9 posts tagged “gadgets”

Over a million iPhones have been sold.  Have you: bought one, considered it, or decided it's not for you?

I bought an iPhone the day they were released back in June for both professional and personal reasons (after all, I write about tech for a living). Barring a few quirks and lacking features, it is hands down the best and most enjoyable mobile phone I've ever owned. Syncing my contacts with my computer so I don't have to constantly change information between the two is a dream, and having the full internet and my favorite iTunes stuff with me all in one device is darn nice.

Some of the quirks are admittedly a bummer though. For example: you can't text message more than one person at a time (yet), and you can't search e-mail. But those problems are part of the reason I like the iPhone so much (no, seriously, just hear me out). The fact that Apple makes it dead-simple to update the iPhone with new software through iTunes just like the iPod means that it can add new features that owners request. In fact, it's already done this with three updates so far—Apple has added new e-mail features, fixed some of those little quirks all mobile phones have and, more recently, added the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store for wireless shopping wherever you go.

I would definitely recommend this phone for most people, but it obviously won't fit the bill for everyone. People who live and die by having their entire e-mail archive with them at all times (and searchable) should probably look elsewhere. But for most folks who carry around an iPod and a mobile phone for at least part of their daily work (or want to), I think the iPhone is one of the best gadgets available for the money, and it will only get better with time since Apple has openly promised upgrades and new features in the coming months and years.

While I can't afford Wil Shipley-sized bets just yet, I can say this: I got $10 that says the iPhone is opened to 3rd party development on June 11th, the day of Steve Jobs' keynote at WWDC 2007. Now it might be some sort of a managed development process, where apps need to be submitted to and cleared by Apple in order to get listed on some closed iPhone Downloads page, but I'm still throwing down that the iPhone opens up in at least some basic fashion straight out the gate.

All this talk about 3rd party apps 'bringing down the network' is for the birds - developers, start your engines!

Originally published at 1FPS | David Chartier. You can comment here or there.

I bought the Open Face Leather Case ($30 as shown) from Fortte for my Samsung BlackJack, and I just uploaded a new photo set at 1FPS of some pics I took. The case includes a belt clip, but unfortunately this model offers no screen protection, so I'm kind of glad I also bought the ShieldZone Full Body Shield ($25) as well. However, it's worth pointing out that you can get just the screen shield from them for a mere $11 instead. It is also worth pointing out that Fortte makes a Glove Fit Case that basically has one giant piece of clear plastic over the entire face of the phone, but it looks to me as though that setup would essentially ruin type-ability. Anyone care to weigh in?

I tried to shoot all the relevant pics I could think of, but if you want my overall opinion: I'm satisfied. Keep in mind, Fortte is one of those leather case shops that lets you customize the heck out of your case, complete with an embossing option, but I opted to keep it old school with simple black leather. Fortte also offers a couple of clip options, so you're pretty well covered with choices.

The case itself is nice and thin, adding about as little girth to the case as possible. The nub on the back for the wratchet clip I opted for doesn't ruin the case when using it without the clip either; the phone + case is still very pocket-able.

One thing this case doesn't do, unfortunately, is the extended battery setup which I have also taken pics of. The case is just too good of a fit on the phone's standard design, so you extended battery die-hards are going to have to keep looking.

Let me know if you have any questions. I can take more pics on request, but I'll need some time.

Originally published at 1FPS | David Chartier. You can comment here or there.

I think I'm catching insomnia or something; is there an epidemic going around again? Regardless, I just went bonkers and added a bazillion books and albums in my media sections (check the sidebar); Vox just makes this too darn easy. They need to add some sort of 'Gadgets' category so I can surf Amazon and whatnot to add stuff like my MacBook, BlackJack and iPod to the list.

Um, yea... about the battery life on the BlackJack? Turns out that second battery is getting to be a bit of a pain. I decided to ante up for that extended 1800 mAh battery from WirelessGalaxy (the shipping batteries are 1200 mAh). If you aren't doing a lot of data on the BlackJack though, you can probably save the $40.

In other news: does anyone want a standard BlackJack battery? Mint condition. I just think 3 batteries for a phone, even a Smartphone, is a bit too much. They sell retail for $30, so how about $20 with free US shipping?

Originally published at 1FPS. You can comment here or there.

Since I have now spent almost a full week with my new Samsung BlackJack i607 Smartphone and I've had some good comments and questions on my original review here and at 1FPS, I thought I'd post a follow-up with some more observations on this most excellent of phones. As originally promised, I have more good and bad things to cover, though I still must say that I am extremely pleased with the purchase.

