Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with mobile

Smartphones + Groupwise = What Rocks?

puritycontrol — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 08:45:33 -0800

I'd like your input on choosing a smartphone. The biggest priority is access to my email and calendar on Groupwise. I strongly prefer a physical keyboard, also. I've checked previous posts on smartphones, which have good advice, but don't address my biggest concern. I would like to know which platform (Windows Mobile, BlackBerry, Android, etc) will allow me the easiest access to my email and calendar on Groupwise 7 (soon to be upgraded to 8). My university has BES, which I gather will sync email and calendar, so I'm curious about my other options.

I currently have an LG Vu and love having a touchscreen -- I find it more efficient to press one thing than have to scroll to get what I want. But I hate typing on it. I've actually grown to dislike typing on it more and more as time goes on. Granted, it has a rather small screen and smartphones tend to have larger screens, but I was still unimpressed when I typed on an iPhone. Therefore, I would much rather prefer to have a physical keyboard -- unless Groupwise access on an iPhone is light years better than anything out there. Then I might reconsider.

Access to email and calendar would be a huge convenience for me. I am not a power mobile emailer or texter by any means. All this talk about apps does nothing for me. Google Navigation piqued my interest but is not a necessity (already have a GPS). Web browsing would really only take place when I'm bored waiting in line or if I needed to look up the answer to a random question that pops into mind while out and about.

I'm on AT&T and I'm eligible for an upgrade in a month. My contract is up in May, so I would have to wait until then if I want to switch carriers. However, from what I gather, I'd have to pay more for our family plan on Verizon and Sprint; T-Mobile would be the same price. Therefore I would prefer to stay on AT&T because the addition of a data plan is already going to put a li'l dent in our budget.

So right now it looks like the frontrunners are the Tilt 2 and the BlackBerry Bold 9700. Because I've recently moved to a rural area, I have only been able to handle dummies of new phones. The Bold 9700 felt like velvety heaven in my hand, the DROID's keyboard was way too stiff, and I wasn't fond of the Pre's keys either. The N900 looks nice but I simply cannot afford to buy it unlocked.

Sorry for the long post -- you'd think I was asking relationship advice (I guess I am, kinda). Thanks in advance.

Using external tv antenna for mobile reception...?

ryanbryan — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 03:01:22 -0800

Is there any way to use my external TV antenna to improve my mobile signal inside my house? Situation: I can receive 3G mobile reception upstairs in my house, but not downstairs... upstairs there is a port that runs to the external tv antenna which isn't being used. Is there any way I can use this (by buying some other kind of equipment obv.) to improve the mobile reception through my whole house?

If you were a G1, and you were born today, what cell phone would you be?

Greg Nog — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 12:10:38 -0800

I would like to buy a nice new cell phone with a physical keyboard to replace a broken G1. Please help me with any knowledge about the Droid or the Cliq or any other suggestions you may have! So my G1 recently died a horrible death, and although I quite liked both the phone itself and the Android OS, I'm wary about getting another G1 to replace it, given the age of the product.

I liked the G1 mainly for the easy access to my gmail account, the web browsing, and the easy access to Google Maps, which I used pretty much daily and which I was utterly delighted by, whenever they added new bells and whistles to it.

I've looked into the Droid (which seems like a nicely high-tech update), but I find typing on the keyboard to be unpleasant; the keys are all flat and flush, leading me to accidentally push buttons I didn't mean to press with my GIANT APE FINGERS. Is there some way I could mod these with, like, a tiny dab of clear epoxy on the center of each key to lift and separate them? (I realize this sounds like a five-year-old's solution to the problem, but that's generally how I roll in this lifetime.)

Another alternative might be the Cliq, but if my basic research is right, it's on the earlier iteration of the Android OS, yes? Will it be updated to Android 2.0? The keyboard looks much better on the Cliq, although I don't really care about all the social apps and whatnot that it seems to excel at. And if all I want is an old iteration of Android with a comfy keyboard, wouldn't I be better off getting the cheaper G1?

I'm also receptive to a caution that I should just wait; that soon enough, some new Android device will stroll along to replace the Droid, and that it may well have a better keyboard and physical push-buttons on the front.

I'm out of my t-mobile contract now (FREE, FREE), so I'm happy to switch to any carrier that will do a nice job of being good to me.

