Thankful for E90

This morning has definitely been interesting in regards to smartphones, for there are two pieces of news that have immediately captured my attention. The first involves the recent release of the iMate Ultimate 9502 model which has been a long time coming after such a long delay from a supposed late 2007 release date. The second is a N95 firmware update enabling a number of improvements as well as Flash Lite 3 for online video playback on sites such as YouTube.

Even though I don't use my N95 much anymore I am quite curious to see how this new update turns out for my device. The last major firmware change basically improved the performance speed of the camera, and I have noticed a huge difference especially in the picture processing. To have YouTube videos playing directly from the S60 browser would be a great convenience and welcomed alternative to the buggy emtube and sufficient vtap applications, so downloading this update will surely be on my to-do list. I cannot express how shocked I am that the iMate 9502 did not share the same fate as Palm Foleo and end up on the cutting room floor. The delays were ongoing to the point where I practically forgot what drew my attention to this device in the first place and I nearly wrote it off completely. Luckily the 9502 finally sees the light of day and the mobile industry will have another contender to challenge the current placeholders. Although I am FAR from being able to afford this new tech toy I am still eager to read any upcoming reviews on its performance and overall potential as a promising smartphone.

Amidst all of this technological excitement there is one more thing that has taken me by surprise and it concerns my trusty Nokia E90. I accidentally discovered a workaround online from My-Symbian.com that allows me to open multiple windows in the Nokia S60 browser. For a while I had been put off by the fact that while I could use tabbed browsing via Opera Mobile on my Windows Mobile units, my E90 had no such luxury available. After becoming accustomed to browsing the Net on my E90 via one window I totally forgot what a pain it really is...until I was saved by this zip file! Someone had been kind enough to create a simple workaround that enables E90 users to open multiple windows in the S60 browser and its usefulness is absolutely amazing! All of a sudden the clouds had parted as I took the Internet on my Symbian device and I was once again in love with my E90 Communicator! No more feeling sorry for not having a touchscreen and a stylus, no more feeling like the email cient is lackluster...no, I take that back, but the point still remains! There is a lot of good that can come from this E90 even if it isn't as efficient as the Treo 750 or TyTN 2! In some ways I actually consider this my all-time favorite due to its more advanced convergence capabilities and better battery life and wide screen. Unfortunately I did run into a problem with accurately syncing my E90 to my Mac via iSync, so I have discontinued that altogether in anticipation for the Symbian version of Missing Sync. Even though I may not use the onboard camera on a regular basis, its 3.2 megapixels definitely come in handy for when I do use it. Despite the benefits of using Windows Mobile 6 I always find myself coming back to my E90 device for my everyday use. With all of its prowess and limitations, this Nokia Communicator is indeed a most highly regarded unit in my eyes. Just this past weekend I download a voice command software trial for my Treo 750 and really got a kick out of using it, but it was only a trial version and I didn't want to pay $40 for the full package! At that moment I was reminded of how my E90 comes with voice command software built-in, and it works practically flawlessly with hardly any need for voice tagging...unlike the TyTN 2! In reaction to the N95 update on the AllAboutSymbian.com site there are a number of Nokia owners quite upset that their devices aren't being given the same attention in regards to firmware updates. There is even mention of an upcoming update that is due for the E90, but overall I am absolutely content with mine in every way. If I really had to choose one device out of my whole collection of toys, it would definitely be the E90.

TRENT
Sent from my Nokia E90

Saturday Morning

I went to bed at a decent time last night and am now relaxing in my sheets just before 900AM on this calm Saturday morning. All is quiet outside in the partly cloudy surroundings of my condo and I am spending this time with my Treo 750 to write this blog entry.

I am still thinking of just how amazing my first week at ECPI turned out and how well I have been able to stick to my diet. It is really great to be equally content with my physical and mental condition at this moment in time, and although I am not 100% at my goals I am doing fine in my progress to get there. In a few moments I will take to some weightlifting for an hour and a half and then prepare for a lunch meeting with a good friend. After this I plan to work on my math review homework and then relax until I meet with a good buddy of mine for a beer to catch up on old times. Later on in the night it's off to the club for some free spirited cardio when I dance my arse off for at least 3 hours. A satisfying plan for a satisfying day!

