On a recent trip to Puerto Vallarta, me and fellow travellers wanted to stay connected without paying huge money for roaming or shoddy hotel wifi. So I looked into getting a Mexican SIM card for my iPhone. Its not quite as easy as prepaid in the US or Europe, but the good news is that if you want to get online while visiting Mexico it is relatively simple and inexpensive.

Actual calling tariffs in Mexico are very confusing. They’re based on regions and, depending on where you call within Mexico, your calls could be very cheap or very expensive (like long distance in Canada). You’re also charged extra if you travel outside of your very small home region. So I decided to skip native calling and texting altogether, and opt for data-only instead. VOIP, email and app based texting.

There are a number of cellphone companies in Mexico. Telcel, Movistar, Isuacell, Nextel among others, but Telcel and Movistar have the most widespread 3G networks that are compatible with iPhones and other unlocked GSM devices. And between those Telcel is said to have to greater coverage at somewhat higher cost.

I was ready to try out either Telcel or Movistar, but it turned out that we drove past a Telcel shop first. It was right on the big highway in Bucerias (Nuevo Vallarta area). There are plenty of these little stores and you shouldn’t have trouble finding one. We went inside and I explained what I wanted to do. There was a language barrier, but in my case a salesperson’s friend was visiting and he spoke perfect English. You might want to write down or save a couple phrases in Google Translate before heading to the shop.

I’ve read online that some have had to go into a big city and have their passport scanned. But in my case they just had me write down the spelling of my name, the hotel I was staying at and we were good to go. Activation was done over the phone.

The SIM card was $149MX (just over $10CAD). There’s plenty of data plans to choose from, but I went with the 1GB/7days for $199MX (about $15CAD). They activated it for me it was working right away. If you need to reload your account to buy more data or check your usage you can do it from the Telcel self-serve website. The site accepts international credit cards.

Coverage was OK. It worked just about everywhere, except inside the lobby of the hotel where there were some dead spots. It was mostly 3G but I saw Edge sometimes too. Speeds aren’t amazing but better than the hotel wifi.

I used the Personal Hotspot feature on my phone, and we had up to 5 devices surfing and emailing harmonioulsy.

The Spice is not a top of the line Android, but overall a useful handset and a great value. Others have complained vehemently about the phone. And I agree that it has some flaws, but with a little work and patience it can definatley hold its own.

Hardware

Its actually a pretty decent looking phone, especially compared to other Motos like the XT720/Milestone. Its has a smaller Palm Pre or BlackBerry Torch form factor; portrait touch screen with slide down keyboard. The exterior is almost entirely plastic with a few metal accents. Despite this it feels reasonably solid, although it does seem a little slippery. I would suggest getting a case or skin for this phone if you trend to drop things easily.

I’ve never been a big hardware keyboard user, but the keyboard on the Spice actually seems pretty nice. After a few days I can type on it at almost the same speed as a BlackBerry Curve or iPhone keyboard.

The camera does alright in well lit conditions. And it’s brutal in low light conditions. I’ve posted will soon post a few sample pics at the bottom for your viewing pleasure.

The screen is reasonably bright and a decent size, but it does have a pretty low resolution. The LED notification light (a la BlackBerry) is a very nice touch. This phone comes with the BackTrack feature, basically a touch pad on the back of the device, and I agree with other reviews that it useless but unobtrusive.

Battery life seems OK after some software modification (see below). Its not the best, but I’ll report back in a few weeks. It was a struggle to install and remove the battery because its a little too big for its compartment.

Software

The Spice runs Android 2.1. As I understand it 2.2 had a lot of performance improvements, so its too bad Motorola has yet to push an update. This is the only Android handset I’ve owned so I have little to compare it to, but it runs pretty well after some modification.

I rooted my Spice with SuperOnceClick version 1.7 (somewhat difficult), and used the Titanium Backup app to remove Motorla’s FlashBack software (its filename is spicey.apk). This went a long way towards solving performance issues other Spice users have complained about. The other modification I made was to download Launcher Pro, which made the home screen experience much snappier.