An Australian iPhone in the US of A

robcorr — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 01:30:49 -0800

I'm an Australian who is holidaying in the US and Canada in December -- from Sunday! I have an iPhone and I would like to know whether I can use it for 3G data while I'm there. I've waded through a number of telephony and travel forums to try to piece this together myself, but they're contradictory and circumstances seem to change constantly.

Let me set out what I *think* is the simplest way to do this, and hopefully you can provide either confirmation or corrections.

1. Network unlock my phone. (Done -- restoring as we speak.)

2. Change my credit card's address to my hotel address.

3. Buy an AT&T GoPhone Pay As You Go sim pack.

4. Put the sim into a phone -- not the iPhone.

5. Visit the AT&T activation site, entering the other phone's EMEI and my hotel's address.

6. While I'm at the AT&T site, buy a $20/100MB data pack.

7. Using wifi, visit one of the sites that allows me to patch the US carrier details into my iPhone.

8. Transfer the AT&T sim to my iPhone; cross my fingers.

Is this right? Does this mean I need to buy a throwaway phone just to activate the SIM? Is there an easier way?

For instance, some people say that T-Mobile has a better prepaid data offer that doesn't require hoop-jumping to activate in the iPhone (albeit Edge rather than 3G), but others say it's no longer available.

And finally, I'll be in Canada for about a week. I won't bother trying to get a Canadian sim for such a short period, but it'd be nice to know whether the US plan will work there.

Thanking you in advance.

Should I buy a mobile phone in Mexico?

Admira — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 03:03:03 -0800

Can I buy a mobile phone in Mexico and use it in Australia? Hi All!

I'm headed to Mexico next year and was wondering if I could pick up a phone in Mexico and use it here when I get back to Australia?

I've got no idea if they are cheaper there than here, but if so I'd be tempted. Things that worry me are network compatability, and also getting a charger for it here.

Any advice around this is much appreciated! Thanks!

(UK) mobile phone operator?

nam3d — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:22:00 -0800

Is their a "decent" UK mobile phone operator? The problem with internet in general is that people only ever post a forum post, tweet a tweet, etc, etc about mobile phone operators when something goes bad.

So which network have you been pleased with? I'm talking in terms of price, coverage and customer service.

I've been with Orange, T-Mobile and o2, the worst probably being T-Mobile and the best probably o2.

I would consider 3 but their network coverage isn't that great where I live.

Did I mess up my phone's reception?

surenoproblem — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:36:09 -0800

Could I have messed up my cellphone's reception when I replaced its casing? I recently replaced the casing on my phone: taking my phone apart, unscrewing lots of things, then putting the phone into a new case. I just followed online instructions; I don't have a lot of experience with these sorts of things. I can't remember when it started, but my phone seems to say "Emergency Calls Only" or "No Carrier" quite regularly now, and I never noticed it doing this in the past. Is there something I can do to fix it? It's a SonyEricsson K660i, and I followed these instructions:

http://www.formymobile.co.uk/k660disassembly.php

Did I mess something up in the disassembly/re-assembly process? Can I fix my reception?

Its Alive! Its Alive? (Uses for sad lonely PDA's of yore)

edman — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:40:19 -0800

What are some useful or cool apps for the sad lonely PDA's sitting at the bottom of my junk drawer to turn it into a interesting desktop display (ala chumby) I have a handful (5) of older PDAs (Palms, Windows Mobiles), most of them are fairly fast (300mhz and faster) some of them have built in WIFI and or bluetooth. With all the cool technology packed into the devices, it seems it would make a cool desktop eye candy, RSS feeds, twitter, clock, digital picture frame, email notifications (everything that chumby can do). The only one I found was permaclock, which is a picture rotator with alarm clock functionality. Are there other such cool apps such as this? What are you using your old PDAs for?

Mobile Me in Melbourne?

chairish — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:15:02 -0800

I'm a Kiwi who travels to Australia (usually Melbourne twice a year for a week or so). I'm currently using a Telecom NZ Nokia e71 phone. If I use data roaming it will cost me $8 NZ per megabyte. I'd like to know from any Aussies out there if you know if there are any alternatives for pre-paid data. The Telecom version of the e71 will work through 900 or 1800 GSM networks as well as 850 or 2100 WCDMA. Obviously the WCDMA is better/faster than GSM.

