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Introducing the PowerMat- The First Universal Charger? And A List of PowerMat Devices
Oct 31st
But First–It’s That Time of Year Again…
It’s The Holidays
Whatever your holiday may be, Kwanzaa, Christmas, Hanukkah and so on, it is just about the time to start your holiday shopping. I think that because almost everyone in the world has a Smartphone, Smartphone accessories would be a great place to start looking for the perfect gifts.
So from now until the middle of December, I will be throwing in some “Best Accessories” lists for a different Smartphone with every list. It will include what it is and how much it costs. Maybe I’ll even tell you where to find them.
Any Comments From the Peanut Gallery?
One thing though, there are so very many of them, I may not be able to get to them all. So if any of you out there have a unrequited need for me to include a phone that I haven’t already, leave a comment and let me know, and I will do my best to throw up a list for it. If not, them I will go on my merry little way and list the accessories for the most popular smartphones.
The Number one accessory Great for Any Phone-The POWERMAT
And anything with Bluetooth, any cell or smartphone, digital cameras and readers, hand-held games, MP3 Players, portable GPS, and possible even more things. If it is wireless, you might be able to charge it on the PowerMat!
That’s right. Reviewed by Network World in their October 19th Print Magazine, is a little tiny article on the PowerMat and now it’s starting to pop-up all over the Internet. And boy does this thing rock.
The Obvious Question-What’s the Deal?
Well, first of all it can charge up to 3 devices at the same time. And it also has a USB plug in the back to charge a fourth if needed. It is out of the way, recessed and apparently hard to reach. But who needs more than three trays anyway? Almost anyone I say. That is the first problem with the PowerMat. It should be larger with all the devices people own and need to charge these days, that should have been thought of from the start.
The places you set the devices down on the mat are called plates. Each plate has a LED light to let you know the device is charging properly. The lights can be customized to vary in intensity or turned off completely. It also has what they call “Audio Confirmation” and it uses a beep when the device is firmly seated in place and another, different sounding beep when the device is removed. But for those people who don’t like the sounds the audio can be turned off too. It also has a magnetic receiver to hold the device firmly in place so it charges properly.
For each device, you will need a special receiver so the mat will know how much power and how long to charge the device for. The RFID tags do this job and the PowerMat already have one for the iPhone, BlackBerry and Nintendo DS. There is a general adapter as well. A test done by Theinquirer.net used an iPod Nano4G and an HTC Magic and reports that …”
Charging both at the same time on the Powermat, the Nano was fully charged in around minutes and the Magic was done in about two hours, pretty much the exact same amount of time as charging them with dedicated chargers.
Here is a list of all available devices by the PowerMat-
Home & Office Mat
Portable Mat
Powercube
Dock for iPod and iPhone
iPhone Case
iPod Touch Case
BlackBerry Bold Battery Door
BlackBerry Curve 8300 Battery Door
BlackBerry Curve 8900 Battery Door
BlackBerry Pearl Battery Door
Nintendo DS Lite Back Panel
Nintendo DSi Back Panel
And the Verdict Is?
So Lets see if I got this right… The PowerMat will charge almost any wireless device all in one place. Meaning no looking for cords, or tripping on numerous plugged in cords as the only cord needing to be plugged in is that of the PowerMat itself. And it makes the Greenies happy by its automatic shut off and saving energy. That sounds like a winner to me. And there are so many different devices to choose from you are sure to find something to but the person who has everything…
And here’s the kicker… There just might be some more bands of the PowerMat on the way. Sony apparently has one in the works as I type. Maybe it will be finished for the holidays. I think it is bout time there is something like this on the market.
It can be bought online @ the PowerMat website or at any Best Buy and Target Stores. As for the price? The prices are oddly the same in wither store… between $29.99-$39.99 for the smaller receivers and devices and $99.99 for the home Mat and the Office Mat. I can see paying the prices for the smaller items, but $100 for the PowerMat itself? I would rather wait for a sale. Keep an eye out for Black Friday sales.. The prices are sure to go down a bit then(and you can put them on layaway too).
For more great articles and user ratings and reviews, please visit the home page @ Youserbase.org
Check back tomorrow for a list of the best accessories for the Palm Pre Smartphones. If any if our readers have any suggestions as what to review, or something you think needs to be talked about, feel free to leave a comment and I will see what I can do. Til then, happy phoning!
T-Mobile Sidekick Going Down In Flames?
Oct 14th
Because of Another Greedy Microsoft Mistake?
