I was impressed with the original REDFLY when I tested it over a year ago. That model worked with Windows Mobile phones, and I found it worked very well. That is important, as a special device like the REDFLY built to do one thing has to do it well. I was excited to hear a new version was available to work with the BlackBerry, as that would be the perfect target audience for the REDFLY. An evaluation unit arrived late yesterday, and in just a short time I must say this is not a solution I would recommend to BlackBerry owners.

There are some road warriors who are now leaving the laptop at home, using the smartphone for all computing needs while traveling, and the REDFLY is aimed directly at these folks. While it is now possible to do many things on the phone that previously would be done on a laptop, there are still some times that a bigger display and keyboard would be great to have in the bag.

That’s the theory, anyway, and this new model that works with some models of BlackBerries falls short. The problem is in the interface of the BlackBerry itself, and it falls so short the question must be asked why should Celio even produce this REDFLY model. The problems with this model are two-fold, the terrible interaction with the BlackBerry interface and the horrible display rendering. Since those are the two basic functions of the REDFLY, you understand why I question producing this model.

There is a trackpad that is impossible to use with the BlackBerry Bold Celio sent for testing. The Bold is not designed to be used with cursor control, and the trackpad is erratic to use as a result. I quickly found the only way to interact with the phone interface was to use the arrow keys on the REDFLY, hardly the desired method.

Worse than the interface interaction, I found the BlackBerry screen rendering on the big 8-inch display of the REDFLY to be unusable. I can explain all day why that is, but these photos do it simply and clearly:

These are not special cases, this is the display quality I found in all apps I tried. I admit I gave up after ten minutes, as I found the display to be unusable for any practical purpose. I realize that the BlackBerry is not designed to work with the REDFLY, and that is the reason for the lousy experience. But I have to question, given how well Celio gets the REDFLY to work with Windows Mobile phones, if the limitations of the BlackBerry are too great then why does this model even exist? I respect the folks at Celio, and still believe the Windows Mobile REDFLY is a great mobile solution.

I should point out that the REDFLY has two display modes. The pictures above were taken with the REDFLY set to stretch the screen as big as possible. You can turn off the stretching, but when you do that only a third of the REDFLY screen is used. The resultant display is only slightly bigger than that of the phone itself, which totally defeats the purpose.

Passwords while on the go can certainly be a challenge. If you use multiple devices like I do, you might have passwords spread out on notebooks, netbooks and other computers as well. While there are cloud-based solutions to help with this situation, some people don’t want to rely on them. For starters, you’re transferring password information over the air, you’re storing password data on someone else’s machine and if you lose connectivity, you’re out of luck. I think there are ways to mitigate all of those concerns, but understandably, not everyone feels comfortable with a web-based solution. RoboForm2GO provides a more tangible solution to password management by offering a portable version on a USB stick. I took a review unit supplied by RoboForm for a spin on my netbook and it certainly solves the problem with a few caveats.

RoboForm sells the portable version of their software for $39.95 to use on your own USB drive or you can pay an additional $9.95 for the software on a 1GB USB stick. The USB stick package also includes a short USB extender cable. My installation on the supplied USB drive was quick and painless. You might be wondering why there’s an installation at all since the software runs on the USB drive — in order for the application to work, it has to attach itself to Internet Explorer. Aside from that, it’s always running on the USB drive, which is where all of your password data is stored. Essentially, you can use the drive on any Windows computer and never fear that your password data is left behind for others to see. The app supports every edition of Windows, from Vista on down to Windows 98 and works with Internet Explorer 5.5 or greater. My usage was done on Internet Explorer 8, although I prefer to use Google Chrome. The RoboForm2GO FAQs indicate you can use the software with Firefox, provided you’re using the portable version of the browser.

So why use RoboForm2Go? Here’s the main selling points, per the product page:

• It runs from USB disk and it attaches to browser from outside.
• No installation to the client computer required.
• Works even if software installs are prohibited.
• When USB disk is pulled out, RF detaches from the browser.
• All passwords are stored on USB drive, not on client computer.

To use RoboForm2Go, you simply connect the USB drive into a computer. Once you do, a RoboForm2Go toolbar magically appears in the browser. Unplug the USB drive and the toolbar disappears, taking all of your password data with it.

The supported data encryption methods include DES, 3DES, AES, Blowfish and RC6. When setting up the application, you supply a master password which is probably the most important aspect. After all, your entire collection of passwords resides on the physical USB drive — lose it and someone has your data. Of course, without knowing the master password to open up the vault, they won’t actually get at your information. The potential to lose or misplace the USB drive is obviously the biggest security issue here, but I think the RoboForm folks have done the best they could to protect your data in that case. It comes down to personal preferences — do you feel comfortable with your passwords on a small device like this?

In my testing, RoboForm2Go worked flawlessly with passwords, different identities, PassCards and form filling. It’s essentially like using the full desktop version of the RoboForm software, so if you’re a fan or user of that title, there’s not much of a learning curve. And although I didn’t test it, you can synchronize you’re data with the RoboForm Online Server — you’ll also need GoodSync2Go for this function. Web synchronization is a key feature for a physical password solution, because without it you completely lose all of your password data if you lose the USB key.

Again, if you’re comfortable with carrying your passwords on a specific USB drive, I recommend taking a look at RoboForm2Go. The biggest downsides in my opinion is that you’re stuck using Internet Explorer with RoboForm2Go, unless you depend on Portable Firefox. I’d like to see the application expand to other browsers. And one minor nit — netbook users fight for every bit of screen space, so adding another toolbar to the display isn’t the most optimal.

Having used the Droid for a few days, let me share my ongoing impressions of the phone. First up, I get asked how I can use so many evaluation phones, while maintaining my sanity having four carrier phones of my own. That’s a fair question, and one with a simple answer. Google Voice is the magic that makes all this work for me. I forward all four of my own phone lines to the Google Voice number, and the GV number is forwarded to the phone I carry with me. Right now that phone is the Droid, so no matter which of my numbers gets a call, it rings on the Droid. Text messages to all four of my phones go right to the Droid through GV, too. And since the Android version of GV is so complete, I set the Droid to use GV for all outgoing calls. It just works.

So back to the Droid, what do I think so far? How does it compare to other phones I own or have evaluated? Would I recommend it for purchase? Patience, I’ll do my best to answer these questions and more.

I have been using the Droid exclusively for the past 4 days, and overall I like it. The size and weight are good for carrying it around in my pocket, and it feels good in the hand. I find the construction is very solid, even the slider has no extra play in operation. It offers a full experience for such a small device.

