A new kind of cell phone protection

I came across this article in the St. Charles Journal about a guy who lost his cell phone. Of course, he is not the only person who has had this experience; our own Dave Frame has lost a phone or two in his day. I thought about a product that may not help prevent you from losing your cell phone, but it can help you get it back. It’s called, simply, YouGetItBack. For about $10, you get a sticker to put on your cell phone, and you activate the sticker at the company’s Web site. If the phone is lost and then found by a good Samaritan, they can contact the site, which will contact you and voilà – your cell phone is back.

One more reason to buy the Nokia N95

In short, Sling Media’s SlingPlayer for Mobile is going to be included on the HSDPA U.S. version of the Nokia N95. Why is this a good thing? Well, first of all, the ability to watch any TV from home on the go is simply pretty cool. How many times have you been stuck in the airport subjected to the news playing on all the terminal TVs? Plus, the Nokia N95’s screen can be viewed horizontally or vertically. While it doesn’t sport the largest display, it is pretty sharp and easy to view in most lighting situations. Finally, the N95 sports HSDPA, which basically means watching streaming video over the HSDPA network is one of the more fluid experiences you can get these days on a cell phone. Plus, you can still watch stuff using the Wi-Fi connection.

Don’t worry if you already have the N95; you can still download the software for free to your cell phone. We should mention that if you don’t already have a Slingbox, you’ll need to get one.

Cell phones, South America style

I’m back from Argentina, and while the country is known for its amazing meat and all-around delicious food (the ice cream, a.k.a. helado, shouldn’t be missed), it’s also a place where people love their cell phones. And rightfully so–they definitely have some mighty cool phones. Let’s just put it this way: All those phones I routinely see at trade shows like CTIA and CES that I wonder if they’ll make it here seem to be there quite popular there.

That said, trying to get a phone to work down there was a bit of a challenge. In short, if I really wanted to get email down there on the BlackBerry 8830, the easiest course of action would have been to upgrade the data service plan before I left. It turns out prepaid works a little differently there. You get a phone and SIM card from one of the carriers (typically Movistar or Personal), then you can purchase cards (in the form of a business card) with a code and activate the added amount from the cell phone directly.

All was not lost on me, however; I did bring a backup: the Nokia N95. Wi-Fi is rampant down there – available at most cafes. I was easily able to have a cafe con leche and check email or surf the Web using the Nokia N95. I could have potentially been able to place calls too using the Wi-Fi connection; however, I didn’t have the foresight to set it up before I left and couldn’t test this feature. Plus, it didn’t hurt that the N95 has a pretty good 5-megapixel digital camera. You can see for yourself below.

Info from Google by Text

Want to get quick information on your phone without having to pay for those hefty 411 charges or deal with superslow wireless phone internet? Google has a text messaging service that allows you to access any type of information on your phone.

Simply text whatever desired info you are looking for to 46645, which spells out “GOOGL” on the keypad. For example, I was looking for a Japanese restaurant in a city I was unfamiliar with. I texted “Sushi San Mateo” to Google and received a reply of the names of a few Japanese restaurants along with phone numbers that were in that area, all within 10 seconds of sending.

This handy tool from Google has been helpful for me in many instances and provides all types of information, anywhere from driving directions to stock quotes. Give it a try! It is completely free aside from your wireless provider’s standard text messaging charges.

International travel: Putting cell phones to the test

I’m off to South America and taking a couple of cell phones with me to see just how well they work internationally. I’ll be bringing along Sprint’s BlackBerry 8830 and the Nokia N95. Now, I’ve already reviewed the 8830 and if I wanted to still be able to use my U.S. phone number and send/receive e-mail via the BlackBerry, I could do so if I change my data plan to $69.99 for the international version and use the SIM card included in the box. However, I found that you can get prepaid cards with data and voice in South America, and I want to see how that will work. I’m taking the N95 because that phone has Wi-Fi, so as long as I get a Wi-Fi connection in South America, I should be able to at least surf the Web. It also has a 5-megapixel camera, so it can do double duty as my digital camera for the trip. Hey, I can even send photos back to friends and family directly from the cell phone.

