Pem’s Tech Blog

> Recent studies find significantly higher risks for brain and salivary gland tumors among people using cell phones for 10 years or longer. The state of the science is provocative and troubling, and much more research is essential.

> We at Environmental Working Group are still using our cell phones, but we also believe that until scientists know much more about cell phone radiation, it’s smart for consumers to buy phones with the lowest emissions.

– http://www.ewg.org/cellphone-radiation

* phones go as low as 0.35 W/kg, the Verizon BlackBerry Storm is 0.57 W/kg
* my Samsung Saga is very low at 0.69 W/kg
* the AT&T iPhone 3G says (0.52 – 1.19 W/kg) (the 0.52 is WiFi only mode?)
* the LG env3 is 1.31 W/kg and the LG env2 is 1.34 W/kg
* the worst phone on the list is the T-Mobile myTouch 3G, one of the Google Android phones, 1.55 W/kg
http://www.ewg.org/cellphoneradiation/Get-a-Safer-Phone?allavailable=1

Supposedly bluetooth headsets are much lower, such as:
> Bluetooth radio module generates an SAR of just 0.001 watts per kilogram
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/apr2005/tc20050427_5651.htm

Besides getting a high radiation cell phone, the main concern is if you are holding the phone next to your head/ear (touching your head, near your brain) having a voice conversation (emitting high radiation).

I carry my Samsung Saga around all day, but hopefully I’m safe since I mostly use it for texting and data, and even when I take phone calls I almost always use a headset (and it’s a wired headset).

http://www.ewg.org/cellphoneradiation/8-Safety-Tips

Maybe something I should be more concerned about is to check whether it’s smart that I sleep right next to my computer (in a small apartment), including a WiFi router right next to my head!

Pem (Admin) :: 2009/09/26 (Saturday, September 26, 2009) :: Health / Food, Mobility :: No Comments »

Intro
The obvious thing to do is call #MIN and #DATA from your phone.  But I’m also going to share some methods I am now using to make it easier/faster to check from a computer.

URL Bookmark / Shortcut:
The first method is to just use a bookmark to the URL (or a shortcut for Windows desktop, taskbar, hotkey, etc) (https://wbillpay.verizonwireless.com/vzw/accountholder/overview/Overview.action); here’s an example using Google Chrome:

FireFox Plugin, or other application:
A second, even easier, method is this awesome FireFox plugin (which according to the web site, is still being maintained/updated: version 2.1 was released just yesterday) (http://verizon-minutes-used.blogspot.com/):

I expect the code for this FireFox plugin would just be a matter of logging into the webpage over http, and parsing the web page source code (HTML/XML) to extract the number from the right place.  I checked the web page view source and the source code (without extraneous paces) showed this XML:

<strong>Shared Usage:</strong>&nbsp;863 Anytime minutes</span>

So you could make additional programs to just parse this data, such as a widget for Vista or Yahoo Widgets or Google Desktop (or Mac OS X dashboard).  Put it next to a stock ticker and weather widget.  Or write a program/script to email or text yourself once a day, or even to check the value and send you an email/text when it goes over a certain number of minutes (such as each 100: 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, etc) and maybe once a week in addition to that.

The caveat is if Verizon changes the web page, you might have to update your code.  Fortunately, this FireFox plugin is still maintained/supported (version 2.1 was just released yesterday, 2009/07/10).

Calendar: set a reminder:
A third simple thing you can do (which I may do) (that doesn’t require to write and maintain code/script) is just set a reminder in your calendar to remind you to check it at a certain date/time.  The reminder could even include a link to the webpage.  With my example, I’m using Outlook, because I also have this reminder show-up on my Windows Mobile phone, and it can be set to recurring (such as every Wed at 8pm).

Developers, developers, developers, develop:
Ideally speaking, and long-term probably the better solution is to write code:

1) a Yahoo widget so I just press F8 in Windows to see my minutes ticker

2) a program that runs in the background (maybe even on a server) and sends me both a text message and an email (once a week) and (every time it reaches a landmark, such as: 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 750, 800, 850, etc)

However, short-term I’m planning to try out the other methods I’ve mentioned, which don’t require code development/maintenance on my end.