Do you know if there is a pre-pay type deal that I can sign up for to get a few MB of data - enough for Google Maps, email, etc while I am away from home?

Is it worth it to get an Android phone without the 3G data plan (only EDGE data)?

kenliu — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:33:24 -0800

Is it worth it to get an Android phone without the 3G data plan (only EDGE data)? I did a phone plan search on Billshrink and found out that I can get the new Google phone (the mytouch) from T-Mobile, but get unlimited data (presumably by doing a SIM card swap from a different phone) for about the same amount I currently pay per month.

I like the mytouch phone and Android apps. The 3G data plan is desirable, but not enough for me to pay the 20 bucks or so per month. I'm currently using a BlackBerry with unlimited data (EDGE), and it's slow, but not unusable.

So the question is - is it worthwhile to get an Android phone without the 3G data plan? Is EDGE too slow to be practical for Android apps?

What to do with blank SIM cards?

msbutah — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:56:24 -0800

I have about 30 surplus SIM cards, all for AT&T. They are new and unused SIM cards. Is there any life for new SIM cards with no account on them? I routinely have piles of these unused SIM cards as a result of my job, about 30 to 50 a month. The reason is due to the fact that whenever we upgrade a phone, they send us the new phone with a new SIM included. Not wanting to deal with transferring accounts from SIM to SIM, the current user simply moves their old SIM and keeps their number, and we're left with unused, new SIM cards as well as the matching plastic cards that they've been punched out of.

The waste not want not person inside of me feels that there should be some way to put these to use, either by reselling them or donating them or doing something useful with them, other than throwing them out. Help?

iPhones in the UK

Megami — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 06:46:25 -0800

Yet another series of questions about iPhones in the UK: A lot of information has just come out about the potential limitations with the new Orange plans, but I have some questions before I finally give in and perhaps get a miraculous iPhone - When I originally spoke to Apple when the 3GS I was told that I would not be able to access Skype with O2 if I was within their 3G network area. Is this true? If true, would I still be able to use it in wi-fi areas in the UK and overseas?
- I don't really understand the concept of unlocking (sorry for ignorance). I was told that if I bought new 3GS upfront I would still have to use it with O2 for as long as I had it, even if someone else came out with a better deal. Is it possible to have it unlocked if one day I want to use a different provider?
- Have you travelled to other countries with your iPhone? If so, did you find enough wi-fi (and where were you) or did you have to use some kind of global roaming.
Again, sorry for the ignorance, I am relying on the greater knowledge of the mighty Meta to reveal all for me.

Trying to flash a W595 Sony Ericsson (A2) based Phone but can't get it working

complience — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 03:25:21 -0800

Trying to flash a W595 Sony Ericsson (A2) based Phone but can't get it working I want to flash the preinstalled firmware on my Sony Ericsson Phone because it has some branding I don't want and some restrictions on apps I want to install (google maps)

I've tried various tools to try and achieve this:
Aerix
SeTool
D-Ultimate unlocker

I can connect to the device via usb, selecting mass storage mode, while holding down buttons 2 + 5

But all of them give me the same error regarding the boot method selected, I'm not sure if I need to start the phone in a different way to get the correct BOOT sector or if i need different software.

13:52:48 Initializing...
! 13:52:48 1. Please see the documentation first (the tab 'Info' or attached .pdf file)
! 13:52:48 2. Choose the phone model
! 13:52:48 3. Select the desired options
! 13:52:48 4. Please connect the phone either via USB while holding 2-5…
! 13:52:48 - or via a serial cable and double-click on it in the device list
13:52:56 Selected phone: W910
13:52:56 Connecting via SEMC USB Flash Device (USB2)…
13:52:56 Device driver version: 2.2.0.0
13:52:56 Device driver date: 9-18-2008
13:52:56 Connecting to the baseband CPU...
13:52:56 Entering baseband CPU service mode...
13:52:57 Detected chipset: DB3150 R2A
13:52:57 Boot mode: EROM
13:52:57 EROM version: 1200-4341 SEMCBOOT R6A013
E 13:52:57 Error: 0x889C690F
E 13:52:57 Unsupported boot mode
! 13:52:57 Please boot via ROM
E 13:52:57 Failed!

