tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-100522432024-03-05T02:54:35.367-08:00Professor PocketReviews of digital gadgets...Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger176125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10052243.post-34717923370196809582011-09-17T11:27:00.001-07:002011-09-17T11:27:45.257-07:00The Mamba Shift Laptop/Tablet Toter | Tim Hillebrand | iPhone Life<a href="http://www.iphonelife.com/blog/94/mamba-shift-laptoptablet-toter-1">The Mamba Shift Laptop/Tablet Toter | Tim Hillebrand | iPhone Life</a>:<br /><br /><a style="font-size:13px" href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/pengoopmcjnbflcjbmoeodbmoflcgjlk">'via Blog this'</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10052243.post-61636317860958018652011-09-17T11:27:00.000-07:002011-09-17T11:27:18.685-07:00Desk Pets | Tim Hillebrand | iPhone Life<a href="http://www.iphonelife.com/blog/94/desk-pets">Desk Pets | Tim Hillebrand | iPhone Life</a>:<br /><br /><a style="font-size:13px" href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/pengoopmcjnbflcjbmoeodbmoflcgjlk">'via Blog this'</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10052243.post-32461862315792412502011-09-17T11:26:00.002-07:002011-09-17T11:26:58.242-07:00iTablet Thumb Keyboard | Tim Hillebrand | iPhone Life<a href="http://www.iphonelife.com/blog/94/itablet-thumb-keyboard">iTablet Thumb Keyboard | Tim Hillebrand | iPhone Life</a>:<br /><br /><a style="font-size:13px" href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/pengoopmcjnbflcjbmoeodbmoflcgjlk">'via Blog this'</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10052243.post-28263496838616901362011-09-17T11:26:00.001-07:002011-09-17T11:26:26.870-07:00Geek timepiece: 4-bit Binary Watch | Tim Hillebrand | iPhone Life<a href="http://www.iphonelife.com/blog/94/geek-timepiece-4-bit-binary-watch">Geek timepiece: 4-bit Binary Watch | Tim Hillebrand | iPhone Life</a>:<br /><br /><a style="font-size:13px" href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/pengoopmcjnbflcjbmoeodbmoflcgjlk">'via Blog this'</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10052243.post-4953093974066807152011-09-17T11:26:00.000-07:002011-09-17T11:26:04.676-07:00How I turned my iPhone/iPod 4 in to a texting demon with a slideout keyboard | Tim Hillebrand | iPhone Life<a href="http://www.iphonelife.com/blog/94/how-i-turned-my-iphoneipod-4-texting-demon-slideout-keyboard">How I turned my iPhone/iPod 4 in to a texting demon with a slideout keyboard | Tim Hillebrand | iPhone Life</a>:<br /><br /><a style="font-size:13px" href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/pengoopmcjnbflcjbmoeodbmoflcgjlk">'via Blog this'</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10052243.post-36460805713524555702011-09-17T11:25:00.000-07:002011-09-17T11:25:28.123-07:00TV Everywhere with EyeTV Hybrid | Tim Hillebrand | iPhone Life<a href="http://www.iphonelife.com/blog/94/tv-everywhere-eyetv-hybrid">TV Everywhere with EyeTV Hybrid | Tim Hillebrand | iPhone Life</a>:<br /><br /><a style="font-size:13px" href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/pengoopmcjnbflcjbmoeodbmoflcgjlk">'via Blog this'</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10052243.post-30538456374761004882011-09-17T11:23:00.000-07:002011-09-17T11:23:15.762-07:00All-Weather Soft Mount Bike Mount | Tim Hillebrand | iPhone Life<a href="http://www.iphonelife.com/blog/94/all-weather-soft-mount-bike-mount">All-Weather Soft Mount Bike Mount | Tim Hillebrand | iPhone Life</a>:<br /><br /><a style="font-size:13px" href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/pengoopmcjnbflcjbmoeodbmoflcgjlk">'via Blog this'</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10052243.post-51315222385512003652011-02-12T10:25:00.000-08:002011-02-12T10:37:54.486-08:00SpiderPodium<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLHSCnoum6uDIxodINL0K9jdEWseVAX_fVWOE9pyCx4sMLBVQjs7j671XLN4sM6qUrFpU6uYAakDO3u3ZAeKjjvOh8ZX2tTiRnxYHhWUswGxHcalqTH0iPiIhZHK5A0NttKNM2bQ/s1600-h/clip_image001%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="clip_image001" border="0" alt="clip_image001" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLB9lwLZ5-fnivjGmLYxXLwEK-GkHNDrUBI5lJO-xpffRY9u0i9kblSLCQwTndKJepDPa_T1IuRCjFKTzVHGkFKBkm9XhD3uAdyrSMe3dJIEptqFwlQRwp_XRTkguHolLRTFshYA/?imgmax=800" width="240" height="169" /></a></p> <p>Arachnids refer to eight legged creatures such as spiders, mites, ticks, and scorpions--bugs without antennae. To this list we can now add another species, the SpiderPodium. The SpiderPodium is an eight-legged device that supports small gadgets and can act as a travel dock. </p> <p>I remember the good old days when every portable digital assistant came with a charging dock as a matter of course, but no more. Hence, you are stuck trying to prop up your device somehow so you can view it while tethered, charging and syncing. </p> <p>According to Greek mythology, it all started with a woman named Arachne who boasted she could out-weave the goddess Athena. While an excellent weaver, Arachne eventually lost the contest, and Athena turned her into a spider who would spend eternity weaving webs. For this reason, the company that produces this item may wish to change its name from Breffo to Arachne. </p> <p>What is a Spider Podium exactly? The name actually says it all. This gadget has eight bendable, wire legs coated in heavy plastic radiating from a central rectangular body with a slot in it. The idea is that you can bend the legs to hold any portable device in a viewable, stationary position. You can hold your camera, and it will serve as a tripod so you can include yourself in group pictures. It will hold your MP3 player and allow you to watch videos. It will hold your phone while it charges and syncs to the mother ship. </p> <p>With a little imagination, you can make the pliable legs grab, support, and suspend any small device securely. </p> <p>Not coincidentally, the slot in the center body of the Spider is designed to accommodate that pesky, bulky, Apple iPhone/iPod connector. (Why can’t Apple use a standard micro USB connector so you don’t have to take so many cables with you on a trip?) Anyway, when you have the iPhone connector inserted properly, it will hold the device sufficiently so that you don’t have to worry about having the legs hold it. I suppose you would want to secure it with legs on a bike or where there would be some bumping involved. </p> <p>The really cool part of it that you can use some of the legs for a stand or you can use them for attachments. For instance, suppose you wish to use your phone for GPS navigation in the car, and you don’t want to spend $50 for a window mount. Simply configure the spider to grab on to something in the car such as a visor or a vent. I suppose you could get it to stand up in a drink cup holder as well. </p> <p>Buy another one (they’re cheap), suspend it from a headrest and let the kids watch videos in the back seat. Use it to mount your phone/GPS to the handle bars of your bike or motorcycle. I even use it in bed to hold my phone so I can read ebooks. When I used it to watch TV or movies, I call it bellyvision. Use it on your bedside table and turn your iPod into a travel clock radio stand. They’re great for video conferencing too. </p> <p>The functionality of this highly adaptable device is only limited by your imagination. You can use it everywhere. Use it while camping, on an airplane, in bed, on your desk, in the car, on a bus, on a boat, on your bike. It’s highly portable with its 3.5 inch legs. </p> <p>This ingenious device is a must-have whether on your desk or on the road. Don’t leave home without it. I found them on Amazon.com for as little as $18.95. It’s available in white, black, and gray. There is a larger version called SpiderTablet. </p> <p>I’m thinking about getting one for my home office, one for the kitchen so I can watch the news while fixing dinner, one for the bedroom to use as an alarm clock/radio stand, one for the family room to I can see my phone screen, one for the car for navigation, and one for my bike. That way I won’t have to remember how to bend the legs for the various functions. I can’t imagine life without at least one of these handy arachnids. Get one, and I promise it won’t bug you. In fact, if this bug bites you, you may become addicted to it. </p> <p>I consider the Spiderpodium one of my best discoveries at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. In fact, this gadget earned its developer a Design and Engineering Innovation award. </p> <p>Dock it. Hang it. Grip it. </p> <p>Keep connected! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibzxCcHPkVAh5k8I8vmUCdDUbY9L-U-F4QGSFRwfMrvEMGq8wDxCkOSo1yAG5sY0ElgRJFiM-3Q8Rkez2epl60VsHjNufPS4E6hPRlA6H8Rw1VxRo5D01ToJlexFZs1F9ngnfvxA/s1600-h/clip_image002%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="clip_image002" border="0" alt="clip_image002" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFCi2NiJTHAICVbTRnqPqxVYDmyBXFgKt1LXQ8YgA6jyr09WDSSy-1I8c_MW3euPYnLRAUGkKWbsWUo9cXu_KaO2TtlNCdElo6EfQNtj1PFs0MdrN8eWaYRu4Skt2OsntnHGdX_Q/?imgmax=800" width="240" height="169" /></a></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10052243.post-6324986493825898182011-02-12T09:54:00.001-08:002011-02-12T09:54:12.121-08:00Let’s Check out the HTC Evo Shift Android 4G<p> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWiyrqcBayNSqgPykQ6V4-6Pqk36TcOXLKa260yAYs8dKDSUcSXcAYXLb6PPiqhTs41ith3h7LZ1vwQPaUP-6TpeErXkXLIl-oTourmYhPom856LM_fg6RTdI2SJeIFulorR3jpA/s1600-h/clip_image002%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="clip_image002" border="0" alt="clip_image002" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqcgQwNxUjqeeWagC1XOarpDeT_OvuM7ZBXCX0FLEiD5wRVF8dVAnmTmqHg2z5Wc4EK7aGBUMsJb5FodySnr2AB2ZlXAkMHa4fubTanp9orumSNJXdhjIozxKOIJguNlgHuJOJyA/?imgmax=800" width="187" height="240" /></a></p> <p>Faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound—it’s the new HTC Evo Shift 4G. Are you ready to download at speeds ten times faster than 3G? If so, let’s take a look at the new Evo Shift 4G. </p> <p>This Android 2.2 phone has a 3.6 inch touch screen, measures 4.625” x 2.375” x .625” and weighs in at 5.75 ounces. Its relative thickness accommodates a lateral, backlit, slideout, QWERTY keyboard that is tactilely pleasing to use.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtHWtP7ljLLnEryCwx2Piy_W2J4IpeMdcJb-fECGmWlJzR4kXSvJGAmKXQQ07EIc8Y0Zr0rIIFv80nBTLr7JFQ_8NyrOr03MlEplFRGRA_ff3o9m7K4Dx7qxIHfpL6MP8hhGWjwg/s1600-h/clip_image004%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="clip_image004" border="0" alt="clip_image004" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyZ_rHxbFD7BSLomhtrboh1FOrkrnQIixt4HLHDvbej2M-RVdxRP_HUengp6PAQHN0L5jmwZZLjsR-klR2xpnaKfXeDAdv1piwRyfbOUpA38rGZtZPTi3aNKOpkB50eTAnRDqdkg/?imgmax=800" width="141" height="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2VmOFgCFnarJzIa0hfXRadjH4wu47SITYIyLbCJQwW8dFc2k0nj1jNwVN_tQMtN-ViPX0z0fAy5W0pkvzRbgKFhpVT-N8RdqtQcEwAupgzIfGExItWcZiNsYMxTGC46Eus1qxgA/s1600-h/clip_image006%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="clip_image006" border="0" alt="clip_image006" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUJaVn2xoUFc13I_Dj6RDMxoVL5Xu7DC9Bjx64vOLomsdPiPqo0iIXn14-Hae0d9y2ORfnbs3mf1_36AsrQNkjVtf_Z8l0dZ26v2d_M8TKbYgSud48YJIF39aw0idOgl1Tz4MdkQ/?imgmax=800" width="80" height="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg91JGh5TLNOB0X6lkQaBxGrpMCs-Uq3Xdu-8IgnGX4KEEAHTvGmvVrdQmSkCBfEVuUQPB9_ssQH49QGH7uPRFVvM8Vh-PXogSWqFREnz2_ke4SPKSWPRXbxWpc8qDaP_PwXeQx_A/s1600-h/clip_image008%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="clip_image008" border="0" alt="clip_image008" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_EFhobPx_Ai4/TVbJQ9CFXxI/AAAAAAAASR8/riSImwc1oSo/clip_image008_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="141" height="240" /></a></p> <p>Other notable features include a Qualcomm 800 MHz processor 512 MB RAM with 2 GB internal memory. It comes with a 2 GB micro SD card but will accommodate up to 32 GB. The 1500 mAh battery seems to have a reasonable life, but I have not been able to test it thoroughly. HTC Sense user interface enhances social networking, navigation, and customization. There is a 5 MPX camera and camcorder in the rear, but none in the front for HD quality capture and playback. It has proximity, motion, and light sensors. In addition to GPS, it offers stereo Bluetooth and Wi-Fi that will connect up to eight other devices wirelessly.</p> <p>At the top, you will find the power button and a 3.5 mm jack. The right side and the bottom have no buttons or ports. On the left side, there is a rocker volume control switch. Below that, toward the bottom is the micro USB port for charging and syncing. On the top front is a stereo speaker grill and a status light on the right. At the bottom on the front are four hard buttons with the following functions from left to right: Home, Menu, Back, Search. The Menu button is an added HTC convenience, for other Android devices only have three buttons, and you must access the menu through the home button. </p> <p>This powerful unit comes fully loaded. I don’t think I’ve ever seen such an array of applications included. Even though there are now over 100,000 apps in the Android Market, there is plenty already onboard to keep you busy for a long time. Look at this amazing list of apps that come pre-loaded:</p> <p>Adobe Reader</p> <p>Amazon MP3</p> <p>App Sharing</p> <p>Calculator</p> <p>Calendar</p> <p>Call history</p> <p>Camcorder</p> <p>Camera</p> <p>Car Panel</p> <p>Clock</p> <p>Desk Clock</p> <p>Facebook</p> <p>Flashlight</p> <p>FM Radio</p> <p>Footprints</p> <p>Friend Stream</p> <p>Gallery</p> <p>Gmail</p> <p>Google Search</p> <p>HTC Mobile Guide</p> <p>Internet</p> <p>Kindle</p> <p>Latitude</p> <p>Mail</p> <p>Maps</p> <p>Market</p> <p>Messages</p> <p>Music</p> <p>NASCAR</p> <p>Navigation</p> <p>News</p> <p>News and Weather</p> <p>Peep</p> <p>People</p> <p>Phone</p> <p>Places</p> <p>Quickoffice</p> <p>Search People</p> <p>Settings</p> <p>Setup</p> <p>SprintFootball</p> <p>Sprint Hostpot</p> <p>Sprint TV</p> <p>Spring Zone</p> <p>Stocks</p> <p>Talk</p> <p>Teeter</p> <p>TeleNav GPS Navigation</p> <p>Videos</p> <p>Voice Dialer</p> <p>Voice Recorder</p> <p>Voice Search</p> <p>Voicemail</p> <p>Weather</p> <p>YouTube</p> <p>To tell the truth, I’m a little disappointed in the camera as it is only 5 MPX. The quality is not as good as other phone cameras I have seen lately. It seems to lack sharpness and clarity. At 5 MPX, it is toward the low end of the scale these days compared to many phones with 8 MPX. It would be nice if it had a dual LED flash and a front facing camera as well for video conferencing, bumping, and a little FaceTime.</p> <p>At 3.6 inches, the screen is on the small side, but perfectly clear with a nice picture. I might have trouble deciding on whether to settle for this format or a larger one of say 4.3 inches.</p> <p>I like the feel of the slideout keyboard. Each key is clearly defined and helps in making fewer typing errors. However, I personally do not like the horizontal keyboard and rarely use it. First of all, it automatically makes the machine thicker. It is cumbersome to slide out the keyboard, and you must use two hands to hold it and type. I much prefer an on-screen keyboard that pops up when you need it and disappears when you are done. Of course, with the slideout keyboard you must type everything in the landscape view. One of the great Android typing innovations is Swype, which I thought came pre-installed in all Android phones, but not this one, which is a shame. I suppose for many folks the slideout keyboard is an absolute deal maker though.</p> <p>I have no complaints about Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. They both worked exactly as they should and connected quickly. Sometimes I have trouble connecting Bluetooth with various peripherals, but not on this unit, and that’s a big plus in my book. My only regret is that I was unable to test the power of 4G, as it doesn’t exist in my area, and I loathed the idea of going to New York City to try it out. So, make sure that you have a 4G signal in your area so you can take full advantage of this capability. I can’t wait to experience the power of 4G, which can be up to 10 times faster than 3G. </p> <p>The Navigation program and Google Maps worked superbly so that it’s not necessary to acquire any third party software. It has audio, turn by turn navigation and reroutes quickly if you take a wrong turn. I really enjoy switching to satellite mode and watching the actual countryside go by as I drive and the seeing the actual buildings in town. It’s kinda cool to pull up in front of somebody’s house and show them a picture of the house. Of course, to use the Evo for navigation in your car, you should be prepared to purchase some kind of mount and a charger, which could set you back another fifty bucks or so. </p> <p>In the final analysis, I found the HTC Shift Evo 4g to be a perfectly acceptable device with satisfactory functionality. However, if I were in the Sprint store, I would definitely put my money on the HTC Evo because of the larger 4.3” screen, front and rear 8 MPX camera with dual flash. While 4G is certainly an incredible phenomenon, it is still extremely limited in its distribution. If you live in a 4G market, you will certainly want to consider the Evo Shift.</p> <p>Keep connected!</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10052243.post-65202447898555822512011-01-24T18:22:00.000-08:002011-01-24T18:28:40.154-08:00SanDisk: Adventures in Memory<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ8ld6k1ik7VcCbj_CWfFk7nUs2gwh8n6MZwI5ptKnGi3sKbZ9qIPEcsGaU8ZTngmr640FzR-OlxSmRhlSuGyvREND2zJKFaF4S5RziId9TrmBOrvTrTI-WvU3w2Euro79QGSHKg/s1600-h/clip_image002%5B4%5D.gif"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="clip_image002" border="0" alt="clip_image002" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivhRm2LRCXxbiF-iZZcSkzX6ooFtaQTjLsp-GryaFakQOqnU8gCmmle-iXpjazn6U7QLBN30_SWcCPePt602LWYk6J8qRIlOO0c2Y_wOQIBtZzlEJRqD3et_p1RxgVhpfk5NxPLw/?imgmax=800" width="155" height="131" /></a></p> <p>There are certainly lots of choices out there when it comes to memory media, but somehow SanDisk has always been my favorite. Over the years, I have amassed a small mound of SanDisk memory cards starting with the big CF cards, progressing to the standard SD card and then to the Micro and Mini SD cards and adapters. Let’s not forget the SanDisk flash drives that are also increasing in capacity. </p> <p>It’s difficult to believe how much storage is available on a tiny micro SD card these days. It amuses me to think of all the old 3.5 inch floppies I had to shuffle in and out of the drive to accommodate a single document on a 1.44 MB disk. Can you imagine how many of those disks it took to back up files? Times have certainly changed.</p> <p>I can hardly believe it, but SanDisk now has a 128 GB memory card created mostly for accommodating videos and photographs, which require a large amount of space. I can remember my first 1 GB hard drive. I paid $1400 for it and thought I would never run out of room. Ha! </p> <p>The new 238 GB Extreme Pro compact flash card is a photographer’s dream come true with oodles of storage and rapid performance. Write speeds go up to 100 GB/s. It features Video Performance Guarantee for full HD quality.