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Saterday swap meet

Images_2 So if its saterday then you know im at the swap meet. Not a whole lot going on because its been too cold. It feels like a 20 degree diference when your in the shade. I started my post in the shade with my laptop but it was just too cold so I pick up my trusty treo and head into the sun to type my post. So far I have used my treo to tether to my laptop,check google reader and check my voicemail.

Im using my treo to compare it to my black jack 2

Images Im using my treo to compare it to my black jack. My treo 750 is winmob pro and my black jack II is standard so im using my treo to copare it to my black jack. Some points are obvious and some are hidde through my everyday use. For example some items such as a touch screen are obviously missing from the black jack. Then some abilities such as being able to set any web page as my home page on my 750 are not available on my black jack. This comes through extensive use and your averagge user wount notice this unless they have tried both devices. The funny thing is little tid bits like this help me realize the treo isn't the best phone, its usually just 10% better.That's what it take to have a good product. Just be 10% better than the competition.

I use my treo to keep me busy

E So today I get hone after a lond day of work only to realize I didn't have my keys. I ran to chase after my ride but they were long gone by the time I got back to the parking lot. Nothing to do but wait at a local farmer boys. After I have the chicken strips and fries I have about another hour before my girl comes home to unlock the door. Before I would just sit and stare into space or walk around kmart. Not anymore Now I can use my treo while I wait. Some of the things I can do are: • Catch up on google reader • Catch up on google news • Finish up reading emails • Txt my girl to make sure shes on her way • Play a game • Write this post • Email this post • Watch cellular video • Browse you tube clips These thins can easily suck up and hour in my day while I wait paitiently. Its actually more like a chance to relax and kick back. Again thank god for my treo because if I didn't have it I would probly be counting the lines in the restauraunt floor.

Reminder about the Software Update for Unlocked GSM Palm™ Treo™ 680 Smartphone

Although we mentioned this recently, if you own a Treo 680 here is a reminder that on the EU website a Treo 680 update is showing.

The Software Update for Unlocked GSM Palm™ Treo 680 Smartphones offers these enhancements to your device:

Corporate e-mail as it arrives* – Have your corporate e-mail delivered to you with Microsoft® Direct Push Technology. Accept or decline meeting invites and access your company directory on the go.

Power saving enhancements – Helps conserve battery life with improved power management and updated default system power preferences.

Supports larger expansion cards – Supports up to 4GB SD expansion cards (including the SDHC format), sold separately.

Enhanced ringtone support** – MP3 and other sound files purchased from the web or sent from friends can now be set as ringtones and alerts (formats: MP3, AAC, AAC+, MIDI, WAV, and AMR).

Three updates in one – This update incorporates three previously released software updates: Treo 680 Camera Update (January 2007), Treo 680 Security Patch (May 2007), and Treo 680 Unlocked GSM smartphone SMS Update (July 2007).
Make the jump.

Centro for Price Check

[From Brian Sacramento, California] When I am at the warehouse stores, I use my Centro to do some quick pricing to see if I am really getting a good deal on an item. If I cant find the item online with the phone, I take a picture of the price tag and look it up later when I have more time.

Modern technology for presidential campaign

We always think that a presidential campaign has to be done in traditional way; the presidential candidate should meet & greet his/her supporters face to face, well at least in a party campaign or something like that. But a new approach has been made by Barack Obama’s campaign organizers; they use computer & internet technology so Obama could do that in virtual world. Nobody saw this will become a huge success, when this virtual presidential campaign started from just few months since last year 2007, they managed to raise campaign funds around US$500,000! Obama’s campaign organizers teamed up with MoveOn.org web site to collect funds from supporters around the US, where believers usually give roughly around $10 to $25.

Another fine example of nowadays computer’s technology to use in this case is for FAQ database, where users can find almost anything about Barack Obama and his campaign goals. Again teaming up with 3rd party software developer: RightNow, around 1.3 million web visitors checked his website to check up on Obama’s background and how to get in touch with him. For instance two of top questions being asked every time: Q; How much is it to ask Obama to come and speak at our event? A; Nothing! Q; What church does Obama attend? A; Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. And so on…

The last and most significant role of internet over Obama’s presidential campaign rally is the spread of support through various social networking web sites. From Facebook, & MoveOn’s new Endorse-O-Thon Web tool, there have been more than 520,000 endorsement emails and messages! While others blog sites and open forums are not counted, those numbers still growing rapidly even now. Other presidential candidate, like Hillary Clinton, has begun to do the same like what Obama’s side has done. The power of internet social networking can’t be underestimated.

