How Does InvisibleSHIELD Feel?

Like many of you, I got a new mobile toy for Christmas.  Any time I get new gear my first concern is how to protect it.  It’s really a simple formula for me; if I can’t readily replace it, then I better at least protect it!

My Christmas gadget was the iPod Touch 2G.  I tend to be a 2 device kind of guy, so I have always liked to have a PDA on hand.  Choices in PDAs are pretty slim, so I opted for the iPod Touch and am happy I did.  Great little unit!

Screen protectors have been around for a very long time and I have had one for just about every PDA I have owned.  The Zagg InvisibleSHIELD however is a little different than the run-of-the-mill type in that it is very durable.  There are many video demonstrations of people taking a key and repeatedly striking it across the surface with no marks left on the screen at all (video embedded after the jump).  That is very impressive and was the reason for wanting to get the InvisibleSHIELD out of all the other choices available.

Its durability is not the reason for this review; that has been done and proven many times.  No, I was more interested in how my iPod Touch would “feel” with the InvisibleSHIELD on it.  Since the iPod Touch is all about…Touch, I wanted to know how the screen response would change and how the overall feel would affect its use.

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Review: Pocket Express

Last week I was asked to take a look at a new application for Smartphone’s called ‘Pocket Express’.  Briefly - the application is a free on-demand newsfeed.  Over the years (and when I say years I mean years) I’ve looked at various news programs.  I no longer remember the names of any of them (isn’t that funny?) Programs of this sort began to appear even before Windows was popular.  Anyone remember PUSH content? After awhile I stopped looking at these things because they just didn’t seem to measure up or were a hassle to use.

One of the reasons the newsfeed concept was problematic back in those days was because we simply didn’t have the "always-on" capability that the Internet now provides.  The systems back then depended on a dial-up connection which made it difficult to provide anything approaching real-time. Well, with a current-day smartphone and decent data plan the age of up-to-date newsfeed in your pocket is here.

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Cube Cheater iPhone app solves Rubik’s Cube.

From Gizmodo…

Um, I am way too dumb to understand HOW this is happening, but apparently it is for real. Just watch the YouTube clip, it says it all.

If you were someone like me (who could only ever get one side of the cube completed)  then this app is for you!

REVENGE….. IS MINE!!!!!

           

A Conversation with Phil Libin, Evernote CEO

Are you looking for a web application that lets you collect and manage information?  Todd Ogasawara had a great conversation with Evernote CEO Phil Libin that you just might want to listen to. He shared a lot of interesting information including the relative installation numbers of Evernote’s mobile apps for the iPhone and Windows Mobile smartphones.

There is also a paid component to Evernote that Phil describes the benefits to having. 

So you might be asking what is Evernote.  Evernote allows you to easily capture information in any environment using whatever device or platform you find most convenient, and makes this information accessible and searchable at any time, from anywhere.

Check out Todd’s Conversation with Phil Libin, Evernote CEO here

Check out the Evernote website here and download your copy.  Try it … you will like it!

           

Windows 7 in an Amtek U560

We have seen already W7 running in many different UMPC, but most of them have been machines where I was not expecting many problems. That why I was very interested to see a friend of mine installing it in a U560. The Amtek U560 is an small UMPC using a Atom A100 at 600 MHz and with just 512 MB of RAM. And guess what… W7 passed that test! And here is the proof!

 

W7 Experience Index was 1.2, to give you an idea, many of the UMPC in the market have an Vista experience index of 1.

           

Slingbox revisited

As far as I’m concerned, Sling Media is a company that has rocked the world, at least my world. I’ve been a champion of Slingbox since the beginning in 2004.

What will a Slingbox do for you?

A Slingbox is a small, sleek unit that connects directly to you TV or DVR. It makes it possible to watch live or recorded TV on your computer, laptop, or mobile phone from home or anywhere in the world. Anything you can do with your remote control at home, you can do with Slingbox on your computer remotely. You can record, playback, and send clips via email.

Technical Support

When purchasing a new product, especially when you are just getting starting and setting it up, it is important to know that there is good technical support available. I am happy to report that Sling Media’s customer support is superb. Phone support is available from 7AM to 7PM PST, seven days a week. Online support is available through email and live chat. It doesn’t get much better than that. I have found technicians to be knowledgeable and helpful.

Sling Media Products

My first Slingbox was a plain vanilla AV that worked without flaw for at six years, and then it developed some kind of a connection problem, but it was time to upgrade anyway. I have recently acquired a more powerful HD Pro capable of transmitting HD data and a much better resolution picture. It goes for $299.99. HD Pro lets you control and watch your home TV on multiple devices.

