Nick
try http://www.pocketsurfermobile.com for info
Blog Detail
Pocket Surfer Blog
http://www.pocketsurfercentral.com/
Blog about the pocketsurfer. Thoughts, views, ideas, other cool gadgets.
- Added on: Aug 1st, 2008
- Country: United States
- Language: English
- Author: John
- Listed in: Gadgets Internet
- Tags: mobile web datawind pocketsurfer pocket surfer pocketsurfer2 pocket surfer 2
Recent Posts
Blog
http://emarketingblogs.com/listings/user.php...
John Video
&nbs...
Pocket Surfer
Selina Sutten Fri 24 August, 2007 6:02pm My cousin lives in America and told me the first pocket surfer wasn't great! But how are you comparing the two, its like comparing VHS and DVD? Isn't this model a standalone unit as oppsed to a mobile accessor...
Blog_Editor_200881145719.flv
We are a group of independent inventors who, as all inventors, have set out to change things for the better. Our product the Pocket Surfer is the fastest mobile internet device in the world. We do not pertain that it does anything other then that, bu...
Blog_Editor_200881145719.flv
We are a group of independent inventors who, as all inventors, have set out to change things for the better. Our product the Pocket Surfer is the fastest mobile internet device in the world. We do not pertain that it does anything other then that, bu...
Welcome
Welcome to my blog. Please check back soon for new entries....
Comments & Reviews
This blog is currently rated a 4.67 out of a possible 5 based on 6 comments.
John
Pocket Surfer 2: Free mobile Internet, unbelievably fast
Related entries: Handhelds
Tags: datawind, proxy, gadget, gprs
In a hot, luxurious room last night, a gathering of media and business professionals were told the next generation of mobile Internet was here. It's called the Pocket Surfer 2 and it's made by a company called DataWind. Sceptical, we certainly were. DataWho? But we also spent the duration of the presentation with our eyebrows continually raising, mouths continually being drawn closer to the ground.
We used the Pocket Surfer 2 and it really is deeply impressive. Why? Because it offers completely free mobile Internet -- the full Internet -- at speeds faster than any BlackBerry, any Nokia, and even the allegedly omnipotent Apple iPhone, even though it uses GPRS, not 3G.
With a full-colour, 5-inch 640x240-pixel screen, it supports full HTML pages, JavaScript, frames (if you're 1999 enough to still use them), ActiveX control, Flash and Ajax. We saw it download a 2MB Adobe PDF file in less than seven seconds -- seriously, over GPRS. You can even download and open PowerPoint files, for crying out loud. As you can see, there's a full Qwerty keyboard, so Web mail and typing URLs is a cinch.
Before you go off your gadget-loving little nut -- or think it's too good to be true -- the Pocket Surfer has some drawbacks. We were sad to see YouTube videos don't play. This is probably to do with the limited processing power under the hood. You wouldn't be able to hear anything anyway, as there's no speakers or headphone socket -- which means no VoIP, of course.
It's going to launch at the start of August for £179.99 and that includes 20 hours a month for free, but hardcore users can pay £5.99 a month for completely unlimited usage. DataWind has some hefty bulk data deals with the network operators, and as an MVNO, it covers all the costs of your Internet browsing. There's no contract, no minimum usage period and no restriction on what you can browse. There are contextual ads on the built-in search, but you don't have to use it. Pretty sweet, huh? Click through for more info.
We got our hands on this gadget and in all honesty, it's got ridiculous amounts of potential. All the pages we tried loading -- CNET.co.uk, CNN, Engadget, BBC, to name but a few -- loaded in mere seconds. DataWind has a sturdy stash of patents under its belt (14, actually) for technology that allows it to compress pages to a thirtieth of their original size, meaning lightning-fast downloads, even over GPRS.
For the true geeks among you, it does this by using its own servers as a proxy. Pages are requested through the proxy, compressed into minuscule sizes, then belted across the airwaves to your handset. The handset uses Internet Explorer as its base, so fully encrypted Web pages, such as your online banking stuff, are supported.
Online Web apps work fine, apparently. We're told Google's online document, spreadsheet and email apps work perfectly, although we didn't have enough time to try them out. IM is built in -- specific details on this are heading our way -- and the package comes with 25GB of online storage that gives you access to your personal documents on the move. This feature is required because there's no built-in storage for files -- it's a dedicated Internet gizmo, not a PDA. It does come with some remote PC control software, meaning your home or office PC is accessible through the Web. We didn't see this in action, sadly
The built-in battery will spit out 5 hours of continuous browsing, or 5 days on standby. It weighs 172g and is about as wide as an average hand.
While this is all very impressive, there are still some grey areas to dampen your spirits. We weren't told whether periodic updates for plugins, such as Flash, will be supported. We're also not sure whether favourites and history lists are supported, though a representative of DataWind confirms it's almost certain. We'll just have to wait until the final units ship.
