You Should know the Best Qwerty Mobile Phone

Choosing a smartphone is never an easy task. You cannot change your cell phone every month that's why you have to think in a long term perspective, being aware that a qwerty phone you buy will serve you for at least a year or more.

First step in finding the best qwerty mobile phone for you would be to determine the budget and decide if you would buy an unlocked phone or one tied up with a contract.

Applying for an 18-month contract, there is a chance you will get a free qwerty mobile phone and a monthly data package or a hefty rebate from the selling price. It is the easiest option, however, nothing comes for free - you're just getting your phone on split payments over the next 18 months. In most cases you will find that you pay less for minutes, texts and data if you are not on a subsidized contract, i.e. you buy an unlocked phone and pay the full price.

It all depends on your budget. If you have free money now, buy an unlocked phone and shop around for the best monthly price plan. If you decide to go for unlocked qwerty cell phone models, you have to allocate around $200. That starter sum of money can buy you an unlocked Palm Treo 680 or a Pantech Duo. The top-end qwerty cell phones will cost over $400 - an unlocked BlackBerry Bold World phone can cost you around $650. If this doesn't sound like the right option, visit your wireless carrier for the free subsidized phone offers.

Operational System

It is easy to sort qwerty cell phone models by the (OS) operational systems they use. OS is a software environment that makes your cell phone run, managing calls, contacts, games, applications and all other functions.

The most obvious choice for majority of people would be a Windows Mobile OS, as it gives you a familiar interface similar to a PC, easy synchronization (data transfer between a mobile phone and a PC) and crash-free operation. The most popular qwerty cell phone models using Windows Mobile OS are HTC 620 (aka HTC Dash), HTC S740 and Palm Treo W edition.

Those who enjoy using hand-helds like Palm Pilot and other pocket organizers running Palm OS will probably want to follow their passion and stick with Palm. The most popular cell phones of this kind are Palm Treo models. There are different ones - check with your provider if the Treo model you like can be supported by your country network. For example, you will find it difficult to use Palm Treo 680 in USA because it does't run on CDMA networks.

Another popular choice is Symbian OS used by Nokia smartphones. Some people feel that Symbian is becoming old and outdated in comparison with Windows, especially when it comes to editing Office documents. However, Symbian is an open-source program, which means that any programmer can develop apps and features for the OS. If you are keen on upgrading you basic cell phone with new apps and games, Symbian is the one to choose. With new open-source OS solutions like Android (the first qwerty cell phone using Android OS is Google G1 phone) taking on strength, it is possible that Symbian may fade away in next couple of years.

Another popular OS is BlackBerry - it is a light-weight Java based OS exclusively used by BlackBerry qwerty cell phones. BlackBerry gadgets are a good choice for business users but they are still to struggle in order to knock Windows Mobile from its pedestal of Number One smartphone software in the world.

Features and Entertainment

There are many different criteria for comparing qwerty cell phone models. You have to decide which features are the most important for you.

If you are keen on music and streaming video, you might find that Windows Media Player for Mobile suits your needs best. A phone with Windows Media Player will replace your MP3 player and your video player.

It is also preferable that a qwerty phone has a digital camera integrated. You need at least 1.3 or 2.0 Megapixels for quality images. Be aware that Palm Treo 680 has a 0.3 Megapixels camera and BlackBerry 7 has no camera at all.

A very important factor is the quality of the keyboard. I still think that the majority of people make their choice according to their thumb size. It is better to pop into a mobile shop and thest the keys of different qwerty cell phone models. The most tactile buttons are on HTC 620 and Nokia N71 - that's why people with large hands usually pick these models or choose a slide-out qwerty cell phone (like HTC S740 or Google G1) where the keyboard is even bigger.

There is no such thing as the best qwerty phone in the world. All the major qwerty phone makers have spent restless months or even years and millions of dollars developing smartphone models and you shouldn't really experience much trouble with any gadget. This is probably the case when you need to let your heart (or should I say thumbs) rule your head.

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Posted in: cell phone,cell phones-PDA,consumer advice

Great Tips On How To Buy Wired Headset?

Many states are making it illegal to drive when using a cell phone unless you are wearing a hands free headset. As of right now, you can either get a wired headset, or a wireless Bluetooth headset. Each type has its own distinct advantages, but in this buying guide only wired headsets will be covered.

Compatibility: You want to make sure that the headset is compatible with your cell phone. Often times it will connect through your cell phones headphone or mini USB jack. Make sure that the headphone jack on your phone is the same size of the headsets input. For example, normal stereo headphone jacks are 3.5mm, but many cell phones use a 2.5mm headphone jack instead. If you get a headset that works with 3.5mm but your cell phone only takes 2.5mm, you wont be able to connect without getting an additional adapter.

Microphone: It might be of importance to you for the microphone to work well in noisy environments. Check to see if the headset's microphone has noise-canceling capabilities so that the person on the other end only hears you, not your surroundings.

