In addition, it is rather annoying that while most everything has been using mini USB, they are now changing to micro USB.

Sigh.

-john

thats what I was getting at, everything but cell phones is miniUSB while cell phones are micro, so now the usb cables and car to miniusb that I could share with my phone and gpg can't share anymore.

There is nothing we can do about that, but taking an adapter for $0.99 shipped (just bought it there for my power mini kit to use with the new digital camera).

My current cell phone uses mini USB, so right now I can use all the same cable, but at some point in the future I will not be able to as new devices adopt the micro USB.

FWIW, it might be the case that future GPS and other devices will migrate to micro USB as well.

In any case, if you get the short cables, they aren't very heavy or bulky, so it isn't the end of the world to carry both:

7.5" mini USB cable, $8
7.5" micro USB cable, $8

-john

The problem is only the cell phone makers have adopted microusb, so far no one else has and you replace cameras and gps's less often so its going to take a lot longer _if_ they were to decide to switch to microusb.
I'm thinking of buying a dozen each of micro to mini and mini to micro adapters and keep a pair everywhere.

FWIW, I tested the 'text message' theory on New Years @12:01am. Tried to make a call that predictably would not go through, but a text sent to the same person went through INSTANTLY. He replied within 10 seconds.

I have heard about this 'feature', but this was the first good chance at actually testing it. Enjoy!

Wasn't just a theory, its been tested by many people before. Main reason is it only takes a fraction of a second to send where a voice call has to be connected the whole time. Way less bandwidth.

When the cellular system was heavily damaged and strained during Katrina, text messaging was the only to communicate even as far away as here in Baton Rouge (80 miles from New Orleans). Some folks were actually rescued from the flooding by using text messages to family out of state, who then contacted disaster response here in Louisiana. My advice is keep your messages short, use a lot of abbreviations (ask your kids if you don't know them already), and only send messages when you have to.

.....cliff
(like, who else?)

I built one of these: http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-a-solar-iPodiPhone-charger-aka-Might

I substituted the solar panel in the instructions with this one: http://greenenergiesllc.com/zencart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3&products_id=13

It seems to work very well, though you can probably buy something similar for less than what I spent making it. It was a fun project though.

What do you think (quality) of that solar panel? It looks like what I've been wanting to solar-charge Eneloop batteries.

-Blast