posted on November 11, 2012 by

Nokia 920 and Windows Phone 8 Initial Thoughts – Mini Review

Yesterday I purchased a Nokia Lumia 920 Windows Phone 8 device (my own money – not one of those freebie loaners web sites obtain and are somewhat indebted to positively review the smartphone they can continue to receive free loaner phones in the future) .

My reasons for upgrading from an Android (Galaxy Nexus)   were as much out of boredom over the lack of new features (no LTE??)  of the just announced Nexus 4 (due 11/13) as my desire to give Microsoft’s  Windows Phone 8 another trial.

I know I face lack of apps and that the Nokia 920 is being knocked as being a big fatty (the phone has gathered many mentions about it being much heavier than competitors). I’m willing to see what developers in the Windows Phone Marketplace — and the weight of the Nokia 920 is not of concern to me (though you should test it by visiting your nearby AT&T store).

So far I have two big disappointments that Microsoft will need to pay attention to pretty quickly.

A. The Windows Phone 8 Facebook application is awful – not only is it the slowest loading app on the phone - the UI  looks like a 1.0 attempt.  Microsoft is NEVER going to attract the younger crowd with this type of shoddy application. If you are a Facebook addict this phone is probably not for you (at least not until Windows Phone gets an upgraded app which puts it on par with the apps available for iOS and Android).

 

Tip: Use http://touch.facebook.com for a much better Facebook experience (except for images which don’t appear to resize properly)

B. The integrated messaging (SMS/IM) works with Microsoft Live Messenger and Facebook. It’s one of my favorite Windows Phone features —  however when using Facebook messaging through the WP8 messaging app it does not support group messaging nor does it provide read receipts or location info (Which both the iOS and Android apps support).

In order to use group messaging on Facebook you must open the dreadful WP8 full Facebook app and sit through it’s slow startup time.  I’m also not sure whether all the notifications of new messages through the dreadful WP8 Facebook application are actually alerting me.

This area is disappointing especially since it seems easily fixable. I only hope Microsoft hasn’t left it unfixed so they can play the “use the stack of Microsoft services” game which they love to play….

If Microsoft plays the stack game — aka ecosystem game — and requires WP8 users to pony up and migrate to Microsoft applications in order to use fairly common functionality such as group messaging (which is available in Microsoft Messenger and also a confusing “Rooms” application) then I believe Windows Phone 8 has a high probability of failing (or at least not obtaining meaningful market share).

A third issue is going to be the Windows Marketplace. Microsoft will have to pay much closer attention to getting the top apps (think Instagram, Twitter) onto WP8 and to do this pronto. It’s a little odd that even though this is the third major release of Windows Phone there are still these major apps that are absent from the platform.

Navigation wise the phone is very nice and most functions are not buried too deeply in the system (although I am struggling with learning how to quickly access photos after they’ve been taken – which seems to require way too many clicks). I have not found the weight of the phone to be a problem though I’m not immediately impressed with battery life which seems to barely get me through the day. Picture seem good but not head and shoulders above my iPhone 5.

I purchased the phone for $99 (included free charging base which was out of stock and they are shipping directly to my home) at my Glastonbury CT AT&T store and though I usually shun the retail stores due to bad experiences I have to admit that the salesperson was extremely knowledgeable and helpful

I’ve found that it takes at least a full week before the newness of a new device wears off and you can see the missing features that you overlooked upon the initial use. I’ll use the link below to provide some more in-depth observations as my usage progresses past the honeymoon period.

 

Nokia 920 Pros, Cons, Observations

Filed Under: Smartphones, Technology Tagged With: , , ,
posted on June 28, 2012 by

Deal of The Day: Galaxy Nexus HSPA+ – $349 – No Contract, No Crapware, No Kidding

If you’re in the market for a new cell phone – either for yourself or someone in your family – you can’t go wrong with the Galaxy Nexus.

This Android based phone is an official “Nexus” device from Google which means it obtains the latest operating upgrades (such as Jelly Bean – aka Android 4.1) much faster than other Android devices which are often loaded with bloat and “skins” to tailor the phone to be more of a unique experience.

The downside of buying a heavily skinned Android phone from a manufacturer such as Samsung or HTC is that you often wait forever to obtain the latest Android updates.

The Galaxy Nexus is a GSM phone. It supports both AT&T and T-Mobile’s high speed HSPA+ frequencies in America. For $349 you are receiving the phone WITHOUT any contract.