I am still impressed with the display, it is just beautiful to use for extended sessions. It is bright and vivid, and text is so crisp and easy to read. I find it is so resolute that I routinely use smaller fonts than I do with other phones, and that means more content on the screen at once. The touchscreen has a nice, light touch and is easy to work with.

Android 2.0 is a good evolution for the platform, and I have encountered no issues with phone operation. I am experienced with Android and that no doubt helps, as I find everything where I expect it to be. The widgets work as expected, and while some older widgets do not work on the higher resolution screen of the Droid, most I’ve tried work fine. Having used Android phones with both 5 and 7 home screens that can be customized, I find the three screens of default Android (as on the Droid) to be limiting.

Speaking of customization, that is done using those widgets on Android phones. There are many such widgets in the Android Market, which is good as the Droid ships with none. I found the Droid very plain jane out of the box, and Motorola/ Verizon would be wise to include some widgets for the phone. Widgets not only add functionality and convenience, but they can create the very look and feel of a phone. I am probably biased in this regard having used the HTC Hero for a bit, as the HTC Sense interface is just a bunch of widgets included on that phone. The Droid needs something to make the default home screen special, but all it has out of the box is a few app icons.

The Droid operation is very solid and performance is quite good. Everyone I have let play with the Droid has commented how fast everything happens, and that’s accurate. I find the hardware to be quite capable, even driving that high resolution display. I rarely experience any lags, and find I am able to concentrate on the task at hand rather than the phone itself. That’s the mark of a good device.

I find I rarely use the physical keyboard on the Droid. It’s not a great keyboard to start with, but frankly I find the onscreen keyboards (both portrait and landscape) to be pretty good. The only times I open up the keyboard in landscape mode is if the onscreen keyboard will take up too much of the screen. It does take up over half the screen, and while usually not a problem for short entries, sometimes I need to see the whole screen. The keyboard is useful to have if needed, and since it adds very little thickness or weight I’d rather have it available than not.

Last weekend I took the Droid to a monthly Geek Gathering, and everyone was very impressed with the phone. This was a tough crowd, too, as everyone was tech-savvy and very tuned into the smartphone scene. The performance of the Droid was mentioned repeatedly, and the fact it had a sliding keyboard while remaining so thin was a hot topic.

I have seen on the web numerous reviewers state that the Droid is the best Android phone to date. I largely agree with that assessment, but I temper that a little. If the carrier was not a factor and I was going to buy a phone today, I would buy the HTC Hero on Sprint. There are a few reasons for that choice that I’ll share.

I found the Hero to be just as good a performer as the Droid. While the display was not quite as big as that of the Droid, the Hero was a bit smaller making it a tad more portable. I’ve already stated that I don’t use the physical keyboard on the Droid that much, so the lack of one on the Hero didn’t bother me at all. HTC has included their own onscreen keyboards on the Hero, and they are better than the stock Android versions on the Droid.

The one thing (besides the carrier) that would have me choose the Droid over the Hero is Android 2.0. Specifically, it is the Google Maps Navigation that is included in Android 2.0. I have used the Google Navigation on the Droid and it is flat-out awesome. One 20-mile trip across town I made with the Droid as the navigator demonstrated to me how powerful it is. The ability to follow the route with the overhead satellite view is so useful I can’t state that emphatically enough. I have used navigation systems for years and this first attempt by Google already blows them all away. I would choose the Droid over the Hero for this reason alone, but it’s coming to the Hero soon.

HTC has already stated that it would be updating the Hero to Android 2.0 soon, and that is the clincher for me. Assuming that Google Maps Navigation will be in that upgrade, the Hero is the phone I would choose. HTC includes the Sense interface, a collection of home screen widgets which add a ton of utility while making the phone’s look and feel miles ahead of the Droid’s. Throw in the Hero’s physical phone buttons, and it’s my solid choice.

I still like my Palm Pre, don’t fret you Pre enthusiasts. But I find I can have more utility out of the box with apps already available in the Android Market, and I’m not alone in that regard.

The most visible difference with the new OS is the speed. Everything now happens almost instantly, from menu pop-ups to screen scrolling. You touch and something happens right away. This also applies to the screen auto-rotation, which is so fast now if you blink you miss it. The whole user experience is a fluid, fast one. While it is certainly not definitive, the Storm is as fast as the Storm2 I have seen in a few video reviews.

Another area much improved is the on-screen keyboard. I couldn’t find on the Research In Motion support site exactly what they changed, but the keyboard seems much faster and more accurate. I can double-thumb the landscape keyboard very fast, which makes me think the update made the keyboard more “multitouch friendly.” The predictive text suggestions seem more accurate, too. I am very comfortable using the keyboard in any scenario.

I am also impressed with the web browser. While it is no WebKit browser, this new version is light-years ahead of where the BlackBerry browser was just a year ago. Whole web pages load quickly and look nice. In many ways the browser seems like the WebKit-based browsers found on the iPhone, Android and webOS devices, which is quite an accomplishment. There is no pinch and zoom, of course, but the double-tap zooming happens instantly with hardly any rendering lag. I have been surprised to find that I can now use most pages optimized for the iPhone on the Storm, and they work the same. I could never use the iPhone version of Google Reader on the Storm before, but it works just like on the iPhone now. That’s pretty good for a non-WebKit browser.

I’m sure there are ways in which the Storm2 outshines the Storm. The inclusion of Wi-Fi is certainly a biggie. But I can state having used it for a few days solid, that the Storm with OS 5.0 is now a good Storm1.8, in my view. And that native eReader app is awesome on the Storm, something Android just can’t claim.

As an avid runner, I went out and bought a Nike+ sensor as soon as I upgraded my original iPhone to a 3GS. That solution worked OK, but I think it’s lacking for me in some areas: it has to be calibrated for accuracy, works only with certain shoes and can only be used for running or walking activities. Looking for something to compensate for those limitations, I found RunKeeper in the iTunes App Store. There’s a free version and a $9.95 RunKeeper Pro version. At half the price, I find RunKeeper Pro to be a far better value than the Nike+ sensor because of its flexibility and fewer restrictions.

In this video, I show you what the application looks like and talk about how it works by using the GPS in your handset. Some have complained that the application eats up your phone’s battery too fast, but I simply turn my iPhone display off, which helps tremendously. I did an hour-and-a-half bike ride with the application and only used up around 25% of my battery. Oh, that’s right — you can use this for cycling, which is something else I like to do. You can’t do that with a Nike+. After showing you the application, I share a walkthrough of the online tracking and logging that’s done automatically. It offers a great summary of workouts and dives into some details for those that want more.

