Imagine this. You’ve worked through the night, grabbed a few hours sleep and now it’s time to do it all over again. You stick your smartphone into a docking station to charge the battery, but wait… It begins to make your favorite coffee and plays your favorite song at the same time. I could get used to this.

The blogs are all abuzz with news about Appresso, an espresso machine that uses your phone to choose and make your favorite coffee, play your favorite music and charge your phone’s battery while you wait. This is the wave of the future, promised to us since the New York World’s Fair in 1964 and the Jetsons’ cartoon series, particularly during the 80’s, with its futuristic cars and instant everything.

We imagined that by 2010 we would be driving on air, talking to robotic assistants and being able to conjure up anything we want to eat whenever we wanted it. Many of these things are still on the drawing board and most of them may be there for a while.

Enter the smartphone. In 1967, we could never have imagined that a phone could be smart let alone be responsible for propelling us closer to that futuristic vision than we have ever been before.

Smartphone vs. Cell Phone

If you are not up on the difference between a smartphone and a cell phone, here’s a primer. A smartphone has an operating system much like a computer. As a result, applications (coded instructions to perform a myriad of tasks and services) or “apps”, as they are commonly known, can be downloaded without the use of a computer.

Android vs. iPhone vs. Blackberry

The big boys in the smartphone market are Blackberry, Android and iPhone respectively, but are bound to trade places often as things heat up. Android recently pushed iPhone to the rear and with gadgets like the Appresso coming out, Blackberry may want to watch its back.

A Word of Caution

These smartphones and related services can come with a very high price tag. The initial investment for a smartphone and the necessary accoutrements like service and accessories can set you back financially in the neighborhood of a car payment with either a high initial investment, an expensive long-term contract package, or both.

Nevertheless, slipping your phone in its charging dock on your way to the shower and then returning to find your favorite style espresso hot and waiting along with your favorite music playing putting you in a great mood and your phone charged up and ready to go all in one swift motion—priceless.

Note: Pricing and availability for the Appresso is not yet available.

Appresso/Android Community Blog

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