Convergence in technology - All-in-one and One-for-all
Words Candy Villanueva-Lykes,

The two-in-one shampoo and conditioner never worked. We all still use conditioner in spite of the magic potion's promise of a one-step process to Farrah Fawcett hair. The three-in-one coffee is another story. It's a great alternative to the busy bees who just don't have time to spoon in some creamer, much more brew their cup of Joe. How about that Swiss Army Knife with a nail cutter and USB in it? Do you really want to open your can of beans with the same tool you used to clip your toenails?

Convergence of technology is as iffy as that Swiss Army Knife do-it-all. It may or may not work. In most cases, the old saying, "You can't have everything," is proven every time one function is sacrificed for another. Still, in the name of convenience, innovation, and revenue, manufacturers and inventors insist on cramming everything in one gadget. Multimedia functions, media convergence, product bundling, or all-in-one technologies are apparently the way to go-and in this issue we dismantle each feature and factor piece by piece to see if the all-in-one product is really the one for all.

Mixed and mashed

Chances are you probably have one within arm's reach right now in one form or the other. Take your all-in-one printer: it's also a copier, fax machine, and scanner. Game consoles are now more than just that; they can also be used as multimedia players, Web-browsing tools, storage devices, and even set top boxes to receive pay-TV signals. Music players, like the iPod touch, can be used as browsers and can be uploaded with a multitude of applications such as GPS, language translators, converters, and weather just to name a few. Digital cameras can double as video and voice recorders. New TV sets now have internet capabilities, and the idea of "TV everywhere"-where pay television subscribers can watch shows from their computers-are coming attractions.

Perhaps the most popular convergence of technology out there is the smartphone. It offers the world at your fingertips through a tiny gadget that you can keep in your pocket. Imagine that. The world in your pocket. This means: MP3 player, a computer, a browser, gaming console, phone, and camera all in one.

In spite of all these capabilities mashed in, manufacturers still manage to make the phone amazingly compact. For instance, the Nokia N97 is just a little over five ounces-but with a 32GB internal memory, it packs heavy. To call this handset a "phone" would be an injustice as it can already be considered a multimedia computer with its 5MP camera, DVD-like quality visuals, the aforementioned memory capacity, and the ability to access music, email, the internet, maps, GPS, and more anywhere, anytime.

Apple's iPhone 3GS is a good example of a mobile convergence device that is exponentially becoming popular with consumers. The touch-screen smartphone can potentially take the place of a standalone cell phone, mobile email device, personal music player, GPS, camera, and movie player. As if that is not enough, manufacturers are adding more than just the usual kit and caboodle. Last year, Samsung came up with a mobile phone that incorporates a projector.

Even without the projector, a basic smartphone can provide almost everything for everyday scenarios. An executive can keep busy while pretending to listen to a really boring presentation by checking his email or voicemail, sending SMS, or browsing applications. If a guy is waiting out by the street for his date to come out, he doesn't necessarily while the time away fidgeting because he is updating his Facebook status (with a picture of the tie he is sporting, taken using his smartphone of course) or mapping out the quickest route back home (in case the blind date goes terribly wrong) through his phone's satellite navigation while listening to a song he just downloaded. While in-flight, you may not be able to use your phone's original purpose (make a call-should you forget), but you can get connected through in-flight Wi-Fi, watch a movie, or update your calendar (in offline mode, of course).

Yes-like it or not, convergence has its many conveniences and suddenly alternative media and standalone devices are endangered. Or are they?

Why the world needs a smartphone

The emergence of convergent technology is posing a great threat to standalone devices. But nothing makes dedicated products vibrate in fear more than smartphones. It's the device: mobile phone, MP3 and video player, voice recorder, digital still and video camera, GPS, calculator, game console, exchange rate converter, and mini-computer, all rolled into one pocketable device.

Camera

Although camera phones may not be taking over professional cameras anytime soon, we can already see a shift. With phones integrating 5, 8, and 12 megapixel cameras into their bodies-some of which have specs on par with dedicated point-and-shooters-there are some people who would leave their digicams behind and rely on their camera phones for taking random everyday pictures. Plus, with Wi-Fi and 3G, sharing pictures is so much easier.

GPS

With more and more phones perfecting their GPS capabilities, GPS manufacturers are slowly starting to accept the fact that they will soon just be software vendors. Most consumers now have the hardware required for GPS in their smartphones.

Gaming console

It seems like it's more economically sound to download games than to buy games for a gaming console. Plus, many phone manufacturers are getting serious with consolidating advanced gaming capabilities into their phones to capture a bigger market. Sony Ericsson has released the Aino that allows users to seamlessly access and control their PS3 media content anywhere, anytime using Remote Play.