Dell e4300 w/ Latitude ON

Dell created some excitement with their recent announcement of the Latitude Z notebook with wireless charging. During the announcement they touched on a new “instant on” technology they were launching, Latitude ON. Instant on technology is nothing new, but Dell’s approach with Latitude ON is novel. Dell was good enough to send me an evaluation notebook, the E4300, with the Latitude ON inside to give you my thoughts. I have been playing with it for a few days and am sharing my first impressions of this new technology.

I will be shooting a video of Latitude ON in action as that is the only way to demonstrate what it does. The rolling thunderstorms today have precluded my ability to do that, so that will have to follow next week.

What is Latitude ON and what makes it new technology? Most instant on solutions use a BIOS solution to allow a notebook to boot into a Linux environment for quick access to information. This method is designed to allow quick access to the web, or email, and thus extend battery life. It is primarily designed to prevent the need for booting into a full Windows environment for quick work sessions.

Latitude ON takes this method a step further. Dell installs a computer on a small motherboard (1 inch x 1 inch) that contains an ARM processor and a small amount of memory. This creates a second computer within the computer, intended to handle the quick sessions it provides. There is a second power button on this Dell laptop that boots into Latitude ON, a process that only takes a few seconds.

This environment is a very stripped down Linux implementation that only offers email, web and PIM functions. Email, calendar and contacts are handled with Evolution and the web browser is Mozilla. That’s it as far as what can be done in Latitude ON. This is designed strictly for the enterprise, in fact it’s of little use to the average consumer.

What makes Latitude ON such a good solution for the enterprise is the second processor. While Latitude ON is running the only part of the system that is powered is the little ARM processor, the display, Wi-Fi and the integrated 3G modem. The system is dedicated to communication with corporate servers to provide all the application horsepower needed. It is configured to work with Citrix servers out of the box, and Exchange Servers, too.

Dell envisions the technology to be used by companies that require that employees access all applications through the Citrix environment. This uses the processing power of the servers to do everything, with clients being in essence dumb clients. This is exactly what Latitude ON is designed to do, and it does that well. The user can be online in just a few seconds, via Wi-Fi or 3G, and connected to the secure corporate network. The Mozilla browser is the conduit to execute applications, and all of this takes very little power.

This is because Windows, and all of the big power consumers like the Intel processor, hard drive and memory, are all powered off while Latitude ON is running. The little ARM processor takes very little power, and Dell claims that the notebook can run all day in this environment. If Windows is running when the Latitude ON button is pressed, Windows goes into hibernation quietly in the background while Latitude ON is firing up. Hitting the conventional power button in Latitude ON shuts it down and fires Windows back up.

The Latitude ON environment is slow, as you would expect with the ARM processor running things. This is not that big a factor if applications are running on a server. The Mozilla browser used is not very capable for anything other than interfacing with the servers. Flash and other plugins are all disabled to tightly control the environment.

I am impressed with the technology that Dell has incorporated into Latitude ON. It makes sense to have a second, low powered processor to run the environment. It is like having a smartphone in the notebook for these special sessions. The integrated 3G works very well in these sessions; the notebook is online with no user interaction at all, and in only a second or two.

Latitude ON is an option on a number of Dell notebooks. It is provided by the single card that can be configured at the time of purchase. I can see enterprises deploying these to workers as a mobile solution that is simple to support.

For the last six weeks or so, I’ve been using an ASUS Eee PC 1005HA netbook on loan direct from ASUS. This model is one of the top responses I hear to the question, “What’s the best netbook out there right now?” After my usage, I’m inclined to agree, although there are some other comparable models, like the Toshiba NB205 that I purchased. In fact, from a hardware perspective, there’s very little that’s different under the hood between the two devices. In situations like that, it generally comes down to personal preferences and little value-adds such as custom software. Let’s take a closer look at the 1005HA, so you understand what I mean.

The 1005HA comes from the ASUS Seashell design, so it’s meant to be thin. Unlike the 1008 model — another Seashell inspired netbook — this model has a removable battery. To me, that’s a must, but I realize that some folks don’t mind carrying an AC adapter. Here’s how the 1005HA stacks in terms of measurements, look and feel.

Design

The 1005HA has a noticeable wedge design from front to back. The thinnest point is closest to you, near the trackpad side of the device and is 26mm. The backside of the device is thicker, but still thin at just over 36mm. The battery sits flush in the bottom and back of the netbook, so there’s no bump-out you like you might find on other netbooks. This design does make the 1005HA a little “back heavy,” as I found it tip back with even the slightest pressure on the display. One other thing I’ve noticed that I’m not fond of — the front of the “wedge” is relatively sharp. The top of the screen which comprises part of the front of the unit when closed, for example, has a noticeable sharpness to it. Not as sharp as the under the keyboard of my Palm Pre, but still noticeable. I didn’t try to cut a cake with it — hey’s, it a loaner! — but I’m betting I could.

Aside from that minor quibble, I like the rest of the design. Under the two hinges are two useful buttons: one is the power switch and the other turns the trackpad on and off.

As far as the trackpad itself, it’s about average in size for a netbook, meaning it’s a little smaller than I’d like. It’s also flush with the wrist rest, so if it weren’t for the tactile little dots on it, you wouldn’t even know it’s there. The two mouse buttons are really one bar, but can easily be clicked on either site. The bar is also flush with the device base. I think it’s fine, but this could be one of those personal preferences I mentioned earlier.

The trackpad supports two-fingered multitouch, so you can pinch in or out to expand or contract pics and web pages. Dragging your finger on the right side or the bottom of the touchpad offers smooth scrolling as well, so overall, I do like the functionality of trackpad.

The keyboard is much nicer than earlier ASUS models and offers generous square keys for a netbook. I was never thrilled with the small, misplaced right-Shift key on my original Eee PC, but that problem is resolved with the 1005HA. All in all, the edge-to-edge keyboard is solid for a small device.

Ports and interfaces

The standard array of ports and interfaces are in the 1005HA. On the left side is the power port, which uses a very small tip. It reminded me of the tips used for Nokia phones, in fact. Next to it is a VGA port and a USB port. The placement of these could use some minor tweaking. I found that if I used a VGA adapter, I could only use a small USB drive or cable in the USB slot. That’s a problem for some of my USB devices like headsets and slightly oversized thumb drives — you can see in the picture that there isn’t much room to spare here. Of course, there are two additional USB ports on the right side, along with jacks for Ethernet, headphones and a microphone. Due to the wedge design, these all tend to be closer to the rear of the device because the front is too thin. It’s not too thin for a card reader though, and that’s where you’ll find one. Above the display is the web-cam.

