Any discussion about e-book reading devices brings preconceptions about context, especially when discussing dedicated e-ink devices versus smart phones and PDAs. Everyone uses their devices differently, and therefore considers feature trade offs from a slightly unique perspective. As a result, it seems to be relevant to briefly describe how I use my Treo 700p PalmOS smart phone.
It is particularly relevant to me at this time because I just received my insurance-covered replacement device, and so I needed to take inventory of what's on the phone in order to load the new device from scratch. (Not absolutely necessary because I have a backup on my SD card, but due to OS version differences and the desire to get a "clean" and reliable device, I prefer to reload everything.)
So here's what's on my "souped up" e-book reader and phone:
eBooks
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eReader - My favorite way to read e-books on a PalmOS smart phone. But that's a personal thing. Other people have their own favorites. I like the dictionary, the little clock icon, and the relatively non-intrusive DRM.
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myBible/DailyReader - This is from Laridian, and has the nice One Year Bible reading plan which integrates an OT/NT/Ps/Pr reading each day for pleasant variety.
Some of you may be surprised that I don't have an RSS feed reader (I use Bloglines via the browser), or Plucker/iSilo/MobiPocket/RepliGo/etc. Oddly enough, I used them less and less, especially with multiple computers making the clipping and syncing less useful. So why install them? But I do highly recommend them for their purposes and may return to them at any time, for example if I begin to use Sunrise again, which is an awesome program for collecting web and RSS news on the handheld.
Audio/Video
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CorePlayer - The "new" pay version of TCPMP, which I use mostly as a video player. It's very good, but it does soft reset my device much of the time on exiting. Hasn't quite lived up to the hype yet, and the license validation is a bit intimidating. But I used the wonderful free TCPMP so happily, that I felt I wanted to support those folks by buying the new program.
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TCPMP - I keep this on my device because it's just as good, and with two programs, I can keep my separate place in a video or playlist. Not so easy if you don't have two programs yet.
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Kinoma Player - I have the deluxe version upgrade. I use it for streaming video mostly.
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Pocket Tunes Deluxe - I love this program!!! I borrow audio books for free from my local library and this program supports the DRM. It does streaming audio. It has a wonderful MP3 player interface. I don't know why anyone would have a Treo without it.
PIM/PDA stuff
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DateBk5 - A wonderful upgrade of the built in calendar program. I suppose DateBk6 might be better, but I really didn't have any need to upgrade, so I prefer to stay with what's comfortable. I don't like to use too many non-generic features anyway, because I never know when I'll be changing platforms.
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Date Wheel - From Creative Algorithms. At first I thought it was useless. Then I started to use it. It's fantastic, if for nothing else than counting down the days/weeks/months to a big event. Also good for calculating days or weekdays between dates.
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eWallet - Great password vault. Has Palm and Windows Mobile versions, and a great integrated desktop version.
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Day Notez - This is the "right hand page" of the old Franklin Planner. I can journal what I do or what I accomplish during the day on it.
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Pennovate Notes - A great note taking program that lets you write or draw with the sylus on the screen. It works surprisingly well despite marginal precision of the touchscreen, and the tiny size of the screen. If I am stuck without paper and need to jot down a note, this will do nicely in a pinch. The technology is still not as nice as "real paper", but it's very convenient and always with me.
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Call Rec - Lets you record voice notes or dictation. Also can record phone calls, which is something that I don't think you can do with Win Mobile phones. The mic on my Treo is so good that it also works better than one of those micro cassette recorders that I used before, and you can even use it to record a meeting.
Extras
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Google Maps - Free download from Google, and gives nice mapping and step by step driving instructions (which have a map page for each step). No GPS, but I find that GPS is usually not needed anyway.
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Directory Assistant - I use this mostly for phone book lookups. I suppose I could just do that in the web, but the interface is faster and easier.
Core File Utilities
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BackupBuddyVFS - A great program that does automated backups to my SD card at 4am every morning. This program has saved me more than once. Similar to Sprite backup for Win Mobile.
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FileZ - The free file explorer that's a high quality must-have utility
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RescoExplorer - Slightly fancier product than FileZ. I like to use both.
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Card Reader - Lets me mount my SD card in the Treo via a USB cable as an external USB drive. In other words, the Treo becomes the SD card reader.
Built-In Functionality
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PIM functions (Addr/ToDo/Memo/Calendar)
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Alarm Clock (World Clock) - Wakes me up every morning)
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Blazer web browser - Barely adequate, but I use it a lot when not home
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Documents To Go - Brings MS Office compatibility
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VersaMail - Great email program that reaches my ISP and Gmail accts
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Camera/VideoCam - It's wonderful to have this available all the time, e.g. birthday events or house hunting or whatever.
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Calculator - I use this all the time, both in basic and advanced modes, and the weight/size/etc conversions are wonderful also. This is an amazing program that I would hate to do without.
Oddly enough, while the list looks long, I think it's pretty clear that I've pruned it down to what are "the basics" for me. In previous years, I have had a tendency to want everything on the device. There are so many great programs, and they all have their place or are fun. But I don't like to think about the device much anymore. I just want to use it and be as trouble free as possible. If I can't even remember I have a program on the Treo (something that happens often if I don't use the program much), I might as well not load it up.
So, when you see my needs, you begin to understand my mobile device preferences (as I think we would see for other people also when looking at their preferences in light of their uses.) I do eBook reading, play or stream audio/video and audiobooks and podcasts, use it as a personal information manager with note taking and calculator, etc. And I expect some basic level of file and backup utilities to make life easy. That means that pretty much any solid mobile OS will work for me if the programs are mature and solid. In particular, I look forward to the new PalmOS on Linux, the new Access ALP, and the MID devices. They will eventually be exactly what I'm looking for.
The Sony Reader fits into the mix because it is great for reading at home or on trips, and the screen is far superior. But I can carry books around on my Treo for ever present back lit reading in eReader (some books bought and some are Public Domain formatted myself). I just wish I could read the
same e-book on both and keep them in sync easily so I could just pick either up and continue reading.
And, btw, I even use it as a phone every now and then.
Is my Treo usage fairly typical? How do you use your smart phone? Does anyone read on both a smart phone (or PDA) and a dedicated e-book reading device?