24 posts tagged “t-mobile”
T-Mobile G1
Smartphone
Link: T-Mobile G1
It has bluetooth, wifi, GPS (though not turn-by-turn), 512 MB built-in memory, although it has an microSD card slot and comes with a 1GB card; a back-lit qwerty keyboard (which is revealed by sliding out the screen) and a replaceable battery; a 3.2MP camera, but like the iPhone, it does not shoot video, and like the iPhone it does not support Flash on the internet. Unlike the iPhone, it supports voice dialling and "cut and paste".
Physically, it weighs just under 6 ounces. At the bottom is a panel of buttons: a big Menu button, underneath which at the centre is a trackball (for navigation and as a select button). To the left of the trackball are the "Call/Send" button and the "Home" button; to the right of the trackball are the "Back" and "Hangup/Power" buttons.
On the left hand side of the phone is a Volume toggle, and on the right hand side the camera button. For the earphones, unfortunately it's a microUSB connection and you'll need an adapter for your 3.5mm jack earphones.
The display is 3.2 inches at 480 x 320 resolution, with a capacitive touch-screen. It does not support multi-touch, but does support long presses (through which you get a context menu including "cut and paste"). It has an accelerometer and is supposed to adjust itself to Portrait/Landscape mode, at least when the qwerty keyboard is open.
Since Android is open-source, many applications are expected to come out supporting the platform, and will not be filtered as in the case of the iPhone. You can access the apps from the Android "Market", and Google will tell you in relation to each app what types of access the app may have on the phone - such as communications, your location and your personal information.
The phone comes with the standard Google apps, such as Gmail, Contacts, Calendar, and like the iPhone, offers a mobile version of YouTube. If you don't use Gmail, there is another mail application. Unfortunately, this other mail app cannot open attachments (which Gmail can by HTML conversion), nor save them. The IM app supports major instant messengers such as AIM, Windows Live, Yahoo and of course Google Talk. Like Google's desktop browser the Chrome, the Android browser is WebKit-based. Another app that comes with the phone is AmazonMP3, with access to Amazon's DRM-free mp3 downloads - which only works with Wifi, and not 3G or Edge. The phone also has its own music player software.
At the moment, the phone is available in T-Mobile stores only in cities which has T-Mobile's 3G coverage.
Favourite Episodes
In Episode 679, Dick and Leo were asked if they had a list of their 20 favourite/funniest episodes. Ludwik Trammer of gizwizsearch can answer for them. Search queries on his site show which episodes are most frequently accessed - 182 Titanium Spork, 465 Electron Echo Piano, 462 MP4 Watch, and of course 282 Toothpick Bird.
Ludwik also tells us that the accumulative length of all the DGW shows now exceeds 7 days.
One More Thing
Ludwik is going to introduce a new feature on his site. In fact it is already operational. Just go to his site and see if you can spot the difference. Otherwise, just wait for an announcement through Dick and Leo in tomorrow's recording session, or in next week's episodes.
Video Podcasts To Wait
The last time Leo talked about video podcasts (with hopes of getting DGW on video) was Episode 671. Unfortunately, with the economic downturn, Leo has decided to be a little more prudent, and maybe putting that on hold, although he may still put out a weekly "best of" video podcast.
Second Longest Episode
At 31:03, today's show is the second longest episode, just 12 seconds short of Episode 634, the Lexmark X9575 Professional.
Listen to Episode 686
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The Peek
Email Device
Link: GetPeek
The Peek is a small, thin portable device that does nothing but email, not for the hardcore techie but aimed at those who find computers too complicated and just want to start using email. It's a take-off of the Blackberry in design, with a qwerty keyboard and a thumbwheel at the top right. If you use a web-based account (such as hotmail, gmail, AOL), all you need to do is key in your email address and password, and it will download your contacts for you. If you use an email account provided by your ISP, you'll need to call Peek Support. It supports up to 3 email accounts on one machine.
The backbone of the wireless service is provided by T-Mobile. You do need to open an account with the Peek, for $20 a month. It's a monthly subscription, and there's no need for a long-term contract. Available in 3 colours (aqua, red and grey) at Target stores and GetPeek itself.
