Nokia E90 is HERE!

Nokia E90 Communicator!! I got it from FedEx today and it’s red!! That’s all I’m going to say for now as I plan to spend the rest of this afternoon, evening and night to play with it!! See ya bye!!

Nokia E90 is coming...at a price

*Image courtesy of AllAboutSymbian.com*
I have done something for which I am sure I will be kicking myself when I wake up in the morning and return to my senses. I completed an online overnight order for the Nokia E90 that finally arrived stateside to wirelessimports.com!! The preorder I have through mobileplanet.com was not to be fulfilled until that store received their first E90 shipment in mid-July. I am so excited to be receiving this device before the iPhone debuts this Friday, but am doing so at a VERY HIGH premium. The retail price at mobileplanet.com is offered at $980 for a mid-July release, but to get the device now from wirelessimports.com costs $1400. Yeah, yeah, yeah…I have already gone through the “Oh my God”, “How stupid can you be”, “WTF” and “Are you kidding me” statements inside my head over and over again! But this is a chance to claim victory over those iPhone lemmings and if it means taking a substantial chunk out of my finances then so be it! And to think that I was almost tempted by the iPhone in the midst of my waiting patiently for the Nokia E90 mid-July release…that was a close one!! After this purchase I think that it is really time to put away the cards and focus on my debt management…SERIOUSLY!!!

Sitting here anticipating my Nokia E90 I just got to thinking about how far I have come in my phone ownership history. From a basic greenscreen LG to a feature-packed Treo 680 I have gone haywire in going from phone to phone, and there have been some issues along the way. One big issue has been Mac iSync support, for not every device played nice with app right out of the box. Third party syncing apps could sometimes make seamless integration and functionality much harder to come by and there was even a moment when I considered moving to PC. But out of all these factors there is one that still puts a chill down my spine and irritates me to no end: the Motorola brand.

At the time I started my own cellular service through Ntelos with the Moto V60i I was clueless and had no specific taste for a phone. Anything that could dial out and accept calls was fine with me and I accepted that. I had so few friends that I didn't even bother to fill out the contacts and I never even opened the calendar application. This was a time when I accepted mediocrity and in my own ignorance thought that the Nokia 6255i was a technical marvel. A couple years later I started out with Cingular and was introduced to the Motorola SLVR and then the Sony Ericsson W810i. I initially went after the SLVR for the built-in iTunes feature, but was under whelmed by the music experience. Eventually I began to dislike entire phone and sold it to a coworker and bought the W810i. Since having a short stint with the equally unimpressive Moto RAZR and KRZR, I have noticed that I have become more resistant to this particular brand. I guess that subconsciously I became bored, jaded and no longer interested in any other product that Motorola had to offer. In my mind Motorola has become a communications company of overrated handsets with mediocre features and a tired interface that is cursed by the same old vertical font. I give it credit for going with the Linux OS to revive the graphic user interface but it is too little too late at this point for me. I understand that we all have our individual reasons for buying phones and portability seems to be a leading factor, but to this day I still cannot understand how that RAZR has become so iconic in the American market. I would be lying if I claimed to be unimpressed with those RAZR commercials of the past, but my eyes were opened to the truth of the hype when I finally purchased one. After two days it was quickly returned to the store and the RAZR was out of sight and out of mind from that moment on and not to forget that I had a similar experience with the SLVR and KRZR!

Anyway I am interested to see how the unveiling of the iPhone will go at the MacArthur Center mall in Downtown Norfolk, so I will be there before 6pm to witness the festivities! The whole time I may be capturing this moment on the DVD-like quality video camera of my new Nokia E90 Communicator…oh how ironic!!

MacBook, MacBook want another MacBook

Once again I have been tempted by another tech toy: a new MacBook laptop. My brain had gone through the seemingly endless period of debating whether or not I should get the new computer, and eventually I talked myself into purchasing one online at the Apple website. I had even made a driving trip out to CompUSA to compare the MacBook to the MacBook Pro and decided that the MacBook had a better keyboard to my liking. There it was in my shopping cart…a brand new 2.13 GHz MacBook configured to order with a 200GB drive and 2GB of RAM and I even went through the motions of finalizing the order to begin processing. In a matter of seconds I immediately cancelled the order and received a confirmation email that gave me a sigh of relief.

When I had asked my best friend the night before for suggestions on which Macbook model to get he instantly hit the nail on the head with a question. He asked if the root of my yearning had come from something other than the need for a new laptop and I was caught silent for a moment. He was right and I acknowledged the accuracy of his insight before going into an impromptu self-evaluation that revealed the actual source of my wanting something: boredom (that saying about the idle hands rings true here and now as I type this on my MacBook Pro).

Over the past three weeks I was focused on completing a project for the VA Opera and therefore had no want for anything…I had no time to want with staying busy. This is the same case when I had the part-time Apple job or have an opera performance to rehearse for. When I am occupied with something that is consuming my time and energy I am settled within a comforting sense of structured order. In the midst of this schedule of empty weekends and free weekday evenings I become lazy and unmotivated and seek out stimulation from outside sources that may not be good for me.

