Palm Desktop Applications have been one of the common gadgets we see around. To most it helps take the place of the old school style of maintaining planners and appointments while to some, it is simply getting in with the times.

PDAs can be usually seen nearby executives and people who are always on the go. But to seriously use such devices religiously has not been that convincing, considering that it is a gadget that seems to be overrated.

One thing that the PDA has leaned on is technology and reviews according to the people who look for them and own them. Not all people will need a PDA, especially if they are not aware of what it is really for.

Using a Stylus pointer and opening some applications that come with the PDA is perhaps the basic thing to do. Alarms, notes and calculator application, people may eventually ask, why a PDA when people can use their advanced cellular phones today?

There’s been a lot of hype about the latest sensory fabrics to hit the market (see previous post on the couples-therapy sofa), and the latest thing of a more practical nature is Eleksen’s wireless fabric keyboard. Finally released through certified retail outlets and directly to lager companies such as those using mobile solutions with Smartphone platforms in the UK, the product is designed around the company’s ElekTex smart fabric touchpad technology. Light as a feather (just 65 grams) and designed with the term “compact” in mind, the keyboard is extremely portable, and easily rolls up to a nifty size to squeeze in to the smallest bags or pockets. Unlike traditional keyboards which have the annoying problem of gathering dust, coffee spills and biscuit crumbs from the average working day, Eleksen’s ElekTex smart fabric enables this clever device to offer easy clean-up and virtually water-damage resistant (spills are ok, but don’t take it swimming with you) through its absence of mechanical parts and fabulous wipe-clean capabilities. Once you roll out one of these babies, it magically becomes the size of most laptop keyboards, which makes it perfect for mobile devices and on-the-road work. The only hitch is its price and availability – around $73 – and you’ll have to get it through a certified reseller or one of the bigger companies.

The technology started out as a fad made available on expensive audio equipment like BOSE which came out with cordless noise cancelling headphones for it’s various audio video products. Nowadays, the technology can be found on Bluetooth cellular phone headsets like the one from Aliph code named “JawBone” which cancels out background noise when making and receiving a call allowing comfortable and natural conversation.

Devices using Bluetooth have similarities whatever form they may take for they all rely on radio frequencies to communicate with each other. They are paired-up or connected to each other allowing them to recognize each other which many people do not realize but there are tons of devices that use Bluetooth out on the market that they connect at all is the miracle of the technology. The radio frequency that “WiFi” uses is similar to what Bluetooth uses which makes pollution or noise very much abundant hence the need for the said noise cancellation technology. There are a lot of wireless Bluetooth headsets on the market for all kinds of devices such as mobile phones a comparison of which can be found on many reviews on the net with a certain search.

While such is a given, there are people who can give their two cents worth of opinions and stored knowledge as well. This all stems from these individuals who have put emphasis on certain areas of interest that include electronics, travel and history. Not all people are expected to invest such effort and time since every individual would want to cater to a lot of things with nothing particular to specialize in.

Ideally, such knowledge from people which are tagged geeks at some time would go as far as holding technical information such as content, components and workflow processes. Such areas are not given much attention in the normal phase of life. But such are investments to which one day; such stored and solicited knowledge shall be of big use towards other people and big entities who seek better knowledge as well.

If you didn’t answer Tetris, then something just might not be right with you! Tetris IS the best selling mobile game of all time, and no one can argue with that. It’s been more than two decades since the game was invented but its popularity still remains. Perhaps it is due to some sense of nostalgia. Kids who used to play Tetris on Game Boy or their old personal computers or the Family Computer just want to relieve the glory days. Then again, even this generation is finding the game irresistible!

Still doubting my statement? I guess it’s time to crunch the numbers: there have been more than 100 million PAID downloads of Tetris. Now take note of the adjective: paid. We don’t know exactly how many people have downloaded the game for free (wherever that is).

A short history lesson: Tetris was invented in 1984 by a Soviet programmer. It became really really popular about five years later when Nintendo hit the goldmine with Game Boy. Back then, if you’re old enough to remember, the Game Boy was the IN thing.

Today, one can download Tetris for the iPhone and practically any other smartphone. The prevalence of these mobile gadgets certainly has contributed to the longevity of the game but we cannot discount the fact that the game itself is showing its tenacity and appeal.

Speculation has been rife, and we can really only go by small leaks and sharp minds analyzing the situation. Many of them have been right in the past but we really do not know what exactly is going to happen tomorrow.

One thing stands out for me though: the possibility (fact for some) that the iPhone is no longer going to be locked to AT&T!!!

