Home

Month: August 2018

  • Tech Throwback: Treo 600

    Tech Throwback: Treo 600

    like to take a look at where I’ve been to evaluate where Im going. Technology is cyclical after all… wait no its not. That said I still like all the feels that come rushing back like a flood of nostalgia every time I get my hand on the tech I grew up with. Im going to go back periodically and take a looking at the stuff that used to blow our hair back and get our minds rolling. Some of these device blew up and changed the world, some where ahead of their time and some just fell flat and became colossal failures. Today I’m powering up the Treo 600, the first commercial pocket Palm pilot and phone.

     

    The year was 2003 and Linkedin was setting up a place for guys with sideways cellphone belt pouches. We just need the right phone to put in it.. Boom, behold the Treo 600. Palm’s first Palm Pilot and phone in one.

    The Treo 600  is an Internet-enabled Palm Pilot PDA designed and marketed by Handspring then later by Palm. It has a touchscreen with a full  QWERTY keyboard. The Treo 600 functions include those of a camera phone and a portable media player in addition to text messaging and multimedia messaging. It also offers Internet services including e-mail , instant messaging, web browsing, and local Wi-Fi connectivity.

     

    My Hands on with the Treo 600

    The Treo 600 is a rather large device by cell phone standards but compact for a PDA. The 600 is slightly wider and deeper than its predecessor and is nearly half an inch slimmer, giving it a more cell-phone like feel. The new form factor has been compared to a bar of soap. The design is definitely an example of form-follows-function, the front of the phone consists of a full QWERTY keyboard at the bottom with menu and home buttons at the bottom right. Above the keyboard are the 4 application buttons with a “five-way” navigator in-between. Each application button can be mapped to two applications, with the exception of the last button which has one of its functions permanently mapped to the on/off.

    It functions slow and cumbersome by today’s standards but at the time it had the contacts game on lock down. This was the first phone to incorporate the multiple number and emails to one contact. Previous to this you had to list Todd, Todd Home, Todd Cell, Todd work all as an individual contact with one number associated to it… Not any more. Wow we were easy to please back then. The old Gprs network this phone functioned on is long gone and there doesn’t seem to be a Wifi option and I  cant remember if that is correct. Never the less I  cant test a website, and note that the websites where not mobile friendly in those days, you pulled up the full page and had to whip out this little stylus and navigate on a 2 inch screen. Impossible you say? Yes it quite was.

     

    Quick Speck Look

    Specifications
    Mobile phone, GSM/GPRS model with 850/900/1800/1900 MHz bands, CDMA model with 800/1900 MHz bands.
    144-MHz ARM processor.
    32 MB RAM (24 MB available storage).
    Built-in rechargeable lithium ion batteries, lasting more than 24 hours in normal usage.
    Palm OS ver 5.2.1H complete with standard applications including web browsing, email, calendar, and contacts.
    Size 4.4 × 2.4 × 0.9 inches (11.2 × 6.0 × 2.2 cm)
    Weight 5.9 oz. (168 grams)
    Display 160×160 pixels CSTN backlit display
    SDIO / SD / MMC memory slot.
    MP3 and stereo audio headset compatible (requires a converter to accept standard headset).
    Digital camera VGA (640×480) resolution (Most models)
    Infrared com port and touch-screen with stylus.
    Backlit keyboard with phone dial layout.
    Speakerphone and vibrate mode.

    The Final Thought

    This phone failed commercially but set up the Treo 650 which with some minor improvements kept the new Linkedin crowd happy for a nice and health 5 year run. But the 600 in its color less glory was a sight to casually remember…

  • Which Mobility Scooter is Right for You?

    Which Mobility Scooter is Right for You?

    So your mobility isn’t what it used to be… no problem! Today, some insurance companies will actually help with coverage on a mobility scooter, or even pay for the whole thing. Check it out for yourself! Either way, it may be worth checking them out and seeing if it fits your lifestyle. With that in mind, let’s look at the top ten mobility scooters.

