Archive for the ‘reviews’ Category

Upgrading the HTC Touch (HTC 6900)

Posted by tom.altman on December 30th, 2008
High Tech Computer
Image via Wikipedia

I was parusing the internets today and got a wild hair to upgrade the ROM on my HTC Touch to the latest software.

After downloading the ROM update, I thought about backing things up and thenmoved on without the backup.  I hooked up the phone and fired up the updater.  11% in – it failed, miserably.

To make a long story short – I was able to update the phone, after an hour long call to tech support.  I was 5 minutes from having to send it in for repair, when the phone tech said, just for fun…let’s try taking out the memory card before we update.  Bingo!

So far – I’ve noticed a couple of things new.  I really like the ability to see my SMS grouped by conversation…that is very nice.  It means the 40 updates from twitter a day groups into one message…very nice.

Will continue to update new things…that is what I have found for now.

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Sony VGN-FW180E Review

Posted by tom.altman on December 29th, 2008
Darling Poses
Image by :: Wendy :: via Flickr

I recently received a new laptop for work, it’s a Sony Vaio.  The design is a lot like the mac’s – silver with big-ish trackpad.  The keyboard is recessed with separated, “chiclets” keyboard buttons – they work pretty nice.

I really like the super wide screen 16.4 diagonal with 16:9 aspect ratio.  It’s really more like the size of a 17″ computer, but a bit shorter.  I like it – really wide.

I’m running Vista Ultimate, which seems really nice, it tends to be a bit finiky about the video driver.  It shouldn’t – but I guess this laptop is not really compatible with Vista Ultimate.

Other than that – the blu-ray is very cool.  The fit and finishis probably the best.

The one thing that does make me mad is the number lock.  I’ve never had a laptop that when you use an extended keyboard and have the number lock “locked”, that when you disconnect or undock the laptop keyboard keeps the number lock locked on it’s built-in keyboard.  It’s not a huge deal, but when you are first logging onto the computer you miss the fact that it is locked and end up fumbling the password two or three times before you realize.

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HTC Touch 6900

Posted by tom.altman on December 2nd, 2008

My photo of a ...

So, after my HTC 6800 got in a “perdicament” with the lawn mower…I needed to search for a new phone.  I wanted to go back to basics and get an old school razor or something, then I found the Touch.

Now, I must be clear – I am on the US Cellular network, so we’re a good 12 months behind on any sort of “cool” factor with phones.  Good coverage in BFE Iowa; but old, big yawner phones.

The HTC Touch 6900 is the best phone I’ve used.  OK, OK – I hear all you Apple fan-boys sayin’ “It’s not an iPhone and it runs Windows Mobile.”  Yea.  I know – I cannot get AT&T converage at home so the iPhone is out – so I choose either Blackberry or Windows Mobile – I’ll choose the Windows, thank you.

HTC has finally figured out the “something” that no one running Windows Mobile has yet – they added a bit of user interface to the base OS.  And they did a great job – gets you the things you want, in an easy to use place.

Battery life is very good and not having a querty keyboard has not been an issue yet.  It uses the XT9 for helping finish the SMS typing – and I really like it, since I’ve gotten used to it.

OK, so the HTC is a keeper.  If you cannot get an iPhone…take a look at the Touch.

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HTC PPC 6800 from US Cellular

Posted by tom.altman on November 10th, 2008
Sprint Mogul

Image by nino63004 via Flickr

I live in the middle of what they call “fly-over” country, Eastern Iowa.  We have a whole bunch of choices for cellular providers – but, if you want it to work more than 60% of the time…you pick US Cellular.  I used to complain quite a bit about US Cellular – they have good coverage – but pretty much everything else about them stunk.

I will have to admin, over the past year or so they have been fairly committed to customer service, so now they have good coverage, OK customer service – but still have stinky phones, stinky plans and super stinky data plans…all I have to say is Easy Edge.

About 4 months ago I took my quarterly parusal through their selection of phones and to my amazement, they had a windows mobile phone.  Now US Cellular has had some Blackberry’s for a year or so – but this is the first Windows phone to date.

I’m opposed to their “lock-you-in-plans” so I set off on eBay to find me a used one and after a month or so quest…I located one, bought it and finally, it was delivered.  I headed to the store – and with little trouble – within 20 minutes or so I was walking out with phone and data plan.

The HTC PPC 6800 is a pretty good phone.  It has a solid feel.  A bit heavy – and looks pretty good (for a windows mobile phone).  I really enjoyed the phone, it would lock up about 1 every day or two causing me to rest/soft re-boot it.  The more apps I used, the sooner I had to log off.

The slide out keyboard is good – not as fast as a Blackberry, but OK.

Overall – it was a pretty good phone, quite heavy…but nice.

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