AnywhereMan

I’ve had my Palm Pre Plus on Verizon for a little over two months now.  It’s been working out really well and I’ve been pleased with the purchase even in the shadow of newer/better/faster phones like iPhone 4 and the barrage of Android-powered devices making their way onto the market.

The main reason I’m so content? The mobile wi-fi hotspot feature.

I use it ALL THE TIME…even more than I thought I would. It seems like the wi-fi has been dropping constantly wherever I choose to set up shop for day. Employees at Caribou Coffee are trained to make delicious coffee, not diagnose wi-fi issues. No worries. Every time the network shows signs of slowing, I fire up the hotspot on my phone, set my MacBook to connect to it, and keep right on working.

I’ve heard that the next release of the Android platform will include support for a mobile wi-fi hotspot. Next to using my phone to actually converse, this is the feature I use the most. It  has really enabled me to live up to the name “AnywhereMan” as I don’t need to be anywhere near a public wi-fi hotspot to get online and get my work done.

I’m not sure if I’ll stick with the Palm family when it comes time to upgrade in a year or two, but one the main features I’ll be looking for in the next device will be the hotspot. Palm’s doing it, Android will be doing it…any guesses on if iPhone will be doing it?

Take a walk with me through the woods while I debate whether having a smartphone and data plan are worth it for me. While trying to simplify, cut down distractions, and lessen the noise in my daily life, I am unsure if having a web-enabled device in my pocket at all times is necessarily a good thing.

For some, it’s a requirement. But I work from home or wifi-enabled public locations. If I’m neither of those places, I don’t want to be working or tempted to work. I want to be catching fish, focusing on my family, or just enjoying whatever moment is presented to me.

There are three main areas where I question whether having the web available at all times is good for me:

1. I want to spend less time on the internet, not more. By subscribing to a monthly data plan, I’d feel like I was wasting my money if I wasn’t using it.
2. I’m trying to reduce the number of “in-boxes” in my life and the number of times I check my email daily. Mobile web/email would add at least one more.
3. When I’m not working, I want to focus on not working. If I’m in my canoe, going for a hike, or out on a date with my wife, I want to enjoy those things for what they are at that moment, not how they’ll sound in a Twitter update.

What do you think? If you use a web-enabled smartphone, does it simplify your life?

We’re all different and what works for one person might not work for another. I’m just debating what makes sense for my lifestyle today. Smartphones are everywhere and I even had one for a short while a few years ago. I realized it didn’t make sense for me then and I’m still not sure if I really need one. I’m the AnywhereMan, not the EverywhereMan.

And yes, I will probably change my mind on all of this next week.

Somehow, some way, I won a brand-new DLP HD projector from a Samsung Twitter contest. The point of the contest was to let them know why your Superbowl party was going to be the best. The reason mine was going to be the best? We would be having it outside in the snow and cold of Minnesota (in true AnywhereMan fashion). This video displays that experience. It was incredible!

Thanks again to Samsung USA for the sweet projector, and be sure to follow them on Twitter at @SamsungTweets. They are definitely a big company using social media the right way!

This is a completely random post, but I was just getting ready for bed and happened to notice the specific items I had set out on my nightstand. Sometimes these things tell the story of our day or even our life. Here’s a shot of my nightstand as it looks at this very moment, and a description of the items:

A – My iPod Touch and clock/charger base. The Touch is a truly useful Anywhere tool and the base was a great Father’s Day present from my girls this past year. Waking up to something like U2‘s “Beautiful Day” is much better than a standard alarm.

B – USB flash drive – A nice little metal 2GB drive from BizConf.

C – Glass of wine – I’ve earned this today. I will be sleeping well tonight.

D – LED head lamp – I use this thing all the time! Comes in expecially handy for catching nightcrawlers in the summertime.

E – Batman Begins DVD – Not sure why this was on my nightstand, but is that a great movie or what?!

F – Cub Scouts Magic book – So I was visiting my parents last weekend and my mom brought this out to me. When I was a kid I was really into magic tricks and this was one of my books of tricks. I guess she wants me to get back into doing those or something.

G – Latest issue of Entrepreneur Magazine – Probably my favorite magazine. They always have great articles applicable to both my field (tech) and my status as a small business owner.

H – In-Fisherman Walleye guide – Yeah I’ve read this a few times. I still can’t catch walleyes.

I – My change jar – I think I counted close to 50 pennies in there with not a hint of silver to be seen. My girls are thieves.

What’s on your nightstand? What story does that collection of items tell about you?

Today Apple announced it’s newest product line: the iPad. I normally don’t write about announcements and hype, but from an Anywhere perspective, the iPad looks to be a useful device.

People have been touting the Apple tablet as a hybrid between the iPhone and the Macbook Pro, and that’s exactly how Steve Jobs presented the device. He dismissed the idea of “netbooks” as PC notebooks don’t do anything better other than save you money on a portable, stripped-down PC.

The touch-enabled iPad does a lot of things better in his opinion: battery life (10 hours of use, up to a month on standby), browsing experience, display, and more. Certain models have integrated 3G capability and you can purchase coverage from AT&T directly from the device. All models include WiFi and Bluetooth capability.

And price? It starts at just $499 (nice) for the 16GB model, $629 for a 16 GB 3G-enabled model, and a 250MB plan from AT&T is $14.99/month while an unlimited data plan is just $29.99/month. No contract required – it’s all month-to-month with no voice requirement. That’s pretty sweet, actually.

It sounds like a lot of people are unimpressed with the unveiling of the iPad, but my approach is to give it some time. I’d have to say that given the choice between an Amazon Kindle or an iPad, I’d definitely lean towards all the extended functionality of the iPad.

The web browsing experience looks awesome, and I’d be able to do a lot of my job-related activities directly on this device. Blogging would be a cinch. From a design point-of-view, having the ability to sketch out layouts using a touch screen gets me super excited.

It’s still not near as powerful as my Macbook Pro but the 3G coverage/portability would mean I could use it from the comfort of my fishing boat (FTW).

For complete specs of the iPad, visit the Apple website. For a nice summary of Jobs’ presentation, check out the live blogging on engadget.

My question is this: Why not create an iPod Touch with integrated 3G capability and allow for use of the special AT&T pricing as well? Maybe that’s coming but I’m sure I’m not the only one that will raise that question. Maybe there’s an iPad Nano in store.

What do you think of the iPad? Terrible name? Sweet looking device? Is it just me or is this miles beyond a standard netbook and a truly useful piece of equipment in the Anywhere lifestyle?

Also, the first person that buys me a 3G-enabled iPad will own the top banner position on AnywhereMan for the next 365 days (currently occupied by Wirefly). Seriously.

If you are a Work Anywhere person like me, or know someone who is, this list is for you. Here are the six things on my Anywhere Christmas list:

1) iTunes Gift Cards

2) Pocket HD Video Camera

3) The Bourne Trilogy

4) Coffee Gift Cards

5) Bluetooth Accessories

6) BlueLounge Space Station

Really, I don’t actually need any of this stuff. They just compliment my lifestyle. If you’re really looking for great things to spend money on this holiday season, please consider donating to a charity such as Samaritan’s Purse in honor of the special people in your life. We are purchasing some gifts for children in memory of our friend Nathan.

What’s on your Anywhere Christmas list this year?