I can’t help but wonder when there’ll come the time I could do the presidential ballot from my Palm Treo, while comfortly sitting on a sofa and keep watching my favorite tv series…. “Right-now” I really wanted to know what is Obama’s mobile phone? I know Al Gore uses Treo 680.

(blogged with my Treo 750v, source from PC World)

Power Support Crystal Film For Your iphone

Snapshot_20080217_120005_2 Shield your iPhone from scratches with Power Support's Crystal Film Set—a pair of revolutionary, clear static cling film.  This fits the iphone perfectly and helps keep the front from getting scratches!
Smart yet simple, protective yet practically imperceptible, the Power Support Crystal Film Set provides superior defense against the scratches, dust, and dirt of an on-the-go life.

Features

  • Covers entire face of iPhone
  • Crystal-clear film maintains LCD brightness
  • Static-cling plastic for stay-put adhesion
  • No interference with touch-screen responsiveness
  • Removable for cleaning; can be reapplied
  • Free of sticky residue after removal

In the box

  • Two films

You can purchase these at the Apple Store directly or online!

Xperia X1 pimped with Windows Mobile 6.1

Yup, it's finally official: Xperia X1 gets Windows Mobile 6.1, aside the lack informations in it's official website. Gizmodo got the news (via Terminal.hu via adonis demon via BGR, pheew... that's a long links), and a little bit more leaked info of the hardwares. It will be equipped with Qualcomm processor clocked at 528MHz (vroom! vrooom!), 128RAM & 1500mAh battery. Like what everybody have been guessing if you look at the screenshots of X1 screen UI, Sony Ericsson definetely cookep up the Windows Mobile 6 to meet with their own unique design.

Now when will we get the Windows Mobile 6.1 update for Treo 750, Palm??

(blogged with my Treo 750v)

Mike Rohde has done some review of iPod touch Piel Frama & OtterBox Cases

Mike Rohde has done some review of iPod touch Piel Frama & OtterBox Cases. "I've been thoroughly enjoying my iPod touch for the last six months, using it as a PDA, music player and web device. One of the most important accessories to choose for my touch was a case, to protect the screen and help reduce torque on the device when I pocket it. More than once, good quality cases have saved my PDAs." Mike Rohde after the jump.

Julie at The Gadgeteer giving away a Nokia E61i Smartphone

Julie at the gadgeteer is giving away her Nokia E61i so if you want the chance to get your hands on one let her know how your Valentines Day went. Make the jump. "n the spirit of Valentines Day, I thought it would be appropriate to share the love by offering my Nokia E61i up to one of you. Yeah, I'm nice like that. ;o) How can you be the lucky one that snags it? Just respond to this gear diary entry to tell us all how your Valentines Day turned out. Good, bad, funny or sad, let's hear your stories. I'll pick a random post sometime on 2/21 as the winner. Good luck!"

I use my palm device to keep track of research ideas

[From Noah Evans, Japan] I use my palm device to keep track of research ideas as they pop up in my head. Then I sync them when I get home. It saves me having to keep track of a notebook.

Verizon launching $99 unlimited calling voice plan on the 19th?

[From Hans] If your in the US and your looking for an unlimited data plan then this may be good news for you. "Apparently some readers are seeing an advertisement for this $99 unlimited calling voice plan on USATODAY’s website. If you see, let us know!" BoyGeniusReport has the deets.

Memory Cards

[From Nigel Ashcroft] If you want the best performance from memory cards then there is a very good editorial over at neswsday.com which details which details which cards perform better and details arious scenarios of card use. Makes for good reading. "Cameras, MP3 players, smartphones, palmtops, digital picture frames: Unlike PCs and their spinning hard drives, most of these portable devices rely on some form of removable solid-state memory. In fact, the no-moving-parts movement is even beginning to challenge the hard drive as a primary storage medium for portable computers. Witness two ultralight laptops: Apple's new MacBook Air has a permanently mounted 64 gigabyte solid-state drive, but the ASUS Eee uses Secure Digital cards for storage. SD is rapidly being supplanted by SDHC, or Secure Digital High Capacity, as well as mini and micro flavors of the same standard. There are a number of buzzwords in this arena - Compact Flash, xD, MMC Mobile and Sony's Memory Stick formats - and the documentation that comes with your machine can tell you what, specifically, you need to expand the capacity. " Read in full.

