Windows Mobile 6 on your Dell Axim - UPDATE

Ok guys… Guess What?

After a long time, some deep thought, a dozen conversation threads in the admin forum, we are ready to allow discussion of Windows Mobile 6 on your Dell Axim.
Some things to consider…

• Windows Mobile 6 was never released for the Dell Axim X51, well any Dell Axim for that matter.
• Running an experiemental OS on a device can be dangerous. There is the chance to ruin your device.

Basicly, it’s ok now, but we still stand by no hosting of files that are not legal here on our servers. Thanks. Just use your common sense when posting.

This is Aximsite and they are Axims and after much thought, why not allow support of devices even though it’s not a legal ROM. We do not promote software piracy, but we do want to allow other Axim users to help you get the most out of your device. We will not be responsible for any damage caused by following any advice on the subject. Please use caution when following the advice and suggestions of other on this subject. When giving advice on the subject, please use care in explaining and helping others. Thanks again.

To discuss this, comment here or in the forums, visit this thread.

SolarExpress PDA II Contest

The good folks at Lightcone Corp. have generously donated three of their SolarExpress PDA II Single Port USB Host CF Cards for our next giveaway.

Features:

• Adds an independent USB Host port to your Pocket PC
• Slim Design
• Dongle-less Type-II CompactFlash Card design
• USB Host Port Power is 5v@200mA max.
• A Y-USB cable accessory is available to support additional USB Host current requirements.

Contestants can preview the additional functionality SolarExpress PDA II brings at SolarExpress PDA II Blog thru Light Cone Corp.Tech Support web-link below.
http://www.lightconecorp.com/Tech_Support.html

Read on to learn more about SolarExpress PDA II and to find out how to win!

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Pocket PC Tech’s Lil’ Sync USB Mobile Power Pack

INTRODUCTION

The other day I took my IPAQ hx2415 out of my bag and it wouldn’t turn on because I had inadvertently allowed the battery to get too low. I was disappointed that I would not be able to use my Pocket PC that day until I remembered that I had the Lil’ Sync USB Mobile Power Pack in my gadget bag.

Pocket PC Tech’s Lil’ Sync USB Mobile Power Pack is a fairly simple little gizmo that packs a powerful punch. One end of the Power Pack has a mini USB port that is used to charge up its 4400 mA capacity Li-Ion battery and the other end of it has a standard USB port that is used to power a mobile device. On the front are three indicator lights and an on/off switch.

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Dell Handset Rumors - Here we go again!

Well, remember the empty rumors of the Quantra made Dell Handset coming last year? Didn’t think so. Well, I took those rumors with a grain of salt, so i’ll take these with some too. Don’t get me wrong, I would so love for Dell to jump back in, but I am not counting on it.

Dell reportedly plans to resume its handheld device business and the company may team up with Foxconn Electronics (Hon Hai Precision Industry) to develop Windows Mobile-based handheld devices, according to market sources in Taiwan.

Dell has been reorganizing its team for handheld devices since it hired Ron Garriques, a former executive vice president at Motorola in charge of its cell phone division, in early 2007, the sources indicated.

Dell apparently has accelerated its move towards the handheld device segment following Acer’s recent announcement of acquiring Taiwan-based smartphone maker E-Ten Information Systems, the sources added.

Foxconn, an important partner for Dell, is also reportedly recruiting talent from other Taiwan-based handset makers in preparation for accepting orders from Dell, the sources pointed out.

 Source: Digitimes via Engadget Mobile

CBE for ARM CR8TOR

Stephen Furber has been recognised in the Queen’s New year honours list, and now becomes a CBE (Commander of the British Empire).  For those born in the UK,  the best known pieces of technology he worked on were the Acorn and BBC Microcomputer… But the rest of the world would be far more impressed by the fact that he was a designer of the ARM microprocessor

Yes THAT ARM microprocessor… the granddaddy of the ones that power Axims, Ipaqs, PSPs, Playstation 3, Video Camera’s and er… a little unknown device called the iPhone.

http://www.arm.com/markets/holidaygifts/index.html

Speaking in a BBC interview he said…

"The success story of the ARM is one that has built slowly but steadily," he said.