</p> <p>In its never ending quest to improve and expand memory applications, SanDisk has some other new tricks up its sleeve. For instance, its new Secure Access software. This software protects your videos, photos, music, and data files in a private vault on your USB drive. You can drag and drop files into the secure vault online with 128 bit AES encryption for security. Your files are securely stored online up to 2 GB by Dmailer technology. </p> <p>Even if your flash drive is lost or stolen, your files are still secure. Secure Access is available on SanDisk Ultra, Cruzer, Cruzer Slive, Cruzer Edge, and Cruzer Blade.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjosZQcK1OGvq3H-MkZT77SmMNGiBD8tmoERmZOmgyGN8LoM06iEb_00O9_bBTB8SkqA83YrY4D7kXMvsGbmUWnuBCGeoNOduIbbP6UJ0ssXMHGIQaPV2__uGbJTCQ5JApC7Pw_1w/s1600-h/clip_image004%5B3%5D.gif"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="clip_image004" border="0" alt="clip_image004" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIRBDhcg4s4pwgbFcdVypFgsMy_T9Hr7Y3oFlr29O4m_0G59yC4G44qlvdx8_JmHnolnilj0Xac9fbLtO7Wg6ApvvHpUswYLQzVgm4QysDGzzG-yrM-XplLWESnt4IOkXj7r40ng/?imgmax=800" width="231" height="91" /></a></p> <p>The new SanDisk Ultra USB flash drive will transfer files at speeds up to 15 MB/s. It comes in capacities of 8, 16, and 32 GB. It features password protection and encryption as well as up to 2 GB of free online backup. </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU0jZnEEv2EAoK33biCJ_6ihObBmPOe-XAicca83qitgOpPJGZgGKGE4M61oIueIPSj_Od_CRjQLNtP07QkXNlaYmDj2QRtAaUICULBbgg111CkLzPfl3N7CxCW1kqig-3n2eEvQ/s1600-h/clip_image006%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="clip_image006" border="0" alt="clip_image006" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP8QoLreCYxYP67hJsx2Y6D4KJWosPZaQuQwS65c_LCPNAEG0s9CM60PHVhwOuPce620udSGE74Qd5jpSlsaHgM1ByOO6aym8ThlrR5pR-ykRvkaUjDXsgiDfLssDdrDzqPf2i5w/?imgmax=800" width="240" height="101" /></a></p> <p>Over the years, I have seen SanDisk’s MP3 players evolve. My MP3 player of choice now is the Sansa Fuze, which comes in 4, 8, and 16 GB capacities. Of course it has a micro SD card expansion slot so that the memory is really infinite. This device also plays, pauses, and records FM radio with scanning and presets for your favorite stations. It is also an audio recorder with a built in microphone for notes, music, lectures, etc.</p> <p>Of course you can also enjoy videos, photo slide shows, podcasts, and audiobooks. You can even download free, unabridged audiobooks from most local libraries these days. Every night while I cook dinner I listen to the news on my Fuze that I have connected to an external speaker system for greater listening pleasure. When I’m on the road I enjoy hooking it up to my car speaker system and hearing my favorite tunes or an audiobook. </p> <p>I also use it as a brag book and have pix of my grandkids in it to show anyone I can corner. It’s super bright 2.4” screen is perfect for photos and videos.</p> <p>It can handle the following formats</p> <p>Audio: MP3, WMA, Secure WMA, Ogg Vorbis, FLAC, WAV Audible, Podcasts</p> <p>Photos: JPEG, MBP, TIFF, GIF, PNG</p> <p>Video: H264, MPEG-4, WMV, Flip Video</p> <p>Let’s not forget to mention the diminutive Sansa Clip MP3 player and the USB MobileMate Micro Readers for transferring data between a PC and a phone, camera, or MP3 player. </p> <p>In the box, you get the MP3 player, ear bugs, micro-USB 2.0 cable, Quick Start Guide, and Rhapsody Software for music downloads and transfers.</p> <p>If you don’t want to bother with downloads and creating libraries, you can pop in a slotRadio card that hold 1000 handcrafted songs on a playlist tailored to your taste, which is available from slotRadio.com. </p> <p>The rechargeable battery lasts up to 24 hours for audio playback and up to 5 hours for video playback.</p> <p>Another SanDisk innovation is its new Xbox 360 USB flash drive. Just plug it into your Xbox to save games, profiles, map packs, music, pictures, and videos and then take it with you on the road. It comes preconfigured for Xbox so that there is no setup required. It comes in 8 and 16 GB capacities. </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtApPhyphenhyphenhNaBnkX4lWoNZSxu65U3LP-thnV823aadMv4Plm62mL6q7KYI-4RVzRS0xWY0WUo322SKjzm8XBMgmwZ23waTGCSPzfLwK7_JkqZZ3bwDqvJiV2hkhtGeTif_IW-mbXuA/s1600-h/clip_image008%5B3%5D.gif"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="clip_image008" border="0" alt="clip_image008" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPtP1ZD9LcJ7ZBAql0MGDIkG2riMDTGUY_3a3I8nVWvVLdRjULJzGoFW340TA_A8NAagN60PNFSPdqYP_wrtBPdFYttV1dXw6JYJ_yTgJKR5Nq09G6scRWd0JLtayU0saRimlQaA/?imgmax=800" width="119" height="88" /></a></p> <p>SanDisk stands ready to help you expand and preserve your memory in a wide range of devices with its SDHC memory cards with capacities up to 32 GB and a wide range of other memory media designed for just about every digital device imaginable. The preservation of memory at an affordable price is a noble cause indeed. Two thumbs up for SanDisk. </p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10052243.post-19663677035978771892011-01-24T18:01:00.000-08:002011-01-24T18:05:06.086-08:00HTC Introduces New 4G Phones<p>At CES, I always make it a point to visit the HTC booth on my first day to see what they are up to because I have long considered this company to be the leader in smartphone innovation. I have several old HTC phones that were way ahead of their time. I can remember when they used to make nothing but unlocked phones when they were in search of a carrier. Now I imagine they can pick and choose whatever carrier they wish for HTC has more than proven itself to be on the cutting edge of handset quality and innovation.</p> <p>HTC has already launched the first 4G phone in 2008 and the first Android 4G phone in 2010. At CES, HTC announced the introduction of 3 more 4G phones.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg87QUAVjzVpqdtqIBvlbDS8eO1_QCO9FlA7YeAy30d92gWXYiBVh7MbwarLqlkxrXpGv2mjUnn5Efe4c5W7ngSK2uV3EdVazwlxRJfkFHCNM5p58-COTLS8kS4xne9dS5z9jThZw/s1600-h/clip_image002%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="clip_image002" border="0" alt="clip_image002" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNGsaFIOH4SxWQuTgC6Vx1MNPkWNSPRaODuTpYDsUJ5CnhAYfz5FwnkQDhAKaQD7OpLGimAVvMrUD7lSVKxTKz0EOgaw6aO9X0Ig3wT15klekUAWXmeQkSgSebNRFNXsXSpo0WRQ/?imgmax=800" width="141" height="240" /></a></p> <p>The Thunderbolt with Verizon is will spearhead Verizon’s venture into the 4G market. It will have Skype connectivity so the users may connect through voice and video taking advantage of its large 4.3 inch screen and front and rear cameras. The Qualcomm chipset will allow seamless switching between 3G and 4G networks. Thunderbolt will also have built-in GPS, digital compass, G-sensor, proximity sensor, and light sensor. It features a pull out stand, which is a handy feature I appreciate.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_EFhobPx_Ai4/TT4vrjSV_UI/AAAAAAAASKY/9v4i8WseE-4/s1600-h/clip_image004%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="clip_image004" border="0" alt="clip_image004" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_EFhobPx_Ai4/TT4vsumY-lI/AAAAAAAASKg/XgDeAs0zht8/clip_image004_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="137" height="240" /></a></p> <p>HTC has also partnered with AT&T to offer its Inspire 4G with the HSPA+ network. The phone will take advantage of THC’s Sense enabling users to find lost phones and wipe out data if necessary. It will have an 8 MPX camera with Dolby and SRA surround sound, active noise cancellation. The classy body design is machined from a single block of aluminum. This will also be an Android 2.2 phone. It will have a single 8 MPX autofocus camera with a dual LED flash. DLNA will be built-n for home networking. The screen size is 3.6 inches. The HTC Inspire 4G will be available in the first quarter of 2011. </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWqGWOaF8xH2Q1ePIlvjoBqpG9QB1k3Xxpc_MNwnmCKvPm6G_jC3GL4T_I6fFGEFKizStmHrNpO4OyqYsioACm_ZK9uOeoKYDg9udOES_bCRGYNhsp3tTvQ9u0L5W4j_dK8Go7EA/s1600-h/clip_image004%5B1%5D%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="clip_image004[1]" border="0" alt="clip_image004[1]" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcBghIAAnaR4_nLIGP-7SUJgUACoa51ziudm4-IN62AjPdH6Lm4vGTmbc_UXgNL516vWL1_GpfzsdVOEeU_jlGUZeSwVVSCyUuPoOcDMC9BRz1CKuWxHv2yhNMRpmbQG60WVBagg/?imgmax=800" width="137" height="240" /></a></p> <p>The new HTC Freesyle is built on a seek aluminum unibody with a 3.2 inch capacitive touchscreen and HTC onboard. It offers a FriendStream social network interface, FM radio, proximity sensor, and GPS. This phone runs on the Brew OS. I do not have any experience with the Brew system yet, so reserve comment other than to muse whether we need yet another operating system.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Uz3YuRhvjr11SN5Wp0OoxykKQ8YfE4v96TLlsZImUsc7Kcrb8Qzx7iIyvx1oY3VSrQToH1CUFlVAMdK_JubUj6SP4RNUDUE58Pbsi73UgOPHJ_QB8tFZqtc26xoAzNM01YSCNA/s1600-h/clip_image006%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="clip_image006" border="0" alt="clip_image006" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoZdTPlVn7LbY8ZGzFakNULMRHDvtbmJde1rWvzypl2AWM4-vtHdA2EY0ghoj_tQUfOXVVECSiu1TmEdfi01q0tkXHQtAIFcPcLfDv1KPMlokhdJ6zIRaWLqt2egGI_WpPHbkjsQ/?imgmax=800" width="125" height="240" /></a></p> <p>The HTC EVO Shift 4G is another Android phone with HTC sense and a slideout QWERTY keyboard. Used as a modem, the phone will connect up to 8 other devices in a network. It has a 3.6 inch WVGA touch screen display with digital compass, g-sensor, proximity sensor, light sensor, and GPS. There is a 5 MPX camera with flash. It is sponsored by Sprint. </p> <p>There are two other HTC 4G phones available. One is myTouch 4G running on Android 2.2 with a 5 MPX camera and a popout QWERTY keyboard. The other is the T-Mobile G2 Android phone with a front and rear camera for video chat. </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr95upT5QNM_Y7GwevFNeqIFEJIwVLKHyvftPnPvffvmcO3TyH6BhhvWNxmmFEPoXk4e_3yrORPBk-kTwktD7_mA13MBUB37f9XFyfbOHi1wpxXZq_uVedG53UudMhAIZbN_fZBw/s1600-h/clip_image008%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="clip_image008" border="0" alt="clip_image008" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoZZW_JdaQ50G6SzOojj9HsmQIREziA_zCEUfWvwPT512ASFMNfoKIx_KQSqFIGL208dpuLkKhpO4TeS9fWqe7XBFlJaytzrvjC01KQEt0RMscMBTNb2pF6gR4FPr0Z6eJt3NIfA/?imgmax=800" width="135" height="240" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkVtADbaGNi12ivs4Iz1v5qZsO46V2SaD41ewqQfdDQvNcU-0DwtJ9mHD607fFTa7RGaUEqQZR5dC3JUSDUvsuEsVDGAoRgHN36k45iTkmX1G63xz6KwYul5EdUIUJcUgohqlk7w/s1600-h/clip_image010%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="clip_image010" border="0" alt="clip_image010" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3-oEgCGyRO2raxnt38IWpvL5FHC7gVLgHHs2ekuQyciK3kTIQ56r5TFpKEnOTh1hzf3xs-yGmjdLLdJMRLunlhWXSTnkfyq59BocrnrtrZv7euF9LiTwbfkRpDg-N0bw7qqTZiw/?imgmax=800" width="130" height="240" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrgwMlnQ_tzY5iYXhakMObdkZDuAau5qDDCwTuHbhXIomozUtHl4Z8twEptjPD01Czm6oaV9PbaIaByOLp9eOal8P3GIha1tmLeZzy1inFAUIxDwUFOs3Jr7ReaQYaSScI-fjvoQ/s1600-h/clip_image012%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="clip_image012" border="0" alt="clip_image012" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_EFhobPx_Ai4/TT4vz59mTlI/AAAAAAAASLw/gkfhiwP4LnU/clip_image012_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="129" height="240" /></a></p> <p>The first 4G phone on the market was the HTC EVO 4G, which is still available running on Android 2.2 with HTC Sense, HD video capture and a 8 MPX camera. It features a built in kickstand for hands free viewing. </p> <p>Clearly, HTC leads the way in mobile phone technology and has more 4G phones than any other manufacturer, most of which are in the Android platform. If I were forced to pick a favorite with a gun to my head, I would quickly select the Thunderbolt with Verizon because of its rich set of features, not the least of which is the front and rear camera arrangement for video chats.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10052243.post-60234929615204461852011-01-24T17:45:00.000-08:002011-01-24T17:48:47.534-08:00TidySongs Will Clean Your Music Library<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyFD5xmS2o04IBlFNeiQNruUsOF7lYJF7wGfA-oiO_IUzshiq0S6h1cp7r1wBsxxg2Ni4sSABnfU4WydtpyfOIubkrBhHdqVuQpuCP1OO-wHrxVwtRNdcs0omHt0bRDD-SmbpGyA/s1600-h/image%5B2%5D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkTSBSB-t8-59XSihx8ccd_FxenoyDbIMqNt57c3ZM-j6KM0UFvuBV-mgi8QaGyY8kN7fTots2ZOX7joyIE_9m-H_ir28sJO4sUYJhluhxVRAaIXCi9vWLQhFa549ngTxUBUrCHA/?imgmax=800" width="244" height="133" /></a></p> <p>We all probably have a flawed music library missing album covers, mislabeled songs, albums in the wrong categories, and artists missing or misspelled. We’ve probably vowed to fix as a rainy day project, but at the list of errors grows the task becomes more daunting and never gets done.</p> <p>Enter TidySongs, a marvelous little application that you can buy at a retail store on a thumb drive for $39.95 or download it online. It will fix all the errors and omissions in your music library in a jiffy. So, if order , errors, and organization are important to you, this was send from heaven for it works fast, is user friendly, and puts your music house in order.</p> <p>Not only does it fix misspelled song details, fill in missing artists, with years and genres, it also adds missing album artwork and removes duplicate songs.</p> <p>It only works with iTunes, however. But it does work on both PCs and Macs. It’s all automatic; no typing required. Sweet.</p> <p>While it’s push button simple, it also gives you complete control to retag genres and more. You can tell it what you want it to do or not to do. </p> <p>So, if your music library is a mess and needs some housekeeping, you should put TidySongs to work for you. It costs $39.95 and you can get it at <a href="http://www.tidysong.com">www.tidysong.com</a>. </p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10052243.post-4944670377562185342011-01-24T17:19:00.000-08:002011-01-24T17:32:48.440-08:00HTC HD7 Windows 7 Phone Review<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYvERzH0mDm7Ya3OSCayGTO9qAiYM5t-HtGeUKWH32nSOpjyj3_zP88QqALcyWBQSfMS7xXW5RVHMp8H3VUz1CfSzqXEiwZMY9uYI2y-Lb-RYdlaAGc2pY9tO2DUXUh_2_SuKzqA/s1600-h/clip_image002%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="clip_image002" border="0" alt="clip_image002" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhThHqS64alKYpCSrrvqq-ndsw8naH0f9Bk-p0lJHNPZpndgIza_cARhmjCOQV8jI6spQCQICpV_yakoVgPgruU_itkZGBcP75MxXdCgPwcaSETynBZUCTAa_zayYSFvOnuJId8GQ/?imgmax=800" width="244" height="152" /></a></p> <p>Overview and Description</p> <p>This HTC Windows Phone 7 is sleek and attractive with a black frame and gray body. It weighs 5.71 oz and measures 4.80 x 2.68 x .44 inches. </p> <p>On the back, there is a little leg that folds out from the camera lens area to make a handy stand in the horizontal position. The stand surrounds the 5 MPX camera lens, dual flash, and rear speaker grill. At the top of the unit, there is a power switch. On the left side are two volume control buttons and lower down a camera button. On the bottom, is a micro USB port, a 3.5 mm audio output jack, and a microphone. On the front of the unit, there is a battery status light, above a 4.3 inch capacitive touch screen. Below the screen are three hardware buttons for Back, Start, and Search. There are two more speaker grills located at the top and bottom of the screen. </p> <p>It is powered by a 1000 MHz processor with 576 MB RAM and 512 MB ROM on board. The build-in memory is 16348, but there is no storage expansion slot. It also has a T-Mobile SIMM card. The 1230 mAh battery has a 6.33 hour talk time with 310 hours standby. With a 3G connection, the talk time goes down to 5.33 hours. This phone operates on a 3G T-Mobile network. </p> <p>Multi media support includes a music player supporting MP3, WMA, M4A, and M4B with a video camera and playback supporting MPEG4, WMV, 3GP, and 3G2. It also has an FM radio. </p> <p>Internet browsing is available with HTML but Flash is not available for a full Web browsing experience. A Facebook application is built-in. Caller groups are supported with multiple phone numbers per contact. You may search by first or last name, It has picture ID, ring ID, and voice dialing. It also comes with a calendar, alarms, todo/tasks lists, document viewer, flashlight, calculator, and converter. You can do SMS, MMS, and it supports various email accounts. My Gmail contacts were imported automatically and were appeared before I knew it. This phone features Bluetooth 2.1, Wi-Fi 802.11b,802.11g, and 802.11n. It also has an accelerometer and a compass.</p> <p>What a pleasure to have a Microsoft phone that has office applications already installed for no extra charge, which, in this case, include Onenote, Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and Sharepoint. You can view, edit, and create documents in any of these formats and share them or collaborate with others.</p> <p>However, I have to shake my head in disbelief. There is no way to copy, cut, and paste from one document to another with this operating system. I thought that the iPhone was a big joke because it couldn’t do that either for three generations or so. Why would Microsoft leave out this fundamental utility to make its applications work they way there were meant to work? Why didn’t Microsoft learn from Apple’s mistakes? It’s beyond me.</p> <p>While we are at it, this system does not have the ability to capture screen shots either. Nor can it place a copy of the handheld screen on a desktop monitor for interactive data transfer between devices with a mouse and keyboard. These are all things Windows Mobile was able to do for years. It seems we’re going backwards here.</p> <p>A nice feature of Windows 7 phones is the Hub concept in which you can place related items as icons in a single button on the home screen. Just scroll down if you run out of viewing space. On the home screen there is an arrow that you can tap or flick right, and it will roll to a screen containing all of your installed programs through which you may scroll vertically to select.</p> <p>While the phone comes equipped with built-in GPS, the navigation program it offers actually costs $2.99 a month to use. That bugs me. The map program seems lame and takes forever to respond. There is no voice-turn-by-turn navigation, and the map is blurry. Google maps is far better, but not available on this machine. </p> <p>All the incredible Google apps are free downloads in the Android store, but none of them exist for this phone. You will be missing out on such familiar apps as maps, gmail, docs, earth, goggles, talk, voice, reader, books, notebook, and so many others, especially developments from the labs. At least there is YouTube and you can get Picasa online, but again, it takes forever. I guess that may be one advantage of Google owning the apps and the Android system.