A mixed bag of thoughts surged through my brain at the realization that this device had met its end. I got a glimpse of sadness, disappointment, fear, nostalgia, shock, disbelief and others. The emotional medley that I experienced was certainly surprising, but hey, we did have a history together. This little puppy had been my number 1 personal assistant for a span of over 2 years. To see it meet its demise unexpectedly was a bit unsettling.

This whole situation got me ruminating on the relationship that people have with their “smartphones” these days. These pocket-computing-systems are inanimate objects of course. They are mere possessions of the physical world, but like anything else that we extract some form of pleasure from, we develop emotional and subconscious attachments. There is a certain fondness or connection there that you might not take notice of until it’s severed.

But enough lamenting over a little circuit board and screen, because after all, in any situation like this, there’s always an upside. Due to this unfortunate event, I now have the pleasure am forced to upgrade my phone to a shiny, brand new device. Huzzah!

So as I head into the remainder of 2012 with a new state-of-the-art smartphone, figuratively attached at the hip, I pay homage and say goodbye to my Motorola Droid. It’s been a fun ride OG!

The only issue that we had was that it was a bit too bulky and long, making it tough to carry around in a pants pocket. Not quite as portable as we’d like.

It seems that XShot took that feedback from their customers and improved their product once again. They now offer the Pocket XShot, and as you might expect, it’s small enough to fit comfortably in a pocket.

Whereas the XShot 2.0 collapsed down to 9 inches, the Pocket XShot compacts down to a mere 6.5 inches, just the right size in our opinion. Let’s take a look at the 2 products side by side.

XShot 2.0 vs Pocket XShot, fully compacted

In the fully collapsed, compacted configuration, the pocket XShot is a great size and highly portable. But does it also help you take great photos? Yes. I use the Pocket XShot a lot. It is a constant companion to my digital cameras and camcorders.

Let’s take a look at a sample photo taken using the Pocket Xshot.

Pocket XShot Sample Photo

Note: the photo above was cropped down from the full image. Camera: Canon PowerShot SD960 IS Digital ELPH.

As you can see from the image above, the Pocket XShot can help you take some great looking photos on your own, without messing with a tripod or having to bother anyone else for help.

The only negative that we ran into while using the Pocket XShot has to do with its tripod mounting screw threads. One of the bonus features of the accessory is that the bottom screws off and you can then attach it to a tripod. Unfortunately, the Pocket XShot would not fit or screw on to our Gorillapod mini tripod. This is a minor complaint and definitely not the product’s core purpose, but it’s still worth mentioning.

After extensive use, we can easily recommend the Pocket XShot for your self-photographing needs. You can pick one up for $19.95 on Amazon.

Disclosure: XShot sent me a Pocket Xshot to review.

Last year, I wrote about the program Sony set up to replace defective LCD rear-projection HDTVs. As it turns out, every rear-projection TV Sony has ever made is defective, so they offered a program to replace the rear-projection TVs with direct-view LCD flat-panel HDTVs.

But Sony has a lot of problems. They’re losing money like crazy. After offering a trade-in program for almost two years, Sony abruptly ended the program on October 27, 2011, along with the restructuring of their TV business.

On November 1, 2011 Sony instated a new program. The new program offers significantly less than the old program.



If you have a Sony rear-projection HDTV, you may have missed the better deal, but it’s not too late to trade in the defective set for a discount on a flat-panel. Click on this link to find out more.

Sony truly has tough luck with their TV technologies. They recently recalled 1.6 million Bravia LCDs do to an overheating issue which could cause fires.

The Fire will burn onto the scene on November 15th (preorders available now) at an amazingly low price of $199, making it an instant contender in the tablet arena, at least in price.

CEO Jeff Bezos was short on specs, instead highlighting the many capabilities of the upcoming tablet.

Not Android as you know it

Amazon has built a custom UI on top of an unspecified version of Android for the Kindle Fire. These aren’t the droids you’re looking for. In fact, I hesitate to call this an Android tablet at all.

The Kindle Fire won’t support the Android Market, it won’t look like Android and you won’t have the flexibility and freedom that a standard Android device offers.

Instead, the Kindle Fire’s custom UI will feature tight knit integration into Amazon’s many digital services: Amazon Video On Demand, Amazon MP3′s and Music, Kindle eBooks, Cloud storage, the Amazon Android Market and more.

