Grab your iPhone or Android device and point your browser to http://aka.ms/wpdemo. You’re looking at a demo site pre-loaded with contacts and details to give you the full experience. The site is smart enough to know if you’re hitting it from a Windows Phone, or from IE on your desktop. The demo loaded just fine for me on the Galaxy Tab, and on my iPhone 4. Although, at first it was a little slow to download. I’m sure that’s just related to the large volume of people hitting it. I also had to turn of Private Browsing on the iPhone’s Safari settings to get the page to finish loading.

Each of the live tiles on the home screen provides a quick sample tour of that element on the phone. A little blue circle provides you with an indication of where to tap next and what features are revealed. For example, tapping the Calendar walks you through how the experience of viewing and adding entries to the calendar on Windows Phone. Tapping on the Pictures hub will launch you into the pictures and show you how you can quickly share an image on Facebook.

Don’t be shy, grab your friends iPhone and take a tour of Windows Phone today!

The free app has launched on iPhone, Android, and BlackBerry. In just a few quick taps I was able to see a listing of the departure time for trains from my local station. The only thing it didn’t tell me, was what track I needed to be waiting on. I can understand why they might have decided to leave this out of the app, as the track can often change at the last minute. However, it is the one key thing that everyone is fighting to see when they get to the station. You can see the track listed under the Union Station info, but it’s missing when I look up a specific train/station departure.

If you live in Ontario, more specifically, in the GTA – and you use the train a little or a lot, this is a handy app to have on your device!

Apple has released v5.01 of iOS that addresses the battery problems that many have been reporting, along with improved voice recognition for Australian users, multitasking gestures for the iPad, and some bugs. The overall update was 45MB and the process was pretty smooth. My device was connected over WiFi and pulled the update in about 2 minutes. A quick install and reboot and it was all over.

The first thing you need to do, is have iOS 5 installed on your device. Version 5 adds support for Over-The-Air updates. If you don’t have iOS5, you’ll have to download and update using iTunes on your computer.

To kick off the update, simply launch Settings, and tap on General / Software Update. The phone will automatically check for any updates and walk you through the process of downloading and installing. As with any software update, you should make sure your device has been backed up – iCloud backup is great for this, and has a full charge on the battery, or at least plug it in. That’s all you have to do. Happy updating!

Got yourself an iPhone 4s? Or maybe a Galaxy S II? Ever wonder what would happen if you dropped it on concrete? Actually, it’s not hard to predict the outcome. Samsung has outfitted the Galaxy S II line of devices with Dow Corning’s Gorilla Glass to help resist against any scratches or cracks. For the record, Gorilla Glass doesn’t prevent damage, it just reduces the chance of damage. It’s still possible to break the glass. Apple did have a scratch resistant screen prior to the 4 series, and maybe it’s still present on todays devices. However, with the glass going right to the edge of the phone, it introduces an increased chance of damage when dropped. And there’s no end to the tweets and posts about broken screens on the iPhone 4.

The above images are the before shots. You’ll have to watch the video to see the results. Take a view and share your thoughts.

Watch this video on YouTube.

And because having new versions isn’t enough, Ilium is also kicking off a big Back to School sale starting on Monday. Fro a limited time, eWallet GO! for iOS, Android, and Windows Phone will be priced at just $0.99. That means you can pickup the premier digital wallet program for just a dollar! At the same time, the desktop version of eWallet (for Windows and Mac) will be free. So you can outfit all your devices, and all of your friends for next to nothing. Once the new auto-sync features make it over to the other platforms, I’ll be able to keep my eWallet sync’ed on every device and desktop I use – that’s pretty impressive.

If you’re not familiar with Ilium, or their eWallet GO! application, I strongly suggest you head over to their web site and read about it. These guys have been doing secure information management on mobile devices since 1997. Check them out!

