Mobile Computing
* Winner of the Western Publications Association 2004 Maggie Award *
as Best Online Newsletter!
October 14th, 2004
proudly presented by
PC World
Technology Advice You Can Trust
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/249788/21421680/1/0/
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PC World Contributing Editor James A. Martin helps you make the most
of your computing on the go with tools, tips, and product
recommendations about handhelds and notebooks and more.
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October 14th, 2004
In This Issue:
- Feature: Getting Smart About Smart Phones
- Notebooks & Accessories: Microsoft's First Mouse for Notebooks;
Write a Note to Self; Height-Adjustable Notebook Stand
- Gadgets & Services: A Faster Wireless Networking Standard; Cell
Phones With Keyboards; EarthLink Adds BlackBerrys to Its Menu
* Getting Smart About Smart Phones *
When it comes to smart phones, it's easy to feel, well, dumb. Most
models come crammed with so many features and options, you need a
100-page manual to figure them out. Come to think of it, my Sony
Ericsson T616 smart phone, with voice, data, and digital camera
features, does indeed come with a 100-page manual.
This week I'll help you get smart about smart phones as well as
PDA/mobile phone devices, typically called "combination" or "hybrid"
devices. And I'll explain some commonly used acronyms you'll likely
encounter when shopping for a data-capable phone, so you can find the
device that's right for you.
Smart Phones vs. Hybrids
As I mentioned, there are two categories of mobile phones that handle
voice calls as well as e-mail, Internet browsing, and more: smart
phones and hybrids.
Smart phones are mobile phones that include applications for checking
and receiving e-mail, text messages, and multimedia messaging. Often,
smart phones also include a built-in digital camera; phone book and
calendar applications that can synchronize with Microsoft Outlook on
your PC; the ability to download ring tones, games, themes, and
images; and so on.
Unlike hybrids, smart phones typically look and feel like mobile
phones, because that's their primary function. As a result, they're
easier to use as phones than most hybrids. And because they're often
smaller, they're much more portable.
The downside is that they may not sync as well as a hybrid device
does. For example, only the phone numbers, and not the addresses, in
my Microsoft Outlook contacts transferred to my Sony Ericsson T616's
Phone book application. A few phones based on Microsoft Windows Mobile
2003 Smartphone operating system supposedly sync much better with
Outlook, however.
Though there are lots of smart phones to choose from, I've been
partial to the T616 and its more recent sibling, the Sony Ericsson
T637 (both available from AT&T Wireless and Cingular). Both are
good-looking, candy-bar style phones with lots of features.
Ultimately, though, I chose the older T616 over the T637 simply
because I felt the older model's keypad buttons were easier to use.
Check out both phones, and others, at Phone Scoop, a handy Web site
for getting the 411 on mobile phones:
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/249788/21421680/755878/0/
By comparison, a hybrid is a PDA that also offers mobile phone
services and other features, like a digital camera. Generally
speaking, they're larger than smart phones; and some critics complain
they aren't as easy to use. The big advantage is that all your PDA
contact data is stored on your phone for easy access. In essence, you
have everything in one device.
One of the more popular hybrids is PalmOne's Treo 600, a Palm OS
5-based PDA/cell phone/digital camera combo. The Treo 600 is available
from AT&T Wireless, Cingular, T-Mobile, and Sprint. It's earned high
marks for its good battery life, attractive design, and many extras.
Read PC World's review for details:
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/249788/21421680/516283/0/
The bottom line: If you live and die by your PDA and you need a cell
phone only on occasion, go with a hybrid. But if you talk on the cell
phone a lot and don't mind carrying your PDA around at times, a smart
phone is probably a better bet.
What the Heck is GSM/GPRS?
Once you've decided on the style of phone, be prepared to face some
scary acronyms when you go shopping. To make an informed decision,
you'll need to know what they mean. Here are some of the more common
ones that have to do with the various digital cell phone network
technologies.
CDMA: Code-Division Multiple Access systems have been in operation
since 1995. CDMA is the most popular cell phone technology in the
U.S., primarily offered by Sprint PCS and Verizon Wireless. The CDMA
technology competes with GSM networks.
CDMA is a 2G (second generation) network technology. The first
generation of cell phones were analog; the first digital cellular
networks are referred to as 2G. Many digital cell phones today operate
on 2G networks.
CDMA2000: The 3G (third generation) evolution of the CDMA technology
promises data throughput speeds as fast as a DSL or cable modem.
CDMA2000 is being rolled out in incremental phases: 1xRTT, a 2.5G
network technology, is offered by Sprint PCS as "PCS Vision" and
Verizon as "Express Network"; 1xEV-DO is a 3G technology that Verizon
is testing in some cities.
GSM: The Global System for Mobile Communications has long been the
mobile phone standard in Europe and many other world regions. It's
just beginning to get a foothold in the United States. AT&T Wireless,
T-Mobile, and Cingular are in the process of converting their various
digital networks to GSM.
GSM phones store your account information, services, and other data on
small plastic Subscriber Identity Module cards. A SIM card encrypts
voice and data transmissions for extra security, can store phone book
information, and can be removed from one GSM phone and placed in
another, allowing the new phone to operate immediately using the
subscriber's phone number and other data.
