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

Dec 03 Microsoft adds Windows Mobile 5.0 sync services to SHMC
Published by Vesselin Nerdeff in:Mobile News,

Microsoft has released a major update to its hosted messaging and collaboration software. The Solution for Hosted Messaging and Collaboration (SHMC) version 3.5 incorporates new mobile synchronization capabilities, a variety of security enhancements, and new tools to reduce management time, according to the company.

SHMC version 3.5 targets small and midsize businesses with between 10 and 250 users, and provides "business-class" communication tools on a variety of computing media, such as a desktop computer in the office or a mobile device on the road. The package enables hosting providers to offer customers "enterprise-class" email services, mobile device data access, team Web sites, and online presence information, the company says.


Microsoft lists the following significant new features in version 3.5:

• Support for Windows Mobile 5.0 phones and PDAs
  
  
• Direct Push technology -- pushes new email, calendar, contact, and task notifications to the device using an HTTP connection
  
  
• Remote Device Wipe -- allows administrators to erase sensitive data from a lost or stolen mobile device
  
  
• "Policy Provisioning" -- makes device access more secure by enforcing policies such as minimum PIN/password length and complexity, and wiping the device after a certain number of incorrect password attempts.

For service providers, SHMC version 3.5 can simplify application deployment, accelerate customer acquisition, and improve customer satisfaction through a complete, end-to-end messaging and collaboration suite, according to Microsoft. The package includes deployment automation tools and scripts, code samples, and documented procedures and best practices.

SHMC version 3.5 is available now. Microsoft is offering a series of one-day seminars worldwide to introduce and explain hosted Exchange services. is offering a series of one-day seminars worldwide to introduce and explain hosted Exchange services.
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Dec 03 HP will begin selling iPAQ hw6515 in China
Published by Vesselin Nerdeff in:Devices,

Shanghai. December 2. INTERFAX-CHINA - Hewlett-Packard will begin selling a high-end GSM smartphone on the Chinese market in January next year, marking the PC maker's first step into the competitive Chinese mobile phone market, a company source said. The first model that will enter China's retail market is the HP iPAQ hw6515 Pocket PC, which has an integrated GSM mobile communication module. The smartphone will be priced at approximately RMB 6,000, (USD 750) and mainly targeting higher-end business users, a source at HP (China) told Interfax.

The hw6515 is already available for sale at hpshopping.com, HP's online store in the United States. The handset features a Microsoft Windows Mobile operating system, the Intel PXA272 processor 312MHz, a 1.3 megapixel camera, Bluetooth, integrated GPS antenna, and a full keyboard.

HP (China) has yet to release information about the product launch or specifications for the localized smartphone model.

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Dec 03 Sprint Nextel BlackBerry 7100i Review
Published by Vesselin Nerdeff in:Devices, Reviews, BlackBerry,

Since the first Palm Pilot came out, I’ve been drooling over ways to take all my information with me and be able to connect to other people via the same device. No, the first Palms and other PDAs were woefully deficient in their ability to keep me in touch. But then came the BlackBerry.Let’s skim over the original clunky RIM (Research In Motion) brand BlackBerrys that were standalone devices using a sparse communications backbone for email and text messaging. Then let’s gun the engine forward to today as I sit holding a brand new, NEXTEL-branded BlackBerry 7100i.

Blackberry devices on Amazon

Four words. The future keeps coming!

Initial Impressions

The BlackBerry box came stuffed to the gills with - The BlackBerry phonev
- The battery
- Battery charger
- A SIM card
- A headset
- Carrying holster
- USB-to-USB cable (for syncing the device)
- A documentation kit (very complete manuals, software agreement)
- BlackBerry software CD-ROM
- A NEXTEL welcome guide
- A comprehensive manual

I may have just found the perfect way to leave my laptop at home when I travel. Instead of carrying around up to 12lbs of technology, I can load the 7100i with my info and then use it as my lifeline to the wired and unwired world. This device is topnotch.

Right out of the box, the BlackBerry is only three steps away from being ready to go. All you have to do is load the battery, charge it up and make sure the phone is set to your email account. The phone came with a SIM card loaded and started right up when I plugged it in.

If you’ve already used a BlackBerry for work or leisure, you might want to gloss over the next few sentences as I gush about how great this thing is.

