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PocketPC/Windows Mobile/Blackberry
HTC announces Windows Mobile 6.0 upgrades
5 years ago
For those already in possession of certain HTC devices, or those considering an acquisition, this comes as welcome news. Depending on which device you have or are interested in, at least! HTC has indicated that Windows Mobile 6.0 ROM upgrades will be made available from June 2007 for the following devices: HTC Advantage, the HTC TyTN, the HTC S620, the HTC P4350 and HTC P3300.
ROM upgrades to a newer operating system release are always a bonus. There is nothing worse than ending up with a device that you’re used to and enjoy using on a daily basis and running into software issues on both backend and localized installations. The provision of a usually free ROM upgrade extends the lifetime of a costly device. Note that the upgrade targets those devices that have a strong messaging focus – more than likely the upgrade is due to pressure from organizations wanting to migrate to newer Microsoft Exchange and Sharepoint Portal versions, as well as the Live product set. Many organizations are investing heavily in the infrastructure to mobilize their workforce. Ending up with a brick that doesn’t support new backend functionality is a costly affair.
Keep an eye on the European HTC support site, but some news from the local HTC supplier should also be available soon.
Goosync’ing
5 years ago
A few days ago, I covered how I gain access to a one page view of my calendar and email accounts using the mobile version of Netvibes. Synchronizing my WIndows Mobile calendar with Google Calendar has been a bit of a battle. I’m always scared that any synchronization method could cause inconsistencies or modify dates. It’s happened before – how would you like all birthdays to be shifted forward by one day? And that was ActiveSync’s doing!
I’ve settled on GooSync as a solution to update my web calendar. Initially, things didn’t work too well, but that was resolved by testing a few options.
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Minimo
5 years ago
Minimo for Windows Mobile has finally been updated to a working piece of software! Previous test releases didn’t work too well and didn’t provide a great browsing experience. With the 0.2 release, the product is far more polished and has some great functionality.
Startup times vary. The download is approximately 5MB in size (that’s the CAB file) and installs to a storage card if needed. After clicking on the program icon for the first time, I actually placed my JAMin on the table and let it load Minimo. I knew it was busy with something, as the progress bar in the splash screen moved every now and then. But very slowly.
Minimo provides tabbed browsing, with the first tab being home to the URL entry, Google search and some shortcuts, together with a history of previously visited sites. This tab is named the Homebase.
Once up and running, Minimo performs well. The handy toolbar at the bottom of the screen provides quick access to font sizes, panning, the keyboard and adjusting settings. The look and feel is Firefox, down to the rotating circle on the tab to indicate page loads. Minimo renders pages similarly to Opera: the web page is broken up and displayed to fit onto the screen. That means some scrolling, but the ability to see the web page (almost) as it’s meant to be viewed is a bonus. RSS is catered for, as is SSL and TLS for secure browsing.
There are still some issues, primarily with exiting and restarting the application. Probably some memory leaks that cause the device to lock up occasionally. But maybe that’s also an issue of Windows Mobile. Other than that, Minimo is well on its way to being a great alternative to the rather expensive Opera. As an aside, the beta version of Opera 8.65 has some new functions too!
Keep an eye on Minimo! If you enjoy Firefox, this is a great addition to your Windows Mobile device.
HTC getting royal: the Kaiser is coming!
5 years ago
HTC are remaining true to their promise: roll out as many different types of Windows Mobile devices as possible to suit a wide audience. There is a fair bit of excitement about some of the recent devices HTC have launched, but one I’m looking forward to seeing in the flesh is the Kaiser, a replacement for the present Tytn. The Kaiser has been spotted in the wild, and Mobile Life has been fortunate enough to get some pictures of the unit:
In addition to the now-standard connectivity options everyone expects, the Kaiser features a unique flip-up design to make typing much easier. Similar to the present Nokia Communicator, but in a much more compact and elegant package. Promising a 3MP camera and a built-in GPS, this Windows Mobile 6 device has a lot going for it.
We can expect to see it in ZA in about eight months time. In the meantime, stay tuned! I should have the opportunity to take a variety of new HTC’s for a test drive in the next few weeks. Let me know which devices are of interest to you, and I’ll see what I can do 
PocketBreeze updated to 5.2
5 years ago
SBSH’s PocketBreeze is an application I can no longer do without. Not only does it offer a unified view of my appointments, but it also maximizes the amount of information I have available to me at a glance on the rather limited JAMin screen. Now, PocketBreeze has been enhanced. The new version is completely updated with a bunch of new icons and improvements.
