Attention foodies!  Our own Clinton Fitch is at it again with another great iPhone application review.

This time it’s Zagat To Go, the iPhone application that gives you detailed information on restaurants in cities all over the world.

The Zagat Guide, which has almost a cult following, has been the go-to choice for millions when it comes to finding and reading about local restaurants.  Its reviews cover the food, service, decor, price and more all in a compact, easy to read and follow format.

How does the Guide port to the iPhone?  Read Clinton’s review here to find out.

Want to rock out on your iPhone but unsure as to which of the tap style rock games is best?

Our own Clinton Fitch has posted a great review of the recently released version of Rock Band for the iPhone on his own web site, ClintonFitch.com. The game was one of the more anticipated applications to hit the iTunes App Store this year.

The detailed review includes screen shots as well as a comprehensive walk through of how the game is played.

Check it out today!

I spent a year running, and being the primary writer for, a site devoted specifically to iPhone apps. I remember the mad rush when the App Store first went on line. Populating the database had to be done by hand since the App Store wasn’t easily copyable, and no RSS feeds of new apps were yet available. The process was painful. Copy the app’s information, grab a screen-shot, grab a link to its location in the App Store, put all the data into the site’s database.

I sent the better part of four days of my summer vacation manually putting in all the apps that were there… all 552 of them.

Fast forward less than a year and a half and there are now more than 100,000 apps available in the App Store. That’s a pretty remarkable growth-rate. No, it is down-right unbelievable. It shows that Apple has hit a homerun with the iPhone/App Store combination. It could also, however, be Apple, and the iPhone’s Achelles heal. Continue Reading

Business users — and, let’s face it, anyone who uses MS Office for documents — should take note of DataViz’s Documents To Go for the iPhone platform.  Oh, don’t worry, you’ll still look hip and “with it” as the kiddies say while you carry your iPhone.  Now you’ll just be able to walk into your next meeting and whiz-pow-bang! pull up the latest sales figures or show your boss that new PowerPoint presentation straight from your iPhone.  Since Documents To Go for the iPhone features MS Exchange Sync, you will be able to keep those documents in sync on your desktop and iPhone.  Yes, that means you can edit/create documents and save ‘em and all those lovely changes will be on your desktop when you return from that extended lunch .

Need the full low-down on Docs To Go?  Head over to ClintonFitch.com, where Clinton has detailed the features and makes even the most button-downed corporate iPhone user take note of the app’s capabilities.  If your iPhone does double-duty as your business phone as well as your fun-time-music-video-navigation-ebook-readin’-game-playin’-phone, then you owe it to yourself to read Clinton’s full review.

[ClintonFitch.com]

So you have Windows 7 and you are all fired up about installing it on your netbook. The problem is that your netbook doesn’t have a CD or DVD player built in which means that DVD media that Windows 7 comes on is pretty much a coaster. You can solve the problem by popping $80-90 bucks on an external drive, but what if you could make that 4GB USB flash drive do the magic for you? Well you can, and it is pretty straight forward to do. All you need is a 4GB or bigger USB flash drive, a little bit of patience and your Windows 7 media.

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It is not a so-well-kept secret that I travel quite a bit for my day job. While 2009 has seen a slow down in travel for me, I still will easily make my American Airlines Platinum status for the 4th year in a row. As a reminder to everyone: Airline status is not something to be proud of. It means that you spend too much time on airplanes and that you know exactly which seats and rows have power outlets… but I digress. Since September 11, 2001 the single biggest challenge with air travel has not necessarily been the airlines but the security process you have to go through in order to get to your gate. I’m not complaining – security has kept us from having any significant airline issues since 9/11 – but it can be challenging, especially for seasoned travelers.

Normally when you go through the security checkpoint at the airport you are required to remove your laptop from your bag and put it in a seperate tray in order to be x-rayed amongst the other things you have to removed from your person – shoes, belts, etc. For most this is not that big of a deal but for people who have a lot of stuff in their bag along with their computer, it can take a minute or so to get the computer out of the bag and onto the belt. Meanwhile, the seasoned travelers are tapping their toe behind you waiting impatiently.

To help solve this challenge of travel, Skooba Designs has released a wide range of bags they refer to as their Checkthrough series. This series of bags are approved by the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) for allowing your computer to remain in the bag and be x-rayed. It is a tremendous time saver, especially on those days when the airport security is exceptionally busy. Skooba Designs was kind enough to send me the Checkthrough Roller bag for this review and after several trips with it I have to say it is a winner. Not only does it help you get through security checkpoints but it is a roomy and functional roller bag.

The Skooba Checkthrough Roller Bag

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Where were you when you first heard about the now infamous “Balloon Boy” incident? On Thursday, October 15th, at a little past 2 p.m. Central Time, Dan and I were IM’ing when he abruptly told me to turn on CNN.

Once I did, the screen was filled with the image of a large silver balloon speeding and spinning, thousands of feet above the Colorado countryside. The balloon supposedly carried a six year old boy, appropriately named Falcon.

