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When the Google Android open source mobile platform comes out of the digital closet, which Google watchers figure is mere months away, look for an Android store where developers can sell their apps.

Previewing the concept, Google Android Project Lead Andy Rubin…

“It would be a great benefit to the Android community to provide a place where people can go to safely and securely download content and where a billing system would allow developers to get paid for their effort. We wouldn’t have done our job if we didn’t provide something that helps developers get distribution.”

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Sony is working on a TV that will receive a digital signal without having to use a set-top box.

Digital, cable-ready TVs may become commonplace. Set-top boxes from firms such as Motorola and Scientific Atlanta may become yesterday’s news.

Sony has cut a deal with major cable operators and other electronics manufacturers may follow.

Interactive programming guides, video-on-demand and digital video recording will all be supported by the next gen TVs.

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What happens when you try to make a measurable connection between broadband access and efficiency?

We tend to assume that the fatter the pipe, the better our efficiency.  But common sense be damned, the notion is tough to quantify.

Electricity began its transition from the exotic to the commonplace in the 1880s.  But it wasn’t until the 1920 when its footprint was sufficiently large to have a measurable impact on productivity.

Is this the result of flawed measurement or something else?

Technology doesn’t improvement productivity.  People who know what they’re doing and can take the reins of technology do.

The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development tracks broadband penetration in 30 countries.  Right now Denmark is #1 with 35% and the United States is 10th at 23%.  Canada ranks 6th at 27%.

OECD researchers note that we’re at the starting line of harnessing broadband’s strengths.

“The full potential of broadband and its possible applications, in fields not related to entertainment, has not yet been fully exploited.”

When the OECD looks at collaboration, either via social networking or groups in organizations working together on projects, Americans once again lag the rest of the world.

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Is this a seismic change in the world of downloadable video?

You pay $100 for the Roku box, plug it into your HDTV with a HDMI cable, hook up an ethernet cable and you’re ready to grab video content from Netflix.

But we’re not quite talking seismic change. This is not a video download. It’s a stream.

Speed: 1.0 Mpbs. Quality: not bad.

Controls: your Netflix interface on your computer.

Problems: limited content. About 10% of the Netflix library is available.

But you’ve got to start somewhere. And Netflix has.

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The Bold 9000 has twice the screen resolution of the BlackBerry Curve. It comes with tri-band HSDPA and offers multimedia, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and integrated GPS supporting BlackBerry Maps.

Launch date: undetermined, but expected in early summer.

Details…

• 624 MHz mobile processor

• Enterprise Grade Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g)

• 128 MB Flash Memory

• 1 GB on-board storage

• Redesigned QWERTY keyboard

• MicroSD/SDHC memory card slot

• 2 megapixel camera with video recording capability

• Built-in flash and 5x digital zoom.

• Roxio MediaManager for music, displays images and slideshows, plays movies in full screen mode

• Audio: dual speakers, equalizer with 11 preset filters

• For voice, expanded audio sweet spot

• Speaker Independent Voice Recognition (SIVR) for Voice Activated Dialing (VAD), Bluetooth 2.0, with support for hands-free headsets, stereo headsets, car kits (including car kits for Bluetooth Remote SIM Access Profile) and other peripherals.

• Quad-band EDGE and tri-band HSDPA handset to support global roaming

• Send, end, and mute keys, smart dialing, speed dialing, conference calling and call forwarding.

• Noise cancellation technology that offsets background noise

• Speaker phone

• Support for polyphonic, mp3 and MIDI ring tones.

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