But, if you fancy checking Facebook in a taxi, banking on the toilet, cruising CNET.co.uk while sky-diving or viewing porn in an ice-cream store for free, get your wallet out in August when the Pocket Surfer 2 comes out. As you might expect, we'll have a full review for you with all the details in a couple of weeks, so be sure to check back, Cravoids. -Nate Lanxon
John
iPhone Download Speed Beaten by PocketSurfer2
IPhone Info December 6th, 2007 Howie Posted in iPhone Competitors |
In Australia the other day a Canadian company called Datawind staged a competition between its handheld device and the iPhone. The contest would see which device can download email the fastest and Datawind’s PocketSurfer2 won!
A Canadian company called DataWind wants its PocketSurfer2 to be the Internet device of choice down in Australia. The device looks like a mini notebook computer and presents the real web, showing the whole web page not just a mobile version. It was actually doing this before iPhone was released.
To bring attention to its Australian launch Datawind staged this download competition and beat iPhone. Of course, nobody ever said iPhone was a speed demon on its EDGE line but it is the most high profile portable device out there today.
PocketSurfer2 connects using GPRS an older wireless technology based on GSM that’s capable of 170 Kbps. iPhone uses EDGE which is newer and faster, capable of peaks of over 300Kbps.
So, how is it possible an EDGE device was beaten by a GPRS device? Do you really care?
Datawind has a special sauce in its download acceleration technology. Datawind says it’ll take seven seconds to download most pages. In the contest with iPhone PocketSurfer2 downloaded an eBay page in seven seconds while it took the iPhone four minutes.
Different approach to downloading
The technology is a departure from most digital mobile devices. When the user requests a download the device connects to Datawind servers in Canada via GPRS. Then the server does the browsing for you, downloads the pages, compresses it and sends it back to your device. The result is faster browsing than most mobile devices despite the slow connection speeds. That’s fine for downloading web-pages and email, but you can’t stream video this way.
Don’t go looking for the device in North America just yet. It’s only available in the UK, Germany and now Australia.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
3 Responses to “iPhone Download Speed Beaten by PocketSurfer2”
jamEs Says:
December 6th, 2007 at 3:40 pm
I’m surprised more server caching technology isn’t used for devices like that. It’s not like what the PocketSurfer is doing is any different from the accelerated dial-up services have been doing for years now. I’m surprised this technology isn’t used more in general. It makes up for the fact that most of the web is very poorly web optimized these days. People abuse the fact that people have high-speed connections and can download stuff faster. It kinda negates those gains when everything you download is larger for no good reason.
goodput Says:
December 10th, 2007 at 2:47 pm
jamEs, as long as the cellcos are allowed to extort $1-6 per MB from Canadians, there is no incentive to make their networks cashing friendly, or to offer cashing friendly products.
John
PocketSurfer 2 Now Available In The UK
Posted by Mike Slocombe on 10 October 2007 at 8:00 am | Tagged as: Platforms, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA)
Now tempting your wallet via the Clove website is the Datawind PocketSurfer2, a small, simple web-connected device with
low cost connection fees providing “pocket broadband access.”
Priced at a reasonable £180, the PocketSurfer 2 comes with a built SIM that lets you connect to the Internet for up to 20 hours per month for one year for free. After that, users get hit with a £39.95 yearly connection fee.
Sporting a rather bizarre design that looks like Tron meets the Motorola Razr, the keypad offers oddly shaped, angular keys, with a selection of quick access keys running down the left hand side.
The superslim PocketSurfer 2 claims web page loading times of “7-9 seconds,” with the blurb adding, “no pages are reduced in size or content, they appear as they would on a desktop or notebook PC. All this over GPRS!”
Reviews so far have borne out this nippy surfing, with web pages sent from Datawind’s server, with clever-clogs algorithms prioritising straight text page elements and shrinking down images, resulting in web page content being compressed by a factor of up to 30.
Pages are navigated via a clunky four-way navipad with a dedicated button letting you switch between standard and full screen mode.
Content can be uploaded to the free 25GB online storage vault provided by Datawind, and there’s support for email, SMS, IM and remote PC access, although anyone looking for a mobile multimedia experience will be disappointed to discover there’s no speaker onboard (and thus no VoIP).
Unfortunately, the Flash-tastic website was frustratingly low on detail, so we’re not sure what other apps are on board, neither was their any indication of what the operating system looks like. There’s still a lot to be said for simple HTML when manufacturers are trying to inform the public about their product rather than trying to bedazzle us with swishy animations.
So long as you stay within your allocated time limit, there are no separate network operator fees or service charges, with heavier users invited to shell out an additional £5.99/month for unlimited web access.