Based on the booklet and everything I’ve heard about these neat communications tools, they’re so cool and functional that you’ll be floored! Everything I might need to do and everyone I might need to contact can be loaded into the 7100i and taken with me anywhere. The additional NEXTEL walkie-talkie feature is just a bonus.

As everyone says, and as nobody believes until they see for themselves, “You have to get one of these. Your life will not be the same.”

**Grain-of-salt moment: You can definitely enjoy more functionality by carrying your current laptop, a wireless-enabled phone and a PDA, but as more functions are jammed into the ‘smartphone-style’ PDAs and BlackBerry-type devices, your attaché of electronic goods will get lighter and lighter.

Additional first impressions were the stylistic touches on this Nextel/Sprint BlackBerry. It’s only a little larger than my current LG phone and the keypad looks easy to use, while the screen is full-color and large enough for even those folks who need ‘cheater’ glasses from the local pharmacy.

Support

The BlackBerry, as mentioned, works on the NEXTEL/Sprint network and can operate as a regular cell phone, as a walkie-talkie, as an MMS device, as an email machine and as a Web access point (the browser window gets jumbled depending on the sites you visit, but you can still surf the ‘Net and enjoy unfettered access from nearly anywhere).

The 72-page manual is comprehensive and clear. It starts you right off with loading the battery and SIM card and then brings you right into syncing your files, contacts and using the phone and email functions. *As with most manuals these days, the last 20 pages are all disclaimers and legalese.

Finally, when you first set up the BlackBerry to receive and send email, your box immediately receives four emails that welcome you to the network and give you some helpful tips on typing and on managing your information – definitely a nice touch.

Functionality

I am not a dolt. I’m an early-adopter of many technologies and gadgets, but the one thing I failed to jump on board with years ago was the BlackBerry. On some counts I am kicking myself, but on others I’m glad I waited. The devices are not so streamlined, functional and fun to use that I would have probably complained for two years if I had to keep a clunky, oversized BlackBerry in my pocket or briefcase just to stay in touch with the world.

Let’s look at this device from three aspects: phone functions, record keeping and Internet/Web.

As a phone, the NEXTEL/Sprint BlackBerry 7100i gets better reception in some spots than my Verizon phone. It features the walkie-talkie functionality of NEXTEL and the 7100i must have a stronger antenna than earlier cells because reception was good everywhere I used it. In fact, I just drove my father’s car to Florida from Boston and the 7100i got a strong signal the whole trip.

Some of the limitations you might face with a NEXTEL/Sprint contract seem to have been alleviated. In 2000, I had one of the first Sprint flip cell phones and if I was more than 42-feet from a major highway, the reception was ZERO. The combined networks have fixed this issue through a larger collection of towers and better technology.

Additionally, the handset fits nicely in its included holster, fits neatly in my small hands and is easy to listen to and speak into. It even has an extendable antenna for increased reception. I kept the phone volume on medium the whole time even though I constantly change the volume on my own phone depending on background noise and reception.

Coordinating your contact list, your information and your life. The BlackBerry does it simply and efficiently. Through the USB to USB sync cable, this puppy can grab your calendar, your phone list and other info right from your PC. Unfortunately, BlackBerry isn’t Mac compatible out of the box (Pocket Mac for BlackBerry required), but I’m still tempted to abscond with this device for all its other features.

It has a calculator, task list and even a game called BrickBreaker as nice other touches. In fact, if you were going away for a while and needed to remain connected to an office or to your appointments, you could do it with just this device. After a while the typing might get bothersome and the little screen could bug you, but you would certainly survive.

Internet and the Web are the two things this device handles that amazed me the most. I’m guilty of Googling myself and visiting my own Web sites frequently (helps boost traffic), so the first thing I did when I got the 7100i running was jump online and go to my sites. Just plain neat.

It was seamless. All I had to do was turn it on, select the icon that looks like the earth and type in my URLs. Maybe the most difficult thing was getting used to the two modes of typing offered on the BlackBerry – SureType or Multi-tap.

With SureType, you just type away and the device tries to guess the words you’re spelling. It’s entirely useless for Web addresses. When I tried to put in jeffcutler.com/jblog, I stymied the unit. No matter how I tried, it wasn’t going to guess my URLs. But, when using the Multi-tap method (and you can switch between the two with one button press) it was simple. Even symbol use is almost intuitive.

