Those of you who lug around a lot of gear like myself, and remember my article on a single convergence device, might just find this concept design by Indian Industrial Designer Prashant Chandra very interesting. His entry in the Fujitsu Design Awards competition, the Lifebook2013, was shortlisted to the top 100 from over 3000 entries from 99 countries. Consisting of a notebook, tablet, phone/MP3 player, and camera, the unit doesn’t actually have a physical keyboard, the tablet becomes a virtual keyboard when docked. When connected, the unit shares hardware and storage and only needs a single power charger.

“Our life in this IT age typically consist of these digital devices that we use everyday to do our work, entertain ourselves, enjoy our hobbies, save our memories and share and socialize with our family & friends. Presently we buy each one of these devices separately and then struggle to keep them all synchronised with our data. Also we always use these devices one at a time. This means a lot of wasted hardware which is repeated in these devices and is sitting idle in one device, when we are using other. If there was a device that could have these devices integrated into one thereby making synchronization a seamless process and overall cost of ownership lesser than what I would spend for four individual devices, it would truly be my Lifebook.”

More pictures and details can be seen in Prashant’s portolio on coroflot.com

Filed in categories: Gear, Laptops and Gear, News

Tagged: concept product, notebook, Phone, Tablet

Lifebook 2013 Concept – A single convergence device? originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 21, 2012 at 1:00 pm.

Just when I thought I’d gotten a handle on the best deal in VOIP offerings, along comes Obihai with the OBI 100 VOIP telephone adapter.  In conjunction with a Google Voice account, they claim unlimited calling to POTS users in the USA.  Frankly, I didn’t believe it, so I received one of their devices and have been using for about two weeks.  What I discovered surprised me.

Firstly, it’s important to understand what the Obi is not.  It is NOT a VOIP service.  That you’ll have to get for yourself.  What it is, is an ATA (analog telephone adapter) on steroids.  The ATA allows you to connect an analog telephone to a Digital telephone system such as VOIP.

Features:

• Works with Google Voice for FREE calls to the USA and Canada to 2012
• VoIP ATA and Gateway Supports Analog Line, GV and SIP Services; Callcentric, Sipgate, Vitelity, Voip.ms, etc.
• Make free calls on the OBiTALK Network – Connect to other OBi Devices or use the free OBiON for iPhone application or OBiAPP for your PC.
• Connect to other OBi Voice Service Bridges or use the free OBiON for iPhone application or OBiAPP for your PC.
• Download Apps for PC, Speed Dial Up to 99 OBi Endpoints or Phone Numbers.
• Call Forward, Caller ID, Name and Number, Anonymous Caller Blocking, Message Waiting Indication – Visual and Tone Based
• Make free calls on the OBiTALK Network – Connect to other OBi Voice Service Bridges or use the free OBiON for iPhone application or OBiAPP for your PC.
• OBiTALK Portal Features: Manage Your OBi, Connect to Your Friends’ OBi Devices, Add Services, Download Apps for PC, Speed Dial Up to 99 OBi Endpoints or Phone Numbers
• Some of the OBi100 Calling Features: Call Forward, Caller ID ? Name and Number, Anonymous Caller Blocking, Message Waiting Indication – Visual and Tone Based

The Obi arrived in a plain white box which contained 4 items above.

There are only 3 connections to be made.  The quick start guide lists the following steps:

1. Connect an analog phone to the PHONE port
2. Connect the supplied Ethernet cable to the Internet port and the other end to an Ethernet port on your router or switch
3. Connect the 12 volt power adapter to the Obi and then a power outlet.

When the power is connected the lights on the OBi flashed for several seconds.  After the Obi power light stayed solid green, I was ready to make a call using the Obi network.

Calling via the Obi network is limited in that you can only place calls to other Obi users.  You do this by dialing **9 followed by a nine digit Obi number found on the bottom of each Obi device.  Unfortunately, I didn’t know anyone else with an Obi, so I dialed the Obi test number which echoed what I said.  The sound was clear.  I could also call an Obi number which connected to an automated attendant.  From there I can make a 3 minute call to any number in the US.  While this was interesting, the real usefulness of the product became apparent after I registered at the ObiTalk Web Site.

Here’s where the Obi shines.  The web site is a cloud based configuration application that remotely provisions your Obi.  From the ObiTalk dashboard page you can configure VOIP services, speed dial numbers, trusted caller IDs and Circles of Trust.  The trusted caller ID’s and Circles of Trust allow others to access your Obi and call out on your connected services.

After you configure the Obi device, you can then add up to 2 service providers which can be a combination of Google Voice and SIP accounts.  This will allow you to call PSTN numbers and receive calls on the phone connected to the Obi box.  The folks at Obihai have made it very simple to configure Google Voice as a service.  There are also configuration pages that make it easy to add VOIP companies that offer BYOD (bring your own device) plans who provide credentials.  On the Obihai web site you’ll find several informative videos that explain in more detail the features and functions of the Obi box.

I began my education into the Obi by configuring it to use my Google Voice account as the primary service.  Unfortunately, my house phone VOIP provider has a proprietary ATA device, so they do not provide provisioning credentials, so I couldn’t add it to the Obi.  As I mentioned, it is easy to set up and I could have stopped there, but I wanted to explore all the features.  For many people  making Google Voice act like a POTS service, with free calls to the US and Canada, would be worth the price of the Obi.  I found the voice quality excellent and the bridging of the Obi device to be transparent.  The user experience is no different from what most people are used to.

In addition to the device, there are  a couple of apps that allow you to call via the Obi.  I used the iPod app and was able to make calls to the PSTN, however, calls from the PSTN cannot be received by the app.  There is also a PC app, that in conjunction with a soft phone (I used x-lite) accesses the Obi to bridge calls to the services configured in the device.  If that wasn’t enough, Gmail Chat can access the Obi attendant which allows you to make calls.

The Obi attendant can be accessed by people you allow through the Circle of Trust or Trusted callers.  If the Obi recognizes either the CID, name or Obi number of the incoming call, the attendant vocalizes 3 options to route the call.  They are, put the call through to the telephone attached to the Obi; route the call to another number as input by the user; or give a callback to a number input by the user.   Here are some examples of someone calling my Google Voice number:

1. A trusted caller wishes to speak with me.  He would input 1 to ring my phone.
2. A trusted caller (friend) in Singapore calls my Obi from her Obi and then inputs 2 and a telephone number in the US.  The Obi routes the call and saves my friend some money.
3. A trusted caller (me) at his summer home where the local Podunk phone company charges a fortune for regional calls, inputs 3 and puts his phone number in for a callback.  He hangs up and 2 seconds later the Obi calls him and he can then use the attendant to place calls from he Obi.

In the the 3rd example,  there is a way to set the Obi up so that you can call and let it ring twice, hangup and then it will call back the CID of your phone.  Using the Obi expert the device can be setup to do this.  I’m working on it now.  Anyone else calling my Google Voice number will ring the phone attached to the Obi.

The Obi device is a complicated piece of hardware and firmware that’s been made accessible to most people, but at the same time it should satisfy the telephony geek with its Obi Expert Configuration.  The ObiTalk web site takes the mystery out of configuring VOIP services and gives users the flexibility to choose the most cost-effective routing for their call.  If you have a broadband Internet connection and you’ve been considering VOIP, you should consider the Obi.  All users have the ability to return the product (for any reason) to Amazon within 30-days of receipt and receive a 100% refund + no return shipping charges, so what do you have to lose?

Filed in categories: Home Tech, Reviews

Tagged: Device, Phone, VoIP

OBi100 VoIP Telephone Adapter and Voice Service Bridge Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 15, 2011 at 11:00 am.

Archos will begin selling their 35 Smart Home Phone with Android at the end of September.  This DECT phone will be compatible with any ADSL box or phone line.  You’ll be able to share your contacts, MP3 ringtones, and caller photo displays on your Android mobile smartphone with this Android home phone.  The 35 Smart Home Phone can also run Android apps, and it has a front-facing webcam that can be used to make video calls to a PC or Android smartphone.  The front-facing camera can also be used as a baby monitor or for video surveillance.  The 35 Smart Home Phone should sell for about $159.  Read the full press release here.

Filed in categories: Android related, Home Tech, News

Tagged: Android, Phone, Smartphone

You’ve Got a Smartphone in Your Pocket, Why Not Have One at Home? originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 13, 2011 at 10:30 am.

I’ve long been a proponent of Voice over IP (VoIP), having dumped the phone company over 7 years ago.  During this period I’ve used 2 major vendors and only  switched to the latest one because my former VOIP supplier was getting greedy.  The price performance has been outstanding and the quality has been more than acceptable.  I’ve never stood still and have continuously compared other VoIP providers offers, but I have not considered magicJack a serious player.  This is because the magicJack required your computer to be running for it to work.. That’s until now!   The new magicJack PLUS can be plugged into a router or broadband modem, just like the big boys.  Also, I got turned off by the extremely annoying video on their home page.

Before I get into the details, perhaps a little refresher is in order. To use the magic Jack, or any VoIP device for that matter, you’ll need a broadband Internet connection. For magicJack a minimum bandwidth UPLOAD speed of 128 kb/s is required.  This would probably be cable or DSL, but not satellite.  It doesn’t make sense for someone to subscribe to broadband just for the telephone capability, so Grandma and Grandpa may want to stay with Ma Bell.  You should also have a minimum understanding of your home network, because there will be times that you’ll have to reboot your modem and router to clear up problems.  You should also be aware that if you lose power or Internet connection, you’ll also lose your phone capability.  I’ve addressed the power issue at my house by plugging my cable modem and router into a UPS.  This gives me an hour before I lose telephone service and covers most short power interruptions.

Features provided by magicJack:

• Voicemail
• Caller ID
• Call waiting
• Call forwarding
• Your own phone number
• Unlimited free calling within the US and Canada

There’s really not much to the device.   You may not even need the smaller of the two cables.  It’s a USB extension cable and you may be able plug the magicJack into your computer without it.

I decided to see how idiot proof the installation was, so I plugged the device into my LAN, via a powerline Ethernet adapter, hooked up the phone and within 30 seconds had a dial-tone.  There’s no computer involved in the configuration, but to keep the device active, you’ll have to register the magicJack online within 48 hours of installing it.  To minimize the number of variables when testing this thing, I used a corded phone, so the sound quality wouldn’t be affected by cordless phone issues.

Here’s a closer look at the setup.  The magicJack plugs into the AC adapter, which plugs into the AC outlet.  On the left of the unit you have a socket for the phone cable and one for the LAN cable.  You could of course run the LAN cable from your router or switch.  I like using powerline Ethernet because I can locate the phone anywhere there’s an AC outlet.

Here’s the setup when using the magicJack with a computer.  Because of the clearance to my USB ports, I needed the extension cable.  If using a laptop, this probably wouldn’t be necessary.  This setup is simpler, in that all you have to do is plug a phone into the phone port.  Power is supplied by the USB port.  However, to run in this configuration, the computer must be on and the softphone magicJack application has to be running.

The first time you plug the magicJack into a computer, it loads the softphone application and has to be registered.  This process takes about 14 screens of selections.  Here you will get an online account and select a phone number.  Unfortunately there wasn’t a number available in my home state of New Hampshire, so I elected to get a California based number.  There is the option later of changing the phone number, for a fee, if one you want becomes available.

Be very careful when navigating the registration screens.  Most of them have an up-sell button and of course, it is the biggest.  If you don’t pay attention you could be signing up for more than you expected.  The above screen shot is one of the less egregious examples.  At the end of the process you should have a phone number and online account.  Also, be sure to use the address where you expect to use the magicJack, when you sign up.  This address will be used for the E911 service.

Now that we’re all registered, we can either leave the device plugged into the computer or plug it directly into a LAN port.  I’ve opted to use the LAN port option because it doesn’t require the magicJack application to be running.  However, when traveling I can take the device with me and use it with my laptop and when configured this way, I can either use a telephone plugged into the device or I can select to use the laptop speakers and microphone to make calls.  This is changed in the softphone application.

When plugged into the computer, the above screen will pop up for an incoming call.  At this point if you are using a telephone you pick it up and answer as normal.  If using the computers audio, you would click on accept and begin speaking.  You can also use the pop up window to place calls and listen to voicemail.

click image to enlarge

Regardless of whether you connect via the LAN or PC, you can access your magicJack account via a web browser.  Here you have some options that can be changed and you can access your call logs.  You may notice the switch for stutter tone at the bottom.  At first this didn’t work, but now it does and it triggers the voicemail indicator on my phone.

Now the question is “how’s the voice quality?”  I must admit I am pleasantly surprised at the quality of the conversations I’ve had.  With all the VoIP devices I’ve owned or reviewed, I’m used to echos and delays, but I’ve experienced none of that with the magicJack.  This runs counter to what I’ve read about the device in online forums.

In short, this latest version of the magicJack could make them a serious player in the VoIP space.  I now am considering dumping my current provider.  If you’re thinking about jettisoning your POTS phone, the magicJack Plus may be the way to go.  They do give you 30 days to try it out, so you don’t have much to lose.  Now if they’d only do something about their annoying home page and stop the bush league up-selling on all their screens.

Note:  The Gadgeteer is not affiliated with the Magic Jack company in any way.  We don’t provide customer support for them.  However, many of our readers seem to have chosen the comments section for this review as an informal peer support forum.  There are hundreds of comments with this review, and it’s likely that your question has already been asked and answered.  If not, and if none of the other readers can help you, you’ll need to contact Magic Jack directly.

Filed in categories: Home Tech, Reviews

Tagged: Phone, USB

magicJack PLUS Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 22, 2011 at 1:00 pm.

Is their anything more exciting than a cordless phone system? OK, I can think of a few things, but this new DS6421-3 system from VTech offers up some very cool additions to this old product segment. Even if you have cut the cord, and no longer have a land-line, you can use this system. It covers the classic bases:

• Digital Answering Machine
• 3 DECT 6.0 Handsets
• Caller ID
• Speakerphone capability
• Expandable system (add up to 12 handsets and headsets)

But adds some potential surprises:

• Voice Announce Caller ID
• HD Audio (including EQ settings)
• Bluetooth headset support
• Bluetooth phone support

That last option opens a whole new world of possibilities. You can download your directory from your mobile phone to the phone system, and even use your Bluetooth-connected mobile phone to make and receive calls with the system. They call this their “Connect to Cell™” feature. But the real question is how does it all work?

What’s in the Box

This phone should win some sort of award for packing efficiency. It was like unloading a clown car, I kept thinking, this has to be it. The box contains:

• 1 Telephone Answering Base
• 2 Charging Bases
• 3 AC Adapters
• 1 telephone cord
• 1 Wall Mount
• 3 replaceable batteries
• 3 battery covers
• 3 Handsets
• Assorted reading material

General Impressions

I like the feel of the system. The phones seem solid and not too heavy or light. It manages the squeeze test quite well, and they fit in their bases very easily. The sound quality is quite good, and it had no issues in our 3-story Italianate house. It is also an attractive system, all dressed in black.

