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Smartphones and Cell Phones

Matthew Miller provides you with news, commentary and in-depth reviews of the latest in mobile phones sporting iOS, Android, and Windows.

Matthew Miller

Matthew Miller started using mobile devices in 1997 and has been writing news, reviews, and opinion pieces ever since. Matthew started using mobile devices with a US Robotics Pilot 1000 and has owned hundreds of devices running Palm, Linux, Symbian, Newton, BlackBerry, iOS, Android, webOS, Windows Mobile, and Windows Phone operating systems. His current collection includes the latest and greatest foldables, wearables, and more, along with classic devices like the Apple Newton MessagePad 2100 and Sony CLIE UX50. Matthew can be found on various social networks under the user name of "palmsolo."

Latest Posts

T-Mobile web2go to replace T-Zones and add new download marketplace

In addition to the disappointing increase in data rates for voice customers, T-Mobile also introduced their new web2go service. The web2go service is designed to make it easier to view and browse the internet from your feature phone and select smartphone. Yahoo! oneSearch is being used for the mobile search engine and the service also gives you access to the new T-Mobile store front that was talked about a few months ago. It sounds like the web2go service is a proxy service since T-Mobile states that customers can visit virtually any website from even a feature phone and be able to view and navigate the page.

November 19, 2008 by Matthew Miller in Telcos

T-Mobile USA increases data plan rates for voice customers

Today, T-Mobile USA is kicking off its web2go initiative that add Yahoo! oneSearch to some devices, a customizable home page, a new mobile shopping and download experience (I'll cover this in a follow-up post), and higher data rate plans. The press release actually states that the data rate plans were simplified, but that makes very little sense since T-Mobile already had a very simplified data rate plan structure in place that couldn't get any simpler. I went to the T-Mobile website and saw that most plans increased in price for data services. Just over a year ago T-Mobile decreased their data plan rates and were the leader in low cost and simplified data.

November 19, 2008 by Matthew Miller in Enterprise Software

Holiday Gift Guide 2008: Free cell phones

The holiday shopping season is upon us and with people's concerns about the economy spending will most likely be down and buyers will be looking for deals for gifts. In this first holiday shopping guide, I'll collect and present you with informaton for the best free cellphones on the market from each of the four major US wireless carriers.

November 19, 2008 by Matthew Miller in Samsung

Review: OtterBox Impact and Defender Series cases for the BlackBerry Bold

I picked up a RIM BlackBerry Bold a couple of weeks ago and was extremely happy with the device. The inability to sync with my Exchange account forced me to return it though. If you own a BlackBerry Bold then you may want to check out one of these two OtterBox cases that offer differing levels of device protection. The OtterBox Impact Series and OtterBox Defender Series cases are attractive, durable solutions designed to protect your new device from minor to major impacts. You can check out my image gallery that shows both cases wrapped around the RIM BlackBerry Bold.

November 18, 2008 by Matthew Miller in Mobility

LG INCITE Windows Mobile 6.1 device now available from AT&T

Wow, I just can't keep up with AT&T's high end mobile phone releases. Today, AT&T and LG announced the availability today of the LG INCITE Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional device. This is the first entry into Windows Mobile in the U.S. by LG and it looks like a direct competitor to the outstanding Samsung OMNIA that is a major iPhone challenger. I just picked up the HTC Fuze on Saturday and after looking at the specs on this device think the Fuze is still better for my needs.

November 18, 2008 by Matthew Miller in Mobile OS

Review: New REDFLY C8N Smartphone Terminal serves as a media player too

The REDFLY Mobile Companion (now marketed as the REDFLY Smartphone Terminal) has served me well for a few months as I have stated in my first and second impressions. In October the price on the original C8 model was dropped to US$199 and then extended until mid-November. With today's announcement we now know that this model will be replaced by the C8N with the new C7 also available for those looking for a lower cost and smaller device. I've been using a beta version of the C8N for several days now and am posting my review below along with an image gallery and video of it in action.

November 18, 2008 by Matthew Miller in Mobility

Quick iPhone app review: Cronk

I look at the Apple iPhone store and am blown away by the number, variety, and quality of applications that are now present after just a few short months in existence. Developers are definitely embracing the Apple iPhone and Apple has a winner on their hands with the App Store. I used to work with Joel Evans on Geek.com and when I saw that he was involved in development of an iPhone game I bought it as soon as it was released a couple weeks ago. Cronk is a moving matching game that seem to be quite popular today. I enjoy playing Astraware's Zuma on my Windows Mobile devices and Bonsai Blast on my T-Mobile G1 and now I enjoy playing Cronk on my iPhone. Check out some screenshots of the game in my image gallery.

