This is not your mother’s picture frame. In fact, it’s not actually supposed to be a picture frame and instead some sort of widget platform. Its wedge shaped so you can put it down flat on the table or, if you wish, you can carry it around like a wee tablet. Is it amazing? No. Is it better than a standard picture frame? Not specifically. What is it for? Man, I don’t even know.
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In a move that baffles and, in a way, excites, Sony has released the Dash, a $199 “personal Internet viewer.” It’s basically a 7-inch tablet that will cost $199. It looks absolutely nothing like the Mylo, which is very good news
Within the device, an internal accelerometer supports vertical flip, allowing for two optional viewing angles: upright, ideal for a table or nightstand; and tilted, perfect for a countertop. It also supports multiple user profiles and channels, allowing several members of the household to create and maintain their own customized view of the Internet.
The short version: A solid, compact WinMo smartphone that’s capable of a lot, but can’t really compete with the others on the market.
The Dash 3g is the successor to the Dash (obviously), which was a good phone back in the day, though limited by Windows Mobile as many phones are. The Dash 3G has its strengths, and shares some of its predecessor’s weaknesses, but more importantly, it doesn’t seem to offer any value compared with a Blackberry or G1 if you’re on T-Mobile — to say nothing of an iPhone or Pre.
Huh, this could work out. Remember Dash? It was that the little GPS start-up company that made the innovative PND that had a monthly subscription, but also routed you around traffic issues through the magic of the cloud. You probably never saw one in person because, well, no one wants a GPS with a monthly fee. Anyway, RIM, the makers of BlackBerrys of course, just purchased the company.
Jeez, now that’s a leak: 1 little sheet of paper, 6 device launch dates, and 1 confirmation of a previously unannounced service.
Dash Navigation is getting out of the hardware business and cutting 55 jobs, or 65% of its workers. The startup, which is backed by both Sequoia and Kleiner Perkins, makes the Dash Express car GPS device. This is a network-connected GPS that pools the location and speeds of all nearby Dash owners to give them back real-time traffic reports. It also supports geoRSS feeds, and other GPS apps.
Despite its novel features (I am a big fan of the device) and the $71 million the company has raised, going into the hardware is business looks like it was a wrong turn. Dash will now pursue a strategy of partnering with other device manufacturers, including cell phone-makers, to add its software to their devices.
Insignia, Best Buy’s house brand, is launching two GPS units that come with cellular connectivity built-in – somewhat like the Dash GPS. The notable difference is that these two GPS units use Google Local search instead Yahoo Local search. We won’t ruin this dudes entire post but let’s just say, it sounds like a house brand product to us.
Satellite lock was very slow on a rainy day; I got a couple of miles down the road before it locked.
Local search result lists give the distance to the destination, but not the direction.
Cellular reception with the Insignia has been spotty so far, though there seems to be some improvement following a firmware upgrade from 1.01 to 1.3.
Google search is finally making its way into GPS units with the latest from Insignia. The two units are going to boost built-in cell phone modems that will power the Google search and ‘cording to a Best Buy spokeswomen, there will be no fees for the first year. (Sounds like Dash) The Google access will allow owners to locate places with the power of Google and even forward route info from their PCs to the GPS units. The NS-CNV20 is going to sell for $499 and have a 4.3-inch touchscreen while the 3.5-inch NS-CNV10 will carry a $399 price. Interested? Both models should launch on October 19.
Those of you using the much-hyped Dash GPS unit have another reason to brag to your friends. You can now send GPS’d directions to your Dash unit by taking advantage of two new voice recognition systems from Tellme and Dial Directions.
Basically, if you know what you want, you call 1-DIRECTIONS (1-347-328-4667), say the address or intersection of where you want to go, and the service sends the directions to the Dash. If you want to search for businesses, by name or category, call Tellme at 1-800-CALL-411 (1-800-225-5411) or 1-800-555-TELL (1-800-555-8355). (Obviously, you’d have to set all this up beforehand, but that’s only a matter of going to the Dash Web site to register your cellphone number.)
That short video explains how the whole process works.
