AT&T 8525 $99

If you’ve been watching for the deal, here it is:  Amazon is offering my favorite tool for $99.99.  While it lists Windows Mobile 5, one can browse right over to htc.com to get WM6.

iPhone: Apple’s overzealous control thwarting its potential

Brian Lam at Gizmodo gives the full scoop (and a “don’t buy” verdict) on just how useful the iPhone can be, just how much Apple is choking-off that potential, and how its buyers rightfully resent being at the mercy of the Apple Overlord. Still want a great phone with tons o’ function? Get the 8525. Desperate for the iPhone look? So, skin your 8525, and save what you would have spent (on the iPhone) for OLPC.

iPhone review - and thorough

A through review of the iPhone? I’ve found it (in 5 parts so far), by Paul Thurrott on his SuperSite. Be sure to read all five parts (and compare it to what you know of the 8525). Here’s some excerpt to get you there:

As a long-time PDA and smart phone user, I have certain expectations of any mobile device. These expectations revolve around such mundane tasks as synchronizing with my PIM data and allowing me to access the Internet, through the phone’s Internet connection, with my notebook computers. As it turns out, my current smart phone, a Motorola Q used via Verizon’s high-speed EV-DO network, is much more capable than the iPhone in this regard.

But before I get critical, understand this: The technology in the iPhone is of a completely different caliber than anything found in any smart phone currently being sold in the US. Indeed, the iPhone is a technological crossroads joining traditional smart phones (i.e. pre-iPhone smart phones) with the Ultra-Mobile PC (UMPC), Microsoft’s ultra-mobile computing platform. So we’re talking about a device that is head and shoulders, technologically, above most other portable devices of this size. With technology, of course, comes some complexity. But Apple is good at making things simple, even if it often does so at the expense of functionality.

So let’s take a look at the core technology Apple put in the iPhone, not just to revel in what it is, but rather to discover how it impacts users in the real world.

Paul Potts: Nessun Dorma

This does not need words.

(So, I’m Johnny-come-lately to this story, but in any event, if this performance doesn’t touch you, perhaps you should have your barometer checked.)

Cha-Fring!!! to the Tune of $12Million (& Fring on 8525/Mobile 5.0)

Updated news from Techcrunch reports:

VOIP start-up Fring has closed an estimated $12 million second round, led by US VC fund North Bridge Venture Partners. VenFin and previous investors Pitango, Veritas and Yossi Vardi also participated. If the investment estimate is accurate, it would be one of the larger rounds for a VOIP company.

Fring is a mobile application for Windows and Symbian phones that uses VOIP to make cheap/free mobile calls and instant message. Unlike Jajah, but like Truphone, Fring sends calls and chats over Wi-Fi internet access or your 3G or GPRS Internet data plan …

This writer will tell you, having the AT&T 8525 for more than a month before finding/adding Fring? (What’s the opposite of “priceless”?) It’s no wonder folks are handing over money.  Making VOIP calls or chatting over wifi or your (better be unlimited) cellular data plan, integration with voice/chat Skype, GoogleTalk, MSN … all I can say is when I wifi-Fring-Jott my soccer team to text their parents that the game has not rained out because rain cannot survive this heat, they’ll never know what hit ‘em.

Isn’t it Fringing wonderful.

iPhone hacked

Per the New York Times (by John Schwartz),

A team of computer security consultants say they have found a flaw in Apple’s wildly popular iPhone that allows them to take control of the device.

