Crave

Q: I was browsing CNET, and noticed that PDAs have dropped off the map. It's been "the talk" for years that phones and PDAs were going to converge and neither would exist alone as we know them. Did it happen? Did I miss it? I've been an avid Palm user (even have programmed them for work), but of course Palm/PalmSource/Aspect is tanking with a couple Treos as the only remaining flotsam. The TX was great...but is going. Hewlett-Packard's iPaq is tragically bland. So, what's a PDA guy to do?

What would you recommend for keeping calendars, addresses, notes, possibly pictures and music, and Web browsing over Wi-Fi--that isn't also my phone? Or should I just suck it up and give in to the too-large-for-a-phone-but-too-small-for-a-PDA smartphone? I'm terrified of relying on Verizon, AT&T, or Apple for the portability of my data in the future--they can't even move a simple phone list. And the way they lock up and cripple their devices is stupendously...stupid! -- Chris C. via e-mail

Palm TX

(Credit: CNET Networks)

A: Hi Chris. Back in 2006, when Palm celebrated its 10-year anniversary, I was asked if PDAs would be around for another 10 years, and perhaps it's because I like to root for the underdog, but I said yes. Now, I'm having to reconsider my stance.

I still believe there is a market for handhelds. With all the advanced gadgets today and working in tech, it's sometimes easy to forget that there are a lot of people who still just want the basics, whether it be a cell phone that just makes calls; a simple point-and-shoot digital, or a standalone PDA for simple organization. When it comes to the latter, however, the market is small and dwindling.

As you probably know, Palm hasn't released a new model in years, and while HP continues to offer PDAs, they're very corporate-centric and sounds like you're not a fan of them anyway. So what is a guy (or gal) to do? Well, if you enjoyed the Palm TX, you could always get a replacement, since they're still available for sale. I'd also recommend taking a look at the Nokia N810 Internet Tablet. It's not as compact as the TX and might have a bit of a learning curve, but you'll be able to organize your contacts and calendar, enjoy multimedia, and surf the Web via Wi-Fi. In addition, you get GPS, a full QWERTY keyboard, and there are numerous applications you can add to expand its capabilities.

I'd also encourage you take a look at the Palm Centro. It is a smartphone, but I think it would be a good transition device for you. You'll get the familiarity and benefits of the Palm OS and PIM (personal information management) tools, but you'll also get voice features and a full QWERTY keyboard in a device that is the size of a PDA. Plus, it's really a good value for your money. I'm not sure what carrier you have for cell phone service, but the Centro is available at all major service providers except T-Mobile. If you are a TMO customer, you can buy an unlocked version and insert your SIM card.

Readers, have any other suggestions for Chris?

Nokia N810 Internet Tablet WiMax Edition

(Credit: Nokia)

As expected, Nokia officially unveiled the Nokia N810 Internet Tablet WiMax Edition here at CTIA 2008. It's a slightly revamped Nokia N810 that adds, obviously, WiMax support and several other enhancements. For those unfamiliar with WiMax, it is a wireless broadband technology that promises to deliver download speeds of up to 2Mbps to 4Mbps with the potential to even hit up to 10Mbps, so we're talking cable and DSL-like speeds here.

While WiMax is the big story, there are a couple of other noteworthy changes to the Nokia N810. The slide-out full QWERTY keyboard has been improved to provide more tactile feedback, and it also features a new color scheme that makes it easier to find the number and symbol keys. The N810 WiMax Edition will also ship with the latest Internet Tablet operating system that includes an enhanced e-mail client and a Seamless Software Update that will provide over-the-air software updates to your device--no more manual updates (huzzah!). Pricing has not been set at this time, but Nokia said it wouldn't be much different from the current N810, which is priced at a costly $479.99. The new N810 will launch later this summer when the WiMax network is expected to be available in the United States and will work with Sprint's Xohm service.

Nokia N810 Internet Tablet WiMax Edition

Well, well, what do we have here? Engadget Mobile (via Internet Tablet Talk) caught wind of a WiMax-enabled Nokia N810 Internet Tablet after it was posted on Nokia Europe's Web site. Unfortunately, the link to the product page isn't working at the moment, but you can pretty much figure out that it's like the Nokia N810 we reviewed earlier this year but with WiMax support. Rumor has it that we'll see the debut of this device at CTIA 2008, so check back next week when our show coverage begins to see if this puppy shows its pretty face in Las Vegas.