It's about 930 right now and the weights aren't going to lift themselves.

Trent Smith
Sent from my Treo 750

ECPI: First week complete

It is now a Friday afternoon and I do not have to go to night school. While there is a slight sense of relief from being able to escape a hectic schedule, I am still faintly disappointed. For once I actually enjoyed the shock given to my neurons when electrified by the stimulation of new and refreshed knowledge!

Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine myself to be excited over fractions and mixed numbers and decimals! As of right now since I have opened myself up to it for the sake of complete comprehension, Math is definitely becoming a highlight for me and not the dreaded subject I tolerated in high school. The instructor is down-to-earth, patient, humorous and easy to understand and my fellow classmates are all good company. My other class, College Orientation, is just as engaging with another terrific instructor and yet more amazing classmates that I have yet to get to know better. This course basically povides preparation for students to be worthwhile contributors in the real world after graduation and is a required course.

At this point I am seriously feeling like an idiot for being so worrisome over just STARTING school, but I am glad that I have learned to get over that negative emotion. Schooling is nothing more than an adventure to get me on my way to a brand new start in my own destiny and I eager to keep progressing.

TRENT
Sent from my Nokia E90

Last Day as a Free Man

I am right now sitting here at a Panera Bread on a Sunday afternoon and contemplating just how my life is going to be changed in a matter of hours. Soon I will be back into the habit of lugging around a backpack filled with books and binders and writing supplies, and I am hopeful that it will be for the best of my future.

Befrore the orientation this past Thursday I was of course scared out of my mind, but right now I am very calm and ready to face my first night of class. So far I will be taking two courses for a month and then the curriculum will change to two different courses for he next month. This is to continue for the next 18 months and I am determined to see them through to my graduation.

I sit here and cannot help but look back to all those previous years of my steadfast avoidance of school. Although I sit here and feel so composed with the thought of furthering my education, I was really afraid to face this in my past for fear of failure. But what's funny is that even if failure is destined for me, I think that I am nontheless ready for it. There is so much more that I would like to do in this one life that I have to live and so many passions that I would like to pursue. Not that I am giving any sort of attention to not seeing this schooling through, but if I find that it really is not for me I will have to only move on to the next plan of action. I have accomplished a good number of things so far in my life in regards to life goals: I have been on television as an anchor for my high school and NNPS Channel 47 and worked behind the scenes as a producer, I have won a silver medal as a video editor in a VICA State competition, I was voted "Most Likely to Succeed" by my high school class, I have completed military training in the US Air Force and proudly served my country while I was active, I made the best of holding down TWO dead end jobs that could barely pay for my car note and survived by the grace of my parents, I have conquered weightlifting and running with the help of my iPod nano and Nike Sport kit (and looked damn good doing it) I have performed as an actor and singer for both a community and professional theater company, I conquered Opera singing, I managed to last more than five years at a Fortune 500 insurance company, I have learned to mature and yet maintain my youth, I have learned to love myself as well as others around me (even when I didn't feel certain ones didn't deserve to be). No that I have gone through all of that I am actually realizing just how special I really am! There is really something to me and I must never lose sight of that as I continue to go through this life!

Here's to hope, here's to balance, here's to success, here's to prosperity...I pick up my Chai Tea Latte and drink to them all!

