PalmAddicts

My P990i versus My old TX Comparison

As a background, I never owned a pda-phone combo before, I always used standalone PDA's and my last one was a TX. My requirements was simple, I wanted to be able to surf the internet anywhere in my house without having to turn on my laptop. Hence, I needed a PDA with wifi, I could careless about 3G, GPRS, EDGE, etc. I also wanted a smartphone that will not break the bank, my budget was around $300 only (brand new or used). After much scouting, I was able to find a brand new (with 1 year warranty) SE P990i for $300. I'm surprised how much it was now because I still saw some shops offering it at $450 above. After using it for a little less than 2 weeks, I thought I'd share my experience with it and maybe encourage a few of you to buy it too. Again, I never owned a treo so I'm comparing it on my TX.

Hardware

The P990i is solidly built, it feels firm and sturdy. I am a little bit worried about the flip and how many "flips" it was designed to do. In any case, with utmost care, it should last a very long time. My TX was also quite sturdy, but there were always issues with the power button (just read the other forums). Otherwise, I think they are both built quite well. The size of the P990i is a bit thick, however, it is thinner than my TX (smaller screen). However, it seems to be easier to hold because you can wrap your whole hand around the sides. Unlike the thick TX, which I found to be a little bit difficult to hold.

Advantage P990i

Softwares

I'll start with the PIM. Hands down, Palm OS wins! It's a pain to navigate through the calendar, task and notes of P990i. There are no categories and it takes several taps to do what one or two taps in Palm. One particular issue is the task software of P990i, there are no repeating tasks and you cannot check it off without "editing" the item. Games Again, I can only find a handful of good games for the P990i whereas Palm will have thousands of games. However, because the P990i has a dedicated graphics chip (I read it in a review somewhere), the 3D games are awesome (just take a look at the built-in vijay singh golf, amazing!) But then again, the lack of games are disappointing. Other Business Applications I use excel on my TX a lot and I was happy to find that P990i has its own version of docstogo and quickoffice (built-in). I use quickoffice now because it is built in to my P990i. There is mobipocket reader and the newly released iSilo UIQ3 version for you to read ebooks. Finally, although Palm has more applications, the essentials are there too for the P990i.

Advantage slight edge to TX

Connectivity

What can I say, wifi, bluetooth, USB transfer, IR and a phone, for 16k pesos only. Try to find a better bargain!. Plus, it just works, I haven't had any crashes, hang-ups or anything. Opera mini for the P990i also works so much better than on my TX. The messaging application is also much better (though no threaded SMS). Even a treo (no wifi) cannot compete with the P990i

Advantage BIG BIG edge to P990i

Finally, some last words, the only advantage that I see from Palm is the huge amount of software options. However, if you only use the essentials, the P990i will work for you (like it does for me). Also, SE is slowly flooding the market with UIQ3 phones and I think developers will soon follow and start developing more apps and games for the UIQ3 OS. In the end, I think we will see more and more new softwares for the P990i.

There you go, I am in love with my P990i and I think, only a wifi enabled Palm OS treo (not a wifi card solution but a built in wifi) will ever sway me back to my beloved Palm OS. Even then, I'm still wary of all the issue with Palm's implementation of NVFS, my TX used to crash every day and sometimes, it won't boot up and I have to hard reset. Until Palm fixes that, I'm sticking with my P990i.

Goodbye Palm... Hello P990i

After 6+ years of being a palm user, I have finally decided to move on. I started with Palm about 6 years ago when my company gave me a Palm V. Back then, I had no idea what a Palm was but I easily fell in love with it. Over the years, I have had so many different Palm units.

Palm V -> m130 -> zire 71 -> m515 -> T665c -> Tungsten T -> Tungsten C -> TX (my last one, I gave to my mom)

I've been looking to find a PDA-Phone combo device that offered wifi and was relatively cheap. Honestly, I really liked all the treos but it was really the lack of wifi that turned me off. My other choices where the O2's, iPaqs, N Series, etc. But I finally settled on the P990i which had everything that I wanted, wifi, keyboard, good phone interface and nice build quality. And to top it off, I got a brand new for only $300 pesos! Compared to other wifi pda phones that start at around $600! Heck, even palm's Treo 750 plus wifi card solution will set you back by $650++ (those are all Manila prices by the way)

Now I think I've been spoiled with the ease of use of Palm and the insane amount of apps and games. This P990i is not meant for non-techies. It took me a couple of hours just to figure out how to change my ringtone! Anyways, after a whole day of tinkering and finding apps. I think I am finally happy with my new phone.