Installation and Setup

You need to assemble the handests. It was nice to notice right of the bat that when (not if) I need to replace a battery, they are very user-serviceable. I had a fit issue with one of the handsets, but generally this was a simple process.

If you are going to use a land-line (and you don’t need to) you plug the telephone base into a phone jack, and plug in the AC adapter to get it up and running. Alternatively (or additionally) you can pair your mobile phone with the system, and suddenly you have 3 handsets that can use your mobile phone to call and answer phone calls. More on this latter.

There is one wall mounting bracket included in the box. This can be used to mount either the telephone or a charging base to a wall jack. It is designed to fit easily over the standard mounting points in a wall jack. If you have an existing phone on the wall, this will fit there.

Using the System

Due the nature of this web site I feel comfortable explaining it this way: The Telephone Base is the brains, and each handset is basically a dumb terminal. What is really nice about this setup is that you can listen to your messages right on the base, or you can use any handset to listen to messages. It is a little easier to do from the base (no menus to use) but you can do it from anywhere in the house. Are you a call screener? Well, if the base is 2 floors down, and you get a call, you can select “Screen” from the handset to listen to someone leaving the message.

The handset is pretty standard. You have your phone keypad. Along the bottom you have a speaker icon to turn on and off the speakerphone feature, a redial/pause key and an EQ key that includes settings for Natural, Treble 1, Treble 2, and Bass. I found these settings very helpful depending on the caller.

Above the keypad, and below the display you have white dashes that activate any “soft buttons” on the LCD display (Menu on this pic). The Green and Red buttons serve as call and end buttons along with other duty, and there is a Mute button that also serves as delete when listening to a recorded message. The one you may not be familiar with is the blue cell button. This is used to answer or make calls with your cell (when it is paired with the system). The silver ring only functions at the top (volume up/Directory) and the bottom (volume down/Caller ID Log). It is also used to scroll up and down. I really wanted that center circle to be select, but it is not a button. Select is the right soft key on most screens. As silly as it sounds, if I could change one thing, I would make the center button function as select.

You can name each remote, which I liked. They come already numbered 1, 2, 3. You can’t change that, but you can change the name from the standard “Handset” to whatever you choose. In the pic you see that I named it “Street Lvl”. It also displays if you currently have any new messages, or missed calls. It can be a little odd on the missed calls. The number is the total missed calls for the land-line and any connected mobile phone.

The Push to Talk feature is nice. You can make handset-handset calls on the system. This is where naming your handsets can be nice. You don’t have to remember which floor has which handset number, you can select by name (or have it ring all). You can set a different ringtone for land-line, Cell, and PTT (push-to-talk). Another subtle thing, but I was disappointed that you can only mute all. I wish I could mute incoming calls, but still have the handset ring for intercom. This would be nice for a bedroom phone you don’t want to ring, but still want to be able to contact via intercom. Again, subtle issue, I cannot even bring myself to add it to the cons.

The speaker for the phone is on the back of the headset. There is a small bump to prevent it from resting flat, but I found this not to be an ideal setup. To add to that, the handsets do not function while in their bases. As soon as you drop it in a cradle the handset goes to idle, hanging up the call or ending whatever function it was performing. That is a shame, it would be nice to keep in the cradle while using the speakerphone.

The Bluetooth Connection

The Bluetooth feature is really nice. You can pair up headsets or phones. You can have multiple devices listed, but only two can be ready for connection at a time. I was able to pair multiple Android phones (even two at once) and Bluetooth headsets. It is important to remember that the Bluetooth is in the telephone base, not the handsets, so you have to be near the base to pair up. Also, you cannot mute a Bluetooth headset from any of the handsets. Since my Bluetooth headset does not include a mute button (I always mute on my phone) this seriously limited my ability to use this feature.

When connected to a mobile phone, this system basically becomes a big Bluetooth headset for your mobile phone. You can even dial from the handsets to your mobile phone. If you have ever heard your mobile ringing on another floor in the house you will appreciate this feature. I paired my Droid X with the phone system, and my dock is next to the telephone base, so whenever I return to the house, I drop it in the dock, and can answer calls to my mobile phone from anywhere in the house. They do suggest you plug in your mobile phone, since the live Bluetooth connection could run down your battery.

Once connected to your mobile phone, you can also use that connection to download your contacts. Once downloaded, they appear in a separate directory on your handsets. This isn’t any kind of sync, it’s just a copy, but is an excellent way to get your contacts on your home phone.

Conclusions

As mentioned, you can add up to 12 handsets to the system, so it can grow to meet your needs. There is a $50 DECT headset you can add and additional handsets ar $22.

I really like this system. I would recommend this to anyone who needs a cordless system, whether they still have a land-line or not. The beauty of this is that if you do cut the cord, you can still use it with your mobile phone.

Filed in categories: Bluetooth Gear, Home Tech, Reviews

Tagged: Phone

VTech DS6421-3 Cordless Phone and Answering System Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 6, 2011 at 2:00 pm.

One would have thought that with the shrinking of the land line telephone market there would be less product variety for cordless telephones.  Apparently VTech doesn’t see it that way, and keeps coming out with new and interesting products.  The LS6475-3 incorporates several unique features, but are they really useful?

Over the years I’ve upgraded my telephones beginning with a 900 mhz model and then moving to 2.4 GHz, 5.8 GHz and now Dect 6.0.  Along the way I also purchased models incorporating digital voice, answering machines and headset jacks.  I would have thought that my list of reasons to upgrade had been fulfilled, until I got this unit from VTech.

Features:

• Included cordless headset with multiple wearing options
• Push-to-Talk intercom
• Audibly announces the name and number of the caller on all of the handsets and base unit.
• DECT 6.0 Digital technology provides the best sound quality, security and range in cordless phones.
• Interference free for crystal clear conversations—won’t interfere with wireless networks and other electronic devices
• Protect yourself from identity theft with digital security—your call is digitized and encrypted, making it nearly impossible for someone to eavesdrop
• Expandable up to 12 handsets using only one phone jack—uses [var] accessory handsets
• Return phone calls and recall numbers with 100 name and number caller ID memory. (*Caller ID service requires a subscription from your local telephone company.)
• Digital answering system—no tapes or moving parts
• With just the touch of a button, hands-free conversations are made easy with the handset speakerphone.
• Conference an outside call between handsets
• 50 name and number phonebook directory—easily store and dial frequently called numbers
• Blue back-lit keypad and display
• Trilingual prompts—choose between English, Spanish or French

The contents of the box include everything you need to hook to your telephone line.  I did have to install the batteries in the handsets and let them charge for awhile.  I have patience, so I waited for about 12 hours before I hooked them up.

A closer look at the base station with one handset and the headset.  The headset charges in the base station and is held in magnetically.  Talk time for the handsets is listed as 7 hours and for the headset 9 hours.  This was not a problem for me, because I don’t talk that much and I always put the hand/headsets back in the charger when not using them.

VTech is smart enough to provide several different ways to wear the headset.  There are 3 different earbuds, 3 different ear hooks and a headband if that’s your preference.  Personally, I use the ear hooks.  It took me awhile to get the best fit, but now it’s comfortable.  I usually wear the headset when I’m out in the yard or in front of the computer.

VTech has addressed an issue I’ve had with some cordless phones, and that is sometimes when you put the phone into the charger or base, it really doesn’t make connection with the contacts.  As illustrated by the above photo, there is plastic bracket (just above the VTech logo) that ensures the handset is firmly in the base or charger.  No more dead handsets or not hanging up the phone correctly.

So, now it was time to give this phone a test drive.  I hooked the base up to my Ooma voip system and put the extra handset in my bedroom upstairs.  Although the answering system capability was redundant, because I have voice mail, I turned it on anyway and set it to answer after 2 rings.  This had to be done otherwise my voicemail would have picked up first.   All I have to say about the answer system capability is that it was easy to set up, the messages were clear and it is accessible remotely.  On the down side it’s less functional than voicemail and it seems like a legacy function considering the increased number of people using their cell or voip for phone communication.  Both of these technologies have voicemail as standard.

One of the things I learned about myself when checking the telephone out is that I don’t call many people.  It’s not that I’m a hermit.  I just IM, text and email a lot.  Perhaps this says something about me, or maybe it’s just a sign of the times.  Also, of those people I do call, they either use a cell or voip as their main number.  Because cell and voip voice quality is a variable, it was hard to judge quality of the VTech phone.  When I made an effort to call a known POTS number, it did seem that the audio was clearer than my older phone.  The phone does have an equalizer that allows bass and treble enhancements.

The talking caller id seems a little gimmicky to me.  The mechanical voice needs some elocution lessons.  Some of the announcements were amusing and not at all understandable.  However, the correct name and number is on the handset, so I always knew who was calling.  The talking caller id only works on the base and handsets.  The headset will ring on an incoming call, but it does not announce caller id.

Then you have the push to talk function.  This makes the handsets act like walkie talkies.  It would probably come in handy when there are 3 or more handsets, because you can broadcast to all of them at once.  For a 2 handset system I use the intercom function.  It allows full duplex conversations.

Features I like are the speaker phone in base and handsets;  Ability to add caller id numbers to the phone book; Expandability up to 12 handsets; long range (I was able to use the phone 200 ft from the base) and my major selling point is the supplied headset.  Using the headset I can answer a call plus change and mute the volume and flash the system to answer a call waiting call.  To make a call you have to use a handset and then switch over to the headset.

The LS6475 is a functional and attractive telephone system.  I’d like to see a similar unit less  the answering system because I don’t see the need given the ubiquity of voicemail.  After evaluating the unit, I turned of the answering part of the phone and I’m using the Ooma voicemail.  I now get notified via text when there is a message and messages are taken even when the line is busy.  These features are not available with the answering system.

Filed in categories: Home Tech, Reviews

Tagged: Phone

VTech Handset/Headset Cordless Answering System LS6475-3 Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 20, 2011 at 3:15 pm.

A lot of modern electronics are not ‘friendly’ to people with special needs, including those associated with aging. Small buttons, small print, confusing labels, low volumes, high-pitched sounds, and so on can cause real problems for a good chunk of the population.

The Amplicom AB900 Amplified Answering Machine offers a solution as far as answering machines go.

The AB900 offers tone, volume, and message speed control, as well as a ‘boost’ feature, larger buttons, and large, high-contrast printing. The box comes with the unit, a power cord with a decent amount of cord, about a 6′  long phone cord, a quick start guide, and the instruction manual.

The unit and what is in the box

The unit claims several interesting features-

• Adjustable volume amplified up to max 40dB
• Rotary frequency tone control
• Rotary play back speed control
• 24 minutes of digital recording with flash memory
• Set up available in 6 languages
• One-touch playback with pause feature
• Skip, repeat or erase messages (Single erase or All erase)
• Two digit LED display message counter
• 3.5mm jack for headset or neckloop (sold separately)
• Remote room monitoring
• Remote retrieve and manage messages
• 2 year warranty

Set-up and preparing the outgoing message are easy and well-explained in the bilingual manual and quick start guide. The user guide itself uses large print and is clearly written (although it suffers from a common problem with large print- the smaller amount of white space makes the pages look cluttered.)

The back panel

The machine acts like a typical, but well-designed, answering machine most of the time. The display is clear and reasonably intuitive for a two digit LED (such as a flashing message usually means you need to do something- finish set-up, answer a message, etc.) The controls to play, pause, skip, delete, record, etc. are large and easy to use, and the labels are large and done in white on black backgrounds for good contrast. There is a little bit of color-coding as well to help differentiate the controls, and a jack for earphones or other aids.

The bigger buttons and clearer print alone would be a big benefit for many people, but the AB900 goes another step with controls for volume, tone, and speed as well as the expected ‘volume up and down’ buttons. You can make any message louder by pressing the ‘BOOST’ button which will add about a 40dB increase.

Just making something louder, however, does not make it clearer. Not only does amplification like that add distortion, the nature of hearing loss often drops higher tones and muffles lower tones. The Amplicom AB900 allows the listener to adjust the tone of the message- moving the entire tone higher or lower for clarity. It also allows the listener to change the speed- speeding or slowing it down. It does not quite let you do ‘Alvin and the Chipmunk’ effects, but it really does help make messages more clear- without needing a degree in acoustics to do so.

The well-labeled controls

The machine combines good labeling and displays to make it mostly pretty intuitive. My various test subjects were generally able to do everything they needed without needing the manual. They were also impressed with how much difference the controls made to their ability to hear and understand messages. For that matter, even I found it helpful when the speaker did not speak clearly or went too fast or slow- as they so often do.

The unit can also be used for room monitoring. If you have the codes, you can call it and hear whatever is happening within the range of the speaker. This is a nice touch for the family of the people who would most benefit from this sort of device. It allows you to check in on a loved one that may be having a problem and unable to reach the phone. I did not test to see if it acts like a speaker phone in this context (and I cannot get back to try that out right now- dang!) However, the manual does not mention this ability.

The manual does have a peculiar omission in it- it makes no mention of using the tone and speed controls. They are easy to figure out, but it is kind of odd. Another thing that bothers me a little is that there is not a wallet card or cheat sheet for the remote commands. There are a lot of them and I doubt most people could remember them, and the manual is not something you’d normally have when you are away from home. Another odd bit is that the website mentions a battery pack that the unit I was sent did not have. They may have added that later, probably to store settings and messages in a power outage.

Overall, this is a well-designed, well-thought out device that would really help a lot of people.

Filed in categories: Home Tech, Reviews

Tagged: amplified, answering machine, elderly, hearing, Phone, Telephone

Amplicom AB900 Amplified Answering Machine Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 6, 2011 at 11:00 am.

Photo from phonenews.com

Word is Metro PCS, who recently launched their LTE network are geared to release a phone that’s actually worth putting on a LTE network. The Samsung Indulge (formally the Forte) is a 1GHZ, 2.2 Android, Slider reportedly being released February 23rd. Priced at 399.99, you may gasp until you realize 60 bucks a month ain’t so bad. If you are the type who only buys a phone once every two years, compare that with a 4G plan from the big 4, then do the math and you may consider it. Then again if you are like me, you’d have it for a few months and then be ready to sell it… Sad I know but, Hooray for Metro PCS!

Filed in categories: Android related, News, Wireless

Tagged: Android, Phone, prepaid

Metro PCS Getting LTE Andriod Soon originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 31, 2011 at 10:30 am.

It’s my belief that if you have a broadband Internet connection, you should dump your legacy phone service and join the growing number of people who embrace VOIP.  There are many products and providers to choose from and now netTALK has come out with a convertible product which can be used with or without a computer.I switched to VOIP about 5 years ago having become frustrated with the ever increasing fees and nickel and dime charges from THE PHONE COMPANY.   I finally threw off the yoke of Ma Bell when they wanted to charge me $3 a month for caller id and my monthly charges were almost $30/ month for a toll-free calling radius of 10 miles!  Today I pay my VOIP provider $20 month for unlimited (actually 5,000) outgoing minutes to the USA and I have all the features offered by the phone company, included!  Today I’m considering the netTALK product in an effort to reduce my costs further.      