Android does a really good job of keeping your info in sync. I’ve got it hooked up to my Google Apps email, contacts, and calendar. It also works well with Twitter, Facebook and other social media. Unfortunately syncing media like music and photos does not seem as easy (with a Mac at least).

Service

I think the service is almost the best part of this deal. Mobilicity’s plans are awesome, its great to have unlimited service and it really does change the way you use your phone. You don’t have to worry about minutes, or how many texts you’ve sent, or how many YouTube videos you’ve watched, or even long distance. And to top it off the cost is a fraction of what you’d pay a Big 3 carrier.

But in some suburban places (like in parts of my home), phones struggle to get a Mobilicity signal. Given how much you pay its understandable. You can even overcome this kind of issue by leaving the phone somewhere with a good signal and using a Bluetooth headset (one’s included with the Spice). What I’d really like to see on Mobilicity, though, is UMA or similar technology.

If you have any questions or comments about the Moto Spice or Mobilicity leave them here.

I bought the MOTOROKR S305 Bluetooth Headphones a few months ago and I’m loving them. Use these with my iPhone 3Gs at my desk and on my commute. They sound fantastic, the on-ear controls are convenient and [the best part] there are no pesky wires!

Operation

After you pair them with your iPod / iPhone / iPad / BlackBerry / Android / dumbphone operation is dead simple. Pull the headset out of your bag and hold the power button. They’ll connect automatically, and you can start listening to music or making calls.

Comfort / Ergonomics

These are comfortable to wear for a few hours. After several hours of use you might notice some discomfort, especially on the top of yours ears. They are more comfortable than iPod earbuds.

The behind-the-neck setup is generally good. You slip them on from the back (no ruined hairdos) placing them over yours ears. They aren’t too tight, but you won’t have to worry about them falling off either (even while running).

One irritation is that if your resting your head against a pillow or seat back, the band tends to push the headphones up over your ears. The problem is that the designers made the band protrude needlessly far backwards. You can overcome the issue by repositioning the headset but it can definitely be a nuisance.

Sound Quality and Controls

Stereo sound quality may vary on your device. I use an iPhone 3Gs with iOS 4.0, and I find the quality very good. As long as you’re coming from iPod or similar earbuds: I doubt these could compare to sound isolating or in-ear headphones. The bass won’t rattle your brain, but it is reasonably good. I haven’t experienced any skipping/audio issues except when I was more than 25ft away from my phone.

The audio controls work on iOS 4.1 and above, and presumably other phones and media players. The buttons are small, but you’ll figure out where they are quickly. Theres a track forward, track back, play/pause and call button on the face of the right earpiece. On the top there’s two volume and the on/off buttons.

And that’s about it! They’re available for around $40 depending on where you shop, and I would definitely recommend them.

Macally MSUITPAD

I bought an iPad a couple weeks ago, does that mean I’m horrible person? Anyways! I wanted to be able to share my new toy with people that might not, uhh, value its scatch-and-scuff-free good looks as much as me. So I set off to find a case. Let me tell you something about iPad cases in BC: there’s almost no selection. Your best bet isn’t at Apple, its actually London Drugs. I visited several stores and they had the widest selection.

Unfortunately I don’t like any of the cases I’ve seen so far (I want the Incase Grip Protective Cover), so I decided to pick up a cheap alternative until I can get down to the US. I settled on Macally Silicone Protective Case for iPad (msuitpad). Here’s what you need to know..

Its cheap. I got mine for $25CAD plus tax. Its also cheaply built, there’s some rough rubber around the edges and the fit is mediocre. That said, it does the job and is actually very nice to hold. The material is a soft rubber texture, and the back has these awesome ridges that make it easier to hold on to your iPad. In fact, if the fit were just a bit tighter I think I would have been content with this product.

The problem is that the fit is too loose. And I fear that with time it will only get worse after repeated repositioning/removing. Here’s a little video to demonstrate my concern.

