Chris Pirillo » cell-phone

Do You Need Anything Other Than a Phone?

Chris Pirillo — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 05:52:08 +0000

Do You Need Anything Other Than a Phone?

Fifty-one percent of 25- to 29-year-olds live in households that have kicked the landline habit, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This marks the first time that the number of wireless-only households have surpassed land-line households in any age bracket.

The findings in general and among the various age groups are significant because they show that cell-phone-only households aren’t prevalent just among younger, single people, according to Stephen Blumberg, the report’s author. Blumberg told the Associated Press the numbers suggest that young adults who use cell phones alone continue that habit as they have families.

What’s the demographic look like within our community? Are people in your age group making the big switch to cell phones only?

Don’t forget to stop by our software site to see what’s new today.

Do You Need Anything Other Than a Phone?

Does Your Cell Phone Make You Rude?

Chris Pirillo — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 17:19:02 +0000

Does Your Cell Phone Make You Rude?

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Back in the day, we tended to focus more on what the person across from us was saying vs. what the person on our phone that we couldn’t see was saying. Nowadays we check email, tweets, texts, calls, etc., and in social situations, this can seem extremely rude. Mashable tackled this in an article yesterday on ending social rudeness by putting your phone away. Lamarr has definite opinions as to what constitutes phone rudeness.

The problem, of course, is that constantly perusing your phone is freaking rude — a clear signal that your reception is more important than anything going on in the here and now. Get this: 10% of people 24 and younger think it’s OK to text during sex, according to consumer electronics shopping and review site Retrevo. That brings a whole meaning to the term multitasking.

When do you feel it is “okay” to grab your phone and give it more attention than you do those around you? Is it ever a good idea? Do YOU know when it’s time to turn that device off and just forget it even exists?

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Does Your Cell Phone Make You Rude?

Samsung Galaxy S Initial Impressions

Chris Pirillo — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 02:30:18 +0000

Samsung Galaxy S Initial Impressions

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This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Samsung Mobile. All opinions are 100% mine.

The Samsung Galaxy S will be available soon in the AT&T network. I’ve been able to play with it for the past week or so. Despite moderate usage, I haven’t had to charge it since first turning it on. The battery astounded me, to be quite honest. I’ve been pretty happy with this phone. Despite a few negative remarks I’ve seen elsewhere about this phone, this is the best Android device I’ve tried to date. This will definitely be my default Android phone from now on.

It is extremely lightweight. It feels good in the hand, and the screen is large and gorgeous. The screen is super SUPER bright and vibrant. It’s so bright, in fact, that I had to turn the brightness down. The touch screen is extremely responsive. This means that the processor is fast, and everything is speedy out of the box. I feel this is quality hardware on a quality operating system.

In terms of resolution and capabilities, the camera on the Galaxy S is fantastic where HD video is concerned. If you didn’t already notice, I had uploaded a video review of an iPhone screen protector that I wasn’t happy with. That video was shot using this Galaxy S phone. For some reason, in a low-quality setting, I tend to get these “bars” on the video. I’m not sure if you detect that, but I did through the viewfinder. This is some small lines that appear in videos and photos. I’m not sure if this is a hardware or software issue, though. Hopefully Samsung will look into it.

This phone is running the TouchWiz interface, which is nice for helping you to quickly connect up your social networks. The out-of-the-box experience is honestly very good. For instance, swiping the screen in any direction will automatically open up the lock screen. Hello! That, my friends, is what intuitive is all about.

This is a fantastic Android device, no doubt about it… especially when it will only cost you $200 with a new contract. What I like beyond the price and screen is that Samsung paid attention to what a user might actually want when they turn their phone on for the first time. They added some very popular apps right into the phone, including Layer. Layer is so good that it will get a future video all of its own.

More than anything that impressed me, when I launched the Apps application, I saw a few of these default apps. Normally, apps pushed through a manufacturer’s site or service kind of suck, to put it bluntly. However, I was pretty impressed with many of the ones that I found within Samsung.