Features:      

• Free U.S. Phone Number
• Call Waiting, 3 Way Calling and Caller ID
• Voicemail to Email
• 411 Directory Assistance
• Enhanced 911 Service
• Priority Call Forwarding
• Customer Portal
• Technical Support
• Fax Friendly/Compatible
• Free nationwide calling throughout the U.S. and Canada
• Free calling to any other netTALK device worldwide

In the box you’ll find:      

• One netTALK DUO (CE and FCC approved)
• Power adapter with regionally appropriate connector
• 3-foot USB to Mini A connector used to connect to power adapter or to computer USB port
• 3-foot Ethernet cable to connect to modem or router
• Quickstart Guide

The DUO device has 3 connectors; a mini usb on one end and an ethernet port and RJ45 socket for the telephone on the other.  There are several LEDs that indicate the status of the DUO.      

Before making your first call, you have to register and activate the DUO.  I logged on to the netTALK web site and accessed the customer portal using a temporary username and password that came in the box with the hardware.  The process of activation entails choosing a telephone number and setting up e911 service for your physical location.  There were phone numbers available in the area code I wanted, but I couldn’t get a number in my local exchange.  I didn’t consider this much of an issue, so I picked a number from an adjoining town.  Also, at this time you select your permanent username and password to allow access to the portal.      

Router Setup

The next step is to connect the hardware.  There are two options; connecting to a router or via a computer.  The router setup is recommended so I took that path.  Using the router was simply a matter of connecting the phone, ethernet and power cables in a certain order and waiting until the phone rings once, which indicates success and you should now have dial tone.  When connected to the router, the usb cable is plugged into a supplied wall wart and powers the device.  When plugged into a computer the usb cable connects the device and is powered by the usb port of the PC.      

I was ready for my first call and dialled my home number.  Oops, I received a number not available message.  I called another number without problem and was also able to ring my home phone by calling my google voice number which is forwarded to my home phone.  I was also able to call other numbers in the same local exchange so I guess it has something to do with the fact that both the DUO and my home VOIP telephone adapter are on the same LAN.  That issue aside I was able to call friends around the US without any problem.      

Laptop Setup

I then removed the DUO device from the router and installed it on my Windows 7 laptop.  This was more involved and it first required that I download a USB driver from netTALK.  Unfortunately, the 64 bit driver I needed was a beta release and could only be run in Windows 7 “testing mode”.  The accompanying release notes warned that there could be unresolved problems.  I gave it a shot and after starting the driver I plugged in the DUO and made a couple of calls.  I had the same problem calling my home number, but other than some transient error messages and warnings popping up on the screen, it seemed to work.  However, I decided that the 64 bit driver isn’t ready for prime time and didn’t want to chance corrupting my laptop, so I installed a full release 32 bit driver on a Windows XP laptop and all was well.      

The ability to use the device via the router and also with a computer is very useful.  While at home, I keep it plugged into the router and I don’t need the computer on to make phone calls.  When I leave the house, I can take the device and my laptop with me and if there’s broadband access I have my home phone.  For example, when watching the grandkids at my daughter’s house, I can bring the DUO and the laptop and connect via their WiFi.      

The feature set of the netTALK DUO is not as extensive as my VOIP service provided.  Actually I consider it a rough draft.  The voice mail function is rather rudimentary.  You cannot select the number of rings before it goes to voicemail and when a message is left you get an email with a .wav file attached.  You can also listen via the portal, but again it just downloads a .wav file.  There is no access to your vopicemail by dialling in.  Call forwarding is all or nothing.  There is no conditional forwarding.  There are really no instructions easily found for any of the features.  I had to dig through the FAQs and even then the speed dial instructions don’t work.  I would have called customer service, but they are a 9-5 operation and I was outside their window.     

 Sound quality was good, but then again I am used to VOIP phone calls.  Sometimes the quality can get as bad as a poor cell connection, but that’s very rare.  I’ve decided that the netTALK DUO won’t replace my current VOIP provider,  but will complement it.  My current provider has more features that I use and provides 24/7 customer support.  Sometimes though support can’t resolve the issue and then it would be good to have a backup.  Just last week I couldn’t call any numbers in the 518 area code for several days and just as mysteriously as it appeared it disappeared.  The support people had no idea what the problem was.  The DUO is cheap enough to justify and worth it for the insurance.  I also use google voice,  Gmail phone, Skype and other call applications, but they’re very geeky and require a computer to work.  I like the DUO because it gives me flexibility and at less than$3/ month it’s affordable and given time I hope netTALK will spruce up the portal,  and come out with more features.  When that happens, I may switch providers.  Right now it’s more of a work in progress.

Filed in categories: Home Tech, Reviews

Tagged: Phone, VoIP

netTALK DUO Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 30, 2010 at 9:30 am.

The Holy Grail.  The perfect cherry blossom.  A four leaf clover.  The perfect bluetooth headset.  *BUZZ*  “What are things that are searched for?”  “That is correct!”  Personally I’m interested in the headset, but I wouldn’t mind finding a four leaf clover.  On my quest I’ve found headsets that were almost perfect, but failed for one reason or another.  Will Aliph’s latest Jawbone offering end my searching?  Read on to find out.

First the nitty gritty.  Aliph is known for its small, sleek headsets that have a sensor that rests against your jawbone (see, not just a silly product name) and detects when you’re speaking to eliminate background noise.  I’ve actually never used any previous Jawbone models, so this is my first introduction to this type of noise cancellation.  The ICON is 45 mm long, 18.25 mm wide and 24 mm high.  It weighs a puny 8.2 grams.  It has a very minimal design with a single button in addition to a dedicated on/off switch.  It’s rated for 4.5 hours of talk time and 10 days of standby time.

Image taken from Jawbone.com

The ICON itself is available in six different colors/textures (some are much harder to find online than others) and each are based around a unique “personality”.  You see, unlike other headsets this one talks to you.  Rather than showing you how much battery life is left with beeps, lights or other hard to decipher methods, this one happily tells you “About four hours of talk time remaining”.  When it’s ready to pair, it says “Jawbone is ready, waiting for phone to connect.”  This is actually amazingly simple and useful.  I could never remember if flashing blue was good or bad, and if purple meant I had a lot of battery life left or none.

The different designs are called the Hero, Rogue, Thinker, Ace, Catch and Bombshell.  The photos in this review are Julie’s Rogue, but I personally am using The Thinker in black.  The default voice is a friendly, but somewhat computer sounding female voice.  However, you can customize your ICON with different voices and applications.  In fact, after you register at mytalk.jawbone.com, you can change the voice, load applications, and manage connections on your device.

Use of the Headset

The ICON paired up with no problems to my Droid 1, Droid X and Palm Pre Plus.  To enter pairing mode you just hold the action button while powering it on which causes the indicator light to flash between red and white.  It really couldn’t be easier.

Using the ICON is just as straight forward as pairing it.  Just flip the power switch to on (which shows a spot of painted blue on the switch to indicate “on”), and you’re greeted by a chipper “Hey there.  Thanks for waking me up.” greeting in a non-computer sounding voice (the message may be different on other ICON “personalities”).

When the headset is paired with your phone and you tap the action button (which is nicely sized and perfectly positioned) you’ll be told how much talk time is left.  Right now mine is telling me “About three hours of talk time remaining”.  It doesn’t tell you standby time, but generally the actual talk time is more important.  One nice feature is when you’re on a call and the battery is getting low you’ll get a warning telling you that there is approximately 15 minutes of talk time remaining.  Much better than the headset just dying which is the case with most other devices.

A long press of the action button activates Voice Commands.  NOTE:  Not all phones or Mobile Operating Systems support this.  It works on my Droid X under 2.1 but didn’t work on my Droid 1.  This *should* be fixed with the Froyo (Android 2.2) update but you should check to be sure your device supports Voice Commands over Bluetooth.  In practice this is one of the weakest parts of Android.  The stock Voice Command app under Android 2.1 is awful (IMHO) and there are great third party apps that work much better.  Android 2.2 is supposed to offer a greatly improved app but I have not yet tested it with the ICON.  I don’t own any iDevices, so I can’t talk to how the device works with them.

A double-tap of the action button will redial the last number called.

While you are in a call a single tap of the action button will end the call.  If you press and hold the action button it will enable or disable Noise Assassin.  The only reason you would want to do this is to show how awesome Noise Assassin works (it really does work amazingly well).

When you receive an incoming call the headset will tell you “Call from 510-555-1212″.  Unfortunately you can’t configure it to speak the name you have associated with a stored contact, but it’s still handy if you can remember important phone numbers of people you definitely do (or do not) want to talk to.  If you tap the button once the call will be answered.  If you press and hold the action button it will automatically send the call to voicemail.

MyTALK

At first I dismissed MyTALK as something that I wouldn’t need, but after playing with it more it’s quite useful.  When you download the software and plug your ICON into your computer, you are taken to a portal that shows you the current software/configuration on your ICON, allows you to choose different voices, and load software.  The following is the current configuration on my ICON:

As you can see the Voice (AUDIOAPP) I’ve selected is “Be Flirty”.    This voice is a flirty female voice.  Don’t judge me…   I have everything else on the default.  If you click on “Edit” under Advanced Settings you are able to name your ICON (helpful I guess if you have more than one), turn voice announcements on or off, turn spoken caller ID on or off, and view or delete connected devices.

The description here is very important (and now is the first time I’m seeing it).  “Every time it is turned on it will attempt to connect to the first 2 [phones] it can find.”  You can’t drag/drop the devices to change the order, so if you want a different device on the top you need to delete the ones above it.

The ICON also supports A2DP which is great if you want to listen to audio books or podcasts (I personally don’t).  As of this review (8/31/2010) A2DP support is now part of the default software and will work out of the box (if you have an older ICON you may need to update your software from the MyTALK site).

Sound Quality

Okay, so you can have the remaining battery life spoken to you in a flirty female voice…but how do calls SOUND?  In a word: Great.  I’ve never had anyone complain about the sound quality even when I’ve asked them “how does this sound?”.  As the wearer, the sound is clear and loud.  I sometimes find that if I’m in a quiet room I need to turn the volume down on my Droid X.  I’ve never had to do that with previous headsets.

The ICON features Noise Assassin which in practice works amazingly well.  As mentioned, Jawbone models have a sensor that rests against your jaw to detect when you’re speaking.  With the ICON you do not need to have the sensor in an exact spot, anywhere on your face seems to work well for me.

I previously used the now discontinued Zivio Boom which I LOVED.  Well, I love the ICON more.  I wrote a review of the Sound ID 400 (which I did not like) and used the Zivio as the comparison device.  Here is the Jawbone ICON compared to the Zivio and Sound ID 400:

Jawbone ICON with NO background noise (30KB .WAV File)

Jawbone ICON in my car on the highway (31KB .WAV File)

Jawbone ICON in my car on the highway with the passenger window down (30KB .WAV File)

Jawbone ICON in my car on the highway with the passenger window down and Noise Assassin disabled (31KB .WAV File)

Sound ID 400 with NO background noise (33KB .WAV File)

Sound ID 400 in my car on the highway (66KB .WAV File)

Zivio with NO background noise (33KB .WAV File)

Zivio in my car on the highway (225KB .WAV File)

Conclusion

So, is the ICON perfect?  To me, YES.  For the first time since I switched from wired to bluetooth, I have stopped looking for a new headset.  The ICON has amazing sound quality on both ends of the line, it’s extremely comfortable and very rugged for its small size and light weight (mine’s been stepped on and dropped a couple times with no ill effects).  If you want something sleek and subtle or if you want something flashy and blinged out there’s an ICON personality that will give you the look you’re after.

Filed in categories: Bluetooth Gear, Reviews

Tagged: Bluetooth Gear, Cellular, Phone

Aliph Jawbone ICON Bluetooth Headset Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 31, 2010 at 7:56 pm.

When I first discovered the Telephone Voice Transformer from Spy Gadgets, I thought it would be a fun gadget to have.  While it does what it’s supposed to, I can’t find a practical use for the device.  However, if you’re in law enforcement or a wannabe James Bond, this is for you.

The premise behind the Voice Changer is to change, in real-time, your voice so that’s it’s unrecognizable by the listener.  It does this by not only changing the pitch, but several other sound parameters, giving a more natural sound than most voice changers.  These changes can be done on the fly, or you can program a voice and save it for later use.  Moving between an artificial voice and your natural voice is as simple as flipping a switch.

The package comes complete with the cables and accessories you need.  The device itself is built ruggedly and looks like it will take some abuse.  I’m sure some of you recognize this device.  It’s a Boss Audio VE-20 Vocal Processor modified for the voice changer application.  The good folks at Shomer-Tec include the VE-20 manual, so if you’re of the musical mind, you can use the unit for your vocals, but I’m limiting the review to voice changing application.  In truth, you really don’t want to hear me sing

There’s a lot of connectors on the back, but only the power switch is used for the voice transformer.

On the front there are the addition of audio output jacks.

The left side has cord with a standard telephone plug at the end.

The right side has been modified with jacks for the included headset.

The Voice Transformer is configured to be used with a “standard” telephone.  This means one needs a corded phone with a handset that plugs into the side of the telephone using a modular plug. The keypad dial cannot be in the handset.  In other words, this device does not support cordless, dial-in-handsets or cell phones.However, according to the instruction sheet, a cell phone adapter in in development.  Thankfully, there is also provision for connecting to a computer, so I was able make calls using Skype and Skype out.  The requisite cables are provided.

After installing the batteries and reading the one page instructions, I was ready to create my first voice.  This is a simple process and there are only two parameters  that need be adjusted: GENDER and OCTAVE.  I installed the “programing plug” on the end of the modular cord.  This appears to be a loop back connector the allows one  to hear the  effects of creating the voice in the headset.  I found it difficult to hear the modified voice via the earphones.  It was overpowered by hearing my natural voice.  What worked for me was to record the output using voice recorder on the PC and playing back the results.

The gender parameter can be adjusted between -10 and +10 with minus ten being the most male and plus ten being the most female.  The other adjustment is an octave parameter that can raise and lower one octave.  Adjusting the 2 parameters provides many different voices that can then be stored for later use.  Obviously, different people will have different results dependent upon their voices, so if there are multiple users of the device storing voices is helpful.

Created Voices

I’ve provided some samples above of the voices I created using the extremes of the parameters.  There are many more iterations possible and with patience I was able to get some that sounded almost normal.  I say almost, because no matter what I did, there seemed to be a very slight mechanical flavor to the voices.  That being said, I decided to call multiple people on Skype to see if I could fool them.

My first test was a call to my brother using Skype. I used a female voice expecting to fake him out, but he knew who it was by the Skype caller ID (duh!). After some small dialog, he did attest that the manufactured voice did sound reasonably normal. I told him I couldn’t come up with a practical use for the Voice Transformer and he suggested it would be great for crank calls. Great idea if I was in Junior High!

