HTC Dream Spy Shots and Android has an App Store?

Everyone is all excited about Android in hopes that it will provide an Apple-like experience without having to buy Apple. I don’t like Apple personally, but the iPhone is a well done device. I am not one of those that are super excited about Android, but I do look forward to other competitors forcing Windows Mobile into innovation. This week there has been a nice amount of Android news…

• Spy Shots of the HTC Dream have surfaced, nice ones.
• FCC info on the HTC Dream
• Android to have an Application Store

read on for more info…

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Treo 800w USB and Battery Charging Update

There is an update available for the Treo 800w for USB and battery charging.  It is designed to address the following:

USB

If your device fails to detect any of the in-box USB accessories such as the power adapter, headset or sync cable, this update will resolve most of the detection issues.

Battery charging

When plugged into the charger, the device may not charge a completely discharged battery. This scenario is most likely to happen if you leave a dead battery for a few days before trying to charge it in the device.

If the device will not turn on to install the update, you should “trickle charge” the battery by connecting your device to a PC via the USB sync cable. The device will charge slowly by using the PC’s power. When the device’s battery indicator shows 25% charged, you can proceed to install the update.

This update is highly recommended for all Treo 800w devices.

Effect of resets

If you install the Treo 800w USB and Battery Charging Update and perform a soft reset no action is necessary. The Treo 800w USB and Battery Charging Update remains installed after a soft reset.

If you install the Treo 800w USB and Battery Charging Update and perform a hard reset, you will need to re-install the Treo 800w USB and Battery Charging Update.

You can get the Treo 800w USB and Battery Charging Update here.

           

Evolution and Life

My fellow writer here at MobilitySite, Steve Laser, recently posted an excellent and well thought out piece detailing his frustration with the Windows Mobile platform and mobile devices in general. The essence of what he felt was missing over the last several years was a “leap frogging” or radical change in the technology. His feeling was that we have been seeing the same product and technology essential repeated over and over again.

After giving his views careful thought, I can’t disagree with his observation that there have been few radical changes in the Windows Mobile OS of late. However, where I DO disagree with Steve is concerning his conviction that this a terrible thing.Personally, I don’t want Divergence, I want Evolution…and that is what I get from Windows Mobile.

The sort of sudden advance or change in devices that Steve is understandably longing for, where the rules are all redefined in the face of some technological or marketing breakthrough are rally few and far between. Some may say the iPhone qualifies, but only in that it seems to blur the lines. If you really look at the product, it is more a MID then a Smartphone…and MIDs/UMPCs are nowhere near a mature product type.

The last real breakthrough in technology that I can think of was the birth of “Windowed” computing on home systems superceding the former DOS model. Think about it. There have been very few real changes in the standard PC GUI since the arrival of the Macintosh and Windows 3.0. The operating systems have gotten prettier, certainly, and the technology has increased to bring us ever more power, speed and system complexity…however the core usage model, clicking icons to open folders and applications displayed in individual windows on screen, has really not changed much at all over more then 20 years. Why not? Because it works, plain and simple.

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A NEW podcast has arrived on the scene

…. and you just might like it. 

I have been listening to The Cell Phone Junkie for a little over a year and a half and it is one that I genuinely enjoy.  These guys are always prepared and at the end of every show you always go away saying: “I just got some great information”.  So it appears as if one show is not enough for Mickey and Joey because they have decided to add a NEW show called TCPJ Unlocked.

So why are they calling this cast TCPJ Unlocked?  Simply put, they said “an unlocked handset is free from a carrier’s restrictions, this show will be free from format”.  I like the idea; it is just going to be a free flowing conversation and I am convinced that after you listen to the first show you will add it to your feeds.  With the Unlocked show, you can not only expect to get great information about some facet of the industry but they expect to have some interesting interviews with industry experts, live shows with more interaction from the community and just about anything else they can think of. 

They have recorded and posted the first 2 episodes, so take some time this long weekend and enjoy them.  You can find information and links to everything at www.thecellphonejunkie.com

           

IE8: The Unboxing Video

The Techno Citric unboxes Internet Explorer 8 beta 2 in its very first review. Watch as he puts new features like Accelerators, Web Slices and In Private Browsing through their paces.

Special thanks to Warner Crocker

           

Another Day, Another UI Idea

One of the readers, Eric, sent a link in to XDA-DEVS to a sweet set up.

This is accomplished using a few different software items and some modification, but if you are an experienced modder, this should be simple to pull off.

Head over to take a look at how to set this up.

           

Blackberry Connect Users Beware of Windows Mobile 6.1

1st off, as a disclaimer, I have not had the opportunity to even charge my Tilt, let alone flash it. I am working on a review of a couple E-Ten phones right now. That said, I don’t have any knowledge on what is broke and what is not.

