SPB Time 3.0 is out.

SPB Software, a leading maker of mobile applications, announces the release of SPB Time 3.0, a major update to the best-selling Windows Mobile time toolset. The updated version offers a completely new, reconsidered user interface and significantly improved alarm features. SPB Time 3.0 provides user with three different types of alarms to fit any needs. Paranoid alarm is designed to wake up deep sleepers while Bio alarm does its job in a very gentle way. Classic alarm is a good solution for those who don't believe in biorhythms and do not want to be disturbed too much in the morning time. A lot of features were reworked in the design aspect. For example, "World Time" feature is presented as a realistic looking 3D model of the Earth with chosen cities designated as spots on the surface. Countdown screen is supplemented with a picture of sandglass where the sand pours out as time goes. The splendour of these interface solutions are accompanied by a vast choice of skins in an online catalog. SPB Time 3.0 is also one of the company's Windows Mobile applications that is able to make use of SPB Mobile Shell's widget system. Four widgets are available for those who already have Mobile Shell version 3.5.1 and higher: City Time, Moon Phase, Next Alarm and Stop Watch.

SPB Time 3.0 New Features:
Snappier, better looking user interface
Classic, Paranoid and Bio alarms
More than 20 alarm tunes
Online skins catalog
SPB Mobile Shell widgets
Scrollable Calendar with weeks numbers
Moon phases.

Pricing and Availability

SPB Time 3.0 is compatible with Windows Mobile 5 and higher. It may be purchased for 14.95 USD, or a 15-day free trial version may be downloaded at www.SPBSoftware.com. Users of any previous versions of SPB Time are welcome to upgrade to SPB Time 3.0 with 50% discount. According to SPB Software's upgrades policy, all SPB Time users who have purchased the product within the last 90 days, are eligible for free upgrade.


*** Further Information and Downloads *** SPB Time 3.0 download page http://spbsoftware.com/pocketpc-software/time/download.html SPB Time 3.0 screenshots http://spbsoftware.com/pocketpc-software/time/screenshots.html

Emblaze brings new user experience to Else.

Confused by the title? Well don't and just head over to engadget to watch a demo of this new phone that's expected to hit the market in the second quarter of 2010. This is a whole new experience when it comes to navigating your phone. By the way, ELSE is the name of the phone and it makes the iPhone, Android and Windows Phone look pale.
Watch the last video on Engadget's site for a quick demo and tell me what you think about it.

http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/24/emblazes-first-else-unveiled-in-london-promises-to-be-a-game-c/

Smoking voids warranty according to Apple.

That one really made me laugh. Jason O'Grady, editor of PowerPage.org, reports that Apple refused to repair a Mid-2007 MacBook and an iMac because the first-named was used in house where there was smoking and represented "health risks of second hand smoke."

In the case of the iMac, Apple considered the machine as being "contaminated" and a thus a "bio hazard".

Jason O'Grady writes that "Apple will not force an employee to work on anything deemed hazardous to their health because of the obvious legal exposure that could create."

Hmmm...I suggest that Apple have their design engineers work on a hazardous material suite to protect its employees from any infection left behind by an insect. The suite must come complete with an oxygen bottle that could look like the magic mouse. That way, the employees won't breathe the dust on and inside an iMac. Just my thoughts...

Read more: http://blogs.zdnet.com/apple/?p=5312&tag=wrapper;col1

Sent from my Windows® phone

Download Google Chrome OS free.

The folks over at GDGT have done a great job by packaging a VMWare image of Google Chrome OS that an be downloaded for free from http://gdgt.com/google/chrome-os/download/. You will also need to download VMWare Player from https://www.vmware.com/tryvmware/?p=player&cmp=EMC-PlayerEvalActivation&li=activate.
 
In both cases, you will need to register before downloading.
 
Enjoy.
 
Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/20/google-chrome-os-available-as-free-vmware-download/

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Press release: Communication suite 2.0 is out.

VITO Technology releases new version of Communication Suite. This version includes the latest updates of all 4 best sellers (Winterface 2.04, FunContact 3.01, SMS-Chat 1.25 and ZoomBoard 2.04). Winterface has gained lots of features that will allow you to customize your phone to your needs: change skins (10 new skins are available), background color or picture, headings for the icons and much more. 

Change the face of your device together with your mood! All for $24.95!

Winterface 2.04 now includes 10 new skins, changeable background, customizable headings and much more. Now the customization of the look of your phone can be done extremely quickly with quite a wide range possibilities. 

FunContact3x is a great contact manage. Alongside with new features like categories, favorites with pictures, etc. FunContact has preserved unique features that none of the competitors have, for instance, you can edit and add new contact info straight in FunContact without going to standard WM interface.

SMS-Chat 1.25 a part from including all functions of messaging software has unique interfaces and functions that allow you to manage all SMS correspondences into threaded SMS conversations. This way all chats are separate, clearly shown and organized for each contact.