Next I placed a call to my wife, telling her to answer using Skype on her laptop. Due to a miscommunication (amazing, because this rarely happens between married couples), she thought I was transferring a call from someone else and didn’t realize it was me and my female voice. I then made Skype Out calls to landline phones to find out if that was also as natural sounding as web calls. It again passed a critical test from the multitude of people I called. Those that didn’t hang up on me, were impressed by the voice changing capability and didn’t know it was me.

Some final thoughts. This device is not a toy. It is marketed for use in law enforcement and military applications. There are an almost unlimited number of adjustments that can be made to the sound output, but are kept to a manageable minimum for the voice application. Also, if you’re musically inclined, because the hardware of the Voice Transformer is derived from a device for augmenting a singing voice, you too might get on American Idol. In my case, try as hard as I could, I wasn’t able to emulate the sounds of the late Roy Orbison. For the targeted market, the Voice Transformer merits serious consideration.

Filed in categories: Miscellaneous, Reviews

Tagged: Phone

Telephone Voice Transformer Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 22, 2010 at 12:24 pm.

You may have seen the various cell phone watches coming out on the market in the last year or so.  I remember scrounging for one a few years back with very little success: they were either too large or too expensive.  The Thrifty Cell Phone Watch (yes, that is its name) is a recent contender with a reasonable price and, I think, not too obtrusive on the wrist.

It supports the GSM 850,900,1800, and 1900MHz frequency bands. $95.

Filed in categories: News, Watches and Clocks

Tagged: Phone, Spotlight Gadgets, Watch

Thrifty Cell Phone Watch originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 26, 2010 at 1:19 pm.

When Julie announced the Sound ID 400 I couldn’t wait for it to be announced.  Small, simple and packed with features like PersonalSound (enhanced listening power) and Automatic Volume Control (self-explanatory) in a nice looking package.  Well I’ve been using the headset for a little while now, and was surprised by how it performed.

The Sound ID 400 is the fourth generation bluetooth headset from Sound ID.  It is visually very similar to their previous three headsets (which I have not used personally).  It is all black with a faint Sound ID logo and only has two buttons: the Main Button and a single volume button.  In addition, there is a tiny status light on the front of it and a micro-USB charging port on the back of it (the part that rests against your cheek).  It comes with three earpieces — two in-ear sizes and an over the ear loop with a foam cover.  The box also includes a micro-USB to standard-USB cable and a wall charger with a USB port.  (I love these modular chargers since they can be used with any device.)  Personally I would have preferred a mini-USB connection on the headset so I could use the many cables I have, but I understand that micro-USB is getting more standard and is better than a proprietary connection.

The headset itself is “standard” sized at 2.1″ by .6″ and weighing in at a very light 8 grams.  The stated talk time is 7 hours and the standby time is 8 days.  I did not test these values but “standby time” may be affected by the fact that the headset turns off after a period of non-use.  Of course with it off the battery will last a long time.

As of this review the headset is only available direct from SoundID.com’s website which is curious.  It retails for $129.99 which is on the high-end.  You can get the Plantronics Voyager PRO for $85 or the Plantronics Discovery 975 for about ~$130.

The Box

Sound ID 400 Box Contents

The headset itself walks a fine line between boring and sleek, but I’m not sure which side I feel it sits on.  It has a clean matte black look with no unnecessary design elements.  It’s the type of headset that no one will ask you about and most people won’t even notice.  For the style conscious (not me) it would work for everywhere from the beach to the boardroom without looking out-of-place.  From a functionality point of view it has some huge problems.  The first problem is no doubt touted as a feature: the single volume button.  There is no up or down, just up.  When you reach the max volume it cycles around to the bottom and so on.  It’s not a deal breaker, but it is odd at best and annoying most of the time.  Simply adding a second volume button would not have any negative impact on style and would improve function.  Having said that, the Automatic Volume Control really does seem to work, and I’ve not yet had to adjust the volume on a call.

Then there’s the Main Button.  The Main Button, the one that answers and ends calls, pair it with your phone and basically do everything non-volume related was clearly placed by a team that did not have ears.  The Main Button sits on the end of the headset opposite the microphone and in order to press it you have to wedge your fingers between the headset and your ear.  Maybe my ear has a weird cartilage setup, but when I want to press this button it involves squishing my ear back and wiggling the headset.  It’s quite annoying, and honestly if I had purchased the headset this problem alone would have caused me to return it.

It may seem like TMI, but it does apply to this review:  I am a lazy groomer, and as such I do not shave every day.  The way the Sound ID 400 sits against my cheek when I open my mouth to talk, yawn or chew the stubble rubs against the headset and makes a scratchy sound.  It’s annoying.  Now, I have a fat face so if you have a thinner face it may not rub as much.  Of course women (who aren’t in the circus) won’t have this problem.  I have never used the Jawbone, so I don’t know if this happens with it as well since it sits against the users’ cheek.  But, for this review it’s a negative and almost makes me want to just shave that small patch on my cheek each day.  Almost.

From a comfort perspective this is a very comfortable headset.  I use the smaller of the two in-ear loops and it fits perfectly.  I can shake my head till I almost black out and this headset isn’t going anywhere.  Also, it feels quite durable and I wouldn’t hesitate to throw it in my pocket or bag without worrying that it will break.

So of course the big question is how well does the headset perform?  This is a mixed bag.  For the wearer, the quality is excellent and very clear.  For the person on the other end of the call, it depends.  Some callers I spoke with said it sounded like I was in a tunnel or elevator and things had an echo.  Other times everything sounded fine.  In a quiet environment the headset works very well, but as the background noise increases, the quality decreases.  It features dual microphones (the main one and one on the opposite side) designed to detect and eliminate background noise, but I can’t see that they offer anything above a single microphone headset.    My other headset is the awesome Joby Zivio Boom so that’s what I was comparing to (I just found out that the Joby Zivio Boom is discontinued!).  There is a clear difference between the Sound ID and the Zivio, and especially when in a moving vehicle with background noise the Sound ID tends to be very distorted at times.  Here are two examples of each with background noise (traveling 60mph in the car) and no background noise.

Sound ID 400 with NO background noise (33KB .WAV File)

Sound ID 400 WITH background noise (66KB .WAV File)

Zivio with NO background noise (33KB .WAV File)

Zivio WITH background noise (225KB .WAV File)

I have also found that about 75% of the time when a call connects I hear a very short but loud burst of static in the headset.  It’s really annoying, but I have not been able to identify when or why it happens.  It does not happen on my Zivio, and does not happen all the time.  I can go a day or two without the static, then the next day it’s static city.  After over a week of use, it’s now at the point where I cringe when I’m placing a call in anticipation of the static.

The Sound ID 400 does offer some unique features such as PersonalSound, Environmental Mode, NoiseNavigation and Automatic Volume Control.  Notice I said “unique” and not “cool” or “useful”.

PersonalSound just makes everything sound increasingly “echoy” and really is an odd feature.  It just makes things sound like it’s been electronically enhanced (as it has).  I suppose it could be useful if you’re in a really loud environment, but then you would just want to increase the volume instead.

Environmental Mode is something that seems great on paper, but just doesn’t work.  When you’re wearing your headset and not on a call if you hold the volume button for about two seconds it activates Environmental Mode.  This enables the microphone on the headset and plays it through the earpiece.  This would be a great feature, except for the noticeable and increasingly annoying hiss that also plays.  In fact, turning it off after using it for just a minute is an amazing relief.  I don’t quite feel like shouting “THERE ARE FOUR LIGHTS“, but it’s close.  If the hiss weren’t there, it would be an awesome feature.  As it is, I’ll never use it.  Also, when the microphone is enabled our old friend “stubble scratch” shows up again since the microphone is activated and rubbing against my cheek.

NoiseNavigation uses dual microphones on the headset (the main one against the cheek and one on the back by the Main Button) to optimize sound and remove background noise.  I can’t say if this works or not, but background noise is fairly well controlled.  If it weren’t for the echo sound of the headset itself, it would be easier to tell how well background noise is removed.

As previously mentioned, Automatic Volume Control does seem to work well and I’ve not had to adjust the volume since I started using it.  This is actually a really nice feature and I hope it starts showing up in other headsets.

One “quirk” I found is that the Sound ID 400 shows up as SOUND ID 300 on my Verizon Wireless Touch Pro 2.  It works fine and definitely IS a Sound ID 400, but it’s just strange.  What’s even more strange is that on my laptop it shows up correctly as SOUND ID 400.  I’ve added and removed it and it always shows up the same way.

To round out the list of negatives, the Sound ID 400 cannot activate Voice Command and cannot reject a call.  These are both very important features for anyone who uses their phone while driving.  Voice Command has become very useful to me and rejecting a call is just a nice feature that is standard on almost every other headset.

I truly do not intend this review to just bash the Sound ID 400, but honestly for a fourth generation product it is a huge disappointment.  Having read some other reviews on the headset it is possible that I have a lemon, but really the design elements (awful button placement and single volume button) poor performance, incorrect bluetooth name and call connect static are just not excusable for a mature product.  Personally I will not be using this headset anymore and will probably leave it in my car as an emergency headset.  I was really looking forward to this product after the initial Gadgeteer spotlight, and am quite disappointed by the results.  I cannot recommend this headset as there are better choices on the market.

Filed in categories: Bluetooth Gear, Reviews

Tagged: Bluetooth Gear, Cellular, Phone

Sound ID 400 Bluetooth Headset Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 22, 2010 at 11:21 am.

The new VTech LS6245 is the first expandable cordless phone system that combines touch-sensitive technology and Bluetooth capabilities. This phone allows you to connect landline and cell phone calls simultaneously and syncs with up to four different Bluetooth devices.  It has DECT 6.0 technology, advanced Bluetooth features and touch-sensitive interfaces on both the handset and base station.  Answering system records up to 14 minutes of audio. The LS6245 available now for $79.95.

Filed in categories: Wireless

Tagged: Bluetooth Gear, Phone, Spotlight Gadgets

Answer your cell calls on your landline originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 27, 2009 at 5:14 pm.

The Tradition Leather Case by Noreve displays the description: “Haute Couture for Mobile Devices” on its packaging. It truly lives up to this description. It’s made of real leather and has a classic, simplistic but elegant design while maintaining practicality.

I’m not usually one to go for mobile phone cases. I’ve found that the range usually consists of skins, plates or sock pouches – all of which are either annoying (skins have air bubbles, plastic scratches up easily and sock pouches make answering calls and turning off alarms rather difficult). This is neither of those three and claims none of those impracticalities. What’s more, it really is stylish.

The phone clips in nicely and you are able to use it while it’s in the pouch. The cover flips back for when you are using the phone and can fold further if you need to use the camera. There are two slots for memory cards or sim cards and the case also features steel mesh protectors on the sections over the speakers. When the case is closed it leaves the charging port, volume buttons, headset jack, USB jack and memory card slot free. It also comes with belt clip (which has an advertised 360 degrees of rotation), but I don’t wear belts so I couldn’t actually review it personally.

Even with all of these practical features, the phone maintains its description of “Haute Couture”. The external lining is leather. The case I’m reviewing is chesnut, but it’s also available in other colours. The black interior lining features a recurring embossed print of the Noreve logo.

After using the case for a few days, the only troubles I’ve had are quite subjective and minimal really: it’s difficult to open and answer a call one-handed; I feel a tad silly talking on it; I can’t turn off my alarm easily. I think these issues are a bit petty though really seeing as most people use both hands to operate their phone anyway and it doesn’t really look so odd talking on a phone with a case on it. In regards to the alarm, at least I’ll have to wake up properly just to open the case so, in effect, it’s increasing the productivity of the alarm clock.

Not everyone has an E66 but Noreve also produces cases for 49 models of Nokia. It also covers Apple, Cingular, LG, Motorola, Panasonic, Samsung, Sony and Universal phones as well as various smartphones. They do PDA cases, mp3 player cases, camera cases, 7″-17″ laptop cases (drool) and even portable game console cases.

Their range is incredible. I’ve seen a few “designer” cases for laptops and phones etc but they tend to only cover one or two models (and it’s never the models I have). Noreve, on the other hand, cover almost everything. They also keep the same stylish, simplistic design across the range (which means that they’re all leather and, yes therefore, expensive).

The case is currently retailing at USD$53.04 which may seem pricey, but it is an extravagant product and the monetary gap between this product and its competitors is easily matched by the gap in practicality and style.

Check out their website and have a browse. I know cash is probably tight right now but we all need to splurge on something once in a while and, if it has been a while, why not get something that adds a little style to your life while providing some basic protection for your phone (or PDA, camera or laptop).

Filed in categories: Miscellaneous

Tagged: Case, Fashion, Nokia, Phone

Noreve Tradition Leather Nokia E66 Case Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 24, 2009 at 1:00 am.

Ok guys, I need your help! I need (ok, I want…) a new phone, but I don’t know which one to choose. I’m going to list a few that look interesting to me and I’d appreciate some feedback.

My criteria for phone picks are that they are unlocked GSM phones with the 850mhz band, $500 or less and that they aren’t boring

Samsung M8800 Pixon – Touch screen phone with 8MP camera. I’ve not played with a Samsung phone in ages…

Nokia E63 – People have suggested this one to me before and look at all the buttons!

T-mobile / HTC G1 Google Phone – I’ve been curious about this one since it was released. Might be time to take a close look now that I can buy one that’s unlocked.

Sony Ericsson C905 – Not sure why I picked this one… 8MP camera looks nice.

Ok, that’s a few that I’ve been thinking about. Do you guys have others that you think I’d enjoy using and reviewing? Let me know, leave some comments!

Filed in categories: Uncategorized

Tagged: Gear Diary, GSM, Phone

Help me pick my next phone to review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 16, 2009 at 11:28 am.

I’ve been a big fan of Palm Treo smartphones for quite awhile. Since I purchased my very first smartphone (Treo 650), I’ve been using one as my main phone on and off for over three years now. During most of that time, I’ve been a Palm OS user, but I have also used Windows Mobile Treos during that period too. We’ve all watched the slow evolution of Treo hardware and even slower evolution of software – at least on the Palm OS side, throughout the past several years. That’s why I tend to be an on again, off again Treo user. I get bored with either the hardware or the software and get the itch to try something new for awhile. I really liked the Treo 800w and was looking forward to an unlocked GSM version of that model. But instead of doing that, Palm decided to release the Palm Treo Pro. Let’s check it out…

Hardware Specifications

Operating System: Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional Edition
Processor: Qualcomm MSM7201 400MHz
Memory: 256MB user memory (100MB user storage), 128MB program memory
Display: 320 x 320 pixel transfective color TFT touchscreen
Radio: HSDPA/UMTS/EDGE/GPRS/GSM radio
Tri-band UMTS – 850MHz, 1900MHz, 2100MHz
Quad-band GSM – 850/900/1800/1900
Wi-Fi: 802.11b/g with WPA, WPA2, and 801.1x authentication
GPS: Built-in GPS
Bluetooth: Version: 2.0 + Enhanced Data Rate
Digital Camera: 2.0 megapixels with up to 8x digital zoom and video capture
Expansion: microSDHC cards (up to 32GB supported)
Battery: 1500 mAh Rechargeable lithium-ion, Talk time: up to 5.0 hours, Standby time: up to 250 hours
Size: 2.36″ (W) x 4.49″ (L) x 0.53″ (D); weighs
Weight: 4.69 oz

Package Contents

Palm Treo Pro smartphone
Rechargeable battery
AC power charger (100-240 volt, 1A power cable)
Micro USB sync / charge cable
Headset
Stylus
Get Started Guide

Design and Style

First let’s have a look at the Pro and a few of its siblings.