Again, my summary is that this is the best Android device I’ve used to date. There are a few negatives, but in my opinion they do not detract from the overall performance of the phone. Yes, there is a replaceable battery. However, in order to get the back of the phone off to GET to said battery you’ll need long fingernails or some type of very thin tool to pry it open.

As Apple pointed out, many other phones lose signal when using a “death grip.” It’s honestly not just the iPhone 4 that does this. The same thing happens with the Galaxy S, as shown in a video on YouTube.

Just about anything you would want in an Android device can be found in the Galaxy S. Are you thinking of grabbing one for yourself?

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Samsung Galaxy S Initial Impressions

Who Texts While Driving?

Chris Pirillo — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 06:27:17 +0000

Who Texts While Driving?

According to a new study, it’s not teens who text the most while driving. The guilty parties, actually, are adults. The Pew Research Center says that of those adults polled, 47 percent of respondents admit they either send or read messages while at the wheel of a vehicle.

Amongst teens aged 16 and 17, only about 34% tend to text while driving. Pew’s senior researcher, Mary Madden, said “There’s been a lot of focus on young drivers, and for good reasons. But this research provides an important reminder that adults are setting a bad example.” Several states already have a ban on texting while driving, and seven have banned the use of cell phones altogether while driving. However, the U.S. Senate is voting right now on banning texting nationwide.

You don’t have to worry about crashing when you grab the latest software and apps from our download center.

Who Texts While Driving?

Is Your Cell Phone Hurting Your Children?

Chris Pirillo — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 22:19:26 +0000

Is Your Cell Phone Hurting Your Children?

Is your reliance on technology hurting your children? A new study shows that perhaps parents are too plugged in. The story cites a young mother who was ignoring her toddler in a busy shopping mall while she had her head buried in her cell phone’s screen. It goes on to discuss the negative impact that constant device usage can have on a child’s psyche and upbringing.

The study talks about the negative effects that a parent’s desire to always stay connected can have on children, yes. But it doesn’t touch on the dangers that could happen. It only takes a split second for someone to grab a child in a public place. Toddlers and babies are kidnapped in an instant while their parent or guardian looks away at an item on a store shelf. It isn’t inconceivable that the same thing could happen while mom is busy checking her Twitter stream or dad is reading the latest email from work. Children can be hit by a car, drown in a pool or run off without supervision in the blink of an eye. If a parent is engrossed in their phone for a few moments, bad things could potentially happen.

I’m not saying that you can never use your devices around your children. I’m saying that you need to stop tuning everything else out while you check up on things. I’m just as guilty as the next person of this infraction. I am quite good at tuning out the world around me whenever I feel I need to. Parents build up this ability as their children get older. It’s almost a survival instinct. You have to be able to filter out noise and distractions to get things done, right? But what if something tragic happens while you’re tuned out?

Photo credit to The Chef Alliance.

Is Your Cell Phone Hurting Your Children?

What AT&T Doesn’t Want you to Know About the iPhone

Chris Pirillo — Mon, 24 May 2010 13:02:09 +0000

What AT&T Doesn’t Want you to Know About the iPhone

In this video posted by shadoestevens, a famous filmmaker talks about the benefits of using the iPhone and AT&T and how they’ve helped him become a “major player.” He says that of course he uses AT&T, because he has an iPhone. Every day as he makes calls in Hollywood, Beverly Hills and New York City, important calls are dropped. As those calls drop, he seems more important.

People wonder what they are missing. The excitement builds as the other person tries to decide if they are missing out on the most important moment of their lives. Dropped calls make him more mysterious. A major player is never accessible and is hard to reach. Thanks to AT&T, he can never be reached. Even when he is, he could disappear at any given moment. Hard to reach equals very important equals major player.

Every day, he can count on one thing: the people he leaves hanging are always wanting more. There are many surprises with his phone service, since he doesn’t know when his call will disappear. In one day alone, he had 37 dropped calls. That’s good business.

