The Apple tablet for the masses is here and it’s called the Apple iPad. I’m sure Apple conducted hours of user research & feedback to decide on the name iPad. Right? I really liked the idea of the tablet being called Canvas though. So what are my initial thoughts?

When will the iPad Pro be announced? You know, the grown up version capable of running professional software like Photoshop?

The truth of the matter is that I will somehow convince myself to buy one. An ideal device for the coffee table, beside your bed, on the toilet (having the iPhone has changed the way I poop), or while travelling. What do you think, will you buy one? Will the first iPad usher in a new era of power tablets to be released by Apple over the next 10 years? Or will Apple keep the iPad line focused on entertainment with no real plans to offer a full OS version?

To find out more about the iPad, check out this exhaustive post on Gizmodo: Apple iPad: Everything you need to know.

The advertising agency responsible for pushing the Windows Live Mobile newsletter features a handset which seems to be suffering from a bit of an identity crisis. Who am I, what am I?

With Microsoft recently announcing its Windows Mobile 6.5 version to accompany attractive handsets from HTC and Samsung, why cut corners mating screenshots with the outer remnants of the Apple iPhone?

NuevaSync: Free Calendar + Contacts sync OTA for iPhone

Are you managing all of your events and contacts in the "cloud"? Not interesting in syncing your important data down to your machine to read, edit, and manage in iCal or Address Book? Check out NuevaSync.

NuevaSync allows direct, over-the-air, native synchronization of certain smart phones and PDA devices with public PIM, and calendaring services including Google Calendar. NuevaSync does not need any software installed on your device because it uses synchronization protocols that are already built in.

The beta service offers free OTA sync between your various Google Calendar & Gmail (Contacts) and iPhone or iPod Touch. NuevaSync can be setup and activated directly from your mobile device reaffirming the fact that a computer is not required. NuevaSync will not directly sync with your computer. NuevaSync is setup as a Microsoft Exchange server services. This beta service is intended strictly for syncing to your mobile device.

Google: Calendar + Contacts sync OTA for iPhone & Mac

Interested in pulling your Google Calendar + Contacts data down to your Mac for free? Apple recently released software updates (10.5) which support your Google account in both iCal and Address Book. Like Apple, Google has taken steps to properly document the steps to setup your software correctly.

Check Getting Started with CalDAV. The related software download can be found on Google Code: calaboration. The process is simple and [only] requires that you download the software, enter your Google username and password, and select the calendars to sync.

The requirement to sync your Google Gmail Contacts with Address Book is just as simple. Most of the details are posted in the Gmail + Address Book sync post a few days back. In short, open your Address Book Preferences and enable the ‘Synchronize with Google’ feature. Note the added convenience of creating a smart group which looks for updated contacts which makes it easier to track down recent sync changes.

In order to sync data to your iPhone, utilize the free beta service NuevaSync (above) or make a physical connection via USB.

Google Mobile: Free Contacts + Calendar sync

Google recently released its Google Sync Mobile service. Find out more details on the new over-the-air sync service on the official info page. iPhone users can enjoy free OTA syncing for contacts and calenders. Note that the initial sync will delete your contacts and events off the phone.

MobileMe: Paid for Calendar + Contacts sync OTA for iPhone & Mac

Weary trusting your Google Account data with a beta service? Your option for both Calendar and Contacts sync OTA between iPhone and Mac is MobileMe. While the annual subscription based service offers a handful of other "cloud" features, you can specify only Calendar and / or Contacts syncing.

Open System Preferences > MobileMe > Sync. Specify your sync interval – automatically, every day, every week, or manual – and uncheck any sync services that you do not plan on using.

If you have made any significant changes to either iCal or Address Book, or are running into sync conflicts caused by another computer, you can force a reset of your MobileMe data (server side). Towards the bottom of the MobileMe window, select the ‘Advanced…’ button, then ‘Reset Sync Data…’ on the next screen. From here you can force a reset of data either on a) your local computer, or b) data stored on MobileMe. Read the description and understand the action before proceeding.

BusySync: Paid for Calendar + Contacts sync with your Mac

One service that I’ve begun using is a paid for background application called BusySync.

With BusySync it’s incredibly easy to share iCal calendars with family or coworkers on your LAN without the need for a dedicated server. Shared calendars can be viewed and edited by multiple users, and changes are instantly published and synchronized with all users on the network. You can even make changes to shared calendars while offline and your changes will sync when you reconnect to the network.

Those that have tried the WebDAV based sync between Google Calendar and iCal can attest to the fact that the syncing is not creating a real calendar object in iCal. Meaning? You can setup your WebDAV sync using the Google calaboration tool which will place events in iCal. However, if you happen to be syncing your iCal events OTA to your iPhone with MobileMe, it will not sync any calendars originating from Google. The solution would be to use NuevaSync to supplement your non-MobileMe sync.