Certainly seems useful to me.
One of the most compelling features of the Dash – Wi-Fi updates – is finally here. Dash users have to simply connect to the Internet via Wi-Fi and the Dash GPS unit will download and install the update automatically. Try doing that with your TomTom.
After the update the devices will have MyRoute, a system that maintains a list of your popular routes and adds your personal preferences to its routing suggestions.
Here’s a rundown of the latest goodies:
MyRoute™ – With the new MyRoute feature, as you travel from one point to another, Dash Express will automatically learn your preferred route in the background. The next time that you drive between the same origin and destination, the first route choice will be MyRoute, complete with traffic-based arrival time data. MyRoute can be compared to the computed Dash routes, including traffic detours, to decide which is optimal.
Search Along Route™ – Finding whatever you need on the road using Yahoo! Local search just got even easier. With the new Search Along Route feature, you can now search for anything you need along your selected route, shortening diversions on the way to your destination. Want to grab a latte on the way to a meeting? Simply do a Yahoo! Local search for “Starbucks” and select “along route” to be presented with the stores that are most conveniently located. Results are displayed with the distance from your current location, the distance off the route and the direction of the destination relative to the selected route.
Dash, everyone’s favorite navigation company, has just released its open API for developers. Using some basic tools, you can highlight any geographical information you want — propertly listings, speed traps, and weather reports. Because the device has two-way communication with the cloud, data providers can send almost anything to the device. While some of the apps are map-based, you can also sync contacts with Funambol and even use MediaGuide to see what’s playing on the radio.
You can sign up for the API by contacting developer@dash.net.
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It’s not every day that I find a product that threatens to completely change an entrenched, mass-market segment. Perhaps the Kindle and the iPhone are two recent examples, but in mass market terms those two devices are oddities, two exquisite outliers that will change the way we read and make phone calls in the years to come but in terms of market penetration will probably maintain a low profile for years to come. Dash.net’s new Dash GPS device, however, comes at us out of left field and promises to change the things we value in a standalone GPS device. I’ve been following these guys for almost two years now as they inched closer and closer to launch and today I’m glad to announce that you can finally buy the Dash device at Amazon and a number of other retailers.
So what makes this thing so special? In short, it is the first GPS device that is more than a digital version of the ratty old road atlas in the trunk of your car. Sure, it gets you from point A to point B but, commuters will love this, it also tells you about traffic spots and connects with your PC through the Internet for quick address updates and searches. In short, it gets you from point A to point B on time and helps you avoid traffic at all points in between.
UPDATE – Fixed price and a few small points regarding GPS data.
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If you’re thinking we’ve been on smartphone overload this week, you’re right. We’ve been rounding up all of the best and worst in the smartphone world and giving you the goods and bads in general terms. Your next phone will likely be a smartphone. There are more options than ever before, and they literally now fit into any budget.
They’re not for everybody, sure, but if you do more than call Mom once a week so she knows you’re alive, then it’s time for you to get your QWERTY on and do more with your handset, and this guide is here to help.
I’ve been following the Dash Express — the “flocking” GPS device that tells other Dash devices in its vicinity about traffic problems and can connect to WiFi to look up addresses — for over a year now and every time I’ve met with them they’ve been pushing back the ship date. Well, now you can pre-order the Dash Express for $599 and will ship in February. The monthly pricing has been set at $9.99/mo with a 2-year plan and $10.99 with a 1-year plan. It is $12.99 for the a la carte plan.
I agree it’s a little bit on the high side, but the service is very compelling. It has lots of acutally useful points of interest and you can ask it for things like “thai food in atherton.” The flocking aspect is the most interesting as it creates a little network that takes readings of real-time traffic.
* While any GPS device can provide directions to get you from point A to B, the always-connected Dash Express gives you the information you need every day.