For me, there are 2 key things when I’m buying a Bluetooth headset, 1) the quality of the audio picked up by the headset, and 2) the quality of the audio I hear in my ear from the headset. Typically, the manufacturers focus on the audio quality being sent to the person you are talking with. They add all these great features (noise cancellation) to help clear up your voice in a noise area and make it sound like you’re sitting at your desk on a regular land line. In the pursuit of this, they tend to forget that I still need to be able to hear the other person clearly in my ear. The volume has to be loud enough that I can hear them in a crowded place, and it would be nice if the speaker was decent enough so that I could hear them clearly and without all those crackles and pops.

Enter SoundID. The 510 is the first headset I have used that has it’s own app that runs on your phone allowing you to customize the audio quality that you hear in your ear. It also has a host of other cool features, like a touch sensor that allows me to easily crank up or down the volume without having to fumble around headset feeling for those super small buttons.

Let’s start with a walk through of the iPhone app that allows you to configure the 510. The first thing to note is that this app is also available for Android and BlackBerry devices – sadly, there is no Windows Phone app at this point. Hopefully that will come in the not too distant future.

When you launch the EarPrint app, it will try and communicate with the headset, so make sure that it is turned on and already paired with your phone.

The Personal tab is where you can customize the audio settings of your headset. To adjust the settings, just tap and drag the ID logo around the screen until you get the configuration that you like the best. As you move it around the screen, the software is tweaking the bass and treble accordingly. This works for both music and phone calls.

On the Level tab, you’ll find a reading of the audio around the headset. This will display the current level of audio that the headset is picking up. Green is nice and low, Orange is an indication of normal to loud audio, and Red means that the current audio levels around the headset are considered high and it could result in hearing damage with prolonged exposure. It’s a handy tool to help you figure out what the best level of background noise is for your optimal listening environment. You can’t always control the environment, but at least this way you can better understand the conditions you’re currently in.

The Battery tab provides information about the battery and firmware details of the headset and EarPrint software. No more quessing about how much charge is left on the headset, the information is right there in the EarPrint app for you. Remember when you would never know how much ink is left in your printer cartridges? When they added an indication to the desktop printer drivers that showed this information, it really changed printing. You always knew what you had left. Now that same feeling is here for your headset. I hated not knowing what kind of charge was left on my headset. EarPrint fixes that for me. 

The Tools tab offers some really nice additions. First off, is Rest across the top. Selecting this requires a confirmation step and will then reset the headset back to factory settings. It will even result in the WiFi settings getting erased from the headset. Next up, EarPrint gives you a quick In Call status indicator option. Enabling this feature will cause a little LED on the headset to flash green when you are on a call, in hopes that others will notice that you are in a call and not interrupt you. Next up is Noise Reduction. You have the ability to turn on and off Noise Reduction. So you can quickly test and see what provides the best possible audio for the person on the other end of the phone. Next up, there’s Pass Thru Mode – this will take the audio around you that the noise cancellation mic’s are picking up, and it will play it back in your ear. This way, you won’t suffer from one ear picking up all the audio around you,while the other doesn’t hear a sound until the phone rings.

The last option on the Tools tab, is to find your lost or misplaced headset. To do this, simply click the Find My Headset button. You will be presented with a typical “are you sure” warning as well as a notice that a loud audio noise will be played from the headset. I have yet to misplace the headset. Although, I’m sure it will happen eventually and this option makes it so much easier to handle if or when it does happen to you.

The headset may not be the smallest thing on the market, and I think that’s a good thing, as I find the super small headsets can be too small and easily lost, as well they seem to have a harder time with the noise cancellation features.

Looking at the headset, you will only see 2 physical buttons. Well, technically it’s 1 switch and 1 button. The switch is for on /off functionality and works so much better than other headsets where you have to press and hold a multi-function button for a certain amount of time in order to get the same functionality. The button on the face of the headset is the main button that you will use to interact with the unit. What you don’t notice is the touch pad that runs down the outside of the device. The button is your one-stop place to kick off voice commands and what have you. The touch pad allows you to quickly and easily adjust the volume of the ear piece. Placing your finger in the middle of the touch pad and sliding it to the the back of the device will turn down the volume and doing the reverse will turn up the volume. To mute, simply place your finger on the touch pad for approximately 2 seconds.

