Q. I’ve searched the MoGo documentation, MoGo reviews and your blog looking for mention of whether or not it is a good idea to simply leave the MoGo mouse in the PC Card slot after it has fully charged, but when it is not being used. My concern is whether or not the mouse continues to drain power from the battery even when it is fully charged? (From Rob)

A. Rob asks a good question. To find the answer, I hunted down Jack Corrao, a VP of Newton Peripherals (maker of MoGo Mouse).

I suspected MoGo used a smart battery, and that’s exactly what Jack confirmed;

The MoGo Mouse includes an intelligent battery management systems that slowly ramps down charging requirement from PC Card slot as it gets close to full charge. Once the MoGo is fully charged, the MoGo does not drain any power from your laptop.

Q. I hadn’t considered using my Bluetooth headset with my laptop before. Can I do that, and then still use it with my phone at the same time? C. (Anon.)

A. In short? Yes.

But you need a ‘multipoint’ kind of headset that is designed specifically to do this.

Normally, however, you can synch (or ‘pair’) your Bluetooth headset to multiple devices but you can only connect it to with one thing at a time.

This is how it works. Say you’ve paired up your headset to your phone. Then a co-worker sends you a rough cut of your company’s latest ad campaign and you want to watch it on your Bluetooth-enabled laptop without broadcasting the sound, but your wired headphones are riding somewhere in the back pocket of a 747 where you accidentally left them.

No problem. Simply put your headset in pairing mode and use your laptop’s Bluetooth manager to find it. Now the sounds of the MVID will be sent to your ear but not your neighbors’.

(If your laptop has never ‘found’ your headset before, then you’ll have to initialize it the first time. If your laptop is Bluetooth-enabled [or you’ve purchased a ‘dapter], start by putting your headset into ‘pairing mode’. This is usually holding down a button until a light blinks, see your manufacturer’s instructions. Then go into the Bluetooth control panel on your laptop and have it ‘discover’ your headset. Once your laptop finds it, you’ll be be prompted for a PIN. Once you’ve done this the first time, you’re off to the races - switching is a matter of holding down the button on the headset and having the device ‘find’ it.)

Q. Does the new MoGo mouse have to be used with a laptop? I want to use it on my regular PC. (Anon.)

A. While some PC’s and most MAC’s do generally come now Bluetooth-enabled and adapters are available (or on the way) if yours isn’t, the other thing a MoGo mouse needs is a PC Card slot to charge up - something not commonly found in a desktop system.

So you can certainly pair up a MoGo mouse to work with your PC, you may need to hunt up a laptop to charge it. However, now that you’ve asked the question maybe you’ll spur some product development

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On Fridays, MoGo Mobility’s Elizabeth will seek to answer your MoGo (and non-MoGo) technical questions.

Elizabeth is a professional writer & geek with most of the last decade spent in senior management at a leading global IT provider. Thousands have attended her seminars in the US & Canada on subjects ranging from basic TCP/IP networking to high-end data storage solutions.

Got a question? Ask Elizabeth.

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As Tris pointed out yesterday, Newton Peripherals is prepping for the launch of the next-gen MoGo mouse.

This must-have builds on all the great aspects of the prior model - in-laptop charging and storage, ergonomic ease of use - and adds in some outstanding new ones as well.

To start, they packaged in a scroll bar, right down the middle. This was the Number 1 requested want-to-have from previous conversations with customers. You asked for it, you got it. This low-profile, savvy mouse allows you to scroll through the pages just like its chunkier cousins do.

But that’s just the start of the innovations - this mouse goes to a whole new level…

Because this tool? Is also a multimedia remote control.

Allowing you to walk the room during presentations, forwarding to the next slide or muting sound without having to jog back to your laptop and push a button. The device is subtle and laser accurate.

And because it charges in your laptop, you can stop carrying those extra batteries around.

Using your laptop as a DVD player? Or catching up on your industries podcasts and videos? You can lean back in your chair, put up your feet, and have all the control in your hand - skip ahead, rewind, or pause without leaving your chair.

