TouchPal Keyboard on Android

I've been testing a new on-screen keyboard on my Android smartphone. It's a free app called TouchPal and this keyboard has a nice interface and also includes some innovative shortcuts that help me work more efficiently on my smartphone. For example, I can swipe Left to Right on the delete key and that deletes the entire word. Or, you can tap a key for a letter and swipe up to get a number. Brilliant! Also, the keyboard lets you easily toggle the predictive word input/correction so that you can easily enable/disable this feature.

TouchPal is also similar to Swype in that you can type words without lifting your finger from the screen. You can slide your finger around the different keys to enter words. This is a nice option if you're entering words using a single hand and you're good with thumb dexterity.

This keyboard offers a few other nice features but I won't get into them right now. If you're using an Android device, you may want to give it a test spin and see how it works for you. You can also enable other languages on this keyboard. You can also learn more by visiting www.touchpal.com

Keyboard Buddy iPhone 4 Case

Do you wish your iPhone 4 has a hardware QWERTY keyboard? BoxWave has a nice keyboard case that allows you to add a QWERTY keyboard to your iPhone:

Clean and modern, the Keyboard Buddy Case appears to simply be a protective case when the keyboard is not in use. Combining ergonomic technology with sleek aesthetics, the Keyboard Buddy Case is a protective backing for your Apple iPhone 4 that also includes an integrated slide-out Bluetooth keyboard. The low-profile keyboard slides out smoothly, allowing you to easily transition between the Apple iPhone 4’s touch screen and a physical keyboard.

Keyboard Buddy Case Features:

• Form-fitting shell designed to snap on securely to perfectly fit your Apple iPhone 4
• Cut-out design for the touch screen so that you can keep the same tactile feel as using the Apple iPhone 4 without a case
• Conveniently designed to provide quick access to all of Apple iPhone 4's controls, features, camera, and ports
• Integrated slide-out Bluetooth keyboard allows you to switch from the touch screen to a physical keyboard as desired
• Includes a USB cable to charge the integrated keyboard
• Bluetooth keyboard on/off switch allows you to turn the keyboard off when not in use to conserve battery power
• Finished with a high-quality smooth coating making the case smooth to the touch
• Charge Duration: 45 days
• Bluetooth version 2.0
• Jet Black color

Learn more about the Keyboard Buddy Case on the BoxWave website.

On-screen keyboard vs. hardware QWERTY keyboards

I've had the opportunity to use a variety of different smartphones. Some have physical QWERTY keyboard buttons. Others are slates that only have an on-screen keyboard. As I've compared different QWERTY keyboards, I've found that some smartphones (like the Palm Pre) have tiny buttons that are literally impossible to push unless you have small hands. Others (like the Motorola Droid) do not provide enough tactile responsiveness. This has been changed in the Droid 2 - which has a much better keyboard compared to the original Droid.

My favorite QWERTY keyboard was the one found on the HTC Touch Pro2.

Now that I'm mainly using the Motorola Droid X which lacks a physical QWERTY keyboard, I'm finding that the large 4.3" screen provides plenty of room for a great on-screen keyboard that is very easy to use when I hold the device horizontally and type using two thumbs. The Droid X also provides the option to use Swype so that you don't have to lift your fingers or thumbs off the screen as you enter text. Which input method do you prefer?

Have you tried the BlackBerry Torch 9800?

I think the BlackBerry Torch 9800 may be the best BlackBerry smartphone yet. I've used the Bold, the Storm, and many other BlackBerry devices. The Torch combines the best of both worlds: a touch screen with a hardware QWERTY keyboard. I'm not sure why they chose the vertical slider orientation as opposed to the horizontal slider. Maybe they felt that the majority of their users would prefer the vertical orientation.

Personally, I'm a big fan of the vertical slider. Why? You can type you're holding the device in one hand. All you need is a single thumb that can move across that QWERTY keyboard. You can try that on a horizontal slider, but you'll have some difficulty balancing that phone if you're only using one hand.

If you're a former Palm Treo user, the BlackBerry Torch 9800 could remind you of the old Treo (except the Treo wasn't a slider). 

It's too bad that the Torch is only available on AT&T.