First Things First
First, I need to apologize for not writing on the Apple/Google controversy like I had promised, but there is something that has been recently uncovered that is a bit more pressing. And I am sure that everyone who reads these posts is aware of the cracks I make about Microsoft and anything having to do with the company (Linux All The Way!). I state this because what has happened (and is still happening) to T-Mobile is not their fault, yet they are taking the hit for it already.
What’s Going On?
It was announced recently, or finally admitted, (depending on how you look at it) that T-Mobile’s data services have been interrupted for some time. The apparent explanation was that a Danger Microsoft server had gone down. Microsoft acquired Danger about a year ago and had teamed up with T-Mobile shortly after to deliver the data services to Sidekick users. It was announced yesterday that the server problems are probably due to sabotage within the Danger Microsoft company.
What Kind Of Sabotage?
Well, according to Apple Insider:
…“The sources point to longstanding management issues, a culture of “dogfooding” (to eradicate any vestiges of competitor’s technologies after an acquisition), and evidence that could suggest the failure was the result of a deliberate act of sabotage...”
And also stated:
Microsoft’s Roz Ho launched an exploratory group to determine how the company could best reach the consumer smartphone market, identified Danger as a viable acquisition target, and then made a series of catastrophic mistakes that resulted in both the scuttling of any chance that Pink prototypes would ever appear, as well as allowing Danger’s existing datacenter to fail spectacularly, resulting in lost data across the board for T-Mobile’s Sidekick users.
Meaning, in complete layman’s terms, that Microsoft screwed up, AGAIN.
So What Happens Now?
Well here’s the problem. Because of this catastrophic screw up, apparently most of the Sidekick users have lost all of their data. 800,000 Sidekick users and there is nothing left. T-Mobile is claiming that they have found a way to possibly restore some of the lost data to maybe a handful of users, but I’m thinking that it is being said just to hold back their customers form torching their building. Think about this… Why would it be announced to Sidekick users to “…please do not turn off phones, or let them power down in any way. If you do, all data WILL be lost because there is NO BACKUP on our servers…” and then a day later claim that there is a possibility of recovery? I don’t think so.
What Is Being Done About It?
So because of this, T-Mobile is offering a $100 credit towards any of the other services they offer, or for a credit towards a future bill, among other things. But I’m thinking that after a disaster like this, why on Earth would anyone WANT to continue using T-Mobile services? After putting your trust into a big company like T-Mobile and having all of your important and, in most cases, irreplaceable information lost, who is going to want to chance it again? Some are talking about moving to a Blackberry, but the problem with that is there is a chance that the same thing will happen there too.
So What’s The Verdict?
Do not abandon T-Mobile! It’s not their fault. besides, they can’t afford this hit anyway. They are a relatively good company. It was Microsoft’s fault, so the Sidekick users should make it Microsoft’s problem. First of all, why should T-Mobile have to pay their customers for a problem Microsoft created? Second, because it is being shown that it was most likely the result of sabotage from an insider, I say put responsibility where it should be. With the greedy company that caused the problem in the first place and the greedy people who run it. I think that the T-Mobile customers who put their trust (and money) into their hands should try to make Microsoft pay. It’s about time Microsoft is made to have to clean up after at least one of their messes (Windows ME and Vista, among countless other problems). Class action suit anyone?
For more great articles and product ratings and reviews, check out the home page @ Youserbase.org.
And I promise that tomorrow I really will write about the Google/Apple controversy, as it seems to be heating up some again.
Any opinion expressed within this post is not necessarily that of Youserbase.org
QWERTY VS. DVORAK- Will The Controversy Ever End?
Oct 13th
And Does It Really Even Matter To Smartphone Users?
A Little History
Back in the 1930′s, when using a typewriter was standard and computers were only thought of in a 3 year old computer scientist’s dreams, QWERTY vs. Dvorak actually mattered. Although QWERTY was the layout of choice, better ones were being sought after constantly. Better positioning of the hands, less pain while typing and even having the most used keys at the home position. The QWERTY layout doesn’t do any of this. The Dvorak layout made the most sense. So why didn’t it stick? It’s a real simple explanation, actually. Because the QWERTY layout prevents the keys from sticking from overuse. That’s it. No regard for comfort or productivity. And that in itself is amazing because in a recession such as the one we are in, you would think that companies would want to up their productivity. Apparently they just don’t get it. And neither do Smartphones!
Where is the DVORAK Option On Smartphones?