On the Left, you see the Treo 680, in the middle is the new Treo Pro and on the Right is the Centro.
It’s easy to see that this new Treo Pro more closely resembles the Centro, and not the 680.

The Treo Pro is available in any color you like, as long as it’s Black ) Shiny Black. So shiny, that I had a difficult time taking decent photos of it.

The face of the phone has a nice touch screen color display. This is Palm’s first phone that has a flush mount display. I have to say that I do like the lack of a bezel.

The back of the phone is very sleek, with the Palm logo and ring around the camera lens in chrome. There’s a small speaker grill on the back, along with the stylus silo in the bottom corner. The shiny plastic is a magnet for smudges, but appears to be scratch resistant.

To gain access to the SIM card slot and microSD slot, you have to remove the entire back cover of this phone. It is an understatement to say that this is not an easy task. The first time I wrestled with the darn thing for 30 minutes and was completely frustrated until I thought to use one of those little grippy rubber mat things for helping you remove a lid from a jar. Only by using it, was I able to remove the cover. Grrrrrrr…

Below the display is a panel of navigation, application and function buttons. Let’s start with the outside buttons and work our way inward. On either side, there is a small round button with LED illuminated edges. On the Left is the standard Call Send button and on the Right is the Call End button. These buttons are slightly domed and are easy find blindly with your thumb.

There are four backlit application buttons, that surround the center 5-way navigation button. These app buttons are flat, have very shallow travel and provide minimal to no  tactile feedback. The center button has the best tactile feedback of all the buttons on this phone and works well.

Like all Treos, the Pro has a QWERTY keyboard. And like the Centro, the Pro’s keyboard has clear plastic keycaps. Although the keyboard is pretty flat, it works just fine and I had no problem with its size or spacing. I really don’t care for the clear keys though. Light glares on them, making it hard to find punctuation characters. In my opinion, the keyboard and application buttons are a step down from what the 800w offers.

Top to bottom: Centro, Treo Pro, Treo 680

The first thing that I noticed about this phone was how thin it was. It is the thinnest (and some would say sexiest…) Treo to date. In hand, the Pro feels extremely solid and comfortable. My gadgeteer squeeze test yielded no flexing or creaking. The only part that rattles when you shake this phone is the mute button.

On the left side, there is a long thin rocker button that controls volume levels. This button sits almost flush with the case and has weak tactile feedback. Below it is the camera launch / shutter button, which is slightly raised and has decent tactile feedback.

On the opposite side, you’ll find an infrared port and WiFi button. This button is very small, sits flush with the case and has pretty much no tactile feedback at all. If WiFi is turned off, pressing the button will power it on and automatically connect to your
last used access point. If it’s already on, pressing the button will bring up the connections dialog box. To turn off WiFi, you can do so through the Today screen.

On the bottom of the phone, you’ll find the new style micro USB power / sync connector that Palm started using with the 800w. There’s also a 3.5mm stereo headphone jack. Yay, nice addition! Palm even includes earbuds with a built in microphone and a call answer / end button. Too bad you can’t use that same button to pause music while playing though.

On the top edge of the Pro, you’ll find the mute switch and radio power / display button. Pressing this button once will toggle the display on / off. Holding it down for several seconds will toggle power to the GSM radio. Surprisingly, this button will not completely power down the device though. Actually, there isn’t a way to power off the Treo Pro besides removing the back cover and the battery. In my opinion this is really lame! I might not complain that much about it if it were easy to remove the back cover, but that’s not the case at all. Far from it.

Like I mentioned earlier, the Treo Pro’s display is flush with the face of the device. It’s crisp and bright. As a touch screen it is responsive and finger friendly.

One very cool new feature of this Treo is the screensaver. While the display is toggled off, the time of day and date are displayed in monochrome. I love this feature because I carry my phone with me when I go on walks. I used to always have to press a button to wake the phone up to see the time. Now I just look at the display and it’s there in big letters, easy to see.

In addition to the time, small icons will appear while in screensaver mode to alert you to missed calls and text messages. For some odd reason, missed alarm notifications and voice mails aren’t shown. Go figure.

Camera

I hope you haven’t been holding your breath, waiting for me to say that the Treo Pro has the best camera of any phone ever! If so, I’m sorry to disappoint you, but the built in camera is just as crappy as every Treo that has come before it. Am I being harsh?
Maybe just a little… As is, the camera is useful for those times when no other camera is available. Here are a few sample pics:

Click thumbnail to view full sized image

As you can see, the images are a bit fuzzy and flat looking.

WiFi

The Treo 800w was the first Treo to include WiFi, and the Pro also includes it. I had no problems using it at all. It connected quickly to my access point when the side button was pressed. Surfing with Pocket Internet Explorer felt pretty snappy all things considered.

GPS

The Treo Pro includes a built in GPS that you can use with Google Maps and Windows Live Search which are already included on the phone. TeleNav GPS Navigator comes pre-installed on the Pro too. You have to pay a monthly fee ($10) to use it after the trial period has expired though. This GPS can also work with other third party navigation apps such as CoPilot.

Bonus Software

In addition to all the regular Windows Mobile applications, a few extra goodies have been added to the Pro. First of all, the Today screen has some added functionality.

You’ll notice the icon in the upper Right corner…

Pressing it will bring up the currently running tasks list. You can press the big Red X to close all running applications, or you can close individual processes in the list. Tapping the wrench icon will bring up the regular Task Manager application and tapping the memory chip will bring up the Windows Mobile memory settings app.

Clicking the communications status bar on the Today screen will launch the Communications manager application. This is a quick and dirty little app that has on/off switches for all your com settings.

In the GPS section of this review, I mentioned that the TeleNav GPS application is included on the Pro. Another application that is included and installed is WorldMate Pro. This a really nice travel app that allows you to check weather at different locations, flight status, various converters, etc.

Other software additions include Sprite Backup software and a streaming media application from HTC.

Overall Performance

The Treo Pro doesn’t feel nearly as snappy as I remember the 800w feeling. I wouldn’t say that it is dog slow, but I get a sense of slight lagging when I load and switch between applications. I’ve also noticed some overall wonkiness at times with the device that occurs when I’ve tried to load a large eBook or video. Instead of just killing the viewer or reader app, it will make the whole system unstable. Resetting the device requires (you guessed it…) that you remove the back cover. Bleh.

I found video playback through the Windows Mobile media player to be hit and miss. Sometimes the whole phone would freeze up or refuse to load a video. Other times, they would play, but with considerable missed frames or with hurky jerkiness.

Call reception and call audio quality seemed to be as good as I would expect from AT&T – the GSM carrier that I tested this phone with. I had the normal issues that I deal with all the time, some calls that don’t go through when you dial them, static, etc. Volume levels were definitely loud enough for me though, no complaints there.

As for battery life, I didn’t do any extensive testing as I often had the phone plugged into USB to sync and install applications. During those days when I wasn’t installing or syncing, I could get away with around 2 full days between charges.

Conclusion

I wanted to really like the Treo Pro, I really did. Heck, I was so sure that I would love it, that I bought this device with my own cash ($550) instead of just trying to get a review unit! I really regret buying it now though… I have to say that this is the first Treo that I’ve purchased that has disappointed me so badly. Although it looks very nice in my opinion, the way it performs is very
underwhelming. Maybe it’s the fault of Windows Mobile or an underpowered CPU. I’m really not sure. If the Pro were running Palm OS, I wouldn’t like it any better… I suppose that the biggest reason why I don’t like this phone though is the buttons. That might seem like a trivial reason, but I’m all about how easy it is to use a device and the buttons on the Treo Pro are crummy. If only Palm had used the 800w design for their unlocked GSM phone instead of this one. I think my days of cheerleading for Palm are numbered unless they do something great soon. And unfortunately, I really don’t see that happening…

Filed in categories: Windows Mobile related, Wireless

Tagged: Cellular, Mobile Phone, Phone

Palm Treo Pro Smartphone Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 24, 2008 at 8:00 am.

Here’s a first – a mobile phone with a built in Bluetooth headset. LG’s Decoy for Verizon is a cool little slider phone that has a headset dock on the backside of the phone. Now you’ll have no excuse for hands-free talking while driving.

Hardware Specifications

Technology: CDMA
Frequency: 1.9 GHz CDMA PCS, 800 MHz CDMA (Digital Dual-Band)
Data Transmission: High-Speed EVDO
Dimensions: 4.01″ (H) x 1.97″ (W) x 0.67″ (D)
Weight: 4.05 oz.
Display: 262K Color TFT, 240 x 320 Pixels, 2.20″
Standard Battery: 800 mAh
Usage Time: Up to 230 Minutes (3 Hours & 50 Minutes)
Standby Time: Up to 330 Hours (13 Days & 18 Hours)

Package Contents

Decoy phone
Standard Li-Ion battery
Travel charger
Integrated Bluetooth headset
Bluetooth headset charging adapter
Bluetooth headset cavity cover
User guide
Quick reference guide

The Decoy has a sleek design that really appeals to me. The front looks like liquid silver with its glossy mirror finish and the back is a Blue with a slight rubberized feel.

The front of this phone has four buttons and a 5-way navigation joystick in the center. The joystick has circular ridges on the top, to keep your thumb from slipping off as you use it. It’s not difficult to use the joystick, but I think I prefer a regular 5-way navigation pad.

On the back, you find the camera lens and the cover for the Bluetooth dock. This is what the phone looks like when you don’t want to use the included headset. More about this in a minute.

The front of the Decoy slides up to reveal the backlit keypad. The keys are slightly bumpy, making them easy to press. They also have good tactile feedback. The center button on the top row that looks like a microphone will launch the voice command application when pressed. Using this feature, you can dial by name or number by just saying “Call Jeanne Webster”. The voice command feature is also launched by pressing the main button on the Bluetooth headset.

On the left side of the phone, there is a volume up/down button and the USB charging port, which is protected by a plastic cover.

On the right side, you’ll find a microSD flash card slot and the camera application launch / shutter button. There’s also a 2.5mm headphone jack and lanyard attachment point.

When open, the Decoy is still a pretty slim and compact phone.

In hand it feels solid and comfortable to hold.

Of course, the most interesting feature of this phone is the built in Bluetooth headset. To use it, you remove the plastic cover, which reveals a built in holder that holds the headset and even charges it while it’s docked.

The headset itself is pretty small and only has the one ear pad size, meaning that it probably will not fit everyone. For control, it has one main call start / end button on the face, which doubles as the pairing and power button. It also has a volume up/down button on the top edge.

A separate dock is included that you can connect to the USB AC adapter for charging.

The headset then snaps easily into the cavity on the back of the phone. Pairing is simple and another nice feature is that when the headset is docked on the back of the phone, its battery status shows up next to the Bluetooth icon on the top status bar of the display.

The phone’s interface should be familiar to you, if you’re a Verizon customer. It’s not much different from the LG Chocolate 3 which I just reviewed. The Decoy includes all the same V Cast features which allow you to view video and download/buy music. One interesting thing I noticed was the fact that I was unable to play .MP3 songs that I copied on to a microSD card. This worked just fine on the Chocolate 3… I tried to buy a song using V Cast, but no matter how many times I tried, it kept erroring out during download – even though I had a full signal.

One special application included on this phone is a chat client that supports AIM, Windows Live Messenger and Yahoo!.

As far as using this phone for its main tasks – making and receiving calls, I was impressed by call clarity and volume. I also liked the way it shows very large numbers when you manually key in a phone number. That makes it easier to see when you’ve made a mistake if you are outside in full sunlight.

Having a designated place to store a Bluetooth headset is very cool, but buying this phone without a new contract or an upgrade is pretty expensive at $350. As an alternative, I’d be more likely to probably just buy a less expensive phone and a separate headset. You can save considerably (right now, $200) if you buy this phone with a 2yr contract, though. If you’re going that route, I’d say that this is a sleek phone with a cool feature at a decent price.

Filed in categories: Wireless

Tagged: Cellular, Mobile Phone, Phone

LG Decoy V Cast Phone (LG-VX8610) Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 25, 2008 at 9:30 pm.

I’ve been an AT&T customer for several years now. The main reason being that I can easily switch SIM cards between the various mobile phones that I have the opportunity to review. This convenience has been great, but if I am honest, call quality and audio clarity on the AT&T network really isn’t the best… at least not in my area. Also, AT&T has not rolled out 3G here in little old Columbus, Indiana. Funny thing is that Verizon’s 3G (EVDO) network is already here. So, I’m going to try some Verizon phones and see if I might like to switch carriers. LG’s Chocolate 3 is my first Verizon feature phone to test. Let’s take a look.

Hardware Specifications

Technology: CDMA
Frequency: 1.9 GHz CDMA PCS, 800 MHz CDMA (Digital Dual-Band)
Data Transmission: EVDO
Dimensions: 3.87″(H) x 1.94″(W) x 0.64″(D)
Weight: 3.36 oz.
Display: Internal LCD: 260K Color TFT, 320 x 240 Pixels, 2.2″ External LCD: 260K Color TFT, 176 x 220 Pixels, 1.76″
Standard Battery: 800 mAh
Usage Time: Up to 270 Minutes (4 Hours & 30 Minutes)
Standby Time: Up to 350 Hours (14 Days & 14 Hours)

Package Contents

LG Chocolate 3 Phone
Standard Li-Polymer Battery
Wall/USB Charger
User Guide
Quick Reference Guide

It’s been awhile since I’ve used a flip phone, not to mention a non-smartphone. I’ve actually been looking forward to using a basic phone again. The Chocolate 3 isn’t exactly a basic phone, but it’s easy to use, small and very inexpensive (or even free) when you either re-up or sign up for a new Verizon account.

The Chocolate 3 is available in Blue or Black. I was sent the Black version to review. It’s really more of a shiny Charcoal color though. The top part of the flip is glossy and shiny, so it does attract smudges and finger prints. The back part has a thin coating of rubber, which helps you keep a firm grip on the phone during use.

What I really like about this phone is the generously sized outside LCD display and the front navigation wheel.

That front display is color, backlit and can be used to access your media (music and photos), as well as check your messages and calender. I do wish that the clock was visible at all times instead of needing to press a button to see it. But that’s not a big deal.

The navigation wheel isn’t a touch wheel. It actually spins like a tiny record or can be pressed to cycle through the main menu options. The center of the wheel acts as a select button.

The 2.0 megapixel camera lens is also located on the front of the phone. Don’t count on this phone to be your only camera… the pictures it can take aren’t too great.

