…I doubt it – Not the part about this being the new iPhone that’s supposed to drop this summer. I doubt the fact that it [iPhone prototype] was “lost” in a bar somewhere, and found only for the rights to be sold and I’m assuming bought by Gizmodo, for their breaking story. My guess is that this is an ingenious way for Apple to create some buzz, so they very slickly (I made that up) let the phone out into the wild in hopes that this exact thing happens – somebody finds it and leaks it to the highest bidder.

*All speculation for the sake of posting a story, so deal with it*

But Gizmodo did some research in addition to completely taking the phone apart, and thus, claim this is a real iPhone 4G prototype. So since they believe it, I do too (Sorry Erykah, but imma go with groupthink on this one), so I’m gonna post some of the new design features:

- Front-facing camera (for video conference calls, chats, etc)
- Back camera WITH FLASH
- Larger battery
- Smaller screen but higher resolution
- Completely flat back, as opposed to the current slightly curved one, with aluminum border

There is some other stuff, but the above are the best new features in my opinion.

The reasons why they think it’s a real phone is because the phone was actually reported lost, and before Gizmodo could get a chance to play with the phone’s OS, Apple remotely killed the phone. The phone also had a plastic casing around it to disguise it as an iPhone 3GS.

But again, I think this was a carefully crafted scheme by Apple to accidentally on purpose get the word out on it’s new device “But I ain’t the one to gossip, so you ain’t heard it from me”

To get more pics, vids, and details on why they think this phone is the “real deal”, visit: gizmodo.com

I am a fan of Smart Home Technology and there are some cool apps via Apple App Store developed by home automation integration manufacturers such as Savant Systems, Control4, HomeSeer, and HAI that will allow you to control your home via an iPod Touch, iPhone, and the new iPad.

But in my hastiness to show you what an iPad can do outside of just playing games, watching video, reading books and sending an email/tweet or two, I may have incorrectly given folks the idea that all you need is an app downloaded onto you Apple gadget and you are good to go – WRONG! You need a little bit more than just an app and a cool control gadget to have a complete home automation system capable of controlling your lighting, security, media & HVAC.

The Low Down:

I am gonna give you a down and dirty on what you would need to have a complete Home Automation System. Here are the basic components:

Software – The language that your system uses to operate
Connection – How your devices are connected to each other
Control – unit that connects all your devices and sends out all the commands
Interface – What you use to send the commands to the system

If you can put two and two together, you already know which part the fancy Apple products falls under…..the interface. It’s the nifty gadget that you use to control your system. Most systems still use those bulky, expensive, touch screens OR a universal remote with not enough buttons to get the job done.

These devices can easily run you approx. $1k+ just to run your home from the inside, which makes using an iPad or other mobile gadget a VERY NICE alternative…you can do much more for much less.

The interface, while the coolest, is usually the LAST part you need to complete your system. Probably the first component of a home automation system you need to think about is the Software – the portion that translates the signals from the interface into commands for the devices to execute.

Next up is the path of travel (connection) for the signals and commands to travel. It can either be wired, or wireless, or both. But the signals need a path to get from your interface to the device.

The only thing that’s left is the brains of the system – The control unit. It’s the component that routes all the translated commands from the software to the appropriate devices. It tells what to go where and when. The control unit monitors the system and is hooked up to all of your controlled devices.

With home automation, you can either Do it all yourself, or get a home integrator to do it all for you – DIY home automation is getting easier and easier, but it takes time to figure out all the ins and outs. If you can put a values your time (and it takes time), paying somebody to do it may serve you better.

Now of course I left out a bunch, but that was the purpose of this article – to let you know there is more to home automation than just downloading an app. But I’m not gonna leave you hanging without some linky goodness if you want to do more research.

How Smart Homes Work

How to Install Smart House Technology

How to Wire Your Home for Automation

Do-it-Yourself Home Automation

Home Control iPhone Apps

…Or RUMORED to be doing about it – Just about ALL of this is just a bunch of speculative rumors, but when has speculation and rumors that ever stopped anybody?

