This is the lifesize screen of my new Sidekick. You can see the size of the type. Unfortunately, what you can't see is how crisp and clear the type really looks. The content of the screen is this post a couple edits ago without the photo.
My new super cell phone activated in about 20 hours and it's just now working on all cylinders. I called T-mobile's 24/7 techline. Very nice people. Well-organized and professional. But, they didn't pick up on the fact that I was signed up by CompUSA for a regular smartphone account instead of a special Sidekick account. Supposedly my Sidekick account is in the works and I will soon be able to upload my contacts database to the Danger server so they'll all auto-magically appear on my Sidekick.
I'll be able to enter data via my Safari web browser instead of typing in calendar entries etc. from my Sidekick. The thumbboard is cool and great for low volume entries as a I move about my world, but when I need to enter a bunch of text I would rather use my computer keyboard and type my usual 100+ words per minute - I was wondering, I think I'm about a 30 word per minute thumb typist at best. But, I plan to get faster - 50 wpm seems achievable. I'll let you know.
Now for the good stuff. It's working! I did my first test run this afternoon. First, I walked down to Peet's on Ethel - a back street FAR from the freeway and with lots of trees between me and the main Miller Avenue drag. I needed a music fix, so listened to Bonnie Raitt and Christina Aguillera on my way downtown. Once I arrived, however, I whipped out my Sidekick and put away the iPod. With the help of a decaf Mocha Freddo, I was on my way - Peet's decaf is like Starbucks regular - almost! I logged into Plasticbag.org one of my current favorite blogs. Access was pretty fast. I am not at all disappointed with speed. I was getting full signal strength at Peets. Woo hoo! I may be able to keep this little guy.
By the way, yesterday, one of the intellectuals of Pete's - a regular - told me that my Sidekick screen would be unreadable even in moderate sunlight. Not! Direct sunlight works great. Dark works great. The screen is superb. The type is razor-sharp! There's no sign of a big font option. I prefer the small type so I can get more screen real estate, but not everyone will go for this tradeoff.
On my way back through the trees again, I surfed, mostly reading one long blog entry that Tom Coates linked to called the Simple Guide to the A-List Bloggers. It's a parody. Not particularly generous - but perhaps there is some value in parody. It makes me wonder what this blog sounds like. And, don't tell me everyone doesn't surf or at least read a book when they walk. Multi-tasking - isn't it wonderful? Luckily, Ethel has little to no traffic. I have to be a little careful, especially when I've got my headphones on listening to my iPod. I don't hear the cars coming. Also while walking home, I made a phone call and sent an email. I just added a rule to my regular email program to redirect any email I receive that comes from someone in my address book to my sidekick's live email account. I assigned a sound to incoming email - it's very cool. And fun. When they designed this for the 18 to 35 year age group, they didn't scrimp on the fun factor!
This is so cool! I bet in a year or two this kind of thing will be the norm but right now it seems pretty thrilling. But, alas, I know I'll get used to it in a few months and take it for granted. Notice that I'm already assuming that I will be keeping this little guy. I am signed up for a plan that gives unlimited data (the only way to fly), 500 anytime minutes, unlimited nights and weekends and free long distance for $60/mo. I'm gonna try to make that work at least initially. Hoping soon to cancel my AT&T cell service which is running me $80/month for 1000 anytime minutes. See. I may be a spendthrift but at least I try to be good.