Control your Windows Mobile device with mDesktop

I haven't played with mDesktop yet, but it does look cool. "Everthing you do with your Windows Mobile smartphone you can now do from your PC - on your big screen, big keyboard and complete integration with your desktop."
Among the features listed on the website are.

1. Make outgoing calls from the Smartphones address book

2. Threaded SMS.

3. Manage images

4. Manage calendar and contacts straight on your phone, no sync required.

There is more to mDesktop. To learn more, go to www.motionapps.com/product/mdesktop/index.jsp.

Posted using my Windows Mobile phone.

T-Mobile releases HTC Touch Diamond with sliding keyboard

Now I love the device. The Diamond without a QWERTY keyboard was not worth even considering for a purchase. But now that T-Mobile has one with a keyboard, I might change my mind if HTC themselves decide to sell it. The news here is that T-Mobile released the keyboard enabled Touch Diamond in Germany along with the T-Mobile Ameo 16GB. Click the link below for some pictures of the new devices - http://www.gsmhelpdesk.nl/en/read.php?id=2918&ch=1

Tips: Opera 8.65 closes by itself

I experienced my first serious issue with Opera 8.65 over the weekend. I use my device and Opera mostly to post to Microsoft Windows Mobile Owners Circle Forums where I'm a moderator. However, Opera decided that it would remain open for a few seconds and close without any warnings. I went through the basic troubleshooting steps to no avail. It was time to contact Opera support desk.
I sent them an email and almost immediately got a reply with a ticket number. Shortly afterwards, got another email from a support representative with the following:

"Please check if the cache is responsible for this behaviour. Simply remove all
files inside the cache4 folder found in application data/opera/cache4."

I did just that and Opera was running again flawlessly. Thank you Opera supportdesk for sorting this out.

HTC releases Windows Mobile 6.1 upgrade for the TyTN II

Owners of the TyTN II who live in Europe will be happy to learn that HTC has released the upgrade to Windows Mobile 6.1 for their devices. The upgrade is available through the HTC e-Club at http://www.htc.com/member/Login.aspx.

Press release: Spb Software Showcases Spb Online Shell at CeBIT Australia

Spb Online Shell is a convergence of online and media tools, targeted to helping mobile network operators expand their online services portfolios and meet high-end customization needs.

Sydney, May 21st, 2008 - Today at CeBIT Australia, Spb Software House, a leading mobile applications vendor, showcased Spb Online Shell - a practical on-device access point to online multimedia content and services. Spb Online Shell will help mobile network operators deliver improved content experiences to subscribers.

Spb Online Shell is an elegant content discovery solution that makes it possible to bring online radio, TV, video-on-demand, weather, gaming, music, and shopping directly to subscribers using Windows Mobile handsets. Set to reinvigorate user enthusiasm for mobile entertainment and data, Spb Online Shell is an easy to use and engaging single entry portal for online services and payments. It is designed to strictly adhere to, and enhance, a carrier's unique identity and brand.

Sebastian-J Schmidt, CEO, Spb Software, said: "The demand for mobile services is strong throughout the world. In Australia, we're now actively seeking partnerships with innovative mobile carriers, and believe that Spb Online Shell will resonate well here, since Australia is an early adopter of 3G and streaming content for mobile devices."

Spb Online Shell uses the engine of Spb Mobile Shell, an application that has been recognized by dozens of respected mobility experts around the world as the user interface improver, which reignites interest in Windows Mobile and changes the device experience completely.

"Not all services are created equal and success is not just about functionality. It ultimately is about the end user experience," said Vassili Philippov, COO, Spb Software. "We have seen a few million iPhones generate more web traffic than all the other web-enabled smartphones put together, so Spb understands that in any delivery, the 'how' is just as important as the 'what'.

To meet the growing demand for online mobile services and to adequately service its partners, Spb plans to set up a separate business entity.

Free: HushSMS

HushSMS is a nice and free utility that lets you send Class 0 messages of Flash SMS. In other words, your recipients will receive the message directly on their screen. However, it does not display the sender's name.
HushSMS also has the ability to silently ping a device. This way you'll know if the phone is switched on or off.
The software runs on Windows Mobile 5 & 6 and can be download from www.silentservices.de/HushSMS.html

Review: Vito Technology GoodWin

With all the hype surrounding the iPhone interface, it comes as no surprise to see competitors coming up with their own flavor of a similar interface for Windows Mobile. HTC led the pack with the TouchFlo technology on the HTC Touch. Actually, HTC is the only device manufacturer to have an iPhone-like interface on their devices. Third party developers are revamping their software to offer finger manipulation and Vito Technology is one them. This review is about GoodWin, a fully touch-enabled application. I don't know how these solutions compare to the iPhone interface as I do not use an iPhone and do not plan to buy one either. So let's get started with the review.