Pem (Admin) :: 2009/07/11 (Saturday, July 11, 2009) :: Mobility :: 1 Comment »

Verizon has finally done something right…  The idea is that you could easily use this with multiple devices, such as:
* laptop or netbook
* iPod touch
* smart phone with WiFi but no data plan
* backup internet for your desktop computer
* freedom to easily share it

Overall I think it’s great news.  But I do still have some concerns…

Verizon requires you to get a $30/mo data plan with any smart phone.  So even if you got a MiFi, you’d still have to pay the $30/mo for your Verizon smart phone data plan.  Although, you could try just using the MiFi WiFi device with a WiFi-enabled Skype device/phone, but I’d bet that’s at least less usable/stable if not simply unusable/unstable.  Or, you could get an unlocked smart phone and use AT&T’s voice network but Verizon’s MiFi WiFi for data.

One big question about this is…  If you get an unlocked smart phone to put on AT&T’s voice network, such as a Nokia N97…  Then, what eats your battery life faster?  WiFi to the MiFi?  Or direct use of AT&T’s data plan?  And if the WiFi eats the battery faster, how much worse is it?  And are there other trade-offs or gotchas?  Sounded like AT&T’s 3G is faster, but Verizon’s data is more available?  Are there longer lag-time for turning the WiFi on/off vs. turning the 3G on/off?  Is it easy (and legit) to just make your N97 a WiFi hotspot anyway?

In the end, as much as I love the new MiFi…  I think it’s definitely at least a viable alternative to have (a phone with 3G coverage that can turn itself on/off as a WiFi hotspot for your iPod touch, laptop, etc).  I think it’s better to have both choices too.  I think I’d personally prefer the WiFi hot spot from the phone (and you can turn it on/off) (and just carry a 2nd or 3rd battery), but it would depend on the specific details.

I should add that there can be trade-offs between (having 2-in-1 device) vs. (having 2 separate devices).  Similar thing with GPS-on-phone vs. GPS-standalone.  With 2-in-1, it might be smaller overall, and have potential integrated capabilities.  But you’re also sharing a battery/stability, and the 2 become physically inseparable.

Although one big thing I like about the MiFi is that it looks very thin and small:

The other interesting thing is that before the MiFi came to Verizon and Sprint, I had long been dreaming about getting a USB modem and plugging it into a Cradlepoint PHS300.  There was even some company that I think re-sold Sprint data connections for $50/mo no contract.  What the MiFi adds to the table is that it’s another 2-things-integrated-as-1.  This makes it simpler (you don’t have to plug-in the separate USB modem) and smaller: (4.7 x 2.8 x 0.8) vs. (3.5 x 2.3 x 0.4).  It’s also an official Verizon or Sprint solution, but we could debate, for example, if that’s actually better than using the PHS300 with an AT&T USB modem (speed vs. coverage?).  Or, better than using a smart phone as a WiFi hot spot.

Pem (Admin) :: 2009/06/05 (Friday, June 5, 2009) :: Mobility :: No Comments »

This example is from Verizon.  Intel® Atom™ Processor N270 1.6 Ghz, 1 GB RAM, 80 GB hard drive, 10.1" Diagonal SD LED BrightView Infinity Widescreen Display (1024×576), 802.11 b/g.  The comparable netbook from HP Mini 1000 XP series is $375.  So $375 vs. ($200, plus over the 2-year contract, $60/mo * 24 months = $1440).  Although they also include the internal broadband card, so I guess I should compare it to HP Mini 1000 Mobile Broadband series, which is $505 with the same specs.

If it were me, I wouldn’t do it, unless the only use for internet/WiFi you have is on your netbook.  I’d much rather get a $30/mo smart phone plan (less money), or the freedom of the wireless $60/mo Verizon MiFi wireless hot spot choice.

Pem (Admin) :: 2009/06/05 (Friday, June 5, 2009) :: Mobility :: No Comments »

The general impressions I got are:
* All 4 are $60/mo 5 GB/mo cap ($720/yr); the only real differences are speed and coverage
* AT&T is fastest, at least if you are in an AT&T 3G coverage area
* Verizon probably has better overall coverage (AT&T is second), but that can depend on the specific location(s)
* International roaming from US carriers is basically a scam (absurdly expensive); but you can just get a prepaid data card from a carrier in the country you travel
* AT&T (and T-Mobile) use GSM with SIM card

In the US (not everywhere), the carrier also determines your choices for devices (typically discounted and locked, which sometimes means partially-crippled).  For example, AT&T has iPhone, Sprint will be first to have Palm Pre, T-Mobile was first to have Android, everyone has Windows Mobile and BlackBerry, Nokia Symbian is only available unlocked only for AT&T and T-Mobile (GSM), MiFi is for Verizon and Sprint.  You also can’t have a smart phone on Verizon’s network anymore without at least the $30/mo data plan; while for AT&T you could at least use an unlocked phone.

