Windows Mobile Pocket PC & Symbian Smartphone software and freeware, reviews, tips & tricks

Feb 01 VoIP Application with support for Windows Mobile 5 Dual-Mode Devices
Found in: Mobile News, VoIP,

SIPquest, developer of converged Multimedia Client Software announced today that its Mobile Console is the first VoIP application to support Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 devices. Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 is the newest operating system to support dual-mode for PDA and smartphone devices.

Delivering services over WiFi, WiFi and GSM and WiFi and CDMA networks, the Mobile Console application will allow dual mode device users in both wireless and WiFi networks to have one, optimal and seamless experience.

As it seems from a recent release, the Mobile Console’s single GUI and support for unified numbering consolidates both WiFi and cellular identities and is interoperable with IP PBX’s and softswitches.

The new application will also include a "Network Aware" feature that will allow users more options and personal choices when placing phone calls. For example the feature will recommend a network connection option based on availability for better quality and lowered costs or users will have the option to choose which ever factor they prefer.

"We have a track record of supporting innovative operating systems such as Windows Mobile and are proud to be the first VoIP application to support version 5.0," said David Hattey, president and CEO or SIPquest.

The Mobile Console application will be displayed at the 3GSM Conference in Barcelona Spain for February 13-16 2006. For more on this please visit www.sipquest.com

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Jan 29 Nintendo DS Lite will make games happy soon
Found in: Devices,

Nintendo DS revolutionizes the way games are played. With dual screens and touch-screen technology, wireless communication and built-in PictoChat software you have the power to draw, write and send messages wirelessly.A Nintendo DS lite! Smaller and lighter with its 133x73.9x21.5 for 218g, which is 57g lighter and 156cm3 smaller than the current version!

With impressive 3D rendered graphics, Nintendo DS delivers cutting-edge portable games for fans of any genre. Plus, you can play all your favorite Game Boy Advance games in a single-player mode.

System
With Nintendo DS, dual screens and touch-screen technology allow you to interact with games like never before. Wireless communication allows you to experience real-time multiplayer gameplay, while built-in PictoChat software gives you the power to draw, write and send messages wirelessly. Nintendo DS revolutionizes the way games are played.

Dual Screens
Two LCD screens offer one of the most groundbreaking gameplay advances ever developed.
Imagine the possibilities. In a racing game, you might see your own vehicle's perspective on one screen and an overall track view on the other. Soon, games could be created allowing you to play games on one screen while sending text messages on the other.
Each 3-inch screen can reproduce a true 3D view, with impressive 3D renderings that can surpass images displayed on the Nintendo 64.

"Nintendo President Satoru Iwata today announced Nintendo DS Lite, a slimmer version of the best-selling Nintendo DS™. Also featuring brighter screens, Nintendo DS Lite will launch in Japan in March. Nintendo DS Lite will be less than two-thirds the size of the original Nintendo DS and more than 20 percent lighter.

Nintendo DS has enjoyed extremely strong sales in Japan and around the world, selling more than 14.4 million units worldwide. The Japanese sell-through of the existing Nintendo DS hardware exceeded 5 million within 13 months, which made Nintendo DS the fastest-selling video game system there.

Nintendo will announce more information about the availability of Nintendo DS Lite in North America and other territories in the future."

Japanese release date: March 2, 2006

Weight: 218g (compare to 275g for the current Nintendo DS)

Dimensions: 133mm x 73.9mm x 21.5mm

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Jan 26 VITO TaskSwitcher for Smartphones released!
Found in: Software,

January 25, 2006 - VITO Technology releases TaskSwitcher for Windows Mobile Smartphones. This well-known and highly efficient utility has already become popular among PPC users and now is ready to conquer the new plaform. VITO TaskSwitcher now supports all Windows Mobile powered Smartphones.

VITO TaskSwitcher allows you to switch easily between your running tasks or stop them from a pop-up list:

- call TaskSwitcher list using the assigned button
- in the list navigate with joystick buttons
- to switch to a highlighted item press Enter
- Autoselect function also automatically switches to a highlighted item after 5 seconds
- to close the highlighted application press the right navigation button.
- to close the active application or all running applications choose "Close active" or "Close all"
- to close TaskSwitcher press the left navigation button

There are also free skins available at VITO TaskSwitcher home page



Useful links:

Buy VITO TaskSwitcher
VITO TaskSwitcher home page

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Jan 25 Windows Mobile Media Playlist Manager for Smartpohne
Found in: Software,

Windows Media Player for Smartphones doesn't have a built-in feature of creating playlists. One option is to create a playlist by means of some available utilities using the PC. But, wouldn't it be cool to be able to create your playlists directly on your Smartphones?So we have a perfect preposition for you and your smartphones.

This nice application helps you to create and edit Windows Media Player playlists directly on your Smartphones.The developer has said that he has rewritten the codes to make it compatible with WM5.0 Smarpthone devices. The beta version cab file installs and runs on SP2003/2003 SE/WM5.0 devices.

