in Vegas that MC Hammer would attend. I guess you just don't think about stuff like that as a 6th grader growing up in a small town. Oh and we both wore regular pants to the event.

 

CES 2009 Here I Am!

I packed my bag last night and took the first flight possible this morning to Las Vegas to attend the Consumer Electronic Show. While packing last night, I felt very much like aschek on Twitter (left) as I packed a lot more technology gadgets than the normal traveler. I packed my work Blackberry, Nokia N95 to stream videos updates live via Flixwagon, my Canon Powershot SD850 to capture snag shots and the occasional video, my Canon VIXIA HF100 HD camcorder to record SOMEWHAT FRANK video episodes and my iPhone which can take and edit photos with a number of Apps including (PanoLab, CameraBag and PhotoGenie, among others) and stream live video to the Web via Qik (thank you Qik). That is a lot of equipment and I have only covered my phone/cameras. Aside from that I have my laptop and a number of other gadgets. For the 20 percent of clothing, I threw in a couple fine Taylorbyrd button down shirts to choose from. This is my first time attending CES and I want to thank Intel and the Intel Insider program for making it possible. So what do I have on tap?

Tonight (Thursday), I am co-hosting the Intel CES09 Kickoff hosted by @briansolis @sarahcuda @zappos @somewhatfrank and @intelinsiders at the The Sportsbook Bar & Grill in the Palazzo. In case you are not familiar with the venue, it was formerly the 40/40 Club, which was owned by hip hop star Jay Z, so it is sure to offer plush furnishings, lots of technology and bling. I hope to see you there as it should be a great event. Intel will show off some of the latest Netbooks which sport the new Intel Atom processor (a very tiny but powerful processor) and if you visit the Intel booth on Friday at CES you might even be able to win one. Also be sure to tag your Twitter tweets, Flickr photos and YouTube videos CES09 so they get added to the ultimate destination for tracking all the CES social media action at ConsumerElectronicsInsider.com.

Intel Core i7 Processor Launch Event

Monday night I attended the Intel Core i7 Processor launch event at DogPatch Studios in San Francisco which was decked out with LCD monitors powered by some of the new Dell and Gateway machines leveraging the new Core i7 Processor. Experts gamers, developers and video and photo editors were all on hand to show off the power of this new micro-chip architecture. Intel Senor VP, Pat Gelsinger made some announcements at the event which I captured on video and there was a developer code-off putting the new processor to the test at the event.

I Am Somewhat Inspired: What Inspires You?

Innovation starts with education and I believe in lifetime learning. I starting writing SOMEWHAT FRANK due to my curiosity and interest in learning more about blogging. Now I am inspired by personal technology. I like to figure things out and that helps to keep me constantly learning new things. Intel recently created, Inspired By Education, a site dedicated to helping to highlight the importance of education and lifetime learning. I shared my thoughts on "What Inspires Me?" in this video (above). Check it out and share what What inspires you? by uploading a video.

WiMAX Launches In Baltimore

It has been three years since I first discussed WiMAX technology and at that time it seemed to be generating quite the buzz. So I am pleased to have experienced WiMAX technology first hand today for the first time as Intel, Xohm and Sprint all teamed up to sponsor the WiMAX Baltimore launch event. The event consisted of a preview presentation and then offered a number of hands-on WiMAX experiences which included WiMAX on a boat, in a house and in an automobile. In case WiMAX is something new to you, it is simply wireless Internet with the speed of a broadband or DSL connection.

What will computers empower us to do?

Intel recently unveiled the World Mural Project to coincide with its 40th Anniversary celebration. This unique collaborative Web artwork offers content from the Intel Computer Clubhouse Network, a worldwide after-school community-based technology learning program for kids in under-served communities. The project offers an interact display as you can navigate the globe looking at the various pieces of user contributed artwork around the theme "what computers will empower us to do" over the next 40 years.

Drop your SOMEWHAT FRANK perspective on that very question:

What will computers empower us to do in the next 40 years?

In the comments section.