Keeping Mobile with Electronics

Do more with less

2009-06-01T18:05:00.004-05:00

Ok, I'll admit it....for a while I was one of those tech junkies that had too many gadgets on my belt. Originally, I had problems having a PDA phone as I found it difficult to take a call while checking my schedule or looking up other contacts. (I know, I know...I should have a bluetooth headset permanantly attached to my head. I just don't want to be one of those people.) So there I was with a basic flip phone, a PDA, a GPS and a MP3 player. If I had walked by a strong magnet I'd be dead.

Fast-forward about 2 years later and I've trimmed down considerably. Mobile phones are now getting more sophisticated and fast enough to handle all the functions you need. I now have one device that incorporates all those things I listed above plus infinately more! In fact, even I have trouble keeping up with all the little gadgets and utilities you can find out there. With the advent of the iPhone and advances in Windows Mobile you too can walk around without looking like you're wearing a Batman Utility Belt.

To help you out in finding what you need, I'll give you a list of some great resources that I've used to get my phone exactly how I want it:

Software:

If you want to find the latest software compatible with your phone for anything from games to productivity software I recommend checking out Handango at www.handango.com. Fair pricing and probably the biggest list of titles for mobile devices out there. For those with a tight budget or a love of freeware you can also checkout www.pocketpcfreeware.com or CNET downloads for mobile (http://download.cnet.com/mobile/). Both are great sources for the freeware or try-before-you-buy stuff.

Tips and Tricks:

For those of you adventurous enough to want to make some nifty modifications or just find the workaround for a annoyance you've been having check out Modaco (www.modaco.com) or Howards Forums (www.howardforums.com). Anything you could ever think of trying to do or change with your device will probably already have an answer on one of these two forums. Of course, you could always check out the tips and tricks section for your type of device. For the iPhone check out this site and Windows Mobile tips can be found on Microsofts Mobile site.

Hope some of this direction to some of my favorite sites is helpful. Stay tuned for more in-depth mobile tips coming this month!

~Keep Mobile!

Do More In The Car With Microsoft Sync

2009-05-02T12:00:00.000-05:00

Ok, I'll admit it...I bought the Mercury Milan because I wanted Sync, and I couldn't be happier. If you've seen some of the commercials, Microsoft Sync is available in select Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles and allows you to control your phone and music with ease.

Practically any phone with built in blue-tooth can connect to your Sync system and allow you to make and receive calls just through the push of a button on your steering wheel. Once a call is connected you can speak to the caller through the built-in microphone in the rear view mirror and hear the caller through your car stereo speakers. It will automatically switch off the radio and switch it back on when the call is ended. Select models will even go as far as to read your text messages to you. With laws starting to scatter the states prohibiting making calls using your cell phone without a hands-free headset, Sync makes it easy to manage calls on the go.

Now for the cool stuff...handling your music. You can connect your i-Pod or even a thumb-drive through the USB port in the car and access your music in seconds. The best part? It actually works just like the commercials show!! Many times I've found a product advertisement to work about half as well as they show. This is not the case with Sync. It's speech recognition software works very well whether you're telling to call someone from your contact list or asking it to play your favorite song.

In a nutshell, if you're looking for an easy way to make your car time comfortable Microsoft Sync is definately worth the investment. No more scrambling around to dig out your cell phone or bluetooth headset when a call comes in...no more digging around the glove box for the CD you want. If driving is a big part of what you do, Microsoft Sync will be a life-saver. Check out this link for more cool things to do with your Windows Mobile phone.

How To Get The Most Out Of Windows Mobile

2009-05-02T11:10:00.000-05:00

Windows Mobile is the most widely used operating system for mobile devices, but most people only use a portion of the features available to them. You can find Windows Mobile on smartphones, PDA's and even GPS units. Chances are you've come to this article because you keep one of these devices with you at all times and are looking to squeeze every ounce of funtionality you can from it. With this in mind, let's go through some options you probably aren't using.

Ok, I'm going to start going down the list from the coolest Windows Mobile utilities to the most practical (that's just the kind of guy I am). Some of these options require purchasing additional software and some are free solutions, but all will definately help you get more out of your device.

Your own portable Wi-Fi hotspot: Ever been out and about and unable to find a hot-spot to connect your laptop to? Or ever been out in the middle of nowhere just needing to get online with more than your mini mobile browser? How would you like to have your own Wi-Fi hotspot with you at all times? Welcome Windows Mobile WiFi Router. Install this little piece of software on your phone and instantly connect like you would at your favorite coffee shop and start surfing! What's even better is this software will keep you from paying additional "tethering" fees from your service provider (like Verizon Wireless). There's a couple things to keep in mind...you'll probably want an unlimited data plan with your phone to avoid skyrocketing data costs and you'll need a phone with a wifi functionality. My personal choice is the Samsung Omnia from Verizon.

Make your interface your own: Personally, I've always found the typical mobile Today Screen a bit scrunched and practically impossible to navigate without a stylus. In case you weren't aware, there are many interfaces out there you can put on your phone to make it look and act the way you want. Some options are SPB Mobile, PointUI Home and TouchXperience. Some are better fits than others depending on your "geek" level as programs such as TouchXperience require more manual customization while SPB Mobile is "install and go". You can do a search for "alternate windows mobile interface" and come up with a slew of others that may work better for your particular needs. As for me, I found PointUI is easy to install, works great for navigating around the phone without a stylus and has a lot of great custom items to install...and it has a free version!

Sirius on your mobile phone: Are you a Sirius satellite radio subscriber? How nice would it be to not have to pay for a Sirius mobile device just so you can listen to your music on the go? Just download the Sirius mobile application (works on Windows Mobile 6 too. You can find the cab installer here), punch in the same login info you use for accessing Sirius on-line and away you go. Again, you're going to want the unlimited data plan to avoid month end sticker shock.

Windows Live Search: Ever wonder where the closest coffee shop is? How about the nearest Kinkos to get your presentation printed? Maybe you want to know the upcoming weather...or current traffic conditions...or what movies are out now. You can do all this with Windows Mobile Live Search, a free utility from Microsoft with a nice interface and speech recognition. If you're phone happens to have GPS you can also have it map from where you are to where you want to be.

With the advent of the smartphone and wireless data, the possibilities are nearly endless. If you think of something you'd like your phone to do more than likely theres a piece of software out there to help you do it. If you're looking for cool things to do while in your car, check out this article on Microsoft Sync for Ford, Lincoln and Mercury. Keep mobile!