TRENT
Sent from my MacBook Pro

My 2007 VW Jetta Wolfsburg

It will soon be one year to the day that I purchased my 2007 Volkswagen Jetta Wolfsburg and I am EXTREMELY happy with it to this day! It is so hard to believe that for about a year and a half I had been obsessing over this car with photo uploads and numerous playbacks of the Jetta brochure DVD only to end up finally getting it!! Never before with any of my other cars has my contentment been so enlightened by such functionality and dependability, and I have been through a few cars in my time: 1998 Chevy Cavalier RS, 1998 Honda CR-V LX and a 2004 Chevy Tracker LT. For the first time I finally have a car in this Wolfsburg that fits me and my personality, for it's the perfect combination of mature design and sporty appeal with just a touch of luxury features. Without having to pay an arm and leg for an expensive Diesel model or settle for a base model, I was able to purchase a reasonably-priced Wolfsburg model that was made specifically for those who wanted to have a luxury car without paying the luxury price! The features of heated leatherette seats, an Electronic Stability Program, ABS, side curtain airbags, and an auxillary input for my iPod have been my most favored to date...and there are plenty more! The bucket seats are amazingly comfortable on long drives and the handling of this VW is so outstanding to the point where I purposely seek the long way home!! With its Platinum Grey exterior it is perfectly neutral and striking while blending in with its surroundings...while this may not be an Acura TL S-Type it surely isn't a budget subcompact either!

I can honestly say that for the past number months I have never felt even one ounce of yearning for any other obtainable car wihtin my budget other than my Jetta. From a financial perspective as I am paying down my debts it is of course wise to hold on to this car and pay it off to have full ownership, especially since I know that I cannot afford another car brand with comparable features at the same price I had paid. I am so glad that I stuck to my guns in wanting nothing less than a sunroof in my Jetta in the midst of those negotiations on May 5th 2007 at Greenbrier Volkswagen in Chesapeake, VA.

Perfect in every way for me, I shall look to own this VW for a long time to come.

TRENT
Sent from my MacBook Pro

Favorite Portrait

Upon fooling around with my Nokia E90 on some off time at my office desk I just happened to shot a most perfect picture of myself. Ususally it is a huge inconvenience to find a profile picture that really captures one's personality without being too extreme in one way or another, but after coming across this pic I am very happy with it. I have already been posting it as the main photo of all my online profiles.

TRENT
Sent from my MacBook Pro

Is Nokia S60 at the end?

There are moments when I go from my Treo 750 or TyTN 2 to my E90 and feel a bit bored myself...unless I'm taking pictures/movies which is not that often. At this point the only saving grace for my E90 is its widescreen in occasionally watching a movie and its great camera with flash and AF, and even those features are starting to get old. Unfortunately I have been running into problems with bluetooth syncing with my Mac via iSync and have done away with it altogether until MissingSync for Symbian is released. Just yesterday I kept having issues with emtube and resorted to wiping the app off my E90 and going back to vtap. Just like with my previous red version a long while back, the E90 is once again starting to eventually lose favor even with its outstanding features that set it apart from other smartphone brands.

Day by day I have come to realize that multimedia is not my primary need in a smartphone, but it's texting, email managing and internet surfing. While it would be a huge benefit to have a reliable convergence device where everything worked flawlessly, that is right now a dream even with the E90, Treo 750 and TyTN 2. At the end of the day I basically have to weigh the pros and cons of Symbian against WM6 Professional...and WM6 practically wins from a daily usage perspective. Even though the TyTN 2 has 3G, wifi, GPS and a bigger screen I typically have been going for the Treo 750 due to its compact form factor and operating simplicity. Sometimes it feels good not to have to worry about sliding or flipping open a qwerty when it's right there in front of you, and the touchscreen access for WM6 Pro is absolutely a must for a UI so complex. WM6 Pro UI also has been impressive in the way that it handles itself as a mini-PC computer whereas S60 just comes off looking like a phone, and its upper hand over comes from the flawless bluetooth syncing ability with my Mac via MissingSync for WM. Even calendar categories are synced over to my Treo and TyTN 2 and I seriously have had no problems with infromation syncing over like I've had with the E90. Email management on Outlook mobile, calendar reminders, message alerts is absolutely amazing in comparison to the basic, bare-bones offering of the Nokia S60 UI. Despite their smaller screens, internet browsing with Opera Mobile 8.65 with my WM6 devices has been a rewarding experience that can rival the iPhone with features liked tabbed browsing. An upcoming update to Opera Mobile will include built-in flash which will hopefully blow its competition out of the water! Another issue that slightly gets under my skin is the fact that while WM6 Pro offers automatic word prediction and punctuation assistance, S60 does not and I almost paid extra money for Quickwrite software! S60 has proven itself in the mobile multimedia industry with its cameras but the UI is still very much lacking...and I am wondering if it is due to my being partial to touchscreen navigation.