    Drive Medical Phoenix Heavy Duty

    A heavy, sturdy scooter for a great price, this one is a good pick. This one has a headlight, which is good for darker areas. It also has a basket in the front for carrying things, making it great for grocery store trips! The seat is customizable, broad and comfortable. For $1,200, this is a great heavy-duty pick.

    Pride Mobility Go-Go Sport

    This scooter is notable for its four-wheel drive and durability. It’s not terribly fast, topping at 4 MPH. That said, it’s rugged and durable, and works great when outdoors! If you like being outside and enjoying the sunlight, this is a great pick! For a combination of durability and mobility, check out the Go-Go Sport!

    E-Wheels EW-72

    A stylish and slick scooter, the E-Wheels EW-72 has a look inspired by classic cars! For those looking to really zoom, this scooter has a top speed of 15 MPH! As a heavy-duty scooter, it works quite well, as it has a top weight rating of 500 pounds! If you’re looking for a great, stylish, heavy-duty scooter, this is a great choice for you!

    Transformer Electric Folding Mobility Scooter

    Another great choice for carrying in a trunk and carrying around with you, this transforming scooter is pretty neat. It folds up into a nice, compact shape so it can go anywhere with you! The battery is airline compliant, so it can fly with you, which is great for those who fly often. If you’re on the move and need a scooter that can keep up, this is the one for you!

    E-Wheels Jellybean Electric Scooter

    The second E-Wheels scooter on our list, this one is also quite heavy-duty! This one is three-wheeled, though, so it’s got a bit of a different construction from some others on this list. The best thing about this scooter, though, is the high speed! It tops out at 18 MPH, which makes it a serious scooter! It has a great battery, too, offering up to 45 miles on a single charge. This one also has an anti-theft alarm, which is great! It sports a huge back-mounted basket, perfect for trips to the market.

    Spitfire 420 Ex

    Another great scooter, this one has interchangeable panels in different colors. The panels come in red, blue and silver, and are easy to change out! It also boasts quick-connect batteries, a comfortable seat and padded armrests. The wheels are anti-tip, which makes this a very safe pick. The front-mounted basket even has an interior lining, which is great for shopping. If you’re looking for a good mobility scooter for medical reasons, such as old age, this is a good pick.

    SmartScoot Lithium Foldable Travel Scooter

    This folding scooter is great to throw in the trunk or backseat and carry with you to a destination. The best thing about this scooter: the battery! It has great battery life for how portable it is for travel. It lasts for up to 12 miles! It also breaks down into three parts, and only weighs 27 pounds.

    Drive Medical Scout 3 Wheel

    At the very low price of right around $600, this three-wheeled scooter is a popular choice. A little less expensive than its four-wheeled counterpart, this one is a good value. The drawbacks to this scooter include its three-wheeled construction, slightly low battery life and make. There are more comfortable, high-end scooters, but if you’re looking for a good bargain, this is it. This scooter is the most affordable on our list!

    Best Value: Drive Medical Scout Compact 4 Wheel

    For those on a budget, the Drive Medical Scout Compact is a very popular choice. At $700, it’s a fantastic value, and it shows in its popularity. It’s a good scooter, with all the trimmings you’d expect from a medical mobility scooter. Older customers on a fixed income love the low price, and the price doesn’t compromise the quality. This one also has interchangeable panels in red and blue, so you can change your style! A great value for the money for those looking to save.

    Best Overall Mobility Scooter: Shopride Sunrunner

    If you’re looking for an especially comfortable scooter, look no further than the Sunrunner! It has a 300-pound capacity and a huge 25-mile battery. You can opt for a headlight, which is quite useful. It has a front basket, perfect for shopping. The star of the show is the big, comfortable seat, though. You can’t beat the level of comfort on display here! It’s hard to find something this premium and high-quality for this price! It retails for $1,500 but can often be found on sale for less.


