This is a joint review between Jason and Judie. Jason’s comments will be in black; Judie’s will be in blue italics.

I recently got to spend a few days with the AT&T LG eXpo.  Quite honestly, the main attraction for wanting to use this Windows Mobile 6.5 packin’ phone is its ability to be used with a Pico Projector add-on for presentations, demos, or home movies.  As misfortune would have it,  the demo unit I was sent shipped without the Pico Projector.   Arggggghhhhh! : -(

I received the LG eXpo a little over a month ago.  Just like Jason, I was intrigued by the Pico Projector option and its possibilities. Because after all,  if you could fit all the data you would need for a presentation onto your mobile phone, and if it meant not having to bring along a laptop or hook up to an overhead, wouldn’t you rather bring only the phone? As for watching home movies, that wasn’t really a scenario I was picturing, unless it was something someone would do just because they could … not that there’s anything wrong with that.

So let’s start with how the Windows Mobile eXpo fares as web-browsin’-appointment-schedulin’-email-and-messaging-call-makin’ phone. Could this be the phone you’ve been waiting for?  Let’s take a look at the eXpo’s features to see if it has what you need to manage both business and pleasure…

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Already going through sports withdrawal now that the Super Bowl has ended?  Not too excited about the upcoming Winter Olympics?  Well, how about we add one-part thrill of competition, plus one-part agony of defeat mixed with a heaping mess of Robots.  Yeah, you read that right.  Robots.

• Hand-to-hand robot combat?  Check.
• Sumo-wrestling robots?  Check.
• Fire-fighting robots?  Got them, too.
• Dancing Robots? Robots mixing cocktails?   Done and done!
  

What crazy, topsy-turvy alternate universe of coolness is this  where you can watch Robots engage in all manner of competition?  Why, right here via the RoboGames, of course.  You’ll be able to catch all of he action as hundreds of robots compete (and sometimes flat-out destroy each other) via the web April 23rd-25th.

Tech enthusiasts, engineers and people who just like watchin’ stuff get smashed and/or explode should read on to get the full scoop on the 2010 RoboGames competition.

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It’s no secret that I am a big fan of the Poynt application for BlackBerry.  It’s one of the first things I load on a new ‘Berry.  It’s free, and simply put it is the best location based search application for BlackBerry.  Whether you’re looking for movie tickets, restaurants, businesses, or gas prices, Poynt is what you want to use for quick results.   Over 1 million active users can’t be wrong.  One thing I appreciate is the fact that the development team over at Multiplied Media is constantly adding new features to Poynt.

Case in point (pun intended): AccuWeather has now partnered with Multiplied Media to bring their weather data and forecasts directly to the application.  Even better is you won’t have to search around the app to get to it.  It’s right there on the home screen! Your local weather conditions will show up in Poynt even as you scroll through the interface to pull up information relevant to your specific location.  That Accuweather.com data powers the display on the Poynt home screen to show your local temperature and sky conditions.  Then, to make it even more slick, those sky conditions are reflected by the dynamic background that changes according to the type of weather the user is experiencing.   Very cool!

The full press release of the partnership — and handy download links if you wanna download it straight to your ‘Berry — follow.

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Shape Services recently updated their popular IM+ for Skype application to include VoIP calling for BlackBerry smartphones.  The $29 application will let you call a Skype user’s PC, chat via Skype, and now make Free VoIP calls.  What’s nice about the application is that the one-time purchase means any and all future updates and features will be included free of charge.   If you’re looking for a way to keep up with friends and family across the globe without piling up a hefty wireless bill, then IM+ for Skype certainly looks like a terrific option.

Look for a full review of the application soon here on Gear Diary.   Keep reading for the full press release and feature summary for IM+ for Skype.

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You remember that lovable robotic baby dinosaur, Pleo, don’t you?  Well now you can help choose the next Pleo and take advantage of a great deal this month.   Pleoworld is holding a poll to select one of five color patterns for a new Pleo that will come out this year. Go vote for your favorite Pleo color now, and you will be automatically entered for a free raffle to win your very own one-of-a-kind custom made Pleo designed by Jerry Finney.   So what are you waiting for?  Be the coolest kid on the block — or the coolest parent on the block – with your very own Pleo.