The first ARM chips came off the production line on the 26 April 1985.

"It was 10 years before it really started to emerge as a global success story and probably 15 years before it was recognised as such," he said.

And he’s now busy using them to build computers that model the human brain…

The machine, nicknamed the "brain box", is designed to eventually contain one million ARM processors.

"We are using ARMs like we were using transistors 20 years ago," he said. Although the finished machine will pack a huge amount of processing power, it will still only model around 1% of the human brain, or around one billion neurons.

Source: BBC

Dell Phone Rumors Back Again…

Oh boy. It’s not that I don’t believe them, it’s just that they haven’t materialized yet. A conversation I once had with an old friend gave me hope that this rumor is true, but we have to wait and see.

According to a Forbes report, Dell could be bowing a brand new smartphone / converged media device as soon as early 2008. It mentions a new device that is being jointly developed with Quanta and has video, an MP3 player, and Internet access. This device will make an appearance “early next year”. Whether it is a new type of standard PDA with Wi-Fi, or an all-new device that has cellular radios on board, the article doesn’t detail. Nothing is known about its potential operating system or what other technologies might be on board. The only thing that is certain is Dell needs a product like this right now.

Is Dell Readying An iPhone Killer? - Mobile Blog - InformationWeek

Contest : SplashID 4 Rainy Day Photo Contest

�SplashID 4 Contest Giveaway

The folks at Splashdata have just released SplashID 4. SplashID is a Fort Knox for your passwords and confidential records. Improvements include:

• Enhanced security - auto lock-out after 10 failed attempts, password strength meter, and password hint
• Web Auto-Fill - one click to open a website on the desktop and login automatically!
• Enhanced Lookup feature
• Toolbars give you buttons where they are needed
• Updated icon set …and much more!

To celebrate we are doing what we love to do at Aximsite/Mobilitysite . . . we are having a contest to award 3 FREE copies of SplashID. How do you win? Simple: Post a “Rainy day” or “splash-related” photo in the forums. Your photo will be your entry. 3 random winners will be selected.

Rules:

1) Only one photo/entry submitted per person . . . submit photos here
2) Must be a registered Aximsite/Mobilitysite member with at least 25 posts
3) Staff may submit photos but will not be eligible to win — let’s spread some love to the general membership
4) Deadline for entries is midnight EST, November 30. 2007. Winners will be announced on December 1, 2007

Good luck!

Dell Smartphone News, Nothing New

There was an article yesterday that told us alot of nothing, but it is news about Dell and the rumored Smartphone. My Dell rep said she didn’t know anything about it, but the rumor keeps surfacing, so there must be something to it, right? So basicly, this articles says that there is a rumor that Quanta is making the iPhone and a Dell Smartphone, but there is nothing in the article to support it other than Quanta saying that they won’t comment. Reporting to us, basicly, nothing we don’t already know.

Quanta Computer Inc., the world’s largest contract laptop PC maker, is reportedly gearing up to make iPhones for Apple Inc. and a new smartphone for Dell Inc., but the company isn’t talking.

The Economic Daily News, a Chinese-language newspaper in Taiwan, reported that Quanta is already slated to become an iPhone assembler, the second Taiwanese company behind Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. Ltd., to build the handsets for Apple. Quanta is also working on a new smartphone for Dell, the newspaper reported, without citing a source for the information.

Quanta does not discuss customer orders, a spokeswoman said, but noted that this year, the company is focused on building its smartphone and PDA (personal digital assistant) business

Source: Yahoo via Aximsite

Somo 650, Corporate Axim Replacement?

It’s either a case of ‘Nature abhors a vacuum" or "when one door closes another opens" but either way the classic PDA isn’t dead. With Dell stepping out of the market there is a business niche that Socket hopes to fill.