Summary

• For users interested in a full suite of "cloud" services like photo / video gallery sharing, easy web publishing, and file storage – without the need to administrate a real web server – in addition to OTA sync with their iPhone, check out MobileMe.
• Check out the full Google Mobile service for syncing contacts / calendars OTA.
• Are you using Google and an iPhone? Want OTA sync? Check out the free beta service NuevaSync.
• Looking for a free solution to sync your Google data with your iPhone and Mac? Make use of WebDAV and Address Book synchronization.
• Try BusySync if you just want Calendar and Contacts sync without worrying about a beta service or paying the MobileMe annual subscription.

Although the Kaiser leant more towards the side of big and bulky, the added weight and footprint housed the conveniences of dual cameras, HSDPA, GPS, and a slide-out QWERTY + tilting screen. An admitted skeptic turned believer regarding the Apple iPhone, the recent firmware update (1.1.1) which made loading 3rd party applications a little more cumbersome persuaded me to consider my options. Return to the Symbian powered Nokia N95, or experiment with something completely new [for myself] – a Windows Mobile device? Because I had already experienced the feature-packed Nokia N95, the TyTN II Kaiser seemed like the natural answer.

So with open mind and arms, I cheerfully welcomed the Windows Mobile 6 powered HTC TyTN II Kaiser. The iPhone was powered down, SIM card removed, and placed within the drawer of "archived" goods.

HTC ups the ante for full feature loaded Smartphones

At some point in all of our lives, the desktop version of Windows has or will cause(d) either a) frustration, b) anger, c) irritation, or d) any combination thereof. Having grown up using Windows ME, Windows 2000, and Windows XP I have felt the pain. BSOD anyone? I convinced myself that Windows Mobile would be different. Despite the negative experiences of co-workers, friends, and family, I had to believe Microsoft had managed to optimize its popular Windows operating system in such a way suitable for use on an everyday device like HTC TyTN II Kaiser.

• The HTC TyTN II Kaiser is a solid piece of hardware – movable pieces or joints reinforced with metal or thick plastic.
• Tilting screen turns the device into a mini computer sitting beside you atop a table.
• Full QWERTY sliding keyboard – keys are firm with adequate space between for larger hands.
• Front-facing VGA camera suitable for 3G video calls on supporting networks, rear-facing 3MP camera + auto-focus for still shots or video recording.
• Touch-screen "TouchFLO" interface – use your fingertip (not fingernail) to select items, scroll through emails / contacts / web pages, or dial numbers.
• Stylus for more intricate control of touch screen functions.
• Integrated GPS which includes TomTom 6 + one free map of your choosing (additional maps available for download). Also compatible with Google Maps GPS. GPS satellite lock within 10 seconds.
• SDHC compatible – provide our own high capactiy microSD card for external storage of applications, photos, files, videos, or maps.
• HSDPA, UMTS (850/1900/2100 MHz), GSM/GPRS/EDGE (850/900/1800/1900), WiFi b/g, and Bluetooth.
• Jog-dial similar to those found on BlackBerry devices – activates Start menu, scroll through programs, your email inbox, or down long web pages.
• Decently sized 320 x 240 QVGA screen with portrait or landscape mode for viewing wide images or video files.

After roughly one month of use, I was reminded that despite all of the bells and whistles, even the most feature laden devices are made or broken by the operating system in which they are powered by. A well designed operating system will embrace and enhance hardware features, while the opposite muddles the user experience negating all of the bells and whistles that sold the device in the first place.

You know you are dealing with Windows when…

You know you are dealing with a Windows device when the manual / documentation is as thick as the device itself. The thickness hints at just how exhaustive the feature set is for the HTC TyTN II Kaiser. At the same time, you can only imagine how much more time consuming it would be to familiarize yourself with every facet of the handset compared to the Apple iPhone.

From a new users perspective, a manual that requires 5+ pages for the table of contents and even more for the index is daunting. From the Start menu to Program Files, File Explorer to Pocket Internet Explorer. Every basic detail of the handset features integration with Windows Mobile is documented. Don’t get me wrong, the information presented in the manual is all very useful for the first time Windows Mobile user, but like all things Windows, most of the useful tips can only be found online through Windows Mobile power users.

I couldn’t help but reminisce back to the day I picked up my Apple iPhone. After spending 5-10 minutes admiring the svelte packaging style that is Apple, I immediately plugged the phone into my computer via USB and was up and running. I didn’t even know there was documentation to walk you through the setup.

The initial setup for the Kaiser was a little more involved. Power on, wait for the 30 second boot-up time (this is Windows), initial screen alignment with the stylus (thinking back to my Treo 700p days), basics of stylus actions, setting up handset security, and adding any email account. All of this was immediately followed by a network detection wizard [which worked like a champ] automatically configuring the device for use with Cingular / at&t – MMS, SMS, voicemail, HSDPA connectivity, etc. Once the configuration wizard was complete, the handset required a mandatory ‘Restart’ in order for the settings to save. Gah! This is Windows.

A pocketable Windows XP complete with the pain & frustration?

* As precursor, my main operating system is Mac OS. Due to the fact that Windows nor HTC offer Mac OS compatible software required to sync the handset with desktop applications. I relied on The Missing Sync by Mark/Space or virtualization tools for my syncing and application installation needs. In order to use the HTC TyTN II Kaiser to its fullest potential, access to Windows XP / Vista is required.

