John K. Davis, Executive Director

GrandCentral

I signed up with GrandCentral and have been testing it for a long while now and I like the service a lot. I have a new phone number now that will reach me at all of my existing phones; home, office, cell phone and Skype. The only number you will ever need to reach me is (619) 393-2298. Now you can reach me everywhere with a single number. And if I move, switch jobs, or buy a new phone...this GrandCentral number never changes. You can even use my new number as an email address (6193932298@grandcentral.com). It doesn't get much simpler than that.

Another cool feature of this amazing free service is the Call Me! button that you will find in the left column of this page, near the top. Click the button twice, enter your phone number and name, click the small Call Me button again, your phone will start ringing, pick it up and I will be on the other end!

Latest Gadgets

So many gadgets. So little time. Here are a few of the gadgets that I have been playing with:

My mobile phone was upgraded to a T-Mobile MDA about a year ago. It is, by far, the best mobile phone I have ever owned. I use GPS software to find my way around. The Windows Mobile system and Microsoft Office software give me access to most of my desktop data and functionality. With a Stowaway Infrared Wireless Keyboard and a Stowaway Wireless Bluetooth Mouse I can do real computer work with the phone. I store movies on a mini SD card to watch when I'm in waiting mode and music to enjoy when I can safely use stereo earphones. Oh, and its a great phone. It has WiFi, so I can avoid cell phone service when I can find an Internet access point (the phone runs Skype well), but I purchase unlimited Internet access from T-Mobile for $20 a month and the GPRS speed is not bad.

I love flash drives. I'm using an 8GB USB unit about the size of half a stick of gum. It runs all of the software I need (Open-Office, Roboform To Go, Good Sync, and more) and carries my 1.2GB Outlook data file and My Documents folder.

Janet and I both enjoy the 60GB Gigabeat portable video, music, picture, TV player we got awhile back. We use it every day to meditate together using Holosync technology.

There is more, but it is time for bed.

Skype

Link: Skype Wins Over Past Critics.

Skype 2.0 became available for the general public earlier this week. Improvements from earlier Skype releases include free video calling and the ability to sort contacts into groups like colleagues, friends and family. There's also mood messages that let fellow Skypers "know where you are and how you're feeling."

The new Skype software has pushed me to depend on the service. Up until recently I used Skype as a plaything, an interesting concept. But lately the software has become so compelling that I find myself using it instead of my wireless phone and landline.

It began with Skype Out and Skype In, features that allow a Skype user to place and recieve calls on the POTS (Plain Old Telephone System or Service). Voicemail and Instant Messaging features followed. And now video calling. I'm hooked and I doubt I can ever go back.

If you do not use Skype you can reach me at 619-377-0588, my Skype In number. If you use Skype you can reach me at Skype Callto://johnkdavis.

Wallet Flash Drive

Finally, a USB Flash Drive that is truly easy to keep handy. Wallet Flash™--the world's first wallet friendly credit card sized USB Flash Drive! It is made of double laminated unbreakable plastic, it combines a great memory (up to 2 GB) in a slim body, providing speedy availability of large volumes of information on a chic and durable platform.

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Dock-N-Talk Update

Sorry about my long absence from posting here. I will try to post more often.

I have had additional experience with the Dock-N-Talk that I want to share. I got a new wireless phone (I'll tell you more about the BlackBerry 7100t soon) and used a PhoneLabs Bluetooth module to connect it to the Dock-N-Talk. The devices paired easily, but the Dock-N-Talk would not work properly with the BlackBerry phone.

Customer support at PhoneLabs was excellent again. They quickly confirmed the problem as known and had me ship the Dock-N-Talk to them for a firmware update. A week later the repaired device was delivered back to me. I plugged in the telephone cable and power cable and inserted the Bluetooth module into the Dock-N-Talk port, turned the phone's Bluetooth service on and in a few seconds everything was working perfectly.

I have discovered someone else who is posting messages about his Dock-N-Talk at his blog. He had some problems, but all seems to be OK now. You can read all about it at painful discharge.

It Works!

I have been using the Dock-N-Talk for two weeks. I am impressed. The device has improved my communication system significantly without forcing me to learn how to use a new system. I love having convenient access to a landline or a wireless line at all of the handsets in our home.

First, the device is so simple and intuitive to use that it rapidly fades into the background. I am still amused when I use my landline phones to make or take cellphone calls, but the Dock-N-Talk that creates this capability does its thing with little attention from me. The only interaction I have with the device is to use the cable that docks and undocks my cellphone. All the magic just happens.