Another feature that you won’t see is the 3 noise cancelling microphones. These are located under the metal grill that runs down the side of the ear piece. One microphone is located at the rear of the device, another at the front, and a third is located about three quarters of the way towards the front. According to SoundID, this configuration helps to isolate speech and reduce wind and general background noise. During my tests, the noise cancellation worked very well. Most people could still tell that I was using some sort of hands free unit, however it did sound clear and I never had anyone complain about background noise.

When you look at the back of the unit you’ll find a MicroUSB port for charging the device. MicroUSB is used on most smartphones these days, so it makes charging this a dream since it will use the same cable as your phone. No more messy collection of cables in the car to charge all your gadgets.

The 510 I received came in a small box with Demo Unit stamped on the outside of it. So I can’t talk about the device is presented in the retail package or how easy/hard it might be to free from the packaging. Inside the box you’ll find a headset along with a small wall adapter with a USB port of charging with, a 6-inch MicroUSB cable, a holster for the headset, and a small box that contains 2 additional ear buds, a plastic over the ear loop, and a foam mesh to use on the end along with the over the ear loop. And the only other thing in the box is a little quick start guide giving you all the information you need to pair the unit with your phone, change the earloops, and of course, how to operate the unit. While the extra’s are nice, I mainly used the holster for protecting it from getting lost or damaged. I clipped it in the car so it’s always there are easy to access. The USB plug is nice and compact – I actually carry that in my bag for use with charging any of my USB devices.

I’ve been using the 510 for the last month or so, and it has yet to let me down. I’m getting a nice long life out of a charge and I continually play with the sound settings during calls. I have to admit that I’m finding it fun to tweak it for the best audio for every call. Sometimes the best is no different than the previous call. But it’s still fun to try out new settings.

The SoundID 510 can be purchased for $129.99 directly from the SoundID website. If you look around, you’ll can find it for less from one of the partners listed on their site. Best Buy Canada sells it for $99.95. Fry’s sells it for $109.95. And there’s the advantage that you could pick it up from one of those partners which means no shipping costs.

If you’re in the market for a new Bluetooth headset, and you’re looking for something with a little more than the regular run of the mill Bluetooth, the SoundID with the EarPrint app is a very cool combo and well worth investigating.

There are 2 main ways for devices to update their clocks. Older Windows Mobile based devices would have a system event that would fire off at a given date/time and automatically update the clock. The problem with this, is that it requires an update to the device if there is every a change to the start or end of DST, as was the case back in 2007 when most of the United States and Canada switched to the first Sunday in March and November. The other way to handle a DST change is through time synchronization with the network. This requires a data connection on the device and removes the reliance on the device storing the physical date and time. Of course, this introduces a problem with updating when there is no data connection.

The best solution is somewhere in between. Since many devices already receive the correct time and date information from the cellular network making travelling easy and DST changes are powered by the cellular network. Of course, adding in a local element would mean you can safely cover off if no cellular connection is available.

My iPhone currently doesn’t have an active cellular connection. It’s in airplane mode, so the radio is turned off, but I have enabled the WiFi and it’s connected to my network. My iPhone 4 running 4.3, has not picked up on the DST change and is still showing the time as being off by an hour. If I check under settings, the date and time are configured with “Set automatically” to On. So time sync on the iPhone is somehow different than the iPod Touch?