It has been a considerable amount of time since I have had to use any variant of Windows on a regular day-to-day basis. Prior to the Kaiser, it had been nearly 3 years [not including time spent debugging with Internet Explorer using Parallels or VMware]. With an open mind, I ignored any previous negative feeling regarding Windows and focused on investigating the possibilities and options offered by a Windows Mobile powered Smartphone.

Towards the end of the two week mark, the magic of the slide out QWERTY keyboard, tilting screen, high speed HSDPA network, and integrated GPS began to wear thin. The downsides of the Windows Mobile platform began to show.

• What good is a 320 x 240 QVGA screen if you can’t read it whilst outside on an overcast or sunny day unless the brightness is turned all the way up?
• What good is a 320 x 240 screen that can change from portrait to landscape when most of the OS window chrome eats up a noticeable chunk of the viewport?
• So what if I can run Skype mobile on my device for VoIP phonecalls? The audio can only be outputted through the rear speakerphone [unless you install BTaudio and redirect sound to a Bluetooth headset].
• So much for clean multi-tasking. Those same taskbar notification popups most people hate seeing in Windows on their desktop notify you of incoming SMSs, MMSs, and emails stealing your cursor focus unless you disable them completely [muddling with the Windows Registry].
• Recently sent a text message have you? Well Windows will go ahead and interupt whatever you’re doing to let you know it was successfully sent [unless you tweak the Windows Registry].
• Incoming phone call while you’re out on a busy street? No worries, go ahead and select ‘Answer’, it will take nearly a second for the call to actually initiate on your end giving you a head start to move towards a quieter area.
• Installing, testing, and uninstalling applications? Remember, this is Windows. Simply electing to ‘Remove’ the application using the Add / Remove utility isn’t guaranteed to remove everything. You might find some remnants left on your memory card, in a subdirectory of Program Files, even a subdirectory of My Documents or Windows.
• The slide-out keyboard is fantastic, but the resounding click heard by your co-workers sitting next to you will make you think twice about messaging someone discreetly during a meeting.

It’s not Windows Mobile without a stylus, even with TouchFLO

Touch screen devices will become more and more the norm, especially for smaller devices like cellphones, Smartphones, and personal audio / video players. The HTC TyTN II Kaiser includes a stripped down version of HTC’s TouchFLO interface which allows users to control certain aspects of the interface with their fingertips.

TouchFLO provides users with very basic functions like scrolling through an address book, emails, call logs, and web pages. Additionally, users can dial directly from the call screen or make use of 3rd party developer software like PocketCM’s Keyboard. Unfortunately, the usefulness of TouchFLO on the Kaiser is hampered greatly by the quality and sensitivity of the screen. Despite increasing TouchFLO’s sensitivity further with additional registry editing, selecting buttons, dialing numbers, or closing programs without using the d-pad keys was cumbersome – requiring a fingernail or stylus.

The root of the cumbersome touch phone experience on the HTC TyTN II Kaiser is the operating system itself – Windows Mobile 6. HTC made every effort to create a positive touch screen experience with their own custom dial pad and Today plugin, but beyond those two facets of the device, everything else is inherited from Windows Mobile. For example, many of the functional elements that you would want to control with your fingertip are 16 x 16 pixels. A comfortable footprint for the included stylus, but hardly enough room even the smallest fingers.

HTC’s TouchFLO is a great supplemental feature for Windows Mobile handsets, just don’t start thinking that you can toss that tiny stylus away just yet.

Is it even fair to compare the iPhone & Kaiser? Not really

Others have pointed out that neither phones can be compared in a head-to-head battle due to the fact that one is geared towards and offered at a considerable discount for business users, while the other is not. Can you take a guess which handset fits the business profile? Hint: one device offers support for Push, Exchange, BlackBerry Connect, and multiple VPN networks; the other, "push" email thanks to Yahoo, two-way iChat like text messaging, and heavy focus on mobile music.

Rumor has it that at&t offers the re-branded Tilt aka TyTN II Kaiser for under $200 (even free for some) for at&t Premier accounts (reg. non-Premier price $299 with new activation). Check out Amazon for even more savings on the at&t Tilt. If you’re lucky, you can snag the iPhone off of eBay for that price, otherwise you’re stuck paying $399.

In all fairness, the HTC TyTN II Kaiser would win hands down in any power business user setting thanks to an array of connectivity options, integration with Outlook, and Mobile Office (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint). Additionally, being a Windows Mobile device, users have access to thousands of useful productivity applications to enhance their experience further.

In contrast, iPhone users are limited to the handset applications designated by Apple or rich web applications. However, Apple has announced the availability of a SDK in February 2008 which may turn the tables in favor of the iPhone with 3rd party developers creating applications for business users. Both device address the needs of different types of users.

The option of applications is great, but usability is far more valuable

Over the course of 20 days of use, I collected a few thoughts concerning my experiences with the HTC TyTN II Kaiser.