Phonefilter: help me choose a new smartphone that's not a iPhone for email and roaming?

wingless_angel — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 05:24:36 -0800

Phonefilter: Help me choose a new smartphone with QWERTY keyboard. Primarily for email, some browsing, calendars. Constraints: in the UK, contract may be a problem, need to use overseas a lot, I rarely use the phone part, don't want an iPhone. I have decided I am in need of a new phone, my Nokia E65 is just not cutting it when I need to have access to email and a bit of internet et cetera when on the road. I travel a lot and sometimes getting Internet access is a pain, but I have found that in many places I can still use WAP on my phone to get email which is fantastic.

I live in the UK but travel to the US, Europe, Asia etc a lot for work. I have not lived here long so I am not sure if I qualify to get a phone on contract. I am using my old phone on O2 pay and go right now. I need a plan or provider that offers reasonably priced roaming data in the months that I know I'm travelling.

I have a Mac so I need to be able to sync with that, possibly over wifi/bluetooth? My Nokia was always crap for that. Bonus points if I can tether and use the phone as a modem at a pinch. Wifi would be cool too, though I have the iPod touch for that.

I work for a small NGO so we don't have a great infrastructure (or any tech support really), we are still on Exchange 2001 but I would love a phone that could integrate my Exchange mail and my Gmail and give me push email.

I have an iPod touch which I love, but I find typing on it a real pain so I don't want an iPhone. I send text more than I use a phone to make calls. I would prefer a proper QWERTY keyboard.

Online Resouces For Online/Mobile Content Distribution

Idiot Mittens — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 11:31:59 -0800

Is there a good single online resource to keep up-to-date in trends for online/mobile content distribution? I make comedy content for online use. I've got a good handle on what my options are through traditional website distribution, I think. I've got partnerships with YouTube and FunnyorDie. But I've heard I should get stuff on iTunes, and then there are all these cell phone features and downloads etc. that I don't really understand. I don't use the Internet on my cell, so I haven't had an opportunity to learn about it first-hand.

Basically, not only do I need to get up to speed but given the constant changes in this area I'd like to keep up to speed. Is there an good online resource that targets this knowledge specifically?

Thanks!

No phone reception: how to get texts?

fightorflight — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 07:45:11 -0800

How can I send and receive SMSs in a mobile phone blackspot? My new flat is in a total mobile blackspot, at least on my network (iPhone on O2). I can get around the calls problem by diverting them to the home phone, but am tired of missing texts.

Is there any way I can receive them at home, and send them with a number that people can reply to? Super-bonus points if there's any way I can get alerts about incoming ones to my iPhone (which is on wifi at home).

Text Message Problems

Zeker — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 12:48:23 -0800

I have a Touch Pro (Fuze) on WinMo 6.5. From my understanding, my text messages are being handled by pocket outlook. Can I use something besides outlook? I HATE HATE HATE HATE pocket outlook. Viewing multimedia messages is such a pain in the butt, it doesn't just display them as they should be, but rather as separate elements (i.e., click this impossibly small icon to view your picture. Jump this loophole to save it, now click here to read the accompanied text, back, now click here to listen to the accompanied music file). Also, sending text messages is horrible. Let me explain why...

Reception sucks indoors. So if a text message fails to send, this is what would typically happen on any other phone...

Message fails >>> message stays in outbox >>> phone keeps an eye out for reception >>> if there's reception, message is re-sent automatically >>> success!

Here's what outlook does...

Message fails >>> message I typed is sent from OUTBOX to MY INBOX (instead of staying in the outbox) >>> I need to click on my message and hit FORWARD >>> erase MY NAME under RECIPIENT NAME >>> re-type the recipient's name >>> keep my finger on send until I see 1 bar of reception >>> hit send, hope it goes through >>> cry in shame of spending 3 minutes to resend 1 message >>> kill myself.

I've tried actually moving the message from the inbox to the outbox, but it gives me an error saying it can't be done.

Who else is annoyed by this? Is there a setting to change the way this behaves? Or better yet, is there a replacement text message manager that works better and actually lets me view my MMS messages nicely? I'd appreciate some help please :D

I'm looking for an affordable mobile plan that will let me surf the web and use Google maps during a short trip to Canada.

stuart_s — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 12:31:05 -0800

I'm going to Vancouver next month. My Sprint phone won't be of any use to me there. When I went to Toronto last year, I was able to make exorbitantly expensive phone calls and I wasn't able to access the internet or use google maps. I'd like to do all of those things economically. I still have my old Treo 75?wx. Perhaps that could be of some use? Thank you.