The Left side of the phone has a 3.5mm earphone jack (hidden under a rubber plug), volume up/down buttons, voice command button and a micro USB port for charging the phone. The USB port is protected by a narrow plastic cover that swivels to allow access.

On the other side of the phone, there’s a microSD card slot, music application launcher button and the lock button. Like the USB port, the microSD slot is protected by a narrow cover. Every time I would open either cover, I worried it would snap off.

Flipping the phone open reveals a flat backlit keypad. I’ve never been a real fan of flat keyboards, but I haven’t had any issues using this one. All of the buttons are generously sized and have good tactile feedback. It is a bit difficult to tell exactly where each number is located if you’re not looking at the keypad though.

In hand, the Chocolate 3 feels light and comfortable. When closed it fits easily in any of my pockets, and when open, it feels like a full size phone that goes from your ear to your lips. It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to hold a mobile phone between my ear and shoulder ;o) Try that with a Centro!

Making and receiving calls

As a phone, the Chocolate does a better job than most of the AT&T phones that I own. Call quality is great and I didn’t have any issues with dropped calls, audio anomalies or volume problems etc. It was quite nice not to have to say “are you there?” at least once during every conversation like I normally do…

I enjoyed using the voice command key to make calls, play back songs, etc. No voice training necessary, just press the button and follow the voice prompts.

Software

Coming from using various Palm and Windows Mobile smartphones, I was afraid that I would seriously miss not having the ability to install applications. In all actuality, this phone has made me feel surprisingly liberated. The only application that I truly miss is an eBook reader.

The user interface on the Chocolate is simple and easy to navigate. There are just 9 main menu options, that all fit on one screen.

The Chocolate is a music phone and has a decent built in audio player that allows you to control playback while the phone is either open or closed. You can listen to tunes through earbuds, through the built in speaker or using the built in FM transmitter, which is a cool feature to have built into a phone. Music can be stored on a microSD card or by downloading through the V Cast Music Rhapsody service and saved in the 1GB of internal memory. One thing I did notice is that you if you opt to save your .MP3 or .WMA files to an microSD card, you can’t save them in folders. From what I found, songs have to be dumped into the root of the card in order to be recognized. I did not try any type of syncing software with my PC though… You can connect the phone to your PC via the included USB cable and is supposed to automatically install a client application on your PC.

V Cast also allows you to watch video clips and TV shows. I was surprised at how smooth video playback was, even when I only had a 1 bar signal. While I’m not sure I’d want to watch an entire episode of Heroes on the Chocolate’s little display, I’d not have any issues watching a few clips here and there when I needed to kill some time.

VZ Navigator, which is a map and navigation service provided by Verizon is included on the phone and is very cool. You can pay by the month ($9.99) or by the day ($2.99) to use this feature. It has turn by turn voice prompts, movie search, maps and traffic, and local search features.

Conclusion

I’ve really enjoyed using the LG Chocolate 3 phone for the last week or so. I found it easy to use and very compact. I like being able to just slip it into one of my jeans pockets when I’m on the go. My favorite feature is the large outside display. Too bad that it doesn’t have an eBook reader, if it did, I’d seriously think about using it as my main phone. It’s a good phone with a nice set of features (especially if you like music) and doesn’t cost much at all if you’re upgrading.

Filed in categories: Wireless

Tagged: Cellular, Mobile Phone, Phone

LG Chocolate 3 V Cast Music Phone (LG-VX8560) Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 23, 2008 at 10:10 pm.

It’s been close to two years since I had a new HP iPAQ smartphone in my hands. The last one was the hw6945. Their latest device is the iPAQ 910. This QUAD band GSM phone has a nice collection of features including a QWERTY thumb keyboard, a camera, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, etc. But will this loaner unit be one that I will want to buy for myself? Let’s find out…

Hardware Specifications

Processor: Marvell PXA270 Processor, 416 MHz
Memory: 128 MB SDRAM main memory for running applications, 256 MB flash ROM
Operating system: Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional
Integrated wireless: Integrated Quad band GSM/GPRS/EDGE and Tri Band UMTS/HSDPA at up to 3.6/7.2 Mbps; Integrated WiFi – 802.11 b/g with WPA2 security; Integrated Bluetooth v2.0 with EDR; Integrated multi-mode GPS navigation with Google Maps
Display: 2.46-inch transmissive TFT 65,000 color 320 x 240 pixel touch panel display with LED backlight
Built-in camera: 3 Megapixel, autofocus, 4X digital zoom
Battery: 1940 mAh Lithium Ion rechargeable
Expansion: Micro SD card slot
Audio: Integrated microphone, receiver, speaker and mini-USB wired stereo headset
Dimensions: 114 x 64 x 15 mm (4. 5″ x 2.5″ x 0.6″)
Weight: 154g (5.4 oz)

Package Contents

iPAQ 910 smartphone
Standard battery
AC Adapter
USB synchronization cable
Stylus
Wired stereo headphones
Getting Started guide
HP iPAQ Companion CD

Hardware Design

The iPAQ has a shiny Black plastic front, with a chrome colored band that forms a U around the sides and top of the device. The sides are made of a smooth non-shiny Black plastic, while the back of the phone has a thin rubber-like coating.

Above the display is a LED that is used for battery level / charging status and notifications. Turning the phone over, you’ll notice the 3MP camera lens, flash, self-portrait mirror, speaker and stylus.

On the Left side, you will find the volume up/down button and voice commander / notes application launch button. Below those two buttons is the MicroSD slot and a mini USB connector, both of which are covered by a protective rubber flap. The buttons on both sides of the device are flat and somewhat difficult to locate just by feel.

On the opposite side, there is a scroll wheel, OK button and the camera application launch button.

The power button is located on the top edge of the phone, along with a reset switch and a GPS external antenna port. I like that HP included the reset switch. Most devices these days require you to remove the battery to do a soft reset.

The navigation key layout and QWERTY keyboard are roomy and comfortable to use. The domed center select button is easy to locate with your thumb. Around it is a plastic ring that can be pressed up/down, Left and Right. There are the normal Green and Red call send and end buttons, along with buttons for the Left and Right menu soft keys. There is also a button to launch the calendar, start menu, email and OK. The thumb keyboard keys are dome shaped and easy to press. All of the keys have good tactile feedback and are backlit, making them easy to see in dim environments. I didn’t have any issues or complaints using the keyboard for normal text input and text messaging.

The display is one of the nicer ones I’ve seen in awhile. Although it is small, it is crisp, bright and easy to read – indoors. Outside in full sunlight, it’s pretty much impossible to read unless you have the brightness cranked to the maximum setting and you use your hand to shield the sun from the screen. For touchscreen use, I found the screen to be responsive to stylus input and finger presses.

Size and Feel

I prefer phones that have a readily accessible keyboard. Phones like the Palm Treo and Centro are ones that I usually gravitate towards because I find it easier to press a physical button, than a touch screen to make calls and do other tasks. I’ve been using a Centro for several months now and before that, it was the Treo 680. Device size is important to me because I don’t wear a belt case or anything like that. I usually just slip my phone in my back pocket or even just carry it around in my hand when I go from location to location during my day job.

Here’s how the 910 (Center) compares to the Treo 680 (on the Left) and the Centro (on the Right) width-wise.

Although the iPAQ is wider than those two smartphones, it’s the thinnest of the three (it’s on the bottom of the stack in the image above).

This phone feels smaller in hand than the Treo 680 due to the thinness. But the width is definitely noticeable when compared to the Centro, which easily slips into most of my pants pockets. The iPAQ isn’t as portable (for me) in that regard.

As far as sturdiness, the iPAQ feels solid in hand. It doesn’t creak or crack when you squeeze the sides and has only a very slight button rattle when you shake it.

Camera

The 910 has a built in 3MP camera with a flash. Here are some sample images that I snapped using the maximum resolution of 2048 x 1536:

Click thumbnail to see full size image

As you can see, the images aren’t the best. They are a little fuzzy and one of the indoor shots has a slight green cast to it. I wouldn’t want to rely on the camera to be my only means of snapping pictures, but in a pinch, it does ok.

Performance as a PDA, WiFi web browser and a Phone

I didn’t have any problems using the iPAQ as a PDA. System performance is snappy and applications launched quickly. I even watched a few movies and videos and was happy using this smartphone as a media player. Of course the screen is very small, but video was smooth and easy to view.

Using the built in WiFi to surf web pages with Pocket Internet Explorer is quick and easy. Google maps works very well via WiFi too.

As far as using the iPAQ as a phone, I didn’t have any issues with dropped calls or signal strength with AT&T. The 910 is an unlocked GSM phone with 3G capability, but I couldn’t test 3G as it’s not yet rolled out in my area. The only issue that I noticed right away was that the volume level was too low in the earphone. Using it as a speakerphone wasn’t a problem for me, but when I wanted to talk normally using the built-in earphone, I found myself straining to hear the other person – even when I had the volume set to the max.

Battery

The HP iPAQ 910 has a high capacity 1940mAh Lithium Ion battery, which sounds great as most phones do not have batteries that large. That said, I didn’t find that the 910 lasted any longer per charge than other smartphones. I didn’t do any special battery drain tests, but with normal use (a few calls, some PIM access, a few email checks per day, ebook reading here and there), I was only able to get about 2 days per charge.

Software

In addition to the regular Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional software bundle, you also get a few other goodies that include:

HP PrintSmart – Print via Bluetooth and WiFi to HP printers
Sun’s Java VM – Run Java apps on your iPAQ
Voice Commander – Allows you to control your smartphone with your own voice commands. Doesn’t require special training
Remote Desktop Mobile – VNC client
Internet Connection Sharing – Phone tethering application
HP iPAQ GPS Position Accelerator – Downloads satellite data for faster GPS access. Still need a 3rd party GPS mapping and navigation software to take advantage of the built in GPS feature

Conclusion

I’ve used the HP iPAQ 910 for a week or so now and have compiled the following list of likes and dislikes…

Likes:
QWERTY keyboard – I like the feel of the domed keys
5-way nav button – Doesn’t feel cheesy like some nav buttons
Scroll wheel – I like the location on the Right side of device
Display – Bright and crisp
MicroSD – Easy access and SDHC compatible
Stylus – Telescoping, but sturdy and thicker than most

Dislikes:
Low call volume
No GPS included mapping / navigation software
No built in InfraRed port
Width of phone
Fuzzy camera snapshots

When it comes down to it, I like this device as a PDA, but as a phone, the low call volume is what really kills it for me. I don’t usually use a Bluetooth headset, so if I have to strain to hear someone talking even in a relatively quiet area, that’s going to be a real problem for me. For that reason, I won’t be using purchasing an HP iPAQ 910 for myself. Let’s hope that HP comes out with a successor to the 910 that is a bit smaller physically and better volume. If they do, I’ll be very interested in trying it out as I’ve always liked HP iPAQ devices.

Filed in categories: Windows Mobile related, Wireless

Tagged: Cellular, Phone, Smartphone, Windows Mobile, Wireless

HP iPAQ 910 Business Messenger Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 21, 2008 at 5:00 pm.

The Palm Treo 800w smartphone is Sprint’s latest Treo with Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional. It’s been designed for business users and operates on the Sprint Mobile Broadband Network, with support for EvDO Rev. A data speeds. It’s also the first Treo with built in WiFi.

Unfortunately for me, I don’t live in the EvDO Rev. A coverage area, so I wasn’t be able to test how well this device performs with broadband speeds. I will tell you that Sprint claims that the 800w provides users in the EvDO Rev. A coverage area with expected average upload speeds of 350-500 kbps (versus 50 –70 kbps with EV-DO Rev. 0) and download speeds of between 600kbps and 14mbps (from 400-700kbps). Peak download data rates increase to 3.1 Mbps (from 2.4 Mbps), and peak upload data rates increase to 1.8 Mbps (from 153 kbps).

Hardware Specifications

Operating System: Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional Edition
Processor: +TI OMAP 2431
Memory: 256MB user memory (~ 170MB user storage), 128MB program memory
Display: 320 x 320 pixel transfective color TFT touchscreen, supports 16-bit color (65k colors)
Radio: Qualcomm MSM6800A chipset supporting EvDO Rev A and mobile receive diversity
Digital Dual-band: CDMA (1900mHz and 800MHz)
WiFi: 802.11b/g
GPS: Built-in GPS (standalone and assisted); Sprint Navigation
Bluetooth: Bluetooth 2.0+ A2DP
Digital Camera: 2.0 megapixels with 1280×1024 resolution and 2x zoom
Expansion Slot: microSD card
Battery: 1150 mAh Rechargeable lithium-ion, Talk time: up to 4.0 hours, Standby time: up to 200 hours
Size: 2.28 x 4.41 x 0.73 in
Weight: 5.0 ounces

Package Contents

Palm Treo 800w smartphone
Rechargeable battery
AC power charger
Micro USB sync / charge cable
Headset
Stylus
ActiveSync Software installation CD
Basics Guide
Get Started Guide

Design and Style

As soon as I took the 800w out of the box, I was struck by its small size. It’s shape and size is similar to the Centro which I like quite a bit more than the previous design of past Treos.

Left to Right: Palm Treo 750, Palm Treo 800w, Palm Centro

Although the 800w doesn’t look like it’s much smaller in than the Treo 750 in the image above, it is noticeably so in hand. It’s both thinner and flatter and feels very comfortable in your hand.

Top to bottom: Palm Centro, Palm Treo 800w, Palm Treo 750

A smartphone stackup shows that the 800w is a bit thinner than the other two devices.

At the time of this review, the 800w is only available in one color. It is Grayish Blue, with the back half of the case having a rubberized texture for better gripping. For the most part, the updated design of this phone really hasn’t changed that much from previous Treo’s. It still has the familiar QWERTY keyboard, 5-way navigation button and a camera on the back. One big difference is that the display is 320 x 320 pixels. That’s a big improvement over previous Windows Mobile Treo’s, that were only 240 x 240.

The display is crisp and vibrant, but I wouldn’t mind if it were just a little bit brighter. The image above is at max brightness and was snapped without flash.

The backlit keyboard is easy to see and type on. I like this keyboard better than the one on my Centro due to the fact that the keys do not have shiny clear bubble tops which are sometimes hard to see. The application, control and navigation buttons are also superior to the Centro. They feel more robust and I really like the small Left and Right buttons that map to the bottom screen functions. It’s easy to hold this phone in one hand and use the thumb of that hand to access all the buttons to make a call or launch a program. All of the buttons have excellent tactile feedback, so you’ll know if you’ve actually pressed the button.

On the Left side of the phone, you’ll find the volume adjustment buttons and a Voice recorder launch button. Then on the Right side there is the stylus slot, an IR port and the MicroSD card slot that is accessible without needing to remove the battery cover.

Along the top edge of the phone, you’ll find the ringer on/off button and the one-touch WiFi button. Yes, this is the first Treo to have built-in WiFi. Hold the button down for a few seconds and it will turn on WiFi and show you a list of available networks that you can connect to. Hold the button down again and it will disconnect from any connected network and will turn the WiFi feature off.