SBSH recommend that an existing installation be removed and the newer version installed afterwards. A really convenient feature PocketBreeze provides is the ability to export and import all program settings. Trust me: this is more convenient than it sounds. There is no way you’d restore the application to a previous state without this! But my favourite fact regarding the export and import of settings is that registration details are included. No more hunting around in E-mail to find the registration code.
By default, tabs now appear along the left-hand side of the PocketBreeze content. I’m not too keen on that, as it makes the available space for other applications even smaller. My weather reports from Fizz Traveller don’t fit. I’ve moved the tabs back into their original position, to the top of the PocketBreeze PIM display. Other than that, it’s pretty much what I’m used to. Newer icons and a redesigned options screen.
Most of the other changes are similarly cosmetic and under the hood. Have a look at the detailed list of features here.
allTunes mobile
5 years ago
The allTunes service is still going strong, regardless of threats leveled by the US, RIAA and the withdrawal of payment facilities by Visa and Mastercard. The PC client for allTunes is a polished application that has proven to be fairly robust. Recently, I started playing around with the allTunes mobile edition and found it a rather nice piece of Windows Mobile software. It’s should be obvious that this is something you’ll not want to activate your GPRS connection for! Ideally, you’ll be in an environment offering you speedy Internet access by way of a wireless router and you’ll need a storage card with at least 20MB or so available. The extra space is not for the application, but for the catalog that is downloaded once the software has been installed.
Installation is quick and painless. Now, connect the device to the Internet, place it on the table and wait a while…the currently available catalog of music is downloaded from somewhere behind an erstwhile iron curtain…
Roughly 21MB for the file atc.
ActiveSync 4.5
5 years ago
ActiveSync 4.5 has been released and is available for download from Microsoft’s site.
Before you rush off to download and install, consider the following: there’s little new in this release. The usual promise of faster USB synchronization is wearing a bit thin. After all, USB can only be as fast as it is. If you often use the remote PC Sync via WiFi or LAN then you’re out luck. Microsoft has removed these features due to Enterprise customer feedback around security issues. Uppercase for Enterprise?
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Windows Mobile 6 creeps into the spotlight
5 years ago
Windows Mobile 6 has launched with a vengeance. Every manufacturer has at least one device sporting the new operating system. All manufacturers waited for the 3GSM conference in Barcelona to announce their product ranges. For most of us it’s the repeat of a well-known cycle: slowdown in application development and support for Windows Mobile 5, arrival and presentation of new applications with Windows Mobile 6 as a minimum requirement, the never-ending marketing attack to convince us that our current devices simply don’t cut it. Then…capitulation.
Here are some of the new ones to whet your appetite (and rock your wallet):
Clockwise from the top left we have one of the imate Ultimate edition devices, HTC Vox, ASUS Aries and the Toshiba (remember them?) G900.
What now, my dear JAMin?
Spb Mobile Shell
5 years ago
Every once in a while an application comes along that revolutionizes the way in which one makes use of one’s handheld. This may seem like an over the top statement, but software is certainly the only way you’re ever able to change the behaviour, functionality and look and feel of the device you spend most of the day using. If you’re like me, at least
The Spb Software House has been around for a number of years and has developed a reputation for solid software for Windows Mobile devices. Their latest offering is revolutionary, not because it addresses a very specific application or requirement, but rather because it provides a new interface for Windows Mobile. Spb Mobile Shell is one of those applications that you’ll not want to uninstall. It’s almost certain to make everyday working with your handheld easier.
Crossbow announced
5 years ago
Crossbow was the erstwhile name of the new Windows Mobile 6.0 operating system for PDA’s and smartphones. With everyone and their dog selecting this as the de-facto standard for their devices, it seems that Nokia and Sony-Ericsson are the few remaining stalwarts opposing M$soft. For how long, I wonder?
In any case, this isn’t about that. Instead, it’s about another ridiculous naming convention Microsoft seems to have chosen for their mobile operating system. Like the Vista line that features roughly 95 differently named releases of the same software, Windows Mobile derivatives are
- Standard which is optimized for devices without touch screens (previously known as Smartphone)
- Professional which designed for devices with touch screens (previously known as Pocket PC Phone Edition)
- Classic which is designed for traditional touch screen devices, which do not provide mobile telephony (previously known as Pocket PC)
Get more detail here.
via 
the::unwired
Microsoft has also unleashed their Windows Mobile 6 web portal onto the world.
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