Proporta offers new universal phone cases

I tend to think of Proporta.com as the case place because they seem to be able to cover just about any digital device out there. The new line of Universal Phone Cases comes in three sizes:

Internal dimensions

Small Case: 90mm x 25mm x 50mm
Medium Case: 110mm x 60mm x 25mm
Large Case: 120mm x 70mm x 30mm

These black leather, handsome cases will protect your device with its stitched-in aluminum insert in the flap cover with a strong magnetic clasp. The sides and bottom are composed of expandable elastic to accommodate slightly larger sizes.

The cost is $27.95 and shipping is free for the rest of the month.

I wish that the cover had a couple of pockets for expansion cards. I wish that the strong and secure belt clip on the back were removable so I could stow it in my gadget bag better. Other than these minor nags, it is a good investment in the security of your device.

OtterBox protects the Samsung Q1

OtterBox On-The-Go Protection for Samsung’s Q1 Ultra & Q1 Ultra Premium

Otter Products introduces the OtterBox 1990 a sleek, stylish, semi-rugged case to protect the Samsung Q1 Ultra and Q1 Ultra Premium UMPCs from Samsung Electronics America, Inc. As part of the Defender Series line, the 1990 safeguards from drops, bumps and scratches while still allowing complete interaction with all navigation keys, I/O ports, camera and webcam right through the case. Ultra-mobile enthusiasts and businesses employing ultra-mobile product solutions now have even more mobility!
The OtterBox 1990 maintains the small form factor of the UMPC while still providing three durable layers of protection:

Layer 1: Thermal formed protective clear membrane slides on to safeguard screen and keys from scratches, dirt and dust* (layer optional depending on the level of ruggedization desired)
Layer 2: Hi-impact polycarbonate shell snaps together over the device
Layer 3: Silicone skin wraps over the case to provide additional protection from bump and shock

[Read more]

Software Update - CorePlayer Mobile / Elocant Manager

• CorePlayer Mobile adds support for Flash files! (link)
  FLASH SUPPORT INFO
  First…. Thank you Adobe!! Your customers and our community appreciate the fact that you looked at what was best for them and opened up the SWF and FLV specs. This goes a long way at spreading the Flash love and opening the adoption for others such as we have here at CoreCodec with CorePlayer.
  LIMITATIONS
  - At this time we will only support the Flash Container (FLV)
  - Don’t look for CorePlayer to play the files ‘within’ a webpage (it will however play linked FLV content and open CorePlayer). Embbedded support will come by early next year with v2.0 of CorePlayerX/CorePlayer API integration.
  - We will not support ON2’s VP6 as an embedded video codec anytime soon if at all. If the demand warrants it we will look into the possibilities but till then…
  SWF
  This is where we are taking a stand back approach. We will likely include SWF support at some point… but are looking at the options of either using the upcoming Adobe Runtime and or…. creating our own from scratch via the newly released SWF specs.
  YOUTUBE
  We have now added a new FLV (Medium) quality setting to the integrated YouTube browser. This adds another layer of choice for you to play with a see what works best for your YT video playback needs in CP.

• Elecont Pocket PC and Smartphone manager Released
  Elecont Pocket PC and Smartphone manager is the easiest way to manage your Pocket PC or Smartphone. It allows you to switch quickly between programs and save free memory. Optimized for finger usage.

HTC Diamond Keyboard Hacked and Available…

Well, in less than a week, a user over at XDA Devs has already hacked the Diamond’s rom and extracted the new soft keyboard. This one is somewhat iPhone-ish and there are others out there that are available as well, but if you want the hacked one strait from the HTC Diamond, you’ll have to head over to XDA Devs.

I have not tried this, nor do I think I will, but apparently Malatesta at WM Experts has and he offers a couple tips…

• install is a bit slow, but normal
• default language is Italian (change to English in settings)

Here is a cab I created and AllTheWay just tested. It should work fine. It will ask you to reset your device and then it will give you 3 new KB layouts. Touch Diamond Keyborad, Touch Diamond Keypad and Touch Diamond Qwerty. Hope you guys like it.

