Yesterday we stated that our Top 10 predictions would range from the oh-so-obvious to the oh-so-ludicrous. We’ll be interested to see where you think this prediction fits within that spectrum.
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UMPC Prediction #2: The UMPC will have a place next to your TV remote
While the UMPC will make good use of its ability to leverage many traditional Windows applications, its unique size and generous connectivity capabilities will take it well beyond its OS roots. Case-in-point: The Ultra Mobile PC will become a central “hub” that controls your Media Center PC, your home network and perhaps even your Xbox 360. And it will excel at being able to perform those remote control functions, uh, remotely. Forget to record the new episode of Battlestar Galactica? No problem. The UMPC can set that up for you… no matter where you are. Want to watch that newly recorded episode of BSG? No problem. The UMPC can pull it up and stream it to you… no matter where you are. Want add that new BSG to your season archive? No problem. Your UMPC can compress it and send it over to your media SAN… no matter where you are.
Certainly all of this is possible today via laptops and even some PDAs, but it will be the UMPC that brings an elegance and ease to the process. And it is the UMPC that will finally bring a ubiquitous experience to controling your security system, your lighting sysyem, your A/V and your computing infrastructure, bridging the gap between home and road.
All hail the new uber-remote!
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Hi. I’m enjoying your predictions!
You said
“While the UMPC will make good use of its ability to leverage many traditional Windows applications.”
Do you beleive that UMPC=Origami. I think ‘UMPC’ covers a wider space than Origami.
Its certainly possible that it could sit next to the remote. Its going to find a permenant place around the home for sure. Its also possible, however, that a smaller screened device with simpler software could do those functions. This is something that the pocket PC could be re-adapted to do. It certainly wouldn’t be up to Origami spec but if you think about the pocket PC being the equivalent of a ‘picture in picture’ device with program guide data, RSS feeds, notifications, back-channel feedback (for voting, purchasing etc) and of course, changing channels. A 7″ screen is only reqiured for better web browsing, using existing apps and also for watching video. When you’re sitting in front of the TV, you’re not going to need that. I believe that the pocket pc or pda devices will be better suited and therefore will be redeveloped and marketed in that direction as one of the strategies to save the device segment. I also beleive that PDA’s will be redeveloped towards traditional UMPC devices too but thats another story.
Ooh that was a long comment. Sorry.
Steve
Great comments Steve!
To answer your first question, yes I believe that the UMPC = Origami because the UMPC has a definite spec. There is very little leeway in that spec to make radically different devices than we`ve seen thus far or in prototypes and future concept models.
To address your other comments, I was being more metaphorical than literal with my “next to the TV remote” commentary. I was generalizing and making an analogy to the UMPC’s potential to help control and manage our digital life. However. just the market for AV remotes is huge (just check the remote aisle at Best Buy) and there are more thand a handful of “traditional” remotes that are about the same size as the UMPC and cost about the same. And plenty of folks and projects are out there to add traditional remote capabilities to the PDA class device.
So. literally and metaphorically the UMPC has a future as a “remote control.”
You can use an UMPC as a sophisticated control already you just need software called stardraw control and an ethernet connected ir sender.