Check back next week to see how well the two cell phones did internationally.

What does suffering from ringxiety say about you?

I’ve blogged about this topic before, but I can’t help revisit the topic whenever new information surfaces. In this case, the additional information comes from a Science Daily article of a study done by Alliant International University. The phenomenon is even given a name: “ringxiety.” A recent study shows that you’re more likely to suffer from ringxiety if you use a cell phone a lot. Additionally (and, no surprise here), 67% of those surveyed “had higher monthly charges, used more minutes, sent more text messages, and showed higher levels of impulsivity.”

But this is my favorite part of the survey results:

“The study also shows that some people rely on their mobile phone to regulate moods and maintain social connectedness. Those people who prefer to use their phones for text messaging, rather than talking, evidence higher levels of loneliness, social anxiety, and problem phone use.”

Why is that my favorite part of the study? I have friends on both sides of the spectrum – some say text messaging is a cop-out for having a real conversation and others who say texting keeps them more connected. I’m sure there’s a happy medium in there somewhere. Texting is ideal for anything quick: confirming plans, silly, fun comments, just to say “hey,” checking availability status, etc. On the other hand, you probably shouldn’t be relying on texts for in-depth serious conversations. There really is something to be said for actually talking; with texting, sometimes things can get lost in translation.

Why is July 1, 2008 an important date for California drivers?

That’s the day the cell phone laws go into effect in the state of California. Yep, that’s right, the law that states teens can’t use any electronic device while driving and all other drivers in the state will need to rely on hands-free communication to use their cell phones starts. I can just see it now: Parents will have a whole new reason to say, “Because I’m the parent, that’s why,” when new drivers ask why they can’t use a similar headset while driving.

Yet another external storage format – seriously?

People don’t typically get excited or particularly interested in storage formats, and it’s usually because if you’re thinking of storage, that usually leads you to thinking about losing data, songs, pictures, or any other pertinent information you’re storing. What does this have to do with cell phones? Well, apparently there’s another external storage format in the works. According to this SFGate article, Nokia, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, and others are teaming up to create a “universal storage format.” While, in theory, it’s a good idea to have one storage format, I’m not sure it will ever come to pass, and if it does, what happens to “legacy” storage formats and the devices that support them?

Right now, cell phones have it pretty good; most of them use MicroSD cards that are pretty interchangeable between cell phones. However, you might need to reformat the card depending on the different phones you use with it. But still, that’s pretty good. A few use MiniSD cards, which can be a little bigger, and then of course, there are the Sony Ericsson cell phones that use a mobile version of the Memory Stick. We won’t have to worry about the new storage format until 2009, but for it truly to be “universal,” a lot of companies have to all be on board. My question is if they really wanted a storage format that fits all cell phones (let alone all mobile devices, which, while nice, is a little ambitious), why doesn’t everyone just get on the MicroSD format bus?

MicroSD card

MiniSD card

Memory Stick Micro

Teens driving and texting: Is it legal?

There’s been much made of teens and cell phones. As many of us know, a teen’s biggest cell phone addiction isn’t talking, it’s texting and I’m betting soon IMing on cell phones will be just as addictive for them. According to this article in USA Today, About 15 states and the District of Columbia have passed bills banning electronic equipment while driving. Currently, California and 11 other states are considering similar bans. In California the cost for violators will be $20 first offense and $50 for the second.

It’s true that teens are new drivers and should keep their hands on the wheel (not the keypad) and their eyes on the road (not their cell phone’s screen). But what about all drivers? Should any of us be texting and driving? Even if we’re stopped at a light or stuck in traffic? Sure we can all hide it under the steering wheel or on the passenger seat, but should we be doing it at all? I don’t think it’s a good idea to be texting while driving period. Just like the seat-belt law enforcement of the late 80s/early 90s, where we had to buckle-up or get a ticket, I suspect no texting while driving law enforcement will follow a similar path. But $20 for the ticket? I doubt that’s going to be much of a deterrent. What do you think?