Now that I am aware of this it is up to no one else but me to fix it. I recently sent an email to the World Adult Kickball Association and began to work on organizing my poetry archive portfolio, so that’s a good start. Next I would like to tackle this lethargic feeling and get back into my daily workout routine.

In hindsight I am glad that I cancelled the order for the MacBook, for when it comes to computer capability it is good to have too much versus too little. As I surfed the internet today on my silver beauty, I also created an iMovie and burned a new disc in iDVD. I had no problems with the system crashing or slowing down, and I recall that the disc had been completed much faster than when I expected it to be. I guess I can thank the high potential of this multimedia powerhouse I now have sitting in my lap, for a MacBook (though somewhat capable in its own right) may have been a bit slower. Another thing is now that I am typing on this machine at ten past midnight I am warming up to the lighted keyboard and the wonderful iTunes music emanating from speakers of vivid stereo sound. I was temporarily distracted by a misguided want for a new gadget and I am glad that my best friend was there to help me make things clear. Thanks, Brad!

Treo 680: Another day

Second day with this device and I am so in love with it! Navigating the interface with one hand is just amazing and I am such a huge fan of this touchscreen! This morning I loaded up my 2GB miniSD card with digital music and saved a lot of time and effort compared to those media transfer apps from Sony Ericsson and Nokia. I am very humbled from last night's blog post and I do apologize, but I am sure that we all have our emotional breakdowns sometimes.

Believe it or not though, there is one concern that I do have for this Treo that was shipped to me. At the lower right corner of the screen there is a creaking sound that started off as fine but is now downright annoying as hell. There was only one way to solve this issue and that was to buy another Treo 680 from the Palm website and do a comparison. If this newer model doesn't creak then the other one shall be returned to mobileplanet immediately. This may be excessive but I want to settle down with a flawless Treo if I am going to be paying full retail price for it. Otherwise everything else is just peachy and great and filled with sunshine!

One important piece of information I read from an email is that the Nokia E90 is finally priced on mobileplanet.com at $980 and available in mid-July. To be honest I was for a moment interested in the chance to have one, but I am still in love with the Treo. I just cannot believe the ease in which I can navigate the interface of this phone. I am not that big of a techie so the likelihood of having many apps loaded onto this Treo is slim to none. My main priorities have always been about playing music and writing, and this Treo 680 is indeed an impressive contender as a smartphone. I am not one to deny that the Palm OS is ancient and in need of a major overhaul, but to a point it does have a certain amount of charm that stems from familiarity with previous PDA devices. I could never be so fluid in my navigation of the Treo without my past experience with the Palm Tungsten E, Z22 and TX.

Even aside from the creaking on this current model I am truly satisfied and enamored with this machine; even the basic camera has a certain charm that causing me to warm up to it with the pics that I take with it (including the one that I've posted with this blog). As with my new VW Jetta and my Apple products there is finally a sense of contentment in the fact that everything just works as it's supposed to and that feels good. Even if the iPhone and Nokia E90 do attract my attention for a moment the ultimate factor is what I am keeping at the end of the day. At this point I truly believe this factor will be this Treo 680, and my only real worry is the release of a new generation Treo with the Palm OS in the near future.

Treo 680: Full circle

I cannot believe that I am typing on this new Treo while playing digital music I had just loaded onto the SD card. Of all people the music is from Ennio Morricone and it is just beautiful and magnificent to hear in this moment. I have a sense of contentment with this device now that I have opened myself up to its capabilities. This is utterly embarrassing and deeply humbling for me because I had needlessly spent a lot of time and money in searching for the perfect device. I never imagined that I would ever come back full circle to my first smartphone only to be just as amazed as I was with any other full-featured model. As I am typing this on the Treo 680 and listening to Renee Fleming sing "Come Sail Away" I cannot help but feel so emotional...my eyes are beginning to well up. So much of my time and effort had been wasted and lost to this obsession of mine to find my destined tech toy, but it is too late to be angry. I did it to myself and it is time to move on to bigger things.

Oh my...this thing is SOOO efficient and quick to use that it has left me speechless with my mouth wide open. One-handed navigation is so intuitive with the d-pad and most of the time I don't even need the touch screen! The messaging app is a joy to work with in all its simplicity and the paid upgrade to Pocket Tunes 4 is well worth the $40 bucks! Pocket Tunes takes the media players of Nokia and Sony Ericsson and blows them both into the dust with its features: appealing blue background, clear control layouts, concise track listings, internet radio support (without the use of a cord for an antenna), volume boosters and REAL ALBUM ART...not some tiny pic of what resembles the cd cover, but an actual pic that can be enlarged to fill the WHOLE ENTIRE screen!!! I cannot wait to get my 8GB SDHC card to fill it up with pics and music!!

This is only the first night and I have only hit the tip of the iceberg. I am so grateful to have come back to Treo that I may not even care to see either the Nokia E90 or the Apple iPhone.