As for email access, it’s great. My parents’ house is on an island just off the coast of Florida. They only recently got high-speed Internet access and I’ve been unable to get my iBook to play nice with their connections down here so I frequently WiJack around the island to check my email. With the BlackBerry, I can sit by the pool and find out who’s trying to get in touch with me.

Just jump into the email (set-up takes only a few minutes) and you’re cooking with gas. Emails come right to your handset. I’m already trying to justify giving up my ordinary cell that only has text messages and picture messages. How can they compare to full-on Internet?

Other Blackberry Devices

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Dec 03 System Update for Palm LifeDrive
Published by Vesselin Nerdeff in:Mobile News, Palm,

Palm has released a highly-anticipated ROM update for its LifeDrive mobile manager. This makes a number of improvements to the device, including enhancing its WiFi functionality and making its file system more stable. According to Palm, LifeDrive Update 2.0 makes the following changes:

# Improved WiFi coverage in low signal areas
# Improved roaming performance
# Improved file system stability
# Crisper, clearer sound quality when listening to MP3 files
# More flexible multimedia functionality, including file transmission over wireless connections, file saving, and faster recording and playback
# Better browser performance, including more efficient, faster page rendering
# Updates VersaMail to version 3.1C for improved ability to attach large documents
# Upgrade to Docs To Go application version 7.006
# Includes the enhancements from the past update

The ROM update and installation instructions can be found on Palm's web site.

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Dec 03 A701 Pocket PC phone coming to Europe first quarter of 2006
Published by Vesselin Nerdeff in:Devices, Mio, Pocket PC,

British online tabloid The Register was 2 times wrong about this phone: firstly they wrote Mio will next week preview the A701, its first GPS-enabled Windows Mobile-based smart phone and it has not (!) happened. Now they write, that The A701 is scheduled to ship mid-December but our sources directly (!) at Mio Technology (division of Mitac) have denied it, saying that it will be released in first quarter of next year.

Clearly all the claims of The Register about exclusivity are false because actually we also published information about A701 Pocket PC phone - that we received directly from Mitac. Furthermore claims about release date are also apparently false if even Mitac staff is denying them. We have impression that all these exclusivity claims are fabricated by The Register - just to pretend that they have exclusive information and to attract visitors.

One is for sure: they were wrong first time and now Mitac staff says that they are also wrong. If A701 indeed will not be available commercially "mid-December" 2005 then we all will have final confirmation of how unreliable source of information The Register really is. Since The Register was in past bashing Microsoft's efforts in mobile phone industry, now one can see that all these writings were not quite correct.

Some highlights about A701 Pocket PC phone:

* it will have slightly different specifications than A700 (Chinese version that is already on sale in Asia) but these differences are not yet officially announced or known
* built-in GPS
* built-in Bluetooth (but no Wi-Fi)
* GSM/GPRS support (but no EDGE or UMTS)
* fast processor: 520 MHz

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Dec 02 New InPad 2.0 released by Microth
Published by root in:Software,

InPad is an input method based on an innovative, patent pending handwriting input technology. InPad 2.0 is a symbiosis of handwriting and keyboard input and combines strong sides of both these techniques: a simple, familiar handwriting interface and an instant, accurate keyboard processing. InPad doesn't "recognize" handwritings - it just "inputs" handwritten symbols into a device like a regular keyboard.

Some of advantages of InPad 2.0 include:
• Language Independence: InPad 2.0 technology is language independent. It supports handwriting input in any stroke based language. Layouts for more then 100 languages may be downloaded at www.inpad.net/layouts or created by user.
• Customization: You can customize InPad to your personal style of writing and needs. Any symbols, commands and text strings could be added and recognized later. This way you can write letters of any alphabet.
• Recognition: InPad 2.0 recognizes any styles of scripting including multistroke characters as well as arbitrary symbols and control strokes. InPad technology provides 100% recognition of input symbols.
• Usability: InPad 2.0 requires a minimal or no training. Default layouts provides support for Latin alphabet, digits and InPad commands.
• System Requirements: InPad 2.0 has very minimal system requirements and provides immediate input. Resizable input panel occupies just a small fraction of screen.

