Archive for March 2010
2009 netbook stats from Entrepreneur Magazine
I read some interest stats on netbooks, recently, in an issue of Entrepreneur Magazine.
According to the article, small businesses are the biggest buyers of netbooks these days, and typically firms with less than 10 employees. Companies of 20-99 employees are said to account for future netbook sales.
| $2 Billion | Amount spent on netbooks by small and medium-size businesses worldwide in 2009 |
| 5.2 Billion | Number of netbooks bought by small businesses in 2009 |
| 19% | Percentage of total netbooks shipped in 2009 that went into emerging markets such as china. |
| $1.9 Billion | Amount spent by netbook buyers in emerging markets |
In addition to netbooks, “smartbooks”, there will be tablets (e.g. iPad, etc), as well as thin-clients such as pano logic from 2010 and beyond. Lots of different device “form-factors”.
Of course, in home (e.g. kitchen, bedroom, living room) is the target application domain for litl.
Flash and the City conference in May 2010 is now co-sponsored by litl
I noticed the upcoming Flash and the City conference held in NY is now co-sponsored by litl (as well as Adobe).
Simulator in the works for the pending litl SDK
Kathryn Rotondo had a post on her flash blog about the upcoming simulator that will be one part of the litl SDK estimated to launch in May. From the sound it, looks like litl will be redeveloping the legacy Java-based simulator into one based on AIR 2.0 and Flex making it very cross platform friendly.
The simulator is one part of the Flash Development SDK in the works over at litl.
litl is sponsoring a BFPUG meeting this April
This coming April, litl is sponsoring a BFPUG event in Boston. Chuck Freedman and the team at litl will be hosting a meeting in which attendees will be able to have some hands-on with the litl platform before the expected Flash 10.1 SDK in May:
Title: BFPUG April Meeting
Date and Time: April 28, 2010 from 7:15pm – 9:00pm
Address: litl HQ (aka Aquent HQ)
33 Exeter St
Boston, MA
(Map)Description:
Chuck Freedman and the team at litl will be hosting a special meeting at their offices downtown. You will see and be able to play with the litl as they prepare to launch the new Flash 10.1 based SDK in May.In addition to hosting, litl will be providing food and drink.
Litl to release Software Development Kit (SDK) with Support for Adobe Flash Player 10.1
Litl to Release Software Development Kit (SDK) with Support for Adobe Flash Player 10.1
SDK to Launch May 14, 2010 at “Flash and the City” Conference
Boston, Mass – March 23, 2010 – Litl (litl.com) today announced that its litl webbook will soon feature a software development kit (SDK) with full support for Adobe® Flash® Player 10.1. The SDK will enable developers to create custom applications for the litl webbook using Adobe’s popular Flash platform. Litl plans to release the SDK – including a code library, simulator, code samples, and documentation – on May 14, 2010 at “Flash and the City” (flashandthecity.com), a developers’ conference in New York. Developers can learn more and join an email list at litl’s developer resource website (developer.litl.com).
The litl webbook is an innovative new Internet computer for the home. It can go online in a conventional laptop-like mode, rendering websites with a modern browser and built-in support for Flash. However, the computer can also stand upright like an easel when its screen and keyboard are flipped around its unique hinge. In this new mode, the litl webbook’s 12-inch screen becomes an ideal platform for displaying ambient web content ranging from photos and video to music and RSS feeds. The device also connects to large-screen televisions via a plug-and-play HDMI connection.
Alongside the litl webbook’s browser, users can also access web content through custom Flash applications or “channels. Channels transform web content to make it more useful and entertaining, especially in the litl webbook’s new “easel” mode. Channels custom-designed by litl and already available to users include Facebook, The Weather Channel, Flickr, Shutterfly, and BakeSpace. With the SDK’s release, users will benefit from a much larger selection of free and paid channels created by independent developers and partners.