The Slingbox Solo only costs $179.99 and will stream a single standard or high-definition video input to a remote device.

The SlingCatcher is a digital video data amalgamator that brings entertainment to your TV set. With SlingCatcher, you can display data from a Slingbox, your computer, or any other data source available, including the Internet or from a storage device. This universal media player costs $199.99. You might think of it as a reverse Slingbox that displays video on your TV instead of displaying TV video on your remote devices. One drawback for the moment is that it will not sling HD content. It doesn’t work on MACs either.

If your router is in a different location than your TV and DVR, you don’t have to run a hardwire connection. Let SlingLink Turbo come to the rescue. Turbo boxes plug into ordinary power outlets in your home and use the wiring in your house to transmit data from your Slingbox to your router. All you have to do is plug Ethernet cables in from Turbo box to the Slingbox and from the Turbo box to the router. SlingLinks come in single port ($79.95) and four-port models ($49.95).

Software

The most recent version of Slingplayer software gives you an onscreen remote control that looks just the one at home so there is no learning curve. You can also display a complete TV lineup from your TV source complete with program descriptions. Slingplayer software for desktops and laptops is free as are updates. Display of remote and guide data is optional and you can select placement options for where it appears on the screen.

Updates for SlingLink and and SlingCatcher are available as free downloads.

Slingplayer software for mobile devices is not free and costs $29.95. You can try it free for 30 days. After that, a registration code is required. Slingplayer for mobile devices is already available for Windows Mobile, Symbian, and even Blackberry. It will soon be on iPhones as well.

Observations

I cannot even imagine leaving home without Slingplayer software installed on my mobile phone and laptop. The great thing about it is that it really works, even with HD TV, and there is no monthly fee.

News Flash: Dish Network recently acquired Sling Media. It will be interesting to see how this relationship unfolds. I first learned of this acquisition by the curious appearance of a four minute recording on my DVR. It was a nice little commercial for Slingbox at the end of which viewers learn that Dish had purchased Sling Media. It reminded me of AT&T spamming their customers with unsolicited text messages. I wonder if this is a portend of things to come with cable and satellite companies pounding their customers with SPAM. Shame on Dish.

However, we shall soon see the first favorable outcome of this new relationship. Echostar, the parent company of Dish, has already combined Slingbox technology with its new Echostar 922 DVR with 1 terabyte of expandable storage. This amazing device that won best of show in CES will be available soon.

           

Dell’s New Smartphone

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Dell has been developing and will soon release a new smartphone:

“NEWS ALERT from The Wall Street Journal

Jan. 29, 2009

Dell, aiming to rev up sales as its mainstay personal computer business struggles in the recession, is preparing a move into cell phones as early as next month.

The company has had a group of engineers working on the phones for more than a year from an office in the Chicago area. They produced prototypes built on Google’s Android operating system and Microsoft’s Windows Mobile software.

For more information: HERE“

There are some interesting comments on the WSJ website, one having something to do about rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.  My personal hope is for a version of Windows Mobile.  What’s your preference?

UPDATE: More details HERE posted Friday morning at AllThingsDigital.com

           

Is that windows Mobile 6.5 running on HTC Touch Pro?

OK, it’s not. I don’t want to deceive you guys, but I just had to see how the new WinMo (supposedly) design will look like on my Touch Pro…

I just saw that more 6.5 images continue to roll and here’s the latest stuff I found at the XDA-Developers:

Are they real?

I’m not sure. I can definitely imagine some lonely photoshop designer having a great laugh on all of us right now…

Is WinMo 6.5 going to look like that, eventually?

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Here is something you don’t see often

Zune sold out a Circuit City in my town. Ipods are still in stock.

Sent from my HTC FUZE™, a Windows Mobile® smartphone from AT&T

           

18 Months is a Lifetime

When I wrote the article, “Divergence and Death” last August, I said in regards to Windows Mobile (WM), “Windows Mobile is Dead.  Read on to find out why your next device will not have a Windows Mobile OS…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.”  ZDnet just did an interview with Andy Lees, Microsoft’s top WM guy, and he admitted, “We aimed to go for a lower common denominator…We started out when we were in PDAs (personal digital assistants) and then a phone got strapped to the back of the PDA,” Lees said. The company also failed to recognize that phones–even those that were used for business–were still as much personal as they were professional.”

There were 38 responses to that article, such as,

“Another anti-Windows Mobile rant. Why don’t you write about how cameras have not really changed in 10 years, or laptops? They still sell like hotcakes, much like Windows Mobile. 90% YoY growth is not to be sneezed at, and WM gained market share on Nokia in Europe recently.