Comfort: A headset with great features that isn't comfortable won't do you much, because you'll never want to wear it. The comfort level of headsets is more a matter of personal preference; but having an idea of the type of design you want can definitely help. Some models even come with ear gels in an attempt to increase the level comfort you experience. Make sure the headset is lightweight and is capable of being attached to your head securely, so it doesn't fall off every time you move.

Wire Length: Consider the length of the wire that is attached to the headset. If the wire is too short, it may require you to hold the cell phone closer to your head, which defeats the whole purpose. Make sure the wire is long enough so you can set your cell phone down and still have the headset on your head securely and comfortably.

In-Line Volume Control: You may want a headset in which you can control the volume from the headset itself, instead of controlling it with your phone. This isn't a necessity, but could be a feature that is important to you.

Features: Some headsets can transmit in stereo, allowing you to play music on the headset as well as for talking to others. This could be great if you are looking for headphones as well as a headset. Note that with this feature the cost associated with it goes up. Other features include buttons to pick up a phone call, to reject a call, to put a person on hold, or even to switch to the other line.

Definitions:

Noise-Canceling Microphone: A microphone that is designed to cancel surrounding noise so that it is not broadcasted or recorded.

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Posted in: Bluetooth,cell phone,consumer advice,tips

Important For Techno Lovers: 20 Tech Habits to Improve Your Life

Technology is supposed to make life easier, but it doesn't seem that way when you're struggling to wrangle 289 new e-mail messages, dealing with a hard-drive crash, or suddenly realizing that you left an important file on the office computer. Thankfully, plenty of tools can help. We'll tell you which ones are worth trying, and we'll also suggest some practices that you can incorporate into your workday to use tech tools more effectively and efficiently.

1. Telecommute by Remotely Controlling Your Office Computer

You can work from home--but use the computer in your office--through remote control software such as LogMeIn (free version available) or TightVNC (free). You can view the remote computer full screen, launch and close programs, read e-mail, copy and paste text between PCs, and access any files you left behind. Save money on gas, claim home equipment on your taxes, and convince your boss that you'll be more productive without leaving your house. Even the iPhone has some VNC clients, such as Mocha VNC and Teleport.

If you don't need full remote control but you do require access to your office or home files, set up Microsoft's free file-syncing tool, FolderShare. Your files will always be up-to-date, no matter where you're working or where you last updated them.

2. Schedule Automatic Hard-Drive Backups, Locally and Remotely

Backing up your critical files is as exciting as purchasing home insurance, but just as important, too. Don't risk losing your irreplaceable digital photos by making empty promises to yourself to burn a couple of DVDs every few months. Instead, set up software and services to do the job for you while you concentrate on more-exciting projects. First, save yourself from an "OMG my hard drive crashed!" catastrophe with a top backup program. Or get started now with a free copy of SyncBackSE, and schedule regular backup jobs to your external FireWire drive, thumb drive, or network drive. (If you have FTP-server access, SyncBack can back up to that as well.)

Of course, local backup isn't enough. To protect your data against fire, lightning, theft, or other disasters, you want to back up your data to a remote server over the Internet. Both Carbonite and Mozy Home offer affordable unlimited server space and utilities that quietly back up your data in the background while you work.

more...........

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Posted in: consumer advice,Information technology,inspiration,technology

Do you like travel? Tips From a World Traveler

Leave the laptop at home, copy and paste blog posts, don't rely on your cell phone, and more tips.

You think a three- or four-day business trip is challenging? How about a four-month journey to eight countries--using 14 different plane tickets?

Randy Ross, a former PC World executive editor, recently took that journey. From August 30 until December 20, 2007, Ross ventured solo to Venezuela, Greece, South Africa, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Australia, and New Zealand.

While many don't have the opportunity to travel so extensively, I figured we could all learn something from Ross's travels. So I asked for his tips on making the best use of technology when far away from home for an extended period.
Keep a Travel Agent's Number Handy

Some Web sites make it easier to plan an international, multicountry itinerary and get estimates of ticket fares. But you'll still need a travel agent to get exact costs for your travel, Ross says.

The sites Ross used for research, along with his comments, include:

* Airtreks.com is a slick site that provides a price range and offers bundled specials. Unfortunately, its estimates can be vague and itineraries often include lesser-known airlines.
* Oneworld provides drag-and-drop ease for itinerary planning on major airlines. The site is marred by sluggish performance, however.
* Air Brokers International doesn't offer customized itineraries but has lots of packaged specials.

Scan and Store Your Documents on a USB Drive

To prepare for the trip, Ross scanned essential documents--including his passport, prescriptions, immunization records, and driver's license--and stored the digital files on a USB flash-memory drive. That way, if he lost the paper documents, he still had digital copies. The USB drive was password-protected and included EditPad Lite, a free text editor.