• Startup is slow. Painful almost – especially for a mobile device. I almost half expected to see the BIOS screen display with the option to boot into ‘Safe Mode’. Windows *shudder*. Hopefully your phone won’t lock up too many times requiring a full reboot.
• Ooh how sweet it is to have ‘Reply to all’ or ‘Send to all’ options for SMS Text Messaging.
• Just setup a new POP account on your iPhone? Yeah, have fun marking each message as read individually. At least Mobile Outlook can be enhanced with feature like ‘Mark all as read’ or ‘Delete all’.
• The familiar concept of the Recycle Bin is missing from Windows Mobile. When a file is deleted from the handset, it is gone for good with no option to recover.
• I wish HTC had skinned / themed the entire Windows Mobile interface to make the device truly touch friendly.
• The TyTN II Kaiser really is business / phone first with entertainments options added on.
• Battery life is so-so. Removed from charge at 9AM, nearly completely depleted by 11PM. You can’t expect much from a device that keeps a data connection live whenever possible. I’m not complaining.
• Without any 3rd party applications running, Windows Mobile eats up roughly 35% of the onboard memory.
• Did I mention that I wished HTC had skinned the entire Windows Mobile interface. The non-irritating way to manipulate anything behind the HTC Today plugin is with a fingernail, stylus, or the d-pad.
• Appreciate the option of upgrading external memory with SDHC compatible cards. Capacity will only continue to go up (hopefully the prices will continue to fall).
• Auto-focus on the rear facing camera is great, it would be a little more convenient if it was a little quicker so as not to miss the intended shot. Where’s the flash?
• Mobile Safari on Windows Mobile. I routinely found myself missing Mobile Safari even after installing Opera.
• Get nice and cozy with a registry editor. You’ll need to know the basics if you want to tweak Windows Mobile to make it more useable.
• When I press ‘Answer’ for an incoming call, I expect the phone to answer right now! Isn’t that what a basic phone is supposed to do?! There should be no "thinking" involved, no delays, nothing! Yes Tres, I was wrong, Windows Mobile even managed to crash when I tried to receive a call.
• Appreciated the option of creating multiple network configuration profiles. I set one up to use at& / Cingular’s special port which both optimized images before loading and offered streaming videos, and a second for straight HSDPA browsing with image compression and optimization.
• I actually worried about the idea of a Windows Mobile Virus.

Windows Mobile applications / utilities that helped

The number of applications available for use on Windows Mobile is incredible. I only hope that once the iPhone SDK is released will Apple’s mobile platform explode in a similar manner. Here are a few of my favorites for use with Windows Mobile:

• The Missing Sync ($40) by Mark/Space – I don’t use Windows and wanted my Address Book contacts, iCal events, select audio / video files, and folders synced back and forth. The Missing Sync took care of all of that and more including local call log and SMS log archiving for backup and searching. In addition, The Missing Sync provided a drag ‘n drop interface for installing CAB files on the device.
• Skype Mobile (free) – VoIP calls over HSDPA. Great quality. I only wish that audio could be outputted through the device headset speaker rather than the rear-facing speaker.
• Fring (free) – Also offered VoIP calls but used mainly for instant messaging. Chat with MSN, ICQ, Google Talk, Skype, or update Twitter.
• Resco Explorer ($30) – Replaced the default Windows File Explorer with a far more powerful alternative which included a real Recycle Bin, FTP, Registry Editor, and a slew of other features.
• Google Maps GPS (free) – Although the HTC TyTN II Kaiser included TomTom + one free map download, Google Maps proved to be far more accurate. I loved TomTom’s adaptive routing but misguiding me and putting me 7 blocks away from my intended destination was unacceptable.
• Opera Browser ($24) – Not free but very much an required upgrade over Pocket Internet Explorer also known as PIE. Tabbed browsing. Mmm.

In closing… Yes, I admit it. I went from iPhone to HTC TyTN II Kaiser to iPhone. A complete circle. I assumed that being able to install whatever applications I wanted on my mobile device was the flexibility I wanted. I was wrong. I could have loaded the TyTN II Kaiser with every imaginable Windows Mobile application I could find on Handango, but there would still be something missing. Simplicity. Real iPhone applications are just around the corner, 4 months to be exact. Whether or not the SDK will open the iPhone up as a true competitor against existing Smartphones is uncertain. However, I am 99% certain that the HTC TyTN II Kaiser (at&t Tilt) is my first and last Windows Mobile device. Not because of HTC, but because Window Mobile [in general] is too clunky and bloated.

Naturally, as time progresses, personal interest and taste change; replaced with new interest(s). Despite my own attempts to persuade myself to ignore the urge, I rarely follow through with my intention(s) to resist falling for the next latest & [purportedly] greatest gadget. Call it a pricey hobby, an infatuation, a crazy lust for all things shiny and electronic. There are very few items that manage to hold my attention and interest long enough to die a slow and natural death of overuse, abuse, and accidental breakage.