Well, that is an easy explanation too. There is none. If you do a little searching, you will find that there is only one phone that has an option for the Dvorak layout. And that is if, and only if the phone is hacked. I am talking about the iPhone. And the application to change the keypad to Dvorak will void the service warranty. So as I said, there is absolutely no option for the Dvorak layout, unless of course you have a few hundred dollars to shell out for a new iPhone because you willingly voided your warranty. But as it stands, most don’t.
So What Is the Controversy All About?
Recently there has been an uprising of Dvorak enthusiasts. What they are saying, apparently, is that it is unfair to them the lack of a Dvorak option on the phones. They are also saying that with a new era of Smartphones, should come a new era for options. Namely the DVORAK layout. There is no reason that this can’t be done, excepting for the fact that the Smartphone makers are just sticking with what they know. And what they know has been the standard for 130 years, which is how long the QWERTY layout has been around. Users of the alternate keyboard also are claiming that they can type much faster and more comfortably with its layout. Sometimes up to 40 times faster. Yet Smartphone makers still resist. Well, most of them anyway. There are some, like some versions of Windows Mobile that allow third party utilities to optionally change the layout. But only on certain models of a very few Smartphones.
So What’s The Verdict?
Will the Dvorak layout ever be officially recognized as an alternate typing system on Smartphones? Sadly, the answer is probably no. And it really isn’t fair. PC’s have finally taken the initiative to add the layout as an optional default setting within the newer operating systems. So why can’t Smartphones do the same? Probably because there are not too many people who actually do a lot of full keyboard touch typing on a Smartphone. I mean, think about it, how many people do you know who actually sit on a Smartphone and type like they do on a regular PC? I am positive that it’s not too many. Although personally, I love the Dvorak layout, I too know of no one who types regularly on a Smartphone enough to have the need for the change. QWERTY it has been, is, and will stay. Protest or not. There is just not enough active need for a change. Yet…
For more great articles, ratings and reviews, please visit the main page @ Youserbase.org
And check back tomorrow for a fresh take on the App store wars… Windows Apps, or the iPhone App Store…Who is Mightier?
Windows Mobile 6.5-Apparently As Disappointing As the Vista Desktop OS
Oct 12th
What’s Up With Mobile OS 6.5?
Wow. Microsoft has managed to do it again. Hype us all up for what is supposed to be the greatest release of a mobile OS yet, Windows Mobile 6.5. And then finally after all this time waiting, hoping and saying to ourselves, “Could this really be it? Is this really going to be the best one yet?” Just to find out the truth once again… That Microsoft has produced another dud.
A Little Microsoft History
But then again, did we really expect anything else? I mean look at their recent history. Windows XP and XP Professional, the desktop OS’s which were the greatest released since the worst OS in history (Windows ME [cringing while typing]). Then supposedly Vista was supposed to be better. “Better, faster and more powerful…” Microsoft promised. But what did they deliver? another bad imitation of the ME OS.
What’s Inside the New Mobile OS?
Well, for starters, it has added Titanium, an on screen menu. But, because of custom branding of the main screen by the phone makers themselves Titanium is almost worthless. Then there is the start button at the top left of the screen, required on all screens and the bizarre way the apps menu is set up. There is apparently no way to change it. The only thing you can do with the apps is to “move to top” and nothing else. Not very engaging if you ask me. There is no way to get rid of the ones you want and no way to tell where you are in the menu. What is the point of a menu if you can’t navigate properly? Especially for those who go crazy buying all the apps they can, you will never be able to find the one you want without getting “lost”. There aren’t too many other changes, as most are just on the surface with not much under the hood itself. According to Gizmodo.com, it’s almost like a revamp of Windows Mobile 6.1 and noting else. Almost like when a person dyes their hair or changes a makeup look.
History Repeats Itself
And now with the release of the Mobile OS 6.5, the bad reputation is repeating… And getting worse. And the worst thing about this is that any phone that is utilizing this mobile OS is going to suffer for it. Take the HTC, LG and Samsung smartphones for example. These mobile phones have a reputation of being some of the best phones on the market. But now because some of their models are running Windows Mobile OS 6.5, they are going to take the hit.
And The Verdict Is?
Guilty. Guilty of just plain laziness to deliver what the customer wants. The customers wanted something better. Now they are going to have to wait for the release of Windows Mobile OS 7.0 and, with MS’s reputation holding steady, that is probably going to take a while (and probably going to be as bad). I am predicting that because of the recent reviews stating that the OS is a disappointment, sales will either drop of take a while to catch up to the competition. All because Microsoft had to rush to get the updated OS out there without putting any real effort into it.