Minor update: Boost uses the Nextel/Sprint network, not Alltel.

Apple's iPhones seem to have a monopoly when it comes to usable mobile Web browsing. Until now, freedom-loving users not wishing to get into bed with Steve Jobs were, for the most part, out of luck. This article explains how to get an even better mobile Internet experience, without having to do business with either AT&T or Apple--with no contracts and no $60 per month bill just to surf the Net.

Apple's iPhone: No user apps for you!

The iPhone is clearly the must-have device of the digerati. All of my colleagues seem to have one, and frankly, I'm rather jealous. However, I have several deep moral problems with the iPhone that have prevented me from giving Apple my money.

Steve Jobs treats his customers with contempt. On a "stock" iPhone, you have no control over the applications you can install, cannot use MP3 ringtones, and can't even download songs to iTunes over the 802.11 connection. Yes, you can join the customer vs. company arms race, and try to hack your phone. However, the next time a software update is released, you may find yourself the owner of a $400 brick.

In addition to my problems with Apple, I really dislike the wireless carrier it's gotten into bed with--AT&T. My complaints about AT&T's profit-motivated collaboration with the NSA's warrantless wiretapping program have been frequently aired on this blog. Furthermore, the company only really offers practical data services to customers who sign up for a two-year contract--something I am unwilling to do. Finally, I see no reason to hand over $15 of my monthly wireless bill to Steve Jobs.

I want a device that gives me freedom, that does not lock me into a specific platform, and that is sold by a company that treats its customers with respect. I want to be able to leverage the significant base of existing Linux/open-source applications. I want to be able to run Firefox and the hundreds of community-made extensions for the browser. I want to download MP3s and podcasts directly to the device, and I'd prefer a real GPS chip, not some triangulation hack.

Furthermore, I am extremely nomadic. I can rarely plan more than six months into the future, and can't predict the country I'll call home a year from now. Thus, a two-year contract with AT&T is simply not an option.

Help from Helsinki

Luckily, help has arrived. The solution to my problems does not come from Cupertino, Calif., but Finland.

N810 Internet Tablet

(Credit: Nokia)

Nokia has gotten quite a bit of press over the last year for its N800 and N810 Internet Tablets. The devices run Linux, and are built on an open-source core. They include 802.11 Wi-Fi support, Bluetooth (including A2DP stereo audio) and a built-in Webcam that can be used for videoconferencing.

On the software side, the devices ship with a Mozilla/Firefox-derived browser and support the hugely popular Web-advertisement blocking extension Adblock Plus. Internet telephony is made possible through Skype and Gizmo, both of which come preinstalled. Prefer to use someone else (or your own Asterisk server)? No problem--SIP-based voice over IP software is also included.

What else?....

A BitTorrent client? Yep. Encrypted instant messaging for AIM and Google talk users? Yep.

Want to sniff a wireless network, break a WEP encryption key, or hack into a server? No problem. Metasploit, Kismit, and nmap are all supported.

Would you like to hook up an external hard disk, an Ethernet adapter, or a thumb drive? No problem. The tablets all include a USB port that supports "host mode."

The N800 ($200) and N810 ($400) have practically the same hardware powering them, the only real difference is the GPS chip and slide-out hardware keyboard that is included with the N810.

In terms of technology and software, the N810 does everything and more that the iPhone does. The only real problem thus far has been the issue of Internet connectivity. That is, when there is no open Wi-Fi access point nearby, my N810 has been pretty useless.

The data problem

The data offerings from U.S. mobile providers are, sadly, pretty awful. While users on some expensive plans can surf the Web from their phones, tethering (the act of sharing your phone's data connection with another device) is often forbidden. Verizon went so far as to totally cripple the Bluetooth functionality in several of its Motorola phones.

Worse, to get data, users are often required to sign lengthy contracts with the wireless carriers. A few do offer data services to prepaid users, but at rates that'll make you cry. For example, AT&T prepaid customers can purchase monthly allotments of bandwidth--1MB for $5 and 5MB for $10. Data hungry users who go over their 5MB per month are charged 1 cent per kilobyte. Want to use AT&T's prepaid plan to look at a few Flickr photos? That'll be $24.07 please.

The Boost connection

Thanks to YoDude from the Internet Tablet Talk forums, I now have a solution that works, with no contract, and at a price that I can afford.