  • Infinite Battery? The Matrix Powerwatch X

    Infinite Battery? The Matrix Powerwatch X

    Wearable technology is at a bit of a crossroads. Most people who are interested in the tech have pretty much seen everything the field has to offer. However, technology is a notoriously ever-moving industry. Tech companies are not content to see customers hanging on to gadgets they bought four, five, even six years ago. As such, wearable tech has seen a ton of crazy innovations recently to catch consumer interest. Notably, the Ticwatch Pro recently incorporated a revolutionary dual-screen display to help cut down on battery usage. Enter the Matrix Powerwatch X.

    The Matrix Powerwatch X promises infinite battery life. No, really, as long as you’re wearing it and supplying it with body heat, it’ll last you forever. Well, until the you’re out of body heat, huh? Jokes aside, let’s take a quick look at the pros and cons of this interesting new smartwatch.

    Matrix Powewatch X Feature Roundup

    The Pros

    There’s a lot to love about a smartwatch that won’t run out of juice as long as you’re wearing it. The screen is always-on and displays simple information. Steps, time and basic notifications are all visible on the monochromatic display. While the information isn’t very detailed, it’s all easily readable and presented well. The watch is big, bulky and sturdy. In fact, if you don’t like the idea of carrying a huge watch around, don’t even bother with this one. That said, it’s rugged and tough, and will even survive in the pool. It’s waterproof and rated for up to 200 meters of depth. Not too shabby!

    The Cons

    On the flip side, this watch is pretty basic. Sure, it’ll last you forever and ever on battery life, but you pay for that functionality. Both literally and in terms of features on the watch. The Matrix Powerwatch X costs a whopping $280, which is a lot for a watch with such simple functionality. The fitness tracking is incredibly basic, tracking only steps and calories burned. The watch offers notifications but doesn’t display the content of messages. The only thing it notifies you of is the message coming in. While that would’ve been fine in 2005, this is 2018!

    The Bottom Line

    While the ever-charged technology on display here is awesome, it’s not attached to a particularly useful smartwatch. If you absolutely love the idea of an always-charged smartwatch and don’t need a ton of robust features, then maybe you’ll like this watch. However, if you already own an Android Wear or Apple Watch, you’re in possession of much more powerful and robust technology.

    It’s hard to justify spending $280 on a watch that has functionality on par with a $40 smartwatch. The question you need to ask yourself with this smartwatch is “do I find an always-charged battery to be worth $280?” If the answer is no, you can skip this (admittedly interesting) watch.

  • Ten Superheroes Who Need Their Own Movies

    Ten Superheroes Who Need Their Own Movies

    Superhero films are red-hot at the moment. You can’t turn around without bumping into a superhero movie. If you feel as though there still aren’t enough big names out there in the superhero cinematic sphere, however, you’ll love this list. Today, we’re taking a look at the ten superheroes who need their own movies.

    These are some lesser-known heroes from both DC and Marvel, characters we might not be likely to see. That said, the Guardians of the Galaxy, Thor and Iron Man were hardly A-listers before their films came out. Which is to say: there’s always a chance!

    Superheroes Who Need Their Own Movies

    Blue Beetle

    Photo Credit: Amino Apps

    DC’s technologically-outfitted hero Blue Beetle is a fan favorite. Three different heroes have carried the name throughout the character’s history, but the one we’re most likely to see on-screen is Ted Kord. Kord is a student of the original Blue Beetle, Dan Garret. He has no superpowers but uses technology to augment himself to fight crime. Ted would be an excellent protagonist in an Indiana Jones-style swashbuckling adventure.

    Moon Knight

    Photo Credit: Bleeding Cool

    The dangerous, multiple personalities of Marc Spector allow him to blend into normal society before striking out as Moon Knight. Moon Knight, his night-time, crime-fighting identity is outfitted with all manner of gadgets and technology. Marc’s fascinating backstory and multiple personalities would lend him perfectly to a noir-style superhero crime film.

