HP iPAQ 910 video review

This is a very detailed preview of my next phone, the HP 910 Mobile Messenger! AMAZING!

HTC TyTN 2 is back...for now

I am here with the TyTN 2 after having updated the ROM to version 6.1 from the previous 6, and I have yet to make a full determination on an absolute conclusion. So far the only noticeable feature is the threaded SMS which is definitely a welcomed element from my previous Treos. There are random moments when I do observe a quicker response time in certain functions like my fast qwerty typing and even the rotation of the screen into landscape mode and vice versa.

Having access to AT&T 3G is a huge plus in streaming media on Coreplayer, and the multimedia playback performance is about the same. The camera still cannot measure up to what I expect in a stable snapshot since one has to remain absolutely STILL (no breathing) to get a
non-blurry picture, and the video quality remains quite unforgivable in recording content. The frames appear to be 15fps and the audio is hardly in sync with the onscreen action. The autofocus also seemed to be very sluggish when activated with the shutter button and took about 2 to 3 seconds, but I was indoors at the time. The mono speaker is sufficiently loud for system and call alerts, but music playback aloud leaves a bit more to be desired from lack of bass and tinny sounds.

What I am glad to see again with the return of this TyTN 2 is built in GPS, wifi and a wider screen! Typing this blog entry on the wider screen in landscape mode really feels refreshing in comparison to the cramped confines of my Treo 750. Web browsing on the ever so amazing Opera Mobile and viewing sights on Google Maps also benefits from the larger screen as well. The larger qwerty buttons are larger than the Treo 750, but are much flatter and can easily cause multiple key presses on accident.

Other than that it is the usual with the expected performance of the Windows Mobile operating system, and I am pleased to have it working with Missing Sync on my MacBook Pro. If there was any feature I am missing now from the Treo 750 it would have to be its compact qwerty bar form factor. While this TyTN 2 is a more solid device that feels secure in hand with its hefty weight, the Treo is simply more of a mobile companion instead of a smartphone. Its form factor brings out a certain ergonomic flair from the flawless convergence of a PDA and a great phone while the sliding qwerty of the TyTN 2 feels more inconvenient for everyday handling. It is nonetheless great to have this old HTC champ back in service at least for old time sake.

TRENT
Sent from my HTC TyTN 2

TyTN 2 Windows Mobile 6.1 ROM update

I am currently sitting in my bedroom with a PC that is uploading the new Windows Mobile version 6.1 onto an old device I have resurrected from its backpack coffin. A part of me is definitely excited to use the TyTN 2 with a couple of added features on this newer WM6.1, but at the same time I am cautious about returning to a sliding qwerty keypad. Even though the TyTN 2 is a high end device in comparison with the Treo 750, it is much more solid and can be cumbersome to work with on a daily basis. On the other hand it is definitely a smartphone packed with features comparable to the Nokia E90 and upcoming HP 910.

In addition to threaded SMS messages there is also supposed to be improved system performance, so I am still hopeful for a great second time around with this device. Not having to say goodbye to American 3G is really a huge bonus with this TyTN 2 and gaining wifi and GPS will be an amazing addition as well...not to mention the bigger screen!

TRENT
Sent from my Treo 750

Best Smartphone OS / HP 910 is next

After so many instances of dealing with lackluster devices that promised much but delivered less I am at a turning point in my smartphone usage. I have come to the conclusion that there is only one operating system that is most beneficial and productive for me: Windows Mobile 6 Professional. In addition to this I have also realized that the best form factor for me is the qwerty bar. In lieu of this I have found the Treo 750 from AT&T and have been enjoying every feature of it from texting to web browsing to emailing to camera shooting to American 3G. This Treo is my mobile communicator and my mobile office in one compact package and I find myself depending on it more and more everyday. Not only is the call quality ranked as one of the best, but the efficient and ACCURATE Mac synching courtesy of Missing Sync software from mark/space is simply OUTSTANDING!!! Despite its few setbacks in comparison with other devices in my arsenal such as the Nokia E90 or HTC TyTN 2, this Treo 750 really can hold its own...especially when it comes to my schoolwork on my Vista PC.

This is all not necessarily being said to boost the Treo 750, but instead the OS of Windows Mobile 6. Immediate compatibility with Office 2007 files has saved me SO much hassle in working with school documents created on a PC that it is unbelievable! While my Nokia E90's Quickoffice suite won't even attempt to open an Office 2007 file without a $45 upgrade, my Treo 750's Office Mobile just keeps trucking along with its underestimated self in granting access to even my recent PowerPoint presentation for Physics class! Another truly amazing application that is a GODSEND in smartphone technology is Internet Sharing. To finally carry around my laptop and not be at the mercy of those wifi hotspots is so refreshing that I can't even begin to describe it...and the sweetness of American 3G is a plus!

