Well, it’s not REALLY a saga but it is none-the-less a voyage into the unfamiliar. I was very familiar and comfortable with the Treo680 since the Handspring. WinMo I’m not so much – familiar with, that is. It resembles the desktop version, so to that extent there is a familiarity to it.

The keyboard is still a source of frustration but I am getting better at it. Depending on the app, it is either too responsive or not at all (probably apps that are not REALLY for touchscreens!). I seriously thought about returning it. I went as far as going back to the TMo store to see what else they had! But once you have the HD2 you can’t really go back. It would have to be egregious and… it’s not.

Right at my house, I consistently get a really strong EDGE signal but the speed is not bad so I guess I’m OK with that. I connected to my WiFi and THAT is working really well.

You’ve got to keep a micro fiber cloth nearby at all times because the screen LOVES your prints. It seems that this will be the “downfall” of all these touchscreen devices. I just saw a pic of the new iPad (scroll down a bit) in the right light: paw prints all over!

Speaking of the screen. It’s big and beautiful and you can read comfortably on it. I try to keep-up with the news and this screen is easy on the eye. My opinion is that every new device should come out with a screen between 4 and 5 inches to be of any use. The screen is big but the device is still pocket-able.

I also like the camera performance. The pics are bright and crisp. Here is one of our adopted Chubby “the fat cat” making his rounds in the backyard and intent on not missing a meal   (I just cropped it – NO retouching of any kind). I have not tried video yet.

In the beginning, when I set-up the HD2 I unsuspectingly set-up the MS Direct Push “feature” and I have the impression that it is constantly trying to access the internet to retrieve new e-mails. I have not been able to find where to turn it off and it is a constant source of aggravation besides depleting my battery when I’m not looking.

Anyone out there knows how to cancel MS Direct Push Notification?

I also installed Co0kieMonster’s new Sense 2.5.x.x tab modification. I had the previous version that I liked very much but I can’t comment on this latest version as I just downloaded it today.

I also purchased SKTools software to do some registry editing and modifications. So far I’ve done a few of the registry tweaks suggested for the HD2 on XDA Developers. Nothing radical, yet. I have to be careful, I need my phone (after all it’s a phone first and foremost!) everyday and cannot be without it.

Also, I thought WinMo was supposed to be flash compatible. I visited several sites that told me to download it. I did it several times but I still can’t use flash. Any ideas?

Whatever happened to WiFi router in the “wireless control”? It’s MIA on mine. I was really looking forward to trying this feature. I wonder if it can be enabled through a registry edit?

Look forward to continuing this conversation. Do you have the HD2? What are your thoughts on it?  Thank you for visiting.

I must say that I have been a long time user of SplashID and SplashMoney.  SplashData was kind enough to give me the registration codes for these two packages for review, which I needed because I upgraded my Treo 680 to the HD2.

SplashID is a handy program to have: It’s there to keep all of your “secret” information: login passwords, bank account and credit cards numbers and all the information you need on hand and want to keep secure. The software comes in 2 parts: mobile version and desktop companion. You use the same password for both and sync/backup your mobile as needed, which uses 256 bit Blowfish encryption (more than you ever wanted to know about encryption here). The desktop companion is very useful when you first set it up and for back-up. I have a lot of records and would not want to have to re-enter them all if something “unfortunate” happened to my mobile. Speaking of which: since I switched platforms, all I had to do, was get the windows version of SplashID, install it on my mobile and computer, export the Palm file and import it into WinMo. Voila! Done!

SplashID comes in all the mobile flavors, even iPad!

Once installed you get the usual sample database that you can modify/delete to fit you needs. For each category you have 10 fields that you can edit/use and you can selectively hide/show (Mask/Unmask Fields) any one which adds another level of safety – so you don’t display all you passwords as soon as you open the database You can also customize the way your data is displayed: Tree view, row and header color, assign an icon for different category, etc… One thing I really like is the “free hand” note field for each of your records. Anything that does not fit neatly in the database can be placed there. You can also choose to use the password generator or come-up with you own. I made mine up: I use a sentence with numbers – the longer the password the more difficult it is to crack and remember! That’s why I use a sentence – works for me. A long password can be a “pain” to enter often but you can adjust how quickly the software will lock after you close it. If by chance someone tries to break-in: 10 wrong trials and your database is wiped out (new for this version). The advantage of this program is: you don’t have to remember a bunch of passwords and log-in names – just one and you have access to all of them.

You can test drive the software for 30 days for free and 60 days after you purchased it. And if you already are a customer and want to change platform…. there is a discounted price for that!

