(not) getting lost

As I mentioned earlier, my new phone really endeared itself to me (and Eldest, who was with me) pretty quickly after we finally got it activated. Actually, it was fitting that Eldest was with me, seeing as she was also there for the whole activation ordeal the day before.

We headed out to a New Year's Day open house celebration, (in)secure in the knowledge that we'd gotten thoroughly lost the previous year -- wandering about for an hour looking for a specific turn. Google Map directions are pretty good, a tool we've often relied on, in the past. Look up an address, print out driving directions, and go. But on the way to the party last year... Let's just say it's hard to make a turn when the street sign can only be seen coming from one direction, and we were coming from the other.

But this time was different. This time, we had...The Phone.

I had played around with the "Maps" application already, marveling at the way the phone knew where it was without being told. I had the bright idea of putting in our destination and asking for directions. A little map appeared on the screen. I was fine with that. Gave the phone to Eldest so she could look at the map and advise me, started the car and pulled out of our parking spot.

...and the phone began to speak...

"In 1,000 yards, turn right on -- Street..."

Now, I hadn't planned on following the cute little map on the phone until we were about halfway to our destination. The phone chose, for some reason or other, to route us along surface streets with their associated stoplights and low speeds, and I figured he freeway would be faster.

I thought the phone might get a little heated, what with our ignoring its series of instructions, but as soon as the tiny thing figured out that the freeway was in its immediate future, it began on a new series of instructions, and quite efficiently took us directly to our destination.

It also brought us safely home again, unfazed by our stops at a grocery store and gas station, merely remarking that it was "recalculating" in response to our slight detours.

If I were driving in wilderness, I might not stake my safety on this little device (too many have, and have run into trouble). However, for city driving to unfamiliar places, it's just the the thing.

...but how do I...?

I mentioned the new phone in yesterday's post. It's already proved itself nearly invaluable (more about that tomorrow, I hope).

There is one thing, though, that frustrated me today. Okay, two things.

The first is, I simply cannot figure out how to put mp3 files on it from my computer. When I connect it to my computer with the included usb cable, I get this message that it's installing drivers. Over and over. ...just how many drivers does a simple little phone need, anyhow? And my computer doesn't seem to see the phone when it's plugged in. I meaan it does not appear in the list of connected devices.

The second thing is that I haven't quite figurd out swyping.

But it's late, so more exploration will have to wait.

G'night.

New Year; old dog, new tricks

Happy New Year!

I've got a new gadget -- tool -- thing that I'm using to post this. It's a "smart phone" and yes, I'd say it's pretty smart, all right.

I've looked at such phones for awhile but couldn't stomach a 2-year agreement at $80 a month (that's how you get a "free" phone) when I've been paying a lot less with a prepaid service.

Then another homeschool mom mentioned a new deal she'd found -- $30 a month for 100 minutes of talk and unlimited text and data. You had to buy the phone at Wal-Mart, and the plan is a Wal-Mart/T-Mobile collaboration.

I researched smart phones to find the best deal I could manage, and finally settled on one.

Actually getting the phone was something else again. There was a special price online, so I bought it with the free ship-to-store option. Picked up the phone and tried to activate it.

I got far enough into the process to find out the SIM card was bad. What to do about it... Phone calls with T-Mobile and Wal-Mart.com -- multiple calls, long conversations, no resolution.

Finally after a week of useless phone, I got fed up and drove to Wal-Mart with the phone. Almost an hour later -- plus several more phone calls with T-Mobile -- and Jen figured out a solution. Yay! (Thanks go to Debbie for her efforts, as well.)

I'm not so sure about T-Mobile's customer service, but I'm pretty impressed with our local Wal-Mart folks, who went "above and beyond the call" to get me an activated, working phone.