I am not one of those people smirking at those smug Apple zealots who have constantly regurgitated the mantra that “with Apple, you just don’t have the virus and security worries you have with Microsoft products …” I’m not; I’m just an 8525 guy.

iPhone vs At&t 8525: review (and beta post)

[*Update: If you are considering purchasing from Wirefly/Inphonic online (and you think their rebates look promising), you might consider it due diligence to at least review and consider: D.C. Sues InPhonic Over Rebate Restrictions; Cell phones: Poor customer support from Inphonic.com/Wirefly.com; and Ripoff Report: InPhonic. I cannot vouch for the accuracy of any of that information, HOWEVER, after my personal compliance, re-compliance, online status checks, online customer service requests, emails, and certified mail regarding a RAZR rebate (yes--it has been one phone ago), it was apparently the use of three magic words which ultimately inspired my long (many months) overdue rebate check to finally come in the mail: Better. Business. Bureau. Find info here. To be sure, the RAZR was truly great and the Cingular/AT&T service was fantastic. This customer's experience with Wirefly's ("fulfillment" by Inphonic) rebate? Well let's just say my mother taught me, "if you do not have anything nice to say, stay quiet." In that case "________" should make the point.]

So it’s July 12 and the iPhone has been in a lot of hands now for nearly two weeks: Is there now a revised (more considered) opinion?

• DennisKennedy writes: Is the iPhone ready for Business? pointing to a Business Week tech commentary on Making the iPhone Better for Business (what does that tell you) as well as a Consumer Reports write-up (noted by Dave Winer) which highlights a not-so-great (per the writer, comparable to Treo 680) call quality in the iPhone;
• ErnieTheAttorney reports on the iPhone blank screen of death (my words — homage to persistent blue-screen-of-death references by the many mac-faithful);
• FutureLawyer (a daily stop for this writer) drops a not-so-subtle hint, noting a post entitled “Fixing the iPhone“;
• {this portion is arguably not quite worthy of a full bullet, but here it is anyway: should you be part of the want-windows-function-but-with-iPhone-look crowd, the folks at Lifehacker present an iPhone knock-off skin and procedure to make your windows mobile smartphone/pocket pc look like the iPhone}; and finally,
• my revised comment (thanks Finis): My mistake — the iphone keypad does, in fact … go landscape.
• Update: Be sure to see Home Office Lawyer’s competing view on iPhone (and just as Bo knows sport, Grant most certainly knows tech), lest we forget that reasonable minds differ and that for us early-adopters anyway, how cool it feels in our hands does matter.
• Got an honest assessment of the iPhone? Say on.

AT&T 8525 Better than iPhone

So straight to the comparison:

vs.
Price: (w/2-yr plan) iPhone is $500-$600 while 8525 is $300;
Display: 3.5 inches vs 2.8;
Menu: i comes with “essential features” at main display; 8525 allows selection of such for “Today” display;
Interface/entry: i has touchscreen control for everything (what if it has a problem), and vertical qwerty on screen (one and only keying option) which can’t go horizontal and must go elsewhere for symbols or numbers (very inconvenient for texting/emailing) while 8525 has qwerty touchscreen (w/numbers) stylus included, slideout physical qwerty, blackberry roll/punch trackwheel, and directional button similar/common to many cell keypads;
Connectivity: each has Bluetooth 2.0 and wi-fi, together with same data network via AT&T fka Cingular;
Camera: each has 2.0 megapixel but 8525 adds video and more snapshot/shutter options;
Messaging & email: similar at first look, but iPhone has no cut/paste features;
pdf/word/excel: iPhone only views, while 8525 creates and edits (just not on pdf’s);
video/music: i via itunes (but must sync to manage); 8525 via media player or web interfaces (cellular video, mobitv, mobile xmradio, and others), and relevant to this feature is 4GB on iphone w/o expandability, then 51MB on 8525 expansion card adds 2.0GB (more, I suppose as micro SD cards grow);
Browser: iPhone has an edge here, using the Safari which renders true web vs. mobile web you get (as available) on 8525 (haven’t tried non-windows browser on 8525 yet)

Summary: for the cell/text/email/doc editing user (yes, like me), 8525 will make you happier and actually do more; if you are an ituner/ipodd-er and you want one device which also provides cellular service, (limited) text/email features, and browsing go put $500 (or 6) down and $60/month (x24) to join the craze, and test-drive the newest thing (just remember, now many of you will have two ipods, no?). Let’s face it, if you phone/text/email, you’re going to tire quickly of trying to put two thumbs (or one of any digit from each hand) on iphone’s limited touchscreen qwerty.  (Update: see Home Office Lawyer’s differing view on typing and other functions.

