The CherryPal “cloud computer” was announced today. The $249 pc uses only 2 watts of power at maximum usage, but the specs seem to be on the lower end of usability.

Priced at US$249, the system includes a Freescale processor running at 400MHz, 256M bytes of RAM and 4G bytes of internal flash storage. It comes with the OpenOffice suite and the Firefox Web browser. By comparison, Asus Eee PC mini-notebooks have at least an 800GHz Intel Celeron processor, 512M bytes of RAM and 2G bytes of flash storage for about $300.

Users have the option to store data online, a concept known as “cloud” storage, and access it from any device, including mobile phones. Online storage capacity of 50G bytes will be provided at no extra cost, according to the company.

The 400MHz processor sounds absurdly slow, but it’s a more efficient multi-core design that gets more work done in each clock cycle than other low-end processors. The Freescale processor isn’t likely to run Windows anytime soon, though — it isn’t an Intel-compatible design. And Linux programs will need to be ported — or at least recompiled — to run on the CherryPal.

It’s true that web browsing doesn’t require high end gear, but there is a minimum level of hardware necessary for comfortably using video sites like YouTube and Hulu, and playing even basic Java and Flash games online, and this might be pushing it. We won’t know for sure until someone gets to do some testing and benchmarking.

The CherryPal is an intriguing idea — it would be very cool if a new hardware platform took off. But for most people there are better options out there. For example, the Everex gPC2 available from WalMart.com for $199 uses a little more electricity, but it has a 1.5 ghz Via C7-D energy efficient processor, 512 mb RAM, 80 gb hard drive, and a DVD-ROM/CD-RW combo drive. The gOS flavor of Linux and the OpenOffice.org 2.3 office suite come pre-installed, and Windows can be installed if that’s how you roll.

For you greenies out there, Via even claims the the C7-D processor is the world’s first Carbon Free computer component.

If you’re still interested in the CherryPal, you can get more information and place your order here: www.CherryPal.com

Can PC manufacturers make money on ultra-light ultra-cheap laptops? That’s the question:

The personal computer industry is poised to sell tens of millions of small, energy-efficient Internet-centric devices. Curiously, some of the biggest companies in the business consider this bad news.

“We’re sitting on the sidelines not because we’re lazy. We’re sitting on the sidelines because even if this category takes off, and we get our piece of the pie, it doesn’t add up,” said Paul Moore, senior director of mobile product management for Fujitsu. “It’s a product that essentially has no margin.”

Enough companies seem to be on board to keep this trend going, and I hope that continues. Small, cheap and connected devices constitute a very disruptive tool that could change our day-to-day lives in ways that haven’t even occurred to us yet.

When my daughter’s pretty pink RAZR took a four story fall at the St. Louis City Museum (see picture below) and ended up in peices, I loaned her my old T-Mobile SDA Windows Mobile smartphone. She likes it a lot, especially the ability to read ebooks on it. The phone has WiFi, but with no touch screen or qwerty keyboard, it isn’t much fun to use as a web browser. She just turned 13, and I’m anxious too see how much she explores the phone’s capabilities.

We upgraded our WordPress software from version 2.5 to 2.6. The new version came out 1 day after our major 2.5 upgrade. There shouldn’t be any issues, but let us know if you encounter any wonky behavior.

If you’re interested in WordPress, here’s news about the latest release.

CNet has a full review of the Opera Mobile 9.5 beta browser, released a few days ago. It looks like Opera may be the browser to beat for Windows Mobile devices — not a high target given the state of mobile IE.

And Andrew Smith, blogging for the Dallas Morning News Techblog, has this to say:

It’s only in beta, but based upon three days of testing I’m already willing to declare Opera Mobile 9.5 the best browser available for Windows Mobile phones.

InfoWorld’s Paul Venezia has much more on the rogue SF network admin currently sitting in jail, via an anonymous insider.

With the new lower pricing on the 3G iPhone, I was hoping some truly cheap ($100 or so) used 1st generation iPhones would start showing up. Not likely, as long as these guys are paying $300 for used 16gb iPhones, and $200 for the 8gb model. I assume these used iPhones are getting unlocked and sent overseas.

www.freeiphoneswap.com

Joss Whedon’s supervillain musical starring Neil Patrick Harris, Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog, is available for free online viewing through midnight tomorrow night (the final act was posted today). It’s a great straight-to-web motion picture, with good production values and excellent writing. View all three acts at www.DrHorrible.com.

SciFi publisher site Tor.com has their grand opening tomorrow (July 20 2008), promising:

Original fiction from star authors. Galleries of images from the field’s best artists. News and commentary about not just Tor books, but the SF world overall. Topical coverage of major events like San Diego Comic Con (July 23-27) and the World Science Fiction Convention (August 6-10). Weblog posts and guest appearances by some of the most interesting personalities and thinkers around. And your own feedback and discussions, plus tools to enable you to track the subjects and conversations you care about the most.