There is absolutely no doubt that Nokia E90 has some benefits against the Treo 750 and TyTN 2 like a great camera and long battery life, but those are starting wear thin as time goes on. If I should seek to make up for the WM6 Pro shortcomings by keeping my N95-1 as a separate camera and having an auto charger for my WM6 units, I probably wouldn't mind going without the E90 myself. Is it me or is S60 starting to go down the same path as Palm in regards to functionality innovation? Though the E71 looks interesting I just can't help but think that it will face the same fate as my E90, so maybe I should just hold my breath until the Xperia X1 and the S60 Touch are both released.

TRENT
Sent from my Nokia E90

Future is at hand

This evening I am sitting in my living room with my TyTN II and looking forward to my first day of school that is fast approaching. ECPI is will be a new challenge that I will gladly take on as I attempt to make a change in my professional life. Despite the obvious nerves from trying something new, I am optimistic that I will apply the most of my effort to my schoolwork. Honestly, all the talking and researching about scholarships and student loans can be very intimidating and I sometimes don't think I can comprehend every piece of information. But in the middle of this cyclone of new knowledge I am still eager to reach out and take whatever I can get while giving what I can possibly give at the same time. As each day comes closer and closer to the orientation I can hardly focus on anything else! Working out with weights and running and even eating has left my mind on this evening, for I am so excited and scared and titilated for things to come! To think...no...to KNOW that I have the potential to make something out of my life after so many years of being stagnant and worrisome is truly moving! I am very ready for this...I have been so ready for this!

TRENT
Sent from my TyTN II

Settled and Content with Treo 750

I am currently taken aback and almost dumbfounded by the fact that I have been recently swept away by a simple smartphone device: a REFURB Treo 750 with NO CAMERA branded for CINGULAR! As a tech addict I have actually gone backwards to find a compatible device in a unit previously manufactured for Cingular long before the AT&T takeover.

Much like settling for my frugal outlook on spending money, I have appeared to do the same in my want for smartphone features. This Treo 750 has no camera, no wifi, and no GPS and I feel just as fulfilled as if I were using my TyTN 2 or E90. Being that I can have the one-handed portability of Palm hardware combined with the functionality of Windows Mobile 6 Professional, I have spent the past few days fully content with my 750 unit even without all the bells and whistles. The saving grace of this Treo is the fact that it has 3G for the AT&T network, so email downloads and web surfing on the Opera Mobile browser is fast and very capable with full network connectivity. Choosing the Treo 750 made the most sense from a practical perspective because I already own an auto charger and an extended battery from previously owning the Treo 680, it perfectly works with the belt clip holster and Missing Sync software I also use for my TyTN 2.

The Treo 750 instantly has become a main staple in my gadget collection despite its humble appearance in regards to its feature set. It fits me extremely well with its reliable qwerty keypad, convenient form factor layout and reassuring durability, so it is no surprise that my Nokia E90 and HTC TyTN 2 are on hiatus right now. What I am most excited about is that as I plan to graduate ECPI and land a technical job, I already have a device that is security-conscious with the absence of a camera and Exchange ready with its Windows Mobile software.

TRENT
Sent from my MacBook Pro

Nokia N95: For Sale or Trade

I have an unlocked plum color Nokia N95-1 in good condition and am looking to trade it for a Motorola Q Global for AT&T in good condition.

This unit includes the latest firmware and the original box with all the accessories. I will also throw in a black leather belt clip case from CarryMobile and a 2GB microSD card.

I am hoping that there are some offers and I am keeping my fingers crossed.

