To all the readers here, I wish a Merry Christmas and a good year for 2009. Let's pray that the world's economic recession will just be a bad souvenir. I also want to thank you all for your support throughout the year. Without you, this blog has no reason to exist. God bless you all and enjoy the holidays.Finally the iPhone is here much to the deception of those who went to the release with the intention to get one. According to Armand, who posted a comment to my previous post, there were many in the line to purchase an iPhone, except that they all went home without one because of the exaggerated price imposed by Orange. For the readers out there, note that a dollar equals Rs32.46 and Orange is offering an 8gb iPhone 3G for Rs11,899 plus a monthly charge of Rs1259. This is simply outrageous. According to other sources close to Orange, they manage to sell only 40 units with the first buyer getting one free. Knowing that one owner of an iPhone can only purchase applications through the Apple store, and that internet connection costs that much, I strongly suggest that Mauritians buy the HTC Touch series instead, because Orange requires that you sign up for a postpaid service whereas Emtel offers internet access for prepaid as well.
Clearly, the iPhone or any Apple products are geared towards the haves. And those are relatively few in Mauritius compared to the have nots. So now is the time for Microsoft Indian Ocean Islands to evangelize Windows Mobile in the consumer market. The HTC Touch brands released by HTC lately are much cheaper and "open" in the sense that Mauritians don't have to sign up for an onerous plan with Orange or purchase Apple-chosen applications. The Windows Mobile developer community is much more important and wider than Apple. Not only you get to buy software but there are plenty of free applications on the web that you can download. The only limit is the memory available on your device. Above all else, a Windows Mobile phone was designed to work with XP, Vista and Mac. How many Macs do we have out there? Does the iPhone work with Microsoft products? Is it worth it to shell out so much money fo it, knowing that the iPhone has so many limitations?
I forgot to mention that the iPhone has no removable battery.
SBSH Calendar Touch Highlights
Spb Software releases Spb Wireless Monitor 3.0 - a powerful software solution that offers full control over all types of smartphone data connections by monitoring them in accordance with configurable tariffs and data plans, and providing per application data traffic reports. First brought to market in 2002, Spb Wireless Monitor, formerly known as Spb GPRS Monitor, accounts for the lack of a built-in data tracking tool in Windows Mobile devices. A four-time prize winner in the Smartphone and Pocket PC magazine's Best Software Awards, shipped in over a dozen devices by ASUS, HTC, O2, Samsung, and T-Mobile, the Spb Wireless Monitor has over 3,000,000 loyal customers worldwide. The new name of version 3.0 comes with massive enhancements in features and abilities.
With the growing popularity of mobile Internet and captivating online services - crossing the data plan limits and receiving painful phone bills is common, especially with the high cost of roaming. Spb Wireless Monitor 3.0 prevents unwanted mobile service charges and gives subscribers control over their mobile data spending, by measuring data traffic, calculating the network charges, warning of costly data usage, and reporting which application exactly generates what kind of data traffic.
The new Wireless Monitor supports both touch and non-touch screen devices, it can manage CDMA, GPRS, 3G, and even Wi-Fi and USB connections. Spb Wireless Monitor can provide per application traffic and cost reports, allowing users to single out guilty applications, responsible for high data charges. The new version has a modern, multilingual user interface and can manage several connections simultaneously.
You can find this press-release online:
http://www.spbsoftwarehouse.com/about/pressreleases/2008/nov18.html
Spb Wireless Monitor for Pocket PC product page:
http://www.spbsoftwarehouse.com/products/wirelessmonitor/
Spb Wireless Monitor for Smartphone product page:
http://www.spbsoftwarehouse.com/smartphone/wirelessmonitor/
It's been a long time since Spb released the first version of screen keyboard software which I have been using on my good old Eten M500. At the time, the keyboard software was very handy to type without the stylus. So the next logical step for me was to simply get a device with a real keyboard. Ever since, I have had devices with front face keyboard and one with a slide keyboard. While Spb Keyboard does make text entry easier on touchscreen devices, I won't go back to a device without a hardware keyboard. If you're looking for a good soft keyboard, I certainly recommend Spb Keyboard 4.0. A trial can be downloaded from http://www.spbsoftwarehouse.com/products/keyboard
SPB Software released Spb Traveler 2.0 –" an expert mobile travel assistant application that is a pleasure to handle. The new Spb Traveler 2.0 offers a revolutionary animated finger-friendly user interface, a subscription-free flight search engine (powered by OAG), an animated 3D Globe with real satellite image of the sky, and a Geo Game for fun and learning.
