Listen to this episode of Moms Gone Geek.

There isn't just one way to do something when it comes to technology – the possibilities seem endless. In this episode, we moms put our heads together to think of alternative ways for using common devices and new technologies like: Seesmic Desktop for Twitter AND Facebook, Multimedia Centers using Hulu and/or Boxee, mobile wifi with Mifi or Cradlepoint and ways to use an iPod Touch for more than just an MP3 player. We're thinking differently and we'd like to know your creative ideas. Leave us a comment here on the blog.

Software

Seesmic Desktop
As of this recording, Preview v0.2.1 is the current release and you have to be a member of Team Seesmic to receive updates. It's easy to join, just go tohttp://desktop.seesmic.com/and sign up. Followhttp://twitter.com/seesmicfor updates.

Tweet3
An Advanced Web Interface for Twitter - a good mobile solution or alternate to a desktop application

Home Media Centers Revisted

On a previous episode of Moms Gone Geek – Episode 8 Home Media Centers, we discussed preparing for the digital television transition (DTV), alternatives to cable TV and different methods for putting together a media center using a computer and TV. We've since elaborated on that concept and have been putting it into practice.

Hulu Desktop Application

Hulu Website

Boxee

Front Row

Hardware

Mifi

Amazon.com deal: get the Mifi for a penny vs through Sprint at the subsidized price of $99.00

Cradlepoint

Cradlepoint CTR 500currently on Amazon

Cradlepoint CTR 350currently on Amazon

TheMacMommy Reviews Sprint's Mobile Communications Services At-A-Glance
"Can I really get the same benefits of an iPhone without having to switch to AT&T and buy an iPhone?"

Mobile Broadband is a separate service plan and you either add it on at $59.99 a month extra or you can bundle it, but only with the Simply Everything Family plan.

There are several different devices that can be used with the Mobile Broadband service. Most of them are USB modems (also called "USB sticks" or "EVDO cards"). They are limiting in that you have to plug it into a USB port and keep it connected to a desktop or laptop. The MiFi is a broadband router that you can just keep in your bag or pocket. You can connect up to 5 devices wirelessly at the same time. A USB Modem only supports one device at a time unless you use some kind of internet sharing. The connection speeds of these devices are not as fast as a cable modem but comparable to close to DSL speeds.

The Simply Everything Family plan normally costs $189.98 and you can add Mobile Broadband to it for only $50.00 (as opposed to $59.99 - the bundle saves you $9.99) a month bringing that monthly total to $239.98

So, for ~$240.00 monthly you get everything 2 people can do with a phone: unlimited voice, messaging, email, and web browsing plus the ability to connect 5 devices to the internet using wifi - for example 2 laptops and 2 iPod Touches plus share with a friend's laptop for a family that is traveling together.

Question is this: why would you need the wifi then if your phone can do everything the laptop does when it comes to simple needs like web surfing, email and texting? Seems like an extra luxury and would really only come in handy if you're traveling together a lot or really need to work on a laptop beyond simple browsing and messaging.

Then I got to thinking, what if we just got the simplest family plan and the simplest phones without any data or texting capabilities and just use the iPod Touch for all the extra fancy features like web browsing, texting, messaging, email, and apps? Would that get me around not having to switch to AT&T just so I can enjoy the App goodieness, web browsing and messaging capabilities? I mean, I can do all that stuff (except for the smaller footprint and portable apps) with my MacBook Pro already and if I'd switch to AT&T, we'd pay more without promise of a corporate discount and we couldn't make phone calls from inside our house.

The simplest Family share plan is the Talk for Family 700 for $69.99 a month. Add the $59.99 Mobile Broadband and Mifi for $59.99 a month and your new total comes to $129.98 a month. (The cost of the Mifi device is a one time $99.00 with plan activation and possible upgrade fee) With this plan the major drawback of course is that you still have to carry around a cell phone to make simple voice calls so the amount of gadgets you're carrying is more if you factor in the phone, iPod Touch, Mifi and digital camera - that's 4 devices total and you'll mostly interact with them at separate times so it's not like you're juggling them all at once, but that's 4 different times you have to reach into a pocket or bag or go find where the kid put one of them — and the higher liability (doubles with kids) that something will get lost. With an iPhone 3Gs, you could have everything in one gadget save a high res digital camera for taking photos that you might want to get printed or enlarged later on.

