All Things coosbaytv

Mobile Tech the New Old Fashioned Way

noreply@blogger.com (Jay Noggle) — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 17:37:00 +0000

With my first real test of this new device being aweekend away, I can say that pretty much everythingthat I had need of was met.What were some of the things that I was able to do?Well, all of the usual Smartphone tricks. Of course,the two biggest noticable differences are having theqwerty keyboard as well as the screen being easilyfour times larger than my flip phone. Oh, and beingable to run various applications such as Word andExcel docs, streaming my favorite podcasts, watching avideo from my SD card and surfing the Net and checkingmy mail were all pretty much a breeze.One of the things that flatout impressed me was my newability to log into my Blogger account and post ormake changes! I have to no avail before so this was abiggie!So, what exactly do I mean by the New Old FashionedWay? Well, believe it or not, my new device isnt aTreo or a Q or even a Blackberry. this device is a2003 Hitachi G1000 running Windows Mobile 2002! Itruns only on the Sprint network that I happen to beon.Even better, I paid $65 for it!Now nothing personal, but all of these posts aboutusing the latest and greatest devices have been fun toread but my specialty is finding apps and servicesthat do more for less. I followed and researched thisdevice on Ebay for three or four months before gettingone.Now the drawback and why nobody knows what this deviceis. It is by todays standards, huge! At just shy of 6high and just over 3 wide, it is definitely a brick.If there is another problem I would say it is WindowsMobile 2002. I am not saying it isnt usable but if thenew WM5 apps are what are catching your eye, you willhave a problem with this. If you need a device fortesing the Sprint Smartphone arena, I cant believe howfunctional this device is including the camera andvoice dialing functions.Did I mention getting online without wifi whenever Iwant?

THE BEST IN PERSONAL TECH: NOW AVAILABLE HERE AT COOSBAYTV!

noreply@blogger.com (Jay Noggle) — Sat, 04 Nov 2006 19:36:00 +0000

THAT'S RIGHT!

Now you can get the devices I post about right here at All Things coosbaytv...

Each week, I will mention a great new device that I believe to be a great value for the money.

This week, I start with a new mp3 player that gets a full page write-up in Information Week Magazine. Incidently, I get Information Week for the "Personal Tech Guide" and their great info on new devices. Check it out at www.informationweek.com!

The Kingston K-PEX 100 is available in a 1 Gigabyte and 2 Gigabyte device. "The K-PEX is an impressively small and lightweight media player that plays MP3 and video files. It acts as a voice recorder, includes an FM radio, exhibits photos, and can accept files from USB flash drives." Quoted by Barbara Krasnoff of TechWeb.

>> Music: Most MP3 players sound basically the same, and the K-PEX works as well as the others I've tried. A nice addition is the ability to switch the equalizer to settings such as pop, jazz, classical, or rock.
>> Game: The K-PEX comes with two games, which could come in useful when things get particularly boring.
>> FM radio: I was impressed by the FM radio, which comes through with less interference than with other portable players, but setting up the presets is a bit daunting.
>> Record: A nice, simple addition. If you want to record your voice, just hit the Record button. You can also record from an external source using the included line-in cable.
>> Video: The K-PEX runs videos, but only in the MPX format, so you have to convert any videos to that format using the Transcoder software that ships with it.
>> Text: Because I'm an enthusiastic reader, I was heartened to see that the K-PEX offers a text reader. Unfortunately, the text file I loaded was barely readable.
>> Photo: When you select the photo viewer, you get a list of your photos; select one for viewing. From there, you can use the cursors to go through your collection.
>> Host: This feature allows you to transfer files from a USB flash drive to the K-PEX, using the included cable.
K-PEX also comes with a rubber case, a set of reasonably good earbuds, and a USB cord for both transferring data and powering the unit. On the whole, this is a very neat little gadget.
(Quoted from Information Week).

The 1 GB model is $119.99
The 2 GB model is $169.99 and includes a FREE 256MB mini SD card
PRICING INCLUDES SHIPPING IN US!

email jay@coosbaytv.com to order yours today for Christmas delivery.

See something you want to know about or a device that you need an opinion on? Let me know at coosbaytv@yahoo.com.

WEEKEND WIND Episode 1

noreply@blogger.com (Jay Noggle) — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 16:39:00 +0000

Gabcast! All Things COOSBAYTV #4

Have Your Documents & Media and Take them Too!

noreply@blogger.com (Jay Noggle) — Sun, 29 Oct 2006 17:22:00 +0000

Today is a great day!

How do I mean? Well, let me say that I have solved another long standing problem with mobile tech...