</p> <p>I found the screen to be bright and crisp. The scrolling was smooth and responsive. Programs that are stored on the device seemed to pop up in short order without delay. However, if a program must access the Internet to invoke, it can take for bloody ever. This is definitely a consistent negative feature of this phone. It would benefit immensely from a faster network connection.</p> <p>In the Box</p> <p>This phone comes packaged in a small box into which is tightly packed a micro USB charger cable, a 110v AC adapter, and a stereo headset. There is a small, printed manual, and some other informational material. </p> <p>Getting Started</p> <p>When I first took the unit out of the box, I couldn’t get it to turn on. Was there no battery installed? I couldn’t find a battery in the box. So, I opened the back cover and found a plastic insulator that must be removed for the battery to make contact. </p> <p>When you plug in the micro USB connector to a computer, a box pops up notifying you that you need to get Zune software so that you can get updates, find apps, sync music, pix, and videos. What about files guys? Is this just another iPod touch with Zune instead of iTunes?</p> <p>You can sign in with existing MSN or Hotmail account or get a new one. You are given the opportunity to become part of the Zune Social networking group. Now you can share everything you’re doing with your friends and who knows who else. You must create a Zune tag for the forums etc. </p> <p>Now you can get a 14 day Zune pass to try out the services. After that, it’s $14.99 per month, $44.97 for three months, or $149.90 per year. You get unlimited access to download as many songs as you like and last as long as you are a paid subscriber. You can keep 10 or your favorite songs each month forever. Frankly, this plan does not appeal to me in any of its forms.</p> <p>Now you can download the Zune software and plug your phone back into the computer. The Zune software allows you to sync your stuff back and forth between computer and phone. Zune offers free channels to subscribers for creating and updating playlists. This is also where you find the apps for Windows Phone 7.</p> <p>Apps</p> <p>I have been very curious about the quality and quantity of apps available for this very new platform and suspected that it must be sparse. The first thing I noticed, which isn’t surprising I suppose, is several apps for Xbox. Then there’s a list of top ten paid apps, which are all games. Going over to the free apps column, I see that there are some more serious apps there such as YouTube, Facebook, Adobe Reader, Amazon Kindle, Weather Channel, and Shazam, but the rest are games. How many apps are available anyway?</p> <p>Like Apple, you have to sign in with a password to download apps. But unlike Apple, you only have to do it once, which I appreciate. Apple’s system is a bother. Of course with Android you don’t have to sign in at all.</p> <p>Microsoft has probably exerted a valiant effort to have a variety of useful and entertaining apps available for their new phone platform. Recognizing that it is a brand new arena and that it will take time to mature and develop a larger corpus of applications, it is probably not fair to observe that the app store shelves seemed stripped bare with relatively few choices. Another observation is that there are surprisingly few free apps. When you visit the app store, you better have some jingle in your jeans. There no such thing as a free trial either. Some apps that are free in Android and iTunes stores cost money in the Microsoft market. Why would that be?</p> <p>Traditionally, I suppose that Microsoft Windows Mobile users are accustomed to paying extremely high prices for software programs. Typically a program would cost from $15 to $30 and often more. But these applications were of high quality and worked seamlessly. So, if you are after quality instead of quality, maybe that is what is being delivered. But it would be good to have more choices, free trials, and more reasonable prices. Maybe the market will smooth all this out in time.</p> <p>I was surprised that few of the developers with whom I have worked for years on the Windows Mobile platform have applications in the Windows 7 app store. Maybe it’s too early? Maybe the market is still too small to interest them? I hope they will soon appear however, because they are what made the Windows Mobile system so robust.</p> <p>When you search the app store a strange thing happens. If there are no relevant apps to satisfy your search it doesn’t want to disappoint you so it brings up a bunch of music and Websites that may be relevant to your search query. Weird.</p> <p>Jumping through hoops</p> <p>Eager to put the new Windows Phone 7 through its paces, I loaded it up with some apps so that I could play games, watch TV, listen to music, create and edit documents, send email, sms, mms, photos and videos. In performing all of these tasks, the machine performed as expected. I particularly enjoyed the voice command feature. My only reservation would be that it seemed sluggish on the Web many times, and I don’t think it was my connection.</p> <p>I appreciated the large screen and its clarity The smoothness of navigation when scrolling is perhaps even better than Android phones. I like its sleek look and how it nestles in your hand and wants to be yours. I like the fold out kick stand. I appreciate the integration of Microsoft office programs, which makes it a real productivity tool. I applaud the fact that Netflix comes already installed and works beautifully, but why not Hulu, Pandora, and other streaming apps? I like the fact that you can sync files between computers and the Windows 7 phone wirelessly.</p> <p>A note on syncing</p> <p>The Windows Phone 7 does a superb job syncing Music, Videos, Pictures and Podcasts, which makes it a super MP3 player. But when it comes to perhaps more important things like data, it falls far short of the old Windows Mobile sync interface. Remember how you could check boxes on what you wanted to sync such as notes, calendar, contacts, and files? Now you have to go through Windows Live online and it’s a precarious process. I could not drag and drop files either. We’re going backwards here folks. I could not even get the phone to come up as a drive on my desktop directory so that I could address it and exchange files manually. </p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>What I find lacking and hope will soon be corrected are some glaring oversights, some cannot be avoided problems, and I have a wish list of missing features.</p> <p>The biggest deal breaker for me is the unit’s lack of ability to copy/cut/paste. I just do not understand this omission. Of course, you will have to live with the paucity of apps, but I expect this to be remedied with time. I wish the apps were more reasonably priced and that there were more free ones. It’s too bad that none of the Google apps are available for this phone. I wish the camera had higher resolution as it is on the low end of the spectrum these days. Another deal breaker is that it doesn’t have a front and rear camera for video conferencing. I don’t like the navigation system and resent having to pay $2.99 a month for the one offered. This system does not support Flash for full Web browsing capability. The whole syncing process needs to be revisited, improved, and perhaps restored to Windows Mobile 6.5 functionality.</p> <p>“Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how did you like the play?”</p> <p>I have long awaited Microsoft’s return to the smartphone market as it seemed to be laying fallow for the past three or four years. While I applaud the Windows Phone 7 and consider it to be a worthy competitor for all its functionality, I am in the end disappointed. I do not see that it is substantially better than iPhone or Android. Somehow I expected it would be. If fact, I must say that in many respects it seems to be a step backward when you compare all the things a Windows Mobile 6.5 phone can do. </p> <p>If you are an early adapter to the latest technology, you may wish to purchase one of these units and ride the wave as the improvements roll out and the apps become more plentiful. However, I think I would wait until it matures, works out some kinks, adds functionality and far more applications.</p> <p>As usual, I think HTC has created a superb product that is appealing and functional. I only lament that the Windows 7 system it houses is not more robust and highly developed.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10052243.post-19066337237902881402011-01-24T14:48:00.001-08:002011-01-24T14:48:30.132-08:00Viva Verizon<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpRgLt7YNUUXhrveAONxm6L0_BZvE2VmdMGriu_0wVbuVF06Y8FsAQOAL9odxa7cFs4weBQ5cn9Mum68LqvS-c6IqPPl3dEhu1rKV0PmLLihKRbyvO_lUGWHjea2cvNvq0WMKxgg/s1600-h/image%5B2%5D.png"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZeQOAi4v-LTK3QzSZMTBe4EE04Yb2mMkkIZB0eeiN60JK0A-r4BvRN9vksboMn0L2lzZbYAzu_slZOq7-DvqBrK1KJJmilQse1mxGdKOHsN7Hi9TOudSN0cL0XF4PYPqhTcOTkQ/?imgmax=800" width="244" height="181" /></a> </p> <p>One of the most impressive bigger than life presences at the Consumer Electronics Show this year was Verizon. It started in the press rooms and blogger lounges, continued with free delicious lunches every day, extended to a meaningful keynote speech by Verizon CEO Ivan Seidenberg, and was further demonstrated in a behemoth booth in the South Hall of the Convention Center.</p> <p>To get to the press room, you had to run a gauntlet of Verizon staff who were eager to tell you all about and demonstrate Verizon innovations. I was glad that I took the time to get acquainted with some of Verizon’s new technology, and I want to share it with you too. </p> <p>Of course I was already keenly aware of and am eagerly awaiting the dissemination of Verizon’s new 4G network. Of course I will have to acquire a new Android 4G phone to take advantage of it, which is a downer for people who have recently acquired a new 3G phone—no firmware upgrades will be possible. L. </p> <p>Seidenberg emphasized in his address the importance of faster and more commodious broadband as the key to connectivity and technological expansion. Hence the deployment of a 4G LTE based cellular network that will be 10 times faster than the current 3G standard. </p> <p>In fact, Verizon’s 4G LTE network will be the fastest in America with speeds of 5-12 mbps. You can download a song in 4 seconds, 20 photos in a minute, a 10 MB presentation in 10 seconds, a TV show in 5 minutes, or an entire movie in about 20 minutes.</p> <p>Another exciting development from Verizon I was glad to learn about is the new FiOS network with Flex View. Unfortunately, FiOS will only be available in select markets at first, but will eventually cover the entire country. It will offer an alternative method of acquiring television entertainment and give cable and satellite networks some much needed competition. Hopefully the consumer will benefit from lower pricing spawned by competition. </p> <p>The FiOS network features Flex View, and that’s the exciting part. With Flex View, subscribers will be able to stream live or recorded content to mobile phones, laptops, and desktops. Signals may be shared among up to 5 devices simultaneously. It means you can enjoy the same entertainment in your living room or on the road. It means you can control your DVR remotely to view, record, or watch whatever you wish, whenever you wish, from wherever you wish. </p> <p>Subscribers will have 70 GB of storage with each account. You can use this space for all your content including your own pictures and videos for viewing wherever and whenever you wish with Flex View.</p> <p>Home Control is another feature bundled with FiOS. It allows you to monitor your home security system remotely with cameras, burglar and fire alarm systems, door locks, energy management, door locks, lights, thermostat, and more. </p> <p>Also available is Umi by Cisco in conjunction with FiOS. Umi allows for teleconferencing and is designed to get families together as if they were all in the same living room at the same time over live video on your HDTV. Vidoes can be recorded and shared on YouTube, Facebook or email. </p> <p>FiOS will have an On Demand feature as well. On Demand allows you to view first run movies on a pay per view basis. You can also watch a host of free movies and content on major networks and cable networks such as HBO, Showtime, and Starz. The glory is that the programs are already recorded so that you don’t even have to worry about programming them on your DVR. </p> <p>Thank you Verizon for your pioneering, innovative efforts and results. I just hope you hurry to my neighborhood. I am looking forward to being an early subscriber to FiOS and taking advantage of 4G, Home Control, Flex View, and Umi. Thank you Verizon for all the delicious free lunches at CES and a comfortable place to sit to get a little work done with a WiFi connection.</p> <p>I suppose another big news item than cannot be ignored is that iPhone will now be available on Verizon. Too bad iPhones can’t handle 4G, which as far as I’m concerned is just another reason to get an Android phone. It will be interesting to see how it all shakes out with iPhone on Verizon. I know a lot of iPhone developers who are eager for the new customers it will represent.</p> <p>At CES, Verizon unveiled 10, count them, TEN, new 4G Android phones such as the LG Revolution, HTC Thunderbolt, Motorola Droid Bionic and a Samsung Smartphone. In addition, there will be several new Android tablets such as the Samsung Galaxy Tab and Motorola Xoom. HP will offer Pavillion and Compaq notebooks for 4G consumption. </p> <p>In my estimation, Verizon characterizes the most important theme of CES, which was innovation with convergence through cooperative efforts with other entities to bring beneficial results in advancing technology to improve our lives.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10052243.post-18252594852070469622011-01-23T10:41:00.000-08:002011-01-24T14:29:28.299-08:00CES 2011: Impressions and Convergence<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp05uhGKUO63_A4LVcBXSeh9V7JtiEbaHv46J53cOZ96SPu0601w7qpDQaKljJyvbg_kCvWtv9DEZjkuwG7YN8qSDteK1lB6Dj-thALYNYWgoVDHSdAMSJNgOEy_Eegyzj3Y6C6Q/s1600-h/clip_image0023.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="clip_image002" border="0" alt="clip_image002" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_EFhobPx_Ai4/TT39QRn-yNI/AAAAAAAASIw/XIn3VdRfdf8/clip_image002_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="139" /></a></p> <p>If you’ve never been to the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, it’s an unimaginable extravaganza teeming with hordes of people streaming through the venues attempting to absorb all the latest technology on display. The super stars in the consumer electronics industry such as Microsoft, Samsung. Toshiba, Panasonic, Casio, HP, and more are all computing for your attention with blaring music, flashing lights, uniformed employees, dancing girls, live stage performances, robots, game booths, scads of HD and 3D TVs, and other gimmicks. It’s a total assault on the senses. Perhaps the most soothing was Microsoft whose entire exhibit area was bathed in blue light for a much appreciated nerve-calming effect. Purportedly there were over 130,000 attendees this year, which is a lot of humanity in any one place. That’s ten times more people than live in my entire town.</p> <p></p> <a name='more'></a> <p></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimQ-EVWRmelpDZOU37e2hnyL-dixyTe4hukJp58vS98GDa6EyiMqf9NqNq0Pklt5XcpPmkF4xFrxRBDWMnqDo_mFhH8sh6-Lge7wAgxqrnQ7mM9CnQCOnusGD3eGkK2RQhO_80qw/s1600-h/clip_image0043.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="clip_image004" border="0" alt="clip_image004" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_WY3BfgyuwZSnB0yVQ-PGRGqFX51rV_X_O3Vn4T18dJ9RZkIBIPlFaiDnkWddyDVvnUK4fyg2tPIfsKPqdm7bv0LP7BgvGn4WtWpnt54xatt9e3M3Uc6P7z3Wj1BlIt2ICgWW7A/?imgmax=800" width="244" height="139" /></a></p> <p>Big at this years’ show were 3D TVs, Smart TVs, Android Tablets, automated remote control home systems, new 4G phones, eBook readers, wireless chargers, digital automobile accessories, and iPad accessories.</p> <p>There were so many 3D displays that I pilfered a pair of 3D glasses from LG and wore them on top of my head so that I could pop them on whenever needed, which was a good deal of the time. 3D technology is certainly here and ready for the market. I wonder who is going to pay for it though and how. The entertainment industry got stuck with the bill for switching over to HD with little improved revenue. Only the TV manufacturers came out ahead there. Most likely it will be the consumer who will foot the bill for 3D TV this time around. While 3D is nice, I certainly would not appreciate having to pay for all content. Maybe a movie here and there would be OK from time to time. It may be a while before 3D is in every home. Many folks just got a new HDTV and may not be willing to fork out a small fortune for a 3DTV so soon.</p> <p>Not all 3D TV displays are created equal. Some are clearly better than others. Some have 3D depth within the screen, but few actually extend out beyond the screen.</p> <p>Camera manufacturers such as Sony, Canon, and Olympus are beginning to offer 3D cameras, which I imagine will soon become a standard feature in all cameras. Panasonic has a 3D lens to accessorize some of its models. Be on the lookout for Casio’s sexy new Tryx camera with its unique pivoting features.</p> <p>Another TV feature widely touted was Smart TV. This means that a TV set is connected to the Internet and can stream content from such providers as Netflix, Hulu, Pandora, interact with social networking sies, view pictures/videos, and surf the Net. You can already do this with third party devices such as Roku, but that can add another hundred bucks to the cost of your TV. I wonder what smart TV is going to do to Roku, Wii, Xbox, BoxyBox, and WiFi enabled Bluray players.</p> <p>All the new TVs have a narrow bezel so that there is more screen viewing area. This is a trend I appreciate for I don’t like wide, ugly borders. I just bought a new HDTV that I wanted to fit in an antique armoire and had to settle for a much smaller screen size than I would have liked. Now it will be possible to fit a larger screen into the same space.</p> <p>Portable storage cards continues to expand and become less expensive. Both Lexar and SanDisk now offer 128 GB storage cards to accommodate videos and photographs.</p> <p>I lost count of how many new Android tablets were exhibited, many by unknown Asian electronics firms hoping to find sponsors no doubt. Suffice it to say that the Android tablet market is alive and well and poised to give the overpriced iPad a run for its money. Some of the new tabs are available for less than $100, but they will all be less expensive that an iPad.</p> <p>I saw an abundance of new phones that will soon be available, most of them Android flavored. There are many new units ready for the 4G wave that Verizon and other carriers will be releasing soon too. I even saw some 3D phones. LG has one that doesn’t require glasses, and it looks pretty sharp.