So overall it gets the job done. Don’t go picking your iPad up by the cases’s rim, don’t expect top of it’s class beauty, and save a little coin. If you’re looking for a nice-enough silicone case, a temporary protective cover, or something cheap this might just be the product for you.

There’s actually a surprisingly wide selection out there, and these are some details you should pay attention to when looking for a backup / external battery for your phone.

• Capacity: iPhone’s have about 1200 mAh capacity, so bear in mind how many times you mind want to charge your phone.
• Size/shape: For this to be useful you’ll have to carry it with you. Pick a battery that fits in your bag, case or purse.
• Price: Prices range from about $9-$60. More expensive batteries aren’t necessarily any better. Read on for my suggestion.

I chose the Monoprice iPhone Battery Pack (1900mAh). Its holds enough to charge my phone 1 and 1/2 times, its small enough to slip in my bag and it was super-cheap! $9 + $2 shipping to Canada got this to my door in just under two weeks.

Monoprice is an excellent company; in my experience their products are exceptionally high quality and very reasonably priced. The backup battery was no different-it does exactly waht its supposed to. You charge it with your iPhone cable or dock and pack it away for when its needed. Then when you’re running low on power just plug it in the bottom and the phone starts charging immediatley.

So if you’re thinking about getting the Monoprice device, or any backup battery, go for it. You won’t regret having the security.

When I got my 15″ Unibody MacBook Pro I decided to get a hardshell case along with it. I travelled to a few local Mac resellers, the Apple Store and various websites, considering the options available. I asked a couple questions that helped me make a decision:

1. How well does this fit and will it make use difficult?
2. How effective is it at actually protecting my Mac?
3. What’s it going to cost me?
4. Will it make my sleek computer look dorky?

So here’s what I discovered. Cases from Incase and Speck both fit reasonably well, with the Incase having a slightly better implementation. It’s hooks seem more sturdy and connect in better places. Neither case seems impede use at all, except that they make the screen feel looser. It will fall if you use your MacBook at an extreme angle (this is annoying if you use your computer in bed).

Both cases will protect a Mac from bumps and scratches. I couldn’t say which would do a better job over time, but I doubt there’s a big difference.

The Incase and Speck offerings have the same exorbitant price of about $60 CAD (Can you spell collusion?). For the love of broccoli, how could two pieces of plastic cost that much? Anyway, its a price that I agreed to pay to protect and customize my MacBook and YMMV.

The dorkiness factor is a pretty subjective topic, so bear with me here. I found that the Speck product looked a little cheaper and less refined. It doesn’t follow the shape of the MacBook Pro as closely and and it looks bulky when attached. The Incase seems to preserve shape and sleekness, following the nice lines and curves of the computer very well.

So I settled on a green Incase 15″ Hardshell Case for MacBook Pro. Public opinion of my case is good. Two or three people ask me where I got it everyday, and its always easy to tell which laptop is mine. It fits well, protects my Mac, cost me a lot and looks pretty good. Probably my favourite part about the case is the soft-touch rubberized coating. If you don’t know what I’m talking about you should really go see one of these cases, because its truly awesome.

Other than the price, I don’t have anything negative to say about the Incase. If you follow the instructions its simple to attach and forget its even on. It is difficult to remove, but there is no danger of damaging your Mac in the process. And in all honesty, if you plan to remove the case that often you should probably be looking at a sleeve-type case anyway. All in all I’m very happy with this purchase. If you’re looking for a hardshell case for your MacBook I’d recommend it for you too.

My criteria was pretty simple: its gotta be cold, its gotta be cheap, and it had better not break one week in. So after considering about half a dozen different models, I settled on the Haier Commercial Cool 7000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner (CPRB07XC7).

What is a portable air conditioner?

A portable A/C is a like a window mounted air conditioner (the kind you see in hotel rooms) shoved into a box about the size of a bar fridge. They can travel between rooms, and require only minimal amounts of installation. All you have to is secure an exhaust hose in a window and plug it in. They’re meant to cool one room at a time.

Why the Haier?

I decided to get the Commercial Cool unit after a few hours of research. It best fit in the criteria I outnelined above.