Actually, I discovered some solutions that are working well for me and so I have to assume they will do the same for you.

I am talking about being connected to a PC to access anything you need from a remote device. In this case, I am referring to my iPAQ 1930 Windows Mobile Pocket PC.

Why do I (you) need this? If you are in sales or running your own company, having access to necessary documents or media content is the difference between getting more business or not!

How so? By completing a "To Do" list before it is created, and not "dropping the ball". More business is lost (actually never won in the first place) due to no follow through...

How do I know this? PERSONAL EXPERIENCE!

Back to this solution and what it means to you; instead of always carrying a cumbersome laptop you can now carry a PDA or (better yet) a smartphone and have all your business related materials always with you.

The problem with these devices has been limited memory and the amount of data they could hold. If you just needed OFFICE documents, chances are, you would be fine. Being in media, I however need to carry files that are much larger than the standard Word or Excel document! Audio and video files can quickly eat up a hard drive's space. So by accessing them from the iPAQ via an internet connection, I no longer have to worry about getting them on the device itself.

Now, if I run into a prospect or a new customer wants a service, I can log into my Orb or Avvenu account and send them the appropriate file to close the deal on the fly.

Why BOTH accounts? Well, if I had a Windows Mobile 5 device, I could get away with just the Avvenu but the iPAQ is WM2003 (3 years old). Avvenu will stream audio and video as well as give you access to any file or folder on your PC. Orb, on the other hand is strictly for media files and will stream to older devices (provided on the internet connection). Both require installation of their applications to the hosting PC. That PC requires a broadband connection. This also means that neither application needs to install software on the mobile device (this saves memory on the mobile device), and you can log in from any other connected source.

So, go to www.avvenu.com and www.orb.com and give them a try! Did I mention both have FREE VERSIONS?

That reminds me, I need to call Sprint and remove my Personal Business Connection that I have been paying $15/month for since these new apps do it all and more for free.

Enjoy and tell your friends where you heard this info, Jay

I do have to preface that while I could access the Aveenu account from my flip phone, the Orb account would not let me have access. I suspect it could detect that I was using a phone that didn't have media capabilities.

NEW WEEKEND FEATURE

noreply@blogger.com (Jay Noggle) — Sun, 22 Oct 2006 21:22:00 +0000

Just a note to let you know that every weekend I will be adding an audio post by phone. So when you see this graphic "WEEKEND WIND", you'll know that it is another edition of my sharing whatever is relevant in tech for the week. It is an audio post so click on the play icon below the graphic and there you go.

For those of you interested in posting this way, I will be giving a detailed account of "How To" soon!

Thanks and don't forget to listen...

Jay

Posted straight from my phone with Nakama. Click to see more.

True to the MOBILE Music?

noreply@blogger.com (Jay Noggle) — Wed, 27 Sep 2006 15:58:00 +0000

Although this isn’t a post about visual technology, it is relevant.

I have been a listener to KINK FM 102 for over 20 years (off and on). While living in Vancouver Washington for 5 years or so, my radio dial was always on 101.9 FM. Why?
Because Kink has remained “True To the Music”. I will say that I do miss the old format with more of my favorites like Icehouse, Texas and my local Portland favorite Tom Grant.

My problem has been for the last 10 years, I have lived in Coos Bay Oregon. This is over four hours from Kink’s home up Interstate 5 in Portland Oregon. While their frequency reach will roam as far as Albany Oregon, that is still three hours from me.

So, what’s a mobile techie boy to do? Look them up in streaming radio of course! Fortunately, Kink went to a streaming audio cast a couple months back. Now, I can listen again from the comfort of my own home. What’s more is I have tried to no avail to get the streaming cast on my Pocket PC. Well, that is not longer the case either! Whenever I happen to be near a Wi-Fi connection, I can continue to be “True to the Music”! I will not reveal the secret as to how I got this to work (until Les or someone gives me the greenlight to post a how to…). But, I assume this will also work for other internet radio stations as well.

Oh, did I mention we had Little Feat perform here in Coos Bay last night? This was a FREE outdoor show, courtesy of “Music on the Bay” Hey Les, I thought about you and the crew! It was a great time.

So, got to http://www.kink.fm/ and tune in!

Thanks, Jay

Skype as a landline service test (D-Link phone adapter on the way)

noreply@blogger.com (Jay Noggle) — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 05:29:00 +0000

It has been a little more than a week with the new number for Skype and the only thing that has happened for sure is that the telemarketers have obviously stopped calling. I have only given the number to a few people and so far, no missed calls.
My wife is actually in her way home from an out of town trip. I had her stop at Best Buy and pick up the adapter and will set it up later tonight. This will allow us to use our old cordless phone even though it is hooked up to the Skype service. The biggest issue with Skype is using the service without any sort of physical phone (you use a headset connected to the PC).
What I don't know is how the D-Link device will handle this. I assume that it will allow the cordless phone to work as it would as a landline phone.