Info and download links:
http://greatbal.blogspot.com/2006/01/playlist-manager-sp.html
http://www.airfagev.com/apps/Playlist_Manager_SP_Beta2_build011606.CAB

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Jan 25 Motorola, Sony Ericsson and BenQ aimed on Taiwan market
Found in: Mobile News,

Motorola, Sony Ericsson and BenQ are planning to launch more smartphones in the Taiwan market this year. Each of them will be focusing on different OS platforms, according to sources at the vendors. They are palnning to satisfy taiwanese customers needs with new quality smartphones mid class range.

Motorola will introduce a smartphone, the A1200, into the local market after the Chinese New Year holiday, or in mid-February, said Tom Hsiao, president of Motorola Electronics Taiwan.

The slim-type A1200 will run on a Linux OS, feature a built-in 2-megapixel camera, a touch screen with handwriting recognition technology, and support Bluetooth connectivity, said the sources.

Sony Ericsson will launch its Symbian-based P990i for the local market in the first quarter, according to company sources. The tri-band GSM and GPRS P990i is also a 3G UMTS device, supports 802.11b technology, and features a built-in 2-megapixel camera and a touch screen, according to the sources.

BenQ will introduce its smartphones in the local market in 2006, though it has not yet decided which model will come first, said Scott Huang, general manager for sales, BenQ Taiwan.

Huang, however, indicated that BenQ is likely to launch Windows Mobile-based smartphones in the Taiwan market due to its easy-to-use interface, despite the company’s expertise in Symbian-related technology accumulated during its early stages in the development of handsets.

Although BenQ is eligible to acquire Siemens AG’s stake in Symbian following the company’s acquisition of Siemens’ mobile phone unit last year, some members of the board of Symbian have not agreed to the transfer of the stake, said the market sources, adding that this may have affected BenQ’s efforts to develop Symbian-based smartphones.

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Jan 24 HTC Prophet aka O2 Xda neo announced by O2 Germany
Found in: Mobile News, O2, XDA, Pocket PC, HTC,

Today, O2 Germany announced the launch of its latest Windows Mobile Pocket PC, the O2 Xda neo. Since the Xda neo is based on the HTC Prophet we already know mostly everything but O2 Germany confirmed that the neo will includes W-LAN as well as the 2 megapixel camera and is running Windows Mobile 5.0.

"Also a new Smartphone, the Xda neo, presents O2 for the first time on the CeBIT. It possesses a high performance camera with a dissolution of 2 megapixels and supports Wireless LAN. The Xda neo uses the new Windows mobile 5,0. The equipment will come still in the spring on the market. O2 addresses itself with the new equipment both at private and to business customers." is said in 02' press release today


There are thoughts that the Xda neo will be released with the AKU 2.0 which will support - as highlights - Bluetooth stereo streaming via A2DP and Microsoft's own push E-Mail solution based on Exchange 2003.

O2 Germany also announced, that he will fully support Microsoft's Exchange 2003 push solution and they will preview this solution during CeBIT 2006. E-Mail push should be available for all O2 customers with Windows Mobile 5.0 devices which means O2 should release ROM updates for their current Xda mini S (HTC Wizard) and Xda phone (HTC Tornado) which has to include AKU 2.

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Jan 20 Two devices that stack up well against the BlackBerry
Found in: Mobile News,

As of this writing, BlackBerry maker Research In Motion's legal troubles had many wondering how they'd exist without their regular CrackBerry fix. Regardless of how RIM's legal situation works out, it's always a good idea to have a back-up plan. So this week, join me on a tour of two handheld e-mail devices that are worthy BlackBerry alternatives.

As of this writing, BlackBerry maker Research In Motion's legal troubles had many wondering how they'd exist without their regular CrackBerry fix. Regardless of how RIM's legal situation works out, it's always a good idea to have a back-up plan. So this week, join me on a tour of two handheld e-mail devices that are worthy BlackBerry alternatives.

As of this writing, BlackBerry maker Research In Motion's legal troubles had many wondering how they'd exist without their regular CrackBerry fix. Regardless of how RIM's legal situation works out, it's always a good idea to have a back-up plan. So this week, join me on a tour of two handheld e-mail devices that are worthy BlackBerry alternatives.

The Good:
Palm's smart phone is a popular choice for many mobile professionals. Unlike the buttoned-down, corporate-feeling BlackBerry, the Treo combines a camera, MP3 player, Web browser, and, of course, top-notch PDA functionality. The Treo 700w has comed early 2006, with a Windows Mobile operating system instead of a Palm OS. In addition, RIM has announced it is developing BlackBerry push-style e-mail software for the Treo, giving Treo users even more options.

The Bad:
I've read complaints that the Treo 650 is prone to crashing. Also, the Treo 650 offers only a meager amount of memory (32MB of RAM, of which only 23MB is usable), and it's chunky and awkward to use as a phone.

Costs:
The Treo 650 is available in a GSM version from Cingular and a CDMA version from Sprint/Nextel and Verizon Wireless. Without discounts, a Treo 650 is $450. With a two-year contract, and after rebates, Cingular offers the Treo 650 for $350; Sprint/Nextel, $320; Verizon, $300.