</p> <p>I had a chance to play with several models of the new Windows 7 phone, and I must say that the interface is pretty slick. However, I will not take it seriously until it can copy and paste. You would think Microsoft would learn from Apple’s mistakes and not go through the same evolution. I would have expected the 7 phone to do everything the Windows Mobile could do and much more. I’m disappointed.</p> <p>With respect to eBooks, my mantra is “eBooks rule; treebooks drool.” While I am happy to see the popularity of eBook readers, I will never understand the naïve acceptance of such a primitive device as the Kindle. I honestly think that people just don’t know any better or they would never give the Kindle a second glance. It deserves to be relegated to the trash heap of discarded memorabilia. Oddly, there are many Kindle wannabes out there that do not offer any of the great features that are possible to make ebook reading a rewarding experience. With these featureless ebook readers, you might just as well have a clunky treebook in black and white and turn the pages by hand.</p> <p>Few of the new readers I saw even have color. Happily, the Nook reader is a welcome exception, and I applaud the improvements over the lowly Kindle. A decent eBook reader should have multi-language dictionaries, the ability to change fonts, sizes, and colors, background color, underline in a variety of colors, color highlights, copy/paste, annotation, instant lookups, indexed notes, multiple, indexed bookmarks, and drawing. Of course a good eBook reader would be able to surf the Web and download books over the air. As long as there is Internet connectivity, it may as well do email and texting. If it can do that, why not word processing, videos, photos, spreadsheets, and presentations. Whoops, I guess we would be talking about a tablet here.</p> <p>The point is, why would anyone want to pay several hundred dollars for a unifunctional device that only does one thing, and it doesn’t even do it very well? Instead, why not get a device for the same price such as an Android Tablet that can do everything—a machine that is a real computer? Makes lots of sense to me.</p> <p>I saw booth after booth dedicated to devices and components that allow you to control the various systems in your home remotely. A partial list of systems would include sprinklers, pool, hot tub, appliances, TV, windows, garage door, burglar and fire alarms, door locks, curtains and awnings. It’s certainly the wave of the future and I expect will be in most new homes. Homeowners can select the components they wish to automate and install them a la carte. Of course, all this can be controlled by a handheld device such as a phone from anywhere. I like it.</p> <p>I also like the concept of wireless chargers for such devices as phones, cameras, and MP3 players. But I didn’t see any that did not require affixing some kind of tab to back of a device, which I don’t like and would not purchase any of these chargers for that reason. There is room for improvement in this area. Maybe next year there will be wireless chargers that are also devoid of ugly and cumbersome add-on parts.</p> <p>Ford Motor Company had the most conspicuous presence at the show and its president was a keynote speaker. Ford has made a significant investment in making digital technology available with its onboard Sync system, which I welcome for it will reduce the need for makeshift peripherals and extraneous wires running everywhere.</p> <p>Of course there were other car companies exhibiting innovations as well such as Toyota, Honda, Audi and BMW. More hybrids are making an appearance, and it seems that it won’t be long before affordable electric cars are available for mass consumption.</p> <p>OnStar has long been an attractive feature for General Motors cars that helps you out of pickles when you get lost, stranded, or have an accident. Now, an aftermarket version of OnStar will be available for almost any vehicle. It’s all in a rearview mirror that costs about $300 and another $100 to install plus an $18 monthly subscription fee. This seems pricey, but if it could save your life, I suppose it’s a small price to pay.</p> <p>Of course there were exhibits of ridiculous speaker systems and amplifiers that take up most of the car. I swear you could open the trunk lid and the sound would blow you down the street. There should be a law against these noise polluters. Come to think of it, there is a law against them where I live.</p> <p>While CES is decidedly not Apple oriented, I couldn’t help notice that more of the members of the press were using Apple products. There were scores of booths dedicated to iPod, iPhone, and iPad accessories such as cases, covers, holders, mounting devices, keyboards, speakers, and more.</p> <p>I was disappointed not to see much in the way of accessories for Android devices, but that’s the rub. There is just one iPhone, iPod, and iPad for accessory makers to worry about, and there is a myriad of Android products all requiring separate adaptations.</p> <p>While I understand that sales of gaming consoles such as Wii and Xbox are disappointing, there were plenty of booths promoting game products and accessories. Microsoft had several see-through booths large enough to contain several people/players. But I tend to avoid gaming for fear of becoming addicted and didn’t spend much time on this aspect of the show.</p> <p>Going green was a definite theme espoused by companies large and small. This is a healthy trend I have not noticed at CES before, and it seems to be catching on across the globe. How wonderful that companies are beginning to take responsibility for the eco-stewardship of our planet instead of the old exploitation model of times past. We are beginning to realize that entrepreneurship doesn’t have to be destructive to the environment.</p> <p>The pursuit of social networking alliances was more than ever evident with everyone wanting you to follow them on Twitter, like them in Facebook, join social circles. There were social networking workshops, and a CES Tweetup with over 300 attendees. On the first two days, there were over 20,000 Tweets tagged #CES. The CES Facebook group has over 12,000 fans.</p> <p>One of the most gratifying trends I noticed was a new spirit of cooperation that I have not noticed before. It seems that the giant electronic companies are beginning to realize that they need to cooperate to create a better world instead of competing. You could see it everywhere with such examples as Skype and Toshiba, Verizon and Motorola, TV manufacturers and content providers, automakers and technology companies.</p> <p>The spirit of cooperation has created a definite trend toward integration as well. Digital phones now do just about everything imaginable from photos to movies to TV to presentations, word processing, spreadsheets, databases, eBook reading, barcode scanning, online shopping, email, SMS, MMS, social networking, gaming, and a plethora of other functions as evidenced in the app providers. Smartphones in fact have become handheld computers that incidentally make phone calls.</p> <p>Our automobiles, homes, and entertainment centers are becoming interactive and integrated as well as we evolve into the information cloud that is beginning to encompass us in an ever smaller world. Connectivity is almost taken for granted now with WiFi hotspots everywhere with faster connections that are able to stream more data. But, this should come as no surprise when we consider the difference between biological and cultural evolution. Biological evolution is divergent. More species are created through time. Cultural evolution is convergent though time as cultures become more integrated and start sharing more and more traits and features.</p> <p>On a worldwide basis, what were once disparate cultural systems are becoming more uniform and integrated as they share more traits thanks to connectivity and electronics. Accordingly, if there were a theme for this year’s Consumer Electronics Show, it was clearly one of convergence.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10052243.post-39200450265418029182010-12-09T10:10:00.001-08:002010-12-09T10:10:23.955-08:00Android logs 300,000 registrations a day<p> </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZX-0xctjxWEbVc0r-J5mEANfbJ7WV27FkhfXS3SQ8vNPjXVpY-gx6X1aXfjdVxy8b6Gf1dJdRFZyYffnT-AT-QapQaR_LMc8oY83e4Ak4tntjEkczbJOQb1YNo7z74-mTEZ7rzw/s1600-h/clip_image002%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="clip_image002" border="0" alt="clip_image002" align="left" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD3FvH9hJZ-Kzp6ax-sRpTJliqCtD5U1sdg7-GC0PxMccEz-DWoSjgcMZVKl9jR9qBbFXmXrYv31QrrTIY6oWi0t3id1lciaqrFxcFLN9Ld43P2no4t3ixDmYks55dhz9BGjNWxw/?imgmax=800" width="203" height="125" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>The buzz on the Net is that Android is now registering 300,000 new users per day. That’s 2.1 million a week and 9 million a month. What an incredible growth and demonstration of popularity and support. </p> <p>This should give the fruity competition something to ponder.</p> <p>If I were an IOS developer, I would certainly think about expanding my horizons to Android. It’s a serious market.</p> <p>If I were looking for a new phone, I’d certainly give the Android platform my focused attention.</p> <p>If I were an advertiser, I would want to make my products and services known to targeted Android users.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10052243.post-40822337537707401212010-12-09T09:46:00.001-08:002010-12-09T09:46:20.082-08:00Twidroyd v4.2 with new functionality<p>If you are addicted to Tweeting and Twittering, you can do it in style on your Droid with Twidroyd. Twidroyd allows you to use their tools and templates to create your own background or customize your own and share it with others.</p> <p>Of course you can read and send Tweets through Twidroyd as well. It a full featured client that also includes postings, mentions, DMs with threaded view, integrated search, list viewing, URL shortening, geo-location support, multi-language interface, and background modifications. Bit.ly is integrated into this app for automatically shortening URLs. Plixi let you embed photos in tweets. Cool</p> <p>An interesting new feature in v4.2 is “Mute.” It allows you to turn off tweets from anyone for a specified period of time. And then you can send a notification tweet that the individual has been muted. How humiliating.</p> <p>When you go to landscape mode in Twidroyd it opens with LivePreview, which displays linked Webpages and media with tweets so that you don’t need to open a browser. It’s a more efficient way to read tweets.</p> <p>There are three ways to acquire Twidroyd. Go to the android markt or Motorola store in the application menu. Search for “twidroyd,” and select either the free or Pro version. Install it, and you’re in business. Using your barcode scanner, scan this code and choose your version.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaXGTf9sPnN2mx7fyD9Xxb6_IFuhXU4Xi1oixhtjVQgqDRNXLSLqaLFR6ZqzD6SYcQWZcPU3eAurhwDGhFuGzRrHW2hA1j6oA7yY4oUmlHNCfsh6kfSHCLC9bv5PFU3J6lFD3jdg/s1600-h/clip_image002%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="clip_image002" border="0" alt="clip_image002" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8r3m4_NqBttVKByV1gkbdA1fF-dG-D0brf6H6HJsk2xmXBZNVtz3podfxdpCXCOBbgwDE5Y7GLzQ7WUFcCCgJq7C0SHoQ7kX-nKhzcM2Xp7SLCsMZyandKOut388X_XVKZwwRbA/?imgmax=800" width="83" height="85" /></a></p> <p>Or, you can text TWIDROYD to 95997 to receive the download link.</p> <p>As far as I can tell, about the only difference between the free and the Pro version is that you don’t have to suffer pesky ads in the Pro version. Pro costs $3.99.</p> <p>I’d say if you are a tweeter, you will probably want to install this app on your Droid.</p> <p>Follow me @tshphd on Twitter. J</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10052243.post-19122481473186136232010-11-29T16:47:00.001-08:002010-11-29T16:47:04.928-08:00Who’s gonna have the fastest network?<p>Verizon. That’s who. When Verizon’s new 4G LTE network is unleashed at the end of the year, it will deliver data ten times faster than 3G networks. That’s blazing. </p> <p>4G will only be available in 38 major markets in the beginning. It will take a while to get to the boonies where I live, but it will be nice to have when I travel. It will also be available in some major airports.</p> <p>Current 3G handsets are incapable of receiving 4G. There will no doubt be a rush to get new 4G capable handsets to market by manufacturers. I understand that there will be a half dozen or so units available to view at the Consumer Electronics Show, and I’m eager to see them.</p> <p>I wonder about people who invested in a 3G unit. Will Verizon allow them to upgrade without penalty. I wonder too if iPhone and Verizon will finally get together as rumored.</p> <p>Well, I guess with any new technology, there are always growing pains. In this case, I think it will be worth the effort. Way to go Verizon! </p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10052243.post-82133003003276798202010-11-06T10:19:00.001-07:002010-11-06T10:19:03.816-07:00Droid X: Road Warrior<p>When I go on an extended road trip, I like to take everything with me I need to be productive on the road without having to lug a lunky laptop. On a recent month long trip, I decided to use a Droid X as my mobile office to keep me productive and connected. I found it to be a super companion. It helped me process data, write, publish, communicate via email, sms, mms, and IM. It guided me and gave me valuable information along the way that made my trip more enjoyable. It also entertained me with music, eBooks, audiobooks, movies, and TV.</p> <p><b></b></p> <p><b>Getting Organized</b></p> <p>Even before packing for a trip, I think it’s always a good idea to create some lists: things to do before leaving home, things to pack, places to be visited, and electronic items needed, including apps. If you look in the Android Store, there are many, many list apps. Some are better than others. My favorite has always been ListPro, but unfortunately, it’s not yet available. I hope it will be soon.</p> <p>Among the many choices that I evaluated, I finally decided on the Springpad app, which is free. In my opinion, it’s the best available, even among the paid apps because of its robust features. It automatically creates a copy of all your lists, task, memos, and links that are stored on the Springpadit.com Website that is always available from any computer or handheld anywhere. It allows you to make notes, and check lists in various categories such as business, restaurant, wine, products, books, movies, tasks, music albums, shopping, packing, and recipes. </p> <p>You can also add photos, webpages, emails, or snippets of text with hyperlinks and then send them via email or SMS. You can add media by taking a photo, scanning a product, using an existing photo, or making an audio recording. The latter is a great feature while on the road.</p> <p>However, it has one serious shortcoming that I hope will be remedied soon: it will not allow you to sort items within a list, but strangely it sorts lists. Go figure. Accordingly, for large lists, you may wish to find another application that will sort items internally. For just my shopping list, I chose a Shopping List for this purpose. It does the job, but does not allow imports/exports or additions by voice.</p> <p>Here is another good reason to have a packing list. When I was in Albuquerque, my car was broken into and a couple thousand dollars worth of items were taken. During the shock of the moment, it was difficult to remember what was missing for the police report. My list helped immensely. Albuquerque is an evil place…stay away.</p> <p>Another important item to take along is some kind of secure electronic wallet. My favorite has been eWallet for many years. Luckily, it’s now available for Android. It syncs with your desktop data so you have a backup copy. This program has saved my life more than once. When I got my credit cards stolen, I was able to contact the companies, cancel them, and get new ones in no time, thanks to eWallet. It’s a free app that could save your bacon.</p> <p>As long as we’re talking about security and lost items, I highly recommend installing a copy of Where’s My Droid in case you lose or misplace your device. This remarkable app allows you to send a text message to your lost device. You can either cause it to turn up the volume and ring for a set time or it will return a text message with its latitude and longitude (provided GPS is turned on).</p> <p><b>Navigation and Guidance</b></p> <p>During the first half of the trip I used my trusty Mio dashmounted GPS, but I was relieved of it in Albuquerque. Droid X came to the rescue. I used the built in Navigation program with Google maps and enjoyed the amazing 3D satellite pictures that show you actual photos of the landscape as you travel, including actual buildings. With this program, a window mount, you don’t need anything else to guide you on a road trip.</p> <p>Navigating and communicating hands free is a good idea while on the road. For this reason, I tried out some apps to help me. I guess my favorite was already installed on my Droid X. It’s called Car Home. Large buttons on the home screen are for Navigation, Voice Search, Contact Search, and Maps. But, you can install other apps of your choice as well. There is an additional screen with six large buttons on either side of the home screen where you can place apps of your choice to access easily while driving. </p> <p>At the top of the home screen, in large red display, are a speedometer, a digital compass, and a weather report, which never worked for me.</p> <p>A similar application is Car Dock available for free in the Store. The home screen appears with six buttons for Calling, My Location, Music, Add App, Voice Search, and Close.</p> <p>After I was relieved of my Window mounted GPS in the robbery, I reverted to my Droid X using the built in Navigation system with Google. It performed flawlessly, rerouted quickly, gave voice guidance, and the 3D photo background is amazing. As far as I know, no other application has this feature. Go Google.</p> <p>I was delighted to find out that one of my longstanding favorites, CoPilot Live, is now available for Android. I couldn’t resist getting a copy. It is a real asset to road travel with all the features one would expect. However, it doesn’t have the nifty satellite photo background offered by Google, and it does not have a panel with such information as time of arrival, distance to go, and so forth. You can view this information, but it takes some tapping to access, which isn’t too cool while driving. </p> <p><b>Travel Information</b></p> <p>In most places along the way, it was possible to connect to the Web to search for information on sightseeing, history, geology, restaurants, accommodations, and so forth. A handy offline resource for tourist attractions is Travel America, which is free and well worth having.</p> <p>If you enjoy geocaching as you travel, I recommend a copy of C:GEO. It quickly displays a list of caches near you organized by distance. It has a map and a compass for guidance to the site. There are others available in the app store, but this one is my favorite, and it’s free.