First, let’s get the main and most popular reason why I haven’t jumped on the bandwagon yet:

The Low Down:

1. Their stuff is expensive. They provide a good product for their fanboys/girls loyal customer base, so they have every right to be handsomely compensated. I just haven’t been able to convince the CFO of the family (read: Mrs. Tech) to shell out the dough for “research”.

If cost wasn’t an issue, then another issue is that…

2. I am currently on contract with “Big Red” (rhymes with “Horizon Fireless”), and it doesn’t expire until December. Once my contract is up, I would consider a switch to AT&T and their dreaded “You don’t need to talk to anyone right now” network capabilites. But word on the street is that AT&T is ramping up their network to compete with a rumored new iPhone version the COULD work on Verizon’s Network…which seems to be more stable. This works for me in two ways – 1. If I decide to switch to AT&T, the network should be improved. 2. If Verizon does get a decent iPhone version, I may not have to switch at all. Well, actually 3. Since I have preorded the 3G version of the iPad, so I REALLY want AT&T’s network to get it’s act together.

Now I can feel all the geeks breathing down my neck ready to jump on me with a knee-jerky “You know you can “jail break” your iPhone and use it on T-Mobile right?” reactions. Me being a geek myself, I would be intrigued to do so, and I probably wouldn’t have any trouble freeing up an iPhone from AT&T. And I wouldn’t be worried about voiding out any warranty or dealing with Apple customer/tech service with a jail broke iPhone – i’m a geek, so I would figure it out. My response would be “I shouldn’t have to jail break my phone to use it properly”. Not down playing the ingenuity and “workaroundability” (I just made that up) of folks who have figured out how to crack an iPhone. It just aint THAT deep for me. That and…

Cost and a sucky wireless network aren’t the ONLY, albeit good reasons why I have shyed away from an iPhone. I am currently using a BlackBerry, and I enjoy being able to hop in and out of apps (Opera Mini, UberTwitter, Viigo News) at will.

3. With the iPhone, or the new upcoming iPad for that matter, Multi-tasking is a no-go…for now. It was speculated that Apple passed on the ability due to a drain on battery life. But it seems as if Apple does listen to it’s customer base if the rumors about the upcoming iPhone 4G and that it’s operating system will add multi-tasking are true. Since the iPad will run on a similar OS, my hope is that I get a two-fer: Both the iPad and iPhone will finally get on board with the rest of the mobile technology world and give us multi-tasking.

5. The only other issue I can think of with the iPhone is you can’t view Flash content, which most people scoffed at Apple for not adopting. Since most websites use Flash for video content, you can see a bunch of holes on websites where videos would normally appear if you are trying to view them on the iPhone, iPod Touch, and the new iPad. Steve jobs on several occasions has stated that he doesn’t like Flash so none of these gadgets use it.

Apple’s workaround: HTML5 – The upcoming improved world wide web coding language than gives developers the ability to script their own multimedia user interface (more control over content). One can assume that Apple is betting on the idea that HTML will free up web developers to do what they please with their media content. With the addition of the iPad to Apple’s arsenal, and the so far good response from consumers, Apple and it’s products, could be the catalyst for more companies to adopt the improved web language and rush it from currently being a just a “draft”, to a reality – YouTube, Brightcove (who might just boost Apple’s video capabilities) and a host of others are already working on modernizing HTML5, so look forward to that reality sooner than later.

Hulu is using Flash, which sucks, because I watch it when I am work when I can’t catch my shows on network TV – more after the break:

Like I stated earlier, right now, just about all of this is speculation, so who knows what’s gonna happen. Add to the fact that BLACKBERRY IS THE NUMBER ONE SMARTPHONE SELLER IN THE WORLD, and add to the fact that and I am creature of habit, and my BlackBerry works just fine…pretty well actually. Also, I am pretty sure RIM is not gonna stand idle and let Apple control all the current hype surrounding their products. Or let Android surpass it with their new found popularity and handsome app offerings…and a HUGE name like Google behind them.

RIM does have it’s work cut out for it is they want to keep me (among others) as a loyal customer (my wife and just about my entire family uses a BlackBerry, and I’m the techie of family, so where I go…)

- RIM’s web browser is sad at best – which I have found my own workaround with the Opera Browser for smartphones until the rumored (yes another rumor) BlackBerry WebKit Browser comes out.

