Murdoch buys DirecTV
 

I am actually going to hold off on switching from cable for a little while because of that (among other reasons). If Direct TV becomes too Foxified, no way I'm getting it.



edit: spelling

Murdoch buys DirecTV
 

Not me, I'm diving right in....it's less than digital cable in my area, and just as comprehensive....as long it has ESPN, Discovery, Food Network, Comedy Central, E! and Cartoon Network, I'm set. :)

More on Number Portability
 

A case challenging cell-number portability was argued yesterday in the DC Circuit. Commentators appeared to favor the cell cos.

Nokia 6590i
 

I just picked up a Nokia 6590i . It is unbelievably small: it makes my old 8260 look like a brick. Here's a pic:

http://www.nokiausa.com/images/phn/1..._6590i_phd.jpg

I have not yet set up GPRS, as I have a GAIT account and use CSD on a Nokia 6340i when traveling to places w/o GSM coverage (can't have GPRS and CSD active on the same account at the same time).

So far, I love it, and Cingular's GSM coverage in the greater Philadelphia area has been pretty solid.

AdL

The Matrix
 

Anyone for a Matrix cell phone?

http://a.r.tv.com/cnet.1d/i/uff/2097...erview_300.gif

Playboy on Cellphones
 

Reuters (via CNN) is reporting that Playboy will offer downloads to cell phones of its magazine images.

Lamentably, there's no excuse handy: "for those subscribers who only read Playboy for the articles, there will be no access to written content."

More on Number Portability
 

In good news for those who want to change from their sucky cell phone carrier to another sucky cell phone carrier, the D.C. Circuit upheld the FCC rules requiring number portability.

Yahoo! Article

More on Number Portability
 

Woo hoo! Goodbye Sprint, hello Verizon.

handspring
 

has announced its next generation treo 600:

http://www.handspring.com/treo600/in...1CFFOAVAATKIV0

http://www.handspring.com/treo600/images/treo_image.jpg

Looks cool, but is it too little, too late?

aV

Push to Talk/Nextel
 

I keep reading about this feature, but since I don't have Nextel, I have no idea what the advantage is. If I have a cell phone and want to call someone else's cell phone, I dial their number or use a preset dial number. If I had push to talk, what less would I do that makes this feature attractive/valuable?

Best gadget & software combination
 

I wanted to start this thread to poll everyone on what they think is the best gadget & software combination for lawyers. I just want to get good ideas to make our practice easier not solicit any flames regarding hardware or software selection.

For my part I suggest:

HARDWARE
Treo 270 on T-mobile network (GSM allows use of cell phone all over US and when traveling to Europe or Asia.
GPRS allows text messaging & always on email service)
Speakerphone allows limited handsfree conferences)

SOFTWARE:
Timereporter-allows time entered while away from the office to be uploaded to Timeslips.

Untested program or Palm Os Webbrowser that will allows access to Lexis.

Best gadget & software combination
 

Anyone having experience of the Kyocera 7135 care to comment on it? It's always looked more attractive to me than the Treo --- though I admit the GSM/European interoperability is a plus for the Treo.

Some industry watchers are saying Kyocera might come up with a CDMA/GSM dual chip to permit the 7135 to be sold in Europe. If so, it would be a giant killer. OTOH, Kyocera's CDMA-only phone was vaporware entirely too long to begin with.

they already are. my bill has a line for that already.

My question: if it costs, why not charge people to bring their number over--say $25 or whatever. Charge the people who use the service.

Probably so. And they can call it a "tax" rather than a user fee. I'm up to like 20% "taxes" on phone services -- local, long distance, cell. But my "price" is still the same.

Push to Talk/Nextel
 

It's about speed. Instead of waiting for the phone to connect to the lines, the phone to ring, the person to answer, you press the button (two if you are changing people) and suddenly the other person gets a short tone and your happy voice comes out the other end.

Like in the commercial, when what's-his-name calls his agent. What they don't show is what his agent is doing -- negotiating the renewal of Will & Grace, getting it on with his mistress or just taking a bathroom break. There has to be some reason he didn't answer his phone.

Personally, I think this is annoying at best and dangerous at worst, but my cousin who owns a plumbing company swears by them. Each of his employees has one, and it keeps them in better touch with headquarters for scheduling.

I've got to think though that an off-color joke blurting out from your cell phone is much less of a problem when your head is stuck under someone's sink than when you are trying to negotiate the fine points of a financing deal, so YMMV.