    Booster Gold

    Photo Credit: DC

    Beginning his run in comics as a bit of an anti-hero, Booster Gold would be an ideal protagonist in a deconstruction-style movie. Born Michael Jon Carter in Gotham in the 25th century, Booster Gold grew up in poverty. Upon stealing Rip Hunter’s Time Sphere, however, he traveled back in time and now uses his advanced technology and knowledge of future events to perform superheroics. However, Booster Gold is originally motivated only by a desire to become wealthy and famous, and cares little about actually helping people. While he eventually came around and became a true hero, his origins as a wealth-seeking glory hog would make for a fantastic change of pace in superhero movies.

    Nova

    Photo Credit: Freehdw.com

    Richard Rider’s best shot at entering the MCU would have been through the Nova Corps on Xandar in the Guardians franchise. Given that Xandar has been destroyed, it seems more likely that the current Nova, Sam Alexander, is the more likely Nova to appear in the MCU. Sam’s place as a young hero trying to figure out what happened to the Nova Corps would play quite well with the current state of the MCU. It would also set Rider up to make a return from deep space, perhaps with Captain Marvel, thus explaining how he avoided death at Thanos’ hand.

    Static Shock

    Photo Credit: Comic Vine

    A fan favorite, Static Shock had a very popular Saturday morning cartoon in the early 2000’s. He would be a great, lighthearted hero to get his own film to bring some levity to the DCEU. His expansive rogue’s gallery and charming personality would make him ideal for a standalone movie. It seems DC is more focused on films of this vein after the critically panned Justice League, so we wouldn’t be surprised to see Static in his own movie in the next few years.

    Cable

    Photo Credit: Marvel Database

    He may have had a major role in Deadpool 2, but we still want Cable to get his own movie. The ultra-dark, scowling portrayal by Josh Brolin is absolutely excellent, and we’d just love to see more of him. Also, now that Fox and Disney are merging, Cable would be an excellent candidate to introduce the MCU to the X-Men. Perhaps some kind of temporal cascade or colliding reality brings the two universes together. It would also be delightfully hilarious to see Josh Brolin as Cable fighting Josh Brolin as Thanos.

    Hercules

    Photo Credit: Pinterest
    Marvel’s take on Herc is often sarcastic and parodies his earliest appearances. In the modern comics, he’s a drunk, washed-up has-been of a superhero. A version of him in the MCU who comes out of his drunken retirement to fight ancient Grecian supervillains that threaten the modern world would be a cool use of the character. In many ways, the personality displayed by Thor onscreen is a bit more akin to the Hercules of the 80’s and 90’s and could be why we haven’t seen him yet. Thor’s presence in the MCU may have been too much ancient mythology for the series early on.

    X-23

    Photo Credit: Marvel

    While she technically had a starring role as a little girl in Logan, we’d love to see the adult X-23 take to the screen. Now that Fox and Disney have merged, the odds of seeing a grown-up X-23 have gotten much better. Wolverine’s cloned daughter, Laura is a savage force to be reckoned with and an excellent candidate to star in an action movie.

    Batman Beyond

    Photo Credit: DC
    Terry McGinnis takes up the mantle of Batman in a futuristic Gotham City after Bruce Wayne becomes too old to carry on the name. Another DC character with a strong cult following due to his early 2000’s cartoon, Terry would be a great star for a cyberpunk Batman film. Given the relative age of the Batman seen in the DCEU, this could be a route DC goes in a few years. We’d love to see Terry’s iconic black suit on the big screen.

    Master of Kung Fu

    Photo Credit: writeups.org

    Shang-Chi, the Master of Kung Fu, would be a perfect fit in the MCU. For one thing, the character would be a perfect opportunity for the MCU to have a leading male Asian character. Shang-Chi’s unique backstory and powers would make him an ideal fit following the mysticism of Doctor Strange and Iron Fist. It would also be a unique opportunity in the MCU for a straight-up Kung Fu movie within the superhero setting.