I don’t think any other company could pull off a locked down Android-based tablet like this except for Amazon. With Amazon’s rich service offerings, the device & integration sounds promising.

Will it hack?

At this point, there has got to be thousands (millions?) of Android enthusiasts out there all pondering the same question: Is this thing hackable?

A $199 tablet that could be modded to run a stock Android OS, giving full control and flexibility to the user, would be an enticing product. Of course, that is certainly something that Amazon wouldn’t like to see happening, so we’ll have to wait and see what control mechanisms, if any, they’ve built into the device to try to block flashing custom firmware.

The other question is the tight Amazon service integration. If you flash to a standard Android OS, will you be able to use all the awesome Amazon cloud services offered by the stock Kindle Fire? If not, that in itself is a good reason not to flash your Fire.

I’ll be keeping a close eye on the scene to see what develops. Odds are that someone will figure out how to flash a standard Android OS onto this puppy soon after it launches.

Are you interested in the Kindle Fire?

At CES 2011, Sony announced that their new Bravia HDTVs will have access to Time Warner Cable Video-On-Demand without a cable receiver. This is a most unusual development for a cable operator to provide their content over IP services, but it makes sense considering they make a lot of money renting movies, and they have secured rental windows for their service making new releases available 28 days before rental kiosks.

There isn’t a lot of detail about this partnership yet, but I am assuming this will only be provided to Time Warner Cable subscribers – at least initially. They don’t want to give away their strong VOD leverage to satellite subscribers. It also makes sense that they would want to gain VOD sales from subscribers without cable receivers. Certainly they understand a lot of people are giving up their DVRs in favor of IP services like Hulu and Netflix.

Following Sony’s announcement, Samsung also announced partnerships with both Time Warner Cable and Comcast to bring VOD to their HDTVs and Galaxy Tab. The Galaxy Tab features sound similar to the Xfinity Remote for iPad, and should include seamless sharing of video back and forth between the TV and tablet.

There is more information from Samsung than from Sony concerning their partnership. It is confirmed the cable VOD will be available to cable subscribers. They also announced a cool feature that allows content recorded on a DVR (presumably the Samsung DVR) to be played on a Samsung HDTV in the home connected to the local network.

These are very exciting announcements. The converged home is closer and more affordable than we know.

Samsung press releases below

SAMSUNG AND TIME WARNER CABLE ANNOUNCE COLLABORATION FOR SMART TV SERVICE AND MULTI-ROOM SOLUTIONS

Time Warner Cable App to be Available to the Company’s Subscribers on Samsung Smart TV and Samsung Galaxy Tab

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 6, 2011-Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. and Time Warner Cable shared the stage today at the International Consumer Electronics Show to announce a collaboration that will allow Time Warner Cable customers to access their cable subscriptions on the Samsung Smart TV and Samsung Galaxy Tab in their homes. Time Warner Cable Chairman and CEO Glenn Britt joined Samsung Visual Display President Boo-Keun Yoon on stage during Mr. Yoon’s keynote speech, where the two companies jointly announced the collaboration and demonstrated the services.

Available as an app within Samsung’s application storefront, the Time Warner Cable service ultimately will give Time Warner Cable’s subscribers access to all of their cable channels directly on Samsung smart TVs and Galaxy Tab in the home. All of the content can be consumed through Samsung’s award-winning LED, LCD and Plasma smart TV line-up, which delivers a high-quality, visual enhanced and connected entertainment experience to the home.

In addition to watching live TV on the Smart TV and Tab, Mr. Britt demonstrated the capability for Time Warner Cable customers to access recorded content from a DVR elsewhere in the home directly on the Samsung Smart TV, without the need for a connected set-top box. This creates a multi-room viewing experience that doesn’t require multiple set-top boxes in homes that have more than one connected TV.

“We are very excited to announce Time Warner Cable as our newest partner in delivering new smart TV experiences,” said Boo-Keun Yoon, president of Samsung’ Visual Display Business. “The era of smart TV is here, and innovative partners like Time Warner Cable, that can utilize this ground-breaking technology to deliver new entertainment solutions to their consumers, will be the first to succeed.”