Link

Who is your 2nd favorite Windows Mobile Phone Maker?

So, we all know that most people love HTC devices. Some of the best current Pocket PC and Smartphones are made by HTC. Heck, even some phones you didn’t know were made by HTC are made by HTC.

I was just thinking how much of an impact Samsung has had in the Windows Mobile Arena in the past 2 years and thought it would be good to know what you thought, so here is a poll.

I realize I added a couple new players and left off a few too. Don’t forget Velocity Mobile, they are coming soon as well, but shouldn’t be a player in this poll. My guess is that Palm or Samsung should win hands down, that is if you consider HTC #1 already.

Review: WriteSHIELD crystal-CLEAR Screen Protector

Reviewer: Andy Mason (Warthog)
Product: WriteSHIELD Crystal-CLEAR Screen Protector
Manufacturer: PPCTechs
Price: MSRP – crystal-CLEAR 2-Pak kit, $29.00; Deluxe 2-Pak kit, $36.99

I am very meticulous about all my tech toys and, for the longest time, did not see the need for screen protectors. After using my Dell Axim x50v for about a year, I began to notice very faint scratches on the screen from text entry and repeated stylus taps. That’s when I decided that maybe screen protectors were not such a bad idea. When I purchased my Axim x51v, the screen protector went on before the unit was ever powered up!  However, when I switched to the HTC Mogul several months ago, I decided that I could live without a screen protector. “After all it’s a touch screen, and it has a jog wheel and a dozen buttons for navigation so the screen won’t be subjected to constant stylus abuse like the Axim,” I reasoned.  Well, unlike the Axim, the Mogul is a phone and gets smudged from coming into contact with my face and from using my fingers on the touch screen.  Additionally, I have found that I use the stylus more than I anticipated.  The need for a screen protector soon became evident. I have a WriteSHIELD installed on my x51v and have encountered no problems with it whatsoever.  I contacted PPCTechs to see if they had a protector customized for the Mogul. They did and they were willing to send me a crystal-CLEAR Deluxe 2-Pak kit for review that I present for your consideration.

[Read more]

HTC Shift Photos

Yes, I know what you are saying… “There are already tons of photos of the Shift online, why more?” Yes, but these photos are special. What makes them so? They are mine and not someone else’s.

So, I got a chance to use the HTC Shift for a couple days before forwarding our review unit on to Steven Borders to review and I have to say that I am still in love with it.

Read on for some more photos…

[Read more]

It’s all in the eye of the beholder …

There will be a number of official accessories for the new diamond and the folks at Tracy and Matt’s Blog got a photo of the official desktop cradle.  It looks really nice but then I saw a picture of the iPhone over at Engadget Mobile and I started to think about the design.  When the iPhone first came out it looked pretty slick but as I look at the Diamond, it is very definitely slick!  Sort of makes the iPhone look passe.

What’s the Deal with Windows Mobile 7 and MWg?

I don’t think Microsoft has announced any release date or even really announced that Windows Mobile 7 is even coming officially, but I don’t think I can buy the reports that MWg is planning on delivering Windows Mobile 7 Powered devices to the market as early as the 4th quarter of 2008. Most of the rumor mill around the net is pointing at 2009 if I am not mistaken. If this is true, I will be very surprised and happy too. According to BGR, there was a video shot during an MWg presentation recently that showed a device on a road map in Q4 with Windows Mobile 7.

Wow, not sure we expected this one. According to a video shot during the roadmap portion of an MWg presentation, Q4 of this year will bring with it the first crop of Windows Mobile 7 devices. This of course makes absolutely no sense given the time line between 6.1 and 7, but we suppose crazier things have happened. The presenter neglects to delve into the specs in depth, but his visual aid speaks for itself.

Like I said, I sure would be happy to see it, but I don’t think so. Microsoft just released Windows Mobile 6.1 and we know how often major release updates to Windows Mobile happens. So, two major OS releases in one year? Think about it.