Here’s the full post: http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/26/engadget-labs-the-best-mobile-broadband-carrier-in-america/

Pem (Admin) :: 2009/06/05 (Friday, June 5, 2009) :: Mobility :: No Comments »

One thing I think I was kind of wasting time on is worrying too much about what the tags should be, and whether each post should be exactly one tag vs. multiple tags (and if multiple tags meant my post wasn’t topic-focused enough, or that my tags weren’t good enough).  I think this is pretty OCD, and worrying about the tags too much is a waste of time.  So, rather than try to look too far ahead, I’ll just add some more tags as I go.

I tagged this post “Blogging”, and I also tagged it “Web” and “Travel”.

Web is just generally website stuff that I personally noticed.

Travel is from a tech/geek – minded perspective.  So, you want to use good online trip search tools, and have a good packing system with useful travel gadgets (and computer stuff)…  For me, this is more about access and productivity, or just about having more access for something to do during the trip.

Pem (Admin) :: 2009/06/03 (Wednesday, June 3, 2009) :: Blogging, Internet / Web, Mobility :: No Comments »

If you read my previous post, you probably noticed that part of why I like Windows Mobile, is good for notes with mobile EverNote and mobile OneNote.

Well the latest news is, EverNote for BlackBerry: http://www.evernote.com/about/download/blackberry/

So EverNote is now accessed via (2009/06/03): Mac, Windows, Web, Web Clip, Windows Mobile, iPhone, BlackBerry

For Verizon (today), the only smart phone choices are BlackBerry or Windows Mobile.  (Sprint has Palm Pre, AT&T has iPhone, T-Mobile has Android, Symbian is not US).  So, because of this, I may actually consider a BlackBerry as a potential choice for my next phone. 

PS: still planning to carry an iPod touch too

Pem (Admin) :: 2009/06/03 (Wednesday, June 3, 2009) :: Mobility, Notetaking :: No Comments »

I am a huge fan of notes.  In semi-recent times, I’ve especially become addicted to: Microsoft Office OneNote and EverNote.

OneNote 2007 is still more powerful, and the way they organize/display the UI with Notebook –> Section –> Page, is a big deal to me.  But EverNote has a big ubiquity/cloud presence (web access, mobile access, integrated online storage/presence).

I’m also still using Windows Mobile (and still waiting for some more upgrades from the iPod touch, such as a 64 GB model), largely because it has an EverNote application for easy-fast-quick-convenient online notes read-or-write.  But EverNote on Windows Mobile doesn’t let me get access/edit the notes offline, such as going into a store or airplane.  So I copy/paste them to OneNote Mobile.

I used to print lists (such as a grocery list).  But now I do a multi-step process:

1) maintain my list in OneNote for Windows (power)

2) copy/paste this into EverNote for Windows (online presence)

3) view the list auto-sync’ed to EverNote Windows Mobile (auto-sync)

4) copy/paste from EverNote Windows Mobile to OneNote Windows Mobile (offline access)

Here’s an example:

After actually doing it just now, I noticed that I OneNote copy/paste to notepad.exe then copy/paste to EverNote, because otherwise the formatting is weird, in between steps 1 and 2.  This may be a temporary hack.  In fact, I’m hoping that long-term that:

A) the EverNote Windows Mobile application will add offline access

B) OneNote Mobile will become more integrated/online with Windows Live/Mesh and OneNote desktop

C) EverNote desktop application’s UI will become more organized/powerful with a 3-layer tabs system that takes up small screen real-estate, like OneNote

…  Or preferably, all of the above and more

PS: when I get an iPod touch, it will have EverNote access too

PS: For the record, I do also still keep a folded piece of paper and Fisher Bullet Pen (writes upside down etc) in my wallet.  Though mainly as a backup, or to write something for someone else.  Similar thing with printing notes.