“We’re excited to bring together Time Warner Cable’s high-value content and high-quality delivery with Samsung’s innovative products,” said Mr. Britt. “Time Warner Cable is committed to making it easier for our customers to watch what they want, when they want, on multiple devices. We’re giving customers more control than ever in ways that are simple and easy for them. Samsung’s leading technology and large base of consumers make the company the perfect partner as we deliver services that will change the way people watch TV.”

The Time Warner Cable applications will be demonstrated at the Samsung booth in the Central Hall at the International Consumer Electronics Show, Jan. 6-9, 2011.

Time Warner Cable anticipates beginning to offer the apps commercially on Samsung devices later this year.

More information on Samsung’s smart TV strategy and its partnership with Time Warner Cable was shared during Mr. Boo-Keun Yoon’s keynote address, which can now be viewed at http://www.samsungces2011.com

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2009 consolidated sales of US$116.8 billion. Employing approximately 174,000 people in 193 offices across 66 countries, the company consists of eight independently operated business units: Visual Display, Mobile Communications, Telecommunication Systems, Digital Appliances, IT Solutions, Digital Imaging, Semiconductor and LCD. Recognized as one of the fastest growing global brands, Samsung Electronics is a leading producer of digital TVs, memory chips, mobile phones and TFT-LCDs. Samsung is also the HDTV market leader in the U.S. Please visit http://www.samsung.com for more information.

About Time Warner Cable

Time Warner Cable is the second-largest cable operator in the U.S., with technologically advanced, well-clustered systems located mainly in five geographic areas – New York State (including New York City), the Carolinas, Ohio, southern California (including Los Angeles) and Texas. Time Warner Cable serves more than 14 million customers who subscribe to one or more of its video, high-speed data and voice services. Time Warner Cable Business Class offers a suite of phone, Internet, Ethernet and cable television services to businesses of all sizes. Time Warner Cable Media Sales, the advertising arm of Time Warner Cable, offers national, regional and local companies innovative advertising solutions that are targeted and affordable. More information about the services of Time Warner Cable is available at www.timewarnercable.com, www.twcbc.com and www.twcmediasales.com.

# # #

SAMSUNG AND COMCAST PARTNER TO TRANSFORM TV VIEWING ON SMART TELEVISIONS AND TABLETS

New Comcast Xfinity TV Experience to Launch on Samsung Smart TVs and Tablets This Year

LAS VEGAS – January 6, 2011 – Today at the International Consumer Electronics (CES) Show, Samsung Electronics Co, Ltd., and Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) jointly announced the companies’ partnership to continue to revolutionize the way consumers access content and watch television with Xfinity TV. For the first time on a connected TV, the new Xfinity TV service will offer a rich, Web-like interface, enabling simpler navigation and the ability to seamlessly search across TV, DVR recordings, and video on demand among tens of thousands of content choices. A sleek graphics-rich display will guide the viewer to their favorite programming.

The partnership will also deliver a customized and integrated multi-platform viewing experience on Samsung Smart TVs and the Androidâ„¢ powered Samsung Galaxy Tab. On the tablet, the Xfinity TV experience is a virtual television guide and a mobile video player all in one. Xfinity TV digital customers will be able to browse, discover and sort video content, search for their favorite programs, change the channel on a Samsung Smart TV in real time, and program DVRs. In addition, they will be able to watch streaming TV shows and movies On Demand directly on the tablet, and access that content across multiple devices. The service’s roadmap includes the ability to begin watching a favorite movie on the Samsung Galaxy Tab, then pause the movie and resume watching it on a Samsung Smart TV from the exact moment it was paused, and vice versa.

The Xfinity TV service was unveiled today at the International Consumer Electronics Show by Comcast Chairman and CEO Brian L. Roberts during a keynote speech by Boo-Keun Yoon, President of Samsung’s Visual Display Business, and will also be demonstrated at the Samsung booth in the Central Hall.

“As we begin this exciting new decade, Samsung is also launching a new era of TV technologies that will delight and amaze consumers unlike ever before,” said Boo-Keun Yoon, President of Samsung’s Visual Display Business. “To partner with the renowned Comcast brand enables us to deliver on our promise of giving consumers greater variety, easy access and control of the content they discover and deliver a more immersive and entertaining experience to Comcast customers.”

Brian L. Roberts, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Comcast Corporation, said, “Our partnership with an industry leader like Samsung is another important step in Comcast’s plan to totally reinvent how consumers watch television wherever and whenever they want. We have the technology framework in place to deliver new features to Comcast customers faster than ever, including on connected TVs, tablets and multiple devices, which is core to our strategy and a key facet of the future of television.”