Since I hit the power port, I should mention that the AC adapter for the 1005HA is one of the smallest and lightest I’ve seen. It measures in around one inch wide and four inches long and slightly under an inch high. I normally don’t like to carry an AC adapter, but this one is light and small. OK, enough about the physical aspects since beauty is only skin deep. Does the 1005HA have any inner beauty?

Under the hood, performance and battery life

As I mentioned, the specs of the 1005HA are drop-dead similar to those of my NB205:

• 1.66GHz Intel Atom N280 CPU
• 1GB of RAM (a door with one screw covers the memory slot)
• Integrated Intel GMA 950 graphics
• 10.1-inch, glossy LED backlit display offering 1024 x 600 resolution
• 160GB hard drive (plus 10GB of online storage)
• 1.3 megapixel camera
• Stereo speakers
• Dual array microphone
• 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1 +EDR

When compared to my NB205, the 1005HA does come out ahead in a few hardware aspects. The dual array microphone trumps the single mic on the Toshiba. And my Tosh only has a single speaker, which explains why the ASUS model sounds a bit better. I also wish my NB205 supported 802.11n for faster speeds and a wider range too. All in all, these are otherwise comparable.

In terms of performance, I’d be hard pressed to say that I experienced a difference when working with the 1005HA instead of my NB205. That’s not surprising, considering the similar components. In fact, I ran the CrystalMark benchmarks on the 1005HA and they were right in line with the ones I ran on the NB205. The 1005HA scored 31,087 marks as compared to the 29,309 marks from the NB205. Note that I had the 1005HA in “High Performance Mode” solely because the NB205 was in “Full Power” mode. When re-running the test in “Auto Mode”, the 1005HA scored just a wee bit less: 30,005 marks.

I took a look at the results from the 1005HA’s higher score and compared them to those of the NB205. The biggest differences were in the computational and graphics tests, where the 1005HA was higher. Memory and hard drive reads / writes were almost identical. I suspect that the ASUS Super Hybrid Engine has something to do with that, since it can adjust the clock speed of the CPU, and even slightly overclock it.

Of course, overclocking can hit the battery life, so that same Super Hybrid Engine can slow things down to conserve power as well. The 1005HA-PU1x that I have on loan uses a 63Whr power pack and it rivals the run-time I see on my NB205. With it, I can get between eight and nine hours of use with Wi-Fi on and the backlight around 40%. I’m specifically mentioning the PU1X model because there’s also a VU1X and an EU1X version of the 1005HA. There are some minor differences, but the main one is in the included battery. The V1UX comes with a 48Whr battery while the EU1X offers a 23Whr unit. Needless to say, the model with the highest battery capacity is one of the longest running netbooks on the market today.

Custom software

ASUS offers a custom dock feature at the top of the display. Some of the items here are just shortcuts, such as the Eee Downloads for drivers and updates. But there are some useful bits here as well — Data Sync can shoot data to or from other devices on the network. Eee Splendid helps customize your display attributes — contrast, color and such. And Eee Tools offers Parental Controls, a simple font resizer and other settings. All in all, these are nice, but ASUS is a hardware company so don’t expect too much in terms of software.

Likes and dislikes

For around $350 to $380 on the street, there’s a bunch to like in the Eee PC 1005HA:

• Lightweight (1.27 kilograms) and thin
• Outstanding battery life
• Solid boot time — around 50 seconds from off to browsing the web
• Redesigned keyboard from older models is much more enjoyable to use
• Custom power setting & CPU clock control increases power efficiency
• Multitouch trackpad support
• Small AC adapter
• Excellent performance for a device in this class

But a few things that I personally find lacking:

• Trackpad could be bigger and mouse bar could be separate buttons
• Port layout might frustrate some
• Front edge is sharp
• Device is a little back-heavy

Again, these are more “personal preference” dislikes, so you may disagree. I’ve seen the ASUS 1005HA in my local Best Buy, so I highly recommend you spend some quality time with one if you’re interested. You could find my few dislikes to be non-issues, and in that case, you’re going to end up with a solid, excellent little netbook. For my web use, minimal multitasking, occasional use of Microsoft Word and basic media playback, it’s works very well.

As a tech writer, I read far more than I write. And most of my reading is through RSS feeds on a computer, be it a netbook or a notebook. I used to read feeds on smaller devices, but the experience was generally sub-par for me. The new NetNewsWire app for iPhone has changed that perception in a big way. I downloaded the free version of the app a few days ago and I’m totally enjoying it. I’m not keen on the advertisements in the free version, mainly because they take up a bit too much space when in landscape mode, so I’m dropping the $1.99 to get the ad-free version. The app is slated for a price increase to $4.99 in October, so hurry up and try the free version if you’re remotely interested.

You’ll need to have or create a Google Reader account to use the application, but I’ve been addicted to Google Reader for a few years now. It meets my needs in terms of features and since it’s web based, I can use it on any device I have. For a while, I used the mobile version on different phones, but again, it just wasn’t the best experience for me.

Once NetNewsWire is installed on your iPhone or iPod touch, you sign in with your Google Reader credentials. Synchronization fires up and my few thousand feeds were all pulled down in under three minutes over Wi-Fi. Once you’ve synced your feeds, you can take your device offline and read at your leisure, although you’ll miss out on link tapping and other features that require connectivity.

The app starts up with all of your feed folders and unread counts showing — simply tap one to expand or collapse it to view the feeds. Tapping any feed provides a list of unread articles in chronological order, from newest to oldest by default. You can reverse that order in the settings if your a FIFO kind of person. Each article shows the title, publication time and the first 40 or so characters of the article. Between that tidbit and the title, I know if I want to tap and read it. I don’t see a way to mark an article as read from this view, although there is a “mark all as read” button for each feed.

Tapping an article brings up a beautiful, easy to read view of the full article as well as any images. From here, you can star it, tap the next unread button, or move up and down through the other articles. A “send to” button at the bottom left offers four additional options: email article, post to Twitter, send to Instapaper, and open in browser. I’m finding that there’s little need for the “open in browser” button. Tapping the article title or any link in the post slides the RSS bit to the left and opens a Safari-like experience for the real deal. All of the Safari controls are in the feed reader: pinch and zoom, cut, copy, paste, etc…

I can’t say that I’ve looked at every RSS reader for the iPhone, but NetNewsWire has me reading feeds with my handset on the go again. And that’s something I haven’t done for at least six months. The performance is solid and the experience is enjoyable. If you use Google Reader and own either an iPhone or iPod Touch, I consider this app a “must-try.”