</p> <p><b>Accountability</b></p> <p>If you track your travel expenses, it can be quite cumbersome with receipts piling up and tucked away in your glove compartment, pockets, suitcase, and so forth. My Droid X made it really simple with a free app called Expensify. Expensify lets you manually enter your expenses manually by category for reimbursement and tax purposes. You can even scan in receipts quickly. All records are backed up online and can be exported. It’s a great app.</p> <p>There are many other apps in this category that you may wish to investigate some free, some not, but Expensify seemed to serve my needs the best.</p> <p>If you are into keeping track of your vehicle performance, maintenance, and mileage there are apps for that as well. Try autoMOBILE for $.99. </p> <p><b>Productivity</b></p> <p>Whether traveling for pleasure or business, it’s always good to be able to travel lightly without being burdened with a bulky laptop and yet remain productive. With my Droid X, I was able to be just as productive as I wished to be without missing a beat. The most serious bottleneck to productivity with a handheld is an efficient means of inputting. The onboard keyboard just isn’t designed for productive inputting. I’m happy to report that with the Droid X it’s was possible for me to use my Freedom, full size, five row, fold-out keyboard connected via Bluetooth with the help of an app called KeyPro. KeyPro is available in the Market. You can download it and test it on your device for free. But, if it works, you will want to acquire the paid version at a cost of $9.95, a most worthwhile investment in your mobile productivity.</p> <p>I’ll have to admit that I really struggled getting the keyboard to work. It was an ordeal of patience and persistence, but once I got the keyboard introduced to my Droid X, it was a perfect marriage. Once you get it set up, it is easy to connect. When I get time, I intend to write an article about the necessary steps to make it all happen quickly and easily.</p> <p>Another drawback to non-Windows devices is that they are not able to read office documents. A partial solution may be to view items stored online in Google Docs. However, the key to true mobile productivity is the ability to not only to view, but to create and edit Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and PDF documents. What to do?</p> <p>Luckily there is a marvelous third party app by DataViz called Documents to Go. The free version only allows you to view .doc and .xls file. To view, edit, and create .doc, .xls, .ppt, and .dof files, you will need the paid version, which only costs $14.99. </p> <p>The new version 3.0 sports an all new user interface with many improved features. You can now access all the Google Docs and edit them. You can even create new ones.</p> <p>This is a must have application if you want to be a serious roadwarrior. Don’t leave home without it.</p> <p>There are times when it can be a matter of life or death if you need to access data from your home or office computer remotely. This happened to me more than once during my trip, and fortunately, there are apps for this. One I can highly recommend is PhoneMyPC. Take notice though, you must install it on your PC before you leave home. You cannot do it remotely. So, buy before you fly. It costs $9.95 and is another worthwhile investment in mobile independence.</p> <p>With all the above productivity tools, you are ready to do battle and face any exigency while on the road and remain prolifically creative while traveling.</p> <p><strong>Entertainment</strong></p> <p>I will resist the temptation to talk about games because there are just too many and everyone has his or her own idea about suitable games. However, I noticed that a completely free full version of Angry Birds became available when I was on the road. I gave it a try and found it mindless but addicting. There is a companion program called Angry Birds Walkthrough that will give you a solution to every level.</p> <p>One of the frustrations I face while in hotel rooms is that all the channels and times are different for my favorite programs. Even if I am lucky enough to find one I like, I still have to suffer through commercials, which I abhor. </p> <p>My best solution is Slingplayer, which I’m pleased to report is available for Android. On my Droid X I am now able to access and control my home TV in HD and watch live or recorded TV from anywhere in the world with a Wi-Fi connection. It takes the pain out of traveling at the end of a long day. In order to use this marvelous source of entertainment, you must have a Slingbox installed on your home TV. Go to Slingmedia.com for details.</p> <p>If you are hooked on viewing TV There are some free and paid apps that will allow you to view a limited number of selections. TV.com is a good one, free, but with few full episode available. You may wish to try the new paid version of Hulu for $9.95 a month. You may wish to check out SPB TV and Orb as well.</p> <p>If you have already downloaded a bunch on your favorite tunes, you are all set to go for listening pleasure while driving or relaxing with the building player. Or you can download new tunes online. If you are really a tune freak, you may wish to carry an additional micro SD card full of music. </p> <p>Of course there are all kinds of music listening opportunities from a plethora of online radio stations from all over the world. You should never be at a loss for music while traveling.</p> <p>Hands down, my very favorite all time app is Pandora. It’s a free download and allows you to enter your favorite artists, albums, or tunes. It will find other similar music to play for your listening pleasure. </p> <p>As it’s dangerous to use ear buds or Bluetooth headphones while driving, a better solution it to pick up a nifty little FM modulator at WalMart and elsewhere for ten bucks. All you do is plug your Droid into it and tune to an empty FM frequency on your radio to broadcast your phone’s audio over your car speaker system. This works great for audiobooks as well.</p> <p>Speaking of audiobooks, if you don’t like the high price of purchasing audiobooks, which can be as high as $85 for unabridged editions, try Audiobooks for free in the Android store. I spent many pleasant hours driving listening to sold old classics. Audiobooks really make the time pass quickly and enjoyably. Be sure to use a Bluetooth speaker or FM modulator hookup though for safety.</p> <p>If you’d rather curl up with a good book once in a while instead of watching the boob tube, grab a good eReader app from the store. Basically, you are all set to go because a copy of Kindle eBook reader comes installed on the Droid X. Kindle is semi-satisfactory but doesn’t begin to compare to readers I’ve known in Windows Mobile. There are other readers available in the Market, most are free. You can go to Amazon.com and download ebooks for pay for free. There are many other places on the Web with eBooks available. There are even some in the Android Market. </p> <p>I don’t know about your library, but my local library features NetLibrary that allows you to download WMA and MP3 unabridged eAudiobooks. Of course, I can do this from anywhere while on the road, and it’s free. It worked flawlessly on my Droid X. Check it out at your library.</p> <p>About the only time I would read a tree book would be if I were in prison. Thank goodness eBooks are available on the Droid. My mantra for years has been, “Ebooks rule; treebooks drool,” and I’m sticking with it.</p> <p><strong>Conclusion</strong></p> <p>I found no problem traveling with my Droid X instead of a laptop. I cannot think of anything I lacked in the way of productivity, entertainment, and making my trip efficient and enjoyable. It’s like having a concierge in your pocket at your beck and call. While I mentioned all the apps that made my trip more practical, there are probably many others that would contribute to one’s travel well being. I welcome your comments if you have any suggestions.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10052243.post-51323557477498898562010-10-01T14:40:00.001-07:002010-10-01T14:40:34.040-07:00Slingplayer for Android=”Bellyvision”<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMf3i8mjQgx4_MGTNIc_hDj3UUTrOfiglemZ5a1f3lTZENRPtUlUUwjuK0tfZEw0_WN-M6AdMWPOR9qNxa1LL0-4KSv_aD9x9Z3fyVpaON2UwEWiF81bEtSrk930bVF5-9kBUFNw/s1600-h/clip_image002%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="clip_image002" border="0" alt="clip_image002" align="left" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5DYjM-U2kJ-ripN9LL2nPaxWzKGE6sLRINxNvqucpWRn9tfrd1jihY03Eq4uApKFA3R7duk3dk3C-y2guGb7xZnupWaflxdJpVlFpIkYbm5FX14Hsv7Fz6Iu5TsaIJmwFboCcxg/?imgmax=800" width="240" height="137" /></a></p> <p>I would like to extend a warm welcome to Slingplayer. It’s nice to have this functionality again, which I’ve enjoyed for many years on my Windows Mobile devices. Now I am happy to report that it’s available for Android handsets.</p> <p>In case you are not familiar with Slingplayer, let me introduce you. It’s all about the use of placeshifting technology, which enables you to stream video from your TV, DVR or other video source such as a DVD player or home security camera over a broadband Internet connection.</p> <p>What this means is that you can view your favorite TV programs from your home TV on your Android phone. You can also view programs you have recorded on your DVR. If you have Comcast or Time/Warner with On Demand, you can also view these offerings. </p> <p>In order to make this happen, you will need a Slingbox that connects to your home TV/DVR/receiver and then connects either through a cable or wirelessly to the router of your home computer. In my case, my Slingbox in on a different floor from my router, and I am able to connect wirelessly with two little Vudu units purchased separately. Of course, if your TV is near your router, you can connect with a standard Ethernet cable.</p> <p>You have your choice of two models, the Slingbox SOLO for $179 or the Slingbox PRO-HD for $299. The basic difference is that you can receive HD quality video with the pro model.</p> <p>Set up is usually a simple matter accomplished by connecting your Slingbox to a TV receiver with a set of RCA cables for standard video or an additional set of component cables for HD quality. You may wish to purchase a set of remote adapters if your router is not close to your TV.</p> <p>Then it’s just a matter of a little fine tuning, entering your registration code, and you’re all set to go. If you have any trouble, Slingmedia maintains excellent free customer service on a 24/7 basis.</p> <p>You can download the software for a desktop or laptop computer free from Slingmedia.com. Unfortunately, however, it will set you back $29 for the Android software. </p> <p>Once you have installed the software on your phone, you can control your TV and DVR remotely for viewing list for recorded material. You can completely control your TV/DVR from anywhere in the world from your phone.</p> <p>Navigation begins with a bar across the top of the screen with four options: Back, Navigation sidebars, Keypad for channel selection, and Misc. The Misc. button evokes an in-depth menu that includes Program Guid, My DVR$, Volume UP, Volume Donw, Mute, Channel Up, Channel Down, Power on/off, Menu, Last Channel, TV/VCR, Favorite, A, B, C, Help, HD Zoom, On Demand (for Comcast and Time/Warner), Stop, and Swap PIP--just like the big boy clickers. </p> <p>It’s such a pleasure and a bit of a comfort to be able to access my favorite recorded shows when I’m on the road in a strange hotel room with different channels and program schedules.</p> <p>Warning: Don’t leave home with our TV receiver turned off or you will not be able to receive any remote streaming.</p> <p>Frankly, I was feeling deprived using a Droid until Slingplayer became available. Now I’m a happy camper. I cannot recommend this system more highly. It has given me hours of pleasure at remote locations around the world. It’s just so cool to be able to stream HD quality video into my trusty Droid. I call it my “Bellyvision”.</p> <p>It works seamlessly on my Droid X, and it is compatible with all Android models. When you are ready, you can grab a copy of Slingplayer for your Droid from Google Market.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10052243.post-83966254330344104812010-09-04T10:35:00.001-07:002010-09-04T10:35:40.957-07:00Droid “X” is for “Excellent”<p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_EFhobPx_Ai4/TIKDZCXW_cI/AAAAAAAAQLA/ygeD2fbIbnU/s1600-h/clip_image002%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="clip_image002" border="0" alt="clip_image002" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoGQqWR6RtjR7FtWxWbDuAor_hz_7a3CeX6NhMmZvIjGdFgNZllqTHOt-vn0wQIyASf8wC2kMnL4vEYjWlxRlgEop5WyS8xfHQK-b2mPGJHF_S7sfsHuN57RexkRS2YJbzDLDu0Q/?imgmax=800" width="132" height="244" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbTlk6lrp38YOaNDpUlNyPIjTfROqt2LUqCdDnE_i6f2CmxYiYIGvjBfE7eCtaWIARqv6h_Z7BJP6MasNFm_zNtV17zF4L_U3ffK4A_iJA98Y777KH0nehbJpgryY3jrJIY8r1og/s1600-h/clip_image004%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="clip_image004" border="0" alt="clip_image004" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ_X3J07ebrExTRuciArYdSWevnJoTKUeyiUNzpWnsXClDEQ-lmnv4sHeaKNliqYyaGV7bgy177WgC6qsHTNxVBhRVU3cR9YSgWquOmnx810hHUuT90lzU8koQjBHYDF61qUPe9Q/?imgmax=800" width="244" height="132" /></a></p> <p>Motorola hits another homerun with the Droid X. I’m not certain what the “X” stands for, but I’m going to say that it must stand for “Excellent” because it is. Let me tell you why I have come to that conclusion.</p> <p>Basic Specs</p> <p>The first thing that will grab you is the humungous 4.3 inch touch screen, and its brilliant WVGA edge to edge display that supports up to 16 colors. Remember the old three and four color screens we used to get so excited about?</p> <p>Its sleek, shiny black case measures 5.02” x 2.57” x .39”. It has a slight hump on the back presumably to accommodate the camera and flash—more about that later. It weighs in at 5.47 ounces. So, it’s not going to make your pants fall down if you put it in your pocket.</p> <p>The Droid X runs on the Android 2.1 with the Motorola platform. Version 2.2 (Google Froyo) should be available soon. It features a 1.0 Ghz processor with plenty of hunk and 8 GB of internal memory. With a micro SD slot, you can get up to 32 more Gigs of memory. It comes with a 16 GB card installed. </p> <p>A 540 mAHLi-ion battery is rated to provide up to 480 minutes usage time and 220 hours standby time. But, in practice, I found that the battery can become exhausted rather rapidly, especially if you are multitasking with additional services such as GPS, Wi-FI or Bluetooth. Keep your charger handy or a spare battery.</p> <p>Let’s take a walk around the unit checking for buttons, inputs and outputs. On the top, we have a 3.5 mm jack for earphones, a microphone (one of three), and a power button. On the right side are two volume control buttons and a button to invoke the camera. There is nothing on the bottom unless you count the bottom of the screen in the front where there is another microphone plus Menu, Home Screen, Return, and Search physical hardware buttons. On the left side, toward the bottom is a micro USB port for a charging/sync cable. Below that is a HDMI cable port for audio/video output so that you can transfer content from the Droid for viewing on your TV. Nice. You can also output to a projector. On the back is an 8 MPX camera lens and a dual LED flash. On the bottom of the back is yet another microphone.</p> <p>Camera and Video</p> <p>The camera is to covet with its 8.0 MPX lens 1/1000 second mechanical shutter, auto focus, touch to focus, face recognition and panoramic modes features. The Droid X will share photos, video, and music with other DLNA compatible devices. (However, I didn’t have much luck with this feature.) The 720 p ND video allows slow motion capture, fast action, and quick uploads to YouTube. It features directional audio capture with is three microphones that enhance sound while tuning out background noise. With HDMI output, you can play your recorded videos on your HD TV. Unfortunately, a cable is not included. But there is still no way to take screen shots, which is a pity.</p> <p>Entertainment: Music-Movies-TV-Radio-Games</p> <p>If you enjoy listening to music on your phone, the Droid should please you with its standard 3.5 mm jack for headphones, Bluetooth, Android Music Player, ability to create playlists, access to the Amazon Music Store of MP3 downloads, and FM Radio. There is also a Verizon VCast store available for the purchase of music.</p> <p>I found the sound quality to be acceptable with earplugs, external stereo speakers, and with Bluetooth headphones.</p> <p>If you’re looking for video entertainment, the Droid X can deliver. It comes with an Interface app for Blockbuster video that allows you to stream videos. Of course, you must rent them. Unfortunately, there is no app for, nor could I even access Hulu on the browser to watch TV and movies. Fortunately, there is an app for Orb, which allows you to tune into your desktop computer remotely to access files, watch videos, and live or recorded TV. Also, I am happy to report that SlingBox now has an app for the Droid. It costs $29.95, and you must have a Slingbox installed on your TV, but it’s well worth the investment. Welcome aboard Sling Media. There are some other apps for viewing more limited TV channels as well that are worth exploring. I only wish there were an application for Netflix streaming videos. Maybe I’ll have to create one myself.</p> <p>Droid X comes with an FM tuner that requires you to plug in ear buds that act as an antenna. There are many nice radio and music apps available as well. My favorite is Pandora, which is free. If you suggest a tune or a composer, it will create a playlist of similar items in the same genre and stream them to you. Nice.</p> <p>If you are a gamer, there is a plethora of games in the Market for you to download. Many are free. The large screen, fast processor, memory and great graphics combine for a pleasant gaming experience. I haven’t tried it yet because I don’t have an HDMI cable, but I suspect it may also be possible to play games from the X on your HDTV or on a projection screen.</p> <p>3G Mobile Hotspot</p> <p>Another attractive feature of the X is that it can perform as a Wi-Fi router connecting up to five other devices using Verizon’s 3G network. Unfortunately, this service costs an additional $20 per month, and there is a 2 GB cap on usage. </p> <p>Using the built-in Wi-Fi feature will generally give you a much faster connection to the Internet and save possible billable connection time via 3G.</p> <p>Apps and Software</p> <p>As Android is a Google platform, it offers many Google mobile apps such as Maps, Voice, Latitude, Calendar, Push Gmail, Talk, and integrated Google, Exchange, Facebook, Myspace, and Twitter contacts. Let me caution you though. Adding all your social networking contacts to your regular contacts can be overwhelming and bog down the system. It offers advanced Speech Recognition, IMAP, POP, Hotmail, and AOL email support. Other Google and Verizon apps may be installed from the Android Market along with around 50,000 other paid and free apps. </p> <p>I am pleased to report that my Google contacts and calendar ported over seamlessly to the X and synced with my desktop Outlook information. You can access your Google tasks and Docs. Strangely, while you can edit Excel docs, you cannot create or edit any other Microsoft Office documents, which is not exactly a plus in my book. However, there is a workaround with a third party application from DataViz.