In this webisode we take a look at some of the best new gadgets, including most from our June Tsunami list. We show and discuss the HTC Magic, Samsung i8910, Nokia N97, Palm Pre. We also discuss the future with awesome video phones, MOBILETRON tees and Nokia in Iran.

twtg11 was a bust, because we already showed the Palm Pre unboxing video, and there wasn’t much left after that. The audio is for twtg11 and 12 are available from tnkgrl’s site, tnkgrl Mobile

This video was filmed on a Nokia N95 with an external Mic, and edited in iMovie 09.

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The first person in line was tnkgrl of tnkgrl Mobile.  After tnkgrl purchased and activated the Pre, we had a nice breakfast with some Nokia friends visiting from Finland, who were packing N97s.  We ran into Joshua Topolsky of a site called Engadget.  San Francisco is Blogger Hollywood, lemme tell you.

tnkgrl and I headed over to Emma’s Coffeehouse to film Talking with tnkgrl EP#11, featuring a Pre unboxing and more.  I’ve included the unboxing in this video.

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Advanced mobile users have always had a tough time finding the perfect device.  Historically many devices have needed to make great sacrifices to remain pocketable in size.  Gadget lovers have long been forced to choose between a mixture of 3G, WiFi, GPS, Bluetooth, A2DP, Removable Storage, a great camera, 3.5mm headphone jack, QWERTY keyboard and/or large touch screens.

In their search for the Perfect Mobile Device, many advances users were forced to import unlocked devices not sold by their carrier of choice.  This meant the devices were expensive without carrier subsidies.  The worse downside was that often the 3G frequencies of imported devices weren’t the same as the carrier, so Expensive Imported Devices were trapped in modem-like network speeds with EDGE.

The Nokia N95 was one of the first devices that didn’t make compromises.  Sporting most of the above listed features, save the touch screen and qwerty, The N95 was the singlular choice among most bloggers and media creators prior to the iPhone.  Remember that Nokia has sold over 10 Million N95′s in less than one year.

The iPhone has kick-started the revolution of well-equipped devices with full carrier support.  While many Nokia users would scoff at the iPhone (and many also switched!), many iPhone users were upgrading from a crap-phone like the RAZR.  To these users, the iPhone experience out-of-the-box is mind-blowing.

Two Thousand Nine is the year that all US carriers will (Finally) offer wide choices of very powerful pocketable computers, many US exclusives. The Palm Pre, iPhone 3.0, Sidekick LX, Nokia N97, Nokia E71x, Samsung i8910 are all new devices delivering on this promise starting in June. at&t recently launched six qwerty “messaging phones”, and Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile all have Tsunami-compatible devices in their near-future lineup.

The next infobit to consider is the mainstreaming of Social Media.  Oprah’s on Twitter, your Boss is on Facebook, and your little brother is a star on YouTube.  In the very near future a device *will not sell* if it does not support Facebook, MySpace, YouTube and Twitter out of the box.  Many of these devices will support widgets, which will deliver updates without requiring launching a dedicated app.  Some of these devices will pull the phone directory from these online services, as well as profile pictures.  Sporting full QWERTY keyboards, typing a quick status update, instant message or email is no longer an annoyance, it’s downright easy.

Most of these new devices not only record decent quality video, you can upload the videos to YouTube with just a few clicks.  The user becomes the media creator overnight.  After an initial period of shyness, the wave of video publishers will be big.  Having a camcorder in your pocket will also bring social justice.  The people are watching the watching men.  The camera is the new gun.

Yes, the June Tusnami is the effective end of CrapPhones as we know it.  It is the beginning of much higher expectations from most users.  From taking great pictures and video, to instant communication, the next round of devices are evolutionary, and will start a Media Revolution.

Communication barriers are shattering all at once.  In your pocket. Right Now!

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What does it take to get me interested?  The next Sidekick, the LX will include Facebook, MySpace, YouTube and Twitter right out of the box.  I’m really excited that T-Mobile is embracing webservices, services outside of their own company.