Winner in Smartphone & Pocket PC magazine's Best Software Awards, Spb Traveler provides valuable tools and information to travelers such as world time and global weather service (powered by Foreca, the trusted provider of msn.com), tip calculator and multilanguage phrase book, as well as currency, unit, and clothing size converters. In all it does, Spb Traveler 2.0 has the speed and usability of an Spb Mobile Shell-powered interface, topped off with high-class 3D animation and gestures."
Read the complete press release at http://www.spbsoftwarehouse.com/about/pressreleases/2008/nov04.html
That one made me laugh. In a nutshell, BIO.ID is a text notification alert with more features than the built-in one and to make the app fun to use the author added iris scanner support as well as fingerprint recognition. Of course these features are fake. They are just themes that you can use to impress.OTA: Open Internet Explorer and assuming that your homepage is the default Sprint page, click "Shop for Games & Applications". Then choose "Free/Demo". Then choose "Picture Mail Application Available NOW!".
PC: To download to your PC to then load onto the phone, go to http://softwarestore.sprint.com/wap/phones.php and choose your phone from the list. Then again click "Shop for Games & Applications". Then choose "Free/Demo". Then choose "Picture Mail Application Available NOW!".
Install it via the cab and then configure it. To configure it, go to Start > Programs > Configure Picture Mail. Tap on "Tap to Add" then choose Online Albums. That sets it up to work with the Sprint Picture Mail website. You can also configure your Photobucket and MySpace accounts there too if you want to use either of those.
To send a regular picture mail message, open a picture and then choose Menu > Send Picture Mail.
To upload a picture to MySpace or Photobucket once those are configured, choose Menu > Post to Service.
When sending a picture mail, you can add more than one picture to each message too. Select the portion labeled Media and then choose Menu > Add to add additional pictures to the message.
More info. at http://www.wmexperts.com/articles/sprints_picture_mail_app_offic.html
Check the forum at http://discussion.treocentral.com/showthread.php?t=173377 for help and questions.
Windows Azure has just been announced by Microsoft and yet an application has already been released based on the new platform. "Bluehoo is a mobile app that helps you make new social connections with the people around you - for business or for please.Bluehoo uses Bluetooth to discover "hoos" around you right here, right now, shows you those people’s profiles and helps you start conversations."
Bluehoo is still in beta version. therefore free to try. Download a copy from http://m.bluehoo.com/
Now, you're probably wondering what is Windows Azure. Check out Azure's website:
Microsoft, I believe this is an opportunity to test Windows Update on our devices. Get a .cab file ready for a permanent fix and send it over the air.
A cab file that fixes this problem is available on Tracy and Matt's Blog:
Http://tracyandmatt.co.uk/blogs/index.php/2008/10/15/windows-mobile-smtp-fix
It is possible to pre-order the HTC Touch HD on Expansys for the price of $799.99. The device will be available on the 18th of November though. I was expecting the HD to cost more than that.Spotted this on HTC's website. If you haven't upgraded yet, you have until October 31st to do so or simply download the upgrade and do it later. HTC will remove the file on that day.
October 31st is the last day to take advantage of the free upgrade to Windows Mobile® 6. The upgrade link will be removed from HTC’s website at 12:00 pm (noon) GMT on October 31st.
Removal of this free upgrade may affect users of the following devices: HTC S621, HTC S620, HTC P4350, HTC P3300, HTC Advantage.
If you haven’t upgraded yet and your device has a Windows Mobile® version lower than 6, please take advantage of this offer before it expires. To check the version on your device go to Start > Settings > System tab > About.
http://www.htc.com/europe/supportcontent.aspx?id=19302
In an interview with BBC, the Microsoft Chief Executive said about Android: "You've got to remember Android is version one...and it looks like version one". Steve Ballmer went on to say that Google has "one handset maker, we've got 55. They're available through one operator, we've got 175." Crushing numbers :)He also admits that there had been problems with Vista. Read more at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7647399.stm
This is indeed the new price for the Redfly, which as you know is an extension to your Windows Mobile device in that it lets you use it as laptop. Simply connect your device to Redfly via USB or Bluetooth, and use it for your presentations for example. The special offer ends on October 31. Go to http://www.celiocorp.com/ to learn more and eventually purchase one.
Spb Online is a set of attractive online services that share a practical user interface and make superior quality mobile entertainment available on handsets at a single fixed-price fee (no subscription). The services offered include Mobile TV, Online Radio, News, Weather, Online Games, and On-device Catalog - all subject to automatic updates and powered by Spb's exclusive interface engine and patent-pending TV technology.
Spb Online is robust and easy to use even for novice smartphone users. All of Spb Online services support adaptive skins, smart scrolling, 3D transition effects, and one hand navigation.