For my Windows Phone 7 device, it has an active cellular data connection and when I awoke on Sunday, it had correctly updated the time. That’s exactly what we want to see, so great job! But, sadly it didn’t stay that way. At some point later in the day, my phone had jumped back an hour. Checking the settings, it clearly shows that the date and time are configured to set automatically. I watched the time jump around a couple different times during the day. Each time, it would switch between being in Eastern and Central time zone. Although, I can guarantee that I’m no where need the central time zone. So as the day came to an end, I have to decide if my device can successfully know the correct time come morning or will my alarm be going off at the wrong time? In the end, I switched off the automatic update and manually set things to Eastern.

The end result of all this? While connected devices are awesome, nothing beats a $5 alarm clock from Wal-Mart.

I had a chance to watch a video about the company and listened to it through a pair of Exodus Natty headphones with a suggested retail of $99. The isolation was incredible – I was in a noisy room with thousands of other people talking all around me. As soon as I put the headphones on, everything went silent, or pretty close. These aren’t some big bulky headphones either. Their light weight and comfortable to wear and the sound was great too! I also had a good look at their Harvest, a portable boom box with 10 hours of battery life. It’s not something you see much of anymore and it’s something that I would really enjoy when I’m up at the cottage – good quality sound without having to haul a high end stereo out onto the beach.

Products are expected to be available in June. I’m interested in getting a couple of these products, so you can be sure you’ll hear more about this from me when products start to ship.

The full press release, along with specs and a couple product shots are available after the break.

The Marley Family Spreads Bob Marley’s Vision of One Love, One World; Shipping to Retailers Q2 2011

COMMERCE TOWNSHIP, MI — January 4, 2011 — United by music to create a better world and spread Bob Marley’s vision of One Love, One World, the family of Bob Marley, in partnership with HoMedics, will unveil its first collection of audio electronics products from The House of Marley at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas at Booth #7917, January 6-9, 2011. The premier MARLEY audio electronics products will ship to retailers in the second quarter of 2011. For more information, visit http://www.thehouseofmarley.com.

The House of Marley delivers premium quality, eco-conscious products that embody Bob Marley’s and the Marley family’s values of equality, unity, authenticity, sustainability and charity. MARLEY is comprised of three collections — Jammin’, Freedom, and Destiny — and features earbuds, headphones, docking stations, speakers and boom boxes. Suggested retail prices range from $29.99 to $499.99, offering superior audio products for “young gongs” to “conscious connoisseurs.”

“Our father shared his vision with our family and his fans through the gift of the messages in his music and it is our mission and responsibility to push the movement forward,” said Cedella Marley, Bob Marley’s daughter. “The House of Marley and the MARLEY audio products that bear our family name were created to spread our father’s music and vision to a new generation.”

“We’ve spent the past year working with the Marley family to create The House of Marley and to meticulously design a collection of MARLEY audio products that are true to the vision of hope, unity and peace Bob Marley shared through his music and that is carried on by his family,’ said Alon Kaufman, CEO, The House of Marley. “The House of Marley will deliver products and encourage participation in meaningful activities that satisfy your soul.”

Four guiding principles are central to turning Bob’s ideals into actions and his principles into products at The House of Marley: Superior Quality, Sustainably Sourced, Cause Minded and Waste Conscious. Superior Quality: Bob was a master at his craft and The House of Marley aims for the same excellence in everything it creates. Using reggae music as the test by which all MARLEY products are made, bass is the driving force in every product. That doesn’t mean we’ve neglected the highs either. MARLEY products aim for authenticity and you can hear it in every instrument and vocal. MARLEY products are made to withstand even the most active lifestyle and to emulate Bob – timeless.

Sustainably Sourced: The House of Marley’s goal is to create high-quality products in the most ethical and environmentally positive way. MARLEY audio products are made with Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified wood, the highest standard for wood and forest products, and use recycled and recyclable aluminums and plastics. The House of Marley is continuously searching for the highest-quality, lowest environmentally impactful materials the world has to offer.