"Every Web cafe I visited had a PC that used a USB drive," Ross says.

In addition, Ross uploaded the documents to a password-protected, free Yahoo Groups account as an additional backup. Though he didn't need the digital documents, they might have come in handy: Somewhere in South Africa, Ross lost his USB thumb drive.

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Posted in: consumer advice,tips

More Tech Tips From Travelers - important for traveler

An Internet tablet saves the day in Italy, a tourist avoids looking touristy, and a traveler instantly shares pictures with folks back home--all thanks to their portable gear.

A few weeks ago, I featured tech tips from world traveler Randy Ross, a former PC World executive editor. Since that article appeared, over two dozen readers wrote to share tech tips from their international travels. Here are some excerpts.
When Stranded, Consult Your Internet Tablet

"Last summer I spent a month traveling with my sister through Spain and Italy," writes Philip Neumann from Los Angeles. "I brought along the Nokia N800 Internet Tablet to access Internet sites on the go and stay up-to-date with relatives and friends. I was happy to discover the tablet's memory card slot could also access images stored on the memory card in my Canon camera.

"After traveling a week through Spain, I was able to upload dozens of images to my Yahoo, Gmail, and MySpace accounts, for friends and family to track our movements in real-time.

"But the tablet proved a lifesaver when my sister and I were stranded in the Pisa airport for about 12 hours. We needed to find an alternate way home. The airport had Wi-Fi but no computer terminals, so I whipped out the N800, paid the 12 euros for 90 minutes of access, scanned the airline Web sites for alternate flights, and ultimately saved the day by finding a discount flight home.

"I am definitely bringing the tablet with me to Europe this May when I return for a two-week trip. I highly recommend this device to anyone traveling through Europe or the U.S. or Canada and who wants to stay in touch without lugging a laptop or having to go to cyber cafes."

The Nokia N800 tablet has a touch screen, a stylus, a built-in Webcam, Skype preinstalled, and full Web access. It earned a PCW Rating of 70 (good) when we reviewed it last February. Recent prices started at $200 online.

A newer model, the N810, adds a slide-out QWERTY keyboard (the N800 has an on-screen keyboard). The N810 received a PCW Rating of 75 (good) in a December review. Prices begin at $400 online.

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Posted in: consumer advice,tips

Many Gadgets, One Carry-On Bag - Simple

The practice of packing only one bag for air travel is gaining popularity--but has drawbacks, as Jim Martin found.

One carry-on bag, zero checked baggage. The concept seems absolutely Zen-like in its simplicity. Given that American Airlines and other carriers now charge for every checked bag, the strategy can help cut your travel costs, too.

But for mobile professionals toting a laptop and other gear, how practical is the one-bag-only approach? For a recent trip from San Francisco to Charlotte, North Carolina, I decided to find out.
A 25-Pound Shoulder Bag?

Whenever possible, I follow a two-carry-on, zero-checked bag strategy. I pack a backpack or smallish bag containing a laptop and other materials I'll want at my seat. I stow this bag under the seat in front of me. I also pack a larger wheeled bag containing clothing, toiletries, and other items I don't need during the flight. This goes into the overhead compartment. When I'm in the airport, I loop the smaller bag's back over the wheeled bag's telescoping handle, so I don't have to carry the bag. On long trips, I usually check one bag and carry on one or two.

On my recent San Francisco-Charlotte trip, I challenged myself to follow the strategy advocated by Doug Dyment on his site OneBag.com. Dyment suggests it's best to travel with only one bag--with no wheels. Bags without wheels can accommodate more items and aren't as heavy, the theory goes. If you must have wheels, the site recommends using the Travelite luggage cart, $30 at Magellan's.

I started off by packing everything--clothes, toiletries, a pair of shoes, reading material, MacBook Air laptop and accessories, Palm Treo, and other gear--into a Red Oxx Air Boss ($225). (Dyment helped design the Air Boss.) You carry the Air Boss over your shoulders with a strap. By the time I finished, the bag weighed over 25 pounds--even though I'd streamlined my clothes as much as possible.

I faced a long layover in Dallas/Fort Worth on the trip out, and I had only 50 minutes in Chicago O'Hare to make a connecting flight during my return trip. The thought of hauling 25 pounds while I moseyed about the Dallas airport or dashed frantically through O'Hare was hugely unappealing, so I opted to schlep my bag on a Travelite cart.

My virtuous intentions aside, I confess that just before leaving home, my instincts told me to pack a second carry-on bag. Into a small backpack went the MacBook Air and its accessories, newspapers, nutrition bars, and a lightweight jacket.

I'm grateful that I followed my instincts. Coming home, the Charlotte-Chicago leg of my trip was on an Embraer regional jet with small overhead compartments. I had to check my Air Boss at the departure gate. If I hadn't packed the backpack, I would have had to scramble to extract my laptop and anything else I might want on board.

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Posted in: consumer advice