Yesterday found me in a place where none of us like to be, the car repair shop. My old car was in need of some repairs, and I spent a few hours sitting in one of those comfortable car shop waiting room chairs. I knew I would have plenty of time on my hands so I brought two pieces of gear in my kit, the ThinkPad x200 Tablet PC and the Verizon MiFi.

I brought the x200 because of the flexibility it provides for working extended periods. It is thin and light, and the ability to rotate that screen around into a slate form insures it can be used comfortably, no matter the environment. That flexibility was the call of the day, so the x200 went into the bag.

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The MiFi is still firmly on my list of all-time most useful gadgets, and this week Novatel released a firmware upgrade to keep it on the list. It is not a major upgrade but does address some points that aggravate some folks:

• Now fully compatible with Nintendo DS and BlackBerry Curve
• No longer goes into hibernate mode while plugged into AC.
• Now works properly while roaming internationally
• New Administration page enhancements:
• Fixed Roaming indicator added
• Sprint Only mode support added
• Allows international access
• WiFi Channel Default changed to ‘Auto‘
• DHCP IP ranges now support class A, B and C

This upgrade is for both the Sprint (international) model and the Verizon MiFi model. I applied the upgrade to my Verizon MiFi and note the following for others wanting to upgrade:

If you always use the Verizon MiFi over Wi-Fi, you will not see any indication that the firmware upgrade is available. It must be downloaded and applied while connected via USB. You will find the upgrade firmware selection under the Options menu in the Verizon Access Manager (VAM) program. The upgrade only takes 5 minutes and the PRL will be updated after the firmware upgrade is completed. Note that it is not possible to upgrade the firmware using the Mac version of the VAM. I also attempted to apply the upgrade on Windows 7 running under Parallels Desktop on the Mac and that would not work. It applied fine on Windows 7 on a non-Mac PC.

(uneasysilence via zatznotfunny)

Novatel is marching ever onward with the MiFi line of 3G W-Fi routers. The Verizon MiFi I’m using is still my gadget of the year, and we’re already in October. When Novatel first announced the HSPA version of the MiFi, I questioned the logic of adding features to a gadget that I felt had the benefit of being a simple-minded device. Today, Novatel has announced an agreement with Eye-Fi for applications preloaded on every MiFi except those on Verizon and Sprint. I must confess I’m still unsure if this application business is something that’s really needed.

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This week saw Mobile Tech Manor grow wings as I packed up my gear and headed for the Mobilize09 conference in San Francisco. It was a whirlwind trip that was short yet jam-packed with activities, getting ready for the conference and the event itself. I had a great secret session playing with the new Motorola CLIQ Android phone. I had a blast and while I am getting ready to head back to Houston I’d like to share the week with you. Come on in and lets talk.

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It is the end of the week and that means it is time to share my past week with you. It was a week of updates and software experimentation at Mobile Tech Manor, and I did some thinking about an upcoming trip. There were e-books galore as usual, and I believe we’ll see an e-book reader that will set the sector on its ear. Come on in and share the week with me.

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The Verizon MiFi may be handling all my mobile data connections, but that’s because I’m not roaming globally. I’m stuck in North America with my MiFi and business travelers need more than that. That’s why Verizon is releasing the ZTE AD3700 global modem, which works on both Verizon’s domestic EVDO network and also on HSPA networks abroad. The USB modem launches today for $80 with a rebate.

(via engadget)

It is the end of a week that has flown by, due mainly to having a house full of visitors. My daughter and her family came in to visit and a great time was had by all. The visit meant running all over town and seeing a lot of things I normally don’t see. It also gave me a chance to work strictly while mobile, with a common sight being me with a laptop working in a chair whenever time permitted. I didn’t spend a lot of time in Mobile Tech Manor, but then MTM is as much a mobile concept as a real place. Come on in and I’ll share my week with you. We’ll take a look at all the mobile gear that got used all over the place.

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The Novatel MiFi is one of those great inventions that impacts everyone who uses it. The ability to tap into a 3G mobile network anywhere with multiple devices is extremely useful. Throw in the fact that it is a Wi-Fi router, and the ease of use makes the MiFi a ground-breaking device. Those on HSPA networks like AT&T in North America can now enjoy the Novatel Wireless MiFi’s benefits with the release of the 2372.

The first U.S. versions of the MiFi were limited to the CDMA networks of Verizon and Sprint. Novatel indicated it would soon be releasing the HSPA version, which makes the MiFi available for virtually any network globally.

Check out our review of the Verizon MiFi to get a feel for how useful this device can be. The new MiFi 2372 has all of the same features; plus, it adds an application server, GPS and microSD slot to the mix. While I was originally unsure if the server would add unnecessary complications to a simple device, I realize that enterprises could take advantage of this capability. Corporate IT departments are still reluctant to let mobile workers access the secure internal network remotely, but they could produce software for the MiFi to address their concerns. Anything that can make companies more willing to allow remote access to employees is a good thing.

This weekend I head out to a GigaOM team meeting on the west coast, and I am really looking forward to the trip. It’s always a blast to see Kevin and my friends at GigaOM in person. Otherwise, I start to thinking of these cool folks as disembodied heads floating around in my email. This is a short trip so my gear bag will be light. I always share what it going with me on my trips so here is what I am taking.

• Booq Boa XS backpack (discontinued)
• 13-inch unibody MacBook, second battery too
• Verizon MiFi
• Monster Outlets To Go
• iPhone 3G
• Palm Pre
• Chargers: MacBook, MiFi, iPhone, Pre
• Cables: Ethernet, USB – miniUSB (MiFi & Pre)
• Incase MacBook sleeve

That’s it. My bag will be easy to carry given what I will be able to accomplish with this kit. I did decide to bring the MacBook instead of a netbook, just to make sure I’m covered in the computing needs department. The MiFi should make sure I have a decent web pipe no matter what, but in the unlikely event my coverage is poor, the iPhone 3G will let me tap into the AT&T 3G network. Yes, I have activated the big, bad tethering option that Kevin pointed out recently.

The chargers, outlets, cables and sleeve will all be packed in my checked bag. That way I am only carrying what is absolutely needed through the three airports for the trip. I don’t need any of that stuff during the trip anyway. The Incase Sleeve is easy to pack and I like to have it for carrying the MacBook once I’m at the destination. I am a firm believer in only carrying what you absolutely need, always.

Everything else travels in the backpack with me. This will be an odd trip as I am carrying both the iPhone 3G and the Palm Pre. I need the iPhone for the possibility of tethering as I mentioned, something the Pre cannot do. I use the iPhone for reading e-books too, so it would accompany me in any event. The Pre is my main phone working with Google Voice so it will be in my pocket the whole trip. I hope to do some sightseeing in the Carmel area while on the trip, so the Sprint Navigation on the Pre will come in handy. It is a Telenav product, and it is simply wonderful to use.

I have been using the MiFi for weeks now, and it still thrills me to do so. There is something liberating about pushing the MiFi power button, waiting a few seconds, and then getting any Wi-Fi enabled device onto the web. No wires, no fuss, simple elegance. The MiFi I own is from Verizon, and what sets it apart from those USB modems of the past is the ability to get up to five gadgets online with a single connection. Even when I am working on a laptop, I always have the Palm Pre or the iPhone 3G sharing the connection, too. I share that connection with others rarely, and then usually only family members. I realized today that I actually share the MiFi connections less than I have shared the old, USB connection in the past.

So why don’t I share the connectivity more often than in the past, given the easy ability to do so with the MiFi?

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