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Author Archive: Matthew Dillon
As an educator and school counselor, Matthew is an advocate for using technology in the classroom and passionate about exposing students to technologies that will empower them in their future careers. Follow Matthew on Twitter.

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Magazines? What are those? We are living in a time when digital media reigns supreme. If you’re like me, you likely subscribe or follow several blogs to get your daily fill of news and information. If you want to know the news before it is on television, you no doubt follow blogs. The way we [...]

After posting a GBM Shortcut demonstrating FastFinga’s features, I was prompted by Dan Bricklin via Twitter to check out his Note Taker HD app for the iPad. I’ve been using Note Taker HD for about a week, and I can honestly say that it is the best note taking experience I have found thus far on [...]

I’m always on the hunt for iPad apps that turn the media consumption device into a useful productivity tool. Unlike Steve Jobs, I still believe that the pen has a place in digital note taking and computing. Many iPad apps have promised inking capabilities, and many most have failed horribly. Penultimate is a good example of one [...]

You’ve likely seen numerous posts on Twitter and Facebook of runners proudly sharing the detailed statistics of their distance workouts. Seeing this information shared over and over prompted me to perform an experiment. What happens when you use RunKeeper while playing ice hockey? I decided to put my Motorola Droid smartphone to the test by [...]

As a Verizon Wireless subscriber for over five years, I’ve had essentially no problems with their wireless service. My experience with customer service, on the other hand, has had its share of bad moments, but I’m happy overall. I would consider myself a satisfied customer except for one thing. I wanted the iPhone. Like many [...]

The Android Market, Android’s apps store, is finally featuring applications that are able to compete with and rival those of Apple’s. Like most newborn app stores, the Android Market was weak and tiny during its infancy, but has blossomed into a a full-fledged adolescent with many helpful, entertaining, and polished applications. Although the Android Market [...]

Got a Palm Pixi or Pre through Verizon Wireless? You might want to hold off downloading any new apps for a while as it appears a bug has caused many Pixi and Pre users to lose access to their applications. I noticed the problem this morning as I was trying to install Evernote on my [...]

My wife and I have been fortunate to visit my brother-in-law in Mountain View, California, this week. Part of the agreement my wife and I made while out this way was that we each had one full day to plan whatever events we wanted. I was not surprised when my wife decided that that we [...]

Thinking the iPad looks pretty sweet? The folks at Technoholik have given us another reason to think twice. An interesting side-by-side comparison of the two devices highlights a few major differences such as the camera, battery life, and video-out options. Still no word on an official price, but expect this puppy to sell like hotcakes [...]

The heart and soul of GottaBeMobile has been Tablet PCs; we’ve documented and provided news about the latest and greatest tablets to hit the market for several years. Our readers are perhaps the most savvy tablet experts around. That being said, what are your thoughts about purchasing any of the upcoming Tablet 2.0 devices that [...]

Thinking about using that new iPad at the beach this summer? The folks at TrendyDigital have a few iPad and eBook accessories they’re hoping you’ll find useful. Among them is their new waterproof case that has been specifically designed for the iPad, Kindle, or Nook. A reasonable $19.99 can get your very own water-resistant pouch [...]

You’ve heard the legend of Lt. Dixon’s bulletproof gold coin, but what about the lady who lived to see another day thanks to her bulletproof BlackBerry? A Dayton, Ohio, woman is lucky to be alive thanks to her lifesaving smartphone. According to police, the BlackBerry was in the right place at the right time when [...]

Now you see it, now you don’t! Motorola has pulled the information they posted regarding their upcoming OTA Android 2.1 update for the Droid. According to their official forums, the press release with full details was premature. The original details page simply says, “There is a release coming, check back soon.” Maybe Motorola actually read [...]

I was a big fan of netbooks when they first came out. They’re cheap, provide plenty of functionality, and make great traveling companions. Despite the booming popularity of netbooks, I believe that the iPad will create a new market for tablet-styled devices. Whether you’re an Apple fan or not, the iPad’s perceived ease of use, [...]

Skooba has taken the dive into all things iPad with their new line of custom messenger bags, sleeves, and R.A.P.S! The three specialized pouches feature a $14.95 R.A.P.S! (pictured right), the $19.95 Neo Sleeve, and a $49.95 Netbook/iPad Messenger. The three Skooba offerings look like familiar netbook satchels, but do seem to be designed with [...]

You’ve seen our coverage of the forthcoming enTourage eDGe which includes Sumocat’s impressions, but you want to know a little bit more. It’s called gadget obsession, and you’ve likely got it if you frequent GottaBeMobile. Good thing the folks at enTourage have come to our rescue and provided a neat little demo of what the [...]

Around 1450, a man named Johannes Gutenberg created a device that has had an immeasurable impact upon all people. His machine, the printing press, made it possible for text to be distributed much faster than the scribing process. Fast forward to 2010, the year that Steve Jobs and Apple Computer introduce the iPad. The iPad, [...]

