Bluephone Elite

Can I Find The Right Phone? Part 2, The Nokia E61i

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I have been using the Nokia E61i for a few months now and I like allot of features of the phone, but its shortcomings are starting to bother me allot. Where the Treo 680 would freeze for a few seconds every once in a while, the E61i’s biggest problem is just slow all the time. Launching applications or moving through screens is noticeably slower than on the Palm OS, Windows Mobile, or Blackberry. The E61i is very stable. I almost never have to restart the phone. In fact it was almost 2 months after I got it when the phone froze on me. I think the problem was related to something I installed that was a Beta. I removed it and have been fine since then. The other issues I have with the E61i is it’s PIM functionality. More specifically its tasks program is horrible. The phone doesn’t support categories, the search functions are all but useless, and it takes me around 5 times longer to enter a task on the E61i than it did on my Treo 680. Because there is no category support for the PIM (Personal Information Manager) Software, I cannot easily filter calls with calling groups out of the Address Book. I also have to edit every single calendar entry I make on the phone to put it in the correct calendar on my computer. The lack of a touch screen bothers me, but is a minor issue compared with all my other issues. I haven’t found a good email program, but I limp by with what comes pre-installed. What is good about the E61i is it has no issues syncing with my Mac, especially over bluetooth. It works flawlessly with Bluephone Elite, the phone control software I use on my Mac. It also has great internet functionality especially since it has built in Wifi. Bluetooth also works flawlessly. I paired my Motorola Bluetooth Headset to the phone with no problems. I am able to turn on the headset and it always finds the phone and works. I stopped using Bluetooth headsets on my Treo because it wouldn’t work all the time and I would lose calls because I tried picking them up with the headset.

To sum it up the E61i is a nice reliable phone with a decent selection of software, but its basic functionality is lacking and the phone is just slow. If I could fix most of my issues with the tasks program I might be able to overlook the other issues I have with the Nokia’s Symbian S60 software.

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Replacing Outlook Update

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I have not been 100% successful at getting rid of my Microsoft PIM. I am still using Entourage for Calendar and Tasks. Thankfully I am not using outlook for anything anymore. The apple PIM (address, iCal, etc) do not sync categories with my Treo, and all other (non MSFT) alternatives have one draw back or another. So instead of buying another package that will work but still be lacking in one or two key areas I decided to stick with Entourage (i already bought it) and live with its drawbacks for now. I sync address book contacts from entourage and address book via a sync conduit. That lets me keep my Treo updated, and have Mail, Bluephone Elite, and iCal have the latest contact information also.

So far this setup has been working out for the most part. I am also doing 99% of my day to day “office” work on my Mac now. I still use my Thinpad and desktop computers for specific tasks, but my Powerbook is now truly my main computer, and I wouldn’t have it any other way (right now).

Presence Aware Software

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I wrote about Bluephone Elite a few weeks ago. It has a few quirks, but I am still amazed at how simple and yet amazing this software is. Besides extending your phone to your computer by using caller id, Address book integration, SMS via a real keyboard, etc. one of the most amazing features is very subtle. For me this software is the first presence aware pieces of software. What do I mean? The phone I use has bluetooth in it. it is paired with my computer. That is how this software works. Bluephone Elite (via bluetooth) knows when you are on a call. It will pause itunes, or a DVD movie for you when you are on the phone. But it goes a step further. It knows when you are not around. Bluetooth has a 30 foot limit. When the software cannot see your phone it will think that you are out of range of the computer along with your phone. Once it knows that, it will pause any movies and music again. it will also mark your iChat as “on the phone…”. When you return into range you can have everything start up again, or have the software ask you if you want to return and bring chats back online.

Instead of RFID, this software knows where you are by a device (your phone) that it (rightfully so) assumes will be with you most of the time. Think of the other applications of this type of setup? I don’t know why there is not Windows software that can do this?

Needless to say once the trial period of this software ran out, I went out and bought the full license.

Why Don’t They Make This Stuff On The PC?

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So if you have been reading this site recently you will have noticed that I am on a “Mac is great” kick. I am becoming one of those people. Yup. There is a reason though. Some of this software that integrates on the Mac is fantastic. either there is nothing like it on the PC, or it is just easier (allot easier). For example I found a Bluetooth product called BluePhoneElite. It takes your bluetooth phone and uses your mac to do some crazy stuff. It flashes caller id on the mac screen when the phone rings, then when you answer it the software pauses any dvd’s or itunes you may have playing. Once you are done with your call it turns everything back on. How cool (and actually useful) is that? You can also dial numbers and send SMS mail from the program, see signal and battery strength, and more. It even changes your iChat status to away when you walk out of range with the phone and changes it back when you return. Why can’t I fund useful software like that for the PC that actually works? Another reason why I use my powerbook more and more each day.

I also just got Merlin. It is a MS Project like program for the Mac. It is half the price, and writes to Project files or Project XML files. I did a test and it imported and exported a 200 line project file I did in no time. The integration into the mac iCal and Address book was also very useful. I use project on my PC, but this just seemed to work better. Maybe I am just caught up in the whole coolness factor, but I felt this product was just simpler and more powerful to use than MS Project. Another program that I don’t need windows for!

Jayson and I are spending more of our spare time recently finding replacements to our old standard Windows programs. He is happy working on his thinkpad with a dual boot of Suse 9.3 and Windows XP. He almost never uses XP anymore. He is using more open source software than I. He has to since he is using Suse, and I am on my Mac. I am going to dual boot my thinkpad when I get back from my trip.