Pair this smartphone up with a no-contrat plan from Straight Talk – http://www.straighttalksim.com – and for $45/mo you’ll have unlimited everything including data (Tip: The unlimited really seems to mean 2 GB / mo and/or about 100 MB per day).

Galaxy Nexus Price Cut – $349

Filed Under: Smartphones Tagged With: ,
posted on June 8, 2012 by

Prepaid iPhone Might Save You $1,000 Despite Higher Initial Cost


Here’s a nice comparison chart from Cult of Mac showing that you can save about $700 over the 2 year cost of an iPhone 4S by choosing prepaid. The cost savings would rise to $1,000 if you go with Virgin’s lowest cost $30/mo for 300 minute plan.

One caveat – prepaid phones typically don’t roam. We often take cell service for granted and due to roaming agreements aren’t even aware of some occasions when our service is being provided by a roaming partner.

Another option not listed is Straight Talk which provides for $45/mo unlimited voice, text, data although you’d have to bring your own unlocked iPhone and the data is strictly capped at about 2 GB per month or 100 mb per day.

Source

Filed Under: Smartphones Tagged With: , ,
posted on February 24, 2012 by

T-Mobile Data Roaming Changes April 2012 Create Opportunity To Leave Without ETF

On April 5, 2012 T-Mobile will change the amount of data that a subscriber may consume while roaming off the parent network. Users on a standard data plan allowing for 5 GB of use will only be able to roam with up to 100 MB of data. This change can have a more severe impact than you might imagine because if T-Mobile does not have coverage in your town you may be roaming to another carrier and in that case you could find starting 4/5/12 that your data limits are sharply curtailed.

Some eager eyed deal hunters spotted this change (which T-Mobile have also posted online here) and have been calling T-Mobile asking to be released from their contracts ETF (Early Termination Fee) free.

In most cases if your cell phone provider materially changes the terms of your contract you will have a chance to exit the contract – even if you are in the middle or beginning of its term.

If this change applies to you – and you want to exit your contract early – then call T-Mobile to request the termination without fees due to this change. Depending upon the representative who answers the phone this process may be easy — or it may require several calls. In the past with similar changes those who called early in the process (before word spreads on the Internet) seem to have an easier time.

You are likely to encounter resistance if you have not used data roaming on your account in the past – though sometimes this can be overcome by calling repeatedly or also filing a Better Business Bureau complaint.

Fatwallet via Wayne Schulz

Filed Under: Smartphones Tagged With: , , ,
posted on June 22, 2011 by

Stop Tedious Business Card Data Entry – Use QR Codes Instead

Does this sound familiar?

You rush around at conferences collecting business cards from exhibitors and your peers. In the back of your mind you promise that just as soon as you get back to the office you’ll key in all those contacts to your computer.

Did you know there’s an easier way to enter in that contact information?

Some business cards and advertisements now contain a tiny bar code symbol called a QR code. This is Quick Response code.  They bar codes can embed more than what they’ve been traditionally used for — either inventory item numbers or tracking numbers.

Using a free web site like ZXing you can input your own contact data and create a free bar code.

Here’s my contact information that I’ve created using the site above.

Now all you need is free scanning software for your smartphone. On Android I use Bar Code Scanner and on iPhone Red Laser is good (both are free).

Once you start the scanning application on your smartphone you simply hold it over the QR image and within seconds if the QR code contains address and contact information that data will display on your phone.

There are obviously some challenges to this concept of doing away with re-keying business cards – mainly that people need to use the QR codes on their cards and your smartphone (assuming you have one) needs free third party scanner software.

Gradually we (hopefully?) ‘ll see more widespread adoption of QR codes – and less re-keying.

Via: Sage Summit 2011 Diary

Filed Under: Productivity, Sage 100 ERP, Smartphones, Technology Tagged With: , , , , ,
posted on March 30, 2010 by

LinkedIn for BlackBerry 1.0 Connects

linkedin profile detail.jpg

LinkedIn has just released version 1.0 of their new application for BlackBerry smartphones.

Users of the BlackBerry Tour, Curve and Bold can download the application from BlackBerry App World. Unfortunately there is not (yet) any support for the popular BlackBerry Storm though I suspect that will be added pretty quickly.

From the LinkedIn Blog:

LinkedIn for BlackBerry is a continuation of our efforts to help you leverage the power of your professional network anywhere, anytime. Now, you can walk into any interview, any customer engagement or client meeting with the ability to look up the details on over 60 million professionals worldwide, in real-time.