What is GoodWin?

Basically, GoodWin is an application launcher that can be downloaded for trial from Http://iwindowsmobile.com. It also includes SMS-Chat for threaded sms, Fun Contacts to manage your contacts and ZoomBoard for fast and accurate onscreen typing. The installation is quite straight forward. Connect your device and run the executable on the PC. I had no issues at all with the installation.

How it works?

When installation is complete, GoodWin adds itself to the Today screen along with icons for SMS, Tasks, Email and Call History. The buttons are big enough for the thumb. In fact GoodWin installs itself as new home screen with the battery, volume and operator icon at the very top of the screen. Just below these are the icons I mentioned above (SMS Chat, Fun Contacts and ZoomBoard).

By default, the main screen is locked, probably to avoid screen touches when the device is in the pocket. Use your finger to slide the padlock to the right to unlock the screen and start using GoodWin. There is no way to change that behavior or at least I did not find one to disabled the lock feature.

Goodwin's main screen displays:

Favorites and Running list

This is fully customizable. Meaning that you can add applications you use most often to this list for quick access. Other programs that runs on the device will also appear in that list after you minimize them. To really close these applications, use your finger and press the program icon for a few seconds until a context menu appear. You will then get the choice to Add to favorites and close the application.

Programs List

I forgot to mention that I'm running GoodWin on a HTC 8125 with Windows Mobile 6. Scrolling with the finger is fun and smooth. Even the context menu is big enough to be used with the finger. However the Programs list can make scrolling too long as you add more software to your device. The fact that GoodWin does not support subfolders is one aspect of the software that Vito Technology should review. A perfect example is the Games folder, where I have four games installed. Goodwin ignores the subfolder and displays the games icon alongside the other software in the Programs list. The result is that more finger scrolling is required. While it is indeed easier and faster using the finger to scroll, having GoodWin respect my folders arrangement would have been great. Vito Technology should consider adding horizontal scrolling to GoodWin. That would be neat to access subfolders or submenus: One flick of the finger to the right to open the submenu and another click to the left to return to the main menu.

Settings
There is nothing much to say about the Settings list. It regroups all the icons you have in Start > Settings.

Open an application.
A single tap is needed to open an application. However, as I said above, press and hold on the icon to access the context menu and you'll have options to run or add the application to the Favorites list so it's listed at the top of the screen.

You will find at the end of the screen, a Menu button that brings up another context menu that gives you access to GoodWin Settings, Help, About and the ability to close GoodWin. This button should have been at the top alongside the sms and email icons.

Goodwin is a great application that does not affect the device performance. It was easy and fast to learn scrolling with the finger even if at times, I would accidentally launch an application by pressing too hard on the screen. Nobody is perfect. After half an hour playing with GoodWin, I became very comfortable using it to the extent that it is now my default home screen.

Teksoft releases Skybox

Nothing to do with Slingbox. Skybox is a software and is another finger enabled application that replaces the default Windows Mobile interface. The fetures are:

Fast access to the vital functions of the device.

Easy to use and fingerfriendly

Display im portant data like phone signal, battery, missed calls, date and time.

Powerful features and registry hacks

Custom titlebar, infoscreen, menu, settings.

Read more at www.teksoftco.com/index.php?section=skybox

Windows Mobile Live Search 3.0 released

The update version now includes:

Map a contact: For any people in your address book, immediately view their address on a map and get directions there.

View Virtual Earth collections: View custom maps of locations and events that are created on the PC by you, your friends, or the broader community.

Web search: Launch web search directly from the client to find webpages, product price comparisons and reviews, news, images, and more.

Point your device browser to http://wls.live.com To download the new version.

Microsoft and RIM to bring Windows Live services to Blackberry Smartphone

In a joint press release today, Microsoft and RIM announced that they have an agreement to provide Windows Live services on Blackberry devices. With this agreement, Blackberry users will have access to Windows Live Messenger and Windows Live Hotmail on the Blackberry.
"The Blackberry platform is respected around the world for providing optimized messaging capabilities, and RIM continues to look for ways to provide customers with a wide range of communications options and the best possible experience," says Mark Guibert, vice president, Corporate Marketing at RIM. "Our relationship with Microsoft and the addition of Windows Live services to Blackberry smartphones help us build on that strategy for our customers."

Read more from www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2008/may08/05-12wlblackberrypr.mspx?rss_fdn=press%20Releases

New skin for ZoomBoard

VITO Technology releases a new version of ZoomBoard with a new skin. New ZoomBoard supports 2 skins: black HTC Touch style and bright skin with grey and blue colors. New ZoomBoard allows for quick and accurate typing and can satisfy even very squeamish users' demands with 3 different types of zooming: full zoom, lens zoom, float zoom. Now even more freedom for our users. You can change the color of your keyboard to suit your mood. Use either black stylish interface or bright-colored blue skin. The new black skin looks great on HTC Touch devices.
ZoomBoard is available for $14.95 at http://iwindowsmobile.com.