P990: Not what I expected

I have gone through much drama in this dilemma of smartphone indecision in 2007 and I can blame no one but myself. Just yesterday I was reunited with the Sony Ericsson p900, but things didn't work out and we parted ways for the last time today. I hereby officially announce that I am over Sony Ericsson smartphones forever, for they will never satisfy my word processing needs. It also doesn't hurt to have a little upscale sense in the overall design, which was lacking in my most recent p990 unit. I can remember paying over $800 for a previous version that was clad in a polished, metallic silver frame that gave it an expensive, appealing and professional look. The most recent model I got for only $330...looked like it was worth $330! I hate to sound like a Beverly Hills snob, but this is the absolute truth! That gleam from the metallic frame was gone and replaced by the dullness of gray plastic, which immediately brought down the appeal of the design. Looks may not be everything and in my case they aren't, for my primary dislike of this p990 is its overall performance as a PDA and word processor.

I figured that the glitchy days of using the built-in Quickoffice word app would be long gone once I updated the firmware and downloaded DataViz docs-to-go. I was wrong when I saw that even DataViz's app that shines on the Treo was no more than a flicker on the slow p990, and I was furious (and so glad I only loaded the trial and not the $50 full version). The narrow screen proved to be an inconvenience in seeing my docs (or anything for that matter) in a clear and spacious view like the Treo 680.

Basically the p990 didn't measure up, so despite its entire multimedia prowess I have returned it for a new Treo 680. The camera drawback is not that big of a deal and I would still be able to listen to music and radio with the appropriate software. I guess this whole time I underestimated the Treo's multimedia capabilities and never gave it a fair chance. In the most humble way possible I am learning that I am no better than any other smartphone owner if I have a unique device that isn't owned by everybody else. What matters is what fits my life and me...and I am pretty sure that the Treo 680 will suit me just fine.

No more P990.

It has been a good while since I had gone to bed at 2 in the morning after playing with this SE baby!

I really want to love this phone and keep it forever and ever, but I have misgivings about it after the first night. It has been a great experience overall from a multimedia standpoint with music and pics, but the interface navigation leaves a bit to be desired. It is very sluggish compared to the Treo 680 and can be quite a chore to carry out the most simplest of tasks like silencing the phone. Another fault is with the screen size, for although the p990 and Treo may have close dimensions the latter seems to be much bigger and easier to work with. The size and weight of the p990 gives it a cheap feel while the heavier Treo is more robust and solid like a Nokia. Unfortunately I have come to find out that the text bar glitch is still present even in the DataViz app, so I will not be paying the extra $50 to upgrade. Another interesting fact I have found is that the DataViz app takes up much more memory than the installed Quickoffice app, which in turn may have a negative effect on processing speed. In comparison the fonts of SE may be more visually appealing but the plain Palm fonts, though chunkier, still are easier to read. Using the third party app p990iCal is not a pain to use but does take a couple more steps than the bluetooth synching of the Treo. The calendar is unimpressive and the narrow screen real estate makes it too small while the Palm is clearer and even allows color-coding for scheduled events. I never realized just how small and narrow this screen is to the square Treo 680 and I took for granted the speed at which I navigated with the direction pad. Having the Palm begin with a menu screen may not be as gorgeous as having a nice wallpaper picture, but it sure saves time in accessing the appropriate app. Having that new phone app with integrated contacts is easy to miss when I have to deal with the two separately on the SE, and the included DataViz is easier to access and manage. Call me crazy but I don't remember my last p990 feeling so plasticky, and I will even go as far as to say that the once-metallic frame of the screen has been replaced by plastic.

I really have to sit down and get my smartphone priorities in order at this moment. When was the last time I used a phone for its camera since that Fort Lauderdale trip? How often do I look back on those pics or videos I had taken with my old N93 or E61i? Do I want a flashy device only to settle for its great features and shortcomings or a plain one that is more mainstream, efficient and bland but gets the critical jobs done just the way I like it? Maybe I'm just getting too old for this techie stuff or just too damn tired going from one gadget to the next. Maybe I really am an enterprise user and not a multimedia user or hybrid like I claimed to be...maybe Nokia has the right idea after in having an Eseries and Nseries.

Either way, it may hurt to give up this thing for a second time and say goodbye to all its features, but my priority is writing and Mac compatibility and the Palm Treo 680 has been the only one to fully support that out-of-the-box. It may not be the flashiest device amongst the techie generation, but for me it's the absolute best.

At this point I shall return this P990, look for the overnight arrival of my Treo 680 and await the release of the Nokia E90. I may have claimed that the Treo is the best device for me, but that doesn't mean that I can't play with a new toy every now and then.

Good bye Verizon and Safari!

This is a sad day indeed for the Treo 700p from Verizon, for it doesn't have a home anymore since my partner decided to join AT&T today. On the last night that I will be in the presence of a Treo I am writing this blog entry on it in memoriam while my partner plays with his new Blackberry Curve. I am somewhat indebted to the Treo, for it has made me aware of what I am truly in need of in a smartphone: absolute functionality. In addition to being let down by the Nokia Eseries devices the touchscreen ease has opened my eyes to a device that may not be perfect but comes pretty close.

I just wanted to take a moment to express my disappointment in the Apple Safari web browser. Recently I started running into issues with it randomly shutting down just a week ago and have not been able to find a solution, so I have switched to Firefox as the default browser. I tried to remain strong with Apple but couldn't stand the shutdowns any longer. Good luck to those Windows users who have downloaded that Safari browser onto their harddrives... they may need it.