We should find out soon.

Jay

A little disconnected mishap!

noreply@blogger.com (Jay Noggle) — Sat, 12 Aug 2006 04:54:00 +0000

It's one of those things that makes life exciting. While at work today, I got the call from my wife (who was out of town).She called the house to check on the kids and got a shock! The phone had been disconnected. That's when she called me. Sure enough, when I called I got the same response. So, telling my boss on the way out the door, I headed for home to make sure things were ok. Now the kids are old enough to stay on their own with the oldest in charge, but without a way for them to contact either of us, it was a little frightening.
All this to say, it was the classic situation that both my wife and I thought the other had taken care of the phone bill. We have become a newly classic American family in the sense of relying on the cell phones and cable internet for communication. As a result, the landline phone suffered.So since it had already been shut off for us (with a hefty reconnect fee), I decided to try an experiment! While I was home with the kids for that afternoon, I went ahead and signed up for a Skype-In number. This is a VOIP solution that allows phone calls over the internet (see www.skype.com for info).
So, since the descision has already been made and acted on, I also thought I might as well write about the experience.
We will be testing this over the weekend and make a descision whether or not to reconnect the landline.
Stay tuned for more info...
Jay

The whole point of mobile tech...

noreply@blogger.com (Jay Noggle) — Sat, 05 Aug 2006 06:04:00 +0000

The whole point of mobile tech is to do what is normally done in an office setting. It is to me, the ability to work while enjoying some other aspect of life not found in an office. This can be something as obvious as working on vacation or a little more unconventional like setting up your mobile office in a park. So many people's paradigm of what work and an office is has not evolved to match the current state of where we are in tech and it's possiblities.
If by it's very nature, the office environment stifles creative problem solving and production, isn't it more productive for the individual who needs the freedom to have that freedom and meet the task at hand?
The fact is, what is productive for some is stifling for others. These days, it is not enough to offer the same products and services as your competitors but rather to do so in a way that uniquely solves that customer's problem. And, if your staff is so focused on all the things that are wrong with your office, it doesn't make for productive problem solving or focusing on your customer's needs. Being in the same office surroundings tends to make us dwell on those things. This is also compounded by constant interuptions of daily office routine.

So what am I really trying to say? It is time to break out of whatever is holding your business back and embrace what is possible. After all, if we were able to have our work take place in whatever setting we desire AND be more profitable, I'm sure it would have been embraced 100 years ago.
If your square peg employee doesn't fit inside of your round hole office setting, maybe it is time to explore a mobile office.

Something to think about.

Jay

UPDATE! SKYPE CALL IT WORKS

noreply@blogger.com (Jay Noggle) — Sun, 23 Jul 2006 21:54:00 +0000

Unfreakinbelievable!

It really does work with the proper registry tweaks.

I made 2 calls this week via WiFi that the signal was not even that strong.

I will record a test call this week and post it.

All I can say is that this is very usable for folks on the Skype system!

Cellular service is still preferred but in a pinch where there isn't any, or for a long call with a Skype user this can save you from cellular overages.

Jay

Successful Skype call on IPAQ 1930

noreply@blogger.com (Jay Noggle) — Thu, 20 Jul 2006 14:32:00 +0000

I have been watching this issue of using Skype on a Pocket PC device which is why I wanted a Pocket PC device in the first place.
Yesterday, I had my first successful call. It wasn't perfect by any means and sounded like it was a NASA sponsored scenario, but it worked! At times, it was as clear as using Skype on a PC.

Now, the amazing thing is that the minimum requirements to use Pocket PC Skype is supposed to be 400 MHz. My IPAQ is only 200 MHz! So, with some more tweaking and registry hacks, I may be able to actually endorse this process.

I also have to mention that the reason I have waited on trying this is because Skype does not offer a Palm OS version. It is Pocket PC (PPC) only.

I will report any further testing results and how it turns out.

Now Consulting for both Palm OS and Pocket PC

noreply@blogger.com (Jay Noggle) — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 01:03:00 +0000

It's been a long journey down the Palm OS road!

Recently, thanks to a generous gift from Antoine at www.mobileministrymagazine.com, I have added the Ipaq 1930 to my devices. So this means that I am now able to advise which device would be best for your personal needs from real experience!