Experts say that all signs are pointing towards Apple partnering up with Verizon. Brian Heater from PC Mag says:

Rumors are starting to fly that Jobs will also use the event as occasion to announce the end of AT&T’s two-and-a-half year stranglehold on the iPhone. These conjectures, it seems, are at least tangentially related to speculation that Apple has partnered with Verizon to provide data for the new tablet. Should that in fact materialize, it seems only logical that the company would extend the partnership to its most prized property.

More so, he points out the fact that AT&T is the weakest link in the whole iPhone thing. I couldn’t agree more. The question is: will this extend to their partnerships outside of the USA as well? Are more people going to be able to get the iPhone? I sure hope so!

Then they released the Google Nexus One. Last week, the blogosphere was buzzing about the new Google phone. It’s Android-based. It’s Google. It’s perfect?

Well, not quite, but it does seem to have so many things going for it, even when compared to the iPhone. Tech magazines online, bloggers, and practically everyone seem to be touting the Nexus One as the “real iPhone killer.” I don’t care, actually. I still want the iPhone (I am actually talking to someone who’s selling these babies) but the Google Nexus One just WON’T leave me alone.

For what it’s worth, I have been reading a lot of complaints about the new release. It seems that the Nexus One has problems with getting a 3G signal. A lot of posters in forums claim that their 3G service is spotty. Worse, they do not know where to get help. Some go to T-Mobile, which is the “official” carrier while others go to HTC (the manufacturer). Both groups do not offer help, though, and point to Google, which supposedly is no help as well.

How true is this? If the forum posters are to be believed, then it is very true. Then again, I was looking at the help/support forums – of course I shouldn’t expect many positive things there, right?

So, if I can only afford one, which should it be: Google Nexus One or iPhone? I want both!

-Illegal
-Unethical
-Embarrassing

That narrows it down, doesn’t it?

There is one thing that gadget hoarders like you and I can do, though: sell old toys! It’s not a novel idea but I am in serious cash trouble so I am willing to part with some stuff that I have gathered. If you’re thinking of the same thing, take a look at these web sites to get you started.

BuyMyTronics buys used gadgets such as mp3 players, iPods, Apple Desktops, gaming consoles, and mobile phones. It looks like a great site since you can immediately get a quote and they even buy broken stuff! Even if I will not get much for my old (and broken) PS3, it’s better than having a dead black box collecting dust.

Another site that looks like it has potential is Gazelle. From what I have seen so far, it has a wider range of acceptable electronics. Just like BuyMyTronics, you can get an immediate quote.

Here’s the deal though: I tried getting a quote for that PS3 of mine. BuyMyTronics gave me $65 while this is what I got from Gazelle: “Darn, this item has no cash value. We’ll be glad to recycle it responsibly.”

Surprisingly, they were able to identify a specific group of adults: males in their late 20s. They even gave a name to the group: Ambivalent Networkers. How are they characterized? The Associated Press reports:

Pew found this group notable because its members have lived with the Internet and other technologies for much of their lives.

In the study, Pew examined American adults’ gadgets and services, their activities and their attitudes toward technology. About 60 percent of the overall respondents didn’t have significant attachments to mobile devices, either because they didn’t have such gadgets or because they were fine with desktop PCs.

But nearly 40 percent did say they were glued to their mobile devices. And the Ambivalent Networkers make up a fifth of that group.
“They’re the most active on social networks and using mobile devices for a range of activities, yet they think it’s a good idea to take a break,” said John Horrigan, Pew’s associate director for research. “They are not thrilled about all that’s available.”

Come to think of it, I know more than a handful of people who fall into this category. While they do have these gadgets and they use them considerably, it would not be a surprise NOT to be able to get hold of them on their mobiles every now and then.

I guess this is an indication that there are still people who can be detached from all this geekiness that I cannot escape. Their loss! :p

So what is WiMax? Tech Web gives this definition:

An organization founded in 2001 that promotes the IEEE 802.16 wireless broadband standard and provides certification for devices for compliant devices. WiMAX is designed to extend local Wi-Fi networks across greater distances such as a campus, as well as to provide last mile connectivity to an ISP or other carrier many miles away. In addition, Mobile WiMAX offers a voice and high-speed data alternative that competes with the cellular networks.

So it is basically an organization, not a technology. This organization is promoting the extension of something we already use on a daily basis, however, WiFi. And heck, anything that would extend local WiFi makes me feel GOOD!

Here’s more news – Sprint has outlined its plans on its offers involving WiMax services and equipment. Just imagine, you can be in the middle of BFE and still be connected because of WiMax services! Sprint is already offering ultra fast mobile Internet services and with WiMax, it is going to be even better. This is more than enough reason to switch providers, don’t ya think?