Motorola Q Global

While I believed for a brief moment that the Motorola Q Global was a worthy choice for a smartphone, I found out that was not the case. After a couple of hours of navigating the interface menus and applications I soon discovered just how much I am accustomed to the Windows Mobile 6 Professional operating system. From the first moment I turned on the Motorola Q, I never really felt at ease with the overall layout and performance for the WM6 Standard OS. One particular occurrence that didn't go over too well with was the processing power of the Opera Mobile web browser. Unlike the Treo 750 or TyTN 2, the Q had trouble rendering the desktop view of the YouTube site and eventually shut itself down. Being that my usage of a smartphone mainly involves web surfing, it is imperative that the default browser exhibit the same functionality of a full featured computer. WM6 Standard couldn't do this for me in the use of the browser or the overall execution of the other applications. Going without a touchscreen with an operating system as complex as Windows is definitely a hardship, and I admit this is most likely due to my own familiarity with the touchscreen phones.

Nonetheless, the decision has been made to keep the Treo 750 and return the Q. While there is still the overall issue of certain qwerty buttons not functioning properly, I shall address this with a master reset and hope for the absolute best. Throughout my experience with smartphone devices it is apparent that I have found my groove in the
non-touchscreen world with Nokia S60 3rd edition and in the touchscreen world with Windows Mobile 6 Professional.

Trent Smith
Sent from my Treo 750

Treo 750 departure

Yes, after a couple days from my birthday it is unfortunately true that my Treo 750 is not doing too well in the software stability department. Upon using it I found that the reliability of some qwerty keys was very questionable from numerous malfunctions. Certain buttons wouldn't register while others would just become stuck and wreak havoc on any given email, text or word document. Even though the compact size of the Treo 750 is a definite benefit in comparison to my HTC TyTN II and Nokia E90, there is absolutely no excuse as to why I should have to put up with a worrisome Treo 750 whether it's a refurb or brand new unit.

The only inconvenience came from having to call AT&T Premier customer service about the situation, but since I was still covered by the warranty it was well worth it. I expressed my desire to have a device that came native with Windows Mobile 6, and according to the warranty guidelines I will be receiving a brand new Motorola Q Global in exchange for the Treo 750!!! I am still somewhat speechless at the prospect of getting a brand new phone for the price of 75 dollars!! SOME BIRTHDAY PRESENT!! A new smartphone device that has not been gained through credit cards or excess money is simply amazing!!!

Though I hate to see the Treo 750 go, I am more eager to use the Windows Mobile 6 Standard OS for the first time.

TRENT
Sent from my TyTN II

Closing the Curtain

Yesterday was my final performance for the Va Opera in the production of Eugene Onegin, and I now sit in my cubicle at my day job and I am already missing that whole experience. Sad but true.

Now matter how often I sit backstage in private silence to try and take in the moment for what it was worth, I still end up hurting on the day after. Knowing that I will not be joining the cast of the Operas anymore for a while is a really daunting thought right about now, even if it is temporary.

One memory that I will always keep with me is when the ENTIRE chorus sang Happy Birthday to me in full voice. Since this is tradition for everyone's birthday I had expected it, but in another sense I was totally unprepared. Although a part of me had wanted to speak to the chorus to express my gratitude, the words escaped my mind as I became so emotionally moved. There is no doubt that I will always keep in my heart just how magical the stage can be when working with such talented castmembers, and I will hold on to this throughout my time in school at ECPI.

TRENT
Sent from my Treo 750

Treo 750 impressions

Everything is so far so good with my Treo on its third day of March 2nd, my 27th birthday! As a new addition to my arsenal of qwerty smartphones this unit surely makes a wonderful impression on me to say the least. I guess a part of me is actually taken by the charm of its smaller dimensions in comparison to my Nokia E90 and HTC TyTN 2, and there is no surprise that both have been sitting idle for the past few days. :)

What I happen to love about my Treo 750 is the fact that when paired with the Windows Mobile 6 OS it is refreshingly simple in all of its capabilities. Its lack of wifi, GPS and a camera could have easily been seen as a major drawback, but in this case I honestly think that its a benefit. While the E90 and TyTN 2 certainly have their good points in daily smartphone usage, they can often be overkill when one is in search of a straightforward user experience. My usual activities are email, texting, web surfing and occasional document creating, and this Treo 750 is definitely stepping up to the plate every step of the way!