Regular readers know that I couldn’t do without Skype. The voice over IP service has been a daily staple in my routine since early 2005. Since I use it so much, I’m a perfect candidate to test out new Skype accessories like the FREETALK Everyman USB headset I have on loan. I was initially skeptical because of the headset’s low, $22.88 price tag. But as they say, the proof is in the pudding. After using the Everyman headset for Skype over the past few weeks, it’s easily worth every penny and then some. Have a quick look — and listen — to the audio quality.

The Sprint Navigation is powered by the Telenav system, one I have happily used for years. When I first started using the included version on the Pre, dubbed Sprint Navigation, I figured it was a stripped-down version of the Telenav system since Sprint includes it for free. I am delighted to say it is the full version, no shortcuts were taken (pun intended). The Telenav service normally costs $9.95 monthly, so this is a real bargain on the Pre.

When you first fire up Sprint Navigation, the software taps into the GPS hardware in the Pre. A valid GPS lock happens in just a second, and the software presents a menu offering a number of choices.

These are fairly self-explanatory, and getting going on a route is just a few taps on the screen away. It is a simple process to enter a destination address, or you can search for a business. Places that you visit often can be added as Favorites, making them just a tap away. If you don’t feel like typing in an address on the tiny Pre keyboard, you can choose to call it in. I haven’t used this method myself but it sounds pretty handy when you’re in the car and have your hands occupied.

I find that a little planning makes entering addresses even easier. Sprint Navigation is tied into the Sprint Navigation account that Pre owners have, and addresses can be entered (or pasted) at a computer on the web. These addresses are then pushed down to the Pre, and they can be selected as destinations. I have used this method a lot, and it makes Sprint Navigation extremely useful.

Once the destination is entered using one of these methods, Sprint Navigation determines the best driving route based on user preferences. The 3D map appears and off you go, with spoken directions keeping you on track. The map can be toggled into a 2D version for those who don’t like the 3D map.

We have done a lot of driving in town this week, and city traffic has been a nightmare. Sprint Navigation has been very good at keeping us informed of adverse traffic conditions on the route ahead, and giving us the opportunity to avoid the bad stuff.

Sprint Navigation is a wonderful utility for Palm Pre owners, and providing it free is a good benefit. The service works as well as dedicated GPS navigation systems, and the convenience of having it right in the Pre is nice. The only thing it won’t do that I wish it could is an option to rotate the map into landscape. The Pre can do this no problem but Sprint Navigation will only display in portrait. This is minor and doesn’t detract from a useful utility. I am going to get one of those extended batteries for the Pre, though, as heavy use of the utility does hit the battery hard. Sprint Navigation is a stellar feature for the Palm Pre, and it’s been so useful this week it is my new BFF.

I just can’t help it. When I put the Altec Lansing BackBeat 903 wireless stereo headset on, I have to dance. (Notice, I didn’t say “I have to dance well.”) The sound from this review unit sent by the Altec Lansing is quite good — better than I expected, actually. I can wirelessly control music playback, volume, and even use these to take phone calls. Yesterday, I used these with my Palm Pre to participate in a 2.5-hour conference call, and they worked out very well. The only issue I had was the tiny mute button, which I think needs a little improvement. Bass isn’t the deepest, but holding the Play/Pause button for two seconds gives a bit of a boost to assist in that area.

For $99, I think these offer an excellent value. The sound won’t be quite as good as a high-end wired headset that costs far more, but unless you’re a true audiophile, these should work out nicely. Plus, you gain the convenience of wireless connectivity. As in all things mobile tech, it’s a trade-off.

Got questions I didn’t cover in the video review or here? Just post ‘em in the comments, and I’ll do my best to answer ‘em.

My coverage of the Viliv X70 and S5 UMPCs has been very popular and I am getting asked by a lot of people how the two devices compare during use. This is not an easy question to answer, however, as even though they are comparably configured they are very different devices to use due to their respective sizes. The easiest way to demonstrate how I use each UMPC is on video, so have a look and hopefully you’ll get a feel for how each of the two devices feel.

The X70 is the first up on camera and has a 7-inch screen. Last up is the S5 with the little 5-inch screen and I show how both of them are used in portrait orientation in the hand. Have a look and see what you think about these UMPCs from Korea.

Hardware stuff

The Pre feels nice in the hand. That is important, as I have used a number of phones and other mobile devices over the years that were actually uncomfortable to use. The Pre is not one of those, and I am still impressed with how small it is.

I am finding it hard to slide the Pre up to expose the keyboard. It may be that it is new and stiff, but it can be hard to push up on the phone to get to the keyboard. Once opened, the keyboard is as easy to use for me as other phone keyboards. I like the rubbery keys and how my fingers hit them firmly and decisively, something I often have trouble with on other phones. I also like how the keyboard is backlit for use in the dark.

The center button on the front of the Pre looks like a trackball, but it doesn’t function as one. It is strictly a button and plays a large role in the operation of the interface. I really wish Palm had enabled its use as a trackball; it would make it easier to spin through lists of things. Instead, you must push on the screen to scroll or select something in a list. The trackball would add good value to this interaction.

I am finding the Pre to be responsive, no matter how much is going on in the background. It can bog down a little doing some heavy things, but not oppressively so. The processor handles normal operations just fine.

The weak area of the Pre hardware is the battery life. This is not that surprising, given how small the battery is, and those who are heavy users, especially of data, should plan on carrying a second battery along. The second battery will have to be charged in the Pre, as there is no external charger available.

Touchstone charger

The Touchstone is freaking awesome. There has not been a simpler way to pop a phone onto charge, and I strongly suggest Pre owners who passed on the Touchstone to change their minds about it. It does take longer to charge the Pre on the Touchstone than it does via direct charging via the USB plug. I had wondered about this before the Pre’s release. Everything I’ve read about wireless charging has touched on how much of the energy is lost via wireless charging like that used in the Touchstone. Palm has done a good job making the Touchstone practical, and it is good for most uses, but if you are in a big hurry and need to charge your Pre as quickly as possible then, you should plug it in.

Software stuff

The user interface on the Pre is the best I have used on any smartphone. I don’t say that lightl. The Pre interface will be the one that others will be measured against going forward. It is simple to get to virtually everything on the system in an intuitive way, and that is the very essence of a smartphone interface. The coupling of gestures with controls that have been thoughtfully laid out make the Pre not only easy to use, but fun. Don’t underestimate the importance of an interface that is fun to use.

