Update:
@jwilker tweeted he has used “stuffbak” which is a service. I like the DIY approach since it has minimal overhead and is easy for the user to understand (i.e. dial a phone #, or send an email), but this is another option available to those reading this post.

There’s no denying there’s no shortage of mobile or other device platforms to develop on these days, but as a mobile developer, having a lot devices, also means keeping track of them (unfortunately).

Recovering them if you should ever lose one outside the office can be quite an painful ordeal … and for those that travel a lot, and like to use physical devices to demo their content it’s kind of nightmare (i.e. calling up the airport, the hotel, the conference organizers, etc) it can happen easily by simply leaving your phone in your hotel room (case “#235″).

Sure there are high tech methods to track devices (i.e. phones) with “Find my Lost Device” type services, but these require setup, and are really meant for theft, not lost & found activities. What’s more is that these methods are also meant for personal daily devices, and not necessarily development devices you use for demoing or testing apps, etc (these devices may not be fully configured, lack a SIM, or otherwise be considered a “dev device”). Thus, it’s best to make this as painless as possible for those who may *find* your device to get it back to you unscathed.

Common methods include setting up “Lost and Found” splash screens on some devices, as well as programming your “lost & found” phone number/email into the device that allows a finder to track you down … yet a third method is to add simple stickers either inside the battery case, or one the exterior of a device.

This is a passive, as opposed to active approach to a bad situation. It’s also an approach that gets the return to sender ball rolling immediately, which you may not be able to do if you’re stuck on a plane at 30k ft and you notice you’ve “misplaced a device”. This also works well for dev devices, because it doesn’t require anything in software, which may get wiped with updates and/or reformats (it *is* a dev device after all).

If most people see this sticker, most people are going to try to get it back to you as best they can.

Here’s how I have been doing it for the last year or two on some example devices:

Inside the battery over is not a bad place. The user will see it the first time they open, if they are putting in a SIM or removing something (like memory)

Outside stickers usually work best as transparent ones, which make it harder for the casual holder to read your contact info (a potential “security risk”)

On the inside beneath the battery (harder for user to find, but they will eventually, especially when they are thinking about activating it!)

You can add whatever contact info you feel comfortable sharing. A device might be lost, or it might actually be stolen. Obviously the minimum info required
to get it back to you if it’s lost is best … so things like an email address, phone #, and maybe even your first name are good enough.

If the device is important enough you can also put a small reward offering on the sticker. You might even offer a huge reward if it’s a proto/unreleased OEM device that shouldn’t be out of the office in the 1st place (case in point token “iPhone 4 bar dude guy”).

If you’re wondering where to get the stickers … well, I’d try staples, or perhaps an online place that prints custom mailing address labels, like vistaprint.

Anyways this is a tip to help you recover your lost device … if it’s stolen, well, maybe you’ll get lucky … or maybe it’s time to try to load up that “Track a Device” service for your personal device, and possibly do a remote data wipe. =)

Losing a device can be a distressing event, because it may mean you lost money, time & effort (loading apps, or storing work), lost private contact info and configurations, or a pain because it was communications device you need when you get off a plane. Taking the time for a sticker is a minor price to pay for not trying to maximize your chances of getting it back if it’s ever lost.

If you’ve lost one recently, I feel for you … Good Luck on your recovery, just don’t grieve too long on your technological loss. There are no shortage of upgrades these days to choose from!

At BestBuy a few days ago, I noticed some interesting things that validate how important the mobile era seemingly is here in the US.

First, they moved the media (CD/DVD) shelves into the back of the store, and constructed a “mobile pavilion” area with demo kiosks that 4 corners and walk-in area with product demos on display (similar to Apple Store).

There’s a section for Windows Phone 7, for Android, for e-readers, tablets, for mp3 players, etc. It’s much more organized than it was previously.

Second, I noticed they now have literature. Here is some of it:

Note the titles:

• “apps to match your lifestyle”
• “discover tablets”
• “which smartphone are you?”
• “the freedom of mobile broadband”
• “buyer’s guide mobile”

Kind of says it all doesn’t it … Apps are hot. Devices are hot. Bandwidth is hot.

Must be a challenge for consumers who aren’t necessarily tech savvy or knowledgeable about mobile.

I didn’t dare ask the customer reps any specific questions about hardware, because I know they probably would have had to look up the info … or point it out in a brochure.

There’s a MobileCamp Boston this Saturday sponsored by Mobile Monday Boston, Nokia and others.

Logistics:
Saturday, February 19, 2011 from 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (ET)

MIT Sloan E-51
70 Memorial Drive
Cambridge MA
(Map)

MobileCamp Boston is a one-day un-conference style event that brings together entrepreneurs, students, faculty, and telecom industry professionals to share ideas, network and discuss the latest advances in the mobile industries. MobileCamp is one of the premier development focused events in the Boston region and attracts developers from throughout the Mid-Atlantic region and as far as California, Europe, and Asia.

This year’s MobileCamp Boston will give participants the opportunity to learn with visionaries, developers, entrepreneurs, investors, and carriers in the mobile industry, and to explore advances in the field. Building on the success of previous years’ MobileCamps, this year’s full-day event will bring together hundreds of participants and will feature technical sessions, discussions on industry topics, and the popular unconference style learning.

If you are interested in leading a session for the 2011 MobileCamp Boston, or have any questions about the event, please send an email to ‘learn’ [at] ‘momoboston.com’.

There’s more info on the Mobile Monday blog.

An upcoming mobile conference set in Germany for 2011.

Hardly anyone can resist the fascination of mobile devices and mobile applications. With all pros and cons… But with AIR, Android, iOS, Windows Phone 7 and more the choice is huge. But which platform is the right one to set on? What similarities and what differences are existing?

These are the topics that probably are not just moving us and therefor we are organizing beyond tellerrand – mobile, our first conference about mobile application development. This event is not only presenting all the important platforms and their process of development, but is also introducing into design and technical concepts.

But sure: We must not forget about inspiration. If you don’t want to miss the train, better be there!

February 7, 2011
Cologne // Germany

lol. Watch this.

I doubt a “Time Traveler” would not “hold a cellphone” to ear. It would be implanted … or not even needed? right?

P.S. If that’s an iPhone 4, I don’t think she’s holding it right … hope she has a rubber sleeve.

I can’t tell if this video is authentic or just a viral marketing campaign, but it is funny, regardless.