Just Another Mobile Monday

A Dragon To Set Verizon On Fire

Heather — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:18:54 +0000

I love a good rumor as much as the next, but this looks to be getting closer and closer to reality. The HTC Dragon, or Passion, is due to hit Verizon sometime around the middle of December. This will be another member of its AnDroid family. What’s special about this phone? Well, it will be the first smartphone to use Qualcomm’s 1 GHz Snapdragon processor. Other alleged goodies include: a 5 megapixel camera, Android 2.0, and a 4.3″ touchscreen.

The announcement and rumors of this phone is what’s keeping me waiting from buying one of the current Droid phones. All of the reports on various Android phones say HTC’s Sense UI is the best out there. So, if this phone is going to have a faster processor and a better interface, it will beat the Droid. However, it will give Verizon the 2 top Android phones available. You can never have too many good choices.

Via Brighthand.com

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Review: Another Extreme Challenge – The Otterbox 2600 Dropped on Tile Floor

Tekipaq — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:39:18 +0000

Here we are again, with another “Extreme Review” of another Otterbox case, the 2600, is a moderately priced case at $49.95. This case is larger and wider than the Otterbox 1900 used in my previous review. Special thanks to Otterbox for providing us with a 2600 testing unit for this review and for my use.

The Otterbox 2600 case is well constructed and provides protection from dropping, as well as water and dust. Even though the manufacturer advertises that this case is crush-proof, since the glass on the PDA is not protected by a hard cover, we decided not to opt for a Suburban drive-over this time, as the last time after the review we were told that the pressure of the drive over could damage a device, as the cases do flex ever so slightly.

Throughout this review we will be protecting a much larger and wider PDA device, that is, the Toshiba E800, which has a thick extended battery pack attached and is longer than most PDAs on the market. Unfortunately, the previously reviewed Otterbox 1900 case was not tall or thick enough to protect the oversized Toshiba PDA. Actually this is the only case that is large enough to fit this device.

What is inside of the package?

The Case
Extra Foam Padding for thinner devices.

Since the Toshiba E800 is a thick device, only one foam pad was necessary to firmly secure the device in the case and it did not slip or move throughout our testing.

Also of note is the construction of this clear plastic case, which is really Polycarbonate & ABS Shell, in disguise, as you will see in our test video that when dropped on a tile floor, I was not able to even find a scratch on the case…wow!! This is a strong case indeed; don’t let the clear plastic fool you!

At the top of the picture below are two additional foam pads to provide a secure fit for your device, as this case does not have a strap, as with the Otterbox 1900, rather this case relies on a pressure fit. Don’t worry though, our device did not slip throughout the testing.

Also thanks to the reflection in the picture, it is possible to see the clear plastic membrane that protects the screen of your mobile device, as well as allows for writing input and throughout our testing allowed audio and microphone recordings to be unimpaired.

Music Plays clearly through the membrane, as well as the nice feature of being able to write on the case enclosed PDA, while the device is secured inside the case.

Here is a picture of the Toshiba E800 with extended battery pack firmly secured inside the case. Note the vertical cut-out on the right of the screen which allows for secure storage of a stylus. A slightly thicker stylus will firmly fit into the custom slot.

Center the device face-down into the case, as shown and then close the back of the case and secure the latches. Actually, it was easier to secure the device in the case with this Otterbox, than it was in the last review, as a strap in not used to secure the device from the inside. I like the way that the E800 fit securely by pressure alone. Note that on the top of the case is a slot that allows for a twist tie or a padlock to make sure that the case does not open, while under extreme conditions.

The hinge is thick and sturdy and looks like it will provide many years of service.

The latches are also very sturdy and securely fasten, providing a reliable closure, as the hinges did not open during our testing.

Unlike the Otterbox 1900, the 2600 does not have any pass-through ports or expansion capabilities, however, this was of no consequence to me, while testing the Toshiba E800, as I did not have any accessories that required that functionality.

The Neoprene strap is flexible, just like on the Otterbox 1900 and provides a secure feel while carrying the case. The strap is easily adjusted by means of Velcro fasteners on both ends. I removed the case for the testing, however it was very difficult to re-feed the strap back through their channels in the case, as the straps fit is very tight in the slots. I recommend only taking of the strap infrequently, as a result of my experiences trying to re-thread the strap.