The most difficult urge? Mobile phones. As revisions and updates surface, cellphones become more and more advanced packing a more powerful "punch" than preceding handsets. Try as hard as I might – even going as far as ignoring tech sites and forums whose sole purpose is to focus on mobile phones – a small glimpse of a thumbnail is enough to send me careening for more information and a means to acquire a handset for my own use. It seems like only yesterday the amazing Nokia N95 was all I could think about, then the Apple iPhone dropped on to the scene, now… The HTC TyTN II Kaiser.

Deciding to give the HTC TyTN II Kaiser a proper break-in and thorough use before reviewing, I thought it might be interesting to recall my first, second, third – and all the way up to my current mobile handset [in chronological order].

• Motorola V8160 – This was my first and probably the smallest flip phone that I have ever or will ever own.
• Nokia 8290 – I think everyone had one of these phones at some point in their life. Nearly bombproof, the 8290 was a true warrior of a handset.
• Nokia 8390 – My favorite mini candy bar handset from Nokia; that white backlit display was just perfect.
• Sony Ericsson T68i – My first color screen handset. Nice to look at [for its time] but incredibly slow.
• Nokia 7250i – My first decent camera phone. The T68i didn’t count because it required an external camera.
• Siemens SL56 – A tiny slider that didn’t last too long. The cramped keyboard was too small for heavy SMS messaging.
• NEC 525 – Large vibrant screen but cumbersome phone software.
• SideKick (color) – Sometimes you just end up with a sour lemon.
• SideKick II – I assumed the 2nd generation SideKick was going to be better. *cough*
• Treo 650 – My first experience with Palm. Juggling multiple applications was great.
• Samsung A920 – A complimentary handset from Sprint. Samsung made a solid flip phone that doubled as an EVDO modem for tethering.
• Treo 700p – An updated case and OS provided an even better Palm experience than the Treo 680. No other threaded SMS app comes close, unless you count the iPhone.
• Samsung Upstage – A complimentary handset from Sprint. The two LCD screen design is more inconvenient than convenient.
• BlackBerry 8703e – A solid BlackBerry device.
• BlackBerry 8100 Pearl – The slim form factor was great, the keyboard layout, not high on my list of favorites.
• Nokia N95 – A true power packed Nokia candybar slider. 5MP camera, 30 fps recording, GPS, Symbian.. Nearly perfect. Well actually, now that the 3G US version is out… It just might be.
• BlackBerry 8300 Curve – The slim form factor of the Pearl, but a full-size keyboard reminiscent of my first BlackBerry the 8703e.
• Apple iPhone – The easiest phone to open, charge, and start using. A high resolution touch screen that still has its faults.
• HTC TyTN ii Kaiser – My first Windows Mobile (6) device. I’ll share my thoughts regarding my feeling of switching from the iPhone to the Kaiser.

* There were a few other handsets between the first and current handsets but their names have slipped my mind.

The list will go on. But for now, I’m overwhelmed with the HTC TyTN ii Kaiser. Check back for an update which will share my experiences switching from Apple’s all touch-screen iPhone to a Windows powered Smartphone. That Apple iPhone could never be labeled a true Smartphone anyway… right? What handsets did you own, and which among them was your favorite?

Motorola is trying their best to make a niche for themselves in the mobile entertainment arena with the ROKR (rocker get it?) line of cellphones & accessories.

Sprint / Motorola sent me Motorola’s latest, the MOTOROKR S9. Although I admit fascination for anything Bluetooth, the MOTOROKR S9’s behind the head wireless design was a bit of a turn-off. Regardless, I put the headphones to work with a Samsung Upstage, Apple iPhone, and Mac OS X.

Supports A2DP? Well that is just swell

The MOTOROKR S9’s performed as expected with the Samsung Upstage. Not surprising considering the handset supports the Stereo Bluetooth Profile A2DP. Sadly, audio quality was flat and distant. This would have be "acceptable" had the headphones been of the standard Bluetooth wireless hands-free headset variant, but they weren’t. They are supposed to play two roles: 1) Bluetooth stereo headphones and 2) wireless hands-free headset.

Audio quality aside, controlling phone calls or audio playback is done with controls conveniently placed on the headphones above both ears. Phone controls – answer / end & volume – above the left ear, audio controls – play / pause & skip-forward / back – above the right ear. Answering / ending a call, or playing / pausing audio is done so by buttons with a resounding click. Increasing / decreasing volume, or skipping forward / back is much subtler with touch sensitive controls.

Functional handsfree headset for non-A2DP supported devices

Excited with the prospect of being able to enjoy wire-free stereo sound with my iPhone (as I did with the Samsung Upstage), I was sadly disappointed and reminded of the fact that Apple neglected to support the A2DP Bluetooth profile. Why Apple why? Was it to conserve battery life? Is it a "feature" for a future iPhone release?

A2DP stereo Bluetooth sound or not, the MOTOROKR S9’s functioned like any other basic Bluetooth headset. Strangely, the S9’s – when paired as a standard handsfree headset – only output sound through one ear bud. Whether or not this is normal for Bluetooth headphones during normal voice calls is beyond me (drop your comments below of your A2DP stereo headphones output sound through both ear buds during a voice call).