Promising P990

Starting off with some tech news at my household: my partner has switched from Verizon to AT&T and is now the proud owner of a brand new BlackBerry Curve! For a change his phone is newer than mine and I am somewhat impressed with this device. Since having the Pearl a while back in my early days with Cingular I must say that the Curve is definitely an improvement when it comes to handling multimedia files. Kudos to RIM, but the Blackberry’s plain interface will never be my cup of tea.

Back on topic: The more I work with this unimpressive Quickoffice application and read promising online impressions of the new E90, the more torn I seem to become. Do I go for the p990 which offers EVERYTHING I am looking for in a smartphone device or do I give in to my tech toy addiction to frolic with the E90 for a little bit? A hard choice indeed from a technical aspect, but definitely clear when it concerns having to pay $1200. I can remember shelling out $850 bucks for the p990 when I first purchased it from coolbee.com a few months ago, so to get it now at $350 would be a STEAL!!! Initially the only issues came from unstable firmware, but new updates were soon released from the Sony Ericsson website that solved the problem. My tolerance for not having iSync support with my Mac eventually wore thin and I quickly said goodbye to the phone. Shortly thereafter I purchased a HTC TyTN that was my first and last Windows Mobile device.

Since then I have remained devoted to the Nokia brand for the sake of Mac-compatibility, but there have been a few drawbacks. Complete accuracy in the synching of calendar can seem impossible, especially with the N93 and its glitches. There is also a certain amount of limitation with the Nokia's method of dividing its devices into two classes: the Nseries for multimedia and the Eseries for business (I go into detail on this in a previous blog entry). I would like to have a phone that is a combination of multimedia and business with a touchscreen, and the Sony Ericsson seems to hit that target dead on. I honestly think that is why Nokia devices may have started to wear on me, especially after recently using that Treo 680.

I cannot wait for this p990 to show up on this upcoming week so I can update the firmware and play around with the DataViz docs-to-go! I was assured on this past Friday from an associate at Etronics that the phone would arrive on Monday since UPS did not deliver on the weekends, so I shall be speeding home that afternoon to get it! A part of me is not really convinced that it will show up on time, but I am hopeful that it will be here by the end of the week nonetheless. Typing this blog entry on my partner's Verizon Treo 700p is so far showing a couple of pros that the Sony Ericsson p990 may have over it: handwriting recognition and a bigger screen.

One piece of interesting news is that SE has released a new firmware version for the p990, so this phone will be even MORE updated and stable than the last one that I had! I am still visiting online forums on My-Symbian.com for owners' impressions on the p990 after the update that looks somewhat promising. I am actually quite excited to be reunited with this device, for I think that my tech toy obsession is beginning to spin out of control with this E90 business ($1200 for ANY device is utterly ridiculous). To have a touchscreen phone that can be much more versatile (although not as user-friendly) than the Palm Treo 680 is a dream come true at this point.

The Nokia E90 may be a blockbuster of a device, but I may have to be upfront with myself and realize that it is just too rich for my finances right now. I recently did some consolidating on my credit to get some figures in order and wean myself off depending on credit cards. Unfortunately I slipped and used one of them to purchase the p990, but I shall make up for it with an upcoming paycheck that is due to me. The Communicator of the decade sounds and looks promising, but is it really worth $1200? After comparing specs between that and the p990, there is a resounding "NO!" that echoes through my brain. As much as I would like to be totally wowed by the E90, the truth may be that I have to put functionality, portability and affordability at the forefront and remain with what works for me. What can I get from the E90 that I am now already getting from the p990? I never had a use for any GPS system and won't start needing one now and available memory is not really an issue, so other than that there really isn't much difference in the standard features that are offered. Basically from a functionality standpoint regarding how I would like to use a device, the E90 looks to be nothing more than an overgrown, dressed up E61i. If I go for this $1200 phone who’s to say that I wouldn't be disappointed by its usability in relation to its cost (I remember how I felt about that N95)?

I shall await the arrival of my p990 via UPS and look forward to playing with it throughout the night!

Next morning

Last night I had too much to drunk and ended up in my sleep mode at IHOP. Just woke up feeling out of it and barely remembering coming home. Thank God for DDs!! I didn't even get to eat my food and ended up leaving my leftovers in the truck!!! Here's to much water as the day goes on in my quest for sobriety. :)

Nokia E90 and Sony Ericsson p990i: TORN!!

Life is still trucking along and I am still waiting for my Nokia E90 preorder to come through from mobileplanet.com. Despite my rant on the Nokia series, which led to my ordering the Sony Ericsson p990, I still have a soft spot in my heart for Nokia and new gadgets and won't mind giving the E90 a try. I guess the techie in me just wants to play with a new toy...so why not go for it just this once? I can always return it if I'm not happy. It is interesting to see people's impressions of the E90 on the My-Symbian.com forum and I have been keeping a close eye on the website for any worthwhile insights into this new device. I still feel strongly about what I had written in my previous blog, but my curiosity is unbearable at this point and I refuse to go on without the chance to hold this E90 lovingly in my hands to softly stroke forever and ever...and no I am not crazy!

