Our mobile app struggles

Almost one year ago, we deployed a custom application for a critical department. Here on the eve of the next iPhone, I am reflecting where we are with the app.

This application required almost 4 GB of local data for offline use in an indexed database. That requirement forced us to use Windows Mobile 6.5 and SQL Compact. Since the app started development prior to Microsoft announcing Windows Phone 7, we thought we would have devices available for a couple of years. One year from the deployment, we are down to one device that costs $600 each, and won't even run the app without errors at this point.

In the meantime, the consumer-grade devices of one year ago are failing and needing replacement. And a small but vocal group are clamoring for an iPhone. I can't say I blame them. We can give them an app that has the offline data, and hopefully get it working on a business device from Motorola. But it runs on a phone they can't do much else with, and frankly have a hard time navigating because Windows Mobile was written more for IT staff than general users. Or we could give them an iPhone and open their day to exponentially more uses, such as mapping and voice dictation. All this at one-third the price.

For now we are trying to get the Motorola to work, and to give them the offline data they often need. We'll see what the iPhone announcement brings tomorrow, and if the requests from our users change any as well.

How RIM could gain short term market share

Today as I was using my work Blackberry to keep up with email away from the office, I was thinking how nice it is sometimes to just have a good keyboard with shortcuts and multi-day battery life. For what it does, it does it well. Then I started thinking, how might the Blackberry be more valuable in the current device market?

What seems to make a good fit would be if RIM would include wireless hotspot functionality in Blackberries, and subsidize it with the carriers so customers would have a cheaper hotspot by going with Blackberry.

As I think about people I work with or know away from the office, they still text and email a lot. But they also use their favorite tablet over wifi. You just can't beat the big screen and apps on a tablet. But for all day mobile use, all-day battery and quick messaging are very nice.

So what if RIM could differentiate themselves by positioning with a cost advantage with a wireless hotspot? Great all day mobile messaging use, but a cheaper mobile tablet experience for the larger screen use when they want it.

The battery life is one thing that holds back the mobile hotspot use. Blackberries would have that covered.

It was just a thought.

Captivate Case Combo

Is anyone looking for a combination of a rugged case for the Captivate that allows you to carry it in your pocket, but also keep the case on while in a belt case? I am a big fan of the Otterbox cases for their build quality and their top notch protection. On my Captivate, I use the Otterbox Commuter Series case. It is great protection, but has a smooth enough interior for carrying it in my pocket. At other times though, it is easier to carry the phone in a belt case.

Finding a belt case that fits the Captivate with the Otterbox Commuter has been a challenge. I've not been able to find one locally. So I measured the dimensions and got on Amazon. While the dimensions are hard to find listed, I approximated the Droid X and Evo 4G. I narrowed it down to a Reiko model.

Yesterday I received the case, and it fits perfectly! Here is the case:



Just thought I'd share that in case anyone is looking for a similar combination.

No Longer on the Dell Streak

About a month ago, I gave up on the Dell Streak as my everyday phone. The Android 1.6 operating system grew a bit antiquated for my needs, and that made the extra heft of the device too much. I do believe that if the Android 2.2 update had been out in November 2010 or even December, I would still be using the device. I ended up finding a Samsung Captivate on craigslist and selling my Streak.

The Streak is a great device, and as a tablet I think it is fine. However, as an every day phone it just wasn't worth the extra size when the OS was so old. I still cannot figure out what is taking AT&T so long to release the update for locked Streaks.

On the other hand, I have been nothing but very pleased with the Samsung Galaxy S (Captivate). I don't see how I could ever use anything other than the Swype keyboard again. I have shown the entry with Swype to friends and coworkers with iPhones, and they are impressed. I may write more here later about Android keyboards.

The OS is fluid, quick, and the display is beautiful. The OLED screen really is excellent. And for my purposes, and good camera is important, and the Captivate excels at this as well. The camera on the Streak was simply awful. The images were always blurred and looked nothing like it should have come from a 5.0 megapixel image. The video recording was almost unusable. The Captivate's is detailed and fluid.

So for now I am very happy with my Captivate. I just hope AT&T releases that update for others soon.