GPRS: General Packet Radio Service is a faster version of GSM,
operating at speeds not unlike a home dial-up modem. GPRS is a 2.5G
network technology, and many phones that use this technology, such as
the Sony Ericsson T616 and T637, are referred to as GSM/GPRS phones.
TDMA: Time-Division Multiple Access has been around for years.
Carriers such as AT&T Wireless are slowly phasing these networks out
in favor of GSM or other digital network technologies. Why? Because
GSM networks can support far more revenue-generating services such as
multimedia messaging than standard TDMA networks. And wireless
carriers are hungrily looking for additional streams of revenue.
The bottom line is that while it's good to know these acronyms, don't
get too hung up on them. My advice is to figure out which style of
phone you need (smart phone or hybrid), which carrier offering your
desired phone has the best service and plans in your area, and then
take the plunge.
Now What?
If you still need some "smartening up," here are some resources:
"How to Buy a Wireless Phone"
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/249788/21421680/755879/0/
"PDAs vs. Smart Phones"
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/249788/21421680/755880/0/
"Smart Talk"
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/249788/21421680/755881/0/
Phone Scoop's excellent glossary
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/249788/21421680/755882/0/
* Notebooks & Accessories *
News: Microsoft's First Mouse for Notebooks
Microsoft's new Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse ($45) is the company's
first designed especially for mobile professionals. The mouse includes
a small receiver that plugs into a USB port and snaps into the bottom
of the mouse for storage. Storing the receiver turns off the power to
save battery life, according to Microsoft. Take a peek at Microsoft's
site:
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/249788/21421680/755883/0/
Read "Microsoft's New Mice Get Touchy" for more about new keyboards
and mice:
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/249788/21421680/755884/0/
News: Write a Note to Self
Due for a public beta release in October, EverNote is a new
application that lets you type quick notes that can contain images,
selected Web page contents, Microsoft Office documents, and more.
Notes are displayed in a scrolling, chronological list--along the
lines of a Weblog, says PC World's Harry McCracken. The program
includes Google-style full-text searching, too.
On a Tablet PC, EverNote lets you use handwriting and digital ink as
well as typed notes. Initially, EverNote will be available in versions
for Windows XP and Pocket PC and Microsoft Smartphone-based handheld
devices. A Palm version is planned for release soon after, and Mac OS,
Linux, and Symbian versions are in the works. The multiple versions
will talk to each other, so you can, for example, view notes you took
on your PC on a PDA. A basic version of the final product will be
available at no charge, while a fee-based edition will include
advanced features. More details:
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/249788/21421680/755885/0/
News: Height-Adjustable Notebook Stand
When used with an external keyboard and pointing device, Ambir
Technology's new Xbrand 360 Height Adjustable Laptop Cradle ($120)
makes typing on a notebook much more ergonomic, the company says. The
cradle raises the notebook's display to an eye-level viewing height,
helping to promote the proper user posture, according to Ambir. The
Xbrand works with most notebook models. For more information, go to
the company's Web site:
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/249788/21421680/755886/0/
* Gadgets & Services *
News: A Faster Wireless Networking Standard
With throughput speeds of at least 100 megabits per second, a new
wireless networking standard, 802.11n, promises to be at least twice
as fast as 802.11g (with speeds of up to 54 mbps). The 802.11n
standard is also expected to cover twice as much territory as 802.11g
and will be backward compatible with the 802.11b and 802.11g
standards. The standard hasn't been ratified yet, but coming this fall
are Belkin's Wireless Pre-N Router ($180) and Network Card ($130),
which promise 802.11n's benefits. As of this writing, Belkin's Web
site had no further information about the products:
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/249788/21421680/755887/0/
Trend: Cell Phones With Keyboards
Ever since the success of PalmOne's Treo 600, with its built-in QWERTY
keyboard, the trend has been to add keyboards to mobile phones and
smart phones whenever possible (though not always probable). New
phones from Danger, Hewlett-Packard, Motorola, Nokia, Research In
Motion, Sierra Wireless, Sony, and others are following the trend.
Though they're not designed for a lengthy session of touch typing, the
keyboards make it much easier to respond to text messages--otherwise
you're stuck hammering out letters on a numeric keypad. Read more
about the trend in "Does Your Phone Speak QWERTY?":
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/249788/21421680/755888/0/
News: EarthLink Adds BlackBerrys to Its Menu
Major ISP EarthLink is now offering Research In Motion's BlackBerry
7750, which is both a wireless phone and a data device. (Atlanta-based
EarthLink has traditionally offered only data delivery, not cell-phone
service.) EarthLink will sell the BlackBerry 7750 for $549, minus a
$150 discount it was offering at press time. For unlimited data,
service plans begin at $40 per month; about $80 gets you 500 minutes
of voice and free nights along with the unlimited data. More details:
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/249788/21421680/755889/0/
* Pass It On *
Know someone who needs to stay current on the latest mobile computing
news, reviews, and tips? They can sign up for this newsletter at the
PC World newsletter subscriptions page:
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/249788/21421680/99/0/
* Suggestion Box *
Is there a particularly cool mobile computing product or service I've
missed? Contact me at:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
* See James Martin's previous Mobile Computing Features at:
http://pcwnl.pcworld.com/t/249788/21421680/237304/0/
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Top News From PC World
* First Look: Surfing on Your MSN TV
Updated Internet appliance adds home networking features.
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* French Cinemas Silence Cell Phones
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