Am I the only person in America who thinks wireless carrier’s plans are purposely difficult to understand and too costly? Data plan caps, tethering, ETFs and a lot of other lingo often prevent folks from considering phones with data plans. I wasn’t surprised during a recent visit to Best Buy when I examined wireless carrier’s [...]

Not sure what it is, but seeing electronics smashed, dropped, and blown up is just plain cool. Case in point is the OLPC XO laptop featured in this video from OLPCNews.com. The OLPC buzz has been slow lately and the organization appears to be weakening from within, but the little laptop shows that it can [...]

I’ve been rocking my Motorola Droid since the first day it was available to the public. Although it is still a little rough around the edges, the Droid is a different animal from the iPhone and offers an equal amount of impressive and useful features. This list of ten free apps includes a variety of [...]

Let’s face it, the smartbook will become the inevitable next step in the evolution of our two favorite mobile gadgets: the smartphone and the netbook. As our demand for mobile Internet content continues to grow, smartphones become more powerful, and mainstream consumer adoption of smartphones expand, the smartbook stands at the threshold. What exactly will [...]

Want to know 2009′s best tips, tricks, and hacks? Look no further than Lifehacker’s popular Best of 2009 series. Lifehacker, the popular site that helps you make life better in nearly every conceivable area, has published their best of 2009 tips and tricks. Spend a few hours (literally) researching the year’s best DIY projects, most [...]

The goal of the original One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) was to create a $100 computer that could be given to impoverished school children. Around the same time as the OLPC, Asus was working on their own budget-friendly consumer laptop, the Eee PC 701 Netbook. Two years have passed since the netbook craze began. Netbooks [...]

The recent news of Google’s own smartphone, the Nexus One, has generated a lot of discussion and blurry screenshots. Despite the quality of these low light glimpses into Google’s phone, there are many clear gems coming to us in the future Android 2.1 OS. The Google News and Weather application presents top headlines and forecasts [...]

Taking a look at Warner’s scores for his 2009 predictions prompted me to review and grade my own thoughts regarding what I thought would happen throughout this past year. Read below to examine what I thought 2009 would hold in the tech world. Here were my predictions and what actually happened. Check below to see [...]

Many news sites and blogs are hailing the Motorola Droid’s marketing campaign as a substantial success. It has been estimated that over 250,000 Droid’s were sold in the first week of its launch in early November. NFL games and family sitcoms have been interrupted by commercials showing stealth bombers launching Droids, the Droid’s grit and [...]

To kill or not to kill? That is the question Motorola Droid owners are asking themselves lately. I have been using and enjoying my Motorola Droid since it was released a few weeks ago. While I am happy with the phone, it is a little rough around the edges and reminds me of when the [...]

Few things bring me joy like watching gadgets get blow up, smashed, destroyed, or scratched. One southern gentleman has been brave enough to subject his Motorola Droid to the famous “sharp key scratch test.” As the video shows, a sharp key is thrust over an unprotected Droid’s screen numerous times with no visible damage. The [...]

I managed to snag a Motorola Droid from my local Verizon store in Huber Heights, Ohio, after work yesterday. To my surprise there was no line and the store was fairly empty. A few customers were checking out the Droid, but the crowd was thin. I asked the Verizon employee assisting me how the day [...]

My daily routine is centered around a paper tablet. I keep track of my to-do items, record important notes, and write down new ideas. I love having the ability to write things down as they enter my mind and simply flipping back a few pages to remember what I did the day before. My reliance [...]

I’ve owned many computers throughout my life, perhaps more than I’d like to admit. I sat down the other day in an attempt to create the most complete list of computers that I’ve owned since I delved into the tech world. It all started with a Mac SE that my father would bring home from [...]

I have been using Moblin version 2 on my Dell Mini 10v netbook exclusively for the past couple days. The linux variant is specifically tailored for a netbook’s smaller screen size, longer battery life, and Intel Atom Processor. While the overall OS is smooth and offers much, I must offer a few suggestions.

Rather than sticking with Microsoft Windows XP or the updated Windows 7, there are a variety of reasons for checking out alternative operating systems for your netbook. The benefits of using a few of the following operating systems include being a part of a community of users, regular updates, and running an OS that is [...]

If you’re like me, you’ve been frustrated a time or two by the limited screen resolution of your favorite netbook. A 10.1-inch screen was a vast improvement over the original 7-inch Eee PC, but my eyes can still feel like they’re jailed at 1024×600; A claustrophobic feeling often takes over when I’m netbook surfing. [...]

You may have read how I believe the upcoming Apple Tablet or CrunchPad would be an excellent tool for K-12 students. While I do believe these tablet devices could have a significant positive impact on the realm of education, I don’t plan on purchasing one for my personal use. Here’s why: What can it do [...]