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It seems like the older I get, the larger gadgets seem. When notebooks were released, laptops suddenly seemed huge. Pocket PCs made notebooks seem unwieldly. Well, the worm has turned again and with the advent of Windows Mobile-based Smartphones, Pocket PCs now have "brick-like" tendencies.
My latest gadget (an Audiovox SMT-5600 smartphone) was the only electronic device that I took with me on my latest cross-country trip back to NY. As a veteran "mobile warrior", I previously used notebook PCs, and Pocket PCs, plus a cell phone for all of my electronic needs. But this was the first time that I used a single device for EVERYTHING.
My travel pack consisted of my phone, AC adapter, extra battery, both T-Mobile contract and prepaid SIMs, a 512MB miniSD card, Freedom BT folding keyboard, 3/32-to-1/8 stereo adapter cable, and standard "hands-free" headphone/mic.
I loaded up my 512MB miniSD card with: Ocean's 11 movie, Meatballs movie, a few hours of music (Santana, Malo, and UltraLounge), some electronic Bibles, a few games, Pocket Streets Maps, and various notes.
When I boarded the plane for the flight to NY, I put the phone in "Flight Mode" (turns off the cell service portion of the phone) and fired up Meatballs. It was a fun way to kill 90 minutes of the 6+ hour flight. When the movie was finished, I fired up some music and jotted notes on a yellow pad for the upcoming singles character study. Took a break from studying to play a few games of chess on the phone (the computer opponent kicked my butt) while music played in the background. After that, I loaded up the UltraLounge playlist and tried to catch a few winks.
I had a stop-over in Detroit, so I took the phone out of "Flight mode" and did a little web surfing... catching up the news, latest articles on Slashdot, etc. Eventually I made it to NY. Checked the battery level remaining... 80%!
While in NY, I visited with my parents and my brother and his family. I had some music that I wanted them to hear, so I attached the 3/32-to-1/8 stereo adapter to the phone and connected it to the audio inputs on my parent's VCR (yeah I know, but they don't have a stereo system). Music playback from the phone thru the VCR to the TV was surprisingly good. My parents were amazed by the capabilities of this phone.
At night we'd watch the NBA playoff games, and I'd place my keyboard and phone on a folding tray table. I'd do a little nighttime surfing and email reading, as well as use Agile Messenger to IM my wife. Other days, I'd type up my notes for my study.
On the trip back, I watched Ocean's 11 and did more studying.
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I have a T-Mobile contract plan ($19.99 a month) plus their $4.99 T-Zones plan. (I need the $4.99 T-Zones plan for internet access). Unfortunately, it only comes with 60 anytime minutes, and since they charge $.45 a minute after that, I have a T-Mobile to Go prepaid SIM. That only costs $0.10 a minute. So when I run out contract minutes, I swap SIMs and use prepaid minutes.
It cannot be overemphasized how useful it is to have an integrated device that does so much. This phone is a lite-PPC, videocamera, digicam, MP3/WMA player, portable movie player, games, ebooks, notetaker, and PIM. Having Pocket IE with built-in connectivity is more useful than I initially thought. Although I had a 2nd battery, I never needed it. Unlike a PocketPC which will drain completely after 3-4 hours of hard use, this phone was very miserly with battery consumption. No matter how much I used it, there was still plenty of battery life.
Using this smartphone as my only device for a weeklong trip has exceeded my expectations. I was pleasantly surprised at just how much I was able to accomplish with this phone.
My only complaints are that Pocket IE is still as limited as its PPC cousin, and there is no general provision for landscape mode on the phone. Except for those two issues (which are not unique to smartphones, I had to deal with the same issues with a PPC) this has been by far my best experience with mobile devices.
Audiovox SMT-5600 Final Grade: 9/10
T-Mobile, T-Zones, TMO-2-Go final Grade: 9/10
__________________ James Kendrick Microsoft MVP - Tablet PCwww.jkontherun.com Lockergnome contributor- Mobile Lifestyle...using mobile devices since they weighed 30 lbs.