</p> <p>My Verizon, Backup Assistant, and CityID are some of the other apps that come preinstalled that let you keep track of your account, backup your device, and have a caller’s city appear on the screen. It also comes with a voicemail widget that I never could get to work properly. You can subscribe and pay a fee, for visual voice mail. But I much prefer Google Voice, and it’s free.</p> <p>Screens and Navigation</p> <p>After turning on the device and unlocking it with a finger gesture, a home screen appears sprinkled with apps and widgets. Navigation is accomplished with finger gestures. You can flick to six different screens that you can customize to suite your tastes. You can even customize the background with pre-loaded graphics or provide your own. </p> <p>One of the six screens is set up for quick access to your favorite contacts. It did not work well for me. My first four contacts displayed with large photos, the next four with smaller photos, the next four would not display photos at all, just a blue box with a gear in the corner. Tech support was not able to resolve this issue. </p> <p>Another screen is set up with a music widget for easy access to your favorite tunes and playlists. </p> <p>At the top of another page is a widget that gives quick access to Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Phone, and GPS, which I appreciate.</p> <p>Another page comes with widgets for news and RSS feeds already set up for you. Of course you can remove these if you wish or add more icons of your own choosing to any of the six screens.</p> <p>Google Voice search allows you to take charge of your phone and tell it what to do. You can search on the phone for such things as contacts, tell it to call someone or pull up an app or file. You can search the Web orally or find a business or address and then navigate to it. If you have an urge to be dictatorial, here’s your chance to be the boss. </p> <p>Keyboard</p> <p>Unlike its predecessors, the Motorola Droid X does not have a slide out lateral keyboard. For me that it is plus. I do not like slide out keyboards, and I especially don’t like lateral ones. They are bulky, mechanical, and just something more to go wrong. I don’t appreciate being forced to use two hands to type if I don’t want to. I really like the onboard input panel for Droid X. </p> <p>The X also comes with an onscreen keyboard that opens automatically whenever text entry is required. If you prefer a larger keyboard, just orient the device horizontally, and the keyboard will shift to a wider, horizontal display.</p> <p>In settings, it is possible to turn on such options as keypress sound or vibrate, auto capitalization, auto punctuate, word suggestions, and autocorrect errors. You also have your choice between the standard Multi-touch keyboard, and a new innovative one called Swype.</p> <p>The Multi-touch keyboard expands the touched character, which reduces typos. You can slide your finger to the desired character if you make a mistroke. Holding the key down brings up every available variation of the letter including foreign characters diacritical markings. Another nice feature of this keyboard is the voice option. Touch the microphone and speak the text you want to create. It is surprisingly accurate. As a test I said, “I want to say that this is a very accurate system.” The way it came out was, “I wanna say that this is a very accurate system.” Whoops, maybe it’s a little too accurate.</p> <p>Swype is a pretty amazing keyboard option. You merely slide your finger around the screen from one desired letter to the next until the word is completed. When you lift your finger the word appears on the screen as if by magic. If there are other possibilities with the letter combinations, a list of choices to tap will appear on the screen. There is a tutorial to get you up and running. You can also use the speech to text engine with Swype, and there’s a emoticon directory too.</p> <p>Now comes the most exciting part for me, and that is the X’s ability to connect to an external Bluetooth keyboard using an interface app called KeyPro. It works like a charm, and you are in the word processing, inputting business. There is a trial version to try before you buy. </p> <p>The only problem is that there is no real word processing program available yet for the X. The work-around is to use Documents to Go by DataViz. It costs $14.99, but it’s a most worthwhile investment if you want to turn you PDA into a road warrior. It will allow you to view, edit, and create Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and PDF documents. I consider this an absolute must have.</p> <p>It would be an altogether perfect world if the Android Market had an application that would display a Droid screen on your desktop and allow interaction with file drag/drop, keyboard inputting, and mouse/cursor movement. Sometimes I really miss my Windows Mobile devices.</p> <p>Another feature I appreciate is the you can tap and hold to make a string of entered text expand and the easily see where to place the cursor to correct a type. Nice. </p> <p>Browsing</p> <p>Browsing the Net with the big, crystal clear screen and fast processor on the X is a pleasure. The response time is snappy, and scrolling is smooth and fast. Enlarging the image with spread or retracted figure gestures works well. My only wish would be that there were an option to configure a Webpage to fit the screen as you can with a Windows Mobile device. This is a much better way to view a Webpage on a handheld device because you don’t have to scroll all over the place. I would put this option on my list wish for Droid developers.</p> <p>There are many attractive features associated with the browsing experience. For example, you can tap on the star on the right side of the address bar to mark a favorite. It then appears on the favorite screen for easy access. The favorites screen lets you view the bookmarks in a list or image view showing the home page. There are also tabs for Most Visited and History. You can even place a Webpage on one of the home screens for instant access. </p> <p>By the way, you can watch YouTube in high resolution by tapping HQ on the lower right of the screen.</p> <p>Syncing</p> <p>By connecting your X to your desktop or laptop via the supplied micro USB cable, you can transfer files, videos, and pictures. With downloadable Media Manager, you can also purchase, store, and listen to music from the Verizon store. Unfortunately, the Media Manager only supports 32 bit systems. So, if you have a 64 bit system, you’re out of luck. However, you can still connect to the X as if it were another drive and transfer files that way. </p> <p>Accessories</p> <p>The X comes in a pretty bare bones box with just a charger, a micro USB cable, and a mini quick start guide. To take full advantage of this marvelous device, you may wish to accessorize it more fully with a 32 MB micro SC card, an HDMI cable, a windshield mount for navigation, a charging/docking station, and perhaps a case to protect your investment. I plan to write reviews of some of these items in subsequent articles.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The Motorola Droid X is a supreme powerhouse of functionality with its big, high definition screen, 8 MPX dual flash camera and HD camcorder with an HDMI port for output to TVs and projectors. While it may not have as many apps yet as the iPhone, there are certainly enough to keep anyone busy, productive, and entertained while more are being developed for this relatively new platform. </p> <p>There are several things I wish the X could do and hope they will be forthcoming. I wish it were possible to take screen shots. I wish it had the native capability to handle Office docs. I wish there were an app to place an interactive X screen on a monitor. I wish there were an option to configure Webpages for single column viewing without having to scroll sidesways. I wish there were a Netflix app for viewing movies, which would be much better, in my opinion, than Blockbuster. </p> <p>I could go on with my wish list, but I feel confident that the Droid platform is a serious contender now and developers with place a lot of energy into creating new and wonderful applications to make it even better. I fear, however, that as an open platform in which every manufacturer can put its own twist on things using all different screens, processors, and resolutions, that it will be more difficult for developers to create apps that work across all Droid models and they will become discouraged. That is a problem iPhone developers don’t have as much.</p> <p>The hump on the back reminds me of the Hunchback of Notre Dame and makes the device appear to be top heavy. It’s too bad that it doesn’t come with an HDMI cable and a case to protect it. </p> <p>In any case, I am very pleased overall with the Motorola Droid X from Verizon, and I wish to give it my very highest recommendation. It is worth your serious consideration if you are looking for a new device. I would even encourage you to trade in your current model for this beauty.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10052243.post-75614893835394457762010-06-11T11:55:00.001-07:002010-06-11T11:55:57.466-07:00Is the Microsoft Kin 2 Worth Kinsideration?<p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_EFhobPx_Ai4/TBKGuaiAF7I/AAAAAAAANrk/6tvtnTmW5YU/s1600-h/image%5B2%5D.png"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFvUZSQcG_ZdC5QrU9XpBRTOjByIj0g4PA55W6GrPjfVKWSNuYq5h6ngsbYSpG-S9b6SqpgncSfKWKKBJwqS6tcFsN-c4EEJWrYdLPHOaLrgARsSXmcKHMrOrW66yQSontm3rG3Q/?imgmax=800" width="244" height="185" /></a> </p> <p>The Kin 2 is a three way collaborative effort involving Microsoft, Sharp, and Verizon. The result is a new approach on the way to Smartphone telephony that for me was disappointment piled on disappointment. It seems strange somehow that while the Windows Mobile operating system is ready for a serious redo, this Microsoft device has nothing to do with WM OS. </p> <p>Right out of the gate, the most profound and amazing letdown is the fact that it is not possible to add any applications to this unit. You must accept it as is. So there’s no use complaining about the lack of an app store, for there are no apps. Unbelievable.</p> <p>You cannot even add things like Google Maps. Of course there is no GPS and not even a way to add third party functionality with an antenna because you cannot install any software.</p> <p>While you can access Google Docs and Notebook you cannot edit or create new documents. If you want to access other Microsoft applications such as Word or Excel or PowerPoint you can forget about it. There’s not even a way to take notes or to record audio notes.</p> <p>I could go on about how it won’t make 31 flavors of ice cream and it won’t stop a missile attack, but it was never intended for these things. What was the intention? Apparently the developers have isolated a target market for this device among the younger generation and its preoccupation with music, photos, texting, and social networking. But what about gaming? Sorry, no games—not even solitaire. </p> <p>The programs that come pre-installed on the device facilitate the above functions, and that’s about it. The installed apps include the following: Phone, Music, Help, Alarm, Browser, Settings, Email, Feed Reader, and Search. By the way, the search function only applies to items on the phone, not the Internet, and there is no voice search.</p> <p>All these apps appear on one of three panels that can be rotated into view when the device is turned on. </p> <p>Two more panels are available with the flick of a finger (yes, it is finger friendly—but the scrolling is slow). One of the screens contains posts from your favorite social networking sites such as My Space, Facebook, and Twitter. This page is called the Kin Loop. The remaining page contains your favorite contacts with pictures if you wish and access to all the rest of your contacts.</p> <p>These would be handy functions for many people. You can add more content to the apps page as links to your favorite Websites, which is nice. But you are still limited to only three pages.</p> <p>An innovative feature that goes along with the teenie bopper crowd that this device is apparently aimed at is the ability to share stuff. There is a little blue button at the bottom of every screen. This is called the Kin Spot. All you have to do is drag something to it and you can share it with your pals. It can be a file, a Website, a picture, a video, a tune, an email, a text message, whatever you want, however you want to send it. This is nice.</p> <p>Another innovative feature of the Kin 2 is that everything is backed up online to the Kin Studio so that you never have to worry about losing your data. There is no syncing as such, but you can connect to your online account wirelessly and remotely to transfer files back and forth. I like this feature, but I fear that it may add to the cost of the account.</p> <p>I was able to import all my Gmail information and contacts. I was also able to access my calendar from Gmail as well as my tasks. </p> <p>Thank goodness for Google. Without Google, this device would be less useful. While I can edit and add items in calendar, tasks, and notebook, I cannot edit or create new docs in Google Docs, which is a shame. At least Notebook gives me the ability to take notes, a functionality that is otherwise lacking. However, I understand that Google has discontinued the support of Notebook and that if you don’t already have an account, you cannot get a new one. Too bad.</p> <p>As an aside, there are some good alternatives to Notebook available such as Evernote and Zoho Notebook. I prefer the latter because of its collaborative features.</p> <p>I am happy to report that Google Voice works with the Kin 2. If you’re not familiar with Google Voice, I recommend applying for an account. Voice not only records your voice mail, it transcribes it and allows you to scroll through your list of voicemail so that you don’t have to listen to every message. It also compiles a directory of all your messages in one place so that you can instantly review your email, texts, IMs, and voice mail. It notifies you of incoming activity too. </p> <p>But that’s not all. Voice also gives you a free Voip phone number that you can use to make free phone calls over the Internet. People can also call you on that number. You can use it for free texting as well, which makes it a great money saver and convenience.</p> <p>Browsing on the Kin 2 at first seems to be just fine with the initial screen fitting the device perfectly and with little tabs along the top. You can drag down the address bar to type in a new address or to go back to a previous screen. </p> <p>You can scroll with a finger gesture, but it doesn’t glide as well as other devices I’ve tested. You can also use a finger gesture to expand or contract the image on the screen. However, when the image is enlarged, you must be prepared to scroll around for it does not wrap to the screen, which I find annoying and inconvenient.</p> <p>While my first choice of a keyboard is in the vertical position, I must say that the slide-out QWERTY, horizontal, backlit keyboard on the Kin 2 is very nice. The keys are round and elevated for a good tactile quality that makes it easy to type without mistakes. </p> <p>I found the sound quality on the phone to be satisfactory as well as the audio playback on the FM radio and stereo music player. I did miss calls repeatedly because the phone simply did not ring for incoming calls even though the volume was at the highest level. Media playback formats include AAC, MP3, WMA for audio; h.264/AVC, MPEG-4, WMV for video; JPEG and PNG for images. There is a 3.5 mm jack for stereo audio output and built-in speakers.</p> <p>As far as music goes, you can import your own but this device is an extension of Microsoft Zune, and you are encouraged to join the Zune music streaming service for $15 a month, which adds considerably to the monthly cost.</p> <p>Kin 2 has a nice 8 MPX camera on board with video, auto focus, digital zoom, and flash. Pictures are automatically geotagged if within range of cell towers for triangulation. I found that this feature rarely worked.</p> <p>This device comes with 8 GB of internal memory which could get filled up fast with tunes and pix. Unfortunately, there is no expansion slot. I suppose that’s a good reason to take advantage of Zune’s streaming media so as not to use up valuable storage space.</p> <p>With a 3.4 inch display and a 320 x 480 resolution, the Kin is not the brightest kid on the block. It measures 4.25 X 2.5 x .75 inches and weighs 4.7 ounces.</p> <p>Its 1390 mAh Li-ion battery has a suggested standby time of 232 hours. I found that the battery drains fairly rapidly under normal usage and I would have difficulty getting through the day without a recharge. At least the battery is replaceable so that you can carry a spare. </p> <p>Connectivity to the outside world is accomplished by means of 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi with WEP, SPA, WPA2 encryption as well as Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR. There is no infrared and no GPS. Localization is accomplished by means of cell tower triangulation, which is referred to as GPS. </p> <p>The Kin 2 is capable of sending both SMS and MMS messages. It supports POP3, IMAP, and Push email (exchange).</p> <p>There are built-in sensors for an accelerometer and ambient light detection. Additional features include flight mode and TTY/TDD accommodation.</p> <p>Kin 2 costs $199, but you get a $100 rebate with a two year contract bringing the price down to $99. A contract will cost in the neighborhood of $69 per month for text, phone, and data. Add another $15 for streaming Zunie tunes. </p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The Kin 2 has some innovative features such as wireless Web syncing and automatic backup of data online. The Kin Spot for sharing is also a creative idea unique to the Kin. I suppose the Zune tune streaming approach is a good idea too, if you want to pay for it. It has a nice 8 MPX camera, and you can easily send video clips via email or MMS. The slide out horizontal keyboard is a pleasure to use. I hope the Kin will appeal to the intended audience with its orientation to social networking.</p> <p>However, the Kin 2 impresses me more as a novelty phone than a serious productivity tool. I would never consider the Kin 2 personally because I can’t hook it up to a Bluetooth keyboard for travel and meetings. I cannot access, create, or edit my Office documents. It has no means of taking screen shots. I wish it had a memory card. Navigation with GPS would be nice too.</p> <p>I could go on and on about what it doesn’t do but that’s not fair because it clearly was not designed to be a workhorse for a road warrior who wants to leave his laptop at home. It’s more of a toy for teens who are attached to Twitter, text, and tunes.