Here is a close-up showing the convenience of writing through the case’s plastic membrane. I was impressed by how easy it was to write through the membrane.

And now for our Video Review:

Otterbox 2600 Review

JAMM Review Summary

Things we liked: Everything!

Construction: Strong enough to withstand damage from being dropped onto a tile floor and also great water-tight protection. The strap gave a secure feel when holding the case. The Stylus holder keeps a stylus firmly in place and is convenient. The hinge is thick and durable. Finally I was able to find a large and wide enough case to accommodate even a Toshiba E800 with a thick expansion battery.

Durability: The front of the case has a rubber rubber protector that is elevated from the mobile device’s screen to protect the glass during accidental drops, like the one we inflicted in our video review. The Heavy-duty latches stayed closed during our testing. The rubber pads that secure the device on the inside of the case protect, as well as keep the device firmly in place.

Ease of Use: All buttons on the front of the mobile device can be easily accessed, including the touch screen through the plastic membrane. The membrane that protects the screen and also allows writing with a stylus also does not dampen the device audio or recording.

Accessories: Multiple accessories are available as below.

Things that we would like to see: A plastic flip-cover (like on the Otterbox 1900) that protects the glass on the device cover, since the mobile device’s glass is still exposed and the membrane will not protect against a direct-hit to the screen. We would also like to see rubber around the case, as this would protect the plastic from scratches, as well as more durable.

The Price is a reasonable $49.95, which is well worth the money, if you are looking for a rugged case that will protect your thicker and oversized mobile device.

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Review: iSkin ProTouch Classic and FX for MacBooks

Thomas — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:30:40 +0000

What I like about the ProTouch silicone keyboard cover is how it has changed my MacBook habits: with a cover over my keyboard at all times I no longer have to worry about dirt collecting on the top or whether the cookie crumbs will slowly infiltrate and ultimately take over the underside of certain keys, adding an undue amount of *crunch* to every single letter I type.

More Care-Free Computing…
The ProTouch lifted a weight from my shoulders and I feel a lot more free around my computer, and it’s been great for snacking and surfing. I’m now free to biscuit away while I review, and review while I biscuit.
What’s great is that the ProTouch covers your keys from food and finger oil, but feels almost exactly the same when you type. Pressing on keys doesn’t present quite the same sensation because you can feel the silicone border around keys – but this is something I got used to within a day. Typing is actually a little quieter, since the silicone tends to hold the plastic keys in place so they don’t rattle as much while you type.

Classic vs FX…
I was sent the Classic and FX skin in Black/White for review, and although they’re priced at different levels, there isn’t a big difference between the two: both of them feature the same fit and protect the keyboard from crumbs and minor spills.
The major differences are cosmetic: colour and a small spot on the keyboard. The Classic features a transparent look and an embossed iSkin logo along the right side of the keyboard, whereas the FX is a solid white with black keys and a smooth spacebar. The keyboard logo on the Classic is a very minor detail, but since typing is such a particular thing it’s probably still worth nothing. I don’t really notice it because I press on the keyboard with my left thumb, but it is strange that they’d switch the logo location on the “low end” ProTouch model and keep the logo above the arrow keys on the FX.
Another little advantage that the FX skin has is how it affects the keyboard backlight. By default, the backlight on the MacBook keys tends to glow a little too harshly for my tastes — almost as if Apple just stuck little light lights behind the keys and called it a day (is the light in the back? Presto, backlight!). It’s a far cry from the smooth, pulsing sleep light along the front of the machine. The ProTouch FX fixes that a little bit by dulling the illumination and making it look a little more uniform. The backlight looks softer and more subtle under the FX, and it’s a welcome change.

After a month of usage…
I wasn’t sure about this product when I first received it, but it’s probably become my favourite iSkin offering by far. I use my MacBook Pro daily for surfing and writing and both skins have held up quite nicely, although the spacebar cover on my TouchPro FX is a little wrinkled since I used it more often. I believe a month is a decent amount of time to test the ProTouch, and it’s proven to be a very solid and useful accessory.

