What are the *Must-Have* toys?

[AdrianC]

I've got my M2000, and the "ooooooh" factor is starting to wear off - I need toys, dammit!

<grin>

Seriously - I'm looking at a USB charger - anybody got any thoughts as to the best-value one in the UK? Also screen protectors? Any good? Or more hassle than they're worth?

Finally - is there a decent case that will allow me to carry the spare battery? Even just a case *for* the spare battery to stop it shorting out in my laptop bag would be nice - as it is, it's useless, as it's sod all use at home, and I can't really take it with me, short of shoving it into a freezer bag. Classy.

[snorbaard]

Can't help you much there. I definitely don't have too many extras.

When I got my Qtek 1010 (XDA), I couldn't get a fold-up keyboard fast enough. Unfortunately, the keyboard was more of a disappointment than anything else (some of the buttons, especially the space-bar, have to be pressed _just_ a little harder to be recognised).

Now, with my i-mate (XDA II), the only extras I have indugled in (although I still carry the keyboard with me) is a 512MB SD Card (which is also not so great, cause it's an AGFA, and it's SLOOOOOOW).

How about getting yourself a GPS kit?

[ozymandias]

For USB Sycn and Charge cables you can beat these :

http://www.expansys.com/product.asp?code=115610&asource=116684

I have had these PPC Techs canples for a numnber of devices and they are very cool.

I can also recoomend this to go with it :

http://www.expansys.com/product.asp?code=EXP_USB-CLA

Its a dongle to go in your car cigarette lighter that has a powered USB port in the top so you can run/charge anyt5hing that can take power via USB.

The two items above are a real go anywhere kit :)

[ozymandias]

If you want sometning with real wow factor, how about a laser projected virtual keyboard ?!

http://www.expansys.com/product.asp?code=110909

[AdrianC]

http://www.expansys.com/product.asp?code=115610&asource=116684
http://www.expansys.com/product.asp?code=EXP_USB-CLA

Are you looking in my shopping basket? They were the ones I'd added before I asked... I was hoping for somebody with some experiences of the extending charge cable - it could have been a very useful device or uselessly overcomplicated and fragile.

As for that laser keyboard... :shock:

[ozymandias]

eXpansys rock.
They are so good at this kind of thing.

I recently bought a bluetooth headset from them which turned out not to be very robust. The ease with whcih I was able to send it back and get a full refund (including carriage costs) was excellent.

The most amazing thing about that laser keyboard is that it's £20 cheaper than the foldup one.

[griffog]

And don't forget Satellite Navigation. That is the 'Must Have'!

[wilesd]

Install MS Voice Command software, pretty cool you can then control whole device by Voice without any training!

And a 2.5mm to 3.5mm Stereo adaptor from Expansys will let you plug in some "Proper" headphones (I use Sony MDR-EX71SL's) you've then got an IPOD butt kicking MP3/WMA player.

[AdrianC]

Install MS Voice Command software, pretty cool you can then control whole device by Voice without any training!

I've installed Fonix, and it does indeed seem good. If only I could initiate a call from my bluetooth headset...

And a 2.5mm to 3.5mm Stereo adaptor from Expansys will let you plug in some "Proper" headphones (I use Sony MDR-EX71SL's) you've then got an IPOD butt kicking MP3/WMA player.

Umm, iPod butt-kicking? I've not found any 40Gb SD cards yet, and the battery life is mediocre enough without having it playing MP3s all day every day...

GPS - It's a thought. What's the good SatNav software to go for? TomTom still?

[Tpot]

I just bought a Parot CK3300 BT hands free kit with built in GPS receiver.

Should get it on Tuesday.

[wilesd]

Was referring to the Audio Quality on IPOD's not storage space.

Bitrate for Bitrate the IPOD media format is not a patch on WMA

TomTom3 Navigator has never got me lost yet?
only downside is the iffy address entry method but this can be rectified with a UK postcode add-on.

Checkpoint "Safety" Camera POI works a treat as well

[rollyblu]

http://www.blueant.com.au/bthp_i.htm

[given]

If you want sometning with real wow factor, how about a laser projected virtual keyboard ?!

http://www.expansys.com/product.asp?code=110909

DAMMIT!!!!!! I thought of that 3 years ago!!!! They stole my idea!! Anyway, What about bluetooth mice or sdio camera. There's also external batteries that charge the pda, check out mobileplanet. Asus put out a wifi laptop hard drive enclosure, add a hard drive, and hook it up to the external battery, and you've got yourself up to 40 gigs of external storage. (I haven't checked to see if it'll work yet or not, but I don't see why not) And of course there's always gps.
And speaking of far fetched accessories, anyone wanna help me write a usb hub driver for the ppc so I can hook up my digital camera and nomad jukebox3, and use the jukebox 3 as storage for my digital pictures.
Once we get the hub working, there's no end to the usb accessories we can get.
BTW I also saw sdio video cards to do powerpoint presentations while on the road, and video capture cards.
Last but not least on my shopping list is the bluetooth cassette adapter. It's a cassette tape looking bluetooth hq audio adapter, for home or vehicle use.
I also remember something about an fm transmitter, I think it's an fm transmitter, so you can listen to your mp3 through your radio. There also has to be someone who makes a tv receiver, and a radio receiver for these things, there just has to be.

[wamatt]

Install MS Voice Command software, pretty cool you can then control whole device by Voice without any training!

And a 2.5mm to 3.5mm Stereo adaptor from Expansys will let you plug in some "Proper" headphones (I use Sony MDR-EX71SL's) you've then got an IPOD butt kicking MP3/WMA player.

I want some proper headphones too, however if it means trying to swap them with the headset when a call comes in... no good. Any suggestions on a better headset/earphone combo?

[wamatt]

http://www.blueant.com.au/bthp_i.htm

Bluetooth stereo.. very sceptical.

- Can I stream audio from a mobile phone or pda using Bluetooth?
The Audio Player can be used to receive streamed audio if the mobile phone supports A2DP (advanced audio distribution profile). Some phone can stream audio to the headphones in mono.

From the website

Has anyone actually tried this with the Blue Angel? Does it work properly, Ie taking calls, playing music.

[wamatt]

Seems like the Blueant is a re-labelled Sonorix

http://www.mobilefun.co.uk/product/5177.htm