I’ve been reviewing products for about 15 years.  I’ve reviewed many Smartphone’s over the years on all of the major wireless carriers here in the States. Its always the same – Ooh..! Shiny!!

Unless a specific device has serious, SERIOUS problems, most reviewers fall head over heels in love with <pick the latest gadget> and get caught in the honeymoon period.  When that happens, short of the device exploding (or having major, easy to see, easy to find faults),  its more than likely going to get a favorable review.

Here’s a word to the wise – Sliced bread is always better.

Sliced bread is ALWAYS better…

Some times product reviews are done too quickly. Some times when that happens, a product’s issues aren’t completely vetted out and aren’t brought to light.  I find this to be problematic, and generally not serving the public good.  You can see the whole article over at iTechGear, here.

Kep Ring App by Mobestream Media

I love, love, LOVE this app!!!  First, I have to give credit to my other half for discovering this little gem on iTunes.  If you are like me then you have about a thousand discount or reward points membership cards for every store in creation.  I have Borders, Best Buy, the local grocery stores, clothing stores, Staples, and the list goes on and on.  I was happy when companies switched from cards to the little keyring cards.  However, now my keys are so bulky with all these ‘convenient’ little cards, which are nothing more than a collection of bar codes.  I am here to tell you that you can throw away those little cards.  Mobestream Media is here to the rescue!!!

Key Ring is a free app available for Android or iPhone.  Honestly, its about the simplest program I have ever used.  Once you download the app, simply hit ‘Add Card’.  If your card has a bar code, the program will use your phone’s camera to scan the barcode. 

Once that is complete, you will be able to select from over 650 retailers or add your own to assign to the barcode.

Completed Entry

You even have the ability to add cards without barcodes.  For example:  I added my membership number for National Rental Card.  I just typed it in, and selected National. 

The final piece that makes this just that much more useful is that your information can be recovered if you lose your phone or it dies.  When you create an account for yourself CardGuard is activated and you can then download your information onto any Android phone or the iPhone. 

Go check this out.  I can’t tell you how much its helped to organize me.  Plus, my keyring is much slimmer.

Today is Free App Friday at Handango and this time they are giving away 3D Nine Hole Golf game for the major platforms out there: BlackBerry, Android, Windiws Mobile and Symbian.

Visit Handango and follow the instructions, you will be able to download and play a Golf match:

Watch the U.S. Open Golf Tour from Pebble Beach AND play golf on your Smartphone at the same time.  Why would you want to spend your weekend any other way? 3D Nine Hole Golf provides unique real-time 3D graphics that make this golf game stand apart from the rest. Easy control and challenging elements offer great action play for the golf addict and the mobile gamer alike.   Download 3D Nine Hole Golf for FREE by using 100% off code FAF618.

Gameplay includes:

• Real-time scene rendering and sophisticated 3D camera with particle effects allow you to easily track the ball’s flying trail
• Realistic ball physics reflect the player’s stroke choice, terrain, wind direction and intensity
• Play three luxurious golf courses, each with a distinct landscape and climate for a total of 27 holes

I am not a game aficionado, but I like golf games, and free can’t be beaten.

Via: Handango

SPB Software announced on Tuesday the release of an updated version of their internet TV player, SPB TV 2.  With the new update coming in at the sweet price spot of FREE, it seemed like an outstanding time to take a look at the program.

Installation on my Touch Pro was uneventful, happily finding it’s home on the device’s microSD card.  First launch of the program displays a dialog asking the you to supply some simple demographic information.  I’m not completely sure the point of this, but in all it seems relatively harmless in what they were asking for.

I’d recommend that when running the software, you do so via your handheld’s wifi network.  A slow cellular network connection such as Edge or 1X is out, as the program times out.  Not having 3G in my area, I didn’t have the opportunity to test.  Suffice to say, I suspect that it will be the best on wifi networks as a lot of data is streaming.

After the channel list downloads from SPB, the channel browser screen displays.  Thumbnail icons appear at the bottom of the screen, with a larger preview of the current channel.

SPB TV 2: Channel Browser

Tapping the familiar play icon, the display switches to landscape orientation and fills the screen.  You may be greeted with an ad (hey.. it’s free, isn’t it) while the stream is buffering.  Once loaded, the TV show will start to appear.

SPB TV 2: Picture in Picture Display

Tapping the screen while playing provides options for customizing the experience, including switching to a high quality version of the stream, utilizing picture in picture or returning to the channel browser.  As I was playing with the picture in picture feature, I couldn’t help but reminisce a bit.  Rewind about 20 years ago, close my eyes and I’m in my grandparent’s house watching my grandfather show off the picture in picture feature of his new television set.  I know have the same functionality on my phone.  That to me was a bit of a wow factor.

In conclusion, SPB TV 2 is a well done application, providing a worthwhile service at a terrific price point.  I would recommend downloading it here and giving it a try!

We have recently given a look to the first DropBox client for good ol’ Windows Mobile, and it turns out that a new, free project is ready to do the same thing, courtesy of XDA-Developers.

We gave a look to CloudFiles by Ruttensoft, and found it really worth a try, as it gives support to the DropBox service.

Now, a new project called DroppedBoxx by XDA-Developers forum member “d1k_is” will allow you to browse DropBox files and folders, download and upload files, shot and upload photos, with the added bonus of being a free product.

Currently folders syncing is not supported.

You can download the installer from here (you will need to be a registered XDA-Developers forum member).

Free is always a great thing, but you will have to check and see if DroppedBoxx will fit your needs, as it is still in its infancy. Here are the features and known issue:

So I’ve been working on a DropBox client for Windows Mobile called "DroppedBoxx".
I’m after some feedback on it so far and possibly some testers…

Features (Currently)

• Login (of course)
• Browse Dropbox files and folders
• Download Files
• Download then email
• Upload files
• Take photo and upload
• Delete Dropbox Files

Features (Future)

• Copy/move files around dropbox
• Sync Folders
• Record audio and upload
• Create new Folder
• Display account usage
• Track application (self) usage

Known Issues

• File Menu doesn’t always position correctly when switching landscape <-> portrait
• Random Image Upload corruption…

So, go grab a copy and start testing DroppedBoxx.

Via: WMPowerUser