Speaking of MWg, Cnet UK has taken a look at their Zinc II Pocket PC Phone.

The Pocket PC IS NOT DEAD!

So says Cnet. The rest of the world has already conceded that Pocket PC is dead. Sure, there are tons of people that still use Pocket PC devices daily. Many of our own readers are using them. There is no shame in that, but sales numbers indicate that the Pocket PC has been 6 feet under for years now. The recent resurgence of the iPAQ line of Pocket PC last year seem to being pretty well though.

Cnet’s, Andrew Lim talks about the Socket SoMo 650-m, a business oriented, rugged Pocket PC…

No, you haven’t travelled back in time: this is a PDA. It might not do futuristic things like make phone calls, send text messages or take pictures, but if you’re not bothered by those fancy features then this might be right up your street. It’s called the Socket SoMo 650-M and costs around $670–which we think is ridiculous.

Aimed at the service industry, this rugged Windows Mobile 5 PDA looks retro, but it’s extremely sturdy and boasts a large touch screen, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, an Intel processor running at 624MHz, and an SD and CF slot with the option to add barcode scanners for when you fancy scanning all the tins in your cupboard.

What are your thoughts, What keeps you using a Pocket PC rather than moving on to a converged device?

The Diamond vs. iPhone

The folks at Engadget Chinese were able to get some comparison shots of the Diamond and the iPhone and it looks pretty good.  I think it may well be a “contender”!

via Engadget Mobile

PCmover - for FREE!!

SAVE THIS LINK because on May 15, Laplink celebrates 25 years as the global leader for file transfer, synchronization, remote access, and migration.

To celebrate this milestone, Laplink is offering a free copy of PCmover on May 15th but only to those that visit their web site. No purchase necessary, no strings attached, and no gimmicks.

PCmover automatically moves selected files, folders, settings, and even applications from an old PC to a new one. It’s the #1 selling migration product and is widely regarded as the best migration solution available. PCmover is even recommended by the official magazines for Windows XP and Vista.

The normal price for a download of PCmover is $50, but for one day only it’s completely free. Sometimes you might get a cup of coffee free, but not a $50 – but then, not every day is Laplink’s 25th birthday.

[Read more]

iAnywhere Mobile Office

Sybase iAnywhere and HandStep Extend Mobile Inbox of the Future With New Applications

HandStep to Develop iAnywhere Mobile Office-Powered Applications; Demonstrates Momentum for Mobile Inbox of the Future

Sybase iAnywhere today announced that HandStep plans to develop mobile applications powered by iAnywhere(R) Mobile Office, a new component of the Sybase(R) Information Anywhere(R) Suite which combines email, security and business process mobilization to enable the “mobile inbox of the future.” HandStep, which specializes in developing and implementing custom mobile solutions for enterprise customers, will leverage iAnywhere Mobile Office to offer customers a mobile email-driven approach to improving collaboration and executing business processes on the go.

HandStep plans to release a new version of its TeamCalendar application to support iAnywhere Mobile Office, enabling users to view colleagues’ calendars and plan meetings right from within their mobile device — enabling improved collaboration and efficiency. HandStep also plans to extend additional applications with business process mobilization support, including a task management and time tracking application. With iAnywhere Mobile Office, HandStep will provide a unique value proposition for its existing applications by allowing its customers to approve and accept tasks and time sheets through a mobile inbox process.

“Mobile executives increasingly want to leave their laptops behind, and therefore are looking for handheld solutions that go beyond e-mail and include applications that typically run on a desktop at the office,” said Brian Nielsson, President and Founder, HandStep. “We predict that mobile email-driven mobile business processes will play a key role in powering the highly mobile and collaborative working environment of the 21st century. We’re very excited to team with Sybase iAnywhere in pioneering this effort; the combination of TeamCalendar and iAnywhere Mobile Office is unmatched in the industry.”

“We are pleased that HandStep plans to adopt iAnywhere Mobile Office, and it shows a commitment to a shared vision of the mobile inbox of the future,” said Mark Willnerd, Vice President, Sybase iAnywhere. “Together we are focused on enabling the real-time unwired enterprise, facilitating work to continue even when mobile workers are not in the office.”

