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The Mobile Gadgeteer

Matthew Miller provides you with news, commentary and in-depth reviews of the latest in mobile gadgetry such as tablets, cutting edge smartphones, and portable gaming.

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

Zune team splits in response to Microsoft cutbacks

As Mary-Jo pointed out a couple of weeks ago, some of the Microsoft staffing cuts were made in the group that is responsible for the Zune, among other things. CNET reported late last week that the Zune team was split in two with new hardware and software teams. This split was actually made back on 22 January and it was stated that it was not due to Zune sales.

February 14, 2009 by Matthew Miller in Hardware

Curious about ebooks? Check out the best article ever on ebooks

As a kid, I was an avid book reader and enjoyed reading hundreds of books in my life. I actually used to skip going out with buddies in high school if I was in the middle of a good book. I am still a book reader, but spend the majority of my time reading ebooks and own both a Kindle and Sony Reader with a new Kindle 2.0 on pre-order. I just read a fantastic 7-page article on ebooks over on Ars Technica that I think every person interested in ebooks should read.

February 11, 2009 by Matthew Miller in Mobility

Tax Refund Special: Mobile gear

Things are a bit shaky with the economy right now, but this is also tax refund season for millions of Americans and with the average refund of about $2500 you may want to treat yourself to something nice and help keep the economy going. People are also working and playing on the go more and more as they work multiple jobs or visit with family and friends.

February 11, 2009 by Matthew Miller in Enterprise Software

M-Edge announces Kindle 2.0 cases and booklight

It was just a couple of weeks ago that I posted my review of the M-Edge Executive Leather Jacket and e-Luminator light for the Amazon Kindle. Now we have the Kindle 2.0 announced and I placed my order this morning. I also found out that no case will be shipping with this version of the Kindle so if you don't want to carry it naked you will need some kind of case to protect it. M-Edge was quick to also post a press release announcing they would be making available an Executive Jacket lineup (both in genuine and synthetic leather styles) for the Kindle 2. They also announced a new product line, called the Platform Jacket that acts as a bookstand for hands-free reading in an upright position.

February 9, 2009 by Matthew Miller in Hardware

Existing Kindle owners to the front of the line please

Larry was at the Kindle 2.0 launch and did a great job liveblogging the event. I already own a Sony Reader 505 and Kindle 1.0, but went ahead and pre-ordered the new Kindle that should arrive just after I get back from my family vacation. I love to read books and while there are not a ton of new features in the new Kindle, the form factor seems quite slick and desirable. The new Kindle is priced the same as the existing Kindle at US$359 with a 24 February availability.

February 9, 2009 by Matthew Miller in Mobility

MobileRead posts exclusive images of Amazon's next Kindle

It was bound to happen that the new Kindle would come out a couple months after I finally gave in and bought my own after owning the Sony 505 for several months. Larry is heading to the Morgan Library & Museum on 9 February and it looks like my favorite ebook site, MobileRead scored some exclusive images of the new Kindle 2. I have to admit the new Kindle is pretty slick looking, especially when the thickness is compared to the pencil in that one image. However, it seems like there is too much around a small display and I would have liked to have seen the display take up more real estate and reduce the QWERTY keyboard.

February 6, 2009 by Matthew Miller in Mobility

Eye-Fi and Evernote partner to give you big discounts

I've mentioned my fondness of Evernote several times in the past (just need a S60 client soon) and read over on MobileDevicesToday that they have partnered with the winners of the CES Last Gadget Standing competition, EyeFi, for some great offers. As you can read over on the Evernote blog you can now purchase the three current EyeFi models at a significant discount through the Evernote page.

February 5, 2009 by Matthew Miller in Developer

Keep dreaming and hoping, we won't see an Apple tablet anytime soon

Right at the end of 2008, Michael Arrington posted some info from his sources on a rumored large form Apple iPod touch/table for sometime in 2009. There is now some information available on an Apple patent for a large display device. Even with these pieces of information and hopes of the Apple faithful, I am highly skeptical of Apple ever releasing an Apple tablet/large display iPod. The iPod touch is already priced at $299 and $399 and the original iPhone (unsubsidized) was priced at US$599 so an Apple tablet would easily be priced at $700+ I am sure. In today's economy that is an unreasonable figure when small form notebooks with actual keyboards can be used to do the same thing for $300.