The benefits for me include simplifying my life. The Dock-N-Talk keeps my cellphone in a fully charged condition, so I have permanently turned on power-draining features of my cellphone like Bluetooth. I never use call forwarding now in order to take calls on the landline when I’m home. These conveniences save me time and simplify my daily routine.

I also enjoy having easy access to the cellphone’s features from my landline phones. Because I can easily gain access to my cellphone’s voicemail, I now use busy and delayed call forwarding on the landline to send calls to my wireless service. This also means I do not need Call Waiting from SBC because a call not answered is forwarded to my cellphone which has this feature. My landline digital phone system even recognizes the message alert on the cellphone and flashes a red LED to let me know there are unheard messages waiting for my attention...

Solving A Puzzle

The Dock-N-Talk got installed yesterday after three days trying to correct a problem with the telephone wiring in our home. Now that it is working, I am very impressed with the device. But, in this post let me explain about the wiring glitch that held up installation of the gadget.

I opened the small box containing the Dock-N-Talk on Monday. The package contained the small unit, 9-volt power supply, short and long modular telephone line cords, Quick Start Guide, Warranty Mailer, and a small User’s Guide. There was also a custom docking cable designed to work with my Sony Ericsson T610 wireless phone. Total cost including Sales Tax was $162.97.

Installation for most users is very simple. Place the Dock-N-Talk at a location where you get excellent wireless reception with your cellphone. Plug the power supply into a standard 120 volt wall outlet and insert the power connector into the back of the Dock-N-Talk unit. The LED on the unit will begin flashing green. Set the slide switch on the back of the Dock-N-Talk to line pair 2 (LP2). Plug a line cord into a modular wall jack and the other end into either of the ports on the back of the Dock-N-Talk unit. The LED should continue to blink green (in my case it turned a solid red). If you have an operating landline and want to use both the landline and cellphone via a landline handset near the Dock-N-Talk, use the other supplied line cord to plug a 2-line telephone into the other port on the back of the gadget. Use the custom docking cable to connect the Dock-N-Talk with your cellphone and you have a successful installation. That’s it. You’re done. Now you can play with your new toy and see for yourself how effective the Dock-N-Talk is at doing its thing with any 2-line extension phone in your home or office.

Dock-N-Talk™

A new gadget from PhoneLabs is in transit now on its way to my office. The device is called a Dock-N-Talk™. It's a gadget into which I plug my wireless phone to recharge when I return from being out-and-about. The device also connects the wireless phone to the landline phone system here--all of the 2-line landline phones in our place become extension phones for the wireless phone. It works whether we keep our landline service, or not. Here are some of the benefits claimed by PhoneLabs, the creator of the device:

* Make and receive cell phone calls using Dock-N-Talk™ with normal wireline cordless or corded telephones;

* Get better reception by docking your cell phone in your "hot spot" for strongest signal and talk anywhere in your office or home;

* Gives consumers the choice of cell phone service for the home or office with the same functionality as wireline service;

* Universal design supports an unlimited number of handsets with currently over 250 cell phone models supported including some of the most popular phones from Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Motorola and Siemens and more;

* Use local number portability to move your landline number to a cell phone and keep using your landline phones;

* Charges your cell phone while docked ensuring your cell phone is always fully charged;

* Have the convenience and audio quality of a full-sized handset, speakerphone or headset for extended calls;

* Utilizes and transfers features such as voice recognition, one-touch voicemail dial-back and SMS message alerts from your cell phone;

* Place your cell phone in your best area for cell phone reception and use regular corded or cordless phones throughout the house;

* Use the free unlimited nights, weekends and mobile to mobile calling plans to their fullest while fully utilizing unused peak minutes;

* Bluetooth Module interfaces wirelessly between the Dock-N-Talk™ and cell phone with no need for a cable;

* Sends Caller ID and Visual Message Alert from cell phone to compatible home phones;

* Switch an active call seamlessly from cell phone to home phone (and vice versa);

* Eliminates cell phone radiation for extended conversations or extensive calling.

Skinny Security

Unlocking cars and activating devices securely could soon be a matter of simply touching them, thanks to a communications system that transmits data across the skin. In an August 4 article at NewScientist.com this new technology from German company Ident Technology is described. Here are a few words from the piece:

...the system operates at just 30 nanoamperes, making it entirely safe for people to use. The code transmitted by the electric signal allows cars to be unlocked, doors opened or other devices started... A credit-card-sized system should run for up to three years without a change of battery and could cost only a few dollars to make.

A New Wrinkle

Wouldn't you know it; a few days after I post an article here arguing that device convergence will focus on the operating system, not the device type, someone comes up with a new operating system that integrates the functionality of any operating system into the smallest of handheld devices. You can get all of the details here: Handhelds Get New Option.