Audio and video player

By now you should know that if an iPhone can replace a camera, GPS device, browser, or gaming console, then it can virtually replace anything that requires a battery, including music and video players. If you can't beat them, go get an iPhone.

Bye-bye newspaper boy?

Will electronic news see the death of the traditional newsprint?

Some argue that the latest technologies will merely complement and not entirely replace traditional media. For one, a majority of our population is still not tech-savvy. You can't force electronic news on an old foggy who just wants his daily updates-in traditional newsprint-with his bacon and eggs. And you can't wrap fish and chips with your iPhone either.

We also need to consider the internet's reach. Although the internet has made the world smaller, the planet as we know it is still considerably big and there are some areas in the globe that remain unconnected. What use will Botswana, for instance, have with a BlackBerry when there are still areas in the republic that still don't have telephone networks? Forget about connectivity. The bigger question is, would an average Motswana-or Juan, to be closer to home-be even able to afford a handset? Yes, in some areas of the world, traditional media still reigns and will continue to for a long while.

But we need not go far to see that convergence of technology will not completely obliterate traditional media or dedicated devices for that matter, at least not any time soon. It's really not fun to read the latest news from a tiny screen (not all of us have eBook readers, you know). Or how would you like to write a 20-page report using an eensy-weensy QWERTY keyboard? By the time you're done with it, you'd be cross-eyed and suffering from carpal tunnel. Most of these bundled technologies come in tiny bodies with small screens. In some cases, convergence of technology offers temporary convenience. When you're stuck in traffic, the movie-playing capability of your gadget will come awfully handy. But when you're home, you'd really rather watch the latest flick in widescreen with surround sound.

Words to remember when shopping for your all-in-one thingamajig:

Obsolete

When manufacturers are constantly coming up with something new for the sake of revenue, your all-in-one device may soon be deemed obsolete. When making a purchase, remember that technology gets outdated very quickly. Consider how long you think you'll keep the device and then spend appropriately and wisely.

Redundancy

The old adage, "don't put all your eggs in one basket," holds true even with your electronics. You may have the convenience of having everything in one device, but you're also at risk of losing everything in one instant. It may be a good idea to invest on another gadget to ensure data security. And we can never emphasize the importance of backing up!

Functionality

Remember that there is no such thing as the miracle drug. There is no single device that will take care of all your needs. Focus on the function that you need the most and keep in mind that the other features are merely add-ons. You will probably be better off buying separate dedicated devices for these features if you require maximum performance.

Juice

Don't forget that you will be running several functions with one gadget on one battery. Chances are, its juice will be running low sooner than you would with a singular device. Consider the battery when you are making your purchase. It may not be a bad idea to invest on an extra battery and maybe even a car charger.

Memory

If you're running different applications, you'll be using different file formats and saving them in one storage space. Images, applications, music, video, and other files can cost you a lot of memory space, so invest on external storage devices. You may also want to invest on an external hard drive to back everything up.

Jack of all trades, master of none?

In the quest for convenience and portability, performance often gets sacrificed-or at least one function or feature will more than likely get to be sacrificed. Sure, your phone is

capable of taking high-resolution photos, but no photographer will trade his trusty DSLR for an all-in-one smartphone. While different devices may be converging toward a single form factor, each path has different strengths.

There are other downsides to consider as well. All-in-one can undoubtedly mean one-for-all. That means that if you lose one, you lose all. You drop your all-in-one accidentally in a toilet bowl then you lose your phone, your camera, your computer, and pretty much your life. If you rely on that single device for all your contacts, then you're basically screwed. Battery and connectivity can also be an issue. If you're out of it in the middle of nowhere, not only can you not make a phone call, you also won't be able to find your way because your GPS is down.

The big picture and the complete story

Still, with all features combined, there is no denying that multimedia products and convergent technology tell a more complete story. Convergent technology makes it possible to present complicated ideas and procedures in a simple way. For instance, not all stories can be told so clearly without the aid of visuals. By using multimedia (aided by audio and video), an audience can understand the story better. Sharing is also made easier with convergent devices. Images and sound can quickly be reproduced and sent out, making news more current or real-time.

The all-in-one convenience goes beyond the handiness of having only one physical device for several features. Convenience also means simplified processes. For instance, to download music for your standalone MP3 player, you would have to download content from a computer then sync your player with your computer to transfer files. With a smartphone, all you have to do is search, purchase, download, then install. If you wish to share a picture you took with your camera, you have to upload the photo to your computer then connect to the internet. With your smartphone or camera with Wi-Fi capability, you can simply snap and send. Finally, convergence not only offers ease and convenience, it also gives an economical advantage. It is far more cost-effective to buy an all-in-one gadget than to buy six separate devices. Many consumers realize this and choose convenience and economics over performance when shopping for a new gadget.

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