Cause Minded: A portion of proceeds will benefit 1Love.org, a not-for-profit business created with the Marley family to create awareness and a sustainable flow of contributions to benefit 1Love.org-supported charities that empower youth, protect our planet and encourage global peace. Learn more at 1Love.org Waste Conscious: The House of Marley creates eco-conscious products that aim to be sustainable, renewable and recyclable. But one thing it’s not about creating is waste. Each MARLEY product is
packaged using pulp or recycled and recyclable material, so it can avoid the waste stream and manifest into something useful again. In addition, MARLEY earbuds and headphones come with storage bags made from natural fibers, such as cotton and hemp.

MARLEY PRODUCTS: JAMMIN’, FREEDOM AND DESTINY
The House of Marley consists of a tiered “good, better, best” product strategy that allows for a wide bandwidth in product, price point and retail destinations, while engaging three distinct consumer segments. MARLEY earbuds are small, compact and prepared to take on the heaviest bass. MARLEY headphones look good, sound good and make you feel good. MARLEY docks and speakers help you share the music, delivering powerful audio for home and on the go.

MARLEY JAMMIN’: brings the joyful Jamaican vibe to life through colorful, vibrant style and solid performance designed for ‘young gongs’.

MARLEY Jammin’ Earbuds deliver rich sound reproduction from in-ear headphones that embody youthful style, reflect the colors of the islands, and respect our planet with use of eco-friendly materials. Available in four varieties (Smile Jamaica, Satisfy My Soul, People Get Ready, and Midnight Ravers), each in multiple colors, and featuring:

• In-Ear Design: directs sound into the ear canal for deep bass and extended frequency response.
• 20Hz – 20kHz Frequency Response: offers authentic sound reproduction.
• Dynamic MicroSpeaker: with neodymium magnet for sound reinforcement.
• 4-Foot Cord: for easy movement while listening to your music.
• 3 sizes of soft silicone tips: provides a comfortable fit.
• One-button mic (select styles): for easy operation and adjustments.
• FSC-certified wood and other eco-friendly fabrics and materials

MARLEY Jammin’ Headphones deliver high-performance, comfortable fit, edgy design, and environmental responsibility. Available in six varieties (including Soul Rebel, Easy Skanking, and One Love), each in multiple colors, and featuring:

• On-Ear and Over-the-Ear Designs: with foam ear cushions for long-lasting comfort
• 20Hz – 20kHz Frequency Response: offers authentic sound reproduction.
• 40mm-50mm Dynamic, moving coil speaker driver: with neodymium magnet for sound reinforcement.
• One-button wooden mic (select styles): for easy operation and adjustments.
• 4-Foot Cord: for easy movement while listening to your music.
• FSC-certified wood and other eco-friendly materials.

The MARLEY Jammin’ Top Rankin’ Speaker enhances your iPhone or computer audio in a compact, self-contained and eco-conscious speaker. Available in one color variation, featuring:

• 100Hz – 20kHz Frequency Response: offers authentic sound reproduction.
• 2” Speaker and passive radiator: impressive sound and powerful bass.
• Aux-in connection: Plug in to your iPhone, iPad, iPod or other mobile device and feel alright.
• Battery-operated: easy portability.
• FSC-certified wood, recyclable aluminum housing, and other eco-friendly materials.

The MARLEY Jammin’ Roots Rock Speakerbag lets you take your music “to go” by connecting this uniquely designed Speakerbag to an iPod or any audio device. Available in six stylish bag designs, featuring:

• iPod/iPhone Docking/Charging: enhance the sound of your music without sacrificing battery life.
• FM Radio: versatile audio system.
• 60Hz – 20kHz Frequency Response: offers authentic sound reproduction.
• AC adapter or battery-operated: can be used at home or easily portable.
• DSP Sound Processing: sound is enhanced for a greater listening experience.
• 4” speakers, 1” tweeter, 36 watts: provides rich, powerful bass.
• FSC-certified wood and other eco-friendly materials.

MARLEY FREEDOM: delivers a high-end audio experience through modern, soulful design sensibilities.