What's new in the version 2.0:
• Support of transparency.
  Now you can make InPad window transparent and it will not obscure an active application.
• Stroke sets were replaced with layouts.
  Layouts are now stored in a separate files which allows to mark them as active in any combinations. So now you can use German, Italian and French layouts together without creating seperate stroke set. Users of older versions of InPad can download and use IPEConverter utility to convert their customized stroke sets into the new format.
• Ability to create new layouts from inside InPad.
  You no longer need separate Stroke Set Editor to create your own layouts.
• Stroke demo drawing is now saved.
  When you add new strokes to the layout your drawing is saved also, so you can recall it using InPad Demo Panel. Multiple demo strokes can exist for a single character.
• New look of the InPad panel.
  InPad panel was redesigned according to users proposals. InPad cells may be rectangular.

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Dec 02 AOL are improving their Mobile Searches
Published by root in:Mobile News,

AOL on Thursday introduced a new set of search services for mobile devices that it says will make searching the Web on smaller screens as useful as searching from the desktop. Three services will make up the new service: AOL Search, Pinpoint Shopping and AOL Yellow Pages.Through technology provided by InfoGin, the service formats both the search results and the Web sites visited from those listings to fit the smaller screens of mobile phones, smartphones and PDAs.

AOL says this extends the usefulness of mobile search, as a user will no longer need to be concerned with whether or not a Web site has a mobile-formatted version available. Instead, a user will be able to visit any site as if they were visiting from a desktop computer.

"We are committed to providing people everywhere with easy access to the Web’s full range of information services wherever they may go," AOL Search senior vice president Jim Riesenbach said in prepared remarks.

AOL Mobile Search will be accessible from mobile.aolsearch.com. While the service itself will be free, data usage charges would be carrier dependent, AOL said.

source: BetaNews


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Dec 01 Software Streams Media To Mobile Devices In Real Time
Published by Vesselin Nerdeff in:Software,

Entertainment services company Thomson is testing software it developed that manages encoding and decoding of encrypted media in real time as video and audio stream from broadcast stations or telecommunications carriers to cellular phones and hand-held wireless devices.

The unnamed software, took two years to develop, the company said. Trials began in the second quarter of this year. "The software is being tested in France by most of the carrier operators, and we are in discussions in the United States and in the United Kingdom with others," said Jean-Charles Hourcade, senior executive vice president and chief technology officer at Thomson, a global media technologies and creative services company for the entertainment industry.

Hourcade, who is convinced tomorrow's mobile devices will have enough power to manage several critical tasks with software rather than application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), expects to talk about the project Wednesday at the Digital Entertainment & Media Expo in Los Angeles.

Written in C++, the software runs on the Microsoft CE, Symbian, and Linux operating systems. It controls the quality of the transmission as it travels on cellular or wireless networks. There are plans to license the technology to telecommunication carriers and cellular phone manufacturers.

The software is being tested on 2-inch by 3-inch displays. The content is encoded through the software in real time, and is then streamed to the mobile device at between 250 kilobits and 300 kilobits per second in real time.

The content is encapsulated in Internet protocol (IP) real-time transport protocol (RTP), and sent to an access point, such as Wi-Fi. From there the signal is transmitted and captured on a Dell Inc. PDA or Nokia cellular phone, for example, and then encrypted video and audio is decoded in real time on the mobile device.

One benefit to consumers is that with the software, streaming media could be viewed on upgradeable rather than disposable devices. Controlling the quality of the content with software, rather than integrated circuits, however, will require industry standards.

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Dec 01 Willcom chose Opera for Sharp W-ZERO3 Windows Mobile 5.0 handset
Published by Vesselin Nerdeff in:Mobile News,

Willcom INC chooses Opera for new Sharp W-ZERO3 Windows Mobile Pocket PC device Oslo, Norway and Tokyo, Japan - November 30, 2005 - Opera Software and Willcom INC today announced that the Opera Mobile(TM) browser will be offered on the new Sharp W-ZERO3 Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 handset in Japan. The Sharp W-ZERO3 is the first Windows Mobile 5.0 device in the Japanese market, and also the first device to ship with Opera Mobile 8.5 for Pocket PC.