It comes in two versions, and will be available in August. Check it out!

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Now, I’m not the type of person that likes to spoil surprises, and I never have been.  I’m that guy that is a vault for any and all secrets you might just happen to fling my way.  That said, I don’t want to spoil any surprises that you might find if you were to say, head over and check out MoGo’s main page.

So folks, why don’t you just take my word on it that you’ll find some new stuff, new products and new ideas over there that will make you VERY excited for the coming months.  When I say very, I actually mean VERY.  Personally, if I had a time fast forwarder, I’d probably be using it about now.

Head over to MoGo’s Main Page, see what you can see, then come back here and tell me how YOU feel about the surprise I just tipped you off to!

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I guess it goes without saying that with every cool new technology that pops up, before too long someone, somewhere, figures out how to use it for absolute pure evil.  Evil in this case, being the beyond annoying Spam that we’re all so accustomed to in this day and age.  Spammers, have been around for ages, and now that Bluetooth is an official staple in our daily lives, well many of us Mobile Warriors, does it really surprise you that they’ve taken it to the next level?

That’s right, Bluespamming, Bluecasting, whatever you want to call it, it’s all about what we’ve talked about here before:  tapping into the open Bluetooth market and sending messages, voicemails or a combination of both to your Bluetooth enabled device.   The article I just read dives into this very controversial topic and it got me thinking about a question they posed:  “If a person does leave their Bluetooth sensor in the on status, does that mean they welcome these messages?”  I want to know your opinions on the topic, so please, sound off in the comments section.

My opinion, no.  If I left my car window open while driving down the road, does that mean I want people to throw things in at me?  If I stopped on the sidewalk to open my briefcase of messenger bag, does that imply that people can come check out what is inside it and add things if they want?  No.  Simply No.  Just because I’ll soon have a sweet MoGo Headest, doesn’t mean I want to hear commercials on it as I walk by certain buildings.  Simple as that.

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Last May, I wrote about the growing trend in other parts of the world to use your cell phone as a kind of mobile payment device (like the unlamented ‘Speedpass’).

Well, ‘Other Parts of the World’? Just became your house, if you’re a Verizon customer.

ComputerWorld is reporting that Verizon and boPay are partnering to let customers use their cell phone as a credit card. According to the article;  “Users access their mobile money with an Obopay prepaid MasterCard, which can be used at any ATM or retail outlet that accepts credit cards. Users also can check their account balances, collect money owed from other mobile users and view transaction histories.”

Verizon CEO Ivan Seidenberg says;  “We used to say you needed three things when you leave your house: your cell phone, car keys and wallet. Soon, you’ll only need your cell phone.”

According to ComputerWorld, Seidenberg did not detail any upcoming automobile-ignition capability for Verizon cell phones.

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Q. The #1 Matt said on his 18 June Post; “WiFi is pretty much a given these days, I want to see a website about which airports have the best power outlets.”

OK, That wasn’t really a question, but it’s reminiscent of one I’ve been asked many, many times. Because its not enough to know the airport has WiFi if your laptop battery is going to be dead an hour before you board.

A. First of all, let me just say: someone has, Matt. The Air Power Wiki is a little thin right now, but it’s growing.

My answer? Will have to incorporate more than just power outlet bounty. For me to feel good about an airport, I like a steaming side order of free WiFi and a sensibility tuned to the wired traveler - with public workstations, for example.

And the unexpected discovery here is that I rarely find that in a large airport. For example, LaGuardia, JFK, Chicago, Atlanta, heck - practically ALL Wisconsin airports, have fee-based WiFi, are riddled with non-working outlets and working havens are rarely found outside the premium lounges. Boston actually fought against freeWiFi providers in their airport.

Truly, it’s the smaller airports that seem to ‘get’ the wired traveler.

