Hasta La Gadget!

Nokia has quietly released a major firmware update for the American version of its N96 smartphone, IntoMobile reports. Normally we don’t report on firmware revisions for specific handsets. But this is a big one, improving everything from overall stability and responsiveness to the camera’s image quality, Bluetooth compatibility, and the handset’s auto-lock feature.

In addition, the latest N96 firmware update adds compatibility with Nokia’s Mail on Ovi service, which lets owners sign up for new e-mail accounts directly from their devices. The revision also addresses a long list of specific bug fixes. The new N96 firmware update is now available via the Windows-based Nokia Software Updater.

You might have your own list of great products we saw within the past year, but so does our former Editor-in-Chief and current Forward Thinking blogger, Michael J. Miller. What tops his list? The number one item from his post, My Favorite Products of 2008:

The rise of smartphone applications. Smartphones have been around for years now; so have applications that run on them; and even 3G networks. But the introduction of the iPhone 3G and Apple’s App Store has changed the landscape, by combining all of these with a user interface that just makes it really easy to download and install new applications. I’ve long thought that mobile applications would be huge, but it took Apple’s platform to make it mainstream. Android, BlackBerry, and Windows Mobile have either introduced or are supposedly working on applications stores of their own, meaning that this concept should be much more prevalent in 2009.

Want more insight from this premier tech expert? Check out the rest of Michael’s list here.

There are literally hundreds of mobile phones available to customers these days with more and more becoming available. You could almost compare mobile phones to computers in terms of obsoleteness. As soon as you leave a store your phone basically becomes obsolete!

So what are the best ways to shop for a mobile phone then? First, decide what you can afford. Mobile phones can range anywhere from $0 to hundreds. The price also depends on whether you plan on signing a contract with your mobile service provider. The longer they chain you up to them, the cheaper a deal you’ll get on your phone!

Second, decide what features you want! If all you want to do is chat and text, go for a basic mobile phone – you’ll save money in both the price of the phone and most likely the plan you choose.

If you love music and want to be able to play it on your phone look for a device with an mp3 player built in. Sony Ericsson makes some great mp3 phones, and there is also the iPhone from Apple.

If you need a personal organizer go for a PDA or Smartphones, great little gadgets to help keep your schedule organized. These phones often have the ability to ‘sync’ information easily from your computer. Check out brands like Blackberry who just released their highly anticipated Blackberry Storm model.

And finally, do a bit of homework! After you’ve decided on price range and features hunt around online for reviews. Mobile phones always come with pros and cons. A simple search can yield tons of helpful tips, advantages and pitfalls of almost any mobile device available!

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