The latest wave of handheld personal computers blur the line between PDA and full fledged computer. This year saw the release of the OQO handheld computer. This small device is a little larger than a traditional PDA, but has a 60Gb hard drive and a 1Ghz processor, which gives it the power of a typical laptop computer. The OQO runs the Windows XP desktop operating system and features wireless connectivity though 802.11 (WiFi) and Bluetooth standards. This little handheld computer has the power to run your favorite desktop applications like Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop, and others right from the palm of your hand. Devices like the OQO are changing the way people look at mobile computing.
Also released this year was a software package by Orb Networks that allows consumers to share their cable television connection with any internet capable broadband device. In simple terms, this means that you can watch the contents of your home DVR (such as TiVo or DirectTV) on any device that you own that can connect to the internet at broadband speeds. This means you can watch your TiVo'ed programming on your 802.11b -enabled PDA at the local coffee shop or on your cell phone over the wireless broadband services that are being rolled out these past few years.
With the advent of completely wireless broadband, the PDA market will only continue to grow as people have the need and desire to have more and more information available at their fingertips at all times. As bandwidth increases and media becomes more rich and interactive, palmtop computing will become more and more viable as a vector for unlimited revenue potential through the content creation and advertising markets.
Change The Way Users Log On
I'VE NEVER BEEN A FAN of Web site toolbars that have to be downloaded and incorporated into the Web browser window--that is, until Google's 4.0 Toolbar came along. While most other toolbars have similar options and offerings, Google's new enhanced search box encourages frequent use. I find myself using the enhanced search box every time I conduct a search from the toolbar, and I am constantly amazed at the accuracy of the search box's suggested listings as well as the variety of suggestions from the few letters I type in.
According to Google, its new enhanced search box works as follows, "As you type a search query into the new Toolbar's search box, you'll see a list of useful suggestions based on popular Google searches, spelling corrections and your own Toolbar search history and bookmarks. You can also click the 'G' icon in the search box to search different Google sites, the current site, or sites for which you've installed custom search buttons." With the enhanced search box feature, users can start to type a query and immediately see suggestions based on the letter configuration.
This is especially ideal for those of us who never excelled at spelling. If users are unsure of how to spell what they are looking for, the Google toolbar offers suggestions on what is actually being searched for. The toolbar also saves searches, which appear above the suggestions--even after only one letter has been typed into the search box.
The customized feel of this functionality is a great way to search, as it feels more personal and intuitive. Search engine sites are always updating and upgrading their services to appeal to both the Web savvy and the not-so-Web-savvy. The Google toolbar has become much more streamlined and user-friendly. It still offers a pop-up blocker and shortcut buttons to other Google sites. Additionally, users can bookmark sites within the toolbar and access them from any computer.
Another feature that stands out is the drop-down menu of possible searches related to the terms users type into the box. For example, I was searching for carpet cleaning services the other day and had only typed "carp" when the suggested terms displayed below included "carpet." After typing "carpet," I didn't need to type anything else. The term suggestions generated by the tool box contained exactly what I was looking for, with "carpet cleaning" appearing as the third suggestion. This feature is most helpful for those of us with spelling impediments or unsure of what we're searching for.
Another plus is being able to rediscover forgotten bookmarks, as the listed suggestions include relevant bookmarks saved in the toolbar. As a search professional, I have to wonder what impact, if any, this will have on how users search, and how we can use it to our advantage when planning campaigns. There also may be a way to tap into this feature for behavioral marketing.
The new search box raises many questions as well, such as will it be incorporated into Google's regular search pages--and will it become another advertising vehicle? If the toolbar resonates with users and becomes widely downloaded and used, it will certainly cut down the need to bid on misspellings.
While the answers to these questions will depend on whether or not users embrace the latest version of the Google toolbar, the search engine giant has yet again demonstrated its foresight and leadership in the space.
Both James Hunt & Jai Patel are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
James Hunt has sinced written about articles on various topics from History, Virtual Private Network and Mobile Phone Reviews. James Hunt has spent 15 years as a professional writer and researcher covering stories that cover a whole spectrum of interest.Read more at . James Hunt's top article generates over 2240000 views. to your Favourites.
