We tend to take things for granted.

Our loved ones, our friends, our jobs, and all the other people and things that nourish us and make us feel secure, we usually believe that they will always be there. Consequently, we sometimes ignore them, thinking that they will always stay by our side.

But their departure, or mere absence, can roughly shake us from this self-imposed and manufactured complacency. When things are gone, that is when we realize their value and how much they mean to us.

We’re lucky if those people or those things are gone for only a while. At least, when they do come back, we can show them finally how much they matter to us.

Panasonic’s Game Console

Seems that Panasonic is returning not only to its mobile phone forays of long ago, the company is also seeking to revisit the videogame business it left behind about a decade ago.

The Japanese electronics giant is reportedly developing a new handheld gaming system. Intended to be a challenge to traditional console manufacturers Nintendo and Sony, as well as to the expanding range of smartphones and tablet computers that moonlight as mobile gaming consoles, is rumored to be a handheld device with a flip screen.

A Web site, welcometo.thejungle.com, features a teaser video highlighting the purported device.
This corner wishes Panasonic would succeed in its mobile phone and mobile gaming ventures, although we have some reservations as both markets are quite crowded as they are right now. Anyway, as we always say in the vernacular, “Abangan ang kasunod  na kabanata.”

Motorola Goes After RIM

American phone maker Motorola is running after its Canadian rival Research In Motion’s commanding presence in the market for smartphones for business users. To do battle with RIM’s corporate favorite BlackBerry, Motorola has unveiled the Droid Pro.

Powered by Google’s Android mobile operating system, the Droid Pro is optimized for business use, according to Motorola.

The phone comes with a built-in keyboard, email with corporate level of security, and Microsoft’s office tools Excel, PowerPoint, and Word. It also comes with a five-megapixel camera and DVD-quality video.

The phone will be available in the United States through mobile carrier Verizon. No word yet on local availability.

(Grumbles….)

Smartphones with Eyes

Would you be willing to buy and use a smartphone that sees things the same way that you and I do? And those phones would be able to identify faces, too.

This idea might soon be more than elements of a sci-fi novel, soon.  Some IT industry heavyweights have invested some serious money into Viewdle, a startup technology company developing technologies to equip smartphones with vision.

Some of the famous investors include Qualcomm, BlackBerry Partners Fund, electronics retail giant Best Buy, and Anthem Venture Partners. Viewdle intends to give smartphones human eyes, combining artificial vision with artificial intelligence.

The company has already released a beta version of a software that lets desktop computers recognize people in photos uploaded by users to their Facebook accounts.

This news definitely gives me the creeps.

That’s all for the meantime, folks. Join me again next time as we keep on watching IT.