During voice calls, audio quality for anyone on the opposite end of the call reported somewhat muffled sound and complained of excessive background noise. Not at all surprising considering the microphone is integrated into the left ear bud.

Similar feedback was reported while using the S9’s for VOIP calling via iChat audio / video & Skype. For anyone interested in getting the Stereo Bluetooth profile A2DP to work with Mac OS X Tiger, check out this helpful article by David C.

Likes

• USB charger – charge the headphones from your computers USB port(s).
• Fairly lightweight and unobtrusive if your head fits.
• Convenient phone and stereo function (controls) separation – communication on the left-side, stereo on the right-side.
• Increase / decrease volume & fast foward / skip controls are nearly touch sensitive.

Dis-likes

• Uncomfortable. I found the MOTOROKR S9’s too narrow, larger heads will definitely feel the squeeze. On top of the firm plastic frame, the included earbuds are also uncomfortable and difficult to position for thorough sound output.
• Unattractive. This probably goes for any wireless behind-the-head headphones. My co-worker asked if I was from the future immediately after putting them on.
• Terrible pairing / setup process. As cool and "convenient" as it may seem to be to limit functions to a single button, it doesn’t hurt to have a single pin-hole button dedicated to pairing.

On a related note, Apple iPhone users should check out Ultimate Buds. The third-party service mates the popular Etymotic ER6i earphones with Apple’s own. Ultimate Buds sells the conversion outright, or conducts the operation on your own Etymotic & Apple earphones [that you supply]. Look for feedback regarding the conversion when my "Ultimate Buds" arrive.

Want these MOTOROKR S9’s?

Want to score a free MOTOROKR S9? Use the comments below to convince me why you need the wireless A2DP Stereo Profile Bluetooth headphones. One lucky reader will receive the MOTOROKR S9 headphones free of charge – I’ll cover shipping via UPS anywhere in the continental US. International readers, we’ll have to work something out.

September 5th, Apple announces new iPod hardware – which iPod are you? Not surprising considering early rumors spoke of such updates weeks ago. What was not expected was the significant price-drop for the hottest selling smartphone last month [July 2007], the Apple iPhone. How significant of a price-drop? $200. As an early [iPhone] adopter, I was a little flustered with the news.

A few thoughts that came to mind after reading the news:

• As Apple’s hottest selling device, the iPod has never had as significant of a price-drop in a period less than 2 years, let alone 2 months.
• News of software / hardware SIM unlocking (confirmed by CNN) surely made at&t unhappy. Apple obviously does not "technically" condone such activities. However, 3rd party iPhone unlocking only translates into more money coming Apple’s way.
• Check here for the 4GB iPhone ($299) while supplies last. Otherwise, look for $299 [refurbished] Phone’s in the Apple Refurb store. Trust me, they’ll hit the refurb store within the new few weeks (or sooner). Check daily because as soon as they go up, they’ll all be spoken for by the end of the day.
• Umm, two months equals twice the storage – 8GB to 16GB? Come on Apple, admit it! These were ready at the end of June but the idea of making an extra $200 off of early adopters for an 8GB iPhone was too hard to resist.
• That iPhone Touch looks quite empty with 7 applications on the SpringBoard and 4 in the dock. *cough*. Better hurry up and get those 99 cent downloads to load Dashboard widgets on to the iPod Touch / iPhones.
• Speaking of 99 cent downloads… I can understand charging 99 cents for custom ringtones, but doing so for customers who have already purchased the song?! $1.98 + tax to purchase the complete song and have the matching ringtone? Psh, Ambrosia’s iToner is only $15 (alternatives below).
• Want to sell more of these handsets Apple? Hurry up and get Mobile iChat with support for AIM + Google Talk.

As difficult as it is to stomach the $200 price change, I’ll forgive you Apple. As long as you hurry up and bring MacBook Pro revisions with a model to replace the classic 12" PowerBook – give us a MacBook Pro Mini. If such hardware is released, I promise to be an early adopter again.

* Maybe send early iPhone adopters a free Bluetooth headset voucher eh?
** iPhone and soon to be iPod Touch users should check out some of the following alternatives to personalize their devices: Installer.app Beta, iFuntastic, and Shaun Inman’s An Easy SSH / SFTP iPhone Installer.

Save on Wholesale Electronics

When you search online you are sure to get the best prices on consumer electronics. It’s easy to just rush off to the store for an electronics purchase, but taking the time to look up wholesale electronics can save you thousands on your technology purchases.

Having spent my fair share of time with various mobile handsets, I’ve spent a noticeable amount of time and patience in order to get both my cellphone(s) and computer(s) synced and "playing" nicely. "Playing nicely" referring to simple tasks such as syncing iCal events, todo lists, contacts, and notes to more frivolous tasks as syncing music, photos, or video libraries.

