Chris - the T Mobile Compact III is the same phone as the O2 XDA Orbit.

They are both made by HTC, and rebadged (with annoyingly confusing names!) by O2 and T Mobile.

The only difference between them (apart from the colour) is that the XDA orbit can connect to the internet over a 802.11b wifi connection as well as GPRS, whereas the Compact III can only connect over GPRS.

In case I'm just being confusing with abbreviations - GPRS is when the phone connects to the internet by basically ringing up T-Mobile or Orange, like a PC using a modem, whereas wifi is when the phone connects to the internet by joining a nearby wireless network.

GPRS is available pretty much everywhere, but is not very fast, whereas wifi is much faster, but not really available outside central london (unless you've got a wireless network at your house!)

Somehow I get the feeling i've just confused matters more...

I'm busy sychronising this and synchronising that, and I've yet to find out about loading up maps...OMG techno issues!!!!!

Do you ever wish that you had just stuck to a map and a compass!!!!!

I have an N95, the built in Maps program is OK but I don't want to pay for the extra features.

I wanted the GPS feature to work with ViewRanger which it does with the latest beta. So I'm testing that with the North East 50K maps.

The major draw back of the N95 is the battery life, it dies in a day if you use any of the features for any length of time.

If they bring out an uprated but heavier battery it would be so much better.

Get a portable battery charger like the PowerMonkey (or PowerChimp) or carry a spare battery...

Either of those is OK for a couple of days but when on a weeks trip. What do you do?

I've thought about solar power but the decent ones are expensive. The one Aktoman uses doesn't seem all that great.

There are also emergency chargers than can just use AA batteries - I have 2 - one that takes a single AA (Powerchimp) and another than takes 4 AA's - that could solve the problem.

Of the solar chargers the Solio seems pretty good but UK weather is rather unpredictable!

What's the name of the one that takes 4 AAs please Barking Mad 2?

Tekkeon Mypower Go... http://www.expansys.com/p.aspx?i=143828

Then fill it up with the rechargeable Uniross Hybrio or Sanyo Eneloop (low self discharge) rechargeable NiMH batteries or standard Duracell etc. alkaline.

You can even charge them (if rechargeable) in the adapter as well off USB from your PC and it is hardly much bigger than ther 4 AA batteries it holds!

But the single AA 'PowerChimp' is also good!

Thanks for that :)

I was going to get a bluetooth reciever for my T-Mobile Vario II, but having seen the previews of the new HTC Kaiser I think I'll be holding on until T-Mobile release that.

Reading some of the messages.AmI right in assuming if I install anquet onto a T Mobile Compact III or other compatable phone I can look at the mapping software free.But if I want to use gps then I have to pay. Seems a bit daft would be better with a free to use hand held gps or am i just getting confused

Mostly GPS is free - you pay for navigation instructions if you want them.

cheers so does that mean what i see on my gps will be more or less what I would see on my phone. like following a trail laying down wayponts and routes. If so am all for it.Just now I carry phone, gps and camera as well as a compass which I would always carry anyway.Also will gps still be available if no phonenetwork is available