Aug
12
Written by: Mike Temporale
Tuesday, August 12, 2008 2:30pm
A while ago I received a travel charger for my Samsung BlackJack II. This charger is sold, or at least it’s my understanding that it’s available from AT&T stores as a replacement for the standard charger that comes in the box. I already had a charger, so I didn’t really pay too much attention to it. That is, until the other day when I thought it would be a smart idea to leave one charger at work and one at home. Then I wouldn’t have to carry a cable around with me and I could be sure that the 2 most common places that I am usually at, has a charger for my device.
The above is a picture of the two charger cables. The one on the right is the standard cable that comes with the BlackJack II. The cable on the left is the “travel” charger that is available as an accessory from AT&T. Do you notice anything special about these two units? The biggest difference is the size. The travel charger is actually larger than the standard charge cable. I would have expected that the travel version is smaller and easier to pack into baggage. But this cable is actually bigger and thicker!
I snapped these pictures to show the size comparison between the two. You can clearly see that the standard charger is not nearly as wide or as deep as the travel version. With the exception of losing the original charger or requiring a second one for some reason, why would anyone purchase this accessory? It doesn’t add any travel value, in my opinion anyway. The only thing it has that adds any value over the original is the fold down prongs. Given the larger footprint, I can still pack the original cable and save space over the travel charger - regardless of the prongs being folded down or not.
It’s an nice design and the folding prongs is a cool feature, but I just don’t see this as being a worth-while purchase for travelling. Especially when the original is still smaller all around. Save your money and if you really need a spare, I would invest in a USB outlet adapter instead. Then you can charge more than just your phone. 
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Jul
24
Written by: Mike Temporale
Thursday, July 24, 2008 2:15pm
 There are a number of different applications out there that will backup your Windows Mobile device. Some do it over ActiveSync from your desktop while others actually run on the device and save the backup to a storage card. Most of these apps are pretty good and provide a great way to create a 100% image of your device. However, for me, I just want to backup my contacts and appointments - my PIM data. If I’m out roaming the world and my device has some major crash, having a copy of my contacts and appointments that I can restore to the device after a hard reset is imperative. I already keep a folder on my MicroSD card with all the CAB files for the applications I use. So I can reinstall them without much concern. The other advantage of backing up just the contacts and appointments is that they can easily be restored to a different device in the case where my device meets an early demise.
To do a complete backup of your all your PIM data on a device, I’ve been using a free application from “Dot Fred”. You can download a copy from his website - www.dotfred.net. It’s not that pretty an application, but when it comes to functionality, it’s top notch. If you’re looking at running this on a Smartphone, be prepared for a little more work as the interface is clearly designed for tapping on. It can still be used, but there’s a lot of scrolling and tabbing around at times.
 PIM Backup doesn’t just backup your contacts and appointments, it also backs up the speed dial settings you’ve created along, call logs, messages, and there is even a custom option that allows you to select individual files or folders that you want to include in the backup. Once you’ve selected everything, you can select the destination for the backup along with creating a schedule for when you want it to run.
The only drawback that I have found in my use of this app, besides the poor interface for non-touch screen devices, is that it on restore it doesn’t create the mailboxes for the messages to go in. If you create the account first and then run restore, it will put them back into that inbox, but for whatever reason, it doesn’t create that account. I’m hoping that this is something that can be added in the future. For me, it’s the only thing missing on an otherwise great backup application. Regardless of that, you can’t go wrong for the price! Dot Fred has done a great job on this utility.
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Jun
22
Written by: Mike Temporale
Sunday, June 22, 2008 10:00am
 The first thing you will notice when you pick up the Samsung i620 is just how small it is and how well it fits in your hands. Samsung is really on to something with this ultra small sliding form factor. It’s the right size for any pocket or purse, and it’s a lot of fun to hold and slide open/shut. I often found myself sliding the phone just for the sake of sliding it. The sliding mechanism is so smooth and the spring action really helps to pop the phone open. I’ve used other sliding phones, but never have they had such a nice slider/spring combination.
Once you held the phone and played with the slider for a good couple minutes, you’re going to start to wonder about the specs of this little guy. It’s a European-based Tri-band device, which means it supports GSM 900/1800/1900 frequencies. Which works great if you’re in the EMEA, but if you’re North American based, this device will have mixed results when it comes to cellular reception. If Samsung had managed to include one more band, then this phone would be a sure fire hit in North America. I’ve heard rumours that there is a North American Tri-band device that is going to be released in the fall of 2008, but at this point I haven’t been able to confirm anything. Aside from the cellular bands supported, the phone also features GPRS/EDGE/3G HSDPA at 1.8 Mbps, 64MB RAM, 128MB ROM, MicroSD support, Bluetooth v2 with A2DP, 2 Megapixel camera, VGA video-call camera, and measures 113mm x 59mm x 11.8mm with a weight of 95 grams. [more...]
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Jun
8
Written by: Mike Temporale
Sunday, June 8, 2008 8:37am
I’ve tested out a number of wireless keyboards in the past, but never really found one that I liked or worked well enough for me to continue to use it every day. I had a chance to play with Apple’s ultra slim Bluetooth keyboard recently, and I have to say that I was pretty impressed. To start with, this thing is super thin and light weight. It’s truly an impressive keyboard when you hold it in your hand. Apple did a great job on the design - no real surprise there. Two AA batteries are inserted in the tube at the top of the keyboard to power it. Even the screw to open and close the battery compartment is well thought out. It’s a deep thread and only requires a short half turn to open or close. So you’re not twisting the screw forever just to swap batteries. The overall feel when typing is quite nice. The keys are easy to press and spaced at a normal space, or at what feels like a normal spacing to me.
To install this keyboard, Apple’s instructions tell you to install the software on your computer and then follow the prompts on your screen. Which works really well if you are installing this on your computer. I however was not. Like a true mobile geek, I wanted to pair it with my Smartphone before doing anything else. That’s natural, right?  So, I fired up the keyboard and the little green light started to flash which means that the keyboard is in discovery mode. I searched for new devices from my Smartphone and instantly made the connection. Unfortunately, that’s where the fun ended. Apple’s manual doesn’t tell you the pairing code. If I had walked through the desktop install I might have known a little more about how this works, but in all reality, Apple should have put the steps into their manual so people wouldn’t have to guess at how it works. Not everyone is buying the keyboard to use with a desktop. After trying the standard pairing codes to no success, I did some searching around the internet and figured out that there is no default value set. You need to enter the code on the device and then on the keyboard in order to pair it. So once it’s entered on your mobile device, hit next or done on the device and turn to the keyboard and enter the same code followed by pressing the enter key. Presto - You’ve now paired the units, enjoy! Using this process, I was able to pair the keyboard with 2 different Windows Mobile devices and a BlackBerry unit too.
I think the keyboard is big on style, small on size and great on functionality. My only real complaints are the lack of documentation and the price. While it’s not super expensive, it’s more than I would be willing to pay for a wireless keyboard. Perhaps in 4 or 5 months the price will drop down to a more reasonable range. I only say this because I don’t need a wireless keyboard to do my daily work. If you’re in need of wireless keyboard action, this is a great choice. Check one out and see for yourself.
Unfortunately, the keyboards weren’t in the office for very long before they left to see action at a conference. Once they return in a couple weeks I will snap some pictures of the units along side some mobile devices and even a standard desktop keyboard. Tune back here in a couple weeks and I should have the pictures for you.
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