Tor.com has been giving away an ebook a week to their newsletter subscribers, and they will also be making all those books available for download on their website for a limited time.

If you missed any of the newsletters, here are the titles that will be available on www.tor.com upon site launch tomorrow:

Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Spin by Robert Charles Wilson
Farthing by Jo Walton
The Outstretched Shadow by Mercedies Lackey & James Mallory
Crystal Rain by Tobias Buckell
Lord of the Isles by David Drake
Through Wolf’s Eyes by Jane Lindskold
The Disunited States of America by Harry Turtledove
Reiffen’s Choice by S.C. Butler
Sun of Suns by Karl Schroeder
Four and Twenty Blackbirds by Cherie Priest
Spirit Gate by Kate Elliot
Starfish by Peter Watts
Touch of Evil by C.T. Adams & Cathy Clamp
A Shadow in Summer by Daniel Abraham
Orphans of Chaos by John Wright
In the Garden of Iden by Kage Baker
In the Midnight Hour by Patti O’Shea
Battlestar Galactica by Jeffrey A. Carver
Flash by L.E. Modesitt, Jr.
Soul by Tobsha Learner
Darkness of the Light by Peter David
Three Shadows by Cyril Pedrosa

Wall-E is a definite must-see. The digital animation is stunning and the story is engrossing. This isn’t a review, just a recommendation — go see Wall-E, an instant classic.

In my post on the eReader.com software for the iPhone and iPod Touch, I wondered how to get 3rd party content (books on my computer or another ‘unofficial’ site) onto the device. Turns out this basic feature isn’t possible at this time but the next version of eReader will support it:

How can I get my own personally created eReader format content onto eReader for iPhone or iPod touch?
This is not possible in the current 1.0 release of eReader for iPhone and iPod touch; however, this feature will be included in the version 1.1 of eReader for iPhone and iPod touch that will be released before the end of July.

How can I get eReader content I downloaded from other websites onto eReader for iPhone and iPod touch?
This is not possible in the current 1.0 release of eReader for iPhone and iPod touch; however, our 1.1 release will have the ability to browse other sites and directly download from them, as well as ways of moving eReader format eBooks from your personal computer to the iPhone and iPod touch. This includes both encrypted and unencrypted eReader files. Release 1.1 of eReader for iPhone and iPod touch is due to to be released before the end of July.

Good to know this important feature is on the way. The iPod Touch is looking better all the time.

Hulu continues to add quality content at a impressive rate. The catalog of old and new tv shows is very cool, and movies are being added at a fast pace, including fairly recent blockbusters like Underworld Evolution and Fever Pitch. There are advertisements, but they are short and infrequent. And issues with streaming quality (inturruptions, glitches, etc.) seem to have been fixed. Netflix Play Now video quality is better and more reliable, but then the content is much different and a subscription is required.

Hulu is probably the best service of its type, and is getting better all the time. If you’ve got a home theater PC connected to a decent sized HDTV (37″ in our case), the video quality isn’t exactly amazing, but it’s watchable considering the cost — zero dollars. And video on a typically-sized computer screen looks great.

Hulu is rolling out a surprise premier every day through mid-August — hit movies, classic tv shows, and more.

www.hulu.com

Wikipedia is considering implementing an approval process that will keep changes from appearing until a designated individual has verified that the changes are not vandalism, reports Noam Cohen.

Wikipedia content is surprisingly good given the nature of the current contribution and revision process, which allows anyone to write anything and have it appear on the site instantly — at least temporarily until someone decides to fix it. However, a change like this would potentially improve the content drastically. But Wikipedia contributors aren’t known for embracing change in “their” platform. It will be interesting to watch the reaction.

www.wikipedia.com

I’ve been looking for a good solution for synchronizing files across multiple computers, and just today Lifehacker looks at 5 popular options. I’ll be trying some of these out to see if they meet my needs.

The new Sony BDP-S350 1080p Blu-Ray Disc Player is now available at retail. From Amazon, it’s $391.92 with free shipping (a few dollars below list price).

Features:

• True 1080p Output
• Dolby TrueHD compatible
• Ethernet connection for BD-Live Compatibility and firmware updates
• USB Port Allows More Storage for Access to More Special Features, Like Bonus View
• Higher Bit Rates mean less video compression
• Emmy-Award Winning Xross Media Bar Interface
• Bravia Sync for Easy Connectivity

I actually don’t want to help Google improve its search results…I want the results to already be good when I perform a search. Google is testing digg-like voting on search results, a system that seems ripe for gaming by l33t haxors. Then again, it may be a brilliant idea that improves Google’s already amazing search results. If Google adopts the new ranking system, time will tell.