So far, I am finding all of the programs on the Pre work well and as expected. The email program was easy to set up and works well. The notification system is extremely well-done — it is nice to get a notice when new email arrives, but it is quietly tucked away at the bottom of the screen. It doesn’t interfere with any active program running, yet is easy to get to via a simple tap on the bottom of the screen.

I am liking the calendar app on the Pre, although I am not seeing that cool accordion in the calendar that hides blocks of free time. I don’t see any way to activate that, either. I wonder what I am missing? I have four different Google calendars being synced, and it’s great to see them all on one screen in different colors. A very cool thing is, when I select only one of the calendars to display, any blocks of time committed not being displayed still show as gray blocks. This prevents adding events for time you don’t really have free, even though the other calendars are not visible.

I had expressed some concern over the Pre’s syncing of contacts to my Facebook contacts. I shouldn’t have been concerned, as I am happy with the way it is handled. I do have some Facebook contacts on the Pre that I will likely never want to contact, but it is very helpful how the Facebook information updated the contact information for those who I do interact with frequently. First up, the Facebook sync added all of those contacts’ photos, which is very handy. It also updated address and phone number information where the contact had included it on Facebook, so my information is now automatically up-to-date without my doing anything. Synergy is a wonderful thing.

The Pre’s media playing is pretty good, nothing amazing, but OK. The YouTube app does as good a job playing those videos as the iPhone’s does, and the Amazon MP3 app makes it a breeze to get new music purchased and added. The speaker won’t win any audio quality awards playing music, but it is loud enough and decent enough to get by.

I use my phones to read e-books a lot with both the eReader Pro app and the Kindle for iPhone, and the lack of these is a big hit to my use of the Pre. I have no word from the companies behind these apps that they are working on a Pre version, but I hope they do. Amazon may very well produce a Kindle for Pre app, as it would go hand-in-hand with the Amazon MP3 app I mentioned that is already on the Pre.

Web browsing

This has to have its own category, as I already made it clear I felt the Pre must do the web well to have a chance. I am very happy to report the browser on the Pre delivers nicely. I find it as good as the Safari browser on the iPhone, but faster — not just a little faster, either; it is much faster at rendering pages and moving around. The multi-touch controls work just as well as they do on the iPhone and, coupled with the speed, it is a nice experience.

I use Google Reader to work with RSS feeds, and the iPhone-formatted version of Reader works fine on the Pre. It’s not quite as pretty nor as slick as it works on the iPhone, but everything works, and it’s nice to use. I also love the bookmark thumbnails in the browser, and off the top of my head, I can’t think of anything about the browser I don’t like. Well done, Palm.

I also am a big Twitter junkie and have been using Tweed that I obtained through the App Catalog. There aren’t a lot of apps in the Catalog yet, but Tweed is a keeper. There’s nothing special about it compared with Twitter apps on other platforms, but it does Twitter well.

I know I’ll get asked what other apps I have installed on the Pre through the App Catalog, so here’s my list so far:

• New York Times
• Pandora
• AccuWeather
• Tweed
• Where
• FlightView
• AP Mobile
• Today Show

That’s all I’m going to get into presently. I am sure there will be plenty of additional coverage of the Pre from both Kevin and me.

Before I forget, I should thank my son Tyler for getting up so early and waiting in line with me. Hey, 11 years old isn’t too young to start the geek training, is it?

Now…on to the Palm Pre!

Box and presentation:

Kevin-  The design of the package is very Apple-like, for lack of a better term. It reminds me of some recent HTC packages as well. The box has an angled cut for a portion of the back, so it can be its own “display.” Very elegant!

James- There is a clear plastic card with the manual that says “inspired by and designed in California.” Could this have something to do with all those ex-Apple engineers?  :)

Physical device in general:

Kevin- You’ve all seen the Pre enough by now that I don’t have to describe it. While I understand why some folks have used the word “plasticky” to describe it, I don’t think that should be a negative. It is plastic, so that’s how it should feel. But it does feel solid; after all, it’s shorter than my iPhone, but thicker due to the slide-out QWERTY. Yet it weighs a little more. The weight feels “right” to me. Buttons are placed nicely and blend in well.

James- I find the Pre to feel rather solid in the hand, and folks will be surprised how small it is. It is slippery out of the box — I almost dropped it in the Sprint store. The matte back that comes with the Touchstone fixes that problem.

Here’s a shot of the iPhone 3G, Pre, Storm and G1:

Screen:

Kevin- I love the screen. It’s bright and vibrant, although I haven’t used it outside as it’s a cloudy, rainy day here. The 480 x 320 res is great for this screen size. Everything looks super-clear.

James- Ditto. Putting it next to the iPhone 3G, the Pre screen is much smaller. It is so crisp that it doesn’t seem to be smaller, especially when browsing the web.

Keyboard:

Kevin- I knew it was small and would take some getting used to, but I feel like I’m already getting used to it. The keys don’t stick out very far, but you easily feel their rubbery texture. The actual slide-out mechanism is pretty thin, but not flimsy. As far as I know so far, the keyboard is not backlit. I could be mistaken on that, but that’s my impression as of now. I can already type as fast as I can on my iPhone keyboard, so I anticipate that with further experience, I’ll exceed my iPhone typing speeds. The gesture area under the screen is very useful: left swipe to go back in whatever app you’re in.

James- I am not a thumb board person generally but I haven’t had any problems getting used to this keyboard. The keys are rubbery in feel, which makes them work well for me. They are not slippery at all.

WebOS:

Kevin- So far, so very good. Apps might not open instantly in some cases, but overall, I’m finding WebOS to be snappy. Multi-tasking with cards is (dare I say it?) fun. Email setup was painless, although I had to do the manual setup for my GigaOM/Google Apps account. Pretty standard fare there. I haven’t spent much time looking at the other apps just yet. The notifications are smartly done…very informative, but not intrusive.

James- It is faster in operation than I had been led to expect by some of the early reviews. I have opened six apps at the same time, and everything felt it was working as I would expect, not slow.

Third-party apps:

Kevin- We already knew the software cupboard would be pretty bare. Hopefully, Palm gets the Mojo SDK out to the general developer community soon, because I’m already missing my fave apps: Facebook, Mint, USA Today, TwitterFon and WordPress Mobile. There are some Twitter apps in the App Catalog, so I’ll grab them for now. BTW: I used the WordPress Mobile app on my iPhone this morning to post from the Pre line. I’m a huge NASCAR fan, so I can’t wait to try that one tomorrow during the Pocono race. Pandora is already rocking on the Pre.

