I've been looking for a way to build a large-screen kiosk capable of running multiple apps and websites, but still run in a 'locked down" mode so kiosk users can't escape the sandbox and do something malicious.  The iPad now has a kiosk mode, but it limits you to a single app.  Android has kiosk apps, like SureLock, that do support multiple apps and websites, however there's no Android device quite large enough for what I'm trying to do (the 24" ViewSonic is the largest I've seen).  That leaves a custom solution:  probably built on top of Windows so Windows apps + Android apps (in an emulator like BlueStacks).

Here's a summary of the options I've evaluated to date to get a ~40" multi-app exhibit/kiosk experience:

Can you think of better configurations?  Please let me know!

Now here's a device you're not going to misplace:  the 24" Android tablet from ViewSonic (VSD220).  It hasn't hit the market yet, but its underpowered 22" sibling has, and the reviews go something like this:  "Cool, but sluggish, and generally poor/blurry web browsing experience."

I called ViewSonic to get the scoop on whether the device supported a 90 rotation so I could run it in portrait mode.  After some checking, the support guy informed me that, sadly, no, rotation is not supported.  I'm surprised there's nothing else like it on the market right now:  this sort of device seems idea for kiosks and exhibits.

This summer, Dell will be launching Streak in the U.S., a very slick 5" tablet + smarphone running Android 2.0 1.6 (but Dell may upgrade it to 2.2 later this year).  This may be welcome news for people looking for an alternative to the iPhone or iPad, given Apple's recently revealed iPhone 4 design flaws, cover up, and overall disrespect for its customers.

Here's an unboxing/review of the phone I found on YouTube: 

These other tablets (aka oversized smartphones) are hitting the market soon too:

• RIM Backberry Tablet with a 7" screen, perhaps launching in December
• Motorolla Droid X, with a 4.2" screen running Android 2.1, launching imminently (mid-July)

The New York Times reported on April 10 that Google, Microsoft, and Nokia are working on tablets as well, but with no release dates available.

OK, so this post is for quite the niche audience, but hopefully by writing this I can same some other poor soul some time.

I tried getting a Brother HL-4070CDW color laser printer hooked up to my network using every possible technique--using a USB cable, connecting it directly to my router, using SecureEasySetup, hitting buttons directly on the printer (to manually type in the 32-digit WEP2 key--good times), etc.  No matter what I tried, the printer did not work.  Well, it sort of worked with SecureEasySetup, but the printer and my router happily negotiated a different key.  Sorry guys, but no; I pick the keys.  Regardless of what I tried, the printer would not connect to my network wirelessly.

I finally came to the realization that my WEP2 key was simply too long.  Of course, no Brother diagnostic message alerted me to this; it happily accepted my longer key.  But once I shortened the key to something more reasonable (~10 characters), the printer connected to the network.

This is strange, but true.  I didn't fat-finger the longer key, either!  During one of the setup procedures I directly copied the key from the router's admin page to the printer setup window.  Oh, Brother!