• The size and weight of this phone are a dream. Like I mentioned before, I've never held a Motorola Q, but this thing is slim, sexy and light as a feather.
• Samsung was clever when crafting the behavior of the keys that surround the number buttons in relation to dialing. Since the number keys are separated by verticle rows of letters, getting used to dialing on this phone can take a little time (though I am pretty comfortable with it by now). If you miss a number key and hit one of the adjacent letters while dialing, it will still register as the number it is directly next to. Smart.
• The handy 'Wireless Manager' (accessibly by pressing - not holding - the power button) makes it a cinch to toggle the phone and bluetooth radio activity.
• The 1.3MP camera seems to shoot pretty decent pictures, though the viewfinder is oddly slow on framerate, which makes finding the actual shot you want to take a little irksome at times.
• The UI and Home screen are pretty customizable. Again I don't know if this is a Microsoft Smartphone ability or something Samsung baked in, but there are a lot of useful formats/themes to chose for maximizing your use of displaying vital info (meetings, new SMS, new email, etc.) front and center.
• Samsung includes a multi-protocol chat client seemingly free of charge with the phone. Even the 8125/8525 don't get that. I need to check with Cingular to find out how they bill chatting (last I heard they counted those as SMS, though I also heard an unlimited Smartphone data plan would cover it), but it's a very capable client with good IM/buddy list management tools and UI.
• The second battery and external charger are a great addition. I think the phone gets a good stretch out of its battery, but having a second backup for those long days or forgetful nights is darn handy.

Originally published at 1FPS. You can comment here or there.

It seems like all the cool kids are doing mini-reviews of technolust-worthy gadgets these days, and I'll be darned if I haven't been striving to roll w/the cool kids since I found out cool was cool. So to keep things short and sweet, here's my mini-review of Samsung's new BlackJack i607 Smartphone.

Disclaimer, or: "oops, did I buy that?"

For starters, I wasn't planning on buying a BlackJack - I walked into the store looking for a Cingular 8525, a more beefed up, true-blue Pocket PC phone with a larger touch screen, Wi-Fi and a more roomy keyboard. The store didn't have any 8525s, but the sales guy mentioned that they had, however, gotten a little device in called the BlackJack instead, and that it was a 'Windows Smartphone.' Since the Cingular 8525 didn't have 'smart' in its title, and since I had 30 days to return a phone, I figured I'd give the BJ a try. After all, people buy phones with embedded keyboards to look smart, right?

I should also get out of the way that I'm a card-carrying Mac user (and blogger at TUAW), which naturally meant that I had to buy the Missing Sync to get the BJ to shake hands with Mac OS X. Also, I'm pretty familiar with Microsoft's Pocket PC and Windows Mobile software, as I've used nearly every iteration since it was called "Windows CE" on retail floors, though I've never used a neutered Smartphone before. Now, on with trying to keep this review mini.

What I like

This thing is small - freaking small. Keep in mind I was aiming to spend the next year or two with a brick in my pocket, so I was admittedly surprised at this 180. It's incredibly pocketable, and I'm already forgetting that 85-whichamadinger device I was thinking of buying. The BJ is also apparently supposed to be Cingular's Q-killer, and while I'm not really the murderous type and I've never held a Q, all the other reviews I've found say the BJ puts it to shame. I wonder which phone will insta-obliterate my BJ next week? Oh well, it'll be a fun ride while it lasts.

The phone itself is a pleasure to use and hold. The tiny-ass keyboard is growing on me (though I still prefer the 8125/8525's less claustrophobic 'board by far), and the BlackBerry-like scroll wheel on the right side makes getting around a breeze. Dedicated Home and 'Back' buttons are very nice additions to the two soft keys for getting around in the OS.

The screen is {bleeping} gorgeous. That's right - I had to bleep myself. I've used a lot of phones from a lot of manufacturers, and I have to say this 320 x 240 display is one of the most crisp, bright and all-around enjoyable to look at that I've ever seen, especially on any kind of smart/PDA device. Text looks fantastic and is surprisingly anti-aliased; I'm happy to read email and long RSS feed entries on this thing (sidenote: NewsBreak is the best Pocket PC/Windows Mobile/Smartphone RSS reader I've ever used, and a version is offered for all three platforms).