Slider vs. Slate?

If you've had several different smartphones over the years, perhaps you've owned a slider (slide-out QWERTY keyboard) and a thin slate that only offers an on-screen keyboard. We're seeing fewer candybar designs like the Palm Treo or BlackBerry that includes a smaller screen combined with a small QWERTY keyboard on the bottom.

So, slider vs. slate? If you're a Verizon customer and you're thinking about getting an Android smartphone, that decision could boil down to:

Slider: Droid 2
Slate: Droid X or Droid Incredible

If you do a significant amount of typing on your device, then it's imperative that you test the keyboard on each of the devices and physically try them out. Before I picked up the Droid 2, I thought I'd be relatively happy with the QWERTY keyboard. After playing with it for 5 minutes, I realized that I'd probably end up using the on-screen keyboard over the physical QWERTY buttons. So, if that's going to be the case, then why should I get a slider?

The large on-screen buttons on the Droid X are easy to use because the screen is so large. The Droid X is larger (wider and taller) than the Droid 2, but it's actually lighter.  5.47 ounces for the Droid X vs. 5.96 ounces for the Droid 2.

The Droid 2 is coming

Although Motorola has announced the new Droid X, there are rumors of an updated version of the Motorola Droid. This new "Droid 2" will be very similar to the current Droid, but it will have a larger, friendlier keyboard. So, if you want a slider that includes a usable QWERTY keyboard, the Droid 2 could be the device for you.

All the other major Android smartphones are being designed without a physical keyboard. If you can't stand the on-screen keyboard, then the Droid (or the Droid 2) could be your device. Current rumors seem to suggest that the Droid 2 will be released in August on Verizon Wireless. It should come loaded with Android 2.2 (also known as Froyo). 

Motorola CLIQ XT on T-Mobile

It's great to see that Motorola is getting back into the mobile phone market with its Android smartphones. The Motorola CLIQ XT will be coming to T-Mobile fairly soon. Are you a T-Mobile customer? If you wait an Android smartphone that also includes a hardware QWERTY keyboard, then you should get the Motorola CLIQ (unless you want to get the old G1).

If you want something thin and light (that lacks a physical keyboard), then the CLIQ XT will be a nice option.

Soon, all the Android smartphones on T-Mobile will say: "Touch Screen with On-Screen Keyboard"

Images of the BlackBerry "slider" smartphone

It looks like BlackBerry is finally coming out with a slider. This one slides vertically (like the Palm Pre) and features a full QWERTY keyboard. Imagine taking the BlackBerry Storm 2 and adding a hardware QWERTY keyboard that slides out. That's what this new device looks like. At one time, Samsung also made a few Windows Mobile smartphones that featured this type of form factor.

Why make a vertical slider instead of a horizontal slider? If you're going to browse a web page, you probably want your smartphone to be in a horizontal position so that you can effectively view web pages. However, if you tend to use your smartphone using one hand, then it really helps to have a vertical slider so that you can access the keyboard buttons with a single hand.  The problem with a horizontal slider is that it's difficult to type on those buttons using a single hand.

Image from Gadgetell.

Motorola BACKFLIP with MOTOBLUR

The Motorola BACKFLIP with MOTOBLUR appears to be a really innovative new smartphone running Google Android. What's so innovative?

First, this device will feature a BACKTRACK navigation panel behind the screen. That's right - behind the screen. Even though the BACKFLIP will include a touch screen, the BACKTRACK navigation panel adds an entirely new dimension of usability. I guess you really have to try it to see for yourself.

MOTOBLUR will also give you easy access to your favorite social media outlets: Facebook™, MySpace and Twitter Direct Messaging

Speaking of the Motorola BACKFLIP, I actually saw one the other day when I was out and about. At first, it looked like a QWERTY slider, but then I noticed that it was a clamshell. It's not your traditional "front flip" clamshell design. That's why it's called the BACKFLIP. The QWERTY keyboard actually sits on the external back side of the phone instead of on the inside of the phone.

What's the best Windows Mobile phone?

The best Windows Mobile phone is still a Windows Mobile phone (meaning that it's not an iPhone or an Android smartphone, so how good could it really be?)

