While the 8525 device does have a camera, its main function is a Pocket PC. The camera has reasonable quality given this fact, but it does have a plethora of quirks. The focusing leaves a lot to be desired, on 2M picture mode (the largest resolution) the focusing is virtually non-functional. A tiny lever around the lens switches from NORMAL to MACRO mode, it provides some level of focusing but is totally inadequate. In addition, there is no zoom in 2 Meg mode. This means the 2M mode is unusable for most practical purposes, and even the 1M mode has focusing problems, although one level of zoom is available (2X).

At S(mall), M(edium) and L(arge) modes, focusing works reasonably well and progressively larger zooming is available. Still, that NORMAL/MACRO lever around the lens is constantly getting nudged around (it sticks out) and one has to keep checking to ensure it is in the right place before taking any pictures.

When the camera detects a memory card, it cleverly asks if you wish to store pictures there - say YES. The still camera modes are weird, the image of the camera is the regular mode for normal pictures. Check the user manual for details on the other modes, if you ever plan on using them. The LED flash is virtually useless unless you are right next to the subject, it just drains your battery.

The picture quality is reasonable, outdoor (and well lit) images are better than indoor (unlit) images. Again, the Cingular 8525 ain't no high end camera - its a fantastic pocket PC that (or this, whichever) just happens to have a convenient camera built in.

Another quirk with the 8525 video camera is the format that it saves. Video files are saved with a .MP4 extension. RealPlayer and Microsoft Media Player are able to playback these videos, but other mobile devices (such as Sony Ericsson) don't understand it. The options screen for the 8525 video camera do have a selection for video formats - however only MP4 is listed there. Future Windows Mobile updates or Cingular updates may provide additional video formats for saving (such as MPEG).

Pictures and videos taken on the 8525 pocket PC PDA can, obviously, be seen on its own screen - and can easily be transferred to other devices/desktops. When using the ActiveSync syncronization software, the media files can simply be copied over to the desktop PC over USB, InfraRed (IR) or Bluetooth.

In addition, images and videos can be sent to others by email or MMS (if a suitable data plan permits it). But for the kid within us who loves to play with toys - the 8525 pocket PC also allows you to BEAM the image over Bluetooth to any other compatible Bluetooth mobile device within range! While it would be fun to send weird pictures to total strangers, it is probably more fun (and safer) to send it to someone you know. The recipient will have to accept the connection before the image or video is actually sent. Its a quick and easy way to share photos and videos on-the-fly with other family members that are also Bluetooth equipped.

The first six letters at the top left of your keyboard spell it out QWERTY. This arrangement of letters, along with the other 20 on the traditional keyboard were actually arranged that way to make the job of typing more difficult.

The first commercially successful typewriter was developed by Christopher Latham Sholes in 1873. Originally, the keys were arranged alphabetically. However, a problem soon arose. People became so adept at using the keyboard that the keys would stick or jam when struck in quick succession. In order to overcome this problem Sholes decided to make the work of typing as slow as he possibly could. His solution? He placed the most frequently used keys as far apart from each other as he could. His keyboard became known as the QWERTY keyboard.

So, that is the reason why your keyboard is formatted the way it is. Ironic, considering that every other aspect of your computer is streamlined for maximum efficiency and yet you have to labor over a 127 year old system designed specifically for inefficiency. And inefficient it certainly is. For one thing, QWERTY was not designed for touch typing, which came much later. For keys that are not in the middle or home row it is necessary to reach across diagonally. This is difficult and leads to a high error rate.

Some claim that there is a better system called the DVORAK keyboard format. It was designed by August Dvorak in the 1930s. Dvorak's keyboard put nine of the most used letters in the middle row of the keyboard. This allows the typist to write over 3,000 words without the fingers reaching. In comparison, only about 50 words can be typed on a keyboard without reaching on QWERTY's middle or home (means a house, or an apartment unit in a building) row. Another advantage of the DVORAK keyboard is that the workload is much reduced.

Does the DVORAK system really improve performance? In order to prove that it does August Dvorak retrained 14 Navy typists during World War Two. The result? After just one month their work productivity rate improved by an amazing 74 percent. Accuracy improved by 68 percent. So, you would think that people would be jumping over each other to switch over from QWERTY to DVORAK. Surprisingly, this has not proved to be the case. DVORAK keyboards are readily available for most computers and on typewriters, yet by and large they remain unaccepted.

Another supposedly better keyboard than the DVORAK version is the MALT keyboard devised by Lillian Malt. The Malt keyboard does away with staggered rows, gives greater use of the thumb and makes it easier to reach the backspace and other normally out of the way keys. Unlike the DVORAK keyboard, however, the MALT version will require special hardware I order to be installed onto your computer. Modern designs are also available on both the DVORAK and the MALT keyboards that are specially contoured to alleviate the physical problems associated with the traditional typewriter style keyboard. DVORAK have also put out one handed keyboards which give a free hand for other tasks while typing.