If you don’t want to hold off until the end of the month, you’re in luck as there will be free shipping through February 28th.  The winner of the unique, Pleo robotic dinosaur will be announced the same day.

[Pleoworld]

Desk space is at a premium.  You’ve got too many cords wrangled all over the place for your gadgets.  Why not pair it down and introduce a little convergence right at your fingertips with USB Fever’s brand new Keyboard Mousepad with 3-port USB hub.   It’s a mouse pad with numeric keys right at your fingertips, married beautifully to a 3-Port USB hub to keep everything charged up and tidy.  All in one sweet package.

Plug this puppy into your computer and run or charge three other devices directly from the mousepad.  Sheer Genius!  It sure beats the fire-hazard setup you have now.  Pricing and additional photo after the jump.

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James Shannon, left, and Robert Bakewell of DevelopIQ
[image courtesy of the BlackBerry Alliance Summit Awards]

Back in November, I was fortunate enough to meet many of the developers who were expanding the boundaries of what consumers typically imagined when they thought of a “BlackBerry” smartphone.   Quite a few people may still consider the device “just a pager” or simply an email-machine they use at work (or just a way to grab a quick game of BrickBreaker in between meetings).  Those paradigms are changing, though.  In December,  RIM posted a 59% increase in profits.  If RIM’s BlackBerry Developer Conference was any indication, there are plenty of folks already slinging code for ‘Berry Apps — or interested in doing so to grab a piece of that market.

One company that’s been at the forefront of BlackBerry application development is DevelopIQ.   I had a chance to speak with James Shannon, Technical Director and co-founder of DevelopIQ, after the company won the top spot in the BlackBerry Developer’s Challenge for their 7digital Music Store/Player applicaton.  Oh, and iff you’re keeping a tally, they also won the “Entertainment on a BlackBerry” category at the EMEA Alliance Summit in Rome and participating in next month’s GSMA Mobile Innovation Grand Prix at the Mobile World Congress.  So, in a nutshell, what do James and the DevelopIQ team see in the BlackBerry platform?  Why pursue those devices over, say, the iPhone or Android?  Will DevelopIQ rule media-centric apps to your BlackBerry?

Let’s find out…

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One of the first accessories I always purchase is a nice case for my smartphone.  There are always so many choices available, but I tend to gravitate towards something durable and classic — like leather.  Well, PDAir has just released an entire lineup of new cases for the HTC Nexus One.  If you’ve been holding off on putting your Google Phone in a case, PDAir may have exactly what you’re looking for.

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Maybe you haven’t heard of Gunnar Optiks, the digital eye-wear that eases the strain from long hours behind a computer (or marathon gaming sessions).   These spectacles have earned high praise from Major League Gaming,  the Consumer Electronics Show and even Gear Diary’s own Larry Greenberg.

In fact, Larry’s post back in June is what prompted me to order my own pair of Phenom Gunnars soon thereafter to deal with long hours spent behind a computer screen that used to lead to headaches and severe eye-strain.  If the price-tag has kept you from  purchasing a pair, now may be your chance to win a free set of MLG Phantoms.

Interested?  Read on to enter the February 1st Gunnar Optiks Giveaway …

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As we all eagerly await Apple’s event this Wednesday to find out just exactly what products, upgrades, deals and revolutionary new features are to be unleashed on the world, it’s fitting to take a quick breather and reflect on the past.  Things continue to move fast, and you may have missed a few of the highlights from the team last week.    There was the compelling story of a man who was able to use his iPhone to survive after the tragic earthquake in Haiti.  There have been continued efforts to reach out and assist others, including developers who have directed proceeds of their application sales to help those impacted by those very events in Haiti.

In case you missed it, here’s a brief look at just a few more highlights from the team.

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We’ve covered doubleTwist before as a way to sync all your media content across multiple smartphones, including BlackBerry, Palm’s webOS devices and Android.  Now it looks like T-Mobile and doubleTwist have officially partnered to simplify music management for Android users and may bundle the application with select handsets, including the Fender MyTouch 3G.