3 hours later:
I have been back home awhile looking over the internet at reviews for the Sony Ericsson p990. Of course there are opinions that span the emotional spectrum to either love or ridicule this device, but I actually find myself to be quite eager to receive it next week via UPS. At that point I shall devote the entire evening to updating the firmware, synching PIM information, downloading DataViz trial software and testing it in comparison to the Palm Treo. If that p990 version of DataViz so much as shows a trace of that text completion fiasco like on Quickoffice, it is going back into the box and being shipped off IMMEDIATELY! I will then go for a Treo 680 and make that my permanent phone.

The only reasons for my p990 choice are multimedia applications such as a music player, pictures gallery, auto-focus camera and games and just a refined ease-of-use that cannot be matched by the Nokia Eseries. While the Palm may match it hands down in the efficiency department, there is no comparison concerning the beauty of the interface and menus. The p990 indeed gives off a clean elegance in its fonts and icons like the Nokia Nseries if not better, and it simply puts the Treo to shame with its radio, wi-fi and 2 megapixel camera (video capture may not be great, but I still have my N93). Once again, the ease of using a touchscreen is just too awesome to be taken for granted and I am ready to adopt it in my permanent smartphone device. That E90 may still be calling my name, but I have the feeling there’s only going to be a one-night stand.

And the wait goes on...

The release date has come and gone for the Nokia E90 and I driving myself bananas over this waiting period. Last night I got such a need for some new gadget to hold that I actually placed an online order on mobileplanet.com for a new Sony Ericsson p990i! I know, I know call me crazy...but at $330 compared to the $900 it used to cost not too long ago I figured why not. Aside from the buggy firmware and grainy video capture quality this device combines everything that I could ever want in a smartphone. Since saying goodbye to that Palm Treo 680 at the UPS store the other day I have really been yearning for another touchscreen device compatible with the DataViz docs-to-go (that is NOT the iPhone). This is where the p990 comes in. Besides, I can always do a showdown between the E61i, p990 and E90 to make a final decision on a permanent device!

Truthfully speaking I am just hoping that the E90 doesn't let me down considering the amount of money I'm willing to pay as an early adopter. The longer I have to wait for this thing the more anxious I get...I've already called mobileplanet about the status of me pre-order twice today. The responsible and rational side of me will be utterly ticked if this E90 doesn't live up to my expectations, but overall I have much hope that it will. To own a device unique to the US that has an office suite, radio, music player, worthwhile camera, high-quality camcorder, iSync-compatible PIM applications and a FULL QWERTY would be a most satisfying privilege that is worth foregoing a touchscreen interface and the DataViz docs-to-go office suite.

On the other hand there are still some issues that bring me to the middle of the road. I do not use the camcorder that often and the p990's still-shot camera is just as capable as the Nokia E90. Word processing with DataViz is going to be interesting to test on the p990, for I loved it to bits on the Treo 680. The touchscreen interface is so EFFICIENT like the Palm when it comes to navigation, word processing and info input. Size is another concern of mine, for the p990 may feel more like a phone whereas the E90 may end up being too bulky with an open clamshell (*cough*HTC TyTN*cough*). I can recall that HTC TyTN that ran Windows Mobile with a full qwerty and touchscreen and even recognized my cursive handwriting!! But the software grew too cumbersome to work with and the bulk drove me nuts! Just as important it is to have great features, sometimes having a compact, unassuming form factor is good as well. That's why I like the Treo and this Nokia E61i so much...whenever I want to write or listen to music or take pics or watch videos I just have to pull out the device and get started. Another issue is overall aesthetics with the design of the body and the graphical user interface. I must admit that after a while the smooth and beautiful UIQ font of the p990 menus started to grow on me while making the Nokia S60 font seem dated and bland (even the recent Nseries). Although the Nokia devices show much potential and capability, I am slightly bothered by the divide between the Eseries and Nseries. The Nseries always appear to have a certain upscale polish to its interface while Eseries carries a basic look that can be quite boring to look at on a daily basis. I completely understand that each series is geared toward a different market group, but I don't understand why the business and multimedia phones have to be so far apart in overall appeal. For the amount of money being paid for that E90 I think it should be treated to the same media-rich apps and features just like the N95. I love to write so my smartphone choices are automatically limited to Nokia qwerty devices on the Eseries, and I shouldn't have to miss out on those impressive graphics and games and media editing suites seen on the Nseries. Sony Ericsson did not bring on this interface division amongst its device models, for I can recall the W810i looks just as great as the p990i despite the fact that one is obviously more full-featured than the other. Oh boy, I think I am starting to talk myself out of this E90...but the p990 just seems to be a more well rounded device for me. I miss looking at slideshows and making music and playing games on a smartphone, for I am not exactly a business professional who strictly needs to stay with the Eseries just for communication purposes. The one thing I will be missing out on is native Mac synchability with my iCal and contacts as well as a Today agenda screen, but there are workarounds to that matter. I remember wishing that my N93 had a qwerty...my goodness that would have been perfect, but I had to work with a cumbersome bluetooth keyboard instead. Choices, choices, and choices...I just cannot believe I am questioning the purchase of this E90. I guess I have finally reached my financial limit in purchasing one of these gadgets...who woulda thought?