One of the things that annoys me the most about branded phones is how badly the carriers ruin the firmware.  They often remove the built-in software form the manufacturer, and install branded services so they can charge you a monthly rate.  The branded firmwares also often make it difficult for 3rd party apps to access the internet or stay running in the background.  This causes apps like IM or Social apps to be a giant FAIL because they just can’t stay connected.

I think inclusion of Social Networks, specifically the four big-boys included on the Sidekick LX, will be a HUGE tipping point for device consummers.  The carriers are viewing SMS and MMS as the big drivers for the next five years, in terms of network usage.  I think we’re going to see consummers, starting with younger folks, DEMANDING these four services on devices. As the networks all migrate towards 3G and beyond, and smartphone features are pushed down into “dumber” devices, it’s the ease of use and the services that will determine the winners.

Oh yeah!  Besides these Social Networks, the LX looks like a nice device!  It’s got 3G, 3.2MP autofocus camera, video recording with uploading to Social Services, A2DP, 3.2″ screen at 854 x 480, MicroSDHC storage, IM support for the popular networks, and Exchange support in the near future.

Teens are so lucky now-a-days! Here’s a link to the press release.

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While digging up airline tickets and hotel reservations, I used Kayak.com, which I’ve never actually used before.  Thumbs up for Kayak, because it can also search five other sites for the cheapest tickets.  Airfare and Hotelbooked for about $209.  Damn, why don’t I fly to Vegas all the time?

Another webiste I’m excited about is TripIt.com.  TripIt can take all your airline, hotel, and car reservation information, and deliver a nice iteniary from beginning to end, with all your relevant information in order.  After setting up a TripIt account, you simply forward the confirmation emails, and TripIt does the rest.

I’m also excited about flying on Virgin Airlines.  I’ve heard nothing but good things about their planes and the people that run them.  The flight we’re on also has Wifi, although it looks like it’ll be $10 for this flight.  We’ll be testing it for sure, posting the available bandwidth, full port scan, and what services work.  An internet connection in the sky!  Who’d have thought?

If anyone would like to hook up with us at CTIA, maybe do a little Insider interview, a Blogger Profile interview, or a one-minute product elevator pitch, let us know! Email : matthewb[at]usmobileindustry[dot]com

Watch out Vegas.  Here we come!

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Wattpad is like most eBook readers, in that you can browse and download the content directly through the app.  Wattpad is different because it includes out-of-copyright books by the thousands, which are searchable through the app.  Wattpad also introduces a Social aspect to eBook reading, allowing users to recommend books to their peers, or simply VoteUp an eBook by selecting “I Love This Book!”.

Wattpad, via IntoMobile

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In addition to writing, Ewan also produced the excellent MIR Show, featuring Ben Smith, Dan Lane and James Whatley.  With a combination of humor and knowledge, caffine and alcohol, the work these guys produced was top-notch.  I highly recommend you check out Mobile Industry Review, and read and view all the content you can get to.

If you’d like to subscribe to MIR’s content on an ongoing basis, you may sign up for only $16562.40 per year.

Congratulations to Ewan, Ben, Dan and James at Mobile Industry Review.  Ole’!

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Head on over to Mobile Royale and start Following your favorite Mobile Bloggers on Twitter.

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I found this facinating slide presentation from Create with Context.  They took a bunch of iPhone users of different levels of technology experience, and had them navigate the iPhone UI.  The report brings up some great usability questions, but mostly shows why navigating the iPhone is easy for most people.

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And then something happened, other devices started getting the same abilities that these vaunted smartphones did. No longer were high megapixel cameras, or even Wi-Fi and 3rd party applications the providence of smartphones. These “lower” devices, usually running some proprietory operating system, started doing the same things that smartphones do, and at a lower price.

So what’s the incentive to continue to call these devices smartphone, or even to pay that much for a device that’s not really much better than something “not as smart?”

I couldn’t agree more!  There was a time when a “dumbphone” was defined by lack of third party apps.  The extra frosting was MegaPixel’ed cameras, WiFi, GPS, maybe a touch screen.  Now a days, it’s tough to find any phones without at least one of these features.

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