Cell Phones, Smartphones, and iPhones - Oh My!

Wireless phones are becoming increasingly faster, sleeker, and capable of doing more tasks than just answering a phone call. So the question becomes, "Which phone should I buy?" If you are capable of living without a phone at all, then a simple cell phone is all you need. The simplest (and cheapest) phones will allow you to make and answer calls, send and receive text messages, and sometimes even watch TV (depending on your carrier and the phone). But if you are currently carrying a phone and a PDA (personal digital assistant such as a Palm or Pocket PC device) or you want the Internet, your email, and music, then a Smartphone or iPhone is what you are looking for.

Smartphones run on Windows Mobile or Blackberry operating systems. We favor Windows Mobile devices. For the average mom or a novice Smartphone user, Blackberry phones tend to be more likely to cause conflicts or issues. They rely heavily on the Blackberry software to synchronize with your computer, and this program has some issues. Our Blackberry clients have more phone issues than any of our other clients.

Aaron currently uses a Motorola Q, while Don really likes his T-Mobile Dash - both Windows Mobile phones. Windows Mobile phones synchronize seamlessly with Microsoft Outlook's contacts, calendar, tasks, and (if you want) email. Don also uses his Dash to listen to music while he works out, easily synchronizing songs from his Windows Media library. This type of Smartphone just doesn't seem to have the connectivity / synchronization issues that Blackberries have. While they're not full-proof (or fool proof), we definitely recommend Windows Mobile Smartphones over any of the other alternatives.

As for the iPhone - if you are not with AT&T as your cell phone company, then you are out of luck until the Apple / AT&T exclusivity contract expires. If you are with AT&T or don't mind switching service providers and have at least $400 to spend (price based upon a two year contract), you can join the iPhone craze. iPhones are very comparable to Smartphones, and many people love the iPhone's intuitive interface. The biggest detractors are the price and the lack of compatibility with non-AT&T carriers.

AT&T / SBC Compatibility with Outlook

Recently we've had a few clients call us because they're having trouble sending email from Microsoft Outlook. If you have sbcglobal.net, swbell.net or att.net email addresses, you should be aware that AT&T is making changes to their mail servers, and this has caused issues for folks sending emails (and sometimes even receiving emails). If you are experiencing this issue, please give us a call so we can help you resolve this matter. You can call AT&T Tech Support if you'd like (877.722.3755), but we know that most of you would rather have a root canal than make that phone call.

Email Link Problems

"Why doesn't Internet Explorer open when I click a link in my email?" For those of you that have iTunes installed on your computer, you might have seen a recent screen like this one (to the right). Please notice the item called Safari. This is the web browser that all Mac computers come with. If you don't uncheck this program when updating iTunes, it will be installed. This has caused some problems for clients because it becomes your default web browser. The best option is to uncheck Safari so it doesn't get installed in the first place. The next best option is to go to your Control Panel and uninstall Safari. But if it gets installed and you'd like to leave Safari installed but just not have it as your default web browser, then thankfully there is a very simple fix for this.

1. Open up Internet Explorer.
2. Click on Tools.
3. Click Internet Options.
4. Click on the Programs tab.
5. Click the button under "Default web browser" that says "Make default."

Windows XP

Windows Vista

This should resolve your issues. If you continue to have problems, please give us a call and we can assist you.

Interesting Links

If you want to tackle some of the spring cleaning above on your own, these links might help.

• Richland College Emeritus Program
  The Joy of Learning After 50 - "affordable quality learning activities and volunteer opportunities that enable individuals 50 and over to stay intellectually challenged and enriched, physically fit and socially connected." If you're over 50 and live in Dallas, you can take a variety of classes, including a variety of computer-related courses.
• Google Picasa and Adobe Photoshop Elements
  If you're looking for a program to help you organize and edit your digital photos, either one of these is a great option.

Closing Thoughts

Please let us know how we can serve you. And have great week!

Don and Aaron

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