A New Treo Convert?

[From David Ross ( Fife Scotland)] After yet another premature battery drain Debs' sim is going in the 600 tonight and then a try out. I have found the instruction booklet and the tutorial app on the 600 covers most things. So let's see how it goes. She is familiar with Palms having a M130 and so its only the comms functions and the advantages of OS5. I have told her of the threaded text thing and how she can cut and paste from sms texts to memo and then print thro the IR conection with our printer. We will have to agree on ringtones to avoid confusion though.

More Dropairs boards for children

[From Roy Northglide] Hi Sammy, I wrote you last week about a board I made, and today I wanted to let you know that I've just received some wonderful 18 new Dropairs Pair Boards made by Karen from k12handhelds.com. The new boards can be used to teach young children (early learners/K-1, elementary or middle school) all sorts of different things such as fractions, geometry, inequalities, rhyming, colors, letters, algebra, money and more... The boards are really high quality and I'm sure that anyone with kids or someone who works with young children will find them useful. Dropairs and the Pair Boards are completely free. Download the new Pair Boards from the Pair Board Gallery which now features 88 different boards: http://www.northglide.com/dropairs_pairs.html

Software for your Centro

[From Gabriel Castellanos, Sent from my Centro(r) smartphone] The centro is a great phone but it is not perfect but since it is a PalmOS smartphone, it is possible to make it perfect, in my quest to make it perfect I found a software company called the hobbyist software, the first piece of software I bought was PowerHero, I use most of the power savin features: turn off network, bluetooth and keyboard when not in use plus deactivate keyboard if I am using the 5-way navigation, this settings allow my centro to last a full day of heavy use, internet, chattermail, internet radio with my bluetooth heaadset, etc. I'll cover the rest of the software I bought from Hobbyist as well as the settings I use in an upcoming post.
[SAMMY PowerHero is available fromHobbyistSoftware]

TreoAlarm saves my battery

[From JB - NYC] What? How does this great alarm program help me conserve battery power? Some time ago, I realized that while I spent most of my day underground in my office, my battery on my Treo 650 drained pretty quickly. This was because my phone used more power when it was continually searching for a signal. While there are a number of battery-saving programs out there, I discovered I already had one in TreoAlarm. In addition to fetching weather reports and setting multiple alarms, TreoAlarm can also turn the phone on or off at any time you choose. So I simply scheduled the phone off 30 minutes after arriving at work, on and off for my (aboveground) lunch break, and on again before I left for the day. And I can set those as silent alarms so as not to bother my co-workers. My battery level was significantly better at the end of the day. Brilliant.
TreoAlarm - http://treoalarm.com/

Finding a Home for an Abandoned Puppy

[From Carrie, Baltimore, MD] I transferred the cutest pics I could of the 6 month old, fur-less and pathetic looking boxer pit puppy that was abandoned in a city park. We do desperately wanted to find her a loving and permanent home and having a pic of her in a pink vest (her lack of fur made her shiver whenever we went outside) and matching pink boots (her paws were bloody and cut up) won over everyone who saw it and she has been adopted by a lovely and caring nurse who now has this picture on her mobile device!

More Books than I can Read

[From Howard Beleiff Philadelphia, PA] Sammy: I recently received my first ebook reader as a birthday gift, the Sony PRS-505. I would drag a stack of books with me everywhere, and suddenly I'm in book heaven! The e-ink display is the most amazing technology I have seen in quite some time, crystal clear and as easy on my eyes as regular paper. With the extended memory, I carry about 200 books with me always, as well as being able to download and read my favorite blogs (thanks Kovid), so dragging my old lappie around has become even LESS necessary. Now, I got the reader about 3 weeks before the release of the Kindle, and a few folks have asked me if I feel slighted...No Way! I had a hands-on with the kindle a few weeks ago, and I have to say, the Sony Reader just feels better overall, and for me (and many others I suspect) the feel of a unit like this is just as important as its functionality. I love how paperbooks look, feel, and even smell, so a device that makes me feel comfortable during extended reading sessions is worth it's weight in gold! I have to say, there's nothing like having a mobile library in my geek-bag!

Two Devices Better Than One?