Another thing I am noticing is that this word app for the E61i is painfully slow and is trying desperately to keep up with my typing. This is the exact same issue I cursed the p990 about a long while back, so it may have been a Quickoffice issue instead of p990 issue. Hmm, this Nokia E61i also runs Quickoffice...I am beginning to smell mediocre word processing software and it stinks! DataViz docs-to-go may be my answered prayer at this point, which means that Nokia is possibly game over for me. I may have to limit my choices to only touchscreen smartphones, which narrows this down to two competitors: the Palm Treo 680 and the Sony Ericsson p990. Once I download the DataViz app to the p990, my primary test will be to watch for that damned text line of symbols popping up with each letter I press. If this is still the case I am returning the p990 ASAP and going with the Treo 680. At the end of the day I am all about writing, and if DataViz docs-to-go is the only application to suit my needs I must go toward the supported devices. Nokia I am so sorry, but you may have lost a big fan. But who knows, maybe I'll be back when there's a comparable touchscreen smartphone.

Nokia E90 release date/Coping with Life

I now laugh at all of you iPhone fanboys...I laugh in your faces!! HA!
It is now official!!! The release date of the Nokia E90 Communicator will be June 13th, 2007 in Jakarta, Indonesia!!! HOLY CRAPOLA ON A STICK!!! OH I AM SO FREAKING EXCITED I COULD SHOUT A WHOLE PLETHORA OF BAD WORDS AND DO A MAD RIVERDANCE ON MY OFFICE DESK RIGHT HERE AND RIGHT NOW!!!

What's promising is that this may even be available for purchase on Wed from mobileplanet.com. I have been calling them nonstop everyday to get a word of the E90's release, so they will get a break from me...until after the 13th! I saw today that the new N77 was released from Finland and it is now available for sale on mobileplanet, so I really do hope the same for the E90.

Considering that not all things in my life are going completely well, this is some great news to uplift my day! You know...I apologize for the upfront nature of what I am about to say, but sometimes life just plain SUCKS! I'm not talking about the usual one-cloud-in-summer-skies kind of suck, but I mean the catastrophic can't-hold-my-#2-in-rush-hour-traffic kind of suck! Yep, we all have our moments to make our own video music diaries for the Kleenex-grabbing Oprah show audience and I am having mine now. But that is just how it is, for life can be full of joy that sweetens like Splenda or full of $#!t that runs down one's leg! All in all I know that I will be fine because it can be a WHOLE lot worse (like falling for that iHype iPhone), for there are many others out there who are struggling with so much more that they can bear. Although I need my solitude to cope every now and then I know that I will be okay in a matter of time.

Here's to good times ahead! My E90 is coming! :)

Alone Time.

If there is one lesson that I have learned very well in this life, it is that the truth hurts. No matter how good your intentions may be to remain upfront in the most accommodating way, there is always a certain amount of pain that is to be felt by either one or both parties in the situation. More and more as I grow up I am learning that perception is indeed everything...causing for many to wear masks that shield genuine feelings for the good of those around them. Honesty is not always the best policy and I am learning that first hand in the hardest way. There is no need to be true to oneself if it does not fall in line with how the rest of the world works around you, unless one is willing to suffer the possible consequence of being alone. But then again, maybe being alone is what makes an individual whole and complete. I know that for myself there is much therapy to be found in being alone in my weight training or running or writing, so maybe my life in its entirety would be better off alone. Feeling the ache of yearning for another hand to hold may be unbearable at times, but at least I can be true to myself without having to worry about hurting the feelings of those around me. I am scared to be alone.

So Long Sony/Nokia Media Mess

Remember that Sony DSC-T50 Cybershot camera I raved about some time ago? I have returned it for a full refund and it is now gone away forever. I didn't use the camera enough to justify the $400 price tag, so I took it back to CompUSA and said farewell. All remains positive as I await the release of the E90 and I am still excited!

Despite these all these warm and fuzzy feelings for Nokia, there is a little bit of frustration. Just recently the company released a new software package for Mac OS X called Nokia Media Transfer 1.0 beta. It is the second wave of Mac support that Nokia is taking initiative on after the Apple iSync plug-ins. I was excited to read about this until I saw that it only supports Nseries phones. WHAT! This leaves my Eseries phones totally in the dark and I am not happy about it at all. At this rate I hope they release an iSync plug-in for the E90, otherwise I will have to do a file transfer from my E61i. But this is not where the main frustration comes. I used this media software on my N93 and was impressed with the iPhoto transfer, but the iTunes transfer was mediocre. Every song transferred to the N93 skipped endlessly upon playback and I was pissed off. I must admit that the Nokia/Mac synching may need some work, but I have faith in Nokia. After all, I have been doing just fine using iSync for my calendar and contacts and the desktop PC Nokia Media Suite for music onto my microSD. Yes, it's a bit of a workaround and the iPhone does have a good upper hand on me, but I am willing to accept it.

Phone Ownership History

I was thinking about how far I've come in owning cell phones and ended up pretty amazed at the evolutionary pattern. This only came about from recently giving away my Nokia E70-2 to a good friend of mine since it had spent nearly a year in the closet collecting dust.

