Mobile Phone Accessories Review

After I discovered I could recreate the happily wasted hours of my childhood by downloading my favorite arcade games onto my mobile phone, I had to explore all the possibilities.  After all, a girl can only devour so many energy dots before she gets a little giddy; and, even with the help of PocketMan’s new helper character, I still was prey more often than predator.  Turns out that, because I never had a Commodore computer or a Playstation, I missed a whole chapter in my Arcadian evolution.  Almost three-quarters of a million people have downloaded Lemmings.  High time I joined them, I’d say.

Based on the popular myth that lemmings mindlessly will put themselves in peril, sometimes cliff-diving and drowning just because some guy at the front of the pack thought it was a good idea, Lemmings cleverly disguises a puzzle-game beneath great graphics and good sound.  The player, that would be me, must save hordes of these adorable creatures from certain disaster, assigning eight different skills to select fuzzies, so that they can change the terrain, change their pals’ behavior, clear obstacles, and create safe passage.

Like other pocket-pc “covers” of 80’s classics, Lemmings is all new and improved.  The color graphics are clear and sharp; and the player has the option of switching to grayscale.  She also can switch to stylus control, and she can adapt the background music and sound effects to suit her environment.  Even without all these enhancements, though, the game would be engrossing and fun, because it requires more thought than manual dexterity.  Although I admit I sacrificed quite a few cute little critters before I got the hang of it, I was so thoroughly enthralled I didn’t really care.

I vaguely regret I wasted those precious hours on PocketMan, because Lemmings offered lots more genuine entertainment.  Those hundreds of thousands of downloaders made no mistake.

For those of us initiated into the cell-phone world back in the day when dinosaurs roamed the earth and our phones were approximately the size of small boulders, the fact that the new ones actually complete calls seems pretty overwhelming. Some of just learned how to turn-off the predictive-text keys so that we could send text messages in the words we really intended to use.

Imagine our surprise; therefore, when it finally dawned on us that our “mobiles” have a lot more in common with our laptops than our telephones. A whole new universe opened-up—especially when we discovered the amazing downloadable games we could put on those little handheld powerhouses. Wow! Who knew?

Although we quickly discovered we decided we could download “Final Fantasy” and the other high-powered role-playing games, we decided to start small and work our way up. Arcade games still lead the league, outranking their nearest competitors by tens of thousands of downloads.

And “Pocketman” stands-out as by far the most popular arcade game. PocketMan reprises our childhood favorite, the PacMan arcade game from the 1980’s, updating and adapting it for pocket pc’s. Although it still has all the features we always have loved, the designers have updated the look and added adjustable gameplay. Although I typically advance no further than the saddest, lowest, most pathetic levels, the designers have added lots and lots of higher levels. They also have improved the graphics, upgraded the music, and added a new character, who assists as we struggle through our missions.

Of course, downloadable PocketMan is at least as addictive as the original arcade game. Thank goodness we don’t have to keep pumping-in quarters to keep playing.

The iPhone is, undeniably, one of the greatest wonders of modern technology—almost as innovative as its great-great-great grand-daddy Mac was back in 1984, and  exponentially more powerful.  Even before its introduction, iPhone’s rivals were racing full-speed day and night to catch-up.  Now, the cellular world is full of clever imitations and a lot of cheap knock-offs, but the original is still the greatest.  iPhone devotees, which include everybody fortunate enough to own one, will argue with their very last breath that the device is worth every penny…and then some.  And the competition is still about seven car-lengths behind.

Although it’s difficult to imagine how this handheld piece of computer wizardry could require anything extra…well, that’s life in the digital universe.  And it’s a good thing iPhone owners feel such intense devotion to the Apple brand and such willingness to fork-over the extra bucks for the best quality products.  Although cheap imitations abound among peripherals just like among phones, the Apple products still rule. 

If you’re the proud new owner of one of these miracle devices, you very soon will want to invest in a docking station, so that you can charge your phone and sync it with your music and other computer functions.  Go ahead and look at some of the off-brands just to satisfy your curiosity.  But plan to buy one of the two docking stations directly from Apple.  They offer two: the “iPhone Dock” and the “iPhone Dual Dock.”  Clever names, huh?

Both docking stations include approximately the same equipment, perform approximately the same functions, and cost approximately the same number of dollars.  They’re not exactly redundant, but they obviously are very very similar.  But, in head-to-head sibling competition, the iPhone Dual Dock emerges with a slight advantage.  Testing them individually and against one another, we had no difficulty with either dock as we charged the phone;  and both docks worked well with USB power chargers, too.  The major difference is that the Dual Dock is the only one really set-up to charge a Bluetooth headset.  Because the Dual Dock is a little bit wider and its USB cable is hard-wired into the unit, it is a little more stable.  In the end, you trade-off: you gain stability and convenience at the price of some awkwardness packing the Dual Dock for travel.  A reasonable trade in our judgment.  

