Donka's Mobile Rambles

Things have been quiet here due to my birthday over the weekend and I am off to the US for a few days at the end of this week. Things will be back to normal next week and I have some more reviews lined up for you including a new PDA, accessories and some cases. Check back soon.

Looking for an Aluminium case for your 5G iPod Video? How about a full face screen protector to save your precious device from scratches? Yip, you guessed it, those busy people at Proporta have you covered. Extending their range, you now have the choice of a black or silver Aluminium case for both the 30 and 60GB models as well as the essential screen protector.
Head on over to the Proporta website for the full low down.

Being a devotee of the Windows Mobile Pocket PC, I don’t post too much with regards to Palm news. I feel it is time I addressed this though and so here is an update for the Palm community. Proporta have released large range of products for the Palm Z22; they have the usual selection of cases, cables and screen protectors on offer to help protect the device.
Head on over to the Proporta website for more details.

While the iPod has been the way to enjoy music in recent years, how you actually use it is a mixed bag for many. With the ability to carry a huge amount of music in such a portable device, the iPod has become the player of choice for many people choosing to not only use it when out and about but also as a source of music in their car or at home. It certainly makes sense to hook it up to your home stereo and blast out those classics and a simple phono cable will do the trick but you know there has to be a more convenient solution. Kensington offer you just that with their Stereo Dock. Not only does it allow you to connect the iPod to your hi-fi, it allows you to control it remotely and also keep the battery fully charged – all wrapped up in a very stylish cradle.
The dock itself is well constructed of a high quality white plastic, well weighted to ensure it stays in place and finished in a chrome piping frame to support the iPod. Connections on the rear support power in and a standard 3.5mm audio out jack. This audio out uses the line out portion of the iPod’s data connector and therefore should allow a cleaner signal than would be obtained from the headphone jack. Routing this audio out to your stereo’s phono in connection is done via the included gold plated phono lead; finished in white of course! Power is routed to the dock by the supplied white power adapter. There is no led on the dock although the orange glow of the Kensington logo is a sure sign that the power is turned on.
When playing back your music, the excellent infrared remote control allows you to change volume, skip tracks and also play/pause. The interface looks similar to the iPod’s click wheel although this is strictly a push button affair, you don’t have the option of navigating menus. This all makes sense given that you would not be able to see the iPod’s screen from distance and know what you were changing. It is a handy tool all the same for skipping through songs in your playlist or pausing a track and offers the best level of control you can reasonably expect from distance without a remote screen. Using the remote in the dark is made easy due to the back lit controls that are lit up in an orange glow every time you press a button and remain illuminated for about four seconds. When not in use, the remote sits comfortably on the top rear section of the dock so you should never lose it!
Sound quality through the dock is excellent however the line out volume is surprisingly low. I’m unsure if this is a product of the data connector line out or the dock itself. Using the exact same volume levels on the iPod and hi-fi, the audio was noticeably louder routed through the phono cable from the headphone jack as opposed to the dock. This doesn’t cause an issue as such as all you need do raise the volume on the stereo to compensate however I did want to highlight this.
All in, this is a great product and priced very sensibly given that all connections and the remote control are included. The Stereo Dock works with all iPods that sport the standard data connector on the bottom including the nano although this model sits a little offset to one side and does not get supported by the chrome piping; a moot point given the negligible weight of the nano. If you plan on using your iPod at home on a regular basis with your hi-fi then you can’t go wrong with the Stereo Dock, just start up your favourite playlist, drop it in the dock and interact with the remote control! I highly recommend this to all home iPod users out there.

For more details, please visit the Kensington website.

I have heard from a reliable source of the UK prices for the n300 series from Acer. While these prices are unofficial, they seem highly likely to me and in line with what I have heard previously. The n310 is due in at £199.99 while its bigger brother, the n311 is £299.99. These are decent prices, no question about that, especially when the n310 at under £200 gets you a great sized device with a VGA screen, Bluetooth and Windows Mobile 5. The n311 is still good value for money and worth the extra for the faster processor, larger ROM and WiFi however the biggest issue I have with this price is that Dell regularly offer a special on the X51v, which is a more powerful device, for under £270. I hope Acer sees sense and lower the price of their top end unit rather than lose out on sales to a Dell promotion. The Acer n300 series deserves to sell well but you can bet Dell will have a new promotion on the go when the Acer ships at the end of the month!

