The internets are a-buzz with the coming of a new device by the company Peek. This device, known as the TwitterPeek Mobile Tweeting Device, is exclusively for sending and viewing Twitter messages, as well as sending and receiving direct messages [private messages from one Twitter user to another]. You can also view photos shared on Twitter (but only photos that are shared via their official photosharing service, TwitPic), and, no, you can’t send your own photos to Twitter with it; there is no camera on the Peek. It also… um… that’s it. That’s all it does. It retails for $199.
Anyone who has used Twitter for more than five minutes is scratching their heads right now. It IS kind of cute, but there are awesome apps for using Twitter on any smart phone that are free, and really awesome apps you can buy for the price of a burger at McD’s. If you don’t have a smart phone but you do have the $199, you can buy an iPhone 3GS or a Motorola Droid (and for just $99 you can buy an iPhone 3G) and have it do way more than just Twitter. So why would anyone want this? I don’t know, and no one else seems to know, either. It might be that “sucker born every minute” thing.
You know what I’d LOVE for this company to make? A “text your Grandma” device. It should be a small screen propped up right next to my grandma’s house phone so that I don’t have to call and leave a message. I’d just text one. Then the light would be flashing, and when she got home she would see it blinking, press a button (just like she’s used to doing on the answering machine she finally embraced) and be able to read it.
Peek! Stop wasting your time with this lame Twitter device and get to making my awesome idea! When it becomes one of Oprah’s favorite things, you better give me a shout out. (And money. Lots and lots of money.)