PocketSurfer2
Specs
Operating Frequency –
Quad Band GPRS 850/900/1800/1900MHZ
Internal High Performance Antenna
Input/Output
Mini-USB Charging Port
Mouse Pointer GPS Location Information
Loads web pages in under 7 seconds
Full QWERTY Backlight Display
Battery –
Rechargeable Lithium polymer Battery
5 Hours Active Usage, 5 Hours standby
Weight - 174g
Dimensions - 152×75x15mm
zarko
Pocket Surfer 2
The Pocket Surfer 2 is a mobile device that lets you collect your email, send instant messages and check your favourite websites like Google and Facebook while out and about.
Two remarkable things to note about Pocket Surfer 2
There are no monthly fees or high data charges
Web pages, emails and instant messages load in lightning quick time on the Pocket Surfer 2
Frequently Asked Question
How much does it cost to own and run?
The Pocket Surfer 2 costs from £145 to buy and that's all you pay for the first year. There are no data charges and no contract so you can surf and email to your hearts content. After the first year Datawind, the company that makes the Pocket Surfer 2 say that the MAXIMUM you will pay is £40 a year.
How quickly do web pages load?
A typical Facebook page will load in 5 seconds, we've tested flash heavy sites like the Sky.com and they loads in 6-7 seconds. Gmail emails start to appear in 3 seconds. Datawind has invented a technology that compressed the web pages before they get to you so that they load lightning fast.
How does the Pocket Surfer connect to the internet, is it Wi-Fi?
The Pocket Surfer connects to the internet through GPRS, which is the same way mobile phones can access the mobile web. The difference is on mobiles you can only access mobile versions of websites, with Pocket Surfer you can visit the exact same sites you visit on your computer at home or work. You do not need to be near a WiFi hotspot to use the Pocket Surfer, any where you can get a mobile signal, you can surf the web.
Can I check my email on the Pocket Surfer?
Yes, this is the killer application for this device. You can check your mail in two ways. If you have a webmail account like Google Mail, Hotmail or AOL Mail you can surf straight to the email website, log in and check your mail. If you use Outlook, you can enter your email account details into the device and check your emails in Outlook.
Can I send and receive Instant Messages (IM) from the Pocket Surfer?
You sure can. The pocket surfer has a built in area where you can enter your login details for the IM service of your choice (AIM, MSN Messenger etc.) or, most IM services offer online versions of their instant messaging version software that you can log in and chat through.
Can I install programs on the Pocket Surfer?
I'm afraid not but the pocket surfer can open Word documents and Excel spreadsheets on the go, and it has email and IM built in. You can even access your main PC back at home or the office from the Pocket Surfer if you need to take documents with you on the move.
Are there any other cool things the Pocket Surfer can do?
Yes! One of the first things you see once you have turned on and register your Pocket Surfer is a map of your exact location. The Pocket Surfer contains a Built-in GPS receiver, a bit like the one you have in your car to give you driving directions, and can show you on a map exactly where you are! You'll never get lost with a Pocket Surfer.
It can also access your home PC remotely. If you are out and about and want to show someone a word doc or spreadsheet you can easily log into your home PC and open it up!
What sort of people and applications is the Pocket Surfer 2 good for?
Here's just a few of the ways you might want to use the
Pocket Surfer:
You're a businessman on the move who needs to browse the web as well as check email
You're banned from using Facebook at work and want to check it on breaks
You are addicted to Twitter or IM but not always near a PC
You don't want to pay a subscription fee to access your email on the move
You are an ebay buyer or seller who's not always near a computer
You don't really need a computer at home but want to stay in contact with your distant relatives or grandchildren by email
Can I watch video on the Pocket Surfer?
The pocket surfer can't play videos like those on YouTube, it can download Flash and run Java applications (like online Instant Messaging programs).
How should I contact for Pocket Surfer customer service
Pocket Surfer customer services can be reached by email at uksupport@datawind.com or by phoning 0844 999 0990
The pocketsurfer is effectively a VNC or Remote Desktop session. It is not a web browser as such, its like a little window through which you access a server, and the server has Internet Explorer and a few document viewers (acrobat reader etc) on it. So the only data it receives from the server is an 'image' representing the 640*200pixels of the site or document you are viewing. When you scroll, the next part of the site is loaded. It is fast compared to most other mobile solutions, especially at the price. It downloads only the portions of the 'image' that you scrollto see. It never loads a single pixel of data unless you move the viewport to that section of the page.
The pocketsurfer is fast because it doesnt download the file. It doesnt decrompress, or even display the file. The server does all the work, then the pocketsurfer displays a picture, one 640x200px section at a time. Thats why you cant watch video or sound. I'm sure the video is smooth as you like on the server, but by the time the pocketsurfer displays it, you only get 1 frame, an image of what the site looked like when it loaded.
Overall this works well, the biggest drawbacks being that there is no mouse, so you move the pointer with arrows, and you have to enter text a little unintuitively. Plus, In Australia, the vodafone GPRS network's coverage is poor so coverage, particularly in-building, is not ideal.
Posted: October 13th, 2008 | Report This Comment