Smart Phones: $99-$299 with two year agreement:  There is a plethora of choices out there! And as time has gone on, it appears that if you want a certain smartphone, it means siding with a certain carrier. And almost everyone loves one device that does email, messaging, social networking, GPS functions, etc. I am finding that many folks are loyal to their carrier, no matter how good or bad the service.  So depending upon the carrier, these are the phones I would recommend.

• Sprint - The Palm Pre. Yes, they just introduced the Pixi, however, the Pre offers a faster processor, WiFi, and a fan base that thus far, the Pixi doesn't.
  
• AT&T - There has been lots of hype around the iPhone. The iPhone isn't perfect, but it is really a great device, especially for music and movies. Apple has done a great job of mending it's iTunes service to this device. But AT&T also offers several Black Berry devices. Black Berry is known for strong messaging/email abilities, and if this is a very important feature to your Tech Head, might be a better choice over the iPhone. If music and movies get your techies nod, the iPhone is certainly the correct choice. Also, you might consider the HTC Tilt II. Windows OS might be showing it's age, but it still gets the job done. For years, it has done, pictures and video well. It has offered GPS, and IMAP email. If your Techie is loyal to Windows phones, the Tilt II would be an excellent choice!
• T-mobile - This carrier offers a couple of Android OS devices. The CLIQ is $199 with two year agreement. If your Tech Head is loyal to Windows phone, take a look at the Touch Pro II. This device is a solid performer and you won't find a better speaker-phone on the market.
• Verizon - There is a new kid in town here.  The Motorola DROID! This device offers High Def Quality Display, 5 meg camera, a sliding keyboard, and is currently selling very well. This device is an excellent alternative to Apple's iPhone, as it's diplay is larger, it has beautiful animation, and offer's something that the iPhone doesn't: A tactile keypad.

If your tech head is not satisfied with his/her current service and is willing to switch to a new carrier, the iPhone on AT&T, the DROID on Verizon and the Pre on Sprint are probably the three most popular smartphones currently offered.

Its been a few days since I have posted anything . . .  This really isn't going to count toward a new post I don't think . . .  I have been busy but I do have some new articles planned for this space.  I have been testing so new 3rd party Windows Phone apps and will soon post reviews for several of these.  But I thought I would take the opportunity to ask you, the reader, what reviews you would like to see here.  I will be more than happy to review any app designed for the iPhone, Palm, and Windows Phone Platforms.  I limit myself to these apps because these are the platforms I have easy access to . . .  If you are wondering what my take is on any app out there, comment below and I will see what I can do to give my take on it. 

I am still amazed that I get almost 2000 visitors to this site each month! I don't try to sell or get rich, just take time out to offer my opinions on things that interest me.  I am honored for all the traffic and humbled by the almost always pleasant comments!  And I do apologize for not posting more often!  However, this is something I do, and not something I get paid to do, therefore, my time is limited . . . . 

So just how do you test bullet proof glass? Well, in this clip, you had someone hold it in front of their face! This was taken in 1932.  I am guessing that maybe some testing was done BEFORE they decided to get the lady to hold it in front of her face.  But as I watch this clip, there are so many things that run through my head . .

• Honey, come here and hold this up in front of your face while I shoot this here rifle to see if this glass really will stop a bullet.
• Hey, lets get Mabel over here.  If it don't work, its just Mabel
• You try it! No, You try it!, No you try it!  Hey lets get your sister!  She's already ugly!

I recently built a web site for a Chiropractor friend! This site included several very well put together videos on a person's health and wellness.  These videos were recorded in several different places, including the office, the mountains and a lake. Included at the end were some bloopers that happened during filming. The one below impressed me pretty much so I asked if I could post this and share with my buds.  He was more than happy to oblige. Enjoy as Dr. Merrill shows you the "improper" way to sit.

You can check out the complete web site here:

It was interesting to read this week, that Palm would no longer offer a Windows Mobile phone in it's line up.  Interesting, because this company who pretty much invented the smartphone, one day woke up and realized that it had sat on it's hands and no longer had an innovative or "special" device.  Black Berry and Microsoft had their own offerings that revealed several weaknesses in the capability of Palm devices. Mulititasking was an issue with Palm OS. Clunky, and unreliable even after years of using basically the same Operating System. Palm knew they needed to do something to survive, and this was to license Microsoft's Mobile Operating System in that familiar Palm Candy Bar phone design.  In short, they probably owe Microsoft for saving the company.  NOT that the company has had smooth sailing since making this move.

Palm found itself drowning in a smartphone ocean with new predators like Apple, HTC, Android, and Samsung, all the while, trying to re-invent itself.  And it looks like Palm has done that for now! WebOS has been a success. The OS has a beautiful interface, and the Phone Hardware for the most part has been accepted by the public. Now, after the release of the Pre, rumors have circulated around Palm's next WebOS device.  The "Pixie". Experts are saying that this phone will probably sell for $99 with a two year commitment. Palm/Sprint recently lowered the price on the Palm Pre to $150 with a two year agreement.  And Palm's "App Store" is almost ready for Prime-time, with many new apps to expand it's abilities. All of this adds up to a real commitment to go head to head with the Great White of smartphones; Apple! 

Palm has said that they are putting all their efforts into WebOS. With limited resources in these times, I guess that makes sense. But something deep inside me feels a little sad. At the time that Palm stuck a Windows Mobile Operating System on a Palm branded Device, the World took notice.  They included the famous "Switch" that turned the ringer on and off, and added it to a Windows Mobile device. Before that, the only way to adjust sound was to enter the device through the Windows "start" screen and adjust.  It was a phone that worked well to merge Phone, email, web browsing, and more. In short, Palm complimented the Windows Mobile experience!

Now, as Palm has finally innovated, lets look at Microsoft . . . . .  I, myself am currently using an HTC touch Pro. It is running a 6.0 version, with HTC's touch interface laying over the top of it.  this makes the phone slow to reboot. In short, it is "clunky" compared to it's competitor's, one of which in now, Palm! Microsoft will unveil it's new increment soon.  6.5. NOT 7.0 and this disappoints many of Microsoft's toughest critics. Palm sees this in it's current sales figures of WM devices and knows that it's time to end this partnership. 

I am sure that this doesn't spell the end of Microsoft and its smartphone OS. Microsoft has a great sales model to license to many different companies, and I don't think they are going away. But I do see it as a little ironic that today, Microsoft sees itself in a very similar situation as Palm was in about 7 years ago. and I also believe that if Microsoft is going to compete, they too have got to do more to innovate. Even with this current sales model, Apple and RIM still out perform them. Palm has been a staple for Windows Mobile devices for several years now. This was a drop in the bucket compared to HTC sales I am sure, but it was still a Windows Mobile device that had a very loyal following. I can't help but wonder if years from now, when things in the mobile World have changed many times over, if Palm and Microsoft might not once again, combine forces to offer something that is innovative, and industry changing. The sentimental side of me would really like that!