While iTunes is tied to iPhones and iPods, doubleTwist brings a familiar iTunesesque interface over to wide variey of devices.   Music, playlists, photos, video syncing…it’s all supported.   One of the only “downsides” with T-Mobile’s doubleTwist is that it lacks integration to Amazon’s MP3 store.  Maybe that’s due to Amazon’s Mp3 Store app being available in the Android market.  Maybe it’s due to some licensing wrangling.  Maybe T-Mobile is planning their own music service a-la-Verizon’s Vcast.  Whatever the reason, that functionality is sorely missed (of course, if you really  want it, you can certainly download the full version that includes the Amazon MP3 goodness) .

You can even share your content to Facebook and Flickr right in doubleTwist.  Android users — and potential Android users — who may have been pining after a simple method for getting their music and media library onto their device can now enjoy a simple drag-and-drop interface.  Think of it as the “iTunes for everything else.”

[TechCrunch]

Android users in the United States have been enjoying the on-device Amazon MP3 app since last year, but now Europe finally gets a dose of Amazon’s DRM-free music store as well.    As long as you’ve got a handset sporting the 1.5 or higher Android firmware, you can download the free application straight from Google’s Android Market.

[Amazon via the unwired]

Awwwwwwww, No!  Looks like all the Moto DROID users are screaming foul after all the wide reports (yes, including my own) and rumors built up rabid anticipation for Android’s 2.1 release.  Yet, no over-the-air firmware updates hit.  At.  All.   Even when 2.1 was said to be slowly rolling and updating actual DROID handsets as early as Monday 1/18.    Then, KABOOM! Twitter hit with this message today from Motorola’s MotoMobile around 11:30am Eastern:

For DROID users asking about an OTA update, we have not released a new one since Dec. update. Pls visit our support forums if having issues!

Ouch.  At least you can hack your DROID over to 2.1 if you’re really impatient.    Did something go wrong before pushing the 2.1 update? Was it delayed?  Did everyone just flat out get it wrong?  Well, mea culpa.  Pants on the ground. Everything’s a rumor until it hit hits you in the face and wiggles a bit.  Even then,  until it hits 500 or so others and wiggles, I suppose it’ll still be speculation.

Ah well, at this point even if a formal release is pushed out to March or beyond, DROID users still have some added features worth looking forward to using.

[MotoMobile, Android Community, Engadget Mobile]

Truphone has updated their Android build to 3.0.2, now bringing Wi-Fi calling to the Nexus One.  The VoIP solution provided by Truphone should be very appealing to Nexus One and other device users who want to test out some good ol’ Wi-Fi data and voice services .  Truphone is a free application available for Android, Symbian, BlackBerry, iPhone and iPod Touch.

Read on for full details of the Truphone 3.0.2 release for Nexus One.

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It’s usually a very sad long waiting game to get decent smartphones for folks who aren’t already on a major carrier like Verizon, Sprint, AT&T or T-Mobile.  Sometimes, though, that waiting can pay off.   Alltell customers  — well, those of you not already swallowed up by ported over to Verizon in many market areas — this may be one of those times.   If you have a qualifying plan (e.g., eligible to upgrade or opening a new line/account) you can grab the BlackBerry 8530 to run on Alltel’s 3G network for a mere $49.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate.  Yeah, we’re not big fans of the mail-in rebate way of doing things either, but $100 bucks isn’t exactly chump change.  The best part?  It’s only a 1-year contract.

So, while it’s not the most revved-up BlackBerry on the market with it’s 2MP camera,  you do get to take advantage of the new Curve form factor, trackpad (no more gunky trackball problems, yay!), social networking with Facebook and Twitter, and the Wi-Fi/ GPS enabled goodness any respectable smartphone sports these days.  Throw in your own microSD, and your 8530 can be used for video recording with expandable storage up to 32GB.  Not too shabby.

Press Release follows with even more details on Alltel’s BlackBerry 8530.

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