I asked the Sprint guy about that and he said that the Mifi connection, being similar to that of DSL, might not support something like Skype or Gizmo for use with VOiP calls.

I asked the great Twitterverse and a few people have confirmed that you can in fact use an iPod Touch as a VoIP phone using Skype, a headset with microphone (very important - it will not work with Bluetooth) and wifi, i.e. the Mifi. It's important to note that because Skype can not determine your location, you can not use it to make 911 emergency calls, so it can not be a true replacement for a cell phone. That being said, you still have to carry a simple ("dumb") phone around with you for making emergency calls, which adds to the gadget load.

So, it seems iPhone is really the best when it comes down to it. Now, if only the service carrier was just as good as the device!

I did some number crunching comparing for the overall costs (approximately) that my husband and I currently pay for our entertainment and communications services. Currently we use:

• basic cable TV for local channels, news and shows
• DVD player to rent movies from the library or watch collection we already have
• 5th Gen iPod 80GB Video with AV cables and dock connected to TV for watching movies & downloaded content
• MacBook Pro we sometimes use with Hulu Desktop, Boxee or Front Row to watch Hard Drive Source or Internet Streaming shows and content; sometimes we just watch it on the 15 inch screen, sometimes we hook it up to the 27 inch TV
• a landline for local calls only
• two cell phones with a shared minute plan (one of which my husband rarely talks on)
• 3 computers in the home that all connect to the internet via residential high-speed cable modem and a wireless router

Ideally we don't currently use text messaging on our phones but would like to. We would also like to get a dedicated computer to keep hooked up to the TV like a Mac Mini, Apple TV or even another laptop so we could take it with us when we travel during the summers.

Cost Comparisons for Entertainment & Communication Services

Note: Verizon's Mifi service plan is similar price. Prices reflected here based on information available as of the publishing date of this post and are subject to change per service provider. Check your local resources for updates.

DigitalFanGirl says "Do Your Homework, First!"

Before you run out and buy the new Disney Netpal, do your homework and compare it with the HP Mini and the Dell Mini.

Disney Netpal
http://gizmodo.com/5292959/disney-partners-with-asus-on-netpal-eee-netbook-for-kids

HP Mini
http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/computer_can_series.do?storeName=computer_store&category=notebooks&a1=Category&v1=Mini&series_name=mini110xp_series

DELL Mini
http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/laptop-inspiron-10?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs

Apps in the iTunes Store to explore
(these links go to the iTunes Store)

Truphone for the iPod Touch (with Skype calling)

Skype S.a.r.l.

iCall Free VOIP

Articles

Hello Sprint Mifi Goodbye Cradlepoint

EVDO Forums Discussion

Mini USB vs Micro USB

What is Micro USB?

There is currently some confusion I'm trying to sort out about whether or not you get a Micro USB cable with Sprint's Mifi. It's been reported that you do get this cable with Verizon's Mifi. There's also some confusion as to whether or not you can use this same Micro USB cable to charge the Mifi while also using the Wifi at the same time. The Sprint guy told me we could use the Mifi wifi connection while plugged into a power source like a cigarette light outlet converter or a laptop so the device would stay charged throughout a whole road trip. According tohttp://twitter.com/jkkmobile you can not charge and surf at the same time unless you hack the cable like so in his demonstration video:http://jkkmobile.blogspot.com/2009/06/how-to-usb-charger-hack-for-novatel.html

Just to clear up the confusion about which cable is a Micro and which is a Mini

USB Mini is on the Left and USB Micro is on the right

Photo Credit: Mobileburn.com

Other Resources for Portable WiFi

T-Mobile webConnect USB Laptop Stick (NOT Mac Compatible)

Enjoy the freedom to stay connected, even on the go. The webConnect USB Laptop Stick provides fast, easy wireless Internet access for your laptop by automatically finding the best available T-Mobile network connection (3G, HotSpot/Wi-Fi, or EDGE). Catch up on work, check e-mail, surf the Web, or connect with friends and family all while on-the-go. The exclusive webConnect data plan includes unlimited Wi-Fi access through the T-Mobile HotSpot network.