I admit, I blew it.  I left my cell phone sitting on my office desk Friday when I left for home.  Now it was Saturday afternoon and I needed to call a friend who was supposed to be dropping by the house today, but her number was in my cell phone.  While I had our house phone, and my wife had her cell phone, no one had the number.  Then I remembered that I had transferred a copy of my cell phone's phone book (via bluetooth) to my Palm T|X a couple of months ago.  Sure enough, my friend's home number and cell number were right there in my contacts app.  I was able to call even though I didn't have my cell phone.  I was very happy that I didn't have a converged device... if my palm had also been at work, I would have been driving up to the office to get the number!

A wish for better mobile processor

While the battle of desktop & laptop processors have gone from one core to multiple cores, and up from 1GHz to 3.8GHz; the mobile processor is still haven't make a miracoluos jump even to 1GHz. The latest, but not yet to be released, is Samsung's mobile processor clocked at 667MHz (check my previous post here). Of course the mobile platform is to be blame first for the under-clocked mobile processor that hasn't been able to hit more than 1GHz, but from my personal oppinion it's the lack push from mobile industries that make it slow to produce competitive processors. Even though few players have threw in their products into mobile processors segment such as: ARM, Samsung, Intel, NVIDIA, Freescale, etc. But it seems they feel don't like to make the jump to 1GHz yet, the most cliche excuse is that mobile OS & softwares haven't needed that kind of power from their processors.

Lately I have found myself reset my Treo 750v for few times in the last week, mainly is not because it freezed but because one of the software I installed can't perform well after hard use of the Treo. When I asked the software developer, the support team answered honestly to point out that it's the device resources that make the software to malfunctioned; they recommend higher specs from newer device to run it well. Seems like they've many same complaints from other customers about this kind of issue, so the device's resources are to be blamed for.

It's my wildest hope for Palm to embedded a powerful processor into their next Treo lineups, with bigger RAM too of course. Specially when Palm Nova OS is out, where we all hope it can do real multi- tasks unlike the old Palm OS Garnet. But even right now they must've noticed how other OS have been made to handle various tasks to make mobile phones become mobile computers (read PA article about it here), eventually cuting-edge mobile processor is needed without questions.

We all are excited to watch how amazing are Apple to introduced slim-sexy MacBook Air (MBA), and Lenovo is about to announce X300 dubbed as MBA nemesis. The both companies managed to push incredible down-size laptop platform to be lessen to 20% than normal platforms, now that's what I call determination to be better than the others. And that will become their main asset to sell the new technology/device. Heck, MBA or X300 don't need anymore advertising; those babies sell by themselves as the thinnest in the world! Don't you want to challenge them, Palm?

This is just my random rambling on the end of the weekend, hope y'all have a great weekend!

(blogged with my Treo 750v)

Literally Anywhere

One of the greatest strengths one possesses when using a smartphone of some type is being able to use it literally anywhere. After four years of having a Treo 650, I finally, gloriously upgraded to a Treo 755p. Timely, I think, as well seeing as that Sprint just released a ROM update to the Treo 755p. Upon purchasing the 755p, I looked forward to a more stable Palm. That wish partly came true. My old Treo 650 used to hang terribly when I exited from the Chicago subway system. It would take anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes to unfreeze and regain a signal and that's if it didn't reset and loose whatever data I had been working on. Worse case scenario, it would dump ALL my preference settings leaving me to scream in disgust (using inside voices) and have to reenter all my registrations settings. I resorted to turning off my Treo 650 whenever I went into the subway, it's not like I could get a signal underground anyway.
Well, new phone! Problem's gone right? Well, yes and no. One amazing new feature I found was being able to get a signal underground. I was amazed! I could hold conversations and get a data connection. What the hey! I went to the Sprint Store to ask about this. They looked at me like I was crazy. Some Sprint phones can get a signal underground. That answer wasn't good enough for me, so I paid closer attention to the way my 755p behaved. Turns out I can get a signal but the Sprint moniker would not show which lead me to believe I was riding US Cellular's system. US Cellular is the only cell phone provider to my knowledge anyway that has the rights to CTA's communcations lines underground. Sweet! Whether this is an EV-DO benefit or collaboration between Sprint and US Cellular OR my phone just happened to slip between the cellular cracks I don't know but wait I spoke to soon! The 755p still had the same problem with regaining a signal upon exiting the subway. It would hang indefinitely. God forbid I try to listen to music using pTunes at the same time. Talk about reset hell! Sigh. I resorted to turning off the Treo just before I exited the tunnel. The exitement I had for my brand new Treo 755p quickly waned. I was in no better position than before, only slightly, seeing as that I can get a signal underground which comes in handy when the trains get delayed and we sit there for a spell.
Flash forward to this month with Sprint's new 1.07 update. I was a little wary and sat on the update for a week or so. It wasn't until last week when I experienced a really bad looping reset that I decided to bite the bullet and try out the new update. A little apprehensive I spent a day updating to the new ROM and reinstalling my software and databases. Now I know Palm was more than slightly vague when describing just what exactly this new 1.07 update included but so far I am geeked out with the little touches. I can now assign alphabet letter shortcuts from the keyboard in the favorites menu to applications just as on the Centro. The messaging app now has incoming and outgoing arrows indicating whether the last text was sent or received. But my favorite, most noticeable improvement has to be the memory management. Regaining a signal from the subway to aboveground is now seemless without freezing AND I can listen to pTunes at the same time. Lo and Behold! At least in the city of Chicago I can now use my Treo 755p literally anywhere.