MARLEY Freedom Earbuds deliver exceptional sound and sleek design, while great attention is paid to environmental responsibility in their construction. Available in four varieties (including Redemption Song, Conqueror, Sun Is Shining, and Buffalo Soldier), each in multiple colors, and featuring:

• In-Ear Design: directs sound into the ear canal for deep bass and extended frequency response.
• 20Hz – 20kHz Frequency Response: offers authentic sound reproduction.
• Integrated microphone with three-button Apple controls: use with iPhone and iPod to manage voice and music control without having to reach for the device.
• 9.2mm Dynamic MicroSpeaker: with neodymium magnet for sound reinforcement.
• 4-Foot Cord: for easy movement while listening to your music.
• 3 sizes of soft silicone tips: provides a comfortable fit.
• FSC-certified wood, aluminum housings, and other eco-friendly materials.

MARLEY Freedom Headphones provide dynamic sound from unique designs in styles that make significant use of eco-conscious materials. Available in three varieties (Exodus, Stir It Up, and Revolution), each in multiple colors, and featuring:

• Over-the-Ear Design: with foam ear cushions for long-lasting comfort.
• 20Hz – 30kHz Frequency Response: offers authentic sound reproduction.
• 40mm Dynamic, moving coil speaker driver: with neodymium magnet for sound reinforcement.
• Integrated microphone with three-button Apple controls: use with iPhone and iPod to manage voice and music control without having to reach for the device.
• 4-Foot Cord: for easy movement while listening to your music with DJ extension.
• FSC-certified wood, aluminum housings/bands, and other eco-friendly materials.

The MARLEY Freedom Stand Up, Get Up Speaker Dock delivers strong sound, compatibility with external audio devices, and use of eco-friendly materials in a sleekly designed, gorgeous wood iPod speaker dock. Features include:

• iPod/iPhone/iPad Docking and Charging: enhance the sound of your music as your device maintains a charge.
• 4” drivers and 1” dome tweeters: produces powerful bass.
• Speaker output of 25 watts x 2: provides unparalleled sound.
• Aux-in connection: can be used to enhance other devices, including your television.
• DSP Sound Processing: sound is enhanced for a greater listening experience.
• FSC-certified wood and other eco-friendly materials.

MARLEY DESTINY: combines pro-level audio components with beautiful, natural, premium materials for music lovers seeking a heightened listening experience.

MARLEY Destiny Earbuds treat music with the kindness and warmth that it treats us. Destiny earbuds offer the sophistication of sound that will satisfy even the most trained ear and because they’re made with eco-friendly materials, you get the feeling of the music and the feeling of the lifestyle you lead. Available in three varieties (Iron, Lion, and Zion), each in multiple colors, and featuring:

• In-Ear Design: directs sound into the ear canal for deep bass and extended frequency response.
• 20Hz – 20kHz Frequency Response: offers authentic sound reproduction.
• Integrated microphone with three-button Apple controls: use with iPhone and iPod to manage voice and music control without having to reach for the device.
• 9.2mm Dynamic MicroSpeaker : with neodymium magnet for sound reinforcement.
• 4-Foot Cord: for easy movement while listening to your music.
• Two kinds of soft silicone tip: for a more customized fit there are Regular tips in 3 sizes and Tiered tips in 3 sizes.
• FSC-certified wood, aluminum housing and in-line controller, and other eco-friendly materials.

MARLEY Destiny Trenchtown Rock Headphones are truly an achievement. They represent the culmination of natural materials and technology coming together to make beautiful music in a striking, sophisticated, eco-friendly design. An experience that will satisfy the soul with features including:

• Noise-Cancellation technology: actively reduces external noise for crystal-clear sound.
• Enhanced Over-the-Ear Design: headband with hinged ear cups and breathable, plush ear pads for luxurious comfort.
• 20Hz – 20kHz Frequency Response: provides faithful sound reproduction.
• 40mm Dynamic, moving coil speaker driver: delivers rich transient response.
• Integrated microphone with three-button Apple controls: use with iPhone and iPod to manage voice and music control without having to reach for the device.
• 4 – 10 Foot Cord: for easy movement while listening to your music with DJ extension.
• Aluminum and stainless housing, leather headband and other eco-friendly materials.