None of these things can be done with any other OS in this way, not Symbian S60 or UIQ.3, not Palm, not Linux, not Motorola, not one! This is why I hold on to the compact Treo despite its minor drawbacks. At the end of the day it's great to have a device that runs every possible feature under the sun, but I must remained focused on the importance of productivity in choosing a new model. I believe I have found the perfect Windows Mobile 6 Professional smartphone: the HP 910!!

The HP 910 smartphone appears to be EVERYTHING I want in a phone (and more) with its qwerty bar form factor and endless list of features. With a bigger screen than the Treo web surfing will be better and will also benefit from included wifi which is also not on the Treo. Built in GPS, while not a necessity, is always great to have for use with Google Maps for pin point accuracy. A 3.2 megapixel camera sounds like another worthwhile luxury along with an attractive qwerty keypad that appears to be a joy for extended periods of typing. To top all of this off with Voice Command and American 3G support is just too good for words!! I am really looking forward to the release of this new toy and have already put in my name for a preorder from ExpansysUSA. Early July is when this HP is going to be released to the market and I can expect a shipment to arrive at my house! I think that finally there is a comparable alternative to my Treo 750 and the Samsung i780, and I can hardly wait to try it out. Frankly, the new arrival of the Nokia handsets from the N96 to the E71 really doesn't strike any sort of strong interest from me. Much like the antiquated Palm Garnet OS, the Nokia S60 OS is soon to become a victim from its lack of innovation. No matter how many multi-megapixel cameras or built-in GPS units a device may have, it doesn't mean jack sh** without the appropriate OS that can work efficiently with my Mac and my PC!! Here's to Windows Mobile 6 Professional...the best operating system ever!!!

TRENT
Sent from my Treo 750

AT&T Renewal, New Treo 750

Just yesterday I made the ultimate decision to sign on for another 2 year contract with AT&T and ended up getting a very nice discount on a brand new Palm Treo 750! Even though I already had a 750 model at the time, it was a refurbished model that was Cingular-branded and did not have a camera. In the midst of this opportunity to get a brand new device of my choosing I then found out just how limited my choices would be. In addition to my voice plan I also have a PDA Personal unlimited data plan bundled with 1500 messages for $40 a month. This data package made its debut with the introduction of the AT&T Tilt and I was so lucky to get it. After my two escapades with the iPhone plan I then switched back to this $40 data plan when it happened to still be in existence and have not changed since then. With the security of unlimited internet and 1500 messages I can freely surf the web and text and MMS to my heart's content with absolutely NO worry of any kind of overage charges! I learned yesterday that if I were to take this plan off of my account it would be permanently gone for good, and the comparable plan would be about $10 more...no thanks!! Being that this data plan is strictly for PDA phones I was stuck with the following models: Samsung BlackJack II, Motorola Q9, Palm Treo 750, AT&T Tilt, Palm Treo 680 and Palm Centro.

After a few brief moments of thought the choice was simply clear in the Treo 750 due to its portable size, reliable qwerty performance and powerful Windows Mobile 6 Professional OS...and the extra camera didn't hurt either. I spent the night after class updating the WM5 OS to WM6 and then began the Mac sync ritual with bluetooth as usual. Luckily all of my crucial apps were already stored on a microSD card with over 3GB of WMA music files, so after installing CAB files I was set to go full speed ahead. The old Cingular-branded 750 will remain in my arsenal as a back-up unless I can sell it for a good price. What I am loving right now about the Treo 750 is its no nonsense approach to flawless functionality as a smartphone, a 3G smartphone! Sure, it doesn't have all the sought after features in a modern day tech toy, but it WORKS without question and keeps on pushing through the day.

I think that a lot of this has to be to the benefit of having a branded device with AT&T. It was not too long ago that I would look at a branded GSM phone and immediately pass judgment for no good reason, and quite honestly I was a conceited know-it-all. No one could be on the same level as I with my collection of unlocked devices from overseas ranging from the Sony Ericsson M600 to the Nokia E90. I really got caught up in using my phone as a status symbol as if I were better than everybody else for carrying a model that no one else seemed to have. This also emerged in my acquisition of tech toys over the years...being the first one with the bleeding edge device was always a rush of euphoria for me as others around me would look on in amazement. Quite frankly there is a part of me that still gets into that, but I am trying to keep my tech hubris in check as much as possible. Showing off gadgets has never been good for anyone, but yet I have already been nicknamed "Go-Go Gadget" by a couple classmates at ECPI. Sometimes this kind of thing isn't always from my own intentions but from coincidence. One can't help but be noticed when they're reading on an Amazon Kindle on break time.