Thank You, PalmDoc!

Eeepc

Well, thanks to the information from this post, I was finally able to get my Asus Eee to connect via DUN on my Treo 680. That is one of the few things that I have not been able to get sorted out, but now I can connect via USB to my Treo if necessary. Thank You, Palmdoc. And Thank You, Sammy, for posting the link! One of these days, I will work on a BT connection, but I'm not as concerned about it now that I have a reliable USB connection.

My Treo...An Idea

[From Greg Atlanta] I'm actually composing this email on my mobile device. In previous messages, I've detailed the ways in which I use my mobile device. As a way to avoid redundancy, I'll take a different approach with this message. In this installment of the Treo chronicles, I'll describe something I'd like to see developed for mobile devices. SPICE is a prominent CAD application used in electrical engineering projects--namely, circuit design. It'd be cool to have a mobile version of SPICE for on-the-fly analyses. One could easily build circuits using the touchscreen provided with most contemporary devices. A mobile version of MATLAB or MathCAD would also be helpful.

Color Coding Keeps Me Organized

[From Freda in San Francisco] The long three day holiday weekend is here. Happy President's Day! My TX is almost always with me now, but I just realized that I do not use the Contacts as often anymore. My frequently called numbers are programmed in my cell phone already; I haven't had the need to look up an address or other telephone number in quite a while. However, I have been loving the category color coding available on the built in Calendar feature. I assigned each child, my hubby, and myself colors. I actually have two colors for me -- for work things and for personal things. I am a visual person, and I can't tell you how much I love the color coding. At a glance, I can see my calendar and the various events/activities/appointments , but also know who it is for. Simplifies life for me...and every bit helps.

Treo 600/650/700p PhoneToolsPro Suite

Treo 600/650/700p PhoneToolsPro Suite from Smart Phone Tools. Treo PhoneToolsPro Suite Is a set of tools designed for use with the Treo 600/650/700p. These Utilities seamlessly integrate into the existing phone application and provides you with advanced Call Management, Detailed Call Air Time Usage, and Detailed Call History.

Version 1.4 Now supports International date, time and currency formats*.

All Treo utilities support 5-way navigation for one-handed use.

Call Management: The utility seamlessly integrates into the existing phone application, adding Call Air time Usage Information and advanced Detailed Call History at the press of a button.

Detailed Call History: This utility allows you to display and manage the phone's call history data base. You can categories calls as free or mobile to mobile with a single key stroke. Call History adds all the features lacking in the built-in Call Log

Call Air Time Usage: This tool will track the details for 12 months of your call usage, allowing you to see the remaining minutes of your plan. Minutes are rounded up just like on your bill

MTeam

MTeam; MTeam is a nice shoot m up with cartoon graphics from PalmAddict Store. Red alert! red alert! the planet earth is under attack by swarms of mad bloodthirsty invaders!

The M-Team is the earth's last hope. Only they can help rid the earth of the evil and their destructive forces.

Destroy the relentless waves of enemy ships as they fly in to attack

Help the M-Team super heroes fight their way through to the alien home planet Beedula, where the loathsome, intergalactic warlord gradiobeed commands his army of alien invaders.