Do you agree with that?

I've been a loyal Windows Mobile user for many years. I've had numerous opportunities to switch to a different platform and I even made the jump and tried the BlackBerry Storm for a few weeks. I ended up going back to Windows Mobile.

Now, if I had to get a brand new Windows Mobile smartphone today, which would I choose? What's really the "best" Windows Phone out there?

I have two in mind:

1. If you want a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, then go with the HTC Touch Pro2 (also called the Tilt2 on AT&T). This is a great smartphone, but it lacks a capacitive touch screen, so you won't get any multi-touch gestures on this device.
2. If you don't need a physical keyboard, do you want a device that has a large capacitive touch screen? Then get the HTC HD2.  A 4.3" screen is very large compared to the 3.5" screen found on an Apple iPhone.

If you're not interested in the 2 above, then wait.  Consider a smartphone that doesn't run Windows Mobile.  OK, maybe I'm being too harsh on Microsoft (and I hope my friends and relatives who work for Microsoft don't take offense). Wait for a smartphone running Windows Mobile 7. We may see some this year. Get a smartphone that has a capacitive touch screen that is capable of multi-touch gestures like "pinch to zoom." Remember that you're probably going to replace a smartphone every 2-3 years, so don't spend too much money on a smartphone or its accessories.

Top keyword: "android vs iPhone "

Recently, the top keyword that has been driving people to this website has been: "android vs. iPhone"

Which is better? Among health care professionals today, the Apple iPhone is much more popular than the Google Android OS. However, I don't think this trend will continue forever. In fact, as more smartphone manufacturers build devices that run Android, we'll see more physicians and medical students using Android devices. Mobile carriers like Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint, and even AT&T will soon offer affordable Android smartphones. So, even though the Google Nexus One (made by HTC) hasn't created the same type of buzz that was generated when Apple released its original iPhone, Google will make its mark in 2010. I'm confident that we will see more Android smartphones in the hands of health care students and professionals this year.

Will Apple release different models of the iPhone that include features like slide-out QWERTY keyboards and different sized screens? Will Apple announce some new iPhones next week?

What types of information are you finding when you type "android vs iPhone" into Google or Yahoo?

Motorola Droid vs. HTC Droid Eris?

If you're on Verizon and you're thinking about purchasing a smartphone running Google's Android operating system, you may be asking the question: Motorola Droid or HTC Droid Eris? Maybe you're even planning on waiting for the Google Nexus One to show up on Verizon.

Here's how I would make the decision: consider the pros/cons and these important points:

• Remember that an average smartphone only lasts approximately 2-3 years. So, you're not investing in something that you'll be keeping "long-term." The Motorola Droid is $199 and the HTC Droid Eris is now only $79. The delta is $120 and I'm sure you could use that cash somewhere else. You could even save that towards your next smartphone!
  
• If you're dependent on a physical keyboard (or thumb board) to type and enter text, then get a smartphone that has a physical QWERTY keyboard. The Motorola Droid is the only Android smartphone on Verizon that currently has a slide-out QWERTY keyboard.
• If you plan to watch videos, movies, and TV on your smartphone, then get the device that has the larger screen (Motorola Droid). 
• Are you a power user? Do you need a super-fast processor? Then get the Motorola Droid.
• Want a small and slim smartphone that you can easily place in your pocket? Go for the HTC Droid Eris.
  
• Plan to use your smartphone as a GPS navigator? Currently, the Motorola Droid offers turn-by-turn navigation through Google Maps and we don't know if this feature will become available on the HTC Droid Eris. (you can always purchase third-party GPS navigation software for any Android smartphone)
  

Some people spend way too much time trying to decide on a smartphone. I think it's more important to choose your operating system wisely. If you have limited finances (e.g., medical student or resident), then I would suggest the HTC Droid Eris. If you're an attending (or you have some other source of wealth), then go with the Motorola Droid. Of course, if you're a Mac lover like my wife, then you may be waiting for the Apple iPhone to come to Verizon.