Pem (Admin) :: 2009/06/03 (Wednesday, June 3, 2009) :: Mobility, Notetaking :: No Comments »

A recent big hobby of mine has been (paying some attention to) smart phones and smart phone OS’s (or device OS’s)… Today (2009/01/22), a huge part of what distinguishes (smart phone) from (desktop / laptop) is the OS.

The current wikipedia entry for Smart Phone OS gives us a very interesting data point that Nokia’s Symbian OS is the biggest world-wide Smart Phone OS with 46.6% market share sales Q3 2008. I recently had a software engineer roommate come from Nokia (India), and he was surprised at the basically complete lack of Symbian OS in the US. There’s also the N770 / N800 / N810 non-phone Nokia devices (which for whatever reason, runs Maemo, instead of Symbian).

Symbian OS is pretty small in the US, because of the carriers… Verizon only sells BlackBerry and Windows Mobile. AT&T only sells Black Berry and Windows Mobile and iPhone. Sprint is also BlackBerry and Windows Mobile… T-Mobile is the first to offer a Google Android phone…

There is also one Palm OS phone I noticed on Verizon (under their category “PDAs and Smartphones”), and although I thought Palm OS was dead, they are coming out with a new smart phone according to recent CES 2009…

So for PC (desktop form factor, laptop form factor), we primarily have: Windows, Apple OS, and Linux/Unix-based. For lower-powered smart phone devices, we in the US primarily have: Apple iPhone OS, RIM BlackBerry OS, Microsoft Windows Mobile, and the up-coming Google Android, and maybe the if-it-survives Palm OS. That’s still at least 3 big players (4 when Google Android gets big; 5 if you count Palm OS; 6 if Nokia Symbian ever comes to the US)…

Okay, there are also “dumb” cell phones, which the carriers use… But they tend to be less powered, and even more significantly – they tend to locked-down (by the carriers) even worse than any of the smart phones (if you ask me, I think Verizon is the worst of the big 4 at locking / crippling everything)… But these can run programs too. And if you do the research, you’ll find out that you can write software for them too with J2ME (or BREW, but fyi I think BREW is dead). But anyway, it’s that’s pretty locked down, and if I’m going to rant about the economic / political issues with the US cell phone industry… Well, maybe I’ll save that for another post O:-)

So… Which one do I use (as of 2009/01/22)? Right now I am using Windows Mobile (Verizon XV6800)… But it’s just a matter of time before I get an iPod touch (waiting for 64 GB, hoping for some other feature upgrades too like GPS). Nothing against BlackBerry; I just went with Windows Mobile b/c it sounded more powerful. Nothing against AT&T iPhone, except that even if I had AT&T, well I am planning to eventually get an iPod touch (that way I carry both a smart phone, and an iPhone OS device)

Pem (Admin) :: 2009/01/22 (Thursday, January 22, 2009) :: Mobility :: 1 Comment »

In the big picture, there are basically 3 major form factors for computers:
* desktop / workstation / server: more powerful, less portable, typically doesn’t run on battery
* laptop / notebook / mobile: carry around, or easily fit in backpack, runs on big battery
* smart phone / device / iPod / game player: fits in pocket, runs on small battery, low power with long battery life, less often than laptop has any heat issues

Obviously screen size is a big part of this too, but you can of course attach an external monitor to any of them…

Like many attempts at categorization, this isn’t completely set in stone… For example, the netbooks (which recently starting getting big/popular after Asus Eee PC, and OLPC XO), are laptops, but they are lower powered, less expensive, and smaller than standard laptops… For example, there small desktops that use internal components normally meant for mobile hardware. For example, an Ultra-Mobile PC (such as OQO model 2) is still in the laptop category (in terms of performance/functionality and battery life), but size is closer to the the smart phone / device category.

And then there are things that threaten the category boundaries even further… Take the rumored Asus Eee Keyboard. Personally, I would call it a ntebook-style laptop without a screen, because it looks like it will use netbook / laptop-style internal hardware, not fit in your pocket, and the battery life goal sounds like laptop battery life (only 1 to 3 hours).

In the current world, another big distinguishing feature is software… My next post will be about smart phone OS’s

Pem (Admin) :: 2009/01/22 (Thursday, January 22, 2009) :: Mobility :: No Comments »