I need help upgrading my windows OS 6.1 to 6.5

omaralarifi — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 06:38:18 -0800

I want to upgrade my HTC Touch HD GSM Windows OS from 6.1 to 6.5. What is 1.56.OliNex simple comprehensive English? what is the difference between upgrading through HSPL and USPL? I don't really know the meaning and the difference between HSPL and USPL, and which one is recommended and less risky? I went to xda-developers.com and couldn't comprehend there well.

Cheap cell phone plan for three months in US

Busoni — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 17:55:01 -0800

Looking for a cheap pay-as-you-go or pre-paid plan, to use until the end of December. I have a Motrola Razr (v3r, or something like it, as I recall), which I used to use with T-Mobile, although I'm not opposed to buying a cheap phone for the interim (although it'd have to very cheap). What are my options? I might go through the entire week without making a call, or if I'm out, maybe three calls max. I'm not interested in texting.

Mobile phone with dual SIM, wifi and SIP protocol support

fifigyuri — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 15:00:24 -0800

Do you know mobile producers which provide dual SIM mobiles with wifi supporting SIP protocol? I pendle between two countries, so decreasing my communication bills with a piece of convenience is welcome. Under convenience I mean having one instrument for talking, instead of several ones or one, where I change SIM cards. My vision is to have a mobile which can have two SIM cards, has the ability to access network through wifi.. so when I get home it can automatically identify that it sees a familiar network, it connects and puts me to VOIP provider through SIP. No need to change cards, and at home it is possible to call for less.

The mobile operators does not have the interest to provide offers for such machines, but I found some quite interesting producers: http://dual-com.sk/, http://www.dualsimmobileshop.co.uk/wifi-dual-sim-phones-c-25.html?zenid=hjrd6nfucmd61rl484f6kv3cv3 .

It seems there similar things out there. Do you have hints for other ones? Can you recommend good ones? Other things like the camera, 3G support, OS are also interesting, would be good to have wider spectrum to choose from. But the most important is to have 2 SIM support with wifi and have to know SIP protocol..

Am I smart to buy this dumbphone... or not?

Unicorn on the cob — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 13:44:42 -0800

I'm thinking about buying the Sonim XP3. Does anyone here own one or know someone that does? Asking primarily because I'll have to order it online; the only store carrying it is on back order and I can't futz with it before buying. As someone who notoriously destroys things quickly and frequently, I can't see any reason not to spend more money on a dumbphone that has an awesome warranty and is virtually indestructible. I already have a Blackberry for Web access, don't IM on the go and abhor video games of all kinds. I'm really just looking for a contract-free Unicorn-proof phone; I'm happy with my tertiary devices, but have gone through a score of cheap, crappy, annoying contract-bound phones through AT&T.

If it matters, my current contract runs out a year from now with AT&T.

Please do not try to convince me to get an iPhone; I've already had one and sold it because I hate the touch interface and already own an iPod and a Blackberry for music/browser stuff, but the GPS feature would be nice to have.

Anyone own one of these things? Personal experiences? Negatives? Positives? Thank you in advance!

To the (regexpmobile|globmobile) Robin!

idiopath — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 19:22:28 -0800

Can I use shell style globs or something like regexp to search for online content? I want to be able to search for '*mobile' or '.*mobile$' or something similar and get something like "bookmobile, popemobile, spacemobile, pimpmobile, weinermobile ..." as a result.

I am looking for a general way to search for things like this based on internet (particularly web) usage, not just a list of compound words that end in mobile.

Craigslist rentals near my current location on the iPhone?

waxpancake — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 08:02:27 -0800

Is there an iPhone app (or location-aware website) that will show me Craigslist rentals near my current location? Amazingly, every app I've looked at is either:
1. City-wide Craigslist listings that doesn't show stuff near me, or
2. Apartment listings near me, but not sourced from Craigslist.

I can't believe a need this obvious hasn't been addressed yet. Am I wrong?

"Cancelled" your phone call

Jimmie — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 07:48:31 -0800

If someone calls my mobile, and instead of pressing a button to answer it I press the one that mutes/silence/stop their call (such as if it's vibrating or ringing, and I can't or don't want to answer it)... do they know that I've deliberately muted/silenced their call or will it keep on ringing along merrily for them until voicemail voice kicks in?