SplashMoney shares the basic set ups with SplashID: encryption, desktop companion (highly recommended), cross platform import/export, different types of views etc…. I need this type of software because I am a contractor and I need to keep track of my income & expenses. This has been a useful companion to my Treo 600/680 and now with the HD2. As stated above if you change platform, you get a discount. I had some difficulties crossing over but SplashData was great to help solve my problems. I like having this type of software because I am constantly buying gas, supplies for jobs, etc… and it is very useful to enter the data a little at a time while the information is fresh in my mind rather than face a pile of receipts at the end of the week/month. And if you’re waiting for something to happen (doctor’s office, delivery, people etc..), it’s a good way to occupy you time. This program was working great on the Treo because of the stylus. I now have the touchscreen version but it is not very “finger friendly”. The data fields are too small and/or not sensitive enough. I need repeated “hit” in the fields to activate them. On the web site, it looks like the interface on the iPhone and Android models are more finger friendly.

A program like SplashMoney is not important UNTIL you realize that April 15th is fast approaching!! This is where keeping-up with your data entry is paying off. You can sync with the companion desktop software and/or import the .QIF file into Quicken or Money if you still have it. My end of the year is never as smooth as I would like but my sanity is greatly improved because all I have to do is organize the data not look for it!

You don’t have to be self employed to need/want this type of program: you can keep track of your stocks, savings, CD’s, credit card spending (important now a days!!), set a budget etc… You can also memorize re-occurring transactions (deposits and/or expenses)  so you’ll never forget one and find your account short of funds.

The same is available for Splash Money as for SplashID: you can play with it before you buy. The real value of these apps reveals itself the more you use them.

SplashData has other apps for all the other platforms, check them out. I also have SplashShopper that I especially find it handy around Thanksgiving.  I am the one cooking for turkey day. I loaded all my ingredients required for the meal, tagged them for “Thankgiving”. When it’s time, I hit the Thanksgiving tag, it brings up all the ingredients.  I then go through my pantry and click off all the ingredients I already have and what I’m left is my shopping list I also do that with books I hear about on the radio. And for the men out there, if you don’t remember your wife’s sizes that would be a good place to keep’em too!

I am always interested in these type of apps/software. Let me what you are using and why you like/dislike it.

I was all excited to get the HD2. I was at the TMo store on the 24^th and apparently was lucky enough to get one. I am upgrading from a Treo 680. The HD2 is all that they say it is EXCEPT for the keyboard(s). I love the size of the screen as it’s great for everything you do on it. However, the keyboard is waaaay too sensitive and it’s too easy to make a mistake, especially when you have to enter a password – like on a couple of applications I have (mostly because they are portrait only). I am used to the Treo’s keyboard – even with my “big” fingers – it works.

For me the HD2 keyboard is an exercise in frustration, to the point I am considering returning it! As the girl at TMo said: I have 14 days (from the 24^th) to return it. And THAT would not be a good day… but I primarily use my phone for business and when I need to enter some data I don’t have the time or patience to fuss with a touchy keyboard. I might take another look at the Touch Pro2! I wish I could get my hands on the N900 too.

At this point, for me, this is the Achilles’ hill of the HD2… what’s your experience?

Last year, I bought a Honda Goldwing (read-on, it relates to Apple).  It’s the ultimate touring motorcycle: 6 cylinder, ABS, GPS, heated seats AND grip and 80 watts per channel 6 speakers sound system…. NICE.  However, Honda, in their infinite wisdom, is offering a 6 discs CD changer that you plug into the wiring harness and control from the handle bar; for the modest sum of $700 dollars mind you! For their flagship bike they really have leading edge tech!!  I guess it’s better than Yamaha that has a really nice TAPE DECK on their top-of-the-line cruiser.

I wanted something a little cheaper with more music.  I recently heard of that new technology – MP3 players have you heard of it? – that I could plug into the bike’s sound system (may be someone should send the memo to Honda).  I have a 3.5 mm plug routed to one of the glove compartment (in the front) that works well enough but in the summer the heat from the engine seemed to be unbearable for my player and it would quit working. Furthermore, I could not control it without pulling over – how uncivilized!

I discovered a company that make an adapter that would plug into the wiring harness (where the CD changer would go) and let me run the player from the factory installed handle bar controls.  HOWEVER, it ONLY works with Apple products!!  The nice thing about it, though, is that it also charges the player.

I really did not want to buy a new one because I was planning on using it primarily on the bike.  I bought a really nice 80GB unit on E-Bay for a very reasonable price.  I’ve never had an Apple product.  The closest I came to buying one was the Newton.  Now it’s a collector’s item available on E-Bay – you can find ANYTHING on E-Bay!