The Xfinity TV experience will be distributed later this year on the Samsung Smart TVs and on the application store for the Galaxy products interacting through the Comcast set top box, giving consumers yet another access point for discovering and connecting to Comcast Xfinity TV services. Content can be watched through Samsung’s award-winning LED, LCD and PDP TV products that reflect the company’s commitment to delivering consumers high-quality, visually enhanced and connected entertainment experiences in their home.

It’s time for CES 2011, and the first major announcement I find compelling is from Cisco. This headline may seem behind the times, after all we’ve just had two years of every company under the sun providing little black boxes ready to stream internet video to your TV. And isn’t Cisco an enterprise networking company anyway?

Well, yeah, but Cisco also owns Scientific Atlantic. If you’ve had a digital cable converter in your home, there’s a good chance it was a Scientific Atlantic box. This gives Cisco a huge advantage over other companies when it comes to living room convergence.

It’s called Cisco Videoscape, and it is an optional software package available to cable operators bringing internet content directly to the TV without additional boxes, remotes or cables.

The announcement was teased in December with this clever video, but the full details were released at CES in Las Vegas, Nevada this week.

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

More than just internet content on the TV, Videoscape is an alleged unified content service providing seamless integration between the TV, laptop, desktop, tablet and smartphone.

With such a large footprint in the American home, Cisco has the opportunity to really change the way content is consumed in a big way. The only problem is that every cable operator gets to chose if they will support the features, which features, and can customize the GUI. This ability has hamstrung many existing cable receivers available now with ugly, confusing graphic interfaces, and lacking support for external hard drives, and even HDMI output. It’s all up to the individual cable operator, in each region, to implement these features.

But with Dish Network and DirecTV already offering a lot of internet connected features, the pressure is on cable to step up their game and get with the 21st Century.

Logitech’s implementation of Google TV, called the Revue, has a very funny ad campaign going on featuring Kevin Bacon. I wouldn’t normally waste your time with it if it wasn’t so funny.

The ad features Kevin Bacon playing the part of the most obsessed Kevin Bacon fan ever, with a house full of Kevin Bacon paraphernalia. He even does a hilarious impression of himself. He uses the Revue to pull up videos of Kevin Bacon online, including YouTube clips and Footloose.

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

Will I run out and buy a Logitech Revue because of it? Probably not. I’m disappointed with Google TV so far. The concept is great, but the interface is too jumbled, and Google didn’t bother gaining approval from enough content sources.

But it does remind me that Kevin Bacon is a great guy doing a lot of good in the world.

FaceVision sent us their FV TouchCam N1 to review. The FV TouchCam N1 is a high definition webcam that supports 720p video calling via Skype and is packed with an impressive list of hardware features. Let’s dive right into the official feature list.

FaceVsion FV TouchCam N1 review – Features

Description from the manufacturer: HD at anytime anywhere. FV TouchCamTM N1, a HD VideoCam with embedded H.264 encoder chip and dual microphones supporting beamforming technology, offers synchronized, crystal clear HD video (720p, 3X DVD resolution) and superior audio quality. Now Skype users can enjoy HD-quality video calling by using FV TouchCamTM N1. It helps you to build a closer relationship with friends and family or discuss with business partners effectively across difference time zones. Look Real. Feel Real. HD VideoCam supporting Skype HD video calls. HD 720p, 3x DVD resolutions.

Feature list from the manufacturer:
HD 720p video calls.
Auto Focus, up to 10 cm from the camera lens.
Wide Angle lens with 78 degree FOV.
Adaptive H.264 encoder for superb video experience.
Unidirectional dual microphones support beamforming technique for superb audio.
USB. True plug & play experience.

FaceVsion FV TouchCam N1 review – What’s inside the box?

As you can see, the FaceVsion FV TouchCam N1 comes with the camera itself, a mini USB cable, a hardware guide, a quick start guide and a mini CD containing Skype.

FaceVsion FV TouchCam N1 review – Still photo tests

Throughout this review, we compare the photo and video capturing abilities of the FaceVsion FV TouchCam N1 with our former webcam, the Logitech Quickcam Communicate Deluxe. Although the Logitech Quickcam Communicate Deluxe is not an HD webcam, we felt that the comparisons would provide valuable examples to our readers as the majority of desktops and laptop systems do not utilize a high definition webcam.