* Superior traffic with the Dash Driver Network™: Select your route based on up-to-the-minute traffic data that is automatically and anonymously tivexchanged via the most reliable source – other Dash devices.
o The Dash Express gathers traffic information from the Dash Driver Network and combines it with other sources of traffic data to provide you with the most accurate picture of what’s happening on the routes you’re traveling.
o Only Dash provides traffic information for both freeways and local roads and side streets.
o The Dash Express provides up to three routing options to your destination that are based on flow rather than incident data, and it has the ability to automatically alert you when traffic conditions change and route you around traffic problems on your route.* Find virtually anything with Yahoo! Local search: Connect to Yahoo! Local search to find unlimited points of interest—people, places, products and services.
o Two-way connectivity gives Dash Express the ability to use Yahoo! Local search and other Internet search sources.
o Unlike other GPS devices that come loaded with a static database of points of interest, Dash gives you access to unlimited points of interest based on your specific needs, and delivers key detailed information (i.e. gas prices, movie times) to help you chose the right destination.* Send2Car™ means no typing required: Simply highlight an address from any Internet browser or Microsoft Outlook and send it directly to your car.
o You can use Send2Car yourself, or have someone else send it to your Dash device when you’re already on the road.* MyDash makes it even easier to personalize your Dash Express: The MyDash portal (http://my.dash.net) enables you to customize your Dash Express.
o Create your own lists and feeds or, if you prefer, import the great content created by other members of the Dash Community.
o Easily send customized search buttons (i.e. LA Yoga Studios, Best Red Sox Bars in Boston, Toddler Playgrounds in New York City) straight to your device so you always have access to the places you want to go.* AutoUpdate™ means your GPS is always up to date: Dash Express is the only GPS that automatically and wirelessly updates software and traffic using two-way connectivity. You’ll always have the latest features as soon as Dash releases them.
Just a quick note: If you use a T-Mobile Dash you should head over to the T-Mobile WM Upgrade page and download the free Windows Mobile 6 package. While it doesn’t fix all of WinMo’s issues (it’s still Windows), it goes a long way to make it more usable and intuitive. And it’s free. We like free.
Make sure to do a sync and a complete back up of your Dash, because the upgrade is gonna wipe everything out. You’ll lose your Yahtzee! scores. We know, we feel the pain.
The Dash Express is an Internet-connected GPS device with cellular and and WiFi built-in. It essentially “talks” to other Dash devices and informs other users of traffic issues and allows for point of interest search. You can even send GPS directions to your unit from the house.
They’re looking for nation-wide road testers to rock out with the Dash Express for the summer in anticipation of a Fall release. Do you like to drive? Want to know where you’re driving? Want to create a networked GPS system that could gain sentience and drive us all off of cliffs? Well get cracking!
A while back I received a T-Mobile/HTC Dash to play with and truth be told, it wasn’t too exciting. Windows Mobile is just a crappy OS and until it’s redone completely or undergoes a major overhaul, I really don’t plan on using it…or an HTC phone I suppose. Anyways, this 9-minute long video stars The fat Phat Guy going off on a rant about the Dash.
Surprisingly though, he actually addresses both the good and bad points with the Dash. Those of you considering a Dash might want to watch this before you plunk down your hard-earned cash.
An angry Dash customer.. [Mobility Today]
SlingMedia let drop today SlingPlayer Mobile for Smartphones (v1.0.5) and for PocketPC (v1.1). In addition to several bug fixes and tweaksm the smartphone edition features support for the Samsung Blackjack and the T-mo Dash. You can try it out for free for 30 days and after that it’ll cost you $30.
We’re closing the polls in an hour, so vote away!
The Dash Detox Contest is officially over and here are our six entries made by five entrants. Here’s how we’ll do this. You will vote on each entrant, not their specific entries. Judge on humor, creativity, and usefulness. Who, in this case, is your favorite director. Gaming the system is prohibited, but if you want to get your friends to vote en masse, go ahead. This is supposed to be fun, robot-voting-system writers!
The two top winners will receive one of two T-Mobile Dashes I have lying about.
Special thanks to T-Mobile with their Dash-a-Day giveaway, which you should also enter.
UPDATE – The winners are:
jeremywjones – stop cell phone use: use a nagging wife
rGoodwin – Blair Dash and 30 Days