About The House of Marley:

Working together for a better world, The House of Marley was created from the belief in Bob Marley’s vision of “One Love,” offering a range of eco-conscious, innovative audio electronics products that adhere to the Marley family core values: equality, unity, authenticity, sustainability and charity. A portion of proceeds from The House of Marley will benefit 1Love.org. The epicenter of a global movement, 1Love.org is dedicated to spreading Bob Marley’s message of unity and peace by lifting up a new generation of “young gongs” to strike the hammer for charities, causes and ideas that can change the world. For more information visit www.thehouseofmarley.com and www.1Love.org.

About HoMedics:

HoMedics is the number one name in health and wellness around the world and a leading manufacturer of consumer electronics products under the Taylor, Salter, The Sharper Image, Black & Decker, Powermat, and HDMX Audio brand names, among others. Created with the highest quality components, HoMedics invests in the latest technological advances to provide products dedicated to restoring everyday balance and fulfilling consumer needs. Visit http://www.homedics.com.

What’s worse, is knowing all this and I still picked one up. There’s no question that people are having a blind love of all things Apple at times. I haven’t played with an iPhone since I borrowed an original iPhone from Howard Chui for a month or so. That was many years ago, and long before there was any sort of app store. A lot has changed since then, and I wanted to get a first hand impression of the latest from Apple.

There is no question that the hardware is very attractive. It’s a great looking device, even if the design is fundamentally flawed – Yes, it is flawed. The iPhone death grip is real, and all to easy to do. In fact, my very first phone call was an automated call from my carrier where they ask questions about my recent purchase – the iPhone, and I rate their performance. I received the call sitting at my desk, where I spend most of my days and make numerous calls on all my other phones. I wasn’t 3 minutes into the call when the call dropped. At first I wasn’t sure what had happened, and I was starring at the phone in my hand thinking about how odd it was that my carrier would hang up in the middle of that call. And then it hit me – I’m holding the phone the “wrong way”. Talk about getting off on the wrong foot.

The external speakers on the unit are pretty cheap – which I found surprising considering the iPhone is considered the standard when it comes to a portable music player. I’m not expecting the speakers to be the best audio around, but I do expect that it would be better than it is. If you’re going to listen to music on your iPhone, you’re going to need to use some sort of speakers or headphones.

Personalization has long been something that smartphone manufacturers were more than happy to provide. After all, who doesn’t want to customize the phone and make it unique to them. With the iPhone, you’re limited to Apple’s way, or no way at all. For example, the lock screen on the iPhone doesn’t show your next appointment, or the number of missed calls, text messages, or emails. To get that information, you need to unlock the device, and open the given application to find out what’s been going on. Some apps will show a number overlaid on the apps icon. But not all apps do that. For example, there’s no way to see your next appointment without actually opening the calendar. There’s no app I can download that will put this information on the lock screen for easy and quick reference.

Another area where personalization fails with the iPhone is in setting a unique notification sound when you receive a new email. The only choice you have is to turn the sound on or off. There’s no ability to pick which sound you want to play for new voicemail, new email, calendar alerts, and more. Once again, there’s no app that adds that level of customization because it’s outside the sandbox that each application runs in.  The configuring of sounds may sound like a minor beef, but consider for a minute, just how many iPhones have been sold. If I’m out in public and I hear the bing of new email – I have to think if that’s my email or someone else’s. Even in the office, I find iPhone users asking “was that me or you”? Many phones have offered this as a customization for years, but for whatever reason, it’s just something that Apple doesn’t feel the customer wants.