To test the out the still photo capability of the FaceVsion FV TouchCam N1, we snapped many sets of photos using our Logitech cam along with the FaceVsion cam.

These photos have been resized to fit well within this article, as the originals were too wide. On top, you can see a photo captured by the Logitech cam, on the bottom, a photo captured by the FaceVsion FV TouchCam N1. These photos were snapped using Debut Video Capture Software version 1.49.

Looking at the photo comparison above, we see that the FaceVsion FV TouchCam N1 captures a much larger image. It’s a much wider area of capture thanks to the higher resolution. In addition to the increased captured area, it also provides a sharper image (more pixels, providing higher definition and more clarity). The image color is also more realistic and true to life.

In addition to the set captured above, we shot many more still photo comparisons between the 2 webcams. Each time, the FaceVsion photos out-shined the Logitech photos by a very large margin. It’s apparent that the higher resolution and better hardware has a highly positive effect on the outcome of still image captures.

FaceVsion FV TouchCam N1 review – DailyBooth tests

In addition to the still photo test utilizing a desktop application, we compared the webcams using a real world online application. To do so, we used DailyBooth, which is an Adobe Flash based online photo sharing application.

FaceVsion FV TouchCam N1 review – Skype video calling tests

To test out the internet video calling capabilities of the FaceVsion FV TouchCam N1, we placed numerous video calls to our friends over the past few months. Our most recent video calls were made using Skype version 5.0.0.152. Embedded below is one of those calls that we recorded for this review.

The video demonstration above makes it “clear” that the FaceVsion FV TouchCam N1 produces excellent quality video and audio during Skype video calls, much better than the majority of other webcams available on the market.

Unfortunately, no matter how many times we tried, we could not get the Skype HD video calling to kick in, even after updating to the latest firmware on the FaceVsion FV TouchCam N1. We also checked the FaceVsion FAQ, taking all appropriate steps and making sure that we met all of the requirements for HD video calling, including sufficient bandwidth on both ends of the call (my internet connection speeds are 15 Mbps down, 1.93 Mbps up).

To be fair, FaceVsion probably has little control over this, as it is Skype that controls and determines how the HD video calling operates and functions. Nevertheless, it’s unfortunate that the primary advertised function of this HD webcam is difficult to utilize.

On a positive note, even without the high definition video calling kicking in, the FaceVsion FV TouchCam N1 still produces a very good looking video stream.

FaceVsion FV TouchCam N1 review – application compatibility

Unfortunately, the FaceVsion FV TouchCam N1 doesn’t ship with any of its own software. Instead, you must rely on 3rd party software for taking photos, recording video or making video calls online. Due to this fact, we tested out a variety of common Windows webcam software options to see what type of video they could capture from the FaceVsion FV TouchCam N1. In these tests, we’re reporting on the highest possible video resolution that each application could capture with a frame rate greater than 20 frames per second.

Windows (XP) Movie Maker 2.1.4020.80.
640×480 at 30 fps

Windows (Vista & 7) Live Movie Maker version 2011 Build 15.4.3502.0922
320×240 at 30 fps

NCH Debut Video Capture Software 1.49
640×480 at 30 fps

Pinnacle Studio Plus 12.1.3.6605
Had an option for 720×480 at 30 fps, but actually recorded in 640×480 at 30 fps

YouTube direct recording from browser
480×270 at 30 fps (YouTube calls this 360p)

As shown above, none of the applications that we tested could capture 720p (1280×720) video from the FaceVsion FV TouchCam N1.

FaceVsion FV TouchCam N1 review – Positives

On board H.264 HD video encoder chip frees up your computer’s CPU
Wide angle 78 degree Field of Vision lens
Excellent quality, life-like video
Good color reproduction in video and still photos
Dual microphones produce excellent audio quality
Quick adjusting auto focus
Captures fluid motion on video without blurring
Adjustable support clamp fits most LCD screens and notebooks
White light indicator let’s you know when the camera is “live”
Well designed and visually pleasing
Good build quality
Velco strap on USB cable

FaceVsion FV TouchCam N1 review Negatives

Skype HD video calls are difficult to establish
No webcam software included (Skype is provided on a mini CD)
720p video capture not compatible with most applications
Webcam not horizontally adjustable (left/right)

FaceVsion FV TouchCam N1 review – Summary and conclusions

We’ve been using the FaceVsion FV TouchCam N1 over the past few months for taking photos and making videos and we’re impressed with the hardware. The images, videos and audio output that this device produces are all superb.

