Links for Monday January 11^th, 2010

• France Telecom Executive 'Confirms' Forthcoming Release of Apple Tablet - Mac Rumors: This actually sounds plausible — when I look over the list of core applications in Mac OS X, iChat is the biggest one that hasn't made an appearance in Apple's iPhone OS. Of course, if this guy, Stéphane Richard, gets fired sometime during the next 2 weeks, then we'll definitely know that this rumor is true! ;)

• Nicholas Riley's notes on Android: From the perspective of a hardcore Sidekick user. I've noticed this issue in my limited time playing with Android devices:

  "In general: too many ways to interact. UI is inconsistent and not discoverable: many options are only available via contextual menu (hold)."

  This is why going all touch screen with just one button is so key on the iPhone — it forces the interaction model to be consistent, across applications. If you give programmers more buttons, they'll figure out more arbitrary ways to accomlish the same tasks.

• 3D TV: Why you'll (someday) own one whether you like it or not: I think that 3D TV is totally stupid. So long as it can be disabled, I'm cool with it.

  Also, it's a total bummer that OLED TVs are still so far away.

• Google Android Personal Thoughts: And here is a less positive look at the Nexus One, specifically issues with the Android operating system. To me, this sums up why I'm not bullish on Android:

  "How do I copy text from non-editable field like an email, webpage, or SMS, or even a 3rd party application? Oh, I can’t. Say what you want about the iPhone not having copy and paste for two years — a joke — it’s the single best implementation on the planet for a smartphone and Google’s approach is almost as bad as RIM’s with the Storm-series."

  I'd prefer to be patient, and wait for things that are polished and a joy to use, rather than be annoyed every day by things that aren't quite right (death by a thousand cuts). (via Daring Fireball)

• On-duty with the Nexus One: form factor, battery, Android: A positive-ish set of first impressions of the Google Nexus One phone, from one of the founders of Ars Technica. I did like this quote:

  "I'm a sucker for the first-gen iPhone. I still have mine, and I like the way it feels: it's solid, dense, sturdy, and thin. It just feels less "cheap" than the iPhone 3G."

  I feel the same way, and it's one of the reasons why I never upgraded to the 3G or 3GS.