Take a look at the bottom of the 800w and you’ll find an unusual sight for a Treo… The Universal / Athena sync and charge connector has been replaced with a Micro USB connector.

If you haven’t seen a Micro USB connector before, here’s how it compares to a Mini USB connector. The Mini is on the Left, while the Micro is on the right. I’m a little disappointed that the Mini USB wasn’t used as most people have several extra Mini cables hanging around that they could use to sync and charge. This special connector is also used for the included headset. That’s right, the 800w does not have a 3.5 or 2.5mm earphone jack. Bummer.

Camera

Treo’s have not been known for their fantastic photography prowess, and that hasn’t changed with the 800w. Although the resolution has been increased to 2 megapixels, the images it can snap are mediocre at best. Great for snapping when it’s the only camera you have handy, but that’s about the extent of it. Here are a couple examples to check out…

Click thumbnail to view full sized image

As you can see, the images are only so-so. They have good color, but are not every sharp. You also can’t get too close to your subject… as in macro shots. Which for me is one of the more useful uses for a mobile phone camera. I like to snap info out of books or magazines instead of writing things down. No joy doing that with the 800w.

Overall Performance

The Treo 800w feels very responsive even when there are quite a few applications loaded. It helps that this Treo has more memory that previous models. There’s just a very slight lag when an application loads, but once loaded, switching between them is very quick.

I was able to watch some videos using the Windows Media player and was happy with the performance.

Call quality is clear and volume levels are loud enough for me. Reception seemed fine, but during most of my testing, I was roaming on Verizon.

As for battery life, I didn’t do any real testing as I had the phone plugged into USB off and on to install applications. The battery does have a lower capacity than some previous Treos, but the talk time and standby time are listed as pretty close to the Sprints prior Windows Mobile Treo.

Software

In addition to all the regular Windows Mobile applications, Palm and Sprint have added some of their own special sauce to the mix. First of all, the Today screen has quite a bit of functionality.

You see all the standard items such as upcoming appointments, number of unread emails, etc., you can start typing a name or a number to lookup someone to call.

You can also conduct searches via Live Search or the Maps application. Speaking of Live Search, I really love that application. You can look stuff up my typing in a name, or by speaking it.

Some of Sprint’s bundled in applications include:

Sprint TV

More than 50 live television channels available including CNN mobile, FOX sports and E! Entertainment; access NFL Network and special programming via Sprint Exclusive Entertainment. There are full episodes of various shows like Hannah Montana. No, I don’t watch that show. Really! ;o) The quality isn’t HD or anything, but it’s fun to watch something when you’re bored. Works over WiFi too.

Pocket Express

Easy to navigate web portal with customized up to date content such as sports, weather, news, stocks and movie info. This is another application that I like to waste time in when I’m waiting for someone or taking a break.

Sprint IM

Access to Yahoo! Messenger, AOL’s AIM® service and MSN Messenger.

Sprint Navigation

Delivers voice-guided and on-screen turn-by-turn GPS-enabled driving directions, 3-D moving maps similar to an in-car navigation system or personal navigation device, as well as more than 10 million local listings and real-time intelligent traffic alerts with one-click rerouting, anywhere on the Sprint Mobile Broadband Network.

Sprite Backup

Easy to use backup and restore application with scheduling abilities.

Corporate business users will be interested in the fact that you can use this device with an exchange server to for up-to-date email, contacts, calendars and access to other productivity applications. Delivery of Outlook email using Direct Push Technology requires your company to use Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 or 2003 upgraded to service pack 2.

Conclusion

From the VERY short time that I’ve been able to play with the Palm Treo 800w, I can tell you that I’m really liking it so far. I just wish it was already available in a GSM version so that I could buy one for myself (sorry Sprint). I really like the new case style, the 320 x 320 display and of course the built-in WiFi. If I was in the market for a new smartphone (I just bought myself a Centro), I might very well buy this one. If you are a Windows Mobile fan that likes a QWERTY keyboard in a nice compact package, you should really check out the Palm Treo 800w.

Price is $249.99 after a $250 instant savings, $100 mail-in rebate, and two-year contract.

Filed in categories: Windows Mobile related, Wireless

Tagged: Cellular, Mobile Phone, Phone

Palm Treo 800w Smartphone Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 14, 2008 at 8:30 am.

Landline phones seem to be slowly going the way of the dinosaur now that people are using their mobile phones and VOIP in their place. Companies that manufacture and sell analog phones are adding new features to make their products more enticing and to bridge the analog to digital gap. The ip8300 infoPhone from Vtech is just such a product. It’s an analog phone with a twist. It connects to your Yahoo! account for instant messaging and more…

Hardware Specifications

DECT 6.0 Digital technology
Expandable up to 5 handsets using only one phone jack
High resolution 64K color display
60 name and number phonebook directory

Package Contents

Handset
Handset cradle
Base station
AC adapters for handset cradle and base station
Ethernet cable
Phone cable
Quick start guide

I was very intrigued by the infoPhone when Vtech first contacted me about it. I am a chat junkie and have Adium, my favorite instant message client running all the time when I’m at home. I thought it would be great to be able to receive instant messages from my Yahoo! buddies when I wasn’t sitting in front of my computer in the office, but in front of the TV in the other room.

The handset is compact (~ 5 x 2 x 1 inch) and has an attractive design, with a 1.5 inch color display and backlit keys. It’s comfortable to hold and feels solid.

There are no buttons or switches on the sides of the handset, they are all located on the face. This includes a regular numeric keypad which generous sized keys and a collection of seven other physical buttons. Some of these buttons such as the middle navkey, can be pressed in different directions.

The infoPhone comes with a small cradle that the handset charges in and then a separate base station that has to be connected to an existing LAN (Ethernet) port and your phone line.

Both the handset cradle and the base station require AC adapters. I would have much rather have seen Vtech use one unit with the base station and charging features built in, instead of two separate units. I don’t like having to use two AC adapters as it just seems wrong in this ‘going green’ environment that we find ourselves in these days. I also don’t like the fact that you have to plug the base station into a LAN port. This will require that users have a broadband Internet connection, such as cable or DSL, and a broadband router or a switch with an extra open port in order to use the Yahoo! features that this phone provides. I think a better route would have been to make the base station WiFi. All that said, setting up the phone and base station is easy. Just connect an Ethernet cable, phone line, AC adapters and you’re ready to go.

The handset interface will be familiar to people that also have simple mobile phones as it has the same type of layout with two buttons on the bottom of the display that match two physical buttons on the handset. The home screen is very simple in that it has a wallpaper (you have the ability to change this with several others) and shows the current date and time.

The two buttons at the bottom of the display map to your VIP List and Menu. The VIP List is just your internal phone book that you can add numbers to as people call you, or manually. The Menu allows you to view your call log, change the ring tone, wallpaper, date and other settings.

To use the Yahoo! features on this phone, you press the Orange Info button above the navkey. This brings up a menu with five icons that include Weather, Yahoo! Local Search, Channels, Call History and Settings. Call History and Settings are just links into the menu off the main Home screen. Weather, Yahoo! Local Search and Channels are the features that require the base station to be connected to your LAN for internet access. Without that connection, you won’t see those icons and will see an error on the handset screen.

The Weather icon shows you a representation of the current weather conditions. As you can see, when I took this picture, it was 64 degrees and raining. Clicking the icon will give you more info about the weather and you can even get a 3-Day forecast.

Yahoo! Local Search will allow you to search on a business name and find matching listings for that search criteria. You can then click on the phone link to make a call to that business. You can also save looked up numbers to your internal phone book. Unfortunately, you can’t use the search to look up non-business numbers. Another problem I ran into has to do with the internal phonebook. Ask you can see in the image above for the Papa John’s Pizza listing, the number is area code + phone number. The problem is, that for me, I need to dial a 1 in front of the area code because even though I live in Columbus, Indiana, to call that number is long distance for me. I have to go in and manually edit the saved number to add a 1.

In addition to Weather and Yahoo! Local Search, there are also Channels. Channels include Horoscopes, Sports news, AP news Headlines, Daily Diversions (word of the day, quote of the day, etc.) and movie listings. You can turn these different channels on and off by activating your phone through the infophone.com web portal. This is something that you have to do in order to use Yahoo! mail and instant messaging.

You can setup different users on the phone. Users link to different Yahoo! accounts. You use the web portal to set things up and in the portal, you can turn channels on and off and enable / disable email and chat. Once the users are setup, when you login to your account through the handset, two more icons will show up on the info Home screen. One for email and one for chat.

If you go into email, you’ll be presented with a subject list of messages. You can then read a specific message by clicking on it. You then have the option to reply, keep and unread, mark as read or delete. For some reason, you do not have the ability to compose a new message from scratch, you can only reply to existing messages.

The main reason I wanted to review this phone was for the Yahoo! instant messaging feature. Once you’re logged in, you can see the status of your buddies. There will be an -idle message next to their name if they are idle, etc. When you receive a message from one of your buddies, their name will be changed to bold type and move to the top of the buddy list. That is the only notification that you’ll see if you have a new message. There are no beeps, the display does not wake up, nothing. This was very disappointing to me.

Writing and responding to messages is about the same as doing so on a mobile phone. You use your key pad to enter letters by pressing the buttons an number of times to get the specific letter that you want. For example, to enter the letter C, you’d need to press the 2 key three times. Unfortunately, there isn’t a predictive text feature with this phone. It’s also annoying that text is in all capital letters by default. You can easy toggle to lowercase by pressing the # key, but the next message that you want to type in, gets changed right back to uppercase. Punctuation symbols have to be selected from a popup list.

Other than the special Yahoo! features, the ip8300 infoPhone has some other abilities. It is expandable, you can add additional handsets for $49.95 each. When you have more than one handset, you can conference an outside call between them, use the handsets as an intercom and transfer calls between handsets. You can choose a ring tone just for intercom calls. There’s also a voicemail waiting indicator if you have that feature through your phone company.

All things considered, I’d have to say that I’ve not been very impressed with this phone. Although setup is very easy, the first time I tried the Yahoo! chat features, none of my buddies showed up and it didn’t appear that I was even connected. At the time, email and the other internet features worked fine, but chat did not. I later came to learn through one of the Vtech product engineers, that sometimes Yahoo! decides to change the way they authenticate how users login to chat. While Vtech is supposed to be partnered with Yahoo! for this product, sometimes these changes aren’t communicated in a timely manner, so Vtech can’t update quickly. As a result, the chat feature won’t work. Then today while I was snapping screen shots, I tried to do some more testing with the email feature and was greeted with a “Service not available, Please try again” message. Even when email works, not being able to compose a new message through the handset seems odd. Not that I’d really want to write a whole email using that keypad though…

The price of $129.95 seems really expensive for a phone that does not even have an answering machine built into it. I think the price would be acceptable if it had an answering machine, WiFi instead of hardwire Ethernet, one cradle/base station, one AC adapter and some type of real instant message notification. As is, I can’t recommend the Vtech ip8300 infoPhone.

Filed in categories: Home Tech

Tagged: Cordless, Phone

Vtech ip8300 infoPhone Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 4, 2008 at 3:30 pm.

The Sony Ericsson Z520a is a rather simple phone by today’s standards. It doesn’t have a media player, it doesn’t have a good camera, and it doesn’t even come with any games. What it does come with is a fairly easy to use interface, a nice compact size and good battery life. About the only frill you do get is Bluetooth, which is really standard equipment on all but the absolute cheapest phones nowadays. More about all this later.

On terms of specs, the phone is 3.3 x 1.8 x 0.9 inches (or 83 x 46 x 24 mm), and weighs 3.3 oz (or 94g). It includes 16MB of memory, with no way to expand. It is a quad-band GSM phone, supporting the 850, 900, 1800, and 1900 MHz frequencies. According to Sony, the phone gets 9 hours of talk time and 400 hours of standby time to a charge.

Inside the Cingular (or AT&T, I guess) branded box, you get a charger, a manual, the battery and phone. The phone has an outer display that is fairly bright and easy to read, and appears to be made of a genuine, good LCD; none of the ghosting problems that are reminiscent of a Palm IIIc. The very poor camera is on the front as well. The side has the camera button, volume rocker, and IR lens, and the back reveals the speakerphone and battery door. The back of the phone reveals the rather funky antenna (the loop of plastic above the phone itself), the speakerphone, and the battery cover.

By the way, when I say the camera is poor, I mean poor. I suppose it is adequate and par for the course for most cell phone cameras, but Sony generally bills themselves as a media company. Granted this phone is an entry-level phone, but I think they could have done better. Here is a sample image:

Click thumbnail to see full size image

When you turn the phone on, you are greeted with a short “How-To” video similar to a Palm device. The buttons are very large and very easy to press. Even the D-Pad is comfortable to use. The keypad’s larger size makes it very easy to type out SMS messages, and perhaps play games. If only some were included.

That’s right, no games are included. All you get is a World Clock and a weird app that lets you make ringtones by typing them in with your keypad. The UI is fairly straightforward, and isn’t overly encumbered by custom AT&T fluff like many phones nowadays are.

Bluetooth is about as easy to use as any other dumbphone; navigate to an impossibly hidden menu, turn bluetooth on, turn discovery on, pair with your device, exchange passkeys, and you’re set. One cool thing I noticed is the phone is supported by iSync in Leopard, allowing you to sync contacts, notes, todo’s, and calendar. Also, apparently Sony has licensed Salling Clicker, as the phone can also serve as a remote commander for a Mac running Leopard. It’s pretty rudimentary; about the only thing I could get it to do is move the mouse and left-click, but it did work. Pretty cool.

Battery life is actually very good; I’ve found that I only have to charge the phone every three days or so. I guess having a phone with few frills makes for a long-running, reliable phone.

In short, this is a good, easy-to-use phone, with few frills. It would make an excellent phone for a first-time user, or someone who just gets the free phone every time their contract is up for renewal. It’s built very solidly and should be good to go for the two year period, I would think.

This phone has been discontinued by SE, but you can still find it on eBay and other online retail shops for less than $200.00.

Filed in categories: Wireless

Tagged: Cellular, Mobile Phone, Phone

Sony Ericsson Z520a Mobile Phone Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 3, 2008 at 7:30 am.

Most people that read this site probably know that I’m a big fan of Palm OS and have been using a Treo for what seems like forever. A couple years ago I went through a whole
nightmare ordeal buying a SprintPCS Treo 650 that was hacked to run on the Verizon network. Then I moved to Cingular / AT&T,
got GSM Treo 650 and later a
Treo 680. As for the new
Centro, I haven’t purchased one yet and am not sure that I will. Why? Well, I seem to have found
my way back into the Windows Mobile camp by way of the
Pantech Duo smartphone from AT&T.