Combining fully integrated wireless email, PIM, data encryption and business process mobilization, iAnywhere Mobile Office enables organizations to better manage critical, time-sensitive workflow business processes, such as approving purchase orders or submitting reports, all through a single, secure mobile email client. iAnywhere Mobile Office enables companies such as HandStep to easily mobilize back-end systems through sophisticated “business process widgets”. iAnywhere Mobile Office is now generally available. For more information, please visit http://www.sybase.com/mobileoffice. For more information on HandStep TeamCalendar, please visit http://www.teamcalendar.com.

Handmark Unveils New Games and Applications for BlackBerry Smartphones

Premier mobile media provider continues to expand mobile catalog for BlackBerry customers, together with Astraware, the Handmark Game Studio

Wireless Enterprise Symposium 2008 - (May 13, 2008) - Handmark(R), a global leader in mobile media, today announced new, exclusive applications for BlackBerry(R) smartphones including Bible translations; a new ringtone application, Ringtone Junkie; as well as best-selling games from Astraware(R), the Handmark Game Studio.

“A rapidly growing number of BlackBerry users are turning to Handmark for their mobile information and entertainment needs,” said Cassidy Lackey, VP of Handmark Studios. “Astraware, the Handmark Game Studio, focuses on providing only the best mobile content, and we are pleased to bring these new, quality titles to BlackBerry.”

Bible Translations for BlackBerry Smartphones - AVAILABLE 5/28 This is the first Bible product designed by Handmark specifically for BlackBerry smartphones. The application offers unlimited wireless access to 16 Bible translations including four of the five most popular modern translations. The Bible product for BlackBerry smartphones will be available May 28 at www.handmark.com.

Ringtone Junkie - AVAILABLE 5/28

Ringtone Junkie is a new and improved ringtone management application, developed by Handmark, providing access to thousands of popular MP3 ringtones. The application enables customers to download, store, access, and assign custom ringtones to contacts in their BlackBerry Address Book. Ringtone Junkie will be available May 28 at www.rtjunkie.com or www.handmark.com for a one-time purchase of $19.95.

Astraware(R) games - AVAILABLE by 8/31

Astraware, the world-renowned UK-based game developer, will expand its reach by releasing its first games for BlackBerry smartphones in Q3 2008, including Idigicon’s highly acclaimed Platypus. Flagship titles Astraware Solitaire, Astraware Sudoku, Astraware Casino and Astraware Boardgames will follow from Q4 onwards. These titles will be available at www.astraware.com or www.handmark.com.

First Intel MID pre-order/pricing: M528

Chippy from UMPCPortal has found that the first Intel MID can be preordered already at Tegatech, Australia.

Interested in mobile Internet devices? You know, the ones aimed at the consumer with consumer features and consumer pricing? Then read on… Tegatech, a well-respected UMPC retailer in Australia has recently signed a deal with Gigabyte for the distribution of it’s UMPCs and MIDs in Australia and New Zealand and has sent out an email to it’s media contacts announcing that my favorite MID, the M528 is on their books. A quick look at their website reveals that, yes, the M528 is listed, still looking very desirable, with a nice 8GB flash drive, the 3MP auto-focus cam, an 800×480 touch screen, 11Wh battery, built-in GPS, 3G radio and an 800Mhz Intel Atom processor. With a pocketable size, a pocketable weight and that slide out keyboard it’s a dream device for many.

But here is the interesting thing, the price for this device is around 1280 dollars! Was not the Intel’s MID concept talking about very cheap devices which only main task was Internet Connectivity? For that money you can buy a decent UMPC! A powerful laptop! 3 iPhones! And the other thing is that this price fiasco for some reason reminds me the 500 dollars price tag for UMPCs in the initial Microsoft/Intel marketing campaign. And I said Microsoft/Intel because during that marketing campaign Intel was part of it and a very active part of it and I wonder if the 500 dollars price tag really came from Intel and not from Microsoft.