Call of Duty 2 (Played review)

I originally played COD1 on the Ngage (a few years back now) and loved it so much i must have finished it about 10 times if not more. There is a few good features i liked about the new pocket pc version. Using a sniper rifle for instance is great when you put it in scope mode, basically you cant miss just click what you want to hit and its done (this can be considered a bad point). The graphics are smooth and offer no lag, detail is a little lacking but decent. The controls are cumbersome, a few times ive walked out into a room and for a few seconds got hit while i reorientated using the stylus. The stylus as above gets in the way from time to time but once you get used to it is workable. All in all i quite enjoyed it, even jumped a few times some army guy ran out of a door way. The AI aspect of the "bad guys" is lacking, they will often start shooting before you even get to a place where they can see you. All in all i have to say its one of the better games available in the Pocket pc world.

Offbeat: Improve air quality with a USB air purifier.

This is Great Technology. This USB air purifier has no mechanical fan, no filters and yet it keeps the air around you germ free. Simply plug it to your laptop or PC and it starts the clean up. Read more here.

Opera mini 3.1 released

Sometime ago I download version 3.0 of Opera mini for testing and I’m not sure what to recommend about it. I’ve tried to access my bank’s website and it worked. However, it did not handle the JavaScript in the site. Now I use Opera 8.6 for my online banking transactions. But Opera 8.6 is not free, whereas Mini is. Nevertheless, I upgraded to 3.1 because it is very convenient when accessing my Gmail account. Otherwise it just sits there, almost useless. This new version obviously fixes some bugs, allow you to share photos (upload to your blog), safely bank online and subscribe to RSS feeds. Since this is a small file to download, just point your phone browser here.

Task Manager v2.7

This is great theres not much this little gem wont do.
This will show CPU usage, Regedit, Ping, IP config, and much much more. You can download for free (i like that word) from Here... for WM03 and WM05 devices

Wait! Do not upgrade to Vista yet

I was planning to purchase Windows Vista when I came across this article by Ben Stanley on Pocket PC Mag blogs relating the issues he came across after upgrading. Trust me, this is really worth reading. Ben reports that in order to sync your device you will need to purchase Office 2007, otherwise it just doesn’t work. Office 2007 is not cheap. Windows Mobile Device Center will let you sync your Mobile Favorites and files only. The article does not mention if Vista is compatible with Office XP/2003. Once more, this is recommended reading. Hasta la vista. Read more...

Review: Orneta’s Mobile Explorer

Last week I blogged about Orneta releasing Mobile Explorer 2007 and that a review will follow. Here it is, short and concise. I don’t like long reviews.

Windows Mobile users have always complained about the lack of functionality of built-in software on our devices. I take for example Pocket Internet Explorer, Pocket Outlook and even the built in File Explorer. Luckily for us there is a vast library of third party applications available online. Now, I consider this debatable. PIE does indeed lacks much needed feature that one would think to be a default. I’m here referring to its inability to handle JavaScript. On the other hand, I find Pocket Outlook very good and light, therefore fast. There are alternatives that are feature packed but exert a lot of pressure on our CPUs and batteries. Finally, there is File Explorer. It lacks a lot of features too.

The folks at Orneta decided to build their own File Explorer. No big deal you might say. However, if you try it, you will notice that it’s as fast as the default file Explorer and this is where all comparisons end.

One of the main features of Orneta’s Mobile Explorer is Filtering. This is quite self explicit. It’s very nice when you want to locate media files or pictures. However I have not been able to get this to work probably stripped out of the trial version or it just doesn’t work. You can also create your own filter.

When you first start Mobile Explorer, you will most likely notice that the icons and text are slightly bigger than File Explorer. This might seem insignificant, but it’s helpful when using fingers.

By default, file extensions are hidden. It is easily activated through the Settings screen. This should be a basic requirement for all file explorers. But curiously, it is not available in Microsoft’s File Explorer.

These are some of the great features of Mobile Explorer. Now let’s take a look at one missing feature, the lack of a Search tool. Orneta did a great job developing this app but I don’t understand how they could have missed such an essential feature. And they’re asking $14.99 to acquire Mobile Explorer. This is a worthless purchase considering that I use Total Commander, a free solution with all the features you would expect in a file explorer.

Worst sounding ringtone ever!

This has to be the worst sound ive ever heard, although this will only work on certain people. Apparently anyone over 30 may not be able to hear it. Either way its still the worst thing ive ever heard. Download for free Here... or you can purchase and read more from Here...

Keep Bluechattin'

Keep Bluechattin' is a free, simple, Bluetooth-chatting (Bluechatting) application. It allows you to initiate chat with virtually any Bluetooth device via sending out and receiving unsolicited messages in form of e.g. vCards. It can also perform iterative range scanning and automated message broadcasting. available for free download for WM03 devices here... or WM05 devices here...

Explorer Mobile 2007 released

Orneta just announced the availability of its new version of Explorer Mobile 2007 for Windows Mobile 6. However, this new version is also compatible with WM5. Below is a list of features as listed on Orneta's website:

Takes full advantage of the compelling features of Windows Mobile 6
Theme, orientation, and resolution awareness pioneered by Orneta
Simple installation and easy to use user interface
Multi-State icon support

A free 14 day trial is available. Price: $14.95. Download here

I will post a small review later.

