The Digital Home

In today's Friday episode, I go hands-on with the Heil PR-40. Check it out.

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As an iPhone 3G owner since its launch, I've spent considerable time with Apple's latest entrant to the smartphone market. And although the first few weeks were stellar and I was absolutely delighted to have third-party apps and expand the scope of what this product could do, I've quickly realized that the iPhone 3G isn't best for everyone.

In fact, I honestly don't think anyone needs an iPhone 3G and would be better suited with a BlackBerry for smartphone needs. That said, the iPhone 3G is popular because people want it. And after a few weeks of using it, they realize quickly that they really didn't need it.

Let's face it -- do you really need to have an iPhone 3G? Any BlackBerry can check email, browse the Web, and let you download third-party apps. Granted, those apps may not be as "cool" as Apple's apps and RIM's devices don't have a touch-screen -- yet -- but we can't lose sight of the fact that the iPhone 3G does what practically every other smartphone on the market can do.

The only reason the iPhone 3G is popular today is because of its aesthetics. Sure, it has a lower price tag now and people are happy that they can load apps onto it, but it's a product that thrives because its design is unique and the manufacturer is Apple.

Hulu's success has surprised me somewhat and in today's video, I tell you exactly why..

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The video game industry is abuzz over the possibility of Take-Two Interactive and Electronic Arts joining hands and become the world's most powerful video game developer. According to EA, such a move will improve its lineup of games and help consolidate its presence in the industry.

Take-Two hasn't been so delighted about EA's acquisition attempts. The company has let the offer deadlines slip countless times--the last happened just nine days ago--but it still can't quite shake EA. And this time around, the companies have signed a confidentiality agreement that would ensure both sides don't go public with the closed-door proceedings.

Some tout this acquisition as the next logical step for a video game industry that's becoming more consolidated. Others say that EA's takeover of Take-Two could actually increase the value of games and create a company that will offer some of the most impressive titles we have ever seen, thanks to the combined efforts of developers.

That sentiment may ring true in some cases, and every now and then, there's a flash of something unique, but if this acquisition becomes a reality and EA swallows up one of the biggest developers in the industry, it spells trouble for gamers and the industry itself.

With Nielsen ratings losing some of its relevance, Don Reisinger explores how we can measure TV ratings.

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According to analyst Colin Sebastian at Lazard Capital Markets, the next generation of video game consoles could start around 2012. But in an attempt to jump-start the next-gen and add some functionality that it's already lacking, Sebastian believes a Wii follow-up could be first to the market.

"One possible exception to console timing may be Nintendo, which could opt to upgrade the Wii with faster processing power, DVD capability and/or greater storage," Sebastian said.

Granted, that upgrade sounds more like a Wii 1.5 than a Wii 2.0, but it still highlights an important point: should Nintendo be the first to enter the next-gen fray or the last? Ostensibly, this analyst thinks it should be first.

I think it should be last.

Today I took a look at Madden 2009 for the Xbox 360. Find out what I thought!

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Apple is one of the major leaders in the multitouch space and yet, the company's desire to bring a full-fledged touch-screen device to store shelves has stopped with the iPhone. In fact, the most it has done in bringing multitouch to its computers is offering the functionality in the track pad on its MacBook Air.

But simply offering multitouch on a trackpad isn't enough to make consumers want to flock to Apple products instead of HP or Dell machines. Instead, Apple needs to embrace the fact that many people prefer touch-screen technology and create a Mac that offers the same basic functionality found in the iPhone.

Innovation has been a key to Apple's success over the past decade and without it, the company would be nothing more than another computer vendor. But by releasing a Mac that eclipses the functionality of the tablet PC and fully harnesses the power of multitouch in a way that no one has seen before, Apple can create the computing world's first iPhone-like success.

And in the process, Apple could single-handedly propel the computing market forward into a new era where vanilla products are the exception and establish itself as the de facto leader in innovation.

Press play to watch me discuss the Logitech Harmony One Universal Remote!

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