Perhaps the biggest issue I have come across on the iPhone is how poor the email experience is. Thankfully it supports Exchange ActiveSync for powerful push email, as well as Gmail accounts (the two most popular options in my opinion). The problem comes when you have drilled in to read the contents of an email and new email arrives in the background. The iPhone will re-index the inbox and for some reason the message you were viewing is no longer the message you are viewing. Instead you are looking at an entirely different email and that’s a horrible user experience. I have to back out of that email and back to the inbox where I can drill back into the message I was trying to read. At first I thought it was a fluke or something I tapped that made me jump to a new message, but it didn’t take long for me to figure out that there was a bigger problem at work here. I get a fair amount of email and I’m now seeing this behavior at least once a day.

The dual camera’s make for a really great experience, especially when using video chat tool like Fring or FaceTime. It’s so simple to prop up the device and be able to see the person you’re chatting with your video feed in a smaller window. More and more manufacturers are including the second camera on their devices. So you’ll be able to video chat with more of your contacts. Apple just needs to open FaceTime to allow communication with other platforms like Skype and Fring.

A lot has changed with the iPhone in the last couple years, but at the same time, a lot has stayed the same. If you’re in the market for a smartphone, do your homework and be sure to get a phone that meets your needs. Don’t just get an iPhone because that’s what your mother, brother, sister, or friend has. There are plenty of phones available that offer a lot more power and functionality than the iPhone does.

Speculation (the pixi dust that keeps the internet hopping) has been rampant over the latest mobile OS from Microsoft. Many have felt that Microsoft gaffed so badly on Windows Mobile 6.x that Windows Phone 7 is doomed before it even comes out. Others speculate that with such fierce competition from iOS and Android Microsoft has, at the least, a very hard, uphill battle that they ultimately will lose.

It’s certainly true that Microsoft needs to overcome all the negativity toward their mobility efforts, not to mention the deep-seated (unjustified?) contempt over anything Microsoft. But certainly, early indications are that Windows Phone 7 does just that and is impressing almost everyone that gives it a try.

Full disclosure here: I am not a Microsoft hater – in fact I am more of a defender – mostly because I do believe the Microsoft-bashing bandwagon is frequented by parrots with no opinion of their own…for the most part. Microsoft is certainly not perfect and has had a number of products that have been down-right bad but that really isn’t a reason to bash them for everything. Microsoft has done AMAZING things with server technology, and has great products like XBOX, Windows 7 and KIN. (ok, scrap that last one). Anyway, point being; don’t assume Windows Phone 7 is terrible just because you don’t like Micorosoft. Give it a try, you’ll like what you see!

Back to the point of this article: Windows Phone 7′s timing.

Will WP7 (wow, that’s much easier to type) do well commercially given the competition? My feeling is that while it may not guarantee huge success the timing for WP7 couldn’t be better.

iOS, specifically the iPhone, has taken a beating recently because of it’s reception issues, which are very real and not fixable by software. Whether this is a big enough problem to turn the iPhone faithful away doesn’t really matter, it at least shows a kink in Apple’s armour as a company that can do no wrong. The iPhone is certainly nice but it isn’t perfect and it requires users to live within a very strict Apple ideal on how mobile phones work best. Will this mean a mass defection to WP7? Probably not, but there are likely a lot more that would consider switching than there used to be.

Android, relatively speaking, came out of nowhere to take the industry by storm. Google’s OS has taken a HUGE chunk out of Microsoft’s Windows Mobile market share and probably a good bit from Apple as well. Unfortunately, Android has some problems as well, fragmentation being at the top of the list. There are a LOT of relatively new phones that will never see Android 2.1 and too many that will not be updated to 2.2, which is actually a big step forward in performance. As well, with all of the screen resolutions available for Android developers have to either ignore some or design around this diversity.

Windows Phone 7 has a battle ahead, for sure, but given some of the competition’s problems this new and fresh OS with its great user experience couldn’t ask for a more ripe audience.