Who’s on Crack in Tech: 8.13.10

What’s the most common phrase heard around the Gadgetell newsroom? Is it “I love Apple?”, “that’s cool!” or “sweet!”? Answer: none of them, it’s “they are on crack”. This week we take a look back at the things that made us chuckle in the tech world. This week, it seems there was more folks on dope than not. Lets get to the accused:

• R2-D2 vs Android
• Android event?
• Will I be fooled by Apple again?
• Palm has left the building

Verizon hands the mic to Artoo

Droid 2 or R2-D2 version? Our Natesh Sood says, “…the latest rumor, courtesy of Android Central, is reporting the special edition Motorola Droid 2 will launch September 30. Most Motorola Droid 2 fans who happen to be Star Wars fans may not particularly wish to wait seven weeks to purchase the R2-D2 Droid 2, especially considering the phone looks “okay.”” Hmmm. Let’s look at this decision logically:

Round 1: who could win in a fight?

It always boils down to this right? Andy, the Android mascot we know can rip it up on a skateboard. He’s been imaged peeing on apples. According to Verzion, Andy just “does”. Vague enough?

R2-D2 on the other hand, is like the Swiss-Army knife of robots. From a taser of sorts, to rockets in his legs to his own home cinema, this bot’s got a lot of fire power.

Unless there is some kind of vert ramp involved, round 1 goes to R2.

Round 2: Sex appeal

Let’s get this out of the way: mates don’t find your Star Wars posters sexy. Your immaculate collection of action figures (they’re not dolls dammit), along with retail packaging impresses very few of the people you hope to impress. The images we’ve seen of the R2 Droid 2 version scream I care about Star Wars a bit too much. Round 2 goes to Droid.

In the end, R2′s sold out. He’s licensed himself more than any other extra-terrestial character, from salt shakers, speakers, USB ports, waste cans…the list goes on and on. Sorry R2, as much as I care about you on the inside, even I can’t justify showing that love on the outside. Winner: Droid 2 (Sans R2 sounds).

Google holds Android event

Phone events get my blood rushing. I contemplate the numerous ways they can blow my mind by announcing a needed upgrade or go way out of the box and leapfrog everyone. Unfortunately, at yesterday’s Google event we go this, as reported by Sue Walsh:

“Google has introduced a new extension for their Chrome browser. Called Chrome to Phone, it allows users of Android smartphones to sync up with Chrome using it and the Chrome to Phone Android app.”

Umm, OK. That capabilities been out for a while. Heck, even in Google Maps, where the data is most welcome for directions and such on a desktop you can send right to your GPS system (even if it is on your phone). The other “big” announcement – Voice. Use your voice to control your phone. Genius.

Cool? Yes. Worthy of my time in watching live blogs? Heck no. No new phone, no new version announcements, no much needed market update. Instead, I am getting confused with all the variants, new devices launching with 1.xx software and what can be updated and what can’t. Google is on crack to think they’ll keep my attention with non-event events. Yawn. Quit crying wolf.

Apple iPod touch to get camera, Retina.

It’s a done deal right? You can easy see the logic in bringing a camera down and the Retina display to the iPod line, right? Makes absolute perfect business sense.

Our sister-site Appletell tells all: “[t]he iPod touch would gain the latest touch-screen from Apple—the Retina Display—as well as not one, but two cameras. It’s likely safe to assume the main camera will be 5MP and able to record HD-quality movies to edit on the fly with iMovie. The second camera will find its main use with FaceTime using e-mail to initiate calls, as hinted in the third beta of iOS 4.1″

Only, thats what I thought last time. Someone in China even mades cases with camera holes for the last iPod touch. I was ready to buy, I might have even told you I was 100% certain this was happening. Only this time, I refused to get my hopes up again. FaceTime, Retina, Video – save it. I’ve stopped listening.

Do we really think only the iPhone 4 and iPad will share the sharp edge look? Are we still buying iPods in this day of smartphone love? Why do I still care?

Palm has left the building

“Palm has lost several high profile members this year, including the lead of the user interface design team, the man responsible for its webOS notification system, and the VP of software. Now its VP of Design is joining the conga line out the door,” says our Andrew Kameka

The VP, Peter Skillman was the Pre’s father. Without key members of the Palm team, what will HP rely on to “wow” us? We’ve seen the iPaq and frankly, now we’re a bit scared. Don’t get us wrong, the Pre was no bit of plastic to be paraded about, but it was head and shoulders above the iPaq.

I consider webOS to be an egg at this point. A fragile, beautiful egg that could easily flop to ground and render it’s yolk useless. HP seems content to juggle the eggs, letting form Palm fiends fall where they may.

I’ll use a quote that will render my, “I-am-too-cool-to-use-an-R2D2-phone” argument useless: “I feel a great disturbance in the force.” We have nothing but faith HP will do something good with webOS in a smartphone. My faith lessens with each passing day.