Cell Phones for a Unix-head, part 1

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*** Warning: I rip quite a few companies a new one in this blog post, due to this post’s content, I recommend that no one reads it ****

I’ll be honest, I hate telephones.  I cannot begin to express my loathing of speaking on the telephone and immediate disdain for anyone wishing to speak via phone for a non-critical issue requiring response when IM, Text, and email are perfectly available.  In-person meetings are even worse, but that’s another story.

By trade, I’m a server administrator and software engineer, and I’m a big time UNIX-head.  The core philosophy of “Keep it simple, stupid” seems to run counter to everything mobile in nature, especially smartphones.  But alas, I need something that will sync to an Exchange server (multiple actually, albeit I could be wishing for a gravy-train never come there), and preferably link up against my Astaro ISG at home.

Unfortunately the iPhone fits the bill.  None of the Androids work 3G on AT&T’s network (thank you guys, can’t tell you how much I appreciate you idiots deciding to pull an Apple and be the only kid on the block with a puke-green turtleneck), and I’m tired of Windows Mobile.  This leaves Blackberries, which get canceled out by the insane costs involved (and the fact that the Enterprise Server at work is for managers only), and the iPhone.

Fortunately, I can use the iPhone to link up against my Astaro box, it has an SSH client, and every little app on planet earth that every idiot who thinks he can half-program made in order to get rich quick only to realize reality late one night before grabbing a bottle of booze and going back to web design.

There’s more so keep reading after the break!

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PPCGeeks Gets A Facelift

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I just got an email from PPCGeeks asking for a shout out on their new theme throughout their website and forums. I think if take a look you will agree that it is very nice and a lot better than their old look. In case you didn’t know, PPCGeeks has a huge forum membership and … Read more

XDA Adds LG eXpo Forums

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XDA has added an LG eXpo section to their forums. AT&T lists the device as out of stock  but don’t let that deter you. Other sites, like LetsTalk have them on sale…for free. We’re talking about a 1ghz Snapdragon, 5mp camera with flash, slide out keyboard and a possible pico projector. Too bad AT&T marketed … Read more

SpaFinder For Your iPhone

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Tags: SpaFinder, spa Who doesn’t like spas? However, when it comes to finding a great spa meeting your needs, you either end up asking a friend or search on the web. To make your spa search easier and efficient, here is the SpaFinder app for your iPhone. The app uses your phone’s in-built GPS to … Read more

OtterBox Releases Impact Series Cases For Droid, N97, and ERIS.

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HTC, Nokia and Samsung offer some of the hottest devices for smart phone users and OtterBox now has cases for the HTC Hero™, HTC DROID ERIS™, Nokia N97 and Samsung Omnia® II. Do you get your tech fix from touch screens, tilts or trackballs? These devices have it all but require full coverage and with three case series, OtterBox has got technology covered.

Check out OtterBox for more information or CLICK HERE

Read more in the press releases after the break:

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Mobile Phone Sales Up 4th Qtr, Flat For 2009 Overall

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Even though the Gartner Report indicates slow or no growth for mobile phones in 2009, we did see some big things happening in the smart phone market that is of definite interest to most of our readers. Up just over 41%, smart phones had excellent growth which was really spurred RIM (Blackberry) and Apple (iPhone). RIM saw a 3.3% increase in overall Smartphone market share and a total device units to end users world wide jump by over 10K. Apple and their powerhouse iPhone (like it or not, numbers don’t lie), saw a market share increase of 6.2% and more than doubled their total end user device units from 11.4K to over 24.8K. Windows Mobile again lost market share and saw their total units from by 1500. Check this out:

Even though Microsoft continues to struggle to regain any of it’s lost smart phone market share, it is clear that the success of the Windows Phone and Windows Mobile 7 is paramount. I think that Windows Mobile will find it’s place once again into the high end user handsets, but the real growth opportunity is for Windows Mobile 7 to appeal to price conscious smart phone shoppers. Time will tell but one thing is for certain, things are good for us smart phone users and we should continue to see innovation and aggressive competition from device manufacturers.

Check out the full Gartner Press Release after the break. (It is a really good read)

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Mobility Digest Review: Kodak EasyShare C713 7MP 3x Optical/5x Digital Zoom HD Camera Reviewed

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Happy Thursday to you all, the weekend is in sight!

I’m back with another review of a product from our friends at Geeks.com. It’s one of many Kodak digital cameras on the market today, specifically it’s the EasyShare C713 7MP camera. The name Kodak is one that’s been around for a long time when it comes to camera, so one would think they know what they’re doing when it comes to photography right? This camera is your sort of basic point and shoot, it’s small and portable so you can take it with you easily. The pictures taken with it aren’t too bad for what it is. The 3x optical zoom works well but the digital zoom is lacking a bit though that’s normal for most any level of digital zooming. The C713 I got is a refurbished product, but it looks brand new, not a mark on it at all. So read on to learn a bit more about this camera…

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Protect your HTC Google Nexus One with Proporta

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The HTC Google Nexus One is a beautiful thing, and deserves to be kept that way – and Proporta has it covered.  The Aluminum Lined Leather Case is handcrafted from the finest quality leather, and is lined with a piece of lightweight, aircraft grade aluminum to protect against crushing, shocks and impact damage.  A stylish … Read more

Skype Sort Of Pulled From WM

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Skype has sort of pulled the WM app from its site. Well, here’s the deal. WMPowerUser reported that they announced on their site that it was being pulled citing performance issues with it but stating if you have it then you can continue to use it. But here’s the thing. They didn’t actually remove it … Read more

PocketGear Acquires Handango, Creating the World’s Largest Cross Platform, Open App Store

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Even though we could have a lot of fun making possible new company names out of PocketGear and Handango, I will refrain for the sake of decency. I will tell you that the acquisition of Handango by PocketGear will make the open app store and content marketplace that will have “more than 140,000 paid and free titles”. This will give the “4 Billion Consumers Worldwide” access to applications for devices with:

  • Android
  • Symbian
  • BlackBerry
  • Windows Mobile
  • Palm
  • Linux
  • Java

I am always fearful that merging companies together only decreases their already marginal customer service. For Handango, it would seem that they only have upwards to go. So what do you think? Have you ever bought apps from either PocketGear or Handango? Let us know what you think of these two companies becoming one with PocketGear buying Handango.

Read the whole press release after the break.

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