Fake SD cards

Be all ye warned, of the fake SD cards available on Ebay. i recently purchased a AUD$20 2gig SD card from ebay. I thought sure why not, its cheap and nasty but it should be ok to store extra movies and MP3 on. The trouble all started when i tried to setup 2 partitions (effectivly cut the card size into 2) which althought i tried for 2 days to get it to work, would not work. Eventually i turned to good ol google and came up with the following link (here..)Basically what the sellers do is get a card of half the size and install a boot record from a larger card, when your device looks at it and sees a 2 gig card its actually only 1gig, even at 1 gig its not stable. i guess at the end of it all you really get what you pay for.

HTC to offer free WM6 upgrades for the X7500, P4350 & S620

Mobinaute, a French site, is reporting that the Director of HTC France has announced during a press conference, that the company will offer free upgrades to three of its recently released devices namely: HTC X7500 Advantage, HTC P4350 and HTC S620. The upgrades should be available before the month of June. This is the first time that HTC provides upgrades for its devices and that’s great news for customers.

Sharp = EM - One

This device built by Sharp has the following impressive characteristics:
HSDPA
Wifi 802.11 b/g
4,1" touchscreen with 65536 colors
A Marvell Xscale PXA270 520mhz processor
A sliding Keyboard
An Nvidia Goforce 5500 graphic chipset

etc etc etc...

The device will be released in a few weeks...in Japan

Homescreen Designer 2.0 for Smartphone

If you're not happy with the proposed default homescreen of your Smartphones, here's a tool that will help you let loose your imagination and create your own homescreens. Of course Homescreen Designer is a WYSIWYG tool and works only with Windows Mobile 5, Smartphone Edition. Another version of Homescreen designer is available for Smartphone 2002/2003.

Download a trial here.

Self-Assembling Batteries

Those guys over at MIT come up with some brilliant concepts and if this one pays off ill be truly thankfull. Yet-Ming Chiang from MIT has come up with a way to organize electrodes and electrolyte materials that, when combined, organize themselves into the structure of a working battery. This all in the space of 10 micrometers, and the Batteries themselves are assembled in such a way that they assemble themselves using ultraprecise atomic-force microscope probes. While that all sounds like something out of a science fiction show what it means is sometime down the track is the current solid batteries currently used could be non existant or atleast alot smaller and alot more powerfull. More here...

Once Upon a Time...

in the begining there was pocket pc / smartphone ... and it was good. But some people got together and spawned a website that could make it better, a little tweak here a little patch there and hey presto a brand new ROM (ROM is what they call a new version of a operating system). I talk of a website called XDA developers, i myself am a member of this proud proud community. Call us/ them what you will, crazy, wierd and sometimes bizare but they are an innovative lot, once a new phone comes out these are the people that pull the operating system off (rom) and rebuild it working out all those annoying little bugs. Well it seems Microsoft in all the wisdom of the Gates has ordered the good people at XDA developers to remove all ROMS from the FTP they ran from the site. I Urge everyone that reads this to please post on this partition to stop this from happening (or atleast show support for it) while we enjoy the microsoft suite of products i really do question the motives behind this latest action, here is the site to show your support here...

Activesync 4.5 out of beta

The final version of activesync 4.5 is available here for download. This new version can be considered a minor upgrade as it includes a few bug fixes and that's about it.

Documents to go for Smartphone commercially available.

You miss document editing on your Smartphone, then Dataviz's Documents to go is just for you.

Documents To Go is a must-have for mobile email users:
The only way to view, edit and create Microsoft® Word, Excel and PowerPoint® files, view Adobe® PDF files as well as unzip files on your Windows Mobile 5 Smartphone Edition handset.
Never lose document formatting when you make edits on your smartphone using InTact Technology™. The only mobile Office suite with 100% file fidelity!
Easy to use - Documents To Go has the familiar look and feel of the programs you use on your desktop. Visit the site to learn more and buy. By the way, Windows Mobile 6 lets you edit documents and spreadsheets.

Latest news from 3GSM

Yesterday I posted about TheUnwired being our eyes and ears at the 3Gsm show in Spain. Since then the site editor, Arne Hess, has posted several very interesting news, mainly about new device releases running Windows Mobile 6. Here are some links:

T-Mobile Dash users get WM6 free upgrade

i-mate announces its new colored SPL Windows Mobile Standard line

3GSM LIVE: Toshiba to launch the D500 Windows Mobile Standard smartphone

Or just visit the site to read more.

Windows Mobile 6 is here

Microsoft officially announced Windows Mobile 6 at 3GSM World Congress in Barcelona. Naturally, a new OS means new devices. Toshiba will release two devices with the new OS and I-mate will reveal at least two during the congress. T-mobile Dash owners will be able to upgrade to WM6. This is great news, but nothing yet regarding HTC S620 devices. If you can't make it to the congress in Barcelona, you might want to check Arne Hess blogroll on the::unwired.net. The site will be updated hourly. Stay tuned.

