If you Google "HTML5 manifest", you will see that HTML5 provides a mechanism to "install" web apps, so that they can be used offline. This, more or less, enables the concept of "local" apps on ChromeOS.

The advantage these "HTML5" local apps have over "smartphone-specific" local apps is that they can be "installed" on ANY device running ANY OS (smartphone, netbook, tablet, eReader, desktop, etc.), so long as the device utilizes a modern, HTML5 browser.

I would think most people would be excited about ChromeOS.

ChromeOS is likely to stimulate an explosive race to the cloud, for apps that currently run on the desktop.

Why?

If a user's device is only capable of running web apps & a companies' app is not available on the web, they'll use a competitor's web app. And, once people start using & liking a competitor's web app, they may find little reason to switch to the original companies' web app, if/when it becomes available.

This is positive for users of full desktop OSes because:

1. they will now have the choice between desktop AND web versions of an app.
2. the web apps will be available for all desktop OSes (Windows, OS X, Ubuntu, etc.).
3. there are likely to be more choices of functionally similar web apps, because of competition.

So, even if you never use ChromeOS, you should benefit from the effects of it!

I'm surprised there aren't tons of Android photo frames on the market already...at a more reasonable price. Even a less expensive resistive touchscreen would probably be sufficient. Add WiFi & access to the Android Market, and you could use it for photos, watching videos, listening to music, displaying widgets (weather, time, ...), checking stuff on the web, ...

I think all Android smartphone vendors & users will benefit, from the success of Droid & the Droid advertising:

1. more Android sales = bigger target for app developers = more apps for everyone.
2. consumers curious about "droids" may discover other Android smartphones they like better.
3. an increase in Android demand should result in even better Android smartphones coming to market.
4. early Android adopters get the satisfaction of knowing they were there when it all started.

I'm not sure if it makes sense to do it, but perhaps one day they will design smartphones so that the CPU runs at full clock speed, when it's docked/plugged in for charging and a lower clock speed, when it's not (to conserve battery).

I think Google is open for Android to be used anywhere vendors want to use it.

Acer probably had the same issue as Archos in handling high screen resolutions, with early Android releases, and had to customize it, to make it work. This customization likely limited the apps that would run on it.

With Android 2.0, this issue should be resolved, so Acer probably just needs to do an update, to get back into the Android mainstream. Ideally, the update would enable support for the Android Market.

Verizon is expected to launch the Blackberry Storm2, three Android devices & the Palm Pre (early 2010), so they actually WILL have a good arsenal of great smartphones, to compete with AT&T.

I'm not sure I like the tone of their campaign, but it's definitely a sign that competitive pressure is building & that is usually good for consumers.

Verizon may be starting to realize that "open" has tremendous advantages:

1. Operator customization/testing/support requires resources ($/time/people). Open devices allow operators to focus their resources on high quality data connectivity, apps & services (REAL revenue).

2. Off-the-shelf devices cost less allowing them to reach lower in the food chain. More smartphones = more data contracts & more app & service sales/subscriptions.

3. Rapid device turnover. New devices generate upgrade fees, contract renewals, etc.

4. Time to market. Open devices can be immediately added to an operator's portfolio.

5. Customer satisfaction. Users get the devices they want & use them the way they want.

The "ARCHOS 5 Tablet with Android: Introduction and Overview" video on YouTube is definitely worth watching:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmRP8CtU0T8

If there are software problems, hopefully they will sort them out quickly. It is a VERY impressive device!

This could be interesting, if it is running Android. Then, you could run all the cool apps in the Android market, as well.

Video might be tough, even with a colour screen, but things like:

1. listening to music,
2. browsing the web (using Fast Flip would be cool!),
3. reading/writing email, IMs, SMS, etc.,
4. viewing/editing docs (with Google Apps, Zoho, Quickoffice, DocumentsToGo, etc.),
5. viewing maps,

would be great!