It all started back in 2002 when my partner thought it best that remained in touch while on the road. Before this I didn't have any friends let alone a steady relationship, so the home and office phone were enough to keep me connected to the outside world. All of that had changed the first time I had walked into a Verizon store and was clueless to all the devices and phone plans that lay before me. I remember feeling like it was Christmas when I got my first phone, a small green-screen LG model that was BASIC. I can recall getting all excited because I had four contacts to choose from and could call them anytime I wanted to...jeez I really needed to get out more! That moment had officially exposed me to a whole new world of tech toys, but I was not yet addicted. For a good while I went about my life like any other American who took the cell phone for granted and never realized its true potential.
It was not until I got my first music phone through Cingular that everything began to change. This was when I was first hired to work for Apple Computer and this phone was a Sony Ericsson W810i.

I thought I would take the time to draw up a listing of my cell phone ownership history from 2002 to the present.

Verizon
• LG VX4100
nTelos
• Motorola V60i
• Motorola v260
• Nokia 6255i (my first Nokia with which I discovered bluetooth transfers with my Mac)
Verizon
• LG VX8100
• Motorola RAZR V3c
• Motorola E815 (first phone to sync with my Mac)
• Samsung A950
Cingular (before it changed back to AT&T)
• Sony Ericsson W810i
• Blackberry Pearl
• Palm Treo 680
• Nokia E62 (my first writing phone on which I did extensive word processing for poetry and blog entries)
• Motorola KRZR
• Nokia E70 (my first unlocked phone...and this is where the smartphone addiction started)
• Sony Ericsson p990i (the most unstable phone)
• HTC TyTN
• Nokia N93
• Nokia N95
• Nokia E61i
• Sony Ericsson M600i
Out of all these devices I would have to say that the Nokia E61i, N93 and Sony Ericsson p990i were the most useful in different ways. Word processing, music playback and PDA apps were great strengths for the E61i and p990i while the N93 excelled in video and picture imaging. The N95 was intriguing but for the amount of money paid I was not impressed...not to say that I wouldn't consider getting that as a permanent backup to my E90.

Return to Nokia

I hereby announce that I have returned to the Nokia E61i and am quite happy about it although nothing would make me happier than to receive that Nokia E90 when it gets released. That Palm Treo was almost a perfect example of efficient functionality, but it ultimately fell short due to its sparse feature set:
• Low grade camera
• Low grade music player
• Non-existent video player
• HORRID battery life
• No included voice commands
Under the influence of Nokia products for the past while from the N to the E series, I concluded that there was no excuse for this in any smartphone model. Although these features are not requirements or necessities they are still great to have, especially considering the money being paid to obtain these toys. The Treo's faults could have been overlooked by way of its touchscreen and ease of use, but I would have been cheating myself by settling for a device even if it did work for me. I will miss the speed at which I blew through a few blog entries every now and then to pass the time away but oh well, the E90 is coming and I type just as fast on the E61i QWERTY!

I never realized how much I had missed certain traits of the E61i until they were absent from the Treo 680. The first thing I started to do on the E61i was play music from the library stored on the microSD card. Lets not kid ourselves and proclaim that the speaker on this thing rivals a Bose, but it is nonetheless concise to the listening ear. It was also great to play movies again and see pictures on a wide screen. To be honest the quality of the 2 megapixel appears to be only a hair above the Treo, but that's until you view a picture on a screen bigger than that of the phone. Voice dialing was another feature I had taken for granted on Nokia devices when I became accustomed to it being there all the time in any phone I've had. Third party applications are another joy to having this toy back once again...can anyone say Salling Clicker?
What was made apparent in my recent experience is that I have become totally reliant with the Symbian operating system. Palm's OS, though familiar in the past, seemed to be adequate enough for only a PDA and not a smartphone. Initially I was pleased to hit the ground running with the Treo 680, for it was as if I had never left Palm. But a part of me couldn't help but miss the upscale appearance and functionality of the E61i and immediately I was homesick. Nokia once again remains the definite choice for quality devices and I am happy to be a customer and fanboy.

Treo is a no...Nokia is it!

I LOVE THIS TREO 680!! I LOVE THIS GADGET!!

The usability of this device is beyond belief and I am very impressed despite the paltry features. I am still looking forward to the arrival of the Nokia E90 Communicator (also a bit curious about the iPhone on June29), but a part of me is wondering if this Treo 680 may become my permanent smartphone companion. It is a damn shame that the Sony Ericsson p990 could not be this awesome in pure functionality, for I would have kept that in a hot second if it were worthy.

Today I entered information for my workouts into the calendar via the Treo and created a new color-coded category. Upon synching to Missing Sync on my MacBook Pro via bluetooth I was amazed to see that EVERYTHING had ported over!!! The weekly repeating events, alarms and even the new calendar category for Fitness/Workout showed equally accurate on both my Treo 680 and MacBook Pro!! Holy crap this is so awesome!