If you want to be a major player, count on AT&T – the world’s worst network.

What AT&T Doesn’t Want you to Know About the iPhone

AT&T Ranks Dead Last for Customer Satisfaction

Chris Pirillo — Fri, 14 May 2010 03:43:18 +0000

AT&T Ranks Dead Last for Customer Satisfaction

A recent study by Consumer Reports determined where cell phone companies rate when it comes to customer satisfaction. It seems as though everyone these days has a cell phone, and most of those people have very strong opinions about the carrier they have their service with. Too often, people blame the companies directly for problems such as lost calls when in reality there are several contributing factors. Your location and the type of phone you use can affect how often you drop calls.

It’s interesting to look through these results, and see where each company rates. Surprisingly, TracFone rates the highest amongst the pre-paid plan gang. I’ve heard horror stories about their service in the past. It’s good to see that they have apparently tightened up the ship and made things better for their customers. Amongst the contract carriers, Verizon comes out on top while Sprint and AT&T are nearly neck-and-neck at the bottom of the barrel. They even rank lower than Canadian carriers!

Find the best cell phone plans at BillShrink

It’s even more interesting to see that AT&T holds almost as big of a market share as Verizon does – despite their obvious lack of customer satisfaction. Who will be the first to point out the obvious: AT&T is only “holding their own” thanks to their exclusive contract with Apple and the iPhone?

AT&T Ranks Dead Last for Customer Satisfaction

Ustream Viewer Beta for Android

Chris Pirillo — Tue, 11 May 2010 03:15:17 +0000

Ustream Viewer Beta for Android

Not long ago, we announced the iPad app for our live stream. Steve (Granit in our chat room) developed this app that will allow you to see the video AND the chat room right on your iPad screen – without having to click between them. You’ll be able to private message other users if you choose, and have moderation options available if you’re a channel operator. Additionally, if you click on a link within the IRC channel, it will open a browser window right inside of the app.

AndroidAdvocate is apparently disappointed to see there is not yet an alternative for those of you who are rocking with Android on your cell phone. His solution is to use the Ustream Viewer Beta, which is found on the Marketplace.

According to the Ustream blog, this is their second application for this platform. Their Broadcaster app was released last year. It enables users to stream live from their phones on 3G or Wi-Fi. The Android Viewer provides chat functionality, and when combined with the Broadcaster application… “it allows the first mobile-to-mobile functionality available on the Market.”

When the Viewer was released in November, it was done so in conjunction with a live KISS concert that was aired over Ustream. Viewer may only allow you to watch live video feeds, but it does so flawlessly. Use it to watch anyone’s live feed – from red carpet productions to puppies to my humble little show – while you’re on the go.

Ustream launched the iPhone version of the viewing app last January, when it was downloaded a whopping 113,000 times in 24 hours. It’s worth pointing out that the iPhone doesn’t have a Broadcaster app, because Apple won’t approve them. Could this give Android a small – yet important – leg up over the iPhone os?

Ustream Viewer Beta for Android

Do Teens Text Too Much?

Chris Pirillo — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 07:17:27 +0000

Do Teens Text Too Much?

According to a study done by the Pew Internet and American Life Project, young people between the ages of 12 and 17 send more than 100 texts a day. This may be due in part to the many unlimited plans offered by most cell companies. Texting beats out every other form of communication for this age group, including instant messaging, phone calls and face-to-face conversations.

Texting is also easy to get away with in certain situations. Kids text right under the noses of their teachers during school hours. Most of these kids are so good with their keyboards that they don’t even have to look at the device while composing and sending a message. Text messaging has become so much a part of teenagers’ lives that 87 percent of those who text said that they sleep with – or next to – their phones.

“It’s a way that their friends can easily and discreetly reach them at tiny moments during the day,” said Amanda Lenhart, senior research specialist at Pew. “It allows them to stay constantly in touch with people who are important to them. Texting is a much different experience than calling somebody on a land line, where you might get their parents. There’s an element of ownership for teenagers around texting.”

