13 Tips for Improving Camera Phone Photos

Our PDAs are great for managing data on the go and providing wireless internet at any time but when it comes to photos, the builtin camera is not as responsive as the other features. Here are 13 tips that will improve the photos you take. They really work.

"We are living in a time where ‘convergence’ is everywhere. Gone are the days when a camera was a camera, a MP3 player was an MP3 player, a phone was a phone…." Read more...

Yahoo! and Microsoft Bridge Global Instant Messaging Communities

Microsoft and Yahoo announced that they started a limited public beta testing of interoperability between their respective instant messaging. "Consumers worldwide from Microsoft and Yahoo! will be able to take advantage of IM interoperability and join the limited public beta program. They will be among the first to exchange instant messages across the free services as well as see their friends’ online presence, view personal status messages, share select emoticons, view offline messages and add new contacts from either service at no cost.2 Yahoo! and Microsoft plan to make the interoperability between their respective IM services broadly available to consumers in the coming months.
“This first-of-its-kind interoperability between consumer IM leaders Microsoft and Yahoo! gives our customers tremendous control, convenience and freedom in their Web communication experiences with Windows Live,” said Blake Irving, corporate vice president, Windows Live Platform at Microsoft. “We’re proud to deliver this latest advancement in IM services that empower people to communicate with virtually whomever they want, wherever they want and whenever they want.” Read more...

Palm, Vodafone and Microsoft Collaborate on Next-Generation Treo Smartphone for Europe

There has been rumors of a new Palm device in the mobile world and now it's confirmed by this joint press release. However, no pictures of the 3G/UMTS will be available until the release date of the PDA. Anyway, that's good news. But the Treo Smartphone will only be available to Vodafone Europe customers. What about the rest of us? Read more...

Introducing the emoze Beta Testing Program

The emoze Mobile Email Revolution is rolling down the hill like a snow ball. Over the past few months, the emoze team has been collecting inputs and suggestions from our rapidly growing worldwide community, working over a wide variety of networks and on hundreds of different mobile devices.The outcome - the upcoming release of emoze Personal Edition version 1.1. Now - more than ever - we want to hear what you have to say. We would like to invite you to become a beta tester for the upcoming version of emoze. Together, we can make free mobile email better, faster, and even more reliable. To join our Beta Testing Program, go to https://emoze.com/emozeBetaTest/ and make your voice heard!

Pocket PC Mauritius goes Mobile

Thanks to a regular reader, Pocket PC Mauritius is now available in a neat mobile version. It loads much faster and uses Hubdog technology. I recommend that you download hubdog or just add this link to your favorites.

Free: Download TodayAgenda

TodayAgenda displays appointments and tasks on your today screen up to 30 days in advance. It replaces the default Outlook plugin with a lot of more features.Functions:
View appointments (including location) up to 30 days in advance
View tasks (include status) up to 30 days in advance
View current day and time
Open tasks and appointments from your today screen
"Complete" tasks via context menu on your today screen
Create new appointments and tasks via context menu on your today screen
Delete appointments and tasks
Open calendar and task list (tap and tap'n'hold on the TodayAgenda icon)
Anniversary function: for all day, free, yearly appointments without end date the years since the beginning are displayed

Download

Sniff passwords from your Pocket PC

As a network administrator, you want to protect your users' confidential data. What better way to do this than to stroll down the hall with Airscanner(TM) Mobile Sniffer hidden in your pocket? Thanks to our support for Ethereal packet capture format, grabbing your user's passwords out of the airwaves is as easy as watching a movie! Your users unintentionally send their passwords through the air in clear text, so it is better that you discover this first before a malicious drive-by hacker does it for you. Airscanner(TM) Mobile Sniffer also works in promiscuous mode, so you can also discover unauthorized users who may be associating with one of your access points. Read more...

HumanWare Launches Maestro 2.0, the New Generation of PDA for Blind People

This may be another news about new technology for the visually impaired people, but this one seems to be the best of them out there.