LinkedIn for BlackBerry includes a full, rich feature set designed to bring the most useful features of LinkedIn to your business smartphone. The application features six modules, each with a user experience designed from the ground up for BlackBerry devices:

* Network Updates. View and share crucial business intelligence and updates with your network. Perfect for those spare moments between meetings.
* Search. Search across over 60 million global professionals, and get the answer back in seconds. We’ve implemented a unified search across both your direct connections and the entire LinkedIn network.
* Connections. LinkedIn is your address book in the cloud. Get quick access to any of your connections to get their up-to-date profile information, and the ability to send them a message immediately.
* Invitations. Why wait to get back to your desk? Accept outstanding invitations immediately.
* Messages. Messaging is one of the reasons that BlackBerry owners love their devices, and we’ve worked hard to integrate your LinkedIn Inbox.
* Reconnect. You can’t leverage your network if you don’t build it. This module brings suggestions for new connections to you anytime. Now you can build your network from anywhere, in seconds.

While the interface of the BlackBerry LinkedIn application is not as pretty as that of the iPhone version – the deep integration to the BlackBerry inbox is a key feature.

When you receive emails from anyone you can quickly use the BlackBerry shortcut menu to lookup their LinkedIn profile – quite a handy feature for those of us who spend most of our time on the road.

view linkedin from email.jpg

For more information -

LinkedIn for BlackBerry Curve, Bold and Tour – Now Available

Connect:
Wayne Schulz on LinkedIn

Filed Under: BlackBerry, Sage 100 ERP, Smartphones Tagged With: ,
posted on January 7, 2010 by

Google Nexus One vs Droid : Pros and Cons

Google’s entry into the phone world – the Google Nexus One – is out. I’ve been testing it for the last day since FedEx dropped one on my doorstep. I paid $529 for an unlocked version which means that I am able to use it on my existing T-Mobile account simply by swapping the tiny SIM card that is inside my BlackBerry 9700.

What many people have been asking is whether the Google Nexus One is the best Android phone or whether the much advertised Droid might be a better choice.

Well since I own both phones I’ve taken a few minutes this morning to write up a pros and cons comparison between the two.

You can read my Google Nexus One vs Droid Pros and Cons on my gadget blog for the full details.

In a nutshell I like everything about the Google Nexus One – especially the speed. If you’re comfortable using T-Mobile as the carrier (which is the only carrier supporting the phone for now though Verizon is slated to provide service come Spring 2010) and if you’re a heavy Gmail user (which I am) then you’ll love Android and I think the Google Nexus One.

Based on my repeatedly poor experiences with the Droid voice quality – I don’t recommend you purchase a Droid.

If however you’re company is stoic in its use of Microsoft Exchange Server or you are not on Gmail (and don’t plan to be) then I think either the BlackBerry (for heavy emailers) or iPhone (for those with light email needs but strong desire for third party applications and music/video) are better choices.

Filed Under: BlackBerry, Smartphones Tagged With: , , , ,
posted on July 15, 2009 by

IM+ introduces speech recognition to BlackBerry All-in-One Messenger client

implusvoice.jpg

A new speech recognition feature is being tested in the BlackBerry version of Shape Service’s IM+ All-in-One Instant Messenger. This handy IM client also supports push services so that you can save your BlackBerry battery by closing out of the program while still remaining available for chat. A free 7 day trial is available which also supports AIM/iChat, MSN/Windows LIve Messenger, Yahoo!, ICQ, Jabber, Google Talk, MySpaceIM, Facebook, Skype and Twitter.

IM+ Version 8.1.0 with Speech Recognition

Filed Under: Smartphones, Technology, Twitter Tagged With: , ,
posted on June 4, 2009 by

New iPhone pre-announced by Walt Mossberg

mossberg iphone.jpg

So far as I’m aware there has not been any official announcement of a next generation iPhone from Apple. And, don’t panic, I know the graphic in the image above is of the new Palm Pre – and not an iPhone. The graphic is part of Walt Mossberg’s just released Palm Pre review.

Sure, there’s tons of speculation. And there’s a new rumor that seems to pop up each week (see this graphic for a nice compilation of rumors).

But until now there wasn’t anything “super authoritative” to indicate that a new iPhone “for sure” would be announced by Apple on Monday at their WWDC event.