Here’s some specs that may seem familiar to Axim users on the Somo 650

Intel PXA270 @ 624 MHz
Windows Mobile 5
CF and SD slots
128m Ram
235mb of flash
Wifi/BT
1100/2200 battery

Ok theres no VGA but it does come in a rugged casing and you can buy one for the next  3-5 years… and there’s going to be a full set of corporate management tools, to allow you to roll out as many of these as you like.

source: IT Week

Save the Seals, uh I mean Save the Axim

Want to help save the Dell Axim? I am not sure if it will help, but you can jump over to a couple links over at Dell’s own, Ideastorm, and show your support.

• DON’T KILL THE AXIM PDA’s platform
  The world leading x51v WM5 device is only now being bettered by HTC’s future “Advantage” PDA / Smartphone matching the Axim 624 MHz power etc 2 years after the party started by Dell’s forward thinking product! Yes it may need to have GPS, EDGE, 3G etc to survive as a Smartphone in this mobile obsessed times but it can be done & the current Axim users will appreciate your efforts into the WM6 platform by buying your products if you reward their loyalty. Obviously this may be previous if you’re not killing the Axim but most forums think you are so hence this post. Ron Garriques ex - Motorola were counting on you. Cheers
• Dell Axim X51v Windows Mobile 6 UPGRADE
  Microsoft has released Windows Mobile 6!!!
  I know many Axim users would appreciate an upgrade to Windows Mobile 6 as the Axim X51v exceeds the minimum requirements for an upgrade to Windows Mobile 6. So, Lets see it Dell!!!!!!

These guys are right, Dell is jumping ship on arguably the best Pocket PC produced. Almost 2 years after it’s initial release, it still stands up tall as one of the best devices on the market. (well, off the market now)

Quanta may be developing Smartphone/PocketPC Phone for Dell

I wasn’t going to post this for a couple reasons. The source blog that I first saw this on April 4th had this item posted on April 1st, April Fools Day. The other reason is that I was told by my Dell Contact that she was not aware of any plans to develop a phone at this time. Now that the reports are being posted on more notable news sources, it’s worth passing on. I mentioned a couple times on the podcast that I hope I am wrong about this rumor, but… you know. All I can say is, never say never.

This morning, I got a Google Alert pointing to this story:
“The sources claimed that the Dell PDA handset project, codenamed “Fly,” will develop a model using the Windows Mobile 6 Professional platform and supporting HSDPA. It probably will feature a QWERTY keyboard, though feature details have yet to be determined, the sources said.

Quanta, which is the biggest notebook supplier for Dell, is actively developing products for the PDA handset and 3G phone market, and it currently supplies handsets for Hewlett Packard (HP) and O2. Although the size of Quanta’s handset business is smaller than High Tech Computer (HTC), its position as an ODM without its own-brand business or collaboration with telecom carriers has allowed it to win the Dell PDA handset project, the sources commented.”

I had also heard that Dell turned down the offer to rebrand the same Windows Mobile Smartphone that HP is currently prepping for launch. I can’t confirm that info, nor can I divuldge where I heard it.

Source : Digitimes

Official Dell Blog Post - The Dell Axim is Discontinued

With an unfortunate event such as discontinuing a product, companies do not often jump up and down to announce their decision. I don’t recall ever seeing a press release saying that we are done with a product. That said, the words of people like me have to suffice. Me personally, I wouldn’t have claimed Dell was done with the Dell Axim Pocket PC without a reliable source. My source over the last 3 years hasn’t changed and she has been a pleasure to work with and has never steered me down the wrong path. She has been quoted in many articles by others double checking my reports about the Dell Axim’s death.

I have had the pleasure of running the #1 Resource for anyone that has a Dell Axim and will continue running the site as long as their is a definitive need for information. This info will always be online in some form or fashion. In addition, my plans to merge Aximsite and Mobilitysite in one or another has been put on hold until furthur notice. I want to thank all that have helped make Aximsite the best. Our doors are open for anyone with a Pocket PC as well.

I want to comment on this blog post by Lionel Menchaca, Digital Media Manager. This is about as official as I think you will ever see in print. I also want to extend my gratitude for Lionel recognizing the community and the personal thanks to me in the post. That means more than you could ever imagine to me. Thanks! 