Conclusion
The ProTouches are about as close to a necessary accessory for my uses as I can think of — I’m not a very messy computer user and I’m usually really careful around the sensitive parts of the machine. What the ProTouch does for me is ease a lot of those concerns about crumbs, finger oil, and dirt mucking up my keyboard and just let me enjoy using the thing. This luxury doesn’t come cheap, but judging from the durability and quality of the product in this last month of usage, I believe the iSkin ProTouch Classic is priced just right at $25. The ProTouch FX is priced at $5 more and really only adds colour and a bit of backlight dulling, so if you’re just looking for simple, subtle keyboard protection, stick to the ProTouch Classic and type away.

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You can pick up your own iSkin ProTouch Classix or FX for $25-30 on iSkin.com.

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eReader App Available for Android

Heather — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:24:24 +0000

eReader.com, the World’s Largest ebook store and Barnes and Noble company has released an app to be able to view its ebooks on Android devices. The new software will allow for downloading books from their store and managing your online bookshelf. Great news for both readers and Android fans!!! First, Android is being included more and more when it comes to applications. No longer is it just iPhone and WinMo. Second, now there is a giant source for grabbing books on the go with lots of new Android devices out soon.

Via jkOnTheRun

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Evidence suggests Apple at work on Mac OS X 10.7

ChrisSpera — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:32:10 +0000

I saw this on AppleInsider today and was intrigued by it. The staff there indicate that they aren’t surprised that work on 10.7 has already begun. As a software quality professional I agree. As a consumer, I was a bit surprised. The bits for 10.6.2 are still cooling, and Apple is pressing ahead with 10.7. I wonder what it will include..?

Apple is unsurprisingly already at work on the next version of its operating system, according to a new technical message that references Mac OS X 10.7.
As first discovered by MacRumors, a new database entry for the open source "launchd" framework responsible for booting Mac OS X references "11A47" with a new error message. Based on Apple’s numbering scheme, the numerical prefix of a Mac OS X build determines the version number, and 11A47 would suggest a reference to the next version of the operating system, Mac OS X 10.7.

When it shipped, Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard carried the build number 10A432, and subsequent updates 10.6.1 and 10.6.2 had the prefixes 10B and 10C, respectively. For Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard, 10.5.0 builds leading up to launch were represented by the prefix 9A.

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WebOS 1.3.1 Killed My Palm Pre

dgoldring — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:18:00 +0000

Yesterday, I brought word of a relatively minor update to Palm’s WebOS operating system, for those of you using a Palm Pre on Sprint’s network. While WebOS 1.3.1 had a few bells and whistles (you are welcome Yahoo users) it was mainly a maintenance upgrade. Although there were a few hints of things to come (video recording, perhaps??). Which begs the question, how did such a minor upgrade break so much on my Palm Pre. Seriously, while an upgrade to the operating system can often cause some minor, unforeseen quirks, this is worth than anything I saw with Windows Mobile or the iPod Touch. Let’s take a look at what was broken as a result of this minor upgrade:

Hey…my apps don’t work. Yes, that is right. Quite a few apps, particularly homebrew apps, are not compatible with WebOS 1.3.1. That was certainly unexpected. I woke up after installing WebOS and found that most of my commonly used apps would no longer load. It took a little hunting through the homebrew forums, but I did find that many of these apps have been updated in the last week, so pay attention to those updates.

Hey, my email and calendar don’t work. I am not saying this is related to Yahoo (it really is not) but at the same time they Palm offers syncing through Yahoo, they shatter Exchange sync. Fortunately, I do not use Exchange for anything except my secondary email account, but the forums were in an uproar from one end of the Internet to another over this one. hopefully, a patch will be coming soon.

Hey, nothing works. I have noticed a lot of little things that do not work the way they should. Some folks reported in various forums that they cannot install any new apps. Fortunately, I have not experienced this myself, though I have found that many of my keyboard shortcuts no longer work…which makes it difficult to take any screenshots.

to say I am disappointed would be an understatement. For a minor maintenance upgrade to break significantly more than it fixes is absurd. I certainly hope that Palm gets a fix for their fix soon. I hate to say it, but this is exactly the reason Palm has had so many former users lately. Hopefully, they are not sliding back to their old ways so soon after such a large success. With Android threatening to overtake Palm (or have they done so already), they really do need to be careful they do not slip into the trash heap of great design, poor execution.