That is until Walt Mossberg of the WSJ published his Palm Pre review. In the review he clearly states (twice) that a “new iPhone to be unveiled next week”. He does not make any indication when the new iPhone might ship.

Interesting to note that he didn’t say “iphone – S” (plural) as some have speculated.

WSJ

Filed Under: Smartphones, Technology Tagged With: ,
posted on May 6, 2009 by

CPA Exam Review Software for iPhone now available

cpa review software iphone.jpg

Are you a CPA candidate looking for a portable study solution for the CPA Exam? CPAMasterMobile Business 2009 is now available for $1.99 in the iTunes App Store. This application focusses on the business section of the CPA exam in what the developer say’s is a user friendly format that presents exam questions in multiple choice format that tracks your scores and progress.

If you’ve got an iPhone or iPod Touch then look no further than the iTunes App Store. Appearing now are two applications – CPA Regulation and CPA Business. Both feature practice exams that can be taken again and again. As someone who passed the CPA exam largely as a result of repeatedly taking practice exams I can vouch for the effectiveness of this method.

While drilling on old exams won’t teach you new topics, it is an invaluable way to build confidence and measure your readiness for the test. At only $1.99 I’d head to the App Store now and download one or both of these.

CPA Regulation (iTunes)
CPA Business (iTunes)

Filed Under: Smartphones, Technology Tagged With: , ,
posted on May 1, 2009 by

MAS 90 for iPhone type solution announced by third party developer Blytheco and bMobile

mas90 for iphone.jpg

Using a Providex-based technology (PVXPlus) Sage Business Partner and Developer Blytheco is announcing a new mobile solution which appears to render standard Sage MAS 90 and MAS 200 screens to html for easy display on remote devices such as the iPhone as well as desktops.

bmobile blythe sales order entry.jpg

This type of technology isn’t completely new. Sage Business Partner and long time developer Hightower Associates use PVXPlus technology to render their Timekeeper software remotely over a web browser as well.

At least a portion of the appeal of bMobile from Blytheco appears to be the elimination of the need to use Citrix or Terminal Services. While this is a good thing for smaller clients, most larger corporations already have some remote solutions in place and may already be using them with Sage MAS 90 or 200.

No word on whether the iPhone specific version of this solution will be available in the App Store (we think it will) or whether it will require a special type of iPhone referred to as jailbroken and meaning that the iPhone can accept applications from outside the official Apple iPhone App Store.

It’s also too early to tell what the implications will be for end user MAS 90 and MAS 200 license requirements and whether a full license for MAS 90 or MAS 200 will be required for all who are remotely connecting to the system via bMobile (we think it likely that licenses will be required).

The most unique announced feature appears to be the self-service portal capabilities. Many times companies want to allow vendors or employees into the system to do very limited data entry. Until now most were creating remote access desktops in Citrix or Terminal Server which can create security concerns.

There’s no word on availability though we expect to hear further information at the upcoming Sage Insights conference May 11 to 14 in Nashville.

From the Blytheco site, here is some more information about bMobile:

Access your MAS 90 or MAS 200 system when and how you need it.

BlythecoDev’s bMobile solution offers four deployment options:

Web browser-based MAS 90 or MAS 200 eliminates the need for expensive remote access tools (like Terminal Services or Citrix), and provides full system screens and capabilities for remote or traveling users. Run your system on a Mac or a Linux system, or on an alternative browser like Safari. Deploy one user or an entire remote office.

MAS 90 or MAS 200 on your smart phone. Access key system components easily and quickly using your iPhone, Blackberry, or other ‘smart phone.’ Customize your mobile screen using the standard Custom Office module.

Self-service browser-based portal for your customers, vendors, and employees. A streamlined MAS 90 interface combined with the power of your system gives them the ability to review their accounts, update contact information, place orders, and more.

Web- Based MAS 90 & CRM Integration
Your integrated front- to back-office system on the web. Proven Dynalink technology for SalesLogix Today enables users to have a complete view of all customer interactions on a web browser, increasing efficiencies and improving customer service.

Link: bMobile – Blytheco

bmobile launcher blytheco.jpg

Filed Under: Add Ons, Master Developers, Sage 100 ERP, Smartphones Tagged With: , ,
posted on April 28, 2009 by

Imagenet from Mitek offered by NCR to enable remote deposits by smartphone

deposit-check-by-phoneImagine being able to use an ordinary cell phone to photographs a check. Then without doing anything more complex than sending the photo via software loaded to your phone (Most phones with at least a 2 megapixel cameral including iPhone and BlackBerry Bold will be supported ) that check is deposited right to your bank account.