Now, as I say goodbye to the palm world, I wish palm the best of luck and I will continue to monitor palm's progress. Maybe in the future they will come up with a wifi enabled treo and that the foleo will not drag them down to their graves.

Proporta Palm TX Advanced Screen Protector

Katrina from Proporta was very kind to send me a screen protector to review along with the Metal Case which I already reviewed. Now take note that my Palm TX already had the ultra clear screen protector from another manufacture which I would consider the top of the line in screen protectors. But nevertheless, I removed that screen protector and tried on Proporta's. First thing I notice is that it seems to be anti-glare unlike the ultra clear that I had which had glare all over the place. The Proporta screen protector also has a paper like texture, a little bit rougher. It gives you the feeling of writing on a surface other than glass. This is very good because you can actually feel your stylus gripping and getting into contact with the screen, not just sliding in the screen. It gives you very good control.

There's really not much to say about screen protectors but for me to dump my premium Ultra Clear for Proporta says a lot. It is probably the best screen protector that I have ever used because it has all the qualities that I like in a screen protector which are:
1. Anti-Glare
2. Durability
3. Washable
4. Texture like Paper
5. Easy to install (yes that's right, it is easy, just follow the instructions and use the tools that came with it)
If you don't already have a screen protector for your PDA, try out Proporta's, you won't go wrong with it. Even if you already have one, I suggest you still get this screen protector from Proporta. You won't regret it!

Proporta Palm TX Aluminum Hard Case (blue)

Finally! After almost 10 weeks of anticipation and frustration (with the local postal service), I finally received my Proporta Aluminum Hard Case for my Palm TX. My initial reaction upon opening the parcel was WOW! I have never seen an aluminum case in a beautiful bluish black color. I quickly opened the case and it didn't even feel like it was metal. It felt like it had rubberized paint but when I tried to scratch a small piece, it was very scratch resistant. I was so happy with the color because it totally matches the color of my Palm TX.

Now to the feautures, it is your standard aluminum case that is nicely molded to the shape of your Palm TX. The inner lining is lined with Neoprene to cushion your PDA while inside the case. The only thing I noticed with other hard cases is that it seems to be lighter and thinner than other manufacturer's hard case. I think this is good because it adds very little bulk to your PDA but it still provides ample protection from falls and from being squeezed inside your bags and pockets.

The case is perfectly molded for the Palm TX and it fits snugly inside the case. The stylus, IR port, headphone port, power button, SD card slot and bottom ports all have cut outs which allows you to access them without removing the case. This is particularly helpful so you don't run the risk of damaging your Palm due to carelessly removing and replacing the PDA inside the case.

And last but not the least, the best feature of this case which sets it a million miles apart than the rest is the highly innovative and secure lock. The lock is big enough for big hands to easily grasp and open. The lock also uses a very nice locking feature that is metal in nature which gives it durability. To tell you the truth, this is something that I have never seen before and I really appreciate the attention to detail the Proporta gave to this simply but sometimes forgotten feature of a case.

I give this case 5 stars out of 5 especially when compared to other brands.

Here are the pictures that I took of the case.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/markortaliz/tags/palm/

Thanks Katrina!

My CalorieKing Experience & Review

I have used practically all of the available calorie counting diet assistant palm apps in my quest to lose some weight. In my honest opinion, they are quite similar in that they help you set weight loss (or gain) targets and they also help you keep track of all the calories that you have eaten. The only thing that separates all of the available solutions out there is the way they make it easy for you to actually enter all of your food intake into the database. And I believe that this is where CalorieKing wins.

In my use of CalorieKing, I will try to review 3 key modules of the program.

1. Food Tracking - This is where CalorieKing wins hands down against all competition. They make it easy for you track your meals because it allows you to save your most common meal combinations. For example, if you routinely consume 1 bowl of cereal + 1 skim milk, and 1 banana for breakfast you can simply save this combination and name it "favorite breakfast" Now everytime you eat this, you can simply add "favorite breakfast" and there you go! I have not seen this feature anywhere else and I was so happy that CalorieKing had this. It just makes it so much easier to track what you eat.

2. Database - I was simply amazed at the huge database that CalorieKing provides. Heck, it even has Filipino dishes there! I am from the Philippines and I eat a lot of Filipino cooking and I was surprised that CalorieKing had this in its database. Truly one big database!