Next, the warning comes from a reader email. It’s something you should think about. There might be a work around, but I don’t know yet. I am going to check around.

I just upgraded my phone yesterday and after spending 3 hours with AT&T and another hour with RIM and 15 minutes with HTC I found out 2 things First, RIM told me that tey had not come out with a BB connect for 6.1 and that I would have to go back to 6.0. The bad news was that I called HTC and they told me that once I upgrade to 6.1 there is no going back but they are expecting the upgrade from BB shortly. I hope that this shortly is not the same as the shortly we had to wait for 6.1.

Anyone experiencing anything similar?

           

Bloat vs. Clean ROM installs REDUX.

I’ve been asked a number of questions about the things missing in the “Clean” ROM install, and I figured I have a few minutes right now, so I will write up a quick post.

For those of you new to the discussion, I made a post talking documenting some of the differences between the clean and bloat rom installs of the latest Tilt firmware upgrade, you can read it HERE.

First, the most frequent question I have been asked or problem that was reported was people having problems actually interrupting the ATT software install, so I figured I would first detail this, step by step.

1. Flash the ROM (just follow the instructions on the DL page, it’s easy)
2. Align the screen
3. Go through the tutorial on copy/paste or skip it.
4. Create a password or skip it.
5. This is where it’s tricky… the INSTANT the home screen shows up, you MUST SOFT RESET THE DEVICE before the countdown starts. If the countdown has started, you’re too late, it must happen BEFORE the countdown. This is different then previous ROMS.

If you miss the chance, just soft reset before the countdown finishes, the device will come back up and start all over. you get another chance to get it right.

For those of you that don’t know what a “soft reset” is, that’s when you take the stylus and jam it in the little hole next to the USB connector on the bottom end of the device.. I’ll leave you on your own to make jokes about cramming styluses into holes, you know who you are… Pervs.

Anyway, another question, which I think is a pretty good one is… Do I lose things like threaded SMS and the voice commander software? The short answer is, No, you don’t lose those features. Basically, you will get everything that is listed on the HTC site for the ROM update, those are integrated into the ROM and are already installed into the ROM upgrade. Think of it this way, when doing the install, the default ROM install is like a clean install of XP, you’re getting the default apps that come with it (in XP’s case, things like notepad, paint, etc.), the ‘bloat’ install is like what you would get when you buy your computer from Dell or HP.. a bunch of crap that, although some might be useful, most basically just add confusion and bloat. Before I get called out, Yes, I know that that this isn’t an exact parallel, the Voice program and HTC home screen are not part of the default (from Microsoft) WinMo install (I really hope that didn’t add more confusion to the mix).

I haven’t had a lot of time to play and search, but I’m trying to find where the actual programs that the installer calls are located on the ROM, anyone have a clue on that?

Hope you find this useful, I know I didn’t address all your questions, but I thought maybe I could at least get this out there. This post is long enough as is. As you can tell, I’m not one that’s typically short winded.

As always, please let me know what you think and don’t hesitate to post replies. And again, thanks for reading!

Kip

           

OMG Windows Mobile 6.2 Update Online too!

Ok, I lied. Made you look. :)

So since it’s been a few days with the new ROM for most of you, what do you think. Rate the ROM.

Sorry for the cool title of the post. Way to start off a long weekend eh?

           

Divergence & Death

I love writing for MobilitySite, and I especially like reading what others’ have to say.  But day after day I read the same thing in every blog.  It goes like this, “The new XYZ phone from ABC has this and that feature.”  It’s grown old.  And boring.  I’m thinking of kicking my excitement level up by taking up Bocce Ball or Bowling.  All the devices are the same.  They are no better than what we had four years ago.  They’re just getting bloated with compromised add-ons. 

Windows Mobile is Dead.  Read on to find out why your next device will not have a Windows Mobile OS.

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Humans have short memory

I’m going to post today a fragment of an article where I have removed the Operating System name in a few places. 

[Operating System Name in here] is also a Trojan horse that enables Mr Gates and a horde of even less welcome folks to invade your privacy, exploit your computer and empty your wallet.

So why are all these idiots in computer stores drooling at the prospect? Answer: because [Operating System Name in here] is a monstrous, bloated brute that requires a state-of-the- art PC and two gigabytes of hard disk space before it will even say ‘hello’. This means any consumer foolish enough to want to run [Operating System Name in here] will probably have to buy a new PC.

Does not this sounds familiar to you? is not it like the author is talking about Vista?