Features:
*** TV ***
Unlike any other solution on the market, Spb's mobile TV facilitates channel hopping, offers on-screen controls, intelligent video/audio stream tuning to account for broadband fluctuations, doing it all to deliver a genuine TV watching experience - on the go:
- Fast channel switching
- Picture-in-picture
- On-screen controls
- Integrated TV guide
- Export of TV guide reminders to Outlook
*** Radio ***
Spb's radio offers a wealthy selection of the world's streaming radio stations, allowing users to tune into a news or music source of their choice in virtually any language or location of the planet:
- Huge catalog of the world's real-time streaming radio stations
- Stations sorted by popularity
- Option to add custom URLs to catalog
- On-screen volume control
*** Online Games ***
Spb's online games let real people play each other in real-time. All games take only a click to start and require no setting up or much of getting used to:
- Play with real people
- Configurable user profile with picture
- Play Checkers, Hexagon, and Reversi
*** Weather ***
For any city from a database of 10'000, Spb's weather service attractively displays FORECA's five-day forecasts (provider used by msn.com) in one screen. The service allows scrolling between the screens of up to 10 selected cities with a finger swipe:
- 5-day weather forecast in one screen
- Detailed weather screen with morning/day/evening information for selected day
- Option to select units and updates frequency
*** On-Device Catalog ***
Spb's on-device catalog makes it easy to discover and buy additional content directly from the mobile phone. Selected titles are downloaded, installed, and activated automatically:
- The on-device catalog offers programs, games, themes, ringtones
- All titles are 100% compatible with your device
- Secure credit card payments
- 'My Account' safely stores all your purchases
*** Pricing and Availability ***
Spb Online is compatible with Windows Mobile 5 and later Professional and Standard devices. qVGA, VGA, Square QVGA, and WVGA screen resolutions are supported. To enjoy the TV service a fast connection is needed. All other services are accessible with lower bandwidth; TV however, requires a reliable 3G, WiMax or WiFi network. For checking your connection and services compatibility, a free, 15-day trial version is available. Full Spb Online may be purchased for 29.95 USD at www.spbsoftwarehouse.com
It seems that the Touch HD (High Definition) will be released soon. It has already made it to HTC's website with the usual overview of the device as well as specs and pictures. While It's great to see HTC releasing a device with a 3.8-inch wide, WVGA (480 X 800 pixel) screen, I do hope that they'll come up with a device with a keyboard on the face. Since the HTC S620 and S630, HTC seems not interested to pursue the front face keyboard adventure despite the success of the S620/Dash. Highlights of the Touch HD
 | 3.8-inch wide, WVGA (480 X 800 pixel) display offering a cinema experience on the go |
| Vibrant TouchFLOTM 3D user interface, responding perfectly to your finger gestures when scrolling through contacts, browsing the web, and launching media |
| | Surf and download at broadband speed with HSDPA internet connectivity |
| Google Maps enhanced by the wide screen viewing platform |
| 5 megapixel camera for quality stills and video |
| 3.5 mm audio jack makes the Touch HDTM compatible with the majority of audio equipment available |
SMSSync is available as a free download from http://brianhama.com/Software/SMSSync.aspx
| Samsung has released a software upgrade for the SGH-i617 (BlackJack II) which is recommended to be installed. This update includes an upgrade to Windows Mobile 6.1 and numerous software enhancements. The update may take between 10-15 minutes to complete if the system is already set up.
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Adobe has announced that they will offer a new online free service where you'll be able to upload your photos and share with friends and the world. For those of you who, like me, believed that Adobe has developed a mobile version of Photoshop for editing photos, well this is not it. Adobe Photoshop.com mobile beta will be available as a free download in September.
The S740 is a stylish smartphone with the same design as the Touch Diamond except that it's a non-touch screen phone. Powered by Windows Mobile 6.1, the device also has a sliding QWERTY keyboard and is expected to be released in Europe as from September 2008.Papyrus 2 brings many exciting new features, including: Search View for PIM item searching; Advanced filters management; Automatic attendees notifications, Popup selection effect for optimized display and much more! Papyrus 2 back-end engine was re-designing from the beginning and delivers the fastest experience for the pro user!
SBSH Papyrus 2 Highlights
All New Search View - Introducing extremely effective search functionality for your PIM items! Use the new Search View from any chosen view to easily browse through your different items!
Mobile Innovation - Automatically email notifications and appointment invitations to attendees; New Pop-out Effect on all views for better data display, Active timeline display, New professionally designed built-in category icon store with PNG format support and much more!
Redesigned Interface - Featuring the next generation of user-interface with automatic adoption to your Windows Mobile look and feel and easy to navigate dialogs! Additionally, Papyrus 2 includes especially designed features to take advantage of any screen orientation Smartphone!
Click here to find out more information about the new features and improvements available with the all new Papyrus 2 release!