The FaceVsion FV TouchCam N1 doesn’t ship with any of its own software, so you’ll have to make use of 3rd party software to use the device. The general compatibility with various 3rd party software products is good, meaning that every video application that we tested with was able to recognize that the FV TouchCam N1 was indeed a webcam capable of capturing some type of video. Unfortunately, the HD (720p) video compatibility with 3rd party apps appears to be poor, including Microsoft’s own Windows Movie Maker programs. It seems that most applications can only capture video from the FV TouchCam N1 at 640×480 maximum (but not in High Definition). Due to this, it appears that FaceVsion has some work to do with reaching out to Microsoft and other software vendors so that various programs will be able to utilize the full potential of the FaceVsion FV TouchCam N1. Either that, or they need to provide their own software for recording local video in 720p HD resolution.

Other than the inability to take full advantage of the HD capabilities, the FaceVsion FV TouchCam N1 is impressive. Even at 640×480 video resolution, the FV TouchCam N1 can create some very good looking, high quality video.

For us, it really makes things simpler for creating videos as we can just plop down in front of a PC with the FV FaceVsion N1 attached and start recording crystal clear video with the click of a mouse. It’s much easier than dragging out a dedicated video camcorder, recording video and then connecting it to a computer to upload and then edit files.

The bottom line is that the FaceVsion FV TouchCam N1 is still better than the majority of webcams out there, with its high quality image production, color and audio. Just don’t expect to do much High Definition video work with the FV TouchCam N1, due to the HD application compatibility problems mentioned above. Even so, it’s a worthy webcam upgrade and we’re sure that Video bloggers, video contest participants and frequent Skype video callers will all enjoy the FaceVsion FV TouchCam N1.

If you’re interested in grabbing this device, you can purchase the FaceVsion FV TouchCam N1 on Amazon.

Review update: FaceVsion FV TouchCam N1 Skype HD video calls established!

11/29/2010: After updating to the just-released Skype version 5.0.0.156, I was able to establish an HD video call using the FaceVsion FV TouchCam N1.

Once a Skype video call switches into HD video mode, you’ll notice that the video changes to a 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio, as shown in the screenshot below.

I also had the HD video call receiver take a Skype snapshot of my video stream while in HD mode, which you can see below (click the image to view the full HD version).

Hopefully this latest Skype update makes it easier for all FaceVsion FV TouchCam N1 owners to establish HD video calls.

I got a Christmas surprise in the mail today from Google. I got home from work to find a plain brown box of medium weight waiting for me. It didn’t have any distinguishing features, and didn’t have a company name, just the name of an individual. I opened it up and discovered a brand new Chrome OS notebook from Google as part of the Chrome Pilot Program.

The Cr-48 notebook is a nondescript device, very unassuming with a matte black, rubberized finish all over. No logos, no decals, nothing. It’s lightweight, and has a speedy boot up.

The first thing I did was pull out my Flip Ultra HD and made a video to share with you. Check it out. (More thoughts after the video – apologies for the DailyMotion ads.)

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

This notebook clearly couldn’t replace my MacBook permanently. For one example: I couldn’t edit and upload this video on the Cr-48. I tried plugging the Flip into the Cr-48 to see if I could upload an unedited video, and the file option wouldn’t show the connected camera. I also could not use the Adobe applications I use occasionally. Of course the vast majority of my own personal computer usage is within my Chrome browser. Google Docs, Blogger, YouTube, Netflix, Hulu, Pandora, Facebook, etc. I also can’t sync my iPod up (which I hardly ever use).

The biggest drawback I’ve seen so far for every-day use is its inability to playback HD video. This is probably due to hardware limitations. SD video looks adequate enough, but it is notable.

I think I will use the Cr-48 as my primary personal computer for a while and see how far I can go before I have to pull my MacBook out for something that requires installed software, or saved files. I’ll be providing updates on this test in the future.

If you don’t think you could live with a cloud-based operating system, try this quiz out. (I scored a 10).

If you have any questions about the Cr-48′s capabilities, let me know and I’ll try it out on camera and post it.