ZoomBoard 2.04 is a soft onscreen keyboard for quick and accurate finger typing. Every time you press a letter ZoomBoard displays the zoomed image of the pressed letter in a popping-up lens. You can also use it to zoom the whole keyboard. The letter is typed only after you release the finger so that your text input will always be accurate and quick. 

Weather is a FREE weather forecast for Winterface with nice interface and good functionality.
 
Communication Suite is available for $24.95 at http://vitotechnology.com/communication-suite.html.  

Sent from my Windows® phone

Get Paragon Backup & Recovery 10 free

How often do you backup your computer? I do not do that as often as I should. Shame on me. Paragon software seems to know that I do not have a proper backup scheme for my computers and they're offering Backup & Recovery 10 for free and for non-commercial use. Stop reading here and click the link below to get your copy.

www.paragon-software.com/home/db-express/download.html

What is Google Chrome OS?

Google showed a preview of Chrome OS to developers yesterday. While the source code is available for anyone with developer skills, we will see the real thing late next year. Until then, what is Google Chrome OS? A browser? A Operating System? Watch the video.

SoftMaker Office 2010 beta

Don't get confused. SoftMaker is an independent software maker that just released the public beta of Office 2010. Yes, they have their own version of the software and coincidentally it gets released today. I've read positive reviews about the package. So if you want to try it alongside Microsoft Office 2010, got to www.softmaker.com/english/ofw10_en.htm

Sent from my Windows® phone

Office Mobile 2010 beta available for Windows Mobile 6.5 only.

Office Mobile 2010 beta is indeed available for download on Windows MarketPlace since yesterday. The only hiccup though is that it will showup on marketplace for Windows Mobile 6.5 devices only. I expect Microsoft will make the software available to the rest of us still running previous version of Windows Mobile in the days to come. Until then, here are some of the features of Office Mobile 2010:

View and edit your Microsoft® Office® documents with confidence.

Stay connected to work from anywhere with SharePoint Workspace Mobile.

Stay connected to work from anywhere with SharePoint Workspace Mobile.

Use PowerPoint Mobile as a presentation aid.

Sent from my Windows® phone

Opera Mobile 10 beta available for download.

I won't get into the details as I am on my way to a meeting. Opera has made the beta version of Opera Mobile for Windows Mobile available on their website. Note that this is not the first beta being released by Opera. Remember they announced 9.5 and 9.7 previously.

Learn more at www.opera.com/mobile

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Respond to SPB survey and win a device of your choice.

SPB Software, world's leading mobile software developer, invites all mobile users to participate in its sixth annual SPB Survey (http://www.spbsoftwarehouse.com/support/survey.html). The SPB Survey is a questionnaire that captures user preferences and builds up a combined report that identifies the changing user profiles, mobile device expectations and the handset use cases. This report is expected to be released in early December 2009.

SPB Software, leading expert in mobile device usability and a recognized brand in the consumer market, desires to reach out directly to users of all mobile platforms with the survey. This will empower users to provide direct feedback bypassing the prism of mobile operators and professional consulting houses. This year's survey is an enhancement over the previous one, eliminating some of the inapplicable questions and adding a few fundamental ones. This year the survey is held in 10 languages: English, Chinese (Traditional and Simplified), Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, German, French, Italian, Dutch and Czech.

A few lucky, randomly picked SPB Survey participants will receive valuable 'thank you' gifts. The 1st place holder will be rewarded with a mobile device of their choice (within the limit of $1000) from such major internet retailers as Amazon or eXpansys and a $100 worth of our software. Second place will be rewarded with a $100 worth of smartphone accessories of choice from our partners at Smartphone Experts (www.smartphoneexperts.com) plus a $100 worth of our software. The prize for 3rd place is a $100 worth of our software.
 
The survey will last untill 7 p.m. GMT December 4th, with results expected to be publicly available by December 17th. All winners will be contacted with details on how to claim their prizes before December 20th, 2009.

Sent from my Windows® phone

Marketplace for Windows Mobile 6 and 6.1 phone released.

Owners of Windows Mobile 6 & 6.1 phones will now be able to access Microsoft Marketplace to purchase and download apps.

To download and install the official version of Marketplace, go to www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/en-us/downloads/get-marketplace.aspx

Sent from my Windows® phone

SBSH GoNews Touch 1.2 released.

SBSH GoNews Touch 1.2 is powerful and optimized for mobile use like never before! Including new full screen reading mode for maximum article content display while reading; Re-designed backend engine for much faster updates; Online feed searching utility; Popup touch menus for easier to use interface and much more!