The problem that most OS X users will face is the fact that most mobile phones do not include the necessary software and / or drivers required. From my own personal experiences using a Palm Treo 700p, BlackBerry 8703e, and a BlackBerry 8100 (Pearl) getting devices to sync as expected required the help of individual or 3rd party developers rather than official software / drivers provided by manufactures for OS X.

In order to sync my previous devices with OS X, I was unable to turn to the manufacturer or Apple for full support. Rather, I was forced to turn to Mark/Space for any syncing needs. Recognized as the best solution for syncing Windows, Palm, or BlackBerry mobile phones with OS X, Mark/Space is the only solution available for reliable results. Although Mark/Space does offer discounts for cross-grades between different syncing software, the amount of money that I had already spent moving between different devices had me gritting my teeth after moving to the Symbian powered Nokia N95. Fortunately, Nokia supports its users across both – Apple & Windows – platforms.

Apple iSync + Nokia, instant support out of the box

Apple offers users a convenient syncing utility known as iSync which works wonderfully for a wide range of devices out of the box (Apple’s official mobile phones support page) – support for select Motorola, Nokia, Panasonic, Sony Ericsson, Sendo, and Siemens handsets.

Nokia users will notice that iSync supports quite a number of devices out of the box – 43 devices as of this article. Rest assured that although the support page does not list all of the newer Eseries & Nseries devices, Nokia provides official iSync downloads which will ensure your devices is supported. Visit the Nokia iSync Software downloads page for additional information and installation instructions.

Once iSync has the appropriate drivers installed for your device (assuming your handset required a supplemental download from Nokia), you can immediately enjoy the the simplicity of iSync to move your calendar items, todo lists (iCal), and Address Book contacts + pictures.

Apple iSync with the official Nokia N95 supplemental device driver download installed – Supports USB or Bluetooth

iSync supports both manual and automatic syncing via USB or Bluetooth, as well as added customization of specifying syncing [only] Address Book contacts with phone numbers, not synchronizing events prior to a specific date, or instructing iSync to ignore events older than x days, weeks, or months.

Connecting your Nokia (N95) via USB or Bluetooth

Fortunately, connecting your Nokia device is as simple as using the included USB cable or running the OS X Bluetooth Wizard. Nokia kindly walks users through both setups on its Nokia / Mac page. Users who plan on syncing their device via USB will want to bookmark Nokia’s Initial USB Setup page. Bluetooth users will want to do the same for the Initial Bluetooth Setup and Pairing Your Device With Your Mac. All three tutorials are incredibly easy to follow – thanks to both Nokia and Apple’s thorough documentation and wizard walk-through.

It is important that Bluetooth users authorize their computer permanently in order to eliminate the "Accept connection from [computer name]" prompt each time iSync connects with your device.

Automatically sync your Nokia (N95) mobile phone via Bluetooth

One convenience that I was never able to setup correctly with any of my previous devices – Palm & BlackBerry – was the ability to automatically sync my desktop iCal events, todo items, and contacts via Bluetooth. Blame it on the fact that neither of my previous mobile phones interfaced directly with iSync. Fortunately, after creating a simple AppleScript Automator application, I discovered two methods which support automatic synchronization – an iCal event which triggers the Automatic iSync application, or Home Zone (Blueooth proximity) which triggers a sync when the mobile phone is within Bluetooth range.

Both methods – iCal & Home Zone – require that a) your device has been successfully paired (check the previous Nokia tutorials above), and b) the Automatic iSync Application (below). The 56KB zipped directory includes the free Automatic iSync Application & README. Note that this application is not limited to Nokia handsets. Automatic iSync will support any devices which communicate successfully with iSync – check the supported devices list for mobile phone.

Automatic iSync Automator Application

Scheduled syncs with iCal

My preferred method of syncing events, todo items, and contacts requires both iCal and the Automatic iSync Application. Rather than syncing data automatically whenever the device is within Bluetooth range with Home Zone, an iCal event can be scheduled to run daily, twice a day, or every other day depending on how often you update your handset or desktop. Because I am sure to be at my my desktop computer both as soon as I wake or before heading to bed, I create two sync times – one at 8AM, the second at 7PM. You can create similar triggers by following the steps below.

• Open iCal and create a new event titled "Mobile Sync" (or whatever you prefer).
• Select "All-day"
• Move down to "Repeat" and select "Custom" from the drop down menu. Select "Weekly" as the Frequency and "Every 1 week(s) on:" M-F.
• Select the "End" date when your syncs should stop. June if you plan on picking up the iPhone.
• Locate "Alarm" and select "Open file". iCal will issue a prompt asking if you would like to apply the trigger to a single event or all repeated events. Select "All". You will now see a new drop down menu underneath "Open file". Select "Other" and specify the location of the Automatic iSync Application.
• Underneath "Open file" select "The same day" from the drop down menu and specify a time (8AM).

Once you’ve created your repeated event(s) using the settings above, iCal will trigger the Automatic iSync Application every week day until your specified end date at 8AM. All that is left to do is to ensure that you have your handset within range with Bluetooth enabled at the time specified by your event.