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New to the App Catalog. Facebook for Palm. It’s Craptastic!

dgoldring — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 03:43:02 +0000

Yup, you heard me right folks, craptastic! I have been waiting for Facebook to come out with an app to replace the horrible mobile web interface for the Palm Pre ever since I got the phone in June. Over the weekend, they finally released it. so, I eagerly downloaded the app and loaded it up on my Palm Pre…a decision I immediately regretted.

The first thing I noticed was the extreme lack of speed. Hit update and get ready to wait. It took at least five seconds to update the display. But I could live with that if the app did anything worthwhile. The Facebook app for Palm displays your Facebook newsfeed…and that is about all it does. While you can update your status, or leave a comment, there is no way to filter your feed, and no way to access any of Facebook’s more advanced features. Additionally, the entries in your newsfeed are not sized appropriately for the screen, meaning you can generally view two or three entries on the screen at a time.

Compare this with the robust app Facebook published for the iPhone/iPod Touch, and the disappointment simply mounts for Pre users. One can only hope that this was intended to be an early test or beta, geared toward testing the functionality, and that more features will be coming soon. Otherwise, we will continue to term this one craptastic, and hope for more entries from third party developers.

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Palm Updates to WebOS 1.3.1

dgoldring — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 02:19:39 +0000

Over the weekend, Palm pushed out a new update of its WebOS operating system to Palm Pre users (if you have not seen it, hit that update icon on the last page of the launcher screen). There are a lot of small enhancements in this one, the most prevalent of which is that Yahoo email and contacts. You can see the full list of updates on Palm’s website. But there is plenty more, which you may not already have seen. The folks over at Precentral.net have compiled a list of undocumented features in WebOS 1.3.1, including:

speed enhanced web browser
changes to the Linux kernel which lay the groundwork for a potential video camera in the future
snappier photo interface

So, Pre users, you can download the new WebOS directly from your phone, and start enjoying the new features in about 10 minutes. And if you notice any additional features, leave a comment and let us know what you found.

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Review: The SoundID 400 Bluetooth Headset

dgoldring — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 05:13:34 +0000

I have been fortunate to be involved with SoundID almost since their inception. I started exchanging emails with them around the time they released their initial offering, the SoundID SM100. They sent me one to review and I became an instant fan. Although I was disappointed by the unexpectedly long delay before their follow up offering was released, they eventually came out with the twin offerings of the SoundID 200 and 300, which proved to be well worth the wait. Now, they have wasted almost no time bringing us their latest offering, the aptly named SoundID 400.

As usual, SoundID simply will not stop at convention with their Bluetooth headsets, and the SoundID 400 offers a truly unique feature with its Remote Microphone. Add that to the unique sound settings which SoundID has developed, and you get one incredible headset. I know you are dying for a closer look, so let’s get started.

Form and Fit: The SoundID 400 looks much the same as the 200 and 300. Like its predecessors, it is a long, black rectangle of plastic, giving it a look which resembles the black keys on a piano. I found this design to be both elegant and functional, exactly what I want in a headset. The front is slightly rubberized so that you can set it down without fear that it will slide away.

The Main Button is on the back, which is pretty common in Bluetooth headsets. This is what you will use to power the headset off or on, answer or disconnect from a phone call, or enter pairing mode. On top is the volume button, which can be used to adjust the volume, and also to program the Personal Sound feature.

The earpiece itself is fantastic, and designed to fit into your ear without an earloop. If you find it is too small or too large, don’t worry, there is a small earpiece and a large one included in the box. In addition to the in-ear earpieces, there is also a more traditional earpiece included, with an earloop. So, no matter what your fit preferences are, there should be something here to meet your needs.

Pairing and Connection: I do not want to say too much about pairing and connection here. It works about as you would expect. Enter pairing mode and your phone will find it. I do have to say, though, that I really like the recent trend of using voice prompts to guide you through the pairing process, and I wish SoundID had included them with the SoundID 400.

