After two weeks, I can happily say the love affair with my smartphone continues. Basically, I have almost all the functionality of a Pocket PC in the same form factor as my previous phone. I have had a bit of trouble getting ActiveSync over Bluetooth working, but I'm going to wait until I repave my home machine and get a Ghost image.

Some software I'm using now:

Power Tasks. I make heavy use of Tasks, and the built-in Tasks viewer is a little weak. I tried out two replacements: Oxios ToDo List and Power Tasks. Both are immense improvements over the default application (the fonts alone - being able to actually see the task!). I've decided to stick with Power Tasks for now, because I really like the grouping of tasks by category. This allows me to easily see my @Errands task list...

Pocket Streets. Enough said. I now have a full map of NYC with me wherever I go. I'm a little disappointed that there's no smartphone version of Vindigo or Zagat-To-Go. I would definitely buy those to have up-to-date bar and restaurant info with me. I've used both in the past, but it was kind of ineffective because I didn't take my Pocket PC with me when I went out for dinner and drinks.

I'll probably install more now that I have a 256 mini SD (I eventually want to get a 1GB when they become available).

The next steps are to get ActiveSync over BT working (no small task, apparently) and GPRS working. I really want to get wireless synchronization set up with my Exchange server. The Bluetooth synchonization is great too, so I don't have to remember to actually plug it in. At least it charges over USB.

By the way, I love GSM phones. This is why I initially moved to T-Mobile two years ago (they had the best GSM coverage in my area at the time), and I'll never go back. On that note, a good friend from college was in town visiting us from Boston this weekend. We were just finishing up dinner and supposed to meet up with some of her other friends. Somehow, before we left the restaurant, she managed to drop her phone in the toilet. (Seriously... I'm not making this up. Although she's a comedian, so maybe she just wanted some material). She dried out the phone, but it was basically dead - which means we also couldn't get her friend's number. Oops. After we find another bar to figure out what to do, I realized she had a Cingular GSM phone. I popped out her SIM card, threw it in the Audiovox, and we had their numbers. Ah, the beauty of an unlocked GSM phone...

Here are the pictures:

Top view of the Audiovox SMT5600, Sony Ericsson T610, and Blackberry 7230

Top view, Audiovox SMT5600 and Sony Ericsson T610

Side view, Audiovox SMT5600 and Sony Ericsson T610