Without further ado, here are the best of those I’ve traveled:
East Coast - #1 Pittsburgh, PA (PIT): Free WiFi, strong signal, lots of outlets - even in the gate areas near the seats. #2 West Palm Beach, FL (PBI). Free WiFi (which is true in most Florida airports, bless them). I also found powered outlets in each gate area. #3 Manchester, NH (MHT) This Boston-area Southwest Airlines favorite has Free WiFi with fairly strong signal at most gates. Power outlets at most gate areas, too. Honorable Mentions; Blue Grass Airport (LEX) in Lexington, KY has free WiFi in the terminal, in the parking lots within 300 feet of the terminal and on the tarmac (if you and your plane should be parked there). No wireless card? You can borrow a patch cable from the airport information desk and use one of the wall sockets that convert wireless to a high-speed plug-in connection.

Middle US - #1 Grand Rapids, MI (GRR): Free WiFi and power outlets at most gate areas, plus two centrally-located complimentary public business centers with work surfaces, electrical outlets, and LAN connections. #2 Kansas City, MO (MCI):: Free WiFi, good coverage. A goodly number of open outlets, and the way gates are set up there is usually a fairly quiet place to type or surf. #3 Quad Cities (Moline), IL (MLI): Chicago-area’s 3rd busiest airport is the only one with free WiFi and dependable outlets, which are available in each gate area as well as in the food court. Honorable Mentions; Lubbock, TX (LBB) is one of the few Texas airports with free WiFi and available outlets. It’s about a 6-hour drive (4, if you rent something more powerful than a Geo) from Dallas. Many of the smaller resort-area Colorado airports (like Colorado Springs, COS) have free WiFi and powered workstations.

West Coast - #1 Las Vegas, NV (McCarran, LAS): The largest airport in the US to offer free, public WiFi. They are in the process of installing more power outlets and workstations - in the meantime, if you’re desperate, they usually have one in the restroom. #2 Portland, OR (PDX): Free WiFi that covers most of the airport - they even have coverage maps at customer service. Plus newer workstations with power outlets. #3 Sacramento, CA (SMF): I happily found an outlet at my gate and free WiFi, as advertised by the airport. But in the interest of disclosure, I read recently that there is a pay-for-the-day WiFi provider in some spots, and that some travelers find a lot of the outlets are dead.

A couple of wired-travel tips? Tuck a small power strip in your laptop bag because if you do find power, it’s always good to share. And if you find one that someone is already using, then you can get them to share.

Also - JetBlue gives its customers free WiFi so if you head to their area of an airport terminal, you can usually get signal. USA Today did an article with more great tips here.

————————————————————————————————

On Fridays, MoGo Mobility’s Elizabeth will seek to answer your MoGo (and non-MoGo) technical questions.

Elizabeth is a professional writer & geek with most of the last decade spent in senior management at a leading global IT provider. Thousands have attended her seminars in the US & Canada on subjects ranging from basic TCP/IP networking to high-end data storage solutions.

Got a question? Ask Elizabeth.

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Could it be that the new Apple iPhone actually allows you to charge both the phone AND Bluetooth Headsets on the same dock?! Now, I’m not making fun of Apple here, but in my experience with the company, anytime an additional functionality is needed, it usually means whipping out the checkbook yet again. If it’s true that they’re actually tossing in headset charging to the dock, I will be both excited and pleasantly surprised.

The photo above is one I found over at Engadget and all I can really gather so far from it is that 1) it is Apple White…2) That’s it. So, whether or not it WILL or will NOT charge the headsets remains to be seen. Regardless, for all you non iPhone users, I suggest when the MoGo Headset comes out, you get one, or three for you and friends; it really will set the bar for new design in Bluetooth Headset.

Head over, check it out, then let us know if you think it will, or will not support Bluetooth Headset charging. Sound off!

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Ever get the feeling that two different products are just going to absolutely compliment each other?  You know that great feeling you get when you have a bag of Oreos and a big glass of Milk; Peanut Butter and Jelly, Hamburgers and French Fries, and now, the MoGo Headset and AT&T’s newly launched video share service.

