The first time I attempted to read by the light of my handheld, I was using a BlackBerry Pearl to finish a chapter with my son finally asleep in the next bed of the hotel room. The tiny screen didn't offer much, but I managed. Now that I've seen the kind of illumination a Verizon Smartphone XV6800 can provide, I've found a substitute flashlight.

To be sure, it's not really the same as having a powerful LED lamp strapped to your forehead. But in a pinch, to find your way down a darkened hallway or to ascend unfamiliar steps or to avoid turning on lights when someone else is asleep, the robust 2.8 inch display gets the job done.

You'll get the best light from a mostly white screen, such as a blank Word document (from the Start menu, choose Programs->Office Mobile->Word Mobile->New). Then, if you'll be relying on the light for a while, you might want to check your settings to lengthen the amount of time before your screen goes blank. (Start->Settings, choose the System tab, then Backlight.

You can increase the backlight brightness here, though be mindful of battery consumption. Ditto when you click the Battery Power tab and increase the amount of time the display stays lit without use. Of course, if you're just reading by the light of your device like I was, plug it in and charge it while you do so and you can set it to the highest brightness and the longest time to be left on when idle).

I used to lament that the light on my digital watch wasn't enough to read a program by in a dark theater. While I hope people don't start whipping out their handhelds during plays and movies, it is nice to know that the obtrusive glare of a screen in the dark can have a higher purpose as well.