TRENT
Sent from my Treo 750

Treo 750 honeymoon

I now relax here in bed on a Saturday morning with my Treo in my hands as I type this blog entry onto a most impressive device...for a refurbished unit. This Treo 750 is definitely not the next best thing on the bleeding edge of technology, but it is a damn good steal for $75 from an upgrade credit! My collection of qwerty phones is finally complete with a variety of form factors: clamshell (E90), slider (TyTN 2) and block (Treo). I never thought that I would be at this moment with another smartphone device without having to either spend some HUGE amount of money from my paychecks or regress back into using a credit card.

Although this Treo 750 is practically a nice blend of amazing Palm hardware efficiency and reliable Windows Mobile software functionality, there is one issue that I have to figure out. I have been successful in initializing a sync pairing with the Missing Sync on my Mac, but the calendar events are not syncing at all. There is always an error message that appears onscreen and I am still dumbfounded after I read the explanation in the sync log. I wonder if it has anything to do with me trying to sync both my Treo and TyTN 2 with the same registration number, much similar to Opera Mobile software requiring separate purchases for each device IMEI number. I shall go online and do further research into the matter, for I would hate not being able to sync my information wirelessly anymore. Luckily I still have my Nokia E90 which isn't affected in any way whatsoever since it works primarily with iSync.

Holding this Treo 750 is definitely getting me in the mood of returning back to the good old days of compact form coupled with full-featured multitasking...just for now! :) I now understand that a device doesn't have to be as big as a scientific calculator to be a convergence unit, and it feels good to resign myself to this fact. In comparison to the bigger E90 and TyTN 2 this Treo 750 is almost charming with its unassuming stance; much like a dollhouse next to a suburban vinyl-sided home. With its square screen and small qwerty the Treo seems eager to please any smartphone hopeful by showing that it, too, can rise to the challenge as a great alternative to other high-priced options.

Lacking in wifi as well as GPS, the 750 is solely reliant upon the AT&T network for data connectivity whether it is with EDGE or 3G/HSDPA. After enabling ClearType, the appearance of the operating system is much more refined and resembles my TyTN 2. Needless to say, any beneficial WM6 feature I've experienced through the TyTN 2 is also commonplace with this Treo. Despite its lack of a couple features, the 750 appears to be sufficient for my primary smartphone needs.

One special trait that sets this device apart from my other models is the lack of a camera. I really took time to weigh the pros and cons of a missing camera and two factors eventually helped to shape my decision: the lackluster 1.3 megapixel quality and the chance of landing a high-security job in the future. One never knows when there will be an opportunity in the technical field to be hired by an organization that just happens to ban camera phones, and I wouldn't want to be an unfortunate employee with a confiscated device.

It's so ironic to be revisiting the Treo once again since I last owned the 680 model, because I truly thought that the Palm name brand would completely be out of my life for good. For a while, especially after the Foleo fiasco, I actually thought that Palm would be forever stuck in oblivion with Sony Ericsson. Who knew that both of these companies would prove me wrong in such drastic ways? Palm with an oldie-but-goodie Treo 750 and Sony Ericsson with the much anticipated Xperia X1 model that has yet to be released.

Once again I am at a moment of contentment and feel no need to go overboard in accessories or features, and this is quite an accomplishment for me! To have no choice but to experience going without as a result of my own uncontrollable spending habit is just as rewarding as it is humbling, and I am glad to have this moment sooner than much later when it may have been too late. This time of enlightened fulfillment may only last for the remainder of this honeymoon with this Treo 750, but I shall enjoy it nonetheless.

TRENT
Sent from my Treo 750