20 Funniest Episodes
Eric Whistler has gone back to some of the older episodes, including the classic Episode 182, the Spork. Eric wonders if Dick and Leo have their favourite, say, 20 funniest episodes. Difficult to pick, but Dick remembers fondly the Purseguard Ultra (Episode 406), and the Talking Photo Album (Episode 463) in which Leo had a Gracie Allen moment.
The Burns & Allen Show
Dick recounts moments from the Burns & Allen Show, and Leo plays a YouTube video of an "embedded" commercial for Carnation Milk, and forgets whether they've read a letter or not.
Audio Bone
Over-the-Ears Stereo Headphones
Link: AudioBone
First Fan Mail
At the age of 69, Bill Quinlan writes his first piece of fan mail, and it's to Dick and Leo. Bill is completely hooked and listens to it on his 3-mile walk each night. It's dark and no one can see him laughing hysterically during his walk. His wife still uses the VCR Co-Pilot (Episode 665). He recently revisited Episode 182 (having received his order of the Titanium Spork from Think Geek to replace the Tony the Tiger Spoon), and Episode 590, the Palm Pilot (and he's using the latest Palm device the Palm TX).
The Psion 3a Series
Mention of Palm again excites wistful memories of the Palm Lifedrive and Psion 3a which Leo loved. If only it had calendar and address book synchronisation, which Palm did introduce.
Meanwhile, Leo is waiting for something which reminds him of the Psion andwhich he will review for us. Before Leo can tell us what it is, he's sidetracked and forgets about it. Probably the first Android phone, the T-Mobile G1, which Leo will get from Google and has ordered.
Cradlepoint PHS300 Personal Hotspot
Networking/Travel Router for Mobile Broadband
Link: Cradlepoint
For a list of compatible devices, check here. The firmware can be upgraded.
Other models with different feature sets are also available. The CTR350 is a similar to the PHS300, except that it has no built-in Li-ion battery, but has an extra ethernet port for standard internet connection. Like the CTR350, the MBR1000 has an ethernet port for internet connection via a DSL or cable modem, an Express Card Slot for express card 3G-modems, and supports wirelss-N in addition to wirelss b/g, with 3 external antennae to broaden the range of reception. The only thing it doesn't have is a built-in battery.
And Fun For All ...
... and things that make life easier, or not. Shane Shellenbarger (of Wandering Attention) writes in about a fun site: andfunforall.blogspot.com. From the Smart Cup (with built-in cookies holder), the Penguin Tea Timer, to the Banana Guard and the Lock-Cup, you get the wackiest of gadgets on this page of andfunforall.
Listen to Episode 542
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The Giz Wiz Home Page
Blackberry Curve 8320
Cellphone
Link: Blackberry T-Mobile
T-Mobile's version supports AOL, MSN, Yahoo and ICQ. The phone can connect voice calls using Wifi UMA (unlicensed mobile access) by taking advantage of wifi connections at T-Mobile's Hotspots and Hotspot@Home.
Kelly Price thinks that while the Toothpick Bird (Episode 282) from Archie McPhee is at least amusing and useful, Squawkers McCaw (Episode 413) is just annoying, almost as bad as the talking, singing mounted bass. This could be the same letter which Dick and Leo referred to in Episode 419. Dick stands by his bird.
RPN
Alexandro ticks Leo off for failing to give the complete picture of the reason for using RPN for the HP35 (Episode 415). It's more efficient for both the CPU of the calculator and for the user.
Listen to Episode 422
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Read Dick's Write-Up
Fun Friends Phone Covers
Stuffed Toy Style Cellphone Covers
Link: Fun Friends
Fun Friends also makes covers for different models of iPods.
... to Abby Laporte on her 15th birthday.
Sponsor Spurned
Shane Sturgeon of HDTV Magazine is considering the occasional sponsorship of HDTV-related episodes, but Dick and Leo are looking for a long-term relationship, not a one-night stand.
Listen to Episode 274
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3M Privacy Filter
Computer Screen Filter
Link: 3M
3M's computer screen filters protect your LCD screen from scratches but also act as privacy filters to restrict the viewing angles down to about 12°, so that the screen contents are visible only to the person sitting directly in front. Different sizes available.