Teens feel that it’s easier to communicate with people when they cannot hear their voices or see their faces. As evidenced in several reports about this subject, teens will confront each other more often over issues via a text. It’s a good thing that they are talking more to each other, and seemingly becoming able to work through differences and difficulties without the hindrance and nerves that come with face-to-face confrontations.

However, I can’t help but wonder how this will affect these kids’ verbal communication skills later in life. We grew up having to talk to people… in person. Kids today are relying more heavily on digital methods of communication. Their “speech” is now defined with easy-to-remember word abbreviations, such as “wut r u doing.” I cringe every time someone sends me an email full of “language” such as this.

Another concern has to be privacy. Teens likely cling to their phones due to the fact that they feel they have more control over their content. It’s not as easy for parents to see what’s going on as it was when they could listen in on phone conversations. I admit that my mouth hit the floor when I read where one teen stated that his mom gave up trying to read his texts when she couldn’t crack his phone password. If this were my child, they would no longer HAVE a cell phone. While parents don’t necessarily need to “police” their children and know every single thing they are doing, they DO need to be aware of what’s going on in their child’s world.

What are your thoughts? Is widespread teen texting a good thing? Do you wonder how these kids will communicate in the “real world” when they become adults? Heck, will we even stop needing to communicate face-to-face in the future? Maybe I’m a fuddy-duddy. Perhaps everything will be digital one day, and we’ll never hear another human voice.

Do Teens Text Too Much?

Forget Wireless Contracts with Boost Mobile and the New Incognito

Chris Pirillo — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 05:02:03 +0000

Forget Wireless Contracts with Boost Mobile and the New Incognito

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Boost Mobile. All opinions are 100% mine.

With the economy in such a rut, many of you might feel like you can’t handle signing a “normal” cell phone contract. You still need a phone, though – for practical purposes. I can think of very few who don’t actually carry their own personal (or business) communications devices. Still, long-term contracts can be sticky – and less than optimal in some situations.

Boost Mobile may just have a solution for you.

The all-new SANYO Incognito SCP6760 phone is launching soon. It’s flip-designed with a full QWERTY keyboard.

The phone (itself) is going to sell for only $129.99 (not including taxes), and will have free shipping when purchased through the proper link. Most important to note, however, is that there are NO contracts required to use it. You can purchase a $50.00 Monthly Unlimited Plan with nationwide coverage.

This plan includes unlimited text, voice, AND Web access. The phone has a 2 megapixel camera and a VGA camcorder, so the unlimited Web feature will come in handy when you want to upload pictures and videos from your phone to share with your friends and family.

Additional features include both picture and video messaging (MMS), stereo Bluetooth support, and GPS-enabled hardware. Oh, the Incognito’s speakerphone option will come in handy when you don’t have a headset and need both hands free to do something.

To me, the “glow-thru” touchscreen (which appears on its mirrored surface) seems quite remarkable:

Of course, the high resolution 2.6″ display is nothing to sneeze at (and if you do sneeze at it, please wipe before using the phone again).

Pick up a SANYO Incognito if these features and price-points fit the bill – a very economic bill.

Forget Wireless Contracts with Boost Mobile and the New Incognito

What Place Does Social Media Have in our Schools?

Chris Pirillo — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 10:12:21 +0000

What Place Does Social Media Have in our Schools?

I came across a very interesting post a little while ago, over on Geeks. The author, Will, is asking our opinions as to what place social media should play in our educational systems. Will mentioned that his high school principal has asked students for ideas as to how social media could be incorporated into education in general. He then asks for your input and ideas. I’d love to see a high rate of responses to this thread, which is why I chose to highlight it here.