"HumanWare is proud to announce the release of Maestro 2.0, an enhanced version of the mainstream PDA for the visually impaired. Maestro offers the unparalleled benefits of portability and mobility found in PDAs for sighted people. Version 2.0 has a multitude of new functions, including a Wi-Fi e-mail manager, a media player for music and audio books, and a task manager. And everything is done from the palm of your hand and is 100% accessible to visually impaired people."

Read more...

Buy the HTC TyTN on Expansys.Com

This superb device is now available on Expansys UK. Hopefully it will be available for purchase in the US soon. Here are some of its features:

• Platform: Microsoft® Windows Mobile® 5.0 with Messaging and Security Feature Pack
• Dimensions:
- 112.5 mm(L) x 58 mm(W) x 21.95 mm(T)
- 176 g with battery pack
• Processor: 400MHz Samsung stacked CPU
• Memory:
- ROM: 128MB (for programs and users’ storage)
- RAM: 64MB SDRAM
• Main LCD Module:
- 2.8" transflective TFT-LCD with backlight LEDs, touch-sensitive screen
- 240 x 320 portrait resolution with 64K Colours
• Communications:
- Dual-mode, HSDPA/UMTS (2100MHz for Europe and 850/1900MHz for USA)
- GSM/GPRS/EDGE quad band (850/900/1800/1900)

You can order it here.

Microsoft's Ipod killer on the shelves by Christmas

According to Reuters, the unnamed device is to be released in December and one of its features is the capability for users to download music and videos over the air. Read more...

Final version of Microsoft ActiveSync 4.2 released

A final version of Activesync 4.2 is available for download from Microsoft website. This new version still lacks wifi synchronization though.

Microsoft ActiveSync 4.2 is the latest sync software release for Windows Mobile-based devices. ActiveSync provides a great synchronization experience with Windows®-based PCs and Microsoft Outlook right out of the box. ActiveSync acts as the gateway between your Windows-based PC and Windows Mobile-based device, enabling the transfer of Outlook information, Office documents, pictures, music, videos and applications to and from your device. In addition to synchronizing with a desktop PC, ActiveSync can synchronize directly with Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 so that you can keep your e-mail, calendar data, tasks and contact information updated wirelessly when you’re away from your PC.*

Changes in ActiveSync 4.2 help resolve connectivity related issues with Microsoft Outlook, proxies, partnerships, and connectivity.

Microsoft Outlook Improvements: Resolves issues relating to error code 85010014.

Proxy/DTPT interaction Improvements: Improved auto configuration of device Connection Manager settings when desktop has no proxy path to the internet.

Improved Desktop Pass Thru behavior with ISA proxy failures.

Partnership improvements: Better resolution of multiple devices with the same name syncing with the same desktop.

Connectivity Improvements: Better handling of VPN clients (resolve unbinding of protocols from our RNDIS adapter). New auto detection of connectivity failure with user diagnostic alerts.

ActiveSync 4.2 supports PC sync via USB cable, Bluetooth, or infrared connection.

Click here to go to download page

Free Google Pack-like Installer for Windows Mobile Pocket PC

Hubdog Software Pack is a Google Pack-like Desktop Installer for Windows Mobile Pocket PC. In just a few clicks, it sets you up for an optimal mobile media experience; letting you enjoy your device’s infotainment and entertainment capacities to its fullest ! Stay tuned, Hubdog Pack will keep adding more essential software titles in the coming months.

Safe, quick and easy, Hubdog Software Pack greatly simplifies Hubdog’s installation process. Read more...

Download here.

JETware Hands-free Extension for Windows Mobile phones

The JETware Hands-free Extension provides additional functionality to the built-in Windows Mobile support for the Bluetooth Hands-Free Profile. The Extension allows hands-free devices to:

Read contacts from the Outlook phonebook (“ME” phonebook)
Read contacts from the SIM (“SM” phonebook)
Read the list of dialed calls from the call history (“DC” phonebook)
Read the list of received calls from the call history (“RC” phonebook)
Read the list of missed calls from the call history (“MC” phonebook)
Filter contacts from Outlook phonebook based on Outlook contact categories
Limit number of contacts returned from any phonebook
New! Activate Microsoft Voice Command voice dialing over Bluetooth
New! Use custom ringtones through your Bluetooth device
Show battery charge level
Show signal strength
Show roaming status
Display carrier name
Read message headings from ActiveSync, SMS, or other mail provider
New message notification
Delete messages
Read SIM serial number (used to automatically select display language)
Read GSM phone IMEI number
Read phone default phone number
Read current time from phone
New! Improved Caller ID