With its 3.7 inch VGA (640x480 pixels) high resolution LCD screen and WLAN connectivity, the Sharp W-ZERO3 is ideal for Web browsing on-the- go. Opera's unique rendering technology dynamically adapts Web pages to fit the width of the screen, providing an Internet experience almost identical to that on a larger PC screen.

"We are very happy that Willcom has chosen the Opera browser for their new Windows Mobile 5.0 device," says Jon S. von Tetzchner, CEO, Opera Software. "The Sharp W-ZERO3 with its large screen and the Opera Mobile browser offers users a full-fledged Internet experience that really takes mobile Web browsing up to a new level."

"Opera enjoys a great reputation in Japan, and we are extremely pleased to offer the Opera Mobile 8.5 Web browser on our new flagship device, the Sharp W-ZERO3," says Tadasu Tsuchihashi, Executive director, Willcom INC. "Seeing the full Web unfold itself on the Sharp W-ZERO3's large VGA screen thanks to Opera's speed and unique rendering technology is simply a beautiful demonstration of how far true, mobile Web access has come."

In addition to the large VGA screen, the Sharp W-ZERO3 has a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, comes with Windows Media Player 10, supports all Microsoft Office formats and can display PowerPoint presentations and PDF documents. Sharp W-ZERO3 official Web site: http://www.sharp.co.jp/ws/special/ General note: The public version of Opera 8.5 for Windows Mobile Pocket PC will be available from www.opera.com in January, 2006.

About Opera Software Opera Software ASA is an industry leader in the development of Web browser technology, targeting the desktop, smartphone, PDA, home media and vertical markets. Partners include companies such as IBM, Nokia, Sony, Motorola, Adobe, Macromedia, Symbian, Canal+ Technologies, Sony Ericsson, Kyocera, Sharp, Motorola Metroworks, MontaVista Software, BenQ, Sendo and AMD. The Opera browser has received international recognition from users, industry experts and media for being faster, smaller and more standards-compliant than other browsers. Opera's browser technology is cross-platform and modular, and currently available on the following operating systems: Windows, Linux, Mac OS, Symbian OS, Windows Mobile, BREW, QNX, TRON, FreeBSD, Solaris and Mediahighway. Opera Software ASA is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, with development centers in Linkoping and Gothenburg, Sweden. The company is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol OPERA. Learn more about Opera at www.opera.com.

About Willcom INC WILLCOM, Inc. is a leading mobile data telecommunications company, providing PHS services in Japan. In addition to data telecommunications, WILLCOM introduced the "WILLCOM Flat-Rate Plan" in May 2005, the Japanese mobile industry's first fixed-rate voice communication service. WILLCOM has also introduced a series of other new services to the market, and currently has more than 3.5 million cumulative subscribers (as of November 2005). Learn more about Willcom at www.willcom-inc.com (available in English and Japanese).

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Dec 01 Windows Mobile clients gain Novell Groupwise support
Published by Vesselin Nerdeff in:Software,

Omni Technology has released a suite of client software that lets mobile devices work with Novell's Groupwise enterprise collaboration software. Components of the Omni Mobility Suite include: Omni Mobile, a "full" GroupWise client for "smart" devices; Omni Syncaphone, a "light" client for Java-enabled cellphones; and Omni Messenger, a GroupWise Messenger client for Windows Mobile Pocket PCs and smartphones, and Palm PDAs.

According to Novell, Groupwise is collaboration software that provides email, calendaring, instant messaging, task management, contact, and document management functions. The company claims it represents the "leading alternative" to Microsoft Exchange.

Omni says its Mobility Suite is the first, cross-platform wireless suite to provide "native, real-time GroupWise client connectivity" for both GroupWise and GroupWise Messenger. The suite offers real-time mobile access without requiring users to upgrade to the latest version of GroupWise, or install the "middle-tier" database or gateway servers typically required by other approaches, according to the company.

Version 1.0 of Omni Mobility supports Windows Mobile Pocket PCs and Pocket PC Phones; Palm Treo 650, 600, LifeDrive and Tungsten; and Sony Ericsson P910, P900, P800. Version 1.1 will add Nokia Series 60 and Series 90 devices. Additionally, Omni Syncaphone supports "virtually all Java cell phones," according to the company. Omni Messenger supports Windows Mobile Pocket PCs and Smartphones, and Palm PDAs.

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