People who have used WM for 10 years are understandably bored. They should really just move on without this traditional “slamming the door on the way out” rant.”

and

despite ANYTHING that is said here, WinMo is NOT, I repeat NOT dead or on life support. As I recall, this was a hardware based rant. Which, was right… I’m not certain why we are still using devices with speeds and capabilities we had 3+ years ago…

and on the opposite end,

“The big culprit here is the Windows Mobile OS with the lack of innovation and effort from Microsoft over the past several years. Honestly, the devices are good in terms of hardware but the core is lacking significantly.”

and this:

I’ve been having this conversation with Chris Gavula and the rest of the Team over at Gear Diary for more than a year. While this rant is right on when it comes to the hardware, in many cases, its not about can’t…its about don’t or won’t.

We had wildly divergent opinions to the article.  But the bottom line, at least to me, was that WM phones and PDAs made today are using the same hardware as almost five years ago, and WM looks like DOS next to next gen OS’s such as the iPhone, Symbian, BlackBerry, Android and the upcoming Palm Pre.  Is all hope lost?  Can Microsoft regain the confidence of users?  Andy Lees thinks so.  He said, “Microsoft embarked on a new strategy some time ago that will come to fruition over the next 18 months.”  Wow, 18 months is forever in the world of technology.  Time seems to have stopped for WM.  With incremental upgrades to the OS, Microsoft is making a half-assed effort at pleasing customers.  If they come out with an OS with a major WOW factor, if it’s not delayed, if it is not buggy, are you going to wait 18 months for it?  Are their competitors?  Apple has made significant improvements to the iPhone, RIM is cranking up the heat, Android is new and exciting and Palm really is putting forth a huge effort with the Pre.  I don’t see any of them falling to the wayside.  Chances are that over the next 18 months your cell contract will be up.  Will you pay hundreds of dollars for a WM device that is no better than what you have today or will you look at the competition?  I believe many people will think twice before going to the same old same old.  And once you change trains, it is that much harder for WM to win you back.  18 months can turn into a lifetime.

Source: ZDnet via Pocket PC Thoughts

           

iPaq Data Messenger Finally Available For Preorder…

iPaq Data Messenger Finally Available For Preorder…… in the UK. No love for the US here.

If you are interested in this one, head over to iPaqChoice. Thanks Engadget.

           

Contest - Win a Free Month of Slacker Radio Plus

OK, you already know about Slacker Radio, right? I am sure plenty of you are using it too. We are going to give away a free month of Slacker Radio Plus to 10 winners Monday February 2nd. All you have to do is a) be a current user with a valid email address and b) post a comment here. That’s it.

Slacker has applications for the iPhone and Blackberry currently. Learn more at Slacker.com.

           

Samsung Pilot and Louve - Coming Soon?

There was a post on the Expansys Blog detailing a couple releases coming soon from Samsung, but this post seems to be removed, adding validity to the leaked info in my opinion.

The rumored models are expected to be formally announced at MWC next month. The features detailed are as follows. Please note that this is rumored info.

Samsung Louve features:

Tytn II like sliding mechanism that makes the screen prop up at an angle to the QWERTY keyboard

Windows Mobile 6.1

3.2 MP cam

Omnia-like homescreen widget

Samsung Pivot (not to be confused with X830) features:

Successor to the i780 with QWERTY keyboard

Windows Mobile 6.5

5 MP cam with flash

AGPS

Wi-Fi

Source: Mobile Whack

           

Are you a Sudoku player?

Resco just released Resco Sudoku Touch v 1.10 for Windows Mobile Pocket PC devices which allows creating thousands of puzzles in four difficulty levels. You can also insert and solve any Sudoku puzzle published in your favorite newspaper, or create your own puzzle. The entire Sudoku design is touch based and at no point do you need a stylus. Resco Sudoku Touch was programmed with the emphasis on intuitive and fast control.

Resco Sudoku Touch now fully supports the WQVGA and WVGA resolutions as found on the Samsung Omnia, HTC Touch HD and Sony Ericsson Xperia X1.

A free playable trial version of “Resco Sudoku Touch”, allows players to test the game out before actually purchasing it. The current version costs USD 19.95 and can be found at: http://www.resco.net/pocketpc/sudokutouch.

           

T-Mobile Shadow Launched Again

When I say again, I don’t mean that this model was previously launched, it means that they seem to be keeping the name. You would assume it would be called the T-Mobile Shadow II, but the press release refers to it only as the T-Mobile Shadow. Early leaks called it the T-Mobile Shadow 2009 as well. Either way, it’s kinda sexy, and it’s here.

For more info, head to T-Mobile. You can also check out some photos of the Shadow from my hands on time at CES. Press Release after the break…

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