3. Portion Size Flexibility - A lot of the other calorie tracking apps are not flexible in terms of entering how much you eat. Sometimes, it will make you guess how much grams you consumed of a hamburger. I mean who actually weighs their food before eating it right? Now CalorieKing actually has 1 serving size already ready for you to choose. This makes it so much easier to approximate how much food you ate. Personally for me, I don't count all the calories 100%, all I want to know is if I am close enough to the actual numbers. And this is where CalorieKing excels.

I suggest you try this one out, its so easy to use and you'll find it an integral part of your diet techniques.

www.calorieking.com

PROPORTA TUNGSTEN E/E2 ALU-LEATHER CASE REVIEW

PROPORTA ALUMINUM LEATHER CASE REVIEW

I love my Palm PDA, I love going through the different gadget shops in Manila to see what kind of cases, styli, etc are available. Unfortunately, there aren’t much gadget accessories to choose from in Manila. That is why, when Proporta invited the PA associate writers to review their products I just had to raise my hand and volunteer to do a review

Katrina from Proporta was very kind to ship out sample products to Manila. I never thought it would be possible but I am grateful to be given the opportunity to review their products. And finally, after about a month of anticipation, I finally got the items and from the moment I first opened the packaging I knew that Proporta product are on a class of its own.

The item that I will be reviewing in this post is the Proporta Alu-Leather Flip-Type Case for the Tungsten E/E2.

Packaging

The product came in a very simple plastic packaging with blue outlines and a clear front. The case is quite visible from the outside and one can quickly judge the quality of the product just by looking at the picture.

Inside the box, you will find the case of course and a small piece of foam is placed inside the case to emulate the fit of a Tungsten E/E2 inside of it. You will also find the detachable belt clip inside the packaging as well.

The Alu-Leather Case

I have had some experience with leather items before like wallets, belts and other Palm leather cases. And from what I can tell, the softness and smoothness of the leather in this product just screams out expensive and high quality. You get a really good sense of the value that your money got when you bought this case. It is simply top-notch high quality leather. The build quality is also top notch, I’ve had some cases before wherein the stitching was done so nicely but Proporta’s stitches are well done and I am sure that it will hold out quite well over time.

Proporta leather cases feature what they call the Unique Proporta “Screensaver” System. This basically means that the portion of case that covers the screen is specially designed to provide the best protection for your PDA. In this case, Proporta’s design features a 5 layer system consisting of:
1.    Leather
2.    Foam
3.    Plastic
4.    Aluminum
5.    Leather
The layering is well done and so compact that it doesn’t add any bulk to the case. It is truly a one of a kind design that other brands that I’ve seen do not use. This is a big plus for everyone as it will provide you with additional piece of mind when you put your PDA in your pants or inside your bag. You can be assured that the Proporta “Screensaver” System will ensure the safety of your PDA’s screen.

Aside from this feature, the case also offers you an optional belt-clip attachment. I personally don’t use such attachments but I did try it on. My initial thought is that it is designed in a way that allows you to secure your PDA tightly and safely on your belt. You can be ensured that the design will not fail on you and your PDA will remain attached to you no matter what.

The case also features two memory card storage slots, which is quite useful considering we are carrying more and more SD cards now that they are getting cheaper. The case also provides for a magnetic clasp which is good because I really don’t like those belt loops. The magnetic clasp provides for a good solid lock to ensure that your device in secured in place once it is closed. Another thing to note is that while the case is closed, access to the different ports is still available to you.

Case Design

The front of the leather case is quite simple and is only designed with the Proporta logo at the lower left hand. I would say that even the Proporta logo fits well with the simple and elegant design of the case itself. On the inside flap, you will see a small cut out with the Proporta name engraved in the aluminum lining. Again, the styling shows the elegant design that Proporta places on its cases. 

With the Tungsten E Inside

Installing the Tungsten E (or E2 if you have) is quite simple. You only have to slide the case’s spine into the side of the TE. The build quality of the spine ensures that your TE will not slip out of the case once inside. The fit of the unit is quite perfect and it seems that Proporta took the time to ensure that the measurements of the case fits the TE exactly as it should. Also, with the case closed, there is very little additional bulk to your TE. In fact, the little bulk added to your TE is quite tolerable considering the amount of protection and level of elegance you will feel while using it.

Another thing that I love about this case is that it allows you to flip the cover to the back of the unit. Unlike other cases that I’ve tried wherein the cover stays only half open. This design allows you to use your TE with very little distraction from the cover.

Conclusion

In Manila where value for money is such a big deal I would say that this case from Proporta is a winner. With the money that you spent, you are sure to get superior protection from their unique “Screensaver” technology. You will also get top notch leather and excellent build quality. It is very clear that Proporta put in a lot of effort in designing this case to ensure that their customers will get the best value for their money.