November 17, 2008 by Matthew Miller in iPhone

MailShadowG syncs Outlook data to Google and thus your G1

After checking out my T-Mobile G1 review and reading how I was looking for a way to get my Exchange information on my device, Clay sent me an email with a link to the press release announcing MailShadow for Google Apps or MailShadowG. I have been using the free Google Calendar Sync tool to keep my Outlook/Exchange account calendar and Google Calendar synced up, but it would be nice to have full email, contacts, and calendar synchronization capability.

November 17, 2008 by Matthew Miller in Microsoft

Review: Sprint Touch Pro and AT&T HTC Fuze Windows Mobile devices

Last week I was quite excited about the BlackBerry Bold and think it is fantastic piece of hardware and the best BlackBerry device currently available. However, I could not get my Outlook Web Access to work with my work Exchange server and the BlackBerry (security settings prevented the connection) and as much as I loved the Bold hardware I couldn't get past the limited functionality with Exchange. After our Saturday morning soccer game I swung by the AT&T store and swapped the Bold for the new HTC Fuze. I was also sent the Sprint Touch Pro last week so this article is a first impressions of both with a bit of a comparison. You can check out my image gallery and video below for images and experiences with the devices.

November 17, 2008 by Matthew Miller in Enterprise Software

Mobile software Monday: Spb Traveler 2.0 for Windows Mobile

I am quite impressed with the excellent applications developed by Spb Software House and I just wish that they were able to develop them for S60 and/or BlackBerry devices too. One of their latest titles that is a perfect fit for me and my regular travels is Spb Traveler 2.0. The software is designed for the mobile road warrior and offers several tools to help make your travel a much better and more organized experience. Please visit my image gallery for screenshots of the software running on my Palm Treo Pro. You can also view the video below to see the software in action.

November 16, 2008 by Matthew Miller in Enterprise Software

Should RIM also license Exchange ActiveSync?

I was pretty impressed by the RIM BlackBerry Bold (see my first impressions post) and the display and keyboard sold me on it. I still think the display and keyboard are both fantastic and it is definitely the best BlackBerry device to date. However, due to the lack of Exchange ActiveSync support I am being forced to return it and move on. I tried the Outlook Web Access (OWA) method of connecting to my work email account, but the security settings on our server won't allow it to fully function for me. Also, this would only give me email access and not calendar, contacts, or task synchronization. Is it too much to ask RIM to add support for Exchange ActiveSync like Palm, Apple and Nokia have already?

November 15, 2008 by Matthew Miller in Mobility

Nokia 5800 S60 touch screen evals start appearing

Last month Nokia announced the 5800 XpressMusic device that is the first S60 touch screen device rolling out from Nokia. I haven't had a chance to play with the device yet so I cannot personally comment on the touch screen or optimization Nokia made to S60 in regards to touch, but Kevin Tofel and Steve O'Hear both have spent a bit of time with the device and offer up some initial thoughts.

November 13, 2008 by Matthew Miller in Hardware

Speak into your iPhone for fast Google search results

Google continues its efforts to optimize the mobile experience on the iPhone with their new speech recognition search application that will lets iPhone users ask questions verbally and receive back Google search results. This new search functionality will also take advantage of the iPhone location-based technology and sometimes give you back local results. Other recent improvements in Google services include new search results pages optimized for the iPhone and Google Earth for the iPhone.

November 13, 2008 by Matthew Miller in Innovation

CompanionLink lets you synchronize your Outlook data with the G1 Android

My T-Mobile SIM card has been living in my T-Mobile G1 Android device now for a few weeks and I continue to use it for phone calls, email, and web surfing. I was pleased to read that CompanionLink Sofware now has a way for you to sync your PIM data (no email) between Outlook, Lotus Notes, Palm Desktop, Novell Groupwise, and other clients to your T-Mobile G1. CompanionLink for Google Android is available now for US$29.95 with a free 14-day trial.

November 13, 2008 by Matthew Miller in Microsoft

Participate in the TechRepublic Smartphone webcast now

Just a heads-up that I will be participating in the Smartphone Applications and Services over on TechRepublic in a minute or so (starting at 11 am PST) so if you are interested in talking about mobile phones or participating in this live webcast please join me, Josh, and the others.