</p> <p>The biggest deal breaker for me is the fact that there are no apps available for it, and it is incapable of downloading common apps out there such as Google Maps. This is really inconceivable this day and age with iPhone, Android, and Palm Pre Plus competing for market share with bazillions of cool apps. And what about the intended audiences’ penchant for game playing? No games. Big mistake.</p> <p>I have heard a rumor that Microsoft may eventually integrate the Kin with Windows Mobile 7 when it is released and then it would be possible to add apps to it. But for now the lack of apps is a highly negative factor.</p> <p>While the Kin 2 does not measure up to my expectations for a device I would want in my pocket, it may very well suit the needs of the intended audience if the interest is indeed focused on social networking, pics, tunes, and text.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10052243.post-66306328807746320352010-05-24T11:37:00.001-07:002010-05-24T11:37:28.737-07:00The New HTC Droid is Incredible<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUwFRhKHNP00FoI9mgytkV6KVNjMIFVetPNEb-7wsJQT87LiED1ljrsyKwNsNzoyr5jQQ7f-RE-DXrIUIF1-Ky0o8qSLKIojCwY4IjNlU_GLVGqnvSY5VngZYuf5hSd-ysBMrbYA/s1600-h/image3.png"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPDMAxFu28E38QKYVSUOyF8xeyN35zQI8E7gbAGp3Bf1UKmrYo1Qeo5Ehje4If1JEgREVfsGnvK92PYjOS3cFieV2v47kv-zDyq15Z2vWVP3THzplRyg3k7KB3SiaKdPAAoRA7jw/?imgmax=800" width="146" height="240" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZny7gjZ5cU7_5dF1JsNhn6fdg1eCBEdf-t-kZ4Efu3dGHo3YlLMyeqwn49SunM_GK9bCJNXJdwvsbImkHV7QxstmXsPpzZ4lNb6dd69DAM6-no671ZO6Js8mqRSphnLxizNhB6A/s1600-h/image7.png"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj394v3fh4Mewk3ogrSR7NQTNGU6vM866V5gerIfkXE2P2ZizACZkfQ-mEwNCsJarVsLd18h9nS7u00nIke8VS5Mc51_3VcTEc1ZPliwl6oAKOZ94bhGZRyo4VuwPeFqLaxCneyWw/?imgmax=800" width="148" height="240" /></a> </p> <p>Yes, the new HTC Droid Incredible is no exaggeration. It’s a keeper as it naturally cuddles in the cup of your hand insinuating itself like a heat-seeking puppy looking for a new master. I have fallen hopelessly in love with it under its enchanting spell. I guess I have to say it was love at first sight. Frankly, I’m not a bit surprised that Droid is now outselling iPhone.</p> <p>Why would I be swayed so compellingly? What about after the honeymoon? </p> <p><b>Preliminary Attractive Features</b></p> <p>It’s appearance is sleek with a shiny black case thinner than the iPhone and yet with a larger screen. It measures 4.63 x 2.3 x .47 inches and weighs 4.59 ounces.</p> <p>Under the hood it has a powerful GHz Qualcomm Snapdrogon processor and a 3D chip for amazing gaming experiences on a 3.7 inch AMOLED 480 x 800 screen. The 8 MPX autofocus camera with dual LED flash is another huge plus. While I was surprised that it only has 8 MB of onboard memory, it also has a micro SD slot that can handle up to a 32 MB card for a total of 40 MB storage capacity. There is 748 MB of ROM. At the bottom of the screen there is an optical joystick. </p> <p>This phone is the product of a three-way marriage with Google, HTC, and Verizon with each making a solid contribution to bring a superior product to market.</p> <p>Google contributes its mobile apps in enhanced form and the Android 2.1 operating system. One of my favorite Google/Android innovations is Google voice search, which works remarkably well, and is a major convenience that obviates typing.</p> <p>HTC contributes its manufacturing expertise and the Sense user interface that allows pinch/zoom with an amazing Web browsing experience. When viewing Web pages at any zoom level, the text wraps and conforms to the screen size so that there is no sideways browsing required--what a pleasure. If you’re a social network junkie, there’s Friend Stream that conflates Twitter, Facebook, and Flickr into a single screen as if they were one program with a range of views possible. </p> <p>There are seven home screens where you can store widgets and apps for easy access. HTCs Sense allows you to pinch the screen to display miniature cards of all seven screens. Then just tap on the one you want. </p> <p>HTC has loaded several worthwhile widgets and so has Google.</p> <p>Of course Verizon offers what is arguably the best mobile network with the widest, most trouble-free coverage.</p> <p><b>Kicking the Tires</b></p> <p>Taking a walk around this beauty reveals an economy of external features. On the top is a power/phone options button. Next to that is a standard 3.5 mm ear plug jack. The right side is unencumbered with any pesky buttons to push inadvertently that may make your machine go crazy when you don’t want it to. The same is true for the bottom except that there is a small microphone hole and a slot for removing the back cover. On the left side is a volume rocker switch and a micro USB port for charging and syncing. The back has an free form like three-tier battery cover. The camera lens in the upper left corner is flanked by the dual LED flash to the right. There is a small opening for the speaker.</p> <p>Flipping off the battery cover reveals a shocking red interior with a red battery to match. You have to remove the battery cover to gain access to the micro SD storage slot, which is a bit of a bother.</p> <p>I have already mentioned that large screen with its magnificent, bright resolution. There is a charging light at the top of the screen. Below the screen are four useful hardware buttons. From left to right there is a Home button, a Menu button, a Back button, and a Search button. Double tapping the home button invokes the Sense seven-card screen mode. A quick tap brings up a Google text search screen. Tapping and holding activates Google voice search, which is a Godsend as far as I’m concerned.</p> <p>It used to be a big deal to be able to say a phone had Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and more recently GPS. Now, however, that’s pretty much taken for granted, and I’m happy to report that the Incredible has all of the above.</p> <p>Speaking of GPS, Incredible users will benefit from an enhanced version of Google Maps for navigation and positioning in many applications. The navigation system is a turn by turn voice driven app with satellite and photo views. The rerouting is the fastest I’ve ever seen, and it is usually spot on with up to date data and traffic notifications.</p> <p>There are some excellent geocaching apps available too that take all the old drudgery out of the process. It’s truly a pleasure to geocache with this device.</p> <p><b>What’s in the Box?</b></p> <p>The Triumvirate cannot be accused of not sparing any expense, for the box was pretty bare bones with a quick start guide, an AC charger and USB cable that works on the wall outlet as well as in a USB computer port. When connected with a computer, you can transfer files as well as charge the unit. There was no carrying case to protect this jewel, and there wasn’t even a micro SD card. It might have been a nice gesture to include at least a 2 MB card. Many applications will only install to a storage card, which could render the unit less functional until you can obtain a card. So, no extra points there.</p> <p><b>Software Included</b></p> <p>The Incredible comes with a variety of useful applications already installed. Here is a partial list:</p> <p>Calculator, Calendar, Call History, Camcorder, Camera, Car Panel, City ID, Facebook, FM Radio, Force Close, Friend Stream (did not work—caused forced close), Internet, Mail, Maps, Market, Messages, Music, PDF Viewer, Peep, People, Phone, Photos, Quickoffice, Search People, Settings, Setup, Talk, Text to Speech, Voice, Voice Dialer, Voice Mail, Voice Recorder, Voice Search Weather, and YouTube. There are a variety of widgets offered by both HTC and Android. With lots more available. </p> <p>The Android platform cannot compete yet with the depth and range of applications offered in the iTunes store, which I think is approaching around 200,000 now. In the short time that Android has been extant, it has already accumulated about 40,000 apps available in its store and elsewhere. Many are free, and the fee based apps are relatively inexpensive; many are in the one dollar area, which makes them highly affordable.</p> <p>Unlike Apple, Google, at this point, doesn’t seem to be interested in controlling everything. For instance there is no music in the Google Market and users are on their own to acquire and install music. The music player has a nice interface that flips album covers and delivers a satisfactory listening experience.</p> <p>I appreciate the installed YouTube app, which saves going to the Web first. I also enjoy the installed FM radio app. Of course there are many other radio apps available in the Market. </p> <p>There are some TV apps as well with limited programming. What I’m waiting for is SlingMedia to make an app available for the Droid. Then I can tune into the programs recorded on my DVR at home, watch live satellite TV, and control my home TV remotely from my Droid. I tried the Orb app, but I could never get it to work. </p> <p>It seems strange to me that there is no built in file explorer so that you cannot find files stored on the storage card or in main memory. You have to find a third party app for this, and some are less than satisfactory.</p> <p>The QuickOffice app is only for viewing files. You cannot create or edit files with this program, and there is no app that I could find available in the Market. This severely limits the device’s functionality as a power productivity tool for road warriors. I happen to know that there is a third party app available for Android that allows creating and editing Office files, but apparently it’s not available yet for the Incredible. I hope it will be soon. </p> <p>As a side note for those concerned with productivity, It is possible to connect a portable Bluetooth keyboard to the Incredible for efficient inputting on the road, which is a huge plus. Put that doesn’t do a lot of good without the ability to create and edit documents. At this point I suggest using Google Docs as a partial solution.</p> <p><b>Peripherals</b></p> <p>As this device is so new, there is not much available for it yet in the way of accessories. However it is easy to make do with cases, headphones, earplugs, and other stuff that can be repurposed for the Incredible. I did find it surprising that there were not even any earbuds in the box. I wish there were a set with a mic for use when driving or just for pleasurable listening. You’ll have to find your own set.</p> <p><b>A brief comparison to the iPhone</b></p> <p>I suppose somehow the iPhone has become the measuring stick by which phones can be compared these days, which I find amusing because the iPhone is still lacking so many desirable features. Anyway for those into comparison shopping, here are a few quick comparables.</p> <p>· Battery Life</p> <p>o Capacity: iPhone 1219 mAh; Incredible 1300 mAh</p> <p>o Talk time: iPHone 300 hours of standby; Incredible 149 hours</p> <p>· Camera</p> <p>o iPhone 3 mpx with autofocus but no flash or manual controls, 640 x 480 video.</p> <p>o Incredible 8 mps with dual LED flash, manual adjustment controls, 800 x 400 video (same resolution as screen)</p> <p>· Carrier</p> <p>o iPhone AT&T—many complaints about speed and coverage; this may change with 4G</p> <p>o Verizon is arguably a more dependable system with greater coverage and more economical subscriber plans.</p> <p>· Display</p> <p>o iPhone 3.5 inch screen with 480 x 320 LCD display</p> <p>o Incredible 3.7 inch screen with 480 x 800 resolution on OLED display, which is much brighter than the iPhone display.</p> <p>· Memory</p> <p>o Up to 32 GB built-in; no expansion slot</p> <p>o 8 GB built in with up to 32 GB expansion slot for total of 40 GB</p> <p>· Processor</p> <p>o iPhone 600 MHz</p> <p>o Incredible 1 GHz</p> <p>· Software</p> <p>o 185 applications in iTunes store</p> <p>o 40 applications in Google Market</p> <p>And the winner is clearly the Incredible as it beats iPhone in every category but software and battery life. So, unless battery life and software are key issues for you, the Incredible is the better choice.</p> <p><b>Spec List</b></p> <ul> <li>1 GHz Snapdragon processor </li> <li>Google Android 2.1 with HTC Sense 2.5 </li> <li>3.7 inch WVGA OLED touchscreen display </li> <li>QWERTY Virtual keyboard </li> <li>8GB internal memory and microSD card slot (up to 32 GB) </li> <li>8 megapixel camera with dual LED flash and adjustable controls </li> <li>Video up to 480x800 </li> <li>312 minutes talk time / 149 hours standby </li> <li>Dimensions: 4.63 x 2.3 x 0.47 inches and 4.59 ounces </li> </ul> <p>· Push Gmail and Exchange</p> <p>· Speakerphone</p> <p>· Advanced Speech recognition</p> <p>· GPS/e911</p> <p>· TTY compatible</p> <p>· Hearing aid compatibility=M4/T3</p> <p>· Bluetooth with stereo capability</p> <p>· Wi-FI 802.11b/g/n$199.99 with 2 year contract3.5mm headphone jack</p> <ul> <li>Accelerometer512MB ROM / 512MB RAM </li> <li>Dual-band EV-DO Rev. A </li> <li>HTML browser with Flash Lite 4.0 </li> </ul> <p>Pricing</p> <p>The full retail price of the Incredible is $529.99. For that price I would expect an unlocked unit, but that’s a moot point. You pretty much have to acquire it from Verizon with a contract and connectivity plan. A two year contract is $299.99 with a $100 discount online for a total cost of $199.99. If you buy the Incredible you get to select another free phone, which also requires a two year contract. There are a number of plans available that seem to start at $39.99 per month. Unlimited text/data/talk is $89.99 per month. But I guess that’s still cheaper than the iPhone.</p> <p><b>After the Honeymoon</b></p> <p>After the rush of love at first sight with time to get comfortable and settle in, there are some foibles I’ve discovered, and a wish list I’ve developed for the Incredible.</p> <p>I noticed that the battery life is not very satisfactory. In my experience the battery wears down very rapidly. Two hours of phone conversation, and it needs recharging. If you leave Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth, or GPS running, the battery drains rapidly. You’d better have a charger or extra battery handy if you want to do geocaching, Bluetooth communication, or connections by Wi-Fi. When using the unit for navigation in the car, I have to keep it connected to the charger or it will go dead in short order. At least it’s possible to change batteries, unlike the iPhone.</p> <p>I found it frustrating that the beautiful screen so brilliantly rendered inside all but disappears and turns into a black hole outside in the sunlight--so much for working at the beach and in my garden.</p> <p>I wish that the Incredible would have cards for each open application like the Palm Pre Plus so that you can easily flick back and forth to reinvoke the app of your choice. A workable alternative might be a screen devoted to open apps for easy access.</p> <p>I was surprised that there is no built-in file explorer program so that you can view and manipulate files and move them around between main memory and storage card. There is third party software, but it only seems to address the storage card. Developers?</p> <p>Of course I’m upset about not being able to create and edit my Office documents on this device. I hope that will be remedied in short order for it is a serious short-coming that could cause me not to purchase this phone.</p> <p>Another problem is that there is no unrooted application that will take screen shots, and that’s why you are not treated to them in this article. Come on developers. Here’s a need.</p> <p>For the price, I think it would have been nice for the sponsors to include at least a small micro SD card to get you started. It would also have been nice to include a set of earbuds with a mic. Would a case to protect your investment be too much to ask as well?</p> <p><b>Conclusion</b></p> <p>While there are some growing pains as the platform and devices mature, to be sure, there’s lots to like with the HTC Droid Incredible. It is clearly the Droid of Droids, simply the best available at this time. It is also superior to the iPhone in many respects with an 8 MPX camera with dual LED flash and manual controls, more storage, larger screen with twice the resolution, replaceable battery, and a larger, more powerful processor. You cannot go wrong with this truly incredible device that indeed lives up to its name.</p> <p>This puppy gets two thumbs up! It’s an A dog.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10052243.post-85951752210108535862010-04-15T14:24:00.001-07:002010-04-15T14:24:43.675-07:00There is a lot to like in the new Palm Pre Plus<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGCAKuTCq6QPXCuay2YhYQOS1c9yrtNqLtbgwzIIBvlrPZKKDdtRIGVB_6FJYrFiYMJ-slcG8SyEzZNM33CYwnFpS2oeqWLtaofSyrbuoqV-ADSZaxOA7noO-3RRzIg8s5tJuG3w/s1600-h/clip_image0028.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="clip_image002" border="0" alt="clip_image002" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_EFhobPx_Ai4/S8eECCBwTYI/AAAAAAAAKTk/7ls-dqj6GyY/clip_image002_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="150" height="196" /></a>There is a lot to like in the slick new Palm Pre Plus. With the WebOS operating system, it is a radical departure from the Palm and WM operating systems of other familiar Palms. With the new OS, come some welcome and innovative features. This phone is only available through Verizon.</p> <p>Perhaps the first thing to note is that this platform supports multiple applications being open at the same time. The home or launcher screens of the Palm Pre Plus (PPP) display all the available applications. In the beginning there are three screens, but more can be available as they fill up with launching icons. You can use the screens to organize your apps if you wish.</p> <p>Navigation is accomplished by a set of gestures (tap, swipe, drag, flick, pinch) with the screen smoothly gliding and scrolling. It’s really a pleasure to use as there is not the slightest hesitation or sluggishness. </p> <p>An upward finger gesture removes any open application from the screen and reduces it to a small card. You can rotate among all the open applications represented by small cards on the screen with the flick of a finger, which is very convenient.</p> <p>A task bar across the bottom displays your favorite applications such as phone, contacts, messaging, calendar, and launcher. Even when not present, this bar can be dragged into view from the bottom of the screen for easy access.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTcDnhNc9FlGobsZlF9K3_EqAyaZtrPfqJfO3WbtYCnh8tvxsKXjpWQpk65V3pjDngiGwk3S2qpWtKb1r1uVnhquMzc0m0ewBds2RH3UIru5sjFH3F13uFGtEQgjDdrLNJWA6I9g/s1600-h/clip_image0045.