Simply Digital

Episode 3: Treo 700w

This week, the Simply Digital guys discuss the Treo 700w — a Windows Mobile Smartphone. The Treo line has proved to be a VERY popular line of smartphones for Palm, Inc., and with the 700w, Palm is branching out into a whole new mobile phone space. If you’re a big fan of Windows, this could be the mobile phone you’ve been waiting for.

In Episode 3, Michael Ashby and Analog Dave explain the basics of what a smartphone is, why they are useful and what types of costs there are in owning one. If you want the power of a PDA merged with your mobile phone, then the Treo could be the device that fits the bill.

Show Notes

1. What Is A Treo?
   • The Treo is a product that merges a PDA with a mobile phone
   • It is made by a company called Palm, Inc., who have been making PDAs since 1996.
2. What is a PDA?
   • PDA stands for Personal Digital Assistant, which originally was an electronic device that took the place of your paper planner (aka DayTimer)
   • A PDA typically has the following core applications:
     • Address Book
     • Calendar
     • To do list
     • Notes
   • Today, a PDA can do much more, including playing videos, mp3s, etc.
   • Many PDAs have merged with mobile phones, which is what the Treo is, and those are typically called “smartphones”
3. What Is A Smartphone?
   • Most mobile phones do little more than place phone calls. They may allow you to take a picture, or send a text message, but they don’t allow you to install new applications on the phone.
   • A Smartphone is a mobile phone that integrates the functionality of a PDA into the phone.
   • The best part about a smartphone is that you can install new applications on your phone. Think that you’re phone is missing a feature? Just install a new application that does what you’re looking for.
4. How Big Is It?
   • Smartphones tend to be a little larger than an average mobile phone.
   • It’s not huge per se, but it is larger than the latest small sleek mobile phones out on the market today
   • You’re trading off the size for additional power and features
5. What Does It Do?
   • For starters, it has a thumb board (a keyboard that you type on using your thumbs), so it’s very easy to input information, send text messages, or e-mail.
   • It features a lot of applications including:
     • Take photographs via the built-in camera phone
     • Calendar
     • Task List
     • Address Book
     • Notes
     • E-mail
     • Text messages
     • Multimedia messaging (photos and videos)
     • Browse the web via Pocket Internet Explorer
     • View and create office documents with Pocket Word, Pocket Excel and Pocket PowerPoint
6. What Can’t It Do?
   • To be honest, not much.
   • If there isn’t an application built-in you can always add additional software from places such as PocketGear.
   • For example, if you’re in need for an application that tracks your vehicle information, there’s an app out there that’ll do it.
   • A very cool new application is the SlingBox Mobile that allows you to watch TV from your SlingBox.
   • However, you can not install any Windows program on the Treo 700w. You can only install applications written for Windows Mobile.
7. How Is The Treo 700w Different From Previous Treos?
   • The Treo 700w is the first Treo to run on Windows Mobile 5
   • Other Treos run on Palm OS
   • Since Palm, Inc. is a hardware company, they can run any operating system they want to.
   • Having a Treo that runs Windows Mobile simply expands their product line. They are not replacing Palm OS
8. What Types Of Things Can I Do?
   • It is easier to use a smartphone than a feature phone because you have more menus and bigger buttons
   • Advanced features are easier to do as well, such as three-way calls, or putting a call on hold.
   • The built-in address book will sync with your computer.
   • The Treo 700w will sync with Microsoft Outlook, so all your contacts, todos, and calendar items sync with your phone.
   • One of the biggest selling points with a smartphone is that you can send and receive e-mail from your phone.
   • Corporate users can have their e-mail “pushed” to them, but the average user will go “fetch” their e-mail.
   • You can browse the web. Pocket Internet Explorer is one of the best mobile browsers out there, but mobile browsers are not as great as the browser on your home computer.
   • You can make your office mobile with Pocket Word, Excel and PowerPoint
   • It can play music, such as .mp3s
9. Does Checking Accessing The Internet (E-mail/Browsing) Cost Extra?
   • It can. It’s hard to say definitively because each carrier handles data differently.
   • You have to look at what DATA plans are offered by your carrier. Your plan may include a data plan that will cover your needs. If not, you’ll need to add a data package to your phone plan.
10. Other Tidbits
    • It’s the best thumbboard that Palm, Inc. has released to date.
    • Through 3rd party software, you can use your voice to dial the phone. Fonix VoiceDial
    • The Treo has been designed to be operated with one hand, which makes it very easy to find phone numbers
    • You can add a portable full-sized keyboard to enable you to
    • You can use a regular corded headset, or you can use a Bluetooth wireless headset
    • Analogue Dave would love to see phones start using head-mounted display that connects to your glasses. Similar to the EyeTap.
    • For users who come from a PDA experience, the Treo screen may be smaller than what they’re used to.
    • Michael can’t wait for flexible displays to become a reality
    • If you’re a Mac user, then you’ll need Missing Sync to sync with your computer
11. What Does It Cost?
    • If you buy the phone direct from Palm, Inc., the Treo 700w will set you back $619.
    • Most people buy the phone as a package deal directly from the carrier. Verizon is, as of this posting, offering the Treo 700w for $299 with a two-year commitment.
    • Our suggestion is to check with your favorite carrier and see what deals they are offering.
    • When thinking of the price, keep in mind that this isn’t that much more than buying a mobile phone and a PDA
    • Also remember that ALL mobile phones are discounted by the carriers. Even the free phones often cost $200+ before discount.