Swype for Android

Swype (not Skype) is an innovative touch keyboard that allows you to enter words without lifting your finger off the screen surface. Here's what Swype offers:

Swype provides a faster and easier way to input text on any screen. With one continuous finger or stylus motion across the screen keyboard, the patented technology enables users to input words faster and easier than other data input methods—at over 50 words per minute. The application is designed to work across a variety of devices such as phones, tablets, game consoles, kiosks, televisions, virtual screens and more.

Swype comes on the Samsung Omnia II running Windows Mobile 6.5, but there's a preview version out there for Android. You can learn more about that preview here.

2010: Android vs. iPhone

In 2010, I think the Apple iPhone will face some serious competition against Google's Android smartphones. HTC and Motorola have come out with some really nice Android smartphones. Google has the Nexus One. HTC has some nice new models launching in 2010.

As a result, you have many hardware options if you choose Android. If you want a thin touch-screen phone, you've got that in the HTC Droid Eris, the T-Mobile myTouch, or the HTC Hero. If you want a hardware QWERTY keyboard, you can get that with the Motorola Droid or some of the newer HTC smartphones. 

Apple will always have a loyal base of users, but many non-Mac users will easily make the switch from iPhone to Android if they don't need to switch wireless carriers and if they have Windows-based PCs at home and at work. I know that many physicians love their Macs, but they're stuck with Windows-based PCs at work to run their Electronic Health Records (EHRs) or Electronic Medical Records (EMRs). Right now, several EHR vendors have developed iPhone apps for their system, but it's only a matter of time before we see some Android solutions as well.

Android will be used on mobile devices beyond the smartphone, so it will quickly become a ubiquitous mobile operating system. Apple may come out with a tablet running the iPhone OS, but that won't compete against all the laptops and mini computers that may be running Android as a complimentary OS. 2010 should be a very interesting year for Android and iPhone.

The future of smartphones: voice command

My prediction is that within 5 years, most of us will be using our voices to navigate our smartphones. We won't be relying on touch-screens or multi-touch gestures. We won't be typing on buttons from slide-out QWERTY keyboards. Everything will depend on voice command. Of course, the only exception may be when you require some privacy. Then, you may need to pull out that archaic method of entering data.

Current smartphones have some sophisticated voice command capabilities, but we're still in very early stages with voice recognition and voice command as this relates to smartphones. The majority of us still type our e-mails or use the buttons or touch-screen to open apps, navigate, and browse the web. Imagine what your life would be like if you could simply speak and all these things would happen.

For instance, what if you could just say: "look up drug... drug name Avastin... go to adult dosing... " and then within a few seconds you're looking at the dosing schedule for Avastin.

Smartphones of the future

10 years ago, if you would have told someone that you could squeeze 16 GB of flash memory on something the size of a microSD card, people would have laughed. Think about the type of storage technology we had 10 years ago. In 1999, we were living in the era of Windows 98 (Windows XP was released in 2001). Did you have a PC running Windows 98? Do you even remember the specs on that PC? I had an analog Motorola StarTac cell phone in 1999. I remember paying quite a premium to have that phone.

If we could move forward 10 years, what will smartphones be like? I don't think anyone will debate that mobile phones will be capable of very high data transfer speeds. They will have very fast processors. They will come with a large amount of internal flash RAM. Hopefully they will have much better battery life.

I wonder if the majority of future smartphones will be designed with touch-screen navigation or buttons. Will we still have phones with a hardware QWERTY keyboard? Or, will everything be driven by voice recognition and touch navigation? It's a bit difficult to imagine, isn't it? 10 years can go by so quickly, yet so many technology advances can occur over 10 years.

Will we have flexible LCD displays? Will phones be thinner than they are today? Will they be capable of 3D holographic projections? Will everything be video phone calls?

As we prepare for 2010, I'm reminded of the type of technology I used in 1999. As we prepared for the Y2K bug 10 years ago, life seemed slower and simpler back then. Today, we have access to information everywhere and I'm always connected to the Web (thanks to my smartphone).

I'm saving some of my relics so that I can show them to my kids. I plan to build a little gadget museum in my house so they can appreciate how technology has changed over time.