The software is also a surprise - at first, Microsoft's Smartphone seems to be a true watered down "Windows Mobile for Dummies," as it is severely crippled from its big brother. After some tinkering and actually cracking the included manual, however, I found some nice perks. An always-accessible application launcher can be opened by holding in the scroll wheel button, and Samsung included various apps like a notepad, a chat app, and even their own RSS reader. Seeing as how this phone is being marketed for the masses (it even supports Cingular's new music and video services), it seems to be a well-rounded offering, especially since the more business oriented PDA phones don't get many of these niceties. The phone is, for the most part, snappy, though on occasion it can get a little sluggish if I open a ton of apps.

Call quality is stellar. I've been on almost every service provider offered in the Denver, CO area, and I've always preferred the sound quality of Sprint phone calls. Nevermind coverage and dropping calls and all that business - they simply have the best, clearest sounding phones I've ever used. This BJ is refreshingly the first GSM-based phone I've picked up that gets respectably close to usurping that preference.

Data transfer is pretty zippy. I signed up for their unlimited Smartphone data plan, which costs the exact same $20 as their MediaNet plan I had on the recently-deceased SonyEricsson phone I'm replacing. This BJ is a big deal for mobile data freaks, as it is apparently Cingular's second phone that works on all their data networks, including the much-hyped new HSPDA they're slowly rolling out. I haven't hooked this thing up to my MacBook to use it as a modem yet, and I'm honestly not even sure if that's possible (or even if HSPDA is here in CO), but email and surfing are definitely the quickest I've ever used on Cingular, at least in Westminster, CO.

As a surprising bonus, the BJ comes not only with a second battery, but a clever external housing the charger can plug into, allowing you to always have a backup battery ready and raring to go. I haven't given this thing a serious battery shakedown just yet, but it seems to go quite a ways. I imagine they included a second for all those users out there who are going to take full advantage of the music, XM streaming and video capabilities. The charger, by the way, has a proprietary, non-mini-USB connector. A lot of people understandably whine when these companies pull this stunt, and it's certainly something to be conscious of before purchasing, especially if you're the type that likes to keep extra chargers lying around.

What I don't like

These damn keyboards feel like they're designed for mice; it's definitely taking some getting used to, but I'm getting there. If you ask me, they should still include a stylus with these non-touch-screen Smartphone devices just to help people nail the right keys on the keyboard. I'm not a big guy either; I'm 5' 8" with small, hobbit-like hands.

The previously mentioned watering down of this OS is also an unfortunate, though manageable, drawback. A "Picsel Viewer" app is included for viewing Office docs, PDFs and plain TXT files, but it sucks - it can't wrap text, so you're constantly zooming in/out or panning left/right. Editing is out of the question, unless you ante up for some of the "well you bought a PDA so you must be loaded" overpriced software from 3rd parties. I swear, PDA software devs could really benefit from some economics classes.

There are also various annoying quirks about the OS, such as its inability to add due dates/alarms to tasks, while calendar events have all the necessary date/length/alarm/notes goodies. Samsung, interestingly, saw this and added their own strangely titled "D-Day" app, which basically fills this tasks void, but unfortunately doesn't integrate with desktop PIM equivalents like Outlook on PC or iCal/Entourage on my Mac. I can understand how stuff like this could be a deal-breaker for mobile business pros, but for a consumer enthusiast such as myself, I can get over it. I primarily want this thing for basic push email (4SmartPhone.net rocks as an indie push service so far, by the way), basic surfing and those occasional epiphany moments on the go; I'm not reviewing quarterly Excel earnings reports while bustling around downtown and closing billion dollar buyouts.

Conclusion

I really like this phone, and Microsoft's Smartphone platform is growing on me. Sure, it'd be great if Apple cranked out an iPhone one of these years, and they might even do it in January, but my SE phone kicked the bucket on me and I needed something now. The BJ's $300 upgrade price with a $100 rebate to top it off was surprisingly appetizing, and I even had the fortunate luck of the Cingular store mis-pricing mine, letting me walk out the door with a $200 upgrade price. If Cingular still honors the rebate, I will have snagged a $500 Smartphone for $100 - not bad for being in a pinch.

I know billions of reviews are cropping up, but I'm happy to answer any questions if you got 'em. This is a great phone overall, and while I'll miss some of the 8525's more robust capabilities, the BJ turned out to be just too darn good of a value for the money, and for my pocket.

Over the next few days, I plan on writing a follow-up post after I put this thing through more of its paces. More good, bad and ugly to come. Stay tuned.