Anyway, my obsession with unlocked smartphones often got me into some tight situations, especially in regards to troubleshooting technical problems. While the average person with a locked device goes through no hassle as certain service settings are automatically uploaded to the device, this was not always the case for me. Sony Ericsson was a godsend with its support site which forwarded the appropriate carrier settings to your number via SMS and Nokia devices were good about getting the information via the SIM. But believe it or not, it was unlocked devices on the Windows Mobile OS that would give me the most difficulty. I have spent quite a few times on Google in search of settings for this and settings for that, and actually navigating the interface to input this stuff was another part of the battle!! Though I had the privilege of enjoying advanced features in extraordinary handset models, there was sometimes a compromise...like the unstable reception of a tri-band or the cheated web performance/inactive elements on something not optimized for American 3G. While it has been great to have these impressive models they did sometimes become a nuisance in my daily productivity from dropped calls to incompatible Mac syncing software. My last experience with this sort of thing occurred with the tri-band Samsung i780 optimized for only International 3G. After numerous failed attempts in setting up MMS and some network connection issues I soon overlooked its slim design and trackpad mouse d-pad and went back to the trusty and locked Treo 750. For right now I guess I have just run out of patience in having to tailor these unlocked gadgets to work on my terms. I probably just need a break from the monotonous feature-laden releases that always promise to be the next generation but only end up being a wasteful disappointment or just an outright iPhone wannabe flop!

In the meantime as I have said before, simplicity is good.

TRENT
Sent from my Treo 750

Phone Battle: PowerPoint

Another day with my Palm Treo 750 has really opened me up to yet another discovery in regards to my schoolwork productivity. While attending ECPI it is no secret that one has to write term papers and construct PowerPoint presentations, so there is something special about being able to work with these kinds of projects away from the confines of a desktop computer. Just the other day I had an experience with a new PowerPoint presentation for Physics that I had just created in Windows Vista with the latest incarnation of Microsoft Office. After completing the final version I wanted to save backup copies to multiple sources: my school PC, thumb drive and all active smartphones. Being that my Nokia E90, HTC TyTN 2 and Treo 750 all have office suite applications, I assumed that all would be fine to be able to study the slides on these devices at a later time before having to present them before the whole Physics class. I was wrong. I was dumbfounded by what I came across in trying to access this one presentation on all three models, and I am still somewhat taken aback while writing about this. Once I transferred the PowerPoint to my Palm Treo 750 I then took the time to review it onscreen and had no troubles despite the low resolution screen usurping some of the quality editing done on the computer. But nonetheless, having all the accurate fonts and graphical effects didn't matter as long as I could at least see the slide and its basic elements, and my Treo really impressed me in this way. All this bliss soon came to an abrupt end when I beamed the presentation to my Nokia E90 and was eager to see it on the widescreen via the Quickoffice suite. No dice! The MS Office 2007 format of the project is incompatible with my version of Quickoffice so it couldn't even open it!! The only speedy solution at this time was to pay upwards to $50 for an upgrade to my Quickoffice suite for MS Office 2007 compatibility...(in the words of Whitney Houston) HELL TO THE NO!!! Jaded by the Communicator I turned to my TyTN 2 and expected more since it is a fellow Windows Mobile device...but for some unknown reason it kept freezing when powering on!!! Nothing helped as I tried the usual tricks of taking out the battery, plugging the AC adapter or just holding down the power button, so the HTC was soon a done deal and out for the count.

Once all of the dust had settled I was left with only one...the Treo 750. Armed with Windows Mobile 6 and AT&T 3G this little marvel keeps moving along with hourly email downloads, reliable call quality, convenient touchscreen and quick qwerty messaging. It wasn't until a few moments ago when I referred to my PowerPoint presentation on my Treo for notes that I immediately became impressed and attached to this little machine. In one full swoop the underdog lacking wifi AND a camera took down both my Nokia E90 and HTC TyTN 2 powerhouses with considerable ease. Simplicity is a beautiful thing.

