Bigger Batteries - The Way to Go?

A third-party nine-cell battery for my MacWind would provide me with 6.5 hours of continuous battery use.  Do you think I should get it?

The MacWind I've been talking about lately weights in at about 3 pounds. That's with the 6-cell battery.  It provides me with about 4.5 hours of juice per charge and I find that adequate. But then the debate is whether the weight is more important or adding a little weight but gain 50% of battery life is worth it.

Right now, I would have to choose between the standard 6-cell configuration or a 3rd party 9-cell battery.  In time, I think we'll get more choices given that mobility is increasingly important to a lot of mobile warriors and the ability to work without worry about finding  an outlet is very important.

 What do you think?  With the live.com deal and eBay , I can get it for a good price now.  I've included the link if you're interested.  MSI forums has more info about it.  I guess I will let those intrepid early adopters go through a couple of charge cycles before deciding.

Mobility In President-Elect Barack Obama's Administration

The Obama Campaign used text messaging to inform supporter of his Vice-Presidential choice. The campaign made use a number of Web 2.0 tools like Facebook. There is even an iPhone app for the campaign.

As much as President-Elect Obama has won the youth vote by the wide margin he did, the campaign made used of texting, e-mails, and the Internet to stay in touch with supporters and the general public, making it easier to connect with people. I don't know. I'm simply drawing from the voting data and how his campaign was run. But the public is very Internet savy as they go online to read news, conduct fact-checks, and simply on top of issues.

Now, that it is over, Obama promised to stay in touch with the American public through the same tools his campaign used in the last two years and whatever new technology or applications turn up during his Administration.

Mobile and other technologies will be instrumental in how President-Elect Obama continues his dialogue with the American public and the world at large during the transition period and after January 20 (Inauguration).

Whether you supported his campaign or not, Barack Obama is going to be our President and the leader of the free world. And if the use of technology will made the government feel closer and made the phrase "government for the people, by the people" more literal, I'm all for it.

I would love to see more use of video conferencing. I think John McCain's town hall meetings were very good. I hope it is used more by our public leaders and broasted. Even the weekly Presidential Radio Address can be broadcasted over the Internet.

I mean if CSPAN can do it, why not our government? What other technologies do you think the government can use to connect with the people?

Mobile Voters: Free Stuff For Just Today

Hope everyone's doing well today.  For those still waiting in line to get your vote in, hang in there.  You're doing terrific.

Here are some things you can get for free after you vote:

• Free scoop at Ben & Jerry's between 5 and 8 p.m.
  
• Free coffee at Starbucks if you voted.
  
• Free donut at Krispy Kreme if you mention promotion.
  
• Free chicken at Chik Fil A possibly.

So, it might be cutting it a bit close for you folks on the East Coast but for everyone else, you've got plenty of time.

I just have a question:  How are folks' mobile device battery doing if you're waiting in line all day?  For those who are nearing the end of your battery life:

• turn on airplane mode to save energy.
  
• dim the screen.
• turn off everything that you can like Wi-Fi and GPS.

But do that only after you've read this post.

Note:  For the Starbucks coffee, you do not have to vote in order to get a free coffee.  They offer it to everyone who asks for it.  I'm going to announce that I voted anyway.

170K DSi Sold Over Two Days

Macworld is reporting Nintendo sold 170K DSi over two days in Japan.  An impressive figure by other terms but I wonder if it should be higher.

However, Nintendo and retailers may be limited by units available and not necessarily lack of interest in the latest DS model.  I suppose Macworld is trying to say the DSi did not receive the kind of coverage the DS originally received.

However, Macworld has never been accused of biased I think.  But if they were comparing it to the iPhone 3G launch by Apple and Softbank in Japan, then they're right.  The press coverage is nowhere near what the iPhone launch received.

Nevertheless, 170K is impressive in a country already saturated.  I think most folks like myself are waiting for DS 2.  Sales overseas, like here in the US, is not scheduled until well into 2009.

Source:  Macworld

Note:  Go to 1Up for detailed comparison between DSi and previous models.

For daily wireless headlines important to mobile warriors, please visit Mobile Digerati.

I Voted!

Okay.  Folks.  I voted.  I was like 10th in line.  Something like that.  I took some pics with my iPhone which I'll upload later.  I got to my polling station around 6:45 am. 

Anyway, I met an old guy in line.  Richard.  Cool dude.  65+ and still working.  Has his own biz and all.  He's what America is.  Generous, good outlook on the future, and sensible. 

Met another guy but forgot his name but he looked disappointed when he found out I was drink a carmel hot chocolate from Starbucks.  He's a straight-up coffee guy. 

Anyway, Richard gave me a coupon for coffee at a local coffee shop.  How cool is that?  And that reminded me.  Starbucks will offer a free coffee tomorrow to all voters.

Anway, go vote, my fellow mobile folks!

For daily wireless headlines important to mobile warriors, please visit Mobile Digerati.

iPhone Jail-Breaking Blocked by New Macbooks

CNet is reporting that Apple's new Macbooks will not recognize a jail-broken iPhone.  That is because it uses a custom-iTunes.

How is it accomplished?  Apparently, if you put the iPhone into the DFU mode, the Macbooks will not recognize the iPhone.  Educated guess by CNet and Gizmodo is iTunes.

So the irony is that it might still be possible to jail-break via Windows or an older Mac.  But you have to give it to Apple.  iPhone-Dev Team, your move...

Link:  Cnet

Mobile Tip: Vote!

Alright, folks.  It's November 4th.  Those of us in the US, make sure you go vote today.

It's 6:30am in LA and I'm off to wait in line.  I'm five minutes from work and one minute from my polling station.

In the meanwhile, Mobile Digerati is updated with today's mobile headlines.

Be sure to check back for today's FCC vote on white spaces.  Wish the FCC chairman a lot of luck!  And regardless if who you vote for, go if you are able.  It counts.  As the folks in Dixille Notch, New Hampshire has spoken .

Note:  In case you're wondering, it is Democratic Presidential nominee Senator Barack Obama of Illinois 15 and Republican Presidential nominee Senator John McCain of Arizon 6.