I just received the Notion Ink Adam. It’s the first Android device since my first Android device where I’ve had a learning curve. The reason is the Eden UI. I’ll explain, as well as give you some quick first reactions.

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The current status of the shipment from China to me of my Notion Ink Adam, from the ominously named “TNT Consignment Tracker”:

No ETA. My guess from other shipments from China (e.g., iPad, iPod) is mid to late next week.

The ship date for my Notion Ink Adam has slipped again I reported that I was one of the “lucky 50” whose ship date changed from early January to January 15 – 22. Recently, while checking the order status page, I noticed the ship date had changed to January 29 with no accompanying email or explanation from Notion Ink.

January 29 was yesterday. Today I checked the order status page again. A new ship date: Valentine’s Day, February 14. However, this time I did receive an email from Notion Ink. The pertinent part:

“[W]e regret to inform you that a fraction of our touch-screens got damaged during transportation due to which your shipment has been effected. The Chinese New Year holidays that are in the first week of February further add to the delay. However, our touchscreen partner, Sintek, have agreed to work through the holidays and deliver the screens as soon as possible. We are afraid that until we receive these touchscreens, your device would not be ready for shipment. The estimated date of your shipment would be 14th February 2011 (Buffer included).”

Additionally, Notion Ink has blogged Pain till Valentine with a similar explanation. However, apparently this problem did not effect everyone:

“All of you who pre-ordered and helped Notion Ink start building the community must have received an email today. One email is on the confirmation of shipping and the other one is on the delay. Those who are in the later group (5.31%) are angry as I could see their comments and the emails.”

Yikes, I’m not only one of the lucky 50, I’m also one of the lucky 5.31%. I better not go to Las Vegas. Ooops, too late. My wife and I had a wonderful vacation there last week.

Actually, I’m not all that upset. There have been a number of articles on QC problems with the Adam. I’d much rather wait for a unit that works right than receive sooner a unit that doesn’t and then go through the hassle of getting it fixed. Besides, as Hannibal Lecter teaches us, all good things to those who wait. But if there are further delays, I may send Hannibal over to Notion Ink’s headquarters in Bangalore for some, ummm, Indian cuisine

Google Translate for Android has been around for about one year. However, Google now has added conversation mode. Basically, you click the microphone icon, say want you want in English, and the application translates to the other language, German in the picture. Clicking the microphone icon next to the translation speaks the translation.

This is a two way street. If the other person also is running the application on their device, they can choose, say, German to English instead of English to German.

The application is free on the Android market. It is an alpha, so there may be bugs. I have found one. My Spanish speaking students tell me “nuestro maestro es la bestia”, which they often say in my class, means “our teacher is the best.” But per Google Translate, it means “our teacher is the beast.”

Oh well, it’s only alpha software. I’m sure they’ll work the bugs out. In the meantime, very practical software in our multi-lingual world.

It’s been a busy Xmas night. Hot on the heels of my HP Slate 500 shipment notification, I checked on the status of my Notion Ink Adam. The shipment date hasn’t changed from January 15 – 22. However, the order page asked me to choose my band: 850/1900 MHz or 900/2100 MHz.

I was surprised about being asked. I hadn’t heard from Notion Ink that I needed to decide. Indeed, I thought I read when I ordered the 3G model that the bands would be chosen based on the order location (e.g., U.S. 850/1900 MHz, Europe 900/2100 MHz). Anyway, being in the US, with AT&T, I chose 850/1900 MHz.

I wonder what the next surprise will be?

I want one of these! The phone that is. I’m a geek, remember?

This Android phone is the LG Optimus 2X. What’s the big deal? It’s the first  with a dual-core Tegra 2 processor. That means faster performance, hopefully in web page rendering in particular.

The Optimus 2X is coming next month … to Korea that is. It will also be coming soon thereafter … to Europe and Asia that is. Not so clear if the Optimus 2X will be coming to North America. In recent years, many high end phones haven’t

But even if the Optimus 2X doesn’t arrive at our shores, no biggy. I suspect it is only the first of many dual core Tegra 2 phones to be announced soon, no later than CES next month (January 6 – 9) in Lost Wages.

[via Android Central]

My eyes opened this morning to the angelic face of my beautiful, sleeping wife. I couldn’t help myself. I did what came natural. I reached over and grabbed my … Galaxy Tab, fired up Google Reader, and started perusing my favorite feeds. However, that wonderful start to the day came to a screeching halt when I got to Notion Ink Adam pre-order status slips to mid-January 2011 [Update: only 50 customers affected]. I figured with my luck, I would be one of the 50. Unfortunately for me, I was right:

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Prior to December 15th, there was an error in this page due to which the shipping date was being calculated incorrectly. We apologize for the inconvenience. The date shown here is the correct value, which reflects the date shown at the time you ordered.

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The Slashgear article also provides the official explanation from Notion Ink:

“There were few customers who took longer time to finish their order details (some 50) (this was in the span of 5 minutes) and by the time they clicked purchase, the first shipments were already sold. Around 50 people were told about their schedule and there are around 30 for whom schedule is pulled from 22nd to 15th and from 15th to 9th. Products will be released much faster though, this is the max time for these 50 people.”

Well, this Friday I’ll further amuse myself and call HP to learn of a further delay in the shipment of my Slate 500. HP’s excuses are getting even more creative than those of my students who attempt to explain why their assignment was late.

If you want to know the status of your pre-ordered Notion Ink Adam – I do — there’s now a “check pre-order status” link on Notion Ink’s home page. After clicking the link and entering my order number and email address, the pre-order status page told me:

*This is our best estimate of the shipping date. The actual date may vary; we will keep you informed in case that happens.

[Via Out of the Office]

Two days after I pre-ordered the Notion Ink Adam, I received an email from Notion Ink. The email, after confirming the details of my order, states: “We have successfully received your order, your adam will be shipped as per the timelines indicated at the time of order. If you ordered for 3G models, we will send the one as per the country specified in your shipping address along with the compatible charger.”

Notion Ink’s blog also has several articles responding to the criticism of its pre-order process interestingly titled Ouch!, Introspection and What we have learnt in the past 2 days?.

My guess is that, notwithstanding concerns and even suspicions, these folks are for real. Hopefully that’s not just wishful thinking, given I’ve plunked down $600. Time will tell.

“Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.” When it comes to gadgets, that’s me. Yesterday I pre-ordered the Notion Ink Adam, specifically the top of the line Pixel Qi + Wifi +3G version.

There are concerns, even suspicions voiced by the Android Police (blog name, not real police), about whether this pre-order is legit. However, I was sufficiently satisfied to take the chance on this strongly-spec’d Android tablet device that I gushed over way back last Valentine’s Day in Notion Ink Adam uber iPad? At least I’m not alone at taking the leap. My friends in Australia did too. 

The Adam is supposedly shipping in early January. We’ll see. Now speaking of possible vapor(hard)ware, how about that !@#$%^&* HP Slate 500?