Apple TV
B W Whitmeyer wants to know if Dick has tried the Apple TV and what contents can be streamed to the TV. Leo says the Apple TV has been delayed, and it's supposed to stream media playable by iTunes. Leo will review it on a furture TTTT.
XPower PowerSource Mobile 100
Mobile Power Source
Link: Xantrex
Charge up the XPower PowerSource Mobile 100 and take it with you to provide extra power to your laptop and other devices. It connects to your devices via an AC socket or its 2 USB ports.
Leo breaks into song
I love gadgets in the morning
I love gadgets in the night
I love gadgets all the day time
Thanks to Dick Debartolo
And his glowing light
Dick has called up Premiere to ban Leo from doing any of the following on his radio show: singing, Scottish accents, sound effects, letters jingle. That should be a short radio show then.
Domain Names and Extensions
Dick and Leo discuss various domain extensions, such as .am, .fm, .biz, .info, and even .name. Leo has registered domain names for his children. Dick, who owns a multitude of domain names (including his holiday wishes domain name - Episode 218), has also registered dickdebartolo.com and dickde.tv.
Listening to DGW a la Steve Jobs
Carl and Joni Garrard snuggle up in bed listening to DGW sharing the earbuds, a la Steve Jobs. Leo explains to Dick the fons et origo of Steve Jobs's suggestion, his answer to Steve Ballmer's sales pitch for the Zune (Episode 202).
To Joni, hi-tech means a pair of knitting needles. Dick suggests the LED knitting needles (Knit Lite, Episode 166) for her, and Leo suggests titanium ones.
The Giz Wiz Pay Cheque
Over the weekend, Dick finally received his pay cheque for all those commercials he did on DGW. See Dick's blog on MySpace. So there's still something left of the money after Leo's trip to Mexico after all.
Listen to Episode 241
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iRecord
A/V Recorder for iPod
Link: iRecord
Also from CES 2007, the iRecord records audio or video directly into the iPod. You can also record into other devices such as the Sony PSP. The firmware is upgradable. It also comes with a desktop application called iRecord Desktop which allows you to specify the recording parameters, and to create schedules for recording.
Geek-Cruising Solo
Leo's wife Jennifer wouldn't go on Leo's Geek Cruises. His son went for a while and is now tired of it. Dick wouldn't either.
Dick on Regis & Kathie Lee
Dick was on Regis & Kathie Lee for 6 years, and he's still doing World News Now. Leo might show the iRecord on Regis & Kelly next week.
Camera-Phones
Opher (who Leo thinks may be from Sweden, but is Opher Banarie from Laguna Niguel) asks Dick to stop complimenting Leo for his crappy TTTT gadgets. He also laments the difficulty of getting a bluetooth cellphone without a camera, as camera-phones are banned from many places including gyms.
Listen to Episode 236
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Stanley FatMax FuBar / Black & Decker Auto-Wrench
Weapon of Mass Destruction / Automatically Adjustable Wrench
Link: Stanley Tools Black & Decker
The word fubar is a euphemistic acronym for "F...ed Up Beyond All Recognition" (or similar variants), used in the military. Stanley Tools has adopted the word as the name of this tool as it can wreck almost anything beyond recognition.
Black & Decker Auto-Wrench
With the push a button this Black & Decker Auto-Wrench will adjust the width of the opening to any size up to 1¼ inches. Uses 2 AAA batteries.
Crooks Do Not Listen to the DGW
No criminals are allowed in the DGW Audience.
Boating
Dick owns 3 boats. Leo wants to get into boating and see the world in a boat. Dick recommends a trawler.
Carl from beautiful Richmond, BC, recommends earphones from Ultimate Ears. Leo got his first pair of Ultimate Ears as a prize for Podcasting Person of the Year. He's just received the new 5Cs and he might review them. In due course, Leo will review the super.fi earphones (Episode 272).
Jingle Encore
One more thing. Carl likes the Festive Letters Jingle so much he wants to listen to it again. Leo obliges.
Listen to Episode 231
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