TRENT
Sent from my Treo 750

Return of the Treo 750

After a most fulfilling time with the Samsung i780 it is finally time to bid farewell to it for now in lieu of some concerns with its performance. As a Windows Mobile 6 smartphone this model is definitely a contender in regards to being a portable and slim device with interesting features, but two factors have brought its reliability into question: lack of 3G and sluggish interface. For a good while I never thought that 3G would ever provide a viable option for my smartphone usage, but my daily downloading of emails which sometimes have attachments has proved me wrong. There were days when the speed of the EDGE network would slow to an absolute CRAWL as I waited for my HTML mail to appear and my impatience would get the better of me after about 3 minutes maximum. Having this Euro 3G optimized phone really didn't make sense when I attempted to download a 40MB episode of the TWiT podcast over EDGE, and I assure you that was my first and last time. I don't even want to get started on the operation of the Opera browser with its FRUSTRATING random freezes on certain data intensive websites.

While battery life was okay for the most part there were three other issues that marginally bothered me: a calendar time format fixed to the 24hour that couldn't seem to be changed to 12hour (even after endless Googling) and the touchscreen itself. The actual screen of the i780 is covered by a layer of plastic that is flush with the rest of the device and often times made accurate stylus navigation difficult to maintain...especially with small targets. If I am not mistaken I have to also say that call quality and earpiece volume weren't always on par with other models I've used and the small buttons of the qwerty could sometimes downright annoying to type on. The data connection of my i780 would never fail when it came to staying linked to the network ALL THE TIME when it should have been disconnected, but in lieu of my unlimited data plan this was practically a non-issue. One more issue now that I am reminded of it is the amount of time it took to customize this phone for AT&T settings for MMS and Email. As a matter of fact I never found the settings for SMS, but I did work out the email situation just fine. MMS is usually not much of any use to me anyway, so there was really no hope lost.

Just the other day I was finally fed up with the Samsung and once and for all initiated a hard reset on that mother******!! In the Samsung's absence I looked to my Palm Treo 750 made for old Cingular and blew the dust off of it. For the most part I am very satisfied with this machine the second time around with its qwerty and the amazing Windows Mobile 6 OS!!! After enabling the voice command feature I am definitely hooked on this 750 model...for now. The lack of a camera doesn't prove to be bad at all since I rely on primarily web surfing, texting and email and the threaded SMS with the happy face icons is simply fantastic to see again. I have to alos admit that having a device that is locked to AT&T is in some ways a HUGE blessing...believe it or not. Except for the amounts of bloatware from the network being preloaded into this branded phone, a locked device basically does away with ANY and ALL troubles in setting up MMS and email for the user. If one happens to come across an unlocked device that can be automatically configured over-the-air for the AT&T network then that's great, but for any other overseas model that cannot be configured automatically...the user is pretty much out of luck if they aren't a tech genius or Google is useless in providing answers. The i780 was a PAIN to set up for email, but the Treo 750 was able to get back into service as if I had last used it yesterday!

At the end of the day I just need simplicity in a phone, and the Treo 750 gives me that with its one hand navigation, handy ringer switch and clear call quality.

TRENT
Sent from my Treo 750

Apple Anticipation Aftermath

It is one day after the introduction of the new iPhone 3G and I am somewhat left uninspired and equally unimpressed.  After so many months of speculation from numerous blog sites and newscasts I was for a moment kidding myself that the iPhone could really step up to the plate and REALLY take on the role of the most sought after gadget in my eyes. The usual routine of Steve Jobs waiting until the very last minute to introduce the latest and greatest of his tech toy arsenal had once again taken place and I was hypnotized as if I was a devout member of some Apple-fixated cult. In the midst of my work cubicle my concentration was focused entirely on the awaiting gospel of what the Grand Steve Jobs had to say this time around, and not one thing could break it. Hope had filled my heart from the deepest recesses of my soul  as I tolerated one SDK app announcement after another in high anticipation for the second coming of the Jesus phone, and I was certain that a miracle was in store for the masses. I had been previously jaded by Apple and its lackluster appeal in how it seemingly ripped off computer shoppers with overpriced models for the sake of artistic design, and this was fueled by my discovery of the ultimate value of the modern-day PC. The patience that I had exercised on that day in front of my dual-monitor IBM computer had paid off in a big way as Steve Jobs took to the stage in front of the big screen blessed with the grace of the Keynote application, I held my breath and waited for what was due to all of us Apple hopefuls. Steve spoke his piece and I was, for lack of a better word… unfulfilled.