A Final Note:
Although Michael is a big fan of Palm OS, if you’re an Outlook user, then the Treo 700w could be right up your alley. If you want the power of a PDA merged with your mobile phone, so that you only carry one device, a smartphone could be just what you’re looking for.

If you need accessories, then we suggest you check out PDAParts.com. We’ve shopped there for years and have had nothing but good experiences with them. They’re good people.

3 comments August 30th, 2006

Episode 2: Firewalls

This week, the Simply Digital guys discuss the cornerstone of your Internet security - Firewalls. Although firewalls may not seem all that exciting of a topic, they are a key component in keeping your computer safe, especially if you use a high-speed Internet connection. Given how inexpensive these devices are today, there is really no reason not to have one.

In Episode 2, Michael Ashby and Analog Dave discuss the in’s and outs of firewalls. From defining what they are, to where to find them, to even how to install them. By the end of the podcast, you should be armed with everything you need to know to secure you office and/or home Internet connection.

Show Notes

• Analog Dave doesn’t know what the show’s topic is prior to taping. This is so that he can have the same perspective as our listeners and ensure that we cover the topic completely.
• Michael’s day job is as a computer consultant.
• Episode Topic - Firewalls
  Although the topic of firewalls may seem a bit dry and boring, they are a critical component to your computer’s security.
  1. What Is A Firewall?
     • A firewall is a tool that protects your computer from outside intrusion.
     • A firewall can be software or hardware
     • A firewall is a barrier between your computer and the Internet
     • If you are connecting to the Internet with a high speed connection (DSL, cable modem) we strongly recommend that you have a firewall between your computer and your modem.
     • If you are still using dial-up, a software firewall is all you need because you’re not connected 24/7
  2. Most firewalls are marketed to consumers as Routers
     • A router is a device that routes your Internet connection to more than one computer. [Wikipeida Definition]
     • Prices vary, but it’s not uncommon to find a firewall for under $50
     • Given their low cost, there is no reason not to have one protecting your computer(s)
     • Routers are often include other built-in features such as a wireless access point, Vonage VoIP service VoIP service, etc.
  3. How To Install A Router
     Always consult the instructions that came with your particluar router, but the following is a typical setup:
     • Unbox the router and place it next to your high speed modem
     • Plug the network cable from your modem into the back of your router. This port is typically labeled the “WAN”
     • Plug the network cable that came with your router into the “LAN” port. If there are more than one, any of them should work
     • Plug the other end of the new network cable into your computer
     • Turn on the router and you’re done!
     We also recommend that you log into your router and change the default password. Don’t leave the default password and settings in place.
  4. Why Do You Need A Firewall/Router?
     • All you’re doing is placing the router between your computer and your modem.
     • Without a firewall in place, you are leaving your computer open to anyone on the Internet.
     • Since high speed connections are leaving you connected to the Internet 24/7 you are at a high risk.
     • If you want to be extra careful, you can also turn off your computer when you’re not using it.
  5. Software Firewalls
     • Windows XP Service Pack 2 and Mac OS X both have built-in software firewalls
     • A hardware firewall is good at keeping “things” from getting in. A software firewall is good for keeping “things” from getting out.
     • If you have a hardware firewall, then you don’t have to have a software firewall.
     • Software firewalls are also good for laptops when you’re mobile, such as coffee shops, hotels, etc.
     • Software firewalls are good to notify you when applications are trying to “call home”. They can be a bit of a pain initially, but if you want to monitor what information is going out, they can be helpful.
     • List Of Software Firewalls:
       • Sunbelt Kerio Personal Firewall (our favorite)
       • ZoneAlarm
       • Tiny
     • If you’re a Mac user and you’d like this type of notification, we like Little Snitch. However, Little Snitch is not a firewall.

