How I used my mobile devices on trip to LS2010

Just worked The Learning Solutions Conference in Orlando and decided beforehand that I was going to measure my usage of the three mobile devices I own: a Nokia e63 for phone and texting, a 16GB iPod Touch for media and apps and a Zune 120 for music and media.  I wanted to see what processes and systems I developed having these three on me during all my travels and most of my working day.  I’m also in the process of making a decision on integrating all three of these devices into a single piece of hardware and wanted to see what conclusions I might be able to draw from this unique opportunity.  Here we go, by device…

Nokia E63
I’ve been using this phone for over a year and I chose it because it was available unlocked, has a qwerty style keyboard, can take photos and video, and overall has the stability of the symbian OS, which I’ve been familiar with for years. During my daily activities, it easily got the most use due to all the texting and phone work I needed to do.  The camera works well, it connected very easily via wi-fi to the hotel network, bluetooth is always a breeze, and for what it is, works without any problems. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have the advanced graphics and features an iPhone or similar type of smartphone has, which is why I carried along an iPod touch and my Zune the whole time.  Although there is an app for facebook and twitter for the E63, it’s not near the same experience the iPod touch has.  Oh and the battery life on this device rules.  Currently I might charge it twice a week and never have to worry about it draining to nothing.

iPod Touch
This device functioned perfectly for my needs browsing twitter, facebook, the web, and checking email.  I also used it for apps I used during travel, like a sleep app I used to help me relax on the plane and in the hotel after work, a weather.com app, a TripIt app to keep my travel schedule organized, the custom conference app we developed, and of course, Bejeweled, which I hit up any time I’m bored.  I thought I would use it more for media, but as you’ll see below, the Zune 120 took over in that arena.  Ultimately, I found that I could’ve left this device in my room most days because I had easy access to laptops or computers on the floor of the conference.  While traveling, it was beneficial, but only if there was free wi-fi around.  With the exception of the conference app, I was surprised at how little I needed it.

Zune 120
Although this device seems almost antiquated old to me (it’s over a year old!), it really showed its strengths on this trip.  At home, it usually sits by itself connected to a stereo or on the shelf waiting for me to take to the gym or similar excursion.  Browsing my music collection is so easy, and the flight home went by quickly having several episodes of Caprica to enjoy.  I don’t think I really realized how much I listen to music and or view media until going through this little exercise, but there I was, relying on this device almost as much as my phone.  The Zune interface itself is so much better than the iPod Touch music interface.  The sorting is better, there are more options, and the entire experience feels richer.  It reminds me of how lackluster an experience iTunes offers versus the Zune desktop program.  I bought some music on iTunes before I left and resisted listening to them on the touch because the Zune is so much better. Although there’s no touch screen, going from song to song is so much easier on the Zune than the touch.  I had debated whether to take it with me on this trip, and am glad I did.  Only problem…it ran out of battery power before I got back home (I fully charged it at the hotel in Orlando). 

Conclusion
I have decided that the ultimate solution to all of this is probably going to be the Windows 7 phone.  A good smartphone with social media access, a Zune media interface, apps, email and browser functionality pretty much describe what MS is attempting to produce.  Unfortunately, it doesn’t show up until the last quarter of this year, so until then, I’ve decided to get a Nexus One.  I believe this will combine the functionality of the E63 and iPod touch, and hopefully at least provide some media relief by not having to rely on iTunes.  If the Windows 7 phone functions as promised, it just may be the answer to everything I’m looking for in a mobile device, but until then, the Nexus One should be just fine, especially with its integration into the many google services I use.