That’s right my friends, AT&T has finally and officially launched their new video share service that, get this, lets one user send a LIVE video feed from your phone to the persons phone you’re speaking with…in real time (or at least that’s what they hope).  While the service does require that both people have video-share capable phones and for now is only available in three markets, you have to admit, it’s pretty darn exciting.  I’ve said it before, but, Welcome to the Future.

So, like I said, combine this new, amazing feature with the new MoGo Headset.  Not only will you look like you’re talking to someone that isn’t there while you walk down the street, you’ll look like you’re Looking at someone that isn’t there too!  No, in all seriousness, these two technologies completely compliment each other.  If you’re a college student, think of the implications:  make your friend go to class with his phone aimed towards the professor and MoGo Headset in, while you chill out at home and watch the lecture.  Easy peasy lemon squeezy!

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Winter’s long snowbound delays in the airport lounge begin to look downright restful as the wild weirdness that is summer travel gets underway.

On this sunny day, I thought I’d share a few of my favorite tips to help keeps those “stuck-in-line behind the Von Trap family blues” at bay:

1) Take your WiFi with you.

For an extra $11 or so a day, Avis now offers the ‘Autonet Mobile Service’. This is a portable WiFi receiver that can be carried anywhere; “from the hotel room to the conference room and beyond.”

Autonet provides you WiFi access for your entire trip. No extra equipment needed - your WiFi card in your laptop is your passport to connectivity. No getting codes from the hotel, hunting for an Internet cafe, or beseeching your clients for some uptime.

It even works IN your Avis rental car. Although they politely ask that you not use it while driving.

2)Use an all-in-one booking service.

Remember in olden times, when you had a corporate travel agent? The kind that would say “Oh, you’re headed to Richardson? I know the best place for lunch…”

These days even when there is one available, it is usually just for ticketing. Where to stay, where to eat, these are things we research and follow-up ourselves. In between checking the local weather, tracking flight times and printing out local maps.

Using an all-in-one service, like Orbitz, really did have me slapping my forehead and wondering why I hadn’t done it before.

In addition to sending travel alerts to your PDA or cell phone (which all airlines do these days), Orbitz also gathers up the weather reports and delays, cool destination podcasts (I love those) and travel guides, global news that could affect your travel, and even maps to airports all in one place.

3) Check the local traffic.

Last year, some of my far-flung family were passing through the Chicago area on their way to Wisconsin and found themselves spending hours at the state border, absolutely paralyzed in holiday traffic.

I felt for them, deeply.

If you haven’t already discovered Traffic.com, you’re in for a treat. It is a free website that saves you from such horrible fates as the one that befell my family by clearly displaying real-time traffic and detours.

One of my favorite functions? It will send you email or text message alerts on the road, so you know when to exit off the highway before giving away a few hours of your life to some gaper’s gridlock.

Bon Voyage!

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Sometimes I sit back and I seriously ask myself…Self, what next?!  Every morning I wake up and check my ol’ RSS feeds, and I swear there’s some new technology, some new big idea, product, announcement or innovation.  So, what is next?

How about Bluetooth Clothing?   How about this, it’s already here, and it has the potential to do absolutely amazing things.  The implications are already showing through in the field of military use.  As the article I just read said, “Picture it…you’re flying a helicopter over a warzone and you’re looking for soldiers who need to be rescued. You see uniforms spread out across the battlefield but you can’t tell who is in need of assistance. Well…imagine now that these same soldiers had illuminations on their uniforms that allowed you, and only you, to determine their level of distress. “  Can you imagine that?!

The fact is, with how fast things are moving these days, we don’t have to really Imagine things very long.  Soon after the imagining takes place, a great deal of the time, the production phase begins.  Bluetooth, I’m happy to say, is one of these technologies that is really opening the door for so many new things.  The worlds of gaming, information, news, safety and convenience are all changing before our eyes.  What can YOU imagine?

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