I must say that compared to the Nokia this Palm has the upper hand in synchability (is that even a word?). But on the other hand the Nokia trumps the Palm in more than one sense when it comes to features, overall professional appearance and unique design. Although with this Treo I can live with the most ACCURATE synching and LOVE the touchscreen on this word doc application, I do miss the upscale features on the Nokia phones. Playing music or shooting/watching video and/or pics may not be a necessary requirement, but it is very nice to have! I can recall with Nokia E61i how I would let it blast digital music from my bathroom sink as I got ready for work...AND THE MUSIC WASN'T EVEN IN STEREO!!! It was nice to create a poem in Nokia Quickoffice to some soothing pop ballad or ethereal new age piece emanating from the speaker.

That Nokia really was many devices rolled into one, and I think that is one of a few factors that will cause the E90 to get my vote over this Treo 680 and even the iPhone. Another factor is availability, for one can find a Treo or the iPhone widespread in the US markets whereas the international Nokia E90 will be practically nonexistent. I love the thought of standing out from the crowd with a unique device all my own that draws heads and commands attention (that N93/bluetooth keyboard combo was something else). Appearance and masculine design are important as well, for I would like to look professional and not too teeny-bopperish or immature (hence my reason for the Jetta purchase). Picture and video quality is another factor as well, for you never know when a great moment may arise and you happen to have you dedicated digital camera in the car. The E90 will shoot video and snap pics just as good as the N93 and N95 with a flash AND autofocus! I love this Palm Treo 680 to bits, but I shouldn't have to sacrifice the jack-of-all-trades devices from Nokia just to have a one-trick PDA. For those Palm enthusiasts out there I think the Treo overall is a one-trick pony, for there NO excuse as to why there is still no WiFi or even a decent cam on it.

I think by the middle of this month I will call the Palm Store and get my RMA number for the return packaging.

This naturally leads me into the iPhone. True, it is a first for Apple to be venturing into this market and I wish the company much success (as if it is needed), but I am really not that impressed. Sure the multi-touch technology is cool and the seamless synchability with Macs is a definite benefit, but at what cost (never worth a 2 year contract)? When I think of a worthwhile smartphone there are only two words that come to mind: design and function. I believe that in many ways Nokia, Palm and Apple have made great achievements in these regards, but what matters is how strong my belief is with each company. There is a good track record with all three of these candidates so it can be very difficult to make a final device decision.

Ultimately it is the sum of all the essential parts that makes the winner...and that would have to be the Nokia E90. To be straight to the point, the E90 is the absolute epitome of technological convergence. Whereas my past devices were excellent in a few aspects and paltry in others, this communicator appears to have an arsenal of features that are equally capable. Another huge plus to this E90 is its uniqueness to the American market, for it does not resemble just another Razr or Treo or Blackberry or iPhone for that matter (you know everybody and their babushka will have a iPhone by year's end). Call me conceited and narcissistic, but I love having onlookers ogle at my device as I type another word document onto it or take another snapshot...I think it's the neatest thing. This will for sure continue to happen with the Nokia E90. It is simply a Nokia...a well-stocked Nokia that in my opinion trumps anything preceding it.

So long Treo 680 it's been real,
and in the meantime that Nokia E61i looks mighty good as a rebound phone before the E90 shows up. Oh my word I am such a tech toy whore! :)

Jetta Tiptronic

Just came back from a nightly Jetta drive during which I used the Tiptronic system on the transmission for the first time. At first it may have been great to see that I was changing gears, but the wonder quickly wore off after a few miles. I figure why worry about hitting the redline when I hardly drive like a racer from The Fast and the Furious?

When I was on the interstate I stayed in 6th gear the whole time. The little bit of satisfaction I did get out of the Tiptronic came from city driving. Starting and stopping at traffic lights provided some stimuli to finally bring the active gear shifting to life and that was exciting.

Overall I can't say that I am really at all impressed with Tiptronic. It's good enough to play with every now and then, but not for permanent driving. Though it was fun while it lasted I think I will stick with the Jetta being in drive on my future journeys.

Nokia E90 still calling me.

Even after I have allowed the Treo 680 to get back into my good graces, that Nokia E90 is still calling my name. Today I checked the preorder status of my E90 unit from mobileplanet.com and also added a preorder for a compatible belt clip case. My addiction to tech toys has come back in full effect and I cannot fight it.

My original plan is to keep the Treo as I test drive the Nokia E90 for a couple days. If I decide to keep the Nokia, I would then return the Treo back to Palm within 30 days. The only problem is that the E90 is not expected to be released until the end of June or the beginning of July, so I may end up missing the chance to return the Treo (as if that's really a bad thing). Ending up with both the E90 and 680 would be amazing indeed, but I have to make a final decision on my permanent smartphone device.

This will be a techie armageddon and a battle of the bluetooth devices. I cannot resist the opportunity to hold this communicator in my hands. Until it comes I will just have to happy with my current Treo 680.

Back to Running

Completed another run today and I am so excited about my endurance practice. I pushed through sore legs and made it to a little over four miles! My running speed may not be up that of an Olympian, but my main goal is endurance. Slowly but surely I will get back to how I use to be.

What is helping me so far is that I've been lifting weights before my running session. This somehow helps me to feel energized and prepped for the run. When I used to do it vice versa I would be sooo tired after my run I barely had the desire to life any of the free weights. Keeping up with this routine is not difficult at all, so I do hope for the absolute best.

Took a picture of myself after this recent session. I still have a long way to go, but I will get there.