February 3, 2009 by Matthew Miller in Laptops

Pocketables posts detailed hands-on experiences with Sony Vaio P

I was very close to plunking down my Visa card for the Sony Vaio P when it was announced at CES a few weeks ago, but restrained myself to wait for a new phone instead. Jenn over at Pocketables did order and receive the Sony Vaio P and has already posted quite a bit of content on her experiences. I thoroughly enjoy reading Jenn's material because she writes from a user's perspective and is great about relating her experiences to what many of us want to do with our devices as well.

February 2, 2009 by Matthew Miller in Hardware

Will we ever see a Sony PSP 2?

One area of mobile gear that I was asked to include here on the Mobile Gadgeteer blog was portable gaming and I have to admit I haven't written much about this area in the past. I personally own and enjoy playing games on my original Sony PSP. We also have several Nintendo portable gaming devices in my house, including my original Gameboy, Nintendo DS, and DS Lite models. My daughters use the Nintendo DS models quite a bit and enjoy gaming and chatting with each other. I prefer to play games on my PSP and charge it up for gaming and movies when I travel. I just read over on IGN that the PSP 2 may be coming this year.Do you enjoy gaming on the go? If so, do you use your iPhone, PSP, Nintendo DS, or other mobile device?

January 27, 2009 by Matthew Miller in Mobility

MobileTechRoundup show #160, thoughts on the CrunchPad

The beta 2 version of the CrunchPad is being tested out and James, Kevin, and I offered our opinion on the device on MobileTechRoundup show #160. We all had fairly similar thoughts on the current design of the device. In thinking about accessing the internet and backing up your information we discussed cloud syncing solutions like SugarSync and ZumoDrive.

January 25, 2009 by Matthew Miller in Enterprise Software

Follow four writers and four MIDs on the Mid Moves tour around the world

Mobile Internet Devices (MIDs) were the hot topic of CES 2008, but we never really saw them hit the market in large numbers in 2008. At CES 2009, there were MIDs again shown to the crowd, but the small notebook (aka netbook) category is what people seem to be more excited about. I think the familiarity with the keyboard is a tough thing to overcome and personally wonder if MIDs are relegated to niche markets. If you are interested in mobile computing and MIDs, then I recommend you check out and follow the Mid Moves project this week. Four well-known mobile bloggers are out and about around the world and posting wireless from different models of MIDs as they try to showcase and test out the capabilities of these devices.

January 20, 2009 by Matthew Miller in Hardware

TeleNav updates Shotgun OTA with mileage tracking and POI reviews

The TeleNav Shotgun internet-connected personal navigation device was released back in November (see my review and one of the connected features was the ability to be updated over the air. TeleNav just posted a press release concerning the first update that will be appearing on your Shotgun soon. This update adds the ability to simply track miles driven and have it recorded for expense reports and ratings and review for various points of interest.

January 19, 2009 by Matthew Miller in CXO

Is the Crunchpad Linux tablet a viable web surfing device at $299?

Last summer Michael Arrington posted on his plans to build a $200 web tablet and it now seems that there is a Prototype B being shown off. The device is known as the CrunchPad and looks like it will cost $299 instead of $200. The device has a 12 inch touchscreen display and is powered by a Via Nano processor. Is there a market or need for such a web surfing tablet?

January 18, 2009 by Matthew Miller in Hardware

Review: M-Edge Executive Leather Jacket and e-Luminator light for the Amazon Kindle

I was quite late to the Kindle party, but after getting some Amazon gift certificates and a Fall credit card deal I picked one up a few months ago. I also have a Sony Reader, but use the Kindle more due to the connectivity options. One aspect of these ebook readers that keeps me reading on my mobile phones still is the lack of backlighting and ability to read them in the dark or low light conditions. I know the new Sony Reader has backlighting, but don't like the reduction in screen clarity that is sacrificed for the backlight. I was very pleased with M-Edge asked if I wanted to check out a couple of accessories for the Amazon Kindle and have to say that these two accessories resulted in me reading more now than ever before. The M-Edge Executive Leather Jack and e-Luminator light are must have accessories for the Amazon Kindle.

January 18, 2009 by Matthew Miller in Mobility