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="clip_image004" border="0" alt="clip_image004" align="left" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_JHuGWRXbKAxkz9OGAnRBI9djxRnkMpMYXrZUdcldf1CrI1qzhq_GwjE0R3sPT5IdqneynZO3GHklEaam_TBYf-sAyUsEl3svh29iNcoUT8Pg2blxQ_GNCbOEXiCU0nsXnoePHA/?imgmax=800" width="134" height="200" /></a>  <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl3vBtoQxiQHzefMSh12Zae8Pz0WQCiZMWcWRHBOX3VwzTGs0bmDThyphenhyphenVa5a-bSc0HyYjEv1gWSwyP2DrzrZqtZDw9ckW5l1m0FM6Ssm8eQftH0-_MSGNPRx_K0FwDo4gi6aTIt8A/s1600-h/image2.png"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie3UqqyUVTCf4UE7bhrzGC4bxSuIzqxgc7VZZt2AlZYzGmIbUrIPxkk1AaCT-usIp2vQdiIP7q4aWkfP1pHX9HtUHKD-vFRmorPJhCFY3CKyWFoa2BhvWjLM1tfTHMMdro0agloQ/?imgmax=800" width="138" height="204" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_EFhobPx_Ai4/S8eEFGDGBWI/AAAAAAAAKUQ/nwXoGXr9d3E/s1600-h/clip_image0084.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="clip_image008" border="0" alt="clip_image008" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwp64XZmnaiJl-hG3PHSjG9EXviwBGVR5YTWKanK_GIxEwKqBPuWGQ0rQ_ZmInSAcYHKGt4F3eYV1dmTOEPoxEwT5gg9l_2cRqHSlBM3KaizBaOs_tGjDRbxGSi-yf_U9bQ5FKNg/?imgmax=800" width="150" height="196" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwFM4S9sDf4WhSedKNLbBkQgxGbzf32EZSiB0gB1ur3x336SrZovvp2Q46ztrs_aBv-vWfRirBNwowHUUiawh3aRlX6wu2sGDAkxG4U9EGileHTNkLA-9ftv7066kdcz7tApI53Q/s1600-h/clip_image0104.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="clip_image010" border="0" alt="clip_image010" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikiKlmKXPJHkMGuuBxxxej7Dr0rYisAxyf9b6Jv4ir7734YnUOcGS9eZ1rpIBLD_af9zwGboIccDCUqleKkuOVM_x34uDIwDyn0rb1_aQAhxxH4-6J4WD-UBUXo7-k6fs0PMDLLg/?imgmax=800" width="150" height="112" /></a></p> <p>The large 3.1 inch HVGA screen is a big improvement over some of the former Palms with a small screen that accommodate a keyboard. This Palm has a nifty vertical slide-out keyboard that does not interfere with the screen. What I like best about this KWERTY keyboard is that it is easy to use with one hand so you can text while you drive (just kidding). </p> <p>With domed, discreet keys, the keypad is easy to use without making typos. Some keyboards I have tried lately are completely flat without individual key definition, which makes accurate typing difficult. My personal preference is a vertical keypad rather than a horizontal one. I just find it easier to use. The horizontal layout usually requires two hands to operate. I find this cumbersome in comparison.</p> <p>I was a little surprised to find a three megapixel camera instead of five, which is common these days. But the pictures and videos are certainly sharp and clear, so no complaints really. It’s easy to attach a photo or video to an email or multimedia message. There is a nice LED flash too. </p> <p>With a sleek, curvy design and rounded black body, this cuddly device feels good in your hand and weighs in just under five ounces. There are few visible external controls. On the top of the unit is a power switch top right with a ringer/vibrate on/off switch next to it. Top center is a 3.5 mm headphone jack. A volume control rocker switch is on the left side. A micro USB port is on the right side that serves for charging and syncing with a mother ship. </p> <p>Other nice features include 3G connectivity, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS all built-in and ready to go. Another brilliant aspect of the PPP is that you can use it as a modem to connect up to five other devices wirelessly to a Wi-Fi network. See, I told you there was a lot to like.</p> <p>But wait, there’s more. Web browsing is a pleasure as you flick and scroll, pinch and expand with your fingers. The system creates a screen displaying the most recently viewed Websites for easy future access, which a like a lot. You can even add your own favorites. </p> <p>With the Doc application, you can view files in DOC, DOCX, TXT, XLS, XLSX, PPT, and PPTX formats. But you cannot create or edit any of these documents, which is most unfortunate. It also comes with a PDF document viewer.</p> <p>I was disappointed not to be able to access all of my Outlook data from my desktop. To get around the contacts, calendar, and tasks problem, I simply used my Gmail account. I synced my calendar, contact, and task data from Outlook to Gmail and then imported these data into the Palm with no problems, and it became a non-issue. </p> <p>The PPP uses a USB micro cable to connect to a desktop or laptop. When connected the unit will charge, and you can transfer files back and forth. However, there is no syncing as you would with a Windows Mobile device or with the Palm OS.</p> <p>In an attractively designed box containing the Palm Pre Plus, you find a USB cable that can be plugged into a computer or directly into a wall charger that is also included. There are some quick start manuals and a nice velvety carrying case with orange accent.</p> <p>Unlike the iPhone, there is a removable battery, which is a good thing. It is difficult to assess battery life, but it seems reasonable under normal conditions, and I have no complaints. The specs suggest 5.5 hours talk time and 350 hours standby.</p> <p><b>Wish List</b></p> <p>As a new platform, the PPP has some gaps to fill and some maturing to do to bring it up to the level of a workhorse productivity tool that I am accustomed to with a Windows Mobile device.</p> <p>For instance, without seamlessly being able to create and manipulate documents that everyone uses everyday, it’s usefulness is limited. </p> <p>I wish there were a way to hook up a Bluetooth remote keyboard for inputting efficiency while on the road or in meetings. I have grown accustomed to being able to travel without a laptop because my Windows Mobile device will perform all the functions of a laptop. The PPP does not have that kind of productivity yet.</p> <p>I wish there were a more robust GPS program built-in. Yes, it is possible to use a minimal version of Google Maps for navigation, but it lacks all the features one finds on a Droid for instance such as voice commands and rerouting. However, the automatic photo geo-tagging feature is very nice. There is an application available for an extra $10 a month that will provide a more full-featured GPS experience, but all these monthly charges begin to add up quickly driving the price beyond what many would consider reasonable. </p> <p>One function I miss sorely is the ability to display the handheld screen on my monitor so that I can type from my computer keyboard to input on the small screen as well as drag and drop files back and forth. I wish some enterprising developer would come up with such an application.</p> <p>Frankly, there is a dearth of applications available for the WebOS platform. But this is not surprising as it is relatively new, and it takes time. As I understand it, the developer kit is very user friendly, so hopefully we will be seeing a flood of new apps soon.</p> <p>One surprising and serious lack is that there is no word processing program, not even a note taking program available so far for the PPP. My solution has been to use Google tasks for list making, and Google Notebook for notes. There is a little sticky note Memo program that comes with the unit, but it’s not exactly what you would want to use to write a novel.</p> <p>While there is a generous amount of memory available at 16 GB, I wish there were an expansion slot that could be used for photos, tunes, and videos.</p> <p>Finally, I wish there were a way to record voice on this device. It seems inconceivable that there would not be, so let’s hope it appears in a future version. Look at how long it took for iPhone to get such features as cut and paste and video, and a host of other things that are still missing.</p> <p><b>Conclusion</b></p> <p>As I said in the beginning, there is a lot to like in the PPP. However, it is still in its infancy and has a way to go before it can be considered a heavy duty workhorse with all the productivity of a Windows Mobile device. I feel certain that these issues will go away as the platform matures and more applications and peripherals become available. For people who want a fun phone with some great, user friendly features, the PPP is an excellent choice. To tell you the truth, I have really grown fond of the little fellow.</p> <h4>Specs</h4> <p><b><a href="">Size</a></b></p> <ul> <li><b>Dimensions</b> 3.96 x 2.34 x 0.67 inches (100.5 x 59.5 x 16.9 mm </li> <li><b>Weight</b> 4.89 oz (138 g) </li> </ul> <p><b><a href="">Battery</a></b></p> <ul> <li><b>Type</b> <ul> <li>Li - Ion </li> </ul> </li> <li><b>Talk</b> </li> </ul> <p>5.5 hours (330 mins) of Talk time </p> <ul> <li><b>Standby</b> <ul> <li>   350 hours (15 days) of Stand-by time </li> </ul> </li> </ul> <p><b><a href="">Main Display</a></b></p> <ul> <li><b>Resolution</b> <ul> <li>320 x 480 pixels </li> </ul> </li> <li><b>Type</b> <ul> <li>16 777 216 colors, TFT </li> </ul> </li> <li><b>Physical Size</b> <ul> <li>3.10 inches </li> </ul> </li> <li><b>Touch Screen</b> <ul> <li>Capacitive, Multi-touch </li> </ul> </li> </ul> <p><b><a href="">Camera</a></b></p> <ul> <li><b>Resolution</b> <ul> <li>3 megapixels Resolution </li> </ul> </li> <li><b>Features</b> <ul> <li>Flash: LED; Geo tagging </li> </ul> </li> </ul> <p><b><a href="">Multimedia</a></b></p> <ul> <li><b>Video Playback</b> <ul> <li>MPEG4, H.263, H.264 </li> </ul> </li> <li><b>Music Player</b> <ul> <li>MP3, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, WAV, AMR </li> </ul> </li> </ul> <p><b><a href="">Memory</a></b></p> <ul> <li><b>Built-in</b> <ul> <li>16384 MB </li> </ul> </li> </ul> <p><a href=""><b>Software</b></a> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="675"> <p>· <b>Smartphone</b></p> <p>o WebOS 1.3.5 <b></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="675"> <p><a href=""><b>Input</b></a></p> <p>· <b>Predictive Text Input</b></p> <p>o Yes </p> <p>· <b>Keyboard</b></p> <p>o Full keyboard (QWERTY) <b></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="675"> <p><a href=""><b>Connectivity</b></a></p> <p>· <b>Internet</b></p> <p>o HTML, WAP 2.0 </p> <p>· <b>USB</b></p> <p>o microUSB </p> <p>· <b>WiFi</b></p> <p>o 802.11b/802.11g </p> <p>· <b>Bluetooth</b></p> <p>o 2.1, Stereo Bluetooth </p> <p>· <b>Headphone connector</b></p> <p>o 3.5mm </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="675"> <p><a href=""><b>Other Features</b></a></p> <p>· <b>PhoneBook</b></p> <p>o Capacity depends on system memory; Ring ID, Picture ID, Multiple numbers per contact </p> <p>· <b>PIM</b></p> <p>o Alarm, Calendar, To-Do / Tasks, Calculator, Notes, Memo </p> <p>· <b>Voice</b></p> <p>o Dialing, Commands, Speaker Phone </p> <p>· <b>Email</b></p> <p>o IMAP/POP3/SMTP/Microsoft Exchange/Microsoft Direct Push e-mail/Push e-mail </p> <p>· <b>GPS</b></p> <p>o GPS </p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10052243.post-8778933747725301712010-02-02T21:54:00.001-08:002010-02-02T21:54:32.790-08:00Documents to Go—a must have for da Droid<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz11OQ4n0X7JVmO1p8kzKc6iLQO_Zkvl4At9jhfA6ZiaSRRp4DMDXYIsLUBnLHrwsIYFzjgHDCLATGihTv8rEmjYOSILf2HpD2gER38ScEGSp29jFkV0EGbVO1ceP6LHHWgj4GVQ/s1600-h/clip_image002%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="clip_image002" border="0" alt="clip_image002" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLjHqAk2uel5D8o8qn7XmIpaVXla5rZzhmIN4sOQdjiHEfdZc9phZ1J2sYifpG8gEgDaJHp3nS__sPOXZ6MXhTOz1nV0Wt5T7lQEfc0ujXn1u3M-oFPsTNkFeOLtLBPC3Nk9Fr2g/?imgmax=800" width="160" height="240" /></a></p> <p>I saw an immediate problem when I opened the Motorola Droid for the first time. My first response was almost to put it back in the box and send it back for the same reason I was never interested in the iPhone when it first came out. It had no built in software for handling Microsoft Office files such as Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint, not to mention PDF files. A serious PDA user interested in mobile productivity needs to be able to access, edit, and crate programs in these formats on the go.</p> <p>What is the solution? Don’t buy anything but a Windows Mobile device? Well, there are some note taking programs that will allow you to do word processing after a fashion. There are some programs that allow you to view various kinds of documents, but you cannot edit them or create new ones, which make them next to useless.</p> <p>There is, however, one magnificent solution, and that is Documents on the Go. It is the only program that will allow you to view, edit, and create Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents. It also lets you handle PDF files. </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvfzLkLyFXuCmZkgk3lunaFzJ3tfBnQTgV6YIH15QYmInkEKI6lzzXI3S4xjNLlf-A19nWUh6C0cid3HfR47DeU1vuCN41ebirTXH9uxjaQbiIqcpxZaslQKSdZV1YzZsRd-188A/s1600-h/clip_image004%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="clip_image004" border="0" alt="clip_image004" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-sY8mGrvNdH58ufxEzuro8S7DH0De1ny9cn-44BBrv3ULx0_gMtDJ5DLk0KXBJy1O-ARMk-Vo5xpyr1KVVIhjKXJ03-l0XM4aUwocRG9_hSGThrtrjR0Qge3CdteeLyjObrxB3A/?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244" /></a></p> <p>If you want to try it out before you buy, or if you only need Word and Excel documents, try the free version, which doesn’t expire. With the trial version available in the Market on your Droid, you will have full access to all the features of this product for both Word and Excel. </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2AK5AAKCpX3IrUrSRaj0qkoqf1RRI6WA4vuSKQDok5RrEj4j81YZ5PUKYTkRLqv1W94_vFl45GJDFXzh1jOLDqs8mHZLBdQuhQDJ5mjJt9U41psFWoC7DMgNqxX90gUv6YzV6rw/s1600-h/clip_image006%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="clip_image006" border="0" alt="clip_image006" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglsQcVDhyphenhyphen7ucWvB142q1TRNLoyofB0ygvzYQfqAcyFWuyb0-WBVPuzqNSzv_Mc6RS2HSlW__v7jSmFFrcA5Ce6wmTSip4GOZpDrrSXZWDR-52bFxbKi8EGSCMysYGYPsiamYlMUA/?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244" /></a></p> <p>Should you need the full version with the additional ability to process PowerPoint and PDF documents, you will need to purchase the full version, which normally sells for $29.95, but for a limited time, it is available in the Market for only $14.95. My advice is the grab it now while the special is still in force.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrpmtizi4UXMaJv9uKHGcSRQogVr6GW58h5zDBidu6SiDgRbXazwebn9qY_Bi9ip7NPQS71hMLANyoir036TOmIniJwLV9oFpEVA-XmI7opztRsjpfXF6fziBZ-k0INJpXNwJz0g/s1600-h/clip_image008%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="clip_image008" border="0" alt="clip_image008" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQEQ1A8vHv7pGoga2yDLc8KDfhNhLIiUwncNyiaK-upitdbmTcWD0Y89IxmTLkojwJOBUmkaP-u4OVQl5818VmfXspiMDqtP0DKvSCbTzJ1c3H28UmLhyphenhyphencvHr4NeDvSZ__ys-UdA/?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244" /></a></p> <p>The Word module allows you to view, edit, and create Word documents including .doc and .docx formats. What I particularly appreciate is the ability to edit docs and track changes and even email them to other contributors while you are on the road. You can literally do almost anything in the Documents to Go program that you can do on your desktop version with some exceptions that wouldn’t matter to most users. The original formatting is preserved when you send or open a document in your desktop.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRZmZKyV0-KGAbQYnR_SSoti1spryjMw2Ydmcpv8UBXO7K00xg5616W4bKmjpuUMGRjZq4hTQcwMF_B2J0ENwgck9UKTTBLICewsqrqLJGVbTYcD_ETvQMQKLAcGRrX4lUsMYtKw/s1600-h/clip_image010%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="clip_image010" border="0" alt="clip_image010" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxNQpx7ltUcYWqoR_ZFOLnUBNsWIuQgUgTmixNlGjLX1eNh7SRGumLR1D6OQ1dmqwM1WhKVAN4_1Z9bVAWGmQcLtEHEmFxDmeD1xSWwtXX1iS2dw5dgfZC_8MQAGNTfB4nGFn36A/?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244" /></a></p> <p>Sheet to go is Documents to Go’s version of Mircosoft Excel. It will open, view, edit, and create new Excel documents right on your handheld device. It supports both .xls and xlsx versions of Excel. I am amazed at the power of this portable document processor. It can crunch your numbers, update values, insert functions, and monitor your data on the go.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL8sdRKVxrqiOmAZIhtaIVcJsUkTAubL0MmJA0JFj0kmx4S45xtUzwzf6I97G7xwq1uN4qNzpjsps1zD20kHxXP0wsFgCfGeAOQwKPg8hy-wcmbcjrwWcuSjjXZ2trtqA6M64vkA/s1600-h/clip_image012%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="clip_image012" border="0" alt="clip_image012" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyBhjeR6tcUMR19c9EW0_GEGVAg_oytZ487jz9IGdDkwfsF28Yrx-c_qRSE9wC97cwvV8P1N6OINUAyc-lh_iHZ8LWfCgQhD_sc_8RIDgBa4_STfr9iUYOgJinVywkdfm4m1d5Bg/?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244" /></a></p> <p>Slideshow to Go is the functional equivalent of Microsoft PowerPoint that, as you may expect by now, view, edit, and create actual PowerPoint docs. What a great tool to have in your pocket on the road when you need to tweak a presentation or quickly create a new one. No, it doesn’t have all the features of the desktop version, but it will serve most of your needs in a mobile environment. It could really save your bacon. You can use it to review slide notes and monitor your timing. It handles both .ppt and .pptx files.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTawhvPnhWufEXdMHcTHpL2uKgglQxG9ITWfl4kUXdQkWlRva-6THYqsnGdkM2uYP2TEq3W1b_ycs_a6FdgZvLU7KslSyEoybpfUtKgRdHb39XxwqifQRDgFC_smVyiQCSaKF5xA/s1600-h/clip_image014%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="clip_image014" border="0" alt="clip_image014" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsYfj5bCnyN0nkPQ3sLyMFIRpPIipk6gEGhSfEj5t5kqq53dl4OKx8axDPtS7Din8tGL-GTjjtyrx88MoE6ldQfvIGslMF8FaxodU5KK-VJvcvl4zcefObJV6HOPD8I7xH6BMoow/?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244" /></a></p> <p>The quadruple suite of document processors is completed with the ability to handle Adobe .pdf files. While you cannot edit or create new .pdf files, you can view them, specify screen format rendering, zoom, rotate, create bookmarks, and search for quickly finding what you need. You can also select, copy, and past text from a .pdf doc. It also lets you deal with password protected files. Now you can manage files in this popular format while you are at home or away with your handheld.</p> <p>Documents to Go will allow you to open password protected files in all formats, as long as you know the password.</p> <p>For your convenience, its file manager lets you open recently opened files and gives you the ability to browse files and folders in main memory or on the expansion card.</p> <p>You can send files as an attachment with your Gmail account or through Road Sync, another DataViz program.</p> <p>Here is an excellent video on the capabilities of Documents on the Go: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iicDyaCrk14">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iicDyaCrk14</a></p> <p>My recommendation</p> <p>If you are in the least bit interested in mobile productivity, you should not leave home without Documents to Go on your non-Windows Mobile device. It is the only application available that allows you to view, edit, and create Microsoft documents on an Android unit. Do take advantage of the half price offer now in effect before it disappears. It’s available in the Android Market on your mobile device or visit <a href="http://www.dataviz.com">www.dataviz.com</a> .</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0