Boost is a prepaid wireless company that resells access to the Sprint/Nextel nationwide wireless networks. Their voice services aren't particularly attractive (at 20 cents per minute). However, the Sprint/Nextel network uses Motorola's iDEN technology and provides a free, always-on data connection to phone customers. The data service isn't speedy, at 19.2 kbps, it harks back to the days of dial-up. For a free service, however, it simply can't be beat.

Following YoDude's advice, I went onto eBay and purchased a used Nextel/Motorola i605 phone. There are plenty of these listed for sale online, and can be found for about $40 including shipping. I also purchased a new Boost phone SIM (subscriber identity module) card for $2 including shipping.

A week later, with the phone and SIM in hand, I called up Boost to activate. The process took about 20 minutes, required no hacking of devices, flashing of firmware, or anything similar. I gave Boost my credit card number, and the company loaded $20 onto my account.

I then followed YoDude's simple instructions for setting up the Nokia Tablet with a Boost iDEN phone, and within minutes, I was using my N810 to check my e-mail via the Bluetooth-provided cellular data link.

Boost requires that you load up your phone with a minimum of $20 in credit at least once every 90 days. Voice service costs 10 to 20 cents a minute, depending on the time of day. Interesting enough, incoming text messages are free--which is not something I've seen any other prepaid carrier offer. Thus, for a little bit more than $6 per month, mobile users can get access to an always-on data connection that is perfect for e-mail, IM, and Google searches.

I won't lie. It's not speedy. But for airports, waiting rooms, and the bank lobby--it's perfect. By switching to IMAP based e-mail and an offline RSS reader, it's actually surprisingly usable.

For those of you with a thirst for faster data, and a willingness to pay for it, there may be other options. The uber-phone hackers at HowardForums report that Verizon offers prepaid users access to its 115KB/s EVDO data service for 99 cents per day. Setting this up seems to require a fair bit of hackery, including re-flashing special firmware onto your phone. Furthermore, at $30 per month, this is quite a bit more than I want to pay just to be able to google in line at the grocery store.

Got a better solution? Found a way to get a high-speed Bluetooth tethered connection at a low price? Leave a note in the comments, and I'll be sure to update this post.

Disclaimer: While I paid retail for a Nokia N800, the company did give me a heavily discounted N810 as part of a developer program. I interviewed with Nokia for a summer internship last week. I interned with Apple (along with several other companies) in the past.

Nokia unveiled the brand new Nokia N810 early this morning at a press briefing in San Francisco. An updated version of Nokia's previous Internet tablets like the N770 and the N800, the N810 is a pure Internet-only device, relying only on Wi-Fi and cellular Bluetooth to get online. Some of the design improvements include a much sleeker look plus a slide-out keyboard to accompany the touchscreen input, which we welcome wholeheartedly. Another big difference is the integration of built-in maps and GPS, so you don't need to connect to the Internet to find your way around.

Nokia is also making a big deal out of how the N810 is very Web 2.0-friendly. The included browser is based on Mozilla technology with Adobe Flash 9 plug-in, and can be used to access all your favorite Web 2.0 sites like Google Docs, Flickr, Facebook, and so forth. This also coincides very nicely with Nokia's own Web portal, Ovi, which provides a "gateway" to these services plus Nokia's own Music Store. The N810 also comes with Voice-over-IP applications like Skype and Gizmo Project, along with a Web camera if you want to do video calls.

Nokia N810

(Credit: Nokia)

In order to be "online" 24/7, Nokia also has purportedly boosted the N810's battery life up to 4 hours of continuous usage, up to 10 hours of music playback, up to 5 days of always online time, and up to 2 weeks of standby time. The internal storage is 2GB. The rest of the N810's features are similar to that of its predecessors. It has instant messaging, e-mail, a media player, an RSS reader, an image viewer, an FM transmitter, and a microSD card slot. The N810 measures around 5.04 inches by 2.83 inches by 0.55 inch and has a pretty amazing 4.13-inch widescreen display.

Word is that the Nokia N810 will be available this November for around $479. If you wish to have the premium voice-guided navigation package from Wayfinder, it'll cost you $129 on top of that.

In addition to the N810 announcement, Nokia has also announced a partnership with Boingo Mobile if you wish to have access to WiFi no matter where you are for about $7.95 a month.

Rafe Needleman did a quick video from the Nokia press conference announcing this device.