Can't we all get connected

As mentioned in a previous posting, I've been spending this week in Cambridge England  attending the ARM Partner Meeting event. It's been just a great experience. Kind of like a family reunion: you see all the people you want to see and some you don't. But, all the whose-who in the mobile space are here. It's a great way to connect with partners and customers in a very concentrated way.

Speaking of being connected; you would think for a place celebrating the 800th (that's right 800th) anniversary of Cambridge University they would have figured out a way to get service providers to provide service for people needing to stay connected through their cell phones. The ARM event is taking place on the campus of St. John's College (part of the Cambridge University system) and the service there is deplorable. The only reliable place to get connected is outside standing in the middle of one of the massive lawns. Problem is, there are "Stay off the grass" signs everywhere. It's the same problem at Starbucks of all places. As long as you are by the front door near the street, you're fine. Sitting in the back of the store, you're in trouble. I don't think it's for a lack of cell towers.  I see them discretely place all around. It's really frustrating though. But, maybe it's just me. The good folks of Cambridge may not be as fixated in staying connected as us Yanks. Walking down Market Street in San Francisco everyone is either looking at their handset or has it up to their ear. Not so here. As a matter of fact, I haven't seen one person on a cell phone pass by the Starbucks in the last 15 minutes. Ok, maybe one but certainly not more than a couple.

And how about battery life!  Can't they get this figured out? I spend half my time on either my iPhone or laptop and the other half of the time searching for a place to plug them in. This is ridiculous. I suppose this is why there is such emphasis in the SPMT Technical Working Group to drive down power consumption while doubling the bandwidth.

Laptop is running out of juice.  Gotta post this or loose it.