 

After the many days of using my first iPhone I had to sit there and see yet ANOTHER incarnation of the same gadget except for the GPS, 3G and additional 2.0 software functionality. Honestly, the addition of 3G and GPS really is not all that exciting for me since EDGE is plenty fast for web browsing and the cell triangulation adequate for Google Maps positioning.  At this moment I have to be very honest and say that the second generation iPhone is not really all that advanced past the first generation model.  Quite frankly at the moment I heard the announcement for the second generation model I was happy to know that I still had my Nokia E90 to rely on for my everyday smartphone usage.  Another thing that surprised me in addition to the features for the new iPhone is the fact that the low starting cost of $200 is not really all that it’s cracked up to be.  With this new price point in mind it is not surprising to know that Apple is eventually going to make that money back with AT&T by increasing the cost of the data plans for every iPhone owner.  Now this is quite unfortunate for every iPhone owner out there already under contract with AT&T, because it seems as if they are being screwed over for the sake of money.  I understand wholeheartedly that every company has a right to make money, but at the same time it should not take advantage of its loyal customers.  People believe in the Apple brand name because they feel they’re getting high quality products for a premium price that they are willing to pay.  After so many years of user friendly interfaces in so many breathtaking mobile devices, one would expect for Apple not to seem so money hungry for the purpose of granting a wonderful customer experience.  But oh well, I guess if you have something that’s really great that everybody wants you’re going to do your best to take advantage of it for ultimate marketing and capitalization.  Kudos to Apple Incorporated for a job well done!

 

At this point I am happy to say that my Nokia E90 the smartphone has never looked better, and the second generation iPhone is nothing more than an overpriced sequel.  Good luck to everybody waiting in line on July 11 for this brand new tech toy when it comes out!

 

TRENT

Sent from my HP TX2110

 

Temptation at its Worst

As much as I would like to claim that I am certainly free of the tech toy addiction that had ravaged my spending habits and my credit, I cannot. In the midst of this brutal honesty I once again find myself in a tight situation where my willpower must try its hardest to keep me and my impulses in check. As a smartphone entusiast it is definitely a great time to be alive as manufacturers release new models to the public masses and spur on uploadings of unboxing reviews via YouTube videos and online blogs.

Two particular devices have caught my eye: the HTC Touch Pro and the Nokia E71. What is shocking about this matter is that both of these models have unexpectedly come out of left field and taken me by surprise with their own individual charm. The Nokia E71 causes me to reminisce about the slim qwerty bar form factor, and even though there is no touchscreen I think that the built-in flash for Web, the usual S60 features and new sizing makes up for that. The HTC Touch Pro is another one that I never thought would intrigue me since it appears to offer the predictable slider qwerty from the preceeding TyTN 2. But my mind was changed upon the release of the iconic HTC Touch Diamond with its VGA screen and impressive TouchFLO features, and I am even more so shocked that this will be paired with a sliding qwerty! As much as I would hate to deal with the bulky form of a slider, I am more curious about how the TouchFLO works.

What makes this even more difficult is that there is rumored to be a new iPhone in the works that may be announced on June 9th...AND I CANNOT WAIT!!! :-) Who knows, maybe I will go for the new iPhone and settle on getting a handheld PDA.

Point of this whole posting is that I am genuinely concerned about how I will react once I know that these gadgets are available for purchase...especially in a brick and mortar store! I have been doing relatively alright financially and would like to maintain that.

TRENT
Sent from my Nokia E90

Thank Goodness for Touchscreens!

This past weekend had indeed been an interesting one since I spent nearly all of Sunday with my HP TX2110 tablet convertible laptop. I have a PowerPoint assignment due in my Physics class that is focused on the Huygens Probe landing on Titan and I am determined to complete this in a timely fashion with a team of four other classmates. For my first time in working with PowerPoint I can honestly say that it is not as difficult as I thought it would be since I do have previous experience on Apple Keynote, but there is still another remaining factor. The touchscreen on my tablet PC is by far the most efficient and convenient feature I have ever come across in ANY computer product based on Mac or PC and I am enjoying it immensely at this point! Navigating from slide to slide, editing elements and adding features in PowerPoint was simply user-friendly and practically intuitive as I spent time learning more about its capabilites. The finished product which is close to completion looks quite good and I am even more proud to have this tablet PC as a resource for schoolwork! If only Mac could release a tablet MacBook! Wait! There is always the Axiotron tablet made from the MacBook...I wonder if that could be something worth checking out.

TRENT
Sent from my Nokia E90