James- I watched the Disney channel live through Sprint TV that is installed, and it was just like watching a little, tiny TV. That’s all I’ve had time to play with so far.

Sound quality:

Kevin- The speaker on the Pre is louder than I had expected. The included headphones are certainly usable, but I’ll probably use my Shure set in the 3.5mm headphone jack, which is at the top, center of the Pre. I don’t have a Bluetooth stereo headset for now, but I will use the Pre with the Plantronics Voyager PRO for voice calls.

James- Call quality is good, the speakerphone is loud. I love the way the phone is automatically switched to speakerphone mode when it’s sitting on the Touchstone charger.

Web browsing:

Kevin- This gets its own category for two reasons. First, I use the web on my phone all the time. Second, because it’s that good on the Pre. Our home page is rendering in under 10 seconds over EVDO. Of course, the signal strength will have much to do with getting the data to the browser, so your mileage may vary. Intelligent zooming and scrolling works well. The browser lags less than the one on my iPhone.

James- I am impressed with the browser experience and the speed on the Sprint 3G network. A few minutes ago, I connected to my home Wi-Fi network, and it now blows me away. It is definitely faster than the iPhone, T-Mobile G1 and BlackBerry Storm.

Touchstone

Kevin- I hated to get the last Touchstone at my store, but I’m already glad I got it. I haven’t even used it yet, but I’m happy because the little door that covers the Pre’s USB port is small and hard to open for me.

James- This thing is simply awesome! It is almost worth the price of admission to the Pre for me. It doesn’t come with a power adapter; you have to use the one that comes with the Pre itself, which surprises me a little. The gecko surface on the bottom of the Touchstone is nice and grippy, and the Pre pops on the charger with no effort — very nice technology.

Here’s the Touchstone and the two Palm Pre back covers; Touchstone cover on left:

Camera:

Kevin- Too soon to tell yet, but I quickly snapped a pic of my desk in so-so lighting:

I emailed the pic to myself, and you can see the full-resolution image by clicking it above.

Gotchas:

Kevin- I think I know why Palm didn’t let anyone hold the device until the launch. The backside gets fairly warm. In as little as 10 to 15 minutes of usage, I noticed heat on the back, just under the Palm logo. I’ll have to put the Touchstone compatible back on my Pre to see if that makes a difference, although I suspect it won’t. As a point of reference: My iPhone can get this hot, too, but not during everyday use. I noticed it with the iPhone when I play a game like Peggle. On the Pre, I notice it just by using the web or email. Also, as nice as it is to have a removable battery, I found it pretty difficult to remove the back cover.

James- When Kevin mentioned the heat issue to me, I was surprised. I had changed the back of my Pre to the Touchstone compatible one, and I haven’t noticed any heat, even now that he has me looking for it.

More to follow:

Obviously, we’ve had very little playtime with the Pre, and there’s so much more to look at. Overall, we’re pretty impressed so far, and there’s sure to be more thoughts to share. Pop any questions in the comments, and we’ll see about answering them in a written follow-up, or perhaps with a video Geek Session!

Here’s a quick rundown of the advertised features:

• Bluetooth 2.1 +EDR
• Two noise-canceling microphones
• Stainless steel windscreens
• 6 hours talk time, 5 days of standby, fully charged in 1.5 hours
• Multipoint support for pairing to multiple devices
• QuickPair technology
• Micro-USB connection for charging
• S, M, L silicon eartips and two foam covers

I haven’t completely tested the battery life claims, but my initial testing indicates that this battery does last a long time. It took two hours of talk time and about a 1.5 days of standby before the battery indicator went from full to two-thirds full. Although I haven’t heard them yet, there are two battery warning indicators: one is a warning tone and one is an audible, spoken warning when you’re down to the last 10-30 minutes of juice. There is a small LED light over the power button that displays the remaining battery life. This light is also used to indicate that the device is on or is in pairing mode.

While battery life is important, so is the comfort and fit of the device. The PRO excels in all three areas for me. It’s a bit larger than other headsets I’ve used, but is still very comfortable. The larger size helps with the run-time since there’s more room for a battery, yet the device weighs a manageable 17 grams. The three different silicone tips offer sizes that should work for most people. The only minor gripe I have with the comfort and fit is for folks like me who wear glasses. Since the overall device is relatively large and fits over the ear, it sits up against my glasses more than any other headset. That hasn’t been an issue for me, but it may take getting used to for some. I’ve worn the PRO for over four hours straight, however, and it’s generally been comfortable.

The bigger size offers another advantage in my opinion as well: buttons you can see and touch. I’m just not a fan of trying to find the right button on a headset, which I often find is the case when using one that’s smaller. That’s simply personal preference, but if you have the same opinion, then you’ll be happy with the PRO. The power button is on the bottom, back of the unit, so you won’t accidentally turn your headset off when using it. Up and down volume buttons are next to each other on the top; press them both to mute or unmute a call. The call control button is placed intuitively over the internal speaker and is easy to use. By placing the buttons apart from each other, they’re simple to find and you won’t confuse one button with another.

So how does the headset sound? From my side, callers are extremely clear. Plantronics claims an adapter 20-band audio equalizer helps in this area. On the other end, I haven’t yet found someone that could tell I was on a Bluetooth headset. For each of my test conversations, I waited until the end of the call to ask about the sound quality;aAt that point, I told folks that I was on a headset. Not one of them had any idea until I told them. The AudioIQ feature helps to reduce background noise — up to 80dB, according to Plantronics.

Although this definitely isn’t the best test scenario, I paired the device with my MacBook and recorded a short sample for you to hear. I was standing at the open window of my home office while the rain was falling the birds were chirping. Here’s the unedited file in an MP3 format.

I haven’t tested the wind reduction solution, mainly because it hasn’t been windy. I suppose I could run around the yard and talk, but that isn’t a real-use scenario. The boom microphone does offer a wind shield to offset wind noise.

Folks that carry more than one mobile phone will be happy with the MultiPoint support. I was able to easily pair the PRO with two handsets. To switch to call from one phone to another, you just press the call control button to end the one call, then press it again to pick up the other call. Pressing the call control button twice in quick succession initiates a redial, which is useful. The same button can be used to reject incoming calls as well.

All in all, I’m extremely impressed with the Plantronics Voyager PRO. If you prefer a smaller, lighter headset then maybe this isn’t for you. I find that the bigger size and smart design offer advantages in terms of usability and battery life. Here’s a video overview of the device just to give you an idea of the button placement and size.