Hardware Specifications

Windows Mobile Standard (Smartphone) v6.0
416 MHz Marvell Bulverde CPU
Quad-band world phone – 850/900/1800/1900 MHZ
Dual-band domestic UMTS/HSDPA
2.2″ QVGA LCD with LED backlight
128 MB Flash ROM plus 64 MB SDRAM
Dual sliding keyboards
Bluetooth v1.2 with A2DP
MicroSD(TM) memory slot, expandable up to 2 GB
11-pin mini-USB (USB 1.1)/ audio jack in one
1.3 megapixel camera with 4x zoom
Weight: 3.88 ounces
Dimensions: 4.02 x 1.97 x 0.83 inches
Battery: 1320 mAh Lithium Ion with up to 3 hours talk time and up to 10 days standby

Package Contents

Pantech Duo phone
AC adapter charger
USB charging / sync cable
Earphone jack adapter cable
User manual and CDs

First of all, I just have to say that I love, love, love the form factor of the Duo. For me it is the prefect size. It is small enough to fit in my jeans pocket, coat pocket, etc. and is comfortable to hold and use.

In hand it is solid, but almost doesn’t pass the gadgeteer squeeze test due to some slight flexing and creaking of the plastic
casing. Most people won’t go around squeezing their phones like I do, so I think this phone will be fine for normal day to day use. I’m not sure I’d
want to use it in environments that would need a more rugged device though. I sure wish it had a metal casing instead of plastic, as I think that would raise it to another level.

Made of shiny dark Grey plastic, the Duo is a smudge and fingerprint magnet. I
find myself constantly polishing it on my pant leg to wipe the marks off.

Most of the front surface of the phone is occupied by the 2.2 inch color display, which is bright, crisp and easy on the eyes. Above the display is the speaker and status LED. Below the display is the navigation button grouping.

In the center of the grouping, there is a round 4-way nav pad with a select button in the
middle. Surrounding the nav pad are six small buttons with an additional button directly below the nav pad. The top row of buttons map to the functions at the bottom of the display. Under them are buttons for the home screen and
previous screen. The next row of buttons are your standard call and end/power buttons. The last button is the profiles / lock button. All of these buttons are small, but they are raised enough to allow you to easily find the desired one with your thumb-tip. They also have good tactile feedback and are backlit.

On the back of the phone, you will find the 1.3 megapixel camera lens and snap-on battery
pack.

On the left side, you’ll find the volume adjustment rocker switch.

The opposite side has the camera launch / shutter button. To launch the camera application, you have to hold down the button for a few seconds. Then once the application is running, pressing the
same button will snap a picture. Below the camera button, is the voice recorder / voice command button.
The Duo has MS Voice Command software built in that will allow you to dial
numbers and launch applications without any training. You can say things like
"Call Jeanne at work" and it will repeat your request then dial the number.
It’s very useful for those times when you’re driving and
should have your eyes on the road instead of your phone’s keypad.

On the top edge of the Duo, you’ll find a MicroSD card slot. Unfortunately this
phone does not support newer SDHC cards, so you’re stuck
with a 2GB limit.

On the bottom is the sync / charge port. This is also where you plug in the included earphone adapter cable, so that you can use earbuds / earphones to listen to music.

Of course, the main advantage of this phone over other Windows Mobile Smartphones is the fact that it has dual keyboards.

The entire top surface of the phone slides up to reveal a regular numeric keypad to use for dialing a number, texting with T9 input, etc.
The keys are relatively flat, so it is difficult to type blindly. That said, the keys have good tactile feedback and are backlit.

You can also slide the entire face sideways to reveal a full QWERTY keyboard perfect for those times when you need to enter more than a little text. Like the numeric keypad, this one is also very flat. The keys are also small and somewhat hard to press unless you use your thumbnails. Even so, it’s very nice to have a full keyboard to type long text messages.

It’s amazing that two keyboards can be built into such a slim device. Opening
and closing either keyboard is a simple one-handed operation. I was impressed
how firm and robust the mechanics felt. I’ve used some sliding keyboards on
other devices and found them to be a bit too wiggly for my liking.

Another cool feature is the fact that when you slide open the QWERTY keyboard, the display will automatically rotate to be in landscape mode.
This happens very quickly with almost no lag at all. Like I mentioned above, the
display is very comfortable to view. Below you’ll see a picture that I took to
give you an idea what it looks like. I didn’t use flash and didn’t touch up the
photo.

The resolution of the display is 240 x 320 and has 262k colors, which is fine
for PIM (personal information management) type activities and not so fine for
surfing regular web pages. Pages formatted for mobile devices work fine though.
I like the display so well, that I wouldn’t even mind reading a book on it. )

I found the overall system performance to be surprisingly snappy. Launching and
toggling between applications is quick and painless. Watching videos was surprisingly smooth and skip free.

What about battery life? From my testing, it seemed to be from ok to good. I
typically recharge my phones every night and rarely use one enough in one day to
drain it, so I don’t usually run into any problems. I have noticed it drop a bar
or so in a day where I have only used it to make a few calls and sent a few text
messages.

So, we’ve established that I love the form factor, dual keyboards, the color
display and system performance. Now for the bad news…

Click thumbnail for full-size image

The Duo’s built in camera is crummy. I mean really crummy. The images are out of
focus, with blotchy colors and sometimes the outside edges of the snapshot are warped. The
camera works in a pinch, but only barely.

The Duo does not have WiFi or a built in GPS. I guess this isn’t a shocking
revelation, but it seems that a lot of smartphones these days have those feature
as standard. I can forgive the lack of WiFi on this phone due to the fact that
the screen is so tiny that I wouldn’t really care to take advantage of that
feature anyway. An iPhone it is not.

Another thing to consider is that the Duo only has Bluetooth 1.2 instead of 2.0. Version 2.0 is more robust and allows for faster speeds when tethering the phone to a laptop. The Duo does have A2DP though, so that means you can listen to your tunes through Bluetooth earphones.

The worst problem with this phone though is call quality. When I first started testing
it a few weeks ago, I would receive calls where the person on the opposite end
could hear me, but I was unable to hear them at all. I’ve also had an occasional
dropped call in areas where the signal is typically very good. People have even
commented that I sounded like I was talking with a sock in my mouth. I’m often
hungry, but I assure you that don’t eat socks. ;o)

Software Bundle

You get the regular suite of applications that make up Windows Mobile Standard, like Calendar, Contacts, Tasks, Internet Explorer, Media Player, Pocket Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook, File Manager, Calculator, etc. Also included:

Brain Challenge game
Bubble Breaker game
JewelQuest2 game
Midnight Pool game
Scrabble Blast game
Solitaire game
Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 07 game
Google Maps

Java VM
ClearVue PDF viewer
World Time

Also included are a few apps from AT&T that require an extra fee to use. Some of them include:

XM Radio (monthly fee req.)
AT&T Music

MobiTV (is pre-installed (monthly fee req.)
Cellular Video
MyCast Weather (trial version)
TeleNav Maps (link)
XPress Mail
AT&T Mall
MySpace Mobile

I don’t have any real complaints about the software other than I wish the trialware and payware apps weren’t installed by default as I would not use them and they just clutter up the applications listing.

As a non-Windows person, I used MarkSpace’s MissingSync to sync the Pantech Duo with my Mac. It works great and is a must have for Mac users.

Bottom Line

The Duo phone was a loaner from AT&T and I have to admit that even with the call quality issues, I am very sad to have to pack it up and send it back to them. I have really enjoyed having a small smartphone that can easily fit in my hand and pocket like this Duo. I guess I can hope that the Duo will become so popular that Pantech might decide to come out with a better version in the future… But more surprising than liking this phone, I also found that I missed using Windows Mobile. Yes, it’s true… I guess I’m just getting bored with Palm and its overall stale OS, that WM feels more fun and interesting to me. As I finished this review today, I was going through my draw o’phones and decided to pull out the HTC Excalibur to use for awhile. Hi Windows Mobile, glad to be back (if only until something else piques my interest…).

The price listed is for a phone without any contract. You can get better deals through AT&T with a 2yr contract.

Filed in categories: Windows Mobile related, Wireless

Tagged: Cellular, Mobile Phone, Phone

Pantech Duo (C810) Windows Mobile 6.0 Smartphone originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 10, 2008 at 10:00 pm.

Every time I decide to buy a new mobile phone, I get excited that it might become my new favorite. I’m really anxious for a new favorite. A phone that has all the features of my current favorite (Treo 680), but with enough new features that takes me to my gadgeteer happy place. If the Treo works for me, why do I want to chuck it for something new? Because I get bored easily and am never satisfied. ) Will the Nokia E61i transport me to mobile phone nirvana? Let’s see…

Hardware Specifications

Operating system: Symbian S60 3rd Edition
Memory: Approximately 60 MB of available user memory
Hot swappable microSD memory card support up to 2 GB
Quad-band GSM/EDGE coverage for international usage (850/900/1800/1900 MHz) with WCDMA 3GPP
2.8” QVGA landscape active-matrix color display supporting up to 16 million colors (320 x 240 pixels) with an active area of 56.9 x 42.7 mm
WLAN: 802.11b, 802.11g
Bluetooth 1.2 specification
2 megapixel camera
Weight: 5.29 oz
Dimensions: 4.61 x 2.76 x 0.55 in

Package Contents

Nokia E61i
Battery BP-4L
Travel charger
Wired headset
Connectivity Cable

The E61i has a serious / business style to it. The design seems a bit straight laced and stuffy… at least to me. Now I’m not saying that’s a bad thing, but it might cause some people to look the other way.

The casing is a combination of brushed aluminum and charcoal colored plastic. The front is almost entirely comprised of the 2.8 inch display and QWERTY keyboard. Above the display there is new email status LED / ambient light sensor and a small power button.
The LED is supposed to blink for a missed call, text message,
email, and multimedia message. You have the ability to turn on or off any of
these options. During my review period with this phone, I never was able to get
this to work reliably and never for a missed call. I think one time I saw it
blinking for a text message.

On the back you will find the easy to remove battery cover and the 2 megapixel camera lens.

The only other physical buttons on the E61i are located on the Left side. Here you will find the up/down volume buttons and a voice recorder / voice command button. Pressing the voice recorder button once will launch the recording application. To begin a recording, you must press the center select button on the front of the phone. Holding the side button in for several seconds will launch the voice command application and cause it to listen for your command.

Along the bottom edge of the phone, you’ll find the power port, data / proprietary headset port and IR port.
That’s right, there isn’t a regular headphone jack built into
this smartphone.

I’ll admit that the Treo has spoiled me. Now I feel like I must have a smartphone that has a QWERTY keyboard. Without one I feel a bit lost and all thumbs. As a result, I get along relatively well with the E61i’s keyboard. The keys are a bit larger than the Treo’s, but are flatter and have less tactile feedback. They are also backlit, but only light up when the ambient light sensor detects that your are in low light. I had no problems getting used to the keyboard layout for texting or calling. I did have more trouble getting used to the navigation buttons located above the keyboard. The 5-way nav button in the center is too small in my opinion. The surrounding buttons are also too cramped.

As you can see in the image above, the Nokia E61i is wider than the Treo 680.

But, it is thinner… Is it better to be thinner or more narrow? For me, the E61i feels too wide to be a phone. It feels awkward to hold up to my ear and talk into it. It’s not THAT much larger than the Treo, but in hand, it just doesn’t feel nearly as comfortable to me. That said, it does feel very solid and well built. It passes the gadgeteer squeeze test with absolutely no protest.

The display is large and easy to read. I wouldn’t say it’s wonderful as I’m
currently spoiled by the
iPhone. But it is crisp and the colors are not washed out. The display is a
lot better than it looks in the images I have shown below. All of those images
were taken without flash, but they do appear to be a bit washed out for some
reason.

Battery
life on the E61i is excellent. It is rated for 4-9hrs talk time and 12-17 days of standby. I’ve used it for what seems like a week without
connecting it to the AC adapter for a recharge. Granted, this is during a week
that I only used it for an occasional call and text message. But still, that’s
pretty darned good if you ask me!

The signal strength / reception with this phone is equally impressive. Nokia as
a rule seems to make phones that can how to hold a signal better than most
phones I try. This phone is no exception. I’ve been able to use it in places
that I’ve only seen a ‘no signal’ or ‘no service’ message on other phones. I’ve
also found that I can drive through areas where my other phones (Treo / iPhone)
always drop the call. Not so with this phone.

Sound quality
during calls is clear and the volume is very good for both sides of a conversation. No gripes there.

For a lot people here in the US, the E61i will disappoint because it isn’t a 3G phone. It just
has EDGE. This would definitely disappoint me if I actually had 3G in my town… The E61i does have WCDMA though… so if you’re in Europe, you will have 3G speeds.
The E61i has built in WiFi which works fine but given the size of the display,
surfing on it isn’t exactly a great experience.

So, as far as hardware goes, this is a solid phone that performs well, but lacks
some pizazz when it comes to style. Now let’s take a look at the user interface
and built in applications.

This is the home screen. It is functional, although not overly customizable. As
you can see, there is an application launch bar to the right of the clock. There
are also a few status lines. The phone comes with 2 themes, but you can find
many more online.

Pressing the small phonebook button in the navigation bar will bring up the contacts application. From here, you just start typing part of a name. First, Last or even the middle name, and it will filter down the list to just show the correct matches. As you can see, contact records can have images associated with them if you desire.

Incoming and outgoing calls are shown on the home screen, along with missed call status.

The E61i has a very good software bundle built into it. Included is a copy of Quickoffice which gives you the ability to edit Microsoft Excel, Word and Powerpoint files right on the phone.

There are also several media players on the device, including RealPlayer, Flash Player and an MP3 player.

The music player has a simple interface and supports MP3 and AAC formats. You can play music through the built-in speaker or through the proprietary earbud (yes, earbud… not earbuds) included with the phone.

The 2 megapixel camera has a simple interface and takes mediocre pictures. I guess a so-so camera is better than no camera at all. Right?

Click thumbnails to see full size image samples

The web browser is pretty good if you don’t mind surfing on a tiny display. You use the 5-way nav button as a pseudo mouse to move to the links that you want to click on.

Image rendering isn’t too bad and moving backwards and forwards through pages that you’ve visited is done through a convenient thumbnail view of the pages.

I didn’t find the messaging client to be all that friendly. It’s one application that you use for text messaging and email. Accessing email is painfully slow. I used it to access my IMAP account, so maybe that’s why it might be slower than with POP. Even though I had it set to pull down full messages, it would only download the headers. Then if I wanted to read a message, it would have to pull that down. It just felt very cumbersome to me.

I also don’t love the way this phone handles text messages. The message does not show up on the display when it comes in. Your phone just beeps and tells you that you have a messages waiting. You have to then navigate to the message to read it, which takes too many key presses for my liking.

When I purchased the Nokia E61i, I was hoping to fall in love with it. Unfortunately, that hasn’t happened. While I do appreciate some aspects of this phone (namely the great reception), the size, cramped keyboard and overall feel of the OS just don’t do it for me. At least this time I can say that I gave a Symbian device a real honest to goodness try. It’s time for me to get back to my quest to find my perfect phone. Wish me luck with my next try.

Filed in categories: Wireless

Tagged: Cellular, Mobile Phone, Phone

Nokia E61i originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 5, 2008 at 9:15 pm.