Category — Cell Phones

According to Gizmodo, T-Mobile has stopped sales of the Nokia 5610 Xpress Music due to a defective part that is causing phone screens to go blank.  Keep in mind this isn’t a recall, and the defect is not thought to be widespread.  If you’re having problems with yours- T-Mobile says to take it to your nearest T-Mobile store. [Read more →]

You know, I’ve always been a big fan of Motorola cell phones, especially the Motorola Razr - moderately priced, very sleek, and durable enough for every day use.  But, I have to admit, when I read about the Motorola Aura phone, I was a little perplexed.

In case you haven’t heard of it, the Motorola Aura cell phone is a “poster child” for excess.  At $1,999, the Aura cell phone features a circular sapphire screen, a Swiss-made swivel mechanism, an alluminum keypad, PVD coating (often used on expensive watches). The phone is set to be released in December.

Look beyond the pretty face of the Aura cell phone, and you’ll find a 2 MegaPixel camera, MPEG-4 video playback, MP3 and Bluetooth compatibility, a 2 GB internal memory, and Quad Band GSM/Edge.

Undoubtedly, a solid phone in a finely-crafted package, but my question remains. I know there are always a select few to whom budgets are irrelevant, but in the face of a Wall Street collapse, record unemployment rates, and millions of foreclosures looming, I have to wonder, is this really the right time for the Aura?

If the Aura’s near $2K price tag is just chump change for you, check out the iDiamond iPod.

Are you guilty of talking on your cell phone while driving?  Not a good idea.  According to the experts, driving while talking on a cell phone makes it harder for you to maintain steady control of your vehicle, and increases your likelihood of an accident.

If you’ve recently been pulled over for using your cell phone (without a headset) while driving, you might be interested in this deal from Headsets.Com.  They’re giving away free Bluetooth headsets, specifically the Plantronics Discover 925, to anyone who can provide proof of a receiving a citation after July 1, 2008.  Limited quantities (just over 700) available.  Here are the details on the free cell phone headset offer.

Even if you haven’t received a ticket for gabbing on the freeway, you might want to consider a Bluetooth headset for keeping your hands free while driving.  The Motorola H375 cell phone headset is available at Hello Direct for $39.99.

First, let me say that I understand the convenience of Bluetooth headsets for those who have to be on the phone all the time, and the added safety of not fumbling around with a cell phone in the car. I get that. But is there anyone else out there who thinks that these things are just plain goofy looking-especially when they’re worn as a “look how important I am” accessory?

I’ve ran into people at the grocery store, at my son’s football games, and at restaurants, wearing Bluetooth headsets who clearly dig having a cool looking gadget hanging from their face. I have a name for the Bluetooth accessorizing crowd - “Spaceman Spiff” (the fearless, outer space-gallivanting alter-ego of Calvin from Calvin & Hobbes).

As I near the end of my rant, let me recap. Bluetooth headsets certainly are a wonder of modern technology, and I totally get the use for them. But when you walk around looking like your headset is wearing you, rather than the other way around…something’s gotta give. And as for wearing one while consuming a meal at a restaurant….don’t EVEN get me started.

Tired of getting neck cramps from talking on that teeny little cell phone even when you’re at home?  This Bluetooth cordless phone lets you sync up your cell phone (actually, up to 12 of them) so you can take and make cellular calls with a full size handset.  The V-Tech LS5145 Bluetooth phone stores up to 100 phone numbers, and has polyphonic ringtone capabilities.  You can also add your own ringtones from your MP3 player or PDA.

The Bluetooth phone handset includes caller ID and stores up to 100 previous calls. It features a full color screen, and comes with some animated wallpapers for all of you who like to customize your gadgets. According to J&R, this handset won’t interfere with your home wireless network.   The VTech LS5145 Bluetooth cordless phone is listed for 129.99 at J&R.

The last time I downloaded a ringtone it ended up costing me 5 bucks and I only used it for a couple days! If you’re tired of all those little extras on your cell phone bill, here’s some software for do-it-yourself ringtones. Ringtone Media Studio 3 lets you create your own ringtones using MP3 files,CDs, or from scratch. The ringtone software works with all major cell phone carriers. When you’re finished creating your ringtone, you can send it to your cell phone over-the-air, via Bluetooth, or by connecting to a cable.

Ringtone Media Studio works with Windows 2000, XP or Vista. The software includes over 10,000 ringtones and images to choose from, and it supports image transfers for creating your own wallpaper from your own pics. And, there are no subscription fees. Here’s more info on Ringtone Media Studio 3.

It never fails- every time I walk upstairs in my home while talking on my cell phone, I lose my signal and the call gets dropped.  That’s especially annoying since we are an all cellular household.  While looking for some sort of a cell phone antenna to eliminate the problem, I ran across this new gadget. It’s a cell phone signal extender, and it works by picking up on the wireless signals entering your home and amplifying them to give you better cell phone reception.

The YX500 CEL, made by Wireless Extenders, looks a lot like a broadband wireless router.  This model covers 1500-2500 sq. feet (even on 2 levels) and works with Cingular, Verizon, and Alltel phones with frequency ranges between 824 and 894 MHz.  There are other models available for different frequencies and cellular carriers.  Here’s more information about the YX500 CEL cell phone signal extender.

Here’s the Sony W350 cell phone, which includes a lot of gadgets for such a small flip phone.  It features a Walkman 2.0 player for your MP3s, and Bluetooth stereo streaming.  When the W350 cell phone is closed it looks like a Sony Walkman MP3 player.  There’s also a 1.3 mega pixel digital camera/video camera.  If you’re really into digital video or taking digital pictures with the Sony W350, the memory is expandable up to 4 GB.  The Sony Walkman cell phone is compatible with personal email and instant messaging programs.

You can get 7 hours of talk time, and 15 hours of music playback out of a single battery charge.  Without a cell phone contract, the Sony W350 will set you back about $249.

Want to monitor your business or your home via your cell phone or Blackberry? The ConnectVu-Cam is a USB security camera that streams a live video feed to your cell phone, Blackberry or PDA via your computer.

The ConnectVu-Cam features a built-in microphone and low-light sensor which will activate attached LED lighting. With the included software, up to 5 users can view the same video feed using their cell phones. The software also allows users to program the web cam with email security alerts when motion is detected.

In addition to traditional security applications, the mobile component of this web cam might make it a good option for parents who want to keep an eye on the kids, or even the babysitter.  Find out more about the ConnectVu-Cam at CCTV Mobile.

Anyone who’s ever used a mobile printer with their notebook computer probably understands just how much abuse one of these things endures while bouncing around in the backseat of your car. That’s why I like the rugged look of the HP Office Jet H470 mobile printer-looks like it might be able to take a moderate amount of mistreatment.

The H470 portable printer weighs 5 pounds and it’s compatible with all your portable devices, including digital cameras, memory sticks, and PDAs. It holds up to 50 sheets of paper, and can print up to 22 pages a minute depending on the print quality you select.

Oh- and in case you like to work or study while sipping a latte at Starbucks, there’s an anti-vibration feature to prevent annoying the people around you. Optional features on the HP Office Jet H470 include a wireless printer adapter, a 12v adapter for using it in your car, and a travel holder for HP ink cartridges.