I have been using Verizon 3G service for years. I started with a PC Card modem, migrated to an ExpressCard solution, and most recently I switched to a USB modem (USB727). These have all worked fine, but a little limiting for me given the multiple devices I use while mobile. These all require the Verizon Access Manager software to be installed on each laptop so the modem can be used. The process with a new device is to download and install the Access Manager, unless the software is already included on the device. In that case, you still need to install the software. This process installs all of the modem drivers for the given notebook. Once everything is installed, connections can be manually started as desired once the modem is inserted into the system. It’s not bad for a one-shot process, but it’s a pain given all the various notebooks and UMPCs I evaluate.

The Verizon MiFi is a combination 3G modem and Wi-Fi router that is battery-operated for full mobility. Once the MiFi has been activated (more on that later) the device connects to the Verizon Mobile Broadband network (renamed from BroadbandAccess) simply by pushing the power button. In just a few seconds, the MiFi is connected to the 3G high-speed network and the Wi-Fi router takes over. The MiFi appears as a hotspot to any device with Wi-Fi capability, and making the Wi-Fi connection is as simple as entering the network security code which is printed on the back of the MiFi. That’s it: The notebook or other device is now connected to the Verizon network via Wi-Fi. The network code only has to be entered to make the first connection, after which it’s an automatic process. That’s the beauty of the MiFi method: Push the power button and the laptop/UMPC/phone is connected to 3G.

Taking a look at the specs of the MiFi shows just how small yet full-featured this device is:

• Dimensions: 3.5″ x 2.3″ x 0.4″ (90 mm x 60 mm x 8.8 mm)
• Weight: 2.05 ounces (58 g)
• Battery: 1,150 mAh (user replaceable)
• Antennas: internal; 800/1,900 MHz, CDMA (EV-DO Rev. A)
• WiFi: 802.11 b/g
• Usage: four hours (one Wi-Fi client); 40 hours standby; charge time 2.5 hours charger, 7-8 hours USB cable
• LEDs: Power- 4 color; Status- one color
• Connectivity Features: auto connect; EVDO/1xRTT; VPN compatible; dial-up; NDIS support
• Text messaging: VZAccess manager in USB mode required; message received notification; delete/reply/forward
• Security: CDMA authentication; dynamic MIP key update; CHAP; Wi-Fi- WEP/WPA/WPA2-PSK, SPi firewall; MAC/ port filtering; NAPT/DHCP server enable; VPN pass-through
• OSes supported: Windows 2000, XP, Vista; Mac OS X 10.4 or higher

The MiFi is not much bigger than a credit card and can be easily carried around. Verizon is offering three ways to get the 3G data service:

• $39.99 month for 250 MB with $0.10 per MB overage
• $59.99 month for 5 GB with $0.05 per MB overage
• $15 per day with no contract

Those expecting to use the service more than a few days per month will likely want to consider one of the monthly options, but it’s nice to see the day option for those who don’t travel much. The MiFi will be available online and in Verizon stores on May 17 and will cost $99.99 after a $50 rebate. Those who want to go the daily rate route can pick up the MiFi from Verizon for full retail price: $269.99 without a contract.

Getting going with the MiFi

The MiFi ships from Verizon with the device, battery, USB cable, power adapter and cloth carrying pouch. The unit is glossy black, and the pouch can be used to clean fingerprint smudges from the surface. It’s a simple process to open the battery compartment and pop a battery into the MiFi. The next step to get going is to connect the MiFi to the either a Windows or Mac system via the short USB cable. Windows recognizes the MiFi as an EVDO modem and auto-installs all the drivers needed to use the modem via USB. The VZAccess Manager software must be run once to activate the modem and prepare it for use, and it auto-installs from the MiFi. The whole process takes just a few minutes, and the MiFi is ready to go.

The MiFi is designed to be used as a modem via Wi-Fi, and it shows up as a Verizon Secure hotspot to any device. It is encrypted, and the password is printed on the back of the MiFi for one-time entry: After that, the notebook or device will connect automatically like it does to any other Wi-Fi hotspot. It’s simple and hassle-free, which is the strength of the MiFi over traditional modems.

Since the MiFi works as a Wi-Fi router, the Verizon 3G network appears to all devices as a simple hotspot. This means the MiFi can be used with any notebook, netbook, UMPC or phone, with no software required. It is, thus, the only 3G modem solution that has both Wi-Fi and 3G integrated, so it can be used easily by any phone with Wi-Fi capability, and also with Linux-based netbooks, without worrying if drivers are needed. This makes the MiFi the most versatile 3G solution currently available — and why I say it is “mobile broadband done right.”

Up to five devices can share the MiFi connection simultaneously, although they share the single 3G pipe. I have connected three devices with no detectable lag, so I don’t think five would be too heavy a burden for the MiFi. Just remember that the monthly data cap (250 MB or 5 GB) will be tapped by the total throughput, so I wouldn’t have five devices running around the clock. I personally have the 5 GB option with my current Verizon plan, and I don’t see that being a problem with the MiFi.

The MiFi can be used with a USB connection should the battery run out during the day. This requires using the VZAccess Manager program to connect to the network, however, so it will need to be installed on whatever device it is connected to. Remember, this is done automatically when setting up the MiFi, so it’s not a big deal.

The status LED flashes green to indicate data transmit/receive during normal usage. The power button on the MiFi changes among four colors to indicate the following conditions:

• LED not lit — no power to modem
• LED Blue — modem is powered on and roaming
• LED Green solid — modem is powered on and fully charged
• LED Green glowing — modem is in hibernate
• LED Red blinking — modem battery is critically low
• LED Amber solid — modem battery is charging
• LED Amber blinking — modem error, see user manual

The MiFi can be used on Macs without the VZAccess Manager software, according to Verizon, but I did not try that since I had already activated using Windows. It’s a standard Wi-Fi hotspot after activation, so it will work on anything that can access hotspots.

Conclusion

The Verizon MiFi is a simple-to-use 3G method that allows up to five devices to access the 3G network at a time. It is a full-blown Wi-Fi router and can be controlled via a web browser interface the same as any other router. I am able to access the MiFi easily on any device within ~30 feet, farther than that and the signal strength drops dramatically, which is expected for such a small router.

I have been so impressed with the operation of the MiFi I intend to get one as soon as this evaluation unit goes back to Verizon. I feel it is worth the subsidized pricing, and the 5 GB plan is adequate for my needs. Bear in mind I am already paying the $60 per month, so in my case, I am simply going to switch from a USB stick modem to the MiFi. Your needs are likely different, and you need to weigh those needs with the various costs associated with the Verizon plans.