There’s no waiting in line. No more embarrasment of producing that driver’s license photo that makes you look like a crazed maniac.

NCR is the company behind this technology. They’ve partnered with Mitek system to create this mobile solution that’s perfect for anyone needing to directly deposit small numbers of checks.

“NCR selected the Mobile Deposit product to extend the number of deposit choices our
customers can use with our self service suite of remote capture solutions,” said Michael O’Laughlin, vice president and general manager, NCR Financial Services Solutions. “Mitek
Systems application will provide the first mobile phone deposit option for our customers, which is a strategic benefit to banks who are looking to attract young consumers and small
business owners who conduct much of their business on the road.”
Mitek Systems ImageNet Mobile Deposit is the first and only application that allows banks to
accept check deposits from merchants and mobile professionals via camera-equipped cell phones. Mobile Deposit is easily downloaded to most mobile phones equipped with a two-
megapixel camera including the Apple iPhoneTM and BlackBerry BoldTM. Mobile Deposit is available to financial institutions or mobile banking software vendors looking to add remote
deposit capture to their mobile banking platform.

via: Mitek Systems via Gizmodo

Filed Under: Sage 100 ERP, schulz consulting, Smartphones, Technology Tagged With: , , , ,
posted on March 26, 2009 by

reQall Pro for BlackBerry – interesting to-do list manager with voice to text

reqallThere’s an interesting new program for BlackBerry users that has just been significantly upgrade. The program is reQall and it is a combination web service and mobile application. There’s a program available to run on BlackBerry devices that are running OS version 4.2 and higher.

reQall offers voice to text transcription of your ToDo items, Notes and Appointments

By speaking your task into the BlackBerry, you can avoid having to take your eyes off the road or typing a lengthy message on the keyboard. Your voice is recorded, transferred to reQall’s servers and transcribed.

The process takes about 5 minutes. You can set your BlackBerry to synchronize with reQall’s main server as frequently as every 15 minutes or as infrequently as once per day.

Accuracy Surprisingly Good – Features Not Working As Promised

There are two interesting features that are promised in this latest version of reQall Pro ($25/year). I tested both of them and was not able to get either to work.
First, the software is supposed to integrate to Google Calendars (which I use). After adding several to-do items and appointments with dates that were described accurately I sat back and waited (and waited) to see the item appear in my calendar.

google-calendar-reqall

The second new feature that is supposed to be added to reQall Pro is GPS awareness. If you set a reminder to only display while at work — the software is supposed to detect your location (via GPS reading) and automatically pop up a reminder that a task is due at the place you presently are located.

reqall-locationProblem that I had is the GPS feature did not work in my testing.

After creating a To-Do item called “Give lauren her backpack at bus stop” and tagging it properly to the location “Bus Stop” — I was reminded of absolutely nothing when I ventured back to the location where I had specified (via GPS setup) that the bus stop was located.

reQall is a handy software program for making notes on the go. The company needs to get their promised features working before I’d recommend that anyone lay out $25 per year for their Pro version (which adds the integration to Google calendar and GPS aware features).

Filed Under: BlackBerry, Smartphones Tagged With: , , ,
posted on January 13, 2009 by

T-Mobile’s BlackBerry Curve 8900 brochure

The BlackBerry Curve 8900 (aka Javelin) is rumored to be arriving on the T-Mobile network on February 11, 2009. There is some information that it may launch sooner for business network customers with a date of January 19, 2009 being rumored.

Below is the product information sheet for the BlackBerry 8900 on T-Mobile which lists it’s specifications and features.

Blackberry Curve 8900 FactSheet

Filed Under: Smartphones Tagged With: , , , ,
posted on November 21, 2008 by

PhoneTag transcribes your voicemail and emails the results

logo_phonetag.jpgDo you receive many voice mails during the day? If you’re like me you often receive voice mail during times when you may be in a meeting or other location where calling in and listening to a lengthy recording is not convenient.

For the last month I’ve been using a service called PhoneTag. When I receive a voice message my system (Gotvmail) automatically sends a copy (WAV or MP3) to a special address that I’m assigned at PhoneTag.

Then the service has my voice message transcribed and sent to me via email. This usually occurs within 5 minutes of the voice message being left.