Samsung Omnia II is now available

The Samsung Omnia II is now on Verizon Wireless. This smartphone features a unique touch-screen typing experience called Swype technology. No need to lift your finger off the screen as you type. The AMOLED display should improve battery life as well. Now if you're looking for a smartphone that has a nice digital camera, how does 5 MP sound? You'll get a flash as well! (I really miss having an LED flash on my phone because it becomes a great flashlight when you're in the dark).

This phone is not a slider, so you won't see any type of hardware QWERTY keyboard. However, maybe the hardware QWERTY keyboard will become obsolete as smartphones rely on touch-screen input.

BlackBerry Bold 9700 (Bold 2) now on T-Mobile

The BlackBerry Bold 9700 (also known as the Bold 2) is now available from T-Mobile. This new device is a little bit smaller than the previous Bold, but it still lacks a touch screen. I'm waiting for RIM to release a BlackBerry model that includes a hardware QWERTY keyboard and a touch screen. What are they waiting for? Why should a touch screen and a hardware keyboard be mutually exclusive?

AT&T will also have its own version of the Bold 2. Maybe the Bold 3 will have a touch screen.

I realize that business users may not recognize the critical importance of a touch screen, but if you're working in the health care industry, then you will quickly recognize that a touch screen is invaluable because of the way many medical apps are designed. You will find that you are much more efficient using a device that has a touch screen.

To BlackBerry Storm 2 or not to Storm 2

There are too many to's (2's) in the title, right?
"To BlackBerry Storm 2 or not to Storm 2." That's the question.

I've been following the Storm 2 for several months and I'm quite excited about this device, but I'm also cautiously optimistic.

• Will the Storm 2 have enough internal RAM for medical apps? (2 GB of storage, but how much RAM for apps?) The original Storm only had 128 MB of RAM, even though it had 1 GB of storage.
  
• Will it be capable of MiFi (Wi-Fi router) capabilities?
• How will the new SurePress touch screen compare to the original SurePress?

In my mind, the original BlackBerry Storm is an excellent smartphone, but it's not very suitable for health care professionals who wish to run many medical apps because of its limited internal RAM. Will the Storm 2 be a great medical smartphone? Many physicians already use a BlackBerry. Will they switch to a touch-screen device and abandon the hardware QWERTY keyboard?

HTC Touch Pro2 (Verizon): initial impressions from day 1

I got my HTC Touch Pro2 (HTC Rhodium - CDMA version) from Verizon Wireless today. Here are some of my initial thoughts after using it for a few hours:

• What? No LED flash for the camera? (I need a flashlight!)
  
• This thing is HUGE! (of course, the screen is 3.6" and I'm used to the old Windows Mobile smartphones that had 2.8" screens). Actually, the phone isn't that big. It's just taller than most.
  
• I love the big screen. The 480x800 resolution can be good and bad. This may cause some problems with some software.
  
• My TomTom navigator software doesn't work (must be the display setting)
• I don't really need a world phone...
• This thing is fast, even with TouchFLO 3D
• Love the chiclet keyboard (think of Chiclets gum)
• Thin and wimpy stylus, but who needs it?
• Very finger-touch friendly (thanks to TouchFLO 3D)
• I wish it had a 4-way directional pad (or D-pad)
  
• Great sound and speaker phone quality
• Love the tilting screen when I have it on my desk.
  
• Thank you for staying with a mini-USB connector. I can use all my old USB cables and chargers!
  
• Opera is very stable (no crashes, although I mainly use Skyfire)
• Can't wait to load a custom ROM
  

When I set the HTC Touch Pro2 next to an Apple iPhone, the screen sizes look very similar. The height and width are also very similar. However, the iPhone is much thinner. My old HTC XV6800 (HTC Titan) seems small compared to the Touch Pro2 (it's actually shorter, but thicker). For the last few days, I've been using the XV6900 (HTC Touch/Vogue) and that phone is tiny.

So, my overall impressions are a bit mixed. I think this is one of the best smartphones that Verizon has ever carried. If I could change a few things on this device, I would add some type of compatibility mode to change the screen resolution so that older software will run on it. I'd also bring back the LED flash (I used that all the time as a flashlight). The hardware keyboard adds bulk to this device, so that's unavoidable unless you get a different phone that lacks the keyboard.