But I hope we can at least agree on this: A new $200 mobile device designed exclusively for Twitter and nothing more is a hilariously bizarre idea.
PC World has the goods:
Described as the world's first dedicated Twitter device, the TwitterPeek offers a QWERTY keyboard, color screen, and measures 2.7 x 0.4 x 4 inches. It was introduced on Tuesday and is not unattractive.Well this certainly appears to be moving in the wrong direction. Smart phones like the iPhone and BlackBerry can already Tweet on-the-go and it's hard for me to imagine a large consumer base that wants to carry yet another phone-sized thing in their pocket. The PCW author writes that "there are products which seem to fulfill no real need [and] this is one of them." I would disagree slightly. This is a product that fulfills a need -- Tweeting on the go -- that millions of people have already. Who's going to buy this?
The $199 price includes a wireless service plan for the life of the device. A $99 price includes 6 months of service, which then costs $7.95-a-month thereafter. The always-on device promises four days of battery life "in normal use" and promises nationwide wireless coverage.
Apply the fashion test. Is there a market for either handbags or jackets with pockets designed for four or more different electronic devices?
Incidentally, the all-in-one device is called the "Joystick". Its principal functions in use are spoken access to the information, etc., and communication webs; but it will do all the rest on demand. I understand that various models have differnt shapes and finishes, but all are very lightweight and easily rechargeable. It appeared in science fiction some decades ago.