Also, as I’ve said in the beginning, I’ve seen my share of cases and I can assure you, there is nothing like this case one in the market out there. If you have to buy a case for your device, make sure it’s from Proporta.

Astraware Cakemania Review

I was so excited to be reviewing another Astraware game. They absolutely make the best games for the Palm. That is why when they asked if anyone wanted to review their new game I immediately volunteered. And I swear, this is definitely one of the best games that I have played so far.

The game revolves around the theme of growing your cake shop business by upgrading your kitchen tools and satisfying your customers. It is a simple game that takes very little time to understand. In fact, it is so simple that my 3.5 year old daughter was already baking and selling her own cakes after I taught her how to play. It took her less than 10 minutes to understand the concept of the game.

In terms of gameplay,the first thing that I noticed is how beautiful the game is. It is not your traditional 3-D based game but it looks more like a comic strip. The drawings are beautiful, albeit small, yet still defined enough for you to be able to distinguish buttons. It is also quite easy on your eyes and playing it for hours on end in a small screen is okay.

The game is also highly addictive, Its one of those select few games that you just want to keep on going all night long. It was so addictive that the first time my wife played it on my Palm she wouldn't give it back for almost a week. I had to get her her own copy of the game so I can get my Palm back. Now that I finally got my Palm I understand how she can get so addicted, I have actually drained my battery 2x in one day just playing this game. I can't say enough how so much fun to play this game.

Another thing that I like about this game is the fact that it is a thinking person's game. For you to be able to succeed, you have to properly strategize how you want to build your business. Do you focus on baking ovens? frosting machines? Do you invests in tools that will keep your customers happy while waiting? There is a lot of options for you to choose from and each one will determine how well you succeed.

I highly recommended that you try and buy this game when it does come out. Just make sure that you get a copy for your wife or your kids too otherwise you will not see your Palm for a long long time.

How my Palm Changed my Life

Just a quick thought on how Palm has changed my life. Before I started using a Palm, I never kept track of my tasks or planned my week. I was a disorganized wreck who lived on a day to day basis. Somehow, it did work but it wasn't really the most efficient way to live a life.
But now I feel that I have fully taken over of my life. I keep track of all the things that I need to do whether its my personal or office tasks. I feel that I have less stress in life knowing what I need to do and which one I need to do first. I honestly feel that I owe it to my Palm.
I wish everyone can see the tremendous value that a Palm can bring into their life. It's not just a "toy".

The Intuitiveness of Palm OS

I remember when I was in college my professor told my friend that the best way to get a feel of how intuitive your user interface is is to let a child play with it. If the child can find her way around it then you know you have a good design.
I recently tested that theory with my 3 year old daughter and my Palm. In no time, I noticed that she was already switching between games that I had installed. She also loved the notepad program and somehow she learned how to change the pen and paper colors. Its amazing how well she can use my Palm now. She usually just borrows it from me and next thing I know she's either drawing doodles or playing games.
Now if there was a way to prevent her from accidentally deleting data.

How I used my Palm today

Here's a rundown of how I used my Tungsten C today.

0500: My palm automatically connects to my home network and downloads my updated RSS feeds. I have about 40 feeds, mostly Palm blogs and baseball related blogs. (Quicknews)
0600: My palm's alarm goes off and I slooooowly get up from my bed and head off to the bathroom. (Palm built-in clock)
0615: As I do my morning bathroom routines, my palm is downloading my emails from GMail. (Snappermail)
0700: While eating breakfast, I finally read my RSS feeds. I flag all interesting articles and save them for the commute to the office.
0730: Read all interesting feeds while on the way to work.
0830: Settled in at work. I check my calendar and review my todo list. I am a heavy user of Agendus ever since they introduced the matriz prioritization functionality. Its great when you believe in Stephen Covey's Seven Habits. (Agendus v11)
1100: I had a meeting and I jotted down what we discussed in my Lotus Notes Journal Database. Afterwards, I synched it to my Palm Memopad database where I store all my meeting minutes. (Intellisync)
1600: Reviewed all my tasks for the day and entered in some new tasks.
1800: Read an eBook on my way home. (iSilo)
1900: Checked my GMail again using Snappermail
2030: Write this post and publish it to PalmAddicts just by using my Palm. (TypePad Mobile)

Well, that's it for my usual day. I don't know what I will do without my Palm. I'd probably feel lost and disorganized.