“First off, sorry for the delay on this. In addition to recent coverage by blogs like Engadget, jkOnTheRun and others, I’ve gotten a few e-mails and a comment from Direct2Dell reader David H. Deans who’ve asked me to confirm whether we’ve discontinued the Axim line or not. The answer is yes, we have.

I’d like to say thanks to all the folks like David and Chris Leckness for their interest in the products. For the 4 years we were in the handheld market, we made many friends and had a blast developing and shipping products to serve different needs.

Why did we make the decision? Because of a steadily declining market for pen-based PDAs and noted over the past several quarters by analyst firms like IDC and Gartner.

Even though we’re not selling them anymore, we still have plans to support our customers. Dell will provide technical and warranty support for Axim and Dell-branded Axim peripherals per the terms defined in the support agreement and limited warranty agreements at the time of purchase.

We also to offer batteries, power cables, AC adapters and sync cable customer kits for the Axim X51/X51v through 2009. All other Dell-branded Axim X51/X51v peripherals are expected to be available through mid-2007 or while supplies last.

Thanks again to all our customers who made the Axim line successful for the last few years.”

Source: Direct2Dell - Dell’s Blog

RIP - Dell Axim

It’s with great sadness that I bring you the news that the last of the Dell Axim X51v line has gone out the doors of Dell and puts an end of a great run of Pocket PCs from Dell.

In late 2002, Dell released the Dell Axim X5. The Dell Axim X5 shook up the Pocket PC world offering a great device for a good deal less than it’s competitors.

Dell followed up with innovative new devices for the next few years and ended up with the Windows Mobile 5 version of the Dell Axim x51v. This device was released more than a year ago and still remains one of the top of the line Pocket PCs out there.

For the last 3-4 months, I have been telling all the folks at Aximsite that it was going away. Only two days after I queried the community on which direction we wanted to move towards with Aximsite, the Dell Axim’s disappeared from Dell’s website.

There are some rumors popping up about a Dell Smartphone. While I hope I am wrong, I am being told by reliable sources that these have zero substance.

It was a great run Dell, good job, but I think you guys are making a big mistake pulling out completely.

Modeo boosts signal power

Modeo did some demos of their video magic using many PDAs and Laptops according to Engadget. This picture is an SD Digital TV tuner in a Dell Axim.

Modeo hosted a little shindig tonight to unveil some of its future DVB-H plans and show off some kit. The big news is that the FCC has approved Modeo’s request to boost signal power by 10 times in urban markets and 20 times in rural areas, giving the company a much easier path to coverage rollout and better signal quality.

Source: Engadget Mobile

Dell Rumor Update - RIP Dell Axim

I just got off the phone with an internal Dell PR employee. I asked the questions we all wanted to know and got the answers we didn’t want to here.

To answer the Dell Phone rumor I just posted on, Dell has no immediate plans to launch a Dell Branded Phone. They do carry unlocked phones, PDAs, and other consumer electronics from hand picked top of the line companies though. The hiring of the Motorola Exec was announced officially last week.

While it’s true the Garriques came from Motorola, where he was responsible for the handheld division at Motorola, it easy to see that his new responsibilities at Dell are much broader in scope, heading up a new Global Consumer organization:

(from press release) “As the number of people online doubles from one to two billion over the next several years, the majority of new consumers will be located in fast-growing and emerging markets,” said Michael Dell. “We are asking Ron to create a new global consumer organization that will set new standards for innovative product design, leadership in providing the best customer experience, and flexibility in how we build and distribute products and services to meet the evolving needs of our customers around the world.

Mr. Garriques will lead a new organization that will include the portfolio of all consumer products – from desktop and notebooks to software and peripherals, as well as product design and sales.

The rumors circulating about the a Dell Portable Gaming system had already been squashed, so that leaves only two questions unanswered…

1. Is Dell working on Tablet PC?
   I didn’t ask this, I forgot, but I still think this is going to happen personally.
2. What about the Dell Axim?
   Bad news here. The rumor I posted about last week is the verdict. Once the current Dell Axim offerings are gone, they are gone.

This is the 1st time in the last year that I was able to get an official response related to the Dell Axim line of handhelds.