The SoundID 400 also features multi-point technology, which allows the headset to be connected to two phones at once. This is a fantastic feature if, for example, you have one phone for work and one for personal use. No more fumbling to figure out which phone is ringing, or grabbing the wrong headset to answer the phone. Just pair both to the headset, and it will answer for you, regardless of which phone is ringing.

Sound Quality: I have always been extremely impressed by the sound quality offered by SoundID headsets, and the SoundID 400 has proven to be no exception. Like other SoundID headsets, the SoundID 400 features PersonalSound. This allows you to cycle the headset through three preset listening modes, which accommodate the most common listening preferences. This is pretty cool, and saves a lot of time fumbling around with the controls. If you need it though, you can always adjust the volume manually. However, I suspect that once you get started using the PersonalSound system, you will rarely need to adjust the volume manually again.

New to the SoundID 400 is the Environmental Mode. This is a really cool features, which solves one of my big problems with Bluetooth headsets. Namely, that when you have one stuck in your ear, standing by, you effectively lose the use of that ear. It is blocked by the earpiece, making it extremely difficult to hear. The new Environmental Mode uses the headset’s microphone to solve this problem. While in standby mode, it picks up external noises and retransmits them through the headset, allowing you to hear through both ears, even while the headset is in standby mode. While this is a really cool feature, it can also be a bit disconcerting because it does not discriminate with respect to which sounds were picked up. So, every tiny sound, even those which you might not normally hear, will be picked up, amplified, and retransmitted through the headset. It almost felt like I had a bionic ear, which allowed me to hear every little sound around me. Then again, I am not sure I wanted to hear every little sound. Still, it is a great idea, and one which I am sure many of you will find to be extremely useful.

Microphone and Noise Cancellation: The best part of SoundID headsets, for me, is the microphone and noise cancellation features. The NoiseNavigation feature uses 400 tiny microphones and DSP algorithms to filter out background noise and enhance your speech. I have no idea how this all works. I can only tell you that it does. And to prove it, I brought in the world’s biggest critic of Bluetooth headsets, my wife. She hates when I call her from a headset because they generally do a terrible job of filtering out background noise, so she says it always sounds like I am calling from a wind tunnel or underwater. SoundID’s headsets, including the SoundID 400 are the only times she has ever said she could not tell whether or not I was using a headset. Now that is impressive.

Of course, to really put this to the test, we need a noisy environment. Nothing I have ever found is noisier than the train yard. When I board the train, I have to walk right past the engine, which is loud enough that I generally cannot hear the person walking next to me if we are talking in normal tones. Yet, when using the SoundID headset, I can talk in a normal tone, and my wife was able to hear me almost perfectly on the other end of the phone. While she reported a slight background noise, it was nothing close to the loud rumble I was hearing. When you can hear better over the headset than you can in person, that is well worth a second look…and a third, fourth, and so on. SoundID’s NoiseNavigation has worked more effectively than the noise cancellation on any other headset I have used, including Jawbone’s infamous (and in my opinion, overrated) headset.

Remote Microphone: The feature which most clearly defines the SoundID 400, and sets it apart from every other headset I have ever used is the Remote Microphone. This microphone is designed to look nearly identical to the SoundID 400. The only real difference is that instead of an earpiece on the back, there is a clip, allowing you to connect it to a collar or other object near the speaker.

The Remote Microphone will pair with the SoundID 400, allowing remote sounds to be easily shared with the parties on your conversation. So, for example, you can use it during a lecture to allow yourself to hear more easily, or broadcast the lecture over the phone. Of course, the remote microphone has many other practical applications. For example, if you are driving and the passenger in your car has information they need to share with your caller, they can use the Remote Microphone to join in the conversation.

I thought the Remote Microphone was a pretty cool concept, with an awful lot of potential for practical applications. The only problem I had was that it does not have a speaker, meaning it can only be used for one-way communication. I think it would have been great if it had included a speaker, allowing other parties to both join and listen to your conversation. In other words, a true speakerphone with conferencing capabilities. Maybe that will be coming down the road.