Download: Smartphone Pocket PC

Off topic: Dog saves diabetic owner by dialing 911

This is a true and beautiful story about a dog that saved his master after he went into a diabetic seizure. "A beagle that dialed 911 on her owner's Cingular Wireless phone, potentially saving his life after he went into a diabetic seizure, is the first animal to receive the prestigious VITA Wireless Samaritan Award. Belle and her owner, Kevin Weaver, will travel to Washington, D.C. on June 19, 2006 to be recognized at The 12th Annual Wireless Foundation Achievement Awards Dinner.

Each year, CTIA-The Wireless Foundation presents the VITA (Latin for "life") Wireless Samaritan Awards to honor people (and, in this case, an animal) across the United States who used their wireless phones to save lives, stop crime and help in other emergency situations. Wireless carriers submit nominations for the awards. Cingular Wireless submitted Belle's nomination." Read more...

SAMSUNG Develops 2Gb Flash Memory and releases slimmest WM5 Smartphone

In short and non-technical terms, this new flash memory is going to make any device, not noly PDAs and Smartphones, a lot more faster in terms of read and write. What I would like to know is how does this new technology will affect the battery life of our devices. I'll ask Samsung and keep you inform. Read Samsung's press release.

While you're there, just take a minute to check Samsung's latest SGH-i320 smartphone. Of course it runs WM5, has Push Mail, is tri-band and has a QWERTY keyboard. It's also the slimmest smartphone out there. Read more...

Why Persistent Storage is a good thing

I keep receiving emails about the differences between WM2003 and WM5. More precisely, PDA users still are having trouble understanding Persistent Storage. I visited the Windows Mobile Team blog and came across an interesting article by Mike Calligaro. The language is simple and you will get to understand what Persistent Storage is and why you should consider moving to Windows Mobile 5. Read more...

Antivirus, Anti-spam & firewall for your Pda.

Fortinet will be providing an antivirus solution with some interesting tools to protect against the threats targeting our beloved devices. However, Forticlient mobile will be made available to device manufactures and mobile operators. The software offers "full antivirus, MMS/SMS anti-spam, personal firewall and address book protection and IPSec VPN capabilities to protect mobile subscribers against constantly evolving and sophisticated mobile threats." Forticlient will be available for both Windows mobile and Symbian phones and PDAs.

Click here to read the press release.

Free: Call To Contacts

Call To Contact allows you to easily add new phone numbers to existing phone contacts with just a few clicks. When an
incoming phone call is received, Call To Contact checks to see if that number is already associated with one of your contacts.
If not, Call To Contact will prompt you to add the number once the phone conversation finishes.

FEATURES:

Simple to use. Simply start Call To Contact, and it does the rest! You are only notified when necessary.

“One Hand-Friendly”. Call To Contact is designed with phone operation in mind, using softkey menu buttons and directional pad navigation to minimize the need for stylus input.

Download Cab file

Download desktop installation

Windows Mobile How-To Hands on Labs

Learn to develop software for your device with these hands on lab form Microsoft.

"If you learn by doing, these step-by-step hands-on labs are great ways to learn about Windows Mobile, Visual Studio, .NET Compact Framework, and SQL Mobile. Each lab includes sample code and a step-by-step instruction manual that will guide you through a specific development scenario."

Download page

Download Windows Live Messenger for free

See them on the screen
Show and tell: Grab a webcam and start a video conversation within minutes.

Share stuff
Set up a Sharing Folder with a friend. Drop in photos and other stuff, as many as your computer can handle. See it even when one of you is offline.

A network of millions
Tap into the world's largest IM network, with hundreds of millions of customers worldwide.

Soon: talk to your Yahoo! friends, too
Soon you'll be able to use Windows Live Messenger to talk to your friends who use Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. The world's largest IM network is getting even bigger.

Download here