Bluetooth proximity syncs with Home Zone

Home Zone (public beta) is a menu bar application which automatically runs specified action or changes your computer configuration based on the proximity of Bluetooth devices or AirPort base stations. Setup is a little more involved, but the extra features offer far more flexibility and functionality outside of the scope of a simple data sync between a mobile handset and iSync.

Home Zone operates using three configuration options: 1) Zones – defined by one or more Networks or Bluetooth devices, 2) Triggers, and 3) Actions – performed when entering or leaving a zone.

Similar to triggering Automatic iSync with an iCal event, you can instruct Home Zone to do the same whenever your mobile handset is within Bluetooth range.

Screenshot of Home Zone configuration settings for mobile phone syncing – click for larger preview

• Under "Zones", add a new zone titled "Mobile Sync". Your Mobile Sync zone should appear with a status of "Not available".
• Under "Triggers" create a new trigger selecting "Bluetooth Device" as the "Kind", and then press the ‘Select Bluetooth Device’ button. The OS X Select Bluetooth Device window will appear where your pre-paired device should be listed. Highlight the device and press ‘Select’
• Under "Actions", create a new action. In the "Action" preference window, you can select "Enter" or "Leave". For the purpose of syncing, select "Enter".
• From the "Action" drop-down menu, select "Open file" and drag the Automatic iSync Application into the drop-zone or select the built-in "Synchronize iSync".

Following the settings above, Home Zone will automatically sync your mobile phone whenever it enters or re-enters Bluetooth range. If Growl is installed on your machine, you will recieve a Growl notification whenever an action is completed. Home Zone can be used for far more than simple syncing including enabling a screensaver password, disabled a screensaver password, pausing iTunes, setting a default printer, etc.

Manual Nokia (N95) mobile phone syncing with Quicksilver

Quicksilver users can sync their Nokia (N95), or any mobile phone via Bluetooth using the Automatic iSync Application and a custom defined trigger. Create a custom trigger which opens the Automatic iSync application following the steps below:

• Open Quicksilver Preferences and select "Triggers" from the top menu bar.
• Press the plus sign at the bottom of the window and select &quotHotKey".
• Drag the Automatic iSync Application into the "Select an item" field and press ‘Save’.
• Highlight your new Trigger and select the "Trigger Info" button at the bottom of the window.
• In the Info pane, re-title the Trigger if needed and specify your custom "Hot Key". Double-check that Activate "On Press" is selected and close the Quicksilver Preferences window.

Rather than relying on scheduled or proximity syncs via Bluetooth, Quicksilver users can quickly sync their device via USB or Bluetooth with defined Triggers before stepping away from their computer.

Manual photo, music, and video file management

Unfortunately, I have yet to find any OS X applications which provide support for two-way syncing of photos, music, and video files. At this time, the following are the only sure-fire ways of getting theses types of files to and from your mobile phone.

Moving files to and from your device via Bluetooth is easy with the OS X Bluetooth File Browser

• Automatic import into iPhoto – If your mobile phone supports USB Mass Storage as the Nokia N95 (Eseries & Nseries) does, iPhoto will automatically import photographs and videos into your computer library. Simply connect your device to your computer via USB and ensure that Mass Storage is enabled on your device. Alternatively, your device should appear on your desktop as an external drive allowing you the freedom to browse and file manage individual directories.
• Nokia Music Manager – Not as convenient as an iTunes plugin, but Nokia does offer a Music Manager. The Nokia Music Manager provides support for managing the Nokia N91 playlists, importing CDs, and shuffling music to and from your mobile phone and Mac. Here’s hoping for similar support for the rest of the MP3 enabled handsets.
• Browse device via Bluetooth – With Bluetooth enabled, and a supported handset, freely browse your devices memory using the OS X Bluetooth File Browser. Easily shuffle files to and from your device via Bluetooth.

Although much of this article was written to address the needs of Nokia users, the tutorials and syncing options can be applied and used to sync any mobile phones listed on iSync supported devices page. If your device is not listed, check your manufacturers website for official support, or Google for individual developer software and drivers support.

Would official support affect your next mobile phone purchase?

Nokia has yet to provide a comparable application for its Windows PC Suite – which allows Windows users to browse, manage, send, and receive messages, conduct firmware upgrades, or create custom themes – for Apple users. Whether or not a cross platform application will be released is nothing more than a dream. However, it is very clear that Nokia users are not left completely in the dark or forced to pay for additional software in order to enjoy their devices on both platforms. Will other manufacturers follow suit? Will future mobile phones be delivered with both a Windows and OS X support / software discs in the box?

Will your next mobile phone purchase be affected by knowing whether or not the device manufacturer provided official software support for both Windows and OS X? Or have you accepted the idea that paying for privately developed software / drivers is the only way to enjoy your future smartphone? With the upcoming release of Apple’s OS X 10.5 Leopard, will we see more mobile devices supported out of the box? I believe Apple is going to create a truly amazingly seamless desktop / mobile experience with the iPhone & OS X that will surely force manufacturers to develop OS X friendly software to compete. What are your thoughts? [Digg it]

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