Finally in China, Beijing

After waking up at 3am (Sydney time) James and I are pleased to announce that we are in China! While it is only midnight here, in Sydney it is 3:40am and my body sure can tell the difference! The flight was a good one and the Singapore stopover really helped.

Upon arrival at the Hotel we received a little envelope with details about the Vista Labs but I cannot post anything else until I "ask" tomorrow. For the mean time here are some photos from our walk through the airport...we're such geeks! The outside temp is about 0 degress celsius (30 F), and it bites.

BTW, there will be people from the Vista Team with me tomorrow so please post any burning questions you might have; any topic is fine as Tablet will only be skimmed over I imagine.

James at Customs and infront of a Great Wall Mural

Windows Vista greets us first thing!

(I like the interpretation of Aero Glass on this marketing)

Another familiar friend, i.e. Intel Core 2 Duo!

David vs. Goliath

This blog is slowly turning into reality blogging! I'm now in the Singapore (free) internet lounge and uploading an image taken only 2hours ago (on the plane). The image is of fellow MVP, James McCutcheon, and I as we make our way outbound from Sydney to Singapore., and head to China

The thing I like about this photo is the David vs. Goliath battle that went on between our laptops. On one side their is James with a 17" Dell beast (2hrs battery life) and on he other the Samsung 7" Q1B with 9hrs battery life using a 6 Cell battery! I know which one I'd rather...LOL

Post soon from Beijing! [thanks for your comments, I'll try and answer later]

taken on Flight SQ221 - Syd to Beijing

and yes, that is a computer James has...not a Cinema!

UberTablet welcomes new Sponsor

I would like to take this opportunity (just before I get on that flight I keep talking about) to welcome our new Sponsor of the UberTablet Blog, Tech Smith Corporation. Tech Smith are the fine makers of software such as Camtasia Studio, the screen recording software I use for videos like this.

Proudly, and deservedly, Tech Smith Corporation has chosen to sponsor the UberTablet Blog for the next six months and have expressed real excitement over the opportunity.

For more information regarding Tech Smith or the range of products they offer make sure you head on over to their website; while there, hit the "try" links found on each product page, you won't regret it! You'll be interested to know that Camtasia Studio v4.0 Beta even captures Vista (including Aero Glass) perfectly!

Welcome Tech Smith, Jennifer, Betsy and the entire crew! We appreciate everything you do.

What's in my Gadget Bag? for China

I�m literally off to China in the morning (+7hrs from this post which is meant to include sleep). I have been invited to partake in some Vista Labs held at Microsoft Office in Beijing and am lucky enough to be part of a delegation made up of 25 MVPs and/or Global Leaders.

The main reason I have not packed anything other than my Gadget Bag is YOU, of course. Here�s a video of what I�m taking. It�s rough but it will detail a portion of what�s coming along, a why.

The cool thing is that this video responds to the call-out by certain bloggers to show us �What�s in your gadget bag.� So if you want to join in just let us know that you've done it and we�ll point traffic your way. Here are some examples I followed:

• Russle Beattie
• Craig Pringle
• GottaBeMobile
• SumoCat
• JKonTheRun
• Chris Anderson
• Fazal Majid
• Neil Turner
• Xeni (Gixmodo)
• Dave Barry
• Or�just Google it
  

My next post will be from either Singapore, where I have a stopover, or from Beijing!

Scissor Sisters does UMPC

*update 15th Feb 2007* I was Googling for the Scissor Sisters in Australia, to see what they had been up to, and it turns out my post is ranked 4th...too funny. Google Scissor Sisters in Australia here. LOL

Becoming a blogger is still the single BEST decision I made in 2006. Not only have I developed lots of online friends but lately my virtual mates are slowly turning into �solid state� right before my eyes. I can still remember one of my first podcasts with Australian Radio Personality Doug Mulray; and more recently I vlogged with Jon Dee, Founder of Planet Ark. Today, and in keeping with my traditional Vlogging technique, I shared a meal and lots of Tablet Talk with John Garden of pop group the Scissor Sisters.

John has played keyboard for Sister Sisters for over 3 years and is also the Musical Director. He is an avid fan of my blog and currently touring Australia with the band and around the Globe.

Turns out meeting John was somewhat mystical as my 5 year old son had woken up early this same morning to watch Scissor Sisters on Australian Television, Channel Seven�s Sunrise Show, which consequently is the same show another friend of mine works�Peter Blasina�now I�m just name-dropping!

Enjoy the video. [�Elo, I think you�ll like that I�m in hot pursuit of these Tablet conversations.� If anyone is in town and wants to shoot a Vlog with me, you know how to find me!]



Part OneLocation: Manly Wharf (3 min from home)


Part Two Location: Manly Wharf (3 min from home)

UMPC for Home Automation

Ultra-Mobile PC as a Home Automation controller

I was recently emailed some screenshots of some specialized software designed to run on anything, including Ultra-Mobile PC. It allows you to control Media Center (Vista and MCE2005), from a UMPC. It is software from an American company Autonomic. Becasue I got such a huge response from my "umpc for something other than surfing" video, I thought I would post this stuff for those interested in Home Automation.

It also can view, and control the Media Center to play the music library, so would be great as a controller for distributed audio. In an update to the software coming soon you will also be able to control Xbox360 connected to the Media Center. They have a piece of software that runs on the MCE machine, which then allows you to make telnet calls to it to control the MCE machine (and MCE extenders).

With AMX controllers fetching thousands of dollars and functionality often very �locked off� then it makes sense for this software to jump on a UMPC while remaining more dynamic a flexible for the household. What do you guys think? I won�t wade into the Home Automation battle too deeply but I don�t get why AMX and Crestron have such a monopoly in this space.

Toshiba R400 in the hands of two Aussie Influentials

*Update 02.02.07 13:21*By popular demand a Low Res vidoe (48MB) has also been uploaded. Follow the links below.

Jon has worked with Tom Cruise, Richard Branson, Kylie Minogue, and now he can add Hugo Ortega to the list! Well done Jon, you're a true ambassador.

Today turned out to be a blessing in disguise. What I had planned was a firsthand look at the brand new Toshiba R400 (don�t panic, I did that) but what ended up happening was rather special. Jon Dee, Founder of Planet Ark and Australian Spokesman for Al Gore's �an inconvenient truth� DVD, is a real gentleman and more than that he�s a geek like us. As the ultimate envangelist for all things ecological and Green Jon can frequently be spotted driving his Toyota Prius, planting trees, or living it up in his �solar powered� home!

What I didn�t realize is that Jon has been a long time fan of the UberTablet blog, and more importantly, of Microsoft�s Tablet PC. So at first when he made contact and offered me a look at the new R400 (as seen on Engadget) I didn�t actually believe he had one, until I got there that is! Jon�s primary intention with tablet PC is to become, and BE, paperless in every way humanly possible; and after watching this video I�m sure you�ll agree he�s doing a bloody good job of it.

So sit back with your favourite beverage and watch as one of the Globe�s premiere environmentalists talks through his experience as one of the first owners of a Toshiba R400. He�s already owned it for two weeks, which ironically, when calculated backwards, is about a day after its CES 2007 launch. (To not let Jon take all the glory you�ll note the diminutive little device I tout � after seeing the R400 I now call it the once famous Q1)

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Watch the Video [Hi Res, 150MB] click here

Download the Video [Hi Res, 150 MB] right click here "Save Target As"

Watch the Video [Low Res, 48MB] click here

Download the Video [Low Res, 48 MB)] right click here "Save Target As"

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