For more ratings and reviews, please visit the home page @ Youserbase.org
And check back tomorrow for my take on the QWERTY vs. DVORAK controversy
Palm Pre Knockoff-Is It Better Than The Real Thing?
Oct 10th
No one ever thinks that a knock off would even come close to the real thing. Especially when it comes to cell phones or smartphones. But I’ve gotta say this… The recent unveiling of the Palm Pre knock off, seemingly simply named “iphone+qwerty”, goes to show that not all knock offs are equal. While the Palm Pre has all the standard features of a smartphone, such as a digital camera, microUSB port and touchscreen, all which make it a great competitor to the market monopolizing iPhone.
So What Does the Knock Off Have That the Pre Doesn’t?
Well, it does have everything that the Palm has. That includes using almost the same kind of hardware. The operating systems are similar as well. And the prices of the knock off, although it is somewhat cheaper than the Pre, are still close (depending where you buy the Pre they can run anywhere from $99USD-$299USD) with the knock off costing a meager $88USD. So what is it then that the knock off is sporting that the Pre doesn’t? Well, according to rumors from PMP Today, it has a television, that’s what. Although it’s just a plain old analog TV, it’s a TV nonetheless. And the Palm Pre doesn’t have one. Go figure…The Chinese thought of it first. For one of the best iPhone competitors NOT to have thought of including a TV as one of its features, the Pre seems to be slacking.
What’s The Verdict?
If you are looking for the upper class prestige that the Palm Pre affords to those who can afford it, then the Palm Pre is for you. User ratings have shown that business people love it and it is a great media phone. And being one of the only worthy iPhone competitors on the market, it is definitely worth its price. But Move over Pre… There’s a knock off in town, the Chinese made “iphone+qwerty”. And it might just be worth more than the original for less.
For more great ratings and reviews, please visit the home page @ Youserbase.org
The Wristwatch Mobile Phone-Who Really Needs One?
Oct 9th
Who Wants To Be 007 For A Day?
Bearing a huge resemblance to something right out of a James Bond or Dick Tracey movie, the wristwatch mobile phone has become all the rage over the last year in Europe. Even though most anyone would want a phone such as this, who really needs one? Well first off, let’s start with what a wristwatch phone is and what it can do.
What Are Its Main Features?
A mobile phone, watch, camera, MP3 player (some with MP4 capabilities), GPS and a Bluetooth device are all included. Some of them even have touch screens and video capabilities, like some made by LG and Samsung. It would seem as if the most popular features from the all best phones have been smashed together to form the wristwatch phone. Almost like someone took all of the leftovers from your icebox and turned it into a potluck casserole
Everyone Wants One, But Who Really Needs One?
Pretty much everyone wants one, or at least the people who think acting like a superhero is cool (I’m not knocking superheroes-I wish I was one! I mean, who doesn’t want to be invisible at times?). Of course, you can’t forget about those in the US who have heard of them and want to become a European citizen just to get their hands on it. Maybe a highly tech savvy geeky type who just has to have the latest in new technology was one of the first to line up to buy one.
These are the people who would want one (and probably already have one). But who really needs one? Well, the wristwatch phone does have it’s practicalities. It has GPS built in so you can find where you are if you happen to get lost. This is a great feature for all of the parents (and paranoid or jealous significant others) in the world who have to know where their particular someone is at all times. And don’t forget that its a watch too. All watches come with a wristband. What that means is that you may never lose your mobile phone again as you are wearing it right on your wrist and no more monthly insurance charges for lost phones. The wristwatch phone has a feature that translates into a practicality to suit just about anyone.
And The Verdict Is?
Who needs a wristwatch phone? Everyone! Parents, lovers, kids, geeks, the tech savvy and technologically illiterate alike all need to get their hands on a wristwatch phone. Why? Because it is a great piece of technology and its about time (no pun intended) practicality met the mobile phone. Also because it has to be just about one of the best, sci-fi fantasy gadgets come to life. The world could always use a little more sci-fi.
For more really great articles and reviews like this one, please visit the home page @ Youserblog.com
What else could you put in a mobile phone? A lighter or a pen, the Chinese say
Jul 20th
Ten years ago hardly anyone except the engineers would have thought of the stuff you can put into a phone. But now it seems to become the swiss army knife of mobile devices: A proper digital camera, a good music player, GPS, television, the stop watch… The list is almost as long as the data sheet. Usually it used to be Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Samsung or other bis manufacturers to squeeze the news into the devices, but surprisingly today the Chinese have developed extra tech: They brought mobile phones to the next level. This is really something after they spent the past years just copying anything made from others.