Google Docs has launched a template gallery, including useful templates for documents, spreadsheets and presentations. Google Docs is an impressive suite of apps, and it keeps getting better (slowly but surely). The template gallery adds a lot of functionality.

Fortune Magazine takes a look at 7 very iPhone-ish handsets:

These copycats also have touchscreens, built-in music players, a high-speed 3G network and, unfortunately, power-hungry batteries. Can they dent iPhonemania?

The Samsung Omnia is the phone that caught my eye (too bad it’s currently only available in Asia):

Now that the iPhone (and iPod Touch) has software available to turn it into a real ebook reader, I’m tempted to overlook all the other “issues” I have with the devices. The folks at eReader.com have dropped a version of their reader software into the iTunes App Store:

JUST RELEASED! eReader Pro for iPhone and iPod touch is an award-winning application used to read eReader eBooks on your Apple iPhone or iPod touch. eReader Pro has more features than ever before, including free eBooks, the ability to read dictionaries and more! Download your eReader.com or Fictionwise.com bookshelf wirelessly to your iPhone or iPod touch.

How to install eReader on iPhone and iPod touch:To get eReader onto your iPhone or iPod touch, first use iTunes 7.7 or later to upgrade your iPhone or iPod touch to the 2.0 operating system, then download the FREE eReader application from the application store and follow the easy installation instructions. eReader can be found in the REFERENCE category of the App Store that appears on your device after upgrading to the 2.0 operating system

One snag: Downloading books already purchased from eReader.com or Fictionwise reportedly works great, but I’m not sure how one loads books from another source onto the iPhone or iPod Touch. Perhaps you could email them to yourself, or upload them to a web server and download them using Safari? I wouldn’t want to go and buy ebooks that I already have on my PC (over 1,000). Or am I misunderstanding the situation, and there’s a simple method for syncing books to the iPhone? Hopefully, that’s the case. But I have a feeling this is one more hoop Apple is needlessly forcing customers to jump through. Of course, even if Apple refuses to offer a reasonable solution, I’m sure someone will find or invent one.

EReader is one of the two readers I use on my Treo, with the other being the MobiPocket reader. Both support their own native formats in addition to the ubiquitous Palm Doc format, and both are highly recommended for supported devices.

UPDATE: You’ll soon be able to load compatible books onto your iPhone / iPod Touch from your PC.

The Boy Genius Report has a hands on review of the Blackberry Bold — those sneaks have been playing with evaluating it for over a month.

Radiohead has released a video for House of Cards shot with lasers instead of cameras. The video is amazing, and the song isn’t bad either. And we all love frickin’ laser beams!

There’s a “making of” video here.

The innovative new HP iQ506 TouchSmart PC is now available. The Touchsmart is an all-in-one multimedia PC with an integrated 22-inch touchscreen.

Features:

• 2.16 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T5850 processor
• 500 GB hard drive
• 4 GB RAM (max)
• dual-layer DVD-R drive
• NTSC/ATSC TV tuners with PVR capability
• Nvidia GeForce 9300M GS HD graphics (up to 2047 MB total memory)
• Tri-mode Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n), Bluetooth, Gigabit Ethernet
• 5 USB, 1 FireWire, 1 ExpressCard, 5-in-1 memory card reader
• Pre-installed with Windows Vista Home Premium (64-bit version); includes wireless keyboard and optical mouse

This is a very sexy PC, priced competitively with the Apple iMac at $1,399.99 (an $1,199.99 model is also available)

A cyber-attack in San Francisco:

A disgruntled city computer engineer has virtually commandeered San Francisco’s new multimillion-dollar computer network, altering it to deny access to top administrators even as he sits in jail on $5 million bail, authorities said Monday.

Netflix and Microsoft have announced an exclusive partnership to offer streaming movies and TV episodes from Netflix to the television via the Xbox 360 later this year. The service will be available to Xbox LIVE Gold members who are also Netflix subscribers. Xbox LIVE Gold membership costs around $60 a year, and the cheapest qualifying Netflix plan is $8.99 a month. Requiring the Xbox LIVE Gold membership seems like a pointless burden on consumers, but I guess Microsoft want to get paid, too. It’s definitely a sweet announcement for consumers that already have both memberships.

Netflix offers a growing library of more than 10,000 movies and television episodes that can be watched instantly via computer or set-top box.

Check out the press release.

Apple is going after Mac clone maker Psystar, AppliInsider is reporting:

The Mac maker filed a formal complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California on July 3rd, just one day after Psystar began distributing a modified version of the Mac OS X 10.5.4 Leopard update to customers who had previously purchased one of its unauthorized Mac systems.

While details of the suit are unclear at this time, AppleInsider has learned that Apple and its counsel at Townsend and Townsend and Crew LLP filed the suit on grounds of copyright infringement.

The days of the “OpenMac” may be numbered.