Excellent article/review... this has inspired me to try a somewhat similar approach with my ppc... tho i know it cannot match up for battery life, i'd like to see how functional it would be as a single point of access.
I think I'll try over the next week to use only the ppc, with the excception of work.. but for e-mail, chatting, browsing, online banking, entertainment... without having to sit down at an actual computer. might have too remote control my lappy once in a while... does that count?
Although, until I get my BT enabled phone, I will be limited to WiFi zones for net access... even then its two devices... but for me, I like the screen of the ppc more
I'll post my comments here... hey Brad, how about a Road Warrior thread?
Bru...
Thanks for the kind words guys! I think that a "Road Warrior" thread would be a great idea for focusing specifically on using mobile devices "on the road". I've had quite a few years experience using handheld devices as my only device on trips... starting with Casio's BE-300. And I learned by trial-and-error the pitfalls and contingiencies that have to be planned for. I'm sure there are others with similar experiences that can help others out (or simply swap ideas)
The two areas where this smartphone outshines a PPC is in A. battery life, and B. intergrated access to the internet. It frustrated me to no end that my PPC could only eek out 3-4 hrs MAX on the battery. That made a battery extender a necessity.
As for the keyboard I use, it is Freedomkeyboard's BT folding keyboard. I swore that I would never buy a wireless keyboard (after numerous disappointments with IR keyboards for the PPC), but this Bluetooth keyboard is quite nice. And I highly recommend it (assuming of course there are drivers for your specific device)
sracer,
Thanks for your posting--that looks like exactly the kind of phone I'm looking for. I have a few questions, though.
Firstly, I wasn't aware that T-Mobile offered that phone. How did you purchase it? (I don't see it on their website.) Did you have to get it unlocked? (I have an active T-Mobile account already.) Any tips I should know about the process? (I don't know a thing about phone compatibility across providers.)
Secondly, is Audiovox coming out with an upgraded model of this phone? I'm asking because my current phone had a bit of a mishap that left it busted up yet still functional. I would dearly love to get that phone right now, but I don't want to have buyer's remorse if they are coming out with a new one in the next couple of months.
Thank you very, very much!
Joe
sracer,
Thanks for your posting--that looks like exactly the kind of phone I'm looking for. I have a few questions, though.
Firstly, I wasn't aware that T-Mobile offered that phone. How did you purchase it? (I don't see it on their website.) Did you have to get it unlocked? (I have an active T-Mobile account already.) Any tips I should know about the process? (I don't know a thing about phone compatibility across providers.)
T-Mobile DOESN'T offer that phone. As far as I know, it is an exclusive ATT/Cingular phone. I purchased my phone brand new from a reputable seller on eBay. I got mine for $225. (I don't suggest buying one that is already unlocked... they usually charge a premium for that.) I then went to a popular UK-based website that unlocked the phone for $38 US. The process was quick and easy... taking only a few minutes to received the necessary software and access code. I recommend visiting smartphone specific sites for more info.
Quote:
Originally Posted by QuasiJoe
Secondly, is Audiovox coming out with an upgraded model of this phone? I'm asking because my current phone had a bit of a mishap that left it busted up yet still functional. I would dearly love to get that phone right now, but I don't want to have buyer's remorse if they are coming out with a new one in the next couple of months.
Thank you very, very much!
Joe
There IS an update to the phone produced by HTC (the company that actually manufactures the phone). It has a row of dedicated Windows Media Player buttons, and a joystick instead of the rocker-switch. But it is hard to get and very expensive, IMO. $400+
I've had my phone for 5 months now and even if the follow on phone was the same price, I wouldn't have any regrets. As you can tell by my review , I can do everything I need and want it to do already.
And I learned by trial-and-error the pitfalls and contingiencies that have to be planned for. I'm sure there are others with similar experiences that can help others out (or simply swap ideas)
Linear Mode