Service Plans:
Cingular's Data Connect monthly plans range from $20 for 5MB to $40 for unlimited e-mail, messaging, and Web browsing (in addition to the cost of a voice plan). Sprint PCS Vision Access Pack delivers unlimited e-mail and Web browsing for $10 a month, in addition to a voice plan). Verizon Wireless charges $50 per month for a data-only plan offering unlimited Internet access, which includes its high-speed BroadbandAccess network. The combined cost of unlimited data access combined with a Verizon national calling plan of 450 minutes is $80.

The Good:Like the BlackBerry and the Treo, HP's Windows Mobile-based Pocket PC smart phone, the iPaq hw6515, has an integrated QWERTY keyboard. It also has a built-in 1.3-megapixel camera, a Global Positioning System receiver, and Microsoft Pocket Streets mapping software. With pocket versions of Microsoft Office programs included, the hw6515 makes it particularly easy to carry, view, and edit Office files on the go. You get 64MB of ROM and 64MB of RAM, too.

The Bad:
The handheld's GPS function lets you find your location on a Pocket Streets map; but for driving directions, you need a third-party package costing $130 or more. In addition, its integrated camera interface is awkward to use , saysPC Worldreviewer Grace Aquino. And the iPaq hw6515, which some users may feel is too large for easy phone use, is currently available only from Cingular.

Costs:
Without a discount, the iPaq hw6515 currently goes for $500. With a new two-year Cingular contract, it's $450.

Service Plans:
Cingular's Data Connect monthly plans range from $20 for 5MB to $40 for unlimited e-mail, messaging, and Web browsing.

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Jan 17 Rumor of HP iPAQ version of O2 XDA Atom
Found in: Mobile News, Atom, O2, XDA,

Most notably known as the O2 XDA Atom, it looks like Quanta's HTC Magician "followup" might soon see the light of day under the auspices of HP, who's reported to have been working with the Taiwanese ODM on redistributing the device in the first half of this year.

Word on the street has it that it may even get a bump to 3G to better take advantage of that 416MHz Xscale processor, 2.7-inch 262k color QVGA display, and round out the Bluetooth 1.2 and WiFi it's already got. Guess we'll have to wait and see (so what else is new?), but between the Atom and the HTC Feeler it sounds like HP may well be starting in on a mean ODM streak.

According to Chinese-language newspaper the Commercial Times, Taiwanese contract manufacturer Quanta, which is building the device for HP, will begin volume shipments of the product some time in H1 2006.

The report suggests HP's version of the Atom will sport Windows Mobile 5.0 and incorporate a quad-band GSM/GPRS radio with support for the EDGE higher-speed data-transmission specification.

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Jan 16 2006 Worldwide Newton Conference & the NewtonOS runs on Linux PDA
Found in: Mobile News, Linux,

The big news coming out of the 2006 Worldwide Newton Conference is that the NewtonOS runs on Linux PDA’s! You read that right, we’re one step closer to having a Newton running on non-Apple hardware.At the 2004 WWNC, Paul demoed Einstein, an emulator running on Mac OS X. He’s improved it over the past year, making the emulator seven times faster.

On my Quad PowerMac G5, it has a speed rating of 9400 iterations/second when running Frank Gruendel’s NewtTest. A stock 2100 has a rating of 11,000. An accelerated Newton clocks in at 13,000. So, we’re not there yet, but we’re getting closer to matching and breaking the speed barrier. The Linux version of the emulator is much, much slower. I don’t doubt, however, Paul’s ability to get the speed up to an acceptable number.



Apple has shown us that the soul of the Macintosh lies not in the choice of processor but in the software and user experience. At the 2006 Worldwide Newton Conference, we demonstrated that the soul of the Newton is not trapped within aging hardware. It’s ready to burst out and transfer its elegance and functionality into a new line of devices. The next year and a half are going to be exciting!



The Linux PDA port of Einstein has a ways to go before it is ready for primetime. Nevertheless, it’s available today! If you have a Linux-based PDA with X11 support, you can run NewtonOS!

The second day of the conference will be tomorrow. I’ll have more updates as they come!

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Jan 14 CF card adds 802.11g to Windows Mobile handhelds
Found in: Accessories,

Socket Communications has announced a CompactFlash Wireless LAN card for Windows Mobile 2003/SE & 5.0 Mobile based devices that supports the 54 Mbps 802.11g standard. The "Go Wi-Fi! P500" is a sibling of the 802.11b "Go Wi-Fi! E500"The P500 supports an automatic power saving mode that balances battery life and throughput speed, according to Socket. An LED on the card shows WLAN connection status. The device supports "enterprise class robust security" including AES, WPA2-Enterprise, and CCX v1/v2 (certification pending).

Socket points out the 802.11g standard is backward compatible to 802.11b, allowing an 802.11g card such as the P500 to talk to an 802.11b access point, and vice versa.

The P500 is supplied with Socket's Wi-Fi Companion software utility that enables users to connect to Wi-Fi networks with "three simple clicks," according to the company. Wi-Fi Companion finds available networks and performs advanced features such as network ping and trace route functions. An SDK is available to help third party developers create and integrate specialized Wi-Fi applications.

The Go Wi-Fi! P500 is expected to be available in early February 2006, priced around $100.

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