Vito Technology releases new version of SMS-Chat

VITO Technology releases a new version of one of its best-sellers – SMS-Chat. SMS-Chat is a Windows Mobile SMS messenger that organizes your SMS correspondence into threaded SMS conversations. You can create templates that you can use for quick answers, the ability to switch off popping up alerts. If you've received some telephone number in SMS you can click it to place a call or if there is a hyperlink click it to open it in a browser. You will be pleasantly surprised by the ability to change skins in new SMS-Chat.           The new version of SMS-Chat presents a lot of improvements. The most distinctive option is the ability to switch off the onscreen alerts. This way you can hide the onscreen SMS notification and nobody will peek on your incoming message. Other new options include the ability to create and use your own templates for quick answers so that you can send answers immediately, the ability to open hyperlinks and dial phone numbers right from the message with a single tap, the ability to send your contacts' phone numbers. Now SMS-Chat uses the default folders for saving text messages, therefore most bugs have been fixed, like the problems with full screen notifications. 
           The new version of SMS-Chat supports black skin in HTC touch style. Other minor changes include:
The notification window disappears when you tap the screen outside it. 
When clicking the cross icon the notification closes and message shows as unread in chat. 
Quick scroll has appeared for long chats. 
Clicking the name in the chat opens a contact details
It is possible to minimize the application right from the chat. 
 
Dates in chats are shown the same way as in the WM system  
            SMS-Chat is available for $14.95 at http://iwindowsmobile.com. SMS-Chat supports English, German, French, Japanese, Spanish, Italian, and Hebrew.

The Touch Diamond is superb, but...

HTC released the Touch Diamond yesterday. The device specs are really impressive. Powered by Windows Mobile 6.1, 256MB Rom; 192 MB DDR Ram and 4GB of internal storage. The display is a 2.8 inch TFT flat touch-sensitive screen with VGA resolution.
It has it all in terms of connectivity: GSM/GPRS/EDGE/HSDPA/WCDMA; Bluetooth, Wifi and GPS. Of course, HTC presents with the Touch Diamond, the new TouchFlo 3D.

For one thing, the Touch Diamond does look nice and refined. But I have two negative feedback about it: the battery capacity is a miserable 900mAH. Which is a shame. And there is no mechanical/QWERTY keyboard. A device without a keyboard and however beautiful it is, does not warrant I spend a dim for it.
Discover the Touch Diamond at http://www.htc.com/www/default.aspx

Free: Softkey Manager for Windows Mobile

I'm often asked if there is a way to change the default softkeys on the Today screen. The answer of course is yes, but requires tweaking the registry. This is certainly not the safest way to do it. Fortunately, FantasticBytes released Softkey Manager. A nice application that will let you easily change the left and right softkey to launch the applications you use most often. Softkey Manager also lets you set a softkey to your favorite webpage. Best of all, it is free.

Download from www.fantasticbytes.com/sminfo.php

Tips: Activesync won't start - Error 0xC0000142

The error in the title has been discussed and resolved on the Windows Mobile Owners Circle Forums. If you ever come across this error code, chances are that your user profile is corrupt. Read the thread to learn more:

Http://forums.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/showpost.aspx?postid=3206324&siteid=65

Tips: There is a problem with this Windows Installer package. A DLL required for this install to complete could not be run.

If you ever encounter this error when trying to install Activesync 4.5, downloading the latest version of Windows Installer will fix it. Windows Installer 3.1 is the latest version that can be downloaded free from Microsoft website. Install Windows Installer and run Activesync setup again.

Download Windows Installer 3.1 here.

System Center Mobile Device Manager Forum

If you need assistance for deploying Mobile Mobile and System Center Mobile Device Manager in the enterprise, you might want to check this new forum put up by Microsoft. You may ask questions about any issues you come across and you will surely get an answer. So make sure you assign this site to your favorites list: http://forums.technet.microsoft.com/en-us/scmdm/threads/

Posted using my Windows Mobile device phone

Microsoft launches Windows Mobile Connection site

The Windows Mobile Connection site is intended for those who sell Windows Mobile phones or work work in the mobile industry.

We built this site for you, the mobile-industry professional. It's your destination for talk, opinion, and advice focused on selling and supporting Windows Mobile.You can use this site to connect with other Windows Mobile professionals, get advice from Microsoft experts, share photos, and learn about the Windows Mobile experience.

Read more...