• Its cold: 7000BTU is more than enough for my 150 sq/ft office space. Its kept the room cool while outside temperatures hovered around 80F (and can probably handle higher).
• Its cheap: about $300CAD when all was said and done
• It hasn’t broken [yet]: I can’t comment on the longevity of a product I’ve only used for a week or so, but I’m confident it will keep on chillin’ well into the future. This model is supposedly the least returned among low tier portable A/C’s (according to two stores).

Its also not hideous. As far as cheap appliances go, this thing is actually pretty decent looking as long as you ignore the exhaust hose.

Any concerns or complains?

The CPRB07XC7 doesn’t have any controls on it except an on/off button. You have to use a remote to specify the mode (cool, dehumidifier, fan), adjust the temperature, change the speed or set the timer. This is a concern, because if you break or lose your remote you’d be out luck. You would be, except that Haier sends along an extra remote just in case.

I think that’s a nice touch, but not a replacement for on-unit control. I hope they appear in a future version. Its also a little noisy, but not any worse than three fans its replacing.

Suggestions

Any single room air conditioner is most efficient when in a more or less sealed environment. If possible use tape to cover any seems between the exhaust assembly and the window, and close the door of the room you’re cooling.

I found that on this unit, the fastest cooling was actually on the medium setting. Perhaps this allows air to cool better, or reduces heat from the fan’s electric motor.

Overall I’d say this Haier Portable Air Conditioner was worth the purchase, and I know I won’t regret it next summer when portable A/C’s are sold out everywhere. If you have any questions about it please feel free to ask.

Telus told me that, because I was already on contract and out-of-warranty, I would have to pay $250 for a “software fix”. I was also welcomed to pay the unsubsidized price (about $350+ for anything from this century) for a new phone, plus a $10 new activation/transfer fee. I understand that Telus is a business and needs to make money, but since I’ve been a customer for several years, and have three lines on my account, I figure they could have offered me something a little nicer. Tough luck.

Anyways, I wasn’t about to pay hundreds to get my old broken phone fixed. I settled on a getting a new phone. Since I plan on getting an iPhone with Fido after my contract expires next spring, it didn’t have to be that flashy. I stumbled upon the prepaid phones available from Futureshop and Bestbuy. They are brand-new phone from a couple years ago. I groaned, but settled on a KRZR k1m for only $79CDN.

Its actually a really good phone, and I’m liking it quite a lot. I never got into hacking my Nokia, but this little Moto is very hackable and I’ve made a number of adjustments. Its also pretty thin, and I like the external music controls. The cool thing about this (and probably other Motorola phones) is that a USB cable and software are included.

My only complaints about the phone are the horrible Telus music player, and the disparaging lack of Mac support. I’m happier with this phone than I ever was with my Nokia.

So there you have it. If you’re phone dies, or is lost or stolen, you have a cheaper option. Its not as nice as being able to swap a sim card like you can on GSM networks, but its better than shelling out $400 for a so-so kind of phone.

Many consumer and pro grade cameras that ship today do so with propriety batteries. What does this mean to you? Well it means that the only company making the battery is the one you bought your camera from. They have a monopoly over the batteries you need to make your camera work, and they can charge however much they like. 

In most cases, these batteries are relatively high quality and one is usually included with the camera. The problem is that some companies (Kodak in my case) include a single non-rechargeable battery. My CRV3 battery lasted for a week and I was impressed. The $30 price tag to have one sent here is a little excessive for a non-rechargeable though, so I looked for alternatives. My Kodak Z712 IS takes good old AAs, but one set only lasts for about five or ten minutes. I lived with this frustrating inconvenience for about a year and then began looking for alternatives. 

In an attempt to prevent the further lining of Kodak’s pockets, I bought a third-party rechargeable battery and charger. The price was right, but the camera won’t even turn on. So now I’m back where I started: pay the obnoxiously high price for a genuine Kodak battery or live with the terrible performance of AAs.

The moral of this story is to consider the basics of your camera before pulling the trigger. I got burned by proprietary batteries and you could too.