Social media such as Facebook and Twitter isn’t a fad that will fade away any time soon. It’s important, it’s real, and it’s here to stay. I do have to point out something that Will said at the end of his post. He stated that he is all for social media in the schools, but that he doesn’t want to allow them access to his privacy. That is a common misconception amongst many people today. You need to remember that anything you put online is public. There is no privacy when it comes to places such as Twitter. Once something is online, it’s there for the World to see. Even at a young age, you always need to be cognizant of that fact when posting anything in any place. Things you say and do online can – and WILL – come back to bite you in the proverbial ass someday if you aren’t careful.

What are your thoughts? Instead of posting them here on the blog, please post them over on Geeks as a response to Will’s questions. Let’s see how much community participation we can get on this, and show his principal a thing or two! Will’s post wasn’t the only thought-provoking thing going on in our community today. Hopefully, you haven’t missed out on any of the action!

Be sure to check out all of the new Windows and mobile software we have today in our downloads center!

What Place Does Social Media Have in our Schools?

Why Does Apple Restrict the iPhone’s Abilities?

Chris Pirillo — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 01:15:20 +0000

Why Does Apple Restrict the iPhone’s Abilities?

I have a problem: I get NFR copies for many iPhone apps.

This, itself, isn’t an issue – but the iPhone can only display up to 144 apps at one time. This limitation is artificial, as I have an insane amount of free space on the device. I currently have 250 apps in my iTunes library (out of tens of thousands available storewide). Many of these great apps can no longer be synced because of this imposed limitation. Consequently, I’m not carefree with what I choose to install on the iPhone anymore.

The solution: Apple needs to enable some kind of Spotlight search for installed apps on the iPhone, showing (a) the most recently used and (b) the most used apps – on two separate sheets.

I know that some people are content with having ~10 apps on their iPhone, but that (to me) seems like such a waste of resources and potential. I’m addicted to iPhone apps, I admit it – especially the free ones. Why is Apple not letting me access the full potential of this platform?

So, I admit that I’m an extreme case. How many apps do you have on your iPhone? I asked my Twitter followers:

alberodelcolore: 95apps! using 50…

about 10 hours ago

Fri Feb 06 14:00:55 +0000 2009

BrianCBock: Apple needs a way to sort iPhone apps into categories. Maybe using itunes? And maybe show me a count of how many uses.

about 11 hours ago

Fri Feb 06 12:51:07 +0000 2009

Chiron1: Last count I had 138 apps on my iPhone

about 13 hours ago

Fri Feb 06 10:33:51 +0000 2009

skaterD: 62 apps

about 19 hours ago

Fri Feb 06 04:27:54 +0000 2009

unkleEL: I have about 100 apps in my library and maybe 20 on my phone some I rarely use so I don't add them

about 20 hours ago

Fri Feb 06 03:47:02 +0000 2009

iLoveEnglish: So the limit on how many apps you can have on your iPhone is 144? Does anyone really need that many apps on an iPhone?

about 20 hours ago

Fri Feb 06 03:39:13 +0000 2009

mseneschal: @chrispirilloI have 70 apps. Of those I use about 2 pages (32) apps frequently. I try to have only productive (less distracting) apps.

about 21 hours ago

Fri Feb 06 03:25:26 +0000 2009

drummer2207: 64 apps

about 21 hours ago

Fri Feb 06 03:15:16 +0000 2009

caseygotcher: I had about 10-12 installed, but my Touch 32GB just got ripped off last week.

about 21 hours ago

Fri Feb 06 03:11:19 +0000 2009

mobiledivide: 70 on my iPod touch. Use about 10 on a regular basis.

about 21 hours ago

Fri Feb 06 02:53:49 +0000 2009

MikeKukielka: I have a mere 112 apps, bringing me to 8 pages.

about 21 hours ago

Fri Feb 06 02:40:46 +0000 2009

Jaylor36: I have 53 apps installed right now … 236 is crazy

about 21 hours ago

Fri Feb 06 02:28:21 +0000 2009

robpickering: 114 and I love each and every one of them.