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Review: Palm Treo Pro

I read this review this morning on WMExperts as I was traveling from Maine to Vermont on a quick trip and wanted to pass it on because it was a great review.  As many of you know, the Treo Pro is the latest addition from Palm featuring Windows Mobile. We can expect it in the US later this Fall in an unlocked, non-carrier-subsidized form for $549. Clearly a business user device, it has some great features that you just might like and I believe that those of you that love Palm’s form factor will love it no matter what you use a device for. 

So what do the folks at WMExperts think about this new entry from Palm?

The Treo Pro is easily Palm’s best Treo yet. It finally hits all of the feature checkmarks that users have been clamoring for and does it in a way that’s well-integrated with the hardware. Where other smartphones have a tendency to just throw hardware onto a device and leave out making it easy to use, the Treo Pro rarely feels awkward.

Just as importantly, the Treo Pro is the first Treo in a long time to sport a thin and sexy form factor compared to other devices on the market. From the packaging to the look to build quality to feature set to battery life, the Treo Pro is a real winner and doesn’t feel like it’s a year behind the smartphone curve.

It is a well done review that you will enjoy reading.  You can check it out here at WMExperts.

           

Fujitsu NetBook Gets Official

The Fujitsu Amilo Mini Ui 3520 netbook has finally gotten a nice set of pics and full specs released on the web. The quite acceptable technical specs are as follows:

• 8.9’’ WSVGA Display (1024 x 600)
• Intel® Atom™ Processor N270 (1,6 GHz)
• 1024 MB DDR2 667 MHz RAM
• 60/80 GB HDD (3600 rpm / 4200 rpm)
• LAN, WLAN 802.11 b/g, Bluetooth
• ExpressCard slot
• USB 2.0, VGA out
• Webcam 1,3 Megapixel, Digital Array Microphone
• Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition
• 233 x 29 / 36 x 175 mm, 1 kg
• 399€

I definitely like the look of this device, and the 8.9 display is about perfect for me, should I be tempted away from my Eee 701. 10 Inch is too large for me in a netbook, but an Atom would be nice. If they can get this device out quickly in the US and Europe, in a reasonable number of places, and possibly push the price down below that of the MSi Wind, Fujitsu could have a winner. However, the back to school possibilities are rapidly diminishing…and Dell will be shaking the box soon. Time is of the essense for Fujitsu.

(Source – JKK Mobile)

           

AT&T Motorola Q Global with Windows Mobile 6.1

This past Tuesday, AT&T and HTC released the Windows Mobile 6.1 ROM for the AT&T Tilt and two days later and revamped Motorola Q with Windows Mobile 6.1. Not a bad week, I’d say.

This is a revamped silver version of the Motorola Q that we have all learned to either love or hate, but this one is the 1st Q Variant to come with Windows Mobile 6.1 out of the box. Earlier this month, a Windows Mobile 6.1 update for the Motorola Q9h hit Motorola’s support site.

I think the silver color is nice looking. Even though I’d hate to have to buy a Q to upgrade to 6.1, for those that don’t already have a Q, $149.99 is a great price.

Here is the Press Release…
Motorola and AT&T Inc. today announced the availability of the MOTO Q Global with Windows Mobile 6.1, one of the first devices featuring the latest mobile software on sale to the public. Available exclusively to AT&T customers, the new MOTO Q Global has a bold pinstripe design with eye-catching metallic edging and a robust feature set, including Motorola’s patented CrystalTalk technology for clear calls, assisted GPS via the AT&T network for quick, accurate location fixes, and threaded SMS for chat-like texting.

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MobileMonger

How’s your memory?  Are you always concerned about what is available?  Do you wonder just how it is being used?  Here is a neat program that I found over at PocketNow via WMExperts  that will tell you everything you need to know on how your device’s memory is being used in a graphical format that is very clear. 

From the author:

I recently got a HTC Diamond device and have been very happy with it.  One of the first things I did was load it up with all sorts of applications.  Even though the device has a 4GB Internal Storage card, if you are not careful about where you install things you can run out of Main Memory very fast.

When running out of Main Memory I wondered what was using it.  If you hit the link provided in the Windows Mobile memory settings screen it takes you to an explorer window that shows you all files greater than 64kb.  In Windows CE 1.0 this was probably helpful, but they don’t seem to have updated it since.

The usual tool I use for this job on the PC is the last free version of Space Monger.  I tried to point SpaceMonger at my phone through ActiveSync WMDC but found since its not a real redirection SpaceMonger couldn’t do it.  So I wrote an equivalent for Windows Mobile - MobileMonger.

Download:

• Just the CAB - I know what what I’m doing.
• Windows Installer for ActiveSync/WMDC.

You may need .NET Compact Framework 3.5 if you don’t have it already.

MobileMonger