– RIM is getting killed in the app department – folks like the ease of use in apps and to my knowledge, they are not that complicated to create (“Thinkin’ of a master plan, Cuz ain’t nothing but sweat inside my hand…”), and Developers are leaning towards Apple, then Android, then BlackBerry as their platform of choice.

So by the time 2011 rolls around, all of these speculations and rumors should be laid to rest, and it will be clear if I, according to this article, am one of the 40% of BlackBerry users who want to switch to an iPhone. – That number seems high, but when has numbers and statistics ever stopped anybody?

Multi-room audio - The EASY way

It was thought that the ONLY ways to enjoy quality music throughout your home was to either pre-wire your newly-built “McMansion” with miles of audio cable, install in-wall or in-ceiling speakers and connect it all to a CD changer or FM tuner in the basement; OR pay someone to come out and retrofit your 50-year old home with all the above equipment (which costs more). Oh, there is also the old-fashioned way: Buy two powered tower speakers, hook them up to a beefy amp/receiver AND JUST CRANK IT!

Well there is another option – Wireless! Now don’t get me wrong (and let me ease the anger of audiophiles everywhere), connecting all of your audio equipment directly (wired) is still going to provide you with the best sound quality and if done right, will ensure the lowest amount of signal interference. But as technology advances, newer ways to do the same ol’ same ol’ will advance as well.

The Lowdown:

Enter Sonos, a multi-room audio system built around wirelessly sending audio signals to different components around your home without the complicated and costly process of your typical wired multi-room audio distribution system.

Sonos claims that it’s system will provide the user:

“- Wireless that works like magic
- A multi-room system that’s flawless, flexible and fun.
- Instant access to endless music.
- Setup that’s out-of-the-box simple.“

[click the links for detailed descriptions]

They way they accompish this is by:

1. Connecting a ZoneBridge or ZonePlayer to your broadband router

2. Placing additional ZonePlayers in all the rooms where you want music, either by connecting said players to existing audio equipment (A/V receiver and/or powered speakers). Or adding players that include amplification and sound output.

3. Once the ZonePlayers are in place, you can control the players and your music collection by either the Sonos PC or Mac program, a Sonos portable controller, or by dowloading an app that will convert your iPhone or iPod Touch into a Sonos Player (Yes, you can control your multi-room audio system with your iPhone).

You can also listen to Internet radio (free or fee) and other online music services like Rhapsody, Napster & Pandora.

“You don’t need to be a tech genius or a wireless expert. You don’t have to break through walls or hire someone to re-wire your house. And you don’t need to know what hex keys and SSID are. All you need is a high-speed Internet connection, a router and two fingers so you can push the buttons on every ZonePlayer. When you want to expand, just add more ZonePlayers and Controllers and get those fingers ready.”

Prices for the ZoneBridge and ZonePlayers start at about $100 bucks, the Sonos Controller is $350 (iPhone or iPod Touch app is free) and the Sonos program for Mac or PC is free as well. They also have bundles they suggest as a simple way to get all you need with one purchase.

For all you audiophiles that contest enjoying your music collection via a series of complex audio connections is the ONLY way to do it…do yo’ thang. For everybody else who just wants some music in the kitchen while they cook, Sonos may be an ideal alternative.

*cough*Since I did such a nice writeup, maybe Sonos will send me some products to review*cough*

If you don’t already know by now, Brotha Tech is a Crackberry Addict. As a result, I would be hardpressed to give you a un-biased head-to-head of the new Motorola DROID versus the widely popular Apple iPhone…so I will let somebody else do it (one of these days, I will branch out)

The Lowdown:

The folks over at Techno Buffalo (nice job on the new site) have put up a nice video on the two devices and how they stand up against each other in a few main categories: web browsing, typing, and apps. So for all you die-hard iPhone users, an those thinking about jumping on the DROID bandwagon, check out this video:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9YGvLHvUxQ&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&feature=player_embedded&fs=1]

Maybe when the BlackBerry Storm 2 drops, they will revisit the smartphone battle *hint hint*

[via: Techno Buffalo]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jV2AqTlQsno&hl=en&fs=1&]