about 22 hours ago

Fri Feb 06 02:23:55 +0000 2009

VxJasonxV: 16 apps * 3 pages + a page with 10 apps + the 4 dock apps. 16, 32, 48, 58, I have 62 iPhone Apps? Cripes…

about 22 hours ago

Fri Feb 06 02:16:42 +0000 2009

trevorpressman: 52

about 22 hours ago

Fri Feb 06 02:15:24 +0000 2009

bsappleby: how much space does that take up on your iphone out of curiosity?

about 22 hours ago

Fri Feb 06 02:11:57 +0000 2009

Bdog80: I have 88, what r your current favorite cant live without apps?

about 22 hours ago

Fri Feb 06 02:08:28 +0000 2009

easy_way: about 15

about 22 hours ago

Fri Feb 06 02:01:46 +0000 2009

Tsuimonster: I have 106 Apps right now, so… eh.

about 22 hours ago

Fri Feb 06 02:01:27 +0000 2009

kursed: I've got 42 installed on my iPod touch, but it just so happens that i'm only regularly using 10 of em.

about 22 hours ago

Fri Feb 06 01:56:10 +0000 2009

fixorater: 77 at the moment… crazy eh?

about 22 hours ago

Fri Feb 06 01:54:32 +0000 2009

daveinthecloud: Not many. Less than 20.

about 22 hours ago

Fri Feb 06 01:54:18 +0000 2009

aaron_bennett: 229 in library, and 144 on the phone. Apple, we need to be able to organize, categorize, and have more than 9 pages FFS!

about 22 hours ago

Fri Feb 06 01:54:17 +0000 2009

r0b: I've got 40 but use only about 15 of them regularly.

about 22 hours ago

Fri Feb 06 01:53:57 +0000 2009

christophertran: i have 500. but dont like to clutter up my desk. they are free apps….(most of them)

about 22 hours ago

Fri Feb 06 01:53:10 +0000 2009

jdntx: I've about 40 apps, because I try not to use my iPhone for gaming. For example; my N64 controller

about 22 hours ago

Fri Feb 06 01:52:23 +0000 2009

firespyer: 30 and I thought I had alot

about 22 hours ago

Fri Feb 06 01:51:48 +0000 2009

TreyRust: I got to my 9th page then just a few hours ago I cleaned it downed to about 61

about 22 hours ago

Fri Feb 06 01:50:22 +0000 2009

ATTFJamie: about 12 are worthy.

about 22 hours ago

Fri Feb 06 01:50:07 +0000 2009

randallholahan: I have had as many as 100 but I continulally purge, usually keep around 50-75

about 22 hours ago

Fri Feb 06 01:49:39 +0000 2009

brennanmuir: wow.. I have 104 all

about 22 hours ago

Fri Feb 06 01:49:08 +0000 2009

Louis0nFire: No more than 20.

about 22 hours ago

Fri Feb 06 01:48:38 +0000 2009

gurubrandon: How many of those are purchased?

about 22 hours ago

Fri Feb 06 01:47:54 +0000 2009

natetronn: 144 at once is all Chris can handle? Man you can do better then that! “There's an app for that” don't-cha know :)

about 22 hours ago

Fri Feb 06 01:47:21 +0000 2009

glendesjardins: I have 86 apps on my iPod touch, including the pre-installed ones – all free but 1 (Apple Poker)

about 22 hours ago

Fri Feb 06 01:46:53 +0000 2009

joelara: 30

about 22 hours ago

Fri Feb 06 01:46:27 +0000 2009

teamsoteria: I have about 40 apps. I can't keep up with you on the apps.

about 22 hours ago

Fri Feb 06 01:45:15 +0000 2009

keybcoder: I have 211, I hate that is up too 144 apps!

about 22 hours ago

Fri Feb 06 01:44:37 +0000 2009

feeish: Wow and I though I had a lot with ~100

about 22 hours ago

Fri Feb 06 01:43:19 +0000 2009

macboy16: i have 120 apps on my ipod

about 22 hours ago

Fri Feb 06 01:42:29 +0000 2009

briantellectual: That is nuts! I couldn't imagine using that many. I only have 43.