A couple of years ago I bought an 8GB Zune for my wife to use while she goes ice skating.  When I set it up for her I remember liking it and being generally impressed.  But, I think I like the iPod more.  When I first installed iTunes, it took overnight to go through all my music (15,517 songs)!  Once this was over and loaded on the iPod I was ready to venture into the world according to Steve.

This is, by no means, a technical review, but I think (compared to the “old” Zune) the Apple is more elegant in execution – nothing dramatic, just nice touches here and there: the way you can blend the ending and beginning of songs, playlists to get you started, quick and easy search to name a few .

I did not expect to like it but for a 5th generation iPod, but my overall impression is very positive. Now, if only we could change the battery ourselves…

For anyone wondering, the whole hook-up, including the iPod, cost me less than half of the cost of the “antiquated” CD changer (before install cost) with about 215 times the capacity.

I just went through the process of choosing what the best phone is for me and to a certain extend still am.  But here the operating word is YOU!

As soon as Palm merged the PDA with a phone I had one!  Before I carried a Palm and a phone.  It made sense to carry one gadget that replaced two!  I currently use an unlocked Treo 680 (my second one) on the T-Mobile network.  The phone has served me well but it’s time upgrade!

As I started to consider what was the best option for a new phone for me, I came from a different angle: the must have functions and features, the “would be nice” and the rest.

For me the must haves are: the ability to sync with my computer, good power and memory specs, internet, camera, a decent screen (size & resolution), a day’s worth of battery life, software I need and let’s not forget, good phone functionality.  Now, the “Would be nice’s”:  GPS, document editing, and maybe the ability to work with my favorite books and music.

What is the best phone for you also depends on how you plan to use your smartphone, how many contacts/data you have as well as how you feel about having someone else keeping that info (read Google Buzz intro fiasco!) and how comfortable you are with that idea.  Android seems to be an interesting OS with good performance and integration BUT personally, the idea of a data mining company (Google) keeping all my contacts and personal info kind a freaks me out!  But, hey that’s just me…   They may not want to do any “evil” but stuff happens and I don’t think they would be held responsible if it does.  I don’t want to clean-up that mess!

I don’t think Palm has came out with a desktop syncing software for WebOS – so Palm is out!  And since none of my current software will work with the Pre/Pixi I am no longer tied to Palm.

I am a contractor and use several pieces of software from SplashData: SplashID, SplashMoney and SplashShopper (because it was free, and because it’s useful).  All three of these have a desktop companion that makes it very convenient for backups.  (See more info here)   Syncing with my computer came in handy the day I broke the screen on my first Treo 680 and I had to get a new one in a hurry. After plugging the new one in, I was good to go!  You can do that with the Cloud too, but you know how I feel about that.

Years ago (20+) I was looking to purchase my first computer.  I looked a PC’s and Apple.  Apple was a problem for me:  you could only buy hardware and software from them and at my, what a price.   As such, I got a PC!

Fast forward 20+ years and Apple has very sexy products with pretty much the same mentality, unless you go to the Dark Side in jailbreaking your iPhone.  A friend of mine got the 3GS last year so I asked him if I could play with it – I depleted the battery!   It works well, plenty of apps etc… but to me the screen size is an issue – it’s not big enough.  It’s also connected 100% of the time to the internet with no possibility to turn it off (I would like to be able to do that).  Apple could be a contender in a new iPhone for 2010 came with a larger screen?  Unfortunately, I don’t know if I can wait that long (June or July).

I also seriously considered Nokia’s Maemo. It’s an interesting OS that seems to work well.  However, because it’s a new OS it does not have a lot of apps, though more are appearing every day.  The N900 screen is also too small. I would LOVE to get my mints on this one and play with it for awhile though!

Windows Mobile is all that’s left, I think. The 6.5.x.x version seems to fit my bill.  Since I first saw the HTC HD2 I have been drooling over it!  The more I learned about it the more I wanted it.  I can’t wait for it to come out.  There is plenty of software out there for it and it has a 1 GHz processor (in a PHONE!!!) and they are now seriously talking about 1.5 and 2 GHz processors!  The screen size it good (4.3 inch – it looks awesome in the videos).  Windows Phone 7 Series seems interesting but very social networking centric which, at this time, does not really interest me.  I’m not big on texting either, but things could change.

There is not magic bullet my friend.  And like the previous comments it all depends on you, your pain threshold for your monthly bill, which provider you like/tolerate, the phone(s) you like and yes, the operating system you like/must have.  All this factors in with what you’re planning on doing with/on it.  Now you are starting to even see locked or unlocked (subsidized or not) phones like this in Europe. I have been waiting for a long time for this day to come. Smartphones are finally starting to be interesting now… and there is plenty of competition – in hardware and software/OS’s.

That’s my 2 cents. Thanks for staying up until the end but there is a lot to consider now in choosing the best phone for you.