Conclusion: I have always been impressed by the innovation and quality I have found in the Bluetooth headsets offered by SoundID. From their initial offering, the SM100, they have offered noise cancellation and listening quality which was second to none. Over time, they have built upon this, adding new enhancements and features, creating a headset which is second to none. the SoundID400, alone, would be the best Bluetooth headset I have ever used. Yet they do not stop there, adding a truly innovative Remote Microphone into the package. Put the two together, and SoundID simply leaves you absolutely no reason to look elsewhere for your next Bluetooth headset.

What I Liked:

Comfortable fit, with various sizes and forms of earbuds and loops
Sound quality and PersonalSound feature
Environmental Mode
NoiseNavigation for outstanding noise cancellation
Multi-Point allows you to connect the headset to two phones at once
Remote Microphone

What Needs Improvement:

Voice commands would make pairing easier
A speaker would be a great addition on the Remote Microphone

Where To Buy: SoundID

Price: The SoundID 400 is available now for $129.99. The Remote Microphone will be available soon (it is expected by the end of the year) for an additional $79.99.

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Review: USBFever’s 360 Swivel Stand for iPhone and Blackberry (looks a lot like an Xtand)

Thomas — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:58:55 +0000

Swivel left, Xtand right

The USBFever 360 Swivel Stand looks a surprising amount like a product I reviewed earlier, the Just Mobile Xtand. Both of them can hold iPhones, but the USBFever version goes a step further by providing support for the BB Bold and Storm. However, since I don’t normally have access to Blackberries (I just borrow them from the folks), this review will focus on how well the iPhone fit and how the Swivel stand compares to the Xtand.

Looks like an Xtand
The Swivel looks like an Xtand for the most part, except for the paint. Both are supposedly made of aluminum, but the Swivel ends up looking cheaper. The aluminum finish is scratched in a few spots on the Swivel, and the back of the stand makes it more obvious that the finish is, in fact, painted on. Along the bottom you can also see that the Swivel Stand only features one rubber strip, whereas the Xtand features two. In practice this didn’t seem to make any noticeable difference. When viewed from the front, it’s really tough to tell the two apart at a glance. That’s good, since this is the angle that counts — you’ll be sitting in front of, not behind, the Swivel.

Doesn’t smell like an Xtand
I’m not normally in the habit of smelling my review products, but I actually couldn’t help but do so when I first took the Swivel out of its packaging. It smelled pretty strongly of paint, and although the smell has faded over the last month of use, it’s still evident on your fingers if you touch the stand. The Xtand has no such smell.
However, once you’ve found the ideal spot on your desk for the Swivel Stand you won’t really ever have to touch it again. You’ll be placing your phone on the plastic nubs of the ‘x’ and so the paint smell will become a moot point.

Works like an Xtand
In terms of functionality, the Swivel and Xtand are almost exactly the same. One thing I like about this design is that the device is actually set at a usable and viewable angle, unlike other docks (Apple included) which are really only good for looking pretty and charging your device.
The Swivel sets your device in place at a greater angle (facing more towards the ceiling) and it doesn’t rotate quite as smoothly as the Xtand for landscape use, but it works. Both docks also support a wire being threaded through the back so you can easily charge an iPhone. However, since the BB Bold charges through a mini-USB port along the left side this really isn’t the ideal dock for charging your Blackberry.

Cheaper, but not that much cheaper
The Xtand isn’t a cheap accessory, but it does have the quality construction to back the cost. The Swivel Stand feels and looks like a cheaper version of JustMobile’s product, but its price is close enough to the Xtand’s that I think potential customers might as well buy JustMobile’s product instead. At $27.99 (compared to the Xtand’s average $40 asking price) a Swivel Stand really makes me really think about whether the $12 price difference between the two products is really much of a barrier.

The advantage of the Swivel Stand, however, is that you can pick it up anywhere in the world for $28.00 + $3.00 shipping and it should fit the Blackberry Bold nicely, too. The Xtand will likely charge more for shipping and handling depending on where you buy it, and only fits the iPhone. However, unless the $12 price difference is a real issue, I’d probably still recommend the Xtand for most users. It looks and feels better overall, and it doesn’t smell of any paint.

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You can pick up your own Swivel Stand for $28 at USBFever.com.

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