Sounds Cool

I came across this program while looking for ways to jazz up my device a little, this installs on your computer and via activesync will backup and change your default sounds on your pocket pc or smartdevice. There is 14 free themepacks available but you have to purchase the main program. You can see more (including screenshots) here unfortunatly there is no trial version, you can purchase via the website.

Q&A: No sound notification when new emails arrive

Q: I’ve set my device to play a sound when new emails arrive, but it vibrates only.

A: This is because the profile you’re using is set to either vibrate or none. Depending on which profile you’re using you have to set it to Vibrate & Ring. If you have a Pocket PC, go into Scenario and tap Detail at the bottom of the screen. You will notice that all settings are disabled. Tap Setting to enable them and select Vibrate&Ring in the dropdown list.
If you have a Smartphone, go to Start > Settings > Profiles. Select the profile you’re using and select Edit from the Menu. Choose Vibrate and Sound from the Notification Type list.
These steps apply to my devices (Eten M500 & HTC S620), so they might be slightly different on yours.

Windows Mobile 6 - What's "Officially" new?

Jason "Mr Mobile" Langridge has a post about the new features of the long awaited Windows Mobile 6. Some of the features I like most are support for HTML email, Pocket Outlook now has a ribbon that lets you easily check your next available time without scrolling, Office Mobile for Smartphone and Windows Live. Read more...

Recover your lost email account

Twice I had my Gmail account not working on my Pocket PC and I've never been able to fix it. Let me explain: I used to download Gmail email to Outlook and then someday, Gmail stopped working. I just could not access it anymore though it was still listed in Outlook and on my Today screen. I managed to delete the account in Outlook, but it was impossible to recreate the account with the same name afterwards. I wish I had MailAccountRepair at that time. Your free download here for Pocket PC. And here for Smartphone. It's an .exe file that you need to copy to your device. Run the file, select the email account from the list and click the repair button. It's that simple. Post a comment if you happen to use it.

Safemode 2 for Smartphone & Pocket PC

I beleive this is a required tool whenever a particular app or sevice is causing mayhem in your device. Safemode is really an advance tool as it lets you view processes running in the background that other task managers are unable to display. A 14 days trial is available and the price is really cheap. Download here.

Check out SPB Mobile Shell

I'm not surprised at all that SPB software has decided to produce a new shell for our devices. When Steve Jobs announced the Iphone, some of us started wondering if Windows mobile interface will ever change some day. With SPB Mobile Shell you have a new and dynamic interface that blends well with SPB software of course and the inherent features of our devices. A trial is available and the purchase price is $30. Quite expensive.

Q&A: Accessing Windows folder causes device to stall.

Q: I’m trying to open Windows folder on my PDA and for some reason the hour glass stays on the screen and all I can do is a soft reset. I can access any other folders and I can even browse Windows folder using an alternative file explorer or through Activesync on my PC.

A: Check that File Explorer is set to sort by Name instead of by Type or by Size. Open File Explorer and tap on the drop list at the top right side of the screen and select Name in the list.

A Vid of the HTC Althea

The only draw back with the Althea is the size, as you can see in the video on the link below its got alot of features and no way to fit it into a pocket. See via Utube here

Free math game for all ages

Want to know how quick you are in solving addition, substraction, multiplication and division in the least possible amount of time? Then download Arithmetick, afun game that will keep you and your kids busy. It works on both Pocket PC and Smartphone. Download here.

Windows Mobile Device Center for Vista released

IF you have already upgraded to Windows Vista, which I intend to do soon, you must download Device Center if you want to keep your devices in sync with your PC. I used the word MUSt because Activesync doesn't work with Vista, so you don't really have the choice here. So go for it, it's free. Download here, via Jason Landgridge's Weblog

More pics of the HTC Althea

ok the only real issue i have on this phone is its size, this isnt a Mobile phone but is truly a miniture laptop given its specs.

i still want one :D

you can view a whole lot of pics here.

Warning MMS Exploit Released for Windows Mobile – No Patch Available

I think to date Windows mobile has been quite lucky in the area of viruses. I havent seen a great deal of "virus" around or heard too many stories apart from the odd few that have a virus from a game or application that has been tried to install. This is a warning that has had rumors on for the last few months, as quoted

""User only needs to view the message to trigger exploit.” So I would add, only view MMSs from trusted sources"

inparticular any MMS with the attachment MNotification.ind is to be looked out for and not opened, More info available here from Symantic.

whilst the warning doesnt show the effects of the virus (or exploit) im sure it wouldnt be very nice.

Call of Duty 2

Ive been waiting to see this game fora while now, i first read about it back in November. Im yet to play the final version but just from the vids and pics ive seen plus played other versions of it this will be one game to get. There is one small catch though, the stats needed to run it mean that only some pocket pc and smartphones will be able to use it. It will run on WM 3 or 5 but you need a minimum 300hz cpu to run it and 32 megs of storage, for the full effect an intel2700g or GoForce 5500 is needed. With specs like that it makes me wonder why they created something in need of such high grade hardware as it only limits the number of users for the game. No trial version available as yet but you can purchase via here.