Transcription isn’t perfect. People’s names can be tricky to transcribe. Whenever there is a word the system doesn’t understand it will put a (??) next to the word so you know that it may not be correct.

The big benefit of PhoneTag is that you can now read all of your voicemail instead of having to find a quiet place to call into your mail and listen to messages. In many instances this lets me know at a glance of my iPhone or BlackBerry Bold screen whether I need to excuse myself from a client apointment to return an emergency phone call or whether it’s only a routine message.

PhoneTag costs $9.95 per month for 40 transcribed messages (.25 per message overage fee). If you need more they offer an unlimited plan for $29.95 per month. Those who prefer to pay as they go can elect to pay a flat .35 per message transcribed.

I’ve found PhoneTag to be indispensable and a great tool for helping me manage my voice mail when I’m on the road.

Link: PhoneTag

Filed Under: Productivity, Smartphones, Technology Tagged With: , , ,
posted on November 19, 2008 by

BlackBerry Storm review summaries

Thinking of getting a new BlackBerry Storm when it’s released on Friday? The first reviews are starting to trickle in with the Wall Street Journal posting the first official review.

Unfortunately Walt Mossberg of the WSJ spends a large amount of time reminding us of why the BlackBerry Storm is different from all other BlackBerry’s (anyone not know the answer here — hint – look at the picture and try to find a keyboard).

Overall he pronounces is faster on high speed cellular data than the iPhone but couldn’t test it on Wi-Fi — because the BlackBerry Storm lacks any Wi-Fi capabilities. Unfortunately he also doesn’t say much about the multimedia capabilities of the phone (only one sentence).

As more reviews are released, I’ll compile them below so you can access them easily.

Note: Most reviews of the BlackBerry Storm are under embargo meaning they cannot be released online until a date set by Verizon. As soon as we spot sites posting their reviews (which should be soon given that the Wall Street Journal already has published) we’ll be linking them below.

Wall Street Journal Reviews BlackBerry Storm

Summary: Cursory review that focuses on reminding anyone living under a rock the past year that the BlackBerry Storm is different from prior BlackBerryies because it has no keyboard. There’s no analysis (save for one sentence) of multi-media capabilities or any discussion of APPS that are unique to this new touch device.

Rating: Duh.

Link: WSJ BlackBerry Storm Review

Mobility Today Video Review

YouTube Preview Image

Additional Reviews We Like:

BoyGenius Report – Verizon BlackBerry Storm review
Wired – RIM’s First Touchscreen Device Almost Eclipses the iPhone
ZDNET - Hands On: The BlackBerry Storm
JkOnTheRun – BlackBerry Storm, yes it can cut and paste (includes video)
CrunchGear – Review: BlackBerry Storm for Verizon Wireless

Filed Under: Smartphones Tagged With: ,
posted on November 16, 2008 by

BlackBerry screen capture software eliminates the need to cable to grab a screenshot

Last night I stumbled across CaptureIT software for BlackBerry devices running OS version 4.3 or higher.

The program does one thing that I had been wanting to do for quite some time. It allows you to take screenshots of your BlackBerry device WITHOUT needing to cable it via USB to your computer.

This is the first time I’ve noticed a software only solution for BlackBerry screen captures. The prior solutions required that you  cable your BlackBerry to a Windows PC and run a Javaloader application. Under the old method your screens would be captured and saved onto your PC. With CaptureIT the screen image is saved right to your BlackBerry’s media folder.

From the media folder you can email yourself the photo (or even better email it out to Flickr for hosting).

Link: CaptureIT OTA (over the air) download via BlackBerryForums

Filed Under: Smartphones Tagged With: , ,
posted on November 1, 2008 by

Blackberry Storm Manual Online

Blackberry Storm.jpg

The user manual for the Research in Motion’s first touch screen device has just appeared online. The Blackberry Storm has yet to be priced and there’s no formal release date. Expect to see it on Verizon Wireless in the US – possibly before the Thanksgiving Holidays.

Blackberry Storm Manual Online (PDF) download via: Crackberry

Filed Under: Smartphones, Technology Tagged With: , ,
posted on October 30, 2008 by

Gmail offers free SMS text messaging to US phones

gmail sms text.jpg

Google just introduced a new feature that allows Gmail users to send free SMS text messages to their contact’s cell phones. These short messages can be sent while using the Gmail chat feature which is part of the Gmail interface. Unfortunately these messages can only be sent to US phones and it is send only — you won’t receive replies.

