ArchiveOctober, 2008

I’m writing this post using Windows Mobile… on my 42” TV screen. It’s made possible by using the VGA output on the REDFLY mobile companion from Celio. What is it, you ask? The REDFLY device is like a miniature laptop without the hard drive or processor. Well, heck, it’s pretty much just an 8” screen with a keyboard, two USB ports, VGA output, and Bluetooth connectivity.

Although this device is only as powerful as your Windows Mobile phone, it will still impress mobile-heads who are content with the power of their devices. Think of the REDFLY mobile companion as something that could help make your next flight more enjoyable. Browsing the web and writing or replying to e-mails on an 8” screen makes a big difference. The bottom line is if your phone can do everything you need, a laptop is unnecessary and the REDFLY device should serve you well for only $199.

I enjoyed using REDFLY with Google maps while driving; I installed it on my HTC Mogul 6800 and it worked surprisingly well. With the device in my passenger seat, I was able to glance at it occasionally (without squinting at my phone this time) and navigate the infamous one-way streets of Washington D.C. without getting the bird! Thanks Celio.

Read more…

Earlier this week I was invited to attend the Sprint HTC Touch Diamond and Touch Pro launch event and training seminar, and I can only respond with a resounding “wow”. I’ve heard all the hype about different devices being “iPhone killers” and I’ve always felt like they came up short… but not these new HTC devices!

The new HTC Touch Diamond (which connects through the ridiculously fast Sprint Now network) has a similar form-factor to the iPhone, with a large touch-screen display and an elegantly simple user-interface. The Touch Pro adds a slide-out 5-row keypad, microSD removable memory (which is rumored to support the new 16GB microSD cards), a flash for the camera (this can be used as a handy flashlight as well), and a business card reader.

I could go on all day about the basic features and awesome specs that both the Diamond & the Pro have, but you can find all that on our Wirefly product pages (Touch Diamond, Touch Pro). Instead, let me “touch” on the REALLY cool features.

The mantra of these awesome HTC cell phones is simple: “everything I do is just a touch away.”

Read more…

It’s finally here: the Google phone. As most observers know by now, the “Google” phone is actually just the first of a family of cell phones which will support Google’s new mobile operating system, Android. Since it’s the first, though, it’s certainly the most anticipated. We got our hands on a preview model over the weekend, and offer some thoughts:

Form/Design

The G1’s shape and form factor is… utilitarian. The iPhone proved that simplicity sells, and, in that sense, the G1 succeeds, with one large display, four small buttons, and a trackball on its face. It’s a very clean presentation. But it doesn’t quite grab you. It’s just a little too plain, lacking the glossy finish or unique tapered edges of other devices.

The spring-loaded slider mechanism, however, is excellent. The beautiful screen slips sideways to reveal a full QWERTY keyboard; when open, the display hangs off the body of the phone while still feeling solidly attached. It’s a nicely designed element that leaves the G1 feeling spacious while in use.

The G1 is relatively heavy, weighing in at 5.6 ounces. It’s also fairly thick, thanks to the QWERTY keyboard. Neither of these facts are a strike against it, though; the G1 isn’t intended as a super-slim phone that disappears in your pocket. I rather liked its heft, since this is such a high-functioning device. I’d rather handle a sturdy smartphone than a featherweight.

In the end, the physical look and feel of the G1 is solid, but not nearly as alluring as some of HTC’s other recent efforts, like the Touch Diamond. Read more…

With the arrival of the iPhone and Samsung’s Instinct operating on 3G networks, cell phone users can now email, text, and surf the web at lightning speeds. A speedy network with a strong signal brings faster-loading Web pages, quick e-mail delivery and smoother video streams. On the contrary, slow data speeds and spotty network coverage means you may wait until you get to work or home before jumping online via computer. Wireless carriers all make similar promises of blazingly fast mobile Internet, even more so now with 3G, or third-generation, wireless. So what are the general differences between the networks of AT&T, Verizon Wireless, Sprint and T-Mobile and their top devices on these networks?
Read more…

The Samsung Instinct for Sprint is much more than a cutting edge touchscreen phone. It’s a phone that allows complete control through well designed menus built to save you time and to streamline your mobile activity. If you demand powerful multimedia features such as a 2.0 megapixel camera, built-in GPS, or the ability to surf the web at broadband speeds the Samsung Instinct is your savior.

Features:
• Exciting Sprint Phone With Tactile Touchscreen Technology.
• Advanced Bluetooth Wireless Streams Stereo Music.
• Motion-Based Technology Changes Display Orientation.
• Control Everything Through The Large Touch Display.
• 2.0 Megapixel Camera/Camcorder To Capture The Moment.
• Use Built-In GPS To Take Advantage of Sprint Navigation.
• Visit Your Favorite Web Sites At Broadband Speeds.
• Expandable Memory Through Memory Card Slot.

Follow your instinct and get this touchscreen masterpiece.

Nokia announced recently the launch of its first touch-screen phone, the 5800 XpressMusic.

And apparently this is just the beginning.

Gadgetell is quoting Nokia’s marketing director as saying, “We will have lot of touchscreen phones coming up, including an N-series device very soon.”

The touch-screen revolution continues to roll on. Love ‘em or hate ‘em, all thanks to Apple for lighting a fire under the rest of the cell phone manufacturers.

Ever thought you found the most ridiculously good deal in a store, only to realize after the fact that you could’ve saved more by shopping online – or vice versa? Yeah, it’s happened to all of us.

It would be nice if you could know at that very last moment before purchasing if you were getting the best deal, right? Now you can – thanks to your cell phone and a sweet little idea called Frucall.

Read more…