about 22 hours ago

Fri Feb 06 01:42:24 +0000 2009

iGeekW: i just got my SpringBoard filled up. 173 apps in iTunes. btw “Uno” is worth checking out if you don't have it already. eYa l8r

about 22 hours ago

Fri Feb 06 01:42:02 +0000 2009

Tsuimonster: If you think you can do better than that video's producer, then YOU do it!

about 22 hours ago

Fri Feb 06 01:41:24 +0000 2009

EricStegemann: 148 is max on Iphone/touch hence www.148apps.com

about 22 hours ago

Fri Feb 06 01:40:49 +0000 2009

Michaelaking: i thought my 63 were alot dang.

about 22 hours ago

Fri Feb 06 01:39:28 +0000 2009

ATTmobilemusic: My iPhone is maxed with music apps, social networking apps, some remote access tools, and games/apps for my daughter.

about 22 hours ago

Fri Feb 06 01:39:15 +0000 2009

charlesjbarry: More importantly Chris, how many do you actually USE? I have four pages of apps and use maybe ten. LOL

about 22 hours ago

Fri Feb 06 01:38:39 +0000 2009

lynngg: No thanks, I will stick to the BB Storm

about 22 hours ago

Fri Feb 06 01:38:21 +0000 2009

bugboy: i have 85 but i keep mine to ones i use at least once a week.

about 22 hours ago

Fri Feb 06 01:38:13 +0000 2009

thegame87: HOLY SHIT BATMAN I have like 10!! If you had to choose just 10 to use what would they be?

about 22 hours ago

Fri Feb 06 01:37:41 +0000 2009

Why Does Apple Restrict the iPhone’s Abilities?

Are There Extensions for Cell Phones in Your Home?

Chris Pirillo — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 07:57:02 +0000

Are There Extensions for Cell Phones in Your Home?

Ronni was a speaker at Gnomedex last year. She is one amazing lady, and a good friend. She has an excellent question, sent to me recently via email. Sadly, I don’t have the answer. However, I’m hoping one of you out there will know if there’s something like what she’s looking for.

Since you are my guru for all things technology or vaguely related, I’ve got a question for you:

I use a VoIP service for my home telephone. I have one base phone with two extensions so I don’t need to run the length of the apartment when someone calls. I also have a cell phone.

Cell reception is so good in my neighborhood, I don’t really need to be paying $300 a year for the VoIP service. But if I cancel it, I’m stuck with one cell phone and who knows where it might be when it rings. I have trouble remembering to stick it in my pocketbook when I leave the house, and I certainly wouldn’t remember to take it with to the bedroom at night or wherever else in the house I’m going to be for awhile. Plus, I don’t see the point of having two telephone numbers these days.

So here’s what I’m wondering:

Is there such a thing as an internal network for cell phones that combines with normal extension handsets? Maybe a box of some sort connected through the landline jacks that most homes have already installed? I can’t imagine that this doesn’t exist, and it would be particularly useful for women whose clothes don’t often have pockets like men’s clothing, so it’s not easy to keep a cell phone with you all the time.

Or maybe there’s another solution…

Perhaps you’ve addressed something like this in one of your videos that I’ve missed, or maybe you could do so if you haven’t.

I hope you and Ponzi are well,
Ronni

Come on Geeks. Ronni is right… there has to be something out there that can help her. What have you come across that may fit the bill?

Are There Extensions for Cell Phones in Your Home?

How Can You Improve Your Cell Phone Reception?

Chris Pirillo — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 08:50:29 +0000

How Can You Improve Your Cell Phone Reception?