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It started innocently enough.  One morning last week Wayne sent an email asking if any of the writers liked Starbuck’s after he had accumulated a fairly large amount of points — $370 worth — on his own Starbuck’s rewards card.  Then today Carly spotted a great deal on Woot! for a Breville 15-Bar Expresso & Cappuccino Maker for $179.99 (that’s it pictured above).

These messages sparked an entire back and forth coast to coast between what gear we each used to  quench our lust for caffeine.    See what the team is using, and sound off in the comments on what gear you’re using to get the most java-goodness  from those wonderful fresh-roasted beans…

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Earlier in the week I threw out the following question…

What current technology, service or product do you see as totally passé… And why….?

The responses were quite interesting and while there was a good deal of agreement there were also some places where our diverse group parted ways.

Here are some of the answers… Continue Reading

Clinton Fitch is somewhat of a legend in the handheld device world. A long-time Windows Mobile MVP and owner of clintonfitch.com, he has made a name for himself as one of the best, most knowledgeable people in the world of Windows Mobile.

But here is the thing. Technology is always changing. Our device needs are always changing. As a result, no matter how devoted we are to a particular device or platform there may come a time when we open our eyes to something better suited to our current needs. I mean, heck, did I ever think I would be carrying a Blackberry and LIKING IT??

So yes, Clinton has made a change. Continue Reading

So there is BlackBerry… then iPhone…and then there is, according to our own Clinton Fitch, the new HTC Touch Pro2 which “could well be the only phone business users could need.” Clinton posted a review of the HTC Touch Pro2 on his website that is dissection goodness, you can read the review here.  His review is one of the most in-depth I have read to date and covers everything from the updated calendar and start menu, to the new TouchFlo3D  v2 and how it changes the Windows Mobile game! There are also nearly 2 dozen screenshots of the phone in action. I am hardcore BlackBerry to the bone, but this review even entices me to stick my toes in the water to check the temp! And for you hardcore business users, remember the term Straight Talk!

Head over to http://www.clintonfitch.com/reviews/htc/touchpro-2/default.asp to check out the full review. You may want to hide your checkbook before hand!

How good is your gear?   Most of the time we become easily enamored by the look of the latest and greatest device.  It’s really only after you start putting your gear through the rigors of daily use that you can really tell how well it’s made — and whether it is something you can truly recommend.  Judie recently reviewed the HP Pavilion dv2 — and even proclaimed she may even (gasp!) move back to Windows from Mac!

Over at ClintonFitch.com, Clinton also reviewed the dv2 with a very positive review.  The real test for this machine is how it fairs in the hands of a busy college student needing a dependable, lightweight, powerhouse of a machine day in and day out that can handle everything from classes, lectures, lab research — as well as high-def movies or music. Luckily, Clinton’s daughter Kate was up for the task.  So, does the HP Pavilion dv2 make the grade after a few months of daily use and abuse?

Check out Kate Fitch’s Full Review To Find Out!

What’s more fun than a good puzzle? A good puzzle you can have with you all the time.

Our buddy Clinton just did a thorough review of Spb Puzzle. Did he like it?

Well this paragraph from his review speaks for itself…

Having played with Spb Puzzle now for several months it is hard to find anything not to like about it.  The controls and intuitive nature of the game makes it fun to play without causing frustration.  The puzzles themselves can prove to be very challenging and the ability of the game to save on-the-fly without me having to create a save file is perfect for those difficult puzzles when you simply need to walk away for a while!

Check out the full review HERE.

Today is a pretty cool day for Windows Mobile developers. Today Microsoft has begun accepting submissions to the all new Windows Marketplace!

Starting today, registered developers and ISVs can upload their application, game or widget to the platform and Microsoft will begin the certification process of them according to their published process, policies and guidelines. They are certifying applications on a First In, First Out basis. The certification process takes about 10 business days but you can always check the status of your application online. If for some reason your application does not get certified you will get a detailed explanation of why so you can try it again. The good news is that Microsoft has published all of the guidelines and policies as well as the tool set they will be using. Frankly, there shouldn’t be too many surprises.

To encourage developers, Microsoft has created a contest named The Race to Market Challenge. The prize? Two winners will get Microsoft Surface tables – the Developer edition no less – along with online marketing and promotion of their application. Oh, and you get a cool trophy as well!

Applications will be judged on:

- Most downloads of a free app
- Most valuable app (downloads x price)
- Most useful (as judged by Microsoft panel)
- Most playful (as judged by Microsoft panel)

The contest ends on December 31, 2009. For more information, visit http://mobilethisdeveloper.com.

If you haven’t already, please read our Initial Thoughts on the HTC Touch Pro2. That’s where you’ll find a full gallery of Touch Pro2 pictures as well as our unboxing banter. So without further ado…

Drew: The TP2 Rocks!  I haven’t been this excited about a WM phone since the Advantage came out and then I was mollified for quite some time with the TyTN II.  The gorgeous screen, super keyboard, and excellent phone/sound definitely make it a keeper if you are in the corporate world.

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