I've had the Ipac for a month now and have adapted to it's form and use. That said, I see the Pocket PC as a great mobile internet device via WiFi. It also has built in Word and Excel. The most important aspect for me personally is the ease of streaming audio and video.

My Sony Clie NX70V Palm OS device is still the workhorse though! Even though I have Word and Excel on the Ipac, they are more basic in ability that the advanced features of Docs-To-Go on the NX70V. Also, the number of available Palm OS apps is huge! Finding things for the Pocket PC side is a little more complicated and they tend to be more expensive.

Probably the pride and joy of my NX70V is a little app called Bhaji Loops. It is what I call a "Palm OS version of Acid Pro Loop Based music creation software". I can get into Bhaji Loops more some other time but if you click here http://www.coosweb.com/jay/REAL_bhajis_remix.mp3, you can get a basic sample of something I created on my NX70V!!! VERY COOL STUFF. Check out Bhahi Loops at www.chocopoolp.com.

So, send me an email for info and even a personal consultation on helping you pick which device is right for you.

Finally, there is very little you cannot do from a PDA these days and I am a very big proponent of a PDA over a laptop. The only thing I can't do on my PDA's that I can do on my laptop is edit video!

With the right knowledge, these devises can make you more productive throughout the day and that means more cash at the end of the year... Send me an email and I can explain how. coosbaytv@yahoo.com

Jay

The Power of a simple Post to a Blog...

noreply@blogger.com (Jay Noggle) — Tue, 20 Jun 2006 14:48:00 +0000

I am posting this due to the fact that sometimes things we do have far reaching consequences that we aren't aware of at the time we do them.
Sometimes those consequences are very pleasant...

I just about fell out of my chair when I was checking on my favorite tech sites while having my coffee about a week ago and so this story as the lead for the day at www.mobileread.com. I looked closer and saw that it was my story and my NAME was right there in the middle of their mention to it.

I since have had an exchange of emails with Bob R. which have encouraged me in my pursuit of mobile tech.

An Unusual Use of Technology

noreply@blogger.com (Jay Noggle) — Tue, 06 Jun 2006 05:18:00 +0000

So, looking at this image, you are thinking to yourself "What does this have to do with technology? It's a readerboard!"

What it has to do with technology is not so much it's use, but rather as the title states, it's unusual message.

What's so unusual about it is the medium chosen to convey this message. Normally, this would be done using a church bulletin or maybe by phone calls to various people. The message in combination with it's vehicle of delivery is the very unusual aspect of this post.

Now, "How does all this tie into the topics associated on this blog?" you ask! This is where things get interesting. All Things Coosbaytv is about mobile technology and communication. In previous posts to this blog before it was revised, I wrote about the business community and how it has adopted various means of internet communication techniques that started out mainly by kids. I am talking about Instant Messaging, Blogging, and most recently Podcasting. At one time, a business using IM in the office was as out of character as a prayer reqest on a print shop readerboard. It wasn't until someone noticed that what the kids were using for their own purpose could in fact be used as a great business communication tool. The same thing is true with the others as well.

It is the unusual use of the tool that will create tomorrows industry standard.

Not sure what I am even talking about? Send me an email with MORE INFO ON BUSINESS COMMUNICATION in the subject to coosbaytv@yahoo.com and I will be happy to answer any questions you might have.

Thanks, Jay

Now an Associate Writer at PA

noreply@blogger.com (Jay Noggle) — Tue, 23 May 2006 13:50:00 +0000

Just a mention to let you all know that I am now included among the other Associate Writers at Palm Addict http://palmaddict.typepad.com/palmaddicts/. This is a big deal in the mobile computing world as Sammy has the ear of many a developer and user alike. Lots of great info there as well as one of the largest Palm communities in the world.
The exciting thing here is that so much of the mobile internet is available here on the South Coast.

Jay

Welcome, and what is coosbaytv?

noreply@blogger.com (Jay Noggle) — Mon, 22 May 2006 00:23:00 +0000

A Great Find!

noreply@blogger.com (Jay Noggle) — Sun, 21 May 2006 22:09:00 +0000

I have found many things relating to this topic of mobile communications technology. Today's find is where I started my search three years ago.

It is: http://m.gmail.com go to this URL with your mobile phone's web browser

Google's mobile email allows you to view attachments in their native format.

If you have not tried to do this previously, believe me, it is a HUGE find!

This along with Opera's mini browser will buy me several more months until I HAVE to get a replacement "SmartPhone".

Check it out for yourself and let me know what you think.

It should work if you are on a major carrier; I am with Sprint. If not, for you local Edge Wireless users, you will need a web plan to access this service. Send me an email if you would like personal assistance with this.

Jay