A Final Note:
If you want to dig deeper into the topic of firewalls, how they work and why you should have one, we recommend that you listen to Episode 3 of Security Now. It’s definitely a more technical podcast, but it’s loaded with a lot of great information.

5 comments August 23rd, 2006

Episode 1: Podcasts

For the very first Simply Digital podcast, Michael Ashby and Analog Dave give a brief introduction about the show and themselves, then dive first into the topic of Podcasts. Although at first glance, talking about podcasts IN a podcast may seem a bit redundant, but this episode really serves as a primer for those just getting into the medium.

Since Simply Digital is a podcast, what better way to kick things off than by breaking down this new technology? Episode 1 explains exactly what a podcast is, how to find them on the internet, and (of course) how you can subscribe to them so that they automatically download to your computer or digital audio player.

Show Notes

• Welcome
• Introduction Of Show Concept
• Introduction Of Hosts
• Episode Topic - Podcasts
  Why do a podast ABOUT podcasts? To explain what podcasting is, why you might like it and why you might use it. Also, we assume that you already know what digital audio (aka mp3) is.
  1. What’s a podcast?
     • It’s an mp3 file that you can subscribe to
     • It’s typically free
     • It’s typically in a talk show style format
     • It’s an emerging technology
  2. You don’t need an iPod to listen to a podcast
  3. The term Podcast was coined by Adam Curry
  4. Any software digital music player can play a podcast, such as iTunes, Windows Media Player, Winamp, etc.
  5. How do you “subscribe” to a podcast?
     • You need software, often referred to as a Podcatcher.
     • Popular choices include: iTunes, Juice.
     • A complete list of podcatcher software can be found at this link.
     • One of the easiest ways to listen to podcasts is through the free service Odeo.
  6. Where do you find podcasts?
     • iTunes
     • AOL Music
     • Yahoo
     • Odeo
     • PodNova
     • Podcast Pickle
  7. What kind of podcasts are out there?
     • There is a TON of content out there.
     • Not all of it is very professional because it’s mostly “home grown” in nature.
     • Some podcasts are adult in nature, so be mindful of that if you have children, or disapprove of this kind of content.
  8. Why would someone want to listen to podcasts?
     • If you already enjoy digital music, then podcasts make a perfect fit.
     • You’ll find deeper content that you may not find in traditional media.
     • If you work around a computer, then you can easily have podcasting fit your lifestyle
     • If you have a digital audio player (DAP), then podcasts can fit easily into the small pockets of downtime.

A final note: If you’re new to podcasting, then I think the best way to dip your toe in the pool is to create a free account at Odeo and just sample a few podcasts. There’s no software to install and you can listen at just about any computer. So you can try it out at work, at home, or at the local coffee shop. If you decide that you like listening to podcasts, which we hope you do, then you can look at branching out into dedicated software, or mobile devices if you feel the need. Otherwise, Odeo should give you everything you need!

9 comments August 16th, 2006