In order to use this feature you must first enable it via the settings tab in Gmail. Since this is a Labs feature – you should consider it experimental.

At this time the capabilities have not been added to any of the Google widgets or instant message clients, though I would expect that they’d appear soon.

via: Geardiary

Filed Under: Smartphones, Technology Tagged With: , ,
posted on October 26, 2008 by

Best Buy prices the Blackberry Bold at $399 with 2 year contract

best buy blackberry bold.jpg

There’s been a lot of speculation over not only the ship date for Blackberry’s latest flagship model – the Blackberry Bold – but over what the ultimate pricing will be.

It looks like at least one major reseller will be pricing the Blackberry Bold at $399 after a 2 year contract.

(NOTE: After visiting the Berlin CT Best Buy, I am convinced that even though the sales circular lists $399 as the price for the Blackberry Bold — the store price  will be $299 for new activations on a plan of $65/mo or more and $349 on a plan that is less than $65/mo).

If you are an existing AT&T customer eligible for an equipment upgrade you can get the device at only $20 more – or $419 the price is $349. If you’re not eligible at all for an upgrade then you’ll pay the full boat price of $659.

This pricing is surprising because AT&T had announced that their price on the Blackberry Bold would be $299 when it is officially released in their stores nationwide November 4, 2008.

This will be an interesting story to watch. The wildly popular iPhone is a cheaper choice at $199 for an 8GB model and $299 for a 16GB. Arguably the iPhone has more capabilities with a vastly larger inventory of downloadable programs and the same (or similar) monthly data service pricing.

Will a $399 $299 Blackberry Bold sell into an economy that is facing more bad news each day? Will Best Buy lower their pricing to meet the AT&T announced pricing?

Click the photo at left for a larger image of the Blackberry display in the Berlin CT Best Buy. If you look closely at the price tag you’ll see the advertised pricing for new plans, upgrades and outright purchases.

via: Best Buy Sales Circular

Filed Under: Smartphones, Technology Tagged With: , , ,
posted on October 24, 2008 by

Metro North (MTA) Grand Central train schedule for your iPhone

station stop MTA Schedule.jpg

Do you ride the Metro North commuter train into New York City? Do you have an iPhone?

If so, here’s a way you can take the full schedule into and out of Grand Central Terminal on your iPhone. There’s no internet connection required to read the schedule as everything is stored on your iPhone.

To use the program you key in whether you are going into or out of Grand Central (one flaw is that you can’t use this schedule to show intermediate stops such as whether the train stops at a certain station on the way into Grand Central Terminal).

The resulting schedules is displayed on your iPhone which also includes the estimated travel times and whether the fare is considered to be peak or off peak.

This is a nice little application for those of us looking to eliminate some paper and make fuller use of our iPhones to carry useful information.

Link: Station Stops (iTunes)
Link: Station Stops Web Site

Filed Under: Smartphones, Technology, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , ,
posted on October 22, 2008 by

T-Mobile G1 Android phone goes on sale today

t-mobile G1.jpg

The wait is over.

Google’s open source phone operating system is shipping today (October 23, 2008) initially at T-Mobile. The current selection of phones is slim (and ugly in my opinion) with only an HTC slider (The G1). Since Android is an open source phone software, it means that carriers can freely incorporate it into their handsets.

Unfortunately the G1 design, while incorporating a keyboard, is a rather tired looking copy of the T-Mobile Sidekick.  Currently this is the only phone on the market that comes pre-loaded with the Android operating system. There will undoubtedly be several additional models introduced by other carriers over the next six to nine months.

Remember that since Android is an open source operating system that carriers are free to use it without any payment. They also likely will modify it to provide a customized look and feel. Due to the open source nature of the software there will not be any exclusivity period with one carrier.

You’ll quickly see other carriers pick this up and by the middle of next year I think all the major USA based operators will have at least one Android phone.

Here are the quick specifications:

  • Touch Screen
  • QWERTY Keyboard
  • One-Touch Google Search
  • Real Web Browsing
  • Easy Access to Google Apps
  • 3G Network and Wi-Fi Access
  • IM/Text/E-mail
  • 3.2 Megapixel Camera
  • YouTube™ Videos
  • Music Player
  • Android™ Market
  • Customizable Home Screen

For more information you can check out T-Mobile’s Android G1 site at the link below (My recommendation is to wait and see what other phone models might be introduced in the next 6 months).

Link: T-MobileG1.com

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