Both the Dock and the Dual Dock cost $49.  Because you inevitably will want a Bluetooth headset to complement your cool phone, the Dual Dock is definitely the wiser investment.  Although your Apple Bluetooth headset will come with its own charger, the Dual Dock will afford you more convenience, more functions, and more options.

Bluetooth headset manufacturers and vendors multiply like bunnies, but the wizards at Apple still own the 3G market.  And  iPhone owners would be silly to settle for anything less than Apple’s own Bluetooth Headsets to go with their handheld miracle devices.  Apple Bluetooth’s perfect compatibility with iPhone and its amazing ease-of-use make it well worth the couple of extra dollars you invest in the brand name.

Just as the original Macintosh computer landed in the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art’s collection of elegant twentieth century designs, so the Bluetooth headset’s packaging should end-up on display with its grand-daddy.  Post-modern minimalist and almost too cool for words, the package alone is a high-tech masterpiece.  The package clearly sets the tone for the elegance and simplicity of its contents.  Although the Apple guys thoughtfully included a user’s manual, their equipment pretty much explains itself.  Plug your new headset into its dock along with your iPhone, and the dock synchs and charges everything. 

Charged and ready, the Bluetooth headset runs on one single button.  To fire-up your headset, push and hold that magic button until three rising tones play.  Once it’s on, pushing the button plays a tone and lights a green LED, so that you know it’s ready for action.  Although some other headsets offer longer battery life for greater talk and stand-by time, they are much larger and heavier.  The Apple unit assures 5.5 hours of talk time, and it’s only 2” long, skinny as the Bic you always stick behind your ear.

You will pay $129 for the genuine article, but a few facts of iPhone life take the pain from the sticker shock.  First, you would pay almost as much for a comparable Bluetooth headset without the accessories; and, second, you would pay even more for the Apple accessories sold separately.  Most importantly, however, this headset perfectly matches and synchs with your iPhone.  Although the user’s manual includes cursory mention of how you could match the device to other types of phones, it’s obvious that Apple designed and built every feature to complement and optimize the iPhone’s capabilities.

With Apple products, two of the oldest rules from grandma’s guide to remorse-free shopping apply: You do get what you pay for.  And you really should accept no substitutes.

Handy, Stylish Cases Matched to Your Tastes

Your husband has a nasty habit of losing his cell phone around the house and especially around his office.  You frequently say, “If it weren’t attached, you would lose your head,” which gives you an idea.  Your daughter’s cell phone doesn’t fit in the pocket of her new skinny jeans, and it frequently falls out of her backpack.  You find yourself saying, “Maybe we should just surgically attach it to your ear,” which gives you another good idea.  And then you notice that scratches, dings, dents, and all kinds of wear-and-tear have made your own cell phone look as though Alexander Graham Bell just brought it out of his lab.  You say to yourself, “If only I could,…,” which gives you a third genius idea.

Your whole family needs customized cell phone cases.  Of course!

Your husband, who loves his Chicago Bears at least as much as he loves you, needs an officially licensed NFL cell-phone case.  Made of durable leatherette and emblazoned with the “official” Chicago Bears logo—no cheap imitation here!—this compact case snugly will wrap and cushion his flip-phone.  The case’s elastic sides will hold the phone securely, so that, even if he doesn’t zip it all the way, the phone will not fall out.  Best of all, this ruggedly handsome case attaches to his belt with a very sturdy clip.

Your daughter still loves Mickey Mouse almost as much as her crush du jour.  Until she can have her cell phone surgically implanted, an officially licensed Disney phone case perfectly will meet her needs.  Mickey’s genuine image exactly matches the Mickey on her watch, and it stands-out handsomely against the case’s royal blue cover.  Like your husband’s, this case will wrap snugly around your daughter’s candy-bar sized phone, and its elastic sizes will protect the phone from tumbling out between the math and social studies books.  Although your daughter never will attach her phone to her belt, a sturdy clip can hold her “cellie” securely inside her backpack’s smaller pocket.

For yourself, you choose durability and function over high style, selecting a “mini-handbag” to guard your well-traveled phone against any more hard knocks.  Made of sturdy nylon, this case features 2 front slip pockets and 1 rear zip compartment.  When you upgrade, this case easily will accommodate a brand new Apple 3G phone.  Tastefully neutral gray and equipped with a hand-strap, your case zips across the top for both security and easy access.  Low-priced and built for long life, this cute little case should stand-up to years of hard use.

Now, about that crush, du jour…