Metal cases are very popular for protecting a PDA; I have used many but now they are available for the iPod. Core Cases very kindly sent me some samples of their Aluminium case for the iPod nano to check out. Made from precision moulded aluminium, this case offers a perfect and secure fit while giving an air of impenetrability. Differing from the Proporta case with its swing door closure, the Core Cases product is made up of two sections. The iPod is placed into the rear section which then slides into place within the front section that slides down from the top. This is locked in place by a small ball socket on either side of the case. This unique system allows the case to have a streamlined profile and yet remains relatively quick to open and close as required. You have easy access to the click wheel, hold switch and data and headphone sockets. The case also incorporates a built in clear plastic screen protector to ensure this component remains safe. The one area of the device that is largely unguarded is the click wheel; a necessity to provide the relevant interface with the iPod. While there is no direct protection over this, the click wheel still remains relatively secure due to it being recessed a little into the case. This opening is also slightly narrower than the Proporta’s although not by enough to make the use of the click wheel any harder. Fit is absolutely perfect and the neoprene lining in both sections holds the nano snugly in place ensuring it is safe from scratches. This case looks attractive with its black finish which is perfect for the black nano but also ensures it is not too slippery in hand. There are the alternative colours in the shape of silver, green, pink and orange metallic finishes which are better suited to the white iPod.

The protection to price ratio offered by these metal cases is second to none although I would be wary of throwing the iPod into a sports bag with the click wheel exposed. This case is supplied with a neck strap that can easily be attached although this is only in black and so sourcing a more complimentary neck strap may be a better option for the coloured cases. One area that is very simple but well realised is the included belt clip system. It comes in the form of a plain crocodile style of clip that slides into place through a thin band on the rear of the case. While it may not have a quick release mechanism or the ability to rotate, it is simple to use and remove from the case if not needed, leaving an almost entirely flush rear.
If you need to remove your nano from the case on a very regular basis then the Proporta offering with its swing door may be the better option but otherwise I think this Core cases product with its more streamlined profile is the preferable Aluminium case for your nano. The fact that it comes in at such an attractive price point and also contains the neck strap and belt clip options just adds to the value on offer.

For more details, please visit the Core Cases website. UK buyers can order locally at iPod World.

IntumiCal, the calendar replacement I posted on previously has seen its 1.1 version enter beta with a view to full release come the end of February. The enhancements in this version are sweet and well implemented and this application literally is looking good. With focus more on viewing your data than configuring it, this application is aimed at the users who want a better way of getting their Calendar and Task information without the wealth of features and options overload that the heavy weights of Pocket Informant and Agenda Fusion provide. If this is you then I strongly suggest you keep an eye on this one!
More details and screens from the Intumi website.

If anyone out there has owned a leather case from Piel Frama before, you will know just how luxurious these cases feel. Sumptuous is not a word I would often associate with a mobile gadget case but it’s the perfect term to describe the quality of leather used. Workmanship, as to be expected from this company, is top notch with everything stitched together perfectly however there are initial concerns over fit. I was surprised when I first slid the nano into place that the screen, click wheel and port cut-outs did not line up correctly. Thankfully this appears to be a result of the newness of the case as repeated use over a period of a week has seen everything fit more in place. It’s not quite perfect but much improved over early use and certainly more than acceptable; I have a sneaking suspicion that extensive use of other precision moulded solutions has raised my expectations of this hand crafted leather case.
The protection on offer is very good with the soft padded leather sure to cushion the majority of knocks although this also means that this case is slightly larger than metal or plastic alternatives. This trade off will most likely be accepted given the opulent feel these Piel Frama cases give the user as it certainly provides a more expensive impression.
Access is good when the flip cover is open giving way to the screen, click wheel, hold switch, and bottom ports. The stud fixing closes on the rear hiding all but the headphone socket to ensure excellent all-round protection however is not the most convenient solution for those who are continually changing their music selection or volume. Also included in the stylish presentation box is an excellent belt clip system. A screw in post can be fixed to the rear of the case allowing the quick release clip to be attached. If a belt clip is not required then a small plastic screw fills this in and sits flush with the surrounding leather.
The understated looks can’t hide the fact that this is a luxury case and if this is something you look for in your case, Piel Frama is most definitely worth a look. The Piel Frama case comes in a choice of colour and hides.

For more details, pictures or to purchase, please visit the Piel Frama website.

Happy New Year to one and all. I hope 2006 continues to be a prosperous year and I will continue to share my views and news on all things mobile. Now if you will join me a wee tipple....