Hidden Tricks: Cellphones
Cell Phone Tricks and Tips
Cell Phone Shopping Comparison
I shopped for a new cellphone in July 2002. It was a pain in the ass to figure out all of the network standards and features, so I made a chart to keep track. I'm posting it here to help others with this difficult shopping decision. It's not an exhaustive list because I was just looking for a phone for the AT&T wireless network in the USA. Plus, this is now fairly out of date.
The first thing to figure out is to learn about the various digital standards. Your choice may depend on whether you have an existing wireless (mobile) carrier, and if so, what digital network they use. GSM/GPRS is still rolling out across the USA. I didn't get a GSM/GPRS phone but might next time. TDMA has been around for a while, it does two-way text messaging and is pretty widespread in the US. (Europe and the rest of the world use different networks, of course).
The chart lists what digital and analog networks each phone supports, if it offers an external plug-in chat keyboard (Ericsson only), and details including a few price notes. I would not pay much attention to the price notes because all carriers have deals that change with the weather. Instead, visit the links above to comparison shop at some good online dealers. I picked the Ericsson T60LX.
| TDMA | GSM/GPRS | AMPS analog | External Keyboard? |
Screen Size | Battery Life | Other Details | Price 6/2002 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Ericsson |
||||||||
| R300d | 800/1900 | 800 | ? 3.25/? | WAP 1.1, PIM, SMS, T9, tri-mode, ERS | ||||
| R300z | 1900 | CHA-10 19.95 | bhc 12/215 | WAP, real battery gauge, T9 | ||||
| R300LX | 800/1900 | 800 | CHA-17 | 5-line101x80 full graphic | mAh Li-Ion 3.5/120 | replaces 289LX?2-way text, bulky, SMS, WAP, web, Fm radio option, no low battery warning, int ant, 3 v | 30. orfree, att (Cnet) | |
| 289 | CHA-01/10? | discontinued? | 49. GoodGuys | |||||
| R289LX | 800/1900 | 800 | CHA-07 | 40x101 px | NM 4/160 | CDPD browser (ATT Packetnet), T9, 2-way text, s/r email, 4 volt, modem | ||
| R278d | 800/1900 | 800 | CHA-01/10?? | 40x101 px | NM 4/160 | wap 1.1, 2-way text, s/r email, ERS, T9, | ||
| T68 | 1900/900/1800 | CHA-10 19.95 | 7/216 | color, Bluetooth, bookmark URLs, modem, compose ring, T9, HSCSD, SMS, ems, WAP 1.2.1, WTLS | 199. att | |||
| T60LX | 800/1900 | 800 | CHA-17 | 7-line or 5-line (selectable)101x80 full graphic | mAh Li-Ion 3.5/228 | joystick, pim, 2-way text, T9, outlook sync, internal ant, text size, 2.5 mm jack, 3v | 150-50-40=60 | |
| T39m | 1900/900/1800 | CHA-10 19.95 | bhc 25/715, bus 11/300 | Bluetooth, WAP 1.2.1, modem, pim, bookmarks, compse ring, colp, sms, | ||||
| T28world | 1900/900 | CHA-10 19.95 | bsl 5/100, bhc 11/215 | e-GSM | ||||
| T28z | 1900 | CHA-10 19.95 | bsl 4/85, bhc 7/200 | real battery | ||||
| Ericsson Chatboard is 19.99 at shopattwireless.com, promo code 472 | ||||||||
| TDMA | GSM/GPRS | AMPS analog | External Keyboard? |
Screen Size | Battery Life | Other Details | Price 6/2002 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Motorola
|
||||||||
| Timeport P7382i | 4-line | liIon | 79. att | |||||
| Timeport P8097 | 800/1900 | 800 | 2-line+buttons | 2.1/170 | IRDB, SMS, | |||
| v series 60taka v60t | 800/1900 | 800 | external: 96x16main: 96x64px for 3 lines of text+icons, prompts | 4/192 with extra battcnet says 4/120 | flip with external ID display, fm radio with headset, memo recorder, SMS, browser, voice menu, iTap, USB?, PIM | 200.-150. att rebate = 50.or online att = 99 | ||
|
Nokia
|
||||||||
| 6360 | 800/1900 | 800 | 6-line96x65px | mAh Li-Ion 2.5/250 or5.2/312 (?) | 2-way text, AOL IM, IR, web, email, uses 6100 series accs | 100.-50 att rebate=50. | ||
| 6340 aka8390 att | 800/1900 | 1900 | 800 | 6/600 GSM, 4/336 tdma, 1.5/48 amps | WAP1.2.1, modem (9.6k), sms, memo, | 199. att? | ||
| 5165 | 800/1900 | yes | 3.25/200 | s/r email, 2-way text mess, AOL IM, | 40.-50 att rebate = free | |||
| 3360 | 800/1900 | 800 | 5-line | NiMH 3.5/252, cnet says 3.5/96 | text/email messaging, IR 14.4 modem, | 50. orfree att rebate | ||
|
Panasonic
|
||||||||
| Versio EB-TX320ASW | 800/1900 | 800 | 4-line | mAh Li-Ion 2.3/200 | sms, speakerphone, T9, 2-way text, | 50. or free att rebate | ||
Handspring |
||||||||
| Treo 180 | 900/1900 or900/1800 | see this link for GPRS/GSM diff | ||||||
| Treo 270 | 900/1900 or900/1800 | see this link for GPRS/GSM diff | ||||||
A simple "Low Rider" ringtone
This works with an Ericsson
T60LX, likely with other Ericsson phones. It might require minor adjustments to work with other brands.
bbbbb +c p +d ppgb +c pbpgppppbbbbb +c p +d ppgb +c pbpgppppfffffpppfffffpppf G. pp |
I used spaces here to separate any notes that are represented by more than just a letter (to make it easier to read). ie notes like c+.
- the key:
p = pause (rest)
+ = octave up
. = long note (capital letter G is already a long note, plus an extra .)
So the only note that is not a quarter note is that last "G." It's that last note that holds for a few beats. That might take some fritzin with. The rest are easy.
How to reprogram the Nokia 2160i default display message
I'm not sure if this hack works with other Nokia cellphones besides the Nokia 2160i. Let me know...
When turned on and not being used, the phone usually displays "Home" or "System" or something boring like that. You can program it to say anything you want. Here's how:
enter "*3001#12345"
then press "menu"
display should show "Field test, NAM 1, NAM 2" with the cursor on "NAM 1"
press "select"
display should show "HOME SYSTEM ID..."
scroll down to menu item "OWN NUMBER..."
press select
display should show "Number: ...
press the ABC button
Enter your message
turn off the phone and then turn it back on.
- How to lock and unlock the Nokia 2160i keypad
Have you ever realized that your cellphone was in your pocket and the "send" button got mashed when you sat on the phone, and it dialed the last number you dialed? Hello? Hell-O? That 20 minute call wasn't cheap!
Here's how to lock out the keypad, with one of two methods:
1) Press and hold the "END" button for a second or two. The phone beeps and says "KEYS LOCKED"
--OR--
2) From the default screen, press "MENU" and then "*". The phone says "KEYS LOCKED" (no beep).
To unlock the keys, press "UNLOCK" and then "*".
You can also require a security code when the phone is powered up. See menu 5,1.
For more info, download the Nokia 2160i User Manual.
Also check out CellPhoneHacks.com.
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