“Our SDK is ideal for talented Flash Platform developers with creative ideas that will flourish on the litl OS,” said Chuck Freedman, litl’s chief channel evangelist. “The litl webbook provides a simple and enjoyable computing experience built on an innovative form factor, cool features and a clean user interface. With the launch of our SDK and Flash Player 10.1, we will provide developers with a very real ecosystem to monetize their development efforts and further enhance the litl user experience.”
“I’m quite excited about litl’s plans to release a public SDK with support for Adobe’s Flash Player 10.1. It represents a unique opportunity for the broader Flash community to get involved creating content for an interesting form-factor and innovative cloud-based operating system,” said noted mobile and device developer, author, and speaker Scott Janousek of the Boston-based firm, Hooken Mobile.
To learn more, developers should visit developer.litl.com and join the SDK’s email list. Developers are also invited to attend “Flash and the City” in New York from May 14-16. Representatives from litl will be on hand to introduce the SDK, share rollout plans, and help developers get started.
About litl
Based in Boston, litl is a new kind of computer company. The company was founded to make the web more enjoyable and entertaining for everyday consumers. Small and personal by design, we invite you to learn more at litl.com.
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litl: SDK & Flash Player 10.1 from litl
litl launches BakeSpace recipe channel for the “digital kitchen”
litl launched the BakeSpace recipe channel a while back that helps to promote the device in kitchen.
It’s on my list to utilize my litl in the kitchen space more, but it winds up being used more to stream hulu videos via HDMI right now. Perhaps it’s because I fail to have the time to properly plan and cook a meal from a recipe. What I need is a litl robot to fetch all the supplies at the grocery store, prep them, and allow me to step through the fun part.
litl gets a litl better with software update
A while back, litl unleached an upgrade to all the litl’s out there.
Here’s more info:
Hi,
We just released a batch of improvements for your litl webbook, and we wanted you to be the first to know about them.
This latest set of updates focuses on the litl’s photo and video experience, including:• Enhanced Mediawall that’s faster to load and easier to navigate
• Picasa and SmugMug now supported within the Mediawall
• Convenient uploading of photos and video clips from a USB card reader to our supported online photo services
• Fun new Picture Puzzle channel, which scrambles your Mediawall photos and challenges you to put them back togetherWe’ve also added to the Card Catalog a new recipe channel powered by BakeSpace, the popular website for cooking and baking enthusiasts. The channel provides quick and easy access to more than 50,000 member-submitted recipes and then displays them full-screen for you in the litl webbook’s classic easel mode. Learn more and watch a short video on our blog.
Finally, we’ve made improvements to the litl’s software based on your feedback. One of the features you have asked for is two-finger “nudging” to navigate in card view, so we added it. That’s the beauty of a computer company that listens.
Getting these updates is a snap—just leave your litl webbook turned on and connected to your home wireless network starting today. We’ll take care of everything else.
If you have any questions or want to offer feedback, please contact our customer support team by phone (800.878.0900) or email (asklitl@litl.com). As always, thanks for buying a litl.
Best, litl
One thing I have noticed when I use my litl from time to time is that the video has gotten better. During my intial trials with the device I wasn’t able to stream hulu videos fullscreen very well. Perhaps it was my network, but I swear that the litl is better at video playback … perhaps they’ve addressed some issues with video in an earlier update.
In any regards, I like the fact that litl can do these almost seamless updates. As a developer and techie though, I’d like to have some kind of history to look at, or at least know what’s included with each update. Maybe I’m too programmed from Microsoft and Apple though … maybe it’s best if I just let litl decide what’s best to install on this sort of device (i.e. one I’m not using for work or mission critical stuff).
In any case, I’m still looking for that killer application of the litl that makes it stand out from the rest of my device form factors in this class of device (i.e. digital living room device).
litl launches NPR news channel (streaming radio)
litl has launched a new NPR channel that allows customers to stream news and other audio programs from NPR on their litl.
It’s pretty sweet if you’re into radio and streaming audio while you work or do other things (e.g. make dinner in the kitchen, etc).