ASUS Introduces All-New Eee PC

Eee PC — small, simple, inexpensive, versatile. Ever wonder when we’ll reach that point in time when virtually everyone will finally have a laptop. We may be one day closer to that day. ASUSTeK, today, announced it all-new Eee PC:

Easy to Learn, Easy to Work, Easy to Play

Taipei, Taiwan, June 5, 2007 – Majority of activities conducted on the laptops today are Internet related. Whether it´s checking emails, reading news, communicating with others or simply utilizing online share spaces, Internet usage has become a big part of the daily computing operations - for both work and fun. To accommodate the increasing total Internet computing demands as well as growing number of users, both young and old, ASUS launches the revolutionary Eee PC to provide users with a new mobile Internet experience like never before.

This is a new line of PCs that focuses on providing users with the most comprehensive Internet application based on three Es: Easy to learn, work, play; Excellent Internet experience and Excellent mobile computing experience, and hence the product name of Eee PC.

Easy to Learn, Work and Play
Learn the latest technology without a technical manual! For easy hands-on, the Eee PC offers two modes of intuitive user interface design: the easy mode and the full desktop mode in order to accommodate both experienced and inexperienced PC users. The Eee PC is also Windows XP compatible.

Excellent Internet Experience
Built-in WLAN connectivity allows users to stay connected for dynamic Internet usage on the go. With the Eee PC empowers users to share photos without waiting till one gets home; connect face to face with just a few clicks; enjoy online entertainment live; stay on top of emails for high work efficiency and more!

Excellent Mobile Computing Experience
The 7” Eee PC 701 weighs at a featherlight 0.89 kg, with large flash-based storage capacity and built-in webcam for compact mobility with wireless freedom. The special solid-state disc design based on built-in flash-memory gives the Eee PC a great shock-proof advantage over traditional notebook PCs allowing extra flexibility and a worry free mobile computing experience.

EeePC 701 Specification
Display：7″
CPU & Chipset: Intel mobile CPU & chipset
OS: Linux/ Microsoft Windows XP compatible
Communication: 10/100 Mbps Ethernet; 56K modem
WLAN: WiFi 802.11b/g
Graphic: Intel UMA
Memory: 512MB, DDR2-400
Storage: 4/ 8/ 16GB Flash
Webcam: 300K pixel video camera
Audio: Hi-Definition Audio CODEC; Built-in stereo speaker; Built-in microphone
Battery Life: 3hrs (4 cells: 5200mAh, 2S2P)
Dimension & Weight: 22.5 x 16.5 x 2.1~3.5cm, 0.89kg

Watch their event video here.

Web Worker Daily Answers

So, you’ve seen my inquiry “How Available Should Attorneys Be“. I’ve now stumbled upon an answer (perhaps the answer) at Web Worker Daily, which provides:

…there can come a point where you have too many points of contact.When you have…

…a cell phone, land line, Skype number, and backup VOIP line for people to talk to you

…and a number of email addresses where people can leave you more detailed messages

…and several IM clients

…plus Twitter

…augmented by online project and team management sites

…and various videoconferencing platforms…

suddenly you’ve transitioned from accessible coworker to frustrating obstacle course.

If your customers and colleagues are spending several hours downloading clients, setting up accounts on various systems, and otherwise initiating specialized ways of reaching you, your technology has become more of a problem than a solution.

So far as I can tell, this is fairly universal advice (perhaps aimed at folks like me; confession — in addition to my “Contact Dan” page, my Skype availability is on my private family blog); so “Thanks” to the folks at Web Worker Daily.