A few GoNews 1.2 Highlights

• Full Screen Reading - Full screen articles display for maximum reading view
• Online Feed Searching - Search and add new feeds directly within GoNews
• Faster than Ever - Re-designed engine for faster performances
• Popup Touch Menus - Special touch menus for easier finger-friendly navigation
• Multi Language Support - English, German, French, Portuguese, Italian, Russian and Spanish
• Updating Improvements - Read articles while updating content
• Improved Touch Tray Bar - Now provoding visual feedback when pressing one of the tray buttons

GoNews Touch 1.2 includes lots of additional exciting features that we couldn't list with this newsletter. We invite you to click here and read GoNews Touch 1.2 release post for a complete list of all the new features we've included with this new GoNews Touch release!

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Windows Live: Make it easier for your friends to see what you're up to on Facebook.

Amazon releases Kindle for PC.

Remember the time when we were complaining about having to carry a phone and a PDA? The industry responded with convergence and everybody was happy with just one device in the pocket. Now, why the hell would I want to puchase the Kindle or Nook for reading books on the go?

That would amount to rejecting convergence; Going backwards. But with one big difference: back at the time when PDAs were not phone enabled, both the phone and the PDA would fit in two pockets. Can you do that with the Kindle? It's great to be able to carry my books on my PDA wherever I go.

I use ereader to read and purchase my ebooks and I'm very happy with it. The Kindle and the Nook defeats the purpose of mobility or the concept of one device-does-it-all. Afterall, maybe those devices have not met the success that Amazon had anticipated and decided to reach out to the vast pool of PC owners through the Kindle Software that can run on Windows XP, Vista and 7 which runs on 90% of the PC out there. Amazon can be sure to make a profit that way. One thing I'm sure about is that Amazon put a lot of effort and money to market Kindle but never said how successful they are.

The Kindle for PC is still in beta. Download a free copy from www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=kcp_pc_mkt_lnd?docId=1000426311
It would be great to see the software ported to mobile platforms as well. That would be a smart move.

Sent from my Windows® phone

HTC releases two updates for Touch HD.

The updates are available for free on HTC'S website. One bring notification enhancement and the other, Office Mobile updates that will allow users to have an enhanced Find & Replace functionality.

Both updates can be downloaded from HTC'S support site.

www.htc.com/www

Sent from my Windows® phone

iPhone and Android everywhere, but no Windows Phone in view.

As usual, I started the day by updating my RSS reader on my Windows device to catch up with the news. And today, I wished I had not done so as I came across two articles on ZDnet and CNet where the authors share their views on where the mobile industry is heading and who are the players and losers. What struck me is that in both cases, Windows Mobile or Windows Phone was referred to as nonexistent or DEAD.
After reading these articles, I asked myself what the hell is Microsoft doing. How come Android 2.0 is getting such high reviews and Windows Mobile 6.5 is nowhere to be seen? Microsoft should be thankful that HTC's engineer built the HD2/Leo or else 6.5 would have gone completely unnoticed. But clearly that is not enough.
Jason Perlow writes on ZDNet that "for all practical purposes, Windows Mobile is a dead platform, which is why I didn't bother to include it in my evolutionary chart accompanying this article. Compared to Apple and Google's offering, there isn't a Windows Mobile phone on the market that can compete in terms of technology and capability with either iPhone or DROID." Notice the keywords in this statement: Dead and didn't bother. And then there is this: "Windows Mobile is currently the smartphone equivalent of Vista, nobody wants to touch it." Ouch!!!
For his part, Brooke Crothers, editor at CNET, hits hard at Microsoft right in the title: "First iPhone, now DROID. Who needs Windows?", and goes on to write: "if the iPhone didn't finish off Windows Mobile in the smartphone market, the Motorola Droid may."
"So the Droid may not be the iPhone killer but rather the Windows Mobile slayer. Microsoft, of course, will always have the unnassailable PC franchise. But, wait, isn't Android coming to Netbooks next year?"
So, is Windows Mobile dead? What do you think?

It surely is ailing.

To read Jason Perlow's article, go to http://blogs.zdnet.com/perlow/?p=11516&tag=wrapper;col1

Brooke Crothers: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13924_3-10392926-64.html?tag=newsEditorsPicksArea.0

Sent from my Windows® phone

Spb Mobile Shell 3.5.1 Beta 1 announced

Spb software has posted an update for their award winning application, Mobile Shell in beta 1. The update contains some bugs fixes listed below:

SPB Pocket Plus close button makes Shell unresponsive
Set Ringtone doesn't work for Contacts
6.5: Theme shows incorrectly for Carousel and Tiles views
Added current conditions threshold for weather widget
Agenda: One day is shown twice, 25 осt date is the transition to "winter" time
3D SMS viewer: First word disappears after enter
Twitter issues fixes
Kinetic scrolling doesn't stop on Asus P565
3D SMS viewer: Picture is absent.
3D viewer: Date isn't shown for SMS and Email
3D email viewer: First account always shows
Birthday widget doesn't update itself when contact info is changed
New filter category is available only after MS restart
Task widget makes task synchronization with Outlook longer
Feature: introduced default action for weather widget (now choose between "Open forecast" and "Open conditions")

Go to http://www.spbclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=29539, to download the update.