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I am getting used to having dropped calls on the iPhone 3G. This thing drops calls like clockwork. It doesn’t seem like a tower problem. I can be sitting still, and lose a call. Even if the phone shows full signal, it still will drop. I’m hoping the upcoming firmware update will solve some of this. I’ve never had a mobile device with this many issues. What’s a Geek to do to boost reception? When I was given the opportunity to review the Cell Ranger, I could choose between the USB connection, or the kind that plugs into a cigarette lighter in a car. I decided to go with USB for a couple of reasons. For one, I’ve got USB ports everywhere. For another, I have an inverter for my car that will allow me to plug USB devices in while I’m in the car.

The Cell Ranger PORT is a USB powered cellular signal booster. By plugging the Cell Ranger PORT into a USB port you can boost your cell phone signal by up to 2-3 bars. We designed Cell Ranger to be compatible with every cellular network (except Nextel), cell phone, and data card. No matter which cellular service you use, voice or broadband data, you’ll see a significant boost in signal when you plug in the Cell Ranger. In most cases you’ll get 2-3 bars more signal within a 6 foot coverage radius. In our tests, using Cell Ranger with a broadband data card can result in anywhere from 30% to 200% faster download speeds. Cell Ranger is the first truly intelligent cell booster. By using a specially programmed microprocessor, Cell Ranger carefully monitors signal and adjusts to provide optimum signal. Unlike any previous booster, Cell Ranger actively analyzes the signals that your cell phone is sending and receiving. By comparing the signal strength to different towers, Cell Ranger self-tunes to the correct channels, and amplifies only those signals.

Gives 2-3 bars extra signal for any cell phone or 3G data card.

Prevents dropped calls and improves call quality.

Compatible with every carrier in Canada and the US.

Powered by a standard USB port.

No drivers – Cell Ranger only uses USB for power. Optional AC adapter/rechargable battery available..

You don’t want to set this near any kind of magnetic media, like a hard drive. You’d want to stick this on a metallic surface before plugging it in. It will allegedly boost your signal on both 800MGz and 1900MGz reception. I will be trying this out for awhile, and then I’ll let you know how well it works. This video was mostly an introduction to tell you how it works.

A quick test in my office was interesting, to say the least. I plugged it all in, and had trouble connecting to the network. When it wasn’t connected to my iPhone, I had four signal bars. When I plugged it in, I dropped down to two! Basically, either the iPhone sucks, or AT&T does. I’m not giving up on this though. It could just be my office, and all my gadgets interfering. I am going to test it while I’m out and about. I’ll let you know how I fare.

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How Can You Improve Your Cell Phone Reception?

How Do You Prop up (or Display) Your Mobile Devices?

Chris Pirillo — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 05:55:44 +0000

How Do You Prop up (or Display) Your Mobile Devices?

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I used to love plopping down into a bean bag chair. It was just kind of fun to throw yourself into one. I’m not only talking about bean bags to take a trip down memory lane. I happened to buy one the other day that is designed for mobile devices. I have this plastic holder for my iPhone, but it just sat there all stiff like. It wasn’t a very happy and comfortable device. Also, when it rings, it would vibrate in a most annoying way while sitting in that plastic holder. So, I decided to grab myself a Bean Bag to let my iPhone rest in comfort.

Your cellphone is a trusted friend. It has been there for you when you needed a ride, felt lonely, or just had to talk to your mom. All it has asked in return is the occasional charge. Your phone loves you, so it’s about damn time you did something nice for it. You can start with a nice place for your phone to sit.

This diminutive beanbag chair is just the thing. Scientifically proven to be the most comfortable cellphone chair on the market. Ergonomically designed to eliminate pressure points that can bruise or cause extremities to go numb, this beanbag chair rests your cellphone in the most neutral position possible. 9 out of 10 cellphones agree, this is the best cellphone beanbag chair ever made!

Sure, some may laugh at you, but your buddy deserves the best. You owe it to your phone to make his downtime the most comfortable possible. The beanbag cellphone chair is so comfortable, your phone is guaranteed to remain seated until someone picks it up again.

It’s not only functional, it’s just plain fun. For only $10.00, doesn’t your phone deserve to rest in comfort?

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How Do You Prop up (or Display) Your Mobile Devices?